I-295 South

New Jersey/Pennsylvania State Line

Two hours later

Sarah's CD collection has worked wonders with helping make the time go by. Somehow, 'I Spy' gets dull quite quickly when the only things around us are trees and lines of abandoned cars. Earlier on, Finnigan kept trying to start 'Punch Buggy' with Miller, who threatened to push his friend into the next Beetle they saw if he did it again. A few times we had to leave the highway because all the lanes were blocked. So far, we've only stopped near Trenton to find fuel. Tanks full, we moved on before attracting any unwanted attention.

Those of us who haven't fallen asleep have been enjoying Sarah's burned CDs which house a mixture of her favorites from the '40s and '50s with The Andrews Sisters and Dion, all the way up to the mid '90s with The Offspring, and a little of everything in between. We got about halfway through Johnny Cash's 'I've Been Everywhere' before I tuned out and focused on one sign in the distance:

EXIT 6

I-95S to I-276W

Penn. Turnpike

Philadelphia

1 Mile

"I haven't been this close to home in so long." I nearly say out loud. "I know I consider anywhere with Sarah home, but my city is...right there." For a time, I consider asking to take a detour, but in the back of my mind I know that our new mission is more important.

That is until Sarah merges towards the exit.

Meanwhile...

It seems like Faye can't keep her eye off her side view mirror. As if she's afraid that Sarah will suddenly stop and turn around. Her truck's headlights have been at a respectful distance since the start of the trip, and at this point we're closer to our destination than we are to home.

"They'll be fine." I say with a knowing tone to my co pilot, returning my attention to the road.

"I know." She replies, finally looking away. "It's just that... my field experience with their little...posse is limited to say the least."

"If you don't trust them, why bring them along?" I ask bluntly. Faye gives me a look through her good eye.

"Of course I trust Sarah." She says matter-of-factly. "Jay too. And it isn't that. This whole thing must be so alien to them. I wish I explained just how bad things are in D.C..."

I nod, weaving around a fallen tree in the road. "If you gave their rundown to me...well lets just say I would need more convincing."

"So would I." Faye sounds frustrated with herself. "But the more I explain it, the less believable it sounds. I mean God knows how those people have held on for so long. It's been two years. Manhattan almost fell in two months!"

Out of habit, I glance up into the rear view. Then do a double take when I notice the yellowish glow of Sarah's headlights is missing.

"Where the hell did they go?!" My companion demands almost at the same time.

We had already agreed on a route, and to not deviate unless Faye said to. I look to Sarah for an explanation, only to have her wink at me and continue bobbing her head to the song.

'I've been to Louisville, Nashville, Knoxville, Ombabika

Schefferville, Jacksonville, Waterville, Costa Rica

Pittsfield, Springfield, Bakersfield, Shreveport

Hackensack, Cadillac, Fond du Lac, Davenport

Idaho, Jellico, Argentina, Diamantina

Pasadena, Catalina, see what I mean'a…'

As we let Dima continue to the Jersey Turnpike, we merge to stay on I-95. Sarah says nothing as we cross the Penn state line, at least until her phone rings.

"Y'ello?" She says calmly.

"Sarah, where are you going?" I hear Faye ask sternly through the speaker. "We already have a route decided on."

"Taking the scenic route. Jay is from Philly."

"There's no time. I doubt they'll let you in anyway."

"That's why I'm staying on 95. We're just passing it. We can meet up again further south in Wilmington...unless you're coming."

"I...fine. Dima, turn around. But after this, no more field trips."

"Roger-dodger." Sarah says simply before hanging up.

"Sarah, you shouldn't have." I say.

"Of course I should." She insists as Dima and Faye settle in behind us. "I've shown you my hometown top to bottom. It's about time you showed me yours."

"I knew something would happen." Faye growls as I take the spot behind our comrades. The two in the back appear to have been awakened by the small commotion Sarah's little stunt caused.

"What are you going to do? Punish them?" I ask with a scoff. "Sarah's reasoning seems as good as any."

"There can't be any delay." The slender woman at my side protests. "This way will add nearly an extra hour to the trip. NOT including if and when we get stopped by any security Philadelphia may have kicking around."

"I'm sure that as long as we stay on the highway, we'll be fine." I try to sound reassuring. Faye's little sister Heather mentioned something about her temper. After hearing that ECHO, I hoped to never see it first hand, or at very least not be the cause. "Besides, in my experience, idu domoy - going home or at least being able to see it helps greatly with morale. Judging by how deliberate Sarah sounded, she's been planning on doing this for a while. Jaylene has likely not been home for a long time."

Faye lets out a heavy sigh and looks at me with a nod.

"You...you're right, Dima. Alani's last communication just sounded so desperate. Like she was reaching out to anyone for help. And it's been a long time since I've seen her."

"Once we get to Washington, everything will be okay. You'll see." I say with a smile, patting Faye's knee.

"Yeah. Yeah I know." She replies, placing her hand on top of mine.

The rising sun reveals that Philly weathered the storm rather well. There's no real sign of any aftermath of complete chaos like New York still shows. I've turned the music down to help Jay have her moment as we roll down 95 past the colossal city.

"Over there!" She says excitedly, pointing to a small neighborhood in the northern part of town. "Harrowgate. Part of Kensington."

"How long has it been?" Kelly asks behind us.

"Let's see…" Jay starts counting on her fingers. "...joined the Marines in '04, then shipped out to Afghanistan and later Bosnia. Came back in '06, then left again for the desert later that year. Came back early to join the Division in April '07. Then you came back in June." She gestures to me. "I came back here after training, then went to New York in July… and I haven't been back since. So that's…"

"Six years." I conclude. "Approximately."

"Woah…" Kelly says. "Is that a battleship?"

I turn to look towards the river, where a massive warship is docked on the other side.

"That's U.S.S. New Jersey." Jay replies. "And that's Camden. She's a museum ship now. Most decorated ship in the US Navy. Been there...I couldn't tell you how many times. Almost went Navy because of it."

"Good thing you didn't, huh?" Kelly points out, nodding to me.

"Oh, stop." I say, waving off the comment.

"Hey, don't sell yourself too short." Jay says, thumping my leg. "It is a good thing I didn't go."

I wrinkle my nose at her, and shortly after, we're on our way out of city limits.

"Thank you, Sarah." Jay says with a sigh. "Seeing home again… I needed that."

"Shame we couldn't actually go in." I point out.

"We will. On the way back." Says Kelly hopefully.

Jay nods with a smile, tear in her eye. "Yeah… we will."

'I've been everywhere…'