CH48

Rick ignored Sam at first since he was too focused on the pair of bears only a few hundred feet away. He slipped around Samantha and put her behind him while keeping his eyes on the bears. They looked like teenagers to him and were likely out from the community looking for some fun. He could take them easily, but that didn't mean he wouldn't get injured doing so. Plus if he didn't have time to strip he was going to lose the only change of clothes he had out here. It looked like they were sniffing the air, actively trying to get a feel for what they had in front of them. Even Rick could smell Samantha's extreme fear, so they probably could too. He, however, had no real fear of them.

He leaned down. "Sam, when I tell you to run, I want you to run to the campsite just as fast as you can," Rick whispered to her. "Mr. Rodgers?" Samantha wasn't a fan of his plan. "Please Sam, get ready to run." He straightened up and started to slowly unbutton his shirt just as he watched those two lope off to their right and away from them a little. "NOW Sam! RUN! Run as fast as you can and don't stop till you get to camp! Run honey, run fast!" He gave her a little push to get her moving and watched her run for all she was worth.

Rick could still see the two bears and they were headed away, but not back toward the community. He began stripping off his clothes just a little faster. He lost sight of them but continued to remove his clothes. 'Babe, talk to me.' Kate sounded worried to him. 'It's just a couple of teenagers from the community out looking for trouble. Nothing to worry about,' he told her since he knew he could take them if it came to that. 'If you're sure...' It wasn't like Kate had a choice. She was too far away by Jeep and surrounded by state officers. She couldn't possibly shift into her dragon.

The two teenagers had smelled Rick and knew they were no match for him so they decided to look for amusement elsewhere. And they thought they had just found it. Their noses told them there were two little girls nearby and they decided to have some fun. It was only when the girls spotted both of them that they figured out that one of them was a shifter. Still she was young and alone. They could have a great time!

"Alexis!?" Paige was quaking in her shoes as they both looked at the two bears who were actually walking right at them! 'I can't change, I can't change,' Alexis kept telling herself. Kate and her dad had told her not to. Her friends couldn't know, but the bears were getting closer. "Alexis?" Paige tugged on her top. Paige wanted to be anywhere but there at the moment.

It wasn't until those two idiots started loping towards Paige and Alexis that the girls turned and ran. It was just what the two teenagers wanted them to do so they picked up their pace a bit. Scaring two little girls was turning out to be quite a lot of fun.

Rick had just finished stripping when he felt fear. Not smelled it but felt it. The last time he had felt that kind of fear was… He immediately shifted into his bear and charged, running to save his baby. Alexis was in trouble, that was what he felt! 'Alexis!' He didn't realize it but he had just sent a fear warning to Kate. 'Rick! Talk to me. What's wrong with Alexis?!' Kate demanded worriedly and ran to her Jeep. If she could get just far enough away she could shift and fly to help him...

'We're fine, I promise.' He was sure he could handle the situation. Kate, however, hopped in her Jeep and began driving out into the woods doing her best to drive fast while missing trees.

Paige was out in front and Alexis was losing ground little by little. Paige was older and faster than she was. But Alexis turned her head to take a quick look behind her, which only slowed her down that much more. She saw the bears were a lot closer than she remembered them being. But she also saw a flash of something that had her slowing down even more so she could get a good look. What she saw was a huge bear running in from her right headed toward the other two bears. She stopped in her tracks. "DAD!" Knowing that the two bears were about to be in big trouble had her smiling.

Rick was huffing and grunting as softly as he could since he wanted the element of surprise. And he got it until he was just a few feet away when they both caught wind of his scent. Rick came charging in and smashed into one of the bear's sides sending him flying several feet before hitting a tree and falling to the ground. The remaining teenager hit the brakes and was all set to defend himself from what had hit his friend when he watched the impossibly big bear rise up, towering over him. The huge bear let out a roar directed solely at him which almost had him peeing on himself. Still it did give Rick the time he needed to strike out with his left paw as he slapped that stupid bear which also sent him flying into a tree where he fell to the ground.

Alexis watched as her dad hit both of them and sent them flying. 'I'm a brave bear, I'm a brave bear. Mom said I was,' she thought to herself and started removing her clothes. Rick meanwhile charged over to those two idiots and planted a front paw on one of them pinning him to the ground while he roared at the other. That one took a couple of seconds to turn into a naked human male. "We're sorry. Honest! We were just having some fun. We weren't going to…humpf," as he fell to the ground with a bear standing on top of him who for all the world looked ready to take a huge bite out of him.

Rick shifted back to being human. "ALEXIS!" he called which got her to stop and look his way. "Come on pumpkin, it's alright. They're just two idiots who need to be taught a lesson." He was trying to talk her off of the kid. But she was in "brave bear" mode and leaned down to growl in his face. She allowed her saliva to drip and hit him in the face.

Still Rick's call got Alexis off of him and over next to her dad looking for all the world like a "brave bear." 'I'm coming!' Kate told him as she hit the brakes and leaped out of the Jeep. She had begun taking off her equipment belt and gun when Rick told her, 'We're both fine Kate, just fine. It was just two stupid teenagers out looking for trouble and they found it. Your brave little bear actually had one of them pinned to the ground!' He was so very proud of his little girl.

'You're sure?' Kate asked just as she stripped off her shirt leaving her standing there with only a bra on top. 'Positive! We're going to teach these two a lesson and then join the others,' he said. That was enough to get Kate to put her top back on. 'Yell if you need me,' she replied before she got fastened on her equipment belt. 'You'll be the first to know. I promise,' he said to her.

"Now you two idiots are going to apologize to my daughter! Sincerely enough that it prevents me from shifting back into a bear and ripping your heads off," Rick informed both of them and watched while the one he had been putting pressure on with his paw started to put up a fight.

Alexis, it seemed, had been waiting for one of them to do something and quickly bent down and bit him in the leg causing him to roar in pain as she continued to maul his leg with her teeth.

Unfortunately this caused the other one to shift back into a bear which had Rick shifting back into his bear just as the kid took a swipe at him. The damage was minimal and Rick knew he would heal quickly so long as he stayed a bear. He was now royally pissed and while still towering over that stupid kid, reared back and swung his right paw hard enough that it did some severe damage to the kid's chest and sent him flying.

The one Alexis was still biting took a swing at her and did some minor damage but she didn't let go; his leg was looking quite messy by now. Rick lumbered over and bent down putting the kid's head in his mouth. He angrily roared and then placed his front paws on his chest pushing down just hard enough until he heard a number of ribs crack and saw blood leak out of the kid's mouth.

Rick, still as a bear, coaxed Alexis off of the kid's leg and cuddled her close to him touching the spot where she had been hit healing a small portion of it. He could have done more healing if it was Kate since she was his mate. However Alexis was his offspring so it worked for her, too. Just not as well.

He sat there holding Alexis as he watched that stupid kid bleed. His leg was a mess and his chest looked a little flatter. Rick knew his own wounds would heal while he was on his way back to his clothes. The kid's wounds would heal also; it would just be a couple of days before he could walk again.

Rick shifted back into human form and leaned down to the kid who was still conscious. "That was my daughter you were messing with. Be thankful that you and your friend aren't dead. I find you on my land again and I will end you and anyone with you," Rick threatened with deadly calm and went back to Alexis.

"Change back for me, please, pumpkin," he asked her and soon had his naked 6-year-old daughter in his arms hugging her close. "Did Paige see you change?" he asked her as she shook her head. "I'm so proud of you. You really are our brave little bear." Rick pushed her out just far enough to kiss her head. "How do you feel? Does anything hurt?" he asked anxiously as he started looking her over. He did see some minor white scaring that at her age wouldn't be noticeable and would fade to nothing as she grew up. Alexis shook her head. "I'm still proud of you. Kate would be too if she had been here to see it. Now you have a story to tell her when she gets home," he told her which had her smiling widely. She was a brave bear, not a monster. It still left her with a question though, but she was going to wait until Kate got home to ask it.

Rick helped her get dressed. "I'm going to trust you to go back to the campsite on your own. I need to go find my own clothes and get dressed. Do not let me down Alexis. I expect to find you at the campsite when I get there. Remember, you did not turn into a bear. You simply ran a different direction than Paige did." He impressed upon her what she should say and watched her run toward the campsite before he shifted back into a bear himself. He ran for where he left his clothes needing his bear's ability to scent to find them again.

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Johanna and Sarah walked into camp convinced that they had won the little scavenger hunt. "You're really good Sarah and you have sharp eyes." Johanna was hugging her close as they walked. When they entered the campsite they found a very frightened and crying Samantha, so upset that her breath was hitching. It took what felt like to Johanna to be at least half an hour but was only fifteen minutes or so before Samantha was calm enough to tell her what happened. "Hold onto her," Johanna asked Sarah and walked away to look in the direction Samantha said she came from. However Johanna saw nothing.

Johanna was rubbing both girls' backs since Samantha had scared Sarah, when things got worse. A scared to death Paige came charging in all alone. It felt to Johanna like hours before Paige was anywhere near calm enough to answer her questions. Her first question was, "Where's Alexis?" only to see Paige shrug her shoulders.

No Rick, no Alexis, no Oscar, and no Jenny. Just her and three scared girls plus four on edge dogs that sniffed everywhere. Johanna got the girls to help her build the fire in their fire pit up nice and big and got them to stay close to it and her.

Oscar and Jenny were the next into camp. He wondered why the fire was so big. Johanna immediately wanted to know whether he or Jenny saw any bears. "No, we didn't see any bears," he told Johanna and turned to look at Jenny who shook her head. The girls huddled together as Samantha and Paige told Jenny what had happened. Johanna took Oscar aside and told him what she knew and of her worries because Rick and Alexis had yet to return. Johanna and Oscar got Paige to point where she had come from and he headed out leaving Johanna with the girls and the dogs who were staked out in their campsite close to the girls. Midas and Maggie could smell the fear radiating off them and didn't see Alexis. Still from the dogs' perspective they had four little girls to protect until Alexis came back.

Johanna was growing even more concerned when suddenly all four dogs started straining against the stake they were leashed to. She was beginning to wonder if the two bears had decided to come to their campsite. However it was Alexis running out of the trees. Johanna intercepted her and wrapped her arms around her having been so very frightened for her. "I lost track of Paige and just ran," Alexis said, telling a white lie. She had run, just not away from the bears. She was a brave bear and her friends couldn't know. Alexis also had Midas and Maggie poking their noses all over her sniffing her as far as they could reach. She had new smells on her and they wanted to know what it was. Alexis hugged each of them. Midas and Maggie concentrated on sniffing where she had been hurt.

It felt like Oscar had been gone for hours to Johanna when he came back alone not having seen either Alexis or Rick. Fortunately Rick entered the campsite from a completely different direction moments after Oscar returned. "Yeah, Samantha and I ran across a pair of bears. I had Samantha run while I charged the bears and threw rocks at them. It's possible that I ran them off directly towards Alexis and Paige," he told Johanna who ran to him looking him over to make sure he was alright despite his assurances. (It was exactly what people are supposed to not do, but then Rick was a bear and he was lying.)

Rick approached each girl and gave them a hug that helped to take away some of their fears. He got close enough for Midas and Maggie to smell him pretty well. He had the same scents as Alexis did and he had also been hurt. "Everyone ok?" Rick asked each of them. "I'm really sorry that happened. I've never had a bear problem before. I think they're both gone now, but maybe we should go home." He looked over at Johanna and Oscar for their opinions. The adults were in agreement; they took down their campsite and packed it all onto the quad.

The girls had their backpacks and sleeping bags while Johanna and Oscar had the leashes to the dogs as they walked back to Rick's house. It was mostly a quiet walk as they wanted to forget about the bears but just couldn't. It was something each girl was going to remember for years to come.

They let the girls play on Alexis's playset with the dogs running around them while the adults were inside keeping an eye on them as Johanna worked on dinner. Oscar was standing in the living room keeping an eye on the girls when Rick walked into the kitchen. "Were those bears from your father's community?" Johanna asked him quietly as she kept working.

"Yeah, they were a pair of stupid teenagers. They thought scaring the girls would be fun," he told her. "I guess stupid teenagers aren't restricted to humans alone," Johanna mentioned. "No, they're not. I don't think they actually had any intention of hurting anyone. They were just being imbeciles," he said.

"Do they always come this close?" Johanna was curious. "Not normally no, I'm far enough away that it's not easy for them to come this far. Hopefully they'll spread the word and this won't be repeated," he told her.

"I wonder what Katie's doing?" Johanna said suddenly, concerned for her daughter. "Let's find out," Rick offered and searched for his satellite phone to call her. He was back in the kitchen by the time Kate picked up. "Where are you?" he asked. "Still at the site. I've got a military car with a colonel in charge who has a flatbed where he's going to put what's left of their helicopter," she told him.

"The military lost a helicopter there?" That was news to Rick and it got Johanna's attention. "What kind?" he queried. "They're not telling me and there isn't enough left of it for me to tell what it was. Not that I'm allowed to get too close either," she complained as Johanna sidled up next to him and put her ear close enough to overhear.

"Just you and the military?" he asked her as he moved the phone away from his ear so Johanna could hear better. "No, there are two members of the state police as well as a two member team with dogs that are going through what's left of the house trying to figure out what did this," she said. "Any guesses yet?" he inquired. "Nothing definitive, though they and I are convinced that it was an explosion. It will take some testing to determine what type of explosive was used; the results won't be back for days, if not weeks, from now," Kate replied. She was extremely frustrated.

"Interesting that a military helicopter has crashed nearby. Rather coincidental," Rick mentioned casually in case anyone else could hear their conversation. "You're thinking it was involved in this?" Kate questioned him. "The military has attack helicopters. Either those big Vietnam helicopters or those little attack choppers," he offered. "Why would the military be involved? Why attack the sheriff's house?" she wondered aloud. 'Remember what Serena told us about the sheriff being involved with Paladin and that Paladin was cleaning house?' he asked her. 'Paladin has people in the military?' Kate was absolutely dumbfounded.

'Look around while you're there, except instead of looking down, look up. See if you see any red-tailed hawks watching your every move,'Rick said to her. That got her to open her eyes wide and began looking up, searching. "Have you eaten at all Katie?" Johanna asked during the silence, not knowing the two of them were talking to each other. The silence had lasted too long. "KATIE!" Johanna barked. "I'm sorry Mom but I've been busy," Kate defended herself. "I'm not a big fan of chewing on a tree. That's about the only thing out here even remotely edible." She tried laughing it off. Johanna, however, stared at Rick willing him to read her mind.

"Tell me exactly where you are Kate," he asked her. "Rick…" Kate was interrupted. "Katherine Houghton Beckett." Johanna wasn't going to put up with this nonsense. "I'm still at the sheriff's house," she relented.

Kate now had a new reason to confront the not overly helpful colonel who had shown up and not said much. Plus having state troopers with dogs had given her an idea. Maybe she could have one of the PT-Cruisers converted into a K-9 unit even if that meant she had to change cars after Greta got there.

Rick was getting in his truck with their dinner along with paper plates, bottled drinks, and plastic silverware. Johanna was going to have to cook another dinner. "Apologize to Alexis for me. If I told her where I was going she'd want to come with me. She's better off staying here with her friends," Rick said to Johanna. "We'll be fine, just go feed Katie." Johanna pulled him down a little and lifted up to kiss his cheek. "The parents of the girls should be arriving shortly," he reminded her since tonight was when they should have returned instead of yesterday. "Oscar and I will be here waiting for them and you to get back," Johanna assured him and watched him drive away to tend to her stubborn daughter. "Please tell me that you two are in love by now," Johanna said to herself. She wanted Kate happy and choices of men out here seemed far and few between. Plus even in her eyes Rick was a catch and it didn't hurt that he was rich. Well rich enough anyway.

Johanna and Oscar greeted each of the parents at the front door and told them that Rick was taking food out to her daughter and 4 state troopers who were doing their job.

Each adult had an entireherd of cows, not just a cow, when they found out about the bears. "Rick drove them off risking his own life," Oscar defended his friend fiercely. "Did you at least have fun?" Samantha's mom asked her daughter. "It was great Mom!" Samantha was even more enthusiastic. "Can I go again Mom? Please? Mr. Rodgers said it was okay." Samantha wanted to do things, things she was afraid her parents wouldn't do. "We'll talk to your father," was all her mother said, but that seemed to be enough for Samantha in the eyes of Johanna and Oscar.

"I think Rick was talking about Labor Day for the next trip; he just doesn't know where yet," Johanna said hoping that helped. "We'll talk to your father," she simply stated again.

Johanna closed the front door and sagged wearily against it after the last of the parents were gone. "Well, that didn't go as badly as I feared," she mentioned to Oscar who was standing there with her. But Johanna was still fearful that each of the parents was going to forbid their girl from even coming over here again after this. That they were just being nice before lowering the boom on poor Alexis.

"I always thought bears were solitary animals," Oscar mused. "Maybe these two were different, or maybe one was female," Johanna suggested, "Looking for new territory to start a family." He tilted his head from side to side considering what Johanna had said. It made a little sense to him. "Speaking of family," he smiled and took a chance. He worked at sliding his arms around Johanna and kissed her softly till she began returning his kiss. Then he deepened his kiss. He pushed Johanna up against the door as he continued to kiss her.

"Can I take Midas and Maggie outside?" a soft voice suddenly asked. He abruptly moved away from Johanna. It took her a moment to get her mind into gear. "Sure honey, I'll even come with you. Go get Patch and Thor," she told Alexis, thinking that all of the dogs might as well go outside.

Oscar sat down in front of the TV and let Johanna tend to Alexis since he didn't want to push Johanna too far. He was still afraid she might make a break for it and run away from him.

Alexis was soon laughing as she watched four dogs chase after a stuffed dog toy that she threw as far as she could. Long legs versus short legs - who had speed for their size? Midas or Maggie would get to it first only to have Patch or Thor jump up and take it out of their mouth and run back to Alexis and drop it only to do it all over again.

Johanna was just happy watching Alexis play with the dogs as she marveled how the dogs got along so well even if Midas and Maggie looked vicious and were so much bigger than Patch and Thor. They were such a contrast. Midas and Maggie looked to be all made of muscle and likely were. While Patch and Thor looked to be balls of hair and yet while watching she could swear Patch was in charge as she jumped to rip the toy out of that mouth full of teeth.

Johanna didn't notice when Alexis walked up next to her. "Are you and Oscar getting married?" she asked innocently. "WHAT!?" Johanna stared down at her quite startled. "You like Oscar and you kissed him," Alexis simply stated what she had seen. Johanna stared at Alexis who picked up the toy Patch dropped at her feet and threw it, repeating the doggie game all over again.

"I, ah… Oscar is a very nice man and yes, we have been kissing. But that doesn't mean we're getting married. Just that we like each other a lot," Johanna tried to explain to Alexis and herself.

"You don't love Oscar like Kate loves Dad?" Alexis stayed on subject. Johanna suddenly had something to change the subject to. "Katie loves Rick?" Johanna was suddenly really happy. "They kiss and tell each other they love them all the time. It's…cute." Alexis didn't know of another word to use.

She leaned down to Alexis. "Rick and Katie love each other. Have they talked about getting married?" She was digging for information wondering why she hadn't thought of asking Alexis before now. Alexis just nodded.

She thought back and didn't remember seeing a ring on Katie's finger. Did that mean she had one and just wasn't wearing it? NO, no woman in love would do that. She would wear that ring like it was the most precious thing she owned since it came from someone's heart.

Johanna smiled and kissed Alexis's forehead. Her daughter was in love. She had hoped she was, now she had more than hope.