Title: Hold Tight
author: Cindy Ryan
notes and summary see part one

"We have a location on the boy."A blond man reported into a cell phone.

"The parents lied to local authorities?"The Major returned as she turned on the light in her new penthouse bedroom. "Interesting."

"The boy took a bus to a town near the Catskill mountains."The man explained. "We have teams ready to move."

"Send two."The Major ordered. "This may be our best chance."

"Yes, Ma'am."The man acknowledged.

The woman ended the call and settled back into bed. As she turned off the light the woman thought that this day may be the one they've waited for.

By dawn Ben wasn't sure how much more he could take. He and Michaela had come up with a plan and a search grid. She and Jared would start with the woods on one side of town and Ben and Grace would take the other. Ben used the courthouse in his son's drawing as a focal point and headed north out of town from there.

An hour later Ben was almost certain they were lost. They'd back tracked and turned so many times that he wasn't sure which way they'd come.

In the early morning Jared was kicking himself mentally for not bringing warmer clothing. Michaela had a pair of gloves, dress gloves really. Leather something you wore with a business work attire coat. Nothing that held real warmth. Their coats were for fall weather not a foot search in the mountains. Jared knew the conditions were affecting his fiance though he knew she'd never admit it. Not until they found Cal and brought him home and maybe not even then. She was shivering and wrapping her arms around her torso as she walked tucking her hands under her armpits.

Jared also knew from experience how long it took ribs to heal. If Michaela lost her footing or tripped over a rock or a log she could re injure it. That would put added stress on the pregnancy. He tried to shove the worries aside. Knew Michaela wouldn't take any unnecessary risks. However, Jared also knew how much his finance loved her family. She'd do anything to get Cal home faster. That was half the reason they were on foot now instead of in the SUV. They were approaching a series of low hills now covered in moss and leaves.

"Mic, maybe we should head back and try another route. Nothing is looking like Cal's drawing."Jared suggested.

"I know but this is familiar."Michaela replied softly.

"Familiar?"Jared asked with a frown. "How?"

"From my Callings."Michaela explained. "Let's go a little while longer."

"Okay."Jared agreed reluctantly.

Grace was never so happy to see a radio antenna in her life as she was that morning. She saw it out of the corner of her eye and nearly jumped out of her seat.

"Stop!"Grace yelled causing Ben to slam on the brakes of the borrowed truck. "Ben! We found it!"

Ben backed the truck up and saw what had gotten Grace's attention. He also saw a dirt and gravel path that the truck just might fit on. As he followed the path with his eyes in the dim light Ben saw the cabin.

"Thank God."Ben exclaimed.

Ben drove as fast as he dared up the narrow gravel path. He had barely brought the truck to a stop before Grace had unbuckled her seatbelt and was out the door.

"Grace!"Ben shouted as he parked the vehicle and yanked out the keys. "Wait!"

Ben had just caught up to his wife as she shoved open the cabin's front door. There sitting on the floor leaning back against an age old plaid sofa was Cal. He had his knees pulled to his chest and was shivering. Ben's knees nearly buckled from relief.

"Cal!"Grace shouted as she ran to her son dropping to her knees next to him. "Sweetie, are you alright?"

"Yes, just cold."The boy responded through chattering teeth.

Ben instantly took his jacket off and wrapped it around his son. He rubbed the boy's arms.

"Cal, why are you here? Was it a Calling?"Ben asked anxiously.

Cal nodded.

"Why didn't you tell us?"Grace demanded.

"I don't know."Cal replied tiredly. "I just knew I had to come. Knew it was important."

"Why, Cal?"Ben pressed. "Why was it important?"

"I had to be here when he came."Cal explained.

"He who?"Grace asked gently.

"I don't know just that he needs help."The boy replied.

It was only then that Ben noticed all the gear Cal had brought. Sleeping bags, blankets, medical supplies.

"You're okay and that's all that matters."Ben commented as he placed a kiss to his son's forehead. "Let's get a fire going and get you warmed up. Then I'll call your Aunt and let her know you're safe."

As Ben built the fire in the fireplace he hit the speed dial for his sister on his cell phone. Ben was grateful Cal was safe and unhurt. Anything else they'd deal with.

The closer Michaela got to the hills the more familiar the area felt. It was a weird version of deja vu. She knew she'd never been here before except in her Callings. Suddenly there was a sound to Michaela's right and she whirled aiming the flashlight in that direction. As if dropped by a movie special effect a man stumbled into her path. He was dirty, had shaggy brown hair and a thick beard. The instant their eyes met Michaela knew it was his voice in the Callings.

The stranger took several more steps toward her his eyes now pleading. Michaela heard Jared scramble behind struggling on the wet leaves to reach her as fast as possible.

"You."The stranger rasped his voice barely audible. "You..."

"NYPD!"Jared thundered as he raised his weapon. "Stop. What are you doing out here at this time of day?"

The stranger sent another pleading look to Michaela then he staggered. Before she or Jared could move the stranger collapsed unconscious at their feet.