AN: This is actually a post-ep for the When Calls the Hope episode "The Search".

Shake hands, and shoot smiles all around,

As I sell my body by the pounds.

Sign my name on the dotted line,

It would be fate, do not resuscitate.

-Marianas Trench "Perfect"

As he rode out of Brookfield, once again Constable Nathan Grant found himself alone. It was a feeling a Mountie was often familiar with. The nature of their jobs often set them apart from those around them. Their job took them away from their families for hours, sometimes days on end.

There was a time when he hadn't thought much about that. Growing up his family life hadn't been all that great. His sister had married young and left her childhood home, though she had stayed close. His dad had been in prison. That left his mom, whom even now he wrote to regularly. She was proud of his chosen profession and had told him once that every child had to leave the nest at sometime.

Then his sister had passed away and in his grief, his brother-in-law had left Ally with her grandmother. Knowing his mother was not well enough to cope with a four year old girl, Nathan had stepped in. Not sure what he was doing, and knowing that his job didn't make for the most stable life for a child, he had become Ally's guardian. It hadn't been easy but he didn't regret that choice.

It did make times likes these, where he was out on trail by himself, harder to bear though. Yes, he knew Ally was well taken care of. Mrs. Thorton would take good care of Ally. Probably better than he himself had at times. She understood children, where he often felt like he was stumbling blindly through a forest when dealing with his niece.

But he loved her, and he was all Ally had in the way of family really.

That thought had gone through his head when the dynamite had gone off. If something had happened to him, Ally would be alone until she could be united with her grandmother. Or until her father was found. Nathan hadn't heard from him since he left, and even then all the guy had left was a note. Nathan hadn't bothered to search for him.

As he rode out of Brookfield toward Hope Valley, another bad guy on his way to jail, Nathan felt the aches from the bruises that close call had caused him. It was a detail that he would keep to himself. Ally didn't need to know and there wasn't anyone in Hope Valley he was close enough to share these feelings with.

If something happened to him, Ally would deal with it on her own. He hoped he had prepared her for that eventuality, if that was even possible. However, it still weighed heavy on his heart.

Except that at least for now, at least while he was stationed in Hope Valley, perhaps Ally wouldn't be as alone as he feared. Though he was still finding his footing with the people, there was something special about the town. Even as a newcomer, he knew should anything happen to him the people of Hope Valley would look out for Ally. Elizabeth especially would look out for his niece, as she did all her students.

He still hoped that was one reality that didn't need to be tested. Ally had been through enough already.

Unfortunately, the risk was always there. It came with the job.