13th November 1968

By now, Clancy had fully settled in at Waratah Park, and had sorted a daily routine. She helped Mark with breakfast around six o'clock, ate, did her piano practice, and started on some schoolwork. From ten to eleven she made sure to get some exercise, whether it be taking Bullet for a ride or going for a walk with Sonny. Clancy would complete her daily schoolwork after that, and just help around headquarters after that.

Clancy was just dismounting Bullet when she saw Jerry getting ready to do some fire spotting in his helicopter. Sonny sat dejectedly on the ground with Skippy, annoyed that he wasn't allowed to go. By the time she had finished putting Bullet away, the young boy was hiding under a blanket on the helicopter and Mark was carrying something towards the aircraft. Clancy giggled to herself and scampered over towards the helicopter. Knowing Mark wouldn't tell Matt, she hummed, tilting her head towards the blanket and widening her eyes. Mark gave her a small and curious smile, and then spotted Skippy's tail hanging out. He gave her a look, and she simply smiled innocently back.

Matt and Jerry crossed over, talking together about something among themselves. "Anyone seen Sonny?"

"Uh, no, Dad," Mark stammered, looking at Clancy nervously for help. "Not Sonny…"

Clancy couldn't contain her grin. "He could be at the sick bay?"

Mark looked away uneasily as Matt slowly looked down at Skippy's tail. He lifted the blanket in one swift move, causing Sonny to stare up at him in surprise.

"What were you trying to do, huh?" Matt asked calmly, taking his hand and standing his son up. "Frighten the life out of me? Get yourself killed?"

"I'm sorry, Dad, but Jerry gets all the fun!" Sonny sighed.

Jerry moved to sit inside the helicopter. "Fire spotting can be pretty dull, Sonny."

"Not as dull as doing nothing." Sonny muttered as Jerry flew off. Matt ruffled his hair before leaving for the house.

Mark and Clancy looked at each other, then back at the little boy sympathetically. Sonny was already running off with Skippy into the bush, and probably wouldn't return for hours.

"Can we come too?" Clancy asked, running to catch up with him.

Sonny paused and shook his head. "No, it's a secret cave."

"Well I don't know about Clancy," Mark smirked and kneeled down to his brother's height. "But I can keep a secret…"

Sonny ran forward, his grin never faltering. Mark followed after him, trying to make Clancy laugh by cracking jokes. Her attention was piqued when she saw a bush of pink roses. Kneeling beside them, she stared in awe at how beautiful they were.

"Come on, Clancy." Mark folded his arms, glancing at Sonny who was getting impatient.

"But the colours!"

Mark grabbed her hand and helped her to stand. "Come on, you can look at them later. We're trying to cheer Sonny up, remember?" He hissed.

Clancy nodded, sadly glancing back at the bush before she and Mark rushed after Sonny. The cave was damp, and Sonny had tried to furnish it with a broken chair that Clancy sat in cautiously. An old rug, faded and yellow, lay in the middle of the cave. Skippy sat at Clancy's legs and she stroked her softly. Sonny lit a few candles.

"Do you like it? I had to beg Dad to let me use that stuff." Sonny said hopefully.

Mark nodded, sitting crossed-legged on the damp floor. "It's very nice."

Feeling the need some fresh air, Clancy stood up and made her way over to the entrance. Taking a few steps down the dusty hill, she screamed as a man jumped down from above and grasped at her. Reacting quickly, she sped down the dusty hill. But the man was older and faster, and gripped her arm before she even made it to the rose bush. Taking a quick look at him, she shivered at how badly scarred his face was. Her stomach twisted at his dirty hand clamped over her mouth so she couldn't shout for help.

Mark and Sonny had heard her scream. The older brother told Sonny to be silent, and stay in the cave while he found out where Clancy was and why she had screamed. He peered out of the cave and his throat tightened at what he saw. A man, probably a criminal, was pushing Clancy along towards the cave with a gun in his hand. Praying he wouldn't be heard, Mark sped quickly back inside.

"Sonny, hide behind there," He hissed, pushing his younger brother behind a boulder, knowing that it wouldn't hide him, but what else could he do?

Clancy's blue eyes were open and alert as she was marched into the cave. Mark knew that attacking the criminal would only cause her to be shot, so he simply took Clancy's hand when she was thrust towards him.

"What a nice pairing." The criminal sneered. Clancy gripped Mark's hand so tight she thought her knuckles turned white. She didn't dare move, either, as the old man had his gun fixed right at them. "I haven't not seen food in forty-eight hours, so that don't make me too particular."

Sonny stood up, fists rolled in a ball. Mark groaned silently. "You better let them go, mister. My dad's park ranger!"

"Park ranger?" The criminal smiled, making his face look even worse in the candlelight. "Well now. That should make it really easy." He leaned down and tried to lift Clancy, but Mark wouldn't let go of her hand, knowing how dangerous it was for her. The seventeen-year-old's face was steely and his lips were set in a thin line. "You listen to me boy!" Mark flinched as he was pulled up instead. Sonny rushed to Clancy and she wrapped her arms around him, making sure he was safely tucked behind her. "Unless you want this little lady to meet a grisly end, you'll get me food and clothes. And you're gonna get them for me."

"I'm afraid." Mark said loudly. "I can't help a criminal."

The man threw Mark to the ground and started to hit him. Clancy held Sonny close, almost in tears. After only moments the man stopped and shook his head. "I haven't got time for this." He tore Sonny from Clancy's arms and marched him outside instead.

Clancy took deep breaths to keep herself calm as she assessed Mark. He had managed to sit up, and his bruises weren't serious. Mark groaned and rubbed at his eye, which was slowly darkening. She shrank into the shadows as the man returned, hand on gun. He kicked the chair to make her jump, and smiled cruelly.

Clancy, Mark and Sonny watched silently as the man ate in the tan ranger outfit. He made a great attempt to make them feel uncomfortable, eating in the most grotesque way possible. Clancy had her arm around Sonny once again, feeling that holding him was her only comfort. When she glanced at Mark, she was almost scared by the deadly look in his hazel eyes. If the man hadn't a gun in his hand, Mark certainly would have tried something by now.

"Give me your shoes, girlie."

Mark's brows furrowed and he looked to Clancy to see what she would do.

"W-w-w-what for?" She stammered.

The man clutched his gun tighter. "Do as I say. You too, ginger."

As slowly as they could, Mark and Clancy took off their shoes and handed them to the large man, who tore them apart in seconds. Clancy covered her face and Sonny as the man threw the chair and broke it apart. Mark leaned over and shielded them both as the criminal threw mugs on the cave floor, covering it in glass. Clancy clutched his arm, and smiled at him through her tears. He returned the weary smile as the man stepped on the shattered mugs and spread the glass around the floor. Clancy sighed shakily, relieved that they hadn't been hurt.

"Come here, boy." The man shouted at Sonny, gripping a lantern so hard his face turned red. When Sonny didn't move, he pulled out a knife that glistened in the dim light. "I won't tell you twice." Still wearing his shoes, Sonny rushed to the man obediently. "You wanna follow us, or run for help, you go right ahead. By the time you two get outta here, we'll be outta this park."

Clancy waited until the man and Sonny had left before saying anything to Mark. "We can't leave. Our feet will be cut."

"Yes, I can see that Clance." Mark said quickly, sending her an irritated look. "But I'm not sitting here and letting him hurt my brother."

"Well Mark Hammond," Clancy retorted, her voice breaking with tears, "There's nothing we can do!"

Mark watched guiltily as she dissolved into sobs. Sighing softly, he wrapped an arm around the girl and soothingly stroked her blonde hair. "I'm sorry. Today has been terrible, I know. But just think, Jerry will come in his helicopter and pick us up, and we'll save Sonny, and I'll make you some hot chocolate."

Clancy dried her eyes with her shirt sleeve and smiled up at him. "I'll remember that you promised."

Mark chuckled, unable to tear his gaze away from how blue her wide eyes were. Clancy's mouth parted slightly, remembering what Georgie had told her about first kisses. Then something snapped the two out of their trance, a realization that now was NOT the time to be thinking about kissing. Mark looked away bashfully, trying to figure out how they could escape the foot-cutting glass in front of them.

"Let's hope that Skippy saves the day somehow." Clancy whispered to herself.

Only ten minutes passed when sound echoed from outside the cave. Clancy clutched Mark's arm once more as footsteps sounded. "Who is it? Who's there?" She called.

Mark's solemn face broke into a momentary smile. "Dad! Oh Dad, he's taken Sonny!"

Matt reached over and lifted Clancy to a part of the cave with no glass. His eyes widened in surprise when she hugged him tightly. "Hello Clancy, Skippy got me." He looked at his oldest son nervously, noting Mark's black eye. "Do you know where he's taken Sonny?"

"No…" Mark said as he was lifted over. "I'm sorry, Dad."

As they exited the cave, Jerry sent Matt a message on his handheld transceiver. "Flight to senior, I have you and Sonny in view, Matt. What's my next move. Over."

Mark and Clancy shared a worried look as Matt returned the message. "Senior to flight. What are you talking about, Jerry? Sonny isn't with me. Over."

"Sonny and somebody, Matt. He's wearing a ranger's uniform. He's going down the back path to the river, heading for the boat. Over."

"He sent Sonny to get the uniform, Mr Hammond," Clancy said in a rush. "He sent him back to the house!"

Matt nodded grimly. "Senior to flight. Drift away from him, Jerry. Don't do anything to arouse suspicion. Over." He looked sharply at the duo. "Leave this two me, I know the path. I can cut him off before he reaches the river."

Clancy bit her lip as Mark took her hand and lead her the other way. Both hearts beat a quicker pace, worried for the little boy who brightened up every day, and who they had set out to cheer up that morning. Skippy bounced across their path, chasing Matt. They shared a smile, knowing that if Skippy was around, Sonny certainly would be.