As he finished wrapping the bandage around Ally's head, Carson let out a sigh of relief. The surgery was over and the young girl had done well during it. Along with handing him instruments and being a second pair of hands at times, Faith had been monitoring Ally's vital signs. Though still weak, Ally's pulse and breathing had remained stable. Carson knew in the current situation that was the best he could ask for.

Though he had total belief in Faith's skills, Carson's fingers instinctively found his patient's pulse in the neck. Though fainter than he would like, he found the heartbeat, which was beating rhythmically like it should. Removing his hand, Carson intended on retrieving his stethoscope to find Faith already holding it out to him.

"Thank-you," Carson told her, as he took it from her. The small smile on her face told him that she understood his need to check his patient himself and was not offended by the actions.

Carson listened to Ally's heart and lungs with the stethoscope and counted respirations. Satisfied that she was doing as well as could be expected under the circumstances, he settled his stethoscope around his neck and looked across the bed at Faith. "Can you monitor her while I go give Nathan an update?"

"Of course," Faith said as Carson got to his feet. He had only taken a few steps when she spoke again. "I am thankful that you decided to come back for a visit. You showed up just when we needed you."

Carson glanced over his shoulder at Faith. If she was upset with him for not telling her he had changed his mind, he could see no trace of it. What he saw was joy, gratefulness and sadness in those eyes that he knew so well. The eyes he still often saw when he closed his eyes at night.

"I was not going to," Carson admitted. "I thought that leaving again would be too hard for both of us. However, I woke up a few days ago, got dressed and I had this voice in my head, telling me to go to the train station. I put some things in a bag, grabbed a bagel at a bakery on my way to the station and bought a ticket."

"God knew we would need you," Faith said quietly.

Carson looked at the girl in the bed beside Faith. Ally looked so frail right now that if it had not been the slight rise and fall of her chest, he would not believe she was alive. He knew Faith had been right. Ally would not have survived the night without the surgery nor would she have survived a trip to Union City. He had been her only hope and believing he was here simply on a whim, at just the right time did not seem possible. He had heard a voice in his head a few days ago, and it had not been his own.

"I am glad I listened," Carson replied before heading toward the door.

Carson simply put on his coat, pulling it shut as he headed outside into the cold. The walk to the infirmary was short enough that he would survive without his hat and gloves. Reaching the cafe, he used the private entrance, knowing that Bill would have taken Nathan back there. Walking in, he spotted Abigail by the stove and felt a moment a deja vu. It was not that long ago that he had walked into this room seeking to give her news of Cody's surgery. Today though, it was not Abigail he was seeking.

Along with Abigail, Bill was sitting in one of the chairs. Carson could feel Bill's gaze on him, trying to read if he was brining good news or bad news.

Letting his gaze move on from Bill, Carson spotted two men in red sitting on the settee. One was Nathan, and though Carson did not recognize the second Mountie, the doctor could tell he and Nathan were close. Nathan was sitting with his elbows on his knees and his face buried in his hands. The other Mountie had an arm across Nathan's shoulder.

"Nathan, I think the doctor is here," the second Mountie said quietly.

Nathan lifted his head even as Carson knelt down in front of his friend.

"Is she . . ."

Nathan let the question trail off, unable or unwilling to finish it.

"Ally did well through the surgery. She was still under the ether but Faith is monitoring and vitals are stable though still weak. There was bleeding in the brain which would have been applying pressure. The operation I performed relieved that pressure and I made sure the bleeding has stopped. Until Ally wakes up, we will be unsure of any cognitive or motor impairment that might be present. I will be able to determine better then what kind of recovery period we are looking at then."

"Will she wake up?"

Carson could hear the desperation in Nathan's voice. As much as he wanted to tell the man yes, Carson knew honestly was the best route at this point.

"Time will tell," Carson replied. "The fact that she woke up briefly before the surgery is a good sign. Faith or I will be monitoring Ally throughout the night. You can stay with her for as long as you want."

"I can go out to your house and get you a change of clothes and whatever else you may want," Bill offered.

"Thank you," Nathan replied.

"I will send over some food for you in a little while," Abigail said. "Do not say you are not hungry. Hungry or not, you need to eat."

"I will second that," Carson said.

"Would you like me to send food for you and Faith as well?" Abigail asked.

"I think we will take turns and come over for something to eat," Carson said. "A change of scenery will do us both some good."

"Fair enough."

Carson looked back at Nathan. "Are you ready to go see, Ally?"

Nathan nodded. Carson stood up as Nathan got slowly to his feet. The second Mountie had a supportive hand on Nathan's upper arm as they stood.

"Do you need me to come with you?" the Mountie asked Nathan.

Nathan shook his head. "I know you came to town to check on Byrony. Go take care of that. There is not anything you can do for us right now."

"I will check in on you soon," the Mountie told Nathan.

Nathan nodded even as he let Carson lead him from the café.

Gabriel watched the doctor and Nathan until the door closed, blocking the duo from view. As much as he wanted to stay at Nathan's side, there was something he needed to do. Something that was even more pressing to him right now than following through with his check in on Byrony.

With Nathan on his way to the infirmary, Gabriel knew that he had to inform Bill about the information contained in the telegram that was still in his pocket. Gabriel turned to face the judge but did not get a chance to say anything as Bill spoke first.

"I am glad you did not go with him quite yet, Constable Kinslow," Bill told him. "I found out some disturbing news when I called Judge Wilder this afternoon."

"Dylan Parks has escaped," Gabriel supplied.

Bill blinked. The judge was clearly not use to people having information that he was about to give out. "How did you know?" Bill asked, recovering quickly.

Gabriel reached into his pocket and pulled out the telegram. "Communication from headquarters," he explained. "It was given to me when I first came into town. The lady did not want to disturb Nathan with it and she saw me."

"Have you told Nathan about it yet?"

Gabriel shook his head. "I figured I would wait until we knew how Ally's surgery turned out. He does need to know but it can wait until tomorrow. He has been through enough today."

"I agree," Bill replied. "However, given what happened to land Parks in jail this last time, I have asked Mountie headquarters for some backup until he is found. I also plan on keeping an eye out tonight. I was hoping I could get your help?"

"You got it," Gabriel replied without hesitation. "I do need to check in with the Weise's tonight. Byrony will be expecting me and I do not want to disappoint her."

"We'll make plans after you take care of that. I might see if I can get a few others to take a watch tonight."

"Um excuse me," Abigail said, stepping toward the two men. "Who is Dylan Parks and should I be concerned."

"Dylan Parks is Nathan's brother-in-law and Ally's biological father," Gabriel told her. "He has always been troubled. He disappeared right after Ally's mother's death. He shows up when it is convenient for him."

"He was in Hope Valley in the spring," Bill added. "He blackmailed Nathan for money using Ally as leverage. When Nathan went to meet him with the money, he ambushed Nathan and pulled him from his horse. Nathan got backup and arrested him on assault charges the next day. The fact that the man had Nathan's service weapon was hard evidence against him and Dylan went to jail. He was supposed to have a parole hearing tomorrow, which was where Nathan was going today."

"And now he has escaped?" Abigail asked, though she did not really need that questioned answered again. "Is he dangerous?"

"Dylan Parks is a coward. He will avoid direct confrontation unless he thinks he has the upper hand," Gabriel told her. "The only two in any real danger from him I believe are Ally and Nathan. Though if you see him I would recommend alerting a law officer as quickly as possible," Gabriel told her, handing the woman the telegram so she could read the description of Dylan Parks.

Bill nodded in agreement with Gabriel's assessment. "So, do what you need to do and then we'll make plans afterwards. There is a chance he may delay showing his face in Hope Valley thinking we might anticipate that. However, I plan on staying close to the infirmary right now just in case the guy is so bent on revenge that he does not anticipate what law enforcement might do."

"All right," Gabriel said. "I should head over to the Weise's home."

"I will start the process of getting the word out that Ally came through the surgery all right," Bill said.

"Jesse and some of the other men are still here waiting on news," Abigail told him, nodding toward the curtain.

"Then I guess that is where I am starting."

As Bill headed for the main room of the café, Gabriel retrieved his campaign hat, gloves and black coat. Donning the garments, he left the building. Apollo had been settled at the livery during the wait and instead of getting the horse Gabriel set out for the Weise's home on foot.

Reaching the infirmary, Carson open and held the door for Nathan. Giving the doctor a nod, Nathan walked into the infirmary. Once again, the image of his little girl lying in the bed, pale and still, pierced his heart. He had failed Ally. He had failed Colleen.

Having gotten to her feet, Faith met Nathan where he had paused a few steps into the infirmary. With the familiarity that had blossomed with their recent friendship, Faith wrapped Nathan in a warm embrace, offering him the comfort that she knew he would not ask for. However, as he felt her arms wrap around him, Nathan returned the gesture. Like Gabriel's presence had been, Faith's offer of comfort was welcomed. It was needed even, as Nathan drew strength from it. The strength he knew he would need to show Ally when she woke up. He would not even entertain the idea that she would not open her eyes again.

"You are not alone, Nathan," Faith told him. "We will be strong for you so that you can be strong for Ally."

"Thank you," Nathan said softly before pulling away.

Faith took a step back, but reached for his hand. Gently, she led Nathan over to the chair that she had stood up from.

"Sit there, and hold her hand. The first thing she should see when she opens her eyes is you," Faith told him.

Nathan followed the instructions silently and without question. Sitting down in the chair, Nathan reached out for Ally's hand. It felt cool to his touch and seemed so small in his own. Her chest rose and fell rhythmically but there was no other movement. It was a strange feeling as Ally had always been so full of life.

His vision blurred. Nathan did not bother fighting the tears, instead letting them roll down his cheeks. There would be a time when he would need to hold his own emotions in check. As Faith had said, he would need to be strong for Ally. In order to do that, right now Nathan knew that he needed to let himself feel the emotions swirling inside of him.

Nathan felt a hand come to rest on his shoulder. He did not need to look back to know that it was Faith. With the hand not holding Ally's, Nathan reached up and laid his hand over top of Faith's hand. The warmth of the hand made a stark contrast to the cool one he held.

Let her open her eye Lord, please, Nathan prayed silently. Whatever happens then, I will deal with it at that time. Right now, just let her open her eyes.

He and his little girl had a long road in front of them. A road that Nathan knew would need to be traveled, one step at a time.

Thankfully, it was a road that he knew he would not need to walk alone. Even with the heartache of the situation with Elizabeth, Nathan was grateful that he and Ally had come to Hope Valley. That they had come and stayed in the little town. If this had happened elsewhere, Nathan knew the support would not be the same. This town looked after its own. He had seen example after example of that in the last couple of years he had been here. Both he and Ally were counted among them now. He had already seen proof of that, even through the haze of his grief and fear. Despite feeling alone, Nathan knew that he was not alone. Over the days to come, Nathan knew he would be reminded of that time after time.