AN: Alright, so the first part might be hard for some at the end of the section. No blood but some violence. K8eSunbug prepare your self for good Lucas. All of you should be happy you are not my beta reader who was getting this story by sections and woke up to the first section being a cliffhanagar. In my defense I did finish the section at three thirty in the morning and just wanted to go to bed. However, you can thank her because she told me not to do a chapter break there!

So, this Dylan/Nathan scenario is what I dreamt about after reading the "New Dawn" chapter about the Mueller gang. I had this scene in mind and needed a story to fit with it and this four shot is what you all got.

Enjoy (though that seems wrong to say somehow).


A few days later, Nathan walked homed feeling weary. It had been a long day. Though nothing major had happened, all the little things Nathan had dealt with, had just added up. Ally had found him in his office about an hour ago doing paperwork. Finding out that he was going to be working late, his niece had said she was going to go home and have supper ready for him when he got home. The fact that he would not need to cook when he got home was a relief to Nathan.

However, stepping through his front door that relief faded as he froze in the doorway. His brother-in-law, Dylan Parks, was seated at the table. Ally was in the chair next to him. Rope around her arms bound her to the chair and a cleave gag muffled the sounds she was making. Nathan instinctively went for his gun.

"I wouldn't do that, Nathan," Dylan told him calmly raising his own gun, which was pointed at Ally, a little higher. "Keep your hands away from your gun and close the door. You are letting the cold air in."

"What do you want, Dylan?" Nathan said, doing as he was told. Keeping Ally safe was his main focus.

"Maybe I just came back for my little girl, Nathan," Dylan said, reaching out with his free hand to stroke Ally's hair.

Ally gave a muffled whimper though the touch was gentle.

"You gave up that right a long time ago, Dylan," Nathan reminded the man.

"Can't a man regret past mistakes?" Dylan said. "Colleen always forgave me, Nathan. Can't you? For the sake of your sister's memory?"

"My sister was blinded by love," Nathan replied. "Even after you gambled away every penny she earned to try to support you. Those long hours she worked, exhausted her and that was why she was unable to fight off the illness."

"Why it almost sounds like you are blaming me for Colleen's death," Dylan said with a feigned innocence.

"You can take it however you want, Dylan," Nathan told him.

Dylan cocked the gun. Ally squeezed her eye's shut at the sound.

"I pull the trigger, and it is on you, Nathan. Now, are you going to cooperate with me?"

"What do you want, Dylan?" Nathan asked, not answering the question. Not that he needed to. Both men knew he would cooperate to keep Ally safe.

"Money for starters. I know you probably don't have much but anything will help me. Then I want revenge, Nathan. You think I don't know why law enforcement is always watching my every move? I have no doubt that my brother-in-law has told them to watch me and wait until they have something solid to arrest me on. Seven years, Nathan, and they haven't gotten solid evidence of anything but I find I am growing weary of the cat and mouse game. I plan on going elsewhere and you are going to help me. Now take that gun out of the holster and place it on the coffee table."

With the gun pointed at Ally, Nathan knew he had no choice but to comply. He did as Dylan as instructed, taking the revolver out slowly and placing it on the coffee table. Dylan then instructed him to walk closer to the table with his hands raised. When Nathan was at the table, Dylan got to his feet and stood beside Ally. He now had his gun against her head.

"Lay down on your stomach, Nathan, and put your hands behind your back. I wouldn't get any ideas either, because if you try anything cute and you don't get the upper hand, I will shoot her first before dealing with you."

Nathan had no doubt that Dylan could do as he claimed. He had seen bruises on Colleen that he knew Dylan had left even if he couldn't prove it. Dylan had beat a man to death and then had friends bribe a judge so that he got off with self defense. The man was ruthless, which was why he had warned his fellow Mounties to move in only if they could get an iron clad case against Dylan and a judge that couldn't be bribed.

"It will be, all right, Ally," Nathan told his niece who was crying now. It hurt him to see her terrified and he knew for now cooperation was the only thing that might save her.

Lying down on his stomach, Nathan placed his hands behind his back. Dylan moved quickly toward him then, more ropes in his hands. Dylan straddled Nathan's hips, using his own weight to pin him to the ground. Putting aside the gun, Dylan quickly tied Nathan's hands behind his back. Then man soon did the same to his ankles. As his brother-in-law used a third rope to bring his bound ankles and wrists together in a hog tie, Nathan groaned as the rope was pulled tightly. Dylan pulled out a bandanna and stuffed it in Nathan's mouth before securing it with a dish towel.

"Just hold tight, Nathan," Dylan told him, patting his cheek gently. The action caused a shiver to go up his spine. "I would rather Ally didn't see what I am going to do to you," he said, getting to his feet.

Nathan watched helplessly as Dylan untied Ally from the chair and pulled her to a standing position by one arm. Still gagged, her cries were muffled as Nathan watched Dylan pull her out of sight.

Nathan struggled against the ropes that held him, his breathing becoming elevated. The ropes would not give though and before long he heard returning footsteps. The footsteps paused beside him and out of his peripheral vision, he saw Dylan's boot.

Dylan squatted down next to him. Reaching out he removed the gag. "Where is your money, Nathan?" the man asked.

Seeing no advantage to trying to keep the information from him, Nathan told Dylan where to find the lockbox he kept in his room and the key that unlocked it. Nathan knew his only hope was that Dylan would simply take the money and be on his way.

It was a hope that was not to be realized as Dylan's boot made contact with his jaw, jarring his head to the side. Nathan heard his own muffled groan as well as Dylan soft laughter. "I have you just where I want you now, Nathan. All your training isn't going to be of any help to you in your position."

With that said, Dylan stuffed the bandana back in his mouth. Nathan groaned as the action caused his jaw to hurt. His discomfort did not phase Dylan as he tied the towel around his head, securing the bandana.

The pain in his jaw faded as it was replaced by a new pain. Nathan felt the air go out of his lung as Dylan's boot made contact with his left side. He was just able to draw in a breath, when his brother-in-law kicked him a second time and then a third.

Nathan closed his eyes, trying to breathe in through his nose, despite the pain. Part of him wanted his neighbors to hear something through the thin walls of the row house while another part did not want anyone else to get drug into this.

Nathan heard Dylan's soft laughter as the man enjoyed his pain. Nathan was vaguely aware of Dylan messing with more rope but it wasn't until the man pulled his shoulders up off the ground and slipped a loop around his neck that Nathan felt the icy realization that Dylan did not intend for him to live through this ordeal. Even as Dylan removed his support, Nathan tried to stay in the arched position so that the rope around his neck did not get tighter.

"You won't be able to hold that position forever, Nathan," Dylan whispered in his ear. "Fatigue will set in and the rope will tighten, cutting off your airway. I could just do it now, but there is something about the thought of you dreading it happening that appeals to me. I plan on getting that money, taking my stuff and leaving quietly out the back door. With any luck, fatigue will set in before anyone finds you and when you are gone and unable to protect her, I will be back for Ally. I promise you that. A girl like her, she would make good leverage in a lot of situations. She could be useful."

Every fiber in Nathan wanted to struggle against the ropes that bound him. It was only the feel of the rope on his neck that kept him from doing so. Any struggles could possibly cause the rope to tighten.

As Dylan walked away again, Nathan closed his eyes. The only thing he was in the position to do was pray for the strength to hold on until Dylan left and hope someone found him quickly.


It was midweek and things were quiet at the Queen of Hearts. Only one of the rooms was occupied, its occupant a business man passing through who seemed to want to keep to themselves. A game of poker was being enjoyed by Jesse and his friends at one table. It was a low stakes game more for fun than anything else and Lucas did not anticipate any trouble brewing from it, unlike the earlier game which had brought Nathan into the saloon to sort out the brawl that had erupted. Most of the participants of that game and fight had been sent home. One man was in the infirmary having cut his hand on some broken glass and had needed Carson's attention.

Even on busy days, Lucas trusted his staff to keep things running smoothly. As his thoughts had been on Nathan Grant ever since the man had left looking tired earlier, Lucas decided to let his staff run the saloon tonight and call it an early night. Stopping by the café, he picked up some slices of cheesecake with the intention of stopping by with dessert for Nathan and Ally. It seemed like a good way to settle his mind that everything was all right with Nathan.

Pulling up to the Grant house, Lucas noticed a figure moving away from the back fence of the house. The figure didn't look familiar, and the unsettled feeling he'd had for the last couple of hours got stronger. Leaving the cheesecake slices on the passenger seat, Lucas quickly got out of the car when he came to a stop and headed for the house. There was no answer to his knock. The thought that Nathan and Ally had gone out crossed his mind, though he had not crossed paths with him in town. Remembering the suspicious figure he had just seen, Lucas reached for the door knob. Nathan could arrest him for trespassing if he came home and caught him in the house bu Lucas needed to be sure everything was okay.

Pushing the door open, Lucas felt his adrenaline surge. Nathan was hogtied on the floor of the home, facing away from the door. There was a rope running from his bound wrists to a noose around his neck. The jerky movements from Nathan told Lucas that the noose was currently cutting off the man's airway.

"I could use some help," Lucas yelled as loud as he could, hoping that someone would hear but not checking that there was anyone in sight as he moved into the house.

Lucas rushed to the kitchen where he grabbed a knife from the knife block. As he turned back toward Nathan, he saw that the Mountie had gone still. Rushing forward he knelt next to him and cut the rope running from Nathan's neck to his wrists. Lucas then loosened the noose and removed the gag. Nathan was still. Cutting the rope binding his bound wrists and ankles together, Lucas turned Nathan onto his side, one arm support Nathan's neck as he did so. Lucas hoped the change in the position would encourage a voluntary breath

"Come on, Nathan, take a breath," Lucas encouraged even as another voice spoke.

"What is . . . " Walter Weise's question drifted off followed by another statement. "I will get Carson."

Though he heard it, Lucas didn't respond, his focus still on Nathan. Lucas felt relief surge through him, as Nathan finally took a gasp of air, though his eyes remained shut.

"Is he breathing?" Lee asked as he joined Lucas. He and Rosemary had been heading home when Lucas had called out.

"He is now," Lucas said, feeling a bit of relief despite the raspy, quick breaths that Nathan was taking. At least he was getting some air. Lucas hoped Carson would be here soon. "Someone needs to locate, Ally," he said, realizing that he had not seen the girl.

"I'll check upstairs," Rosemary said, having come in with her husband.

As Rosemary headed for the stairs, Lee finished cutting the ropes still binding Nathan's ankles and wrists. A groan emitted from Nathan, causing both Lucas and Lee to look to Nathan's face. The Mountie was trying to open his eyes. Though Lucas had a feeling the man was going to be in pain, he was still relieved Nathan was regaining consciousness.

"Just try to lie still," Lucas instructed, as he and Lee carefully tried to free the arm trapped beneath Nathan as they moved him to his back.

When trying to lay Nathan on his back on the floor caused a panicked reaction, the already quick breaths coming more quickly, Lucas lifted Nathan's shoulders slightly. The elevated position seemed to help, so while still kneeling on the floor, Lucas supported Nathan's torso across his legs as he cradled the man's head with his arm, trying to support his neck. Nathan's breathing became easier.

"Ally," Nathan said, attempting to sit up on his own. Though Lucas placed the hand he was not supporting Nathan with gently across the Mountie's chest to keep him down, Lucas soon realized it was not necessary. Nathan moaned in pain as he slumped in Lucas' supporting hold. The stringent tie and whatever else he had endured had taken a physical toll on Nathan. The swelling of the left side of Nathan's jaw told Lucas that it hadn't simply been a case of tying Nathan up and leaving him.

"Rosemary went to check on her," Lucas assured him.

"Dylan wanted me dead," Nathan said quietly, eyes closed as he rested against Lucas. "He wanted to come back for her."

"Ally will be fine," Lucas told him. "We'll look out for you both."

Lee got to his feet. "I am going to go find Bill," he informed them.

"All right," Lucas replied, a feeling of alarm passing through him. He wasn't sure he wanted to left alone with Nathan right then. What if Nathan stopped breathing again? What if something else happened?

Lucas kept those feelings to himself though. Lee probably would have understood but his uncertainty might only alarm Nathan which was the last thing he wanted to do.

Lee left and Lucas looked down at Nathan. The man had his eyes closed, and his breathing had slowed some. The pain was obvious in his expression and took away some of the confidence that Lucas had always associated with the man. Nathan Grant had never seemed to have any doubts about anything. He had always seemed confident and sure of himself and the situation. Right then though, Nathan just looked vulnerable.

What would have happened if he had not listened to the uneasy feeling and left early tonight? The thought scared Lucas. As he heard footsteps on the stairs, Lucas looked in that direction to see Rosemary and Ally coming downstairs. Reaching the bottom, Ally looked in their direction. She gave a strangled cry as her eyes filled with tears.

"It is going to be all right, Ally," Nathan said, his voice low but reassuring. Even in his pain, Nathan was looking out for Ally.

Lucas looked down to find Nathan had his eyes opened and was looking up at Ally. The saloon owner followed the man's gaze, and found Ally. Rosemary had her arms around the girl's shoulders offering her comfort.

"Ally," Lucas said, suddenly knowing how best to help both Nathan and Ally. "Come sit next to me, and hold your uncle's hand," he softly commanded

"Go ahead," Rosemary told the girl softly.

Ally came forward then. She settled on the floor next to Lucas and reached for her Uncle's hand. Nathan applied gentle pressure to the hand that held his, offering his niece comfort even in the midst of his own pain.

Just like Nathan had been doing with Elizabeth. While Lucas had been trying to orchestrate things with Elizabeth, he realized now that Nathan had simply been with her. He had offered her comfort in her grief, patiently giving her time to heal before revealing to her his own feelings for her.

That was true love, Lucas realized. Putting the other person's needs ahead of your own. It was something that Lucas had not quite yet grasped, though as he watched Nathan and Ally try to comfort each other in this moment, he suddenly had a desire to want to learn how to convey that type of love himself.


It was almost two hours later when Lucas returned to his office in the Queen of Hearts. Even after Carson had arrived, Lucas had stayed where he was. Nathan had rested against him while Carson had examined him and asked questions. Rosemary had moved to kneel behind Ally who had remained nearby. Lee returned soon after with Bill. It was Ally who told the judge most of what had happened, Nathan tiredly filling in a few things. The Mountie had then asked Bill not to try to pursue himself but to just call the incident into headquarters. To Lucas' surprise, Bill, clearly not wanting to put any more stress on Nathan just then, had promised to do just that.

Sitting behind his desk, Lucas raked his fingers through his hair. Once again he was about to do something that a few months ago he never would have thought he would being doing. It was falling on him to tell Elizabeth about being hurt. Yes, the news probably would go over better coming from Rosemary, Lee or Bill but that was not currently possible. After getting Nathan settled in his room and while making plans to make sure both Nathan and Ally got the care and help they would need, Nathan had gotten each of them to promise not to tell Elizabeth. His argument was that there was nothing she could do from Hamilton so why worry her. Though he specially asked each of the others, Nathan had not asked him to promise. Lucas wasn't sure if it was because Nathan assumed he wasn't talking to Elizabeth or because he just hadn't thought about it. Whichever it was, both Bill and Lee had asked him to relay the message to Elizabeth.

Lucas knew it was the right thing to do. Elizabeth deserved to know.

What Lucas wasn't sure of was if Elizabeth would even come to the phone when he called.

The phone on his desk rang. Lucas reached out and picked up the hand piece. "Hello."

"Are you ready for me to place a call to the Thatcher residence, Lucas?" Florence asked.

"Yes, please," Lucas told her, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly.

"One moment," Florence said. Other than some periodic clicks, the line was silent for a bit. Finally Florence came back on the line. "I have the Thatcher residence for you, Lucas."

"Thank you," Lucas replied. Soon he was speaking with a servant. He made his request to speak to Elizabeth.

"One moment please," the servant told him.

As he listened to the silence, Lucas wondered whose voice was going to come back on the line. To his relief, it was Elizabeth's voice.

"Lucas, if you are going to try changing my mind, I don't want to have this conversation," Elizabeth said when she came to the phone, not bothering with a greeting. Lucas noted that her voice sounded weary. "I meant what I said when I left Hope Valley."

"I know," Lucas assured her. "You only like me as a friend. I have accepted that. I am calling because something happened that you should probably know about."

"Nathan," Elizabeth said, the weariness leaving her voice. "Oh, I thought I could but I don't think I can deal with this. I already lost one husband to the Mounties. I can't lose someone else."

"Tell me Elizabeth, if Nathan transferred and you both lived your separate lives and you found out something happened, do you really think it wouldn't affect you?"

"Of course it would."

"Then don't let a job come in between what the two of you have and the two of you do share something. Me and everyone on the main street of Hope Valley that day you embraced him, saw that," Lucas told her. "Besides, what happened tonight was not because he was a Mountie."

"Before you go any further, how is Nathan?" Elizabeth asked.

"Carson says he has at least two fractured ribs, strained muscles in the abdomen and neck and at least a bruised jaw bone on the left side. Carson said there is a possibility of a hairline fracture in the jaw, but even so it should heal without complications. Carson's concern for tonight is the bruising around his neck and possible airway obstructions arising."

Lucas heard a soft sob on the other end of the line.

"What happened?" Elizabeth asked.

Lucas informed her of what he had walked into hours before and what they had found out from Ally and Nathan. "Apparently Dylan has had gambling issues as long as Nathan knew him and kept some questionable company. Nathan never had proof of anything illegal and Colleen defended him. After her death, Dylan had up and left with no explanation. About a year later, he approached Nathan and said he needed money and if Nathan would help him out without asking questions he would sign the papers giving Nathan legal guardianship of Ally. Nathan went along with it hoping that would be the end of it. About six months later, men looking for Dylan came looking for money having been told by Dylan that Nathan would provide it. When they found out, Nathan was a Mountie, they disappeared. However, Dylan started threatening Nathan himself though getting concrete proof against him has proven difficult. A few charges that have been made have gotten dismissed by a judge. Bribery never could be proven. Most of Nathan's transfers since then have been in an attempt to keep Dylan from finding him and Ally."

"Then how did Dylan find them?"

"They don't know, but Bill has reported the incident. The Mounties are searching for Dylan Parks and another Mountie will be in Hope Valley tomorrow as back up. I don't think the man escapes justice this time."

"I hope not. How is Ally?"

"This has been frightening for her. Rosemary wanted to keep her with her tonight but she wants to stay near Nathan."

"Of course she does," Elizabeth replied. "I have a ticket to return for Saturday but I am going to try getting an earlier ticket. Don't tell Nathan or Ally I am coming home. They'll know when I get there."

"I will keep the secret. Just send word when you know your travel plans."

"I will."

"Can I tell Bill your plans?"

Elizabeth hesitated. "Yes, but tell Bill not to say anything to anyone."

"All right," Lucas replied. "We'll take care of Nathan until you get here, Elizabeth."

"How did you get involved in all of this, Lucas?" Elizabeth asked.

Lucas chuckled. "I ended up speaking in his defense during an inquiry. I guess it made me see Nathan in a different light and one thing led to another. I think maybe we have started seeing each other in our true light instead of how our emotions had colored our perspectives of one another."

"Maybe I should have come to Hamilton earlier," Elizabeth said softly.

Despite everything, Lucas chuckled. "Perhaps everything has needed to happen exactly as it has," he told her. "Safe travels, Elizabeth. Let me know your travel plans."

"I will. Thank you for calling, Lucas."

Lucas hung up the phone feeling relieved. Elizabeth had seemed to have accepted her feelings for Nathan and he hoped this wouldn't change that acceptance. She was coming home though. Lucas had a feeling that when she did, it might be time for him to finally take his own trip to figure things out. As much as he liked Hope Valley, this was the longest he had stayed in one place in a long time. He hoped a long trip might settle his longing to move on as a part of him wanted to settle right here. He liked the town. He liked the people, and yes he might not have gotten the girl but that didn't bother him as much as he thought it would. Perhaps that was all the proof he needed that Elizabeth had never been 'the one'.