Underneath The Surface

Chapter 24 ~ Rescue In The Wilderness

"Whoever destroys a single life is as guilty as though he had destroyed the entire world; and whoever rescues a single life earns as much merit as though he had rescued the entire world"

Author's Note: I want to apologize now for the muck-up in formatting of the last chapter. I have no idea what happened, but I fixed it and saved it a few times. If it ever repaired itself, I never saw it. As a reader, I hate when stories aren't formatted correctly. So I apologize.

I'd like to reassure my readers that I haven't lost track of the plot or character evolution. It's been a long, hard winter here. I am still deeply committed to this story. There are pot-holes ahead, and love and broken hearts, I have no plans to end this yet. Hang in with me. I'd love to hear what you think so far!

When Charlie opened her eyes, she was alone. The bed sheets were chilly, and Patty's pillow was cool to the touch. Charlie dressed quickly and opened the bedroom door. She found Patty at the stove, watching pancakes turn golden. Charlie wrapped her arms around Patty and kissed the nape of her neck.

"Good morning."

"Mmm, you smell great."

Patty laughed softly. "You smell the pancakes. You will stay for breakfast, right?"

"I have some time before I have to open The Moose, yeah."

Patty turned, still in Charlie's grasp. "How do we ... I'm in this all the way ..."

"Are you going to be okay if ..."

They both started talking together.

Patty smiled. "You first."

"If I want to hold your hand on a walk, or snuggle while we watch television, are you going to be okay with that?" Charlie asked as she brushed an errant hair back from Patty's eye.

"I will. Like you said, life is too damn short."

Charlie sighed happily. "What were you going to say?"

"I was just trying to figure out how to ... be a couple out there, beyond these walls." Patty said. She laid a gentle hand on Charlie's cheek. "Your breakfast is going to burn."

Charlie smiled and kissed the end of Patty's nose before releasing her and moving towards the coffee-maker.

Patty turned back to the stove. "So how is The Moose doing these days, really?"

Charlie shrugged one shoulder. "It's doing all right. I think it's time for a change though. I was hoping to make Regina a part of that if she's willing."

"A part of what?" Regina asked from the doorway. "Good morning, ladies."

"Good morning." Both women replied together.

"I was hoping I could convince you to help me shake up my menu a little, actually." Charlie replied. "The menu is generally approved by my customers, but I'd really like it if you would consider becoming my baker. A paying job, of course. I wouldn't expect you to work for free" Charlie rose and poured Regina a cup of coffee. "Here, you look like you need this."

"You're serious?" Regina was surprised.

"Absolutely. Your pie was beyond anything I've ever tasted. You're going to get bored around here pretty quickly, and we could start out slow if you need to. I'm pretty sure we could work out a schedule that would still give you time to garden."

Patty brought two plates of pancakes to the table, and set one in front of Regina and one in front of Charlie. "I think it's a wonderful idea, Regina." She smiled before retreating back to the stove for her own breakfast. Once she had sat down, Charlie and Regina began to eat. There was no conversation as they ate. Regina kept looking at the clock worridly. When Charlie had emptied her plate and drained her mug, she rose and stood beside Patty's chair and put a hand on her shoulder. "I have to go home and get into some clean clothes. Thanks for breakfast." Charlie leaned over and kissed the top of Patty's head. "Let me know when Callie comes home."

Patty reached up and gave her friend's hand a squeeze. "I will."

"Regina, consider my offer and let me know, okay?"

Regina nodded and smiled.

"Good." Charlie looked at Patty and winked before turning away for the front door.

Patty sat silently staring into her coffee while Regina loaded the dishwasher. She was lost in thought about change and life in general, while Regina was lost in worry for Emma.

Silently, Regina left the kitchen and went upstairs to change out of her pyjamas.

Somewhere out in the woods, Emma was stepping out of the tent and heading for a bush to take care of nature. Already her mind was turning toward their search. As much as she could just break camp and carry on, she doubted that Callie could. She woke the teenager and explained that she wanted to get an early start. She left the teen to wriggle out of her sleeping bag and answer her own call of nature. When Callie came back, Emma handed her a bottle of water and a granola bar. "I'd offer you oatmeal, but I don't really want to start the fire again."

Callie nodded and rubbed her eyes. "I'm ok to leave when you are. I want to find Gen, that's all."

By the time everything was cleaned up and packed away, Callie was more awake. "Do you remember which way the tracks were headed?"

Emma nodded and she nudged the ashes of their fire to make sure it was completely out.

"Will you teach me how to track today?" Callie asked.

"Sure."

They slipped their packs on when Emma was satisfied there was no heat left in the ashes. She found the trail easily and led the way.

Callie liked to think she was more intelligent than many of her classmates, except of course, for Genesis. Like now. She knew enough to listen for noises that seemed out of place. She knew enough to watch for tracks and natural features that could be used as landmarks. She had watched Emma consult the map and a compass often enough to know they were headed north, but Callie knew she had never been to this part of the woods before. She knew the tread of Gen's running shoes pretty well, but what she wanted Emma to teach her was how to know where they were, and how to get back without a trail marker or map.

"Callie." Emma called out from ahead.

When Callie had gotten closer, Emma gestured to a bush. "See how it looks pushed down in spots?"

"It looks like something laid down on it, but only parts of it."

Emma nodded. "Look carefully at it, and the ground, and tell me what you think."

Callie studied the bush carefully and saw the bruised leaves, the snapped twigs and the scuff marks in a small patch of dirt off to the side. "It looks like ... almost like someone fell into it. Someone put their hand into the dirt, there." Callie pointed. "But it's only a part of a hand-print. But it's my size, so probably Genesis?"

Emma nodded and shifted the rifle into her right hand. "Either she stumbled or she has company."

"I don't have a good feeling about this, Emma."

"Me either, Callie. Let's keep looking. Keep your eyes open. Good read, by the way." Emma smiled and looked around them.

Callie studied the trees and shrubs as well. "There's a part over there that looks different." She pointed. "Like someone pushed through the leaves."

Emma smiled broadly. "You've got the eye of a tracker already."

They had been trudging through the trees for hours when Callie heard a noise. "Psst!"

Even as Callie hissed to get her companion's attention, Emma had stopped and dropped to one knee. "I heard it too." She whispered. She watched the teen drop to one knee as well. "But is it Genesis?"

Callie shrugged and strained to listen, hoping they weren't about to surprise a bear.

For a few minutes they heard nothing. Not even birds. Callie waited, watching both the woods around them and Emma. But she barely moved, looking around them carefully.

So Callie did the same.

A robin began to sing in a nearby birch tree and Emma straightened up to a half-crouch slowly. Callie looked at her and lifted her eyebrows.

Emma shook her head and held her hand out, palm down.

Callie understood and stayed where she was.

For the longest time all she could hear was the breeze in the leaves, the robin and the sound of her own blood racing through her ears. But then, ever so faintly, she heard a deep muffled curse.

She reached out and tapped Emma's calf. When the other woman looked down, Callie pointed in the direction the voice had come from. Emma nodded and put her finger to her lips then motioned for Callie to follow.

They moved silently through the underbrush, until Emma stopped and tapped Callie on the shoulder. She pointed down to a pile of dry branches and shuffled her foot underneath them. Then she looked at Callie and quirked an eyebrow at her.

Callie nodded to show she understood and did the same.

They moved slowly toward the voice that had grown louder with confidence.

"Just how far did you think you could get out here, huh?" It was a man's voice, brash and full of ego. "You're stuck with me, little girl."

"You know by now someone is looking for me."

Callie recognized Genesis' voice and clapped a hand over her own mouth to keep from gasping.

Emma saw, and nodded.

"Just sit there and don't move!"

Emma lifted her head a little and saw a large man dabbing at his forehead. Then she crouched again and handed the rifle to Callie while she slid the pack from her back, setting it down silently.

Then she pointed to Callie, then to the ground, indicating that she was to stay where she was.

Callie nodded.

"Someone is going to pay to get you back, kid." The rough voice carried on a shifting breeze.

Emma straightened quickly and snapped the rifle to her shoulder, aiming it at the man standing with his back to her. "That's not how this is going to end, Turk."

The wrestler turned quickly toward her, but stopped when he spotted the gun aimed at him. "You!"