Title: When Lightning Strikes (The Thunder Rolls) Chapter 1

Author: Romantique

Email: dolph1n

Classification: Rayna Jaymes

Rating: T for language (but no worse than the show)

Summary: This is a fantasy fic. (I'll let on I what mean when the time is right.) It starts after the airing of "You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave)," but before the not yet aired "Lovesick Blues."

Disclaimer: This fic is based on nothing but my imagination.

Legal: These characters do not belong to me. I'm just a fan and have not made a dime. Please email me to obtain permission to post.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

It was show time, again. Rayna Jaymes had reluctantly allowed her sister to talk her into appearing, solo, at the biggest fundraiser of her husband's mayoral campaign, at the Grand Ole Opry House. Several other local entertainers and celebrities were there, too ... and all were beholding to their father.

Anxious to get this show on the road and into her past, Rayna stood in the wings waiting to be cued onstage. She tugged at her clingy, blue gown that brought out the blue in her eyes and accentuated her every curve. At the same time, she tried desperately to remain focused because all she could think about was the fight she had, earlier that day with Teddy, when he showed her some pictures that were going to be published in tomorrow's edition of The Tennessean. A friend of her father who worked for the paper was able to give her husband's campaign a heads up.

Earlier that afternoon ...

"Look, I know what these look like," Teddy defensively raised his voice at his wife, referring to the photographs.

"Oh, really?" Rayna asked with her hands defiantly on her hips. "What do they look like to you? Because I know what they look like to me."

He let out a long, pent up sigh. "They look to be suggestive of an affair. But I swear; that's not what's going on here."

Digging in her heels, Rayna interrupted him. "You are talking like a politician, and you haven't even been elected, yet." There was fire in her eyes. "I am you're wife, Teddy, not a potential voter or contributor. Don't talk to me like that!"

"I'm sorry. You're right," he acquiesced, sweeping his hands out in front of him, as if to signal a time-out. "Please, sit down and listen to me," he begged.

She did as he asked.

Once she was seated, he began, "My relationship with Peggy Samper is not romantic in the least. My relationship with her is solely about money."

He then shoved his hands into his pockets and looked down at the ground.

"I lied to you, Rayna," he continued, "and I'm sorry for that. This all started when the Cumberland Project was going bust, and I had to do something, fast. I was waiting for the permits when the markets crashed, and I didn't know what to do or where to go. The banks weren't there for me. And I couldn't come to you and let you know that I failed, again. And I would not go to your father."

"And yet, you could go to Peggy?" Rayna asked with disappointed disgust in her stormy blue eyes.

Finally looking at his wife, he said, "She was one of my financial partners. I confided in her, and she wanted to help. She got me a line on $2 million dollars, and I got Cumberland out of that mess, and I paid Peggy back."

"Did Robert know anything about the $2 million dollars she conveniently found for you?" she asked in disbelief, referring to Peggy's husband.

"I don't know," Teddy shook his head. "I didn't ask. The less I knew about that money, the better."

He then continued on with his story. "I paid everyone back. I protected the investors, paid the taxes ... the accounts payables, and I paid Peggy back every last cent. I took care of all of it, or so I thought. Now, the Feds are investigating the matter. They contacted Peggy and want to question her. That's when she came to me, and that's when those pictures were taken."

Listening to every word, Rayna shook her head in disbelief.

"What motivation could Peggy possibly have for risking her neck and her marriage for you to the tune of 2 million dollars?" she asked.

"I told your father everything yesterday, including what I'm about to tell you," he looked her in the eye. "As far as Peggy's motivations go? I think Peggy may have wanted more of a relationship with me, but I never went there with her. I have kept it strictly 'business' between us."

Rayna shook her head, still in disbelief. "I've seen the way Peggy Samper looks at you, for years now. Women can tell things about another woman. It is obvious to me that she's had a thing for you for a long, long time. And every time I've brought it up, you've dismissed it like it was nothing."

"You mean the same way you dismiss my concerns when Deacon looks that way at you?" he rebutted.

"Oh, no. You're not turning this thing around," she insisted. "We are talking about you. You are the one who has incriminating pictures about to appear in the paper tomorrow!"

"Momma?" a concerned voice came from the other side of their closed bedroom door.

It was Daphne, their youngest.

"You're fighting," Daphne continued.

"It's okay, Honey," Rayna tried to reassure her daughter. "Mommies and Daddies fight sometimes."

"You and your sister need to give us some privacy," Teddy joined in, speaking through the closed door. "You two go downstairs and watch a movie. This is an adult conversation between me and your momma. Do you hear me?"

"Yes, sir," the two girls answered in unison.

Teddy walked over, closer to the door, and listened for their footsteps, until he was sure they had gone down the stairs. Once he felt they had some privacy, he informed his wife the coast was clear.

"Look," Teddy changed his tone. "You've always assured me that nothing was going on between you and Deacon. And I have had to believe you, even at those times when I wasn't so sure. You are going to have to do the same with me. While you are focusing on a romantic entanglement that doesn't exist, the real threat is that investigation. We could be accused of credit union fraud."

"We?" she asked, sounding insulted. "Oh, no. If that happens, you are on your own. We? I had nothing to do with it!"

"Of course you didn't," he said. "I meant 'we,' as in family."

She rang her hands. "You lied to me," she said. "And you got into this nasty campaign with my father, against Coleman ... without consulting me. And now, you want me to just smile and take this, too? What kind of family is that?"

"The kind that is about to get hit with a media storm when those pictures hit the newsstands, in the morning" he answered.

Back at the Grand Old Opry House ...

"Ms. Jaymes?" a stage director called. "You're on."

She walked out into the spotlight and did three numbers to the delight of the crowd. And then, Teddy gave a 'thank you speech' to his contributors with his loving wife forcing a smile, at his side. When his speech was over, she counted the seconds until she could make a b-line out of there and head for home. Teddy would have to stick around for a while and shake hands and chat up these money people, who would surely be canceling their checks and credit card transactions as soon as the news hit the stands. That's the kind of loyalty Teddy could expect and would deserve. All Rayna wanted to do was get as far away from all this as she possibly could.

But before she could go backstage to make her exit, Teddy grabbed her by the arm.

"Rayna," he said with a forced smile. "I don't believe you've ever met my old college roommate, Lucas."

Before her stood a tall, strapping, good-looking man in a US Air Force uniform.

"Excuse me, this is Colonel Lucas Redmond," Teddy corrected himself with a big politician's smile. "And this is my lovely wife, Rayna."

"Nice to meet you, Ma'am," the Colonel extended his hand for a shake.

"Likewise," Rayna gave the man a courtesy smile and shook his hand.

"I really enjoyed the show," the man continued in a gentlemen's drawl. "You're one of my favorite country artists, and I'm not just sayin' that because you're Teddy's wife."

"Well, thank you for that," she nodded. "So, you're a Bull Dog?" she asked, referring to the University of Georgia, Teddy's Alma Mater.

"Yes, I was," he answered her question. "But then, in my junior year of college, I transferred to the Air Force Academy and now, I root for them."

"Hey, Rayna," Teddy interrupted them. "Lucas is going to be in town for a few weeks, and I told him he could stay with us."

Surprised, Rayna leaned in and whispered in his ear. "What about the news that's going to come out?"

Teddy whispered in return, "He already knows about it."

"Why don't you let Lucas ride home with you, and I'll be home some time tonight?" Teddy smiled. "Although it could be very, very late. Or early, depending on your perspective."

Caught totally off guard, Rayna tried to regain what little was left of her composure.

"Alright," she said. "Lucas, I just need to grab something on my way to the car. I'm parked near the stage entrance."

"Yeah, just follow Rayna," Teddy suggested and gave his wife an awkward peck on the cheek. "I'll see you at home, probably tomorrow."

"Bye," she waved, suddenly aware she was being followed by a man she had met only minutes before, who would be staying in their house ... when all hell broke loose.

(To be continued ...)