She wasn't even sure what she's hastily thrown into her bag. For someone who traveled so often, this was not something she ever envisioned doing, and right now, Lisa couldn't even remember what she had grabbed from the closet and the drawers. It didn't matter; she needed to get going and quickly.

"Lisa," she heard, but she couldn't bring herself to answer. It was almost as she wanted to answer, but the words wouldn't come. "Lise," she heard again.

Now, moving even faster, Lisa zipped up her purse and put it on the floor next to her smaller carry-on sized bag that she'd first pulled out but then quickly decided would not be enough. So much for being a seasoned traveler. Lisa couldn't even pick out the right luggage.

"There you are," she heard and finally, acknowledging that Jack had been calling for her, looked up from the bed where she was packing. "You have had me worried sick. I thought something had happened to you, and I'm the old geezer who normally has the health issues. I've called you, texted you, heck, all that sounds like what you do to get ahold of me on a daily basis. I got a brief glimpse into how annoying it is when someone doesn't answer, but something is up. What is going on? Lise?"

Lisa looked up from the mess she had created, but even in looking up, she did not meet his eyes; she couldn't, not now. She looked toward him, but almost looked through him, staring at his socks. Jack never liked wearing his boots in the house for the mess they made, and it was easier to focus on his old, worn socks rather than to look at him directly.

"Umm, I have to go. This is such a mess, and I can't believe this, that I'd ever be doing this, but this is something I must do." She continued to randomly throw things into her bag, her eyes moving back to the task at hand before she added again, "I have to go." Her head snapped up at the forceful tone she quickly heard from Jack.

"What? Lisa, what is going on?" At the sound of his voice, Lisa made eye contact with him, and at once, she realized what she was saying, Jack was processing very differently. She started to speak, but he continued with his questions, "Are you leaving? What in the world? You don't just leave! We've been married for 10 years. What in the world did I do? Things have been good. Sure, you have said that we need to try new things like restaurants and hobbies, as well as do some basic traveling, but what is this? Here, I thought we were going to enjoy a nice dinner out tonight, one of your hints of trying new things we have discussed, and I'm listening. I'm trying. Then, I get a call from your stable manager when you don't show for a meeting, which is unlike you, and he's tried calling you too, only not to get an answer or a reply to a text. I know something is seriously wrong, and so there I am, out with the herd, very concerned about you. Even there, I try something new. Talk about trying something new, I pull up that search thing on my phone you've shown me, what is it-'Find my iPhone' and look up your location because that's right, I'm trying to keep up with you in my very old age and have been listening to what you have tried to teach me, especially about technology. Then, I really worry because your location shows you are at the house, but you aren't answering my texts or calls, which you never ignore. I come home to see your car out there, but then you're in here, tearing up our bedroom, bags out, telling me you have to go? Lisa?"

Lisa's eyes widened as Jack explained what he perceived to be going on, and she shook her head at him as he laid out his case. When he'd finished talking and was looking at her, she finally looked him in the eye, and tears started rolling down her face at once. She knew this would happen the moment she locked eyes with him; there was no hiding anything from him, her rock, her cowboy.

"Jack, no," she started to say but had to pause to quickly wipe at her tears. She shook her head, "Honey, no, it's nothing like that. I'm so sorry. I don't think I can do this," and at that, she started to sob, her voice lost in her sobs. She didn't realize he'd moved as quickly as he had, but without warning, Jack had pulled her into a tight embrace as she continued in her full out sob. Lisa felt Jack's strong arms running across her back and settled her head into the all too familiar spot under his chin while her arms gripped his back tightly. Jack kissed the top of her head and spoke again, this time in a much softer tone.

"Lise, Sweetheart, talk to me. I'm sorry, but you had me terrified there something awful was about to happen to us, and I was clueless what had gone wrong. You are my world, so if it's not what it seems, what is going on? You're throwing all your clothes in a suitcase and telling me you have to go. What is it? You don't think you can do what?"

"Beth," she managed to get out between her sobs, and at that, Jack pulled back slightly to look at her, and his face instantly changed, concern crossing it.

"Something happened to your sister? Oh, Lise, what is it?" Jack sighed, obvious concern there, and he studied her face, his eyes darting, searching hers for answers.

"Beth," she repeated, but then Lisa took a deep breath to try and collect herself before she gestured with her hand and added, "Ben, and Lauren."

Jack tried to process the little information he was being told, and again, he tried to put together what he could, nodding at her for Lisa to continue. When she did not, he met her gaze, "Beth, Ben, and Lauren-Lise, wait, did something happen to all of them?"

Lisa's sobbing intensified, if that was even possible. She dropped her head there in Jack's arms and finally nodded, confirming what he'd put together from her loose string of words. Finally, she took a deep breath to explain what little she could to Jack. She looked up at him and saw total concern on his face.

"I got a call earlier, Ben and Lauren's neighbor. There has been some sort of accident; she didn't have all the details, but Beth was visiting them too. I have to go, Jack. I need to go right now. I have to get to Toronto."

"Oh, Lise," he said, letting out his breath slowly as he nodded. "Okay, Lise, I'm so sorry. Are they okay?"

She shook her head as she answered, "I have no information, nothing from their neighbor, just to go to a hospital I wrote down," and at that, she fumbled in her pocket for a piece of paper. She pulled it out, and Jack put his hand on hers.

"It's fine. You have that. Put it back in your pocket for now. Lise, why didn't you call me? I know it's a shock, but I was just in the field. What? Were you just going to leave?"

She paused in her tears and frowned, shaking her head, "I hadn't thought about how I'd tell you. It's not something I want you to worry about. I'm fine on my own."

"Not worry about! Lisa, this is family," he gestured loudly, slightly irritated.

"I know, it's just not something for you to need to deal with- "

"You stop right there," he now pointed at her, eyeing her. "Family is family, yours or mine. They don't have to live on the ranch to be family, and if the situation was any different, you'd be right there with me. You have been with all kinds of family emergencies over the years. You are not alone, and you haven't been for a very long time, even if your brain still processes things like you have to deal with them on your own. It's not true. Let me get my things."

"No, Jack," she stepped back, patting his hand as she looked up at him. "I'm going to go. You stay. Let me deal with this now. There's plenty here. I'll be okay. I really need to go. I have to stop by Fairfield before I go to the airport. I'm flying to Toronto. You don't fly."

"This is ridiculous, Lise. I need to be there for you. I can pack quickly- "

"Already bought my ticket," she interrupted, shaking her head. "Let me go and deal with this."

"Don't shut me out, Lise. I'm driving you to the airport."

"No, you're not," Lisa said, now stepping out of his embrace to finish with her bag. She didn't know what she'd packed; she didn't know what she had forgotten. Nothing mattered now. She zipped up her bag, feeling Jack eyes studying her, and when she looked up at him, she shrugged, "What?"

"You're shutting me out when you need me, when you need help. We don't work together like this. You don't let me shut you out, and I'm not going to let you do the same."

"Jack, I can't do this now. I am going to go," she said, grabbing her bag, her purse, and looking around. Jack glanced to the dresser and saw both her passport and her reading glasses there. He walked over to the dresser and picked up both, walking to her, frowning as he reached for her hand and put the two items in her hand.

"You're not focused or clear right now. I'm worried about you, and yes, I'm supposed to be worried about my wife who received some bad news. Let me help you."

"You can help here," she said with a forced smile as she patted his hand. "This place doesn't run itself, and you can help with Lyndy when I normally would be taking care of her. I'll call you when I know something, but I'm headed to the airport and right to the hospital once I land in Toronto." At that, Lisa leaned up, kissed him, quickly, and she met his gaze. "I love you. I'm sorry," she paused and looked over her shoulder at the disheveled room, "for the mess, but more importantly for scaring you. You're never getting rid of me, even if you try, even if I have to use a cattle prod to get you to try anything new. I love you, Cowboy." She kissed him again quickly, and before he could answer, she had moved quickly out of their room toward her car.

Three hours later after she had finally settled on the plane and had a moment to process things, Lisa sat back and closed her eyes. She had a pounding headache but was grateful she'd made it to the airport in time to catch the flight. She would have taken a jump seat like the flight attendants had to sit on often if it had meant making the flight, but thankfully, this one was not full and even had seats in first class, which she'd been able to book. She really needed to call Jack again and let him know she was on the plane waiting for it to take off, but right now, she needed to gather her thoughts and try to focus. Whatever she was going to face, it wasn't going to be good. Right now, she needed to clear her head. She also needed to dig out something for this headache.

Lisa did not realize she'd drifted off until she almost jumped out of her window seat at the thud of her seat mate dropping a bag into the seat. Startled that the plane was still loading, she opened one eye slightly to size up this person who would occupy her space for the next few hours.

"You are not going through this alone, and I am not sure why my strong-willed wife felt she had to take this all on herself," Jack said, frowning down at her. At the sight of him, Lisa started to cry again, wiping quickly at the tears, aware they were in a very public setting.

"You're coming?"

"Of course I'm coming," he said quietly, stowing his leather duffle bag in the overhead bin and then dropping into the seat next to her, taking her hand in his. He kissed it and gave her a sympathetic, soft smile. "If you hadn't been in such a rush to leave, I would have come with you, driven the car for you. I did not need much time to pack. Yes, I'm coming. I'm on an airplane, and that should tell you how serious I am taking this, considering my thoughts on airline travel. I'm not letting you go through this alone. We are going to see what we're dealing with and deal with it together, no matter what."

Lisa continued to wipe at her tears until the tears were coming too quickly. Jack reached over and wiped at them too, leaning in to kiss her cheek. He clasped her hand tightly in his, studying her the entire time.

"How did you-" she couldn't even finish the sentence. Jack, knowing her so well, answered what he suspected she was asking.

Katie was home, and she came into our room while I was packing, asking what was going on. I was going to just get my ticket at the airport, but when I told her what had happened, the little information we have, she saw your laptop was still on the dining room table, which," he used nodded up overhead, "I packed your laptop in my bag, just something else you didn't get with all you had going on. Katie helped me, and when we got on your laptop, you still had your ticket confirmation there. That showed me the plane and your seat information. Katie booked my ticket while I finished and spoke to Amy. She's really sorry and said she's got everything covered for as long as we need. Tim drove me to the airport, and for once, I didn't complain when he drove like a maniac. He said he'd help with anything at the ranch while we are away."

"I'm so glad you're here," she said in a half sob as she threw her arms around him. She felt Jack bury his hand in her hair, and she pulled herself tighter toward him, seeking his comfort.

"Wouldn't be anywhere else, Lise," he sighed. "I'm so sorry. We're a team, you and me. I thought after the last 17 years you would have figured that out. We're in this together."

"Okay," she said, finally able to look at him as she nodded. "Okay."

"Lise," he sighed, dropping his head to her eye level, "I have to ask because you didn't say anything- "

"What?" Her eyes searched his, and she shook her head, not sure of what he was going to say.

"Amelia," he looked at her with a frown. "You didn't mention Amelia. What happened to her?"