I'm back! I'm so sorry for the huge delays with this story, but I will try to get a few chapters written this summer. This particular storyline that began in the last chapter will be a three or four parter, so it will not conclude in this chapter. I strongly recommend re-reading the previous chapter as a refresher. Also, there is direct dialogue from the season 2 episode "Surprise Me" and a little tidbit from the season 1 episode "Homecoming" (thanks to a reader for catching that I had the wrong episode on there before!) See if you can find them! As usual, I write mostly fluff. You've been warned. I also don't own Good Witch because if I did, we would have WAY more episodes. Enjoy!
The next couple of days included a flurry of activity at Grey House. Will was busy getting ready for his camping trip, and Cassie and Sam were preparing for a couple of days at the lake house. To top it all off, Grace, Luke, and Kinley were staying at Grey House while their kitchen was being renovated.
"Mom! Have you seen the lantern? It's supposed to be with our emergency supplies, but I don't see it!" Will yelled.
Cassie, who was busy making cookies with Kinley, wiped her hands on a towel and walked the few feet outside the kitchen to where her son was digging through the closet. "I don't know, Will," she said softly, startling him so much that he hit his head, "Did you check in the box?"
He rubbed his head before rummaging through the box again. "I did just a second ago, and it's not…" he said, stopping when he pulled the lantern out. Will turned around, looking at her questioningly. She just smiled and walked back to the kitchen to help Kinley roll out the rest of the dough.
Will shook his head and laughed. Swinging the lantern back and forth in his hands, he walked into the living room and added it to his growing pile of supplies.
"Hey, little bro," Grace said as she walked into the room. "Have you gotten all of your stuff together yet?"
Will surveyed the supplies and glanced down at the list he held in his hands. "I think so. I hope I'm not forgetting anything," he said with a frown. Grace laughed and gave him a quick side hug.
"You are one of the most organized kids I have ever known. I'm sure you have everything. Besides, you're not going too far out of town, and they probably have cell service. If you need anything, just give me a call and either Luke or I will bring it out to you."
Will breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Grace."
"Now," Grace said, picking up the list and perusing it, "Why on earth would you need your microscope on a camping trip?" she teased.
Will grabbed his list away from her, making her smile grow larger. "There are a lot of different ways I can use my microscope! I can use it to look at water samples, dirt, and even pieces of animal fur if I find them!" he said with a frown.
Grace patted him on the shoulder. "I'm sure you can, little bro. Sounds perfect for you." She glanced around at the objects Will had gathered until she spotted Sam's old doctor's bag that her mom had replaced at Christmas last year. "What's in here?" she asked her brother, unzipping the top and peering inside.
Will glanced over to where she was standing. "Oh, it's basically a giant first aid kit. I went to Dad's office yesterday after school and he let me pick through some things to bring with me on the trip."
Grace rifled through the bag. She spotted gauze, tape, scissors, splints, Band-Aids, antiseptic, snake bite kits, tweezers, wraps, and a lot of things she didn't have names for. "Do you really think you're going to need all of this?" she asked, looking over at him.
Will shrugged. "It's better to be safe than sorry!"
Grace could tell that he was starting to get a little frustrated with her questioning, so she decided to leave him to his packing. "Make sure you come say goodbye before you leave," she said, playfully nudging his shoulder. Will nodded and she grinned at him before walking into the kitchen to find Cassie and Kinley.
Walking toward her mom, she jabbed her thumb in the direction of the living room, and speaking in a low voice said, "That boy is prepared to go on an expedition. It seems like a bit of overkill for a couple of nights in the woods, an hour from home."
Cassie laughed softly and nodded her head. "It's true. I hope he can turn that brain of his off for a little while and just enjoy nature," she said, putting a tray of cookies into the oven. "I worry that he's a little too interested in science at times and that he forgets to listen to his own instincts." Cassie suddenly frowned, shooting a look toward the living room, where her son was still trying to pack.
"Mom?" Grace said, putting her hand on Cassie's shoulder. "Is everything alright?"
"I...think so," Cassie said hesitantly. "I just got a strange feeling, but I'm not sure how to interpret it. I felt it at the store the other day, too."
"About Will?" Grace asked quietly. Cassie nodded.
Just then, Sam walked into the kitchen carrying his and Cassie's bags for their trip. He glanced back into the living room. "Did you see all that stuff Will is packing for his trip? Do you think he'll leave the kitchen sink behind?" he asked with a slight smirk. Cassie and Grace laughed softly.
"That's our boy," she said with a grin and a wink. "He's adventurous and prepared."
Sam threw his head back and laughed. "A rare combination," he said with a grin, giving Cassie a quick kiss.
Grace smiled and turned toward the almost two year old at the counter. "Well, Kinny," she said, picking up her daughter and walking toward the stairs. "It looks like the cookies will be done in a bit. Let's go give you a quick bath and let Gamma and Paw-Paw finish getting ready for their trip." She gave her mom and Sam a quick smile before heading upstairs. "Don't forget to pack wine for the lake house! We finished it all the last time we were there," she called from the stairs.
Sam chuckled and wrapped his arm around Cassie's shoulders. He started to say something when he noticed she was staring toward the living room. "Are you okay? You seem a little...flapped," he quipped.
Cassie sighed and blinked, turning to look at him. "I have an odd feeling about Will, and I don't know what it means."
Sam looked concerned. "Is it a bad feeling? Do we need to cancel our trips and keep him home? We could always bring him to the lake house with us-make it a family trip," he said with a slight frown. He and Cassie had been looking forward to some much-needed alone time together. They loved having Grace and her family stay with them, but that, along with having a preteen son and running successful businesses and a medical practice, meant they hadn't had much time for each other lately.
Cassie shook her head. "I think this is just one of those situations that needs to be played out. We just have to hope for the best," she said with a sigh.
When the time finally came for Will to be picked up, Cassie gave him a hug and put her hands on his shoulders so he would look up at her. "Be careful, and make sure you are paying attention to everything around you, not just scientific things," she said with a smile. He nodded before giving Sam a quick hug.
"Don't forget what we said about listening to Matt's parents, and give us or Grace a call if you need anything," Sam reminded his son.
"I will, Dad, I promise. I'll see you guys on Sunday afternoon!" he said with a grin as he ran to the car.
Cassie wrapped her arm around Sam's waist as they watched the car pull away. Sam looked down at her. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.
She smiled up at him and nodded. "I'm sure it will be fine. Like I said, it's just a weird feeling. Anyway, he's starting his adventure, so we should start ours! Let's go!" she said with a grin, pulling him toward the pre-packed car.
Stealing one last quizzical glance at the car in the distance, she slid in the passenger side door of Sam's car. He'll be fine, she thought to herself. But then again, I've been wrong before.
(TO BE CONTINUED again! I promise it won't be 9 months between chapters this time. :) )