Summer was bored.

It had been a little over two days since they'd gone to the ship. The penicillin had done its work for Laura. Although weak and tired, she was recovering now and seemed to be doing okay. Judith had taken on the task of keeping her wound clean, using gauze from a first aid kit to change her dressing.

The food supply was starting to dwindle. They were down to two cans of beans, three chocolate bars, half a box of crackers and two small bags of chips. Summer had never had canned beans before and not to her surprise, she didn't like them. She didn't complain out loud, of course. Food was food and she ate her share like everyone else. But that didn't mean she had to like it. She would kill for a pepperoni pizza right now.

Sam had told them a little more about his father. Although he'd studied weather in all types of climates, his specialty was the Antarctic. He'd spent weeks, even months, in extreme conditions there with his trained crew. So according to Sam, making the journey through this snowstorm in New York would be no problem. If that was the case, why wasn't he here yet?

Summer wasn't sure exactly how he was supposed to be getting here. They hadn't heard any planes flying overhead. In fact, they hadn't seen or heard any sign of life outside since running into the two losers on the ship. They had no radio. No phone. Basically no damn idea what was happening in the world. Maybe Mr. Hall was driving. Walking. Maybe he was dead.

Summer was afraid.

And she hated her fear. Hated this lost, overwhelming sense of the unknown. So she covered it up with boredom. She also couldn't seem to avoid adding a healthy dose of bitchiness. Almost everything everyone was doing was starting to annoy her – Judith continually hovered over Laura like a mother hen, Elsa and Jeremy had endless philosophical discussions about history and politics. Even Cohen was grating on her nerves with his Sparkle and Oats stories. Yes, they'd been cute and engaging at first. Now she just wanted Sparkle to sit on Oats so he would be quiet and leave her in peace. At least for a little while. The only people on her good list right now were Laura and Sam, mainly because they didn't say much. Laura spent most of her time sleeping and Sam just never left her side.

Having nearly bitten Cohen's head off about an hour ago for something stupid and meaningless, Summer sat in a corner of the room and played solitaire. It was a mindless game and kept her hands busy. Perfect when she didn't want to think about anything.

"Can I join you?"

She looked up at Cohen. "It's solitaire. Meaning for one." Hearing the hostility in her voice, she winced internally. God, what was wrong with her? She expected him to leave her alone in disgust but he didn't.

"How about something different? Go Fish?"

She hadn't played that since she was, like, eight. How lame could you get?

"Okay," she found herself replying. Wow, she really was bored.

They played several hands before Cohen asked a question that didn't start with, 'do you have a...?'.

"Want to talk about it?" he asked.

"No. Do you have a seven?"

"I know something's bothering you," he insisted.

"Well, hello, we've only been trapped in this library for what, four days? We're going to run out of food soon, I freakin' hate beans, we didn't even pick out interesting books that we could read, and I really, really need a shower." She glared at him with both hands stuffed full of cards. "So excuse me if I'm a little cranky but do you have a seven?"

He burst out laughing at her. In fact, he doubled over in a snorting fit of laughter, dropping a couple of cards in the process. She gave him a dirty look and then spied the seven of spades that had just fluttered to the floor. Snatching it up, she exclaimed, "Ha! I'll take that. Stop laughing or I'll poke you in the eye."

That only made him laugh harder. She gave up, throwing down the cards and leaning back with arms folded over her chest. Sure, just laugh it up, she thought crossly. At least someone was having a good time.

He eventually calmed down and placed an arm around her. "Stop worrying. We're going to be fine. You'll see."

She didn't know if it was the comforting words or the simple warmth of his touch that did her in, but she couldn't stop the sudden welling of tears in her eyes. "I'm scared, Cohen," she whispered.

He nodded. "I know."

"Aren't you?"

"Hell, yeah."

She sniffled and leaned her head against him. "I'm glad you're here."

Kissing the top of her head, he said, "Ditto."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

With a sharp intake of breath, Laura jerked awake. Her mouth felt like cotton and her heart was beating so rapidly, she took some deliberately deep breaths to calm herself. She'd been having a nightmare but like most dreams, she couldn't quite recall what had been happening. She only knew it had been disturbing and that she'd felt like crying.

"Are you okay?"

She turned her head to find Sam regarding her with concern. His puppy dog eyes always seemed to be watching her with a continually worried look. It was both disconcerting and sweet.

"Yeah," she replied, a little shakily. "Just a bad dream."

"Want some water?"

"Please."

He returned momentarily with a mug and handed it to her. She sipped the cool liquid gratefully. "How's our water supply doing?" she asked. They had lucked out in that respect. Along with the vending machine of snacks in the lounge, there had been a couple cases of bottled water.

"We've still got a little over a case left," Sam replied. "Not doing as well with the food, though."

"Should we be...worried?"

He gave a half shrug. "I don't know. I can't believe my dad isn't here yet. When the food runs out, I don't know how long we can stay here."

That was a problem. Although she didn't feel too badly, she still didn't have much strength. She didn't even want to think about leaving the shelter of the library. All she could do was hope and pray that Sam's father would show up before they had to contemplate striking out on their own.

Poor Sam. He sat hunched over, the strain and stress of the last few days evident on his shadowed face. He'd been the one looking out for her since disaster had struck but no one had been making sure he was okay. The leather chair she was sitting in was wide enough for two if she scooted over.

Doing just that, she patted the cushioned space beside her. "Sit next to me, Sam."

Looking mildly surprised but pleased, he sank down beside her, careful not to jostle her too much. "Is your leg okay?" he asked.

"It's fine." She sighed a little, happy just to have him near. "Put your arm around me," she murmured. He obliged and she nestled into him. "That's better." She rested an arm across his chest. "How are you doing?"

"Me? I'm okay."

"You must be worried about your father."

It took him a few seconds to respond. "Yeah," he admitted. "I think he should have been here by now."

A few trite phrases ran through her head, ranging from 'don't worry' to 'I'm sure he's fine'. But there wasn't a shred of truth to any of those platitudes. Instead, she said, "I never thanked you, did I? For saving my life. Summer told me that you were the only one who really believed in looking for the penicillin."

Humble to the core, he tried to brush it off. "I had help."

"Yes, but it was you that believed. So thank you."

"You're welcome."

They sat in silence for a while until she got up the nerve to ask something that had been bothering her. "Can I ask a question?"

"Sure."

"I feel like these past couple of days, you're always watching me. Is it just because you've been worried?"

"Am I weirding you out?" he asked, perhaps only half-jokingly.

"Maybe a little," she confessed.

"Well, every time you fall asleep, I'm afraid you might not wake up. So yeah, I guess I've been watching over you to make sure you're still with us."

She was touched by his concern. "I'm okay now. Really."

"I know. I just...want to make sure, I guess." He truly did sound embarrassed now.

"Have you been getting enough sleep?"

"Yeah, I'm okay."

As she gazed at the dark smudges beneath his eyes, she didn't believe him. She could just picture him the last couple of nights, practically glued to her side, checking to make sure she was still breathing. "Sam, close your eyes."

"Why?"

"Just close your eyes and relax. I'm right here."

Giving her a questioning look, he did as she asked, lids fluttering closed. "Are you trying to get me to sleep?"

"Mmm hmm."

She felt his muscles loosening as he gave way to a yawn. "What about you?" he mumbled.

"I'll watch over you for a change."

In less than a minute, he was fast asleep and she was content to watch him breathe.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Sam."

He twitched his nose, muttering incoherently.

"Sam, wake up."

Feeling a persistent shake of his arm, Sam slowly opened his eyes. Laura's bright gaze was inches from his face and he couldn't help smiling at her beauty. "What time is it?" He felt wonderfully rested, though he could feel a little kink in his neck.

"It's early in the morning," she replied. "And you have a visitor. Look."

He followed the direction of her gaze to find his father staring down at him. At first, he thought he was still dreaming. He blinked and shook his head a little but the vision remained. "Dad," he uttered in disbelief.

Jack Hall looked so grave, unsmiling. He didn't say hello in greeting but instead said, "I made it."

Getting up from the chair, Sam threw his arms around him. He felt his father returning the embrace, squeezing him tightly. For the first time in days, Sam felt a sense of reassurance that maybe they'd be okay. Some of the burden of feeling responsible for everyone was lifted off his shoulders. His father was here. Alive. His worst fear hadn't come true.

As some of the tension eased from his mind and limbs, Sam was surprised to find himself holding back tears, his throat tightening with emotion. He couldn't remember the last time he'd cried on his father's shoulder. Swallowing hard, he managed to hold onto his dignity.

At last, they pulled away from each other. As Sam felt his father's large hand ruffling his hair, he felt about ten years old again. But for some strange reason, he didn't seem to mind.

"So what took you so long?" Sam asked, trying to lighten the mood.

Jack shrugged, playing along. "Oh, we ran into a little trouble. But nothing we couldn't handle. Right, Jason?"

Sam hadn't noticed the other man who was hanging back slightly. He looked over and gave a little wave, recognizing his father's assistant. The others were starting to stir at the sound of their voices so Sam made the rounds, getting everyone awake. Reactions were varied, from tears to laughter but they all shared in the same sense of relief.

Jack filled them in on what had happened and needless to say, the news was staggering. A new ice age? Fleeing to Mexico? It defied comprehension. Sam really couldn't wrap his mind around all the consequences. Not at the moment anyway, which was just as well. They weren't out of the woods yet; the long trip home still had to be made.

It didn't take them long to pack up and get ready to go. For the first time since they'd entered this room, the fire was extinguished and left smoking in the fireplace. They headed outdoors, leaving the library behind.

Although she proclaimed to be fine, Sam worried about Laura's condition. It was too soon for her to be embarking on a journey like this. However, there didn't seem to be much choice in the matter. Jack promised to keep the pace reasonable and give her enough opportunities to rest.

Hand in hand with Laura, Sam trudged through the snow. It actually wasn't too bad outside. The temperature was tolerable and the wind was mild. There were even moments when the sun peeked out from behind the clouds. He tried to keep his mind focused on the present and not the uncertain future. Right now he had Laura at his side and his father here, leading the way. Considering the circumstances, it was everything he could wish for. On second thought...

Sam looked up at the sky as the sound of a helicopter reached his ears. They could all hear it now and everyone gazed up, waving their arms and jumping up and down. As it came closer, his father remarked that it looked like a military helicopter. Finally, they would have some assistance. It was truly a welcome sight.

He turned to his father. "So we're going to Mexico, Dad?"

"That's right," Jack replied.

Seth cleared his throat. "Um, Mr. Hall?"

"Yes?"

"Could we make a stop in California?"

"I don't see why not."

Sam felt an unexpected twinge of sadness. He'd forgotten that Seth and Summer were from California. They'd made a fast bond of friendship since this ordeal had begun. It would be hard to say goodbye.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Despite the oohs and ahhs that Summer was mouthing as the scenery rushed by, Seth refused to look out the window. As much as he hated flying in airplanes, as least they were bigger and gave some semblance of stability. Helicopters, on the other hand, were too small and had way too much maneuverability. Each dip made his stomach flip over and do a little tap dance.

"Hey, Seth."

He glanced up just as Sam tossed him a small packet. Catching it with one hand, he uncurled his fingers to find a package of peanuts. He raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "Trust me," Sam stated in a wise tone. "It'll settle your stomach. It's the salt or something."

Seth tore into the package eagerly and munched away. Yeah, not bad. He'd have to remember that trick.

No one talked much during the flight. In fact, most of them had fallen asleep. Seth wished he could do the same but the incessant noise and his jittery nerves made it impossible. At one point, Sam's father came over and said he was going to use the radio to get in touch with his wife. She could call Seth's parents and let them know where to meet the helicopter. Summer was asleep against his shoulder, so Seth gave the name of a mall in Newport as the meeting spot. They could easily land on the parking lot.

A half hour later, Jack gave Seth a thumb's up. Wow. So they really would be home soon. Although he'd only been gone a few days, he felt like he hadn't seen his parents in a month. He had to admit, it would be good to see them. And man, he sure had a lot of stories to tell Ryan. The thought of being with his family again had him pleased and surprisingly excited. Perhaps being in mortal danger every now and then wasn't such a bad thing after all. It sure made you appreciate the ordinary things in life.

They still had a few hours left to go in their flight. Seth leaned his head back and closed his eyes, thinking it would help him to relax. The next thing he knew, Summer was nudging him.

"Wake up, sleepyhead. We're flying over California," she advised.

Shaking his head a little, he glanced at his watch. He couldn't believe he'd actually slept.

Jack was crouched down in front of him and gave him a smile. "How're you holding up, Seth?"

"Fine."

"Good. I told Summer what we're doing. We'll be approaching Newport Beach soon. You and Summer can go up front and guide the pilot in. We'll start flying a little lower so you should be able to recognize landmarks as we get closer to the mall. Think you can handle that?"

Hopefully. But he nodded. "Yeah, sure."

They went up together and crowded behind the pilot. Seth took a moment to look around at all the controls, dials and buttons. How fascinating it would be to pilot an aircraft like this. Of course, a dread fear of flying was a bit of a hindrance.

Summer patted his arm, pointing below. "Hey, isn't that the freeway?"

"Yeah, I think so," he agreed. He drew the pilot's attention to the road, which looked like a long grey river from up here. "That's the 73 freeway. Just follow along that and we can't miss it."

The pilot swept the helicopter in lower so the landmarks became even more recognizable. Although he still didn't like the act of flying, he had to admit it was an interesting perspective from up here. He had some fun with Summer, pointing out the things they could recognize to each other.

"There it is!" She spoke in an animated tone, her finger aiming down towards the visible parking lot. "Right there, okay?" she told the pilot.

"Roger, that. I see it," he acknowledged.

Seth spotted a pair of familiar blonde and dark haired heads on the ground. "Look, there's my parents!" They were waving at the helicopter and he started waving back before realizing it was impossible for them to see him.

As the aircraft came to a gentle touchdown, Seth and Summer gave out a round of handshakes and hugs. This was the only stop before the remaining group headed to Mexico. Elsa, Jeremy, and Judith had nowhere else to go so that's where they would start to put the pieces of their lives back together again.

They saved their final goodbyes for Sam and Laura. He and Summer had already given them their addresses and phone numbers. At the moment, the only contact information they were able to get in return was Jack's cell phone number. They swore to keep in touch. Although Seth tended to lose contact with people over time, he liked to think he wouldn't let this connection die. He really liked them both and hoped they would be all right. In particular, Laura had yet to contact her family. She hadn't spoken of them much but he knew she was worried.

Jack went through the door first and helped them get down to the ground, the wind from the still rotating blades rippling through their hair and clothes. Seth saw his parents running towards them and they ran as a group to meet them half way.

Seth found himself wrapped in his mother's arms. She held him so fiercely it was difficult to breathe. He closed his eyes briefly, taking comfort in her scent. "Mom, you're strangling me," he finally had to protest.

Kirsten pulled back, wiping at her moist eyes. "Sorry."

He was next in his father's arms. Although it didn't last as long, the embrace was just as tight. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Summer being smothered by his mother next.

When his father let him go, Jack introduced himself and shook Sandy's hand.

"Thank you for everything you've done," Sandy said in a grateful tone. "I've heard about you on the news as well. You've saved a lot of lives."

Jack waved a hand dismissively. "It's our kids that have been amazing. Summer too. My son filled me in on everything they've been through and...well, let's just say you've got a lot to catch up on. You should be proud of Seth."

As Sandy clapped Seth on the shoulder, he said, "I always am."

After Kirsten thanked Jack, he grinned at them and hurried back to the waiting helicopter. They all waved as it slowly hovered off the ground, gained speed and flew away.

As they started walking towards the car, Summer asked, "Where's my dad?"

"Oh sorry, sweetie, I forgot to tell you," Kirsten explained. "I spoke to him myself but he was just starting surgery on someone. He wanted me to tell you he loves you and will be home as soon as he can."

"Oh. Okay," Summer stated in a small voice.

Seth could see her obvious disappointment and he felt a sliver of resentment against Mr. Roberts. Before he could say anything, Kirsten continued on. "Why don't you come back to our place?"

"Yeah," Sandy pitched in. "We'll order in some pizza and fill you in on all the craziness that's been happening. Can you believe it's snowed the last couple of day? It's all melted now but it's been wild."

"Thanks, but that's okay. I'll just go home."

"Well, if you're sure. I called you mother...step-mother," Kirsten corrected herself. "She's there so you won't be alone."

They got into the car and headed for Summer's house. Kirsten kept looking back at them, as if checking to make sure they were still there. "I thought you might be hungry so I brought some food," she offered at one point. "Do you want a banana muffin?"

"Did you make them?" Seth asked without thinking.

"No, smarty-pants," she retorted, over Sandy's loud guffaw. "They're from the bakery you like."

He and Summer both declined, as there had been some food in the helicopter. The rest of the ride was pretty quiet. Whenever he looked over at Summer, she was staring out the window. This was the longest stretch of time he'd ever spent with her – just about a week. And in that period, they'd been on one roller coaster of a ride. They'd probably experienced the full range of human emotion and seen each other at their best and worst. He felt like he'd come through the other side a stronger person. And as much as he thought he knew Summer, she still kept managing to surprise him.

The car came to a halt. They were here. Summer leaned over and gave him a quick kiss, saying goodbye to his parents. She hopped out of the car and his father started pulling away.

This just wasn't right.

"Dad, wait! Stop the car!" Seth practically shouted.

With a screech of brakes, the car jolted to a stop again and he jumped out, running up to her. "Summer!" he called out.

She turned around. "Wha-?"

Before she could even finish the word he locked one arm around her waist, the other tangled in her hair and he pulled her into the deepest, longest, most passionate kiss he could muster. Although she'd reacted stiffly at first – no doubt from the shock of the act – she'd soon melted against him, mouth parting and her arms entwining around him tightly. The intensity and desire shot straight to his toes, literally making them curl. When he finally had to pull away for air, he looked down into her upturned face. As her eyelids fluttered open, he said simply, "I love you".

"Cohen, you...sure know how to sweep a girl off her feet," Summer murmured. "Who would've thought?" Twirling a lock of his hair around her finger, she whispered, "Love you too."

"Why don't you come back with us?" he asked. "I hate to think of you being alone. I mean, your step-mom hardly counts."

"It's okay. Really. I'm just going to hop in the shower anyway. No, wait. A bubble bath. That's what I want. A nice long one."

"You're sure?"

"Yes," she said firmly. "Now, get going. Your parents are staring at us and it's getting a little weird."

When he looked back at the car, he saw both heads whipping around to gaze innocently out the front windshield. Sheesh. He walked Summer up to the door and then jogged back down to the car. After climbing in the back seat, he noticed his father's eyes framed by incredulous, bushy eyebrows in the rearview mirror. His mother was turned back halfway in her seat. Although they didn't say a word, they both stared as if they'd never seen him before.

He held out both hands. "What?"

"Nothing!" they exclaimed in unison.

"Why don't you ever kiss me like that?" Kirsten asked her husband.

In answer, Seth could see his father's eyebrows wiggling obscenely in the mirror.

"Please! There's a minor present," he protested.

Sandy laughed and restarted the engine. "Okay, son. Let's go home."

THE END

A/N: I think there may have been a shorter time span in the movie between going to the ship and when Sam's father showed up, so I made it a little longer in my fic. Just wanted to have the characters a little concerned about the possibility that he might not come at all. And just an explanation on a scene from the last chapter – I know most stories have the typical "guy saves the day" but I wanted to do something different and have Summer kick some ass! ;-)

So we've come to the end, folks. Hope you've had as much fun reading as I've had writing this. Final constructive comments are appreciated! Now I'll have to start thinking about my next fic...hmmm...