You Can Find Anything... 8/?

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FOUR HOURS LATER:

"Jim, I have to stop this, just for a while. She's so tired she can barely sit up anymore..."

"No. You can't interfere and you know it. She has to make this work. Peter may not get another chance."

"Jim.... what if she can't find him? Am I supposed to let her keep driving and pushing herself 'till she collapses?"

"Yeah, if that's what it takes. We did it, Chief. Give Naomi and Peter their shot."

Gliding up behind the two men, Caine laid a gentle hand on Blair's shoulder and spoke softly to him.

"Be strong, Shaman. I feel it will not be much longer."

"You look worried. Everything's okay isn't it?"

"For the moment, yes, but they must make the connection soon. Peter is as weakened by his journey as your mother is by hers."

"I... I feel like I need to do something.... I need to help, but I can't. There's nothing I can do for her and it's driving me crazy...."

"I understand your... frustration. Peter is my only child. He and I are all that is left of our family now. I wish that I could be with him, but this battle is his alone."

"I wish I could be as calm as you are."

"I was just going to meditate and pray. You are... welcome to join me."

Recognizing a rare learning opportunity when it presented itself, Blair nodded, bowed deeply and trailed Caine into the main room of the dojo. When Jim didn't follow, Kwai-Chang turned and extended the offer to him as well.

"No thanks. I'll stay and keep an eye on these two."

"As you wish."

"Jim, c'mon, man. It'll take your mind off everything...."

"Do not press him, Shaman. It is his nature to protect those who cannot defend themselves."

"Yeah... I guess."

"Come. Sit beside me. I will... demonstrate the meditation."

Reluctantly, Blair dropped to the mat and took up lotus position, listening intently to Caine's instruction.

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Stumbling on feet that had gone so numb he'd lost awareness of their existence, Peter forced himself to make it to the next tree, but he could go no farther than that. Leaning heavily against its frigid, snow-dusted surface, he tried to collect himself, to gather his strength, but he had almost none left. For the past hour or two, he and the new voice had been conducting an actual conversation, when he had the energy to respond to her entreaties, but now his mind was slowly shutting down, capable only of reminding him that his body was soon to follow.

{God... the snow's gettin' worse... I can barely see anything.... can't breathe. I'm so cold.... tired.... what am I doin' here? I... I can't....}

Dropping to his knees, Peter hung his head, panting harshly and squeezing his eyes shut.

"Whoever you are.... I'm sorry, okay? I... I just c-can't keep going.... it's too much... I tried..."

{Oh no you haven't! You don't get to decide the end of this story all by yourself. Get up! Damn it, Peter, get on your feet! Can't you hear it yet?}

"Hear what?! My ass freezing? My blood turning to slush in my veins? If you can get me out of here, do it! Otherwise leave me the hell alone and let me enjoy my frostbite in peace!"

{ Peter, please focus. We don't have much time left. You can find me, Peter, I know you can, but you have to get up. You have to keep walking! Can't you hear the sound?}

"You mean.... those drums? It's a nightmare about a forest... there's supposed to be drums... right? No... wait. That's a jungle...." he responded, his words slurring faintly.

{It isn't drums and this is no nightmare. If you don't get up you'll die here, Peter! You have to follow the sound.}

"But... I can barely hear it.... can't tell what direction...."

{Yes you can. Concentrate.... listen to me, alright? I know it's hard. It may be the hardest thing you've ever done, but you have to pay attention. Focus on the beat of my heart, Peter. Use it like a lifeline. I know you can do it. This way out, sweetheart....}

"Tired.... can't move...."

{I understand. I'll try to help, but I can't spare much myself right now. I just hope this is enough....}

In her own mind, Naomi visualized hoses connecting her to a gas pump and the pump to Peter. She gave him as much of her limited store of energy as she possibly could, then made the image fade away. Over the next few minutes, Peter felt the biting cold and the despair being forced away from and out of him. Warmth and power began to trickle back into his limbs and he found the will to open his eyes. Gradually, Peter's head lifted and he refocused on the world around him. Though his progress was slow, he wrapped his arms around the tree in front of him and used it to make his way back onto his feet.

"Okay... okay, so I'm upright. What now?"

{I hope this works as well for you as it did for my son and his partner. If not... we'll think of another way, I suppose. I need you to visualize a volume dial like you'd see on a stereo. This one is labeled hearing. Right now the dial is set at the letter N, which stands for normal. See yourself reaching out and turning the dial up to three.}

As he moved through the visualization, Peter silently laughed, knowing nothing was going to happen. A moment later, shock nearly drove him back to his knees when the world around him suddenly became a cacophony of sound.

"Ahhh! What the... make it stop!"

{It's alright, Peter. *You're* alright, you just have to calm down. You can hear my heart more clearly now, can't you? Push the other sounds away a little.... and find the one sound you need to follow. Keep coming, sweetheart. I'll meet you halfway....}

Shoving away from the tree, Peter wobbled a little, steadied himself and listened. Once he was sure he knew what direction to go, he started off, slowly at first but gaining speed and hope in equal measures as he moved closer to the end of his journey.

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"His hands... they're freezing. If I didn't know better, I'd swear he was developing frostbite." Jim commented worriedly to Caine almost an hour later. "That isn't possible, though..."

"It is as possible as injuries where there should have been none and mosquito bites where there were no mosquitoes." Caine reasoned, reaching out to gently touch his son's gray-white hand. "This is one of many reasons I believe they must find each other quickly. If he is not released soon, Peter may not survive. Still, it is a good sign."

"Excuse me? Frostbite can lead to amputation. You call that good?"

"The world Naomi described in her dreams and visions was windswept and deep in snow. If Peter has made his way to this world also, they cannot be far apart. Their journeys are almost finished."

"I hope so. Neither one of them has much left to give."

"They have... enough. I must go and prepare. You will stay?"

"Yeah, of course.... wait. Prepare what?"

"Herbs. Medicine and tea they will both need when they return. Your shaman.... he is afraid."

"Terrified is more like it. Naomi is the only family he has left."

"Once, but no longer. There are bonds that run deeper even than blood. The fear I speak of, however... is for you. Take care it does not turn to anger. All ties can break, no matter their strength."

Jim watched Caine glide from the room, then slowly took his place beside Peter and Naomi. Blair joined him a moment later, laying a comforting hand on his partner's shoulder.

"Hey. You need a break?"

"No, I'm good. Chief..... when this is all over.... we should talk."

"About what?"

"A lotta stuff. Caine said...."

"What? Is something wrong? Did he see something bad in our future?"

"Nothing like that. It's.... he made me realize...."

"Jim. Man, what's up? What did he say to upset you like this?"

"Later, when we know these two are alright. Right now, neither of us has the energy. Okay?"

"Yeah. Okay. You sure you're alright?"

"Fine. I could use something cold to drink, though."

"I can handle that. Hang on, I'll be right back."

"Thanks."

"No problem."

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{That's the way, Peter. Keep moving toward the sound.... that's really good... I can hear you! Thank God, I can hear you again. I thought....}

"What? Hey, don't stop now. Talk to me. That boost you gave me's runnin' out... I need somethin' to... keep me on my feet..."

{It wasn't important. I'll tell you when you get here. What are you seeing, Peter? Tell me what's going on around you.}

"Less snow. I can... see better. It's still too damn cold.... I... I think the trees are thinning out.... yeah.... there's open space up ahead.... I don't know if... if I can make it that far, though...."

{You can. You have to. Don't give up now, not when you're almost home. It's just a few more yards.}

"Yards... might as well be.... m-miles..."

Breathing shallowly, Peter fell against a tree bracing himself with hands he could no longer feel. His forehead dropped forward to rest on the trunk and he felt his knees begin to fail him. Though unable to actually see him yet, Naomi sensed he had used up the last of his reserves and would be able to go no further without her help. Tears streaking down her face both in reality and in the frozen world she and Peter inhabited, Naomi envisioned the fuel pump once again and fed the young Sentinel all she had left to give.

Warmth and life rushing back to him suddenly, Peter straightened, pushed away from the tree and ran forward, out from among the last scrubby bushes and onto the open plain where Naomi waited for him. He found her lying in the snow, being watched over by a beautiful silver mare. Dropping to his knees at her side, Peter gathered her up and pulled her partially onto his lap, sobbing deeply and screaming out his anger and sorrow to the black, star-filled sky

"No, damn it! God... what the *hell* am I supposed to do now?! Tell me! I went through all that... the cold, the forest.... all so she could die in my arms?! No! No way! Give her back!"

A moment later, Peter's tirade was interrupted by the sensation of a large warm body being pressed against his back. He half turned to find that the panda had rejoined him at last.

//// It's okay, kid. She's not dead. It was close, though. You had about ten seconds to spare, but you made it. \\\\

"I... I don't understand."

//// Naomi did her job. She gave everything up to make sure you'd be alright. You got handed a good one, Aurelia. \\\\ he commented, addressing the mare.

//// Yes, I think so. Pity it took the two of them this long to find each other, but it's all worked out for the best. \\\\ the horse responded in a lilting, distinctly feminine voice.

//// He wasn't ready. He needed to grow up a lot. \\\\

//// He still does, but with his father *and* Naomi at his side, the rest of his maturing process should proceed without any problems. \\\\

////True. If the two of them can't handle him, I'm sure Jim would be willing to kick his ass when it needs it. How're Midnight and Lobo doing anyway? Heard from them lately? \\\\

"Excuse me! What my ass needs right now is a hot bath, a hot meal an' a fifth of JD. Think we can do that any time soon?"

//// Gimme a break, kid! I haven't seen Aurrie in a long time. I was tryin' to catch up. It is time to get you home, though, I guess. \\\\

//// Don't fret, Sam \\\\ Aurelia reminded him. //// Now that they've finally gotten together, we'll be seeing each other a lot more often. \\\\

//// True. Okay, Peter. Put an arm around my neck and hold tight to Naomi. We're outta here.... \\\\

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"Mom?! God... Mom, wake up!"

Kneeling by his mother on the floor, Blair caressed her face over and over. Only moments before she had fallen from her seat and collapsed. Caine was tending to her when Blair and Jim rushed in, responding to the noise. "Is she okay?"

"He heart is very weak. I must treat her immediately."

"Will she be okay?" Blair demanded grimly.

"I... cannot know. I will do all I can. Warrior. There is another cot in a storage room just beyond my office...."

Jim rushed off to comply before Caine had even completed his sentence.

"What can I do? How can I help?" Blair pleaded.

"Trust me. And trust Naomi."

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TBC.....