Chapter Five: Bitter Memories

The room chilled instantly. Jim stiffened behind her, and she knew what he was thinking. What they were all thinking. A flash of piercing green eyes, and ice like she's never felt flooded her veins in the memory. Charlie turned to her sister, her palms going sweaty as whispering broke out all around.

"Rachel, where do our parents work right now?" Her eyes were the size of saucers as she instinctually turned towards Jim, her hand seeking his. They held each other in vice grip, neither one needing to tell the other what they already knew.

"Cheyenne mountain." Rachel skeptically regarded the group, her brows drawn down in confusion. "Why?"

Charlie nearly jerked in surprise. "The Colonel's not at the Academy?"

"He's on sabbatical, working on a special project with mom. They can't talk about it. 'Classified'," she added her fingers making the quotes sign in the air. "You know, the norm."

"From the way the conversation seems to be developing," Spock cut in before Charlie could snap at her sister. "I do not believe this would fall under your term of normal."

A second later, the door to the study burst open, Margaret and Robert hurrying out.

"We have to go into the office. Here, Rachel," Margaret said in a rush, thrusting a few bills into her hands. "Order pizza or something for tonight. I'm afraid your father and I will be late."

"Mom, what's going on?" Charlie tried to ask, her father jumping up the stairs two at a time.

"Charlotte, you know this. We cannot discuss our work. We'll be late. That is all you need to know."

Margaret was clearly distracted, her attention more on grabbing her keys and throwing her arms into the jacket she grabbed from the closet. Robert came back down moments later in his blue uniform with his multitude of bars and emblems displayed.

They were out in a flourish, the snap of the door echoing around the house and causing the dogs to begin barking.

"Well that was different," Scotty remarked offhandedly. "Do they got good pizza around here?"

"Mr. Scott, do you ever not think about food?" Sulu questioned exasperated.

"Wha'? A man's got ta eat."

"Yeah, we'll worry about that later," Jim stepped in before the argument could escalate, turning to regard the crew who stood around the living room just as worried as he was. "What I'm more concerned about is what Spock just said."

"What are you guys talking about?" Rachel asked slowly. "That's normal for my parents. They're in the military, and what they do they can't really talk about. Charlie, tell them."

"It's not that, Rachel," Charlie answered, understanding the magnitude of their situation. "If Spock's right, and he heard them talking about augments, we've got to do something." The others nodded in agreement, although Spock was still speculative.

"Like what?" her sister snapped. "I don't know what an augment is, but you can't just go waltzing into the Mountain and expect Mom and Dad to just drop whatever it is they're working on. You're not that important."

Charlie let the last comment go, although her words stung worse than she'd care to admit to. "Rachel, remember Wrath of Khan?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"K, well we met him," she snapped back. "And let me tell you it was not all sunshine and rainbows. Nothing could ever prepare you from meeting that man and the destruction he caused. I thought we were lucky because we didn't have to deal with that here. At least I thought we didn't."

"We must also remember the prime directive," Spock added.

Charlie turned to the Vulcan, her eyes narrowed. "What about the prime directive, Spock? We're not in a fledgling planet, nor are we in your universe."

"But we can still alter the course of this universe."

"Spock may have a point, Charlie," Jim reluctantly admitted, his hand reaching up to rub his neck. "Us being here could have consequences that we don't even understand. You said so yourself; there are people in this world that walk, and talk like us. If we were to be mistaken for them, there could be serious repercussions."

"But we're not going to let them create monsters, are we?" Uhura retorted. "We saw what Khan was capable of. Imagine an army of him."

"Ach! but they were able ta defeat 'em, remember?" Scotty added. "Her dad did it! And I see how." He shivered then.

"Charlie, what are they talking about?" Rachel cut in.

Charlie sighed, running a hand through her dark hair, remembering too many memories. "When I was back in their time, we came across Khan and in talking to him, I found out that our family existed in their universe. Like us; me, you, Bry, and our parents. Except that the Colonel wasn't an engineer. He was in combat as a general and he was the one that defeated the augments."

"Cool," she nodded. Then after a pause, Rachel added frustratedly, "What's an augment? I mean I've seen Wrath of Khan, but like once."

Charlie rolled her eyes. "Think super humans. Stronger, faster, smarter. The whole deal. And with definite superiority complex."

"Like Tony Stark?"

"Times a thousand."

"Jesus."

"Yeah. That's why we've got to find out if that's what they're are working on. I can't leave knowing that you'd guys could be in serious danger. Not if I can stop it."

"What do you mean leave?"

"Charlie, we should be trying to find a way home," Jim tried to argue, stepping in front of her and grabbing her shoulders. "We're not here to interfere. We need to get back and figure out what happened at the ceremony." His blue gaze was contrite, his thumbs stroking her sweater.

"Jim, if my parents are working on developing augments, they'll get it figured out. I can't . . . I won't let that happen. My dad here is not the same one from our timeline. He's brilliant in engineering, but not so much on the battle strategy if you haven't noticed. He and my mom will develop augments and then not be able to control them.

"Besides," she continued, interrupting Jim before he had a chance to respond and dodging out of his hold to address the crew. "Cheyenne Mountain is one of the most sophisticated bases in the country. They have technologies that outweigh anything outside the Pentagon. If there's a way to figure out how to get back, it would be there."

"The lass 'as a point, albeit a small one," Scotty interjected hesitantly. "Military of this time had more sophisticated technologies than their private counterparts. We'd 'ave a better chance ta get home if I got me hands on one 'o them bases."

"Exactly," Charlie said. "Peterson's really small, Fort Carson's focus is more on training and Buckley's too far away in Aurora and way out in the open. Cheyenne mountain is the site for NORAD. It's perfect."

"It's also some of the most fortified, in case you forgot, Charlie," Rachel argued, her green eyes flashing. "You can't just waltz in. It's in a freaking mountain. And what do you mean leave? You're staying, aren't you?"

It was Charlie's turn to look contrite, her shoulders slumping as she reached out for her sister who sidestepped her reach.

"Rachel, I don't belong here."

"What do you mean you don't belong here?! You were born here!"

Charlie sighed, looking to Jim for help. He just gave a small, understanding smile but his eyes told her this was something they needed to discuss. Alone.

"We'll head downstairs," he said. "You guys need to talk."

He kissed her cheek, then proceeded over to the stairs. The crew filed out behind their captain, and as Sulu shut the door to the basement behind him, Charlie turned back to her sister. Rachel's arms were crossed across her chest, and her eyes were narrowed to slits.

"Did you ever think I was born in the wrong time?" Charlie asked softly.

"That's stupid."

Charlie closed her eyes and counted to ten slowly. She knew her sister was hurt, and that she didn't understand. But Rachel was the favorite, whether her parents admitted to it or not, and she never had to experience the same level of dissatisfaction as Charlie.

"It's not," Charlie patiently argued. "You didn't see me there. You didn't see how much I flourished. I excelled in all my classes like I already knew them, the culture was so easy for me to adapt to, and even with all the hell I went through, I gained a support network I've never had here. I'm so happy there, Rachel. I have friends, and a purpose, and Jim. I almost gave all that up to come back here but I couldn't. I'm part of something bigger, and I can't just walk away."

"Now you're being selfish," Rachel spat.

"Who's the one being selfish?" Charlie retorted, her hands moving to her hips. "I just told you I am the happiest I've ever been in my life there, and you want me to stay? After what you just witnessed?"

Her lip protruded out and tears filled her eyes. Although her sister was now nineteen, and well on her way to becoming her own person, Charlie still disappeared when Rachel was only fifteen. There was still a lot of growing she had to do, and a lot that as her big sister, Charlie missed.

"But I thought we were fine. We're sisters, aren't we?" she sniffed, glancing away. "I thought you loved me."

"Rachel, I do love you." Charlie groaned, running a hand through her hair in agitation. Walking over, she captured her sister in a hug. Rachel might have been a good four inches taller than her, but Charlie still tucked her sister's head under her chin. "Don't think for one second I don't love you. You'll always be my baby sister, and I missed you so much when I was gone. This has nothing to do with you, ok? If I could have here what I have there, believe me, I'd never leave. But this isn't home anymore, and I have to do what's best for me."

Rachel sniffed, and ran a hand under her nose. "I know. I know you're happy. I've never seen you like this before. But I missed you. You're my big sister and there's things I can only talk to you about. I don't want to lose that."

Charlie rubbed Rachel's back, turning to hold her at arm's length. "I'm not promising it won't be hard. Trust me, the decision I made to stay with the Enterprise was not an easy one. But already I've helped to save Earth. Twice. It goes bigger than me and you. I think, through some divine intervention, I'm meant to be there."

Rachel paused a minute, her green eyes searching her sister's brown. "Does he make you happy? Does he take care of you?"

Charlie smiled. "We take care of each other."

Rachel nodded, her eyes red, but no tears shed. "Good. I'd kick his ass if he didn't."

Charlie laughed, throwing her arm around her sister's shoulders. "And I'd put my money on you. But it's time to go downstairs and start figuring this out. We've got two hundred years' worth of knowledge that'll get us into the Mountain. We better start planning now.

"And just remember. You're my sister. No matter what century I'm in, I'll always love you."

"So, there are only two ways onto the base. Here and here."

Charlie had the crew gathered around the flat screen television in the basement, a large satellite map of the Colorado Springs area blown up on the screen. With Rachel's help, she had managed to hook up her sister's laptop to the TV and project the images for the crew to see and discuss.

"What's this?" McCoy asked, pointing to the screen when they had started.

"Uh, google maps?" Charlie answered with a shrug. "It's what we have to work with. Anyway, the point is, I think we may have a better chance at this entrance here, on the southside. It looks more of an access tunnel than the main gate."

"Still going to be hard to get in without any phasers," Sulu pointed out.

"Or transporters," Scotty added. "Ach, how did ya survive this long lassie?"

Charlie tried to hide her smile, rolling her eyes internally.

"We got by. But Sulu raises a good point about fire power. I think the less we have the better, as counterintuitive as it seems. Especially since of the two entrances—"

"Three."

Charlie turned as her sister made her way down the stairs, laden with several boxes of pizza. "What?"

McCoy and Sulu both jumped up to help her lay out the pies on the various surfaces, taking time to breath in their delicious aroma.

"There's three entrances," Rachel continued, rubbing her hands on her pant leg.

Confused, Charlie turned back to the screen, her head tilted as she analyzed the terrain. "Where? I only see the two."

"That's because the third one is hidden."

"And how have you come to possess such knowledge?" Spock asked turning from the couch, curiously regarding the young woman.

Rachel smirked and crossed her arms, an eerily similar characteristic to another Noland. "Being the daughter of two high ranking airmen and top of her freshman class at the Academy has its benefits. Here, let me see the mouse."

Rachel shoved Scotty over who had been manning the computer – or stone aged rock as he called it. Grabbing the mouse, she maneuvered the screen northwest, several radio towers and buildings coming into view on a rise above the entrance to the air base.

"See here. There's about a dozen radio towers. Most of them are commercial or local stations – PBS and the like. But see this building here," she pointed to one standing off in the trees, removed from the other cluster. "If you're up there it only says service building. Most people think it's for all the conductors for the other towers, so they don't interfere. What they don't know is there's also an access tunnel to the heart of Cheyenne Mountain."

"Well I be damned," McCoy gruffly drawled.

"And we could get in undetected?" Jim asked.

Rachel grabbed a slice of pizza as the others began to devour the pies. "I don't know about undetected, but you would have the element of surprise. It's a maintenance tunnel, so they have some safeguards, but not like the other two. It being a secret is its greatest defense."

"How the hell do you know this?" Charlie protested.

"Hey, you chose not to go to the Academy," she shrugged in response, shoving the pizza into her mouth. Crewing greedily, she added out of the side of her mouth, "Dad's got connections. Good ones." She swallowed. "I've been able to see all kinds of shit."

"This appears to be a better option," Spock agreed with a dip of his head.

"Maybe," Charlie chewed her bottom lip. "I'd like to see it for myself though, before we start the hostile takeover."

"Might not be a bad idea," Uhura agreed. "Survey the land so we know what to expect."

"How many people fit in your car, Rach?" Charlie turned towards her sister.

"Five total, including me. I could throw someone in the trunk."

"What do you mean in the trunk?!" McCoy practically shouted.

Charlie laughed at his outrageous response. "Relax, McCoy, I know what she means. You got the stuck with the Wrangler, didn't you?"

Rachel grinned. "Yeah. All 200,000 miles of her."

"I don't understand how that car hasn't died yet," Charlie shook her head. "Ok, first thing in the morning, Rachel, me, Jim, Spock, Scotty, and whoever wants to volunteer in the trunk can go scout out the site. Deal?"

There were nods of agreement around the room, although no one spoke up for the coveted trunk position. Charlie glanced over to Jim, a small smile of assurance in response. At least they had a plan.

That night was one of the most fun Charlie could ever remember with the crew. Now that they had a plan, they were able to relax and enjoy their time at Charlie's home. Games like Clue and Cards Against Humanity were played (although some was lost on Spock) while Rachel introduced them to shows like Family Guy and Futurama, both of which were instant favorites.

Charlie's parents arrived soon after midnight. Only Charlie and Jim were still up in the basement, quietly speaking in the corner wrapped in blankets when they heard the thumping of feet and the bark followed by the quick "shhh" of a dog.

"Seems late, even for them," Jim whispered.

Charlie just shrugged. "Honestly, I've been gone so long, I don't know what's normal."

"What about before Bristol?" Jim asked.

Charlie just shook her head, pulling the blanket tighter across her shoulders. "I was either on a dig, at boarding school back east, in class at Greeley, or riding these hills with Spirit. I was honestly just wrapped up in me, and now that I look back on it, avoiding them."

Jim nodded, his gaze distant. "I guess I can relate. In high school when I wasn't in class, I was ducking my Uncle Frank and just getting into trouble around town."

"You? Getting into trouble? Pfft, no way." There was a sparkle to Charlie's eye as she teased Jim. He grinned, but it didn't reach his eyes. With shrug he added, "it was hard not having my mom around because she was always off planet, and Sam left when he was sixteen. For a while it was me and Frank."

"He didn't . . . abuse you, did he?" Charlie had wanted to broach the subject several times over the course of their relationship but didn't know how. Jim never spoke of his childhood. It was as if he wasn't someone until he stepped on that shuttlecraft after Pike's dare.

"No." Jim was vehement, his voicing rising. Realizing his hand was squeezing the mug so hard cracks were beginning to form, he relaxed and quietly added, "he never hit me. Verbally, yeah, I guess. I never really thought about it. I just had no direction, and Frank could never give it to me."

"What about your mom?"

Jim shrugged. "She really wasn't a lot of help at that time. We patched things up after Nero, when she thought she lost me too. But they're still bitter memories."

Charlie nodded in understand, staring out the window as more snow began to fall again. "Yeah. Bitter memories."

"We'd better get some sleep," Jim added after a moment. "Prepare for tomorrow."

By the time they groggily opened their eyes the next morning, Charlie's parents were already gone, and another three inches of snow coated the ground.

The team that planned to do the recon gathered in the kitchen, jackets, hats, and scarves passed all around on that wintery day.

"Sure you can drive in this?" Jim questioned Rachel as she sat tying her snow boots.

"Please, Captain," she scoffed, using the title she'd taken to calling him. "I got my license during a snow storm and had to drive up to Breckenridge the next day. This is nothing."

"Don't worry, Jim," Charlie added, pulling her gloves on over her hands. "We were raised driving in the mountains in all weather. The only reason I'm not is my license is expired and the less media attention we draw to ourselves because I've magically shown up again, the better."

"Sure, you don't want me to go with you?" McCoy added, skeptically glancing among the group. "You know, in case something happens?"

"Are they always this square?" Rachel growled at Charlie as she glared at McCoy.

"I fail to see how a geometric figure applies to this situation," Spock said as Uhura fit a trapper hat over his brows and ears.

Charlie and Rachel burst out laughing. "She means are you always lame. You know, boring," Charlie managed between giggles. "Sorry, 21st century vernacular."

Spock raised one brow and nodded his head slowly, but they could tell he still didn't understand. Uhura quietly began explaining it as the rest finished throwing on warm clothes.

They headed out into the cold, winter day, the driveway uncleared and showing one set of tire tracks down toward the main road. Rachel hopped into the driver's seat of the old Jeep Wrangler that each Noland sibling had position of in one time or another. Charlie took shotgun, while Jim, Spock and Scotty squeezed themselves into the back seat, looking thoroughly uncomfortable. Scotty was grumbling in the middle, while Spock and Jim each stared out the opposite windows.

As they hit road, and came down into Colorado Springs proper, Charlie couldn't believe how much the land had changed. Shopping centers and housing developments had sprung up when before it was open land. Prices were higher than she'd ever seen, and the traffic felt like it had increased tenfold. Once they were on the main roads, the slush of the snow had already melted, steam rising as the sun shone on the black pavement, but it didn't stop the beauty that was her hometown.

Scotty kept making surprised sounds by what he was seeing, asking question about why that pickup just spewed out black smoke, or what those random towers were with tree branches trying to hide their appearance. Charlie patiently explained it all, pointing out places they'd used to go to as kids, the parks they'd hand out at or the local drive in movie theatre.

They turned towards the zoo, then made the next right, heading toward the switch back road that would lead them to the radio towers. But as the road turned from pavement to dirt, they hit a roadblock. A very icy one.

Rachel skid to a halt at the closed gate, barring them from travelling further.

"Shit, they must have closed it because of the snow."

Charlie unlocked her seat belt and stepped out of the Jeep, Jim following her as they walked up to the gate. Charlie spun around, her hand blocking the sun as she checked out the terrain.

"What are you thinking?" he asked.

"Hey Rach! Think we could get the trailer up here?" she called to her sister.

Rachel opened her door and stood on the rails, looking around at the open space.

"Yeah, there should be room to get it in here and turned around. Why?"

Charlie turned to Jim, an idea forming. "I'm thinking if we can get the trailer up here, we can continue on horseback to the summit."

"Horseback?!" Scotty exclaimed. "I'm no' getting' on one of those beasts."

"Well, what choice have we got, Scotty?" Charlie argued. "From here it's probably at least a four to five hour hike up there. The horses would cut that down to two. Even with inexperienced riders."

"If we can get close to the Broadmoor camp, I can lead you over the ridge, cut off at least half the ride," Rachel added, leaning on the open door.

"No, you're not coming on this, Rachel," Charlie ordered. "I'll need your help getting the horses here, but then we're on our own."

"Like hell you are," Rachel snapped. "I'm coming with you."

"No, you're not, and that's final," Charlie barked, Scotty and Jim's brows rising at the steel in her voice. "What we're doing is dangerous, illegal, and I'm not going to have it ruin your career if we get caught."

"How are you going to know which building it is? How are you going to know the code? What about when you get it? When was the last time you were there?"

"We're smart, we'll figure it out."

"Miss Rachel raises some valid points," Spock acknowledged. "Her help would be advantageous to us."

"I said no," Charlie asserted. "I'm not having my baby sister get mixed up with this. End of story." Charlie stomped back to the jeep, slamming the door shut with a snap and Rachel following suit. The men could hear them continuing to argue within the vehicle.

"That lass needs a good talkin' to," Scotty remarked crossing his arms. "And I know how she can be, but we need 'er sister."

"I agree with Mister Scott," Spock dipped his head. "Having the younger Noland along would increase our chances of success."

Jim sighed, reaching up to rub his eyes. "I know. I know. I'll try to talk to her."

"The best of luck ta ya," Scotty clapped Jim on the back as he started walking back to the car, the yelling having ceased but the silence tense even from where they stood. "Lord know yer gonna need it."

"Thanks," Jim added deprecatingly.

The ride back the house was silent and strained. Neither sister spoke to the other. Charlie's arms were crossed, and Jim was sure he could hear her teeth grinding in agitation. The minute the tires stopped on the drive, Charlie was out and stomping toward the stables. Rachel followed suit but headed to the house, doors slamming all around.

"What the hell happened?" McCoy asked, once the other three were back inside. Rachel was nowhere to be seen. "One minute I'm trying to figure out how that damn coffee pot works, and the next doors are crashing, causing those dogs to go berserk."

"Charlie told Rachel she wasn't coming with us," Jim told McCoy.

McCoy's brow rose in surprise. "I've noticed the family resemblance in those two. I take it the younger Spitfire didn't take it well."

"The gorn were more civil," Scotty snorted.

"I'm going to go talk to Charlie," Jim muttered as headed out the back and down the deck stairs.

He found her in the stable, leaning against the door to Spirit's stall, a carrot in one hand as she stroked the tan neck with the other. Spirit's neighbor, a black gelding stuck his head out as Jim approached, the captain absently brushing his hand down his forehead while his attention remained on Charlie.

"I know she's your sister, but we need her."

Charlie's head dipped, leaning against the horse before she took a breath and turned to Jim. "We can figure it out without her getting mixed up in this."

"Maybe. But she would make it easier."

"Just because it's easy, doesn't make it right."

"Charlie. Stop and think. We need her. You're the one that wants to get into that base so bad."

"But not at the cost of my family, Jim," Charlie snapped, Spirit jumping in surprise. "I won't risk my little sister."

"She's a cadet, going through trainings like you, and look what you did before you were even in the Academy."

"This is different."

"It's not, and you know it's not. We're not going to let something happen to her. I promise." Charlie sighed and began pacing. "She been there," he continued. "She knows what security measures they have, where things are located. I hate to quote the Vulcan, but it's logical."

"Ok!" Charlie shouted. Taking a breath, her eyes shining with the true fear she'd only let Jim see. "Ok. But I want your word. If you have to choose to save me, or save Rachel, you take my sister first."

"Charlie—"

"Swear it."

"I won't," Jim practically yelled back. "I won't choose anyone over you. Ever." He frustratingly ran his hand through his hair. "I'll have Bones keep an eye on her. Alright?"

Charlie thought a moment before Spirit nudged her, throwing her off balance. "Ok. Fine."

"Good. Let's go ready for tonight."

The horses were all saddled and loaded as the afternoon wore on. Charlie, Jim, McCoy, and Rachel worked in silence to get the horses ready; they the only ones familiar enough to know what to do. Scotty and Sulu were able to modify the tricorder to omit a low stun should anyone find them who they didn't want, and Uhura and Spock were able to fashion several communication devices from old cell phones that wouldn't be picked up by any of the base's receivers.

Snow was beginning to fall again as the crew met outside, the long horse trailer attached to the pickup.

"Ok, we can only take four at a time," Charlie began as the crew circled round. "Rachel will take—"

Just then, two vehicles spun up the drive, coming to a halt next to the startled group, Spock quickly donning the hat he was given.

Two young men from the first truck and a third from the SUV opened their doors and stood, surveying the group with smiles. The dark-haired driver of the truck caught Charlie's eye and winked, eliciting a low growl from Jim until it clicked to Charlie who it was.

"Little Johnny Dean, is that you?" Charlie smirked crossing her arms and eyeing her blushing sister out of the corner of her eye.

"Yo, Chuck, what's going on?" he answered, his voice far deeper than Charlie remembered.

"Not that it isn't good to see you, but we're about to go on a trail and—"

"Oh, we know. We're here to help."

Charlie paused, his words sinking in before she rounded on Rachel. "What do they mean by help?"

Her sister had the decency to look sheepish. "John, Eric, and Tristen are part of my element at the Academy. The same team," she explained. "I asked them to help us get up there, and they they're going to bring the trailer back until we come back down. We don't want someone finding the truck and wondering why we're going up to the radio towers."

"Rachel, how do we know—"

"You can trust them," Rachel added hastily. "They're part of my squadron. I trust them with my life."

"But do you trust them with our lives," Charlie growled. "You should have consulted me about this."

"Listen, Chuck," Johnny said, jumping down from the truck. Charlie's eyes narrowed, always hating that nickname. "Rachel swore us to silence. We don't know what's going, honestly. We were just told Rachel needed a lift to get everyone to the base of Cheyenne Mountain and to take the truck and trailer back here and wait for her call. That's it."

"Johnny, you're asking me to trust you, and after all the shit I've seen you get into—"

"I know," he cut off, rubbing the back of his neck guiltily. "I was a hellion in high school."

"Still are," his partner added with a grin.

"Shut it, Tristen," he snapped. "Your sister asked us for help. We're a team, we'd do anything for each other and we're gonna to take each other's secrets to the grave."

"They're assistance would make our journey began faster," Spock pointed out.

Charlie surveyed the other two and saw the determination in their eyes. The same type of loyalty and respect she had with her own crew back at her own Academy.

Glancing to the others, Charlie saw subtle nods directed her way. Rounding back on the lanky cadet, she threatened, "I'm going to say this once, Cadet Dean. If I ever get word that you let slip what's going on, you're going to wish you were never born. Got it?"

Johnny glanced over her shoulder and saw the smoldering glare from Jim and swallowed visibly. If Charlie didn't hold to her threat, he knew the guy behind her would. "Yes, ma'am."

"Good, move out."

Everyone loaded into the vehicles, Charlie growling about annoying sisters, and they were off. The caravan reached the base of the mountain in record time, the snow earlier in the day keeping many off the roads. Although the snowpack had increased, the dryness of the air kept it from being a slushy mess, much to the happies of those nervous about travelling by horse.

The boys helped to unload the horses, tying them to the trees as Charlie helped each crew member mount. Each person was assigned their own horse, but Rachel and Charlie had made sure that those who were not experienced in riding were given the calmer, older horses while the experienced riders had the younger, less desensitized ones.

Scotty was the most difficult of all, even though he had the calmest horse they owned. Bruno was as old as dirt, a large grey gelding that plodded more than walked and was more than happy to eat than do anything else. According to Scotty, though, he was a fierce warhorse that was going to throw him off so much as look at him. It took some patient handling from none other than their resident doctor for Scotty to finally be sitting calmly in the saddle.

Once everyone was situated, their cinches tight and their stirrups in the proper place, the crew set out into the bitter cold. Rachel led the group single file off the trail while Charlie brought up the rear.

Spirit wanted to run, tugging at the reigns and stomping her feet in agitation as they climbed uphill. She kept trying to bite Jim's black gelding, and more than once Charlie had to spin her in a circle, keeping the reigns pulled taunt with a sharp command to stop her antics. She knew what her horse wanted, felt the exhilaration hiding just under the surface. Charlie wasn't sure if anyone had ridden her horse while she had been gone – wouldn't have been surprised if Spirit bucked them off if they had tried too. She seemed to be the only person her horse listened to. But even then, Spirit was living up to her name, and it took all her years of training, and muscle memory to keep her horse in line, even if they wanted nothing more than run the trail ahead of them.

Jim had never seen Charlie ride before, and the way she sat in the saddle, the way she handled Spirit's tricks and behaviors, the ease she had reading the signs of the horse impressed him more than he cared to admit. She had a confidence that he'd only seen under pressure, but to see her free of that constraint, and in an element he never expected warmed his heart.

They'd followed the road as it switched back and forth until they came across a stream that fed in from a small valley. This was where Rachel led them off, the footing more uneven, thus taking longer than the previous hour's ride had. Soon though, metal towers could be seen just as the sun began to set, their blinking lights leading the group toward their destination. They reached the top just as the sun went down, the sky aloft with orange, blues, and purples. As the stars came out, Charlie took a breath. It was time.

Hope you enjoyed! Let me know what you think!