Author's note: I'm so sorry that this has taken this long for an update. School started and with that we moved into a new building. We were literally moving things in two days before the first day of school. So add in the normal stress and multiple it. Plus I ended up acting in a community theater production. Stir in a little bit of writer's block/frustration that hit after I lost my completed chapter 10.

CHiPs CHiPs CHiPs

The men soon had cleared the car's downhill side and discovered that it was the front window facing them. They instructed Barry to cover his face and the child's so that neither would be hit with shattering glass. Moments later, hands reached in to take the baby from him and more were reaching to help him crawl out the window.

Once free, his legs weren't cooperating. Between the swollen ankle and being unable to really move his legs for several days, he had to put most of his weight on the shoulders of Grossie and Jon. Two steps later the cramps hit him as the muscles in his legs contracted painfully. He involuntarily cried out and sagged into his friends.

"What's wrong Bear?" Jon's voice was full of concern.

"Cramps" He replied through clenched teeth.

"Let's get him down." Jon told Grossie. They guided him over to the lip of the ravine and helped him to the ground. Kneeling beside him, they began to knead at the tightened muscles in his legs.

Ponch, who had been holding Jeffery, stood next to Sindy. "See, I told you we would find him."

She nodded, watching the men work to loosen the leg muscles of their friend. Trying to regain her composure she took a deep breath. "I shouldn't have doubted you Ponch." Her tone was overly bright.

Sergeant Getraer had made his way over to the group. "I've got an ambulance on the way." He knelt down as well, "Barry, how are you doing?"

"Fine Sarge. I am pretty hungry for something other than white sandwich bread."

"We'll get you checked over first and we'll try to scare up something for you to eat."

"Deal. How's my buddy Jeffrey?"

Ponch moved closer with the baby, "He's doing just fine. I think he's ready to go back to sleep."

"He's hungry too." Barry replied as he tentatively flexed one of his legs. "We ran out of formula and he's only had water for a while."

"I contacted dispatch and they are sending a car to pick up his parents. They should be here shortly." Getraer looked at Barry. The three day growth of beard, dark circles under his eyes and the muddy uniform looked out of place on the officer. "Do you feel up to telling us what happened?"

"Sure." Barry started retelling the events of the last several days. During his story he tried to make eye contact with Sindy, but he couldn't catch her eye. He had just gotten to the part where the car thief had run away from the car, when Sindy turned and started back towards the trail leading to the top of the ravine.

Sergeant Getraer noticed as well. "Sindy, are you alright?"

"Sure Sarge, just going up to watch for the ambulance."

Grossie chimed in, "I can do that Sindy. Why don't you stay here?"

"No, I've got it." She continued without a backwards glance.

Pausing just a moment, Grossie went ahead and followed her any way.

Barry's face mirrored the confusion he felt. He knew that Sindy wanted to keep their relationship a secret, but couldn't she at least show the same amount of concern as his other co-workers? Had this incident made her change her mind about their relationship?

There were several moments of silence until Barry realized that the others were waiting for him to continue. He cleared his throat and started to talk again.

During the silence, Jon and Getraer exchanged a look; both men were surprised by Sindy's behavior. When Barry paused for a moment, Joe broke in. "Barry, I think you should know something." He waited for Barry's attention. "Sindy told us that you two were dating."

"What?"

"She came in to tell me because she felt that her feelings were getting in the way of searching for you. I told her that you had already told me and she understood why you had. She then decided to tell the others."

"Why? I mean, what changed her mind? I've wanted to let everyone know for a while now but she was so insistent that we needed to keep things quiet."

"She needed the support of her friends Barry. You were missing and I have to admit, I was getting pretty worried that we weren't going to find you."

Ponch smiled at his friend, "Bear, she really shocked us with that. You guys did a good job of hiding it. I was worried I was losing my touch."

"Ponch," Jon chimed in. "I don't think you've ever had it to start with."

"Don't listen to him pal," Ponch addressed the sleeping baby in his arms. "I'll tell you all my A game moves and you'll be the coolest kid in the sandbox."

"So everyone knows. That must be why she's so upset with me." Barry glanced in the direction she had gone.

"I think she's dealing with a lot of feelings right now and she doesn't want to let us see in case she can't hold it in." Jon reached out to his friend. "Do you think you're ready to try to walk again?"

The group made their way slowly to the top of the ravine. By the time they had arrived, they were met by an ambulance crew. At Barry's insistence, they took the baby and began to check him over first. He allowed himself to be guided to the nearest squad car and sat down in the front seat; keeping his long legs outside of the vehicle.

It was ten minutes later that first of the news reporters began showing up. With microphones in hand they sought out the exhausted Baricza.

Thankfully, Sergeant Getraer stepped in to handle the circling reporters. "The Department will be making a full statement after we have spoken with Officer Baricza. "

As Getraer spoke, another squad car, its lights flashing, pulled up on the scene. Moments later an officer escorted Mr. and Mrs. Lewis through the crowd of reporters and over to the ambulance. Cameras swiveled to capture the couple reuniting with their infant son.

The paramedics handed the baby over, proclaiming him in fine health and hungry. Having anticipated that, Mrs. Lewis pulled out a bottle of milk and offered it to Jeffery. Everyone beamed as the baby began to nurse.

With microphones trust towards the happy family, questions began to bombard the couple. Mr. Lewis answered many of them because his wife was preoccupied with feeding the child. Tears were streaming down Mrs. Lewis' face as she cradled her son.

Soon, the questions turned to the role of the Highway Patrol in finding Jeffery. Having regained her composure, Mrs. Lewis smiled broadly in the direction of Barry who was now being looked over by the paramedics. "Officer Baricza is a hero. He rescued Jeffery from those horrible men and then kept him safe. If it wasn't for him," she paused. "I don't even want to think about it."

A pretty, young reporter spoke into her microphone, "Officer Baricza, what can you tell us about your ordeal?"

Barry glanced over at Getraer and saw the slight shake of his head. Turning his attention to the reporter, he smiled tiredly. "I can't share anything right now because this is an active case. But I will tell you that Jeffery was a real trooper and I'm thankful that the CHP has been able to return him to his parents."

Joe smiled as his officer. He had known that Barry would put a positive spin on what could have been a horrible situation.

The reporters seemed to accept that they would be getting no more from either Barry or Sergeant Getraer, so they returned to the Lewis family. Several moved away from the pack and started shooting their opening and closings, keeping the action in their background.

Stepping over to the ambulance, Joe spoke to the lead medic. "So what's the verdict?"

"We are taking him in to get some x-rays of that ankle. I don't think it's broken, but it needs to get checked out."

"How about some food before I starve?"

"Sorry, the only thing we have in the rig is glucose tubes." The paramedic shrugged. "I don't think you're that hungry."

"I'm getting close. Sarge, Grossie normally has a candy bar stashed in his saddlebag, would you check?"

"Sure Barry." Joe smiled and went in search of Grossie.

The paramedic patted Barry's leg. "I hope for your sake he finds something, because when they get ahold of you at the hospital they won't let you eat or drink until you're done."

"I've got five bucks; I could have you drive through McDonalds or Carl Jr's on the way." Barry joked.

"That fast food will clog your arteries faster than anything I know." The paramedic hopped out of the ambulance. "I'm going to go get the parent's signature on some paperwork and then we'll get rolling."

"Sounds good to me." Barry replied. "Food first and then a shower" he thought, "I smell bad enough I can't stand it."

"How are you doing?"

Barry looked up. Being lost in his own thoughts he hadn't heard anyone approaching the ambulance. "They are taking me in to x-ray my ankle."

"Do they think it's broken?"

"They don't think so, but they want to make sure." Barry looked at Sindy and he could see the lingering worry in her eyes. "How are you doing?"

"Me? I'm not the one who has been missing for several days."

"No, but I know it had to be hard on you." Barry's voice was gentle.

"I'm guessing that Getraer told you I told him about us."

"He did. I'm really glad you did though Sindy."

"Barry," Sindy's voice cracked and tears sprung to her eyes. "We, I." She stopped as she searched for the right words. "I can't talk to you right now."

She turned and walked away.