First Date

These good fellows don't belong to me but I promise when I'm done to pick um up, dust um off and with a kiss on the cheek return them safely home.

I'll be by your side where ever you fall,
In the dead of night whenever you call,
And please don't fight these hands that are holding you.
My hands are holding you.

Tenth Avenue North (By Your Side)

Chapter 4

Without hesitation he turned and went back for her, trying to keep his own footing he reached out and grabbed her hand. As his feet slid under the loose pebbles he fell forward but kept his grip on her using his other hand to grab at anything available to bring them to a stop.

He was immediately worried as he scooted right up to her, "Are you hurt?" He glanced downward and the thought of her falling all the way down shook him but when he saw the tears coming down her face he realized how much he truly loved her. "Kanda, are you hurt?"

She nodded, "My ankle. I think I twisted it." They both paused as they listened to the truck up above them pull away and disappear into the night followed by what sounded like another car. "Oh Roy, I'm so sorry. This is my fault," she cried.

Taking a deep breath he gave her a smile while he took her leg and brushed the dirt off of it. "It's not your fault so don't worry about it. Let me take a look at that ankle."

Like him she was holding her shoes in her hand when they rushed up the slope only to find the loose rocks not stable enough to run over. She flinched and sucked in her breath as he palpated around her right ankle. "I think it's broken." He clinched his teeth and looked up, "We've got to get up top."

The path was only wide enough for them to go one at a time. She took his hand as he put his arm around her waist pulling her up to her good foot. "Hold onto my waist, we'll take it slow," he told her. He turned back around and felt her hands find his waist. Taking a step forward he could hear the hop of her good foot behind him followed by a heavy breath as it would jar her ankle. The going was very slow, one step and hop at a time. He could feel her beginning to lean against his back more and knew her good leg was probably getting fatigued quickly on the incline. If the path had been little wider he would pick her up but they were too close to the top now to risk falling. They continued the gradual assent slowly but steadily.

Reaching the top he stepped onto the grassy ledge first then helped her up where she sat down with a thump and a groan. He knelt down beside her and his worry about her only increased again. She looked like she had been in a fight. There was dirt on her face, her hands were all scratched up and bleeding from where she tried to stop her fall and her dress was torn. "Are you sure you're not hurt anywhere else?"

Reaching up to wipe the tears from her cheeks she shook her head, "No, unless you count my dignity."

Putting his hand behind her neck he leaned and kissed her on her forehead, "Your dignity is still intact with me but we have to figure out how to get out of here and get you some help."

She looked around. "I don't understand why they towed us. This is a legit parking area."

Roy shook his head but agreed with her. There were parking signs and no restrictions were posted but for right now it was a mute point. Standing he looked up and down the road. It was dark, no streetlights and not a soul to be seen anywhere. "How far would you say the last sign of civilization was?"

She hung her head down, "I don't know, fifteen miles? It doesn't matter. I'll never make it that far."

The breeze was blowing constantly off the water and he watched her shiver in her sleeveless dress. He knew they couldn't just sit here all night. Kneeling back down beside her, "Okay, we'll move a little at the time until we need to rest. But we can't stay here."

Nodding in agreement she let him again help her up. She put her arm around his shoulders while he took her by the waist putting her injured right foot in the middle of them. Looking down the long curved dark road she took her other hand and patted him on the chest, "So, what do you think about our first date so far?"

"I think that we might need to stay home for our second date," he said with a wink. "Ready?"

"Lead the way, I'm all yours."

Roy moved slowly so Kanda could keep up with her one working foot. The progress was very slow much to her frustration knowing that he could make much better time if he didn't have to half carry her along the way. She wasn't easily so dependent on others. Something she learned a long time ago. Meanwhile, he was frustrated that not one single car had passed them. The road remained agonizingly empty. He knew they couldn't continue at this pace for very much longer. Looking at his watch he grimaced, it was already after ten. There was no certain time that he gave Johnny about coming home but he knew his partner, he would start worrying before long.

The figure stood propped against the window of the dirty black pickup truck. The couple that sat inside was not happy with the situation they were being drug into and continued to voice their opinions about it. Finally they relented knowing they had to stand by the third party for no other reason than being family. But they didn't have to like it. As the old truck pulled away the figure smiled and climbed into their own vehicle and drove down the road to wait. Things were going well and it wouldn't stop until they were no longer together. One way or another.

"Here, lets rest." They moved to the farthest side of the road that was possible. He knew she was worn out and in pain as she put her head down on her bended knee. "You're doing great. Hang in there," he said as he rubbed her back.

The shadow of pain came across her face again, "I'm just holding you back. Why don't you go for help? I'll be alright waiting for you."

He almost smiled at how once again she seemed to read his thoughts, "I'm not leaving you out here alone. I just don't have a good feeling about it."

She simply nodded. Odd things had happened to them tonight and she didn't have a good explanation for them either.

"I'm so sorry I don't have anything to help the pain," he said as he wiped the tear that ran down her cheek. He felt helpless with no squad, boxes, splints or drugs.

She looked up at him, "It's not your fault." She rubbed her legs as they both hurt now. Roy looked at her ankle which was twice the size and turning various shades of purple and black. He knew it had to be very painful but not once had she complained about it.

He ran through the possibilities in his mind. He could leave her alone and go for help moving much faster. But the thought of leaving her alone out here didn't appeal to him at all. The coastal highway ran along a forest with woods on one side and cliffs on the other. It was one of those areas that made you feel a hundred miles from LA when you really weren't. Either way he knew he couldn't just leave her out here alone.

"We have to keep moving." He reached for her hand but this time she didn't take it. She didn't even look up at him. Kneeling back down beside her he took her chin in his hands, "I know it hurts but please don't give up on me."

Her resilience and inner strength continued to shine through as she reached out to take his hand again silently standing with his help. And they continued walking.

It didn't take long for her left leg to begin shaking again from taking her weight alone for so long and she rested heavily on him. He could feel her body tremble with exhaustion and pain. Even though she remained silent he knew that she had reached her limit and just couldn't do anymore. Sweeping his arms under her she was surprised to feel him pick her up.

"Roy, what are you doing?" Her face was right at his. "You can't do this."

He laughed, "Just be glad I didn't sling you over my shoulder."

About that time a set of headlights came around the corner. Roy knew this might be their only chance, "Hop down." As he lowered her down to the ground again he quickly made sure she was alright then headed towards the road, waving his arms and yelling.

The truck passed and Roy kicked at the dirt with incredible frustration but then just past them it slowed down. He went running towards it praying they were decent people willing to help them. The black pickup truck moved over to the narrow emergency lane and pulled to a stop. Roy jogged up to the passenger door to find a couple appearing in their 20's in it.

"Thank you, we need help," he pointed back to Kanda. "She's been hurt and we need to reach a phone."

Roy felt the woman looked very anxious about her husband's decision to stop for strangers but was grateful when the man waved them to the back of the truck. "You can climb in back there and we'll drop you off at the market just down the road."

Roy patted the door, "Thank you so much." He turned and headed back to Kanda. "They're going to give us a lift into town. Here," he said as he reached down to pick her up again. This time she gratefully let him carry her to the truck. She then leaned against it while he lowered the tailgate then he gently lifted her into the bed. As she slid herself backwards he closed the tailgate back, jumped off the bumper and climbed in with her.

The husband looked through the window and when he saw them sitting down he pulled back out onto the roadway. What Roy didn't see was the very unhappy look on his face to see that one of them was injured.

"She's hurt Seth, we can't do this," the woman protested.

"I know. I saw her." The man's guilt of what was planned for the couple played through his mind. He looked at his wife, "What do you expect me to do?"

She was scared. Scared of not doing it, scared of doing it. It was only meant to scare them but she knew with the woman now hurt that something bad would happen. Glancing back through the window she saw him holding her, comforting her through her pain.

"We could just say we did it," she said wishfully.

"You know that won't work," he said. Then griping the steering wheel with final resolve he made a decision. He only hoped they wouldn't regret it come the next day.