CHAPTER FOUR
Danny took off the jacket and tie to the tux he was wearing, rolled up his sleeves, and climbed up a nearby tree with a lasso of sorts that he had fastened out of some things he found in the truck. He tries hard not to think about the fear that ran through him as he picked himself off the ground after the accident and stumbled up to the door to check on Sarah. He had needed to see that she had no injury which is why he left Abby and Connor basically to fend for themselves while he led Sarah to the tree. It had taken all his willpower not to put his arms around her and hug and kiss her.
Just about then he could hear the sounds of Connor coming to and climbing out of the truck. Danny told Connor to stay there and he was going to trap the bird. Eventually it worked almost as planned and the two set off to find the others.
At the same time the girls were in the process of running back but kept getting their dresses caught as they ran. Abby laughed about the dresses being great for dancing but not so good for running so they tore the dresses to make it easier. As they hid in an old corn field the girls soon realized that there was actually a flock of the birds. The girls, heading quickly towards the abandoned house, entered an open field. Sarah spotted Danny and Connor a little ways ahead of them in the field and shouted Danny's name.
Danny and Connor had just entered the same field a few moments ahead of the girls but had seen a sign telling them of the danger ahead was that of a mine field. They turned and saw the girls shouting out a warning about the mines. The girls stopped for a moment but seeing the bird like creature behind them decided to make a run for it. As they approached Danny and Connor, both girls suddenly traded sides not even realizing it at the time. Abby was reaching out for Connor while Danny reached out to grab Sarah's hand. Sarah grabbed Danny's hand and decided right there on the spot that though he had looked really good in the tux, the way he wore it now made her heart flutter.
The sounds of the giant bird was getting nearer so Danny stopped and told Connor to get the girls out of there. He had a plan and hoped it would work. Danny stood in front of an unexploded mine that was sticking partially out of the ground. Danny waited till the last second and then jumped out of the way so the bird hit the mine and exploded around him. He hurried to catch up to the rest of the team when he heard one of the men he recognized as Christine Johnson telling them they were under arrest. He had the artifact in his hand and refused to listen about the creature incursion they had on their hands.
Suddenly the bird attacked one of the two men and the other jumped into his truck trying to escape. As the man began to drive off, he just missed Connor, who was trying to retrieve the artifact the man had dropped in his haste. The truck then hit an unexploded mine and blew up. Connor was covering Abby trying to protect her as she had tried to help him. Danny grabbed Sarah and did the same thing. As one of the wheel hubs sliced the bird's neck and he collapsed to the ground both Danny and Sarah shivered. Sarah shivered because it was gross to her. Danny did it because for a moment he had pictured that hub going through one of the team, especially Sarah.
The team returned to the house and tried various methods to stop the birds attack on them. Eventually Danny left the team headed for the bunker with the record player and the recording of the bird's distress call, hoping to draw the birds into the bunker and the anomaly. He got trapped between the buildings and Connor came to his rescue. The plan worked and the birds retreated back through the anomaly and it closed. Danny was hidden in the observation room in which they had found the skeleton when the rest of the team entered the outbuilding. For a moment Sarah's stomach dropped and heart skipped a beat when finding Danny's suspenders she assumed the worst. However Danny popped out of the observation room just then to Sarah's relief.
As the team discussed their latest adventure, Becker appeared on a hillside with his gun pointed directly at them. Danny called him "a good little soldier boy" as Becker said he "was just following orders". Obviously to the team Becker was now following Christine Johnson's orders. As the team was shuffled into vehicles for the ride back to the ARC, Danny and Sarah were sat together. Danny took Sarah's hand in his and whispered, "It'll be ok. We'll find a way out of this." In the other vehicle a similar scene was being played out with Connor and Abby.
Upon arriving at the ARC, all four of the team was escorted into Lester's office now being occupied by Christine Johnson. She was commending Becker on a job well done when she told the team they were looking at charges of stealing government property. Just then Lester strolled in and took back control after Becker played a tape he had recorded of Christine ridiculing the Minister. Sarah was so thankful that Becker really was a good guy that she told him, "You are my hero," and kissed him on the check. The good captain looked like he was trying hard not to blush. Becker then told Danny not to call him soldier boy again. The whole team then laughed.
Lester reminding everyone that they had work to do and sent them on their way out of his office. A few minutes later as Christine and her men were being escorted out of the building, the whole of the ARC it seemed cheered both at the sight and at Lester who had appeared on the balcony near his office. Danny turned around and started beating a drum beat on the desk he was near. Abby and Sarah on the other side followed his lead. Connor just held up the artifact and Becker cheered.
