Arriving at the police station Bill was almost out of breath. He felt like he'd been running a mile but it been only a few yards from the parking lot. He was feeling the adrenalin running through him, he hadn't felt this alive in days. He looked around the office scanning for a familiar face, someone he recognized, then he saw the FBI agents and detectives he'd been working with step out of a conference room.

"Where is she? Is it Nell?" he asked walking quickly towards them.

"She's still up there, we don't know if it's Nell yet." The agent told him before turning him around and heading for the doors. "There was a storm in the area, knocked out all the communication. We don't have a photo."

"Is she okay?" Bill cut in from the agent's explanation. He didn't need the details just the important bits. He needed to know if the kid was okay even if it wasn't Nell, he wanted the kid to be okay.

"As far as we know she's fine," the agent told him. "They've taken her to the hospital to get checked out but there didn't appear to be anything wrong."

"Good," Bill said and felt himself breathe little easier. "Where are we going?" They'd just stopped outside the station and were heading towards the cars.

"The airport." The agent told him, "We're going to get the child."

-8-8-8-8-

The plane landed a couple hours later, Bill hadn't said much during the flight, he'd listened to the agents talk about what was going to happen, how they were going to do it but for the most part he just sat in quiet contemplation. He prayed to heavenly father, he was still waiting to be shown his plan, to know why this was happening.

The town they needed to go to was another half hour from the airport, as they drove further into the wilderness Bill began to realise how lucky they'd been to stop the couple. They'd almost got out the country, almost got away. As they got closer to the town the roads got wider, signs of civilisation began to appear and the town turned out to be bigger than he thought. They were isolated but they had everything including a small hospital where Nell was being looked after.

Bill went with one of the agents straight to the hospital, as they walked inside he felt a combination of anxiousness, dread and excitement. He felt for sure it was going to be his girl; he wasn't sure what he'd do if it wasn't, how he would feel. After talking with staff they were directed to the children's ward and a small room used as a play area. The agent opened the door, inside the room was a volunteer, and playing in the corner with a tea set was a little girl. She didn't turn around as they walked in, she just kept playing. Bill gulped, he wasn't sure if it was his daughter, she looked different, her hair was shorter and darker and the outfit she wore was completely black, Margie always dressed her in pretty colours.

"Nell?" he said, his voice shaking just a little. The little girl turned around and looked at him. As soon as he saw her face he had no doubt it was his girl.

"Daddy," she said and she ran towards him.

He scooped her into his arms and hugged her tightly. He felt an immense feeling of relief run through him. Finally for the first time in two weeks he really felt like everything would be okay, that his family would survive and be able to move forward. He turned to the agent standing beside him.

"What happens now?" He asked, he had Nell back now he needed to get home.

-8-8-8-8-

Barb was acting strange, she wasn't talking as much as she usually did and whenever she did it was always short sharp and to the point. Margie had a feeling something was up but she didn't want to voice it, she didn't want to ask the questions in case she didn't like the answers. Bill had left quite suddenly earlier, he hadn't even said goodbye, and now Barb kept looking at her watch. The thought that they'd found Nell kept running through her mind but if they'd found her why hadn't they told her. Doubt and fear kept running through her head, maybe they'd found her but she wasn't okay. That thought made her feel sick all over but she knew it was a real possibility, she'd watched enough news stories to know children taken like Nell was didn't always come back okay, sometimes they didn't come back at all. She was afraid that's what was happening, and they were waiting for Bill to come back to tell her. The thought made sense, they'd let her boys stay with her all day, they never let her boys stay this long but all day they'd been curled up on either side of her watching movies. Barb's phone rang and she walked out the room. Margie closed her eyes and began trying to brace herself for the new which was coming.

Barb was gone for a long time, when she came back she had the doctor with her and he was pushing a wheelchair.

"Barb what's going on?" she asked, the words coming out her mouth slowly and full of doubt.

"Nothing," Barb said, she sounded normal but the look on her face said something was going on. "I thought you might like to go outside for a bit, get some fresh air."

"I think it's a good idea," the doctor added, "it might give your body the push it needs to get better."

"Okay," she knew there was something they weren't saying but she was willing to go along with it, outside might be nice for a bit and her boys both seemed to be jumping at the idea.

It took ten minutes for them to get her ready, they wrapped half a dozen blankets around her body before helping her into the wheelchair, and then scarf, beanie, gloves, and another blanket were added. It was cold outside and they didn't want her to catch a chill. Barb pushed her chair out the room and along the corridors, her boys walked and skipped along beside her.

They made their way to the hospital garden, it was a courtyard area with some benches, a water feature, and a small children's playground. The boys ran off to play while Barb positioned her chair beside one of the benches before sitting down herself. There was no one else in the garden.

"Barb what's going on?" she asked again.

"Nothing," Barb told her, "I just thought you'd like to come outside for a bit. Don't you like it?"

"I do," she said, she did like being outside, "but there is something you're not telling me. I can tell."

"Margie," Barb reached out and placed her hand on hers, she smiled but her eyes gave her away. Margie saw the sadness, the desire to tell her something and not being able to.

"Have they found Nell?" she asked thinking that was the only thing it could be. "Is she...?" She couldn't even say the words, they chocked up in her throat and tears started running down her face.

Barb looked away, she had to steady herself, keep her face clear, she wanted to tell Margie Bill had Nell; that her daughter was fine but Bill had thought it would be nice to surprise her. She looked down at her watch, where was Bill he should have been there by now.

"Barb tell me." Margie's voice was shaking, this wasn't good for her, she was going to make herself sick.

Barb turned to look at her again, her eyes and cheeks were red from crying but the rest of her was so pale. "Everything is going to be okay." She told her, she moved as close to her as she could and drew her close, "It's going to be okay." That was the closest she could get without telling her everything. "It will be okay."

Margie trusted Barb, she tried to believe the words she was hearing but she couldn't, not until Nell was safe in her arms could she begin to believe that everything would be okay. While Barb held her she watched her boys play, they were running up and down the slide acting like the little boys which they were. They'd be okay she thought, no matter what happens her boys would be okay, they'd be able to get through.

She watched as they both climbed the slide, and stood at the top of the platform. They waved, and she thought they were waving at her but then they both yelled out in unison "Daddy" and ran down the slide. She let go of Barb and looked over her shoulder, walking through the doorway was Bill, and in his arms was Nell.

At the sight of her daughter she felt her heart flutter. The despair she'd been feeling twisted and she didn't know what to do. She wanted to run towards them but the mass of blankets held her to the chair. As they got closer Bill placed Nell on the ground and she watched her girl run towards her.

"Mommy," she cried out, "Mommy."

Margie smiled and she tried not to cry but she couldn't stop the tears. Barb picked Nell up when she was a step away and placed her on lap. "Mommy," Nell kept whispering as she buried her face in Margie's chest, "Mommy."

"Nell," Margie echoed back, pulling out her blankets so they could go around them both, "Nell." As she held her daughter close she felt a warm feeling go through her, relief compiled with so much more. For the first time since this had started she felt like she might be okay, that there was light at the end of this dark tunnel.