This is my very first fanfic! So please be nice… English is not my native language and I don't have a beta reader, so if there are spelling or grammar mistakes… I'm sorry! But if you want to apply for the job as my beta reader… Be my guest!

Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own the characters of "Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman"… One Beth Sullivan does… But I do own the character of Jonas "John" Kerrigan!

Rating: I don't know anything about these ratings, but let's say T or PG-13. Just to be safe...

Warnings: Nothing graphic, but there are references to child abuse! Oh, and I really suck at the towns geography. So I apologize to all the fans who do know exactly what Colorado Springs looks like and where which building is standing… Because I really don't, so I made up some things… So maybe this story is slightly AU… : )

Summary: A stranger visits Colorado Springs. Not everyone is happy to see him…

I'm sorry it took so long, but I've been so busy lately! I just didn't have the time to update. I hope you're still willing to read this story. Oh, and again thank you for all the reviews!

Chapter 8

Hank stood in front of the saloon and looked over at the barbershop. He thought about the conversation he had with Sully the night before. The conversation about John Kerrigan… Sully had told him that he should tell Jake about this man. Hank, however, didn't really want to tell anyone else about John Kerrigan. It was nobody else's business! But deep down inside he knew he was wrong about that. It was everybody's business. Many of the citizens were about to spend a lot of money on luxury things and expanding their businesses, just because one man had told them that welfare and wealth would soon be within their reach. Hank sighed. He knew it was up to him to prevent the townspeople from making a very big mistake.

Hank walked over to the barbershop where Jake should be. He knocked on the door before he entered. He didn't wait for someone to answer and walked inside. He expected to find Jake on the other side of the door, instead it was John Kerrigan he found sitting in a chair. "What the hell are you doing here?" Hank hissed. John was about to answer when Jake walked in with some documents in his hands. "Hank!" Jake said surprised. "What is HE doing here?" Hank asked angrily and pointed at John. "We were about to sign some agreements concerning the investments John is going to make in Colorado Springs," Jake answered as he put the documents on the table. Hank looked at John who was smiling gently. Hank felt his skin crawling and looked back at Jake. "Is that so?" Hank said in a gruff voice. He was having a hard time controlling his emotions. Oh, how he would love to kick the man in the face, but for once he realized that it wouldn't do any good. It wouldn't help anyone.

"I need to talk to ya," Hank said, trying to sound casual. Jake nodded. "Okay, we'll be done in about 15 minutes, so if you want to wait outside…" Jake suggested. Hank, however, had other plans. "No, I need to talk to ya NOW!" He hoped he didn't sound too desperate, but he had to talk to Jake before these documents were signed. "Okay…" Jake said hesitantly, "Then talk…" He looked at Hank suspiciously. It was obvious to him that the man had something on his mind, he just didn't understand why it couldn't wait for just a few minutes. "Privately…" Hank said and eyed John dangerously. John stood up and walked towards the door, taking the hint. "It's all right Jake, I can wait," he said and smiled, "I'm sure Mr. Lawson has something important to discuss with you. I'll come by later today to sign these documents." Jake nodded. He was about to answer, but John had already left the barbershop.

Jake sighed and pointed at a chair. "You want to sit down?" Hank shook his head. "No, it won't take long…" Hank stared at the ground. He didn't know how to tell Jake what he had to say. He also didn't know WHAT to tell Jake. He surely didn't want to tell Jake the exact same story he had told Sully the day before. It had been hard enough just to tell Sully. There was no way he would tell Jake the whole story! It wasn't his business. "Eh… it's about John…" he started, unsure of how to continue. "What about him?" Jake asked. He could see that Hank was nervous and he wondered why. Hank was never nervous! "Ya shouldn't let him sign those papers," Hank continued. He looked at Jake a little uncertain. "Why's that?" Jake asked. A part of him didn't want to know what was coming, however, there was also a part of him which was very curious to find out what Hank had to say.

"He's bad news, Jake," Hank said, sounding more secure. "What makes you think that?" Jake asked suspiciously. "I… I just know, okay…" Hank sighed. He was determined not to tell Jake anything about his past with John. There was no way he would display his greatest weakness in front of Jake. "Look Hank, you have to give me something specific otherwise I have no reason to believe you," Jake said and shook his head. "The man has been nothing but nice to everyone here in town! He even wants to invest in it, which will be good for all of us! How can that be wrong?" Jake eyed Hank questioningly. "Of course it ain't wrong…" Hank sighed deeply and leaned against the wall. "It's just… I just think you should check him out before you're going to do business with him… Especially when the interest of every citizen in town is at stake." Jake's eyes were shooting daggers at Hank at the last comment. Hank knew he'd just hit the man where it hurts. "Are you saying that I don't care about this town? That I'm doing my job wrong?" Jake was getting angry. Damn! Hank thought, This ain't the way this conversation should be going. "I'm not saying that Jake! But tell me… What do you really know about this man? You know him for what… three days? Ya can't trust someone in three days Jake! Not enough to put the welfare of this entire town on the line!" Hank's voice was strong, but patient.

Jake kept quiet. He looked at Hank briefly and then turned his back on him. Hank decided to take a different approach. "Don't ya think, that if I really believed that this deal would bring in extra money, that I would be the first one to tell you that you should sign these damned papers?" Again Jake didn't say a word. "Ya know that I'd do almost everything for money," Hank joked. Jake thought about what Hank had just said and realized that the man was right. Hank was always the first one to agree with things that would improve his financial situation. In fact, Hank could smell money from miles away. "What do you want me to do?" Jake asked quietly. "What I told you before… just check the man out… Send a telegraph to Denver… Ask whether they've heard of him." Hank was quiet for a moment, but then said: "I don't know if it's possible but… try to contact someone in Oslo… Norway… Ask if they have information about a Jonas Kerrigan…"

Jake turned around and looked at Hank with a surprised look on his face. "What… How do you know?" he asked. Hank sighed. "Let's just say that I know him… Please, don't ask me anything else… Just check him out. I… I'm sure you'll find something that will prove me right," he said. Jake could tell that there was more to this than Hank was letting on, but he decided not to ask any more questions. "Just don't let him sign these documents," Hank continued as he pointed at the pieces of paper on the table. Jake nodded. "I won't… I'll check him out first." Relief was washing over Hank's face and he nodded at Jake gratefully. "Well, I'll be off then… Got a business to run… Good luck!" he said to Jake. Then he turned around and walked outside. "Thanks…" Jake said softly as he saw the tall man disappear from his sight.

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As Hank walked back to the saloon, he didn't notice that he was being watched by a pair of very angry looking eyes. Damn you Hans Lawsenstrom! You will get what is coming to you… There is no way you can mess up my plans! John Kerrigan appeared from behind the barbershop as he watched Hank walk back to his business. He had heard everything that had been said between Jake and Hank and knew that his time in Colorado Springs was up. He knew he had to leave today. Soon people would know the truth about him, especially if Jake was going to check him out. He looked at the saloon one more time. You WILL suffer for what you did… You WILL suffer the same fate I have! He chuckled. I think I'll make a little trip back to Denver… I think I can manage to find my way back to that art school… Have a chat with a certain young boy… He smiled evilly as he turned around and disappeared from everyone's sight…

TBC

Okay, this chapter is a little shorter than the previous two. But I still hope you all like it! Please let me know!