Author's notes: Thank you so much for all your kind thoughts. I'm glad you've enjoyed their stay at Yosemite, now their back on the road.
Patrick and Teresa make a leisurely exit from Yosemite. They stock up on a hearty breakfast and have a long last look at the spectacular views after loading up the car with their suitcases.
"Shall we get on the road?"
Patrick clapse his hands together and raises them above his head, standing on tiptoe to complete the stretch, his tan coloured shirt riding up a little exposing golden skin, he turns his face towards the sun, closing his eyes against the glare and a warm smile slowly works its way across his face. Teresa notices that a couple of women passing by stop and watch. Teresa wonders how oblivious Patrick is to the reactions of the women around him, he never shows any indication that he's aware. He drops his hands to his side and smiles at her. She smiles back.
"Ready now?"
"For anything!"
Patrick slides his arm under hers and steers in the direction of the car. Teresa's driving so she climbs in to the seat and reaches underneath the chair and is pulling it forward when she hear Patrick.
"Nearly forgot something. I'll be right back."
By the time she sits back up Patrick is already out the car and jogging across the car park. Teresa yells out the window. She watches as he disappears into the hotel. She turns the ignition on enough to be able to open the windows and sits drumming her fingers on the steering wheel waiting for his return. Three minutes later she sends him a text asking what he's doing and is he planning on coming out any time soon. His reply: Patience woman" She thrusts her phone back in her pocket and continues drumming. Just as she's about to leave the car and go in search Patrick appears with three small paper sacks in his hand. He walks nonchalantly towards and she hits the horn and scowls at him. He doesn't change his pace and beams at her when he reaches the car holding up the bags.
"Lunch. All your favourite things nestled in these bags awaiting your devourance."
"Devourance? Is that even a word?"
Patrick shrugs.
"If it isn't, it should be, it rolls around the tongue nicely."
He says the word again exaggerating his mouth movements. The thought of her favourite foods and Jane's antics quickly defuse Teresa's irritation.
"Get yourself in the car."
Patrick gives a salute and opening the door he hops in, reaching behind him to place the bags on the floor behind Teresa's chair. He moves his seat back and stretches out his legs.
"Let's get this show on the road."
Teresa starts the car fully, puts it in reverse and starts backing out. As she's pulling away Patrick reaches over and hits the horn. He waves at the startled guests mulling around shouting goodbye. Lisbon gets out of there as quickly as possible.
Patrick enjoys his last look at Yosemite and feels a pull of regret as they leave it behind. He changes his focus on to Teresa, surreptitiously watching her under the lid of his eyes while pretending to doze. Her body relaxes as they leave the narrow curving roads behind and a straight road stretches out before them. She's humming along to the jazz tune on the radio although it's obvious she hasn't heard the track before and is guessing the notes. She lifts her right hand off the wheel and pushes her hair behind her ear as if purposely allowing him a better look, a slight smile plays on her lips. As his eyes travel down her arm to the finger that is drumming softly to the beat of the music he notices that despite all the time they've spent in the sun her skin shows just a slight tan, the result of that heavy-duty suntan lotion she carries around. His eyes are back to her face when she slightly bites her lip and he feels the car breaking hard.
The screeching of tyres reaches his ears and he moves his focus to the road. A car is moving erratically while bits of tyre is spewing all over the road. His heart races when he sees a child's head through the back seat window. Lisbon has expertly avoided the debris and brought the car to a stop. They have their seat belts off and are out of the car as the distressed vehicle's halted by a thick bush off the side of the road, luckily the impact is low, the car is sticking slightly out in to the road they're car is almost behind it. They run to the car, Teresa takes the front of the car and Patrick yank open the rear door. They're greeted with the sound of a toddler and baby screaming in unison. Patrick shouts to Teresa:
"How's the driver?"
"She's fine, just a little shaken."
He hears the woman's voice full of panic.
"My kids, how are my kids."
"Tell her the kids look fine."
He hears Teresa relate the news and then the sound of the seatbelt releasing, he guesses that the driver is getting out of the car. He turns his attention to the toddler. It's a boy of about two years of age, his hair a soft blond, his face scrunched up in tears. Patrick strokes his head.
"There, there, I know that was scary but I'm going to get you out of here. He takes a quick glance at the car seat and works out how to release the child from its confines. That done he lifts the child and backs out of the car. The Mother is sat on the grass dazed, he calls to Lisbon as he holds the whimpering child to his chest.
"Take him..."
"Patrick you're better with kids than I am."
"There's another one."
Teresa takes the child and Patrick ducks back into the car and reaches across to release the baby. A loud bang fills the air and Lisbon watches in horror as another car pushes her car towards the stricken vehicle.
"Patrick!"