If I were a BoyChapter Three: Let Me Go Home

"Come on, Connor, Keep moving!" Nick urged, pushing Connor in the back as he climbed the steep mountain. Danny was up ahead and Nick was feeling his way blindly, since darkness had fallen.

"Did I ever mention my enormous fear of heights?" Connor said, his voice shaking slightly. From somewhere far above, Nick heard Danny chuckle.

"Yep, Connor, you might have mentioned it!" Nick said, his nerves near breaking point, "Now MOVE!"

From somewhere behind him, Nick heard the screech of a Pteranadon, or maybe it was a Pterodactyl! Whatever it was, Nick knew it probably wanted to eat them. Connor heard it to, and suddenly Nick felt tugging on the rope that bound them together and glancing upwards, thought the gloom, he could see that Connor was climbing swiftly. Nick had to climb as fast as he could to keep up with him.

He heard the screeching again and Nick launched himself to one side. The Pterodactly's beak crashed into the rock and Nick gasped as it shattered. He began to climb even faster, but the huge reptilian bird kept coming and attacking swiftly. He aimed a kick and knocked the reptile out of focus for a second before it reared in for the attack. Nick felt tugging on his rope and began climbing once more. The huge bird swooped and the edge of it's beak caught Nick's leg, tearing a huge gash and causing Nick to yell out in pain. necked

"Come on Professor!" Called Connor from the top, where he was tugging relentlessly on the ropes. Danny was rooting around in his bag and a moment later, he swerved to face the huge predator, firing at the beast. It jolted and screeched but the gash on it's wing had wounded it and it began to fly in the opposite direction, leaving Nick trying to climb with a torn leg.

"Danny," Connor called, sounding out of breath, "A little help over here!"

Danny dropped the gun and jogged to Connor's side, grasping the rope and yaking. Between Connor and Danny on top of the cliff and Nick doing his best to push himself up with his good leg, they managed to get him pulled onto the ledge.

"You alright?" Connor asked, when Nick collapsed on the ground and clutched his leg.

"Yeah, Connor, never better!" He snapped, and Connor looked appropriately guilty before going and getting Danny's bag. Danny ripped his shirt and tied it around the area above the gash before Connor dressed the wound gently.

"Can you walk?" Danny asked, and Nick nodded, though when he attempted to stand, his leg buckled in protest.

"That would be a no, then!" Connor said, unhelpfully, and the older men shared a look.

"Yeah," Nick said, sitting himself more comfortably against a rock, "Well, I'm not as young as I used to be!" He closed his eyes, slowly, and focused on his ears when Danny began to speak in hushed tones to Connor.

"He can't walk far!"

"Yeah," Connor snapped, "Thanks for pointing that out, Danny! But we can't stay on this ledge either, or we'll be reptile munchies!"

"OK, stay with him! I'm gonna scout for a cave or something!" Nick heard the shuffling of feet and then the crunching of fabric. He opened his eyes and Connor had hold of Danny's arm.

"Be careful, and don't take to long!" He warned, his eyes dangerous and scared at the same time. Danny looked pointedly down at his arm and Connor let go, but his eyes stayed fixed on Danny's face. Danny smiled slowly.

"Wont promise nothing!" He said, and he slapped Connor on the arm in a manly way before turning and running off in the opposite direction.

"How you feeling?" Connor asked, without looking at Nick and Nick smiled to himself.

"I'm alright!" He lied, trying to force himself into an upright position and feeling a shoting pain go up his back, he winced, Connor saw and rushed to his side, "I'm fine!" Nick protested.

"What hurts?" Connor asked, fussing.

"Oh, you know, just about everything!" Nick said, quietly, leaning back when Connor stripped his jacket and put it behind his mentor, gently, "Thanks, Connor!"

"No problem, Professor!"

Nick looked up in surprise. It had been about two years since Connor had called him professor. Now, the man…whoa! Nick had to look again.

Connor, the student who had been nothing more than that. A dopey, debt ridden student, had turned into a man! He had grown before Nick's eyes and it had taken him up till now to notice. Nick felt an ache in his heart that he thought a father must feel when he realises there must come a time when his son must leave home.

"Connor," Nick said, looking into the younger mans eyes and putting on a brave face, "That was some kiss between you and Abby!"

None of them had mentioned the goodbye's since they had happened, but Nick knew that it was on each of their minds constantly, and they could all feel the tension when confronted with the need to talk of it.

"Yeah," Connor said, looking baffled and pleased with himself at the same time.

"So, when we get back…?"

"Yeah, well, wont that be awkward!" Connor said, in mock laughter.

Nick had to admit, he felt exactly the same way. If Connor and Abby's reunion was going to be awkward, Nick felt it would be nothing compared to the icy welcome he expected from Jenny. He sighed, which Connor misinterpreted as a yawn.

"Yeah, I'm tired to!" He said, and he lay down on the floor. Soon, Nick could hear his soft, rhythmic breathing.

"Please," He pleaded with the stars that hung above them, "Please, let us find a way back home!