Chapter nine

They both must have slept for quite awhile. She was still in his arms, her breathing soft and even. Careful not to wake her, Joseph reached for his watch, lighting it, for the time.

It was almost morning. Surly and hopefully the sun would rise soon. Although he loved being here beside her, here was not the place for her, not here, out in woods. He had to get her home, and today would be their starting point. Shortly he would have to raise himself up and prepare for the journey ahead of them.

Packing would be a problem. If he couldn't do anything else while it was dark, he could rack his mind of what to take with them. He had to keep his pack as light as possible. Clarisse would be heavy enough. There was no way he could carry a heavy pack as well, not for very long. Somehow, Joseph fathomed, he would have to pack the bare necessities, and maybe even less. In a way, that scared him.

Once out of the woods, his GPS system should pick up, and by then Shades would have them keeping an eye out for his signal. Joseph could trust in that. It was getting out of here that worried him, though he would never burden Clarisse with that. Being the man he was, he would never burden her with anything he could put a handle on himself. At least he knew the route out, or at least the direction to head in. If the weather would just hold out for them.

He was putting trust in the region. He could only carry so much weight, so Joseph resided that with all the rain recently, fresh water springs would be prominent here in the hills. He put the recently filled canteen in the pile of items to take, and left the other two behind.

She hadn't eaten at all, and that would have to change this morning, before they left. Joseph shuffled through the food he had gathered, and chose the lightest, but most filling. Energy would be factor for him as well. He would need all he could get. Even now he chose the trail mix, preparing his body for the workout it was about to receive.

A lighter and matches were both inside the small survival kit, along with fishing line, salt, a utility knife, and sewing kit. It was small, and he was sure he should take it along. He also needed to break down the first aid kit. He would have to decipher what was absolutely necessary. So, Joseph took that upon him next.

"You need to eat." He handed her some cheese and crackers, along with the bottle of wine. "I also want you to take these ibuprofen. Those and the wine will help with any pain. It's gonna be a hard hike."

He was all business this morning. Clarisse admired him for that. Joseph was always the person she needed him to be. It eased her mind considerably. She quietly ate what she could, making sure to follow his directions. She wouldn't want to upset him now. It was not the time for that.

He finished packing, and was content with his chosen items. "Clarisse," he said, pulling the chute from over her head, "are you ready?" The sun shone on her for the first time in days, and she enjoyed the warmth and bright light.

"I have to go." She gave him that look, that look that told him more than words could.

"Ah...well it's about time, and before we start is always a good time. Let's see..." He bent down to help her up. Slowly she rose, feeling a little dizzy at first. "You okay?"

"Ah, yes. I just need to get use to being upright." Joseph nodded.

"I'll carry you behind the wreckage, can you handle it from there?" He was worried that she would still be unstable.

"I think so." He picked her up, concern still on his face. "But I'll call you if I need to," she added, knowing he was worried about her.

"You better," he added, winking.

Joseph rolled up the sleeping bag tightly, securing it to the bottom of his pack. The blanket he ripped in half with every intention of having at least some of it to wrap her up in when the evenings would surly get cool again.

With any other person, she would have been embarrassed. With Joseph it was different. Joseph made her feel normal, like just another woman. She was Queen, but in his care she was also a real person.

"Joseph," she called, already trying to move towards him. "I'm ready." She stopped at the end of the steel she was using for a walkway. "What about shoes?"

"I have an extra pair of hiking boots IF you need them. Right now, I don't see any reason to put them on you, especially with that ankle. I've got everything I can carry, and hopefully only what we'll need. In any case, it's what we'll have to do with."

"Joseph," she paused, "thank you." He just nodded, and with his backpack already on, he swiftly lifted her in his arms. It took a minute to make both of them comfortable, but with her arms lightly around his neck, Joseph began to slowly make his way southeast.

Ahead of time he had already rerouted their path away from the remains of Genovia One. Clarisse didn't need to see that. Joseph was going to make sure she didn't. His heart ached at the lies, but in his mind he knew they were the right thing to do. He couldn't have her devastated at such loss right now. She needed what strength she carried to help get herself out of here. One day she would have to be told, and he would do it, and take full responsiblity for lying to her. He loved her that much.