Jim brought his coffee mug to his lips, sipping while he was distractedly reading the letter he held in his other hand.

“Good Morning Jim.” Miss Trask said cheerfully.

Looking up he smiled, “Good morning.”

“How’s the house coming?” she asked.

Jim had started building his house on the property of Ten Acres.

“It’s moving along. They finished all of the enclosing and started on the interiors.”

“It’s an exciting time for you. What does Rachel think of it?”

“She loves it. I have been getting her input through out the whole process. She was a little surprised that I want her to help so much. I think she feels this is my house.”

“And it isn’t?” Marjorie was confused and it showed.

Jim grinned, “NO, it’s ours. Mine and Rachel’s.”

Marjorie returned his smile. “I thought maybe you were heading in that direction. I’m happy for you. You’ve chosen well.”

“I think so too. And speaking of which, I need to get out of here so I can meet her for lunch. Have a great day!” And Jim was off for a morning of meetings.

Arriving at his office at the Ten Acres Academy, his assistant Laura greeted him, smiling.

“Hey boss, the mail is on your desk.” Laura said.

“Thanks Laura!” Jim went straight to his desk and got papers out of his briefcase. He’d graded them last night after having dinner with Rachel.

Rachel. They’d met almost a year ago, and had been inseparable ever since. He smiled when he caught sight of the picture of the two of them that he kept framed on his desk.

He picked up the pile of mail and started flipping through it. A few pieces of junk mail, a few invitations to some fund raisers, and he came across an envelope addressed to him. It was hand written and he had seen the writing before, but couldn’t place it. Jim picked up a letter opener and slid the envelope open. It was a letter;

Dear Jim,

I am writing to let you know I am out! I’m sure you missed your old man and can’t wait to see me!

I heard you built that school.

Tell you little friend Trixie, that I am especially looking forward to meetin up with her and you again.

Heard you got a girl, when she meets me she’ll know you ain’t a real man and she’ll dump ya!

Until we meet again, your lovin father, Sam Jones

Jim stared in disbelief. Had time really gone by that fast? His hands shook slightly as he re read the note. Looking at the envelope, there was no return address.

Dan chose that moment to poke his head into Jim’s office.

“Hey Jim! How’s it going?” Dan looked at Jim and took in his shaking hands, and his pale complexion. Something was wrong with his friend.

“Jim? What is it?”

Jim slowly looked up at Dan and wordlessly held the note out to him. Dan scanned it once, then twice.

“Damn!” he swore. Looking again to Jim, he said, “I can’t believe he got out and they never told you.”

Jim shook his head. “This is the first I’ve heard of it.”

Standing, Jim paced the room to work off his nervous energy.

“I think you’d better tell Trixie. She should know. It sounds like he’ll be contacting her too.”

Jim nodded, staring out his window overlooking the stable and corral.

“And you might want to let Rachel in on this too. She’s going to need to be prepared in case he tries to approach her.” Dan said watching Jim.

Jim turned to look Dan in the eye.

“No. She doesn’t need to be a part of this. This has nothing to do with her.” He said in quiet conviction.

“Jim, come on. She is involved with you. That puts her in the middle of this.” Dan shook his head in disbelief.

“That is it exactly, she is with me and it doesn’t mean she needs to be put in the middle of this mess.”

“Jim-“ Dan began.

“I’m not letting Jonesy hurt her , Dan.”

“Right, you need to let her know , so she can be prepared. Just in case.”

“She won’t be in this. This is my problem and I will die before Jonesy tries anything with her.”

“Jim-“

“Dan, I appreciate the support, but this is my problem. Please understand.”

Dan stared at Jim long and hard. There was a lot going through Jim’s head. Dan could almost see the wheels turning. Finally, he nodded and slapped Jim once on the shoulder and walked to the door.

“Call me if you need me, my friend. I’m going to try to find out his location.” And he was gone.

Jim sank into his desk chair. Running his fingers through his hair, he sat and stared at the letter. He didn’t know where Jonesy was. He could be here. He could be near Rachel. He remembered when Jonesy had tried to kill Juliana. Not once but twice. He wasn’t going to let him hurt Rachel simply because she was with him.

He went to his door and asked Laura to cancel all of his appointments for the day. Then he asked her to set it up with the other teachers to take over his classes.

“Sure thing boss. You have a lunch date with Rachel, you want that cancelled too?”

“Yeah, cancel that too. Tell her something came up.”

Laura went to immediately do his bidding and Jim picked up his cell phone. He called Trixie and asked her to meet him at the old club house. He knew they wouldn’t be interrupted there.

Laura called to him as he walked the door that Rachel requested he call her later. Jim felt numb. He had this overwhelming need to keep her safe. More and more , he thought she’d be better off away from him. Jonesy had a bone to pick with him. And Trixie. Honey was involved too, but not in the capacity as they were.

Jim walked to the clubhouse and Trixie arrived shortly thereafter.

“Jim? What’s wrong? You sounded funny on the phone!”

Jim grabbed her hand and they sat at the long table.

He wordlessly handed her the letter from Jonesy. Trixie frowned and read the letter. Looking up at Jim when she was finished, she said, “Whoa, that time went fast.”

“My thought too.” Jim nodded.

“Any clue as to where is he now?” she asked, looking over the envelope.

“No.” Jim shook his head.

“Well, there are ways to find out. I’ll start looking for him when I go in to the office today.” Trixie said and she patted his hand to reassure him.

Trixie and Honey had fulfilled their dream of opening the Belden Wheeler Detective Agency. He felt some relief knowing Trixie was on the case.

“What did Rachel say about this?”

Jim was silent for a moment and looked down at his hands. Without lifting his head, he quietly answered.

“She doesn’t know. And I’m not sure I am going to tell her.”

“What?! You have to Jim. She needs to know there might be trouble!” Trixie shook her head and sent her curls flying.

“There won’t be any trouble for her if she isn’t with me.” Jim was still quiet.

“Jim, what are you saying?” Trixie touched his hand and held it in hers.

Jim raised his eyes to hers and simply said, “If she isn’t involved with me, she won’t be in any danger.”

“Come on, you love each other. She won’t leave you to fight this fight without her.”

“Exactly why I am not giving her a choice. I will take care of this. I will take care of her.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I’ll take care of this. Don’t worry.” Jim stood to leave. “Let me know what you find out about him.”

Trixie watched Jim walk out in dumfounded silence.

Jim went up to the Manor House. His parents were out of the country on business. He knew Trixie would tell Honey so he was spared that much at least.

His cell phone rang off and on throughout the afternoon. Every time, it was Rachel’s cell number that came up. He ignored it. He checked his machine, and there were several messages on it from her too. He was sure she’d called the school too. Jim didn’t want to deal with anyone today. He stayed in his room and tried to watch tv, or read, but his thoughts were too wild. They kept him from concentrating on anything.

He tried to eat later. He wasn’t really hungry. Marjorie was away over night visiting her sister in the city. So he had the mansion to himself. He had never felt so alone. Jim picked up the phone to Call Rachel on numerous occasions through the day, but always set the phone back down with out calling her.

He could hear the concern in her voice on her messages. It was like a knife through his heart.

Jim slept fitfully that night. Tossing and turning. When he did sleep, he dreamt of Jonesy. He always woke in a sweat. He gave up on trying to sleep at dawn and went to the school early. He found some papers that still needed to be graded and he tried to work his way through them. He’d made some progress, when the rest of the staff worked their way into the office.

Laura brought in a stack of messages from Rachel. She asked Jim if she should call and reschedule their lunch date, but Jim told her no.

“And if she calls, tell her I’m in a meeting.”

“Ok” Laura frowned and left him alone in his office.

He knew Rachel was working that day and he felt safe in knowing she wouldn’t try to see him until later that evening. He stayed in his office in between classes. Most of his classes were spent in “study halls” as he wasn’t concentrating on the subjects.

He was still in his office at 7pm. Just sitting in the peaceful setting made him forget for a moment. Sensing movement, he looked up to see Rachel in the doorway.

“Hey stranger. I guess you didn’t drop off the face of the earth after all.” She said. She started out joking but she could see something was wrong with him.

When he didn’t answer her, she stepped into the room, and shut the door. Jim stayed seated at his desk. Rachel walked slowly toward him, standing at his side looking down at him.

“Jim? What is it sweetheart?”

Rachel had rested her hand on his shoulder and she felt him stiffen under her touch.

Jim spun the chair the opposite way and stood. The chair was between them. He could see her frown and the concern was there.

“Nothing is wrong.” Jim was surprised at the gruffness in his voice.

“Yes I think there is. Why did you cancel lunch yesterday? Why haven’t you answered any of my messages? Or called me?”

Jim took a deep breath, it was now or never. He had to send her away. She’d be safe then.

“I don’t want this.” He simply said.

“You don’t want what?”

Jim couldn’t look at her, couldn’t watch the hurt pass across her face. He focused on a point past her shoulder.

“I don’t want this, us, anymore.”

Even though he wasn’t focusing on her face, he saw the pain. He felt it too.

Rachel felt the world tilt. What was going on?

“What do you mean?”

“I mean , I don’t want us to be together anymore. I want to be free.”

“Why? What happened to change this for us? I- I thought you loved me!” She accused. He could hear the tears clogging her voice. He stole a quick look at her face. Thank god she wasn’t crying yet. The tears would have done him in.

“I guess not!” He saw her eyes widen as what he’d said to her sunk in. He was such a bastard. How could he hurt her like this?

Rachel felting a mind boggling pain move through her. She knew she was close to crying and wanted to get out of there soon.

“So, what? This is it? The end of our relationship?”

Jim forced himself to meet her pain anguished eyes.

He blinked, and then took another breath. “Yes that is what I’m saying.” His quiet conviction shattered her. He watched as she blindly ran toward the door. She had her hand on her face, muffling her sobs. Her other hand, fumbled with the door handle. Finally she yanked it open and ran out into the outer offices. They were dark and quiet. Jim stood where he was until he heard her harsh sobs as she moved toward the outer doors. Damn!

Jim’s legs were longer and he over took her at the outer door. She reached for the handle to pull it open and he pushed it shut. Pressing his body up against her back. She sobbed into the door, while he held her from behind.

“Sshh, please sweetheart. I’m sorry. Don’t cry.” He kissed into her hair. His hands rubbed up and down her back in comfort.

Rachel spun around in his arms and clung to him. She cried and he held her tightly.

“Wh- why did y-you d-do this?” she hiccupped.

Jim kissed her forehead and leaned back to wipe her tears from her cheeks.

He brushed her hair from her eyes and stared into them for a moment.

She took a shattering breath and tried to calm down.

“Why Jim?” she finally asked.

“Will you come into my office with me and let me explain?” He saw the wary look in her eyes, but she followed him.

He poured a snifter of brandy and pressed it into her hand. She stared into the amber liquid and sipped it slowly. Finally she raised her eyes to his and waited. Jim took a swig of his own brandy before speaking.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to hurt you. I want to keep you safe.” He whispered.

“What are talking about? Why did you do this tonight?”

Jim took a breath and the whole story spilled out. She listened without saying a word. Then, when he was finished, she swallowed the rest of her brandy and stood up. Slapping her glass down on the corner of his desk, she turned to him. The pain was still there, but it was out shown by the anger.

“So, you broke up with me instead of coming to me and telling me the truth? Was it easier to be without me than to trust me?”

“No Rachel, it wasn’t a matter of trust. I wanted to keep you safe from him. You know I’ve told you the things he’s capable of. I would rather die, than stand by and watch him hurt you!”

“So you hurt me instead? You are the one who is supposed to love me!”

Jim stood next to her and rubbed her cheek softly with one of his knuckles.

“I love you more than life Rachel. I’m so afraid of what he can do to you.”

Rachel stood on her toes and reached to pull his face down to her level with her two hands.

Eye level now, she held his face to hers nose to nose.

“There is nothing he could do to me, Jim Frayne, that could hurt me more than what you did tonight.” She said it with out shouting. She was very quiet in fact and Jim was more fearful of that.

“I’m sorry. I had convinced myself that I could walk away from you if it kept you safe. Please forgive me.”

Rachel let go of Jim and stepped away. She looked up at him, but didn’t reach for him again.

“It hurts that you would rather send me out of your life , than tell me what is wrong. I love you. I don’t mean that only when things are good.”

Jim sighed, “I know that. Look, can we go somewhere and talk? No one is at the Manor House now. Can we go up there to talk?”

Rachel hesitated, then nodded. They left Jim’s office. Barely noticing the storm coming up to the east. Lightening was flashing in the distance and the breeze had gotten stronger. It was obvious to everyone but them, that a late summer storm was heading toward Sleepyside.

They walked up to the Manor House. Rachel thought it would be good to work off her pent up frustrations with the situation before they tried to talk. Jim led her into the study and he closed the door. The room was Matt Wheeler’s den. It was a masculine room done in heavy dark woods. Despite the fact that it was so obviously a man’s room, Rachel felt it was also warm and inviting. She loved it there.

Jim offered her something to drink, and when she refused, he sat down wearily on the sofa next to her. He was careful not to touch her at all.

“I got a letter yesterday.” He said.

Rachel didn’t say a word, she let him gather his thoughts and proceed.

“I wasn’t ever expecting to get it. I didn’t think I’d ever hear from Jonesy again.” Jim sighed. Rachel almost reached her hand out to grasp his, but stopped before she could. She had to let him say this.

“I’ve told you about him. The things he did to me, Juliana, even Honey and Trixie. I- I was so afraid. He mentioned you in the letter. That he knew about us. Even made a crack about you leaving me when you met a “real” man like him.”

Rachel reached out then and grabbed his hand that had been rubbing his palm up and down his leg. His fingers grasped hers in a tight grip, but she didn’t mind.

Jim went on, “ I wanted to rush out and find you. Keep you safe. But, I realized that you were in this danger because you were with me. I thought I’d do you more good if I wasn’t in your life.”

Jim still held her hand tightly, waiting for a response from her.

Rachel took a slow deep breath and turned to look at him.

“I thought you were tired of me, of us. When you said you didn’t want us to be involved anymore, I thought my life had ended. I love you so much James Winthrop Frayne. Don’t ever forget it!”

Jim closed his eyes when she began to speak , but opened them when she finished.

“I won’t. I promise. Please say you forgive me! I’m so sorry sweetheart. I want you to stay safe, but I couldn’t even let you walk out the door in order to ensure you to stay that way.”

Rachel smiled sadly at him, “Thank god! Yes, I forgive you. But don’t you ever try that again! Come to me, tell me when a problem comes up! Then we can deal with it together!”

Jim tugged on her hand and brought her to his lap. She went willingly. Wrapping her arms around his neck, they held each other tightly. Now that their own storm was over, they became aware of the one that was raging outside. Rachel’s head shot up when a loud thunder boom shattered their peace. A flash of lightening lit the night sky. Then the power flashed once and then again.

Jim stood setting Rachel on the sofa. “I’d better get us some flashlights.” He went to the kitchen, and returned a moment later. Handing one to her, when the power finally went out for good.

“Not a moment too soon!” Rachel nervously laughed.

“I think we’d better stay put. Listen to that wind! Come on, there isn’t anything we can do with out electricity. It is only 10pm, but I am suddenly exhausted.”

Jim took her hand and they walked up the stairs. He stood outside his room.

“I think Honey still has some clothes here. I’m sure you could find something to sleep in.”

“One of your tshirts will work too.”

Jim grinned and quickly agreed. It earned him a slap on the arm. He opened his bedroom door and used the flashlight to see where he was going. He kept several candles and a lighter in his closet, just for this purpose. He went to get them and he lit them around the room. His room had a soft glow from the candle light and he got a tshirt from his dresser for her. He motioned to the bathroom and handed her a candle and said she could go first.

Rachel came out soon after. Jim had taken his clothes off and was sitting on the edge of his bed in his boxers and tshirt. Her long blonde hair was loosely hanging down her back. He thought his shirt had never looked so good and he told her so. He wasn’t sure, but she might have blushed a little.

He then moved into the bathroom and when he came out, she was at the window, looking out.

“Hey hasn’t anybody ever told you it isn’t safe to be in a window during a storm?”

“Of course, but it is kind of beautiful.” Jim stood with her, his hands resting on her shoulders lightly.

“I think you’re beautiful.” He said and kiss the top of her head. Moving he turned toward the bed and he climbed in.

The full size bed was sitting in the middle of the room. He got in and slid across to the other side, pulling the blankets back and patting the empty space to invite her in. She smiled and rolled her eyes and climbed into his bed, turning her back to him. He blew the remaining candle out, and turned his body to wrap itself around hers.

Jim held for awhile, but knew she was still awake.

“Are we really ok?” he asked quietly.

Rachel pulled his arms around her tighter.

“Yeah, I don’t think I want to go through that again with you though.”

Jim kissed her ear and nuzzled her neck. “I love you so much. I never want to be without you, but I was just afraid you’d get hurt because of being with me.”

“I’m not going to get hurt. Your stepfather has to know that he could into more trouble by contacting you. Did you call the police?”

“I told Dan, and he was going to check on it for me. Trixie knows too, and Honey and they are going to find out where he is exactly.”

“It will be ok, Jim. Jonesy is going to find himself back in prison.”

‘Yeah, but will it be before he hurts someone I love?’ Jim asked himself. He pulled her closer and buried his face in her hair.

They held each other quietly into the night, eventually falling asleep.

Jim awoke to find the sun shining and the power was restored. Rachel still slept peacefully. Checking his watch, he knew he had time for a shower before he needed to wake Rachel for work. He showered and wrapped a towel around his waist, and used another to rub his hair dry. He walked to the edge of his bed and looked down on the sleeping beauty. Suddenly, he couldn’t help himself and eased a knee onto the bed and bent to brush a soft kiss on her lips. Jim felt her smile on his mouth and she returned the kiss.

“That is a nice way to start the day!” Rachel said when he lifted his head. Jim stood back up and hung his towel around his neck.

“I couldn’t help myself. It isn’t every day I find such a beauty in my bed.”

“And flattery too, and it isn’t even-“ she paused to look at Jim’s watch still on the night stand, “7am”

“Come on, you have to work today. I will get dressed and get breakfast while you shower. Can’t have you be late now can we?”

Rachel laughed and pulled herself out of the bed. She planted a kiss on his lips and made her way to the bathroom. Jim had her clothes already there. She grinned and silently thanked god for sending her Jim Frayne. By the time Rachel came out of the bathroom, Jim had made the bed, and gotten dressed. He’d had time to start a lovely breakfast of eggs, toast and sausage. He had fresh squeezed orange juice and freshly brewed coffee waiting for her at the table. She smiled at the picture he made at the stove and sat down at the table in the kitchen.

“You’d better watch it, I kind of like watching you make me breakfast. I think I could get used to this.”

Jim turned and grinned at her. She watched as he expertly put her eggs and sausage on her plate. Turning he grabbed the toast from the toaster and brought it to her.

Setting it down, he grinned again, and asked, “Would that be so bad?”

“You making me breakfast or me getting used to it?” she took a bite of her eggs and smiled.

“Both.” Jim said taking his seat next to her with his own plate.

“First of all, this is heavenly and you can do it for me any time. And secondly, I think I would love it.”

Rachel kissed his cheek and continued to eat. After they were through, and had cleaned up their mess, Rachel had to leave.

Jim walked her to the TAA, since they’d both left their cars there the night before. With a last kiss good bye Rachel was on her way to change clothes and then get into work. Jim watched her drive away, a million thoughts running through his head at once.

He called Dan and Trixie immediately upon getting to his office. They had nothing new for him. As far as they could tell Jonesy was still in Albany. Laura came in and Jim told her he had to run an errand and he’d be back in time for the 10am staff meeting.

Jim made his selection, and returned with time to spare. He was met in his office by Mart and Diana.

“We heard you got a note from Jonesy.” Di said.

“Yeah, what is going on? How could he get out and they never told you?” Mart chimed in.

Jim told them he was shocked too. He also told them he didn’t know anything else yet but Trixie and Dan both thought he was still in Albany.

“Good place for him!” Di said.

“No, actually, I think the better place for him is in prison.” Mart added.

“I agree.”

“I’m sure he will end up going back to prison.” Di said.

Jim nodded but thought to himself, I hope it isn’t because he hurts someone close to me.

The meeting proceeded when the remaining staff came in and the rest of the day was busy with classes and students.

The time passed quickly and before they knew it, it was Thanksgiving. Jim had picked Rachel up and taken her back to the Manor House , where the Wheeler family was entertaining the Belden’s, and Lynches this year. The men quickly moved into the family room for football and the women were in the library having tea and coffee. The staff finished putting the final touches on dinner. Just before dinner was going to be ready, Rachel’s cell phone rang. It was her neighbor Mrs. Landry. Mrs. Landry was a sweet old woman of about 82, in a wheelchair after a stroke. She had one son, and a little dog for companionship. Rachel was surprised she was calling. But Mrs. Landry sounded upset and Rachel found out that Mrs. Landry’s son had used her security key to let them in when they returned from dinner. And now that he son had left, she couldn’t find the key. She couldn’t get a hold of her son and was worried he left it in the door. Mrs. Landry was worried someone could get in.

Rachel ended the phone call, and went to find Jim. Quickly explaining the situation, Rachel told him she was going to go back to town and see if, in fact, the key was in the door.

“I’ll come with you.” Jim offered.

“Don’t be silly, I will be back in a flash. Long enough to see if the key is in the lock and to reassure Mrs. Landry. She wouldn’t have called if she wasn’t truly upset.”

Jim handed her his keys to his car, and said, “Ok, be careful.”

Rachel kissed him and told him he was the best.

Rachel grabbed her coat and walked out to Jim’s car in the driveway. She was glad they’d been the last to arrive, so his car was more toward the end of the driveway. Rachel opened the door and sat down and started the engine. She reached to close the door, when she suddenly remembered she’d left her cell phone on the table in the foyer when she’d gone to speak with Jim.

“Smooth move, it would be your luck to have to call him and you wouldn’t have your phone!” Rachel jumped out of the car and with a push, sent the door to close while she ran back towards the house to get her phone. A fiery explosion sent Rachel flying through the air. She landed near the stable area, amid a pile of newly delivered hay. The force of the impact, though, knocked her unconscious.

Inside the house, jaws dropped open, glasses were suspended in mid air, and twenty pairs of eyes met in shock at the loud noise. After a split second, they all moved into action. Jim tore through the house and down the steps. He stopped in horror at the sight before him. His car was burning out of control.

The others were right behind him, and Dan knew Rachel had been going to his car.

“Raaacchheellll!!!!” Jim screamed. He started to run for the car. Madeleine Wheeler cried for someone to stop him.

Mart and Brian made to grab Jim’s arms, but he wiggled out of their grasp. He began to run again down to the car. Honey , Trixie and Diana watched in stunned disbelief, sure that Jim was going to try to get into the car to get Rachel out.

Dan and Brian made a flying tackle and landed on Jim twenty feet from the car. They could all feel the intense heat from the fire.

“Let me go! She’s in there!!” Jim struggled to get up and Brian and dan were effectively holding him down to the ground.

“Jim, it’s too late. It’s too late.” Dan tried to reason with him.

“I can’t let her die!!” Jim sobbed. His struggles had left him covered in dirt. The tears ran down his face and smeared the dirt. Brian and Dan heard the distant sounds of fire trucks. They saw Regan walking near the stables, where there was a hose. The rest of the bob whites made there way to Jim’s side. He no longer tried to fight them. Honey hugged her brother and held him while he cried. Madeleine Wheeler silently cried on her husband’s shoulder. As did Helen Belden and Janet Lynch.

“Brian! Come here! Quick!” Regan called out.

Brian looked up and saw Regan waving him over. Brian stood up , leaving Jim with the others and walked to where Regan was standing. Regan pointed down at the still body of Rachel.

“She’s not in the car. She’s here.” Regan said.

As Brian dropped down to his knees to check for a pulse, he called out to Dan to get the ambulance up here quick. Jim raised his head to see what Brian was so worried about. He saw Brian look up and grin.

“Jim, she’s alive!”

There was a murmuring of ‘what’ going through the crowd. Dan had left to get the ambulance technicians, and everyone else let Jim stand up. He walked as if in a dream, almost afraid of what he was going to see.

Rachel was lying on the ground near the corral. They hadn’t seen her before because of the hay that was standing on the edge of the driveway.

Brian began an exam of her still unconscious form. The EMT’s came and loaded her onto a gurney. They started to wheel her down the drive to the waiting ambulance. Brian jumped into the ambulance too, and Jim started to when the EMT stopped him. “Only next of kin, sir.”

“That’s my fiancée! I’m going.” Jim said firmly.

No one questioned Jim’s statement, and he jumped in the ambulance. Within minutes they were at the hospital. Brian took charge once they arrived and they set to work on her.

“You can’t be in here Jim.” Brian said, waiting for the tech’s to transfer her to a table.

Jim looked helplessly at his best friend.

“I will let you know when I know something, ok? I promise, I’ll take care of her. I’ll do everything possible.”

Jim nodded numbly. “I know you will Brian. Thanks! I’ll be right outside!” He looked at her once again before finally walking out the door.

Jim thought he’d paced the waiting room for hours. Honey and his parents came in and waited with him. Dan and Trixie had stopped in, then told him they were investigating the explosion. They said they’d be back when they had news.

Jim stood staring out the window of the waiting room. It was dark now and he really couldn’t see anything but the parking lot. He felt small arms wrap around him from behind and he turned slightly to see his sister.

“Honey, why aren’t you with your partner?”

“Because I wanted to be here with you.” Honey said softly, still keeping her arms around his waist.

Jim was silent for a few minutes, then, Honey felt a shudder go through his body.

“I can’t lose her, Honey. I can’t. Not like this!”

Honey hugged her brother tightly, and let him cry on her shoulder. Although the height difference meant he was actually crying on the top of her head. She didn’t mind. When his breathing started to calm down and the tears were drying, she looked up at him.

‘Brian is a good doctor, and if there is something that he can’t handle, then he’ll get her the best who can! I know she’s going to be ok!”

“I hope so!” Jim wiped his face with a handkerchief that was suddenly thrust into his hand. He looked up to smile a watery smile of thanks to his father.

“Jim, do you think we should contact her family?” Maddie asked him.

Jim finished wiping his face clean then looked to his mother.

“I think it would be better that we have something definite to tell them. What do you think, Dad?”

“I agree son.” Matt patted Jim’s shoulder and went to get them some coffee from the cafeteria.

Jim stared at the door between them and Rachel, almost willing it to open. Suddenly, it did open. Jim stood and watched Brian confer with another doctor and then turn to walk slowly towards them.

Jim took in Brian’s tired appearance, and the blood covering his scrubs. Rachel’s blood.

Brian stopped in front of Jim and put a hand on his shoulder, looking him straight in the eye.

“Rachel?” Jim croaked out.

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