Well shockingly people were surprised that I killed Heather. Oh, well she's dead deal with it. So, happy New Year all, this thing is getting ready to come to an end. But not without some more surprises.


The Other Side

Chapter 15

They buried Heather's body on the edge of the forest the next day. Nic stayed and helped throughout the winter. Grey Wolf had indicated that he was going to go on his own after the scuffle Nic started. Gil couldn't blame him and even debated on running further himself, but with the winter hitting and a young son, he didn't want to risk it right away.

Jim and Gil made a rule that no one was to leave into the woods or go to town alone in case the men that had followed were there. But as the snow fell and remained on the ground, there was no indication of a threat. Nic was able to spend time during the months with Jim as they gathered fire wood, or went on a hunting expedition. They chatted about their lives and got to know each other a little better.

When the days began to get longer and the snow melting, Jim and Nic began spending more time in town. They shared drinks and talked as Nic would point out some women that were attractive, and Jim would shrug them off. Heather was still in his heart. While they were sharing a beer one day Nic's eyes locked on a brown haired young girl.

Jim grinned as he noticed him staring at the girl. "She's cute."

"Huh?" Nic never took his eyes off of her.

With a laugh Jim took another pull from his beer. "Come on lover boy." He slapped Nic on the back of the shoulder. They stood and as they proceeded to leave Nic tipped his hat to the young girl. She smiled and blushed at his politeness.

On the ride back to the cabin, Nic wouldn't shut up about the girl he had seen. Jim shook his head and laughed. "I kinda figured you for…"

"For what?"

"Would you let me finish. Geeze. I don't know, more of a womanizer I suppose." Jim stammered out.

Nic laughed openly while Jim just looked on. "So you think because I went around from town to town that I had some kind of relations everywhere I went?" he laughed again. "I wish."

"Well, I certainly didn't."

"Didn't what?" Gil asked as they passed him by the smoke house.

"Nothing." Nic continued to laugh while Gil shrugged it off.

"How much do we have in there?" Jim asked about the supply of meat they had as he climbed off of his horse.

Gil shrugged. "Enough for a few weeks." He closed the small door and stepped towards his friend. "So, anything interesting in town other than the beer?"

Nic perked up. "Oh man, there was this girl. Absolutely gorgeous. She took my breath away." Jim smiled and Gil shook his head. "I'm serious."

After chatting with Nic and Jim, Gil returned inside to see Sara bumping their son on her knee. He grinned at the thought of seeing his boy grow up to become a man. "Nic and Jim are back."

Sara continued to play with Matt. "Did they get their fill?"

"Always." He moved over closer to her. "Let me see him." Gil gently scooped up his boy and held him in the air over his head. He cooed as he swung him around.

Sara smiled as she watched the interaction between them. "Gil…" He responded with his usual grumble. "We need to get him some new clothes made."

Gil paused and glanced at her. "Mister Greely's wife mends a lot of clothes for people; I bet she could make some for him."

She gave a disheartening grin. "That's not what I was thinking about doing I guess." He stopped to comfortably cradle Matt before giving her his full attention. "I guess I was hoping to be able to learn how to make them for him."

"I don't see a problem with that."

"I was talking with Jenifer the other day, and she makes all of her daughter's clothes."

Gil shrugged and bounced Matt against his side. "So, take some money and go buy what you need."

She smiled. "Are you sure?"

"Sara…" Gil crossed the space between them. "You can do whatever your heart desires. Just name it and I'll get it for you." When her smile widened he leaned in and kissed her.

The next day Sara took Matt over the far rise to the closest homestead. Gil rode with her making sure she reached her destination. The two women then began on a plan of making clothes. He quickly made himself scarce. His plans for the day included fishing along the shorelines of the crystal clear lake.

It was a normal day, Nic and Jim would hunt in the early morning for several hours, before calling it a day and heading for town. It was a routine they became rather comfortable with. They hunted a variety of game depending on the year. Right now they were trying to get rabbits and squirrels, which were elusive enough to leave them with empty satchels on some mornings. This particular morning being one of them.

They would sell their kills in town and get a fair dollar for the hides. And since they were already there, always stopped for a drink. Nic's head was on a pivot the instant they entered town.

"Who in the hell are you looking for?"

Nic continued to look. "That good looking brunette." His eyes scanned through the small groups of people walking about.

Jim scoffed. "She's way too much woman for you."

"There." Nic pointed towards a small wagon heading towards them. The girl was alone, driving a team of black horses. His jaw went slack as she went by, but he remembered to tip his hat.

She smiled at him as she passed and Nic was in awe until Jim's stiff elbow woke him up. "Hey, go escort her home."

"Really?"

Jim shook his head and slapped the rump of Nic's horse. "Git."

Nic gave a sharp kick and went after the wagon. Without thinking about what he was going to say, he slowed his horse alongside her. "Good morning."

She smiled. "Good morning."

He removed his hat and held it against his chest. "I'm Nic. Mind if I ride with you a bit?"

"Nic. Not at all." She turned her attention back to her steadily walking team.

"May I ask your name?" the nervousness evident in his voice.

She picked up on his uneasiness. "Jenny."

"Jenny." He repeated softly. "That's a beautiful name."

"You think so?" She glanced at him and he nodded. "Well that's not it." Nic narrowed his eyes. She laughed at his reaction. "My name's Jordan."

"I like that better, unless you're lying again."

Jordan laughed. "No, that's my name."

Nic pursed his lips. "So, how far out do you live?"

She shrugged. "Not too far. My father's place is just up here a mile or so."

He swallowed hard. "You live with your father?"

"Yup."

"Ah."

They continued in easy small talk until they stopped in front of the small home. "Well, we're here."

Nic quickly dismounted and went around the wagon offering her a hand in assistance down. Jordan smiled and graciously accepted it. They were sharing a moment of closeness when the distinct sound of a shotgun shell being loaded in the chamber stopped them.

'Click, click'

"Hold on right there you. Don't be getting all touchy feely with my little girl." The rough looking man approached them.

Nic held up his hands. "I was just talking with Jordan and escorted her home from town."

"She don't need no escort." The man got closer so Nic backed up to his horse.

"No sir, I'm sure she doesn't, I was just being polite."

The wan waved the gun as he stepped between the two. Jordan was being pushed backwards. "Daddy, I'm old enough."

"No you ain't girl. Now you listen here young man…" While he rambled on with some death threat promising torture if he ever came near Jordan again, Nic climbed onto his horse. He smiled, tipped his hat, and turned his horse to run away back home.

When he reached the cabin, he noticed his father had yet to return from town, but saw Gil's horse eating grass along the lake shore. Nic rode down and found Gil napping in the sunshine instead of fishing. "I thought you were going to catch dinner?"

"Yeah, well dinners not wanting to be caught." His hat was over his face blocking the blinding sun.

Nic sat beside him and picked up the large stick and threw the line back out. "Can I ask you something?"

"Depends."

He drew in a deep breath. "How did you know you were in love with Sara?"

Gil's hat never moved as he sighed. "I just felt suddenly conflicted when I had to be away from her. I hated having to leave her side, and every part of my body wanted to be as close to her as I could get." He paused for a moment. "Why?"

Nic tugged the line several times. "Well I saw this girl in town yesterday. She took my breath away, and when I saw her today same thing. So I walked with her as she went home. She's brilliant, beautiful, independent, stunning, strong…"

"I get it." Gil interrupted. "So why are you here and not with her?"

"She lives with her father who ran me off with the business end of a shotgun."

"Ah, that's not good."

"But I want to see her again. Just in the short time we talked, I wish it could have been hours." The line moved suddenly, and Nic jerked it hard. Gil shot up at his sudden movement and looked to the water. As Nic pulled the line in, the large fish splashed on the surface.

"Don't let go!" Gil cheered him on as he tried to land the big fish.

Nic struggled but eventually the fish flopped onto the shore. "Wholly shit!"

"That's a big fish!" Gil exclaimed as he reached down and picked up the struggling bass. "Here, you catch 'em, you clean 'em."

"Gee thanks." Nic took the fish.

Gil patted Nic on the shoulder as he proceeded to walk past him. "Oh, and as for the girl problem, sounds like you had better stay away."

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Several weeks went by and Gil was watching Sara in front of the fire as she was using her newfound skills of sewing to make their son a pair of trousers. He was bouncing Matt on his knee cooing to him. "You know, it's easier just to take him to town and get him fitted for some clothes."

Sara was having a rough time getting through what would be her fourth attempt when Gil spoke. She stood and threw the items in the fire. "Fine, then do that for all I care!" She stormed off into the bedroom slamming the door behind her.

Gil froze. His son not knowing why his father stopped began babbling when the bouncing didn't continue. Gil stood and placed Matt in the crib Jim and Nic had constructed over the winter before going to Sara. He cautiously opened the door. "Sara…" She was sitting on the far side of the bed with her back to him. He walked around and kneeled in front of her, his knees creaking on the way down. "Honey, what's wrong?"

"I suck at being a mother." She sniffled.

"How can you say that, we have a very healthy baby boy out there all because of you. Honey, you're doing a wonderful job." He reached out and took her hands in his. "I was only trying to make a suggestion."

"Yeah, well it's not as easy as I thought this would be." She let the warmth of his hands comfort her.

Gil tried to cheer her up. "Well, you've learned enough to mend. That's a chore in itself, so maybe we can just buy some new clothes and you can put your skills to work in repairing the older ones."

Sara looked through her tear streaked eyes at his sincere expression. "I do suck." He could only smile at her. "I guess you're right."

"Okay." He spoke softly still trying to comfort her. "We'll go into town tomorrow and get him some new clothes."

They went back into the main living area just as Jim walked in. "I tell you what, that boy is enthralled in that girl." He stated while pointing outside.

Gil and Sara looked out the window. "He told me her father didn't want him around her."

Jim shrugged. "Yeah, well it's hard to stay away when she's coming to see him."

They watched on as the young couple walked towards the lake shore hand in hand. "I just hope he knows what he's doing." Gil commented.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Nic led Jordan to the lake. They made small talk as they walked along the shoreline. They observed the geese as they moved on top of the water. After a quick glance to ensure they were far enough away from the cabin, Nic made his move.

"You're beautiful." Jordan blushed. "I mean it. I've never thought of myself really settling down, but after meeting you, it's all I can think about." He spun her around in front of him as he stopped walking.

Jordan smiled and took a step forward, her body coming in contact with his. The air between them grew thin as their lips slowly came together. At first it was a soft tender kiss, but soon grew to a raging inferno. Nic deepened the kiss and felt Jordan's knees grow weak. He gently lowered themselves to the ground. They started with a hot and heavy make-out session before clothes started to be removed.

Nic looked for any indication that she didn't want to go any further, but he never detected it. She moaned her pleasure in his mouth as he quickly pushed her shirt up her body. Jordan helped him out of his, and before they knew it they were completely naked in the tall grass.

It didn't take long before he had penetrated her fully. She held on to his shoulders as he kept his thrusts slow. Nic buried his face in the crook of her neck placing tiny kisses along her sweat covered skin. The air around them filled with moans and groans as their passion escalated.

Keeping his distance, Gil observed the couple through the grass. His eyes narrowed with concern knowing that this girl's father didn't want her near Nic, and now he couldn't get any closer to her than he was at the moment. With a slight shake of his head, Gil slowly made his way out of the grass and headed back to the cabin.

"What were you doing?" Jim asked as he approached his friend.

Gil shook his head. "Her father is going to cause trouble that we don't need right now."

"What are you talking about?"

He stopped to face his friend. "I'm talking about your son over there in the weeds fucking that girls brains out!"

Jim shrugged. "So."

Gil threw his hands in the air. "So!? What happens when…"

"Where is she!?" A deep voice hollered over the thundering hoof beats.

Jim's eyes widened while Gil's closed as his prediction came true.

Jordan's angered father stepped off of his horse and approached Gil. "Where is she?" He pulled his shotgun from his saddle and began poking Gil in the stomach with it.

With his hands raised, Gil began to back up. "I'm sure she's fine."

"Tell me!"

"Now I'm not going to do much while you got a sawed off shotgun in my middle."

"Just tell me where Jordan is." The man's voice lowered to a more threatening tone.

"Dad!" Jordan called out as she and Nic ran towards the commotion. "I'm right here, I'm fine."

"Where have you been girl?" He left Gil to grab Jordan by her arm. "I told you to stay away from that boy."

Jim turned towards Nic and scowled. "I know what you were doing." He whispered.

Jordan was practically thrown at the horse by her father. "Hey!" Nic called out as he ran up towards the angered man.

Gil was also quick to react and pulled the gun from his grasp and rammed the butt of the gun into the man's stomach causing him to fall to the ground. "Now, we're all going to talk all calm like." He now had the tables turned and the gun was pointed at the other mans stomach.

"Um…Gil." Jim tried to interfere.

Jordan's father scrambled to his feet and began backing up as Gil gave him short jabs to the abdomen with the barrel of the gun. "No, no. I haven't lost my temper in a long time, but pilgrim you caused a lot of trouble out here today, might've even got somebody killed. And someone ought to belt you in the mouth, but I won't. I won't." He tossed the gun back at the man. "The hell I…" Gil drew back and quickly punched Jordan's father across his face.

"Gil!" Sara yelled from the cabin as she proceeded to run towards him.

Jim got to him first and grabbed both of his arms to restrain him. "Gil." He pulled him back.

Jordan walked over to stand above her father. "What the hell is wrong with you !?" He looked up at her through squinted eyes. "I'm not a child anymore, and if I want to be with Nic you can't stop me."

He stood up and eyed the strangers staring coldly at him. "You're right." With a struggle he managed to climb on his horse. "You wanna be with him?" She nodded. "Then don't come home." He turned his horse and rode off leaving a heavy dust trail.

She took several strides in her father's direction and stopped as if she wanted to protest his decision. Jordan didn't know what to do until she felt a warm hand land on her shoulder. Nic stood behind her and was quick to embrace her as she turned into him.

Gil sighed. "We're going to need a bigger cabin."


Okay, if anyone can recognize the line Grissom says to Jordan's man while holding the gun to him will get a one shot in their honor. Just gimmie your idea, but I want the name of the person who said it and the movie it was said in. Okay…good.

TDCSI