Without A Trace

Fifty-Four.

A few hours later I make my way downstairs while slipping my gun holster over my shoulders. I hear Aurthur and Thomas talking in the dining room as I follow the sound of their voices. I round the courner while running my fingers through my hair to tie it into a ponytail and meet Ivys gaze.

A giant smile spreads across her face, "Thank fuckin god you're home. I don't know how much longer I could've kept at that," she says as she pulls me into a hug.

I chuckle and give her a hug back, "You did...an amazing..job," I say hoarsely. I look over to Thomas who is burning his gaze into the side of my head.

Aurthur looks over at his brother, "I tried to phone someone but the bitch was halfway fuckin home before I could even blink. Didn't even fill out her bloody discharge papers, I had to do it."

I nod my head towards Ivy after getting my husband's attention, "Tell her what happened..when you told me..about May.." I say to Thomas before clearing my throat.

Aurthur gets up and hands me a glass of water, "Oi, you know they dont want you talking much yet so zip it and drink this." I roll my eyes and take it from his hand, taking a sip out of the glass.

Ivy looks at me and then to Thomas. He takes a drag off his cigarette and pulls it from his mouth, "I'm surprised May lived to walk the next day between her and Anna."

Ivy gasps at the realization and smacks her forehead, "Oh my god I didn't call Anna yet!" She rushes over to the wall and picks up the phone. She dials the number to Annas house and puts the phone up to her ear.

"Hello?" Anna asks into the phone.

"Coras back," Ivy says bluntly. She exchanges glances between me and Thomas before looking back at the phone. Theres silence for a few moments but she can hear Lewis in the background trying to inquire about what's happening.

"I'm on my way," Anna says finally before hanging up.

Ivy hangs the phone up and looks over to me, "Annas on her way." I nod my head and turn around, jumping slightly and the sight of my husband who is standing DIRECTLY behind me.

He places his forehead on mine, "I thought I'd never see you again," he says before leaning down and placing a kiss on my lips. Electricity jolts through my body as I return the kiss. I pull away pat his chest reassuringly before taking a seat and crossing one leg over the other.

While waiting for Anna to get there, everyone fills me in on Jacob and the reason for the explosion. I nod my head and bite the inside of my cheek as I listen to Ivy talk. I'm beyond amazed and proud of all the work she did in not only finding this information but in keeping the family together for the most part.

"Someone..tried to visit me..in the hospital," I croak out before taking another sip of my water.

Thomas sits there annoyed and turns slightly to Aurthur, "Are you fuckin serious?"

Aurthur clenches his jaw, "It was in the midst of the commotion of her leaving Tom so I didn't even see who it was."

Thomas gets up from the table, "John, you and Aurthur are coming with me back to the hospital so we can see who tried going there. Michael," he says turning his attention to him, "You get ahold of anyone you can in the group and find out if it was any of them." Michael nods before getting up and giving Ivy a kiss on the top of her head. He grabs his jacket from the back of the chair and walks out of the room.

I finish drinking my glass of water and swap it out for some whiskey. I take my pack of cigarettes off the table and motion to Ivy to head out to the patio.

"Should you really be smoking already Cora?" Thomas asks walking in my direction.

"Should you...be delegating...what I do, already?" I ask cocking my head to the side and narrowing my eyes to him. Ivy presses her lips together forming a smile and makes her way towards the back door to the patio.