Chapter Two: Scared? Of What?

Later when we'd gotten Sophie into a cave, not too far from the Chasm of Death, it had been raining pretty hard. Thunder and lightning, plus Rudy's loud footsteps, made it hard for me to work on Sophie's wounds, but I managed.

"How ya feeling Soph?" I asked, hissing at the leaves set over three large scratches on her right leg.

"Better, good call using honey on the scratches." Sophie answered.

"Well, I did learn from the best." I answered.

"Thanks." Buck and Sophie said at the same time.

"Thanks." Sophie repeated lamely.

Buck shrugged and continued carving something out of a big chunk of wood. "Hey Buck, what are ya doing? It's warmer over here." I said; Buck was over at the back of the cave.

"I'm comfy here, thanks." he answered.

"Would it change your mind if Sophie and I could sing?" I asked. "Come on, it must be cold over there, and the fire's warm over here." I insisted.

"Alright, alright, you've got me." he came over and sat down close to me. Sophie chuckled when she saw me blush. I looked at her like, "Shut it!"

"Well Bumble Bee, how about it? Feel like singing?" I asked.

"Sure, which one?" she suddenly grinned slyly, and then whispered the name to me.

"No! Why?" I said out loud.

"Come on!" she whispered, "He won't know who we're talking about! He's loony!"

"Is not!" I said out loud, turning bright red once I saw Buck's WTF face. "Okay fine!" I said finally.

"Okay, let's sing it." Sophie clapped (even though she couldn't jump up and down like normal).

"Untouchable like a distant diamond sky-"

Sophie and I had barely gotten past the first line of the song, when thunder crashed, and Buck jumped three feet in the air and yelped.

Sophie started laughing her head off, full-on cracking up. Once silence fell, Buck sat back up and took his hands from over his head.

"Ah hush your mouth!" I snapped. Buck looked angry and very embarrassed.

"Ah, I'm sorry Buck, I just didn't know you were afraid-" Sophie was cut of by Buck's irritated voice.

"Afraid? Afraid of what? Who, me? No. I was just startled is all."

I smiled, "Yeah, and bee's sure startle Sophie, don't they Soph?"

"Ah hush your mouth!" she repeated me.

"Well then…" Buck got our attention, "On a new subject, you two were singing a song?"

"Right, jinx!" we said at the same time, Sophie slapped my knee, but I couldn't slap hers, it was damaged.

"Hey! No fair!"

"Hush up and sing the song would ya?"

"Untouchable like a distant diamond sky,

I'm reaching out, and I just can't tell you why

I'm caught up in you; I'm caught up in you

Untouchable burning brighter than the sun

And when you're close I feel like coming undone

In the middle of the knight when I'm in this dream

It's like a million little stars spelling out your name

You've gotta come on, come on

Say that we'll be together

Come on, come on

Little taste of heaven-"

The lightning flashed, "Get ready Buck." I warned, then I counted off the seconds 'till thunder on my fingers, "Three, two, one." thunder crashed, much louder than I'd expected. Buck jumped again, this time landing on me.

"Hmmm, you've got pretty eyes." Buck said grinning, his face entirely too close to mine.

"Flatterer," I answered lamely. "Now good sir," I smiled, "GET OFF OF ME!" he jumped once again, this time off of me. "Thank you." I sat up and dusted myself off theatrically.

Sophie started cracking up again, and Buck turned red. All I did was smile and say, "Flatterer, shameless flatterer, that one."

"I feel like dancing in the rain all of a sudden," Sophie grinned slyly at Buck, "And what about you Buckminster? Care to join us?"

Buck looked uncomfortable, "Well…"

"Sophia, a word dear." I said sourly, "Outside." I got up and lead her to the outside of the cave, where we conversed under a big leaf.

"Why are you doing that to poor Buck?" I asked, sounding whiney.

"I thought he was fearless?" Sophie said meanly. "He comes off that way anyhow…"

"Well ask anybody if you come of as anorexic or bulimic and they'll tell you no won't they?" I retaliated, "And ask anybody if I come off as being a girly girl, they'll tell you yes won't they? Well I'm not!"

"Come on, all I'm trying to do is help the poor loon." Sophie sounded defensive, "If we get him out here he'll be less afraid, especially since you're out here with him." she was silent for a minute, "Listen, if you're in love with captain Ahab here, then let me-"

"Fine, work your Sophie magic and get him out here," I said irritably.

"Okay, I'll go inside and tell him to come out, you stay outside and act like you're having a good old time." Sophie instructed.

"Sounds like a plan." Not a plan, I'll spy, that's what I'll do.

Sophie went back inside and talked to Buck, I overheard the whole conversation from right outside of the cave.

Sophie: So what are you carving?

Buck: Rudy.

Sophie: Why ya carving a dinosaur?

Buck: I carve whatever it is I'm thinking about.

Sophie: I would think you'd be carving Suzan if that's the case.

I smacked my forehead and peaked just in time to see Buck's blush.

Buck: You waned me to go outside?

Sophie: Yes, I bet if you did, Suzy-

"Hey Sophie!" I called, wanting their conversation to end. I entered the cave so to end it properly. "What's the holdup? Don't bother Buck with-"

"I'll go if you'd like me to, Suzy cue, it'll be fun…" his voice trailed off.

"No, it's fine, Buck, I don't exactly feel like getting a cold." I sat down next to him. "We should get to sleep anyways, we've got some ways to go tomorrow." I laid down where I was sitting, Sophie did the same.

"Okay, you two get some shut-eye, I'll keep watch." Buck Stated, sitting between us, he regained his confidence and well known insanity.

"Goodnight sis," I said aloud, "Goodnight Buck."

"Goodnight sis, Goodnight Buck." Sophie repeated.

"Night Suzy cue, night Sophie." Buck answered.

"Oh, Sophie, can't forget the prayers can we?" I suddenly remembered.

"Yeah, can't forget those." we both sat up on our knees and folded our hands.

"Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the lord my soul to keep. If I shall die before I wake, I pray the lord my soul to take. God bless us all, and make us good. God bless, Buck, Sophie, Ray, Sid, Manny, Ellie, Peaches, Diego Crash and Eddie, mama Rose, Zeke, and my family with you, Amen." I was the one to recite the prayer tonight, we alternated between the two of us.

I could not sleep, I could just sit there with my eyes closed, pretending to sleep. It sure as hell pays off that I'm good at that, cause I felt somebody eyeballing me until Sophie abruptly stated, "She's Pretty while she sleeps huh Buckminster?" and Buck gasped.

I grunted and shifted positions to where I could watch out of the corner of my eye without them seeing. "Yeah, kind of."

"Do you like her?" Sophie asked.

"Pardon me for answering a question with a question," Buck sounded the slightest bit irritated. "but why aren't you asleep?"

"Insomnia, now answer me." Sophie said lamely.

"Here's your answer: Go to sleep." Buck said, then looked away from Sophie, "Sorry, but I'm just as tired as you, and we have a chasm to cross tomorrow."

Sophie said goodnight once more and fell asleep, after that, I had a worse time falling asleep. My worst night of sleep in years.