**A/N: So, I've been trying to make a run at the S11 Cliffhanger and it's been SLOW going. I don't know how long this story will go, but here's one chapter and I'm in the process of chapter 2. I would love nothing more than for the show to just memorialize Jack in some way and it's a big nothingburger. I'm taking it in a slightly different direction. Not going too in depth with the mystery, I'm more interested in the relationships. Hope you enjoy!
"Bill! Bill!" Rosemary called, his name sounding like 'Beal'. They'd all just gone back into the saloon after seeing Mike and Mei off on their honeymoon. Well, all but Nathan and Elizabeth who seemed to be longing for some time alone. Bill had barely made it through the door before Rosemary was calling him urgently.
He turned, reluctantly, wondering what on earth could be that urgent now that they'd put Lucas' shooting behind them. "What is it, Rosemary?" he asked with his patently 'Bill Avery' style 'patience'.
Her brow furrowed, she pulled him towards a window and nodded her head. "Who is that man with Nathan and Elizabeth? They don't look the least bit happy. He's a Mountie with some rank, for sure."
This immediately drew Bill's attention. Then he caught sight of the red hair. This could mean nothing good. "Andrew Hargreaves."
Rosemary frowned even harder, her mouth pinched. "The Andrew Hargreaves that prematurely closed Lucas' shooting investigation and refused Nathan's request to reopen it?"
"One and the same. And, the man who was Nathan and Jack's superior in the Fort Clay situation. Oh, and the one who called the inquiry into Nathan's role in the failed prisoner transfer."
Rosemary's eyes grew wide and she instantly turned towards the door. Bill quickly laid a hand on her shoulder, pulling her back. "Don't worry, Rosemary, I'm not going to let them face the man alone. You wait here. If I need you, I'll let you know."
She looked a bit mutinous, but she nodded - her shoulders slumping a little. Bill turned and quickly made his way to the spot where the trio stood. He arrived just in time to hear Hargreaves tell Nathan that he was here to see Elizabeth about her late husband. What is this man up to?
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"Hargreaves." Bill called firmly from behind the man. Hargreaves turned and sighed when he saw who it was.
"Avery. This has nothing to do with you, or Grant." Hargreaves stated firmly.
"If it has to do with Elizabeth and or Jack Thornton, then it has everything to do with Nathan and with me. If you want to speak to her privately, you will do so in my office and with at least one of us present. Though, you should abide by whatever her wishes are on the matter." He'd seen the look on Elizabeth's face and knew she did not want to hear whatever Hargreaves had to say on her own.
As Hargreaves turned back to Elizabeth, Bill made eye contact with Nathan, who nodded in thanks, his arm still firmly around Elizabeth's shoulders. Both men wanted her to know that she wasn't alone.
Through gritted teeth, and going on what she knew, and already did not like, about Superintendent Hargreaves, and what she was picking up from Nathan and Bill's expressions and behavior, she finally spoke up. "I would prefer that both Constable Grant and Judge Avery be present when you tell me what you've come to say. You can say it in front of them, or not at all."
She watched the man's jaw clench. Nathan always told her that he trusted her instincts, so she should as well. Her instincts were screaming that this was not a good man and she shouldn't trust him. What could he possibly have to tell her about Jack six years after his death?
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From the saloon window, Rosemary watched as the foursome began to head to Bill's office. She quickly found Lee and said she needed to step out to speak with Elizabeth. Since Lee had no idea what was going on, he kissed her cheek and she quietly slipped out of the saloon's back door and skirted around to the back of Bill's office. She was counting on the back door of his building to be unlocked...
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Elizabeth gripped the arm of her chair with one hand and practically broke Nathan's hand with the other. It was the only thing keeping her from leaping over the table and wrapping her hands around Hargreaves' neck. She wasn't given to violence, but the man was beyond condescending and self important.
Over six years after Jack's death, one of the men he'd been training, suddenly, came forward with 'new' information that indicated Jack had been negligent and, therefore, had put the trainees in danger. This particular trainee had been injured and unable to continue with his job. There would be an inquiry to determine the validity of this man's claims. An inquiry where her late husband, who'd given his life to save others, would not be able to defend himself.
Elizabeth felt the reassuring squeeze from Nathan's hand. She could tell that he wanted to speak, badly, but she also knew that he couldn't. He was not here as Constable Grant, but as her beau. Bill, on the other hand, had no such reservations. The thing about Bill was that, professionally, he really had nothing to lose and he would give it all to defend those whom he loved or whom he thought needed defending.
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Hargreaves had just left the office, escorted by Bill who was determined make sure the man leave town immediately. Elizabeth sat there, stunned and fuming. Nathan still held her hand. Hargreaves' parting shot had been to tell Elizabeth that, if found guilty, they would be recalling Jack's pension.
Both Nathan and Elizabeth started when they heard Rosemary's voice as she marched in from the back. "The nerve of that man!" she stomped over and paused in front of them. "Nathan, can they even do that? Isn't there some sort of statute of limitation on these things? Heavens, it's been over six years!"
It took a moment for it to register that Rosemary had actually snuck in the back and eavesdropped on the entire meeting. A somewhat hysterical laugh escaped from Elizabeth's mouth. Immediately, Nathan let go of her hand and put his arm around her. He hated this. He wanted to make it all go away and knew that all he could do was support her or risk losing his job.
At the sound of Elizabeth's laugh, Rosemary stopped and looked closely at her friend. "I'm so sorry, Elizabeth. That man just makes me so angry and I shouldn't have barged in like that."
Nathan raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing here, Rosemary? I take it you heard the entire conversation?"
"Well, of course I did! I'm the one that noticed Hargreaves approach you two and I told Bill."
Elizabeth finally spoke. "Really, Rosemary, did you actually sneak in the back door? Bill's going to have a..."
"I'm going to have a what?" the man himself asked as he strode through the front door. He then noticed Rosemary. "What are you doing here? Looking for an exclusive?"
"Ha ha, Bill" Rosemary quipped.
"She snuck in the back and eavesdropped." Elizabeth said.
With a sigh, Bill accepted defeat. Rosemary wasn't going anywhere. Secretly, he was glad she had come. It might take a little publicity to shake Hargreaves' world up enough to draw the right kind of attention to whatever he was really up to. He also knew that Rosemary loved Elizabeth enough to not do anything rash. And, he had to admit that she was the one who, along with Lucas, had figured out that Jeanette Aucoin was Casimir Shaw.
Bill went around to his side of the desk and waved towards a chair for Rosemary. Sitting down, he said, "Alright, let's get down to business. We need a game plan."
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Nathan and Elizabeth walked slowly towards the row houses. Despite Rosemary and Nathan's objections, she'd refused a ride home from Lee saying she wanted to walk with Nathan and clear her head. Rosemary assured the two of them that she would occupy their children and give them some time to talk.
Dusk was upon them by the time they'd reached the Grant home. Elizabeth suddenly found herself thoroughly drained. She stopped and looked at Nathan. "Can we just go to your house for now? I'm exhausted and I didn't realize how much my feet were hurting until now."
Nathan suddenly lifted her into his arms as if she weighed no more than a feather. "Of course, we can, Lizbeth." he said with his trademark half smile. Inwardly, he was really worried about her - but he knew she had a backbone of steel and they'd get through all of this together.
He set her directly on the sofa and pointed to her feet. "You should take those shoes off. Or, would you like for me to do the honors?" Her heart began to race. It was an intimate task, but there was honestly nothing inappropriate about it.
Her voice husky, she replied "Yes, please. Thank you, Nathan."
"Go ahead and put your feet up on the table and don't worry about it." He knew that she was about to protest to having her feet there. As she did so, he knelt down and went about the task.
She could barely breathe. Her heart was near to bursting over the gentle care he administered in something so simple as removing her shoes for her. Oh, how she loved this man. Once he was finished, he went and grabbed a throw blanket from his easy chair and laid it over her.
"I'm going to put the kettle on. Would you like some tea? We have black and some chamomile, I think. Oh wait, I think Allie has some mint tea as well." While he waited for her answer, he hung his suit jacket up by the front door.
"Tea sounds good. I think I'll go with the chamomile. With a dollop of honey, if you have some. Thanks."
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Nathan came in with a tray that had the mugs of tea and some of Minnie's scones. He handed Elizabeth her tea, then sat down next to her on the sofa. Immediately, she scooted closer to him. "Would you like a scone? Or half of one? We could share."
She was about to say no, but sharing one sounded perfect. "Let's share one. I like that idea. Thank you."
They ate and drank in silence for a few minutes. Not a shred of awkwardness in the lack of conversation. Just a sense of contentment even in the face of adversity. Elizabeth knew she didn't have to deal with the Ft Clay situation alone. She knew for certain that Nathan would've been in her corner even if they weren't a couple, but now she wasn't alone. Nathan wasn't, in the least, intimidated by the love that she'd shared with Jack or the honorable man that he'd been. He would fight to save Jack's reputation and to keep his good memory alive, of that Elizabeth was 100% sure.
Elizabeth finished her tea and set her mug on the table. Nathan had already finished his. He put his arm around her and she snuggled closer and laid her head on his shoulder and sighed. "Thank you, Nathan. For being there and for being here. It seems I keep saying that."
He chuckled low. "Always, Lizbeth. And you've done the same for me. I want you to know that when you want to talk, I'm here to listen. If you don't want to, that's fine. I'll still be here to lend you my shoulder. I will walk beside you or I'll hold you up, or both, whatever you need." He said softly.
Her heart tripped over itself. She lifted her head and turned to him. "I love you, Nathan. From the bottom of my heart and the depths of my soul. Thank you for being you and for loving me." She put her hand on the side of his face and leaned in for a kiss. It was slow and tender, yet intensely passionate in its simplicity.
They pulled back and Nathan ran his hand down her hair and cheek. "I love you, too, Lizbeth." In tandem, they both leaned in for a more fiery kiss, finally Nathan backed up and they rested their foreheads against each other while trying to catch their breath.
The front door burst open and they had no time to pull apart like two guilty teenagers as they had before. Laughter bubbled up from both of them at the same time. "Dad! Oh...OH! I'm, I'm so sorry! I, uh...I'll just..." Allie started to back out the door, her face flushed crimson.
Nathan hopped up, heading for the door. "Allie, it's okay. Please, come back in here." He glanced back at Elizabeth and they both knew they'd need to get used to this. She covered her mouth with her hand as her eyes danced. He guided Allie back inside and shut the door.
"Allie, honey, your dad is right. It's okay. Come on in and sit down. You really didn't interrupt anything." Elizabeth said, soothingly.
Allie was secretly tickled with what she'd seen, but didn't want to intrude upon what she considered important moments between her dad and Mrs Thornton. She took her dad's usual chair and Nathan sat back down by Elizabeth.
"Is everything okay, Allie? Did Rosemary let you know we'd be late?" Nathan asked.
"Um...yes, she did. She sent me down here to make sure that you were okay, Mrs Thornton. When you two did not show up to your house, she was worried. What's going on? Is it okay for me to ask? Because Mrs Rosemary seemed 'fit to be tied' as Mr Lee said."
Elizabeth looked questioningly at Nathan and he nodded that it was alright to tell her the truth. Allie was 15 years old, nearly an adult. He needed to start remembering that.
"Allie, your dad and I are going to trust you with the whole truth because we believe that you are old enough to hear it. But, we ask that you keep it amongst us, Uncle Bill and the Coulters right now. Okay?"
With the girl's nod, Elizabeth gave her a brief rundown of what had occurred with Hargreaves, and Allie remembered exactly who they were talking about and her eyes grew wide.
"Wait! Isn't that the man who was trying to make you out to be responsible for that failed prisoner transfer, Dad? I didn't like him one bit. He was rude and I could tell that he didn't want to listen to me, but he had to."
Nathan responded. "It's the same man, Allie. But he hasn't mentioned me in it this time. Your Uncle Bill, Rosemary, Mrs Thornton and I are going to get to the bottom of this, okay?"
Allie nodded and walked over to Elizabeth with her arms held out. Elizabeth stood and let Allie embrace her. This one almost broke her resolve. This girl was growing up into a smart, savvy and compassionate young woman and Elizabeth was beyond honored to be able to have a bigger role in her life going forward. Swallowing tears, she said "Allie, thank you."
The girl looked up at her, with tears swimming in her hazel eyes and in almost a whisper said, "I love you, Mrs Thornton." She then slipped out of the embrace and headed back to the door to go tell Mrs Rosemary the news. She turned at the door. "What should I tell them?"
Elizabeth and Nathan exchanged a look and she turned back to Allie. "You can tell her that I'm fine. My feet hurt by the time we made it this far, so we stopped for awhile. I'll be home within the hour. And, thank you, Allie."
As the girl walked out the door, she quipped "So, you two can get back to whatever it was you were doing..." and then she was gone.
Nathan's mouth opened, then closed. "What just happened here? She was not in the least upset. Maybe slightly embarrassed."
Elizabeth sat back down next to him and laughed. "Oh, my. She really is growing up. With a sigh, she continued. "I guess we need to have a conversation and then head back to my house." Turning to him, she grabbed his hands and said "Nathan, I know you're worried about me, but I'm fine. As, I said earlier at Bill's office, I'm spitting mad and I want to do everything I can to keep them from smearing Jack's good name."
She took a breath. "I have never spent even a dime of Jack's pension. On my father's advice, I've invested it and grown the money over the last few years. My plan was to save it for Jack when he comes of age. If it comes to that, I'll be fine. It's just the principle of the whole thing."
Nathan sighed in relief. He could see the truth of what she was saying in her eyes, expression and demeanor. Yes, she was tired, but it was a long afternoon and evening topped with disturbing news. Everyone has a tipping point. He looked at her again. "Okay, Lizbeth. Well, you know what I've said about being here for whatever you need with this. We'll get to the bottom of it, one way or another and I promise to only participate in ways to keep out of Hargreaves crosshairs. He won't even know I'm involved in any way. I don't want to add that worry to your plate."
"Thank you, Nathan. She caressed his cheek and lightly kissed him. I suppose I should get those shoes back on and head home." She started to reach for the pair, but he was up and preparing to put them back on before she could even move. This is what a great love is really made from, the little things that make all of the big things even better or possible to get through.