A/N: Well, here we are again :) And so soon, am I good to you or what? Lol. Thank you for all the great reviews, I take great pleasure in reading and replying to them all!

So now…it ALL really begins. Oh dear, I hope you are ready. Things are now beginning to get revealed…and who is that sneaky little mole? Time to find out…

Love, hugs and thanks to SSC for the beta and help. Some great additions in this one, hun, although, I am still shuddering a bit at what we have done in the next few chapters. (Really I am!) You rock babe but can I have my hat back? LMAO.

Enjoy and review please!

Chapter 72

After quietly leaving the house, Sara wandered aimlessly around the grounds with no particular destination in mind. She wasn't really paying much attention to where she was walking. Her overburdened mind wasn't thinking of the basic and sensible either and she had left the house without a shawl or coat. The first hints of fall were now more than mere suggestion, making the nights cool and breezy.

She shrugged off the chill though, folding her arms across her chest as she entered the outer stables and retrieved Pandora.

"Feel like a walk, girl?" she asked her horse as she opened the stall door. "I could use a little friendly company."

Pandora snorted and Sara smiled as the horse trotted from her stall and waited for her master.

They walked together down the pathway that led to Grissom's former dwelling but Sara didn't stop. Instead they continued down to the river and Sara sat in the same spot she had sat so many times before. It didn't feel the same without Grissom, even if this was one of her most favorite places to be. Goosebumps formed on her arms as she looked out across the water and she sighed. She would have given anything to have Grissom sitting by her side, holding her hand…keeping her warm.

"Sara, what are you doing out here?"

Sara's head snapped to the right at the sound of her cousin's voice and she saw Gregory, standing a few feet away with a very concerned look on his face. All she could give him was a weak smile.

Gregory stepped closer and removed his jacket. "You must be freezing," he said, placing the garment over her shoulders.

"Thank you," she said softly, pulling the jacket tightly against her cold body.

"It's not even 6am yet and the sun has barely begun it's ascent, why are you up at this hour? And why are you out here all alone?"

Sara looked back across the water as Gregory sat by her side. "I could ask you the same thing," she replied.

"I've wanted to speak with you ever since you got back. I know you had a fight with Uncle, although no one is entirely sure what it was about." He took her hand. "I heard you leave the house and…I followed you. I'm worried about you, Sara. Are you alright?"

Sniffing hard, Sara looked to her cousin with tearful eyes. "I think…" She swallowed hard, "…no, I know, I'm…pregnant, Gregory." She held her hands to her face and shook her head as Gregory's eyes went wide. "I'm having a baby…"

"What…?"

Removing her hands, she slowly turned her head and looked at him and, by the look on his face, something had clicked inside him.

"Grissom's the father, isn't he?" He asked the question although it was more of a statement.

Biting down hard on her bottom lip, she slowly nodded.

"Oh, Sara…" He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. "Here…" He held it out.

"Thank you," Sara said, taking the gesture and dabbing it to her eyes.

"Does Uncle know about this?"

Sara shook her head. "Are you joking? No…I can't tell him. How can I tell him? Can you just imagine how he would react?"

Gregory nodded; he obviously knew how the captain would react to such news and it wouldn't be good. "What are you going to do?"

Sucking in a deep breath, Sara stood. "I'm going to him, tonight, once everyone is asleep. I need to know if we still have a chance…together."

Slowly, Gregory stood and looked his cousin in the eye. "You love him very much, don't you?"

"I do," Sara whispered. "I just pray he can forgive me for what I have done."

"Aunt Laura told us you called off the engagement and…the reasons why…" He took her hand again, "…I hope Grissom understands, I really do, Sara."

"Me too," Sara said softly.

"Sara?" Greg's voice held a noticeable weight. "Sara, if Grissom doesn't forgive you? What on earth are you going to do?"

Sara gave Greg a melancholy smile. "I don't know. I know that I can't come back here. I….wouldn't be welcome…..even with Mother. I have no idea. I guess that I'll make that decision if the time comes."

Greg nodded. There was no sense offering Sara false reassurances. Her predicament was a grave one and the unwritten societal rules would demand her total expulsion. Women have been killed for offenses such as hers.

He sighed. "I'll help you, Sara. All I can…anyway. If Grissom doesn't forgive you and you are all alone….then I'll send money…something…you're still family…and so is your baby…regardless of whether or not it has a name."

Leaning forward, Sara kissed her cousin on the cheek.

"You are a good man, Gregory," she said with a tiny smile.

He smiled back. "You are serious about going to Grissom and, without telling Uncle? He will be really mad you know when he finds out?"

"I have to. I have no time."

"You can't go alone, Sara…"

"Gregory, don't…" She held up a hand and cut him short. "This is hard enough and I don't have any other choice. You can't talk me out of it."

He sighed. "Then I'll go with you."

Sara stepped back in surprise.

"I'll go with you. It really is too dangerous for you to travel alone and if something happened, I could never live with myself."

"You don't have to do that, Gregory. You will get in so much trouble."

He shrugged his shoulders. "Better we both get in trouble than just one of us, right?"

Now Sara smiled again at his thoughtfulness. "You can't, Gregory, you know that. Besides, this is something that I must do alone."

Gregory shook his head, though her words were true. "Sara, it's not safe."

Standing, Sara began stroking Pandora's nose. "If something should happen to me….and I'm found dead in a culvert somewhere…then it's still better than what I'm facing if Grissom doesn't take me back. At least I'll die with my dignity intact. And my baby will never know the shame of being born a bastard. It would be better, Gregory….."

He couldn't argue with the gentle logic, though her words made his heart lurch. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he looked at his cousin.

"I do understand….but I'm here for you….I am and I'd do anything for you, you know that, right?"

"Thank you."

He smiled and held out his arm. "Come…let's get you out of this cold and when we get back to the house we can work out a plan. Yes?"

Sara looped her arm through her cousins and called to Pandora. "Yes," she agreed.

CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI

Sara and Gregory headed back down the path towards the house but as they drew closer to the outer stables, Gregory spotted a figure on a horse in the distance.

"Wait." He pulled on Sara and they ducked behind a tree. "Isn't that Hank?" He pointed.

Frowning, Sara narrowed her eyes to see through the lightening darkness. "It looks like him although I don't know what he is doing here. He shouldn't be here. Father told him never to come here again."

"Well it appears he didn't listen."

Sara's frown deepened. "Why would he be here? And what is he doing?"

They watched as Hank disappeared and rode in the direction of the outer stable.

"Why don't we…" Gregory began, slipping his arm back through his cousin's, "…find out?"

Something stirred inside Sara as Gregory asked his question. Why on earth would Hank have returned? Taking Pandora's reins she nodded her approval as her curious side got the better of her and they walked towards the stable.

CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI

Leaving Pandora outside, Sara and Gregory quietly entered the stable, being careful not to make a sound as they heard a conversation echoing through the building.

Sara held a finger over her lips as she took her cousins hand. They ducked into the first stall. And listened…

"I'm telling you…you're going to do as you are told…" Hank growled.

"But don't you think things have already gone far enough?"

Sara frowned upon hearing that question. Who was that with Hank? She knew the voice….

"Not until the Grove is ours, you know that," Hank replied.

"I don't know if I can."

"Yes, you can, Robert!" Hank snapped.

Sara's eyes widened…Robert? Robert was in with Hank? Why? She looked to Gregory and they both looked as equally confused.

"The marriage must happen…one way or…another…Sara must be mine and her parents…they have to disappear and you…are going to help make that happen, otherwise, everything you have done…trust me…everyone is going to find out exactly what you have been an accomplice too…the fires…Robbins…Brown…all the destruction…and you will never get what you want...what you think…you deserve."

Sara held her hand to her mouth in shock as Hank continued. "Do you understand?"

"I didn't kill anyone!" the younger man shouted.

"Maybe not but you were there and most certainly can take some of the blame. If it wasn't for your stupidity at getting followed, neither of them would be dead now would they?"

No reply came from Robert for that question.

"Good," Hank continued. "So, do you understand?"

"Yes, Hank," Robert sighed, his response shaky.

It took only a few moments for Sara to work out that Robert was the estates mole and she now knew who he had been aiding to destroy their estate. Grissom was right…about McKeen…he'd been playing them all along…and her as well…she had so been played…

Suddenly, Gregory shot his hand to his face but he wasn't quite fast enough to block out the sound of the sneeze which unexpectedly snuck up upon him.

With eyes wide, Sara looked at her cousin in horror.

Robert and Hank quickly turned around and looked in the direction of where the noise came from. Placing a finger over his lips, Hank urged his accomplice to keep quiet. He stepped towards the stall and Sara grabbed a hold of Gregory's arm as she heard footsteps getting closer and closer. What on earth did they do now?

"I suggest, whoever is back there, comes out, right now," Hank recommended. "Or I will have come and get you."

Sucking in a deep breath, Sara nodded to Gregory and they slowly rose from their hiding place, stepping out of the stall. Her eyes met her ex fiancés and the look they shared was not one of love.

Hank looked taken aback…Sara looked furious.

"Sara…?" Hank exclaimed with a mixture of shock and disappointment.

"How dare you?" she spat. "You used me…all this time all you did was use me and all you have done is destroy everything!"

"Oh why did you have to snoop, Sara?" he grumbled, his eyes darkening a little.

Sara grasped her cousin's arm tighter, seeing a sudden change in Hank's demeanor and Jared suddenly appeared behind him, pulling a revolver from his belt. She tugged on Gregory's sleeve, "We need to get out of here…" she whispered and they took several, unsteady steps backwards, "…now…"

"Sara, where are you going?" Hank smiled, holding out his hand. "Come on…we can work all this mess out and…what you just heard, I can explain…"

"Sure you can," Gregory spat as they took another step backwards.

Sighing softly, Hank folded his arms firmly across his chest. "Boys!" he shouted.

Brad and two other goons quickly ran into the stable and stood in the doorway, blocking the Sidle's exist.

Sara quickly thought on her feet spotting the side door. "Run!" she demanded pushing her cousin towards it.

Gregory shot towards the door and burst through it, Sara followed behind him but she wasn't fast enough and Hank managed to leap forward and grab her arm. "Let me go!" she screamed, pulling with ferocity, trying to break free from his grip. Gregory stopped for a moment and looked back. "Gregory, run…don't stop!"

He hesitated.

"Please! Run!" she cried uncertain of what would happen to him if he was caught.

Now Gregory didn't dally and was off faster than a bullet firing from a loaded gun.

"Don't let him get away!" Hank shouted as he fought to keep a hold of Sara's arm.

The three men blocking the main doorway quickly turned on their heels and gave chase but luckily for Gregory, he was quick to think and was pulling himself upon Pandora by the time they got any where close.

"Go girl!" he shouted, giving her a light kick just before they reached him and he sped away.

"Damn it!" Brad cursed and ran for his own horse. Once aboard he pulled his revolver from his holster and galloped after his prey, his too aids close behind.

Sara struggled against her will to break free and screamed for help as loudly as she possibly could.

Hank managed a firm grip around her wrist and yanked her backwards towards him, quickly wrapping one arm around her upper body whilst slipping his other hand over her mouth in an attempt to silence her cry for help.

"Jared, get the hell after them, I can handle her!" he hollered to his goon as he rushed to try and aid in restraining Sara. "If he gets away, I'll have someone's head!"

Nodding quickly, Jared ran from the stable.

"Robert, get the hell out of here," Hank then commanded to his informant, "you can't be seen in this mess."

The younger man didn't argue and quickly vanished.

"Be quiet, Sara," Hank demanded, gritting his teeth as she unrelentingly struggled and attempt to cry out.

Continuing to fight, her muffled cries echoed around the stable, her hands grabbing at his as it covered her mouth. Her thoughts were frenzied as she breathed deeply through her nose, panicked short sniffs of air, in and out, in and out.

He was strong, stronger than she ever thought but she wasn't willing to give up without a fight and stomped down hard on his right foot with all the strength she could muster.

"Umphhh…" he groaned and was quick to retaliate, throwing her onto the work table. She cried out as he pinned her to it, his legs pushing firmly against hers as one hand slipped back to her mouth while the other held her hands together and fixed them firmly above her head.

"I said…" he began again, in a cool but aggravated voice, hovering over her "…be quiet. Stop fighting me, Sara, or I swear, I will go to the house and burn it down while everyone still sleeps inside."

Instantly, upon hearing his words, her eyes shot to his and they pierced through her, dark and sinister. Feeling as her gut cramped, she stilled, nausea quickly creeping up her throat as she breathed heavily through her nose. After hearing what she just had and everything Hank had been involved in, she was certain he would carry out his threat, so she ceased struggling.

"Now…" He smirked as he tightened his grip on her hands and she clenched her eyes closed for a split second as pain shot through her fingers, "…I don't want to hurt you, I really don't, Sara. So, are you going to be a good girl, keep quiet and do as I say?"

As her eyes opened her muffled whimper floated around the stable and she slowly nodded.

"Good." His grin broadened and he loosened his grip on her hands. "I'm going to release you, Sara, so do as you are told and don't make me hurt you because if you push me, I will show you pain like you could have never imagined. Do you understand?"

Hank's words were cool and threatening. In her anger and fear, Sara might have challenged them, if she didn't have someone else to consider. But the child she was carrying forced her to be compliant, at least for the moment.

She slowly nodded again and he removed his hand from her mouth before pushing himself off her and letting go of her wrists. She lay on the table for a moment, shaking, staring at the ceiling until she finally mustered the courage to push herself up and onto her feet. She looked at him with nothing but fear etched upon her face.

"Let's go." He took a firm grip on her arm and pulled her from the stable.

CSICSICSICSICSICISCSI

Brad and his associates chased Gregory as he sped down the driveway of the estate and out onto the main road. The youngster never let up as he rode for his life but he had no idea where he was going. Right now, he just knew he had to get far, far away.

Luckily for him, Pandora was fit and fast and the thugs didn't really stand a chance of catching him, this, Brad suspected after a mile or so, so he began shooting.

Gregory jumped when he heard the first shot and looked behind him to see the pursuing band. He was terrified and knew if he stopped now they would most certainly kill him.

He spurred Pandora harder and picked up a little more speed but it still wasn't enough to deter his chasers, not until they hit the mark.

Brad was not one who liked to miss a shot and he certainly couldn't let his boss down. Aiming his gun again, he gritted his teeth and took careful aim. He was master at shooting while riding. He caught Gregory in his line of fire and squeezed the trigger.

Bang!

This time, his shot hit the target and he saw Gregory slump forward but Pandora didn't stop and continued to ride fast, away from their hunters.

Smirking, Brad pulled his horse to a steady trot as his friends caught up and slowed beside him.

"Why did you stop?" the youngest man asked breathlessly.

Now pulling his horse to a total stop, Brad smiled broadly. "I got him, Cal," he informed his counterpart. "There aint nothing out in this direction for miles and miles, he's done for if he aint dead already."

"You better be right," Cal responded, "or the boss will have your head, you know that right?"

Snorting he turned his horse and began back in the direction of the estate. "He's a goner…"

CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI

As Hank dragged Sara away from the stable, she struggled for composure. She was just in shock, total, utter shock.

It was almost light now and she knew people would be rising soon but she had no idea what Hank had in store for her and or whether she would be able to get any help and that, terrified her.

Jared approached from a distance and when he reached them he stopped and jumped from his horse.

"And?" Hank asked quickly.

Sucking in a needed breath, Jared pointed towards the driveway. "They are coming back now, I'm not sure what happened, I didn't have time to catch up."

Working his jaw in thought, Hank looked to Sara as she gazed at him nervously. "Get my horse," he commanded his worker but didn't take his eyes from his ex fiancé for a second and Sara swallowed hard.

"Yes, sir." Jared nodded and quickly ran to the back of the stable to retrieve his boss's transportation.

As he disappeared the others could be heard returning in the distance and soon their horses came into view.

When they stopped, Hank walked to them, pulling Sara with him and he looked each of them over in turn. "So, where is he?"

Brad shuffled in his saddle. "Don't worry, I got him," he responded.

With his brow rising, Hank took another step forward. "You got him?" he mocked. "Would you care to elaborate?"

"I shot him," the thug retorted quickly.

Sara's hand shot to her mouth in shock as she tried to catch the escaping sob that fell from her lips. Had this monster really killed her cousin?

"So…" Again Hank looked to each of his men and shrugged his shoulders. "Where is he?"

Shuffling nervously in the saddle, Brad shrugged his shoulders. "I…just…didn't…"

"I see," Hank snorted as Jared returned with his horse. "Here…" He pushed Sara to Jared, "…hold her for a minute."

Jared nodded and gripped tightly onto Sara's arm and she winced, placing her hand over his in some hope he may let up a little. He didn't and just looked at her blankly causing her to sigh. She watched on as Hank approached Brad.

Without warning he lunged forward, grabbed Brad's belt and yanked him from the horse. The thug hit the ground with an unpleasant crunch and groaned. The other men moved their horses back a few paces to get out of the way and looked on anxiously as Hank reached to his holster and pulled out his revolver. He pointed it right in between Brad's eyes and the older man squirmed, holding up his hands.

"So…" Hank began, "…you are telling me you simply let him ride away, is that right?"

Sara looked on as the man who supposedly loved her threatened another man's life. She was tempted to say something but dare not for fear of what retaliation she may receive. Hank was not in the best of moods.

"He's dead…I promise you." Brad swallowed hard.

Hank took a while but eventually he lowered his weapon. "You better be right," he spat. "But I really don't want to be in your shoes when Uncle finds out about this." He slipped his gun back into his holster. "Get up."

Nodding dumbly, Brad scuttled to his feet and winced, holding his back.

Walking back to Jared, Hank took Sara and pushed her towards his horse. He pointed at his animal. "Get on," he commanded.

"Where are you taking me?" she asked distressed, unsure of what was going to happen to her now or what he was going to do.

Clearing his throat he stepped right up to her. Looking her dead in the eye he breathed his stale breath into her face and it made her nose curl. "Do I stutter?" he asked sarcastically.

"No," she barely whispered, floating her eyes downwards in an attempt to avoid his stare.

He leaned forward, placing his lips right by her ear now. "Then get on the horse while I still have patience with you."

Sniffing hard, she shakily nodded and slowly approached the fine looking Palomino. Taking the reins she slowly mounted and sat back in the saddle.

"See…" Hank smiled as he now took the reins, "…you can do as you're told."

As he pulled himself up onto the horse and moved in tightly behind her, Sara felt her heart pounding as his body pressed into hers and his arms encased her as he took control of his horse.

"Frank, Cal, you stay here, hide outside the gates," he began as the Palomino took a few steps backwards. "If he should happen to come back…" He glared at Brad, and the thug swallowed hard, "…you bring him to me and he speaks to no one. You got that?"

Both men nodded.

Sara felt sick. Was her cousin really dead and if he wasn't what horror's would he face if Hank got his hands on him? And what was going to happen to her? Her gut rolled as Hank's fingers tightened around the reins.

"Jared, Brad, you're coming back with me so get a move on, we need to get out of here before anyone sees us," Hank finished.

"Yes, sir," they both said together and quickly got on their horses.

"What do we say if anyone sees us and asks about her?" Cal asked, pointing to Sara as Hank was about to pull away, "Or her cousin?"

Sara uneasily looked over her shoulder to the man behind her. He looked at her for a moment then returned his attention to his goon. "You say nothing…nothing at all. You know nothing, you got that?"

"Got it."

"Good." Hank smiled and kicked his horse. "Yah!"

All Sara could do was hold on and pray, for now, she knew, she was in serious, serious trouble…

A/N: And you all thought the mole was Ecklie, didn't you? Go on, admit it! Ahhh but he isn't but Why Robert? Hmmm….and oh dear, oh dear, Sara really is in a terrible spot now isn't she? What on earth does she do now? I'd say things can't get much worse but then I'd be lying. *Bites nails*

Review! :D And have a nice day! LMAO