Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. All rights go to the actors, writers and creators of the show "When Calls The Heart".

Chapter 3 of 3 today … make sure you read Ch 38 and 39 first! I'll try and get Ch 41 up today … can't leave you hanging too long :)

Keep the reviews coming if you have the time! I'd love to hear what you think.

(16/9/2018)

CHAPTER 40

The tears spilled over as Elizabeth found her phone in the kitchen. Keeping her eye on the basement door she made a call.

"Frank. It's Elizabeth Thornton."

"Hi Elizabeth. What's wrong?"

"It's Jack. I can't help him. He's angry and aggressive. I don't know what to do."

"I'm coming over now."

"Okay. Thank you."

Elizabeth waited for Frank to arrive to let him in. By then the bruises on her arms were visible and Frank noticed them as soon as he walked in the front door.

"He did that?"

"He's just not himself. I pushed him too hard and …"

"Don't make excuses, Elizabeth. Where is he?"

"In the basement. I'm going upstairs."

"Okay. Take your phone. I will text you when I'm leaving."

"Thank you, Frank."

Frank patted her on the shoulder before she walked upstairs and he entered the basement.

"Jack?" Frank's voice echoed down the stairs.

Jack was sitting down again, his hands running through his hair. He turned at the sound of Frank's voice.

"What are you doing here?"

"Elizabeth was worried."

"Of course she was. Because I'm not all sunshine and rainbows today she panics" he said, clearly annoyed.

"It's a bit more than that. You hurt her, Jack. I'm going to have to put that on your record."

"I didn't hurt her" he spat back. "I hardly touched her."

"She has bruises all over her arms."

Jack didn't say anything. I didn't hurt her, did I?

"What happened today Jack?"

"Nothing happened. How many times do I have to say it? Why won't you all leave me alone?"

"Tell me how you're feeling then? Angry? Upset?"

Jack sighed. "Yes. I want to put my fist through a wall."

"Okay. Did you wake up angry this morning?"

Jack thought back to the morning. No, he had woken up with Elizabeth against his chest. He had woken up blissfully happy.

"No."

"After training?"

Training had been fine that morning. He had finished their 10km time trial in second place, only one second behind first. No, he had been really happy with his training and results from the morning.

"No." He was beginning to feel calmer already just talking to Frank. He had a tendency to do that to him.

"After your classes?"

Classes had been fine too. He had sat there remembering all of the material they were discussing. Some of it was a bit vague to start with but it all came back to him.

"No."

"What about after your session this afternoon?"

The confusion from that session was the start of everything. It had quickly spiralled out of control when memories rushed back to him and he couldn't work out what went where. He sat there closing his eyes still seeing everything in a big jumble.

After a few minutes, without an answer, Frank spoke again. "Tell me about your session, Jack."

"It was overwhelming. Things came flooding back but it was a big jumble. Old memories from when I was a kid, to memories from later when Halley was a baby to things from the army all jumbled into one. It was horrible."

"You couldn't make sense of any of it?"

"No." Jack ran his hand down his face.

"After your session did you come straight home?"

"No. I got stuck in horrible traffic. There was a terrible accident on the highway."

"I heard about that. It was a multiple fatality."

"Yes. They had the bodies lying on the side of the road under white sheets."

"They were children, weren't they?"

"Yes."

"Did that hit a bit close to home?"

"Yes. It was the same car as Elizabeth drives."

"Right. Then you came home?"

"No. I had to go to the store on the way to get some milk for Elizabeth."

"What happened there?"

"I ran into someone who knew me but I didn't know them. The woman said hello and started talking to me, asking me questions and I had no idea who they were. She then accused me of being rude and self-centered and stormed off."

"Then you came home and what?"

"Seeing Halley … I don't know the car accident came rushing back to my mind, mixed with memories of my deployment and I snapped at her and she began crying. Then Elizabeth kept pushing me. She wants me to remember everything so badly."

"Has she said that?"

"No. She only told me yesterday that she thinks I'm doing really well considering."

"So why do you think she's pushing you?"

"I can see the disappointment in her eyes."

"Jack, she lost her best friend, the same as you did but you can't remember that you lost her. She's bound to be sad sometimes, just as you are."

"I guess you're right."

"You need to let her in when you're upset. Instead you physically hurt her."

"I don't remember that" he said sadly. "I didn't mean to."

"You blacked out?"

"I don't know."

Frank pulled out his phone.

A few minutes later, Jack heard footsteps on the stairs and Elizabeth appeared. She came down cautiously and stood behind Frank.

Jack looked up and could see she was being cautious near him. He honestly didn't remember what he did before.

"Elizabeth, he's calmed down now. Do you want to say anything?"

Elizabeth stood there quietly. Frank nodded at her to go ahead, but Jack could see her hesitate.

"I understand you must have had a difficult day today, Jack, but it doesn't excuse your behaviour towards Halley. She's just a child, you know that. Whatever she said to make you angry it was innocent."

"I know." Jack was still avoiding her eyes.

"Jack" she said, her voice breaking as she came closer. "I don't know what's wrong but you can't shut me out like that."

Jack glanced at her, the bruises on her arms catching his attention. "Did I do that?" he asked her quietly.

"It's fine, Jack."

Jack felt himself shutting down. It was all too much. How could I have done that to her? I don't even remember it happening. I can't trust myself here.

"I need to leave" Jack blurted out heading for the stairs.

"Wait, Jack" Frank called him back but Jack wasn't having any of it. He ran up the stairs, grabbed his wallet and keys and got into his truck before they could stop him.

Elizabeth and Frank had run after him. They stood on the front step watching Jack tear off down the street.

Elizabeth didn't know what to do.

"That didn't quite go to plan" Frank said, turning back to her.

"What happened today? Why is he behaving like this?"

"His therapy was a bit overwhelming. It's made him very confused, almost like its overloaded his mind. Then a few other things happened that created a tipping point. I should have called the police as soon as I got here but I thought I could talk him down" he said as he pulled out his phone.

"The police?" Elizabeth said in surprise as she watched Frank dial the number.

"What's the registration plate on his truck?"

Elizabeth told him and she listened as Frank reported a disturbed Army officer having fled his home and there was reason of concern for his whereabouts. Elizabeth sat down on the step, her knees up against her chest.

"What will they do if they find him?" she asked once Frank had hung up.

"They will just pull him over. They won't hurt him. They will just stop him from doing anything silly."

"Like what?"

"Elizabeth, I know you don't want to hear this but remember he's not thinking rationally right now. He didn't even remember hurting you. Almost like he did it and then forgot straight away. His mind is in overdrive. He might just need a sedative to help calm him down and make sense of everything that's happened."

Elizabeth stood up and ran inside to get her phone.

"Who are you calling?"

"His Mom. That is the one place he knows how to get to. It's the house he grew up in as a child."

Elizabeth dialled Charlotte's number. It took several rings but finally she picked up.

"Lizzy? Is everything okay?"

"No, Charlotte. Jack's having an … episode, I guess. He just took off from here. His psychologist, Frank, was here so he called the police."

"Is Jack being aggressive or …"

"Maybe but I think he's just really overwhelmed and confused. Please let me know if he shows up." Fresh tears were rolling down her cheeks now.

"Okay. Are you alright?"

"No. It's been a horrible night. I'm really worried about him" she said, her voice breaking as she spoke.

"Oh Lizzy, dear. He'll be okay."

"I hope so."

"Alright I will call you if he shows up."

"Thank you. Bye Charlotte."

Elizabeth turned back to Frank. "What now?"

"We wait."

Elizabeth nodded. "You may as well come inside. I'll make some coffee."

They went back inside and Elizabeth led him into the kitchen to put the kettle on. The two of them were quiet and Elizabeth was glad that Frank didn't talk unnecessarily.

Twenty minutes later, Charlotte called.

"He's here, Elizabeth. He just pulled up in the drive."

"Okay, here I'll hand you over to Frank."

Frank took the phone.

"Hi Charlotte. Just keep him calm. If he doesn't want to talk, don't push him. We'll give the police your address and I'll be there soon too."

Frank hung up Elizabeth's phone and grabbed his own out to call the police back. He redirected them to Charlotte's address and told them he was on his way.

"I will call you as soon as I have everything under control" Frank said to Elizabeth as he was leaving.

"You're not going to hurt him or arrest him, are you?"

"No, Elizabeth" he patted her shoulder. "He needs help that's all."

Charlotte waited for Jack to knock and she took her time approaching the door.

"Jack? What are you doing here so late?"

"Ma, I need to talk to you."

"Of course" she said leaving the door and walking through to the kitchen. She put the kettle on and pulled some mugs out.

"Is everything okay? Is Lizzy alright?"

"I don't know."

Charlotte turned in surprise. Thinking of Frank's words though, she didn't push. She waited for the kettle to boil but at the same time, she thought it probably wasn't wise to give him coffee.

"Do you want a hot chocolate? I can't really drink coffee this late or I will never get back to sleep."

"Sure. Whatever."

Charlotte busied herself making the hot chocolate, waiting for him to talk but he was quiet. When she handed him the cup, she watched him take a big sip and close his eyes.

"Jack, you're worrying me a bit."

"I had a bad day. I got angry with Halley and then Elizabeth. I hurt her, Ma. I don't even remember doing it. She was scared of me though. I could see it in her eyes." He began to cry. "I never thought I could ever hurt her like that."

"Oh, Jack. It's not your fault. Your mind is just playing tricks on you." Charlotte placed her hand on his shoulder.

She noticed the flashing lights shining through her front window. Jack had his back to them. She stepped in closer to him, hugging him tightly. He began sobbing. She had never seen him like that. Not since he lost his father over fifteen years ago.

"What if she doesn't forgive me?"

"Lizzy wouldn't have been scared of you. She would have been scared for you. She loves you more than anything. She's probably already forgiven you."

"You didn't see her."

"No, but she's not the type of woman to ever walk away. She would have been here now but she's got three girls at home asleep."

Jack had his head in his hands, his palms covering his eyes.

He didn't move when there was a knock at the door. Charlotte moved away, glancing back at Jack but he hadn't noticed.

Charlotte answered the door.

"Ma'am. We're looking for Jack Thornton."

"Yes, he's here" Charlotte said, opening the door and leading the two male police officers through to where Jack was still sitting at the table, his head in his hands.

"Jack Thornton?"

"Yeah" he murmured from beneath his hands.

"Can you please stand and put your hands up where we can see them?"

Jack did as he was asked, his head hanging low, appearing defeated. Charlotte's heart broke just watching her son like that.

One of the officers stepped forward. "I'm going to cuff you until your psychologist, Frank, arrives. We've been instructed to wait with you."

Jack kept his hands still, while the officer placed the handcuffs on. Jack sat back down, still keeping his eyes away from everyone.

Charlotte came and sat back down on the chair next to him.

"It will all be okay, Jack. Maybe you've been getting pushed too hard at work."

"It wasn't work. It was that stupid therapy session and then I saw a horrific car accident on the way home. Something just snapped in my head. I can't explain it. I don't even remember most of the afternoon."

"Okay, we'll get you some help, Jack. Then you can go home to Elizabeth and the girls."

"I don't think so. That's why I left."

"What?"

"If I don't even remember hurting Elizabeth, I could do it again. I don't trust myself."

"But you came here … how did you know you wouldn't hurt me?"

"I didn't. But you would have beaten me up if I laid a finger on you."

Charlotte sniggered. "You know I would have once upon a time but I'm a lot older now. I don't know that I could hold my own against you anymore."

Jack smiled.

They heard footsteps as Frank walked in the front door, with a paramedic behind him.

"Jack. How you feeling?" Frank said as he approached.

"Like hell."

"Okay. We're going to take you to the hospital and run a few tests."

"Fine."

"We're going to give you something to help calm you down and help you rest."

He nodded in agreement.

"Can you stand up?"

Jack stood up and almost lost his balance. Once of the policemen grabbed his arm to stabilise him. They led him out to the ambulance and helped him in. He was eased onto the trolley bed and instructed to lay back. Charlotte watched as the paramedic injected a substance into his arm. Jack didn't object. She felt the tears filling her eyes watching what was happening. Jack stared back at her as they strapped the transport straps over him so that he was secure before closing the ambulance doors.

"Where are they taking him?" Charlotte asked Frank.

"Back to the same hospital. I've called Dr Shepherd. He will meet us there."

"I'm coming."

"You can meet us there. Just follow the ambulance."

"Why did you have to sedate him? He was calm."

"I was worried that he would cause himself harm."

"Jack's never been like that in his entire life!"

"Maybe not, but right now Jack isn't thinking like himself. We don't really know what he would do."