Chapter 138- The Achilles Heel

*This chapter was getting lengthy so I'm splitting it in two. – Plus, it keeps me on my daily updates to hopefully get us through the tough stuff quicker. I'm trying y'all.

Warning- MILD suggested content ahead. No details, but we do some slimy dialogue and assumptions. I feel it necessary to point that out in case it could be any sort of trigger for someone reading this story.

Seth Drake steadily poured two glasses out of the whiskey bottle he had bought from the bartender downstairs. He set the decanter back on the table in his room and pushed one of the filled tumblers in the direction of the man who sat across from him.

"Well Parks," Drake lifted his glass in a toast. "It appears as though we have reason to celebrate tonight."

Dylan saluted his glass to his attorney's and took a long, slow sip of the liquor. It wasn't like any whiskey he was used to. The moonshine version that burned through every vein. This was different. It was rich and smooth. A high-shelf bottle that Dylan had always secretly wished he could afford, just to say he had tried it.

"Good, huh?"

Dylan slowly nodded his head in agreement, letting the flavor of spices and honey pulled from the oak barrel the liquor had aged in, linger on his tongue.

"Only the best for my clients."

"Even pro bono clients?"

"Even them." Drake gave a clipped laugh before taking another sip of his whiskey as he stared out the window of his room onto the sparsely lit main street below. "This Hope Valley seems like it would be a nice town to hang up the shingle, settle down with a beautiful woman who warms your bed at night, maybe even a few kids and a dog to run around in the yard for good measure."

"Didn't know you had desires to live outside of the city and high-society life."

"I didn't either," Drake obnoxiously laughed. "But it seems to have worked out well for your brother-in-law."

Dylan didn't answer, he wasn't feeling very sociable tonight. He didn't want to be in this town any longer than necessary and he certainly didn't feel like making small talk with this man he seemed to have nothing in common with.

"How did your brother-in-law end up meeting Charlotte?" Seth asked.

"Not sure." He shrugged and took another drink. "She's one of the teachers in town, so I'm guessing they met through Allie at school."

"I don't know about you, Parks, but if I had a teacher like Charlotte when I was in school, I'd have been a much better student, if you know what I mean." Seth smiled- a slow deliberate smile, the whiskey clearly making him overly comfortable. "That, or I would have found any reason for her to keep me after school." Drake suggestively raised his eyebrows and looked at Dylan over the edge of his glass as he took another sip of the amber liquid. "I can now understand why McEntire lost his head over her."

"Hmmm?"

"Oh, nothing." Seth quickly set down his drink, turning the glass slightly as he watched the lamp's light catch in the crystal.

There it was again. Dylan thought to himself. A familiarity that Seth seemed to have with Charlotte. He thought he had picked up on it this morning when he went to introduce his sister-in-law to Drake. Dylan knew for his own good he shouldn't pry, but the whiskey seemed to be making him looser as well. "I've been meaning to ask all day, Drake. Did you know Charlotte? Before today?"

"Of course, I've never met her." Drake said, his voice defensive. "Why would you think something like that?"

"I'm not quite sure," Dylan set down his glass too, pushing it away. "Maybe it was in the way you greeted her?"

"Come on now, Parks. That's how I try to greet any gorgeous woman. It's called romancing. You should try it sometime, because clearly, it's been too long for you."

Colleen's face involuntarily flashed through Dylan's mind, and he tried to bury it as quickly as it had appeared. "I don't think Nathan would be too happy if he found out you were trying to romance his wife."

"I don't know… they've been married a few months now. I'm guessing both of them are realizing it's not all it's cracked up to be. I've heard that creating some jealousy keeps things… interesting."

The whiskey he had been drinking seemed to uneasily churn in Dylan's stomach, but he decided to press further. "Why did you say to Charlotte this morning it was wonderful to finally meet her?"

Seth stared blankly for a moment. "Because you had told me so much about her when we were preparing for the trial."

"No…" Dylan shook his head. "No, I didn't. We hardly talked about Nathan, let alone Charlotte."

"Parks, it seems that good whiskey is going to your head. It's been a long day. Maybe you should go sleep it off." Seth rose from his chair. "You wouldn't want to give the Sergeant or his ex-Mountie lawyer any reason to see you as an unfit parent before you even get a chance to start now, would you?"

"You're probably right." Dylan nodded in agreement as he followed Drake towards the door to his room.

"See you in the morning, Parks."

Drake quickly shut the door behind Dylan and strode over to the table to retrieve his glass of whiskey. Taking a long, draw of the liquor to finish off what was in his tumbler before refilling it again from the decanter.

Well. He thought to himself. It would appear that Dylan Parks wasn't as dimwitted as they had originally believed. Drake would have to play his cards closer to his chest, at least for the next day or so while he was in the company of Parks, because the less the man knew, the better. They didn't need another pawn like Beck derailing their operations again.

It seemed Charlotte Thompson, or should he say Charlotte Grant, could be the Achilles heel to the whole business. But - Seth decided - if he had to go down with the ship, he didn't think he'd mind it being with her.

Just then a faint knock sounded to his room. Drake downed the second glass of whiskey and staggered a few steps to the door.

"Ah…" A slow, lazy smile developed across his face. His sense of arrogance; palpable. "I was wondering when you'd stop by to see me. How can I be of service?"

Nathan shifted towards the middle of the bed, reaching out his arm to pull Charlotte's body to his. His fingertips stretched for her until they came to the edge of the bed, and he froze. His eyes darted wide awake, and his skin broke out instantly in a cold sweat.

The sun had yet to rise over the horizon, but the dark of the night was beginning to loosen its hold and he could clearly see that his wife was no longer in bed. Nathan sat upright.

What if we try to talk to Seth Drake then?

I think he's staying at the saloon tonight, too.

He was the one that convinced Dylan to let Allie come back to Hope Valley after the trial.

Maybe he can help us?

Charlotte's words from the evening before hit him square in the gut, and he felt like doubling over and retching from the impact.

Nathan was furious with himself. He should have told her his concerns. He should have been honest with her. And now…

His mind was going to some very dark and scary places, that after Beck's death he never expected to visit again.

"Charlie!" He called out, unable to hide the panic in his voice.

He didn't wait for her answer. He knew it wouldn't come.

Nathan sprung out of bed and rushed towards the door to their room. He needed to find his wife. He didn't change, he didn't put on his slippers, he just ran down the hallway and stairs in his blue pajama pants and bare feet. Adrenaline coursed through his veins as his heart beat wildly against his chest.

God, please. Please let me be wrong.

Charlotte's fingers dug deep, carving little marks into the wood beneath her nails. Her body shivered uncontrollably even though the warmth of summer had clung on throughout the night. The guilt she felt weighed so heavy that her shoulders slipped forward with the physical pressure of it all. She had no idea how she'd be able to tell Nathan about it. How she'd be able to face him.

So, here she sat. On the stairs of their front porch. Unable to take a step back inside the house he had built for her. For their family. She couldn't bring herself to carry her own shame back into their home. Tainting it with despair and heartache.

Whenever she closed her eyes, she could envision the look of hurt and disappointment on his face and it would be all her fault. She knew it would. She couldn't blame it on Dylan or Drake. It had been her choice to leave in the middle of the night. Hadn't she just been telling Nathan that life was full of choices and decisions? Well, she had made hers and now…

Charlotte jumped when she heard the door behind her swing open with force, but her eyes stayed focused on the distance in front of her.

"Charlie…" Nathan's voice was full of disbelief.

She didn't respond. She didn't look back.

She heard him disappear into the house and return a few moments later with a quilt. He gently swung it around her, and she slumped forward with the weight of it.

"You're shaking." He said, scooping her up gently. He held her in his arms like a child, his warmth soaking into her. He smelled of leather and mountain air. "Let me take you inside."

"No." Her voice was raspy as it was the first word she had spoken in hours. "Not inside. I need the light."

She was weary past endurance and Nathan knew she would be able to rest more easily in their bed, but he abided her wishes and moved to place her in the swing. He wrapped the quilt more tightly around Charlotte as he sat beside her and pulled her close. "How long have you been up?"

"I never went to sleep."

"Why not? You're exhausted."

"I told you last night, I couldn't just let Allie go today." Charlotte's voice broke and a tear streamed down her cheek. "Not without fighting for her."

Nathan struggled to swallow. The lump that was in his throat was so tight and consuming he felt as though he were choking.

"I'm the only mother she has on this earth, Nathan. I owed it to not only Allie, but to Colleen, to try everything in my power to guard our daughter's heart. To make sure she is safe and cared for. And I promised…" Again, her voice cracked. Uncontrollable sobs began washing over her in waves. Finally, she regained control and went on more quietly. "I made a promise to Allie that I would always protect her. I promised that this family, you and her, would always be my priority."

His wife looked like a bedraggled child. Shadows lay dark beneath her grey eyes. Nathan's face tormented, his own eyes were hot with tears. His heart pounding like a war drum as his mind raced with what Charlotte did to protect their family. What it could have cost her.

"Last night when we went to bed… I was done running. But I wasn't done fighting for this family," she looked up at him with bleak eyes. "As soon as you were asleep, I left. My mind made up that I was going to talk reason into Dylan… or Drake."

Nathan felt like he was going to be sick, and his muscles tightened.

"I know you warned me not to…"

Charlotte's eyes squeezed shut in pain and Nathan tried to focus on the freckles on her cheeks to keep him from feeling anything but numbness.

"You asked me to trust your choices for this family. To trust that you are making the right decisions for us that will take care and protect us the best you can…" She moved her hand to his that rested on her lap and gripped it tightly. "That's why I couldn't do it."

Nathan's gaze moved to her face. "What?"

"I couldn't fight."

His mind swirled. What did she mean?

"I failed Allie, Nathan." Charlotte cried. "I failed her, and I failed you. I couldn't fight for our family. Even with everything it means to me, I got to the edge of these porch steps last night and the fear of Dylan… and Drake… It froze me. I couldn't move. No matter how much I tried. Reasoning that I had to do it. I had to talk to them. To save Allie from going through all this. To save you from the heartbreak. I couldn't. I couldn't go against your wishes. No matter how hard I tried."

"You…" Nathan struggled to make sense of the words his wife was saying. "You were here all night? On the porch? You didn't go to town?"

She nodded her head slowly.

"Oh sweetheart," Nathan could tell through the look in her eyes it was the truth. He wrapped her close to him. Peppering kisses along her hair in relief. He had never been so happy to be so wrong. "Why didn't you just come back inside? Come to bed? We could have talked about this. Prayed about it."

"I couldn't face you."

"Why ever not? That makes no sense… I'm your husband…"

"Shame, maybe. For wanting to go against your wishes in the first place. I know you were just trying to protect me, but… it's something that's weighed heavy on me all night. That I would so easily push your concern for me to the side like it didn't matter."

"Charlie…"

"That's not it. On the other hand, I was angry that I couldn't do it. That I couldn't save Allie. I'm not strong enough to overcome these fears that are so deeply embedded in me because of my past… Not even to keep the promises I made to you both. I kept thinking of your plaque in the library. 'Always do what you are afraid to do.' But I couldn't. I'm not strong enough for you. You deserve someone who doesn't crumple like this whenever challenges come. You shouldn't have to carry it all on your shoulders, Nathan. That's not fair. That's not a partnership."

"You're stronger than you realize."

"No, I'm not." Charlotte wiped her hand below her nose, ridding it of the stream of snot that had developed there. "I'm failing you. I'm failing our daughter."

"Charlotte, you're not failing anyone. Do you remember Allie's speech yesterday in the courtroom? She looked at you and said you are the strongest woman she would ever know. And I agree, wholeheartedly."

Charlotte's gaze moved from their entwined hands to his face. "Really?"

Nathan tucked a piece of hair behind his wife's ear before cradling her cheek in his hand. "Really."

"But…"

"No, Charlie. The strongest people are the ones who realize they can't be strong all the time. We're human. Something I learned early on with the Mounties, is that the strongest people are the ones who can take a step back and realize they can't do it on their own. They are open to receiving help. The comrades that showed me that, are the ones I would trust with my life when we go into battle. The ones I want by my side. Not the ones charging to the front every time, looking for trouble. We are all stronger when we work together. When we are willing to show our areas of weakness, and partner with those who fill in the cracks." Nathan lovingly kissed his wife's temple. "You, Mrs. Nathan, are my life's partner. Your strengths fill my areas of weakness. The same way my strengths fill yours. There is no one else I want… no one else I need… going into this battle more than you. So be my partner in this. Please."

Charlotte traced the outline of his firm, stubbled jaw with a finger before leaning in to capture his lips in a reassuring kiss.

"I am yours. And you are mine. Always, Sarge."

*Quick Author Note after reading some of the reviews here I felt the need to clarify- Charlotte was being VERY truthful to Nathan... She did NOT go into town to talk with Dylan or Drake. She realized before she left the house that she couldn't go through with it. Even for Allie, she couldn't bring herself to go against her husband's wishes that she knew he gave to keep her safe and out of harm. She just felt conflicting guilt over thinking she should and letting down Allie all at the same time.

Drake's late night visitor will be addressed here soon.