Lynn went back to the main road where the cars were parked. She instructed the police officers to search the woods with her and Brandon. They each bared a flashlight that shone brightly. From a distance, Kim could hear the rustling of leaves. For only a split second, she had the notion that someone might be looking for her. She quickly erased the thought for her mind. How would anyone know to look for her there? The odds, she thought, of someone finding her were just too slim. Kim wanted to yell ever so much, but the late night's chill had taken the wind right out of her. Calling for help was absolutely out of the question. She closed her eyes as her head dropped down, and not returning back up.
"Lynn, I can't find her. Do we even know she is here for sure?" asked Brandon. "Let's just say I have a sneaking suspision that she is in here somewhere, and close, to boot. I don't think James would be walking out of the woods if he hadn't hidden something here in the first place." "Good answer. But why aren't we finding her?" "I don't know," replied Lynn. "But I do have an idea. Brandon, quick! If you were James and in his situation, what would you do?" "Huh? What do you mean? I'm not exactly a kidnapper, so I really don't know. I guess I've never plotted out something like this before. Excuse me for being halfway sane." "Well you're not very helpful. I guess I'll have to think about this one myself. If I were James..." Lynn stopped dead in her tracks. "What's wrong?" asked Brandon. "That was strange," Lynn added. "I just ended up kicking a full bottle of water with my foot. Usually people throw their trash into the woods AFTER they're done drinking the bottle's contents, and not BEFORE. He's been here, Brandon. He's been here, and he wants us to know it. Brandon??? Brandon, where are y--" "Lynn, come quick! I've found her!" Brandon squeeled. He had found Kim not even 20 feet away from where she had kicked the water bottle. "Oh my god, I don't think she's breathing!" Lynn found Brandon with her flashlight and hurried over. "No, Brandon, she's alright. She's just cold. C'mon, help me cut her lose and wake her up." As Lynn took out her knife that she knew would come in handy sometime, she began to cut the rawhide from Kim's wrists and body." "Holy shit, Lynn. You gotta see this." "What is it?" "Look at her legs," Brandon instructed. They were all cut up and bruised. In no time at all, Lynn had cut Kimber free and now had the help of Brandon to carry her to the car. They got Kimber back to Lynn's car. First thing first, she called an ambulance to take Kim to the Orange County Hospital. Minutes later, an ambulance arrived. It drove off with sirens blasting at maximum volume. Once at the hospital, the EMT's wheel her into her room. "She looks like she'll be ok," said the doctor, telling both Lynn and Brandon. "She's just cold and appears to be a little bit dehydrated. It should only be a day or two before she is released." "Thank-you, doctor. Thank-you very much," said Lynn. "Thank goodness," Brandon said, turning to Lynn. His eyes scanned the hallway for a pay phone, but couldn't find one. "Why don't you go into Kim's room and call her house. I'm sure they'd like to know that everything is alright." "I'll be right back." Lynn found Kimber's room dialed the number on the phone. Kim lay there next to the phone, eyes barely open. The ringing of the phone startled everyone in the house. Although they were sleeping, they all were also on their witt's end. It was JC who picked up first. "Hello, JC?" "Lynn! Thank goodness, is everything alright? Oh please tell me everything is ok," pleaded JC. Lynn couldn't help but smile. She was so happy that she could for once answer someone's plea with a positive answer. "Yes, JC, everything is alright. The suspect was apprehended and Kimber was found. She's here in the hospital, but she's gonna be just fine." "What's wrong man?" asked Justin, who had just woken up on the floor. "Is everything alright? Why are you crying? JC?" There was a pause. "Ki-- Ki-- Ki--," his jaw was trembling. "They found Kim," he sobbed. "She's alright." Justin couldn't help but let out a few tears of his own. Next to Lynn, Kim let out a noise. "JC?" Lynn cupped her hand over the reciever. "Kim, would you like to talk to JC?" Kim just reached out for the phone. "Baby, I'm ok," Kim said over the phone. "I miss you." JC was crying even harder now. "I'm coming to see you. Just me." And with that, JC hung up the phone. He went into all the bedrooms to tell everyone else the good news and that he was going to visit Kim there. "But dude," said Katy, still wrapped in Lance's arms. "We want to see her, too. We all do." "Please Katy, I just need to be alone with her. This is the only thing I ask for." Everyone else understood where JC was coming from, therefore, they let him go quietly.
Back at home it remained quiet. Everyone else had gone back to their rooms and talked quietly. Joey held Chelsea tightly as they layed together in Joey's queen size bed. They were all so happy that everything was ok with Kim and that James was in the slammer. They kissed gently, and then harder and harder. It was about time that things would soon be getting back to normal, and more the reason to be happier about. Soon Chelsea had manuvered her way ontop of Joey and had half her clothes off, as did he. "Wait," said Chels. "Lance and Katy are in the next room, and Cheryl and Chris are down the hall." "What? What are you talking about? So what if they are?" asked Joey. "I don't know, I just feel weird about this with everyone in the house. Don't you?" Joey laughed. "No, now let's get to it!" By the time the news had hit Katy and Lance, they were even more tired than they were before. "I'm so happy that Kim's back. And especially for JC. He's our friend, and I don't like to see him hurt," Lance said. "I know what you mean. We're all like sisters, and I don't know what Brandi, Cheryl, Chelsea, and I would do without her," said Katy. "Well she's back now. So just relax and go to sleep. Here, turn over." Katy did what she was told. Lance began to massage her back, and it sent tingles all down her spine. It relaxed her very much so, and she had wished she wasn't so tired.
