"You have to be kidding me," Nate all but screamed as he climbed the stair, "that their father and dad are cousins." Then faced his mother, "Grandpa Bobby never said anything about having kids of his own." Before disappearing out the view before his mother actually got him to face this so-called cousin of Dad. Danny just shrugged as he closed the door to his own room. Nate would get even, Danny knew that.

---

When he noticed Jamie, he frowned, "Why aren't you in bed resting?" he asked, "As for Nate; he gets one chance not to screw up. Knowing that kid he will do it again." Why hadn't he noticed the change in his son earlier? They had been there. And Travis didn't understand why he hadn't picked up on them. His father wasn't going to be pleased over Nate getting suspended from school. He knew better than anyone what it meant to carry the Oxford name. It came with more than the boy was ready to handle.

When she spoke about helping he didn't meet her eye, "You can't," he told her, "Nothing will help with the situation. You got into a fight with his wife, Nate is bullying his girls. And me..." he shook his head, he had taken his girl, hadn't he?, "perhaps too much time has passed to do anything." There was no point in shaking waters that had settled.

"Let's just deal with Nate's situation without further damage. And as for you," he guided her back home, "are going to bed. And tomorrow I'm taking you to the doctor."

Jamie would deal with Nathan's attitude later when he had a chance to calm down. As she heard her husband chastising her she had an answer. As usual, the woman had an answer for everything. Though this one was not sharp witted or sarcastic. "I sort of have a husband who needs me; rest can wait" she replied and glared although she hurt like hell and she didn't care that it was showing through her glare because it didn't matter right now.

"Mon cher there is always one hell raiser in the bunch. You should know that better than anyone" she tried to make him feel better about something anything and he had married the Brighton hellraiser after all. Right now things were so out of whack she was grasping at straws.

He was talking, maybe threatening to climb the wall wasn't a bad idea after all. "Trying can't make things any worse" she pointed out. "And you did nothing wrong. You are faulting yourself for something I can only guess at." she sighed as she lifted her hand to cup his face. Her thumb rested on his lips gently. "Je vous aime" (I love you) she whispered.

When he mentioned her going to bed she shook her head. "I'm fine cupcake" she protested. Okay well Jamie and using the word fine was just like every other woman in the world and fine. "I'll be doing better if you stop worrying so much about whatever it is you are worrying about" she added. Though Jamie didn't protest when he brought her inside. Jamie was the one who always wisely picked her battles and fighting her husband over rest simply wasn't the battle she chose to pick. Nope, she was going to protest over the doctor but if Travis wanted her to rest then she would rest.

<Tag: Travis Oxford>

Travis cocked his head towards her, "Your sort of a husband isn't a baby," he told her, "he is a big boy. But your rest comes first." he had reply for her answers as well. Most of the time. Sometimes it took him a while to come up with a good response, and would earn him a smack on the head. It had been a while since he had gotten the latter, "You are in pain, I can tell."

He should have known, he had been the hellrasier for his father, while Bobby had been for his uncle, "Wisely said," he chuckled, "I'm not sure who is worse, Nate, you or me." Even Trent wasn't this bad, sure he had moments of it, but not all the time. Matt's boys were most well behaved of the bunch. Bobby had raised more than hell. For the family.

He wasn't sure if Bobby even wanted to try, "Trying always makes things worse. Didn't you know that?" At least it was the case for him. But rose an eyebrow when she wanted to guess, and warned, "Don't even go there." Even if she tried convincing him otherwise, it didn't change few facts. While he didn't do wrong in a sense, yet did. He had fallen in love with his cousin's ex-girlfriend. Broken an unspoken rule. He inhaled sharply when her thumb brushed his lips, "I love you."

As a protest came he threw the the look, "I believe you," he added absently his tone making it clear that he wasn't. There had been times she wasn't fine when she said she was. "Between you and Nate, I don;t know who is making me worried more. One of you really should decide who wants to give me gray hair." Once the door was shut behind them, "Upstairs," he pointed to the staircase, "Now!"

"I never called you a baby. Even big boys get their wives concern" she told him. Yep she was going to keep this coming back at him. The woman was stubborn. "And I will live Travis. This isn't the first time I have been hurt fighting." She didn't add that it might not be the last. That would have given her some sort of death glare. One she wasn't aiming for at this particular moment in time.

"Well he is the product of two very well known trouble makers babe" she replied with a slight chuckle as her hand ran along his back. She wasn't going to give up for Travis sake even if he was a stubborn senior officer. When his voice got a warning tone she backed down. Jamie knew when to not battle with her husband. That didn't change the fact that she would do things on her own time when he wasn't looking.

She knew by his tone she had been caught with her 'I'm fine' act. "Travis" her voice snapped. "It will be alright. It's just a bruise" she was in a snappy mood.

The door didn't close until Fred had followed them inside. When Travis snapped at Jamie to go upstairs she belligerently refused and just went to rest on the couch. At least she wasn't moving about.

"Jamison what happened?" her father's voice registered. Oh crap she had forgotten her parents were in town. "Travis who did this?" he pointed to Jamie, and his voice was angered. Fred did not look pleased.

"Daddy stop. It's my fault. I went picking a fight. Sir." she ascertained from her spot on the couch as she pulled the blanket down on her. Her tone was laced with disdain.

"That doesn't answer my question Jamison Leanne" he barked in her direction as he came towards her. "Look at me when I talk to you" he added. Jamie's attention moved in her dad's direction.

"Daddy stop it. It wasn't Travis" she barked back at him. She was using that stern military voice. There as no sense in bickering like 3 year olds.

"Do not use that tone with me Jamison. It is a simple question" he replied though his eyes were on Travis.

Jamie leaned on the side of the couch "Someone in town" Nope she was not naming names.

Fred narrowed his eyes. "I certainly hope you have more respect for your husband than you do me." he chided. Jamie sighed. There was no point in fighting both her husband and her dad. Fred saw the ice pack and gently put it to the side of Jamie's face. "Jamie..." his voice softened. Fred and Jamie were the father/daughter type that fought on occasion when they were both upset but she had him wrapped around her finger.

Fred could tell that Jamie wasn't well. "Talk to me Jamie" he knew Jamie only fought when she had pent up other feelings. Jamie just shook her head as tears fell. Jamie cried in front of two people. Travis and Fred. "You can't keep fighting like this to let go of whatever is bothering you Jamie. There are wiser ways to handle this." he replied.

"I don't want to talk about it" she replied. Her dad ran a hand through her hair and just sighed.

"You need to get some rest Jamie" he added gently putting an arm to support her neck and then handing her a pillow. "I am going to go have a word with your husband." His tone was indicative of the fact there would be words.

<Tag: Travis Oxford>

Before he could say anything further his father in law in stepping inside. Great, wonderful. He was already on his case. And winced at the question, opened his mouth, but decided against it for a bit. As father and daughter duked it out verbally, he was soon joined by his son who stood at he top of the stairs and was grinning at his grandfather, "Who is asking you to come down?" he questioned.

"Well..." Danny began, "Grandpa came so...." Seeing his father raise an eyebrow, the teen went back into his room. If Nate came out, he was going to be in even more trouble than he already was.

Entering the study he sighed and faced Fred, who had shut the door behind him. "Drink?" he asked as Oxford moved towards the section where the drinks were placed. Travis knew that Fred was waiting of the answer to his question, "She got into a fight with Victoria," the Colonel told him, "They are back in town." His face held no expression. The jester in him was quite tonight.

<<Tag: Jamison "Jamie" Oxford>>

Jamie sighed as the men left the room. Rolling over onto the side that hurt the least she started reading her book. The last thing that she wanted to do was sleep. She could hear the men talking in other room.

Fred raised a brow as Danny was sent back to his room. "Are they all in trouble Travis?" he asked as if something were wrong. Fred just shook his head. Fred shut the door to the study so that Jamie couldn't hear the rest of the conversation. "Of course" he replied. He wasn't the type to insult Travis by refusing.

Fred didn't blame Jamie. "That temper of hers.." he sighed. He sighed as he looked to Travis. "Then again I think the betrayal by her best friend hurt more than anything Robert ever did to her." he admitted. "Did she say why she started a fight?" he asked. Though knowing Jamie it could be as simple as looking at someone in her family the wrong way. "You are going to talk to her? Or should I?" he replied in a tone that meant it wasn't really an option. One of them was going to breech the subject with Jamie.

Travis shook his head at the question from his father-in-law, "Nate is," he told the General, and sighed, "His school send a letter asking for a conference. There are chances we are looking at suspension for bullying. Jamie needs rest and I'm not in a mood to entertain a 12 year old."

He passed the drink as Fred spoke, and sighed, rubbing his eyes and pinching his nose. "I don't think....." but trailed off, drowned his glass, before re-filling it, "I always had thing feeling that whatever Bobby did, has a reason behind it. I mean," he let out a chuckle, "I don't think for one second, he would have hurt her for the way he did. I can't speak for Victoria though." But the woman's name sat bitterly on his tongue.

Travis shook his head as he stared into the amber liquid, "I didn't get a chance to ask her, yet. You are free to talk to her, she is after all you daughter. You might have a better luck."  If he did, he was sure they will run in circles with the topic.

<<Tag: Jamison "Jamie" Oxford >>

General Brighton raised a brow. "So you punish the youngest for wanting to spending time with family? I would think you would know better Travis" he gave a disapproving look. "As for Nate there might be a solution. Who is he bullying?" he questioned after a moment as he took a sip of the amber drink he in his hand.

"Jamie has no interest in her ex. If you haven't figured out where her loyalties lie by now, then you are more of a fool than I first took you for Travis" he replied as he spun the glass around. "Victoria and Jamie were best friends. Boyfriends and Girlfriends come and go. Best friends hurt just a little bit more. Perhaps she will not forgive her friend for not having her back? I take it you haven't asked." he was making presumptions at this point but he had a feeling.

"Well you have a choice. You can go entertain a 12 year old, like a father should despite his own issues; or you can go talk to you wife. If I am one to know anything about my daughter. She is looking for you to be there. Are you?" he spoke sternly. Yes he was chastising for both of those decisions.


<Tag: Travis Oxford>

Punish Danny for Nate's screw up? Heck no.

The Colonel shook head his head, "You are getting me wrong here, Fred," he began, "Since I'm not happy with Nate, I dont want that to rub off on Danny. He is not in trouble for anything." Nate becoming a bully shocked him, as it was not something he expected out his eldest born son. He need time to wrap that around his head. Travis flinched as the question came. It wasn't easy to admit that victims were his own nieces by blood. It was a different matter if he accepted them as such,  "Bobby's daughters,"  the words finally came out, "and a solution?" At this stage he was open anything that would work out.

He swirled the amber liquid, "I didn't say she did," silently nursed the idea, since Bobby and Vicki had returned but that was his problem. No one in their right mind would have such thoughts at some stage of their lives, "Not a easy topic to bring up without having her going mad all over again." He studied Fred but nodded, "I have always been there for her. Always will."

<<Tag: Jamison "Jamie" Oxford >>

Fred raised a brow. "Am I? He's 12. He doesn't understand that concept." His glance suggested it wasn't really a question but for now he wasn't going to press the matter any farther. The man was about to say something when Travis filled him in with who it was. Fred gave Travis a look. Fred hated Bobby after his treatment of Jamie.

"When I was younger. I bullied the enemy of my best friend. Our mothers made us swap places for a week. Needless to say we shaped right up" he offered taking a sip of his drink.

"It may not be easy. But sometimes you can't run from something just because it is difficult." He pointed out. "Jamison fights when she's unhappy. Don't make me drag it out of her."

Fred's warning came as Danny came down to check on his Mom. Jamie had mostly fallen asleep on the couch. "Mom you tell us not to fight..." he stated.

"I tell you not to start them" she corrected him. He nodded as he made sure she iced under her eye.

《Tag: Travis Oxford 》

Danny understood a lot at his age than Travis had when he was 12, perhaps he did understand more then he could care to remember. So he won't put it past his son not feel the vibes from him, "I won't put it past him not to understand the concept, Fred. He is a lot smarter than I was at his age." Kids understood more than adults were aware. Nate understood enough to know that Bobby and Vicki had hurt Jamie and him.

He looked at his father-in-law after the man gave his story, "Are you suggesting that I send Nate there and bring ....." he trailed off, "Jamie might blow gasket about this idea. I don't think she would happily have the girl over." Not when it was a off-spring of her ex best-friend and ex boyfriend. He knew most of the Oxfords were not happy with Bobby anyway and this just might push it to edge of a cliff. While Jamie's outlet was a fight, Travis always forced himself to forget. Or drink to drown it in and out. It normally worked like a charm. He heard Danny's voice, while he sighed but did not move towards the door; his way of letting his son have some time with his mother.

<<Tag: Jamison "Jamie" Oxford >>

Fred shook his head. "They learn by example. I know how Jamie is when she is upset with one of them. She is much the same. Don't repeat my mistakes too." Jamie had always been the favored child. Fred didn't want it to affect his grandchildren too. He looked towards Travis. "Yes I am." the man stated firmly. "Jamie will get over it. The best interest of the children is not always what you want to do. She understands that." Fred had to think like the rational one. Bleak the children were too personally jaded.

Jamie ended up sending Danny to go outside and play. The front door slammed. Fred raised a brow at the door slam. "Ill be right back. .." he stated as he started out the door after Danny.

"Daddy don't he's just going to go out back and skate." There was tears in her voice. Fred sighed setting his drink beside her on the table. "Jamison you should be resting." He told her.

Jamie sat up and hugged him tight. "I can't. I'm scared." She admitted. He just shushed her quietly. He knew when she got this way. He tried to ask why and she just shook her head. Her words came out in French. "Je ne sais pas si Travis me fait confiance" (I don't know if Travis trusts me) she whispered.

Fred shook his head. "He's going through this too" he offered. "You two stick together like you always have." She didn't mention the distance but he clearly could see it in her eyes. "Jamison many things will try your marriage. We have had this discussion when you married. He's doing the best he knows to love and protect your family. Don't be so hard on him." He saw her nod.

"I don't know to start the conversation. I'm scared of losing him. I'm not sure how much he believes that. I don't want to be pushed out." Fred just hugged her lightly.

"Jamison its been a long day. You should listen to your husband and get some rest. He's only saying that because he loves you. Stop worrying." He replied.

Sent from my Samsung S3

Lead by example was one thing he knew quite well. Hadn't he watched his father and uncle and followed their way of behaviour, of then there were his brothers and cousins he had also looked up to. A part of him wanted to make this happen; have his niece over. Whatever Uncle Bobby had decided years ago, didn't change few facts; one of them being Bobby still being related to them by blood. He was tron between wanting to fix things with Bobby, without being disloyal to his uncle and his wife. He knew it wasn't going to be possible to do both. If there was a way, he wasn't seeing it.

Hearing the front door slam, Travis sighed. While trying to keep things together, he was also letting them fall apart. Drowning the last of his drink, he walked out of the study and in time to hear Jamie's words. He trusted her, but not the situation. It wasn't easy not to have his only insecurity eat him up. He was scared of losing her to Bobby. A part of him feared that old feelings would rekindle. Closing his eyes he fought to let calm take over and to walk in where his wife sat with her father. He was doing his best he knew how to.

"I'll take her up to have rest," he told Fred and perhaps have the talk both were meaning to since Bobby and Vicki returned. If they didn't, he was sure things would start falling apart rather quickly.  Plus he was going to have a word with Bobby to keep his wife away from Jamie. Come hail or high hell, Travis would see to that the CG officer kept his word.

<<Tag: Jamison "Jamie" Oxford >>

Jamie looked to her dad and sighed. "I don't need to be baby sat" the blonde grumbled.

"Jamison for once listen to your husband" Fred started as he looked toward Travis.

Jamie reached for Travis rather than her dad as he came close. "I'm not going to sleep." She pointed out. Jamie wasn't sure what to think right now. Sighing the navy officer closed her eyes. Even if she was tired sleep wouldn't come. There was that. Jamie reached her hand to trace the outline of Travis' face. She wasn't sure what to say.

Jamie had every intent to fight moving upstairs. Just moving hurt. Then again the bed was more comfortable. Aside noticed that Fred snuck out to go talk to the kid who was outside. In Jamie's state she wasn't even sure who was where. Maybe she was more hurt than she let on. "Babe I'm suddenly very dizzy" Jamie was just glad her dad had not heard that.

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"Oh yes, you are," Travis told her as Fred left to see Danny. Tomorrow morning Travis was going to have a chat with the boy, if Danny wasn't too upset with him. So far he was screwing up everywhere. And it had been years since he had screwed up badly.  Sighing he tucked her hair behind her ear, "I bet you are," he commented as he lifted her in his arms slowly then headed towards the bedroom upstairs.

A part of him wondered if this was how his cousin had felt when he had found out. While he knew they were far from being in the same situation, but if the feelings were any similar to what what Bobby had felt. Travis felt a wave of guilt wash over him. "Close your eyes for a while, it will help. I'm going to get some water and pain killers," he told her after he had settled her. A trip to see the doc would be just what she needed. Come hail or high hell, he would take her. Kicking or screaming.

Tag: Jamison "Jamie" Oxford