Two sets of eyes turned toward the door and the sound of the familiar voice. Leaning against Bill, Nathan continued to sob as if he hadn't even heard the three words and perhaps he hadn't.

"Carson!" Faith said, surprised. The last she had heard Carson had said he thought it best if he stayed in Baltimore instead of coming home for Christmas and yet there he stood.

Ignoring the surprise on Faith and Bill's faces Carson asked, "what is the situation?" the question was directed toward Faith as he unwrapped his scarf. There would be time to answer questions later.

Faith filled him in on the situation as Carson removed the rest of his winter garments. He listened to her, even as he conducted his own examination. Finishing his exam of Ally, Carson nodded his agreement of Faith's assessment and turned from the injured girl. Going to Nathan, Carson knelt down in front of the Mountie who was still crying in Bill's arms.

"Nathan, I agree with Faith. I think there is bleeding that is causing pressure to Ally's brain. Immersion in the cold water probably slowed the bleeding some, but as her body warms up the head injury is getting worse. I can operate, but even in the hospital, there is no guarantee she would survive the surgery and I don't think she would survive the trip to the hospital. Operating is Ally's only chance but even if she survives the operation, there could be permanent brain damage, possibly even paralysis. Some doctors would argue that it might be better just to let her go," he told him honestly.

"What would you do, Carson?"

Carson shook his head. "I can't tell you that. Just know that I support whatever decision you make and I will be here to help you through this."

Nathan didn't try to move from Bill's embrace as he looked over his shoulder at Ally lying on the bed and Faith standing next to the bed.

"It's your choice," Faith said sympathetically.

Nathan looked away, tears still tracing paths down his cheeks. For the first time since the man had walked into the infirmary, Nathan looked up at Bill. "Bill, tell me what to do," Nathan pleaded.

Bill shook his head. "I can't," Bill told him. "Not this time. However, I will put things a little blunter than Carson did. The way I see it, your choices are to go over there and hold Ally in your arms as you say good-bye to her, or you let Carson try to save her. Whatever happens after the surgery, you face it then but we won't let you face it alone."

"I can't just let her go. I promised Colleen I would do everything in my power to protect her," Nathan said. With his vision still blurred by tears, Nathan looked at Carson. "Please try to save my little girl."

Carson nodded and got to his feet. He opened his mouth to speak but another voice spoke first.

"Dad."

The soft, fearful call gave Nathan back his strength. Pulling away from Bill, he got to his feet. Nathan wiped tears away as he went to Ally's side.

"Faith, will you assist me?" Carson asked as he started to make preparations.

"Whatever you need," Faith assured him.

Nathan knelt next to Ally and took her hand as Carson and Faith moved about the infirmary. "I am right here, Ally."

"My head hurts," Ally said.

"I know. You hit your head when you fell from the log you were trying to walk across."

"I remember. I fell through the ice in the pond. It was dark and cold. I didn't know which way was up. It got dark and then I don't remember anything," Ally said fearfully.

"Robert pulled you from the pond," Nathan told her. "I am sorry I was so far away."

"It isn't your fault," Ally told him. She reached up with her other hand and pressed it against Nathan's wet cheek. "Please don't cry."

The request caused Nathan to get choked up again. He swallowed hard, trying to get a hold of his emotions. He knew he had to be strong for Ally.

"Am I going to die?"

Nathan searched for the strength to answer that question. Though he had kept things from her, he had never lied to her before. If these were the last words she heard from him, Nathan vowed that they would not be deceitful words. She deserved to know the truth of the situation.

"Carson needs to do surgery. He and Dr. Carter think you have bleeding in the brain."

"But I could die, couldn't I? That is why you're so sad?"

"Yes," Nathan told her, unable to avoid answering the direct questions and determined not to lie. He felt Bill's hand rest on his shoulder again. "But Carson is going to do everything he can to keep that from happening."

"Do you think Mom would be waiting for me if I die?"

Nathan swallowed hard again, as tears welled up in his eyes. "Yes, Ally. Your mom will be waiting for you if you die but I am going to be waiting for you as well and I'm not ready to let you go."

"I don't want to leave you alone either," Ally told him.

"Nathan, I'm ready. The sooner we start, the better," Carson told him.

Nathan nodded. "I love you, Ally," he told her, pressing a kiss against her forehead.

"I love you too, Dad."

Nathan let go of Ally's hand and with Bill's help got to his feet.

"We'll be at the café," Bill told the two doctors, as he started to lead Nathan out of the infirmary.

"I will find you when the surgery is over," Carson promised before nodded to Faith to put Ally under.

Nathan let Bill lead him from the infirmary. He felt numb. He hadn't felt this way since he had held Colleen's lifeless body in his arms. He hadn't been able to save his sister, and now Ally's fate was out of his hands as well.

"What is the point of sacrificing so much to keep others safe and not being able to save the one's you love?" Nathan asked out loud. "Perhaps all those people were right? Perhaps remaining a Mountie was not what was best for Allie? Perhaps I was just being selfish?"

"This has nothing to do with you being a Mountie," Bill said firmly. "You could have been the cook at the café, and this still could have happened."

"But I would have been in town. I would have been right here when it happened not part way to Benson Hills."

"Or perhaps you would not even have, Ally," Bill stated. "Perhaps she would be with Dylan living who knows what kind of life because you might not have been able to protect her from him."

"Maybe she would be better off with him. He is her father. Maybe a better father than I am," Nathan stopped a minute, looking over at Bill. "Ally was overly tired yesterday. I thought it was just from having a busy day. What if it wasn't? What if she was getting sick and I missed it? What if she fell from that log because she was already ill? I accused Elizabeth of not keeping Ally safe while at school but what if she never should have been at school today and I missed the signs of her being ill because I was so focused on that parole meeting?"

As they were standing still already, Bill stepped directly in front of Nathan. Placing a hand on each of Nathan's shoulder Bill looked directly into Nathan's eyes.

"I want you to listen to me," Bill said firmly. "You are a good father to that little girl. You took her and loved her when she had no one. When the man you are trying to say might be a better father than you just left her. The man who wanted money from you to stay out of her life. Dylan Parks might be Ally's biological father, but in the ways that are most important, you are the only father that girl has known or need. As for the other questions, you need to put them out of your mind. You made the choices you thought were right with the information at hand. It is easy to look back and say perhaps you should have made another choice once you know an outcome. However, it changes nothing. You are a Mountie Nathan. You have raised a wonderful little girl on your own. You do the best that you can every day and that is all you or anyone else can ask of you. Do you hear me?"

Nathan met Bill's gaze, the dazed look gone from his eyes though the anguish was still there. He nodded in response to Bill's question.

"Good," Bill stated. "Now, I am going to finish walking you to the café. You can sit in the back away from the others and pray or rest. I am going to give updates to people who are concerned about Ally and then I will be back to sit with you. You are not alone in this, Nathan."

Nathan gave a shuddering breath before saying quietly, "Thank you, Bill."

"Anytime, son," Bill said as he moved once again to Nathan's side and taking hold of Nathan's arm above the elbow, continued to lead him to the café. If either of them were consciously aware of the familiar title used, neither commented on it. In that moment, after all they had been through, there was something about it that felt right.

When Bill had met up with Lee coming back from taking Elizabeth home, Lee had offered to deliver the news to those outside of town. Lee knew that Nathan needed support right now, and Bill was the best person to offer that support, though Lee knew that Abigail and Clara would do what they could as well.

Having already given an update to those waiting at the café, Bill had headed toward the livery to find Robert and Jesse who were tending to Newton and Hero. The two horses had earned some pampering today, and Jesse had promised to make sure they received it.

Lee had turned his car around and headed back out to the row houses. He would update Elizabeth first and then go to the Weise's and the homes of the other students whose parents had taken them home.

Stopping in front of Elizabeth's row home, Lee put the car in park and got out. Reaching the front door, he knocked gently to announce his presence but went right in. As he stepped inside, Rosemary was the only one visible. His wife was at the table, a tea cup in front of her, but got to her feet as Lee stepped further inside.

"Where is Elizabeth?" Lee asked.

"She just wanted to lie down. She took Little Jack to her room with her," Rosemary replied. "Did you get more information?"

Lee nodded and then proceeded to tell Rosemary the information he had gotten from Bill.

"I know I often lament about not being able to have a child," Rosemary said, now in her husband's arms, "but the thought of losing a child you already have must be so much worse. I don't even know what I can do for, Nathan. I have had so little interaction with him."

"For now, just pray, Rosie," Lee told her. "That is about all any of us can do right now. In the days to come, other opportunities will present themselves. The one thing I do know, is that with Nathan, we can't simply ask him if we can do something for him or Ally. He will tell us no. We are going to have to look for the need and then simply do it. Nathan is not the type to get mad at someone for helping but he is not going to ask for help."

Rosemary nodded, thankful for her husband's insight into the stoic Mountie. "I can do that," she promised.

Lee gave her a quick kiss and released her. "I am going to go speak to Elizabeth and then I told Bill I would take the message to other parents who took their children home so he could stay in town."

"All right," Rosemary said. "I want to stay here with Elizabeth tonight. I do not think she should be alone. I also think that classes should be cancelled at least for tomorrow."

Lee nodded. "I think you are right on both accounts. I will spread the word about classes being cancelled while I am out."

"Good," Rosemary replied. "I think I am going to try getting some chicken noodle soup on. Perhaps I can persuade Elizabeth to eat a little soup as I do not think she is going to have much of an appetite. Would you like something else?"

"As long as there is some butter bread to go with it, the soup will be fine," Lee told his wife.

Rosemary nodded, turning back to the kitchen even as Lee headed upstairs.

Approaching Elizabeth's room, Lee found the door open. Stepping into the doorway, Lee found Elizabeth lying on her side in the middle of the bed. Jack was lying in front of her, the toddler sleeping peacefully. Elizabeth, however, had her eyes open but was staring blankly. Lee knocked on the door, but Elizabeth gave no recognition of hearing it.

Lee stepped into the room. He knelt down at the side of the bed and reached out to touch Elizabeth's arm.

"Elizabeth, I have news about Ally," Lee said, keeping his voice low in an attempt not to disturb the sleeping child.

Elizabeth's eyes found his at the words. The fear she felt was clear in them. Lee could tell she was expecting the worse and though his news was not good, it did leave a little room for hope.

"Faith believes the head injury cause internal bleeding. Carson arrived, and he is going to operate, though he cannot be sure of the out come. The surgery is Ally's only chance though."

"Nathan was right. It was my responsibility to keep Ally safe and I did not do that. I should have made sure they moved away from the pond."

"Elizabeth, what happened was an accident. You warned the kids to be careful around the ice. You could not know that Ally would try to walk that log and slip. Kids do things like that all the time and most of the time they come out with just bumps and bruises. This was a terrible accident, and could have happened as easily after school hours as during school hours. Nathan will see that as well when he is thinking clearly."

"Oh, Lee, I was so blinded by my own feelings that I did not stop to see how my actions would affect that little girl. I reached out to her. I got involved in her life beyond what a teacher should. I got her hopes up and then crushed them. I feel horrible and now this. They must both hate me," Elizabeth said, tears streaking down her face.

"I know Nathan does not hate you, even after this. I don't think Ally does either. I think Ally is a young girl who had her hopes dashed and does not know how to deal with those feelings. Give her time and space and I think that you can mend that relationship."

"I may not have the time," Elizabeth replied.

Lee moved his hand from her arm to brush back some of her hair. "Pray, Elizabeth," Lee told her. "Believe me, I know how ironic that is coming from me, as I have wrestled with my feelings about God, but right now, that is all we can do. Faith and Carson are the only two who can do anything physically for Ally right now. They will do all they can. All we can do is pray. Pray for Ally. Pray for Nathan. Pray for Carson and Faith as they perform the surgery. The rest will sort itself out with time."

Elizabeth nodded.

"Can I get you anything?" Lee asked her.

"No," Elizabeth replied.

"All right," Lee said. "Rosemary is making some soup. Try to eat a little when it is ready. I am going to go deliver the update to other parents. I am also going to tell them that class is cancelled for tomorrow."

Elizabeth opened her mouth but Lee continued before she could say anything, protest or not.

"No one is going to be emotionally ready to concentrate on school tomorrow no matter what the outcome of the surgery is. Both you and the children need time to process what happened."

Elizabeth sighed. Lee took that as consent.

Patting Elizabeth's shoulder, Lee got to his feet. "Rosemary will be right downstairs," Lee told her. "I will let you know how the surgery went as soon as I hear anything," Lee promised, turning and leaving the room.

The tears continued to fall from her eyes after Lee left her. Elizabeth did not bother wiping them away as she continued to hold her sleeping son close to her. The son who had wandered off yesterday and whom Nathan had brought back to her. Instead of being thankful she had lashed out at him when he had told her Jack had seemed fine. It hadn't been fair. Nathan had not been the one to let Jack wander off. Nathan had found her son for her and she had still lashed out. Why?

Nathan had done nothing wrong. He was not responsible for Jack taking his place with the training assignment. Nathan and Jack's superiors had decided to change that assignment and Jack had chosen to take it. The fact that Nathan had come to Hope Valley to look out for her, a fallen brother's widow, was honorable. Nathan had always been respectful of her and her feelings. Yes, he got upset with during the windstorm, but she knew that had been out of fear for her safety. As he had said after that, she mattered to him. Jack had shown frustration with her from time to time. She had argued with Rosemary on occasion. Life was not all roses. She knew that. Arguments happened but when they did, things should be talked out. An understanding reached and not just glossed over with a grand gesture.

More than anything, Elizabeth wanted to be sitting with Nathan while he waited for news. She wanted to offer him whatever comfort that she could.

Unfortunately it wasn't her place and Elizabeth knew that was no one's fault but her own. She could not even seek comfort in Lucas. Not after what had been said.

Ally is not even his child.

How wrong that statement was. Nathan could not love Ally any more if she had been biologically his. In some ways, perhaps he even loved her more than if she was biologically his daughter. Ally was his last link to his sister, like Little Jack was her last link to Jack. Nathan had chosen to love her after her biological father had simply left. That choice said a lot about Nathan.

Elizabeth looked down at her son. She wanted Little Jack to have a father figure in his life. A man who would love him and teach him everything that Jack would have taught their son. Lucas' words made her wonder if Lucas had ever intended to fill that role. Lucas never suggested including Jack on any of their dates. In fact, he had often asked someone to watch Jack before she had even said yes to the date. Elizabeth had assumed he was being considerate, now Elizabeth wondered if he just wanted her son out of the way so he could spend time with her.

Elizabeth knew she did not want her son growing up and feeling like he was in the way. Now, she was afraid that a life with Lucas would result in just that.

Ally's wet and pale form as she had lay on the bank of the pond came back to her now. She knew that once again she was being self-centered. Here she was worried about whether her beau would accept her son when Ally was fighting for her life not far away. Elizabeth had a say in that aspect of Jack's future and right now. Nathan could do nothing to protect his little girl. She remembered how helpless she had felt when Jack was missing yesterday. Nathan must be feeling like that right now.

Pushing her own concerns aside, her arms around her son, Elizabeth did exactly what Lee had suggested she do. She prayed. She prayed for Ally and the doctors trying to save the girl's life. She prayed for Nathan. She prayed that others would be there to offer him comfort and support during his time of need, knowing that it was not her place to do so. Nor did she think it would be accepted by Nathan at this time.