Jack pushed passed Elizabeth as the both departed from the carriage in front of Conn's house. He pounded fiercely on the front door as Elizabeth, clothed in loose fitting pants and a tunic similar to Jacks, caught up to him.

"Should we just go in?" Elizabeth asked, quietly.

Jack got his answer as a muffled scream came through an open window. He tried the door knob first and found it locked. Pushing Elizabeth back off the porch, Jill pulled his pistol out of his belt and shot the door open. With Elizabeth close on his heels, Jack pushed himself into the house, calling for Jill.

"The back. They must be in the back," Elizabeth said, rushing past Jack.

They split up, going from room to room calling for Jill. Another scream, closer this time, led them to a closed room all the way in the back of the large house. Jack drew his pistol in his right hand and his sword in his left as Elizabeth, unarmed, opened the door and stood back.

Jack rushed into the room through a marrow hallway and burst into the main room, searching for Jill. All he saw was a slim an, his back turned, facing a corner, his hands hanging limp by his sides. Sprawling from between his legs were slimmer, naked legs that were limp as they laid there.

"Jill?" Jack called, taking a step forward.

Jack's voice startled the other man, who slowly spun around allowing Jack his first glimpse of Jill's limp form. Her blonde hair was matted red with blood which was then smeared across her naked body as it slumped in a corner, her right shoulder still held to the wall by the iron rod.

"Conn, I presume?" Jack asked, trying to hold back his rage.

"I am. And you?" Conn sneered.

"You don't need to know my name."

Jack slowly raised his pistol toward Conn. Cocking the gun he felt a strong hand on his back.

"No, Jack. He doesn't deserve a swift punishment," Elizabeth said.

"He doesn't deserve to live either," Jack snarled, his rage building.

"Ah, so you're Jack. The one Jill thought was going to come rescue her," Conn said.

Jack's grip tightened on his pistol as he felt Elizabeth take his sword from him.

What happened next was a blur to everyone in the room. As Jack's rage grew, so did his grip on the pistol. He felt Elizabeth side step away from him quickly. The movement startled Jack, who finally pulled the trigger. At the same time he saw Elizabeth rear back, tossing his sword toward Conn.

The bullet hit first, striking Conn in the gut. The slim man stumbled back, tripping over Jill. Elizabeth's attack struck true, piercing Conn through the heard and pinning him to the wall, leaving him hanging over Jill.

Stunned, Jack and Elizabeth stood still for a moment before rushing forward to check on Jill. As Jack removed the rod and picked her up in his arms, Elizabeth riffled through the wardrobe to find something to cover Jill with.

Jack gently laid Jill on the large bed, gathering the bedspread around her. He brushed her hair out of her face as she shuttered under his touch. Her blue eyes slightly fluttered open but couldn't focus and fell shut again.

"Jill," he whispered softly. "Jill, it's me. It's Jack. I'm here now. You're safe."

Elizabeth joined him at the bedside, hands empty, except for Jack's bloody sword.

"We need to get her out of here. She needs a doctor," Elizabeth said, laying a gentle hand on Jack's shoulder.

Once again, Jack gathered Jill into his arms, spread and all. He moved as quickly as he could behind Elizabeth.

"Take her home in the carriage. I'll run into town and get the doctor and bring him along," Elizabeth said once they exited the house.

The coachman helped Jack into the carriage and sped off, leaving Conn's body all but forgotten.