I know it's been ages, but I've moved house and started job so have been SO busy and this chapter isn't great, but I wanted to get something out before I go on holiday to the States on Monday for 2 weeks. Doubt there will be another chapter before then, so hope this will do for now!

"Sully! Matthew!" Emma Jane pulled away from Frank at the sight of the visitors, hoping against all hope they hadn't witnessed the passionate kiss that had ended only moments ago. She scrambled to her feet, "We…" her eyes rested on Will, "Will!" she surged forward and grabbed him from Sully's horse, holding him close to her.

He opened his eyes sleepily and clung on to her, "Ma…" he said, before falling asleep once again.

"Oh thank God!" Emma Jane declared, holding him so tight she was afraid he might shatter, "Oh thank you, thank you!" She beamed at Matthew and Sully, "Where did you find him?"

"Not far away," Sully replied, "In the next clearing."

"My God, we were so close!" she looked over at Frank who was shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot, "We had given up for the night," she explained, "and we were going to search again at first light but…oh thank you for finding him!" she hugged Will again, "I've been so afraid."

"So I see," Sully replied.

Emma Jane met his unwavering gaze and felt panic rising within her chest, "But thank God, I don't have to be afraid anymore," she said, "now I can take him home."

"Unless you'd rather spend the night out here," Sully said.

"No," Emma Jane replied, "I want to go home." She turned to where Frank was shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot, "Frank?"

"What? Yes, of course," he replied quickly, "No point spending the night out here, is there?" He smiled, but it was forced.

"Come on then," Sully said, "We'll show ya the way."

Frank held Will while Emma Jane scrambled up onto Hurricane, then took her son up beside her. As Frank passed him over, their hands brushed, and their gazes locked, before Emma Jane urged Hurricane forward. Once Frank was up on his horse, the small party made their way out of the clearing and back towards home.

Sully rode alongside Emma Jane, glancing over at her every so often until she looked at him, "What?"

"You left Cloud Dancing," he said simply.

"I know," she turned away again, "I tried to apologise, but he wouldn't listen."

"He was trying to help you."

"I know."

"You let him down."

"Sully, please!" Emma Jane declared, "I'm tired and all I want to do is go home and see Hank. Can we please have this discussion later?"

"Sure," he replied, and trotted on slightly ahead, leaving Emma Jane to bite her lip and worry.

SSSS

Emma Jane pushed open the door of the recovery room where Hank was and peered around it. She looked over at the bed where he was sleeping peacefully and, holding the lamp in her free hand, she stepped inside and closed the door behind her. Softly, so as not to wake him, she tiptoed across the room and set the lamp down on the dresser before sitting herself down on the side of the bed. For a long moment, she sat looking down at him, her heart full of emotion. Her eyes traced his face, his mouth slightly open in sleep, his chest rising and falling steadily and she felt guilt like she had never felt before. Guilt that she could have responded to, and enjoyed, the physical affection of another man.

Reaching out, she ran her hand over his, recalling the many nights of pleasure those hands had given her. "I love you," she whispered, "it meant nothing, and I love you." Then she bent and kissed him gently on the lips.

When she rose to leave, he stirred, moved his head and opened his eyes. Their gazes met and he smiled at her, "Hey."

"Hey yourself," she replied, sitting back down, "How are you feeling?"

"Better now yer here," he replied, trying to pull himself up in the bed, but wincing in pain as he did so.

"Lie still," she said, gently pushing him back down, "I'm sorry I woke you. You need your rest."

"Bin worried bout ya," he told her, "wanted to go looking for ya, but Michaela said I needed an operation."

"She told me." Emma Jane's eyes clouded with concern, "I'm so glad you're going to be all right. Will's all right too," she added, "he's a little cold and dehydrated, but Michaela says he should be fine. Or rather," she added, "as well as he can ever be."

"Sully kept his promise."

"What promise?" she asked.

"To find ya."

She smiled, "I suppose he did." She tried to block Sully, his anger and what he might have seen out of her mind. She bent and kissed Hank again, longer and deeper, her heart thumping loudly, wondering if he could taste Frank on her.

"Ya smell of cologne," he observed when they broke apart.

"Do I?" she laughed, "Frank came to look for me and we ended up sheltering together not long before Sully and Matthew found us." Her words came out in a tumble.

But Hank didn't seem perturbed, "Nice of him to help ya."

"Yes, it was," she replied, running her hand down the side of his face and across the top of his chest, "I missed you."

"Missed ya too," he said, "ya gonna stay with me tonight?"

"I'm not sure it's allowed," she replied, "I don't think Michaela advocates visitors sleeping with the patients." Hank grinned at her, "I should probably check on Will."

He nodded, "Sure, go on. Doc says I can go home tomorrow anyway."

"I can look after you better there," Emma Jane replied, standing up, "Go back to sleep," she urged, "I'll see you in the morning."

"Night," he replied, letting her go reluctantly.

Emma Jane left the room and closed the door behind her. She stood for a moment, leaning against it, then made her way back downstairs out of the clinic and back over to the hotel where Jake met her at the door.

"Ya seen this mess?" he demanded.

Emma Jane sighed heavily, "I took a quick look when I brought Will home," she looked up at the roof, "How bad is it really?"

Jake snorted, "Well, gonna be expensive, not to mention the customers that have gone to the Spring Chateau."

Emma Jane's initial relief at having her family safe dissipated quickly as reality struck once again, "This is going to hurt us, isn't it?"

"You tell me," Jake said, "Yer the one who knows it all."

"Jake!" she was stung by his tone.

"All I'm sayin' is, you think you got it all figured out bout our business, you try and fix it." With that, he walked away from her, leaving her standing by herself. Turning, she glanced up at the window of the clinic where she knew Hank was sleeping, then she made her way inside.

SSSS

The following morning, bright and early, she got up and set about cleaning the room in time for Hank coming home. She scrubbed the floor and changed the bedsheets and put fresh flowers in a vase on the dressing table. Then she paused and told herself to stop trying so hard to compensate for her guilt. Hank would be bound to think something was up if she went overboard.

Finally satisfied, she went into Will's room where he was just waking up, "Morning sleepyhead," she greeted him affectionately, "How you feeling this morning?"

"Ok," he replied, allowing her to put her hand on his forehead, "Tired."

"I'm not surprised," Emma Jane replied, "Well it's bed today for you, young man. I'll make you some breakfast."

"Is Pa comin' home?"

Emma Jane nodded, "And he's got to stay in bed too, so I'm going to be looking after both my boys." She kissed him on the forehead, "You cuddle back down and I'll be right back." As she left the room, she saw Robert E and some others arrive to start mending the roof, "You're not going to be too noisy, are you?" she inquired, "Only Will's still not a hundred per cent and Hank's going to be in bed too, and you know how he hates being disturbed."

"Gotta fix the roof, Emma Jane," Robert E replied, "Unless you want it to stay how it is?"

"No, of course not. Just…try and not be too loud?" Robert E shrugged, and she moved past him and downstairs to the kitchen to make some breakfast. Victoria was already sat at the table eating. "When did you get up?" Emma Jane greeted her.

"A while ago," she replied sullenly. She watched as her mother set about making breakfast for her brother, "Is Will ok?"

"Fine, but he's got to rest," Emma Jane replied, "and your father's coming home today too and he's got to stay in bed, so I don't want you running up and down the stairs, ok?"

Victoria scowled behind her mother's back, "Ok." Noisily she slurped from her cup.

"Victoria, manners," Emma Jane reminded her. Victoria said nothing and her mother really wasn't listening as she set about tidying the kitchen. Finally, when she had killed enough time, she headed for the door, "I'll be back in a minute." She didn't see Victoria's look as she left.

Hurrying across the street to the clinic, she practically bounded inside, startling Michaela who was sitting at her desk.

"Good gracious!" she exclaimed, "I don't think I've ever seen anyone come in here with such enthusiasm!"

Emma Jane laughed, "What can I say, Michaela. I want to take Hank home."

"Well, he should be ready to go," she stood up and led the way up to the recovery room where Hank was sitting on the edge of the bed buttoning up his shirt. He grinned at they walked in.

"My two favourite girls."

Michaela smiled, "I'm afraid I'll have to say I'm Sully's favourite girl."

Hank shrugged, "No problem. I'll settle for this one," he gestured at his wife, "She'll do."

Emma Jane made a face, "You're pushing it, Mr Lawson. Come on, I'm here to take you home."

"Ain't a minute too soon," he replied, standing up slowly and wincing.

"Hank, you must remember to take it easy," Michaela reminded him, "You've had a major operation."

"Bin shot up worse in the past."

"When?" Emma Jane declared in horror, taking his arm.

"Kept it from ya, didn't I?" he grinned at her.

"Thanks again, Michaela," Emma Jane said as they made their way downstairs and out of the clinic, "For everything."

"It's a pleasure," Michaela replied, "Remember, don't hesitate to come back if you have any further discomfort."

"Are you all right?" Emma Jane asked, as she and Hank walked across the street.

"Fine," he replied, despite his obvious discomfort.

"We'll get you into bed and you'll feel much better."

"Specially if yer in there with me," he teased her.

Emma Jane rolled her eyes, "Don't push it." Just as they reached the door of the Gold Nugget, Frank appeared out of nowhere, "Frank!" she exclaimed, a little too loudly.

"Emma Jane," he touched his hat, "Hank, I was just wondering how you were feeling?"

"Ain't doin' too bad," Hank replied. He held out his hand, "Wanted to thank ya for helpin' Emma Jane looked fer Will."

"We didn't find him," Frank replied, "Sully and Matthew did."

"Yeah, but ya helped when I couldn't, and fer that, I want to say thanks." Frank shook his head, "Free drink whenever ya want it."

"Oh, thank you," Frank replied, glancing at Emma Jane, who looked away, "Well, I hope you feel better soon." He touched his hat again and then hurried away.

"Nice guy," Hank commented as they watched him walking towards the bank.

"Yes," Emma Jane replied, watching him wistfully, "yes he is." She felt a ripple run through her and she practically pushed Hank inside. "Come on," she whispered, "What's that you were saying about getting me into bed?"

Hank looked at her in surprise, but allowed her to propel him past the guests and up the stairs towards the bedrooms. As they reached the top, Victoria came running down the corridor and launched herself at her father, who winced at the force of her body against his.

"Victoria!" Emma Jane scolded, practically dragging her daughter away, "Be careful!" Victoria looked at her mother and then ran away, crying, but Emma Jane was more concerned with salving her own conscience. She pushed Hank into the bedroom and closed the door firmly behind them.

"Ya all right?" Hank inquired.

"Perfectly fine," she replied, advancing towards him and kissing him hard, her hands starting to unbutton his shirt. They sank down onto the bed, Hank wincing as they did so, "Sorry," Emma Jane breathed, kissing him again, her hands tearing at his clothes. If they could just make love, then any fleeing remembrance of Frank would be torn from her memory. She wanted the passion, the desire that she was so familiar with, that was her life.

All of a sudden, however, she stopped as she realised that Hank wasn't exactly reciprocating. Lifting her head from where she had been gently kissing his neck, she saw a look of embarrassment and annoyance on his face, "What's wrong?" she asked, slightly impatient.

"I'm…sorry," he said, "Emma Jane…"

Sitting up quickly, Emma Jane pushed her loose hair back from her face, "Hank…?"

"Sorry," he repeated, "Can't seem to…"

Emma Jane stood up and smoothed down her dress, "It's all right, don't worry about it."

"Ain't never happened before," Hank replied grouchily.

"It's fine," she said brightly, "You've been ill, it's probably natural." She headed for the door, "I'll make some tea." Then she practically ran out and slammed the door behind her.