A/N: Hey guys. Sorry for the delay but RL has not been kind lately and along with work and a serious lack in motivation, the writing has been slow and my brain hasn't been co-operating :( Ugh, I need motivation!

Anyhoo, I finally managed to get my butt into gear and get this ready for posting. Thanks, as always to SSC. You are my guiding light, my inspiration, my friend and oh boy, a very good partner in crime. Can't wait till everyone gets to read your massive contribution in the chapters to come! (That's right, be prepared people!)

Thanks, for the reviews, please, please keep them coming – I am in need of serious urging lately!

Enjoy…

Chapter 82

The group of men entered the living room from the external door just as Laura entered from the hallway.

"Sara's still sleeping," she informed her husband, giving Grissom a quick flick of her eyes as he drew closer. "Rana is watching her."

The captain offered a single nod and then looked to the sheriff. "She has been through a lot and I'm sure you want to speak with her but it can wait, can't it?" The ranch owner's words were made in more of a statement than a request.

"It can wait," Brass replied simply.

"Good, take a seat." The captain glared at Grissom for a brief moment before walking towards the bar.

The sheriff sat on the sofa and Laura joined him. The lawman gave her a sympathetic smile as she slipped in beside him. Grissom remained standing and leaned against the wall off to the left of the sofa, folding his arms across his chest.

Taking three glasses the captain filled them with bourbon. He picked up two and moved back to the sofa holding one out to the sheriff.

"Thanks," Brass said taking the glass.

"Would you like anything, my dear?" the captain asked his wife.

Laura shook her head. "No thank you, I'd rather be alert just in case Sara needs anything."

He nodded his understanding then turned to Grissom.

Grissom frowned as the captain approached him; he expected no form of generosity from his previous employer, so he was surprised when the captain held the other glass out to him.

Slowly, Grissom unfolded his arms and took the glass. "Thank you."

The captain did not respond to Grissom's thanks and simply stepped back to the bar to retrieve his own drink.

Sighing with frustration the rancher placed the glass to his lips and downed the contents in two swift gulps. A mistake he soon came to realize as the alcohol burned his still tender throat; however it did soothe some of his other pain which was plentiful. So, he was moderately content and although another glass would have been welcome, Grissom knew the answers to his problems wouldn't be found at the bottom of a bottle.

He wouldn't dared have asked the Captain for another glass anyway.

After collecting his drink, the captain moved to his chair opposite the sofa and sat. "So where are we Jim?" he asked. "You better tell me that bastard is going to pay for what he has done to my family."

All eyes fell upon the sheriff who took a sip from his bourbon before placing the glass onto the coffee table in front of him. He entwined his fingers and puckered his lips. "We have the colonel in custody as you know and plenty of evidence that will ensure he will go to trial. As well as the physical evidence we now have numerous witness…your daughter and…" He nodded to Grissom, "…Gil and also young Robert has been helpful…considering."

"Considering what?" the captain asked with a frown. "What has he got to do with it?"

"Robert is the colonel's son," Grissom cut in.

The captain's head snapped around to his former second, a total look of confusion upon his face. "What?"

"It's true," the sheriff continued, regaining the captain's attention. "He told me the story."

Swiping a hand across his mouth, the captain shook his head. "I don't understand. How can that be? He has been with us for years."

"Well…" the sheriff began, scratching the back of his head, "…it appears that Colonel McKeen had a…" he cleared his throat, "…secret relationship with Robert's mother many years ago. He was married at the time so…"

The captain seemed to get it immediately. "He got her pregnant," he concluded on a growl, slowly turning his head to look at Grissom and the rancher looked to the floor as a pang of guilt washed over him.

"Right," Brass agreed swiftly. "Robert told me he received a letter, some six months ago. It was written by his mother but she had passed away two weeks before he received it. It was more of a dying confession in a way. She explained what had happened with the colonel but when she found out she was pregnant she had to leave town. She could not disgrace the colonel and in all honesty was in fear for her life if she had told him she was having his child. The colonel may not have been all that receptive."

"No kidding, "Grissom mumbled.

Brass offered the rancher a quick glance but continued. "She couldn't cope with Robert as a single mother, so she gave him up and eventually he ended up here. McKeen never knew about Robert. Not until Robert received the letter and confronted his alleged father about it."

Laura looked rather stunned by what she had just heard. "I'm amazed Jeffery didn't deny it," she said.

"I'm not," Grissom added, sucking in his gut and looking back to the group. They all turned their attention to him as he kicked from the wall and walked closer. "He still kept Robert a secret, for the most part but he had a weapon." He clenched his right fist in front of him. "He had the perfect person to help him gain the Grove…an insider, someone who would do exactly what he said in order to get what he wanted. How could he turn that away? And I'm sure McKeen offered him the world and his birthright in exchange for his help. Not many men would turn that down...all the money…the wealth…the status…especially someone in Robert's position…young…needy…grafting all his life…just working to survive."

"Would you?" The captain's question came thick and fast.

Grissom licked his lips; he knew the captain was comparing him to Robert. "Would I what?" the rancher countered.

"You say that most men would do whatever they had to in order to gain such…status as Jeffery was offering. Would you?"

Laura sat forward looking a little nervous, witnessing as Grissom's eyes darkened.

"You think that Sara and I were together so I could get at her wealth?" Grissom spat.

"Gentlemen!" Laura half screeched half pleaded, shooting to her feet. "This isn't the place for this, we have company, remember?" She looked to Brass who seemed to close his eyes as if ignoring the conversation.

Feeling his nostrils flaring, Grissom fought hard to keep his composure but he respected Laura enough to leave it alone, for now. Although Brass knew about him and Sara, they didn't know he knew.

"I think we should continue this a little later, in private, Captain," he finished, a hint of malice very evident in his voice.

With a sarcastic grunt, the captain turned back to the sheriff just as his eyes popped open. "So Robert betrayed us but he is cooperating," he concluded.

The sheriff nodded. "There is a little more to it, which I will get to, but he admitted starting the fires, sabotaging the fencing and he was present at the murders of both Albert Robbins and Warrick Brown. He is, however, adamant he didn't kill anyone."

Grissom stiffened. He as yet, hadn't had confirmation as to who killed his friends. "Did the colonel kill them both?" he asked.

"No," Brass shook his head. "Hank killed Robbins. Unfortunately for Albert he overheard Robert and Hank in conversation and he confronted them."

Taking a breath, Grissom shook his head. "So he just killed him in cold blood?" Grissom briefly closed his eyes at Brass' words. The kind face of Al Robbins flitted through his mind. Robbins was a gentle man, a wise, caring, and compassionate man who took a small orphan boy to raise as his own. A boy, who was scared and lonely, and had absolutely no hope in the world until the selfless Robbins happened to take pity on him.

It had been a long time ago, but the adult Grissom could well remember the overwhelming sense of grief and loneliness that he felt as a small child. He also remembered his very first meeting with the selfless worker. Robbins had dried his tears, swept him up in his arms and assured him that everything would be all right.

And it had been. Until Robbins death and the immediate aftermath….the aftermath that had brought Grissom back to the Grove and Sara Sidle into his arms.

Grissom suddenly longed for Robbins' company, for his good advice and easy conversation. Robbins wouldn't have been proud of Grissom's improprieties with Captain Sidle's daughter…..but he would have known the proper recourses and his soothing manner would defuse any volatile situation.

And Hank had killed him. Hank Pedigrew had killed Robbins and had raped Sara. He had hurt the two people that Grissom loved most. And Grissom, to his own consternation didn't love easily.

Brass nodded. "He was going to tell, Hank couldn't have that. Their plan would be exposed."

Grissom cursed under his breath. Albert Robbins was the nicest, gentlest man he had ever known. He didn't deserve such a heartless demise. His guilt towards dropping Hank from the cliff was waning a little. "Did Hank kill Warrick as well?" he continued with a tremble in his voice.

"No," the sheriff replied. "The Colonel did. Warrick followed Robert the night of the second fire. He got caught and…well…you know the rest."

"Such brutality," Laura cut in on a sniff. "Honest, hard working, gentle men, killed for what? Why did the colonel do all this and put us through such horror? Just for our land…our money?" her distress turned to pure bitterness.

The captain leaned forwards, took his wife's hand and held it tightly, her distress was blatantly obvious.

"Unfortunately, yes, in a way." Brass answered. "But there is something that you don't know in regards to your land and why the colonel wanted it so badly."

Looking to his wife and then the sheriff, the captain frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Grissom looked on with curiosity too, keen to know what his friend was talking about.

"Well…" The sheriff picked up his glass and took a quick sip, "…when Robert first went to the colonel to show him the letter he wasn't received as well as he hoped."

"I don't understand," Grissom cut in. "I thought the colonel accepted him…well…you know what I mean."

Brass nodded, "Eventually but not to start with. The colonel was none too happy when Robert first showed him the letter. He refused to listen and informed Robert that if he ever told anyone then it would cost him dearly. It seemed the colonel likes everyone to prove themselves, even those who are his children. Robert was told if he could ever prove his worth and that he deserved to be a McKeen, to return. Until that day, McKeen wanted nothing to do with him and Robert dare not tell and shame the man as he knew it would have cost him his life."

"So how did he prove himself?" the captain asked. "And what does it have to do with my land?"

Standing, the sheriff moved to the window and looked outside. A breeze had picked up outside and a curling of leaves swooshed around the veranda.

The captain shifted from his chair to sit by his wife. Everyone watched the lawman and awaited an answer.

Turning back to face the group, Brass reached into his inside jacket pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. He opened it up to reveal a hidden treasure.

Grissom's brow scrunched a frown as he stepped towards his friend to see what he was holding. The object caught a beam of light and the sparkle caused a twinkle in Grissom's eye, he knew exactly what it was he was looking at.

Reaching forward, he took the golden ball in between his fingers and held it up. Slowly, the captain got to his feet and stepped towards his former employee. "Is that…?"

"Gold…" Grissom finished for him, still staring at the nugget.

Laura stood and moved to stand by her husband as Brass took the piece of gold from Grissom. "For now, it's evidence," he informed the group.

"Where did that come from?" the captain asked, clearing his throat.

The sheriff placed the evidence back into his pocket. "Robert found it. He gave it up when he revealed everything."

"Are you going to tell us where he found it?" the ranch owner questioned.

Grissom's eyes darted from side to side as he worked a few things out. "He found it here," he deduced, "Somewhere on the Grove." He looked to Brass. "Didn't he?"

Brass nodded.

"Gold here?" Laura gasped.

Again, Brass nodded.

"That's why the colonel wanted this place so badly," Grissom continued. "Robert showed him the gold and knew where there was more. After all, where there is one nugget, there is bound to be a lot more." The rancher rubbed his chin. "He couldn't mine it himself and if he told the captain, he wouldn't get anything out of it apart from a small finder's fee. So, he informed his father and that's how Robert proved himself," he concluded.

"You got it," Brass acclaimed his friend. "The colonel always wanted your place anyway, Captain. You knew that and most knew he was putting pressure on you to sell when you were struggling. He just wanted to own everything but when he found out about the gold…well…we all found out he was prepared to do anything in order to get this land. The find could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, maybe even more. The colonel wasn't about to let that get away."

The captain stood in stunned silence as did his wife. Grissom too looked a little dumbfounded. "Are you telling me…" the captain finally broke the silence, "…that all this time, through all the time we struggled to keep this place afloat…we had been sitting on a fortune all along?"

"It looks that way," the sheriff responded.

"And that young man we trusted into our home for so many years would see us die so he and his so called father could get hold of it?" Now the captain began to show his anger.

Brass's shoulders slumped. "He claims he didn't know McKeen's full intentions. He knew the Grove was struggling and he presumed you would sell out to his father. Then they could just mine the gold at their will. But you didn't give up and refused to sell over and over so that's when McKeen got serious. He made Robert begin to sabotage the estate. He did what he was told or he would be banished, forever, never get anything he was entitled too. But when Robbins was killed he was too afraid to back out for he knew they would probably kill him if he did."

"Does he expect pity telling you all that crap?" the captain spat. "He is as much to blame as they are!"

Laura tried to impede her husband's anger and pulled on his arm. "Calm down," she implored.

Grissom worked his jaw. He searched for a little understanding for Robert, after all, he had cut him down from the tree and more than likely saved his life. Not that that excused the things he had done. He attempted to change the subject. "This gold…did he tell you the location of where he found it?"

"He did although I haven't checked it out yet."

"I'll get it checked out," the captain interjected. "Where should we be looking?"

"The river," Brass began, "Apparently if you follow it east for a quarter mile there is a small cave. That's where he found the nugget."

The captain thought for a moment and then nodded. "I'll take a look down there later but I'm still finding it hard to believe that all this time I've been sitting on a gold mine."

"Yeah," the sheriff sighed. "Who would have thought?"

Puffing out his cheeks, the captain slipped his hands into his pockets, "So what about the rest of Jeffery's men? Have they been arrested or are any of them being charged?"

Brass scratched the back of his head. "Well, we…have recovered Hank's body and he is definitely dead." He looked to Grissom. "I read your statement; do you have anything to add about what happened with him?"

The rancher tried to swallow the unrelenting lump in his throat and his eyes flicked to Laura. She gave a swift, unseen shake of her head, visible to no one but him.

"No," Grissom replied on a sigh, "Nothing to add."

The sheriff studied him for a moment but then returned his attention to the captain. "We have several of the colonel's men in custody and until I have chance to question them all properly, charges are still to be determined. Two were killed during the gun battle and the rest, at the moment, don't seem too keen to talk. Maybe when they see their future at the end of a rope, they might just start offering a little information and cooperation."

"What about McKeen's staff?" Grissom asked. "I'm pretty certain, for the most part; he didn't treat them too well, so they may be of some help."

"Yeah," brass agreed. "I will get around to them eventually. For now, they have all been told to just stay at the estate. I think they could use a little…guidance and support. They have no idea what is going to happen to them now."

All eyes fell upon the captain and he sighed. "Maybe once all this mess is sorted out I can help out the good ones," he said. "Is there anything else we need to know?"

Shaking his head, Brass once again reached for the time piece in his pocket. "For now, I don't think so." He checked the time. "I'll be back tomorrow with an update and to speak with Sara but right now, I have to get going. Ya'll be alright?"

The sheriff looked to everyone in turn and the captain and Grissom exchanged a firm clash of eyes.

"I'm sure we will manage," the ranch owner responded.

CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI

Grissom stood in the main door entrance as the captain and Laura said goodbye to the sheriff. Although a lot of questions had been answered and the Grove and it's occupants were now safe, he felt just as uneasy, just as frustrated and just as uncertain…

He watched as Brass disappeared down the driveway but then his attention was snapped away from his friend as he felt the captain approaching him.

"I meant what I said earlier," the ranch owner stated. "I want you off my land before nightfall." The captain didn't offer Grissom another word or another look. He passed by the younger man and entered the house, leaving Grissom with mouth slightly agape unable to have a chance to respond.

He looked to Laura who was slowly climbing the main steps and heading towards him. She opened her mouth to speak but she was cut short when Hodges rounded the side of the house and shouted Grissom's name.

Both the lady of the house and the rancher were startled by his holler and waited as the young worker rushed towards them.

Momentarily putting the captain's urge to get him off the estate behind him, Grissom frowned and plodded down a few steps to his aid. "Why are you shouting, David?" he asked when Hodges finally reached him.

The younger man flapped his hands. "Word has travelled that there is a hurricane. I was talking to one of the workers who has just returned from the town." He sucked in a breath and continued. "I don't know when it will get here, if it gets here but it is suspected that that it will hit Alexandria. We have to get back and we have to get back now! Otherwise…everything, Grissom…everything will be lost…"

A/N: *Coughs*. I can assume you weren't expecting that? Hmmm…

What does he do? Leave….stay? Ugh, WHAT's The PLAN

I should leave you options – A, B or C and you can choose. Lol but nah, the plan is set in motion and actually you can thank my amazing beta for what is about to come next! But I will say, just a few more chapters and you may eventually smile :) Be prepared for some WHOOOPA first though, in more ways than one! Hehehehe.

Oh and you know what a review does, it gives me motivation, so - - - -