Chapter 16: A Joy, A Tragedy

Its November now in this chapter to Elliot and Olivia have been married for about a month and a half. Ethan has started school again and that is all I'm gonna tell you right now cause I don't want to ruin anything.

Disclaimer: Again, I don't own them, that damn Dick Wolf does.

The end of October had been cold in that year. Ethan had started school and was in the fifth grade. Life had been moving along for the Stabler family at a fairly slow pace. The first part of October Elliot and Olivia had taken the train with a load of two year old steers to Dodge City to sell them and had considered that their honeymoon. Ethan had been left with Percy or rather Percy had been left on the farm with Ethan. Percy had always lived in town and had no idea how much work it was to care for one boy, a cow, some hogs and a few chickens.

It was now November and the morning had dawned cold and blustery. Olivia woke feeling terribly sick to her stomach but she still got up and cooked hot mash for both Elliot and Ethan. Then she assured herself that Ethan was dressed warmly enough for his ride to school then she went back to bed. Elliot got Ethan on his horse with his lunch bucket, books and slate and then he went back into the house himself to check on Olivia.

"Liv, are you ok?" he asked as he came through their bedroom door.

"Oh I expect so. I just have a bit of an upset stomach this morning. It always passes after a couple of hours." Olivia said setting up.

"Liv..." Elliot said.

"Oh, El." Olivia said, "I don't have the energy right now to argue with you."

"Liv, I think you should let me take you in to see Doc Wilson this morning. When your feeling better."

"I'll think about it." Olivia said.

Elliot went back outside. He was sure he knew what was wrong with his wife but he would let the doctor tell her for sure. He went back to the barn to work on repairing some harnesses.

Ethan rode to school that morning and then left his horse in the shed with the other horses. He unsaddled and left his saddle hanging on the fence then he took his lunch bucket and books and went out to the playground. All of his friends were there and a few of the older boys were hanging around the older girls. Their teacher, Miss Belle rang the bell that said school was starting shortly after that. Ethan ran into the school with the other children.

Behind the bushes he waited and watched. He knew which boy belonged to Elliot and Olivia Stabler now it was just a matter of getting him without anyone seeing him. He had been watching the boy for over a week now, knew his habits, knew he always ate lunch in the same spot. It was cold today though, so who knew if that stupid bitch of a teacher would let the children outside to eat today. Damn, Max thought as he crouched in the bushes. He would have to come up with a plan.

Elliot finished fixing the harness and did a few other things in the barn before he went back to the house. When he came in, Olivia was dressed setting in front of the fireplace in the setting room. She was working on knitting a new muffler and mittens for Ethan. "Liv?" he said as he came in, an armload of wood with him. "I want you to bundle up and get ready to go to town."

"Oh, Elliot!" She replied. "I feel fine now. I think I must just have a touch of the flu or something."

"I still think you should just come with me and get checked out." Elliot said.

"Alright. I'll get my coat and things. Do you have the wagon hitched up?"

"The buggy. It offers a little more protection from the wind."

"Oh. Well since we're goine maybe we should just spend the afternoon with granddad and then bring Ethan home with us."

"I suppose that's possible." Elliot said.

He watched as Olivia, still slightly pale from being sick all morning get her coat and scarf and something for her head. "Are you going to be warm enough?" he asked.

"I think so. I will have you with me." Olivia said and then laughed. She was always telling Elliot that he had to be the hottest person she had ever been around. She always said this as she laid her freezing cold feet on his legs.

They arrived in town shortly before noon and went directly to the doctor. Elliot stayed outside as Olivia went in for an examination and almost fifteen minutes after she went in Doc Wilson invited him in. He could see that Olivia had been crying and he rushed to her side. "Liv, are you ok?"

"Oh everything's wonderful." She cried. "I suspected but I wasn't sure and that's why I didn't say anything to you, but El, we're going to have a baby!"

"Yes I suspect that Olivia is about a month along so the little one should be arriving around June." Doc Wilson said.

Elliot just looked at Olivia. His Olivia was going to have a baby. Oh Ethan is going to be so excited! he thought to himself.

"I'll just excuse myself for a minute." Doc Wilson said and headed out the door.

Elliot grabbed Olivia up in a hug and kissed her. "Oh a baby, I'm so happy Liv."

"I can tell." Olivia said, laughing. "I didn't expect it to happen this fast."

Elliot waggled his eyebrows at her and said, "Well when you do it that much, it's kind of expected."

"Oh you." Olivia said. "Let's go tell granddad."

"Alright."

On their way out they saw John coming down the street. "John!" Elliot called out.

"Oh, Elliot and Olivia. It's good to see you. What are you in town for?"

"We had to visit Doc Wilson." Olivia said, then looking at Elliot, "Elliot tell John our news."

"We're going to have a baby!" Elliot said, the pride and enthusiasm showing in his voice.

"Well congratulations!" John said. "Say, I'll visit with you all later I have to get on down the street here. Will you be going down to Percy's store?"

"Yes, we're just headed that way." Elliot said. "Stop by later and we'll visit."

"Alright, I'll do that." John said and then continued about his business.

Elliot and Olivia took the buggy down to Percy's store and Elliot was extra careful when he lifted her out this time. "I'm so happy darlin'."

"I can tell. Let's go tell granddad." Olivia said.

They went in the store and Percy was busy with a customer but as soon as he saw Olivia and the glow on her face he came right over. "Are you going to tell me what I expect you to tell me?"

"Yes, Granddad. Elliot and I are going to have a baby."

"Whoopee!" Percy yelled. "Oh that's just great Livie, honey. When?"

"Doc Wilson says in June." Elliot replied.

"Oh that's a nice time to have a baby. That's a nice time." Percy said.

The three continued to visit and revel in their happiness never thinking the worst was happening at the school.

Miss Belle decided that it had warmed enough through the morning that the children could eat their lunch outside. She wanted them to have as much time outside while they could because soon the snows would come and the boys didn't do well being cooped up in the school when they could even make it in to school. She wondered how many of her boys even passed to the next grade. She watched as the children went out the door and smiled as she saw Ethan Stabler and Emily Munch go to the old log to sit together and eat. Satisfied that the children were going to be ok to eat she went back to her desk to get her shawl and own lunch.

Ethan and Emily had just sat down on the old log, their favorite spot to eat and they were talking. "So my Ma has been sick in the morning. I hope she's ok." Ethan said.

Emily just smiled, boys didn't know anything. "Oh I think your Ma will be fine. I bet she's going to have a baby. I remember when my Mama had Oliver. She was always sick in the morning."

"Really? Oh boy, I've wanted a brother for a long time now."

"What if you get a sister?"

"I guess if she's like you it wouldn't be so bad." Ethan said.

The two were talking and eating and didn't even hear anyone come up behind them. They didn't know anything was amiss until they each felt a rough dirty hand cover their mouth and nose. Emily tried to scream and Ethan just fought, trying to get the man to turn them loose. He drug them back into the bushes and tied handkerchiefs into their mouths. "Now," the man said, "I don't want to hurt you but if you don't behave I will." Then he tied their hands together and put them on a horse, Emily in front of Ethan.

Then he led them away on the horse through the woods that sat behind the school.

Miss Belle rang the school bell and counted the children as they came through the door. Two were missing. She went in and looked at the children in their seats and noticed that Ethan Stabler and Emily Munch were the two that weren't there. She asked the other children, "Have you seen Emily and Ethan?"

"No ma'm." the children said in unison.

"Well the last time I saw them, they were in their usual spot. Hank," she said addressing one of the older boys, please go out and see if their things are there. There is something not right about this."

Hank went out and a few minutes later came back carrying two lunch buckets. "Miss Belle, I found these in their spot and it looked like some drag marks in the dirt."

"Thank you Hank. Would you please run down to the sheriff's office and take James with you." Miss Belle said. She watched out the door as the two boys went out the door and then she turned to the other kids, "The rest of you, I want you to gather your things and head home. There will be no more class today. If you would like me to walk you home I will as soon as I speak with the sheriff."

All the children quickly left, except for Oliver Munch. He stayed in his seat, unshed tears brimming in his eyes. "Miss Belle?" he said.

"Yes Oliver."

"Did someone take my sister?"

"It appears that way."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

John and the two older boys returned then and Miss Belle sent Hank and James home and asked them to walk Oliver to his own house. Then she went out with Sheriff Munch to look at the scene. "Well someone took them. I need to go tell Elliot, so that he can help me start a search party. The faster we find them the better." John said.

He strode off to leave Miss Belle standing there feeling lost. She felt terrible, those children had been in her care and she had let them and their parents down by not keeping them safe while they were at school.

John arrived at Percy's store a few minutes later to find Percy and Elliot having coffee while Olivia had tea. "Elliot, I need to speak to you for a moment."

"John? What's wrong?" Elliot asked.

"Somebody, somebody took Ethan and Emily from school at lunch." John said.

"What?" Olivia said. "Who would take Ethan and Emily from school?"

"I don't know Olivia but I intend to find out. Elliot, would you help me start a couple of search parties?"

"Of course." Elliot said. "Liv, darlin', I want you to stay here with Percy."

"Yes, of course."

"Did anyone check the shed to make sure those two didn't just take off?" Elliot asked John.

"No but the scene pretty clearly shows that someone took those kids by force." John said.

Meanwhile, Max Johnson Keever was still leading the two kids on a horse through the woods. He still had them gagged and their hands tie when he passed by some brush and it caught the edge of Emily's dress. It ripped leaving a small piece. That gave Ethan an idea. He started making noise, which caused Keever to stop and get off his horse. 'What do you want you brat?" he demanded striding up to them.

"Uhm blum uhm." Ethan said through the gag.

"Oh alright, I guess we're far enough away now that now one can hear you if you make noise." Keever said. He undid the gags and then looked at Ethan.

"Can't you untie our hands too, mister?" Ethan asked. "My wrist are getting awful sore."

"Yeah, I suppose." Keever said.

He untied Ethan's wrist and then untied Emily's wrist and her gag. He mounted back up and when they started out again, Ethan whisphered to Emily. "Emily, we need to keep leaving behind pieces of your dress so our Pa's can find us."

"Ethan! Are you crazy? This is my favorite dress!" Emily said. She couldn't bear the thought of tearing it up.

"Emily, do you want to go home?" Ethan asked.

"Yes."

"Then you need to let me keep rippin' your dress."

"You kids be quiet back there." Keever said.

"Yes sir." Ethan said.

They were quiet after that until Emily said quietly to Ethan. "Ethan, I'm scared."

"I'll take care of you Em. Don't worry, I know you're Pa and my Pa will find us."