1. Short Cut

"That's it. I'm going back to the main road. If I can find it that is…" said Cain, shooting a glare at the newly appointed tin woman, Julia Calenti. Ever since the queen had sent her to work with him on royal security three weeks ago, they've butted heads on just about every topic of discussion. And of course, the trip in Central City for supplies for the newly re-brained Ambrose's lab was no different. They had argued on the way there, while they were there, and even now on what route to take to get back to the castle. Julia had insisted on using a short cut through the woods which had gotten them hopelessly lost.

"It's only a little further." She kept repeating that every time someone complained. She was stubborn, he'd give her that.

"You've been saying that for over an hour." He pointed out, refusing to meet her amber-eyed gaze again. She was pretty, wavy, golden blonde hair flowing past her shoulders, lightened by the sun, a glowing tan olive complexion; she was beautiful though he'd never admit it to himself let alone her.

"Will you two stop all that arguing?" Came Princess DG's voice from the back of the truck. Why she insisted on coming, he could only guess she was bored. She always moped around the castle not knowing what to do with herself. The queen had hardly let her or her sister out of her sight – or the guards – since they had returned from either the other world or back to their normal self after possession by an evil witch only six months ago.

"It's giving me a headache!" followed Ambrose's agitated voice. "It's giving me a headache!" he repeated again until a small "oof!" came from DG elbowing him in the ribs. "Was I doing it again?" his voice floated softly as their conversation became more private. Though he had the other half of his brain back, it had only been about a month and a half since the surgery, and he still "glitches" from time to time. Cain guessed she had nodded in agreement at the lack of voices.

"How much longer?" asked Jeb, Cain's recently found son.

"Depends on how long it takes us to get out of her mess." Replied Cain, pretending to focus on the road to much to look at Julia who was simply glaring at him.

"Raw hungry." Raw's head stuck out between the space between the front seats - occupied by Cain who was driving and Julia who sat next to him – that lead to the back.

"Here." Cain gave him an OZ version of an energy bar from his bag that lay next to him on the console, and Raw disappeared into the back once more.

"Does he always speak in third person?" Julia asked Cain in a hushed voice not wanting the annoyance in her voice to be heard, or felt for that matter, by the sensitive viewer.

"Pretty much." answered Cain fighting a smile. It was fun to torture her; she was so easily aggravated sometimes.

Having argued with Cain until her voice was sore, Julia had closed her eyes and would have fallen asleep had it not been for the frequent jolts of the wheels hitting hole after hole jarring her back to consciousness. Finally, she gave up her quest for a moments rest and sat up in her seat.

She felt the car slow down before she saw why. There were people in the road. Stuck travels maybe? Cain had probably seen them and decided to pull over and help. He was a softy, a real nice guy. And he was going to get them all killed. No wonder that the queen had assigned someone to help him, she thought, it was a wonder his generosity hadn't gotten himself, the princess, the odd viewer, and even the half-brained, mad scientist killed on their first little trip.

She was about to ask him what the hell was going through his mind to make him trust this, until she glanced at him and saw the suspicion in his glare. Maybe he isn't such a trusting moron as I thought…

"Stay here" He told her.

"Um no." or maybe he is.

He ignored her and put his hand on the door handle when there was a sudden gunshot. Julia felt the car jolt forward, narrowly miss hitting trees for about 2 miles before finally colliding head-on into a trunk. The trunk snapped on impact and the upper half of the large tree fell onto the hood, crashing through the windshield.

"Everyone okay?" Came a pained groan from Cain.

Julia, draped over the dashboard, lifted her hand to her pounding head, and felt her warm blood trickle over her fingers.

"Ow. What the heck happened?" Ask DG in a groan not unlike Cain's.

"Smart one here ran us into a tree. You okay Princess?" said Julia, grimacing at her blood stained fingertips. "Brain-iack, you alive back there? Viewer? Kid?" she knew all their names, but she was always taught not to get to close to her charges, or even her partners, in fear of clouding professional decisions.

"Fine." Said Jeb.

"In pain, but alive" said Ambrose.

"Raw ok." Said Raw, still in third person; Julia rolled her eyes but kept quiet.

"Does anyone else smell that?" asked Cain.

"Ew Cain, keep it to yourself!" exclaimed Ambrose.

"I meant the smell of gasoline and burning rubber," Replied Cain trying not to sound alarmed as he undid his seatbelt. "Everyone get out of the car." He said urgently.

Julia, quickly realizing the reason of alarm, did her best to hurry the evacuation.

"Come on! You heard the man! Everyone out!" she yelled, ignoring the waves of nausea as she ran to the back, opening the side doors and grabbing what food and supplies she could. "Grab what you can!" she added.

They were all several feet away when the explosion took, sending them all painfully to the ground.

Julia moaned as pain rushed her body. She lay on her stomach in the dirt as she remembered what had happened. She opened her eyes slowly.

Around her lay burning chunks of metal and tire; she forced her eyes to focus in search of the others. Finally, she rose to her knees; nausea again racked her body. She fell again onto her hands and knees and heaved into the dirt.

She rolled onto her back, her entire body hurt, the world spun before her eyes.

Cain, she thought to herself, I am so going to kill him when I find him. She forced herself to get angry; it was the only way she'd get out of this.

"Cain," she called out weakly. "Cain." She had to find him, but she couldn't stand, she was too weak. "Cain!" she yelled with all her strength, nearly losing consciousness again.

She heard a groan through the smoke; unmistakably Cain's.

"You alright?" she called out, some of her strength returning.

"Been better," his voice weak as well, "you?"

"Pretty much the same. You find anyone else?"

"No, you?"

"Ow!" Came the disgruntled voice of Ambrose.

"You okay head case?" called Cain.

"Stop calling me that!" he replied angrily.

"Glad to hear it." Cain returned. "Julia, still with us?"

"Unfortunately," Julia groaned.

"Stay where you are, I'll find you."

"Okay, there's some burning stuff around me. But other than that, you're on your own." Said Julia, trying to lighten moods. "Ambrose, anyone with you?"

"Umm… yes! DG's here!" his voice returned.

"Glitch, stop shaking me!" The Princess's voice floated through the smoke.

"Good to hear your voice, Princess." Cain said, sounding close. "Julia where are you?"

"Here. I can see you, turn left. Your other left." Said Julia.

"Anyone see Raw?" DG asked.

"Raw here!" Called Raw.

"Where's Jeb?" Cain said kneeling next to Julia. There was pause. "Jeb? Jeb!" his voice worried.

"Over here." Jeb's voice came from only a short distance from DG and Ambrose. His voice was strained and weak.

"We have to get out of this smoke." Julia said trying to sit up with help from Cain.

"Listen up," Cain yelled so everyone could hear him, "does everyone see that clearing to the north?" he waited for everyone to respond. "DG, Ambrose, help each other out; Raw do you think you can find Jeb and heal him on the way?" there was a pause.

"We can't see you Raw, you have to speak up." Said Julia, still fighting nausea and dizziness.

"Yes" came Raw's reply.

"Okay, I'll help Julia. Everyone meet up at the clearing. Bring whatever you have." Continued Cain.

By the time they had all reached the clearing and had had their worst wounds healed by Raw, dusk had fallen and the clearing was quickly becoming dark.

"I'll go find some fire wood," said Cain, standing from his position on a large rock. He had been the least injured, with only bruises and minor cuts, and hadn't needed much healing and was itching to stretch his legs.

"You shouldn't go alone," Julia said lounging on a log beside Cain. "I'll come." But as she stood, her world again spun and she felt herself begin to fall. Cain gently caught her and lowered her to again sit on the log.

"You okay?" he asked, crouching in front of her. The others – all but Raw who was fast asleep against a tree – crowded around her, worry clear in their eyes.

"Fine, I just got up a little fast is all," Julia said, lying through her teeth.

"Maybe I should wake up Raw." offered DG.

"No, he's already wiped out. I'll be fine." Julia persisted. The others cleared away and began to make beds for themselves with what they had. But Cain sat beside her on the log with a hand behind her for support.

"You sure you'll be ok?" He asked in a quiet voice. "You should let Raw heal you more."

"I'm fine, really. Now weren't you going to go grab some fire wood or something?" Julia said trying to change the subject.

"I'll be back soon. Make sure you're still here when I get back okay?" he said with a pointed look. She glared back at him until he walked away.

"Be careful!" she called after him.