~*~

"Agent Donovan," the driver called as he exited the cab of the truck.  "Do you have everything you need?" he asked, handing a folded map to Donovan.

"Yes, everything is in order," he replied, checking the item he was handed.  It was a topographical map of the area.  He thought it rather amusing that they would think he had not obtained one already. 

Pointing in the general area, the driver continued.  "Should only take you a good day's hike through the marsh to reach Sanctuary, barring any complications.  You are scheduled for pickup on Sunday at thirteen hundred hours."

"Understood," he acknowledged and waiting patiently as the driver climbed back into the vehicle and drove off leaving them stranded at the outskirts of the deserted marshes.

"So, what's the game plan, Donovan," Jake asked curiously as he moved up alongside him.

Donovan nodded.  "We head north for a few miles.  We'll run into a creek we'll need to find a way across.  That will be our biggest obstacle."  Without waiting for any replies, he began walking in the direction he had nodded in.

The group trailed behind Donovan in twos – Jake and Alex, Monica and Cody, with Sam and Quinn bringing up the rear.  The morning was already a balmy sixty-seven degrees and the sun was just coming up.  As it made more of an appearance, the temperature began to rise.  Within an hour, it was up to eighty-five degrees.  Hot, humid and sticky.  He smiled to himself, listening to the canteens open and close repeatedly behind him.  If they thought this was hot, they were in for a one hell of a wake up call.

"Preserve that water as long as you can," Donovan called over his shoulder.  "It's your most precious commodity.  The day is only going to get hotter, people, and I can't promise more drinking water will be available once we reach Sanctuary."  He heard selective hiss and moans, but no one responded otherwise.

Nearly an hour into the hike, moving over the moist, damp ground, he heard Alex cursing and a loud slap resounded in the air. 

"Damn, these mosquitoes are friggin' horses!" she exclaimed irritably, swatting at another that landed on her arm.

Donovan paused as he dug into one of the side pockets of his pants.  "Here, use this.  Sunblock with insect repellant," he informed her as he tossed the container to Alex.  He glanced around the group casually, taking in the sight of Cody's already reddened cheeks.  "I suggest those of you who did not think to put on sunblock this morning use it." 

Alex thanked him as she applied a slathering to her exposed skin.  "Here, Cody.  Your turn," she stated, handing the sunblock over to him.

Quinn smiled smugly as she folded her arms over her chest as his eyes sought her out.  With her skin tone, she knew better than to go out into the sun for long periods of time without it.  But as she was bitten for the umpteenth time by a mammoth mosquito, she scowled at him and held her hand out to Cody as he finished using it.  "I didn't bring insect repellant," she explained irritably.

"Uh-huh, whatever you say, Red," Cody replied, laughing. 

"Shut up, geek," she snapped. 

"Both of you shut up, and let's get going," Donovan barked as he walked off.  He glanced back noting the stop had changed walking partners slightly.  Jake was still paired with Alex, but Monica had fallen back to Sam's side, leaving Cody stuck with Quinn. 

Donovan stopped as he reached the obstacle of the creek.  The hike to that point had been relatively easy, their only nemeses being the heat and the sun.  The low growth they clomped through more than likely housed many creatures lurking within it, however, none had presented themselves.  He scanned the water looking for a place to cross.  The creek was extremely slow moving and, in some areas so stationary, algae had formed on the surface.  It was hard telling what lie beneath the surface, or how deep the water was.

He turned and faced the group.  "We're splitting up.  Jake, you take Sam, Alex and Monica and head north no more than a mile.  See if you can find an area shallow enough to cross without much trouble."  He unfastened his backpack and set it down on the ground, opening the side pockets.  He withdrew two handheld radios and gave one to Jake.  "Contact me if you find anything."

Jake took the radio and gave Donovan an odd look.  "Thought you said we were only to survive on what they gave us?"

Donovan raised an amused brow.  "Contrary to popular belief, I don't always follow rules."

"I believe it," Sam snarled under his breath as he headed off without waiting for Jake.

Quinn didn't hesitate, nor did she pay Donovan any mind as she followed Sam. 

"Doyle, you're with me," Donovan called after her. 

"Chya...riiiight," Quinn came back at him without turning. 

In a few quick strides she was within his reach.  He grabbed hold of one of the backpack's shoulder straps and brought her to a halt.  He spun her around to face him.  "You're where I say, and no where else." 

His face was inches from hers and she read the lethal look in his eye clearly.  'Defy me and pay the consequences.'  She had faced that authoritative gaze once before and had not had the guts to defy him then.  Squaring her shoulders, she knocked his hand from her body and moved past him to join Cody.  Somewhere, somehow while on this little adventure, she would find a way for a little payback. 

Donovan watched as she lifted her chin in defiance, turned, and strode off with Cody close on her heels.  She had pulled her hair up on top of her head and fastened it with a rubber band before braiding the length of her hair and securing the end with a second band.  He held back an amused chuckle that formed from watching her stomp off, the braid bouncing angrily behind her.  What had him so amused was the song that leapt into his mind as he watched her 'tail' bouncing around --  "Tigger's Song" from Winnie the Pooh.  The wonderful thing about tiggers, is tiggers are wonderful things, their tops are made out of rubber, their bottoms are made out of springs, they're bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, POUNCY,
Fun! Fun! Fun! Fun! Fun!   He shook his head, hiding the grin that graced his mouth with a hand, and took off after them. 

~*~

Donovan, Cody, and Quinn walked along the water's edge for thirty minutes before Jake's voice was heard over the radio.  "Think we found a way across, Donovan!"

Donovan pressed the button on the small radio.  "Okay, Jake.  We're on our way."  He called out to Cody and Quinn.  "Jake's found a way across, we're heading back in his direction."

Quinn turned on her heel, nearly causing Cody to crash into her.  "Sorry," he stammered, moving aside.

"S'ok," she said quietly.  "Not your fault." 

Donovan quirked a brow at Quinn's softened attitude.  He hadn't heard her that accommodating since before their mission that went sour those many years ago.  Of course, there had been no contact between them since that mission either.  All he knew of her was from the reports he had read on her and Sam.  

Quinn waited patiently for Donovan to turn and lead the way back to Jake's group.  For the first ten minutes of the hike back, she maintained her focus on her surroundings.  She noted the water moccasins that skirted across the water, taking great care to scout the walking path for any of the creepy little reptiles.  She hated snakes with a passion that almost matched her loathing for the man she drew up alongside of. 

When he made no acknowledgement of her presence, she took the time to study his profile.  His chiseled features made him appear imposing all on their own.  Add his dark skin tone, the richness of his brown eyes, and his short raven hair with just that little dab of gray at the temples, and Quinn felt her body betray her emotions as her pulse quickened from just looking at the man.  She groaned inwardly as she silently admonished herself.  These were thoughts the old Quinn would have, the Quinn that lived and breathed before that fateful night.  She had long thought that Quinn was dead and buried, but to have her come out of hiding for this man?  Preposterous.  Too much sun must be making her think crazy thoughts.

Donovan instinctively felt her studying him.  He momentarily shifted his gaze in her direction without turning his head.  "Nothing to say, Quinn?  You're awfully quiet today," he commented offhandedly.  He watched her small nose wrinkle into an irritated scowl.  It was easy to get her ire up; it always had been.  Even before...

"What's to say, Commander?  We hike, we overcome obstacles as they present themselves, we reach the designated area for pickup, and we go home.  Yay us."

"You have a way summing things up," he replied in a disinterested tone.  "Your sunblock is wearing off."

Quinn stopped in her tracks, looking at him as though he had lost his mind.  "You have a sunblock fetish or something, Donovan?"

"Not that I'm aware of," he responded, amused.  "But with that red hair...I'm thinking a beet red nose wouldn't go well.  Also," he added, reaching into his back pocket, "I think you need this."  He unfolded a camouflage cap that he had shoved into his pocket and placed it on her head.  "Your scalp is getting burned."

Quinn rolled her eyes as she snatched the cap off her head and tossed it back at him.  "I don't do hats," she snapped, reaching into her side pocket and pulling out her sunblock.  She applied a good coat to her exposed arms, face, neck, and ears.  "Happy now?"

Donovan shook his head in exasperation.  "It's your skin, Quinn.  Put this on before you're taken down by sunstroke."  He tossed the cap back at her.

She huffed irritably as she placed the cap on her head, shoving her long braid haphazardly underneath it.  "Fine."  She smiled at him, but knew it came off as a smarmy gesture, not one of thanks.  During their morning hike she had made the decision to appear more amiable.  It was a good way to lull him into a false sense of security.  Her smile changed to one of evil determination as he presented his back to her and moved off to catch up to Cody.  As soon as he let his guard down, she would exact her revenge.

~*~

"Here," Jake waved an arm in the general direction.  "The tree must have been struck by lightning during a recent storm." 

"It's sturdy!" A voice yelled from across the span of water.

Donovan shielded his eyes from the sun as he looked for the figure.  Sam stood alongside Alex and Monica awaiting the remainder of the group.  "Very good," he said absently.  "Quinn, you cross next."

Quinn shrugged and made quick work of traversing the toppled log.  Thankfully, it was quite large and posed no real problem, if one were careful.  Cody and then Donovan followed as soon as Quinn made it across. 

"Hurry up, Jake!" Cody called out.

"Yes, Jake.  I'd like to reach Sanctuary before dark," Donovan commented pointedly. 

Jake stared at the log in earnest.  I can do this; I can do this.  He leapt up onto the log and took one tentative step, bringing him over the water.  He hated water, or what he thought was "filthy" water.  He could swim, that was not the issue, but the thought of swimming in anything other than a swimming pool gave him the downright willies.  He took two more slow steps to bring him near the middle of his short journey over the log.

"Hurry it up, Shaw!" Alex taunted.

Jake looked up quickly at the sound of her voice just as he was taking another step.  His foot came down onto the log, just off center, causing him to slip.  He flailed his arms in a valiant attempt to regain his balance, but to no avail.  He took a sideways dive into the chest high water, backpack and all.

Sputtering, he splashed to the surface and began the short swim to shore.  "I'm gonna kill you, Cross!" he bellowed between strokes.

Monica squinted as she watched his progress.  Something that looked like a dead leaf was stuck to his neck, but as he crawled up the small bank, she noted grimly that several of the 'leaves' were also stuck to his arms. 

Donovan shook his head as he caught sight of the little parasites that clung to Jake.  Sighing, he held a hand out to Alex.  "Give me your lighter."

"What, I..."

"Just do it," he commanded without explanation.  When Alex slapped it into his palm, he strode quickly over to Jake.  "Hold still," he insisted, flicking the lighter.

"What the hell," Jake backed away when Donovan brought the small flame toward his face.

"You're covered in leeches, Jake.  Hold still," he repeated firmly.

"I'm what?" He saw the little black slugs on his arms and immediately made to pull them off.  "How gross!"

"Don't.  The flame will get them off completely," Donovan informed him as he passed the lighter over a leech on Jake's forearm.  It released its hold and immediately fell to the ground. 

Jake growled as Donovan went for the slug attached to his throat.  "You'll pay for this, Alex."

Sam produced another lighter and handed it to Quinn.  "You may have the honors," he said in amusement.

"Gee, thanks."  She joined Donovan and helped removed the creatures quickly.  Once Jake's exposed areas were cleared of the parasites, she looked thoughtfully up at Donovan.  "His shirt's untucked."

Donovan nodded and released an exasperated breath.  "Take off your shirt, Jake."

Jake rolled his eyes and shucked the backpack quickly and then removed his shirt.  Just as suspected, several of the creatures had attached themselves to his back, chest, and abdomen. 

While Quinn removed the leeches on Jake's back, Donovan worked on the ones on his chest.  "Any water flow in through your waistband?" Quinn asked, tugging on Jake's belt.

"Some," Jake answered a bit worriedly. 

Quinn couldn't hide the grin on her face as she moved around Jake to join Donovan.  She handed him the lighter she held.  "Sorry, Commander, but there are just some lengths I'm not prepared to go."

Donovan did his best to keep a straight face when Jake looked up apprehensively.  "Take 'em down, Jake."

Jake scanned the area and the amused expressions that graced each person's face.  Never in his life had he ever felt such humiliation.  He had no choice; he could feel the slimy things on him, whether they were real or imagined.  He reached for the buckle on his pants with shaky hands.

"Sam, take everyone ahead and scout a good path for the next leg of our journey," Donovan commanded with as much sternness as he could muster.  He had no idea why he was finding this so amusing, but it had definitely struck his funny bone.  He wouldn't let Jake know, however; he could just imagine the humiliation he was suffering.

"Damn," Monica lamented.  "We were about to see if homeboy is hung."

Alex leaned in close to Monica and whispered, "Been there, seen that.  Trust me; he's not all that."

"Damn, you women are cold," Cody said, laughing.

Donovan walked around Jake but found no leeches clinging to his legs.  He did see something that gave him a deep chill and the overwhelming urge to protect himself. 

"What's wrong?" Jake asked, seeing the expression on Donovan's face.  He hadn't seen any of the black slugs on his legs, so he had figured he was in the clear.

Donovan reached out and placed one of the lighter's in Jake's hand.  "You're on your own, Jake."

Jake's gazed followed the direction Donovan pointed until he spied the problem.  The front of his white briefs contained a small red area that was slowly increasing in size.  Blood.

As Donovan joined the group, he heard an anguished voice cry out, "Sonofabitch!"

"What happened?" Alex demanded, feeling guilty that she had been the one to cause Jake to fall into the leech infested water.

Donovan shook his head.  "Nothing, just a little matter Jake can handle on his own."

~*~

To be continued…