Alexis was monitoring the communication between the base camp and the chopper. She sat riveted to her Father's chair. She would not go on these journeys with him but monitored their progress safely behind the laptop in his study. Alexis was listening closely.

Everyone come in here…Quick! Alexis announced.

The loft had become a focal point for all those concerned about Rick and Kate. Today only Kev, Javi, Lanie and Jim were present when Alexis yelled for them to rush in.

"She is alive! Dad found her!" Alexis said jumping up and hugging everyone while crying.

The Boys were astonished. Rick had found her and alive. They did a feed the birds. Jim was overwhelmed. His daughter has been found.

The crash affected him the most other than Rick. He had feared the worst for several months as May dragged into June. When he heard the news of her being missing, he no longer ate or took care of himself.

It was not until Martha came over to see what deplorable condition Jim was in that Rick acted. Jim was nursed back to health then ensconced him at the Loft so someone could keep an eye on him. Slowly he came closer and closer to life. Alexis was a big part of his recovery.

The crash affected everyone differently. For Alexis she ended her semester then returned to the loft to become her father's constant companion, his nursemaid when the first sightings turned to naught and his trusted advisor. It was she who reminded Rick of Penny.

The Boys would stay at work but their thoughts and prayers were with Rick and Kate wherever she was. On the times Rick was out with a search party they would stay with Alexis to keep her company.

Lanie was affected too but she knew her skills were needed. So she did similar to the boys.

Martha had a different reaction and left the loft to go on summer tour. She possibly could not handle the gloomy attitude which hung over the Loft most of the times. It was on one of those brief appearance was when she discovered poor Jim. He had been overlooked in the frenzy of getting the first search parties together.

Rick apologized profusely. He was ashamed he had not been vigilant in looking after Kate's Dad. At least Jim had the sense not to return to the bottle. But Rick wondered which was worst.

\\\\\

Kate was rushed to the hospital in the city and had to undergo several painful realignment breaks to correct the impaired healing of her leg.

Rick was her constant companion and would not leave her side.

The press got wind of Kate's miraculous survival and was hounding for an interview. Rick quickly got Paula on their trail.

Rick sat in the private room he provided. Kate had been out for 20 hours. The doctors were optimistic this would be the last surgery. Kate slowly awoke to see two eyes of bright blue looking at her.

Hey? Kate sleepily said.

Hey Rick repeated.

How long? Kate asked.

20 hours. Rick said.

Kate more awake now looked at her fiancée. He was sporting almost a beard. His eyes were shrunken and his face complexion was sallow. He looked a mess.

Rick why did you not sleep?

"Kate I just couldn't I had lost you for almost 4 months…I am not going to lose you again." Rick said.

"M'okay…" Kate said going back to sleep.

Rick called everyone to alert them Kate awoke but went back to sleep. She might be awake during visiting hours tomorrow. Rick exhausted curled up beside Kate then fell asleep. It was the best rest he had since the event almost 4 months ago.

/

In the morning Rick awoke to see Kate smiling at him. She had lost a lot of weight but she was not starving. The doctors gave her a clean bill of health other than the leg cast Kate was in pretty good shape.

Kate was not very talkative but that was ok with Rick since he would fill the empty space with his babbling.

Soon the visitor all showed up. Kate was overwhelmed when she saw her Father and he saw her in the hospital bed.

"Katie I missed you so much!" Jim said sobbing and hugging his daughter.

"Me too…Dad…Me Too…!" Kate said crying on her father as he rocked her gently.

Rick escorted everyone out so that they had some privacy.

"Katie bear you better have that wedding soon! I can not wait to welcome Rick and the Redheads to our family. Katie he was a real trooper he never once gave up." Jim said.

"Dad…I have dreamt of our wedding for 4 months. That is what I would dream while out in the wilderness." Kate said. "The sooner the better I want it Dad."

Jim hugged his daughter harder.

"Dad I have to thank you for all your nature lessons over the years. Those are what saved me. I tried very hard to remember them all." Kate said.

Jim laughed. "I thought you were never paying attention to me."

"I wasn't but somehow it soaked in. I am so grateful to you Dad I would not have survived otherwise." Kate said.

"Oh Katie Bear I love you so much" Jim said breaking down again.

"I loved you too Dad!" Kate said.

Soon the father and daughter parted then the rest of the visitors returned to celebrate.

After they all left Rick was in bed cuddling Kate.

"You know tomorrow you can go home." Rick said.

"Really? You know how much I hate hospitals!" Kate said.

"You and me both Kate" Rick said kissing her hair.

Kate had her hair washed. It was one of the first things she had done after returning to civilization. She had to have it done before they could wheel her into surgery. Rick was adamant she got want she wanted. Rick was glad because when he found her. It was her hair which was the first thing he felt. Feeling it now was much more like her normal feel unlike the straw feeling of before.

"Rick I am tired… Let's go to sleep." Kate said kissing him

Rick agreed he was tired.

"Right Kate everything can wait until tomorrow." Rick said as he fell asleep.