Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here is chapter thirty-seven of "Ride the Wind II: Justice Unbound." I didn't mean to take three weeks to get it out. I had a bad case of writer's block. This chapter has some Glen/Annie and Zhane/Karone. It also features Missy's return. I felt it was time to bring her back after a long absence. Stay tuned for chapter thirty-eight.

XXXXX

Chapter 37: Just Waiting

Nadine added sugar to six coffee-filled mugs sitting on a tray in the Hanks rental house kitchen in the late afternoon. She stirred the contents in each of them. She turned her attention to the living room, where her friends and family were. Glen, Annie, and Missy sat on first couch. Jesse and Randolph sat in the armchairs. Nancy was in her father's lap. Elvis, Andros, Ashley, Zhane, and Karone were in foldable chairs. An empty one was next to Karone.

Nadine took the spoon to the sink to put it there. She went back to the tray while smacking her lips. She picked it up and exhaled slowly. She carried it carefully into the living room. She came to the coffee table, laying it down. Andros, Ashley, Zhane, Karone, Glen, and Annie grabbed their coffee. They sipped a bit of them and nodded in approval. They turned to Nadine.

"Talk about great-tasting coffee, Nadine," Glen said in much warmth.

"Oh, yes," Annie agreed.

"Thanks," Nadine replied and headed over to the chair. She sat down, a light grunt leaving her mouth. "I remember how excited I was to drink my first cup of coffee after having Nancy. I downed it in just ten minutes."

"You were bouncing off the walls not long after," Jesse joked and snickered under his breath.

Nadine gave him a mock glare. "Sure, I was."

"You waited an hour to have another cup," Randolph commented honestly and leaned forward somewhat. "You wanted to have a full breakfast first."

"I laughed at people who said I shouldn't be drinking coffee while nursing Nancy because they thought it would make her hyper. She may be a bundle of energy, but she is nowhere near hyper," Nadine said.

"That notion is just a myth. Coffee and coke don't make nursed children hyper," Jesse commented honestly.

Missy smirked. "How about we pour some sugar into your mouth and see how hyper you can get, Jess?"

"You can as long as I can pour sugar into your mouth and see if you act like I do afterward," Jesse said, looking toward her.

"Sure," Missy answered, giving him two winks.

"Of course, Missy is the one who gets the most hyper in this family," Glen said.

"Hey!" Missy yelled in mock annoyance.

Glen eyed her. "It's the truth. Get used to it."

Missy slapped Glen on the shoulder. She got a slap to the back of her head from him in retaliation. She tweaked his nose before ruffling his hair. She laughed at his swatting her hand aside. She became quiet after ten seconds. He sipped more of his coffee.

"I am so glad we know the truth about Isabella now," Nancy said in much happiness. "She gets to go home."

"I imagine Isabella crying as a boater placed a wired lasso around her head. He and several others pulled her away from her family. She struggled to get away, but she couldn't. They put her in a sling and lifted her out of the water. They took her to land and put on a plane for Brighton, Colorado. She spent two months in the Brighton Aquarium before Dial 'bought' her from the owner. Then she arrived at Northwest Adventure Park," Jesse whispered with a sniffle.

"Who knows how much time passed before she realized her pod was in the nearby bay and began calling to them?" Andros asked, biting his lip.

"It's good she made friends with Brenda, Jane, and Izzy, but she needs her family. They need her as a potential mother. Catspaw is no longer fertile. Nikki may have just one or two calves before her ability to reproduce is gone," Ashley said, her body shaking somewhat.

"It will be at least a decade before Nessa becomes capable of reproduction," Elvis added.

"Littlespot is old enough to father calves, but he hasn't found a mate yet," Zhane said. "Who knows when he will find one?"

"Yeah," Karone agreed and took another sip of her coffee. "It is possible Harry was the one who told Dial that he should pay a boat crew to illegally capture an orca from the Pacific Northwest. Hunters don't pass up an opportunity to get some cash. Dial has always been known for one to snag an opportunity to boost profits. He agreed to Harry's idea, though he knew he could get in trouble."

"He knows the police consists almost entirely of cops he doesn't know now. However, he believes they will allow him to get away with his crime as they are more focused on protecting people than they are animals," Annie said with a roll of her eyes. She mumbled inaudible words in Spanish. "He is such a sleaze."

"I wonder how many women have turned him down for dates," Elvis said, his voice showing much curiosity.

"Probably many," Jesse said truthfully. He tried to stifle a snicker, but he couldn't help himself. "It is likely he used horrible pickup lines and got smacked by them."

"I remember in Home Alone 2 when Marv spoke a pickup line in French to the blond lady. She smacked him," Glen said, laughing.

"You used it on me. I smacked you lightly on the cheek," Annie said, a giggle leaving her mouth.

"I liked it," Glen said, putting his arm around her. "Yes, ma'am."

Glen kissed Annie's temple. She flicked his nose twice, followed by his chin. He rubbed her arm so lightly that it seemed he wasn't even doing that. He clicked his tongue three times.

"I am grateful to Brenda for agreeing to help us bust Dial," Karone commented in relief. "She is nervous about doing this, but she knows it must be done."

"Someone will need to watch over the animals after the park is shut down. I think Brenda should be one of the caregivers since she knows Isabella best," Elvis suggested.

Ashley nodded fast. "Brenda would be able to keep Isabella calm because she will likely be confused by what is happening."

"Once the USDA agent declares Isabella fit for release, then she will be on her way home," Jesse said, excitement lining his voice.

"That is no way anyone could ever bust Isabella out of that tank due to tighter security. 9/11 made sure of that," Andros pointed out.

"We shouldn't forget trainers are assigned to watch her every night," Zhane said, taking another sip of his coffee.

"She may have trainers and dolphins to keep her company during the night, but it doesn't stop her from calling to her pod in the bay," Missy whispered in much sadness. "I imagine Willy and Nikki mourn for their lost daughter when they and their podmates aren't in that bay."

Jesse frowned. "The same goes for Max mourning for his sister and Catspaw her granddaughter. Let's not forget Alex, Luna, and Littlespot for their niece as well as Ben and Sparkle for their cousin."

"Isabella has a big immediate family," Nancy said honestly. "I think she will be excited to meet her new sister and cousin after she goes home."

Annie placed her other hand on her mug. "Who will take Jane and Izzy in after the park is shut down? They can't be released into the wild."

"Maybe the Angel Grove Aquarium could take them in," Missy suggested while slipping locks of hair behind her ears. She laid her hands in her lap. "I am sure they would be more than happy to do that."

"I think that is a good idea, Missy," Ashley replied and stroked her chin.

"Me too," Karone said eagerly. She emitted a soft sigh. "Trini and I could help them settle in."

Zhane took her hand into his as she turned to him. "You and Trini would do a fantastic job of that since you two are experienced trainers."

Zhane and Karone shared a sweet kiss. Nancy made a disgusted face as they returned their attention to the others. She laid her hands in her lap and sighed.

"I was wondering. What if someone spots J-Pod swimming alongside the boat as Uncle Randolph, Daddy, and the boat crew are taking Isabella to the seapen?" Nancy asked.

"Then we will release Isabella into the water carefully, honey," Jesse answered and ran his fingers through his hair.

"If Brenda decides to go with you, she may object to that because she is concerned Isabella might be attacked by her podmates," Nadine pointed out in much seriousness.

"It is a risk we will have to take," Jesse commented and swallowed hard. He slipped his arms around her stomach. "If we don't grab that opportunity, then it could be days before we see J-Pod again."

"Your dad's right," Elvis said while stroking his goatee. "Orcas will go wherever they want. J-Pod can't be forced to come to the Rubbing Rocks for Isabella. All your father, your mother's godfather, and Brenda can do is be patient. Good things come to those who wait."

"Exactly," Zhane said with a slow nod.

"One thing is clear. Isabella will be happy to be free," Jesse said in much warmth. He smiled when the others voiced their agreement. He started talking about feeding Isabella salmon through a tube.