Disclaimer: I own nothing
Wow guys, so many great reviews, keep them up, I love them. Seriously, I enjoy hearing from all of you, it's the first thing I check and although I don't always write back please know they make me smile. So in reward I spent all day writing. Hope you enjoy.
Alex stared at the radio in horror as they listened to the report that Chase's vehicle was out there somewhere and Chase was nowhere to be found. He could be anywhere on the ranch, he could be in the house as Judy still hadn't responded to Tyler. Even Callum had tried calling her. Jesus Chase could even walk into the Mess and ... oh no.
She spun and raced to the door
"Alex?" Tate called seeing the mad dash and wondering what had gotten into her lover, hoping she wasn't heading outside.
"Check all the doors and windows" Alex cried "Make sure they are all locked, stay out of view and turn off most of the main lights" she ordered and took half a second to pause to see Tate racing for the other door and Sofia racing for the lights, immediately understanding their concern. The only one who appeared unaffected was Buster, running backwards and forwards between them.
She turned the lock on the door then ran for the closest window, nearly tripping over Buster who ran under her feet. She reached it just as the lights were turned off and the Mess was illuminated only by the glow of the glass front of the fridge and from the coffee machine. It was enough to allow Tate and Alex to check all the windows, a now curious Buster walking along with them, before clasping hands and making a dash back to the kitchen where Sofia waited huddled behind a bench with Rafe in his pram still sleeping oblivious.
Tate sat Alex down next to Sofia and ordered Buster to lay down before turning back. Poor Sofia, the woman looked nervous and worried. Alex didn't blame her as Tate told them she was going to get the guns and took off. Alex blinked after her. Guns plural? Shaking her head she turned back to Sofia.
"You OK?"
"Alex what is going on?" Sofia asked wide eyed
"I'm sorry, I should never have asked you here until we got the situation under control. Appears Tyler's neighbour is fixated on the land for some reason. Yesterday's incident wasn't the first but definitely the most deadly. After that we aren't taking any chances as his mental state of mind seems to have deteriorated dramatically since Olivia and I have arrived"
"I think I was safer in New York" Sofia muttered as they waited for Tate to come back with the guns and listened to a desperate Tyler and Callum try and get in contact with their mother.
"What's all the fussing about?" Hank came on the radio and Alex's heart beat out of her chest as she waited
"Dad, where's mum?" she heard Tyler ask.
"In the bedroom, came in muttering you lot had lost your heads again and she was having none of it. She told me to deal with it. This about Chase?" Hank asked.
Alex breathed a sigh of relief and swapped a look with Sofia, they were going to kill Judy if there was anything left of her after Tyler and Cal got her. Tate came running back then with a couple of rifles handing one to a startled Alex as they listened to Tyler urge her father to lock the doors. What the hell was she supposed to do with that.
"I'll get right on it, hang on hey Beau's here I'll get him to help." There was about a 10 second pause and everyone started to relax then Hank came on "Tate you there? Keep a look out for Beau, damn fool boy got it in his head you can't protect Sofia and Rafe as well as Alex. I gotta go lock up the house and protect my fool Mrs"
Oh Crap. Alex groaned and turned to look at Sofia with Tate. Sofia looked half startled under her red flush. Alex would have fun with that once Chase was caught. Tate sighed, told Alex how to shoot the gun and made her way to the main door where Beau was likely to come through. Alex stared at the gun, confused. Which button was the safety? Hell she din't care, right now she just made sure it was pointed at the ceiling.
It wasn't long before there was a frantic pounding on the door and Beau was yelling for them to open up. Tate took no chances, peering out a small window near the door to confirm Beau was alone before she hurried to open the door. Beau was inside the second he heard the lock disengage, slamming and relocking it before turning to look at Tate.
"Where are the women?" he asked and Tate sighed
"You're a bloody fool Beau, you coulda got hurt" she growled and then nodded over towards the bench. Beau was off, Tate hurrying after him as he ran around the kitchen bench and slid to his knees in front of Sofia.
"You ok?" he asked the startled woman, who could only nod in reply before he peaked into the pram to make sure Rafe was still sleeping soundly. He turned to Alex next who gladly handed over the rifle she held.
"Here you go Romeo" she teased him and he paused for two seconds before grinning. He winked at Sofia, whose blush only deepened, then turned to Tate.
"You take that end and watch the secondary door. I'll go this end and watch the door I just came through" he pointed out and Tate nodded "If Chase comes in and is armed, shoot first, ask questions later, got it"
"Yup" Tate nodded then turned to Alex and leant in for a quick kiss before going about her task. Beau looked at Sofia, they both blushed and Beau hurried off. Alex turned to a still blushing Sofia and asked quietly
"What was that all about?"
"I have no idea" Sofia whispered back, still a little stunned by Beaus reaction. She hardly knew the man and had only swapped a few polite words with him. "He is cute though" she giggled then sobered "Not that I need anyone right now, my life is complicated enough"
"On the contrary my dear friend, he may be just what you need" Alex teased "He seems smitten" Alex couldn't help but chuckled at her friend's still bright red cheeks "I do declare Sofia, you're blushing!"
"Oh shut up" Sofia growled and they turned back to listening to the radio.
Callum and Sarah were holed up near the back door. If Chase was to target them this time he was more likely to come in the back door where he had less chance of being seen and more chance of escaping quickly. Sarah had her Winchester Rifle and he had his Double Barrelled Shotgun at the ready.
He had a portable radio with him as the base set was in a too open position for his liking. Never would have thought he'd need the darn thing in a more secure position.
"Cal?" his wife called to him and he turned to see she was a bit pale.
"Hey sweetheart it's going to be OK" he told her "Don't be scared now"
"I'm not but I think I'm gonna be sick" she told him seconds before she bolted for a nearby bathroom. He winced at the echoing sounds that told him her predictions were true and hurried to the bathroom door so that he could be with his wife but still see the back door.
Long minutes later Sarah finally flushed the toilet and leant back against the sink.
"This is gonna suck, not sure how I'm gonna handle months of this" she muttered placing a hand over her still queasy stomach.
"Trust me babe, this won't go on for months, if we don't find Chase this morning then it at least gives the investigators a reason to go talk to him about his where abouts" Cal assured gently and Sarah rolled her eyes at his naivety.
"I'm talking about morning sickness ya big oaf" she growled at him, wondering again why on earth she loved the big lug. Well when he wasn't being dense he was kind of cute. He was also good in the sack and as it proved, extremely fertile. Yep she sure scored the prize bull. She chuckled to herself knowing Cal wouldn't like the analogy.
"M...m...morning sickness!" Cal gaped as he looked at Sarah stunned.
"Congratulations stud, your gonna be a daddy" his wife teased him then could only laugh as he did a great blowfish impersonation. Seconds later though it finally sunk in, he let out a great whoop of joy and forgetting all about guarding swooped his wife up to swing her around.
Olivia and Tyler sat in the idling truck at the top of the drive. They both came to realise that going back into the ranch may put them in danger. So they sat where they were, waiting for word, or waiting for Chase's truck to leave. In the early morning light Chase would still need to put his headlights on and they would be able to tell if he left.
"What do you think he is up to?" Olivia finally asked, unable to stay silent with her thoughts any longer and needing to talk to prevent herself from falling asleep.
"I have no idea Liv" Tyler sighed "There are just so many possibilities. He could be lying in wait until morning to shoot us one by one, he could be contaminating feed or water, he could be cutting fences and mixing the herds, tampering with our vehicles, anything. Depends how long he is out here"
"Bastard" Olivia growled, angry at the mere thought of the man.
"We'll get him Liv, if not this time then another time" Tyler assured her and Olivia nodded, she knew that, she was a seasoned investigator. When you thought you had enough it proved you didn't, you had to do more work, and work hard at that to catch them.
She sighed as she contemplated her life before she met Tyler. Besides an odd date, evenings with Alex and on occasion Casey when she had been ADA and a few dinners with the Stabler's she had nothing. Nothing but work. 24/7 work. Early mornings, late nights, countless frustrations and an empty apartment to go home to. She had loved her job, even with her close shaves, even with the call outs, the frustrations, until her time with Calvin showed her she could have more.
"Did I tell you about Calvin?" she asked her lover while staring out the windscreen towards the ranch, aware when Tyler turned to look at her.
"No you didn't, not that I can remember." Tyler advised "I kinda got stuck on what your mother did to you and your undercover experience" she admitted and watched as Olivia nodded.
"He was an 11 year old boy I had guardianship of for a few months" Olivia told her, turning to look steadily into concerned blue eyes "I tried to stay separate from him but couldn't, he was gorgeous and affectionate and I loved him like he was my own" she paused and went on to explain the circumstances of how and why she had guardianship before telling how it was all snatched away. By the end Tyler was holding her the best she could across the centre console of the car.
"Why are you telling me this now?" Tyler asked while pressing a kiss to a dark brow "One would think we've had more than enough emotional outpouring for one night, hell for a year even"
"Because I've come to the conclusion just now that I'm not going back. To New York, to my job, maybe not to Policing at all" Olivia admitted. "I've given up half my lifetime to other people, to help them and what have I got to show for it?" she asked and Tyler remained silent, waiting "Nothing Tyler. No partner, no kids, just a life full of work, work colleagues as friends and no social life. I want that to change"
"What are you saying?" Tyler asked, worry and fear making her heart pound like crazy in her chest at the thought maybe Olivia was going to leave her too.
"I'm saying I want to stay here. I want to be with you, work through our issues together, learn to forgive and trust and move on. I love you Ty and while what you did tonight is a very hard pill to swallow, I am not about to punish us both for it. Tonight, that wasn't the Ty I know, I know that and Karen doesn't excuse it but she was a large part of it" Olivia paused and could see the hope shining in the bright blue eyes she loved so much "I hope you learn from tonight Ty and next time trust me. I forgive you Ty. I love you and I forgive you and I want to stay with you, if you'll have me."
"YES" Tyler roared happily and cupping her lovers face pulled her chuckling across the centre console for a long deep kiss "I don't deserve it, I don't deserve you but hell yes. I'll get counselling, I'll back off a bit and we can date and..."
"If you think I'm moving out of your room you're insane" Olivia sighed then smiled teasingly "You however might get a night or two on the couch"
"Whatever, I will do it" Tyler promised
"Tyler" Olivia sighed "Just be yourself please, I couldn't handle you jumping through hoops and becoming a yes ma'am. We'll sleep together because now I don't think I could sleep without your arms around me but sex Ty. That's going to take a bit of trust to regain"
"I understand, and I'll look into counselling right away, today even, set up for something soon either in Helena or Great Falls" Tyler promised
"Good" Olivia leant in and pressed another kiss to smiling lips "I will be there with you if my new bosses allow it"
"New bosses?" Tyler pulled back confused
"Callum and Beau" Olivia grinned "I think I'll try this ranching business for a while" Olivia nodded and Tyler snorted.
"I'll see that lasting until winter" she chuckled which earned her a slap as Olivia glanced out the window and froze. "What?" Tyler asked already on the alert, hand around her pistol.
"Chase's truck, it's gone" Olivia groaned as she looked at the distant hill where Chase's truck should be, realising they had failed at their stakeout and he must have snuck off while they were talking in the predawn light or driven off very dangerously without lights after they had left to head back to the ranch.
"Shit" Tyler swore scanning the horizon for any signs of the truck but it was long gone "Well damn" she reached for the radio and informed everyone that the coast was clear, Chase was gone and they needed to get out and check the outbuildings. Olivia hurriedly put the truck into gear and headed down the drive.
Olivia pulled up as close to the Mess as she could and Tyler radioed for Tate to come out and help her inside. They had talked about what to tell people when they asked what happened and Olivia said it was simple. As much as she loved Ty's family it was simply none of their business. Tyler nodded but knew it wouldn't prevent the thousands of questions.
They were both a bit surprised when Beau popped his head out the door then came over to help them. Then they remembered his stupid dash to the Mess to protect Sofia.
"Hey Sir Knight" Tyler teased as Beau pulled the passenger door open and looked her over, taking in her bandaged hand and feet. Olivia chuckled as she opened her door and slid to the ground.
"What the hell did you do?" he asked then grunted as he slid his arms around her and lifted her into his arms "Jesus Tyler, you need to lose weight before you squash Olivia"
"No chance" Olivia grinned then winked at Tyler as she held open the Mess door and Beau carried her lover past. Tyler rolled her eyes over Beau's shoulder. She followed as Beau carried Tyler to the closest table and deposited her in a chair. Olivia hurriedly crouched beside her and checked that she hadn't injured anything further.
"Babe I'm fine" Tyler assured, using her good hand to stop her as Alex hurried over with Rafe. Sofia and Tate hurried about readying breakfast. Croissants, enough for 1.5 each. Filled with ham and cheese to make them heavier. Plus some fruit. Alex would soon head for the coffee machine to make some coffee, but first...
"So what's the verdict?" she asked and Tate sighed
"Two stitches" she held up her right hand "Cuts and scratches" she pointed to her right foot and then her left "25 stitches" she paused when Alex and Beau both whistled "Some forgiveness thankfully, some trust to regain, a few nights on the couch and a whole pile of counselling"
"Oh man" Beau grumbled "Something happened to remind you of Karen" he shook his head and everyone else turned to him stunned. He shrugged "What, you think you're family is blind? She was the only one I knew to make you angry enough to get physical, though you never did at her but I saw what you did to a punching bag once. She may have been perfect with the family as a group but one on one, geez Tyler the woman was like an octopus"
"Why am I not surprised" Olivia muttered and laid a gentle hand on Tyler's slumped shoulders "It's ok babe" she soothed and kissed a brow before turning to Beau "Go serenade your woman and leave mine alone" she said it teasingly but Beau nodded, understanding the meaning. Back off.
"Yeah, Ok" he took a step back "Hey Ty, just so you know, this one's a keeper" he winked at a now blushing Liv and Tyler finally raised her head and offered up a smile.
"I'm working on it" she confirmed, taking Olivia's hand in hers.
"Good" Beau turned and left leaving Alex to sit with the couple while he headed back to the kitchen to see if any help was required.
Beau proved a godsend for Tyler and Olivia as family and friends entered the Mess, saw Tyler's condition and made a beeline towards her. He swiftly stepped in, told them the couple had been up the whole night and just wanted to be left alone, and guided them away. Even Judy steered a clear path but that may have something to do with Hanks message that she had seen the error of her ways. It was just as well, Tyler would have rung her neck.
Especially after reports trickled to them that someone had written "I hate New York" and "City slickers leave" on several of the buildings. No one had gone near it yet, the investigators were swarming around taking photos and searching for evidence.
They were all calmly, or as calmly as they could get considering, eating their breakfast while chatting when one of the investigators hurried in.
"Is everyone here and accounted for?" he called out and there was silence as people looked around to make sure everyone was safe. Olivia had a bad feeling sinking into her gut though. Now what?
"Yeah, we're all here, why?" Callum informed him.
"Those messages were written in blood" the investigator told them and everyone froze horrified at the implication before Callum swore.
"Everyone lets go check the stock now" he turned to Sarah when she hurried to her feet "Don't think so babe, not in your condition, you get to stay here" he turned to his sister "She's not allowed to lift anything heavier than a feather got it"
"Er... got it" Tyler blinked then looked at a blushing Sarah with suspicion.
"Good, Olivia come on" Cal ordered and Olivia jumped up, pressed a kiss to Ty's cheek and hurried out after Callum and Beau leaving Sarah to face the music. I.e. a beaming Judy, Tyler and Alex who had put the clues together and worked it out.
"You're pregnant!" Judy squealed and hurried around to hug her daughter in law. Tyler grinned, oh the pay back on Callum was gonna be sweet.
They spent hours driving around, bouncing through bumpy paddocks searching for any injured or dead cattle. All they found was a nightmare of broken fences and mixed up cattle. Bulls were in with the steers, which were in with heifers Jesus who were in with cows and calves. Christ it was going to take days, maybe a week to fix. Callum was furious, he wanted to kill Chase now. The investigators had already gone off to pick up Ballantyne for questioning.
Luckily the ranchers who were coming back today to help with the barn showed up in time to herd all the cattle towards the yards. Unfortunately the yards weren't enough to hold all the cattle but the many hands would help hold them close.
Tate was glad to have Sofia's help to cook too, even though the wives came back in droves and brought food with them, thank god, cause Tate had forgotten they were coming with all the drama last night. Dammit, she needed her outdoor kitchen.
"Sofia, select some women to help make some salads, get others buttering breads. ALEX" she boomed and turned to see her lover hand the ever present Rafe over to a stunned Tyler and hurry over to her "Grab a few of these women and go find me thirty steaks and as many sausages you can find. I want them thawed and ready for the hotplate at 1140"
Alex's brow crinkled, it was barely 8.00am.
"Go" her lover ordered "Once you get back find as many thermoses as you can and get working on that fancy coffee machine. The guys won't have time or ability to get in here to drink so you gotta take it out to them"
Alex got going, 4 women hurrying after her, as they followed her to the freezer.
Beau, Olivia, Slim, Tyler and TJ were tasked to A, find paddocks without cut fences and B fix fences with the least amount of damage temporarily, until they could fix them properly. Olivia padded her hand well with a bandage then borrowed an extra large glove from Beau which would help her do more than she had yesterday.
She was still kept fairly busy keeping notes on paddocks without damage, which paddocks had a little damage and relaying it back to Callum who was back at the yards drafting the herds to separate them. Then she was put to work again helping to site posts, strain wire and tie it on. Her hand was throbbing within an hour but she didn't complain, they had other issues to worry about.
Back in the yards Callum ordered the bulls to be separated first as he didn't want too many surprises in a few months time if he could help it. It was dangerous work, the bulls were not happy to be going and had to be separated one by one and loaded onto the farm semi trailer. By the time they had finished, with minimal serious injuries (he had promised to pay for a neighbours broken hand when he got it jammed in drafting gate), it was nearing midday. Tate had sent word that she could only cope with two sittings, first at 12, second at 1240.
He called to his men and neighbours who had been, and still were, sitting in their saddles keeping the cattle herded.
"We need to do 2 sittings for lunch. We'll go first and then come out and take over so you can eat. Fair?" he called and the men waved back in acknowledgement. He turned to the dozen men closest to him "Come on guys, let's eat, I'm starving"
Heading to the Mess they used the tap outside to clean up their hands the best they could before heading inside. They were hit by an explosion of sights, sounds and smells. He was met only a few steps in by his wife who ordered him to sit down at the tables already laden with cutlery, plates, drinks, fresh bread and salads.
The men sat where they could, Callum sat near Tyler who had babysitting duties and seemed to be handling it well. Hank sat beside his son and a few close neighbours sat with them as Tate's voice boomed out over the din
"Listen up, all the meat is cooked medium well, you don't like it go hungry. Eat your share but don't be pigs, other men are hungry. Never fear, tonight you get well fed with the assistance of the Bar and Grill. There's gonna be one hell of a cook out"
Callum watched as a platter of steaks and sausages was placed in front of them. He took a steak and a sausage along with his share of bread and salad. Tate had done wonders, cooked enough to satisfy the hunger but not too much to sit in their guts all day.
From that moment on all you could hear was the murmurs of approval and the clinking of cutlery as hungry hands ate.
Olivia saw the vehicle approaching and told the others to down tools, tucker was on its way. Luckily they were near a water trough which they had already tested and found clean. They washed their hands, Olivia relieved to see her stitches a bit swollen but still holding as she wrapped the hand up again.
Sofia and Judy hopped out of the truck and hurried around to open the tray. Olivia's mouth watered at the selection of food, and maybe she should have upheld standards but just like the men she took a steak, slapped it between two bits of bread, squirted on some sauce and had an impromptu steak sandwich.
She found the grassiest piece of dirt she could find and happily sat down with a plop. God she was tired, she never got this tired walking the beat in New York looking for suspects or witnesses. Maybe the sleepless night had something to do with that.
She watched as Sofia handed out steaming hot cups of coffee, blushing when Beau winked at her. Olivia rolled her eyes, seemed like Beau had made up his mind to pursue his little crush. As for Sofia herself, she was proving her weight in gold. She turned her attention to Judy who was making some sort of announcement.
"There's a large cookout tonight as a thank you. Tate took a call from the Bar and Grill, they're gonna provide a lot of the food and handle most of the sides. Words spread about what has happened and everyone is baying for Ballantyne's blood" she announced them shot an apologetic look at Olivia who she now knew had a great gut instinct.
"It will be at 8pm. Give people time to clean up first"
"What about Chase?" Beau asked "Any word?"
"We've heard nothing. Half the investigators are still running around collecting evidence, the others haven't come back"
"Crap" Beau looked at Olivia who shrugged. It could mean they were still interviewing him, they could be cutting a deal with a lawyer or he may have clammed up, who knew? She continued to eat her sandwich, drank her coffee and picked at one of the salads provided until she was full. After that Beau ordered everyone back to work while Sofia and Judy packed up, left them with a few thermoses of coffee and headed back to the mess to help the evening preparations. Olivia sighed, it was going to be a long afternoon.