A/N: Hey guys, sorry for the delay. RL has been a pain in the butt and with three stories to write it's hard for my brain to concentrate on all three.

Thank you for much for you continued support. Please keep your reviews coming, they well and truly give me the motivation to continue.

There is no beta on this chapter so any and all mistakes are mine.

This chapter is…well…I will start running now. Again, I blame the hat. Lol.

Enjoy.

Chapter 110

Sara's breathing quickened. Her eyes flicked around the room looking for an escape. Alas, she found none. There was only one way out and he was blocking it. She could try the window but she bore no illusion that she could get out of it before he had the opportunity to grab her. So, that really wasn't going to work.

She looked for something to fight with, but again, there was nothing. She doubted she could battle him off with her hair brush.

"There's nowhere to run," he sniggered, pulling the scarf away which concealed a good portion of his face.

Sara tried to gather any composure she could find. She would need it if she had any chance of getting away from him. Keep him talking…that's the best plan…Gil must realize she's been gone too long by now…

"Are you mad?" she questioned. Although she tried to speak with confidence, the shake in her voice was very noticeable. "How did you even get up here? You're a wanted man, Colonel…"

He laughed, spreading his jacket to slip his hands onto his hips.

Sara's eyes immediately caught the side arm hanging from his belt.

"No one pays any attention when there's a party going on young lady. Did you not know that?" He threw his hat and scarf onto the bed. "The guests are having a good time, without a care in the world and the servants and staff, well…they are either also enjoying themselves or are too concerned about pleasing the guests." He took another step towards her. "Of course a little concealing attire helps. So, no one, has a clue, that I'm here…"

She took several steps to her right, attempting to keep some distance from him. "You don't need to do this…they wouldn't have found you. You could be living…"

"Living!" he shouted angrily now.

Sara jumped, backing off even more but eventually she knew she'd be stuck in a corner if she wasn't careful.

The Colonel slowly advanced again. "I have nothing left! How in the hell, do you expect me to live?"

Sara held up a defensive hand, continuing to move. "What do you want from me? You've already taken about as much as you can." Her tone turned bitter now. "Do you even have any idea what you put me through? Do you feel any guilt about what you did to me?"

His eyes notably darkened as he continued to stalk her. Sara noted out of the corner of her eye, that if they continued on this route, and she managed to move in a circle, that she would eventually end up by the door. That's exactly where she needed to be.

"Guilty?" he laughed. "You are a stupid little whore that just couldn't do as you were told. You ruined me!"

Sara swallowed hard but kept her wits about her to keep moving.

"And my nephew is in his grave because of you and that filthy, bastard, rancher." He took a breath, his fingers tapping over his revolver. "What exactly would you like me to feel guilty about?"

Grissom skipped into the house, going straight for the stairs. He found the floor a little sticky at the foot but didn't think much of it. He just continued on course.

Sara rounded the room, almost at the door now. She knew trying to reason with him wasn't going to work. So she came straight out with it. "What exactly do you want?"

Now he smiled and Sara didn't like his smile one little bit. She didn't even give him the chance to answer for she feared his response anyway. Instead, she turned and bolted for the door. She managed to grab the knob, twist and pull the door open a fraction before he was behind her.

But that's as far as she got as he took a firm grip on her arms and kicked the door closed. "No!" she shouted as he spun her around. "Let me go!"

Grissom, who was now on the landing, heard the door slam and then heard Sara's plea. His gut tightened and within a second he was running towards her door. He knew something was wrong.

His shoulder hit the door and he barged right into the room, just as McKeen swung Sara around in his hold so they faced him. She was struggling but in a flash, as soon as he saw Grissom, the colonel had pulled his revolver from it's holster and held it against Sara's right temple.

Grissom's heart almost lunged from his chest when he saw the colonel and the fact he was holding a loaded weapon to his fiancés head wasn't helping his pulse rate any. He totally froze.

Sara whimpered as the colonel whispered for her to keep still, his repulsive arm coiling around her waist to hold her tightly against him. She inhaled a shallow breath as she felt the barrel of the gun jabbing into her skull.

"Nice of you to join our little party," the colonel sneered.

Grissom's immediate thought was the fact he was unarmed. Why oh why hadn't he worn a sidearm? Well, it was his engagement party, why would he have needed one? But he knew the colonel, and showing weakness would not work in his favor. He tried to be strong. He had to get him to release Sara.

"I don't recall you being invited to the party, Colonel," he replied calmly, taking a single step forwards.

The colonel licked his lips with a slight shrug of his shoulders. "How could I possibly resist on such a glorious occasion? The heiress and the shit mucker…" He rolled his eyes, "…such a fairytale."

Grissom looked Sara in the eye as he watched her fingers grip deeply into the colonel's jacket. The look of fear he saw sent a shiver down his spine. The rancher took another step forwards and he was surprised when the colonel took a step back, taking Sara with him.

"Let her go…" Grissom said, holding up a pleading hand.

CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI

Laura had lost interest in the conversation going on around her and as an ill breeze whisked by, she shivered, pulling her shawl tighter around her shoulders. As Thomas continued to chat away with Brass and a few other guests, she looked around. A sudden concern began to build within her as to why Sara hadn't returned. Grissom should have found her by now…

She just had a feeling, and it wasn't a good one.

"Thomas?" she said, attempting to gain her husband's attention.

He looked to her immediately and with a smile.

"I'm…" She pointed behind her, "…just going to pop to the house for a minute, okay?"

"Okay, sweetheart," the captain replied. "Are you alright?"

Laura nodded. "Just like to see if I can find our guests of honor." She gave him a smile. "They seem to have been missing in action for a little too long."

The captain stepped away from his guests. "Do you want me to come with you?" he asked with a hint of concern now.

She swiped her hand down his arm. "Don't be silly, I'll be fine. Carry on enjoying yourself. I won't be long."

Giving her another smile, he watched as she walked away but it wasn't long before he was drawn back into conversation.

Laura hurried towards the house, going the front way as it was easier than trying to wade through the multitudes of people enjoying the party around the back.

As she rounded the side of the house, heading towards the front and the main doors, her eyes narrowed as she spotted someone hurrying towards her.

"Ma'am! Ma'am!" the voice called. And as the person got closer Laura recognized it was Grace, one of the colonel's ex employees.

"Whoa…slow down…" Laura advised taking the young woman's arms.

"He's here…he's here…I saw him," Grace rambled pointing to the house. "She…she's in trouble…please, Ma'am, you need to stop him…"

Laura took a firm grip on the young woman now. "Calm down, okay? Take a breath."

Grace nodded and did as she was told.

"Now…what is all this fuss about?" Laura asked.

Grace pointed back to the house. "The Colonel…he's here…I saw him though the window as I was going home. He has Miss Sara and…"

Laura's eyes widened. "What?" she cried.

"The Colonel," Grace repeated.

"Dear, God," Laura now whispered. "Are you sure, girl?"

Grace frantically nodded. "Yes, Ma'am."

Swallowing the unsinkable lump in her throat, Laura looked Grace right in the eye. "Go and get my husband, tell him exactly what you just told me and that desperate help is needed."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Now child!" Laura shouted as Grace didn't move quick enough.

In an instant, Grace was away, hurrying back towards the party.

With her head spinning and her heart strumming like the beat of a drum, Laura scooped up her dress and ran as fast as she was able towards the main doors. She skidded to a halt when she reached the area below Sara's window and looked up.

Her heart caught in her throat when she saw the colonel through the window with her daughter in his grasp and a gun at her head. She surmised Gil must also be in the room as he hadn't returned. No doubt he had walked in on the colonel with Sara. Now Laura realized why Sara hadn't returned.

An anger, so vicious, flooded through her. An anger like she had never felt before. For the first time in a long, long time her daughter was finally happy and learning to deal with the horrors she had faced. Now he had returned to ruin everything again.

She growled and rushed into the house with a purpose. No one was going to take her daughter away from her like this. Ever!

But when she reached the base of the stairs she stopped. Her anger may be ferocious but it certainly wasn't going to stop a man with a loaded pistol. She changed direction and rushed towards the kitchen…

CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI

"Let her go," Grissom repeated.

The colonel sniggered. "Now why would I want to do that?"

"She isn't the reason you are ruined, Colonel," the rancher continued. "I am. It's me you really want."

Narrowing his eyes, the colonel puckered his lips obviously thinking.

Grissom caught Sara's eyes again, willing her to keep calm before returning his attention to her captor and taking another step closer. He needed to pull the colonel's interest away from Sara. "Think about it. If it wasn't for me Sara would have done exactly what you asked of her. If I wasn't around, there wouldn't have been an issue and none of what happened, would have. I ruined your plans, not her."

The colonel pulled his weapon away from Sara's head, easing up on her a little. He pointed the gun at Grissom, stopping the rancher dead in his tracks.

Sara saw her one and only opportunity then to break away. He may put the gun back to her head at any minute. He certainly didn't expect her to grab his hand, yank it towards her mouth and bit down on his flesh.

He cried out as her teeth cut into the upper side of his hand, breaking the skin. Upon reflex, he ripped his hand back and spun her, sending her flying across the room. She yelped as clattered into the dressing table, banging her head upon the wood before tumbling to the floor.

Grissom instantly pounced, diving onto the colonel, grabbing his now injured hand which was still holding the gun.

The older man growled, attempting to fight Grissom off and both men tussled for control.

All of Grissom's attention was on the gun and attempting to get the colonel to release it. He was strong though and managed to launch a sneaky jab into Grissom gut. The rancher groaned but didn't release his hold on the colonel's hand.

The colonel pushed forwards, taking Grissom with him and slamming the younger man's back, hard into the wall. Grissom countered, spinning the former land owner and they rolled across the wall, sending pictures flying everywhere. They passed the door until they lost their balance and tumbled onto the floor.

Sara had bumped her head upon the hard wooden furniture as she fell but hadn't knocked herself out. She blinked hard on a groan, feeling very dizzy and tried to get to her knees.

"Give it up, Colonel!" Grissom shouted as the two men fought for control on the floor, rolling over and over.

"Never!" the older man bellowed finding a sudden surge of strength to overpower Grissom so he was on top of him. Managing to yank his hand away from the rancher's, he spat in Grissom's face as his finger tightened on the trigger of his weapon.

Grissom's eyes widened and he launched both hands at the colonel's armed one now, struggling to hold the larger man off.

"I'm gonna kill you," McKeen seethed, his face turning red as he fought with all his strength to aim his gun at the ranchers head.

Grissom's face too turned a darker shade of crimson. Sweat oozed down his face and a heavy gasp shot from his lips as the gun's barrel began to edge towards him.

"Think I might give Sara one last screw before she comes to join you, you filthy little rat," the colonel attempted to brag on a stretched whisper. "I'll make her…scream…"

Those words spurred Grissom into a final counter as the blood pumped through his body so ferociously, he could hardly see straight. He screamed out loud, putting every ounce of energy into his arms to flip the colonel and the two rolled over the floor again.

But, after only a few seconds…

BANG!

The sound of a gunshot crippled the silence in the room and the two men became still.

Sara's chin trembled as she watched the two now still me on the floor. She slowly and edgily pushed herself up and her heart died as the colonel's head turned and he glared at her with nothing but murder flashing in his eyes.

Grissom's eyes were wide and his breathing heavily labored as McKeen removed his weight from his body and stood. The rancher tried to move but found the agonizing pain in his abdomen prevented him from doing so. He managed to raise his head, just a tiny bit to look down over his body only to see his brand new dress shirt was oozing blood. As the color quickly drained from his face, it took him mere seconds to work out that the blood…was his.

Sara's mouth hung open and her legs almost gave out as McKeen turned to her, a gut churning sneer upon his lips, blood on his hands. "One down…" he bragged, "…one to go. And guess who's ne…"

His words suddenly cut out in mid sentence and the strangest look appeared on his face. First he seemed to smile but then his smile faded and he looked confused. Sara watched on as his eyes rolled backwards and he just fell forwards hitting the floor with a hard thud.

Kinking her head, Sara immediately spotted the kitchen knife sticking right in the centre of the colonel's back and her head slowly rose to catch her mother, standing right behind the now lifeless man.

In all the commotion no had had even noticed Laura's entrance. And it was indeed…an entrance.

Laura sucked in a deep breath, her hands shaking but her face non regretful.

Sara's mouth opened but nothing came out for a cry of pain from her fiancé grabbed her attention. She ran to him and scrambled to her knees. "Oh my, God, Gil…" she pleaded as one of her hands slid under the back of his neck to pull his head to her while the other lay across the wound in his stomach.

He coughed again as his eyes met hers, nothing but pain etched upon his face.

Laura was quickly by her daughter's side, stepping over the Colonel's carcass as if he was irrelevant. "Dear, Jesus," she mumbled.

A tear streaked down Sara's cheek as she looked up to her mother. "No…no…He's shot…oh, God…he's shot…"

The captain, Nicolas, Gregory, Ecklie and Brass ran into the room. A crowd also gathered outside. The captain saw the colonel's body and wasn't sure what was going on but he immediately realized when he was grabbed by his wife.

A woman screamed outside when her eyes passed over McKeen. Brass checked the colonel. "He's dead," he announced.

"Good!" Sara screamed. "Now help Gil!"

Scrambling to the floor by his daughter, the captain looked Grissom over. Quickly, he ripped his vest and shirt open exposing the wound. His breath became short as he looked over his shoulder to his wife. It was not a look of positivity.

Grissom cried out again as the cool air hit his bleeding flesh. He tried to sit up.

"Keep still, Gil," the captain pleaded, pushing his shoulders back down. "Is David out there?" he then bellowed.

Just as he shouted, David Phillips ran into the room almost falling over the colonel's body.

"What the hell happened?" the doctor asked. "I heard the gunshot…"

"Here…now!" the captain demanded.

David's eyes widened when he saw Grissom on the floor and he was immediately by his side. "Oh…Jes…I…" He placed his hands on the wound causing Grissom to scream again. The blood was pooling out.

"David, help him…" Sara begged. "He's been shot. What do we do?"

"Um…" David looked around, sweat forming quickly upon his brow. "I need to get the bullet out. I need somewhere…"

The captain stood and pointed to the bed. "The bed?"

Shaking his head, David looked around again. "No, we need somewhere solid, something I can easily work on without him dipping. The bed is too soft; he'll grind himself through it."

Laura thought. "The dining table?"

"Perfect." David pushed himself to his feet. "We need to get him up but carefully." He pointed to the bed. "Get the sheets. We can make a linen carrier. We need to keep him as still as possible."

"Come on, Sara…" Laura reached for her daughter, pulling her out of the way as numerous men rushed around preparing to make Grissom mobile.

Sara swiped a sluggish hand across her own cheek, smearing Grissom's blood over her own face. Her hands were covered in it. Laura wrapped a loving arm around her daughter as they watched the group strip the bed and quickly wrap Grissom in the sheets.

"Four on each side," David directed the men. "We need to make sure we lift him together and keep him straight going down the stairs."

Everyone sounded their agreement, each man bending and grabbing onto the linen.

"Everyone ready?" the captain asked, taking a piece of the self made carrier.

"Yes," they all said.

The captain nodded to David.

"On three…" David commanded. "…One…two…three….

***With drooping heads and tremulous tails, they mashed their way through the thick mud, floundering and stumbling between whiles, as if they were falling to pieces at the larger joints. As often as the driver rested them and brought them to a stand, with a wary "Wo-ho!" the near leader violently shook his head and everything upon it-like an unusually emphatic horse, denying that the coach could be got up the hill. Whenever the leader made this rattle, the passenger started, as a nervous passenger might, and was disturbed in mind***

*** - Extract from: A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens *Adapted paragraph*

A/N: Ummm… Do I need to hide? You know you love me really :) Thoughts please…