The weather was warm, the animals out whenever they could, tourists milling in and out of the lodge, and the campgrounds.
Summer was in full swing at Piston Peak and for the Air Attack Base that could mean many things, from spotfires, to hitting the lake on their down time… or since Blade would be up later checking for spotfires, CHoPs almost every night.
It also meant for Hailey getting to go hiking whenever she was able, be with her father, or anyone else. It was different depending on who she was with.
With Blade, there was always a lot of talking and joking around between the girl and her father. It usually wound up with him showing her things, what plants were okay to try to eat, and what animals not to bother. These almost always ended with her being carried back exhausted from chasing after her dad all day.
With Drip and the Smoke Jumpers, the woods usually were the cover for some plot to get Maru good or anyone else on the team for that matter. What turned into ducking for cover was an impromptu hike as… even sometimes the Smoke Jumpers themselves got a little turned around in the forest. If Dynamite or Pinecone was with her it was usually quiet or talking about movies or books. Sometimes if Hailey got lucky there was marshmallows snuck out of Windlifter's stash.
With Windlifter himself, they were quiet. Windlifter also making sure to teach her about the woods around her, but more so the spiritual side of it all. Telling her old tribal stories or occasionally singing songs his mother had sang to him as a child.
Dipper didn't leave base normally unless she had to, so if she was heading out for a hike, it usually meant the lake would be involved somehow or needing to get away from the boys.
Maru… Almost never left base. If Hailey went on one with the mechanic it was usually spent listening to him vent and sometimes playing a few tricks on him like hiding for a few seconds just long enough to make him turn around before springing on him. And Cabbie… Well, it was rare period.
But right now, Hailey was by herself for the most part, wandering the forest. She wasn't really alone. No, she always had Nick by her side, regardless if she was with her family or not. He always kept an eye out for her when she wandered off base.
"Don't go too far Hailey." Nick warned her as he kept a steady pace with the now nine year old, chuckling as she spun around.
She had grown a little and the pale complexion he had known her for was starting to fade for a tan that was staying around longer and longer. Her hair was still long and currently swept back in a ponytail.
"You're just slow!" She shot back, giggling before breaking into a run. "C'mon, catch me if you can!"
"HAILEY!" Nick laughed, breaking into a sprint after his niece. "C'mere you!"
"No! You gotta catch me first!" She squealed, running around a few trees grinning when she heard a THUD.
"OOF!"
Oi-vay… Forgot I wasn't intangible.
Hailey looked back at the Remembered and giggled. "Silly."
"Oh I'm silly?" Nick mock challenged. "I'M the silly one?"
Hailey pretended to think deeply for a moment and grinned. "Yep. The silliest of the silly!"
"Oh I'll show you!" He scooped her up spinning her around. Hailey squealed hugging him tightly. "If I'm silly then you are too kiddo."
"Hee…" Hailey smiled, nuzzling, happy to be with her favorite uncle. While she loved everyone else and was close with all of her "aunts and uncles" she and Nick had a closer bond. He was almost always there for her. She loved spending time with him and playing with him.
Nick smiled softly nuzzling back. He loved his little niece. Seeing her starting to grow up, learning about the place she was growing up in. It was something he didn't think he'd ever get to do when he had died. But fate proved him wrong when Hailey came into the picture.
"Love you so much Little Spitfire."
"I love you too!"
He hugged her one last time before setting her down, offering her a hand. "How about we head down to the river?" He suggested as Hailey grabbed onto his hand.
"Okay! Can we catch frogs?"
Nick chuckled. For a little girl who loved dresses and frills, she could get rough and not care if she came home covered in grime and mud as long as she had fun. "Sure thing, but no stickin' 'em in Maru's bed again. He nearly had a stroke!"
"But it was funny."
He shook his head leading her along.
"Just remember to be gentle. You have to be nice to all the animals, even the ones that creep you out."
Hailey frowned a little, there was some animals that scared her out of her mind. "E-Even snakes…? And spiders…?" She asked softly, looking up at the spirit with a nervous look.
"Snakes, only the harmless ones, leave 'em be, they'll leave you be… and spiders…" Nick grinned ruffling her hair. "That's what good ol'Nick is for! They won't bother you long as I'm here cause if they try… SPLAT!"
Hailey relaxed hearing that, hugging his arm. "Good... "
Once they reached the river bank, Nick let go of her hand letting her run around and look around. It seemed catching frogs was forgotten as she was trying to follow a few dragon flies around. Nick stood off to the side against a tree, watching her. She was a handful sometimes, but she was his niece.
He closed his eyes for a moment. Hailey would stay nearby, she knew better.
The girl grew bored of her game with the dragonflies, looking around, turning over some stones, squealing and jumping back when some bugs crawled out.
"Yuck!" She whispered before stopping hearing a strange sound.
"Huh?"
She looked around seeing nothing stepping back… Unknowingly stepping on exactly what was making the sound.
There was a hiss before a sharp pain in her ankle as she cried out. "OW!" She looked down to see what had gotten her and her eyes went wide. "NICK!"
Nick was by her side in an instant. "What happened!? What's-" He followed her terrified gaze and gasped.
There was a rattle snake holding onto her ankle, it had bit her and it was still holding on.
No! "LET GO!" Nick whacked at it as it hissed at him letting go and slithering away. Hailey burst into tears as soon as it was gone.
"It hurts…" She whimpered, Nick's gaze softened as he pulled her into his arms.
"Shh… I'm gonna get you home… We're gonna get you help… But you gotta calm down…" Think back to all those books Blade had about rattlesnake venom…. She's gotta be calm. Faster her heart pumps, the faster the venom is gonna go through her system… and since she's a kid… It's even more dangerous….
Hailey sniffled, clinging to him, sobbing. "I want my daddy!"
"I know sweetheart, I know…" Nick took off into the air. Time was of the essence. It took two and a half hours to get to where they were now… But that was by walking, and he was not going to waste a second if he could. "Focus on something else… Tell me, what do you want for Christmas this year?" Keep her awake… Keep her calm….
"I...I…" Hailey whimpered, cringing. The pain was horrible, she hadn't felt anything like it before. "I want a turtle…"
"A turtle huh?"
"Ahuh… A two headed turtle…"
Atta girl… "Two headed? Well they say two heads are better than one…" Nick cut himself off as he saw the base come into view. He turned invisible setting Hailey down at the entrance. "Stay put. I'm gonna get your dad." He told the girl, squeezing her hand.
Hailey nodded. "Okay…" Daddy…. I want my daddy….
Nick hurried looking high and low for the chief. C'mon….
He finally found Blade asleep, his hat resting over his eyes. Nick growled a bit before grabbing his head, synching thoughts with him as he was pulled into his dream.
He found himself on the set of CHoPs once more and Blade was in his old uniform again, looking pretty annoyed. He realized he was holding Blade's helmet.
"There you are! Give that back!" He growled.
… This dream is under new management. Nick thought as he slammed the helmet into the ground, putting his foot on it. "FORGET THE FREAKIN' HAT! Wake up! It's an emergency!"
"What?" Blade frowned. "What emergency?"
Nick narrowed his eyes. "It's Hailey… She needs her dad. She needs you, NOW!"
"Hailey…!?" Blade closed his eyes. "No… No… HAILEY!"
The ground shook as Nick fell back as the dream faded, finding himself still invisible but outside the dream now and Blade was awake, jumping up with a start, knocking his hat to the ground. "Hailey…?"
He got up and hurried, calling out her name. "HAILEY!? Hailey where are you!?"
"DADDY!" Hailey screamed from where she was. "I'm here! HELP!"
Blade broke into a run to the entrance eyes widening when he saw his daughter. He knelt by her side looking her over. "What happened? Where's it hurt?"
She pointed to her ankle sniffling. "I got bit… b-by a rattle snake…"
Blade's eyes grew wide as he scooped her up into his arms, keeping a calm composure. Inside, he was terrified for his daughter's life. How long ago did it happen? If it's caught within the first two hours she'll be just fine… But past that… He thought as he radioed Maru. "Maru, this is Blade, we have an emergency."
"What's going on?"
"Hailey got bit by a rattlesnake."
"Bring her in, I'll be ready."
Soon enough, Hailey was in the repair shop as Maru worked on her, giving her the antivenom and treating the injury. Hailey held onto her father's arm, whimpering a little.
"Shh… It's okay Little Spitfire… I'm here…"
"We got ya Hailey… You're gonna be just fine…" Maru assured as he finished up, wrapping her ankle in gauze to keep the bite clean. "Just be sure to rest… Lots of it… Plenty of water…"
Hailey nodded, as did Blade, the girl huddling closer to her father. "Daddy…"
"You're okay Hailey…" Blade whispered. kissing her head.
"It was an accident… I wasn't bein' mean to that stupid snake…" Hailey said, feeling a mix of guilt and fear from it all.
"We know…. They don't know what their biting…"
"Got lucky… Like you had a guardian angel…" Maru added, giving the girl's vitals a once over to be sure. Pulse is still faster than I'd like it to be, but she's still freaked out… So that's expected. Heartrate's good… Breathing too… She's stable… "There… All done…"
"Thank you." Blade said, sighing in relief. Hailey relaxed more, cuddling close to her father.
"Just make sure to get rest like I said, okay? Strictly your bed or the couch. No running around, no mischief, none of the usual Hailey chaos, okay?"
"Okay Uncle Maru… Wuv you.."
Maru's look softened as he held her hand for a moment. "I love you too Hailey…"
Hailey smiled a little, closing her eyes. "I'm tired…"
Blade scooped her up, holding her close. "Let's get you to bed then… She's alright to leave the workshop?"
"Yep, just remember rest and lots of water, she needs it… and bring her by in the morning for a checkup to keep an eye on things."
"Got it." Blade nodded, carrying her off, Hailey waving a little over his shoulder.
Nick sighed in relief, keeping unseen as he followed the two. Blade got Hailey straight to her bed, tucking her in with her toy helicopter. The little girl drifted off almost instantly, curling up.
Blade sighed in relief, sitting on the edge of her bed. "Thank goodness…" He whispered. That was far too close… I… I could've lost her…
I wouldn't forgive myself if something happened to her…
Nick frowned, watching his friend, squeezing his shoulder, keeping out of sight.
"She's okay…." He thought he heard someone whisper. Blade looked around, putting his hand to his shoulder, feeling it. "Strange…" He murmured before looking at his daughter, smiling a bit. He kissed her forehead before heading out turning off her light.
"Sleep well Hailey…"
Hailey was back to her old self within a few days, Maru giving her a clean bill of health.
"Seriously, that girl has to have a guardian angel watching over her… She's lucky."
Blade chuckled, watching his daughter run around, chasing a soccer ball. "Very lucky… Now if you'll excuse me… I think she's getting too good at that…"
Maru laughed as Blade charged over, kicking the ball as Hailey squealed.
"DAAAADDDY!" She laughed chasing after it.
"C'mon, can't let you have all the fun!"
Nick smiled from his perch, watching the two play.
This right here… is why being a Remembered is worth it… My best friend and my little niece…
He ducked as the soccer ball bounced off the tree he was in.
Though soccer was never Blade's sport.