Thanks to everyone for the likes and reviews, it's nice to know the story isn't a complete bust. :)


Jack had reached up to take Nathan's hand as they made their way to the field across from the row houses. Feeling a tug on his arm, Nathan looked down to see Jack motioning for him to bend down so he could talk to him.

Jack cupped his hand around his mouth and whispered, "Mountie Nathan, I don't know how to play baseball. Does that mean I can only watch?"

Nathan's heart was about to burst with the emotions that came over him during this little exchange. First Jack grabbing his hand, and then trusting him with a something he was worried about. Then the trust he saw in the little boy's eyes as he waited patiently for an answer. He smiled and, mimicking Jack, he cupped his hand around his mouth and whispered in his ear, "It's okay that you don't know how to play. How about if I teach you?"

"You will?" the little boy answered excitedly.

"Of course" Nathan said. "How about you are on my team today? It will be the girls against the boys?"

"Yay!" Jack cried, jumping up and down in excitement. He then reached out and wrapped his arms around Nathan's neck. "Thanks Mountie Nathan."

"You are welcome, Jack, now let's go have some fun."

Nathan stood back up and Jack reached for his hand, and together they caught up with the girls.

The concern Elizabeth had felt when she noticed Jack stop and Nathan bend down to talk to him, quickly disappeared as she watched the two of the talking. Then seeing the joy on Jack's face with he heard brought a huge smile to her face. Allie had been watching as well.

"Looks like the two of them are up to something, Mrs. Thornton. We better be prepared. How about girls against the boys?" she asked with a grin.

"I think you are right, Allie. Let's show them how it's done." Elizabeth answered.


Allie was fascinated watching her dad with Jack. She'd never seen him really interact with younger kids like this before. Sure, he'd been around kids and had always been good with them, but this was different. He was different. It was still a little strange to wrap her head around what had happened this last week. Hearing about the hostage situation at the saloon, knowing her dad was involved, and then finding out Mrs. Thornton was as well was more than she could handle. Thankfully, she had been watching Jack and Goldie, which kept her from thinking too much about it, but once she got home, she broke down and cried, then was filled with relief when her dad finally came home. There was only one other time in her life that she had been so happy and relived to see him. That had been a few weeks earlier, when she heard him call her and looked up to see the most comforting sight she'd ever seen. Her dad, jumping out of a car and running to her, as she sat crying on a bench outside of Granville prison, with so much love and worry in his eyes and his arms wide open. She could still remember how safe he made her feel, and more importantly, how his arms had held on tightly and not let go until they were back on the train heading home.

The sound of the ball hitting the bat, brought Allie out of her thoughts and she smiled, seeing Jack jumping around with joy that he managed to hit the ball. "Way to go, Jack!" she called, walking up to give him a hug. Stepping back, she felt a sharp pin prick at the back of her neck. Reaching back, covered the area with her hand, and found a wasp back there. Thankfully, it was no longer alive, and she dropped it to the ground, thinking nothing of it. She'd been stung by bee's before, and while painful, she hadn't had any problems with them.

"Dad, I think I got stung by a bee, can you come and look?" she asked.

Elizabeth, who was standing closer, walked over to her and asked, "May I take a look, Allie?"

"Sure, sorry, it's kind of a habit to just call out for my dad." Allie said, hoping to explain why, even though she was closer, she didn't ask her for help.

Elizabeth smiled, and began looking for the offending stinger. "Jack, how about we made a mud bandage for Allie and then take her to our house, and we can get her fixed up there?"

"A mud bandage?" Jack asked, confused.

"Yep, we will add some water to a bit of dirt here to make the mud. Then we will put it on her neck, to help lessen the pain until we can get the singer out." Elizabeth explained. "Can you bring the water canteen over here, please?"

"Here Jack, let me help you" Nathan said, squatting down and helping to pour the water and mix up the mud.

Soon they were on their way to the row house and Nathan was able to remove the stinger without any difficulties.

"Sorry, we had to stop the game, Jack. Especially after you hit the ball." Allie said, noticing that her throat felt a little funny.

"It's okay, Allie." Jack said, coming over and giving her a hug. "I am just glad you are better. And that you had a daddy who could help you."

After retuning the hug, and promising they could play again soon, Allie began to feel a little dizzy. Thinking it was just from being outside in the sun for a while, she did her best to hide how she was feeling. It was strange though, her throat felt like it was getting smaller and smaller, and she started getting really warm. "Mrs. Thornton," she said, "May I have a glass of water?"

"Of course, sweetheart." Elizabeth said, just as Nathan came out of the kitchen, cup in hand.

"Thanks Dad." Allie told him with a grin, before taking a sip from the glass. A few things happened at once. She found she couldn't swallow the water, and noticed it was getting harder to breath, and Jack pointed out the red marks on her neck.

"Allie?" her dad called to her, "Are you okay?"

Seeing her struggling to breath and noticing the swelling in her neck, he gathered her up in his arms, saying, "I think she's having a reaction to the sting. I have to get her to Faith, now." as he hurried out the door.

Lee getting in his car when he heard his name called, "Lee, can you get us to Faith? Allie can't breathe." Looking down at his daughter, his fear increased, watching as she tried to take a breath but wasn't able to.

Soon they were pulling up in front of the infirmary, rushing inside. "Faith!" Nathan called.

"Nathan, what…?" she didn't even finish her question. Allie had passed out, and the fear on Nathan's face was all she needed to know. Rushing to the bed, Nathan put his little girl down, and Faith pushed him out of the way.

Noticing the blue tint forming around the girl's fingernails, and not seeing her chest rise and fall, she quickly asked what happened. Nathan explained how she'd been stung and then started not being able to breath.

"Molly," Faith called, "get me a syringe and some epinephrine right away" Soon the doctor had the syringe and plunged it into Allie's chest, startling everyone in the room, and began injecting the medication. Soon the syringe was empty and Faith was forcefully rubbing the spot, hoping to help the medication spread. Molly handed her the stethoscope and she began listening.

The door to the infirmary crashed open, bringing Elizabeth and Jack rushing into the room.

Nathan was watching both Allie and Faith, refusing to hear the voice in his head telling him that this long without oxygen wasn't possible, and that Allie was dead. He felt Elizabeth put her hand in his and squeeze it, followed by Jack doing the same to his other hand. Then Faith's shoulders slumped, and she let out a quiet breath. "This is it," he told himself, "she's gone." Feeling his whole world come crashing down around him, he knees began to give way. This couldn't be happening, not to his little girl. How would he be able to live if she wasn't with him. Tears filled his eyes and began falling down his cheeks.

Faith turned around and smiled slightly, "Her heart is beating. It's a little fast, but that's to be expected right now."

"Dad?" he heard a small voice call to him, and immediately he let go of Jack and Elizabeth's hands and sank to the ground next to the bed, the tears still pouring out of his eyes.

"Allie?" he answered quietly, gently taking her hand in his and placing it close to his heart.

"I feel funny." she whispered to him, trying to figure out where she was. Turning her head, she saw Dr. Carter, on the other side of her, and then noticed Jack and Mrs. Thornton standing behind her dad. "What happened?" she asked.

"You stopped breathing, kiddo," he answered her, not able to explain anymore.

Faith reached out and took Allie's other hand, saying, "You gave your Dad and me quite the fright, young lady, but I think you're going to be okay. I'll explain everything to you later, but for now, I want you to close your eyes and rest, alright?"

Looking over at the others in the room, she said, "Feel free to stay, but she needs to relax and rest. Her body has had quite a shock, and she doesn't need any excitement from you three, okay?" She winked at them and pulled the curtain around the bed to get the family some privacy.

Jack walked to the other side of the bed and leaned over, taking Allie's other hand, placing it next to his heart, just like Nathan's.

Elizabeth, thinking that Nathan and Allie would rather be alone, said "Come on Jack, let's give these two some privacy"

"But I want to stay with Allie." Jack whispered.

"I know, and we will come back later, but I think Mountie Nathan and Allie would like some time alone."

"Okay," Jack answered dejectedly. "But can we come back?"

"Yes, Jack. We will come back. Now come on and let Allie rest."

Jack reached up and placed a kiss on Allie's cheek, before letting go of her hand and walking to his mom. He looked up at her and said, "Allie needs a mommy kiss too, mama. Like you give me when I am sick. Since her mom is in heave with my daddy, you can be her mommy today."

Elizabeth was a little startled at what Jack had said, but she couldn't deny that she wanted to do just that. Walking around the bed, she leaned down and kissed Allie on the forehead, whispering, "I am so relieved you are okay, Allie. I love you, sweetheart." Then, giving her one more kiss, she smiled as Allie's eyes started to close.

Walking back to Nathan, she kissed his cheek and then, taking Jack's hand, they walked out of the infirmary.


The sound of the door closing startled Nathan enough to bring him back to his senses. Looking down at his daughter, he was relieved to see her eyes closed, but see the gentle up and down movement of her chest. Closing his eyes, he offered a silent prayer of thanks that Lee had been able to get them to town quickly, and that Faith had known what to do, and that Allie was going to be okay. He looked around the room, and was surprised to find himself alone. He thought for sure Elizabeth and Jack had been there. Hadn't he felt Elizabeth and Jack holding his hand? To be honest, Nathan wasn't sure he even knew what time it was, or even what day it was.

From the moment he'd see Allie struggling to breathe, it was as though time stopped, and then began again, but at an excruciatingly slow speed. All he could see was the fear in Allie's eyes as he willed Lee's car to go faster. He looked down again, and her eyes were closed, he couldn't feel her breathing and was sure her lips had started to turn blue. He'd had enough medical training to know that when the oxygen stops, so does the brain, and the idea that he might lose his precious little girl, overwhelmed him. By then panic had set in, and instead of being helpful he just stood there, like a statue. Then again, time stopped when he watched as Faith's shoulders slumped forward as she exhaled. He didn't want to hear it, hear her say what he already knew. Allie was gone, and it was his fault. Barely seeing through the tears that were in his eyes, he watched as Faith smiled, telling him all he needed to know. Having already been unsteady on his feet, and hearing Allie call to him had been his undoing. The feeling of relief washed over him in torrents, and he didn't even try to stop his crying. Everything around him faded away, and it was just he and Allie, looking at each other.


Slowly opening her eyes, Allie watched her Dad's face light up. "Dad?" she asked, not really sure why she was in a strange bed, or why her dad was sitting on the floor holding her hand.

"Hey kiddo, how are you feeling?"

"Tired and confused, what happened?" she asked, looking around and realizing where she was. "Why am I in the infirmary?"

"You got stung by a bee when we were playing baseball and then stopped breathing." Nathan choked out.

"Ahh, so that's what happened." they both started seeing Dr. Carter coming up beside the bed.

"What do you mean?" Allie asked, confused.

"Well, your body had what is called an Allergic Reaction when the bee stung you. It's not very common, but does happen once in a while. What that means is your body went a little crazy trying to get the venom from the stinger. The overreaction can cause all sorts of things to happen, some are very minor, like itching. While others are more dangerous, like what happened to you. Your throat began to swell up, making it harder and harder for you to breath. Thankfully, your Dad got you here in time, and we were able to reverse what was happening and get you breathing again because as you know, without oxygen our bodies can't function properly."

"But it's never happened before." Nathan, finally finding his voice added.

"There have been times when the reaction is caused by something you've been exposed to before, but there is still a lot we don't know about allergies and why some people react differently to others. We also don't know if this was a one time thing, or if from now on every time you are stung you risk having a reaction like this." Faith explained to both of them.

"So what do I do?"

"Well, as silly as it sounds, the answer is don't get stung." They all laughed at that.

"But, prevention really is the key. So when you are outdoors, try and keep an extra close eye out for bee's, and if you get stung, get to a doctor right away. Second's matter in situations like this. For now, though, you are free to go home, as long as you promise to take it easy for the rest of the today and tomorrow as well. Your body needs to recover both from the reaction and the treatment. Promise?" Faith asked.

Allie smiled and said, "What if I said no?"

"Well then, you and I would be spending the weekend here, together." Dr. Carter answered with a laugh, knowing Allie was joking, but wanting her to still take things seriously.

"Thanks Dr. Carter. I promise to take it easy the rest of the weekend."

"Good, now Mrs. Thornton and Jack are just outside with Rosemary, who is going to drive you two home as soon as you are ready."