Alright so here is your next chapter sorry for the slight delay life happens... Shout out to Newsgoil19 the only one who got all of the "Who Said it?" puzzle correct (#3 was said by Race not Jack, sorry! ;) And special thanks to Sis21K, PrettyLittleMonster, and theater104, for their help with this chapter.

Enjoy!

"Beth, BETH! Stop, please, come back! We're here to help you!"

Beth looks back for an instant her eyes flash with fearless determination, but that does not stop Katherine from seeing the slight tremble of her lip and a moment of hesitation. But, she turns away quickly and keeps running. Running from them, her friends, her family. Katherine tries to pursue her, but Jack's strong hands hold her back.

"Ace, that ain't gonna do any good, she's too fast you'll just wear yourself out."

"She needs help, you heard Race he is after her. We have to help her!"

"She doesn't want our help."

"What does that matter? She needs it! You never wanted my help, but that certainly never stopped me from helping you."

Despite the situation Jack can't hold back a grin, her comment is dead-on accurate.

"Ise know dat bettah than anyone. But Ise also know bettah den anyone how it feels to do something hard to try an keep someone else safe."

"But Jack, she's the one in danger."

"Dat never stopped me."

"You're not listening to me. Who is she protecting? We're not the ones in danger she is!"

"Dat ain't da way she sees it."

"Jack please stop spouting gibberish and explain yourself already! You're acting like you know exactly what she is thinking."

He takes a deep breath and runs his hand through his hair. She's always been the one who's good with words, he never quite knows how to express himself clearly. But, he's darn well going to try.

"Kath, if you had to choose between putting yourself in danger and putting both of us in danger which would you choose? Be honest."

"Jack…"

She hesitates, unsure how to respond.

"This is different helping her wouldn't put us in danger."

"How do ya know dat? We have no idea what her uncle is capable of."

"Jack are you suggesting that we just walk away? Without at least trying to help her?"

"You know dat ain't what I'm sayin, I'm just askin you to try an think that maybe she thinks she's doin the right thing.

She bites her lip, hating that he's right. It's just like Beth to protect everyone except herself. Still she saw the moment of hesitation, the instant of wavering. Her mind is made up, enough is enough… Not even the infamous Jack Kelly can change her mind once it's made up.

"I don't care what she thinks, let her think that she's being a hero, I really don't care. All I care about is her safety, we can keep her safe, we beat Snyder we can beat this monster… a-and I am not going to let her put herself back in danger, even if we have to chase her across Manhattan! Or…"

She breaks of as tears start to trickle down her cheeks. She squeezes her eyes shut, and feels Jack's arms wrap protectively around her waist. He looks her in the eye, gently cradling her face in his large calloused hands.

"Katherine, listen to me if her uncle was anythin like Snyder and her experience was anythin like mine than we don't even know half the story. She gave us a glimpse, but Ise got a feelin dat's all it was just a glimpse."

"What do you mean?"

"He's a killer and who knows what else.

Katherine is speechless, she stands silent searching for an argument, but is unable to find a sound one.

"You never answered my question Ace what would you choose?"

"You wouldn't ever let me make that decision, you'd tie me to a chair before you would let me make a decision like that."

He sighs aloud in obvious frustration.

"You're not bein honest with me Ace. Ise know as well as you do, that if you had to make a decision like dat you wouldn't tell me. Same way she's choosin to protect us without telling us why or from what exactly. And if we hadn't seen her run, we'd have nevah even known dat she was tryin to protect us."

"Well now that you do know, are you really going to let her make that decision? That doesn't sound like the Jack Kelly I know."

"What good would runnin after her do? It would just show her good for nuthin uncle anyone where she is and where she's headin; it would only put her in more danger."

"I suppose you're right, but still it's not like you to just let her go. Danger and other people's concern for your well-being has never stopped you from being stupidly heroic before."

"Well gee thanks Ace."

She rolls her eyes at him.

"You know what I mean…it's just unusual."

He artfully dodges her accusation with a shrug and a statement that he hopes will appease her.

"Why don't you head back to the apartment, I'll stay out here a little longer to see if she decides to come back for help."

Katherine reluctantly agrees, oddly enough she is extremely tired and can hardly wait to get back to the apartment. In fact she is so exhausted that for the first time since their marriage she misses the gleam of determination in Jack's eyes, and fails to discover the hidden message behind his cryptic words and long, sweet kiss that immediately. She isn't thinking straight as she walks slowly back towards their apartment; at any other time, on any other day she would have known that something is up…

As soon as she is out of sight he takes off in the direction that Beth had headed towards. Katherine is right it isn't like him to let Beth protect him and like Katherine he most certainly isn't going to let her put herself in danger again. But, he been noticing that Katherine has been extra tired lately and he doesn't want her taking any chances. He doesn't know exactly what he's up against, but he knows that it's dangerous and he can't let Katherine be involved. Thank goodness she's too disoriented to catch on to his charade. If she wasn't this tired he would have to be constantly looking over his shoulder anxiously waiting for her to come marching in, demanding to come with him, this time however he is pretty sure that he's safe from Katherine's immediate wrath. Nonetheless, Jack sees that Beth is in trouble; deep trouble. And despite her heroic efforts to shield him from the danger she's confronting, he's going to make sure that she doesn't ever again have to face her demons alone.

Sorry it's kind of piecey... Spot and Bird will be back for the next chapter so stay tuned.

Keep reading and reviewing and I'll keep writing!

K. Kelly

P.S. Once this is complete I'm considering doing modern AU. What so you think?