A/N: Hey guys, sorry for the delay, real life as usual. Finally, here is the next installment. This chapter is unbeta'd as SSC is even busier than I am so all and every mistake is totally my bad. Thank you for all the reviews, please keep them coming and I thank everyone for their continuing support with my wee little story :)

Time to find out what's in the message then…. *evil grin*.

Chapter 95

Grissom watched as the veins on the captain's forehead pulsed. In…out…in…out… It kind of reminded him of a fish that out of water that was gasping for air. "What's wrong?" he asked hastily.

The captain's uneasy sigh made Grissom shuffle nervously. The older man held the piece of paper out to him with his hand trembling and he cleared his throat. "Jeffery has escaped from custody."

"What?" the rancher snapped, just about ripping the message from the older man's hand. His fingers shook and his heart caught in his throat as he read the sheriffs message aloud…

"Captain,

This message comes to you with the upmost urgency. The jailhouse was set upon this last Thursday during the dead of night. I will not waffle with detail until I see you face to face but the most urgent matter is that The Colonel has escaped. I implore with the highest necessity that you ensure yourself and your family are safe. Please pass the news onto Gil also as I will presume you have found him. We do not know his location or intentions at this point in time but please, be cautious. As we have all come to realize, he is capable of anything. There is a man hunt currently underway. Please inform me once you are back in Maryland.

Jim Brass."

Grissom was unsure of what to say as his head slowly rose from the writings on the paper. His emotions were a mixture of shock, anger and also fear. Jeffery McKeen was a mad man and had almost destroyed every single thing that he held dear. Would he be out for revenge? If so, who would he go for first? Would he even…

Grissom's thoughts were cut short by the captain and the words he spoke… "We have to get back to The Grove," the older man stated simply, obviously deep in thought.

Grissom's eyes widened, he knew exactly what the captain was saying and that meant taking Sara away from him. An uncomfortable tingling shot down the back of his neck and he felt every muscle in his body tense. "Not a chance," he shot back, his chest puffing out a little.

The captain stepped back, noticing Grissom as he took a defensive posture.

"You are not taking her from me, Thomas…" The rancher's teeth gritted with every word spoken, "…under any circumstances…"

Clearing his throat, the captain looked somewhat daunted. "You know, Gil, that's the first time you have ever called me that."

"Maybe because I have never been so serious in my entire life," Grissom retorted. "You are not taking her…"

With a hearty sigh the captain looked to the sky and noticed how the black glooming clouds were clearing to reveal turquoise…a nice clear sky… "This is far from about me taking Sara from you, Gil. This is about ensuring my family stay safe and do not get set upon by a lunatic." He spread his arms wide. "You have done very well with all this but we will not be safe here, Gil, any of us. We have no protection."

"We?" Grissom questioned.

"I didn't for one second think you would allow Sara to return home without you. So yes, we, you also. At least at the Grove I have men, weapons…we will be safe."

Grissom ran an unsteady hand over his yet again over growing beard. His cheeks puffed out in frustration as he tried to take in what was happening. He looked to the cabin, then to the captain, then to the messenger before closing his eyes for a moment. Would he ever have a day without something or someone threatening his mortality?

"I want terms," he suddenly stated.

The captain's brow rose and he took the letter from him, slipping it into his pocket. "Terms?" he questioned.

Grissom nodded. "Sara and I return with you to the Grove and…we get through this, whatever it takes. Once Sara is better, I want the right to ask her for her hand. But I want your blessing right now. I want your word you will not throw me out, banish me, whatever you want to call it after all this is over because once Sara is back on your land, I won't have much of a leg to stand on in regards to my rights, will I?"

"I guess not," the captain returned calmly. "After everything, it's a big ask, don't you think, Gil?"

"Take it or leave it," Grissom said firmly now.

Grissom didn't quite hear the tone used in the captain's question and it was by far from anything bitter. The older man smiled, surprising him. Why the hell was he smiling?

"We will talk once we get back to the estate…talk properly…" He removed the glove from his right hand and held out his hand. "You have my word…" he said awaiting Grissom's return in gesture.

The rancher stepped back in surprise and looked at the captain's hand. He didn't expect him to agree so quickly. But, he knew a man's word was his word, especially this man and the captain would never go back on hand shaken promise. Right now wasn't a time to question motivations either, it's not like they both had enough.

Grissom removed his own glove and looking the captain right in the eye grabbed his hand and shook it firmly.

"Good," the captain declared. "Now we are in agreement, let's get sorted shall we?"

"Right," Grissom replied somewhat unsure, he was still trying to dissolve the news he had just heard. "How…do you think Laura is going to take this?"

Blowing out a breath of hot air, the captain shook his head. "I don't know but I can't keep it from her. However, Sara can't know, not yet. Whether she is cohesive enough to understand or not, I can't even imagine how she would react knowing he is somewhere out there."

"Agreed," Grissom shot back without argument and he most certainly did agree. Sara was by no means, in any fit state to know.

"Are you sending a reply, Sir?" the messenger suddenly piped up.

The captain scratched the top of his head. "You can just tell the sheriff that we will return as soon as possible and I will contact him once we are back home."

The messenger nodded, boarded his horse and was away.

Grissom and the captain watched him disappear before both men took a moment and the air suddenly fell silent.

"Well…" the captain broke the silence after a minute or so, "…let's…get on with this then shall we?"

"Yeah," Grissom sighed and followed the captain back to the cabin.

CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI

Both men entered the cabin to be greeted by the smell of eggs cooking. Grissom immediately moved to Sara's bedside to check on her as Laura was obviously in the kitchen. Sara was sat up, in the same position she was when he had left and she immediately looked in his direction upon his arrival.

He sat on the edge of the bed and offered her a sweet smile even if on the inside he was screaming. "Hi," he whispered. "Feeling a little better?" He reached out to touch her forehead and alas her fever still blossomed.

She didn't answer and just tilted her head back against the pillows, yet she didn't take her eyes from him.

"Breakfast is ready," Laura called from the kitchen.

Grissom stood and looked to the captain who was noticeably biting down on his bottom lip. He watched on as the older man slowly approached the kitchen.

"Perfect timing," Laura said with a smile, turning from the small stove, spoon in hand, to face her husband. Alas, her smile faded when she immediately saw the jaded look highlighting her mans features. "Thomas?" she questioned, knowing something was wrong.

Grissom appeared in the doorway and leaned against the door frame, crossing his arms over his chest.

Laura's eyes sprang to Grissom and she tensed. "What's…going on? I know…both of you…and something's happened…"

The captain nodded. "Yes," he answered. "Something has…happened."

"Well are you going to tell me?" Laura almost shouted, her voice definitely rising.

"Shusshhhhh…" the captain urged, quickly shooting out his hand and pressing a tender finger over his wife's lips. "I don't want Sara to hear."

Laura frowned as he removed his finger. "What is going on, Thomas?" She lowered her voice but the tension in her words made her worry very evident.

"We just had a visitor…" the captain began, "…a messenger, sent by Jim Brass…um…"

It was easy to see Laura was becoming inpatient as her husband struggled to tell her whatever he was trying to. "For goodness sake, Thomas, tell me…"

"Colonel McKeen has escaped from custody," Grissom said quietly, saving the captain any more fumbling.

Laura's chin trembled and the wooden spoon slipped through her fingers to clonk onto the wooden flooring beneath her feet. The captain moved quickly as Laura seemed to sway and he was fast to slip his arm around her waist to hold her steady. "Whoa…easy…" he said, taking a firm hold on her as Grissom stepped forward to help.

"I can't believe what you are saying," Laura gasped, holding her hand across her heart. She looked her husband in the eye. "How…?"

The captain shook his head. "I don't know, we don't have any details just Jim's advice to be safe and get home."

"Oh my God…do you…think he's going to come after us…after Sara? Dear Lord, she can't know…" Laura grabbed her husband's hands tightly, "…if she even hears he is loose…I…I can't even imagine how she will react."

Pulling his wife into a tight embrace the captain closed his eyes. "We won't tell her for now and I just pray he is caught before a time may come when she has to know or finds out."

"He's a mad man," Laura mumbled into her husband's chest.

"Sara will be safe," Grissom cut in and Laura pulled from her husband's arms to look at him. "I swear…on my life…he will never lay a finger on her again."

Swallowing the heavy lump in her throat Laura bent and picked up the wooden spoon. She didn't know why…she just did. She offered Grissom an uneasy smile and placed the spoon on the counter top. "So what now?" she asked taking in a deep breath.

"We get home, as soon as possible," the captain returned. "So we are safe and protected."

Laura's eyes flickered and she returned her attention to Grissom.

"I'm coming too," he stated simply. "The captain is right that we will be safer at the Grove…but he is well aware that I am not letting Sara go…so…"

"Good," Laura cut him short and turned back to the stove. "Both of you sit, first we eat and then we must make plans."

The captain and Grissom looked at each other, both surprised by her sudden calm actions.

She tipped the eggs onto three plates and turned, holding a plate out to each man. She noted the way they were looking at her and she smiled. "We will all need as much energy as we can get so panicking and not looking after ourselves isn't going to do any of us any good now is it? And if Sara can manage to eat in her state, then so can we."

Although Grissom felt the anxiety building inside him about the situation he knew Laura was right. It was just like he hated to rest and leave Sara's side but he had to, there were things that he simply had to do, as was eating. Although he'd rather be patrolling outside just in case, he needed the strength to be able to do it. "Yes, Ma'am," he replied taking the plate from her and the captain did the same…

CSICSICSICSICSICSI

Breakfast had been consumed in near silence. They couldn't discuss the Colonel's escape for fear of alerting Sara to the situation given she was very much in ear shot. But, by the time they had finished eating; Sara had slipped back into sleep.

Grissom helped clear away the dishes and then checked on Sara before moving to the cabinet in the corner of the room. The captain watched him with curiosity as he took two rifles from the cabinet. After checking both barrels and ensuring the weapons were loaded, he moved to the captain and held out one of the guns to him.

"If you are going into town to get your people ready to leave then I suggest you take this," Grissom said to him.

Laura stepped out of the kitchen just as her husband took the gun without argument. To say she looked concerned would be an understatement and Grissom noticed. He held the second rifle up so she could see it and then propped it up against the wall close to the bed.

"I'm leaving this one here, alright?"

Slowly Laura walked into the room. "I'm not a fan of guns, Gil."

"Well…" he began, moving to the mantel to retrieve his own rifle, "…I understand that but I know you can shoot and…better safe than sorry." He took his gun and faced her. "Just in case you are here alone with Sara and…something should happen…" He paused, chewing uncomfortably on his tongue.

Wrapping her arms around herself, Laura swallowed hard. "Do you actually think he would come here?" Her eyes flicked between the two men over and over, her nerves most definitely showing.

Grissom didn't even think about his answer and immediately shook his head. "No…" he replied, "…I don't…and if he has any sense left…he will be far…far away…away from anyone who would be hunting him down or away from any place he would be sought."

"I think he's right," the captain entered the conversation, slipping the rifle under his arm. "I doubt Jeffery would come here, he doesn't even know we are here."

"He might," Laura disagreed. "How do we know he doesn't know?"

Sara moaned in her sleep then coughed and suddenly all parties silenced, looking in her direction. Thankfully she didn't wake and everyone breathed a sigh of relief suspecting she may have heard their conversation.

"I promised you we would be safe and I don't intend breaking that promise," Grissom reassured her. "You won't be alone for long; I just have to tell my boys what's happening…"

The captain stepped towards his wife, "And I need to go pick up our guys and the coach."

Working her teeth over her bottom lip, Laura softly and nervously bit into the soft, pink skin.

Offering her a smile, the captain reached his right hand to her cheek and gently cupped it. "Neither of us will be long, will you be alright?"

Laura nodded.

"If you rather, I can wait for Gil to come back but time is of the essence…"

She smiled and covered his hand with hers. "Both of you go, we'll be alright just…be swift…please…"

He kissed her on the forehead. "We will, try and get some rest if you can, we have a long journey ahead…again." The captain stepped away to stand by Grissom.

"I'll be nearby if you need me," Grissom said as he headed for the door, the captain followed. Grissom stopped though and faced her before heading out. "Shout and I will come…alright?"

"Yes," she said quietly.

Grissom smiled and gave Sara a quick look before stepping from the cabin. The captain followed and quietly closed the door behind him.

Laura's eyes passed over the gun Grissom had left and she felt a cold chill run down her spine as she stepped towards it. Slowly, her right hand edged towards the weapon but then she stopped herself and snapped her arm back. Quickly, she spun around and closed her eyes. "I won't need it," she mumbled. "I won't need it…"

A/N: Hmmm…so the bad man has escaped has he? Will he return? What do you think?

Oh and I need an opinion. Some of you may remember my little series – RAGE…Retribution…Affliction…well I'm tempted to start posting Guilt, part 3. What do you all think? Maybe just the prologue to get the taste buds flowing? It's been sitting on my laptop for over a year and I'm just dying to get opinions… Hmm, I just don't know…

Anyways, don't forget to review! Thanks!