Harry surveyed the area, the Alpha security was making a mess of the small trail, Liam crouched down next to her, he sniffed the air.
"Too many scents." Harry growled, "You would think these bastards had some sense of-"
"Wait." Liam put a hand up, he caught something, faint but it was there. The two had been running circles around the security personal. They'd set up a search perimeter but the ground to cover was too big. Harry had shouted abuse when they denied a helicopter or dogs.
Apparently a pregnant young Omega lost in the woods wasn't a priority until after the first twenty four.
Liam stood sniffing again, he pointed westward and Harry followed him closely, the two found small tracks in the mud the girl had made her way pretty far, Harry put a hand up motioning for Liam to stay back.
"Is that God Save the Queen?" Liam whispered his left ear turned in the direction of the old drainage tube.
"Yes. Yes that is. Just stay here." The Alpha understood and pulled out the small hand held radio he'd been given. Harry moved towards an old storm drain, just big enough to hide the huddled form of dark haired Omega.
"Annie?" Harry kept her voice even, recalling the sensitivity training she'd received when her unit was informed that Omega soldiers would be joining them in the field. There was no response just a quick intake of breath, and the singing halted. "Annie, it's me. Harry." The Alpha kneeled in front of the drainage tube, pushing the hanging vines aside. "I have a flashlight and some water." She offered the bottled water.
"Harry?" the half sob and plea nearly broke the blonds heart.
"I'm here. Its freezing out here. Can I come in?" Harry entered slowly without an answer. She kept the flashlight low so not to startle the jumpy dark haired girl more.
"You alright?" The Omega asked surprising Harry, "Your face is scratched." Cold fingers brushed against Harry's jawline.
"I'm fine. Just running in the woods will do that."
"Sorry." The small hand fell away.
"Here, drink." Harry firmly ordered, she pushed the bottle to Annie's parched lips. "Easy." Harry scooted closer pulling her hoodie from her. "You're freezing Annie girl."
"I had to go. They are going to take the baby." Annie sobbed allowing Harry to pull the black hoodie over her head then down over the thin material of her flowered dress. A strong arm pulled her close.
"My aunt she came today late without my uncle. She said that the baby was an abomination-" Harry held back the instinctive growl. "She's an awful Alpha. I wish my uncle would never have met her. She said it was my fault." Annie didn't look over at Harry.
"She said I wanted it to happen. But I swear Harry I thought he was my friend. No one ever asked me out to a party, so I went and he was in UNI, I thought he was my friend. And I took my suppressors I never forget, I never-it was after a couple drinks that it started. I-"
Harry let the younger girl talk, let her get it out. It made Harry feel sick but she had to hold back, this wasn't about her it was about Annie and she needed someone to listen. John's words from a year ago "You never listen! You just assume to know what happened!"
"I told him to get away and to stop-he-" Annie shuttered "He hurt me. And said I wanted it. The police said the same and when I found out I was pregnant my uncle sent me here. I want to keep the baby. I know it's weird but I love her. I haven't even met her yet but I love her. Why should she be punished for my mistake. It's not fair."
"No." Harry held Annie closer. "No. It's not your fault. It's not. Stephanie. This was not your fault. There are people out there evil enough to use heat inducers, it's highly illegal. And if those stupid cops had any sense of-" Harry fumed, her hand was petting the dark hair.
"They were idiots and that bastard who did this and those bastard cops are lucky you weren't my sister. They'd of had to haul my ass to jail because I'd of killed him. You didn't deserve this. And it's your right to keep the baby, you'll be eighteen soon. Don't let that evil witch bully you. We'll talk to Dr. Sawyer she knows lots of stuff. There are places, I've read about them. Places for single Omegas to go, safe halfway houses. We'll figure it out together. I promise Annie, no one is going to pressure you not over this. You have friends. You didn't have to run away. You just have to ask for help." The young girl half sobbed half laughed.
"Your brother is very lucky Harry. Not all Alphas care."
"Oh, he'd disagree. I've been such a horrible sister lately. Coming here is kind of clearing stuff up for me. I'm not a hundred percent and maybe I'll never get there."
"You will. Like you said. You just have to ask for help." Harry wiped the teenagers eyes. Embracing the girl tightly she kissed the kids forehead, "Now come on lets get back before they start a second search party for Liam and me."
"Liam?" Annie sniffed moving to follow the blond Alpha out of the old metal pipe.
"Yes, a fellow soldier decided to lend a hand. He's a friend so no need to be nervous." Annie nodded holding tight to Harry's arm.
"The damn security seems to be a bit lost over just where we are." Liam growled causing the small Omega to flinch. He realized his mistake and took a step back, keeping his eyes only on Harry.
"If everything is alright we can walk back, I've mapped out a straight path. Should take us thirty minutes."
"Annie can you walk?" Harry asked.
"I'm fine." The young girl replied quickly. "I wont be a burden."
"Good, cause I don't fancy carrying you on my back, that kid of yours can kick." Harry shrugged, the cold air making the flesh on her arms bristle.
Annie only leaned into her and giggled. "Are you cold?"
"Naw, I like the fresh air, reminds me of night patrols. Right Liam?"
"S'right Major. " The Alpha removed his black hoodie and offered it to Harry.
"I've got a long sleeve jumper on. I dressed for the weather." Harry laughed and accepted the hoodie.
"Lead the way smart ass." She ordered again Annie giggled.
"Didn't realize you were so patriotic." Harry yawned as they made there way through the wooded area.
"Huh?" Annie nearly stumbled a second time, Harry threw her flashlight to Liam and without question directed the Omega to climb on her back.
"You were singing God Save the Queen." Harry kept the conversation going, feeling the exhaustion flooding the small pregnant girl.
"Oh, Clara said when she is nervous it helps to sing God Save the Queen." It was Harry's turn to laugh.
"Yeah, it's a good song. I know a few buddies that have me sing it when we're out in the field and they have to take a leak." Liam's words were so causal Harry almost broke down laughing, instead she stifled a giggle.
"Oh, the silly things we do to cope." Harry replied. "But it works."
"Yeah." Annie sighed resting her head on Harry's shoulder.
"And she's out." Harry stated feeling the young girls steady breathing tickling the back of her neck.
"That she is, poor thing. Would like to sit alone with her aunt, just five minutes and we'd see who was worthless." Liam growled.
The group reached the center faster than the security, Harry reluctantly handed the sleeping Omega over to the nursing staff. Liam kept close to Harry as they entered the Omega wing, several of the inhabitants were peeking out at them from behind half closed doors. The soldier didn't like the taste of fear emanating in their wake.
"It's alright Liam, they are just nervous. They haven't met you before, just keep close." The soldier nodded to the Major and kept his eyes focused ahead of him. Once they entered the infirmary the young girls uncle and Omega with green eyes and dark hair stood next to his slender wife an Alpha with red lipstick and a high red ponytail.
The woman in the white peacoat marched over to the Omega nurse who was checking the exhausted Omega's vitals. Harry could see Annie wide awake and sitting up, terror apparent in her brown eyes.
"You little slut-" That was as far as the woman got before Harry took her by the back of her neck and lead her out into the hall.
"Listen you rude bitch. Because I'm only going to say this once." Harry was exhausted and tired and in no mood for this unfeeling power hungry Alpha. It felt good to push the slender woman against the wall outside of the infirmary.
"That girl in there is pregnant, and fragile. She is an Omega and in case you haven't got the fucking memo, you are supposed to be protective of family. Seeing how incapable you are I'll help you out. Talk to her like that again and I'll make you eat your teeth. She is a child, children don't need to be called slut. And if you think what happened to her at that party was her fault, then its you who needs the damn therapy."
"Who the hell do you think you are? What do you know about it? I'll have you fired."
"I don't work here. I'm a patient. " The woman's eyes went wide. "Oh don't look at me like that. I'm just a recovering alcoholic. I'll tell you what though, the last time I thought a family member had been harmed I threatened to put a bullet in the Alpha's head. I'm feeling like this warning would be acceptable in this instance. Touch her, look at her or even speak in her general direction with anything less than kindness-"
"Major Watson stand down." Doctor Fairchild growled. The blond Alpha looked over at her therapist. Someone had been pulled out of bed, obviously to deal with Harry.
Harry reluctantly let the woman go pushing her none to gently against the wall. "I'll check on Annie." She moved out back into the room, shortly after Annie's uncle hurried out into the hall ready to depart.
"Are you okay?" Annie looked Harry over, Harry tried to swallow her anger, Liam was grinning in the corner.
"Oh, I just thought I'd have a chat." Harry pressed the pregnant girl's shoulders back onto the bed.
"Oh? She didn't hit you did she?" The Omega whispered through thin lips.
Liam snorted trying not to laugh, Harry only offered a mischievous grin. "No, Annie. She didn't. She didn't say a word. Just that she was wrong about you. And she was sorry."
"Liar." The small Omega sighed allowing the IV drugs to ease her to sleep, the nurse only smiled gratefully in Harry's direction.
"We see too much of that in here. You should get to bed you look exhausted yourself. Would you like me to clean up your cuts."
Harry shook her head, her eyes scanning the sleeping girl. "She'll be fine, the baby's heartbeat is strong. It would have been worse if she'd spent the night out there." Harry hated praise and shifted uncomfortably under the nurses kind gaze.
"I better be off." Liam followed Harry out the door smiling gently at the Omega nurse who ducked her head in a shy response.
The next morning during therapy Harry stopped Liam outside the door. "Harriet are you joining us for therapy today? I thought you had volunteer duty-" Dr. Fairchild yawned seeing the two Alphas.
"No, I was just taking Liam with me. Turns out he's great with kids." Harry waved goodbye and pulled the confused man down the hall. Doctor Fairchild only shook her head and stifled another yawn, it was too early for this.