I don't own the Mighty Ducks.

Left In Limbo

Chapter 6:

Canard paced the cave's entrance, he feet leaving tracks that slowly dug deeper into the ground with every step. He knew she wanted her privacy but he couldn't get this gut wrenching feeling out of his stomach. What if something happened to her? What if Lucretia attacked and Mallory wasn't able to defend herself, she was still healing. Grant it she could move around just fine without help now but it didn't stop him from worrying. They had been by each other's side for almost three solid weeks now. It was uncomfortable to not have her by him. "Screw it." He said, grabbing his gun and leaving the cave. "I don't care if she gets pissed. She's not leaving my sight again. It's too dangerous here."

He was at the lake in half the time it usually took him to get there. What he came across was something he wasn't prepared for. Mallory wasn't there. Her clothes and gear were on the bank but she was nowhere to be found. "Damnit. I knew I shouldn't have left her!" He scanned the mud around the lake, looking for any signs of Mallory's or someone else's foot prints. What he found disturbed him. Mallory's foot prints lead to the lake but they didn't lead away however there was a different set of prints there, similar in size to Mallory's but different shoes. High heeled boots, Lucretia. She had been standing here recently. The marks in the ground were fresh. Her prints lead back into the forest before him. He pulled his gun out, slowly following the prints until he heard movement in the water behind him. Canard turned quickly to aim his gun at the water and waited for something to come up.

Finally, red hair broke the surface. Mallory pushed her hair back out of her face while keeping her eyes closed. Canard watched with his jaw dropped as Mallory stood up so that the water came to her hips. She didn't realize she was giving Canard a free show as the water cascaded down her body, dripping off her curves and leaving her silhouette shiny even under the gloomy purple sky of this world. She was gorgeous. When she opened her green eyes, she was greeted with the sight of Canard aiming a gun at her with his mouth hanging open and his eyes ready to pop out of his head. Her eyes widened in surprise and she yelped, covering her chest with her arms and ducking back into the water. Canard, surprised by Mallory's reaction, lost his balance on the slippery mud and fell back on his butt.

"What's wrong with you!? I was just taking a bath!" Mallory yelled swimming to her gear and started throwing things at poor Canard.

"Wow! Wow. Wait! This is a misunderstanding!" He threw his arms up blocking the flying objects from hitting his face. "Mallory stop! That's an order." That seemed to do the trick. She waited patiently for him to explain with a rock in her hand, ready to be launched at him should she dislike his explanation.

"I had a horrible feeling. My instincts were telling me that something was wrong and they haven't been wrong once so far. So I came thinking you were in danger and I was right. Look." He pointed to the bank where Lucretia's foot prints were still in the mud. Mallory followed where he was pointing and gasped realizing that she was being watched by an enemy. "She was here but she heard me coming and was spooked off. Who knows what would have happened if I didn't get here when I did. So that being said, from now on you don't go anywhere without me. She's still out there waiting for the right moment. I'm not going to give it to her. So screw your privacy. I don't care anymore." Canard stood up and walked to the edge of the water with his arms crossed. "We're both adults, we can handle being undressed in front of each other."

Mallory didn't say anything. How could she? Canard had most likely saved her from a possible kidnapping. Instead she just nodded, grabbed her clothes and got dressed. The walk back was fairly awkward. Canard wasn't sure what to say now. He hadn't been prepared for the beautiful sight she was when he saw her half naked. He swallowed, his mouth going dry at the memory. Mallory still had a slight tint to her cheeks from being seen naked by Canard. He certainly seemed surprised when she opened her eyes. Briefly she wondered what he thought of her but shook the thought off as soon as it entered her mind. "Seriously McMallard. You have bigger issues to deal with right now then wonder if Canard finds you attractive." She scolded herself. Her mind wondered to Lucretia and how she was basically stalking her now. It was creepy. She shivered remembering Lucretia's attempts to seduce her and when she tried to steal her from the cave.

Canard noticed her shiver and was concerned. "You okay?" He asked, voice his deep and smooth. The sound of it sent goose bumps over her skin. The feelings his voice caused were new and confusing. If not a little alarming.

"I'm fine." She answered a little too quickly.

"You don't seem it. What's up?" He placed a hand on her shoulder, wanting to give some physical form of comfort. The heat from his hand soaked through her suit and warmed her shoulder.

"Just a little cold I guess." She said wanting to brush off the conversation. Canard wasn't convinced but he let it slide, knowing that Mallory just didn't want to talk about it. It wasn't his place to push, despite how bad he wanted to know what she was thinking. He realized that he was being a little… overbearing with Mallory. But could you blame him? He had been here alone for a year. So when a familiar face arrived he was only too happy to have someone with him. The first couple days of taking care of her were touch and go. For a while he was wondering if she was going to make it but she pulled through and while she rested he often watched over her. It gave him time to study her. She was a beautiful duck. He found himself contemplating what would have happened if he hadn't gotten stuck in limbo.

They made it back to the cave and Canard started a fire. Once that was done he walked over to where Mallory had found a spot to sit. "Let's take a look at your leg." He sat down cross legged, next to her. She nodded and placed her leg in his lap like they always did when he was tending to it. He was gentle as he unwrapped her bandages around her leg. His fingers grazed her bare skin and Mallory repressed a shiver. What was with her lately? While he studied her leg, Mallory studied his face, taking in his handsome features. Was it odd that she found him more and more attractive every day? Maybe it was this place?

"It looks great. You've healed nicely. Soon you will barely feel it." He smirked charmingly at her and applied more antibacterial paste, then rewrapped her leg with new bandages. "Is that better?" He asked, his fingers lingering on her thigh.

"Yeah, thanks." She smiled gently removing her leg from his lap. He let his fingers slip away from her leg and clenched them in a fist in his lap. Canard reluctantly released her leg, he wanted more contact with her. Using the excuse to check her leg as a way of being near her and touching her more. He knew this was a little pathetic but he took comfort from contact with someone else. Before when he was taking care of her, he would help her stand, let her lean on him to get places, sometimes help her wash. Now that she was getting better, she could do these things herself. He found himself missing and craving her touch. In the beginning it had been just comforting that someone was there with him and touching her had been proof and a reminder that he wasn't alone anymore. But that was in the beginning, it was changing now. He was becoming very attracted to her and he wanted her to reciprocate those feelings.

Mallory leaned back uncomfortably against a large boulder behind her. She was tired. Her eyes snapped open in surprise when she felt Canard settle down next to her. His side pressing into her own. "Canard?"

"Lean on me to sleep. You'll be more comfortable that way. Trust me." He smiled at her and placed a hand around her shoulders and pulled her to him. She didn't resist. He was right, she would be more comfortable sleeping against him.

"What about you?" She asked resting her head against his chest.

"Don't worry. I'll be fine. Besides I'm not tired and someone needs to keep a look out for that traitor." He kept his arm around her.

"Okay. Let me know if you hear something." She mumbled, already falling asleep.

"Don't worry. I'll take care of it…" He watched her sleeping face for a moment, cradling her protectively. "I'll take care of you too Mallory."

…..

The next day Mallory and Canard made their plans on finding the Brawns. "Are you sure about them not attacking you?" Canard asked for what had to be the fifth time.

"Positive. You just get us there. When we arrive I'll do the rest." Mallory said pacing the cave. She wanted to get her leg used to walking around more. She was going to be on it for long distances soon, so she needed to be prepared. Exercising it would help with that. Canard had been concerned for her walking around too soon but Mallory had pushed off his concern much to his dismay.

"Alright it will take us a couple of days to get there and the way there isn't easy. We're going to have to go through dense forest which can be easy to get lost in. Not to mention the creatures in them can be a problem. When we stop for the night, we're gonna want to be up high. So your gonna need to climb a lot. Are you sure your up to this? We can take another day for you to heal."

"I'm sure Canard. Besides the others will be dying to see you." He smiled hearing that. It made him think about Wildwing and Nosedive. They were his best friends growing up, it would be great to see them again. Even if it was on another planet surrounded by strange beings called humans. He thought about the many days here all alone, looking for a sign of life and then finding it and realizing it was unfriendly. Life here had been tough and lonely. He was ready to leave but he was more concerned about Mallory's health. He didn't want anything to happen to her. He had been here a year by himself but now that Mallory is with him he didn't mind waiting one more day.

"Alright but if you don't think you can do it, then I want you to tell me so. If we get caught out there and you relapse. We're as good as dead." Canard wasn't willing to risk Mallory's life.

"I know. I wouldn't plan this if I didn't think I was ready." She took a sit next to him and watched him for a negative reaction. He didn't give one.

"Okay. First thing tomorrow, we're out of here." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and she surprised him by resting her head on his shoulder. He couldn't help but smile and looked around the cave that he had called home for the past year. He was trying to distract himself but now that he was looking, he felt a little melancholy about leaving the place, as weird as that was. If he hadn't found this cave, then he would have died a long time ago. In a way it saved his life. In the past he had hoped to find a way out and away from this horrible cave but now… he was grateful to it. Shaking the thought off, he hugged Mallory a little tighter to himself. It was time to go. He needed to protect Mallory and get her home safely. That was his main priority now and he would not fail.

…..