 |
|
It was a few weeks after that first horrifying meeting, three weeks to the day, when we catch up to our friends. Jarred and Claudia had gone off on some unknown errand, while the rest of the group sat around a small fire. Small would be a compliment. LeighAnne could barely keep the tiny flame going. It was hardly her fault, they just didn’t have the materials to build a decent fire. Not even with Jordan supervising the process could a half-way decent bonfire be built.
They huddled together in an attempt to shut out the cold. Only Kristen refused entry to this exclusive club, totally ignoring Amanda’s pleads. Talk was light, if nonexistent. Yet it was more than enough to keep the group from noticing the dark figure approaching.
“Hey Mandee, what ya gonna do when we get back home?” Zach quizzed her, breaking the brief silence.
She smiled at the thought, obviously enjoying the idea. “Well, first I’d take a lllloooonnnnnggg bath.” Mandee dragged out the word, lavishing the concept. She leaned against Jordan throwing her arms around him and laying her head on his shoulder. “And, well, ya’ll aren’t gonna learn the rest.” Mandee resolved with a seductive smile at her soul mate.
Jordan’s eyes lit up like a kid in a candy store. “Sounds like a plan to me.” Bret smiled and clasped his hand against his mouth in an attempt to smother his laughter. He failed. It wasn’t long before the whole group was clothing their stomachs laughing their heads off. Even Kristen gave a small smile.
“Not a bad idea, what do you think of that, Kris?” Six sets of eyes turned in shock to stare at the tall man behind them. Eight jaws dropped as Jarred and Claudia came to view the reunion.
“Sean.....” Bret whispered in disbelief. No, Sean was dead. This couldn’t be him. That general. Yeah, it’s him. They’ve been found. It wasn’t Sean. Sean was dead. Unfortunately, not everyone had as much common sense as Bret.
“SEANIE!” Jordan didn’t wait for a moment before running up and throwing his arms around his friend. “I love you man” the over-grown child muttered as he placed a kiss on Sean’s cheek. The older man just laughed, hugging the younger one back. “Good to see you again.”
It wasn’t long before the rest of the group had buried Sean in hugs and well placed kisses. Cries of “where the hell have you been?” and “we missed you, big guy” were covered by squeals of joy. No doubt about it, they’d been worried about the surrogate father of Roughouse.
Sean scanned the faces of his friends, mentally checking off everyone that was supposed to be there. He got a little surprise.
“Zach! When’d you show up?”
Zach, Amanda....
“Just after you left, Train, my man.”
Jordan, Mandee.....
“Oh, glad you’re not dead.”
Jarred, Claudia...
“So am I!”
LeighAnne...
“Yo’, Bret?” he said, finding his cousin.
“Yeah, Sean?”
“Where’s Kristen? Wasn’t she dragged with us on this fun little trip?”
“Yeah, she was.”
“Didn’t you find her?”
“Yeah, we found her.”
“So where is she?”
“She should be here.” Bret surveyed the welcome wagon, no Kristen. He turned his head toward the fire, which had gone out, and there was Kris. She was staring into the dying embers. Someone should rebuild it. Bret’s leadership instincts were kicking in again, he silently corrected himself, he wouldn’t need them now that Sean was back.
“She’s over there.” Bret called to his cousin, pointing towards the pit.
Sean looked over, seeing his wife for the first time since he had been dragged out of his home and shoved into this new world. For a new world it must be, for none of the creatures that had attacked him after he had escaped the wrath of the flames came from good old Earth. At least he hoped not, Sean had no desire to run into them a second time.
“Kris!” The blonde stood up and eased her way towards the group. All of the sudden, as if on cue, the welcome wagon parted to let Kristen reach the man she considered her kindred spirit. They had made a sort of human-hallway, with all the women to her right, all the men to her left. She passed between them, without a glance to either side of the lines. She had eyes only for Train. Kristen came to a dead stop just before she ran into Sean. He looked as if he was about to embrace her, but stopped when he saw the look in her eyes. They stared at each other for a moment, Kristen’s breathing becoming more and more irregular. Finally, one of them spoke.
“Hey, Kris.” Sean said softly, reaching out to touch her. His words seemed to jerk Kristen back into reality. Just as his hand was about to caress her face, she reached up and slapped him as hard as she could across the face. Sean stumbled back, in total shock, why would his love do that? The human-hallway gasped as they turned their attention to Kristen. They were surprised at what they saw, the normally sweet Kristen’s face was twisted in pain and genuine rage. Her eyes flashed dangerously.
“How dare you! Do you have any idea how scared I was? What the fuck is your problem? Why the sudden appearance? I didn’t see the point in getting up in the morning while you, being the total fucking asshole you are, decide to make a goddamn entrance! You can just, oh God.....” Kristen’s shoulders sagged, her knees looked as though they were about to buckle. Sean, having recovered from the slap, rushed up to her. He slid his arms around Kristen’s shoulders just as her knees gave way. She leaned into him, sobbing into his shoulder. Sean gently petted her hair, muttering softly. “It’s okay, baby. You’re okay.....”
“Sean...” Bret approached him, obviously nervous about doing so. Sean just shook his head and gently led Kristen over to the small cave the boys had discovered. Bret sighed, and turned back to his comrades. He wasn’t surprised to find each of the guys hugging their girls. He slid next to LeighAnne, wrapping his hands around her.
“So what now?” Jordan asked uneasily. Bret watched with woeful eyes as his best friend toyed uncomfortably with Mandee’s hair. In turn, she reached for his hand, something he gratefully let her hold.
“Now? We go to sleep. That’s what we do.”