Scott woke to the twitter of birds. Sunlight lit the side of the tent, and it was warming up inside. Lee lay curled next to him, asleep. He lay still, reluctant to wake her and unwilling to move time forward. He felt fragile; the wall he had built years ago had crumbled, and now he found himself looking into a future he had never allowed himself to visualize. It changed everything, and a now a spark was lit that years of running had extinguished.

Lee stirred, and Scott buried his face in her hair. She slid her arm around his waist, and a comfortable silence filled the small space. He knew they could not stay; his dad was near. A half-day's hike still awaited them, and the sun was already penetrating the trees surrounding the tent. He sighed and broke the moment.

"Time to go."

"Yes. It would be better to get there before dark."

They dressed and struck the tent, eating quickly before shouldering their packs. Scott once more accessed his sphere, confirming the correct direction, and they started off, moving away from the creek for the first time. Lee gave it a last look, her expression unreadable. Finally, Scott took her hand and she smiled. They began to walk uphill, leaving the bubbling stream behind.

The terrain was harder to traverse now, and huge boulders loomed everywhere. There was no trail in sight, so their progress was slow and exhausting. The ground continued to ascend and was filled with thick undergrowth. Lee took the lead, and Scott followed close in case she slipped. They paused often to drink water, but neither of them was hungry. Anxiety twisted tight knots in Scott's stomach, and thoughts of his father hovered constantly in his mind. Had they hurt him? Would Paul be able to leave on his own feet? Neither Scott nor Lee could possibly carry him far.

The sun was high overhead when they finally reached the top of a rocky bluff devoid of trees. Before them stretched a valley, thick with ponderosa pine as far as the eye could see. A glint of metal sparkled a little distance to the right…a building built of steel surrounded by a high-gated fence topped with razor wire. Scott released an incredulous breath.

"It's real. The Martian freak was right."

"Martian freak?"

"Uh, I'll explain another time." He nodded his head toward the building. "He's there. He has to be there."

"Can you sense him?"

"Not yet. We need to get closer anyway. I can't see how many guards there are from here."

They maneuvered downhill and into the trees, angling in the direction of the building. They moved quietly, acutely aware that people were near, and that danger was very close. Realization struck Scott so hard he almost stumbled. He was not the only person in danger now. Lee was risking capture and the loss of her freedom, possibly her life. It was not fair to her, and now he had even more to lose. He should never have allowed her to come.

"Lee…" He grabbed her sleeve, forcing her to stop. He dropped his voice to a bare whisper. "I can't let you do this."

"It's my choice, Scott. Your father is one of my people, and I want to free him as much as you." She took his hand. "I said I would stay, and I will."

He squeezed her hand hard. A sudden sense of calm slowed his heart. Nodding, he led her forward to an uncertain fate, buoyed with hope.

The wire fence rose from the forest, forbidding and cold. They remained far back within the forest, carefully following the line of fence as it stretched toward a gate. Two men in military camouflage uniforms stood on either side of the entrance, machine guns looped over their shoulders. Lee and Scott halted and surveyed the building looming behind the fence. Only one story high without a single window, it was bare of any signage or adornment. Lee signaled to fall back further into the trees, and they slowly circled the gate from a safe distance.

The fence turned abruptly, leading them past the building and near a yard surrounded by ancient trees that shielded it from the sky. Two smaller structures filled the cleared space. There were men everywhere in the yard and along the back of the main building. Scott slumped against a tree. Too many soldiers. There was no way they could enter undetected, let alone get his father out of the building. Not just the two of them…spheres or no spheres.

Lee laid a palm against his arm. Her expression was unconcerned, her eyes as brilliant as the pines around them. He could almost hear her voice.

It will be okay.

He jerked his head toward the guards. She smiled and placed two fingers on his lips.

Trust me.

He closed his eyes, turning his cheek into her palm. With a sigh, he nodded. Her fingers tapped his shoulder, and he looked up. She gestured back toward the ridge from which they had come. Confused, he pointed at the base.

He's here. We can't just leave.

She shook her head and tapped her forehead.

We have to think first.

He drew in his breath sharply. So close, and they would just walk away? He glanced back at the men pacing the yard, some standing at attention, gripping their weapons. She was right, he knew. They needed a plan.

It was gut-wrenching turning his back and following her back into the forest. For the first time, he felt a pulling, a vague touch he knew well. Dad. Scott could finally feel him, even without the sphere. He glanced back. I'll be back, I promise. Sharp pain stabbed through his chest, but he pressed on, gritting his teeth.

By the time they reached the top of the escarpment, darkness was falling. They kept low to the ground and followed the ridge until trees hid them once more. Scott repeatedly checked the sky, half-expecting helicopters to arrive at any minute, but the forest was silent. Several moss-covered logs made a rough triangle of space for them to sit and rest. Scott collapsed, dropping his backpack and lowering his head tiredly between his knees. Lee crouched next to him, watching him with a frown. She had felt his terrible regret when Scott looked back at the base.

"You felt him. You know he's alive."

"Yeah, but in what condition? I have no idea what they've done to him…probably every test that exists. They've had him for six months, Lee."

"Scott." He lifted his head. "We will get him out. You have to believe."

Even after all these days of hiking and camping, she was beautiful. His heart ached. I can't lose you too. I cannot do this again.

"I'm not going anywhere. I will not leave you." She placed her hands on either side of his head and rested her forehead against his. "You can feel the truth of this. Get out your sphere."

He withdrew the orb from his pocket, reluctantly. Blue light emanated from his palm as he held it between them. The now familiar link flared, and he let her in.

It was very different from the time she had shown him the universe. Only a blue glow existed in this space, a heat that encircled him. Far from being suffocating, it wrapped him in calm serenity. It was Lee…everything she was and everything she felt for him. He had never experienced this kind of intimacy before, and he did not want to let it go.

You do not have to.

The presence faded, and he opened his eyes, reorienting himself to the physical world. She was still kneeling before him, gaze intent and concerned.

He touched her hair, allowing his body to relax. "Okay."

They built no fire that night, the risk too great. Instead, they ate canned vegetables and huddled together covered in Scott's blanket. Lee rested her head on his shoulder, staring at the stars.

He pressed his lips to her hair. "We still don't know how to get Dad out."

"All those times in the past…when you managed to escape…how did you get away?"

Images flashed through the night, memories appearing like old friends.

"A lot of people helped us. At other times, we used distractions."

"Distractions?"

"Yeah, like Dad would make something happen, using his sphere and it kept Fox's attention while we ran."

She sat up. "Scott, what one thing does George Fox want more than anything else in this world?"

"My father. But Fox already has him."

"Nothing else?"

"Me, I'm sure. He's probably looking for me as we speak." He stared at her. "Please tell me you're not thinking of using me as bait."

"Bait…like the worms?" She smiled. "No, not as bait. As a distraction."

"Yeah, I think you'd better explain."

She did, and when she finished, he exhaled incredulously. "You've got to be kidding me."

"It can work."

"Lee, that's terribly risky. We'll get caught."

"It's the only way I can think of." When he shook his head, she grabbed his hand. "It will work."

He dropped his head, sighing. "I'd put up more of a fight if I could think of anything else."

She wrapped her arm around his shoulders. They sat for a time, the persistent chirp of crickets surrounding them. Finally, she lifted her face to his.

"Scott, is this…love?"

If nothing else went right tomorrow, or in the future, at least he had this.

"Yes. It is."