Well thanks to those still reading this. It's not over yet but there's still excitement coming.


The Other Side

Chapter 16

Gil sat alone on the porch as the morning sun broke through the trees surrounding their home. Deep down in the pit of his stomach something didn't feel right. Everything had been too perfect lately. He tried not to think about the possibility of being found, but the thought wouldn't leave his head.

Sara stepped out softly and wrapper her arms around her husband. He jumped at the contact. "Sorry." She whispered. "What's bothering you?" Gil shrugged his shoulders as he relished in her warm embrace. "You've seemed edgy lately."

"Just thinking."

"You're thinking about Tom, aren't you?"

"It's not over Sara. I have that gut feeling that he already knows where we are and is just waiting for the right time." He tipped his head back to catch a glance at her face.

Sara placed a quick kiss on his cheek. "You're overreacting."

Gil sighed. "I hope so."

They returned inside together. Sara smiled at the sight. Jim was on the small sofa sound asleep, while Nic and Jordan were cuddled on the floor in front of the dwindling fire. She turned back to Gil. "Think we should let them sleep?" He nodded and Sara reached out to grasp his hand. She gave a slight tug and couldn't prevent the smile that had grown across her face.

He knew instantly what she was after. Gil was never one to resist her, and let her lead him to their bed. She took her time and helped him remove his clothing before gently pushing him back down onto the bed.

Gil made himself comfortable slightly propping his head up so he could watch Sara. She didn't have much on for clothing to start with so she was standing naked before him within seconds.

A gust of air left Gil's lungs as Sara began to crawl up the bed towards him. His desire for her was prominently standing at attention. As her body slowly moved over his, she made a point to let her breasts graze his erection.

He couldn't help but notice how pregnancy had changed her body. Her breasts were bigger and fuller. His hands reached up to cup each one gently as she settled herself to sit on his stomach. No words were said as he kneaded her chest while her pelvis moved over him teasingly. Gil moaned as she made her way closer to his need for her.

Sara smiled as she felt him trying to push her back. She complied and let him sink into her. Gil groaned as the feel of her surrounding him once again filled his senses. Sara took his hands and removed them from her chest as she moved slowly around him. They did their best to try and be quiet during their lovemaking, but as they reached the end, Gil could keep in the deep groan as he released himself in her.

They were catching their breaths when a wail broke through. Sara smiled and patted Gil's bare chest. "You woke your son." She moved off of him and to the floor.

He mumbled as he rolled onto his side. "I could go back to sleep now."

Sara laughed as she gently picked up Matt. "Aww, did Daddy get noisy while Mommy was playing with him?" She cooed and returned back to the bed.

Gil turned to face her as she settled in and began nursing their son. "Playing with him?" She shrugged and continued.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Nic and Jordan woke when Gil and Sara first made their way into the bedroom. They wandered outside and decided to take a ride into town. There was no real purpose for the trip, it was just to get away.

"I'm sorry about my father."

Nic shrugged. "It's okay. I would be leery of who my daughter was running away with too."

"Why, are you a bad boy?" She teased.

"Maybe." He played back.

They entered the edge of town at a leisurely walk, when suddenly Nic pulled his horse to a halt. "What's wrong?" Jordan asked.

Nic's eyes were wide and full of fear. "We need to go back."

"What? We just got here."

He shook his head. "Just trust me." Nic turned his horse and with a sharp kick to the belly, took off followed by Jordan.

Jim had just stepped out onto the porch with a cup of coffee when Nic and Jordan rode up. Their horses lathered up from the exhilaration. Nic jumped off out of breath from the anxiety of the ride.

"Whoa, whoa, hold on there you two, where's the fire?" Jim spoke.

"It's…it's…" Nic coughed several times trying to speak.

Gil stepped out after hearing the commotion of the horses running up towards the cabin. "What's going on?" He noticed the expression of Nic's face as he gasped for air. "He's here." Gil knew there time was up.

Nic nodded. "I saw several of his men. Tom's here, I'm sure of it." The adrenaline was pumping causing his breaths to be ragged.

The color drained from Gil and Jim's faces. Jordan slid from her horse and went to Nic's side. "Is that why we ran?" All he could do was nod.

Gil gave his head a shake and began scanning the area. Out of the corner of his eye he caught movement. "Inside, now!"

They all scrambled to get within the cabin. Jordan went into the back room to join Sara. After a quick explanation, Sara huddled in the corner clutching her son. Gil, Jim, and Nic began loading every gun they could find. Jim glanced out of the window again to see more men surrounding their small home.

"This is crazy Gil, I count seven so far."

"There has to be more." Nic chided in. "I noticed about ten men." After a moment Nic spoke up again. "Do you suppose Tom came himself?" Gil was about to answer when a voice bellowed.

"Gil Grissom, I know you and the other killers are in there." Tom's voice echoed through the valley. "No one comes out alive, so you can sit in there and wait. Maybe slowly starve to death. Or you can just turn your guns on each other." He began to laugh as did several of the armed men around the cabin.

Gil gritted his teeth and loaded a shell into the chamber of his trusty rifle. He took aim within a split second and pulled the trigger. Within a matter of a few seconds he was able to shoot and maintain cover. The man fell to the ground dead. Tom stopped laughing and gave the order.

Shots echoed throughout the valley as every bullet was directed towards the small dwelling. Everyone inside covered their heads hoping to avoid several of the stray bullets. Sara and Jordan sobbed and shielded Matt with their bodies.

After what seemed like forever the shots stopped and an eerie silence fell over them. Nic was huddled in the back corner as the shattered glass rained over him. His head was down under the cover of his arms to prevent getting cut too bad. Jim was standing statuesque in the opposite corner of Gil who was also kneeled down.

Suddenly something flashed in Gil that Jim had never seen before. It was almost if he was smiling. Gil grinned as he resituated himself around the broken window. "Hey Tom…" He called out.

"I'm hearing ya Gil."

Gil looked around and smiled before finishing. "You missed."

Tom glanced around at his men positioned around the cabin. "Son of a…FIRE!"

Shots rang out again as a barrage of bullets came through the few windows they had. Nic covered his head again to avoid the flying debris. Jim glanced out of the window he was next to and noticed the men on his side trying to reload. He took advantage of the opportunity and sighted them in. After several shots, the men outside fell dead or fatally wounded, he didn't know.

Gil nodded in his direction. He then moved over to Nic and kneeled next to him. "Come on, we need your help." Nic's unsure eyes looked in to Gil's blue eyes as they reflected courage. "It's the only way we'll all live through this."

Nic gave a quick nod and stood to move next to Gil. "What do you want me to do?"

"Distract Tom anyway you can so Jim and I can get out the back window. I don't care how, just do it." Gil patted Nic on the shoulder when he acknowledged his task. "Good. Jim…" Gil motioned with his head to his frien and they moved to the rear of the cabin. The window was already shot out, and after a quick check to see if anyone had moved to the back side of their home, Gil followed by Jim, eased out.

Nic cleared his throat and glanced around. He needed to think of something, but his mind had gone blank from all of the commotion earlier. The soft groan of the bedroom door opening got his attention. He noticed Jordan on the floor peeking through. Her face was full of fear and concern. Behind Jordan he noticed Sara in the corner clutching her son waiting for everything to be over.

With a deep breath and sudden rush of adrenaline he yelled. "Hey Tom, you bastard."

"Is that you Ni?" Tom laughed openly. "Figures, your yella ass turned sides. What's the matter, Gil get the drop on you or something? Not such a bad ass now are you." The other men around Tom laughed along with him.

"Takes one to know one." Nic mocked back. When he got no response he knew that he'd struck a nerve. "What's the matter, can't handle things yourself, so you had to bring a small army to take on three men?"

Once again he heard Tom laugh. "You're not a man, you're just a boy. A boy with a tiny gun. You probably don't even remember how to use it." More laughter followed.

Nic silently instructed Jordan to close the door and after she did, he spun and with one shot, dropped the man standing next to Tom.

This time no additional shots came. "You missed." Tom called out.

"I don't miss."

Tom glanced around sensing that their little standoff was about to come to a screeching halt. He noticed that two more of his men were gone, and he assumed dead. Left with only four others and himself Tom made a bold move. "Boys!" His men gathered around him and they walked towards the cabin more determined than ever.

Gil and Jim watched from afar as the men walked towards the cabin. They repositioned themselves and stepped out with their rifles taking aim as they headed towards the walking men.

Nic opened the door to the cabin, his rifle hung by his side as he exposed himself to a certain death if they decided to shoot. "Come any closer…"

"And you'll what?" Tom finished for him as he stopped fifty feet from the cabin's porch. "You don't have the balls."

"Oh really?" He gave a quick nod and shots rang out once again as Gil and Jim fired upon the other four men.

Tom never flinched and his eyes never left Nic's. They were locked together as if they were to predators ready to fight over a kill. "I'm guessing that wasn't a miss either."

Gil and Jim slowly moved closer with their rifles still aiming at Tom. Nic set his rifle down and stepped off of the porch. "This ends here and now. Just you and me."

Tom's smile was too enthused to Gil's liking but he knew what needed to happen for Nic. He and Jim lowered their guns and stepped aside. With a quick flick of his arm, Tom's trench coat revealed the silver six-shooter on his hip. "Okay, boy…" They moved until they were parallel with the cabin, hands down next to their guns, each one waiting for the other to flinch. After a moment of time standing still, Tom spoke again. "After you."

Nic sucked in a breath. "No, after you. I insist." He knew Tom's give and when he noticed the corner of his mouth go up, Nic went for his gun getting the jump on Tom.

Gil and Jim stood back and watched on as if everything unfolded in slow motion. Their hands plucked out the guns in a fast, sweeping motion. The light glistened off of the silver as they were exposed to the sunlight. Now it was only a matter of who fired first. As the guns were being raised, both men fired. The shots rang out simultaneously.

Nic took several stutter steps back and watched as Tom's face turned to fear. He knew he had hit him and grinned. Tom's mouth went slack and he fell to his knees. His hand moved to his now gushing wound. Removing it he looked at the blood coating his fingers. No words were said as he fell to the dirt face first, his last breath of air came in a cloud of dust.

Jim nodded and smiled proudly as he began to walk towards Nic. "You did it." With a hard swallow Nic grinned and felt his body go slack. He fell to the ground, but just before he hit the hardened ground, Jim caught him. "Nic!"

Gil rushed to his side as the cabin door opened. Jordan rushed out and was at his side. Sara remained in the doorway still holding Matt in an attempt to quiet the crying child. Quickly Gil tried to find the injury by removing his jacket. He found the source of blood and stood over them. "He's gut shot."

Jordan began crying as Jim squeezed his son harder. Gil turned back towards Sara and noticed the tears in her eyes. He went to be with her as Jordan pleaded with Nic. "No, you can't die." Her tears rolled down her check and fell onto Nic. "Please…"

Nic coughed several time before smiling and reaching up to caress her face. "It'll be okay."

No words came to Jim as he held the last thing he loved in life. Tears stained his checks as Nic's staggered breaths came to a halt and his body went limp. Jordan cried harder as he refused to let go.

Gil swallowed hard and put an arm around Sara, escorting her back into the cabin. They walked back towards their bed, broken glass cracking under their feet. Sara sat down on the bed and didn't know what to feel. She wanted to cry for Jim, but wasn't sure. Gil wrapped his arms around her and held her close as they let the distant sobs of Jordan and Jim settle around them.

Eventually Sara had fallen asleep, Gil gently placed her back on the bed and his son in the small crib. He walked outside and noticed that Jim was still in a heap on the ground holing his lifeless son. Jordan was nowhere to be found; he assumed she may have ridden home to her father. With a heavy sigh, Gil retrieved a shovel from the small tool shed and walked down by the lake. Heather's grave was still prominent and he stabbed the spade in the ground about four feet from her.

He had the edges dug out when he heard another shovel hit the earth. Gil looked up to see Jim as he silently started digging. Somehow he felt solely responsible for the events that had transpired over the past half year. If he hadn't gone on a rampage and avenged Al's death, none of this would have happened. With a heavy sigh he blurted out, "I'm sorry."

"For my son's death or for everything?" Jim's icy tone chilled him to the bone.

Gil stopped and thought for a moment. "For everything."

Jim sighed. "Me too." He stopped and looked at his friend. "This is as much my fault as it is yours."

"It's over."

Jim nodded. "I know." They remained silent as they finished digging.

Sara woke and gathered her son before heading outside. She noticed Gil and Jim carrying Nic down to the lake. She followed and watched as they gently placed his body into the grave. Her lip quivered at the thought of how close she had come to once again loosing Gil.

Once they had covered the grave, they all stood together, each one saying a silent prayer for the young man now being returned to the earth. Jim wiped the last tear he was determined to shed, and quickly headed back to the cabin. Gil watched his friend go as he remained with Sara.

Jim was quick to gather his meager belongings and saddle his horse. He stepped up and glanced back to Gil and Sara as they were walking back from the lake shore. With a slight nod from Gil, he raised his hand and steered his horse and headed off into wherever he would go. He had nothing left but himself and didn't want to live with the constant reminder right outside the window.

Gil watched his friend leave and couldn't blame him. He wanted to leave himself. Sara noticed the look on his face and spoke up. "I still love it here."

He smiled slightly before letting it fall. "I know. So do I."


Well was anyone expecting that? You never know with me.

TDCSI