Thanks for the positive feedback!
Chapter 15
Phase Two
Nathan hadn't slept at all that night. He had been looking around and found the coded messages from Croaker about needing help, when to help. Another murder plot that would make it seem like an accident. He had even found the missing dynamite. Nathan had disassembled that trap immediately. Then he had spent the night carving wood. By the time the sun rose in Brookfield, Nathan had two arms for another chair.
He went out onto the boardwalk and watched the street. Joe, Pearl, and Chuck were all waving at him. Ron Stewart had Grace bring him breakfast. Nathan smiled in thanks before taking a long sip of coffee.
Nathan spent the morning walking around and trying to find any other evidence of this man's trickery. Bill came racing into the Brookfield with Newton rider less behind him.
Nathan raised an eyebrow at him.
"Gabe checked in. He was worried about you being here," Bill said
"Because Boyce is involved," Nathan stated.
"How did you know?" Bill asked.
"I found their communication. Also, the trap," Nathan whispered and gestured his head back. Bill followed him around the corner.
"This could've taken out the entire town," Bill said as he was looking at the trap Nathan had found.
"It would have killed him as well," Nathan added. "But I don't get the feeling that he is particularly THAT loyal to Croaker. If his intention had been to kill himself in the process all he had to do was drop his cigar ashes out this way."
Bill stood up and was looking upset about something.
"Has he talked?" Bill asked.
"Not about this, no," Nathan said.
Bill met Nathan's eyes.
"What's your instinct?" Bill whispered.
"That he's being played. He's supposed to be a casualty of war," Nathan whispered back.
Bill nodded in agreement.
"Follow my lead," Bill said as he turned back inside Brookfield's small and cramped Mountie Office.
Bill stood next to where Constable Boyce was sitting in the cell.
Nathan stood across from Bill.
"What's your role in all of this, Boyce?" Bill growled out.
Boyce shrugged.
"Let me make this clear, you are in a lot of trouble for what you've done. We can prove everyone who is involved. Why are you sacrificing your life for someone who would toss you under a wagon and leave you to die?" Bill added.
"I'm not going to die," Boyce said.
"Really? Who told you how much dynamite to use?" Bill asked as he pointed back to where the trap had been laid.
Boyce stayed silent.
"Hargraves? Croaker? Because whoever it was told you way too much. It is literally an overkill amount. It would have taken out the entire main street," Bill whispered.
They watched as Boyce took in that information. Both men watched as Boyce realized that his friend hadn't cared enough about his life.
"Fess up and be a witness against them, for us, and we'll call this even," Bill said with a hard look.
"We'll let you think about it," Nathan whispered as he gestured Bill outside.
Bill followed him.
"Where was Gabe?" Nathan asked with a heavy sigh.
"Calgary, but he's on the rush back. They got proof," Bill said in a whisper.
Nathan nodded.
"I don't think it's a good idea to transfer Boyce yet," Nathan said.
Bill gave him a glare.
"You're not fully active yet, and I have another job, and I am a retired Mountie," Bill reminded him.
"And you've done such a great job at staying out of Mountie business, Bill," Nathan said sarcastically with an eye roll.
Bill just gave him a glare.
"I'll explain when Gabe gets here," Nathan said.
Bill thought this over for a moment before he agreed.
"I will go make a telegram for Hope Valley Train Depot to let Gabe know," Bill said as he turned towards the telegram office in Brookfield. Nathan went back to carving a new chair for Gabe.
Bill ended up walking around the town of Brookfield to get a feel for the town and the people. He ended up chatting and catching up with Lillian, Grace, and the orphans.
By the time he was done, Nathan was working on putting the different pieces together.
"You're very handy with wood," Bill said in surprise.
Nathan nodded.
"It's how I calm myself," Nathan admitted.
Bill nodded in understanding.
"Need help?" Bill asked.
By the time they had finished the first coat of sealant, Gabe and Apollo rushed into Brookfield. He saw them both and sighed in relief.
"Knowing your luck, I was expecting to see your leg being gone," Gabe said to Nathan as he came forward to embrace him.
"If they had been successful, you wouldn't have found any part of many people," Nathan whispered.
Gabe looked at him, then Bill, who nodded. Nathan led Gabe around to the back.
His reaction was telling.
"I'm glad you were here," Gabe said.
Nathan smiled and nodded.
"Well, I don't really know how to tally our debts at this particular moment," Nathan said.
"None of us can count that high," Gabe agreed.
Nathan and Gabe smiled.
"I take it you want me to stay here and pretend to be Boyce?" Gabe said as he looked at Nathan.
Nathan nodded.
"What will that do?" Bill asked in frustration.
"It's a trap for Hargraves and Croaker. If they think Boyce is still a sleeper cell, then we have time to catch them red handed. We can't trust that Boyce will turn that much, or that he won't give it away. But we can put him in a cabin under witness protection and have Gabe communicate as if he were Boyce," Nathan explained.
"You two realize that there are a thousand things that can go wrong," Bill pointed out.
Nathan and Gabe both nodded.
"This is putting you both in even MORE danger," Bill added.
"Sounds like we're Mounties, Bill," Gabe pointed out as he pointed between the two of them.
Bill glared at them.
"Do you have a better idea?" Nathan asked.
"No," Bill growled out before walking into the Mountie Office to begin to help implement the plan
It was decided that Bill would be the only one to know where Boyce would be placed. His reputation preceded him and many Mounties wouldn't dare to mess with him or his good name.
So, Nathan waved goodbye to the people of Brookfield as he went back home to Hope Valley as he rode Newton slowly home.
Hope Valley was bustling with more activity than was normal. Nathan rode up to the Mountie Office to change into his uniform. It was during this time that a big time paper editor came into Hope Valley in his car.
He stepped out onto the street next to the newspaper office, but he saw that Newton was in the street outside the Mountie Office.
He approached that side first.
"Can I help you, sir?" Nathan asked as he came out of the office.
"Is this your horse?" the man asked.
Nathan nodded.
"Then you're the Mountie that went missing over the summer," the man deduced. "My name is Caleb Brooks. I'm an editor for the Edmonton Gazette," the man stuck out his hand. "I was hoping to talk to Mrs. Coulter, but it seems that you are the better man to discuss this with."
"Constable Nathan Gant, and you definitely need to speak with Mrs. Coulter," Nathan said as he looked towards the newspaper office.
"Why's that?" he asked.
"Because I'm not giving anyone interviews about what happened unless they are hers," Nathan said simply. "I trust her to do the right thing with my story and my words."
The man was looking at him in surprise.
The citizens of Hope Valley were all standing and looking smuggly on.
He nodded and walked into the Valley Voice Office.
"Mrs. Coulter?" he said as he stepped inside.
There were several people standing around a trimming board and looking at the printing press.
"I think this picture will be best placed here and this one here," Rosemary said as she put them down.
"Mrs. Coulter," the man said again.
"How can I help you?" Rosemary said as she turned around.
"My name is Caleb Brooks. I'm the editor of the Edmonton Gazette. I've read your story about the missing constable. I was worried about the things you pointed out, and I imagine that you need more coverage. I can get you more coverage."
"What exactly is the deal you have?" Rosemary asked.
"You come to work as a journalist for me. We split the proceeds 40/60," the man said.
"No," Rosemary said without even needing to think about it.
"What do you mean?"
"No. The whole reason I started this was to be my own boss," Rosemary said.
"With all due respect, Mrs. Coulter, you don't have much. And the biggest story to your credit can easily be taken away from you in a heartbeat with money," the man glared.
"Except, Nathan would never do that," Rosemary said.
"He already has. We discussed things in the street."
"If by discussing things, he means Nathan told him to take a hike, sure," Lucas said as he brought over the dinner they had ordered.
The man glared at Lucas. Lucas didn't even flinch.
Rosemary smiled gratefully at Lucas.
"Constable Nathan Grant is a man of impeccable character. There is no way he would be so shady. We know this because we've grown to know and care for him. He has been our Mountie for a long time. This is why he knew to come to me, rather than a bigger newspaper. He knows he can trust our integrity and our honor to do the best possible job with his story," Rosemary said firmly.
"This story is too important," Mr. Brooks said.
"We agree on that, which is why I am not letting go of my control over it," Rosemary declared firmly.
"You'll regret this," the man said as he crossed back to his car.
"Oh, I doubt that. And make sure to look out for tomorrow's paper," Rosemary said as the man drove away.
Nathan came into the office with an eyebrow raised.
"He tried to hire me as a journalist. I said no," Rosemary said when Nathan walked.
"Do I need to keep an eye on him?" Nathan asked.
"I don't think he specifically will be coming back," Rosemary said.
"But the town is about to get busier with others like him," Nathan concluded.
Rosemary nodded in agreement.
"Do you want to see the next one?" Rosemary asked as she pointed to the board behind her.
"I trust you, Rosemary," Nathan said as he stepped back out into the street.
Rosemary smiled, and they both went back to work.
The next morning's front page story:
The Torture of a Mountie: How Mountie Headquarters is Still Failing the (Formerly) Missing Mountie
By: Rosemary Coulter
The missing Mountie that I wrote about and asked for a more serious look into the issue of him has been found, finally, but it was due to his friends and family's brave and heroic efforts. The missing Mountie's family came to his post town and let his temporary replacement and a former Mountie know their fears about the man being missing. These men were told that he had been missing for over three weeks! And this was at the height of summer!
A sergeant and his wife, just back from the Western front, found the missing constable unconscious and without identification.
"I knew with my training as a medical officer that the man we found was in his last stage of life. He needed the hospital which is why we didn't look around. We dropped him off at the hospital, and then left a note at the Mountie's Office," the sergeant said.
With the note being left one would assume that it would be a good ending.
...but…
"I didn't get any note from the good sergeant. There was nothing to suggest that I had a new John Doe in my jurisdiction," the constable in the area said.
When Constable Nathan Grant woke up, he woke up in a hospital with a head wound in a hospital in a remote part of Alberta. He didn't remember anything of his life or what had happened for him to end up in that location.
"Our John Doe had no identification on him," the doctor on duty said. "We had no one to try and contact."
"It is through the kindness of strangers that he managed to live at all," a friend of the Nathan's said.
As the time passed with no progression of memory retention, Nathan Grant was sent to a long-term care facility that was supposed to be better for patients with his injuries.
...but…
"When we finally found Nathan without his memories, he was being given electric shock therapy," one of his friends commented.
"They didn't speak the languages Nathan was using," another said.
"But we recognized morse code, and he spoke of his daughter despite not knowing anything."
"I feel like my memory loss was a way for my brain to process what I had gone through. I was knocked back and left for dead. My head wound is still hurting, but not nearly as bad. But the treatment at the facility was the worst. I have burn marks from the prods. I think my brain realized that it would be too much to handle if I had more than a few memories to try and process the torture that they were doing," Nathan Grant said when he returned home and finally got his memories back.
"How often did you get the treatment?" I asked.
"Time for me was hard to determine. But it felt frequent," Nathan said.
This was confirmed by his doctors' reports.
"He has several burn marks and scars from his time at the treatment facility, all of which suggest prolonged and multiple uses at each location."
"We also believe that Nathan likely wouldn't have gotten his memories back had he not been found by his friends."
"What do you remember the most from your time there?"
"The pain of the prods. Every time they were trying to 'correct' me, the pain was excruciating. Every muscle goes tight and tense and clenched. I saw some patients develop a muscle spasm from overuse. I didn't get to sleep in there, either. The sounds of the other patients screaming, either from the fear of their treatments or their actual treatments, is constant. I'm very grateful to the people who found me, and to my guardian angels."
Guardian angels indeed!
Dear readers, you must raise your voice even louder now. It has been MONTHS and no one has said anything about what has happened to Nathan Grant while he was in his tracking mission with Constable Croaker. Why they are staying mute is their own reason, but we need to let them know that anything that ends with a Mountie laying on the side of a long and lonely road with no identification and an injury that is so bad that it keeps him in a horrible long-term care facility is completely unconscionable.
I beg your forgiveness, dear readers, because attached are two pictures of Nathan Grant's injuries. One is from his return from the long-term care facility. The other is the spot where he was found by the sergeant. Both may be disturbing for your children.
And then were the two pictures on the inside page. Nathan's sores and welts showed prominently in the first. And the blood stain was obvious in the second.
Rosemary had made sure to hire enough staff to handle the rollouts for Nathan's stories. That day was three times as busy, even with the help.
As the people of Hope Valley had read the morning Valley Voice many were absolutely astonished at the story and the pictures. Many weren't sure how to interact with him any more. They hadn't realized that Nathan had been tortured.
"Constable Grant?" Lucas managed to find him on his morning rounds.
Nathan turned and looked at him with a question.
Lucas just handed over the paper.
Nathan read it quickly, then handed it back.
"You're very lucky to be alive," Lucas pointed out.
"More than you know," Nathan said back.
"I had no idea. None of us did," Lucas said.
"That was my intention, Lucas. If you all saw and knew about what we do everyday people wouldn't feel safe," Nathan said.
"Even in Hope Valley?" Lucas asked in surprise.
"Smart, long-game crooks go after small towns precisely because people assume they are safe. And they're isolated, so they would be harder to catch," Nathan said.
"Well then you're very good at your job. I'm sorry for not realizing it sooner. But if you ever need a private space or time to think away from the overly loving members of Hope Valley, all you need to do is ask. I will have a private room ready, or I can distract them while you ride off," Lucas offered.
Nathan smiled.
"I may actually take you up on that sometimes. No one would look for me there," Nathan smirked.
Lucas laughed.
They said their goodbyes and went about their normal morning.
"Elizabeth, did you know?" came from several voices watching Elizabeth walk into town with her basket for groceries.
"I did. Yes," Elizabeth agreed.
There were several gasps of horror.
"Does Alllie know?" came the next question.
"She does," Elizabeth confirmed.
More gasps.
"What about the Grants?"
"How are they taking the news?"
Elizabeth was looking down the path and saw her destination path get more and more closed off.
"Elizabeth is in town for a purpose, and that purpose isn't to answer your questions about Constable Grant. Ask him directly or ask Rosemary, but leave the others alone," Lucas said loudly as he met Elizabeth at her elbow.
The citizens all blanched at the thought of asking Nathan.
Lucas glared at them all.
They mumbled apologies.
"Please let me escort you to your destination and back?" Lucas whispered as he eyed some groups who hadn't been around to hear the first lecture.
"Lucas…" Elizabeth hesitated.
"Strictly as friends. Nathan isn't here to be a barrier, let me help," Lucas said softly.
Elizabeth was about to say no, when several journalists from out of town came driving in recklessly into the middle of main street. She nodded once and followed Lucas into the Mercantile.
Ned and Florence were having problems keeping up with the influx of customers.
Elizabeth quickly grabbed what she needed to make dinner. Lucas went about his own shopping. They met up again in the checkout line.
"Will you give this to Archie on your way home?" Ned asked as he handed over Archie's pay for the week.
Elizabeth nodded.
"And let him know to not come in for a bit," Ned said.
"I don't think he will agree with that," Elizabeth said.
"His job is to be there for Ruth, Allie, and Nathan. We don't want him swamped with unnecessary questions. We will have someone deliver any food they need until this whole horrible ordeal is over," Ned said softly.
Florence gave her a firm nod in agreement before taking up the phone.
Elizabeth smiled.
Elizabeth and Lucas both paid for their groceries and began to walk towards the rowhouses.
"I spoke with Nathan this morning. I offered to let him use the rooms in the saloon as a private space if he needs one. I'm offering the same to you and the Grants," Lucas said softly.
Elizabeth looked at him in surprise.
"I thought Nathan was still in Brookfield. But I will pass it along," Elizabeth said in thanks just before they were in view of the Grant's house.
Lucas nodded and gestured at her to go on without him.
Elizabeth walked up to their door and knocked firmly three times.
Archie let her in.
"Hello, Elizabeth," Archie said.
"I've just been in town and everyone is talking and asking questions about Nathan's experience. Ned and Florence want you to know that you don't need to go to work for a bit, and they will have a runner deliver any food orders for all of you. They don't want you to be harassed," Elizabeth explained as she pulled out Archie's pay.
Archie raised an eyebrow at that.
Ruth nodded in understanding.
"Mr. Bouchard also spoke with Nathan this morning and is offering a room in the saloon if any of us need privacy," Elizabeth ended.
It was that statement that truly surprised everyone present.
Ruth gave her a skeptical eyebrow. Archie's jaw was open. Allie looked shocked that they had talked.
"I don't know anything more than that. I'm just passing along the message," Elizabeth said.
"How are all of you doing?" Elizabeth asked finally.
"It's the pictures that threw us. We knew what happened, but it is completely different when you have the pictures to show it," Allie said honestly.
Elizabeth nodded in agreement. That had also been a surprise to her.
"They also show how much weight Nathan has lost," Ruth said softly.
Elizabeth looked at her in surprise.
"Put up the one of his injuries next to the one from Allie's adoption," Archie said.
Elizabeth did. As she was comparing the two, she blanched. Nathan had always been thin, but he had been very fit. He had lost a lot of the muscle mass that had defined his shape. The pictures showed a starving, gaunt man staring back at her.
"I have no doubt that you'll get him right back where he was, Ruth," Elizabeth said once she looked away from the pictures.
Ruth gave a tiny smile.
Elizabeth walked back to her house with Cat Montgomery as her chaperone.
"Really?" Elizabeth said when Cat popped out and said she needed a walk.
Cat just raised her eyebrow.
"I'm pretty sure you're not allowed to walk anywhere without an escort anymore. I do say that you are very brave for standing by him through this," Cat said.
Elizabeth sighed.
"I'm not being brave. I'm being stubborn," Elizabeth admitted "I've been waiting so long and just as we were about to enter into a relationship, this had to go public. Nathan asked me to think about it. And I did, but I feel like if I had decided to not pursue our relationship right now, I would have lost him forever. I don't want to lose him without giving us a fair shot."
"Well, whatever your motivations, we all have both of your backs," Cat said firmly.
Elizabeth smiled gently.
"And when you need to go into town, you are escorted by one of the boys in these houses. Miles has been instructed to look out for you and Jack," Cat said.
Elizabeth gave her a look of irritation.
"I'm pretty sure Lee and the Canfield's are doing the same," Cat pointed out.
Elizabeth nodded at that deduction.
"Nathan and Allie have become part of our families as well. He's become a brother to me," Cat admitted.
"I'm glad to hear that. Does he know?" Elizabeth asked.
"I haven't said those exact words, but we have told him that they're family to us," Cat admitted.
Elizabeth smiled.
"Have a good day, Elizabeth," Cat said as she turned around to walk back to her row house.
"You as well, Cat," Elizabeth said as she chuckled at the woman.
Hope Valley was definitely the best place to live.
"Elizabeth, I see you're walking into town. I need to go into town myself. Care for a preacher to join you?" Joseph said as she was walking to town to take care of Sergeant later in the day.
Elizabeth gave him a look.
"Apparently, I'm not allowed to walk by myself anymore," Elizabeth commented as Joseph took into a step beside her
"Not until this whole Nathan fiasco is dealt with. While he is busy protecting everyone, we will help protect his family and loved ones," Joseph said. "Seems the least we can do, especially after…"
Elizabeth nodded.
"Cat said something nearly the same earlier," Elizabeth admitted. "And while I don't like having someone attached to me all the time, I do appreciate why everyone is doing it."
Joseph smiled.
"I had just realized that I hadn't taken care of Sergeant today when I was in town earlier," Elizabeth admitted.
"That can be a problem," Joseph said.
Elizabeth smiled.
Joseph kept up light hearted conversations as they walked into the town and entered the livery.
Nathan surprised both of them by benign inside and taking off Newton's saddle. Joseph excused himself.
"Nathan! Have you been riding?" Elizabeth asked in surprise.
Nathan's eyes flitted up to hers.
"Only because I had to, and I didn't go more than a walk," Nathan answered as he put Newton's saddle where it was supposed to go. The effort took more than it should have.
Elizabeth gave him a light glare.
"You're not supposed to be riding at all, though," Elizabeth pointed out.
Nathan nodded.
"The Mountie in Brookfield ended up being more of a problem than we thought. Gabe is in Brookfield to impersonate the man. Bill is putting him in a witness protection cabin. We can't ask for someone to come help with my horse duties without notifying the ones we are trying to catch," Nathan whispered so softly that Elizabeth had a hard time hearing him.
She gave him a narrowed look.
"Please, make sure you are making safe choices," Elizabeth pleaded.
"Even the safest Mountie has to take risks," Nathan reminded her. "Are you sure you're okay…"
Nathan was interrupted by Elizabeth reaching up and kissing him hard. Her gentle hands found several of his wounds, and began to lightly caress those spots in a loving manner.
"Yes, I'm sure," Elizabeth said firmly when she pulled back.
Nathan was having trouble remembering his own name.
"I hope that convinced you," Elizabeth said as she looked him in the eye from his arms.
"What?" Nathan said distractedly.
Elizabeth gave him a smirk.
"It's that easy to distract you?" Elizabeth asked.
"With you, always," Nathan admitted.
Elizabeth smiled as she played with the hair at the edge of his wound.
Nathan finally leaned in for a kiss. Elizabeth met it quite eagerly. It was softer and more secure.
"Why are you here so late?" Nathan asked as he looked down at her still in his arms.
"I forgot to take care of Sergeant this morning," Elizabeth admitted.
Nathan and Elizabeth both looked at the horse. Who was happily eating oats, had fresh hay, and the stall had been mucked.
"I don't think anyone is going to let him go without his normal routine," Nathan said.
"I've also been escorted everywhere I have been while out and about. And Ned isn't letting Archie work, and they are sending food directly to the row house," Elizabeth commented.
"I'm sorry for being the cause of you losing some of your independence," Nathan said softly.
"I'm not. I get to be with you. This is a small price to pay, and it just shows how much Hope Valley loves you," Elizabeth said as she took his ,and they walked into the street.
When the out of town journalists all realized that this was the constable they were waiting for, there was an increase in noise and crowding.
"Constable Grant?"
"Constable Grant!"
Nathan immediately stiffened.
Elizabeth felt it and placed a soft hand on the middle of his back.
"I'm not answering any questions at this time about this will have to read any comments in the Valley Voice," Nathan said loudly and firmly.
Rosemary smiled at him as their eyes met.
"Are you saying that there is more to come?"
"Oh, yeah, a lot more," Nathan admitted.
There was an influx of people inside Rosemary's office.
Elizabeth and Nathan were both trying to get out of the crowd, but they were being jostled whichever way they turned. Nathan's frustration was rising. So, he escorted her into the Mountie Office and locked the door behind them.
Then he closed the blinds.
"This is why I don't like crowds," Nathan said under his breath.
"No one likes this part of crowds," Elizabeth said softly.
She walked up to him as he was doing a quick perimeter check. She put her hand up and started caressing his face.
Nathan didn't know how she did it, but her touches always seemed to have a calming effect on him.
She smiled at him as she watched his tension go down.
They stood, just cuddling and holding onto each other.
Their quiet was disturbed by the phone ringing. Nathan looked at it, but answered.
"Constable Grant, I will be around the back side of the Mountie Office to drive you and Elizabeth home," Lucas said.
"Thanks," Nathan said in surprise.
Elizabeth looked at him in confusion.
"Lucas is driving us home," Nathan explained.
Elizabeth also looked surprised.
Nathan only opened the backdoor when he heard Lucas pull up. Lucas had the door open already and they scooted inside into the backseat.
Lucas pulled away.
"The crowds are actually getting worse. I figured it would be awhile before you could walk home. Seems silly to leave you both stranded," Lucas explained.
Nathan and Elizabeth both smiled in thanks. Lucas drove directly up to Elizabeth's rowhouse. Nathan and Elizabeth got out together. Lucas drove off with a wave.
"I'm sorry about what happened in town," Nathan apologized.
"That is the people in town, not you," Elizabeth said kindly.
Nathan kissed her hand.
"Good night," he said as he walked away.
Nathan was finally able to enter his home with his family and they all went in for hugs. Allie was in his arms first. Then his mother and his father.
"Nathan, we're so glad you're okay," Ruth said.
"I'm sorry that this is affecting all of you so much," Nathan said as they walked inside.
"We don't care in the least bit," Archie said firmly. "We're just glad you're home."
"Are you sure you wouldn't rather be in Calgary?" Nathan asked them all.
"We would worry about you more, not being able to see you everyday. This allows us to know that you are safe when you come home," Ruth said.
The others nodded.
Nathan looked at his family and was feeling very thankful that they were willing to go through this with him.
Nathan was in his room at the long-term care facility, with his memories, but he couldn't speak English.
"Hello, John. How are you feeling today?" the doctor asked.
"Nathan is ainm dom," Nathan said in Irish.
"Now, John, we've spoke about talking in tongues,"
"Nathan is ainm dom! Nathan is ainm dom," Nathan persisted.
"Nurse," the doctor instructed.
Nathan heard the buzzing of the electric charge and stiffened. Just before he was prodded. His entire body went tense and lifted out of his chair.
"Now, John, how are you doing?" the doctor asked.
"Nathan is ainm dom!" Nathan said again.
The nurse pressed him again. Nathan fell back in pain.
"AHHHHH!" Nathan screamed out.
But as Nathan was having this horrible nightmare in his rowhouse bedroom, he was screaming out in his sleep.
Allie was the first in the hallway, but Archie was the one who entered his room. She looked afraid of what was happening and the noises he was making. Ruth had pulled herself up and out of bed as well. Allie went to lend her an arm as they walked to Nathan's bedroom door.
Nathan was writhing on the bed, screaming out in Irish.
"Calma síos, Nathan," Archie said as he reached out to his hurting and terrified son.
But Nathan was moving around too much for Archie to be able to get him to be still.
Nathan had no idea what was happening in his bedroom.
"Nurse, again," the doctor said.
Nathan was prodded again.
"Archie, who can help him?"
"Go get Elizabeth!"
"Again."
Unending pain.
"Again!"
A door slamming in the distance. Booted feet running away.
"They are fleeing because you're evil, John. Again."
Pain.
"They don't love you. She doesn't love you. Again."
Pain: this time physical and emotional.
More booted feet running back. A door slammed again.
Hushed voices too low to make out.
"Again,"
"Nathan? Nathan, wake up," a voice whispered softly.
Nathan curled in on himself.
A soft, gentle hand pushed his hair back.
"Wake up, please," the voice said again.
Nathan didn't move.
"Nathan, tá grá agam duit," the voice said softly and firmly.
"What?" Nathan whispered.
"Nathan, tá grá agam duit."
Nathan was trying to find this person, because she couldn't love him. She had said she didn't. They had said so. Why was she saying that she did?
"Nathan, tá grá agam duit," she whispered as she kissed his forehead.
Nathan finally woke up from his nightmares curled in his bed with Elizabeth holding his head and wearing a nightdress and her robe.
Nathan looked at her in surprise and confusion.
"Allie came to my house saying you weren't waking up from your nightmare. They didn't know what else to do. I got what I could and came straight here," Elizabeth explained.
"Jack?" Nathan whispered out.
"Allie stayed with him," Elizabeth said.
Nathan was looking around the room as his heart went back to its normal pace. His parents were in the doorway. Archie was smiling at them. Ruth was looking on begrudgingly. Despite not knowing much Irish, she had heard enough of it when Archie was around, and that particular phrase had been directed to her several times a day, once upon a time.
"Did you say that you love me?" Nathan finally asked in a whisper as he looked back at Elizabeth.
She blushed at that.
"I did," she admitted.
"In Irish?" Nathan added.
She nodded.
"When did you learn that phrase?" Nathan asked.
"I bought a book," Elizabeth admitted. "I had hoped that the time I would say it out loud to you would be better and romantic, but it seemed like that was the only thing that would pull you up and out."
Nathan's eyes went more blue.
"I think...this was more meaningful," Nathan said slowly and with feeling.
Elizabeth smiled.
"I'm sorry for you needing to be woken up in the middle of the night," Nathan said.
"I'm just glad I could help," Elizabeth admitted as she began to run her fingers through his hair. This managed to calm Nathan to the point where he fell asleep. Elizabeth waited a few moments to see if his nightmares returned, but he was sleeping peacefully.
Then she got up.
"Thank you," Ruth said as Archie was holding up her coat to escort her back home.
"Anytime," Elizabeth whispered as they tiptoed out of the door together.
A lot of conversations would need to happen, but they all could wait until everyone had a good night's rest.