Chapter Forty-Four

Emma held Horatio close to her, tightening her arms when she felt him begin to ease out of her body. No...not yet. Not yet! Emma wanted to scream at her husband. She'd gladly endure the physical pain of their joining all over again if Horatio would just stay right here. Safe and so very alive.

"Emma..." Horatio said, lifting himself to look at her.

"Please." Emma moaned burying her face in his neck, her eyes filling with tears.

"I must. You know that." he explained but she felt slightly comforted by the reluctance in his voice. "Are you all right?"

"No! Not at all." Emma sniffled swatting his arm. "Don't go, Horatio. I beg you." She began to sob into the crook of his neck.

"Emma-" Horatio shifted uncomfortably. He eased onto his back and Emma followed, resting her head on his chest.

"We could run. Please, Horatio. Let's just go somewhere, anywhere far away from here." Emma begged, trembling with fear.

"Alright now, that's enough of that." He insisted sitting upright and pulling her up as well. "I'm not going to run away from Jack Simpson. Besides, desertion is a crime. I will not shirk my duty"

"I...I don't care!" Emma wailed. It was too much to ask. To have loved him so fully and then just sit by while he went and got himself shot.

"Stop this, Emma. I beg you. Do not make this harder than it already is." Horatio insisted wearily.

Emma sniffled and pulled away from him. Harder for whom! she wanted to scream.

But she did feel a small bit of guilt. She should be easing his burden, not adding to it. That's what wives did for their husbands. Oh but it was so bloody hard!

For better or worse. The words came back to her. Well this was certainly the worse part. She dropped her head onto his shoulder. "Please don't die." She whispered softly. Horatio held her tightly against him.

"I don't plan to, love. I've certainly got more to look forward to now, don't I?" he asked with a shy smile.

The day matched Emma's mood perfectly. It was cloudy and frigid. The cold air whipped through the carriage as she accompanied Horatio to the agreed upon spot. She experienced a horrible sense of deja-vu when the carriage stopped and Horatio helped her down. She tried to push that horrible day from her mind and prayed that this occasion would not be concluded in a similar manner.

Emma barely listened as Heather instructed them on when they were to turn and fire. Her eyes locked with Jack Simpson. Vile bastard, Emma thought with a shudder. You, who caused so much pain and misery to so many good men. Her heart clenched with grief for Archie. God forgive me, I hope you meet your end today. Then, wondering how God would take her wishing for another man's death, Emma amended her request. Archie, if there is a heaven, I'm assured you are there and looking down on us today. I beg you, if you can, watch over your friend. Guide his hand. Emma prayed clutching the cufflink at her neck.

Matthews stood behind her and Emma was grateful for the old man's presence. Doctor Hornblower stood off to Emma's right, ready to be of service. She noticed his face was slightly pale with fear for his son. She reached over and took his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Her breath came up short as Horatio and Jack began to walk away from each other in ten paces.

They turned to face each other and Emma caught the sneer in Simpson's face, chilling her worse than the cold air.

The pistols were raised and on the count of nine, one fired.

"No!" Emma shrieked when Horatio fell backwards onto the snow. She bolted forward and dropped next to her husband who was, thankfully, alive, but with a nasty wound in his shoulder that was oozing warm blood onto her fingers.

"Did I get him? Did I kill him?" Jack asked stepping forward.

"Oh God. Oh God!" Emma whispered trying to focus on the fact that Horatio's eyes were still open and not on the blood coursing out of his shoulder. She grabbed her handkerchief and pressed it to his wound, her fingers trembling.

Doctor Hornblower crouched down next to her and all but dismissed Emma as he examined his son's wound. She would have felt affronted but her heart stirred with compassion for the older man's shaking hands and so she stepped aside without comment.

Horatio's face was red with pain but he patted her hand reassuringly. Emma noticed distantly that the bullet had passed clean through. A superficial wound, thank God. Horatio forced himself to his feet and turned to Simpson.

"No, you did not." Horatio grunted through obvious agony as his father and Emma helped him to his feet. Heather informed them that Horatio would be allowed his shot since Jack had cheated and fired early.

"What?" Emma asked with a mix of hope and horror. Now that Jack had used his weapon and it had already fired the one bullet it contained, he was defenceless. As much as Emma wanted to drag her husband off by his curly hair, there was an opportunity here to finally rid themselves of Simpson with no further risk to Horatio himself.

Jack saw this and dropped to his knees, grovelling like a child.

"For God's sake, don't! Don't shoot me!" Jack pleaded while Horatio pointed his pistol at the monster that had lived much too long in their midst.

"Do it." Emma whispered gripping the cufflink at her neck in an iron grasp. "For the love of God, do it." Emma shook with her desire to see this man dead. She would make her penance with God later for her evil thoughts. For now, she saw only their last chance for peace bought for with Jack Simpson's life.

And then Horatio fired into the air.

"You're not worth the powder." Horatio said, his pained voice filled with contempt.

Emma wanted to bash in her husband's skull. Damn his honourable hide! Horatio walked back towards them, slowly, his legs wobbly with the effort. Emma filed away her chastisement for later. Horatio needed her now and that would take the importance in her mind at the moment. He sagged against her and Emma would have fallen backwards were it not for dear Matthews catching them both.

She would never recall the next few moments in any sort of clear detail, but would have to rely on second hand testimony over what occurred next.

Emma didn't see Simpson get to his feet, only saw him rushing towards her husband's back, gleaming silver blade in hand. The terror of that moment, knowing Horatio would not turn in time to save himself, would stay with Emma for the rest of her life. Then the pistol was in her hand. She didn't remember reaching for it or to whom it belonged to. She'd learn later it was Cleveland's.

Her only clear thought was another prayer to their deceased friend. Guide my hand.

And then Jack Simpson was no more.

A.N:

Kidman5: Thanks a lot for your feedback. Hopefully this one was worth the wait too.

NarfOnABiscuit: How can I possibly forget a name like that? (laughs) Hope you like this chapter! Hope the wait was worth it!

Kasora: No worries, whenever you have time to feedback is fine. I'm glad you're enjoying Horatio and Emma. I try to write them well. And Archie's around in...ahem...spirit. (laughs) Bug me all you want, I don't mind in the least. (smiles)

Camreyn: You've been missed! I'm so glad you're still enjoying this and I'm glad you liked the love scene. I tried to make it as realistic as possible while still fitting these two characters. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!