A/N – Thanks for the comments. I wrote this story while away without access to my other fic in progress "AfterTyme." This story is written in shorter chapters and is almost complete with over 30 chapters already done that I'll roll out every few days. To the one that commented on my using Lisa. She'll play prominently in all my longer Heartland fics, I've always felt since the beginning that hers and Amy's relationship should have grown more prominently over the years.
As to the comment about the 888's, certainly interesting, I hope Chapter 25 doesn't freak you out too much.
Chapter 3
"I just got one of Amy, Cloister and Lisa. What the hell is going on ?"
"Isn't Lisa home ?" Ty asked thinking about whether she had mentioned a trip.
"No she left early this morning, red eye flight, we stayed at Heartland last night."
"To where ?"
"Ithaca, NY it seems, the helmet says Pegasus Stables, Amy is at Pegasus."
"Don't kid yourself Georgie, Amy is Pegasus Stables. We should get back."
"You Ok Ty ?"
"Ever have to face the worst decision in your life Georgie ?"
"How do you know something like that ?"
"Trust me, you'll know."
They parked at the clinic, unloaded the perishables and locked up the van. Georgie went inside and a minute later turned to see the door still closed as she listened to Ty's truck pull out.
She sighed and headed towards the offices "Hey Georgie, where's Ty ?"
"Not sure Scott, he left, uh, something came up, I'm going to call Jack and have him call Ty."
"What's happened Georgie ?" Cass asked walking over, "out with it."
Georgie brought the picture of Amy, Lisa and Cloister up on her phone and laid it on the table.
"Wow, holy shit is that Cloister ?"
"That's all you can say Cass ?"
"That's Amy and look at the helmet ! Pegasus Stables, it fits, the time frame, the name, it never occurred to me." Georgie said more to herself than the group "I almost applied there for an internship."
"Hey Jack, you got my message ?" Georgie said to her phone "he just unpacked the van with me and took off. Did you know about ? Ok, Ok, all of us, as soon as we close up."
"Caleb's at the ranch Cass, Scott, Jack wants you too."
"Let's close up and get out of here, call Jared and tell him he's on call please Georgie."
"Got it Scott, alright if I ?"
"Go ahead Georgie, we'll be there soon."
Georgie headed to the ranch and phoned their on call vet while driving. She considered stopping at Ty's but figured maybe Ty headed to Heartland so she kept on route. She called Wyatt as well and he said he'd meet her at the ranch. While the young engaged couple had an apartment in Hudson they stayed at the ranch several times a week. Jack was getting older and Georgie knew that her being there kept him closer to the ranch house letting Caleb and Mitch handle those things they were better suited for. That and aside from Amy of course Georgie missed being away from Lisa.
Truth is that since the day Amy left the words she wrote to Georgie, for her eyes only, helped guide her through the years "I think I'm most sorry about leaving you Georgie, seeing you change and grow over the past few years has been very special for me and I hate not being there for you as you blossom into a beautiful young woman and face your teen age years. I'd like you to trust me about something, in those times when you find yourself alone and don't know where to turn for a sympathetic shoulder, advice on love or school or careers or simply want for loving hug. When you think that there's no one who understands you and everyone is against you, I want you to go to Lisa. She will always be there for you Georgie, she'll listen to you and talk you through and be your advocate or a shoulder to cry on and if you let her in she will mentor you and teach you. Mostly though, she'll return your love many times over, a commodity well worth investing in." Georgie and Lisa had grown close and most often when her emotions got the best of her she followed Amy's advice and sought out her great grandmother. One thing Georgie knew, that if Lisa was with Amy things would work out.
Ty drove out of the clinic and considered heading to Heartland and saddling Harley but he needed to think and not deal with family, he needed to clear his head and turned towards home and the Norton. He stopped inside and changed, checked the gas and the oil on the Norton and took off. He rode for an hour but got nowhere, 8 years since he'd seen her face and 6 since he'd heard her voice. He still had the message thanks to the apple exchange, he waited too long and when he finally tried to return the call it had been disconnected. She was gone. He knew nothing about her current life, well except she'd added red to her hair which was weird. He called up the picture again. Nope, no wedding ring or anything there. The Pegasus name and logo stared at him. She was as beautiful as the day she left, the thought tore at his heart and that pain was still real.
"Fuck" he yelled at the top of his lungs and turned the Norton towards his house. When he got inside he packed his saddlebags, grabbed all his cash and cards and headed out. Waze said 36 hours, he'd be able to do that in 3 ½ or 4 days with enough time to think. He grabbed his passport for the hell of it, his license would have done and with no more thought, tore off down the road.
Jack got to Ty's house 10 minutes later and smiled when he saw the truck. He knocked a few times and checked the windows. He discovered that the Norton was gone a few minutes later, left a note on the door and another voice message and headed back to Heartland.
"He's not home and he has the Norton." Jack said coming in.
"What the hell's going on Jack and have you bothered to call Tim or Lou ?"
"I'll call Lou in a little while Georgie and no Tim for now, are you insane, let me get some coffee and I'll tell you everything I know, here, video of Amy running Cloister today, 2:04, that would have taken the place spot at the derby."
Georgie watched as Cloister tore chunks from the ground "I'm a trick rider Jack, I don't think I could do that, wow look at him come out of that last turn, holy crap."
"He's fast and she's fearless on a horse Georgie, always a dangerous combination."
"The story old man, spill." Georgie said pouring herself a cup of coffee, black like the office coffee she drank all day.
"Damn I would have been there" Georgie said when Jack got to the part about the derby. He told her about Lisa's attempts and the PI and then the email which Jack opened and showed her.
"She has three adopted kids." Georgie said somewhat choked up.
"Here" Jack said and showed her a more recent set of photos.
"That explains her hair color, no one would ever think they weren't hers."
"I talked to Lisa on the way back and forth to Ty's so I hope I get all this right. I think the one on the right is Charlotte and the left is Madelyn, Maddie."
"And the little boy and why did he have a brace ?"
"The little boy is JT, uh, Jackson Timothy, and well" Jack choked up as did Georgie when hearing his name and told her about the circumstances behind the adoption and the surgeries.
"Lisa said it doesn't slow him down at all and they are all amazing with horses."
"Still, poor guy, sounds terrible, so Amy was alright with all this ?"
"Seems that way, the kid's grandmother lives with them and takes care of the house and I'm not sure what else, apparently she's been after Amy lately to well, get in touch."
"Pegasus Stables Jack, it's like this weird mysterious place hidden away, even their website is bare of anything but they work miracles or people say they do. We've used their surgical procedures. Her name is nowhere on the internet and with the mentions you'd never know it was her and there are no pictures." Georgie said after searching for Amy Flamande. "Pictures of the girls winning trophies and ribbons, lots of them, and always 1st and 2nd and they don't ride the same horse."
"It's a professional name, Flamande, she only used it out in public and they're sisters Georgie, Amy wouldn't let them come to blows over competing or she'd stop them. Seems they're happy for each other."
"So Jack's 6 and they're 14, wow, I have cousins and you've got a hockey squad and a great grandson Jack."
"I guess so" he said quietly.
Lou called Georgie rather than the others, she had received texts from several sources at this point. "Hi Mom, nothing's wrong really, but, right, well, hold on and let me send you something, I'll call you right back. Georgie bounced off and texted the picture of Amy and Lisa to Lou. When the phone rang Jack pointed and Georgie gratefully handed it over.
"Woah Lou, I can hear you fine, geez. No she is not here she's in Ithaca, NY. Can Georgie tell you the story and when are you leaving wherever the hell you are ? Nashville thank you. No just thinking if we needed you this might come first. Good. Katie Ok ? Excellent. Yes there are more pictures, her or the kids ? Three, twin 14 year old girls and an 6 year old boy. Of course adopted, two are 14 Lou. According to Georgie Pegasus is pretty up there in rep, she just fixed the horse that won the triple crown. Here talk to Georgie."
Jack excused himself to his bedroom, packed his grip and laid out his clothes, cash, tickets and passport. He also had the instructions sent about meeting his ride.
He heard Scott, Caleb and Cass and walked out. "Come into the living room and tell me one of you has a fix on Ty."
"Sorry Jack, we've all tried, I used my emergency key to his house, nothing."
"He's got to be somewhere Scott." Caleb said leaning on the couch.
"Caleb, head out and hit up the local watering holes, start at KO's let people know we're looking for him."
"Got it Jack, see you at home Cass better call Janet and tell her we'll be late again."
"Caleb, you don't have to drink at every stop and stop on the way to KO's and kiss the kids please !"
"Will do, love you hon." Were his last words heading out the door.
Everybody heard the mustang pull up and greeted Wyatt when he came in. Georgie took him off to Lou's room to tell him everything and take care of some other stuff before rejoining the group.
"Can one of you drop me at the airport before work ?"
"You're going ?"
"They sent me a ticket." Jack answered holding it up.
"I'll say, PrivateAir, that's pretty exclusive Jack."
"How exclusive Cass ?"
"No more than 8 -12 passengers I'd say."
"Client, Pegasus Corp, account # xxxxxxx4290."
"To be fair they have some pretty rich clients."
"I'd say so Scott, well hopefully my legs won't be squashed."
"I think you're covered Jack."
Ty rode through the night, he didn't push it, just sat and ran memories through his head.
He pulled over and got a room across the Saskatchewan border to Alberta about halfway between the Trans Canada and the US border in North Dakota. He picked up breakfast, sent notes on his cases to Scott and ate before laying down to sleep. He slept until 1:00 PM, about 6 hours before checking out, filling the tank and taking off again. He ignored the phone, either way, he didn't need anybody's opinions, he rode and replayed the day he came to Heartland in his head. It took till dinner when his thoughts turned to his return to Heartland the night of Amy's sweet sixteen.
Over dinner he answered the inevitable texts and emails. He took care of the clinic stuff first and then family and friends. He assured everyone that he was fine, safe and sober. He was just riding for a few days to get himself "right". He promised to check in twice a day, thanked Scott and Cass for understanding and everyone for their thoughts of love and concern.
He rode until around 10:00 pm and checked into a motel in Minnesota right across from the Wisconsin line, showered, shaved and passed out. In the morning he dutifully sent out emails and texts, turned off his phone and iPad and hit the road again. He didn't pay attention to the miles he passed, he barely acknowledged the scenery, all he knew was when he pulled over for dinner his head had stopped at Blair, it was aching and he was body sore. After eating a sandwich platter and washing up he hit the road again until he crossed into Illinois and then onwards towards Chicago before grabbing a room and passing out.
"I should go pick Jack up" Lisa said coming to the table in the morning.
"You'd never find your way in, Bryce will pick him up."
"How will they ?"
"Stop Lisa, if you want to go along that's fine but he's 6'4' with a championship mustache, a cowboy hat and boots. Of the possibly 8 total passengers on board, some of which won't even get off you think Bryce will miss him ?"
"Wait, what did you do ?"
"Lisa, we have accounts with PrivateAir and MillionAire, he's on a Gulfstream 'G' class jet stretched out under a blanket in a gold sided seat."
"I came on the red-eye with no first class."
"You, should have called ahead."
"Yes, well, who knew ?"
"Lisa the fact that you sat in coach at 4:30 AM means the world to me. Get done, I have rounds to make and an appointment in town after."
"We were scared that if you found out we were …."
"On to me I'd bolt ? Seriously you saw the kids and saw the name Pegasus Stables and thought I'd abandon my life's work ?"
"You left Heartland sweetheart."
"I left Ty Lisa and I made that perfectly clear in all my letters and you know it. I left the money for him to start a life, a family to care for him and sent in my fair share to the ranch every year."
"I know Amy but seeing him after."
"He never told you did he ?"
"Told us what ?"
"That on the anniversary of my leaving for the first two years I spoke with him or to him the second time and offered for him to join me, I was in Antwerp and planning the next step the first time. The second time I had just closed on this property and asked him to come build a life with me, to trust me."
"No he didn't."
"After adopting the kids I just let it go and moved on to plan B. He seemed to be doing fine though a bit morose for my tastes. He dated, well amused himself and then dated, I assumed had his share of whatever and seemed content with his life. The practice seemed to be doing well, what more could I have done. I don't know now, or ever knew, what he wanted from me, but the truth is he never trusted me and that was him Lisa, all him."
