Chapter Thirty-Seven: No Escape

Natalie couldn't believe what she was watching. It just didn't seem real to her. Natalie was watching breaking live news coverage on CNN of Blair and Jo in the living room along with Tootie, Beverly Ann, Andy, and Pippa.

Beverly Ann, was sitting with Natalie and Andy on the sofa while Tootie stood behind them and Pippa sat in a chair. She wrung her hands in fear, tears running down her cheeks as everyone watched the live news report.

"I wish they had called us," she said, weeping. "We could've helped them. Oh my God…those poor babies. Jo and Blair must be scared out of their minds."

They all helplessly stared at the TV of the two women speeding through the Arizona desert in Jo's convertible. According to the report, they were only fifty feet away from the Grand Canyon, with thousands of feet going straight down. Right behind them, were several law enforcement along with the FBI..

The reporter continued on about Lee Kincaid's death and the convenience store robbery as the coverage rolled on.

Tootie's insides quaked and her palms began to sweat profusely as she remembered Rollins telling her and Natalie the story of Jo's horrible past. All of the last few days of stress began to build up in Tootie and she wasn't sure how much more she could take.

"I don't think I can watch much more of this," she said, storming up the stairs. "It's all too much for me."

Natalie couldn't help but agree. Watching two of her very dear friends involved in a car chase was too much for her to handle but unlike Tootie, Natalie had to see the outcome.

"As horrifying as this is, you still gotta admit that this is pretty fucking badass," Andy mused.

"Andy! Language!" Beverly Ann admonished.

"What? It's true! Who would've thought Jo and Blair would be trying escape the law and have two states and the FBI hot on their tails?"

"But it's still dangerous! Someone could get killed! And why don't they just turn themselves in? I'm sure this all is just a misunderstanding!" Beverly Ann shrieked. "Whatever happened, I'm sure was just an accident or something! We all should know that Jo nor Blair would deliberately get themselves involved in something like this!"

She then broke out with in a long sob, covering her face with her hands. "Just turn the damn thing off. I don't want to see anymore. I just...ugh...I know Monica, Rose, David, and Charlie have to all be besides themselves now."

"Now, Beverly Ann, now's not the time to be so crook," Pippa assured softly. "Don't go all round the twist - apples, they'll be. I just know it."

Natalie groaned in frustration. "Andy, tell your girlfriend here to either shut the fuck up or talk like a fucking Yankee like the rest of us!" She snapped, rising to her feet.

"Hey, don't talk about Pippa like that, OK?! Lay off her, will you? She didn't do anything wrong!" Andy roared, immediately running over to Natalie to defend his girlfriend, his nostrils flaring.

For a few moments, Natalie and Andy only glared at each other. It was Natalie who broke away from Andy's angry eye contact.

"This is so ridiculous!" She exclaimed. "What am I doing?! Jo and Blair are out in Arizona with two state police departments and the FBI hot on their tails and I'm arguing here with Andy about his Australian girlfriend's speech!"

Natalie sighed tiredly. "You're right, Andy. Pippa didn't do anything wrong. I know she's only trying to comfort Beverly Ann in her own way. I'm sorry. It's just that I feel so helpless right now. Two of my best friends are in danger, miles away from home and there's absolutely nothing we can do to help them...it's too much. I know it's no excuse but...I'm sorry."

Andy only nodded. "You know, you're right, too, Natalie," he admitted. "There's nothing we can do to help them." He took a look around the room at the anguished faces of Pippa, Beverly Ann and Natalie. He then took a deep breath and spoke. "And I know to hear that sucks but it's the truth. The only thing right now that we can do is have faith...and also how to live with ourselves no matter what their outcome will be."

"Wow...Andy...that's pretty profound," Pippa remarked, walking over to him. She linked arms with him and rested her head on his shoulder.

Beverly Ann nodded her agreement. "Absolutely," she replied, wiping the tears from her eyes. "I'm going to see about Tootie...see if I can try to comfort her." She then affectionately squeezed her adopted son's arm. "I'm so proud of you, Andy," she softly added.

She then raced upstairs to find Tootie.

Natalie, Andy, and Pippa remained quiet.

"So...now what?" Pippa questioned, breaking the silence.

"Nothing," Natalie answered, tears flowing down her face. "We do nothing."

Blair didn't think she'd seen so many police in all her life. It looked like the United States Army had decided to follow her and Jo all across the desert, from every direction, although none of the police were in front of them.

Blair cast a quick glance at Jo, who was continuing to keep her eyes on the road and her foot on the gas pedal determinedly.

As Blair turned her head forward, she then gasped suddenly and loudly.

"Jo!" She exclaimed.

Jo jumped in alarm, slamming on the brakes abruptly. "What!?" she asked, her heart pounding hard in her chest.

"Look, Jo, look!" Blair exclaimed, pointing off in the distance.

"Where!?" Jo asked, looking around frantically at their surroundings. "I don't see anythin'."

"Way up ahead, Jo! Don't you see it? Look!"

Jo followed Blair's pointing finger, straining her eyes to take a look, When she realized what it was, she gasped breathlessly. suddenly feeling herself start to cry.

"Oh my God!" She finally said, nervous laughter bursting out of her mouth. "Blair..."

"Jo...what?" Blair asked, concern etched across her face at the tears on Jo's face combined with her laughter.

"Blair, this is the goddamn Grand Canyon!" Jo informed her.

Blair gawped in amazement, her jaw agape. I've never seen anything like it! She thought. It's...

"It's...beautiful," she said in awe.

Jo couldn't help but get emotional. She'd never been to the Grand Canyon before. She remembered her father promising they'd all go one day on a camping trip. But that was before her parents split and he'd gotten himself locked up. Now here she was looking at it for the first time with the police after her as a fugitive. It was all so overwhelming.

"Yeah...it really is somethin'," she muttered, letting the tears flow freely as she looked across the canyon. This is it. There's really no escape for us now, she thought. Cops behind us and now this. If we go any further, we're gonna be goners. No matter where we go, we're goners.

Blair and Jo cast nervous looks at each other, both beginning to feel a certain uneasiness in the air. Suddenly, a loud noise seemed to rumble up from out of nowhere, startling the two women from their silent communication. Dust suddenly blew from all around them along with a large gust of wind. From out of the Grand Canyon, a helicopter rose up in front of their very eyes.