Nathan stared at the computer screen but his thoughts were years away. All he saw was Devon. She was sitting on a fence post wearing worn jeans and an oversized wool sweater – and never looking more beautiful to him. Her smile lit up the darkening skies and his heart melted yet again in her presence.

"Fall turning into winter, is there any other better time of year?" she asked him as he approached her and she wrapped her arms around his neck, remaining on the fence.

His lips pressed against hers and she quickly responded to him.

The light breeze swirled the flurries around the couple, lost in their own world until Devon's favorite horse walked over and nudged them with his nose.

With her arms still wrapped around Nathan's neck, they laughed and Nathan patted the horse on the head. "She's mine this time."

Slamming the laptop closed, Stark stood up.

The elevator door slid opened and Fargo stepped out with a folder in his hand. "I got…"

Stark brushed by him without a word.

Fargo stood in the middle of the office at a complete loss.

"No one's asked about Nathaniel for years," Mrs. Chapman told Carter, handing him a china cup of tea before sitting on the couch. "He was such a polite boy growing up. A little too serious for his own good though." Her eyes found Carter's. "His parents were considered to be among the top scientists in the world and they expected nothing less of their son."

"Sounds like the Nathan Stark we all know," he replied.

The elder woman smiled. "Yes, it does. But he wasn't always this way. There was a time when he was happier than even he realized he could be. He was doing an internship for Doctor Schaeffer. It was in the field of behavioral science – not at all where his parents wanted him but it was what he chose for reasons still only known to him."

Carter took another sip of tea and waited for the woman to continue.

"Doctor Schaeffer had a daughter. Smart as a whip, that one but wanted nothing to do with what Eureka had to offer. She was a free spirit. Loved life. Loved Nathan. And Nathan more than loved her."

Swallowing hard, Carter suddenly felt as if he was intruding somewhere where he didn't belong. "What happened?"

Mrs. Chapman smiled fondly. "They dated. They got engaged. Devon wasn't much for big to-do's so they had planned for a small wedding around Christmas. Family and close friends only. She looked so beautiful all in white. They truly were the fairytale couple."

"I didn't know he had been married before Allison."

"He hadn't. I was with her when she tried the dress on. I also had taken a picture of her that day in her dress. After what happened, I was grateful to be able to show Nathan what she would have looked like on their wedding day."

Carter began to feel something for Stark he never thought he would – empathy. He knew all too well what it was like to tragically lose someone you love. "What happened?"

"Nathan had come down with a bad case of the flu just days before their wedding so Devon was on her way out to see him one night. It was only her so we will never know the full story but when they found her and the car…" Mrs. Chapman's eyes filled with tears. "It appeared someone's experiment went terribly wrong and that led to the accident. They found a crater-size hole in the middle of the road and the driver's side of her car was blackened from heat."

"Who's experiment?"

"We never found out." She paused for a moment; her eyes clouded over. "In a way, we also lost Nathan that day – at least the Nathan we all knew. He shut himself off to everyone. When he finally started coming around again he was never the same. He had became withdrawn and put up a wall to protect him from ever hurting again. I don't think he's ever really gotten over Devon's death."

"How come no one else seems to know this?"

She smiled at the younger man. "Many do, they just remember the man he used to be, the man he was with Devon and what he's become now and they just don't know what to make of it all."

Standing up, Carter shook her hand. "Thank you. This helps explain a lot."

As he started to walk away, she added, "She's buried in a small cemetery just outside of town. You should go see her."

A bit confused, though not an unusual feeling for him since arriving in Eureka, he politely smiled and left.

The cemetery was not easy to find but Carter managed after a few calls to Jo. He hesitated and thought about driving right past when he saw Stark's car along the side of the road but, instead, pulled up behind the BMW and parked.

A well-worn path through the trees indicated to Carter that her grave wasn't as forgotten as he had been led to believe. Slowly he proceeded until he saw Stark leaning over a grave in the distance. He and Stark were far from good friends – far from friends actually but they still had an understanding between them that had led to a bit of mutual respect but Carter was not sure if this would cross that unspoken line.

He had just about decided to turn and leave Stark in peace when he heard, "I know you're there, Carter. Now you know so you may as well come up."

A bit chastised, he walked through the gate and over to Stark. "I'm sorry. I had no idea but Allison was worried and…"

Starks piercing eyes met his. "Not even Allison knows."

Carter immediately understood. "She won't hear from me." He looked down at the marker.

Devon Marie Schaeffer

March 13, 1969 – December 20, 1997

Beloved Daughter, Fiancée and Friend

The Angels Rejoice

While We Left Behind Mourn

The World Was Blessed

You Are Forever Missed

"It never truly gets any easier, does it?" Carter softly asked.

"What would you know about it?" Stark hissed.

"I lost someone too. High school sweetheart."

Nathan sighed, letting his guard down just a little. "I'm sorry, I didn't know. No, it never does get easier."

"From what Mrs. Chapman told me, she sounded like a very special person."

With a proud smile, Nathan nodded. "I've been having dreams. I guess more dreams about memories."

"It happens," Carter assured him. "And it hurts like hell."

Nathan looked at him for a moment thinking how ironic it was that the one man whom he had least in common with was the one person who truly did seem to know what he was going through.

"You should talk to Allison."

"Carter…"

"I know it's none of my business but I do know she still cares a lot about you and is worried about you right now."

Shaking his head, he continued staring at Devon's grave. "She was a whole different world for me. I'd like to keep it that way."

Carter nodded. He did understand. It took him years before he was able to talk about the loss of his high school sweetheart. "Whatever you decide, you're secret is safe with me."

Once again, Nathan looked at the sheriff. "Thank you."

Dark clouds closed in overhead and a light rain began to fall.

"Is there any place in the world where weather forecasters get it right?" Carter growled, making a start back to his truck. He turned back to Stark. "Are you going to be alright?"

Smiling up into the rain, Nathan nodded. "Just perfect."

Carter turned and ran back towards the vehicles as the skies opened.

Nathan faced upwards and let the rain fall upon his face.

"I always knew you loved the rain too."

Slowly turning around, Nathan's eyes grew wide.

TBC……..