Chapter 19

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Chapter 19

Aubrey

I feel like I have been in a car wreck. Oh yeah, I was. Everything hurts. Everything aches. I can barely move, or breathe, or... Oh no! Car wreck, I was in labor and we were going to the hospital! The baby!

No! No! No! Not again! This can't happen again.

Pushing up, frantic to find my child, my eyes open, wild and crazed with panic. Where's my baby?! What happened? Where's Beckett?

"Help! Someone! My baby!" Screaming at the top of my lungs, my throat hurts and I'm so weak.

"Hey! Hey! Aubrey, just relax, baby." Beckett is immediately at my side. Nudging me gently back into the bed. "You're okay now. Aubrey, look at me. Everything is okay. You're safe."

"Our baby?" My hands touch my belly but I know there's no child in there. I can't feel it. I feel empty. Beckett where's the..."

He shifts his weight and I see my mom behind him, sitting across the room in a rocking chair holding our baby. The relief floods me as I lay back and let the tears flow.

"Hey, none of that now. You were hurt, baby. Unconscious and unresponsive." Beckett sat on the edge of the bed, holding my hand in one of his and smoothing my hair from my face with the other.

"Is the baby okay?" I'm not concerned about me. As long as our baby is healthy and safe that's what's important.

"The baby is fine now. They want to keep both of you for a few days just to be safe. The baby was in distress, the doctors did what they had to to save both of you. They had to do a C-section." Beckett explained as Mom walked over to me.

"There's my strong girl. You needed to rest, to heal. You're going to be sore for a while and it's going to take you longer to recover but everything is just fine." Mom assured me as Beckett helped me sit up, careful to not pull my stitches across my lower belly.

"I think it's time to introduce you to the new man in our lives. He's got Beckett's temper and your nose." Mom teased us as she laid my boy in my arms.

"I already counted his fingers and toes. Everything is where it's supposed to be." Beckett smiled as I moved the blanket to check for myself.

He's so tiny and quiet. His little fingers are curled into fists next to his ears. His eyes are closed content and dreaming of nursing as his lips pucker up to suck. The soft blue beanie on his head doesn't hide the dark red hair that sticks out from beneath it.

Nuzzling his neck, he smells of lavender and powder. A memory from my own childhood comes to mind when the scent hits me. I'm guessing Mom has been the one who changed him and bathed him.

"Paige has been a big help. She's been teaching me a lot. This is my first baby, you know." Beckett smiles as Mom steps back and rubs his back.

"You helped Quinn with Hope." I remind him.

"I didn't change her diaper and I had plenty of help if she cried. Between Ma and Quinn and all the other women in the family, I didn't have to learn much. This is different." Yes, it is. This is our baby. Our first baby.

"I'm going to go find Will. I'll be back, honey. I'm going to love being a grandma!" Mom kissed my head, the baby's, then turned to Beckett and squeezed his hand before she left us alone.

When the door closed, I saw the shadows on Beckett's face. The tiredness in his eyes. "What don't I know? Something happened, more than the car accident. What is it?"

Beckett dragged the chair over and sat next to me. His eyes stay on the sleeping one in my arms as he quietly filled me in. From Leo being in critical condition to Quinn and Hope being fine. The baby is okay as far as they know again the doctor is keeping her overnight just in case.

"We can't reach Ethan. Brynn is worried sick. They no sooner got back together and Ethan disappeared. She's afraid he went after Lindsey alone. Will confirmed it. He was the last one to talk to him." He explained.

"What about Charlie? Does he have any leads?" I can't believe Lindsey can just disappear in thin air.

"We can't trust Charlie. He's working with Lindsey." Beckett rubs his face in frustration. "Ethan told Will that he pocketed evidence from the crash."

I have a hard time believing that. Charlie is the sheriff! He's our friend! He's married. Why would he protect Lindsey? He knows all the damage she's done.

"Beckett, did Ethan have proof? I'm not sure if he saw that right. Maybe he didn't have anything to put the evidence in..."

"He went back to the scene, Aub. Ethan was positive. I believe him. We can't trust him." He ends the conversation as the door opens and Charlie walks in with Brynn, a big easy smile on his face.

"There's the new mama! Oh, look at that! That boy is gonna break hearts one day. How are you feeling, Aubrey?" As if nothing is off, Charlie acts the same as always.

"I'm tired and sore. Is there any news on Lindsey?" The question slips out. I know who did this. I'm not going to pretend otherwise.

"No nothing." He looks at Beckett for some kind of support.

"You found nothing at the scene?" Pressing him, I watch closely to see if he gives me any indication that he's lying.

"Nothing. I'm sorry, Aubrey. I wish I had something to tell you." He didn't look at me. He stayed focused on my baby and didn't look at me. He just lied.

"Well maybe you'll find something in the light of day. It was dark out. You are going to go back out there and look, right?" Pushing again, Beckett keeps his back to Charlie and frowns at me.

He doesn't like me asking all these questions. Charlie doesn't like it either but I won't stop until I get some answers. I expect Charlie will slip up and spill the beans sooner than the others think.

I grew up with Charlie. I went to school with him. As did Ethan and Leo and Brynn. We saw the crush he had on Lindsey just like we saw the way she used him and tossed him aside when he got in her way. I can't imagine, after all these years, he is still so naive to believe she cares about him.

"Of course I am. You know me, Aub. I just wanted to check in on everyone. Be sure everyone is on the mend." He gave me a tight smile with his lie.

"How is Leo? I haven't heard anything on him." Absolutely true. I hadn't asked about him yet.

"Still in ICU. He made it through surgery, but he isn't out of the woods yet." Charlie informs us and I see the honest worry in his eyes. Leo is his friend. I believe that.

"Ethan should be here for his brother." Allowing myself a little rant, I let Charlie see the truth about the damage Lindsey has caused. "Instead of being here for his family he's out chasing Lindsey! I don't understand that. He is needed here! Not with her! Why can't you find her, Charlie? This town isn't that big!"

"I'm doing everything I can, Aubrey. Please, you shouldn't get upset." He tries to calm me but it doesn't work. I see his lies.

"Then you need to bring in the state boys." Looking at Beckett I take his hand and squeeze. "Maybe Cade can call in his FBI friends. They would help wouldn't they?"

He gets the message and goes with it. "I can call him and ask. Georgia probably has already gotten the ball rolling. No one crosses her and gets away with it." Beckett adds pulling out his phone.

He stands up and brushes by Charlie, actually banging his shoulder into his in the process. Then he starts talking. "Cade, it's Beck. Give me a call when you can. I'm sure Georgia has already called you and has you going on this but we need the big guns. Can you call in your buddy at the FBI for me, run a trace on someone? Give me a call."

By the time Beck finishes the call, Charlie is sweating. I can't believe he would do this. There's no denying what I see with my own two eyes. He's nervous and scared. If he is working with Lindsey it won't be for long.

"I'm going to let you rest. I'll let you know if I find anything out." Nodding to Beckett, Charlie hurries out without looking back.

"You pushed him." He said sitting next to me again.

"I did. And I'm not done. She could have killed all of us. Our baby is innocent in all this. Hope is innocent. Lindsey didn't think twice about that! I will protect my child from her and anyone else who tries to hurt us." Beckett leans in and rests his forehead to mine. "I was so scared that I would lose him."

"No chance of that. This boy is a Bradford. We're made from tough stock. He's a fighter just like the rest of us." Beckett kisses my nose. "No one messes with a Bradford and gets away with it. We stick together especially when we're attacked."

We had only a few more minutes of quiet before the rest of the family came in. Georgia in the front of the line with Jim by her side as she scooped her grandson out of my arms and peppered kisses over his face.

"I'm so happy to see you my darling grandson. We've been waiting for you." She spoke softly and lovingly to him. "And I'm so glad your mama is awake and unharmed. I was so worried about you and Quinn and Leo. At least my mind is at ease for the two of you. We'll just pray for Leo."

Agreeing with her, Beckett stood at my side as the family gathered around the bed. "Well I guess it's time we introduce you all. This is our son..."

"Chance Mills Bradford." I thought of the name as Georgia was talking. It speaks for who he is and what it means to be a Bradford.

"I love it." Georgia grinned, kissing his forehead before settling Chance into my arms again. "It's perfect."

We talked and visited for a bit then when Chance got hungry the nurse came in and emptied the room so I could feed him. I didn't realize how tired I was, how much energy I drained until Chance finished his meal and went right back to sleep.

Believing he has the right idea. I had the nurse set him in the little bed next to my bed and fell asleep myself. A good long rest for both of us.

Beckett

While Aubrey took care of Chance, I headed for the waiting room to see what I could learn. "Any news from Ethan?"

Will looked around the waiting room as if he thought the walls had ears. "I can't find him. I took Leo's phone figuring the boys had a way of tracking each other." Will pulled out the phone and handed it to me.

Of course they do. They're volunteers for the fire department and are EMT certified. If anyone knows how important tracking each other is it's them.

"Did you find him?" I'm hoping he has some sort of an idea of where we need to start looking.

"Last location is three miles from the accident site. Beck, it's all woods out there. Where he went is far into the preserve. There's no buildings or structures in that area. Even cell service is sketchy." And it's the only lead we have.

"He should be here for his brother. Leo wouldn't leave his side if their positions were reversed." Brynn spoke quietly coming up behind me.

She was the last one to see him. She has to have some idea what his plan was. "He went after Lindsey. I know that. I know he wasn't thinking straight. Ethan was angry. More angry than I've ever seen him. I don't know what he's capable of like this."

That's not reassuring.

Knowing we can't just let him do this alone, Blake nudges me and gives me a nod. He's got my back. As strange as that seems, considering how long we were at each other's throats, he's my brother. He's by my side on this.

"Beckett and I will find him." Blake motioned Matt over to join us. "Get security on everyone. Especially Aubrey, Quinn and the babies. Brynn you don't go anywhere alone. I mean it. Beckett and I can't go look for Ethan if we can't trust you women to do as we say."

He's exactly right. Aubrey won't be happy about me going out there. She'll understand and she'll let me go but she won't like it. And after hearing her talk to Charlie I'm not sure she won't do her own little investigation. I don't want that. She needs to stay out of it now. She has Chance to think about.

"I agree." Georgia walked into the conversation with her own way of helping us. Two backpacks are handed over. "Everything you need for a long hike is in there, including two.45's and plenty of ammunition. Do what you must to end this. Be safe, boys."

She has faith in both of us that we will bring Ethan back safely and that if we do find Lindsey, no one else will be harmed. Slinging the packs on our back, I tell Blake I'll meet him out front.

Going back to Aubrey, I don't have the heart to wake her. She's exhausted and the baby is sleeping too. "Go. I'll take care of her."

Turning I see Emma and Brynn behind me. "No one is going to hurt her or that baby. We've got her and Quinn."

"And Leo." Paige and Will come up behind me holding hands. "We have this. Go bring Ethan home."

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