AN: Oo Short chapter!  Sorry!  The next one should be up by Wednesday then cause this is so short.. This chappy's short cause well.. its kinda the end of the last chapter XD

ChibiChaos: Mage of Chaos:  "Bryan's jeaallouss, heh heh a little possessive isn't he?" ß lmao  you have no idea ;)

Red: Bwa, not typo-ed m'dear, Ffnet screws with the html and that's why the first line wasn't italicized when it should be =)

The evening soon wore down to the point where none of them could put off sleeping any further.  They had had a good chat and visit, exchanging stories from the various camps, and eaten a pretty good stew made of dried traveling goods and fresh rabbit.  Liika had had to use Bryan's dishes –just as she had to use his clothing- thus they took turns eating.  It turned out –she had asked him at one point in the evening- that he was on his way to a two or three day training trip by himself when he had found her, it explained why he had extra clothing.  It was definitely a good thing for her.

"Hey Liika, are you sure you're going to be ok for the night?"  Michael asked skeptically, raising an eyebrow and glancing at Bryan dubiously.

Liika knew what he meant.  He was alluding to the fact that she would be sleeping near the untrustable Demolition Boy and that she should come sleep with them.  Ha.  She wasn't about to say it, but she trusted Bryan more than she trusted any of them when it came to 'taking liberties' with her when she was asleep –especially Michael.  She also wasn't about to tell them that it wouldn't be the first time that she shared a bed with the grouchy Russian.  Of course, she had never been so close to him when he was half naked, and she was wearing nothing more than a thin shirt and pair of shorts.  But that was beside the point, she wasn't about to let him intimidate her.  She wasn't going to think about his naked chest pressing up against her back intimately…

Ahem!  She tried to cover her blush.  "Yes Michael.  I'll be fine."  She smiled at him.  "Don't worry about me."

He looked clearly skeptical, but let it go.  If he noticed her flushed face, he didn't let it on.  He merely shrugged and made his way over to his own bed that was against the opposite wall beside Robert's and Lee's.  Bidding him, and the other two good night, Liika turned and padded softly over to where Bryan had set up his makeshift bed and was already laying down, facing the dark stone wall.

She shifted uncomfortably, her toe tracing circles in the dirt floor.  She wondered if he had noticed her yet, and coughed quietly to make sure that he had.  He craned his neck around so that he glared up at her.  He said nothing, but just glanced down at the open side of the sleeping bag beside him, then back up at her.

Liika rolled her eyes and sighed.  He was in a funk again.  She could tell already.  It seemed he had been ever since he came back from changing.  It was irritating because just when he seemed that he might have a nice side he went and got all jerkish again.  She really wished he'd make up his mind.

Hesitantly, she lowered herself to the ground next to the sleeping bag and peered at it anxiously.  There was no way they were both going to fit in there!  He was too big…and the sleeping bag too small!

"Get in or sleep on the ground."

She rolled her eyes.  Stupid Bryan.  So demanding.  "Fine."  She muttered, tucking her legs into the top of the sleeping bag.

Slowly she began to worm her way down so that she was covered up to her neck.  The space was very very confined and Liika found her front being pressed very snugly up against Bryan's bare back.  Her arms were forced to circle his waist so that her hands rested on the firm expanse of his stomach.  A hot blush spread over her face.  Why'd he have to be half naked??

Bryan stiffened when her arms wrapped themselves around his waist, and her extremely female front pressed against the bare skin of his back.  He could feel the soft outline of her breasts burning against his skin and he struggled not to panic and lurch away.  God, why did she have to be so close?  Why the hell did he have to find her in the middle of nowhere??  He could have been happily sleeping in his own camp, away from the fucking goody good trio, and away from the distracting feeling of a female body wrapped around his.  He could just see that this night would hold no sleep for him.

"Would you relax.  I'm not going to bit you."  Liika hissed quietly at Bryan.  His tenseness was making her tense, and neither of them were going to sleep at this rate.

He growled deep in his throat and turned his head slightly.  "Face the other way." He bit out, just as quietly.  He really didn't want the three captains to hear their bickering.

"What?!"  She demanded.  "Ugh, fine."  Not wanting to argue with him, she pulled her arms from around his waist and wormed her way around until she faced the other direction.  "There happy?"

Yes.  Now I don't have your distracting little body making me feel things I don't want to.  He grumbled in his head.  However, he said nothing out loud, and merely grunted.

"Humph."  Liika closed her eyes, cursing him to infinity as she drifted off to sleep.

"Do you think we should wake them?"  Lee asked, gazing at the still sleeping pair.

On the ground, still buried in the thick sleeping bag, were Bryan and Liika.  Sometime during the night both had shifted from their original position so that Liika was now huddled against his chest, her head tucked under his chin, while one of his arms was flung tightly around her waist.

"Nah, they look too cozy.  Let'em be.  Personally, I'd rather not deal with his shitty attitude first thing in the morning."  Michael yawned, also glancing downwards at the pair while he shouldered his pack.  "Though, I'd like to know what went on at their camp that made her trust him that much.  God knows I wouldn't."  He made a face at the prospect.

Lee nodded, adjusting his own pack.  They had been up for a good hour and had already packed their things up.  They were ready to head out as the rain had stopped and the sun shone brightly over head.

"Nor would I."  Robert added, walking up beside the other two.  "It is interesting to note that she trusted him over any of us."

"Man, I'm so hurt."  Michael complained, rolling his eyes.  "An angry Russian over her own friends.  Geez, shows where her priorities are.  I wonder if there's something going on between them.  It sure looks like it.  Tyson's going to blow a gasket."

Robert and Lee ignored him and looked at each other.  "Shall we leave her a note?"  Lee asked, raising a dark eyebrow.

Robert shrugged.  "I think so.  She will wonder where we are.  Though, I do not believe we have any paper or pens."

"Heh, I bet he's awake anyway.  Hey Demolition Boy.  Tell Ika that we said good bye and that we'll tell her team she's ok."  Michael said, looking directly at Bryan.

Bryan's eyes snapped open and narrowed at the tall American.  He jerked a small nod before closing his eyes again and pulling her closer against him as if to ward off Michael's gaze.

"Aw isn't that sweet, bad boy Russian has feelings after all!"  Michael snorted mockingly.  He took offense to the way Bryan had looked at him, as if he were lower than dirt.

"Michael, come on.  Patronizing him isn't going to help.  Just leave it be.  Goodbye Bryan.  Take care of her."  Lee said nodding at Bryan before walking out of the cave, followed closely by Robert and a fuming Michael.

Bryan's eyes cracked open again and glanced down at the blue head under his chin.  He scowled, glaring at her accusingly.  Damn American. 

Damn him for being right. 

Tala frowned, his eyebrows furrowing.  Inside he was almost…sick with…worry and …guilt.  On top of that fact he was sick at the thought that he was actually worried and guilty about sending Liika out by herself.  Who would have thought she would have gotten in trouble?  He should have known, but that wasn't what was bothering him so much.  No, what bothered him was the fact that he was actually feeling worried.  Guilt he could imagine –he did have a conscience- but worry?  He never thought he'd see the day that he'd worry over someone besides his three comrades and himself.  Somewhere along the way the feisty little Bladebreaker had become a Demolition Boy –figuratively speaking.  It was funny, it took her going missing to realize that they would worry if she didn't come home on time, that she was one of them, an important part of their team.  He snorted in amusement in his head, it was funny, because that was always the way things turned out.  Didn't the saying go 'you don't know what you got till it's gone'?

It didn't help him deal with the growing anxiousness.  When she hadn't come home by dusk Ian and Tala had gone out to look for her, equipped with flashlights.  After about an hour of searching they were forced to return back to the cave as it had gotten far too dark to search for anything, and the rain was making everything miserable.  They had woken again early and this time Spencer and Ian had headed out while Tala stayed behind in case she came back.  He hoped they found her soon.  He dreaded the thought that something had actually happened to her…

A noise caught his attention and Tala snapped his turquoise eyes towards the tree line just in time to see Bryan crash through, his face a mask of annoyance as he glanced behind him and rolled his eyes.  Tala was on his feet in seconds, his frown growing.  Bryan wasn't supposed to be back for another day or two, or so he had told him the day before.  What was he doing back so soon?  Oh well, it was better, more bodies to look for their missing girl.

"Bryan, we have a problem."  He stated as soon as the pale haired teen had made the quick strides to his leaders side.

Bryan raised an eyebrow, dropping his heavy pack to the ground beside them.  He had an idea what was obviously troubling his captain so much, but he stayed silent and let the lanky red head explain.

Tala sighed, rubbing a hand over his face.  "I let the wench check the trap lines alone yesterday and now she's missing."  He stated matter-of-factly.  He caught Bryan's ice eyes, relaying the seriousness of the situation.  Tala knew that Bryan was…upset with the blue haired girl, but he also knew the man wouldn't shirk responsibility.  "You need to help look for her."

The pale haired Demolition boy rolled his eyes and snorted.  He paused for a minute before pointing off to where he had come from.  "You mean that wench?"  He said flatly, a trace of boredom entering his tone.

"Ow!  Damn it Bryan!  Why'd you have to choose this path?!"

Tala breathed a sigh of relief as the said 'wench' crashed through the underbrush and tumbled into the clearing, landing on her stomach as her feet got caught up in the twiggy bushes.  An amused smirk crossed over his face as he studied her appearance just to make sure she wasn't injured in anyway.

She was wearing one of Bryan's orange shirts.

She didn't appear to be injured in anyway.  The short hair still threw him slightly, but other than that she looked perfectly fine.  If you didn't count the massive scowl that was imbedded in her features as she glared at his burly subordinate.  Turning his eyes back towards Bryan and raised an eyebrow, questioning silently.

"I found her last night, wandering lost, four hours North of here."

Tala grunted in annoyance and strode over to the loudly muttering Liika, bending down and jerking her to her feet.  He scowled at her.  "Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused?"  He demanded, letting his worry get the better of him.  "How could you get lost?!  It was a straight trail!"

Liika blinked for a few seconds, taken by surprised, before glowering back and yanking her arm out of his grasp.  "I'll have you know I didn't get lost!  It started raining and I went looking for shelter!"  She retorted, stomping her foot.  "It's not my fault I was nearly munched by a mountain lion!"

Red eyebrows shot up and Tala blinked before looking very dead panned.  "You were attacked by a mountain cat?"

She sniffed, crossing her arms over her chest.  "Yes.  Unfortunately."

"Why am I not surprised?  First a bear then a lion…you must have a sign on your back that says 'eat me'." Tala replied.  "Heh, they're probably attracted to your big mouth."

"She was carrying rabbit carcasses."  Bryan interrupted, stepping past Tala and stopping beside Liika.  His eyes narrowed at her and he thrust a bundle of clothing into her hands.  "Wash them."  He commanded before whirling around and stomping away, stopping just long enough to pick up his pack from the ground.

Liika surprisingly said nothing, but merely shrugged, her cheeks glowing a tiny big as she clutched the bundle of clothing closer to her chest.  Tala was fascinated by the scene, especially by the way Liika's cheeks flushed when Bryan looked at her.  Just what went on last night…?  He wondered silently in his head, his eyes traveling from her head to her feet.  Once again his attention was drawn to the fact that she was dressed in the other Demolition Boy's shirt, which was much too big and hung down almost to her knees.  If she hadn't pushed it up…it could have easily slipped over one shoulder, exposing far more than necessary.  He couldn't help himself.

"Why are you wearing Bryan's shirt?"  He asked, just before she went to walk away.

He laughed as she turned an even brighter red.  To hide her blush she scowled and turned her head, huffing.  "My hoodie was still soaked this morning!  I had nothing else to wear!"

"You wore it all night too?"

"Agh!"  She growled before storming away, leaving Tala to chuckle and speculate on his own while he waited for the other two Demolition Boys to come back.