"Ladies and gentlemen meet the first winners of Secret Challenge. You've seen nine other teams fail, pushing their panic buttons before they could cross the line and return to LA. Today we have best friends, Dan Harbuckle and Skylar Elstrom with us. Decorated veterans of the Armed Forces, both recipients of the Bronze Star, and Medal of Honor, they also have been awarded the Purple Heart on multiple occasions."

Dan had to fight hard to take the compliments. He never signed up for the glory. It was a calling to serve and protect, especially since his uncle had perished when the twin towers had gone down in NYC. He looked up to see Sky rolling his eyes at the commentary, and in the front row of the audience the rest of their special ops team stood to cheer. Sempra fi roared from them with one voice.

"Doctor Pamela Easthope is here to tell us about the injuries they suffered and their determined push to recover. But first I have to say, you stopped our hearts repeatedly as you pushed your way north from the very south end of Mexico. What made you decide to take to the rails?"

Dan let Sky take the question. His dark blond buddy had always been the one to take the lead when they debriefed after a mission, let him do it here too. Pam stayed by them through their recovery, only okaying the appearance on the final show of Special Challenge if she could come with them to keep an eye on him. His head was aching from the lights, but for the first time he wasn't having problems with blurred or double vision. The concussion was finally releasing its grip on him.

He thought over the week they'd spent trying to get back with next to no resources and shifted to square his shoulders. The prize money wasn't enough to cover the damage to his body, but he'd recover, and it was seed money for the adventure business of his dreams.

Not only his dream business, but his dream family. Amy said yes to coming with him. It was such a simple change of plans, and Sky told him they had a perfect piece of land about twenty miles outside Anchorage to make an offer on tomorrow. Just hurry on up and get this ordeal over. Why did they always have to draw these things out way to long?f

Sky gave him the hang in there signal as the program dragged on. Filming stopped so he got up to hobble around, a single crutch under his good arm, the other one still in a sling. His ankle was healing well, but God he hated waiting to get back to the gym. Being on the injured list was a boring grind.

Down to the final minutes of the program, the host came over to hand him his check. Grabbing the envelope, he tore it open, and looked at the piece of paper he'd risked his life for.

His jaw dropped. Staring at Sky, he saw the same gobsmacked expression reflected on his face.

"Show the camera," the host encouraged, a smug smile on his face.

$1,000,000.00 was the amount on each check.

"The prizes were never claimed over all the other attempts. Meet LA's newest millionaires. We never told our contestants, but all prize money must be awarded. They are our only finishers, testament to the fine men who serve our country.'

The applause and cheers from the audience on the other side of the lights was deafening.

"Tell us what you're going to do with the money?"

Dan shook his head unable to shift gears and process what was happening, he dragged his arm across his eyes, hiding the sudden tears.

"We're going to take the money and run with it. Come to Alaska, and we'll take you an adventure as grand as the one we just had, if you can survive. Adrenaline junkies only!" Skylar raised his fist over his head.

"Winter or summer, your choice. See if you can keep up with the Green Berets!" Dan picked up his buddy's enthusiasm.

As the credits rolled, Sky hugged him thumping his back again and again until their pretty blonde doctor dragged her hand across her neck forcing them to sit.

The director responded,"That's a wrap. Season one is over!"