Shades of Resolution.

Distortion Series.

By Aimee McNeil.

Dedication.

This is for me.

"Why?" you ask.

Because I wrote the d.a.m.n thing...

Fine, it can be for you too...

This is for you and me.

CHAPTER ONE.

Nate.

The room spun as Nate pushed his exhausted body out of bed. He drug his feet over the coa.r.s.e carpet, supporting himself against the wall as a wave of vertigo hit him. He leaned his head against his arm as he waited for the gripping feeling to subside. The liquor and drugs in his system were starting to fade and the beginning of an angry hangover was beginning to claw at his stomach. The smell of the dingy wall in dire need of cleaning did not do him any favors.

He looked up when the sound of voices began to infiltrate the fog in his head and he noticed he'd left the television on. For a moment he forgot where he was until his memories slowly allowed him access. Once Stephanie had been cleared at the hospital, they had brought her back to the motel to be with Lexie.

The thought of Stephanie and that horrid place made his insides turn and he bolted into the washroom. He barely made it to the toilet before he violently expelled the contents of his stomach. Nate turned on the sink and splashed water on his face. He grabbed the hand towel and dried himself off as he looked at his reflection. His eyes were red and dark circles hung heavy underneath. He looked exactly how he felt. When he turned off the water, the television grabbed his attention.

"...Belhaven is in a state of shock this morning when it was discovered that Mayor Terence Masten has a darker side than anyone could have imagined. A property that has been linked to Masten was found to have a young woman held prisoner..."

Nate pushed himself off the counter and walked into the main area to see the broadcast. Footage of the exterior of the house was on the screen. Crime scene tape was everywhere but he didn't need the footage to know how shocking the scene was. He had seen it for himself and the images still haunted him.

"It is known that Masten was on the property at the time authorities arrived and was arrested. The last we heard the woman is being treated for minor injuries. At this time we do not have all the details, but we do know the tale does not end there. Human remains found in shallow graves on the property indicate the situation is far more terrible than originally believed. The number of victims is still undetermined at this time. As the numbers climb, people are left wondering how they did not know their beloved Mayor was capable of such a horrific crime."

Nate hit the power b.u.t.ton and stood staring at the black screen for a moment, frozen with the reporter's words tumbling around in his throbbing head. He shoved the television off the entertainment unit and watched it crash to the floor. Ever since he saw Stephanie's tattoo and remembered hearing Masten call her by his mother's name, the realization carved away at him like a sharp knife. He couldn't stomach the truth of what this meant.

Nate spun around and walked over to his nightstand where his gun was sitting. He grabbed the handle and stalked back into the bathroom. He pulled the shower curtain back and stepped into the tub.

He dropped down into the tub and stared at the gun in his hands but all he could see was the lake house and that cage in the bas.e.m.e.nt. He'd spent his whole life hating the mother who abandoned him and left him to a father who disowned him for a new family that wanted nothing to do with him. Hatred was so much easier to swallow than the pain of what was now presented to him. Instead of mourning his beautiful mother like he should have, he'd torn her memory down until he had erased her completely from his life.

Nate leaned his head back against the tile and wiped the tears from his face with the back of his shaking hand. He took a deep breath and slid the gun into his mouth. He didn't let himself think about what he was doing. He acted numbly, desperate to evade the pain as he pulled the trigger.

The sound of the empty click barely registered over his heartbeat filling his ears like rushing water.

"Jesus, Nate," Jackson blurted as he rushed into the bathroom and pulled the gun from his hands. "You didn't think I would actually leave you alone with a loaded gun after how you acted yesterday."

Nate looked up at him as he dropped his hands in his lap. He couldn't even bring himself to respond. His mind was still digesting the fact that he was still alive.

Jackson grabbed him by the shoulders and hauled him out of the tub. Nate didn't resist as Jackson walked him out of the bathroom. "I can't believe you just did that. Don't pull that f.u.c.king s.h.i.t again." Jackson led him toward the bed and guided him to the edge.

Nate sat numbly staring at the wall. The sound of a high pitched whistling filled his head and fogged his mind. His head felt too full, like it was ready to explode.

"...can you even hear me?" Jackson asked, leaning down in front of him. "Nate?" He slapped him lightly on the side of the face, which brought him back from being lost inside his head.

"Yeah," Nate responded lazily as he blinked his eyes and tried to focus. The outlines of his vision blurred.

"What the h.e.l.l happened at the lake house?"

"Get my wallet." Nate waved languidly toward the nightstand.

Jackson looked over at the wallet and then back at Nate.

"Just get it. There's a picture tucked inside."

Jackson opened it up and pulled out the picture. He studied it for a moment before looking up at Nate. "Who's this?" Jackson asked in confusion.

"That's my mother. Remember how I told you she f.u.c.king left me when I was barely five years old and never came back?" Nate squeezed his eyes shut.

"Yeah."

"That tattoo on her neck...Stephanie's. It's identical to my mother's," Nate confessed as he took a deep breath and looked up at Jackson.

Realization dawned on Jackson's face. "It could just be a coincidence."

"Her name was Rose. That's what Masten called Stephanie."

"Nate..."

"I saw the news about there being other victims." Nate raked his hand down his face. "I can feel it, Jackson. I could feel it when I was there. I hated my mother my whole life for leaving me and now there could be a very horrible reason why she never came back. She deserved better from me," Nate sobbed.

Jackson dropped on the bed next to Nate without saying a word. Nate wasn't sure how much time pa.s.sed as Jackson just sat beside him. One of the things he liked best about Jackson was that he knew the value of silence. He closed his eyes to take deep, even breaths as he came down from his adrenaline high and pain and exhaustion began to grip him again.

"You didn't hate her, Nate, or you wouldn't have carried her around with you all these years." Jackson held up the picture still in his hand. "I'm not gonna let you give up," Jackson said firmly.

"What now?" Nate asked, searching Jackson's eyes.

"Let's just start with you living another day and we'll go from there. You have enough people trying to kill you. Let's not make it too easy for them."

"f.u.c.k...where's that gun?" Nate moaned.

"I'm keeping it for now." Jackson gave him a pat on the shoulder with a pained smile. "Get yourself cleaned up. We need to take the girls back to Freyview."

"You still want me to come?" Nate asked.

"Yeah, we need you." Jackson tucked the picture back in Nate's wallet and set it back on the nightstand.

Nash rubbed his hands down his face and fell back on the bed. "It's so much easier to hate, isn't it?"

"Don't I f.u.c.king know it," Jackson sighed.

CHAPTER TWO.

Jackson Lexie and Stephanie were huddled in the backseat and had barely spoken a word during the drive. Once the detective in charge of the Masten case questioned Stephanie, they left the hospital in Millwood as soon as possible. Physically she was fine with only minor dehydration. It was what they could not see, the toll it had taken on her mentally that had everyone worried. It had become normal for her to stare blankly at nothing, tuning the world out around her. Jackson didn't know her well, but one thing was very clear. Stephanie was not the same person she was before she was taken. She barely spoke, and when she did, it was only to appease the questions of others with lifeless words. She was withdrawn and closed off. She looked like a girl who had accepted death and didn't know how to start living again. Jackson was intimately familiar with that feeling.

Beth's death had shocked everyone. It had almost broken Lexie, but the return of Stephanie pulled her out of her own grief enough to focus her attention on her friend. The transformation from a state of complete despondency to doting friend was dramatic and too soon. While Jackson liked seeing Lexie functioning again, he knew she was just delaying the grief she needed experience to move on and heal. He knew eventually she would be worn down to the girl that lost her mother again and she would be overwhelmed with sorrow. When this happened, he planned to be by her side and help her through every step. Until then he needed to fix the crumbling world around them, starting with bringing Evan home.

After hours of shifting through the hospital's surveillance footage, Teddy was finally able to pin down the individual that had been in Beth's room before her death. Jackson wasn't surprised that the man was aware of the camera locations and avoided an identifying view of his face, but they all knew without a doubt who it was. As soon as Jackson saw the image of the man his lingering doubt about Rosh's involvement dissipated. His father's partner had betrayed them all and Jackson couldn't wait to shed light on him. He could still see the frame frozen on the screen, the only frame with a partial face. It wasn't enough to accuse Rosh, but it was enough to satisfy Jackson. He tightened his hands on the steering wheel.

As they drove into town, Jackson noticed posters pinned in store windows and on street posts. Pictures of Lexie, Beth, and Stephanie were displayed on each of them. The small town had been set into a state of panic when three of its own disappeared without explanation. The solemn mood thickened in the car. Even Teddy, sitting in the pa.s.senger's seat, didn't dare speak a word as they drove through the quiet streets.

Jackson had Dane take Nate to get him a good meal and a strong cup of coffee to get his focus back. He couldn't have Nate falling apart on him. He needed him strong to stay back and keep an eye on the girls while they went back to Belhaven. He didn't trust the officers who would be a.s.signed to watch Lexie and Stephanie. Jackson needed someone he could rely on to give him eyes in Freyview so he could focus on what he needed to do. Jackson knew they were far from out of the woods. They were still in the middle of the storm without any sign of light on the other side, and Jackson needed to make sure they had hope that an end would come for all their sakes.

When Jackson pulled onto Stephanie's street, he finally broke the silence. "Remember the story. No one mentions John Stodden." Jackson glanced in the rear view mirror to see Lexie staring back at him. "The less people who know about his involvement, the better for us," Jackson continued. She nodded and pulled Stephanie closer to her side. Jackson brought the car to a stop in front of Stephanie's house and turned off the ignition.

The front door opened and a middle-aged woman with similar features to Stephanie walked down the steps, followed by two men Jackson a.s.sumed were her father and boyfriend. Jackson stepped out and rounded the car to open the rear door.

As soon as Stephanie stepped out of the car, the woman rushed to her and threw her arms around her neck. "Steph, baby," the woman cried. "I was so worried. I'm so glad you're safe."

When Lexie stepped out behind them, the woman gathered her up in their hug. "I'm so sorry, Lexie," she sobbed.

The older gentleman approached Jackson and offered his hand. "Thank you for bringing the girls back," he offered gratefully. "My name's Tom." He gave Jackson's hand a firm shake. "Her mother, Ruth, and this is Stephanie's boyfriend, Mike."

Jackson gave them a polite nod, noting that the boyfriend narrowed his eyes suspiciously. He obviously had reservations toward Jackson. He didn't blame him, Jackson was never one to give great first impressions, and after what they had just been through, his demeanour was less than welcoming. "There will be other officers coming shortly who will be posted outside for surveillance. We'll stay until they arrive."

"Is that necessary? Are the girls still at risk?" Tom asked.

"It's merely a precaution for peace of mind. The girls have been through a lot and we want them to feel safe." Jackson pulled a card out of his pocket and pa.s.sed it to Tom.

"That sounds like a good idea," Tom agreed, looking at his wife and daughter. It was obvious the stress that had been plaguing Stephanie's family the last few weeks. It was written all over their faces and he knew they were eager to begin the healing process.

"If you don't mind, I would like to speak with Lexie privately," Jackson requested.

Tom looked at Lexie, who nodded to ease his concern.

"Of course," Tom said. He placed his hand on Lexie's shoulder. "Good to see you, sweetheart. Don't be long."

"I'll put on some tea." Ruth smiled at Lexie as she tucked Lexie's hair behind her ear.

Lexie watched Tom as he led Stephanie and her mother toward the house. Mike followed on their heels, throwing glances back at them like he was hesitant to leave her alone with him.

"Mike reminds me of Evan," Jackson said as he watched Mike close the front door.

"They are friends," Lexie offered quietly.

"That explains a lot," Jackson admitted, eliciting only the smallest of smiles from Lexie, but it was progress.

"Evan's not so bad," Lexie said sadly.

"Yeah, maybe, but don't tell him I said so," Jackson added.

Teddy was leaning against the car, and from the sound of it, he was playing a game on his phone. He was most likely not paying attention, but Jackson preferred to be out of earshot. He noticed the curtain moving in the front window of Stephanie's house, indicating he had more of an audience than he was comfortable with.

"Come here." Jackson took Lexie's hand and walked toward the side of the house for some privacy. He turned around and looked into her eyes. They were so full of turmoil it pained him to see her like this.

Jackson wasn't sure what Lexie needed from him. He didn't know how to console her and he was scared to do the wrong thing. She looked so fragile, but he knew how strong she really was, and it gave him some peace of mind.

"The thought of leaving you feels like the hardest thing I've ever had to do," Jackson confessed. "But I promised to bring Evan home to you, and that's what I'm going to do."

Lexie squeezed his hand in response and her eyes watered.

Jackson pulled her closer and placed a kiss on her forehead before wrapping his arms around her.

"I know how much it hurts. I still think of my mother every day," Jackson said sadly.

Lexie slipped her hands underneath his shirt so they were against his skin. The comfort it brought him was immeasurable. He could only hope it gave her a fraction of the solace it gave him.

"Promise me you'll come back," Lexie whispered against his chest. He could feel her tears saturate his shirt, making him squeeze her tighter.

"I promise," Jackson admitted. "There is no place I'd rather be."

Lexie retracted her hands and placed them on the sides of his face. Reaching up on her tip-toes, she placed her lips against his in a firm, emotionally driven kiss. When she pulled back, she searched his eyes and he hoped she could see how he felt, because there were no words.

"Make sure that you do," Lexie said before kissed him once more, this time gentle and quick before she spun around and headed toward the house.

It was the first time in his life that Jackson actually feared his mortality. He didn't want to push through life with his head down, paying no mind to the risks. He was terrified his past would now prevent him from having what he wanted. He no longer desired the dangers he waded through his entire life. He wanted to spend every minute with Lexie without having to look over his shoulder or fear for her safety. He wasn't sure if it was even possible, but it didn't stop him from hoping.

Jackson returned to the car and leaned against it, next to Teddy. He looked up at the house thoughtfully, thinking that Teddy was too consumed with his game to pay him any mind. He should have known better.

"A few months ago I would have bet my life that the world would freeze over before Jackson Finley fell in love. It's so trippy seeing you like this." Teddy laughed.

"f.u.c.k you." Jackson shoved Teddy with his elbow and knocked him off balance.

"Oh..." Teddy said as he stumbled. "s.h.i.t," he said through his laughter. "I almost fell on my a.s.s."