They hadn't made it even half way down the hill when the farm house door flew open and slammed against the side of the house. As Lucas looked up he could see his son come bursting thought the doorway, running towards them at full speed. He got to about three steps from me Lucas yelled "Daddy!" and launched himself into the air at him. Quickly dropping his machete he caught him in a bear hug "I missed you too Corey!" he laughed as he held a death grip around Lucas's neck.

"You said that you were going to be back last night, mommy and I were scared you had gotten hurt!"

"I know buddy I'm sorry but we found something in a house that made us have to stay the night but we are home now safe and sound."
Corey's eyes lit up "What did you find? Is it for me?"

"I guess you could say it is for all of us, but let's get into the house so Joseph and I can show you and everyone else all at once, ok?"

"Ok dad" by that point their little group had closed the rest of the distance to the house and climbed the steps, finally making it home.

Crossing that thresh hold was like stepping into an entirely different world, the warmth of the fire, the smell of a hot meal and the joy on the faces of the others of their return completely stripped away the fear and horrors of the outside world, well that was until Lucas saw the look on Laura's and Brenda's faces as they made their way from the kitchen to greet them.

Brenda was the first to speak or to be more accurate yell "Where the heck have you been? You two said it was just going to be a quick trip to gather supplies and you would be back before dark. We have been worried sick all night and now here you two come waltzing in as if nothing's wrong!"

"I think you better answer that one Muffin." Lucas said to Joseph with a smirk.

"Listen smart ass..." Brenda trailed off, staring at Joseph. All of the commotion of their return had finally woken Dakota who lifted his head from Joseph's shoulders.

"Why is she yelling Mr. Joseph?" Dakota asked as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

"It's ok Dakota she is just upset because Lucas and I were supposed to be back last night but had to stay the night with you."

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't mean to get you in trouble." Dakota replied with a tone of concern in his voice.

Joseph went to lower Dakota to the floor, but he held fast to Joseph's shoulders looking a little uneasy about his new surroundings. The room was now packed, between our making it home and then the yelling it had drawn the attention of everyone in our group. Lucas did a quick headcount, all eleven of them accounted for well now twelve adding in Dakota making him feel a little more at ease knowing nothing had happened while they were out.

Joseph stepped into the middle of the room to address everyone "Everybody I would like to introduce you to Dakota, we found him hiding in an attic of one of the houses we searched. It looked like he had been there for a quite a while and was pretty weak and dehydrated so we stayed the night to give him some food and water before we made the trip back. Sorry if we scared you guys but we couldn't just leave him there."

Corey hopped down from Lucas's arms and walked over to where Joseph stood still holding Dakota, "Hi Dakota, my names Corey."

"Hi" Dakota said shyly still clinging to Joseph

Placing a hand on Corey's shoulder Lucas gently pulled him back as he, Corey and Laura moved out into the kitchen to give everyone a little more room.

"I'm sorry baby, I know that I said we would be back last night but I couldn't just leave the kid, all I kept thinking was what if it was Corey out there all alone?" Lucas said when they were finally away from the crowd.

"Trust me I am still pretty pissed about it but I understand. I would have been more upset if you had come back and told us that you had left him there, plus it will give Corey someone to play with now."

"Why won't he come down and play?" Corey was pouting still looking back into the other room.

"He has been through a lot buddy, give him some time and I am sure the two of you will be best friends. Now head up stairs and let me talk to mom for a second ok?"

"Fine." still dragging his feet he headed out of the room.

"You seem a little shaken up so what else happened out there?"

Looking out into the other room where Dakota had finally allowed Joseph to put him on the ground, Lucas started retelling the events that took place in the field, the empty that had tripped him up and how close he had come to not making it back this time "if it wasn't for that little boy out there I'm not sure I would have made it back in one piece...". He looked back at Laura to see a look of concern and relief on her face.

"Well then I guess I am glad that the two of you spent that extra night out." She replied as she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him into a hug. They stood for a long time in that embrace, just happy to be in each other's arms and let the madness of the outside world slip away if only for an instant.