Steve was teaching Gracie how to skip rocks into the flowing river and she was catching on exceptionally well. They took off their socks and shoes and Steve rolled up their pant legs as they waded into the icy cold water searching for the flattest little rocks to use. After about ten minutes Gracie began to complain that her feet were getting too cold.
"We've got a few rocks here"
He held out his hand and Gracie counted, "We need more Uncle Steve"
"I'll keep looking, you go put your socks and shoes back on now and stay out of the water" He leaned over and kissed the top of her head and she turned to walk away.
He turned his attention back to his search for the perfect rocks not noticing the rustling coming from the tree line a few feet away from little Gracie.
A couple of minues passed and then he heard her talking prompting him to turn,, "Hey, you guys are so cute…..where's your mommy?"
The smile left his face immediately as he turned to see Gracie on her knees a short distance from two baby black bears rolling in the sand playfully.
Dropping the rocks he began to slowly and quietly move towards her.
As he got close he spoke calmly, "Gracie, baby I need you to come with me very quietly okay?"
Gracie stood and walked towards Steve. He reached out and grabbed her, lifting her into his arms but it was too late…..
The mama bear emerged from the brush and bellowing, she raced towards them. Steve knew he couldn't outrun the bear, not with Gracie in his arms.
Setting her onto the ground he hollered, "Gracie, run baby run! Go get Danno! RUN NOW!"
Steve positioned himself between Gracie and the bear as the screaming child ran towards the camp.
In the tent Danny heard the bear and then he heard his daughter's terrified screams. Reaching into his bag he grabbed his gun and raced towards the river.
Steve hollered at the bear drawing its full attention to him, and away from Gracie. The animal was enraged, in full protection mode of her babies. She swung a paw striking Steve on the side of the head and knocking him to the ground stunned. She then attacked. Her sharp claws tore into his back and she bit down on his left shoulder picking up the Navy SEAL like a rag doll as he screamed in agony.
Danny heard his partner's screams as Gracie reached him.
He knelt at her side, "Gracie sit here and wait for me!" She nodded to him, her eyes huge with fear.
As he reached the water's edge he could not possibly have been prepared for the sight before him. Steve looked terribly small as the six foot, three hundred pound bear held him in her mouth flinging his limp body from side to side. Without hesitation Danny took aim and fired four shots at the bear. As the bullets struck her she tossed Steve into the water and ran whimpering into the woods followed closely by her babies.
Danny staggered into the waist deep water where Steve lie, facedown and deathly still. The water around him was red with his blood. Danny turned him and then he pulled the unconscious man to the shoreline. He had gotten a brief look at Steve's bloody back before flipping him over in the water. Not wanting to lay the injured man onto the sand and needing to get back to Gracies' side, he scooped his partner into his arms and began walking back to camp. Steve moaned but remained unconscious. His head was bleeding badly as it rested against Danny's shoulder, his left arm hung limply. "I got you partner, hang on"
Gracie was sitting right where Danny left her. Her knees were pulled up to her chest with her arms hugging them tightly. Her head was down and she was sobbing. Danny wanted nothing more at that moment than to pull his baby into his arms to comfort her but he couldn't set Steve down. He spoke loudly to the child as he approached, "GRACIE, BABY LOOK AT ME"
She slowly raised her head to look at her daddy. Her face was streaked with tears and her tiny body was shaking.
Danny spoke lovingly, slowly, "Hey Monkey I need you to listen to me and do everything I say okay?"
She nodded her understanding, whimpering softly as Danny continued to talk, "You're being very brave honey. Now I have to carry Uncle Steve so I need you to walk ahead of me back to the camp, can you do that baby?"
She again nodded and standing she began to walk.
When they got to the campsite, Gracie opened the tent and Danny carried Steve inside lying him down onto a sleeping bag. He moaned loudly and began to regain consciousness. Danny was covered in his partners' blood and he knew this would traumatize his daughter further.
His body was blocking her view of Steve and without turning towards her, he spoke. "Monkey, I need you to do just what I tell you. I need you to crawl into your sleeping bag and cover your head. Do you hear me baby? DO NOT WATCH me and Uncle Steve. I need you to promise me that you won't watch me"
She was sobbing as she softly answered, "I promise Danno"
He looked over his shoulder and watched as Gracie did as she was asked, "Good girl Gracie, I'm so proud of you. Now no matter what you hear you stay covered up until I come and get you. I love you Monkey"
"I love you Danno"
Danny then turned his attention to Steve. He was now awake, his eyes were open wide in fear and pain. He was totally silent as Danny's eyes met his.
"Hey partner"
Steve spoke softly, "Gracie….."
"Gracie's fine buddy, let me look at you now okay?"
"Danny…..go…..take Gracie…go"
"What are you talking about?"
"She's scared…take her….get out of here"
"Yeah she's scared, but I'm not leaving you"
Steve reached up, his bloody right hand grasping Danny's shirt collar, "DANNO….I'm bleeding…..to death…don't….don't let her see this…." Tears slipped down Steve's cheeks, "Get her…..out of here"
"Don't talk Steve, I've got to take a look at your shoulder now"
Steve closed his eyes, 'Oh God the pain is horrible. I can't cry out…..Gracie is here, Oh God Gracie…she has to be so scared. I can't cry out, I can't scare her'
Danny had moved to his pack and grabbed the first aid kit and several t-shirts. He also grabbed bottles of water from the cooler and then he returned to Steve's side.