Mike swore visibility was becoming worse by the minute.

Between the darkness and the thick fog ahead, he had a hard time seeing the driveway. Thankfully, despite his body slowing down from the injuries sustained, Steve seemed to know how to skillfully steer the Galaxy through it all.

After a brief inventory of the car, ensuring that all tires were ok, gas was still in the tank and no possible damage had been done to prevent their escape; they'd started their slow, but steady retreat down the two-track and toward civilization with a distinctive feeling of terror weighing down their weary souls.

Steve had been unusually quiet and Mike figured that part of it had to do with him hurting. The other part, he sensed, had a lot more to do with what happened between him and Danny. And he would dig into that matter as soon as possible.

"You know, the cavalry never arrived…", the young Inspector muttered disappointedly, his eyes sternly focused on the road ahead.

Mike pursed his lips, having thought about the same thing, but unwilling to bring it up, fearing that his worst fears about the outcome of Danny and Roy's dangerous getaway with their two victims may have come true.

"If one of the wrecker guys would have picked the kids up, they would have brought them back to the house…"

Hoping that his voice sounded convincing enough, Mike glanced back out of the windshield, his eyes getting tired from staring at the wall of dark gray matter surrounding the car, as they tried to clear the thick fog bank.

In these conditions, even the headlights barely went beyond sixty feet.

"Or killed them on the spot and hid them…"

"Nah, I don't buy that for one minute. Throwing away four perfectly good bodies…those guys would be too greedy for that."

"So, what do you think happened? They abandoned us? Got busy writing up a news story?"

Looking over at Steve when the young man raised his voice, Mike furrowed his brows before shaking his head decisively.

"Easy now…", he cautioned and reached over to pat his injured shoulder, "Save your energy for driving. If anything, I think they may have wanted to be extra cautious. Maybe they thought somebody was following them and they went into hiding for a while. If all goes well, we should be back in town in an hour, hour and a half. I'll give DeWitt a call as soon as we hit the first phone booth."

Accepting the theory for now, Steve finally nodded and fell quiet again.

Mike kept his eyes on the young Inspector for a few more moments, noting his pale features against the reflection of the headlights along with the thin layer of perspiration that was beginning to form on his forehead. Absent-mindedly fidgeting with the handful of bandages they'd taken from the doctor's closet, Mike feared he might end up having to tape up his deteriorating partner before they'd return to the safety of civilization.

The same might come true for his battered shoulder that was beginning to bother him more by the hour. Figuring that he'd taken in a half dozen or so shotgun pellets, Mike cringed at the sight his upper arm and back would be at the moment. At least for now, his body, fueled by his stubborn mind, refused to slow down.

He woke up from his day dreaming when he heard Steve clear his throat, his eyes squinting against the little bit of light ahead.

"Mike, I think you were right about the tow truck drivers."

"How so?"

"Well…", hesitating for a moment to blink his eyes shut before staring straight ahead again, Steve, sighed as he slowed the Galaxy down noticeably, "Because either they caught our friends and are bringing them back as we speak, or somebody is stopping by for a welfare visit. Either way, there's a truck coming our way."