Author's Note: STEAM ALERT the section is marked.

Chapter 368 – Father Mark Talks to Jack and Nathan

Elizabeth walked over to the kitchen to finish cleaning up. Jack leaned back on the couch and called Father Mark.

("What is going on?" Father Mark asked. "I got a cryptic message to pray for Nathan, something happened to Colleen. I thought I would call and see if you knew before I tried calling him.")

Jack quickly explained what was going on as best as he understood.

("What is the plan?" Father Mark asked. "You want me to change my flights? I really don't have to be in Rome until after Labor Day.")

"Don't change your flights." Jack said. "Maybe call Nathan tonight and talk to him. He is feeling torn about what to do. I offered for him to go home, but he feels he should stay. Colleen also told him to stay when he spoke to her. He also spoke to Allie who is with the Burkes. The plan is to take tonight and see how things are tomorrow."

("Okay." Father Mark said. "Anything else?")

"If you talk to Nathan." Jack said. "Don't say anything as I haven't gotten the arrangements made, but Elizabeth has agreed to fly back on Friday. We will drop Nathan in the city and head to Albany with Frank. We plan to spend at least Friday night with Gran and Grandpa."

("Okay." Father Mark said. "I won't say anything and that is very good of you. You didn't have to do that. I am sure that Nathan will be glad to get back.")

"Thank you." Jack said. "But both Elizabeth and I think it is the right thing to do. We can still get some alone time in New York."

("Let me know." Father Mark said. "But I am going to call the Bishop and then Nathan. I am going to see if I can stay here a few more days and not fly to DC.")

"If that is what you want." Jack said. "But I don't think it is needed."

("I will keep you updated." Father Mark said. "Please do the same, especially if you are coming home.")

"I will." Jack said. "Thank you and talk soon."

("Talk soon and you will all be in my prayers." Father Mark said.)

"Thank you." Jack said.

Jack hung up the phone. He leaned forward, leaning his arms on his thighs and dropped his head.

… … … …

Frank and Nathan had each finished their beers and were enjoying some of the non-alcoholic ciders that had also been sent with. Nathan was still lightly plucking at his guitar. The two men hadn't really spoken, but just enjoyed the other's company. This was how they were when Nathan's phone rang. He saw it was Father Mark and picked it up as he set his guitar to the side.

"Father Mark." Nathan said.

("Hey Nathan." Father Mark said. "How are you doing? Just so you know, I spoke to Jack.")

"Oh." Nathan said.

("It is normal to feel conflicted." Father Mark said. "And no one is going to be upset if you want to go back to New York and be with your sister. You need to do what you feel is right for you. Not what you think everyone else thinks you should do. We all just want to support you in any way we can. So talk to me.")

"I should have been there to protect them." Nathan lamented.

("That is not your job." Father Mark said. "We have been over this. It is not your job to protect her from everything. It is your job to support her.")

"But." Nathan said.

("No buts." Father Mark said. "Like I have told Jack several times, you are not responsible for everyone else, no matter how much you think otherwise. You can't protect everyone, all the time, everywhere. Especially when they don't want your help. All you can do is to be there to help pick up the pieces when things fall apart.")

"Okay." Nathan said. "So what should I do? I feel torn about staying, but Colleen told me to do my job. Yet, I feel I should be there to take care of everything."

("Take it one day at a time." Father Mark said. "Your sister is safe in the hospital and getting the help she needs. Allie is safe with the Burkes and unaware of what happened. Keep talking to them and if things change, your decision can change. But if Colleen is telling you to stay, then stay for now. I am also sure that she feels awful about needing to be rescued by you. Based on what you have told me, I am sure she is feeling a bit like a failure that she couldn't protect herself. So maybe a day or two for her to fully grasp her situation is needed.")

"Okay." Nathan said. "I feel bad about Jack and the Burkes spending all this money on Colleen and Allie. I will never be able to repay them for everything."

("They aren't asking for repayment." Father Mark said. "This is what they do when someone in their circle needs help. They rally around and make sure everything is taken care of. It is not about the money or getting repaid. So put that out of your mind right now. I don't want to hear you talk about repaying them again. I know for a fact that Jack had a fund just for things like this, so drop it and let him help. Jack making sure that Colleen is safe is his way of making sure that you are also taken care of and stay.")

"Okay." Nathan said. "I don't like it, but I will try to accept it."

("Good." Father Mark said. "We are making progress. You have nothing to feel guilty about. I want you to remember that. I will be praying for you, your sister and niece. I ask that you keep me updated on how you all are doing, even when I am in Rome. I also look forward to meeting them upon my return.")

"Okay." Nathan said. "I can try and do that. And thank you for the prayers."

("I will always pray for you." Father Mark said. "Praying for people is literally my job. So between your sister and the media mess, how are you really doing?")

"Honestly." Nathan said. "I am feeling like a failure on all fronts."

("Okay." Father Mark said. "Answer this for me. Are Jack and Elizabeth currently safe?")

"Yes, but." Nathan said.

("No buts." Father Mark said. "Jack and Elizabeth are currently safe. And personally, Jack sounded better than I have heard him sound all summer. Was Colleen no being watched by Devin's guys when this happened?")

"Yes, I suppose that is also true." Nathan said.

("So what makes you think the outcome would be any different if you had been there?" Father Mark asked.)

"I guess I don't know." Nathan said.

("As horrible as it is that Colleen was injured." Father Mark said. "At least it gives her a clear opportunity to escape from Dylan for good. And I am sorry that it had to come to that and I don't mean to sound insensitive when I say this, but based on everything you have told me about her, it might be the only way to make that clear to her.")

"I see what you are saying." Nathan said. "While I know that she had him served with divorce papers, I know that she was wavering in her decision. As much as Dylan had no real interest in Allie, Colleen really didn't want her to grow up in a broken home. It still doesn't change the way I feel and that I should have been able to protect her from this hurt."

("I didn't say it would." Father Mark said. "You feel the way you do and that is fine. There is no right or wrong way to feel. We have had this conversation before as well. Feelings aren't right or wrong, they just are. You are entitled to feel however you want, but I want to make it clear that you haven't failed at anything. You are doing your job and protecting Jack and Elizabeth. You have also been a great friend to him this summer when he needed someone to push him. You are also a loving and supportive brother and uncle to Colleen and Allie. If you weren't, you wouldn't be feeling so torn. You can't possibly do more at the moment. You can't fly back tonight. All you can do is reassure them that you will be there if they want. Both have told you they are good, so relax and take them at their word.")

"Okay." Nathan said.

("So how about I pray with you and then you go get some sleep." Father Mark said.)

"I would like that." Nathan said.

("In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." Father Mark prayed. "Please reach Your healing touch upon Colleen's life. She has been through so much. Be with Nathan and Allie as they deal with the aftermath of what happened. Especially be with Nathan as he struggles with his conflicting emotions and what he should be doing. Give him peace no matter what he chooses to do. Help him protect Jack and Elizabeth while he is with them. Help everyone to have peace about what is going on and allow them to enjoy their time in Minnesota despite everything that has happened. Amen.")

"Amen." Nathan said. "Thank you. I promise you that I will keep you updated while you are gone. Have safe travels."

("Call me if you need." Father Mark said. "If I don't answer, leave a message and I will call you back as soon as I can. Safe travels to you as well. We will talk soon.")

"Okay." Nathan said. "Good night."

("Good night." Father Mark said.)

Nathan hung up the phone and let out a deep breath. He took a moment and then downed the last of his cider. He wiped down his guitar and put it away. Finally, Nathan stood up and looked at Frank.

"Have a good night." Nathan said. "I need some sleep."

"Good night." Frank said. "Try to get some rest. I will be around if you need to talk or if you just need me to sit with you. Otherwise I will talk to you in the morning."

"Thank you." Nathan said.

Nathan picked up his empty bottle and his guitar case before heading into the cabin. He set the empty bottle in the sink and went to his room. He set his guitar case on the floor and sunk to his bed. He dropped his head to his hands and let the tears fall once again.

… … … …

Elizabeth saw Jack sitting on the couch with his head down and turning his phone over and over in his hands. She went over and sat next to him on the couch. She put her hand on his back and started rubbing it.

"Jack, honey." Elizabeth said. "You have done what you can. You offered to let him go home. We are changing our plans and going home early. You are arranging for Colleen and Allie to be taken care of. You can't control everything, no matter how much you want to."

"I know." Jack said. "I just feel bad it happened at all."

"I get that." Elizabeth said. "No one wanted to see Colleen get hurt. But it happened and now we have to deal with it. We can't change the past and you are going above and beyond to help."

"Then why do I feel so bad?" Jack asked.

"Because you care." Elizabeth said.

… … … …Steam Alert… … … …

… … … …Steam Alert… … … …

Elizabeth pushed Jack to sit back.

"I know something that will make you feel better." Elizabeth said, as she worked her hand under the hem of his shirt.

Jack smiled at her. She took his phone and set it aside as she moved to straddle him on the couch. Elizabeth slipped Jack's shirt off and danced her fingers across his torso. Jack leaned his head back and just enjoyed his wife's touch. Elizabeth saw the Jack had leaned his head back and closed his eyes, so she reached down and undid the button on his jeans. Jack smiled and let Elizabeth have her fun. She undid the zipper and Jack lifted his hips, so Elizabeth could slid his jeans down his hips. The moment she released his manhood from the confines of fabric, it sprung to life. Jack gasped as Elizabeth brushed her hands across his manhood.

Since she had eliminated Jack's clothes, she also shed her own. When she moved to straddle Jack again, he scooped her up and carried her to the bedroom. Jack laid her on the bed and moved over her. She immediately opened her legs to him and Jack entered his wife. It didn't take long and they were falling over the cliff. Together they climbed the mountain twice more before Jack lay completely spent next to Elizabeth gasping to catch his breath. He was covered in a fine sheen of sweat. Elizabeth also covered in a fine sheen of sweat, laid curled up on her side watching her husband. She wanted to shower, but her legs felt like jelly and didn't think that she could stand. Just as her body started to finally calm down, she reached over to give Jack a kiss. That simple touch reignited the fire that was still burning.

"Are you sure?" Jack asked as Elizabeth rubbed his torso.

"Only if you can." Elizabeth said. "I want you."

"Give a minute." Jack said.

Elizabeth continued to dance her finger across Jack's torso and play with his nipples. She reached her other hand over and danced it lower on Jack's body, coming close to but not touching his manhood. Not being able to take it anymore, Jack pushed off and moved over Elizabeth. In one swift move he had pushed her on her back and entered her, immediately driving her over the edge. It only took Jack a moment to fall over the edge as well. He once again fell to the bed gasping for air.

Both fell asleep as their bodies calmed down. At some point, Jack pulled Elizabeth to him and pulled the sheets over them. That was how they would wake the next morning – wrapped in each other's arms and tangled in the sheets.

… … … …End of Steam… … … …

Wednesday morning, surprisingly it was Nathan who was the first one that awake. He needed to do something, so changed into a pair of shorts and tank top. He pulled his sneakers out that he wore for workouts and slipped into his flip flops. He also grabbed a beach towel. He left a note for Frank and headed to the main lodge for a workout and then he planned to go for a swim before breakfast.

Nathan got to the main lodge at a few minutes after five that morning and worked out for forty-five minutes before he went down to the dock. He was drenched from his workout. He dropped his towel and sneakers on the dock and immediately slipped under the water. The cool early morning water felt good on his body that felt like it was on fire from the workout. Nathan ended up swimming for another twenty minutes.

When Nathan finally finished, he had peeled his tank top off and laid it on the dock. He stood in knee deep water and let the water drip off his body. Little did Nathan know that the ladies that were staying in the cabin next to him were watching him. They watched as Nathan ran his fingers through his hair and flipped it back. He then proceeded to run his hands down his body to remove the excess water. Finally, Nathan gave his body a shake before jumping up to sit on the dock for a moment to dry off. He looked at his phone which was in his sneakers and saw that it was about quarter after six and knew that Frank was probably up and had coffee made already.

As Nathan sat there on the dock enjoying the early morning calm, he looked over at the lake and the only disturbance was his feet as he swung them in the water. The rest of the lake looked like a sheet of glass, it was so still. It was such a beautiful spot and he hoped to come back again. He thought how much he wanted to bring Allie out there so she could experience nature like she has never before. All Allie knew of nature was the parks in the city. He couldn't wait to take her to Saratoga and other places to really experience nature and how wonderful it is.

Nathan decided to do his morning prayers as he sat on the dock. While he didn't have the book he had been reading from, he felt he could do it almost from memory. The point was he felt it was a great place to pray. Nathan bowed his head and let that rogue curl fall over his forehead.

"Heavenly Father." Nathan prayed. "Thank you for this beautiful day. Please keep us all safe as we go about our planned activities. Please be with my sister and heal her body. Soften her heart and help her to find her way back to You. I know that she has struggled with faith over the last number of years because of things that have happened. Help her to find the path You want for her. Let my be an example of what You want. Let my example also extend to Allie. As much as Colleen has struggled, it is not fair that she has deprived Allie from getting to know you.

Please be with me today as we go about things. Keep us safe and bring us back here safely. Please show me where You want me to be at this time. If I am supposed to go and be with Colleen and Allie, please make a way for it to happen while Jack and Elizabeth are still protected. Please be with John, Devin and those making an announcement with him today. Give John the words that he needs to speak. Help Devin and the others to keep everyone safe. Amen."

Nathan sat there for a moment, then stood up, flipped his hair back, picked up his stuff and walked back to the cabin. He needed coffee and a shower.

… … … …