Johnny was barely a day into this drive, and already felt as if he'd been on the road for days. Just getting out of California had taken the better part of the day, and now that darkness was starting to fall, he figured now would be a good time to pull off the highway and find somewhere to stay for the night.

He took the next exit and pulled into the closest parking lot, shutting off the Rover and turning on the dome light before finding his atlas. It didn't take him long to orient himself, and he was soon back on the road in search of food and a decent motel.

After a quick stop at a fast-food joint, it wasn't far to a motel, and he pulled in and shut off the Rover, the exhaustion starting to take hold. But first things first.

Johnny stepped into the office, the bell over the door causing the clerk to look up. "Can I help you?"

"Need a room for the night."

The clerk swung his feet down from the desk and set his book aside, rising from his chair to pick a key from the wall. "Room Forty. Cash or charge?"

"Uh, charge." Johnny pulled out his wallet and found his charge card, handing it to the clerk.

The clerk processed the transaction and handed the card back to Johnny, along with the slip to sign. "Check out's at eleven."

"Thanks." Johnny signed the slip and tucked the card back in his wallet, shoving it back in his pocket before leaving to return to the Rover, driving down the row until he found the room in question.

Now he could finally relax a little. Once he called Roy and Joanne, of course.

He dialed the familiar number and waited while it rang. "DeSoto residence."

"Hey, Chris." Johnny couldn't help but smile a little. "Your mom and dad around?"

"Hold on." Chris told him. "Mom! Dad! It's Uncle Johnny!"

Johnny could hear voices in the background before someone else came on the line. "So, you're still alive."

"Yeah, Roy." Johnny answered. "Staying in Eugene for the night. Might check it out a little more in the morning before I take off again. Got in a little late to do much of anything. But what I've seen of it is…nice."

"Can't wait to see the pictures. You're doing okay?"

"Yeah, yeah." Johnny told him. "Just a long day of driving, you know? Took most of the day just to get out of California. I'll call you from my next stop."

"Sounds good." Roy replied. "I'll let Jo and the kids know you called. She's got a map up for them, and they're putting a pin in every stop you make."

"That's great." Something tugged at Johnny. "Haven't figured out my next stop yet. Might not be until I cross into Canada."

"Okay. You stay safe out there."

"I'll do my best. Talk to you soon."

With that, they both hung up, and Johnny laid back on the bed. He was exhausted already, and he had barely gotten started.

Doubt started to creep into his mind as he lay there listening to the rain gently hitting the window. Maybe Roy was right, and he was being foolish by running away. It wasn't a solution.

On the other hand, he wasn't sure how much longer he would have lasted where he was. And he wasn't running away, he was starting over. He'd get settled in at Steven's, and then he'd figure out his next move.

If there was one. Johnny still wasn't entirely sure what his next move would be.

It didn't matter. He and Steven had talked about this over and over, and Steven had repeatedly assured him that Johnny would always have a place at the cabin. Still, he couldn't help wondering if that was actually true. After all, nothing lasted forever.

He huffed irritably and rolled out of the bed. The exhaustion from the long day of driving was surely affecting him, and he'd feel better after a decent night's sleep. Besides, he had all new territory to explore here before he got back on the road.

With that, he went through his usual nighttime routine before climbing back into the bed and pulling the covers over himself. Soon enough, he'd be at the cabin, in Steven's bed, hopefully with the man himself. It was enough to allow him to slowly fall asleep.

# # #

Johnny awakened the next morning to the sound of rain falling on the roof. Hardly ideal conditions for exploring. Just as well, he supposed. The sooner he got back on the road, the sooner he'd be where he truly wanted to be.

He turned on the television in hopes of catching a weather report as he cleaned himself up and got dressed. As expected, steady rain and cool temperatures. Not terrible, but easy enough for people to get a little too casual on the roads. God knew he had seen enough of the aftereffects of such driving behavior in his time.

But he was leaving that all behind now, he had to keep reminding himself, at least for a while. Maybe there would come a time when he'd feel up to the task, though he couldn't imagine that right now.

That would be a hell of a thing, wouldn't it? He could almost hear Roy laughing at him from here.

He turned off the television and packed up his bag before leaving the room, locking the door behind him. A quick stop at the office to check out and he'd be on his way again.

It was a short drive to the office, and he climbed down from the Rover to enter. The morning desk clerk, a blonde girl with a bright smile, greeted him. "Good morning. Checking out?"

"Yeah." Johnny answered, handing her the key. "Room Forty."

The clerk took the key and made a note in the register. "You're all set. Have a good day."

"Thanks." Johnny nodded and exited, returning to the Rover and starting it up before flipping on the wipers. The gloom felt relentless, a marked difference from southern California, and he found it hard to imagine living in such a place. Just as well that he was on his way out.

He pulled into a gas station and up to the nearest pump. It wasn't long before someone came ambling out and approached the window. Johnny rolled down the window to greet the man. "Morning."

"Morning." The man nodded. "How much?"

"Uh, just fill it up, thanks."

The man nodded again and rounded the front of the Rover to start pumping while Johnny waited. Before long the man returned. "That'll be ten twenty-five."

Johnny pulled out his wallet and handed the man a twenty-dollar bill, waiting as he made change and handed it back. "You have a nice trip, son."

"Thanks." Johnny answered, starting up the Rover and fiddling around with the radio dial until a clear station came in. It seemed to be mostly talk and news, but that was fine. He'd be able to keep up with weather conditions and traffic, which was probably a better move since he was heading into unfamiliar territory.

The rain seemed to slow down, thankfully, and Johnny made one more stop at a fast-food place for a quick breakfast and a cup of coffee before he made his way back to the highway. Now that it was lighter, Johnny could get a better view of the scenery as he drove.

Even from the highway, he could appreciate the dense forests and lush greenery, and now he found himself wishing he had taken a little more time here before moving on.

The drive was uneventful, and the weather seemed to clear up as he drove on, crossing into Washington state as the skies started clearing, and he had a better view of the mountains that rose above the evergreen forests. He started seeing signs for various state parks, and he was sorely tempted to get off the road for a while and check it out.

Besides, this was what he'd intended to do in the first place, wasn't it? Otherwise he would have driven straight through to the cabin.

He took the next exit and pulled into a nearby parking lot long enough to pore through his atlas and find his destination before taking off again. It wasn't long before he pulled into the entrance to the state park and found a place to park the Rover and the U-haul trailer.

Soon he had his pack slung over his shoulders and a trail map in his hand as he set off. This was very different territory than anywhere he'd been before, the scent of evergreen in the air and the soft earth beneath his feet drawing him in as he made his way up the trail, pausing every so often to take pictures.

He reached the trailhead, where the forest cleared out enough to give him a view of the mountains in the distance, and he got a few more shots before letting his camera hang around his neck. Now that he wasn't so absorbed in the scenery, he noticed the chill in his fingers. There were patches of snow all around, and he shivered ever so slightly in the cool air.

This was just what he had needed, a temporary respite from the endless highway miles and traffic. He could barely wait to get these photos developed so that he could send them to Roy and his family. They'd surely get a kick out of these.

The slightest pang of something went through Johnny at the thought, the reminder that he was far from the place he had called home for so long, a place he was unlikely to return to anytime soon.

He shoved the thought aside and started his journey back down the trail the way he came. This detour had lasted long enough, long enough to refresh him and allow him to continue on.

Another fill-up, another stop for coffee and food, and he was back on the highway, slowing down as traffic backed up around Seattle. Even then, Johnny took the opportunity to take in the scenery along the highway, letting his mind wander while the traffic crawled.

Eventually traffic started moving, and Johnny was on his way again, letting the miles roll on until he finally reached the border crossing that would take him into Canada. He'd never been through a border crossing, though he had spent plenty of time before leaving making sure he had everything he needed to cross. The last thing he needed was to get hung up at the border.

He pulled up to the booth, and the officer greeted him with a nod. "Good evening, sir. Documentation?"

Johnny handed him his license, and the officer examined it closely. "California, huh? You're a long way from home. Where are you going?"

"Alaska." Johnny suddenly felt his nerves starting to get the better of him. "I'm moving. Suppose the U-haul's kind of a giveaway."

The officer's eyes flicked to the trailer. "We'll have to examine the trailer for contraband."

"Contraband?"

"Weapons, drugs, that sort of thing." The officer sounded almost casual.

"Oh." Johnny felt a bit of the nervousness leave him. "Well, you don't have to worry about that. Nothing back there but all the stuff from my apartment."

"We'll be the judge of that." The officer replied. "Please step out and open the trailer, sir."

Johnny climbed down from the Rover and opened the back of the trailer. The evening had turned chilly, and he wrapped his arms around himself for warmth while the officers examined the trailer. For a moment Johnny thought they were going to start opening boxes, but it seemed the officers were satisfied with their findings.

"You can go ahead and close up, sir." The officer told him as he handed Johnny back his license. "Have a safe trip and stay warm."

"Thanks." Johnny quickly shoved his license back in his wallet and climbed back up into the Rover before the officers had a chance to change their minds.

After pulling off to exchange some cash, he drove on as evening fell, the exhaustion of the day once again catching up to him. It appeared that accommodations were becoming fewer and farther between, and for a while, Johnny thought he was going to have to stick it out in the back of the Rover for the night.

It was getting noticeably colder as well. Johnny was prepared, at least, he thought he was. He hadn't been fully prepared for just how…well, desolate didn't quite describe it, but it was definitely far more rural than he'd expected.

Finally, with his gas tank starting to get low and his eyelids getting heavier by the second, he decided to risk getting off at the next exit that advertised both a gas station and a motel. It was probably going to be nothing much, but it would be better than nothing.

He took the exit and followed the signs until he spotted the neon glow in the distance. It appeared he was in luck, as there was a small restaurant next to the motel, though it was hard to tell if it was open or not.

No matter. As long as he had somewhere to crash for the night, he could solve that mystery another time.

He pulled into the parking lot and shut off the Rover, climbing down and making his way toward the office, pulling open the door. The older man behind the desk turned down the small television and rose to greet Johnny. "Good evening. Can I help you?"

"Just need a room for the night." Johnny answered.

"Sure." The man nodded. "Cash or charge?"

"Charge." Johnny pulled out his wallet and handed his card to the man. He inspected it carefully before processing it and handing it back along with the receipt.

"Sign here." The man told him. "Now, charge is going to look a little different when you get your statement. Exchange rate, you know."

"Good to know, thanks." Johnnys signed the slip and returned it, and the man tore off a copy to hand back to Johnny, along with a key.

"You're in room twenty-two, right at the end of the row. Coffee shop's open for a while yet if you need anything before you get settled in for the night."

"Appreciate it." Johnny answered, putting his card back in his wallet and shoving it in his back pocket before picking up the key and leaving the office.

The coffee shop seemed inviting, and Johnny figured it'd probably be good to get something in him before calling it a night. Besides, he'd been driving for hours, it seemed, and he needed to stretch his legs a little.

He walked the short distance and went inside. It was empty save for the girl absently wiping down the counter and someone in the back singing along with a radio. She looked up when Johnny walked in, gesturing to the counter. "Take a seat. I'll grab you a menu."

"Thanks."

Johnny turned over the coffee cup in front of him, and the girl filled it before handing him a menu. He looked it over while casually checking out the girl. Young, for sure, far younger than he was, her dark blonde ponytail swinging behind her as she hummed along with the radio and wiped down the counter.

She seemed to notice, setting down the cloth and heading back his way. "Are you ready to order?"

"Uh, yeah, yeah." Johnny answered, slightly chastened at having been caught. "Roast beef sandwich and fries."

"You want that warmed up?" She asked. "A bit chilly out there tonight, you know."

Johnny couldn't help but be amused at that. "You're right about that. Yeah, that sounds good."

"You bet." She turned toward the grill area. "Gordon, hot roast beef and fries!"

"Coming right up!" Gordon called back.

The girl returned to lean on the counter. "So, where are you from?"

Johnny hadn't intended to start a conversation. "Uh, California. Moving to Alaska."

"Oh, boy." The girl's eyes went wide. "Why would you want to go and do that?"

Johnny let out a short laugh. "Friend of mine has a place up there. Told me to come on up when I was ready. Well, guess I'm ready."

"And you've driven the whole way?"

"The whole way."

"Wow." The girl leaned on the counter. "How long has it taken you?"

"Uh…I think this is my second day?" Johnny was starting to lose track of time a little bit himself. "Yeah, second day."

"Order up!" Gordon called out.

The girl immediately pushed herself off the counter and turned around, picking up the plate and placing it in front of Johnny. "There you go. Get a good hot meal in you before you take off again."

"Thanks." Johnny immediately tucked in, and it took him a moment to realize that the girl was still there.

She smiled at him before picking up the rag and wiping down the counter. She looked as if she wanted to keep talking, and Johnny saw little reason to not talk to her. "You must get a lot of folks just passing through."

"Oh, sure." The girl nodded. "Especially in the summertime. Lots of people come up from the States. Not too many from California. Must be exciting there, all those movie stars and stuff."

Johnny couldn't help laughing a little at that. "Well, I don't know much about that. I'm…I was a firefighter and paramedic. Different kind of excitement, I guess."

"Oh wow, yeah." The girl seemed impressed. "There was this show I used to watch about firefighters. I watched every week."

"It's nothing like what you see on TV." Johnny replied. "Nothing at all."

The girl fell silent, and Johnny felt a little bad for chastising her. Finally, she spoke again as she refilled his coffee. "What are you going to do once you get to Alaska?"

"I don't know yet." Johnny admitted. "Just going to get settled and figure it out from there."

She looked puzzled. "They don't need firefighters there?"

Johnny pushed back his plate, his appetite gone. "I'm sure they do, but I won't be one of them. For lots of reasons."

The girl nodded solemnly. "You let me know when you're ready to cash out, okay?"

"Thanks."

The girl disappeared, and Johnny could hear her making conversation with Gordon, or who he assumed was Gordon. He finished off his coffee and picked at his plate for a bit until the girl reappeared. "Ready?"

Johnny nodded, reaching into his back pocket for his wallet. The girl gave him his total, and he gave her the cash to cover it. "Keep the change."

"Thank you." The girl punched a few buttons on the cash register and pocketed the remainder. "You have a safe trip."

"Appreciate it." Johnny answered, sliding down from the stool and heading back out. The cold wind caught him off-guard, and he shivered a little as he made his way back to the motel.

As he climbed into bed and turned out the light, he let out a heavy sigh. It wouldn't be much longer now, only another couple of days. Maybe he should just push it and drive straight through from here on out. He was already tired of being on the road, and it was getting damned lonely.

Maybe things would look different after a decent night's sleep. They usually did. He could make his decision tomorrow.