By the time they reached the city, the snow on the roads had piled to almost two feet, and the patrol car was struggling. After they hit a massive drift a mile from town, Julie wasn't even sure they'd make it back.

They finally pulled in to find the main roads in the city had been plowed, and made their way immediately to the armory.

The Colonel was waiting for them both, arms crossed, brows lowered dangerously. Alarms went off in Julie's head. God, she was about to hear it from her dad. She'd radioed ahead as soon as they'd hit the interstate to the city, and he'd sounded pissed then, so she couldn't imagine what mood he was in now.

Mark had been quiet for the trip back, though he'd released a couple of heavy sighs, shaking his head at his own thoughts. Still feeling that it was her fault R left the plane in the first place, Julie had spent the entire trip back buried in guilt.

The sound of the car's engine was loud in the enclosed space as they came to a stop before her glowering father. Mark cut the engine and they both went to meet him, Julie keeping her gaze fixed on the oil stained floor.

John didn't even bother with formalities. "Situation?"

Julie crossed her arms. Yeah, her dad was really pissed.

"Pretty fucking bad," Mark answered honestly. "Snow's getting to two feet deep, with drifts of up to six right now. Still going strong. We can't drive around in this thing anymore," he said, hooking his thumb back to the patrol car.

The Colonel nodded. "He's been out for at least eight hours now." It wasn't a question, just a statement. Julie didn't like the way it was said.

"He's at the park somewhere," she said quickly, rubbing her arms down as she stood next to them both. "I know it. We just need the snow plow dad, that'll get us through this mess."

John Grigio turned to his daughter, "You can't have the snow plow Julie, we need it here. We have to keep the roads clear to the hospital. It's already being hit hard thanks to the weather, and you're about to head there yourself."

"I am not," Julie shot back.

The Colonel glowered at her, and glanced at Mark. "Both of you are."

"Dad, I'm-"

"We're not arguing this!" he barked, "I've been worried about you since the storm hit, and you call me not when you start searching, but when you're halfway back? And you have the nerve to tell me you're going back out when you're standing there shivering, looking as pale as a goddamn corpse? It's not happening!" He turned away from her. "Mark, kindly get yourself and my daughter to the hospital."

Julie shook her head, reaching out to stall Mark. "Dad, we can't leave R out there!"

"Julie, it's getting dark. Rowan's either found shelter, he's stable and won't be easy to find, or he's still out in it, and it's now a recovery operation, one it'd be useless to attempt at night in this weather. I can't afford to risk anyone else's life in this storm in either case."

"He's not dead!" she cried, frantic to be heard, frantic to be believed, "I know he's not dead!"

"Then keep that as a comfort. We'll send out a squad as soon as the storm lets up, no sooner. I think Mark can see the logic in that." The Colonel tilted his head at R's father.

Mark nodded slightly, though his face was pained as his shoulders slumped forward. Julie watched his resignation, then stared at her dad in disbelief.

"Oh, that's great!" she yelled, "You two can stay here and be all logical about it, I'm going out to find him!"

Turning on her heel, she stormed towards the exit, not sure what her plan was, but absolutely determined to get something, anything, that would get her out there again. If she had to hike out wearing fucking snowshoes she would do it.

"Peterson, Gimmel!" the Colonel roared angrily.

Two of the soldiers in Julie's path stepped forward.

"Escort my daughter to the hospital. Treat her as uncooperative, do not let her leave."

"Yes sir," Peterson answered, and immediately reached out for Julie's arm.

Julie jerked away quickly, and spun in place to dodge his second attempt to grab her, running straight into Gimmel. The soldier's hand closed around her arm tightly.

Gimmel gave an apologetic smirk. "Sorry Julie."

Peterson closed on her other side, and scowling, grabbed her arm so tightly she winced. The excessive force was probably because she'd made him look bad.

Julie gave an experimental tug to see if she could get free, but neither man budged. "Jesus Dad," she muttered, and let them drag her along to a nearby jeep. Peterson climbed in the back with her, and Gimmel took the wheel. As they drove away, Julie watched her dad escort Mark to the patrol car, giving Rowan's father a firm pat on the back, in what was, she guessed, a comforting gesture. Amazing how he could go from having his daughter arrested to showing some heart.

Julie sighed. Of course, she knew her dad was just worried about her, but he really needed to stop pulling this Colonel crap.

As they pulled clear of the armory, she saw something that made her sit up a little straighter in the back of the jeep. A large army green transport vehicle sitting just outside the entrance with a canvas covered cargo bed.

A Deuce. A two and a half ton monster of a truck that could flatten most snow banks with ease.

She grinned. That was going to be her ride out of here and back to the park. She glanced at Peterson. He was looking bored and a little sorry for himself, stuck as he was on babysitting duty. But he was still watching her, like a good soldier, and she knew if she made a run for it now he'd be on her in a moment.

Now was not the time.

Julie sat back and forced herself to relax, and tried not to imagine R buried in snow. A flash of an image came to her then of exactly that - R lying on his back in a foot of snow, slowly disappearing under a blanket of white.

God... stop! He's alive, I know it!

Her thoughts turned to the strange looking asshole and the odd trail that had led to his house. Jesus, he'd been such a dick. And those eyes...

She frowned. She'd been more focused on the barrel pointed at her face and R than taking a close look at the guy, but there was something seriously strange there. His eyes looked like the eyes of a corpse.

Newly living? Not quite there?

Creepy. Not very PC of her, but she didn't give a shit. The guy was an ass.

Her mind was still wandering when they pulled into the hospital, and she was stunned to find the place completely packed. Not just with people wrapped in blankets, but folks with injuries that looked a little more serious, broken bones being treated with casts, an occasional head wound. It was crazy.

"I can handle it from here guys, thanks," she snorted, trying to wrench herself free of the soldiers again, but neither was having it.

"Sorry Julie," Gimmel sighed, "We're not letting you leave."

Nora appeared from the outside hallway and walked up, dressed in a blue nurses' shift, carrying a thermometer, and wearing a strange look on her face.

"Nora!" Julie cried, relieved to see her friend. She wanted to give her a hug, but the soldiers held firm. Nora was here? This was perfect! She'd be out of the place in no time!

"Heeey," her friend said, and immediately stuck the thermometer in her mouth.

Julie blinked, "Whada?"

"I'm sorry Jules, but your dad called ahead and threatened to get me kicked off the nursing staff if I did anything funny." She sighed, "Guess he still hasn't forgiven me for sticking that gun in his back."

"Awwmaaam," Julie moaned, and rolled her eyes. Her goddamned father!

The thermometer beeped and Nora pulled it back to check the reading. Her expression grew serious, "In this case he's doing the right thing. I'd need to recheck with something a little more accurate, but your temperature is ridiculously low."

Julie sighed. She didn't have time for this.

"Nora... R is out there, I have to get to him."

Her friend's eyes softened. "I know that Jules, but you can't go like this. Let's get you warmed up. I'm not even talking for your dad right now. You need to do this for me. Okay?"

Nodding in resignation, Julie let herself be led by her friend, flanked by Peterson and Gimmel, to one of the cots crowding the largest room at the clinic. Sitting down grumpily, she dutifully accepted the wool blanket offered, a tight blood pressure cuff and the second thermometer reading.

"Jules... when's the last time you ate or had any fluids?" Nora asked, her tone suggesting she was less than impressed by the readings she was getting.

Julie frowned, and shivered into her blanket. "Um... this morning?"

Nora made an aggravated sound, and disappeared for a while, taking the thermometer and cuff with her.

Julie looked up at the two guards. "Guys, I'm the only one here with a military presence, it's a little embarrassing."

"Not just for you," Peterson shot back, looking down at her in irritation.

She gave up speaking to them, and nestled into the blanket a little more. In truth, she was starting to feel better. Clearer.

Nora reappeared with a mug of something and a couple of protein bars. "Here, drink, eat."

Rolling her eyes, she took them from her friend. "Why is the answer always protein bars... I am so sick of these things!" Then she curled her hands around the mug. It was wonderfully warm, and smelled just like... "Hot chocolate!"

Nora grinned. "You wouldn't believe how many boxes of that stuff we have here. Course, it's all out of date, but still tastes pretty good."

Taking an experimental sip, Julie smiled, "Ooh, that's so good." Then she leaned in closer and kept her voice at a whisper, "Nora... you have to get me out of here."

Gimmel bent down between them. "We can hear you," he whispered, then stood up again.

Nora smirked, "Nothing doing Jules. Warm up first. You're not going to help R by running out there and freezing to death."

"Fine," Julie muttered icily, and slurped up some more cocoa. Tears flooded her eyes unbidden. "He's alive Nora... he's not dead."

Nora held Julie's hands around the cup and her big almond eyes grew soft, "If you feel that Julie, then it's got to be true."

Julie wiped away the threatening tears and smiled. "Thanks."

Nora grinned, "Now if you'll excuse me, I've gotta do the nurse thing. I'll come back in a few, okay?"

Nodding, Julie gave her friend an appreciative smile, and returned to her cocoa, her thoughts tumbling haphazardly. How the hell was she going to get away from here, and get her hands on the Deuce? Where the hell was R? Would the keys be in the truck? Was that asshole lying when he said he hadn't seen R? Why would he lie? Jesus, when was the last time she'd driven a truck, and how the heck was she going to get it away without them noticing?

Groaning, she placed the mug on the floor under the cot and flopped down on the bed. This was ridiculous. She shouldn't be here. She should be out there finding R.

The warmth from the cocoa was spreading, easing her shivers and bringing feeling back to her fingers, and she sighed, pulling the woolen blanket up around her chin. Maybe she'd just rest for a minute or two, make the guards think she'd dropped off, then she'd be able to get out of here.

Yawning widely, Julie closed her eyes, enjoying the delicious warmth building up inside. As her mind slipped away to true sleep, her thoughts wandered back to the plane, to the words R had said, to the thing he had given her to explain it all.

The little brown bear.

Gem2422 - thanks so much for the review. :) Yep, poor R is having it a bit rough, and he does deserve a break. That's all I can really say about that at the moment. %)

The next chapter is huge, so it's going to take a little while to prepare. Hoping to get it up tonight, but we'll see.

Previous chapter was one of the confronting ones btw. Evan is a very sick boy. You'll see why in the next one.

If you've got a moment, let me know what you think of the story so far with a review, or a PM. Thanks :D