A/N: Just to let you all know, who are reading this fic & are actraully interasted, the next chapter will most likely be the last chapter of this season, but the next season of a New Girl will be withen a few months, plus I started a new fanfiction about Higher Ground so that might be coming up soon.
I thank everyone who has read this & that have taken the time to review to share their comments.


Runaway: Part 2

Roger and Jeff were deciding what the Trackers were going to serve for everyone at Horizon. With no electricity to toast bread and the eggs had gone bad form being warm in the fridge, so no eggs and they couldn't make pancakes or waffles without eggs, so these things were out of the question. The bacon had gone bad as well. All they had was dry cereal; the milk was sour. There was nothing to drink either, but warm water or warm juice.

They decided that everyone, including them selves, would have to eat dry cereal. It was better than starving.

"I hope their okay," Daisy said.

"They will be," Auggie assured her, coming up to her with two bowls of cereal.

Roger walked by, handing out bowls. He had a radio clipped onto his belt, incase Curtis called, telling him that they found Annie. Then he could radio Peter and tell him it was everything was fine, that they had her.


Annie was still on the ground in a daze. She felt as if the last of her energy had been drained away. She couldn't move or feel anything, not even the snow that slowly started to cover her. Her breathing was sluggish and rough, a mist rising from her mouth and nose. She couldn't see straight; everything was blurry.

Annie tried to move her arm again, to get up, but it didn't move. Again and again she tried. She was just too exhausted. For no reason at all, tears slipped down her cheeks. She didn't know why they started; she still didn't know where she was or what she was doing.

Once more, she tried to get up. She accomplished moving her arm, but nothing else. Annie decided to lie there and rest, maybe just die right there.


Peter glanced ahead of him, seeing and hearing the raging river. The others heard it too.

"Any ideas on how to keep from getting wet?" Shelby asked sarcastically.

"I'm not going in there," Juliette told them. They stopped in front of it. It's rushing by rapidly.

"Jump from rock to rock?" Scott suggested, seeing rocks lined up in one direction.

"One of us would slip and fall in," Peter said, studying the trees, "It would be dangerous to swim, jump, and cross from tree to the other side."

"The bridge?" Juliette piped up, hopefully.

"Its too far away. It could be too late for Annie by then," Scott argued.

"Its only about fifty yards away, see? In the distance?" Ezra said. Everyone looked to where he was pointing. He was right. In the distance, though the snow, they could barely see the bridge going over the river.

"Let's go gang," Peter called.

They reached it.

"What happened to it?" Juliette asked, seeing the state it was in.

"Probably the storm," Peter suggested, "We have to get across and it's the only way. I'll go first and if it's okay, Scott follow after words, but have a rope tried around your waist to Sophie incase something happens."

"Okay."

"You sure it's safe enough to cross?" Sophie asked.

"Safer than just swimming. At least its something to hold onto while we wade across."

Carefully, Peter walked across, keeping a tight grip on the rope. Slowly, but surely he got closer and closer.

When he reached land, he signaled for Scott to go ahead.

One at a time, they continued on crossing and eventually they all were safe on solid land.

They all saw the main cabin up ahead: maybe about a half-mile away. Hopefully, Annie would have taken shelter there.


Annie was on her hands and knees, slowly standing up. The thunder returned frequently again. The wind picked up, more than before.

She was knocked back down by it when she had accomplished getting up. The wind was blinding her vision, hurting her eyes with its stinging cold and speaks of dirt. She closed her eyes, willing that the wind would stop.

Out of now where, a large tree branch flew toward her. Annie didn't see it coming. It hit the back of her head at a high speed. She fell back to the Earth's surface, unconscience.


Peter and everyone walked into the cabin, the door had been left ajar.

"Annie," He called. Besides the door being open, it didn't look like some one had been in there. Ezra looked in the closet.

"Why would she be in there?" Scott asked.

"Maybe the thunder scared her."

"She was here," Sophie told them.

"How can you tell?" Scott asked.

"The heater was turned on. Set at 100."

"And look, I found her jacket," Shelby said, holding the soaked clothing up. Peter took it.

"At least we're on the right track."

"Why did she leave? I mean this is the only shelter out here," Scott thought aloud.

"She doesn't know that," Peter reminded him.

"Would she had gone back?" Ezra asked.

"Most likely not. She probably wouldn't want to cross the river again."

"Maybe she's trying to get across now," Sophie suggested.

"Maybe, but let's check the solo sites first." They headed for the first site. The wind was still blowing pretty hard, but the snow was falling slowly now.


Peter rubbed his hands together, making the circulation flow. He was wondering if it had gotten colder or if he was just now feeling it.

Juliette glanced around.

"Look! It's Annie!" She yelled, pointing through some bushes to a small clearing.

As everyone began for her, the loudest clap of thunder erupted through the sky and a blot of lightening struck a tree a few meters away from Annie. It fell right toward her.

Scott was gone in a flash to rescue her.

"Scott!" Yelled everyone.

Peter went after him.

Scott grabbed Annie's limp body as the tree came feet from them. Peter pushed Scott out to the way, sending all of them rolling away from the tall tree. They heard it come down with a thud while they stopped.

"You ok?" Peter asked.

"Yes, she's alive."

"Yes, you're okay, or yes she's a live?"

"Both," Scott answered.

"Peter! Scott!" Sophie yelled.

"We're alive, so is Annie." Peter helped Scott up, who held Annie firmly, but gently in his arms. Sophie and the others walk carefully around the fallen tree.

"Let's get to the main cabin," Peter commanded. As they walked, Peter wrapped Annie in a couple blankets, but let Scott hold her. He felt her freezing, pale cheek.

"Get her warm and check her vitals," He said once they got to the cabin, "I'm going to inform Roger."

"Roger, can you hear me?" Peter asked into the radio.

"Yes, Peter I am. Is everything all right?"

"At the moment. Call off Cutis, we found Annie."

"Glad to hear," Roger said.

"What time is it?"

"Its mid-morning, about ten something. Daisy wants to talk with you."

"Sure, put her on."

Peter turned around to see everyone in the dry, windless shelter.

Ezra, Juliette, and Shelby were wrapped in sleeping bags and blankets, sleeping. Scott was wrapped in one as well. He sat at the foot of Annie's bed, his arms and head resting on it, fast asleep. Sophie took the stethoscope off her ears and put her sleeping bag and four blankets over Annie. Peter stepped over Shelby to get to them.

"How is she?"

"Her breathings pretty shallow and her temperature is 86."

"That's way too low." Peter took his glove off and put his warm hand against Annie's cold forehead. Annie took a deep breath, a breath that she should be taking in her sleep.

Peter glanced around at everyone.

"All passed out."

"I think I'm going to join them." Peter looked at Annie.

"I'll join you in a while, take my sleeping bag." She took it.

"Peter, Annie will make it through." He gave her a smile. He took a chair and placed it beside the bed. He watched Annie sleep.


Scott heard something; it was the ruffling of clothes. He looked up to see Peter. Peter glanced at him.

"Have a nice nap?" He asked Scott.

"I needed it." Scott smiled. He looked at Annie.

"Is she doing okay?"

"She's lasted this long." Scott took his eyes off Annie to Peter, "She's doing fine for now. Her breathing should be heavier though." He searched for something. He found it: the thermometer. He placed it gently into Annie's mouth; he had to hold it there to keep it in. Annie gave a few weak coughs. Peter took his other hand and stroked her face. The thermometer beeped.

"89 degrees," Peter said aloud.

"Is that bad?"

"Better than 86." Scott put his hand against Annie's cheek.

"She's so cold."

"Yeah, that's what happens when you get hypothermia."

"When her temperature goes back to normal, will she be okay?" Scott asked.

"We won't know until it happens. Some suffer from brain problems after hypothermia.'

'Are you going to be up for a while?" Peter asked him.

Scott shrugged, "Why?"

"I haven't had a nap yet."

"I can watch her."

"Thanks." Peter went over to Sophie. Scott watched Annie as the blankets slightly moved to her breathing. He listened to it as well. It sounded like she was struggling to breathe. Concerned, he touched her cheek. After a bit, it went back to its sluggish, rough rhythm.


Shelby got up beside Scott. His eyes were half open, and looking off into space. She looked at him and at Annie.

"Scott?"

He gazed at her, smiling.

"Hey, Shel."

"You okay?" She asked.

"Yeah, kind of tired is all. Peter told me to watch over Annie, while she sleeps to make sure nothing happens."

"I can wat - What's wrong?" Scott suddenly looked at Annie, concerned. He got up and placed his hand over her mouth and nose.

"She's not breathing," He said, "Wake Peter, hurry, but be careful not to disturb any one else." Shelby went to comply. Scott moved the blankets away from Annie's chest and gently began pushing down on it.

"Peter, Peter!" Shelby whispered to him.

"What Shel? What's wrong?"

"Annie, she's not breathing." Peter hastily got up and went to Annie. Sophie, who heard, got up as well.

Scott moved a bit to the side, so Peter can check her, he continued pushing her chest though. Peter checked her pulse and heart beat.

"Is she breathing yet?" Scott asked.

"No, continue pushing, I'm going to give her mouth to mouth." He tilted her head back, and began. The two worked as a team to get Annie breathing again. Peter checked again. He didn't feel any breath. A couple more times: she still would not breathe on her own.

"Scott you're off beat," Sophie told him.

"Sorry."

"Scott take a break," Peter said. He pushed on Annie's chest; "Her clothes are soaked. Soph, didn't you take them off?"

"I forgot." Sophie helped Peter take off her long-sleeved shirt, reveling scars. No one said anything about them as they continued.

Scott went back to pushing her chest as Peter did mouth to mouth. He stopped and signaled Scott to stop.

"She's breathing." Everyone sighs in relief.

"You two need to get some rest, we're going to leave in an hour or so."

"Okay," Scott and Shelby said. They lied down beside Annie's bed, cuddling each other. Peter didn't say anything to them as he took Annie's shoes and socks off. Then pulled the blankets back on top of her.

"I'll stay up and watch her," Sophie suggested.

"No, I will. I'll be fine."

"Okay, mountain man."


Extreme cold sent her to shivers. All she could feel was the cold surrounding her.

"Annie," She heard, but didn't register it in any way. Her eyes opened, almost without her knowing it. She saw darkness ahead of her. Something warm touched her. She tired to think where she was, who she was, and what she was doing. Turning her head slowly, she saw Peter. She couldn't remember who he was exactly except for his name.

Peter smiled at her, listening to her chattering breath. Even though the heater had kicked on, he saw her breath.

"Cold?" He asked.

She nodded, "Ver v v . . ." Peter took the blanket around himself and placed it over her.

"Better?"

"K . . . k k kind-" She didn't finish. Peter sat on the bed and placed a hand on her forehead. Comforted, Annie closed her eyes and her shivering went down. She needs body heat. Peter thought inside his head. She moved her head toward him, wanting the cold to go away. He placed her head in his lap and stroked her cheek. Feeling even safer, Annie drifted to sleep.


Shelby slipped Scott's jacket on. Hers was given to Annie to wear, she wore Scott's and Scott had Peter's. Peter didn't wear a jacket, saying the kids would get sick easier than he would. A few blankets were wrapped around Annie as well.

"Everyone ready?" Peter asked, holding the sleeping Annie in his arms.

"As ready as we'll ever be," Ezra replied for them all.

"All right, lets go." They all headed Horizon.


"Um, Peter. One question; How are we going to get Annie across the bridge?" Juliette questioned.

"I didn't think about that. Umm." He paused to think, "Soph, you, Ezra, and Juliette head back to Horizon and call for a helicopter. The rest of us will go back to the cabin to wait.

"Yeah, okay, you two, let's get to it," Sophie commanded. She gave Peter a hug before leaving.

"Okay . . ." Juliette said, glancing at Annie and Scott.

The others started hiking back.


"Annie, can you move your fingers?" Peter asked her. She stared at him through quarter opened eyes, confused.

"Yes, or no Annie. Just shake or nod." He grabbed her hand gently, so he would feel any movement she made.

"You have to move you fingers Annie for them to move." They slightly moved in his hand.

"Good, now the other hand." They moved too.

"Toes?" A bit of concentrating and they moved. He made sure she could feel as well. Peter took the two zip lock bags that held warm water, so it would warm her, from Annie's jacket.

Outside, Shelby put the water over a fire and returned it to the bags, giving them back to Annie.

"Don't rub her arms," Peter warned Scott.

"I'm warming her."

Peter shook his head, "Its dangerous to rub warmth into someone who has hypothermia."

"Why?"

"Something to do with the skin. I was told it was dangerous, so I don't want you to do that incase it is. You can hold her close to keep her warm, but no rubbing." Shelby took one of the bags and held it in Annie's hand. She moved it to her face, legs, and arms to warm her up.

"Put it on her wrist or neck, next to one of her main veins, but don't keep it there too long," Peter told them. Shelby held it on her wrist.

"Hey, Shel, why don't you let Scott take care of Annie, and help me watch for the helicopter?"

"Okay," Shelby replied, giving the bag to Scott.


"Where's that helicopter?" Peter cusses under his breath as he sets the thermometer down. It was now a few hours after sunset and it had started raining again.

Shelby glances at Scott, who's dozing, then Peter, and watches Annie, who's also dozing.

"Peter, I'm sorry."

"About what?"

"Annie. I've been so mean to her. I, I never gave her a chance. This whole . . . whole thing is my fault. If Annie felt like she belonged, she wouldn't have taken off in the storm and gotten sick. None . . . none of this would have ever happened if I would have been nicer."

"Don't blame yourself, Shelby. Everyone else could have been nicer to her as well and Annie could have taken it better than she has. What's done is done. We learn from our mistakes and move on. We don't dwell on the past and what ifs."

"That doesn't make me feel any more irresponsible for what happened," Shelby honestly told him. They both glance up as they hear the helicopter.

"I'm sure Annie doesn't blame you and you shouldn't either, Shel."

"How do you know she doesn't?"

"Well, if she does, you've been making it up by helping us search for her and taking care of her. I'll let you think about it and I hope you make the right decision. I've got to go flag the copter. If you want, we can talk more about it when we get back."

Shelby nodded as she stared off into the distance.