Okay so just for your ease in reading; assume this is all happening at the same time. I tried to give clues it was occurring that way but feedback would be great. I have also updated the first six chapters of my first story THE DAY HIS LIFE CHANGED FOREVER. Fanfic did not post it that way. Just an FYI if you are looking for something to read until the next Chapter of Deceptions comes out. Review if you like this!

CH 11 Help Is On the Way

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PARKING LOT GALACTIC FINANCAIL DENEVA

Mr. Martin Flibbenstien slides into his Aston Martin. As he turns the key, a cold blade presses to his neck. "Don't hurt me. I have money," Flibbenstien reaches for the inside pocket of his coat.

Kowalski presses the blade harder into his throat. Marty feels the burning sensation of a paper cut just above his Adam's apple. "Of course you do. You're a banker but what I want is information," Kowalski smoothly responds. "Tell me what I want to know and you live. Lie and you die. Who did you launder money for besides Dr. Eric Orleans?"

Martin goes stiff as a board. His contact swore that no one would trace him to the deal. "Robert Henry Halter," he blurts out as Kowalski increases the pressure with the knife. "He is some hacker but I have no idea how to get in touch with him." Martin Flibbenstein has been brokering deals like this for a long time. This isn't the first time one party has gotten pissed at another and he was caught between them

"Let me worry about that. Now Mr. Flibbenstein, you are going to go home, have a stiff drink, and pretend none of this ever happened. If you don't, I will arrest you and seize all of your assets do you understand me," Kowalski says icily.

Marty Flibbenstein nods vigorously before blacking out from a sharp blow to the head.

.

GIRLS IN THE WOODS

Kate has no time to react. She resists the urge to scan the mountainside looking for her friends. She waits until the Klingons clearly see her before screaming at the top of her lungs for help. Hopefully the sound will reverberate like Rogue's barks and bring help. Kate stays to the path as best as she can hearing the Klingons closing in behind her. She needs to find a place to make her stand where she can take them out one on one. Even with the Force, Kate doesn't think she can take three on at once. Kate rounds an outcropping of stone realizing this is probably the best place she is going to get to ambush them. She presses her body into the stone while opening up to the Force. Anxiety and fear flood her but she pushes it back as far as she can in her mind. She concentrates on feeling strong and powerful as the first Klingon rounds the corner. Kate Force pushes with all her might forcing him from the path and down the incline of the mountain. She loses connection with the Force as his screams fill the air. His body bounces like a rag doll over rocks and terrain until it stops with a crunch against the tree. Kate doesn't wait for the next Klingon to appear around the corner. She begins running straight ahead on the path in front of her.

"By the grace of Kahless we found the only human brat that matters," one Klingon says to his companion closing the space between them and Kate as they follow her.

Kate's heart pounds and her lungs burn from the exertion but she is a fast runner. The make shift path leads down the mountainside towards a small creek. She can no longer go forward with any speed. Kate surveys the patch of land she is on for resources. Whatever created the path must come from the water because the path begins at the water's edge. Kate turns abruptly to find the Klingon is blocking her ability to retreat. "Look I don't want any trouble," Kate says inching towards the Klingons. If she is going to fight them, she will need better footing and they have the high ground. "I have been trained to defend myself and I will at the cost of your life if necessary," Kate tries to sound bold and strong.

"The human pup has some bite," one of the Klingon taunts his friend. "Let's let her feel ours." He lunges forward latching on to her wrist thinking Kate will pull back but she has been trained well. The biggest rookie mistake in hand-to-hand combat is that people instinctively pull away from their attacker; however, Kate is not a rookie. She lunges forward with all her body weight bringing her shoulders into his gut. Her move surprises him allowing her to push off his body. She uses the momentum to swing both her feet into his right kneecap buckling him the right. A crackling snap and howl of pain lets Kate know she as crushed his knee. Kate drops to the ground sweeping his injured leg out from under him. She rolls to avoid being pinned by his body as he falls. She has subconsciously opened to the Force. It has not given her any more strength but she almost feels like she can anticipate their movement's seconds before the Klingons act.

"I will break your legs," the Klingon growls latching on to her ankle. Kate swivels her body kicking him squarely in the nose and face with her heel several times before the second Klingon grabs her shoulders. Her dress rips as he uses it to haul her to a standing positon on one leg. Kate struggles to free herself by pulling out of the Star Fleet dress he has a hold of. He backhands her whipping her head back. Kate sees stars but directs her pain and anger into a Force push that nearly rips her arm off as the standing Klingon flies backward. The dress slides over her head as the Klingon tries to grab something for balance. He tosses the garment aside as soon as he impacts the ground. Kate uses her heel to kick the Klingon with the broken knee in the nose several times. He releases her ankle to protect his face. Kate remembers what everyone who has ever taught her in self-defense has said. If they are out to hurt you don't hold back because they won't. Kate kicks him in the jaw several times viciously causing him to blackout. She turns ready to take on the other Klingon who is getting to his feet. Kate delivers a front snap kick to his face. A roundhouse kick sends the Klingon falling back down. Kate is exhausted and can't take him on physically. She looks up the hillside behind the Klingon seeing fallen trees and rocks littering the surface.

"Your body will have to do because I am going to kill you," the Klingon says pulling a disruptor from his shirt. Kate focuses all her energy on a log ten feet above the Klingon. Instead of pushing, she imagines pulling the log on top of him. Suddenly the ground gives way and the log skids down the hillside shoving anything in its path forward. As the first bits of earth and stone strike the Klingon, Kate takes off back the way she came. If the Force induced landslide doesn't incapacitate him he will be after her. Kate needs to put as much distance between him and her as she can.

Kate makes it about a mile back up the path before she runs into Rogue. The dog jumps up happily on Kate biting her hand as Kate greets her. "Why aren't you with the girls?" Kate scolds the dog patting her side.

"Because we heard you fighting," Erika says. Kate looks up to see her friend followed by Joanna a few steps behind her.

"We are not splitting up again," Joanna heaves sucking in air. "These hills echo every sound. We could hear you fighting and if we could so can everyone else."

"Dammit," Kate bites her lip. If they are right Kate fighting did more damage than good. "Well we have to back track then. This path is a dead end."

"We passed what looked like another small path back there," Erika pulls her hair back in a ponytail securing the loose stands that fell as she was running. "We barely saw it but it looked like it went down the mountain."

"Then we go that way and leave another message," Kate starts to walk forward. She thinks the girls are crazy. She did not see a second path but she was running for her life. A half-mile back Kate is shocked. "Well I'll be damned," Kate laughs seeing the path. "Calling this a path is a huge stretch of the imagination but then again so are my clues." Kate bends down to picking up another rock. She flips it repeatedly in her hand standing in front of a tree thinking of what to write. Several seconds later she carves the message 2"MM" in the tree.

"Nice one Kate," Joanna grins, "except how is anyone but the three of us going to know what it means."

"Well I told John and my dad," Kate says with a sad smile. Maybe it is not the best clue she thinks.

"And my dad knows," Joanna confesses. "Well at least I told him you liked that quote and how we needed to find a more upbeat one. It is kinda depressing Kate."

"So did I," Erika raises her hand guiltily.

Kate turns to them shocked. "You guys talk about me with your dad's," she asks. "That is so weird."

"You don't," Joanna thinks it is equally weird Kate and Jim don't talk about them.

"Um no. Our conversations typically revolve around politics, how I have screwed up, or what we are watching on the telepresentor. Sometimes we talk about my mom but he has lots of paperwork and I have to study a lot just to keep up with you. Remember I missed the first seven years of schooling here in the Milky Way," Kate confesses.

"SoH vItu' (found you)," a deep Klingon's voice echoes from above the girls.

"Leave us alone," Kate screams Force pushing the three Klingons. Kate sees this was a bad decision. Instead of sending them backwards, the Force push caused them to lose their footing. The Klingon's begin careening towards the girls. "Go," Kate shoves the girls forward down the path. Kate turns trying to stop their fall with the Force. She has to give her friends a head start. It is not that they are too slow but Kate for the first time doesn't want to show her Jedi powers off. Her Force powers have shocked her and would terrify her friends if they knew what she was capable of. Kate comes up with a new approach seeing she can't stop them. Kate focuses on one Klingon at a time. She Force guides each one into a tree. The impacts create a sickening thud. Kate doesn't wait around to see if they are unconscious or not but takes off after her friends.

Kate catches up quickly to the two girls. "How are they following us," Erika demands panting as she runs. "Everyone else can't have this many Klingon's chasing them. There was only twelve at the ceremony and our parents had to have taken care of at least a few of them. We did not see any until you showed up Kate." Joanna stops with a sickened look on her face. "I didn't mean that it's Kate fault," Erika looks panicked from girl to girl. "I just meant,"

"The sub-dermal transponder," Joanna stops running. "Where did they plant it Kate? Think," she says calmly but firmly massaging Kate's biceps.

"Down here," Kate indicates the middle of her forearm. Joanna instantly finds the swollen bump with her thumb.

"Okay so they must be tracking the transponders signal. I don't know how but it is the only thing that makes sense," Joanna releases Kate's arm.

"So you get it out," Kate says quickly before thinking about what that actually entails.

"Whoa there kemo sabe," Joanna states stunned. "I can't do that. I wouldn't know how."

"Yes you do," Kate says calmly. "Look I can try it by myself but I gotta tell you I am not sure I can go through with it. My gut is telling me just to keep fighting the Klingons but my head says different." Seeing Joanna's wide eyes gives Kate more courage than she thinks she has. "It's okay. I can use my Jedi skills to block the pain. I won't feel anything I promise." Kate hopes her lie makes Joanna feel better. She only needs Jo to make the incision then she can bitch about how much it hurt.

"Okay get me a rock. A sharp one," Joanna says firmly. "Quickly we don't have a lot of time. Oh and take your bra off Kate. We can use it as a bandage."

"How cute? They are playing doctor in the woods. Too bad the boys aren't here but then again you are a bit young for that aren't you," Q reprimands from his spot in the tree. He sees the Klingons form the hill slide are up an on the girls trail. "Oh get back you oafs." Q transports the Klingons following the girls several miles away. "I myself want to see if the little brunette there has the hutzpah to do this."

"This idea is getting worse by the minute," Kate tries to act tough but is scared to death. She bites on the fabric of the bra hoping it will muffle any cries. Kate feels like someone is right on top of her watching this play out. She is losing her nerve the longer it takes Erika to find a sharp rock.

"Oh my god I don't have all night," Q complains angrily. He creates an extremely sharp edged rock right in front of Erika.

"Will this do," Erika asks bringing it over.

"Um yeah," Joanna tests the tip of the stone with her finger. It has such a sharp point on the end it feels almost like a needle. "Okay Kate one, two," Joanna makes a small incision before getting to three. She hears Kate grunt and feels her retracting her arm. "It will be shallow. They aren't meant to be permanent." Kates sees Joanna instantly turn into her dad explaining each step of the procedure. Jo drops the rock and begins to push the transponder towards the incision and out of Kate's arm. Kate bites down so hard on the bra she thinks she will crack a tooth. This hurts worse than the incision. "Okay one more second and there," Joanna says proudly as the tiny device breaks the surface. It is so small she can barely see it. Kate picks up the device with her other hand as Joanna ties the bra around Kate's arm. Kate flings the device as far she can. It is small and light so it does not travel very far. "Are you okay? I tried to be as quick as I could," Joanna apologies.

"You did great. I felt nothing except you jabbing me with a rock and taking forever to get it out," Kate jokes with a smile. It did hurt a lot but Joanna does not need to know that. "Come on. It is getting dark and we need to find somewhere to hole up for the night." The girls follow Kate in silence. They hope by losing the transponder they can get a chance to rest.

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BONES AND JIM IN THE WOODS

Jim breaks through a tangle of trees finding the closest thing to a path the landscape can offer.

Two steps onto the path he sees two unconscious Klingons. Jim's first reaction is to search for traces of yellow, blue, or red uniforms. He sees a torn yellow dress lying in the dirt next to a Klingon with a large log resting on his chest. The surroundings clearly show a sign of struggle. Branches are broken and hanging at odd angles indicating a fight had occurred. The closer he inspects the area; he can see claw marks from fingernails that dug rivets in the earth as one of the kids fought hard to get away. Jim picks up the garment finding blood smeared down the front. Jim hears the Klingon under the tree cough.

"Your offspring fought well before I slit her throat," the Klingon gloats coughing up blood.

"Oh my god," Bones whispers seeing blood on the uniform in Jim's hands. Bones snaps out of his daze running a tricorder over the bloody dress. "It's hers," he whispers.

Jim levels his phaser at the Klingon's head. His hand is shaking from rage. "You were beaten by a twelve year old girl. Where is no honor in that. You did not kill her," Jim says. Although he wants to believe what he is saying, his chest feels like it is being crushed by grief. Kate is nowhere to be found. Until she is in his arms, the Klingon's words will haunt him. "Which way did she go?"

"To hell mewling pitiful pleas for mercy," the Klingon laughs coughing up blood.

Jim pulls the trigger vaporizing the Klingon. Jim turns waiting for a lecture from his friend. "He had a crushed thoracic cavity, broken spine, and internal bleeding," Bones reports putting away his tricorder. "You did him a favor. He only had about fifteen minutes left away." Jim is stunned by the callousness for the doctor but realizes the Hippocratic Oath only goes so far. This could have easily have been Joanna's shirt not Kate's. For all Bones knows Joanna is alone and facing a situation like this. He can read on his friends face that one less Klingon alive is one less Joanna may have to deal with. "This one is dead too," Bones scans the Klingon lying with a few feet away. "His head was crushed probably by falling debris." Jim only had to see the crushed side of his skull to know a rock finished him off. "Which way do we go," Bones asks Jim.

"We follow the path back to until we reach the kids or find a message. Kate is smart. She will leave a message I just hope she remembers we are not in Sky River," Jim says throwing the dress to the ground. "They will stay on this path. They can move faster on it than off it. If there is trouble, they can go into the brush on either side and hide. It is what I would do. It is what she will do."

They walk a few feet before Bones gets the courage to speak. "Jim that was her blood on the uniform but not from a severe or mortal injury," Bones explains. "The blood was smeared down the front. There rips were around the neck. Any stab or puncture wound to her neck would have produced a hell of a lot more blood. My guess is she got a bloody nose or split lip." Jim glares at Bones as if he wants to knock him on his ass. The thought of anyone hurting Kate enrages Kirk. "Jesus god," Bones says grabbing his tricorder. Jim stares at him quizzically. "The sub-dermal transponder. I guess I was so fixated on finding all the kids I forgot we tagged Kate. The Klingon's may be using it to track her. I can't believe the tricorder is working when the EMP pulses are frying everything else."

Suddenly Jim gets a stunned expression on his face. He rifles through his knapsack until he finds the scanner in it. He turns it on. It does not pin point any readings except his and Bones but it is actually working. "How the fuck is this happening," Jim demands.

"I have no idea but at least Kate went that way," Bones points off to the left.

"Come on before whatever god is smiling at us right now decides to shit on our parade," Jim says dryly. At least Jim's mind has something to focus on except his daughter. There is no reason why the scanners should work on planet when the Enterprise's scanners cannot break the atmosphere. None of it makes sense but it is something to occupy his mind as they walk.

Q watches Kirk and Bones from a rock outcropping as they near the transponder Kate threw. "Now now Captain. Don't be a helicopter parent. You daughter is doing just fine on her little scouting adventure without you," Q reprimands Jim. Q transports the sub-dermal transponder back to Kate's bloody uniform shirt. "Fair is fair Jim. I did save her from the Klingons so I can't let you just ruin my fun now can I." Q watches Jim and Bones change direction following the signal on Bone's tricorder. "Good boys. You can start fresh in the morning along with everyone else. I am interested to see how the girls fare for dinner. Your daughter is quite resourceful Captain, which is why she has piqued our interest. Maybe Kate will have a roast pheasant with nice chianti." The thought make Q laugh at his own joke. "Oh who are we kidding? It will be slugs and bugs like Jack taught them. I'm just interested to see if they eat it."

Two hours later Jim and Bones realize they are back where they started. Bones' tricorder sent them in a huge circle. "Dammit," Kirk paces in anger. He thought things looked familiar but they are in a forest. One tree looks like another right? This is the last time he will listen to his head over his gut. "Let's go up the road again. We can make camp farther up and keep looking in the morning," Jim says already walking away from the bloody uniform and dead Klingon.

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JACK AND SULU IN THE WOODS

"Sulu did you hear the one about the two girls watching porn? The nice girl blushes and turns away but the good girl says "I can do that better!" Jack jokes dryly. If Jack wasn't looking for his kids and friends, he might actually be having a good time. A small part of him misses the black op missions. Kowalski, Feretti, Brown, Freeman, Reilly, and Porro were a great team. The seven of them operated like a well-oiled machine on missions. Jack can't count the numbers of hours they spent telling dirty jokes and fantasizing about women other than their wives. It's not that Jack wanted anyone other than Sam but what else were seven guys supposed to talk about sitting around a fire in the middle of nowhere. He would not change his life but part of his still misses the adrenaline rush of a good firefight.

"What is the difference between "ooooooh" and "aaaaaaah"?" Sulu asks before delivering the punch line. "About three inches." Sulu continues to hack a path through the forest with his machete-like sword. Jack gives him a decent lead but follows from behind scanning the area as they talk.

"Why is being in the military like a blow-job? The closer you get to discharge, the better you feel," Jack delivers each joke straight faced and deadpan.

"Change that to Star Fleet and it might actually be funny," Sulu laughs. "Hey what's 6 inches long, 2 inches wide and drives women wild? …A $100 credit." This actual brings a small smirk to Jack's face as he thinks about what $100 credit got him before his wife came along. Before Samantha all his money went to beer and women but that was over twenty years ago. Now it goes to whatever the hell she wants it to but Jack is happy with that. Hell life changes as you age.

"How many men does it take to open a beer?... None. It should be opened by the time she brings it," Jack steps up on a log to get a better view as Sulu continues to hack their path.

"Have you ever told Sam that one," Sulu grunts hacking through thick vines and brush.

"Nope because she would kill me," Jack confesses adjusting his hat with one hand.

"What's a mixed feeling? When you see your ex-mother-in-law backing off a cliff in your new car," Sulu snickers.

Jack stares at the young helmsman. It is obvious that he was with a woman because he has a daughter but Jack has never heard Sulu ever mention an ex-anything until now. When he gets back to the ship, he is going to ask Samantha if she knows anything. The last time he was surprised by a hidden family member, Kate showed up with ship full of aliens bent on the destruction of the Enterprise. He doesn't want to be blind-sided like that again if he can help it. "Hey Sulu did I ever tell you my philosophy on sex." Jack doesn't wait for a response because guys don't do that. "Sex is like math: Add the bed, Subtract the clothes, Divide the legs, and pray you don't multiply," Jack fires back. "Some people consider that a joke but I think that is real world advice myself." Jack sees a flash in his peripheral vision and dives toward Sulu throwing him into the brush. Disruptor fire singes the trees and ground around them sending chunks of dirt and bark flying.

"Where the hell did they come from," Sulu demands following Jack behind a rotting log for cover. "Do they have transporters up?"

"I have no idea but they came out of fucking nowhere. The only positive note to this is if they have transporters, we do to. Sam would have had them up ten minutes before the Klingons any day of the week," Jack compliments his wife as he brings his phaser rifle to his chest. "Give me a ten count then open fire for ten. I am going to circle around so we can catch them in crossfire thirty seconds from my mark."

"Wait ten, shoot ten, open fire twenty counts later. Got it," Sulu confirms pulling a phaser from his pack.

"Oh just for the record…swords suck in these type situations," Jack gloats before taking off on his belly.

"Yeah well your pulse rifle hasn't been much help the past three hours while I was cutting a path for your ass," Sulu retorts silently counting in his head. At precisely ten seconds, Sulu aims in the general direction of the Klingons lighting up the area to give Jack cover. He sinks low as disruptor fire tears into the ground around him. At the thirty-second mark, Sulu comes over the top of the log. This time he is aiming for targets not blindly drawing fire. As Sulu takes the first target out he sees, Jack pick off the other two cleanly with a shot to the head each. The forest goes silent as soon as Jack and Sulu stop shooting. Sulu gets up and begins walking towards Jack on an intercept course to the three dead Klingons. "Do you think we should have just wounded one so we could have interrogated him," Sulu asks annoyed.

"No," Jack says firmly. "Klingon's don't interrogate easily. Takes hours to make them talk and we don't have that kind of time." Jack surveys the area for reinforcements. "Let's go back the way they came. If we are lucky this way might lead us to their camp where we can get some real questions answered."

"I thought you said you can't interrogate a Klingon," Sulu says falling in step behind Jack.

"No I said it takes time to interrogate a Klingon. It will be night before long. Without lights searching for anyone will just result in injuries," Jack explains. "We are going to have to make camp in the next few hours. I hope that we will find the kids by then. If not we will find them in the morning. The boys will make camp for the night before dusk like I taught them. The girls should do the same if they had been paying attention in survival training. Now if we don't find the kids I would be happy for a captured Klingon. One night with him and I will be able to find out everything they know." Sulu has to suppress a slight shiver after listening to Jack's words. No one on the ship takes the COS that serious. He is always so laid back and sarcastic it is sometimes hard to remember what his job is besides making duty roosters. There were rumors that Jack once worked black ops for the military division of the Federation. These same rumors claimed Jack transferred to the Enterprise because Samantha had left him and filed for divorce. Seeing the O'Neill's together as a family had convinced that Sulu that it must have all been lies but now he is not so sure.

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CAMERON, JOHN, AND RONIN IN THE WOODS

"Ronin skin this," John says tossing one of the rabbit-like creatures to his brother while he guts his. He blocks his concern about not getting to the scream they heard hours earlier but focusing on dinner. He knows one of the girls was screaming but is sure it isn't Kate. Kate would never scream out like that unless it was desperate and he doesn't want to think of a situation Kate would be that desperate.

Cameron shakes his head watching his friends prepare dinner. Mr. O'Neill taught these skills in class one day. He hadn't needed them until now. "You both are like professionals for just learning this in class," Cameron finally gets the fire to catch.

"Our Dad taught us to do this way before class. We used to go camping for vacation all the time back in Colorado," Ronin informs Cameron.

"Remind me never to camp with the O'Neill's on vacation," Cameron says half seriously.

"Ya ya," John says dryly cutting a chunk of meat off the carcass he just skinned. He spears it on a stick handing it to Cameron.

"How old were you when your dad taught you to do this," Cameron asks roasting the meat over the small fire.

"I was about eight I guess," John tries to remember a time when he did not know how to hunt or fish.

"Eight," Cameron says shocked. "And your mom was fine with you skinning small fuzzy creatures in second grade?"

"Sounds 'bout right," Ronin agrees handing Cameron several more sticks speared with chunks of meat. "Dad used to take us out with a knife, canteens, and a sleeping bag. It was rough at first but it got easier. Typically, we only would camp over a weekend. He taught us,"

"Damn that was hard core. My mom would have been like Montgomery Eugene Scott, what the bloody hell are ya thinkin," he imitates his mom shaking his head and finger. "Us Scott's are more bonfire people," he says laughing. "We tend to bring the hot dogs not hunt them down."

John laughs hard. He never meet Cameron's mom but from the videos, he can see her doing that. "My mom almost said that but my dad promised not to be too hard on us."

"Yeah until you came home and told her dad made you skin and eat Thumper," Ronin reminds John. "She had a shit fit right in the living room." Ronin and John begin to sharpen more sticks with their knives as Cameron roasts dinner. "Ever see a shit fit... Not pretty."

John gives Cameron a lop-sided grin. "Yeah my bad. She was so mad dad slept on the couch that night. Then she started to come camping with us for a while."

"Ass munch," Ronin throws a small rock at John's arm.

"Hey you saying Thumper was tasty did not help the situation," John reminds him.

"Thumper was good," Ronin grins finishing his spear. He takes a chunk of charred meat from Cameron and begins to eat. "So is his little girlfriend here… what's her name," Ronin asks.

"Flower," Cameron supplies far quicker than either O'Neill boy thinks is appropriate.

"And you know that how," John laughs taking his dinner from Cameron.

Cameron gets a disgusted look on his face. "Man …Joanna makes me watch all that stupid Disney shit when we are alone," he confesses causing John and Ronin to laugh heartily.

"Better you than me Cam," John sputters between laughs. "I think I would break up with Kate if she was all about the Disney."

Cameron gets a sly smile on his face. "Dude don't leave me hanging? Why the grin," Ronin asks.

"Okay the movies may suck but it is the movie perks that keep me coming back," Cameron shares licking grease off his fingers. "Trust me Disney ain't so bad when her dad has the evening shift. Especially when she gets all teary eyed over Bambi's mom getting shot," Cameron says the end dramatically. "She gets all emotional during that part even after seeing it a billion times. She also freaks when whatever the hell that lion's name dad dies."

"Simba," John says positively, "and don't ask how I know it."

"I won't because you are so wrong dude," Cameron says seriously finishing his chunk of meat.

John feigns annoyance. "Wrong…me wrong," he makes a dismissive gesture with his face.

Cameron decides to school John on his Disney movie trivia. "Simba was the main character. His dad was ...Mustafa. That is who went over the cliff. If Simba did the whole movie would have been like ten minutes."

"Are you sure you DON'T like Disney movies," John asks crossing his arms staring at his friend.

"Are you saying Kate and Erika never get all...you know...during sad stuff and look for comfort?" Cameron asks waggling his eyes at the last part ensuring John and Ronin understand.

John scans the area as they talk on the alert for Klingons. "Kate sometimes does but we mostly watch action movies. You typically don't cry for the bad guy," John leans back feeling warm and full after dinner.

"I am telling you try Old Yeller," Cameron points a small bone at John and Ronin. "You want a little something something," he smiles broadly, "Old Yellar is your ticket."

Ronin sits up stunned. Joanna is the quietest girl out of the three and the most proper. "Cameron you dog!" he jokes letting his mind wander to what Cameron could actually mean.

"I am just saying whatever works," Cameron says grinning broadly.

"I don't think I would get the same reaction if Kate saw it. My bet is she would be in tears for weeks. You see the way she is with Rogue," John says. "She almost got herself killed on the field going after her today." John tries to hide his worry for Kate. Of all three girls, she is the most capable of surviving out here.

"Like she ever cries about anything," Ronin rolls his eyes. "Now if you blew up Sky River," Ronin says standing up looking for a good spot to start his watch rotation.

"She's a girl Ronin. They all cry," John assures the boys Kate is not some robot. Part of him feels bad that no one but him sees how insecure and vulnerable she is. In the boy's defensive, Kate doesn't do anything to not perpetuate the myth she isn't an emotionless bad ass. John settles back against the log closing his eyes.

"John, I have always wondered about something," Cameron asks with a serious tone and expression.

John sits up ready to answer his question. The boys have never kept secrets between them. If they are bold enough to ask a question then it is answered within the group. "Wondered what?" John asks equally serious.

"Have you ever been scared she is going to like kick your ass in the dark?" John can see Cameron is truly serious. "Kate is funny, smart, and beautiful but she can be scary. She has a better-left hook than any of us and a temper to boot. I mean I can take out Jo with one hand but Kate," Cameron whistles as if he is impressed. "Might need a phase to stop her if she gets all riled up."

John decides to let Cameron in on a little secret. "Getting her all riled up can be fun." John leans back smiling with his eyes closed saying, "You use Disney I use hand to hand combat... whatever works right Cam."

"You dog," Cameron jokes causing John to break out in a smile. All the talk of the girls is making John miss Kate more than he realized. John hasn't prayed in a long time but he will tonight. He will pray to be alone in the dark kissing Kate again by tomorrow. "Ronin," Cameron turns the question on him.

"Pirate movies," Ronin admits. "Mr. Sulu has that cool sword and Erika just loves fencing. If you lose you have to walk the plank." The campfire breaks in to laughter as each boy thinks about what the others have said. John decides that he and Kate are definitely not doing as much as his friends. He wonders if maybe they shouldn't be doing more.

"Pre-pubescent twitter," Q mumbles high above them perched in a tree. "I hoped the topic would be juicer with your testosterone levels skyrocketing. Human males never grow up. How you get the females to breed with you as adults is a miracle in itself. I wonder if the girls are having a more interesting conversation," Q snaps his fingers disappearing.

"We might as well stay here for the night," John says looking at the sky. "My guess is that we have about forty-five minutes until it gets dark. By the time we mask this site and search for a new one in thirty minutes it may be too dark to even get a fire going. Let's spread out in a fifteen-minute radius looking for wood. Maybe we will get lucky and find the girls but if not meet back here." They boys nod as each take a direction.

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