Author's note: Thanks to Avis Minter for our brainstorming!

—--

Lillian was in the nursery, rocking little Madelaine to sleep and softly singing her a lullaby when the doors opened and Grace came in slowly.

A soft whimper came from the bundle in Lillian's arms as a baby girl felt the gush of coldness coming from the hallway. Grace grimaced and quickly closed the doors.

Lillian gently shushed a baby in her arms and once Madelaine settled, she looked up at Grace.

"What's wrong?", she silently asked.

Grace came closer and gently caressed Madelaine's soft hair.

"Please, if the phone rings, you answer it. Carson may call while Lucas is still here. Just tell him I will call him as soon as I can", as Lillian nodded, Grace smiled down at little Madelaine's yawn, only to look back up at her sister "Oh, you can ask him when can I call him because of his work. And maybe he can tell you if he found out anything."

Lillian shook her head at her sister's rambling.

"Relax, Grace. I will talk to Carson and make sure Lucas doesn't hear anything", as the silence prevailed and Grace nodded, Lillian noticed a look of concern in her sister's eyes "You know, if something is wrong with Jack, Carson will see it and try to help."

Grace sighed.

"I know. I just worry for that little boy. Elizabeth sending him away and staying away from him for Christmas and his birthday must have hurt Jack", she shook her head "I hope that Carson will be able to do something to help."

Lillian pressed her lips tightly together, her face softening.

"You did the right thing that you called Carson", Lillian said in a comforting tone of voice.

Grace chewed on her lower lip.

"That's what Carson said too", she murmured silently.

Lillian smiled sadly.

"Lets wait until he calls back. Then we will see what needs to be done. For now, I am going to put this little cutie down for a nap", she slowly placed a sleeping baby in a crib and then glanced back at Grace "You go back to Lucas and the kids. I will stay for a while longer to make sure that she is asleep."

Grace smiled weakly.

"Thanks, Lillian", she hugged her sister and after giving little Madelaine a loving glance, Grace left the nursery.

—--

Carson drove his car inside the yard of the Thatcher residence. He never came here before and he was mesmerized by the beauty of the house.

He left the car and quickly went upstairs toward the front doors. Clearing his throat he knocked twice.

He slightly squeezed his eyes as he waited for the doors to open.

What was going on? Is Jack okay?

His musings were interrupted by the butler opening the doors and Carson smiled politely.

"Good morning. Is Mr. Thatcher at home?", he asked.

Butler looked at him questioningly.

"And you are?", he asked a bit stiffly.

Carson gave a small, polite smile.

"I am Dr. Carson Shepherd. I used to have my own practice in Hope Valley and now I am working as a surgeon in Hamilton", he took a breath in "I heard that Mr. Thatcher's Grandson is in Hamilton and was wondering can I see him."

Butler gave a small nod.

"Please, wait here", he said stiffly and closed the doors.

Carson put his hands back in his pockets and took a few steps while he waited.

He was worried about Jack. Grace's words echoed in his mind and he wondered how bad was Elizabeth's condition.

He dealt with patients who were grieving before and wondered when did Elizabeth begin to spiral out of control. She seemed fine when he left Hope Valley and he was glad when he heard about her engagement to Lucas. He was a good man and would help her through her grief if she only gave him a chance.

But, obviously she didn't. Something must have happened for Elizabeth to turn into such a cruel, selfish, heartless person and to break Lucas' heart in a matter of two minutes at the train station and let people in Hope Valley and her students believe he was the one to blame.

He didn't know the whole story, but what worried him even more was that she sent Jack away. And not spending Christmas and little boy's birthday with him? That was plain cruel.

Something was definitely off.

At that moment, the doors opened and butler nodded at Carson.

"Mr. Thatcher will see you now", he said.

A small, victorious smile curled up Carson's lips and he nodded.

"Thank you", he said as he entered Thatcher's home.

He followed the butler through the corridor, looking around for any sign of little Jack.

But the house was quiet.

Butler opened the doors and Carson entered.

William Thatcher walked toward him, shaking his hand.

"Dr. Shepherd! This is a nice surprise", he shook his hand.

Carson smiled.

"Good morning, Mr. Thatcher. Thank you for accepting to see me", said Carson.

William smiled politely.

"Of course. Please, have a seat", as they sat at the table, William crossed his palms in his lap "What can I do for you?"

Carson took a breath in and smiled a bit.

"I heard that Jack is here and I thought to pay him a visit", he picked up a little bag from his lap "I brought him a gift."

William was slightly surprised, but nodded politely.

"That is very thoughtful of you, Dr. Shepherd. A busy surgeon like you to find some time to visit a little boy", he commented, looking sharply at Carson.

Carson didn't flinch; if anything, his smile grew.

"Well, I have known Jack since he was born. It would be good to see that little man again", his face grew serious "But, there is another reason why I wanted to see you."

William raised his eyebrows.

"Which is?", he asked.

Carson looked intently at Elizabeth's Father.

"I've heard from a friend back in Hope Valley that Jack is here. First I thought that Elizabeth was with him, but then I heard that she sent him alone and won't be joining you for holidays and Jack's birthday?", he spoke gently, his sharp eyes noticing how William's face changed.

William looked down at his palms, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed hard.

"My…uhm… my daughter isn't quite herself lately", he cleared his throat "She…uhm…she broke her engagement out of a blue and went crazy in that little town of hers. We tried to talk some sense into her, but to no avail. She got herself involved with that Mountie, but I…", he shook his head, his thumb and index finger pinching the top of his nose "I don't know. Something is wrong. We thought that it was due to pain because of break up, but then she called my youngest daughter Julie and asked her to come and take Jack away. We've tried to talk her into at least coming home for Christmas, to be with her son for his birthday, but it's like we can't reach her anymore. She got defensive, started to fight and we just let her go."

Carson listened patiently.

"And you don't know what is the reason for her behaving like that?", he asked.

William shook his head.

"Not with certainty, no", replied William "Like I said, we thought it was because of the break up, but considering the fact that she initiated it, that can't be the reason."

Carson took a deep breath in.

"Mr. Thatcher, can I be honest with you?", he asked.

William nodded.

"Of course, doctor", he said.

Carson leaned into his chair.

"Mr. Thatcher, I have known your daughter for years. She was my patient, as well as her son. I even knew your late son-in-law, Jack's Father", Carson spoke, his voice calm "I think that your Grandson started to ask questions about his Dad and that it made Elizabeth's grief resurface. It looks like she didn't deal with that loss the way she should. But, what worries me the most is her separation from her son. She had never done that before?"

William shook his head.

"No. Never", he silently replied.

Carson exhaled, his fingers rubbing his forehead that started to crease in worry

"Mr. Thatcher, I am not going to lie to you. I think that Elizabeth's problem goes deeper than you think", at William's worried look, Carson carefully added "She might be suffering from post traumatic stress disorder."

William's eyes widened slightly.

"Because of Constable Thornton's death?", he asked. As Carson nodded, William let out a shuddering breath "Oh, dear God!"

Carson's eyebrows slightly creased in concern.

"And how is Jack doing?", he asked.

William shook his head, his face turning sad.

"The boy misses his Mama. He doesn't eat well, he is very quiet. Sometimes he has bad dreams", William's eyes watered "We all try to help, my wife, Julie, Agatha…but Jack needs his Mother. And he is always asking about Lucas. We don't know what to say. We just told him that his buddy is away doing an important job."

Carson felt his heart break for little Jack.

"Mr. Thatcher, Elizabeth and I have always been good friends. I know her and the kind, caring and helpful woman she was in Hope Valley. I have known little Jack all his life too. I examined him when he was born and have watched him grow with a loving mother. I was there when Jack died so I know the mental and emotional trauma she went through", Carson spoke gently and slowly, not wishing to break Elizabeth's Father's trust in him "She felt love again, accepted a proposal from Lucas, but it is obvious that Jack's questions about his Dad triggered something inside her. All that time she let her son be loved by Lucas who cared for him and Jack was looking up to him. She immediately took that away. She didn't want Jack to even talk about him or see him. The little boy has been crushed. He thought that Lucas was going to be his new daddy!", Carson let out a breath of disbelief and shook his head "When Elizabeth found out that Lucas was coming to Hope Valley for a press conference, she made sure Jack didn't know Lucas was coming and sent him away to you!"

William's face turned pale.

"I didn't know that. Julie never said anything", he mumbled silently "Why did she do that? It would help if Jack saw Lucas!"

Carson shook his head.

"It looks like she sent him here to be spiteful. That is not like Elizabeth. She is hurting her son. She was the one that broke off the engagement. Lucas was heartbroken, but she let everyone think he did it. From all I've been told by friends in Hope Valley, Lucas was crushed that she sent Jack to Hamilton!", Carson leaned towards the table and spoke, his voice calm and strong "Mr. Thatcher, from everything I've heard, I really think she is suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, maybe even mental confusion. I have been told she is a completely different woman. She needs help."

Tears in William's eyes became too heavy and rolled down his cheeks.

"How? How can we help her?", he mumbled silently.

Carson's facial expression turned sympathetic at Elizabeth's Father's distress.

"I can contact my colleague who is a psychiatrist. Doctor Olive Williams. She's been successfully treating patients who suffer from PTSD for years", he took a deep breath in "Perhaps she could help Elizabeth to heal."

William nodded.

"Thank you, doctor", he silently said, his voice broken as he wiped his tears, trying to calm down.

Carson nodded with understanding in his eyes.

"Now, would it be okay if I see Jack?", he asked.

William took a breath in and got up to go to the mini bar in his office.

"Of course. He is with Agatha now, she took him for a walk to try to cheer him up. They should be back soon", he looked back at Carson, taking two glasses from the tray "Would you like something to drink, doctor?"

Carson shook his head.

"No, thank you", he watched as Elizabeth's Father poured himself a whiskey and mulled over it, shaking his head.

Carson let him be. He knew he needed some time.

And he was right.

After a few moments, William started to talk.

"I didn't have a chance to meet Mr. Bouchard, but we talked on the phone when he called to ask for Elizabeth's hand in marriage. He sounded like a decent man", he took a sip of his drink "Then Agatha came back from Hope Valley and said that he is everything we could ever wish for Elizabeth. And my daughter seemed happy when she came here after accepting his proposal", he shook his head "How did things get so out of control?"

Carson got up and walked toward William.

"That is something only your daughter can answer, Mr. Thatcher", he replied softly, careful not to hurt William's feelings.

William gave him a sharp look.

"And what do you think about Mr. Bouchard?", he asked.

A sad smile showed up on Carson's lips as he thought of his friend. They always shared a sense of camaraderie and could talk about anything.

Even about that brass ring that ended up escaping both of them.

And now he was inviting him to join his team.

There was no doubt in Carson's mind about his reply.

"Lucas is one of the best men I have ever met. He always tried to be there for the others, to help them, not caring what it did to him. That's how he ended up being a Governor", at William's nod that showed Carson he knew what he was trying to say, Carson continued "In fact, he offered me a position at the Governor's Board of Health, including a job as a child's surgeon at the hospital in Capitol City. I am leaving Hamilton after the New Year."

William slowly nodded.

"He really does sound like a remarkable man", he commented silently, glancing down at his glass and swirling the remnants of whiskey in it "I am sorry that things ended up the way they did."

Carson put a hand on William's shoulder, causing the old Thatcher to look back at him.

"Lucas will survive, he is strong. He will move on and so will Elizabeth. We need to worry about Jack. He is too young to understand what happened and his little world is crushed right now", he said cautiously and gently squeezed William's shoulder as Elizabeth's Father nodded, his eyes watering once again.