Chloe was pacing in complete darkness when Amenadiel returned, and started wringing her hands when he lowered beside her gently.
Because Amenadiel was frowning.
Charlie was getting fussy, squirming in his pack. Unclasping the buckles, Amenadiel pulled him out and grabbed a bottle from a side pocket before cradling his son and feeding him.
But his enormous tawny wings were still out while he did so. The sight of a celestial angel - even one dressed in jeans and a jacket - holding and feeding a baby, wiped every single thought from Chloe's mind.
She simply stared for a moment, her mouth parted softly.
Then she shook her head sharply at herself as her fears returned in strength.
Was Amenadiel frowning because of Charlie or because of Lucifer?
"So?"
"He hasn't returned to your site," Amenadiel murmured, tilting the bottle as Charlie drank it down quickly.
"Dammit." She resumed pacing, walking back and forth behind the car with the license plate that had worried her so much. "Dammit!"
"I did the whole flight, back and forth, twice. Even stepped into a couple of bars in town. I didn't see anything."
Amenadiel wouldn't meet her eye. Why?
"You sound worried."
The frown deepened, and he tenderly lifted his son to his shoulder to burp him as he tucked the bottle away. "I'm a little concerned."
"Oh my god," Chloe groaned, grasping her head as she paced. "I feel useless! I can't do anything! I have no cell service, no way to track whoever belongs to this car, and Lucifer's somewhere in there, possibly hurt," she pointed at the wall of trees and the trailhead plastered with notices before them, "in a park the size of Los Angeles!"
There was a click of plastic buckles, and Amenadiel rested a warm hand on her shoulder as he adjusted his son's pack against his chest.
"I have to take Charlie back, Chloe, but I'm going to return with someone who can find anyone, okay?"
She nodded, feeling tears threatening again, but she rubbed at her temple to stop them. "Okay. I'll wait here."
"Do you have enough food and water?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'll wait. Just... don't take too long?"
He smiled. "I won't."
"Bye Charlie," she murmured, trying to muster a smile of her own, before they were in the air, and gone.
She turned towards the dark mouth of the trailhead.
The urge was strong to grab her gun and head in. To find him by following her gut.
But it was really dark, and she said she'd wait.
She didn't want to wait.
Perhaps she could start in now, maybe...
Chloe sighed, and shook her head at herself.
No. She'd just get lost herself. And he was probably off trail which would make it even more impossible.
What if he's dying right now?
"Oh, shut up."
What if he's dead?
"Oh God." She steepled her hands in front of her mouth and tried to do something she'd attempted a few times now.
Lucifer, please answer me. Where are you? I can't find you and I'm really worried. I need you to be okay. Please.
Then she waited, as the moon finally breached the trees to her right, illuminating everything in pale blue light.
But no answer came.
She stared up at that moon, and sighed.
"Lucifer, where are you?"
Thanks for the comments/reviews! I love hearing from readers :)
Sorry about the short update - the next chapter is much, much longer. I'll likely post it tomorrow.
It gives a glimpse of a certain major event in Lucifer's life... aaaand features a rather large creature... o.O
