The Burden of Love: Secrets

by tarskeewee08

Barnaby walked inside bringing the frosty blast of the storm with him. The sight he saw was of no surprise to him. His eyes immediately locked with John's and a amused smiled curled on his lips. Slipping his gun inside of his jacket he shook his head slowly. "I knew when I saw Jason's body it was you son…."

"Really? How perceptive of you…." John hissed he tried to play it cool but where was Evangeline? Did he do something to her?
Matt looked at John confused "Who is he Barnaby?"
"Your new Lt." he said chuckling as Matt's eyes grew even larger. Barnaby looked over at Cletus's battered body. The young man was on the sofa barely conscious. "What the hell did you do to him!" he roared.

Matt looked at Cletus confused "We just roughed him up, just to get him to tell us where it was that's all. He put up a fight and it got out of hand. It was Jason I swear it."

"I told you two not to hurt him until I got here. I take it he didn't tell you where my damn money was?"

Matt looked away "No sir"

Barnaby took off his coat and shook off the snow that clung to him. "Where is she?" he asked tossing his coat on the back of the chair and scowling at John then Matt.

John looked over at Matt and said nothing his heart was pounding in his chest ever since Barnaby stepped through the door without her.

Matt shrugged "If you mean that attorney, he said that she was shot with Jason"

Barnaby rolled his eyes "And you believed him? Are you that dumb?"
"Now wait a minute! I didn't sign on board for this! I….."
"Shut up! She's out there probably around the house somewhere. Find her and bring her in while I think of a way to deal with them."

Matt nodded and walked to the door. John stood up quickly. "She's not out there!" he snapped

Barnaby smiled at him. "She won't be hurt….not yet. I advise you to sit down son me and you have some unfinished business."

John glared at him. "Yeah we do…"
He watched Matt put on his coat and thought about her out there in the cold storm. How did Barnaby not see her when he came in? Was she in the woods hiding? Oh god he hoped so, he needed to think fast it was coming down really hard outside.

Evangeline shivered in the snow her teeth chattering making her jaws vibrate. She had to think of something and quick. From the side of the house she looked in the window to see the cop who was familiar to her putting on his coat. That could only mean he was coming for her. She smiled to herself. That would be perfect.

Dropping the gun into the snow on the side of the cabin she looked around for a heavy stick. Finding some kindling stacked against the wall she picked up the longest piece gripping it firmly between her hands. She couldn't shoot Matt and draw attention to herself out here. Barnaby would kill them for sure. Going to the edge of the cabin she peaked around the corner to see Matt come through the door looking into the blizzard. She was so cold her hands, although covered in gloves, were frozen stiff and hurting. Holding tightly to the wood she saw he was headed for the other side of the cabin and she couldn't allow that. He had to come toward her.

Bending down and sticking her hand into the ankle deep snow she tried to feel for a rock or something. Coming up with nothing she blew out a bloom of frustrated breath. "God help me" Turning she went back to the wood pile and grabbed a piece of wood then threw it into the forest. To her surprise she actually connected with a tree making a loud thud. Peaking again around edge of the cabin she saw him stop and look back over his shoulder. He was going to come to her.

Matt heard a thud behind him and turned around quickly. "You out there?" he called out.
Pulling out his gun he walked back down the wooden porch with his gun drawn. The snow storm was so fiercely blowing large flakes directly onto the porch and the wind whipped around him making it painfully cold. "Hey come out I won't hurt you……aren't you cold?"

Evangeline pressed her back against the cabin wall. Her lashes were thick with snow and so was her hair. She tried to steady her breathing that was becoming ragged from the constant battle to stay warm. Her teeth continued to chatter and her lips were purple and cracking. She had to do something soon. She didn't know how much more of this she could take.

"Listen to me…I just want to bring you inside so we can work this out." Matt said nearing the edge of the porch. He looked through the blanketed snow falling into the forest on the side of the cabin and knew she was out there watching. Smiling he thought about how tough she acted in the courtroom, well she wasn't so tough now. He didn't even know why he had the gun drawn. He could handle her easily and wrap this up pretty quickly.

Stepping down the step grinning he decided to drag her ass back inside and get out the cold before he froze to death. "Look I'm through playing……"

WACK

Evangeline heard something crack in his face when she connected the wood with him as he stepped off the side of the porch. She couldn't believe she hit her target on the first try. Matt fell to the ground in a heap his nose bleeding. Dropping the wood she ran to his side checking for a pulse. It was there but faint "Thank god….." she whispered.

Grabbing him she dragged him from the snow onto the porch so he wouldn't freeze to death. Her body aching from being exposed to the storm for so long had her wheezing as she pulled him along. Finally getting him secure she ran back off the porch to where she left the gun. The snow had fallen so thick it was buried.

"Oh god….no god please help me" she said digging through the snow. Panic making it even harder to find it and the cold causing her to loose control she felt the making of tears welling in her eyes. "Please god……please help us."

Pushing against the snow her hand touched something hard and she knew instantly it was the gun. Pulling it free she kissed the cold steel. Come hell or high water it was show time. She had to go inside now.

Looking back into the window she saw that Barnaby was relaxed grinning at John with his gun in his holster. He would be expecting Matt, so the element of surprise was still in her favor. Saying another silent prayer she raced back to the porch.

"What's this all about?" John asked his anxiety growing with Evangeline outside with that animal. He needed Barnaby distracted while he came up with something, anything to free him from the helplessness of the situation.

"Ask your buddy over there…..he has something I want" Barnaby hissed
John looked at Cletus who was out again from the pain of the unwarranted attack. Touching his neck he felt his pulse strongly pumping in his throat.

"So you beat him half to death? What kind of sicko are you?"
Barnaby shook his head "You have no idea what's going on, so don't sit there and judge me. I swear you are Thomas's boy through and through. It was the death of him and it will be the death of you."

Before John could respond Evangeline came crashing into the door with the gun raised. John looked at her shocked and Barnaby reached for his gun. "Don't…..you dare….I…..I will shoot I swear" she said stuttering and shaking badly.

Her face was pale and she was covered in snow. John could she the shivers racing through her body. Rising form the sofa he went to her and Barnaby lowered his hand glaring at her. The snow from outside was blowing into the cabin so he shut the door before touching her. "Baby….."
Evangeline held the gun with both hands trained on him still shaking. John saw she was somewhat in shock. He was so proud of her and worried sick over the condition she appeared in. "Give me the gun…" he said reaching for it.

"Noooo….tie…tie…. him up first!" she stammered. John looked from Barnaby to her. "Where's the other one?" he asked

"On….the….the porch"
"Wait here and if he moves then you shoot him baby." He said going to the door. Evangeline nodded and Barnaby glared at them both. Within minutes he came back dragging Matt in with him. Evangeline moved over so they could get into the cabin still keeping the gun on Barnaby.

John closed the door and immediately fished for his handcuffs. "Throw your handcuffs to her feet" John yelled over his shoulder.
"No! I won't be shackled like some common thug…." Barnaby snapped
"You'll do it or I swear I'll have you wearing a pamper for the rest of your miserable short life." She said lowering the gun down to point it at his crotch.

Barnaby eyes grew wide. "Fine.." he huffed taking the cuffs off his belt and tossing them. John cuffed Matt then got up going to her feet retrieving the other cuffs.

"Get up!" he snapped at Barnaby. The chief rose reluctantly and John turned him around handcuffing him. He walked him out of the room and led him to another room in the cabin.

With them gone Evangeline was finally able to lower the gun but her hands remained frozen to it. John came back in the room and went to Matt picking him up and taking him into a different room. She didn't know what he was doing and didn't care. She went to the sofa dropping the gun onto the table next to it. Cletus was still out and she winced at the bruising she saw on his face and hands. Shaking off her coat she felt her body warming. "Cletus" she said going to his side.

He didn't stir and a sense of panic rose in her from his stillness. Touching the side of his face he felt warm and she prayed there were no internal injuries.

John came back out to see her on the sofa tending to him. She was wet from the now melted snow in her hair and face. "Evangeline"
Rising she went to him "Oh John I'm so glad you're safe" she said hugging him.
"I'm glad you're safe too baby, I can't believe you took control like this" he said smiling at her and then kissing her forehead.

She hugged him tightly placing her head on his chest. "I would walk through Hades twice for you"
"I love you too" he said warmly.

"What did you do with Barnaby?" she asked
"Made him comfortable for our little question and answer chat." He said letting her go and going over to the gun she left on the coffee table.

"John we have to get the police here." She said frowning at him holding the gun.
"Look at that storm baby….I tried the phone in the room its out. No one can get to us."
"Cletus needs medical attention. We can try the radio in the squad car outside." She said walking to her coat.

"NO!" he snapped
Evangeline stopped and turned shocked "What's wrong?"
John ran his hand through his hair nervously "I need to know why my father died."
She looked at him for a long moment then at the gun in his hand. "John what are you going to do?"

"I just need some answers Van" he said gripping the gun tightly.
"John…..sweetie, we need to get out of here and take Barnaby in. We can get the answers you need."

"NO! He gets back to the station he lawyers up. Before long this will all be tossed. You know the drill" he said turning and heading toward the room. Evangeline went after him and yanked his arm. When that didn't work she got in front of him. "This isn't the way baby….."

"Move..."
"Listen to me. You told me once that justice and revenge were not the same thing. What you're seeking right now is revenge. I lost someone too and I carry the burden of that loss just like you carry the burdens on your heart, but we aren't executioners. It's not us that's them!" she said her voice cracking.

John stared into her eyes and saw the love in them. "I need to know what happened." he said weakly.

"You already know. Your father saw the corrupt ways of Barnaby and tried to stop him. Barnaby dealt with him the same way he dealt with those other cops. He killed him. You don't need every detail carved into your heart." She said touching his face tenderly.

John closed his eyes to the coolness of her touch. He had waited for this day for so long. The day he would face his father's killer and make him pay. She was right about revenge. If Barnaby hesitated one iota in telling him what happened to his father he was prepared to kill him. He actually looked forward to killing him. "I can't let him get away with it." he said in a hoarse voice choked with bitterness.

She smiled in his face "Then help me save Cletus. He knows enough to put Barnaby's ass in jail for a long time. Why would he beat and keep him locked up here if he wasn't afraid of him or desperate for something that he has. Either way we got that monster and we can make him pay through the same system he has abused and corrupted for years."

John looked over at Cletus who could be dying and saw the logic in what she was saying. Though his heart still screamed for vengeance she was the calm in his raging storm. Once again she saved him with a touch and a word of love. It's all it ever took with them. "I'll go try the radio out in the squad car." He said walking away.

She reached for him "Hey…"
Looking back at her he saw the concern on her face. "Yeah…."
"We will get justice for them both. Charlotte and your father deserve it. Let's just do it together."

He nodded then grabbed his jacket braving the storm outside of the door. Evangeline ran her hands over her pants then looked back at the room Barnaby was locked up in. Going to it she turned the knob peaking inside she saw him stretched out on the bed wiggling.

John had tied his legs together with a sheet and with his hands cuffed behind him he found it impossible to move. He saw her at the door and stared at her. She walked through going to the foot of the bed. "I saved your life you asshole and part of me wishes I didn't."
"What?" he asked confused
"You killed them both. My best friend and his father, you killed them as sure as if you took a gun and pulled the trigger"

"I don't know what you are talking about" he said turning his head dismissively.
"Why did you do it? For money? All of these years killing cops for money?" she asked disgusted.

"Money makes the world go round sweets. I'm no different than any other powerful man"

Evangeline laughed "You really have an inflated view of yourself. You are no different than those thieves and killers you lock up. Well maybe you are a little different, most of them no what they are…..you hide behind what you think you are."

"Get out!" he snapped
"I want to get something straight with you first. That man in there is the most precious thing to me in this world and I won't let your evil spill into him. But make no mistake you aren't getting off easy. We'll do this buy the book so that you can be dragged through the same court system that you made a mockery of. I want to show the world what your type of corruption has done to the legal system in Chicago. It was my friend's only wish and I think her death will serve as a purpose for granting that wish."

Barnaby laughed "I wouldn't be so cocky. What about your lover…."
Evangeline frowned "What about him."
"Dig in my past you dig in dear old daddy's past." He chuckled
"Shut up! His dad was a hero…"

Barnaby laughed so hard his body bounced on top of the bed. Evangeline looked at him confused and his laughter grated her nerves. "What are you talking about Barnaby…."

"His dad was a fucking coward. We started the brotherhood the both of us. Ryan O'Reilly worked for us and his hoodlum buddies hit all of the banks on the eastern shore FOR US. Then Tommy got a case of a conscious, start saying he wanted out. Actually thought that we could just let him walk away, when he found that he couldn't then he had the balls to try to turn us in. Well I couldn't let that happen."

Evangeline stepped back shocked "That's a lie"

"No it's not……shortly after Tommy was dead Ryan got pinched and that's when the freak black mailed me. He held onto the spoils of our labor and secured them somewhere safe until I got him release. It took me seven fucking years to get him out. And then my money was fucking gone. He let his bitch of a mother squander it all away. All my dam money!" Barnaby hissed.

"So you decided to start the brotherhood up again, put Ryan back on the payroll?" Evangeline asked as the truth sunk in.

"I had Ryan over the past 20 years do jobs for me working off the debt he owed but nothing paid out like the Irishman Clan. So yes sweet peach we decided to start up the brotherhood and Chicago PD was teaming with underpaid cops thirsty for a hit."

Evangeline looked at him disgusted. "You're a pig"

"Sticks and stones Ms. Williamson….sticks and stones. I will tell you this. If your lover finds out that dear old daddy was the cofounder of all of this it will kill him. I know his history and he couldn't handle the truth. So I think me and you should talk about what my silence is going to cost you" he said laughing

Evangeline shook her head "This makes no sense, John's father wouldn't do this. "
"What the hell do you know of Thomas McBain? John's nine year old memories of his hero cop daddy?" Barnaby said laughing.

"Why is Cletus involved in this?"

Ryan took a shine to that thug your partner was so fond of. Actually gave that kid the key to my fucking money! He was trying to screw me over….."

"You're sick" She said in disgust
"Maybe, but I'm also beyond your reach. I have friends in very high places. I won't see the inside of a jail cell, especially with you working to keep me free."

"That's where you wrong. I'll never help you!"
"You will, you just don't know it yet…….there's no way you'll crush that man you keep drooling over with the truth. I see it all over your face!"

"Shut up! I won't let you get away with this. You have no idea how resourceful I am, I'll prove these are all lies and then I will work my ass off to make sure you rot in that hell you created."

John walked in to hear the last part of the conversation and frowned. "What's going on?"
Evangeline jumped and Barnaby sneered trying to rise in the bed. "Yes Ms. Williamson tell him what's going on."

"Nothing….just him taunting me….its nothing" she said her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn't tell him now in front of Barnaby, his dad's was everything to him and he was already an emotional wreck with dealing with his killer.

"The storm has us trapped in. They are dispatching crews here as soon as it clears" he said looking past her at Barnaby.

Evangeline put her hand on his chest. "Let's go baby"
"What did he say?" John asked clenching his fist. Barnaby glared at John smirking and Evangeline couldn't think of any way immediately to get them out of this. "Please John lets just go talk outside of here."

John calmed from her touch and relented. "Fine…" he said softly turning to leave; Evangeline looked back over her shoulder at him. Barnaby grinned and winked at her "We'll talk again real soon" he said laughing after her as she closed the door.

John was staring at her when she came out of the room and she tried to appear normal. "What did he say to you……did he say why he killed my dad?"

"He didn't make any sense John, just ramblings about how he has power and he won't go to jail" she said dismissively.

"Are you keeping something from me Evangeline?"