Lost With You

Title: Lost With You

Summary: After an idea gone wrong Bridgette and Harold find themselves lost in the woods together. After a few heroic acts by Harold, Bridgette realizes that she's looking at the nerd in a different light.

Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own TDI.

Pairings: Main: Harold/Bridgette, side: Duncan/LeShawna, Eva/Noah, Trent/Gwen, and Izzy/Ezekiel

Warnings: Some language, humour, fluff, random pairings! Some out of characterness!

Winter-Rae: Happy New Year everyone! I hope 2009 is awesome for everyone!

Lost With You

Chapter 4: The Fall

"RUN!"

Harold didn't need to be yelled at twice. He gripped to Bridgette's hand and together they took off at full speed, running through the woods as if their lives depended on it. For all he knew they did. He didn't know much about bears but he knew that right now there was one chasing after them and running was their only option.

Bridgette was concentrating hard on making sure Harold kept up with her, she wasn't about to leave him behind. She was practically dragging him behind her as they ran, since she was faster than he was. She could hear his breathing turn into more of a wheeze as exhaustion started to take over. She was tired too but she knew they had to keep...

"Oof!"

Bridgette's foot caught on a superficial tree root. She felt her ankle twist sharply, sending pain all the way up her leg. As she fell down hard, she knocked the wind out of her lungs.

"Bridgette!" Harold called as he stopped and knelt down next to her, offering her his hand.

"Go!" she gasped, shoving him away, "Run!"

Had their situation been different Harold's expression would have struck her as absolutely adorable. He looked totally confused, as if her demand was something completely foreign to him.

"I'm not leaving you," he said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. He quickly pulled off the back pack and pulled out the flashlight. He stood firmly in front of the surfer girl and waited for the bear to crash out of the woods.

When it finally did, it paused and huffed at them. It went up on its back legs again, trying to scare them off. Harold drew himself up to his full height, stood on his tip toes and spread his arms out, trying to make himself look larger. He then huffed back at the bear. Bridgette had no idea what he was doing and apparently neither did the bear.

It dropped back onto all fours and swiped its mighty paw at Harold. Its claws grazed his shoulder, drawing blood. Harold ignored the stinging pain and swung his flashlight out, hitting the bear right on the end of its snout. The bear huffed again, apparently having enough of possible pray that was willing to fight back. It turned its back to them and lumbered off into the woods.

Harold heaved a sigh and dropped down to the ground next to Bridgette, breathing deeply.

"Here comes those heart palpitations again," he groaned. Bridgette pulled herself next to him and rested her head on his chest in relief. While she tried to catch her breath she listened to his racing heart, hoping that is would slow down to a normal pace soon.

"You saved me," she whispered, "Why didn't you run when I told you too?"

"I wasn't going to leave you," he said, "Only a coward would do that. I wasn't trying to show off or anything Bridgette. But what kind of person would I be if I left you here to that bear?"

He lifted his head up and looked at her, a smile on his face. Bridgette returned the smile and then sat up. She instantly wished she hadn't, as pain shot through her foot and leg. She looked at her ankle and saw that it was already swollen and bruised.

"That looks pretty bad," Harold told her, "Are you alright?"

"It's not that bad, don't worry about me," she replied. She pointed to his shoulder.

"Let me clean that up for you first and then we'll worry about my ankle. Now off with that shirt please."

Harold froze and bit his lip.

"My shirt?"

"Come on Harold, it's nothing I haven't seen before, I'm a surfer after all. And I already have seen your chest before during the first challenge.

He hesitated for a few more moments but then sat up and did as she asked. He handed her the first-aid kit from the back pack. He was feeling very self-conscious and more than slightly exposed.

"You're blushing Harold," Bridgette teased him as she pulled out some gauze and antiseptic wash to clean up the scratches. As she started to dab it on the wounds he jumped.

"Ouch, that stings."

"Sorry."

"And I'm blushing because it's just the two of us and you're looking right at me. Last time there was a bunch of better looking guys overshadowing how I looked so I didn't have to worry about feeling so...exposed."

"There's nothing wrong with how you look," she muttered under her breath.

"Huh?"

"Nothing."

The surfer girl fell silent as she continued cleaning the scratches. Harold swallowed. Her cool hands felt great against his sore shoulder and he was trying furiously not to blush even more than he already was. Having a beautiful girl like Bridgette bandage his first real battle wound was a thrill for him. Not many girls enjoyed having to look at his scrawny form, not that he really blamed them.

Bridgette however was different. She didn't seem uncomfortable at all; in fact she looked like she was actually enjoying it. That couldn't be though. Harold cleared his throat and tried to avoid her pretty green eyes as best as he could.

Bridgette was hoping that she wasn't blushing as she worked on Harold's shoulder. She kept telling herself not to act like a silly girl but she couldn't help it. Harold had just saved her life by showing an act of heroics she had never seen before. And there was something about his shy demeanour that she found very sweet.

She had half expected him to take off when she told him too. When he refused and actually stood by her, to protect her, she couldn't help but feel like one of those girls in the movies. You know the ones where the hero was willing to put himself in harm's way to save the leading lady from any danger. She felt like she was in an Indiana Jones movie or even a Die Hard one. Those were some of her favourites.

'Yippee-ki-yay,' she thought to herself, 'Harold would look cute in a fedora hat with a whip though. I could see him running away from a huge rolling boulder too.'

She shook her head as she caught the full realization of what she was thinking to herself. She was surprised at her thoughts.

'Enough of that,' she scolded herself, 'This isn't the time to think about hooking up with him!'

"Grow a backbone Bridgette."

'Huh?'

Bridgette looked to her left shoulder only to see a miniature version of Eva dressed in a demon outfit; complete with horns, a tail and a pitchfork. She was twirling said pitchfork in one hand with a less than amused look on her face.

'I'm going crazy,' Bridgette thought. Demon Eva shook her head, although the expression on her face told Bridgette she would have liked to tell her that she was.

"No you're not," she replied making one end of her pitchfork flat so she could sit on it, "I'm just here to give you a little nudge in the best direction."

"Your 'nudges' seem to always lead people to getting maimed, or killed. Remember what happened with Narcissus?"

Bridgette bit her lip when she saw a tiny version of Harold in an angel costume appear on her right shoulder. He was pretty cute in the little get up; he was dressed in the usual Harold look only he had little wings, a halo and a little harp.

"I can hardly be blamed for that," Demon Eva scoffed, "All pretty boys like that have it coming."

Angel Harold shook his head.

"Bridgette is a nice girl; she's not going to listen to you."

"She needs to unleash some of that inner bad girl," Demon Eva argued, "That'll grab Harold's attention and hold it. I guarantee it."

"Harold is a nice guy," Angel Harold pointed out, "He's not gonna go for that bad girl stuff. It's Bridgette's purity and good nature that he loves. Idiot!"

'Loves?'

Angel Harold nodded while Demon Eva rolled her eyes.

"Oh please, this is so lame," she jabbed Bridgette angrily with her pitch fork, "you can't even have a proper delusion. I'm outta here. I'm gonna go and influence that Duncan kid. At least he has an imagination and would be down to listen to me."

"Hey, we have an obligation here," Angel Harold called out. He was too late however as Demon Eva disappeared in a 'poof' of black smoke. The little angel sighed and looked up at the surfer girl.

"Good luck Bridgette," he said with a wink. Then in a 'poof' of feathers he was gone.

'That did not just happen,' Bridgette told herself, 'I did not just see a little Eva and Harold dressed in a demon and angel costume to advise me on my possible love life!'

She shrugged off her delusion and went back to fixing up Harold's wound. She placed some gauze over the scratches and taped it down.

"There we go."

Harold moved his arm around and replaced his blood stained shirt. He got to his feet and held out his hand to her.

"Can you walk?"

"Of course."

Bridgette got to her feet. But as she tried to put some weight on her twisted ankle, pain radiated from it and she pitched forward only to crash into Harold. He had braced himself and caught her in his arms.

"Gotcha!"

"Okay, I guess I can't walk," Bridgette sighed. He set her back down and sat next to her. The two of them sat in silence, pondering what they should do next. Bridgette was the one to finally speak up.

"Harold," she said, "You should go on without me."

"What!"

"I'm serious, just go and get help. I'll wait right here and won't move until you come back. I'll be fine. I promise."

Harold could tell she was trying to be brave but he saw the worry in her eyes. He shook his head, packed up their supplies and swung the bag onto his back.

"No way! Forget it, not gonna happen."

"Harold, I can't walk and you can't carry me."

"We'll see about that."

"Wait a minute, what...Harold!"

The scrawny nerd lifted her up bridal style in his arms. Bridgette clung to him; worried he might lose his balance and fall. But soon she relaxed enough to wrap her arms around his neck.

"See," he said looking down at her, "No problem."

Bridgette smiled. But she could still see that he was straining to carry everything.

"I'm not too heavy?"

Harold laughed.

"Don't take this the wrong way Bridge but I'm not going near that topic with a thirty-nine and a half foot pole."

"What do you mean you lost them?"

Chris winced as his boss yelled at him. Of all times for the campers to try and take off, it just had to be the day when one of the producers decided to come for a visit to check up on the camp.

"We didn't really lose them," Chris said, trying to make light of the situation, "I think they just went off on their own for a bit. I'm sure they'll be back before you know it. Right Chef?"

"Yeah...no, we lost them," Chef said, he was never the type to sugar coat anything, even for the producers. He knew full well it might cost him his job but he hated working with these punks anyway.

"Does this mean I win?" Heather asked with a sneer on her pretty face. The others ignored her.

"Have you even been trying to find them?" the producer demanded, "Do you realize that some of these kid's families are very influential. That LeShawna kid has a mayor for a father and a nurse for a mother. Trent's dad is a lawyer and his mom is a doctor! And Harold's uncle is one of the best lawyers in all of Canada! The show could get cancelled, or worse, I could get fired! And I warn you Chris, that if I go down I'm taking you with me!"

The handsome TV host blanched and looked at Chef

"I'm taking the helicopter you take the plane, we have to find those kids!"

"Hey Noah?"

"What."

Trent held up his hands in surrender as the shorter teen glared at him. Noah had been bringing up the rear of their group after his yelling match with Eva. The ebony haired teen was up in the front with Gwen and LeShawna who were trying to talk to her. Trent and Duncan had been nominated to talk to Noah, a task neither of which wanted, but since their girlfriends insisted they agreed.

"Eva didn't mean what she said man," Trent said, "Why don't you try and talk to her again."

"Forget it," Noah replied, "I've grown accustomed to how my face looks and would prefer for her not to re-arrange it."

Duncan snickered.

"You two both make me laugh," he said.

"How so?" Noah asked.

"The two of you both want each other," the punk replied, "It's so obvious."

Noah grabbed Duncan's hurt arm and twisted it.

"AHHH!" Duncan yelled, "Knock it off! I give!"

"Say that again and I'll dislocate it all over again!" Noah snapped, "I don't like Eva, even if she is tough, independent and looks good in a swimsuit! I can't stand her! She's an uptight fitness gorilla with no sense of humour!"

"Take away the fitness gorilla and change the 'she' to a 'he' and we'd have you," Trent said with a laugh. Duncan snickered and nodded in agreement. When Noah made to grab his arm again Duncan quickly moved behind Trent. The musician stood between them to stop any fight that might break out.

"Noah, there's nothing wrong with liking Eva," Trent said, "She's alright. Not my type, but alright."

"Whatever," Noah growled, "I'm not apologizing. She started it."

"Actually you were the one who insulted her," Duncan pointed out, "Calling a chick nasty and questioning their skills is a sure fire way to get one's ass kicked."

"And you're a sudden expert on the female personality?" Noah asked. Duncan shrugged.

"Nope, I just know that you messed up."

"He's right," Trent agreed, "As the male part of the species we're always wrong."

"Really?" Ezekiel asked, interrupting their conversation, Izzy still on his back, "I thought we were always right?"

"Nope," Izzy said ruffling his toque, "The only time you're right is when women admit that you are, and that's rare since all women are stubborn."

"You're all idiots," Noah growled, "I don't need your advice. There's nothing going on between me and Eva anyway! So drop it!"

"Umm Eva."

"Don't start with me, either of you."

Gwen and LeShawna exchanged looks. Gwen was sure it was a bad idea for her and LeShawna to come and talk to the strong girl. All three of them had loud and somewhat mean demeanours, so the odds were pretty good that at least one of them was going to walk away from this conversation pissed off. However Gwen was just as stubborn as Eva was and wasn't about to give up in trying to talk to her.

"Look Eva," she started, "Don't let Noah get to you."

"He's not getting to me," Eva said defensively, "I could care less about what he has to say. He's just a stupid bookworm who needs to grow up. He wouldn't know talent if it kicked him in the ass, which is exactly what I'm going to do! After we get back to camp."

"Come on Eva," LeShawna said, "You can't completely hate Noah. Sure he's a know-it-all, and lazy, and a completely annoying douche bag but he's got some good qualities too."

"Like what?" Eva asked. She had a smirk on her face as she agreed with all of LeShawna's insults for Noah.

"Umm, well, let's see," LeShawna stammered, "...yeah I got nothin'."

"He's smart," Gwen offered.

"And..." LeShawna trailed off again, "...still nothin'."

"You know you're really not helping here," Gwen told her. LeShawna shrugged.

"I know what I look for in a man and Noah's got nothin' I like."

"Well maybe he has qualities that Eva likes."

"Whoa, whoa!" Eva snapped, "Stop right there! When did this become a conversation about me possibly liking that thing! Which I don't!"

"Oh I think you do?" LeShawna told her simply, "It's pretty obvious. You two fight as much as Duncan and I."
Eva shook her head and crossed her arms across her chest, she looked rather flustered.

"Just shut up and keep walking!" she snapped, "I'm not discussing this right now, or ever!"

"Hey guys!" Ezekiel said, interrupting them, "I see smoke up ahead eh!"

All of the other teens followed his gaze. Sure enough a column of smoke was rising up into the sky. It looked like it could be coming from the campfire that was set up for the marshmallow ceremony.

"Thank God," Eva said, relief filling her voice, "It's gonna be dark soon."

"What about Harold and Bridgette?" Duncan asked, "We still have to look for them."

"You and Izzy are seeing a doctor first," LeShawna told him, "Let's go guys."

Harold shifted Bridgette in his arms and continued to walk through the woods, following the river. They had lost the river for a little while after being chased by the bear, but it was easy enough to find. Bridgette's skills with a compass and map got them back to the river in fifteen minutes. Harold was glad for that as he preferred to follow something familiar and something that would surely lead them in the right direction.

'She's got skills,' Harold thought with a grin.

Right now however, Bridgette was actually sleeping in his arms. She had fallen asleep only a few moments ago, all the while telling him not to let her fall asleep. Harold knew she was tired after today so he thought he'd let her sleep for a bit. He was tired too but he wanted to walk as much as he could before it got dark. Speaking of which, the sun was already starting to sink and it was getting darker and darker by the minute.

Bridgette wrapped her arms tighter around him, her head rested on his chest. Even while she slept she was beautiful. A small smile played on her lips and she when she breathed out she almost sounded like she was sighing in contentment.

'At least if she's dreaming it's a good dream,' he thought to himself.

"We're back eh!" Ezekiel said in relief. The small group had gone over a hill and were glad when they saw the camp standing before them. Down near the cabins a helicopter and a rundown plane were about ready to take off. Chris was about to get into the helicopter when he looked up and noticed them.

"Where were you all!" he demanded as he, Chef and the producer approached them. Heather frowned; it looked like she wasn't going to win by default after all.

"Never mind that now," Eva replied impatiently, "Izzy and Duncan need to see a doctor. She's probably got a concussion and he dislocated his shoulder."

"What's happened here?" the producer demanded, "Where are the other two?"

"We lost them in the woods," Gwen explained.

"We went rafting and one of the boats tipped," Trent added. The producer's eyes widened and he looked at Chris.

"Find Harold and Bridgette, now!"

The producer turned on his heel and walked towards the mess hall, leaving the others to exchange looks.

"Hello," LeShawna said impatiently, "Izzy and my man need a doctor, now!"

"Okay!" Chris said, "Chef, take these two to the infirmary, then the rest of you can go and find Harold and Bridgette."

"Think again tough guy," Eva snapped, "You're helping us!"

"Fine, fine!" Chris said, acting as if this was a huge inconvenience for him, "I'll take the helicopter and follow you guys on foot. You know where we should be looking I assume."

Eva nodded. As Chris started up his helicopter she went through the back packs. She grabbed up a flashlight and a canteen, and then turned back the way she had come.

"Eva, wait!" Noah called after her and grabbed her arm, "You should rest for..."

Eva whipped around. The deadly look in her eyes would have scared anyone.

"I'm not waiting for another second," she snapped, "Bridgette and Harold are out there alone and it's my fault! You can sit here on your lazy ass if you want to but I'm not!"

She jerked her arm away and glanced at the others.

"If anyone else is coming, let's go."

Trent and Gwen grabbed up some supplies and followed her. LeShawna looked at Ezekiel.

"You stay here with Izzy," she said, "We'll find them."

"Wait a minute!" Duncan said taking her hand, "You're not going."

"Why not?"

"Because, you might get hurt!"

"I'll be fine," LeShawna insisted. Duncan refused to let go of her hand. LeShawna sighed, pressed a kiss to his lips and then rested her forehead against his.

"I'm from a tough neighbourhood," she told him, "It'll be fine. Besides, Bridgette and Harold are our friends. I know that if you could you would go. Since you can't I'll take your place, okay."

Duncan frowned.

"Alright, fine," he said, "Just come back, okay."

"You got it baby."

The couple shared another kiss and then the voluptuous teen hurried after the others. The three who were staying behind looked at Noah.

"What?"

"Get going bookworm!" Izzy told him, "Iron woman is gonna need your help, even though she's not about to admit it!"

Noah glanced in the direction Eva and the others went in and then sighed in annoyance.

"I just know, I'm gonna regret this," he complained as he grabbed a flashlight and hurried after them, "I know it. People never listen to me. I knew this rafting thing was a bad idea, but nooooooo, no one ever listens to the guy with the brains. Let's just follow the idiots who never plan ahead. No yeah, great idea."

"Noah," Gwen said.

"Yes?"

"Shut up!"

Bridgette woke with a start. She felt like she was falling, however it was just Harold setting her down gently. She looked up at him with a confused look on her face. How long had she been sleeping for? Were they back at camp? She looked around, no such luck. They were still in the woods. It figured that this wasn't just all a bad dream she could wish away.

"Sorry Bridgette," Harold told her, "I need to set you down for a bit."

"I told you not to let me go to sleep," she told him shortly, "I would have stayed awake with you!"

"But, you were tired."

"Well so are you."

"Tired yes, exhausted no," he replied, "But now I am so I have to rest for a couple hours."

Bridgette saw the exhaustion in his eyes and her annoyance quickly faded. She reached out and brushed some hair from his eyes.

"We have a blanket in that bag right?" she asked. He nodded. She took the bag from him and rummaged through it as Harold gathered some firewood.

"How's your ankle?" he asked her.

"Hurts," she replied as she pulled out the blanket, "I'm trying to ignore it though."

Harold set up the wood and quickly started a fire, yawning all the while. Once he was done he lent against a tree and closed his eyes. Bridgette was sitting next to the fire with the blanket covering her lap.

"That's better," he mused, "I can sleep over here. You keep the blanket."

Bridgette bit her lip. It was already a little chilly outside and since the sun was completely gone, she knew it was going to get colder. She lay down, propping herself up on her elbow, and patted the spot next to her.

"Harold, it's getting cold," she replied, "Let's just share the blanket."

Harold instantly blushed, he was thankful it was dark out so she couldn't see his reaction.

"But..."

"Harold!" Bridgette said, cutting him off, "Sleep next to me, I don't mind."

"Are you sure it's okay?"

Bridgette felt awkward as she spoke again.

"Harold, I want you to sleep next to me, okay."

Harold nodded. He lay down next to her but was careful to keep a few inches between them. He didn't want to come off as a guy who thought he was going to get away with something with pretty girl sleeping next to him. He respected Bridgette a great deal. But the fact that she kept moving closer to him made him really nervous.

Bridgette placed the blanket over both of them and then looked up at the stars.

"This is kinda nice," she said after a few moments of silence passed between them.

"Yeah, it is," Harold replied, letting out another yawn, "If you get uncomfortable just let me know and I'll move."

Bridgette smiled and rolled on her side to look at him.

"I'm not uncomfortable," she said, "If anything, I'm most comfortable with you."

"Really? Why?"

"Because you never left me when you could have," she said, "You saved me."

"Anyone would have done the same thing Bridgette."

The surfer girl sighed.

"Not really, you're on in a million Harold."

She took Harold's arm and wrapped it around her waist. Then she moved closer to him, already feeling warmer with him next to her.

"I trust you completely," she whispered. She moved her face closer to his.

'Oh God,' he thought, 'She's going to kiss me.'

Before she could however he moved away.

"Harold?"

"I'm sorry Bridgette," he said, "I'm glad you trust me and I trust you but I think it might be better to not do that right now."

Bridgette felt both hurt and insulted. She sat up and turned away from him, ignoring her throbbing ankle. He sat up too and placed a hand on her shoulder, she pulled away from him.

"Bridgette."

"So you don't want to kiss me," she snapped, "Am I not good enough for your oh so noble ways?"

"It has nothing to do with that," he told her, "I do want to kiss you."

"Then what's the problem?" she asked, her voice shaking, "You've been offered something here. Is there something wrong with me?"

"No way!" he said, "You're perfect. It's just..."

"Just what?"

"Do you want to kiss me because you like me, or is it just because we're stuck out here, in an emotional situation, with no one else is around?"

"I wouldn't be embarrassed to kiss you in front of other people, if that's what you're trying to ask me," she said, "I do like you. Maybe it's you who doesn't like me."

Harold frowned.

"Not likely," he replied, "I've liked you the moment I saw you."

Bridgette sighed.

"So we're back to square one again," she said. He nodded.

"Maybe we should try and sleep," he suggested, "We're both tired and upset. After a couple hours of sleep I'm sure we'll feel better and clear headed."

"Okay," Bridgette said. The two of them lay down next to each other, only this time the small amount of distance between them was kept.

Winter-Rae: Darn, so close. Sorry everyone who might be waiting for them to kiss, maybe next time. Anyway! Next chapter should be the last one. Thanks for reading, cheers!