Author's Note: TRIGGER WARNING this chapter talks a little about inmate partner violence and that can be upsetting. There is also a STEAM ALERT for this chapter, the section is marked if you want to skip it.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: So to the "Guest" who is complaining I don't publish your reviews, all I will say is if you would say something positive or even constructive I might publish them. However if all you want to do is rip MY story apart and hide behind a wall of animity, then no I won't publish the reviews. So either be nice or grow a pair of balls, create an account and have the guts to sign your reviews. Just so you know dear "guest", you are the reason writers stop and stories go unfinished.
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Chapter 365 – Nathan's Dilemma
Two hours after Frank had originally called, Chief called Nathan back.
"Please tell me that she is okay." Nathan said.
("Slow down." Chief said. "Colleen will fine in time, but she is on the way to the hospital.")
"And Allie?" Nathan interrupted.
("Already with Trish." Chief said. "She was at the neighbors and is fine. Trish and the girls came and got Allie. The girls promised to show her their horses as they were heading to go riding. Trish has no problem keeping Allie as long as needed and already told Colleen as much.")
"What happened?" Nathan asked.
("We are still piecing that all together." Chief said. "Colleen wasn't making complete sense. I suspect that she has a pretty good concussion. She took quite the beating. But it sounds like Dylan had snuck into the building while Colleen and Allie were out. Colleen left Allie with the neighbor because she was going to change and go out again. It sounds like Dylan jumped her at some point and the fight was on. The apartment is trashed, the door shows evidence of being tampered with. It looks like she fought back and quite possibly injured him as well. My men are looking for him as we speak.")
"When did this happen?" Nathan asked.
("Yesterday afternoon/evening." Chief said. "Colleen's phone is smashed. We assume it happened in the fight. From what I gathered, she was afraid to move after Dylan left. Not only did she know that she was injured, but Dylan had threatened her that if she tried to leave or contact anyone, he would know and come back and finish her before he took Allie and disappeared. It sounds like he was demanding Allie and when Colleen wouldn't say where she was, was when he started beating her. So when he left, she was afraid to go where Allie was.")
"What should I do?" Nathan asked.
("Talk to Frank." Chief said. "Talk to Jack and Elizabeth. Colleen is going to be in the hospital for several days. And before you ask, there will be an armed guard there around the clock. And like I said, Trish and I are fine with taking care of Allie as long as needed. I am working to get Colleen a new phone and I will have her call as soon as she has it and can call. She was very adamant about Allie not seeing her like that and frankly I agree.")
"Should I come back?" Nathan asked.
("Talk to the others." Chief said. "But do you really want to sit and stare at Colleen in the hospital? There is nothing that you can do here. I will have Trish facetime with Allie in a little while. Like I said, while Colleen is injured, they are both safe and there are thousands of cops looking for Dylan.")
"Okay." Nathan said. "Let me talk to the others. I will talk to you when I have a decision."
("Okay." Chief said. "Once the crime scene techs are done with the apartment, I am going to have everything packed up and taken to storage. Once you and Colleen decide where she is going to be, we can arrange for it to be delivered. But I have to tell you, much of the apartment is trashed. There are canvases that are slashed and paints dumped on everything. Mirrors smashed and clothes ripped. Toys destroyed. Holes in the walls.")
"Thank you for telling me." Nathan said. "Colleen might not like it, but she is going to one of Jack's secure buildings."
("I think that is a good idea." Chief said.)
"Talk to you in a while." Nathan said. "And thank you for everything."
("You are welcome." Chief said. "Later.")
Nathan hung up the phone and dropped his head as he cried and prayed for the second time in less than twenty-four hours. Nathan was relieved, angry and worried all in the same breath. While he felt he should go to Colleen and Allie, the Chief was right. They were safe at the moment and there wasn't much he could do. Nathan also knew that Colleen would protest him coming back early to babysit her as she would call it. Nathan also felt an obligation to stay and protect Jack and Elizabeth because he had committed to the job.
As Nathan sat there leaning forward and with his head down, Frank came back and took a seat next to Nathan. Frank waited for Nathan to talk, but then the younger man quickly filled him in on everything that had happened. Frank took a moment to pray before he spoke.
"It is totally going to be your choice." Frank said. "And I am sure that Jack will support you no matter what you choose. How about you take this evening to Facetime Allie and see that she is fine as well as talk to Colleen once she gets her new phone. If she is going to be in the hospital for a few days and Allie is fine at the Burkes, James is right. There is nothing for you to do other than sit in the hospital and stare at your sister, driving you both up the wall. Her place is going to be a crime scene for a while and even then James can arrange to get things that are salvageable."
"Okay." Nathan said.
"Let's call Jack and see if we can go over there and fill him in." Frank said.
Nathan nodded and Frank pulled out his phone to call Jack.
… … … …
Jack had hung up with Devin and his grandfather and walked to the other bedroom where Elizabeth was.
"What is up?" Jack asked.
"How do you like this?" Elizabeth asked.
"What am I looking at?" Jack asked.
"Presents for right away and those saved for Christmas." Elizabeth said. "I have put a name tag in front of each pile. I was thinking three things for each person right away and the rest could be saved for Christmas. But I wanted it bundled and to make sure things were pretty even."
"Got it." Jack said. "Why don't you run through it as I only see two items at some places and a bunch of stuff on the top bunk."
"That is why I need your help." Elizabeth said. "I wasn't sure about some things. Top bunk is extra that hasn't been assigned to anyone. Our stuff is all in that tote."
Elizabeth pointed to a tote along the wall.
"Got it." Jack said. "So go through it with me."
So that was exactly what Elizabeth did. Harper, Cody, Opal and Allie were getting the wrapped plush wolf, a temporary tattoo and a bookmark. Elizabeth had gotten an envelope for the bookmark and tattoo which she would attach to the wrapped wolf. The envelope would have the child's name on it. For Oliver it was a bear toy, temporary tattoo and a book mark and it would go in a small gift bag. Next it was Peter and Becky. Peter would get playing cards and Becky would get socks. Then each would get a temporary tattoo and a bookmark. Again, Elizabeth had a small gift bag to put everything in. Maddie and Missy were each getting socks, a temporary tattoo and a bookmark.
"So that is all the kids." Elizabeth said. "What do you think?"
"Looking good." Jack said. "And the rest with their name on is for Christmas."
"Yes." Elizabeth said. "All but Allie as something will be for her birthday. I can figure that out later."
"Okay." Jack said. "Let's go through the adults."
Elizabeth nodded. She had pulled the socks, bookmark and a Minnesota magnet for Colleen. She had chosen the playing cards and a bookmark for Chris and Katie. Chris would also get a hat from The Landing and Katie would get socks.
"Didn't we pick out socks for Chris as well?" Jack said.
"So switch the socks and save the hat for Christmas?" Elizabeth asked.
"I think so." Jack said.
Elizabeth made the switch and Jack nodded. Next she showed that she had gotten a resort water bottle, Minnesota magnet and a bookmark for Caitlin. She put the magnet and bookmark in the water bottle to protect them. She had ribbon and tissue paper to tie around the water bottle instead of a gift bag. Bill, Abigail, Chief and Trish were each getting playing cards and a bookmark. Bill and Abigail were also each getting a different Minnesota magnet.
"What should we do for Trish and Chief?" Elizabeth asked.
Jack quickly grabbed a travel mug from The Landing. Elizabeth put the playing cards and bookmark in each. She would wrap it in tissue paper later.
"I like putting the stuff in the water bottle or travel mug." Jack said.
"I figured it would not only travel better, but save space." Elizabeth said. "I want everything going back with Frank to fit in one tote and things going with us to fit in the other."
"Good plan." Jack said. "So what else you got?"
For Devin, Elizabeth had a travel mug, socks and a bookmark. For John, Elizabeth had playing cards and a bookmark. Jack quickly grabbed a water bottle and helped her to put the things inside. For James and Gran, Elizabeth had playing cards and a book mark, but wasn't sure what else. Jack quickly grabbed a Minnesota shot glass and a wine glass he had picked up. He put them with the stuff for his grandparents.
"I thought they were for you." Elizabeth said.
"It is okay." Jack said. "I was thinking if we needed another gift."
"They are perfect." Elizabeth said. "Now, I have a question about Father Mark."
"What about?" Jack said.
"He is getting the same thing as Doug and Lee." Elizabeth said. "Do we add it to his Christmas gift or what?"
"No." Jack said. "We will send it with Frank so it will be there when Father Mark gets back."
"Okay." Elizabeth said.
Each Doug, Lee and Father Mark were getting a resort tee, socks and a bookmark.
"I also have a question about Frank and Nathan." Elizabeth said. "We have a bit more for them, then the rest. Do we just do the three and get something to even the other things out later or what?"
Jack looked over the pile for Frank and Nathan.
"What were you thinking?" Jack said.
"I was thinking if we were just doing the three like everyone else." Elizabeth said. "It was going to be a travel mug, socks and a bookmark." Elizabeth said.
"Then do that." Jack said. "We can also give them the sweatshirts from The Landing. But it won't be with the rest."
"Got it." Elizabeth said. "Thank you for your help."
"No problem." Jack said. "Now let's go talk. I need to fill you in on things from Grandpa John."
"Okay." Elizabeth said. "Or we can so that later and go have some fun before supper."
… … … …Steam Alert… … … …
Elizabeth kissed Jack and ran her fingers under the hem of his shirt and up his back. Jack shuddered.
"Talk can wait." Jack moaned.
Jack and Elizabeth went to their room and quickly stripped each other of clothes. Jack and Elizabeth quickly brought the heat between them to a roaring fire and they kissed and touched each other's body. Elizabeth laid back, arching her back and let out a moan as Jack suckled on her breast.
"Fill me." Elizabeth gasped. "I can't hold on much longer if you keep doing that."
"With pleasure." Jack said.
Jack carefully brought throbbing manhood to Elizabeth's intimate slit. He had barely inserted the head when Elizabeth moaned and started to tighten around Jack. So Jack grabbed her hips and in one deep thrust drove himself deep into his wife, causing her to moan and arch her back even more. As Jack worked back and forth, he leaned down and suckled on her breast again. It only took a moment and Elizabeth wrapped her legs around Jack and completely clamped down as she fell over the cliff. Jack continued to push her further into the abyss as he himself fell over the cliff. Spent, Jack carefully removed himself from Elizabeth and collapsed on the bed next to her. They were laying there trying to catch their breaths.
… … … …End of Steam… … … …
They had only been laying there a few minutes when Jack's phone rang. He quickly scrambled to grab it from his jeans, thinking it might be his grandfather. Elizabeth turned red and covered her face so she didn't laugh.
"Jack here." He said.
("Hey Jack." Frank said. "Nathan and I need to come over and talk.")
"Give us ten minutes." Jack said. "On second thought, why don't you grab the stuff for supper and come over in fifteen minutes. We can have supper together. I have stuff to tell you as well."
("Okay." Frank said. "Fifteen minutes.")
Jack fell back on the bed and started laughing.
"Frank and Nathan will be here in fifteen minutes." Jack said.
"I heard." Elizabeth said. "Why do I feel like a little kid who has been caught with their hand in the cookie jar?"
"So I am not the only one." Jack teased.
"No." Elizabeth said. "Now get dressed and go start the grill for supper."
"Yes, ma'am." Jack said, kissing the tip of Elizabeth's nose.
Elizabeth couldn't help but giggle as she watched Jack try to pull his boxers and jeans on in one motion, but he was still semi-hard and needed to tuck and adjust before he could zip. Jack just gave her a look before going to the bathroom and splashing some water on his face.
As soon as Jack walked out of the room, Elizabeth grabbed her clothes and went to the bathroom to wash up and get redressed. She was so embarrassed that Frank had called just after they had finished being together. She couldn't even say the word she was so embarrassed.
… … … …
