A/N: Wow, this turned out to be a long one, hopefully I can make the length a normal occurrence from now on. If that's the case I may need to rewrite the previous chapters. Anyway, thanks to everyone who has been reading this, or watching it, I can't tell you how encouraging it is to see at least a few people take interest into this story.

As you know, I don't own any of these characters, the locations, events, ideas, occurrences, or anything else that may appear in both the movie RIO and my story; that is all the property of Blue Sky. Enjoy!

4. Half-Baked Bravery

The throbbing only diminished slightly as I rubbed the back of my head. I could have hit an umbrella or even the sand, but no, as my luck would show, it would be the surfboard that became so closely acquainted with my head. But, I was alive, which admittedly, was a step above where I figured I would be by now.

I laid the back of my head gingerly onto one of the melons and watched the cars behind us drive along. I try as I might, I could not relax, the rush of flying was still in me and I couldn't help but replay those few moments on the hang glider. Those few moments of flight and freedom in the sky, were exhilarating, but the person I had been with was even more so.

The other two birds must have noticed the way I was daydreaming because soon enough the toucan made his way over to my side.

"How was it me amigo? I know it wasn't strictly flying, but surely you got the idea."

"It was i-incredible!" I stammered, still dazed. "The wind, the rush, the view, everything was so cool!" It was true, all of it, had made an impact on me, I just couldn't let it go. This was why birds flew. Jewel made her way over to me, a slight smirk on her face.

"I'm impressed with you, on the glider I mean, It looked like you were actually having fun!"

Jewel never said much to me, well she did, but most of it involved anger. But that, that was a compliment, coming from Jewel's beak. I didn't even speak I could only look beyond the truck bed.

"You may fly yet, meu campanheiro" Raphael exclaimed as the toucan came between us pulling me up to my feet and putting his wings around our shoulders. "Blu I'm excited to see you standing up to your fears, literally." He continued, referring to my bold move to stand up on the glider. "You've shown some courage today."

"Don't forget stupidity" the female macaw added while removing herself from Raphael's hug. "what were you thinking, why did you open your wings?"

I replayed the scene in my head. The sight was incredible. The rush, the joy was unbelievable! I had glanced over at Jewel. She was standing, enjoying the ride with the most beautiful smile. I closed my eyes hoping to enjoy the moment as well. The next thing I knew, we were falling.

"I-I don't know, I wasn't thinking I guess." That was a lie.

"Not thinking! Blu, you could have killed us! Besides, I've been with you for nearly a day, I have yet to see you not thinking!"

I shrugged Raphael's wing off my shoulder and walked to the edge of the truck. "You're right, it was stupid of me."

Jewel's face softened, "Blu, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to go off on you like that, besides no har-"

"No, you're right, it was dumb of me, I should have been thinking, but I wasn't… I was in love." The last part just slipped out before I could catch it. Jewel stared blankly at me, in shock at my statement. "with the experience." I added quickly. I shuffled my feet nervously, but her demeanor softened again and she let out a sigh.

If you ever want to divert an angry female Spix's macaw, I have learned recently that talk of flying, the experience of, the action of, and the feeling of, are all excellent subjects to break into.

"I know how you feel Blu. I really do." Jewel replied while she watched the sky. "Ever since I was little, I've loved the sky. It's been my passion just to be in it, to enjoy it. It's honestly the most beautiful thing ever."

I was looking at her. I didn't really catch what she said, but I agreed hoping to continue watching her smile. She looked back at me for a second before she turned away.

She glanced back at me. "Just think next time, that sort of thing can get you killed."

I shook my head, I knew, believe me, I knew.

"You know I don't like change Linda. Come on, one more night" I protested as she walked me down the stairs.

My pleas fell on deaf ears as she heartlessly continued down the wooden steps towards the front room. "Blu, you know you've outgrown the other cage, you can't stay in it anymore."

I sucked my gut in and continued to beg, "can't we move the cage upstairs?"

She grabbed my off her head and looked me in the eye. "Blu, I know it's cold down here, but I've set up a space heater for the night, you'll be fine." She scratched the top of my head "Tomorrow we'll see about getting the cage upstairs, but for now I need you to be a big boy, and tough it out for one night."

I gave into her argument even though the first part had nothing to do with the situation. Linda gently placed me on the perch in the new cage and shut the door. She was right, this was more spacious; maybe I could get used to this. I turned around as she placed the space heater next to the cage. Putting on an unhappy face, I silently stared her down.

"Goodnight Blu." She said softly, un-phased by the show I was putting on.

I sighed, listening to her footsteps as she made her way back upstairs to her room. The cage wasn't that bad to be honest. It was larger, all the stuff inside was new and clean. The flooring was even today's newspaper. With another sigh, I grudgingly settled in for the night.

I wasn't long before I began to understand her comment about it being cold down here. Every time I heard the wind blow, I felt a draft of cold air come from the window in the front room. It wasn't long before I was sick of the intermittent air conditioning I had been receiving. Looking down at the paper, I had an idea. Quickly I climbed down and tore the paper into strips. Grabbing a mouthful of what had been the sports section, I unlocked my cage and began my trek to the front window.

It wasn't a large gap, but it seemed that some of the weather stripping had been torn off. With a shiver, I set the pile of news strips down and began to work. I couldn't help but praise my ingenuity as I tucked each strip into the gap. About halfway through, I took a step back to admire the work; each piece had been carefully wedged into place and was being held in snugly. At this rate, I would be warmly asleep in no time. I reached over to grab another strip from the pile; to my dismay there were no strips.

I am not a forgetful bird, I knew for a fact that I still had a dozen or so strips of paper. I turned around, the strips of paper were now spread across the living room. I sighed, realizing I was not going to catch a break tonight I picked up the nearest one and walked it back to the window still hoping to get the job done.

This entire time, I had been working by the soft blue light of the streetlamp outside and the dim red glow of the space heater inside. Grumbling at my misfortune, I was so focused on getting the gap in the window closed that it took me a minute or so to realize that the dim red glow had become a bright light that lit the room. When I looked up, I froze. Gulping down my fear I witnessed the space heater become a small inferno as several strips of paper caught themselves in its coils. I panicked.

"Linda! Linda! F-Fire!"

I called frantically for nearly a minute with no response. I continued to call for nearly a minute, but when the fire spread to the paper in my cage I decided to get a little pushier.

I don't ever recall the climb up the staircase taking as long as it did this night. I arrived up top, out of breath but still full of energy. I burst into Linda's room, hoping to startle her like one of those TV dramas her mom always watched. I cursed my small size when I realized the only sound I had made was the rustle of my feathers.

"Linda! There's a fire! Help!"

She stirred for a moment and moaned, "Go to bed Blu, I need you to be brave for me. The cage isn't that bad."

I crowed in frustration until I saw one of her blankets touching the floor. After another excruciatingly long climb that couldn't have lasted more than a few seconds I was at the foot of her bed. The red glow could now be seen dimly through the cracked door. I made my way up to her face.

She wasn't listening to my calls, I began to think. The idea came to me and with an apology I bit down on her nose.

Her eyes opened, "Oww! Blu! What are you doing?" She exclaimed as she grabbed me and pulled me from her face. She fumbled for her glasses and put them on, feeling the bridge of her nose in the process. "Tyler Blu, what's going on with you tonight?" She set me down, and gave me a stern look expecting some sort of explanation.

I backed away from her and frantically started explaining. "!" The blank expression on her face told me that the message wasn't getting through. With as frustrated sigh, I turned and pointed to her door. She stared at the door for several seconds before she made any indication of understanding. She finally got up and went to the door. Her back was turned to me as she looked out into the hall, but I still heard the words escape her lips, "cheese and sprinkles"

"Mom! Mom! Fire! Fire!" Linda called out as she ran to her mom's room. I assume that she had more success calling than I did because it was only seconds when she burst back into her room and grabbed me off the bed. Her mom led the way as we all rushed down the stairs to the front door. I only caught a glimpse of the front room as we rushed through the foyer and out the door, but I was sure that the inferno had spread to most of the room.

We watched quietly as firemen attempted to rescue our home as it became engulfed in flames. Neither Linda nor her mom said anything, they only held onto each other watching. I was just glad that everyone had made it out. I sat on Linda's shoulder watching the firemen work when Linda gave a start.

"Dad!" was all she got out before she started sobbing.

I never knew Lieutenant Gunderson, but I knew what she meant when she said his name. She explained to me some time ago that he had been overseas. Most of what he did was classified, and he wasn't home often, but when he was, Mr. Gunderson had always been with Linda; that is, until he didn't return. He had been declared K.I.A about a year before Linda and I found each other. All she had left of him was one family picture. It was kind of a keepsake that resided in the foyer, always welcoming the family in.

I don't know what I was thinking, actually, I couldn't have been thinking, but I jumped off Linda's shoulder and ran across the street. I heard Linda call out, but I continued, I was on a mission.

I cannot describe the noise of fire. It was jarring, and constant, similar to the roar of a waterfall, like the ones I had seen on TV. This roar however was more malevolent, more haunting. I made my way inside the door which had been broken down by firemen. Careful to avoid splinters I cautiously trekked into the foyer. Smoke poured into the room, trying to escape through the open door. The fire had spread quickly and now engulfed most of the upper and lower rooms.

The foyer steamed, The fire fighters earlier attempts to control the blaze had spared the foyer by soaking it, but the water had begun to evaporate, it wouldn't protect the room for long.

The table the picture sat on was an elaborately carved wooden piece that apparently made good décor. I had never liked the design, but tonight I adored it, the detailed carvings made it easy to climb and I was on top in seconds. The difference in temperature up on the table compared to the floor was enormous. I moved quickly, shoving the picture frame off the table. I heard a crash and the tinkle of broken glass. Looking over the edge I saw the picture frame broken and the picture lying under the debris.

Climbing down, I rushed over to the broken frame and pulled the paper from the pile of glass and wood. I began to work my claws, rolling the picture up. Grabbing it in my beak I looked back at the front door in time to see the roof to our small porch collapse. With that option taken away I began to panic.

I looked down at the ground thinking as fast as I could. I heard some loud groans and creaks above me. Shaking my head I made my decision, I would try the back. As I turned, another explosion caught my ear over the roar of the flames. I looked up in time to see the ceiling rushing towards me. The rush I felt as I saw the end froze me…

I was flying, well not really. The green fabric beneath me rippled slightly in the breeze. The sensation was glorious! The thrill! The blue sky, the way the wind caressed my feathers. I looked over and saw Jewel. She was standing to my side, peaceful, engulfed in the sensation, but more importantly she was smiling. Words could not describe the beauty of her sm-

I shook my head and the melon truck bounced along the road, its exhaust popping every now and then when the engine misfired. I sat in confusion staring down at the road below. Jewel and Raphael talked quietly behind me, but I couldn't make out their words. It wasn't right, why did that suddenly come to mind. I shook my head again as I recalled what actually happened…

My brief life flashed before my eyes. The fall, the cold loneliness, Linda's warmth, and how her love kept me up-

The crash was deafening as the ceiling hit the ground of the foyer. The force shoved me back into the front room. I looked down at myself stunned that I was alive. A few feathers were charred, but I was alive. It then hit me, I looked over to the same window I had just earlier tried to close. It was wide open. The glass had long since shattered.

Hope, having returned to my feathers and giving my legs the strength to move, I climbed up the charred table and leapt out the broken window. I hit the ground hard and heard the paper rip as I bit down in pain. I looked across the road, hoping to see Linda.

She must have seen me, before I had gotten to the street, I was grabbed up in a tight hug. I could hear her breath as she sobbed and felt her tears roll into my feathers. Her mother was pulling us back, away from the house. When we were far enough away, Linda still wouldn't let go, my feathers were now thoroughly soaked on the side that was against her face. She was whispering quietly between sobs, speaking of worry, and loss, pain, and fear.

It was Ms. Gunderson who first noticed the picture I still held in my beak. She gently grabbed it and I let go, nuzzling into Linda's cheek. Linda's mom stared at me before shaking her head.

"foolhardy just like my husband" she muttered before moving to sit on the curb.

Hours later, the sun began to rise behind us casting an eerie light on the steaming husk that had been our house. Linda had just fallen asleep leaning against Ms. Gunderson, a blanket wrapped tightly around her body.

Ms. Gunderson was sitting silently with me on her shoulder and an arm around her girl. In her other hand she held the photo. As the sun rose, I began to look at the picture more closely. It was ripped and charred, the color had faded and it now looked much older than it actually was.

The picture itself was of Mr. and Mrs. Gunderson standing behind their daughter, as she held what could only be her first spelling bee ribbon. Mr. Gunderson was dressed in formal military attire. I wished I had known him, he seemed like a good man, and Linda like him. I was about to try to sleep when one more thing caught my eye. I could barely make it out, in the faded color, but I could just see his nametag.

I leaned in for a closer look. Ms. Gunderson noticed and brought the picture closer to me. I was stunned, I had never seen it before. What the nametag read shocked me

"Lt. Tyler Gunderson"