Connor and Abby made slow progress through the ancient forest as the morning wore on. They hadn't seen anything other than a small group of lizards about the size of house cats that made Abby homesick for her own lizards. Connor thought they were something called Hesperonychus.
"Abby I'm sorry to have to lean on you. I know I'm slowing us down"
"It's O.K., Connor. At this rate, I can really watch the ground and make sure I'm not missing any tracks. The ground is soft and I can definitely see where Helen came through here and Danny right behind her."
Connor slowed his pace, breathing heavily. "I need another rest - just for a minute." Hopping to a nearby boulder, Connor sat down and looked around. He could see a Pteranodon circling up ahead, riding the air currents. Then something shiny caught his eye. Using his walking stick, Connor managed to hobble over to the object. "Let this be what I think it is," whispered Connor. Bending down, he retrieved it from the grass. Raising his fist, he shouted "Yes! Abby, I've found Helen's anomaly opener!"
Abby, who had been scouting the ground ahead, ran back to Connor. "Is it still working?"
"It seems to have power, but I can't get it to respond. Helen must have done something to it."
"O.K., I think Helen and Danny both went through another anomaly right around here. The tracks just stop. There is no sign of a struggle and I can't find anything past this point. It looks like we've lost them." Abby's voice was grim as she scanned the area around them.
"Don't worry Abby. I'll get this thing working. It just might take a while." Connor tried to smile, but couldn't quite pull it off.
"I know you'll fix it Connor. We'll be fine," replied Abby without meeting Connor's eyes. "Tell you what. I'll check the immediate area for shelter. You stay here and rest."
Within minutes, Abby was back. "I found a small opening in the rocks up ahead. It's not really a cave, but just deep enough to sleep in tonight. I can use some branches to hide the opening. We should be safe there."
Connor glanced up at Abby and managed a small smile, but most of his attention was on the anomaly opener. "Great."
"Here, said Abby, putting an energy bar in front of Connor's face. "You need to eat something."
Connor gulped down the bar in two bites and then went back to working on the device. Abby nibbled on her bar a few feet away and watched the forest around them. Eventually the quiet of the forest helped Abby to relax. She sat down in the grass and listened to the wind moving through the trees and watched the shafts of sunlight beaming down through the pines. It was actually very beautiful. Abby's thoughts were interrupted when Connor broke the silence.
"Abby, do you remember when the mer-creatures took you?"
"Yeah, of course."
"You asked me later what I said to you when I was trying to pull you up the cliff side."
Abby got very still, "Yes"
"I said I love you." Connor's heart was pounding in his chest. He had a death grip on Helen's device and there was no way he could look up to see what Abby was thinking. When the silence stretched on too long, Connor started to babble, "Crazy right? Anyway, I know you don't feel the same. I remember what you said when Caroline asked about us, something along the lines of… as if… It's fine, really. I just wanted you to know."
Abby hung her head, remembering the numerous times people had made a comment about Connor being her boyfriend. Every time she had reacted as if she was insulted. Every time! Abby realized she had hurt Connor, even though she was only trying to protect herself. She had tried so hard to convince herself and everyone else that Connor was just a friend. Even after the thank-you kiss she had given Connor, the kiss that had turned into something more than thank-you, she had still backed away, trying to keep things light.
Abby knelt directly in front of Connor forcing him to meet her eyes. Connor thought it was like looking into the face of an angel. Her eyes were so blue and clear as she gazed at him.
"I love you too, Connor."
Time stopped as Connor tried and failed to process her words. All he knew was that he wanted to kiss her. Connor slowly brought his mouth down to Abby's. He was just a breath away, when suddenly the silence of the forest was broken by a loud, high-pitched screech followed by the sounds of raptors pursuing some unfortunate creature directly towards them.
Abby jerked back and said, "We have to go."