Disclaimer: See Ch 1.
Spoilers: Season 1, Between "Camera" and "Meow."
Reviews: Please!
Thanks to all who've reviewed, especially Natters, Nikky, Christy, Becky, and of course, Kyre. Denise – you're absolutely right I do tend to go for economy over explanation, sometimes to the extreme. Trying to reform.
Kyre – thanks for pointing out my mistake. I've revised.
________________________
Max was running along the side of the road now, wet and miserable but with an inexplicable sense of urgency spurring her on. The top of the headland had been within easy reach when she turned to survey the scenery around her and noticed the storm moving rapidly toward Canalee. She had been so focused on reaching the summit she hadn't noticed the changing weather conditions, the smell of rain heavy in the air and the subtle air movement signaling the approaching storm front.
She was tempted momentarily to continue upward but instead began retracing her steps toward the narrow coast road winding far below her. By the time she was half way down the rain had started, slowing her progress as the grass became increasingly slippery under the soles of her running shoes. Damn – she should have brought hiking boots on the trip. Now she was going to get drenched, and the feline in her baulked at the prospect.
So, she found herself moving rapidly along the roadside, having to hold herself back from attaining the speed she was capable of. She dared not risk exposure and, even in this remote location, you never knew who might be watching. Anna didn't need to know her grandson was traveling with an excuse for Wonder Woman, or the Bride of Frankenstein for that matter. Anyway, she couldn't get any wetter, the cat in her would just have to hold back and chill out.
She was thankful for her restraint as she heard the pick up truck approaching from behind. Stopping and standing over to the edge of the road, she wasn't surprised when the driver pulled up and rolled his window down. "You're Logan's friend aren't you?" The question did surprise her, but in a little community like Canalee gossip was a more reasonable explanation for the driver's knowledge than Manticore agents tacking an X5 to the middle of nowhereville.
"I'm Jake. I was with Anna and Logan earlier out at the old Richards cabin when the storm started to come in." Max was around to the other side of the truck and in the passenger seat before he had finished telling her the washed out bridge to the north had forced him to come back.
"They were still there when you left?" His nod served to confirm the sense of danger she had been denying up until then.
By the time they reached the cabin Jake felt like he was reliving the brief time he had grudging spent in the military forty years previous. In fact, his old drill sergeant was beginning to seem like Mister Rogers compared to this girl. Once she had checked that the Land Rover was not at the farmhouse, he had been under orders to gun it to the cabin. How she had managed to get the truck unstuck from the mud bath at the entrance to the private roadway he was not about to ask. Her reaction when informed the truck didn't have four-wheel drive was enough to stop him from approaching his self appointed CO with a direct question of any sort.
At the sight of Anna's vehicle sitting outside the small building with the engine going Max was off and running. Within seconds she had assessed the situation. Anna needed to get to a hospital and Logan was nowhere to be seen. The narrow tire tracks leading to the trail confirmed her immediate suspicion of the course of action he had chosen. He had gone to get help the fastest way possible.
Max stood in the pouring rain knowing what she should do but unwilling to make the decision. She jumped as suddenly she felt Jake shake he gently by the elbow. "Max, we've got to get Anna to a doctor right now."
Her eyes cleared as she focused on the man in front of her. "Take the Land Rover. It'll get you back onto the main road. Send help as soon as you can."
Jake quickly headed toward the vehicle, turning back to her before he climbed in. Only with her enhanced hearing could she make out what he was yelling above the howling wind. "He's probably fine just get him back to the cabin and sit tight. You'll never be able to get the pick up through the mud on your own."
Max nodded, agreeing with the latter part of his statement, without a driver no amount of strength would get the pick up through. As for Logan being OK – she was on the narrow trail barreling through the forest before her mind could accept the improbability of that being true.
Spoilers: Season 1, Between "Camera" and "Meow."
Reviews: Please!
Thanks to all who've reviewed, especially Natters, Nikky, Christy, Becky, and of course, Kyre. Denise – you're absolutely right I do tend to go for economy over explanation, sometimes to the extreme. Trying to reform.
Kyre – thanks for pointing out my mistake. I've revised.
________________________
Max was running along the side of the road now, wet and miserable but with an inexplicable sense of urgency spurring her on. The top of the headland had been within easy reach when she turned to survey the scenery around her and noticed the storm moving rapidly toward Canalee. She had been so focused on reaching the summit she hadn't noticed the changing weather conditions, the smell of rain heavy in the air and the subtle air movement signaling the approaching storm front.
She was tempted momentarily to continue upward but instead began retracing her steps toward the narrow coast road winding far below her. By the time she was half way down the rain had started, slowing her progress as the grass became increasingly slippery under the soles of her running shoes. Damn – she should have brought hiking boots on the trip. Now she was going to get drenched, and the feline in her baulked at the prospect.
So, she found herself moving rapidly along the roadside, having to hold herself back from attaining the speed she was capable of. She dared not risk exposure and, even in this remote location, you never knew who might be watching. Anna didn't need to know her grandson was traveling with an excuse for Wonder Woman, or the Bride of Frankenstein for that matter. Anyway, she couldn't get any wetter, the cat in her would just have to hold back and chill out.
She was thankful for her restraint as she heard the pick up truck approaching from behind. Stopping and standing over to the edge of the road, she wasn't surprised when the driver pulled up and rolled his window down. "You're Logan's friend aren't you?" The question did surprise her, but in a little community like Canalee gossip was a more reasonable explanation for the driver's knowledge than Manticore agents tacking an X5 to the middle of nowhereville.
"I'm Jake. I was with Anna and Logan earlier out at the old Richards cabin when the storm started to come in." Max was around to the other side of the truck and in the passenger seat before he had finished telling her the washed out bridge to the north had forced him to come back.
"They were still there when you left?" His nod served to confirm the sense of danger she had been denying up until then.
By the time they reached the cabin Jake felt like he was reliving the brief time he had grudging spent in the military forty years previous. In fact, his old drill sergeant was beginning to seem like Mister Rogers compared to this girl. Once she had checked that the Land Rover was not at the farmhouse, he had been under orders to gun it to the cabin. How she had managed to get the truck unstuck from the mud bath at the entrance to the private roadway he was not about to ask. Her reaction when informed the truck didn't have four-wheel drive was enough to stop him from approaching his self appointed CO with a direct question of any sort.
At the sight of Anna's vehicle sitting outside the small building with the engine going Max was off and running. Within seconds she had assessed the situation. Anna needed to get to a hospital and Logan was nowhere to be seen. The narrow tire tracks leading to the trail confirmed her immediate suspicion of the course of action he had chosen. He had gone to get help the fastest way possible.
Max stood in the pouring rain knowing what she should do but unwilling to make the decision. She jumped as suddenly she felt Jake shake he gently by the elbow. "Max, we've got to get Anna to a doctor right now."
Her eyes cleared as she focused on the man in front of her. "Take the Land Rover. It'll get you back onto the main road. Send help as soon as you can."
Jake quickly headed toward the vehicle, turning back to her before he climbed in. Only with her enhanced hearing could she make out what he was yelling above the howling wind. "He's probably fine just get him back to the cabin and sit tight. You'll never be able to get the pick up through the mud on your own."
Max nodded, agreeing with the latter part of his statement, without a driver no amount of strength would get the pick up through. As for Logan being OK – she was on the narrow trail barreling through the forest before her mind could accept the improbability of that being true.