Chapter 8: What Happens Next

Raylan's words of warning about a transport going south replayed in Rachel's mind. Hell, those weren't the only words she heard. She had lost count the number of times he'd surprised her over the last few days, but nothing surprised her more than him calling her out. Quick and to the point.

"What's happening between you and me. You're scared shitless about that. Admit it."

Although softly spoken, fire had burned in his voice and flared in his eyes. She'd seen him intense before. Manhunts brought that out in him, but intense wasn't the best word to describe him. They had been dancing around their physical attraction for quite awhile, far longer than the game of eyesex in the office. Physical heat was indeed a factor between them, but his words hinted at something deeper. Rachel wasn't sure what to make of it. From her view, Raylan didn't have the best track record and quite honestly, hers wasn't anywhere near perfection either.

She released a long, deep sigh. From the driver seat, the object of her thoughts glanced over. She couldn't resist the urge to meet his eyes. Like the clouds that were looming in the Arkansas sky, darkness loomed in his brown orbs. What was he thinking about? Did she really want to know?

She rubbed the back of her neck and directed her gaze out the window. Crossing the Mississippi River had been their goal. Eight hours after that they would be home. But the storm clouds threatened their plans. The distant rumble of thunder caused her to straighten. She looked at the weather app on her phone.

"We're headed straight for it," she murmured.

"What was that?" Raylan asked.

"The clouds," she said. "According to this map, we're driving into a storm."

"There's a tornado watch," Tim said. "Flash flood warning for five counties. The works."

"Great," Darla said.

They passed a sign that read sixty miles to Memphis. Lightning streaked across the sky and a loud clap of thunder followed. Rachel could feel everyone's tension escalate. She spoke to Raylan, "We shouldn't chance it. We have to take the next exit."

He nodded.

Rain began to pour in sheets. Visibility became limited. The Tahoe's wipers fought the rain and created a rhythmic cadence as it rushed back and forth across the windshield. Without thinking, her hand closed around the door handle. She turned to look through the back windshield. If they were being followed, it would be hard to do so now.

"Let me know when you see an exit," Raylan said.

She shifted back and smiled when their gazes locked. "Will do."

Fifteen minutes later after their speed had dropped to almost forty miles per hour, Rachel spotted one. Raylan turned off and eased the Tahoe down the ramp. With the help of Rachel and the backseat passengers, they followed the signs to a motel.

"Text Art," Raylan said. "Let him know what's going on."

"Can't," Tim said. "No cell service."

"Oh, shit," Darla said.

"What?" Rachel and Raylan asked.

"A car followed us off the ramp," she said. "It turned its lights off, but I saw it turn in after us."

"Fuck," Raylan muttered.

By now, they had pulled into the motel's parking lot. Raylan found a space at the entrance.

"If we wait here, we're sitting ducks," Rachel said.

"Tim, grab the bag," Raylan said. "I'll cover Darla."

Rachel pulled her jacket off and used it to cover her head. Because she was closest, she reached the lobby first. She held the door for the others as they came rushing in. The manager must have heard the commotion because he came stumbling out from the office. He looked as if he'd been asleep. Spikes of dark hair stood on end and a scowl darkened his brow. He worked to adjust his clothing and smooth his hair.

"Didn't expect anybody would be fool enough to be out in this," he said.

"It wasn't our plan either," Raylan said. "Do you have any vacancies?"

The man's eyes narrowed at the group. He didn't seem pleased at the demographics. Darla looked at Rachel and rolled her eyes. Tim caught the interchange. His face reddened with indignation and anger. He stepped forward. Rachel reached for him, but Raylan stilled him with a sweep of his hand.

The senior Marshal flashed his star. "We need a room. Preferably one that doesn't require us to go back out in that downpour."

The hotel manager stared at the star and met each of their eyes, lingering on Raylan and Tim's faces longer. "How many?"

"One'll do," Raylan said. He pulled his ID and credit card from his wallet.

The transaction happened quickly. The manager, Lou, assigned them to a room on the second floor that overlooked the parking lot. From the window, Rachel could almost make out their rental. She had no idea where the other car was or if it had even parked at the motel, too. Behind her, everyone was starting to settle in. Tim and Raylan were going through the duffel bag of weaponry. Darla had peeled back the top layer of bedding on one of the beds and was sitting on the edge. Rachel considered offering words of reassurance, but she realized that she had none.

A man she used to love and imagined spending the rest of her life with could very well be hunting her down like an animal. Knowing that rendered her damn near speechless. Without cell phone service and with the weather playing a role, things could get ugly real quick. She couldn't allow herself the luxury of considering how she felt about Joe's actions. One thing for sure, if not for the rigid structure of the job, she'd probably be in the same state as Darla.

R&R

Tim participated in the conversation with Raylan like the highly trained law enforcement officer he was. They went through every firearm and made sure each was fully loaded and the clips were accessible. Once Raylan was satisfied, he joined Rachel at the window. Tim then finally allowed himself to notice Darla. She hadn't moved much since she sat on the bed. It didn't take a genius to know that the song had upset her. He wanted nothing more than to tell her that they'd get her back to Lexington safely, but he doubted those words would suffice. She wasn't stupid. Their predicament was precarious at best. Raylan told him that she didn't have hope in her survival after the trial. That didn't sit well with Tim at all.

"So, you're a sharp shooter?" She had moved and was sitting on the edge of the bed facing him. "With all of these?"

He wasn't one for modesty, so he simply nodded. "Yeah."

"I didn't know the Marshal Service was so…" she frowned as she searched for the word, "cutthroat."

He tried to hold back a chuckle, but failed. "I was a Ranger."

"Like Chuck Norris?"

He laughed outright. He sat on the other bed and faced her. "No, an Army Ranger."

"Oh." She covered her hand with her mouth. "I'm clueless about this stuff."

"You're doing okay." He smiled. His stomach did a flop when she returned the gesture. "Do you know how to use a firearm?" He pulled his sidearm from his holster. He would have extended it toward her, but her eyes grew large and she shrank back.

"All I can do is punch, jab, and kick." She frowned. "I went to the firing range in LA a few times, but I could never do it."

"Why?" Images of her ex terrorizing her with a .45 came to mind. He tried to maintain a bland interest in her answer, but if her ex wasn't already dead, Tim would have no trouble putting him out of his misery.

"Guns scare me," she said. "They always have. I can hang with an action flick with the best of them, but up close and personal like this…" She shuddered. "But…"

"What?"

"If my life depends on it, I'm willing to learn." She stood and came to stand right in front of him. "I can try."

Somehow, Tim managed to rise without pressing his body against hers even though that's exactly what he wanted. He pulled a revolver from his ankle holster. As soon as he started going over the basics, he found himself in training mode. She was a willing student. In the end, he hoped she wouldn't have to put any of the impromptu lesson to use.

"Here," he said. "It should fit in your waistband."

She shook her head. "I don't want it. Not until I need it."

"Okay." He returned the weapon to the holster. "Can I get you something?"

She jutted her head toward the window. Outside the storm raged. They could hear the rain beating erratically on the roof. She grinned at him. "In this?"

"I saw a Coke machine downstairs."

"I'm good."

She reclaimed her position on the edge of the bed. He sat opposite her, content to look at her, hoping he wasn't too obvious.

"You okay?"

"I'm trying to be," she answered. "Falling apart wouldn't help, would it?"

"No, but a little honesty never hurt."

Darla gave him a half smile. "You want honesty? Hmm…well, I'm scared out of my mind, but that won't stop what happens next. Now, will it?"

He shook his head. "I wish I could tell you different."

"I wish you could, too." A flash of uncertainty lit up her eyes. Then she blinked and reached for his hands. "Thank you for what you did back there."

"It was n—"

"Don't say 'nothing.'"

"I won't."

She smiled.

R&R

Raylan stood watch at the window. He wasn't sure how long he'd been there. Definitely over an hour, maybe even two. Rachel and Darla had fallen asleep on the bed and Tim was meticulously inspecting and cleaning every weapon in the bag. Again. To be fair, Raylan wasn't sure which task Tim had assigned himself. He supposed the other Marshal was eager to do anything to keep his interest in their witness a secret. Little did he know, Raylan thought to himself.

They had all removed their jackets to dry. Both Raylan and Tim were down to their undershirts. Raylan kept checking his shirt for dryness. He had a feeling that the next time they moved, it would be quickly.

Keeping watch felt like a lesson in futility. The rain impaired his vision. If someone had followed them in, they should have a helluva time finding them. Despite the cellphone tower failure, they had managed to reach Art on the landline. Even with their superior knowing their location, Raylan knew that the weather had tipped the odds. It was a toss as to whose favor.

"It's like looking at a wall."

He inhaled and bit back a smile. Rachel wore the sweetest fragrance. He'd noticed the first time they met. It was a combination of honeysuckles, flowers, and vanilla. But the scent wasn't overpowering. Underneath all that lay her unmistakable aroma that leveled it all out.

Raylan looked down into her face. The rain consumed her attention. The endless downpour reflected in her brown eyes. It was obvious she hadn't gotten enough sleep. Lines threatened around her eyes and mouth. Yet that wasn't enough to diminish the youthfulness of her face.

"There are too many walls," he said.

A frown creased her brow. He anticipated the move that would send her away from him. When she stayed beside him at the window, he couldn't have been more surprised.

"Raylan—"

"I meant what I said before," he said quietly. "There's something going on here."

She shrugged. "I don't…I don't know what you want me to say."

Okay, maybe he could be more surprised. He moved closer to her, a little to ensure their privacy, but mostly because he wanted to. "This isn't the right time."

"No, it isn't."

"But when we get back to Lexington—"

"I'm married," she said, finally looking up at him. "Joe is refusing to sign the papers."

"And he may be stalking you," he said. "Don't forget that."

"I haven't been able to."

"I don't care about Joe."

She gave him that mysterious half smile that always punched him in the gut. "I know."

"What I'm saying is," he said, reaching down to lightly run a finger down the back of her hand, "I understand."

Rachel turned her palm so that their index fingers locked. She inhaled a deep breath. He felt it go through him. He wanted nothing more in this moment than to kiss her. A slight ruffling noise reminded him that they weren't alone. Raylan glanced behind them. Darla still rested on the bed, now her back was to them. Tim had finished with the firearms. He sat on the opposite bed, his attention divided between Darla and the window. Raylan tried to read the other man's stare, but he came up empty. Instead, he slipped his finger free of Rachel's and put a foot's distance between them.

"We have company," she said.

The three words pulled Raylan's intention back to the single most important goal, keeping the women safe. A car had pulled into the parking lot. Its headlights were like a beacon in the torrential downpour.

"Could be nothing," he said, watching the movement as closely as possible.

Tim joined them at the window. "It's impossible to see."

"We noticed that," Rachel said wryly. "I'm waking her up just in case."

Tim sighed, but he offered no protest.

After Tim and Rachel traded positions, Raylan expected a lecture. Or at the least a warning or a reminder about his womanizing ways and how Rachel was off limits. None came. Instead, Tim was quiet and focused. Raylan wasn't sure if he should be relieved or worried.

Seconds later, the power went out.

"Shit," Tim muttered.

"Rachel, secure Darla in the bathroom," Raylan said.

In this situation, a power outage could be an act of God, or the doings of a badass bastard. One could never be sure until whatever happened next.

Raylan's eyes took their time adjusting to the light, but somehow he managed to put his shirt back on. It was damp, but manageable.

"Flashlight?" Tim asked, a few feet away.

"Yeah." Raylan figured if an ambush happened, they could blind their attackers with the lights while the bullets took care of everything else.

A moment later, Tim pressed a flashlight in his hand. He disappeared and Raylan heard him at the bathroom with the women, probably handing over another flashlight to them. When the other Marshal returned, he and Raylan worked out a plan, and they waited.

[A/N: Thanks as always for checking out this story. Reading, reviewing, favoriting and following means a lot so please keep it coming! I recently had surgery so the updates may be a little staggered for this and my other fics, but the fics will be updated. Just hang in there…and send a few good thoughts, too. :)

Well, Raylan made a move and Rachel responded. Soon, they will be free to be a tad more—ahem—expressive. They just have to get through this one rainy night. If there are any Rachel/Raylan moments from the series that you'd like to see explored, don't be shy. I received a great suggestion from Patty regarding the s2 ep with Rachel's brother in law, which will come into play in an upcoming chapter. Any more suggestions or ideas? Part of my recuperation is watching as many Justified episodes as possible, especially those featuring Raylan/Rachel moments. lol Also, does anyone know if Tim is an only child? Until next time, thanks again!]