The Long Way Home

Chapter 1 The Rescue

He stood at the edge of the cliff clutching Catherine close, swaying dazedly as he squinted against the light. It caused the pain in his head to intensify, but he had to be sure. Through the cracked and broken lenses of his glasses he could see their broken bodies lying unmoving upon the jagged surface of the rocks far below. He felt a nauseated and bent to one side to gag, raising nothing from his empty belly. Catherine grabbed his ear and protested hoarsely, so he quickly righted himself and turned away. His mind warned against feeling nothing for the girl who'd given him back his baby, lunging at his attacker just to take them both over the cliff. Though she had sacrificed herself the only feeling he had was a wonder. How had she become the only one of them to retain some semblance of humanity? Her selfless act played along his consciousness but he was too numb to feel anything but gratitude that he was at free from them at last.

Turning abruptly, he murmured a word of hope to Catherine and whistled to Beast. The German shepherd stopped abruptly, his ears picking up before he turned his head and looked back. His tail wagged encouragingly and he barked once to signal his eagerness to return to camp. Stumbling in his wake, he followed the dog's lead and prayed he would not trip and fall. Catherine splayed her hand along his cheek and he winced in pain but kissed the top of her head.

"We're going back, sweetheart," he croaked to her, banishing the sudden vision of Lynne from his mind. For now he would not think of her—he just couldn't.

Brenda stared blankly at the wreckage surrounding them, thinking how stupid it had been for them to blow up their only means of shelter. Gripping Bobby's arm just to assure herself that he was close, she shivered at the thought of the mutant who'd almost killed them both. They had to do it—there was no other way to get rid of him and save themselves.

"I'm not leaving you," Bobby drawled just to reassure her. She could feel his gaze upon her and looked up into his lined and dirty face. For the first time she realized that they were orphans now, all alone in the world without even grandparents. "We'll take care of each other," he reassured her, laying his hand over hers. "Let's see what we can salvage before we go."

They stayed close, bending to examine the scattered bits and pieces of their lives which were strewn across the burning landscape. Every so often they checked their surroundings just to be sure no new threats presented themselves. Her throat burned from thirst and from crying, for her emotions were a rollercoaster ride she couldn't control. The past 24 hours had proven to be Hell and she had no idea how they'd survived them. And was it really over? Did others watch and wait, planning the next ambush? If so, when would it come, and how would they defend themselves? At that thought images of her father's burning corpse and Mom's body providing dinner for the cannibal flashed through her mind. She felt her throat close at the sight of her sister lying open-eyed in a pool of blood, and would not even let herself wonder about Doug or Catherine, their little niece. By now they too were surely lost to some equally horrible fate.

"Look—a cigarette lighter," Bobby said in an awestruck voice as he bent to retrieve it. With one knee propped upon the ground he flicked it open and coaxed the flame to life, glancing up hopefully. "It works."

"Are you sure it was from us?" she said to make conversation. "None of us smokes."

He frowned as he got up and pocketed the silver case. "It's Doug's…"

She stared at him until recognition dawned. "He never really quit?

Bobby shook his head. "I caught him the day we left, sneaking a Bel Air behind the convenience store." A painful expression deepened the frown lines in his forehead before he glanced away.

"Lynnie would give it to him, if she knew—" she said before she realized her error, but Bobby kept moving just ahead of her.

"Yeah, she sure would…we should be starting out. There's nothing else here worth saving."

"Ok," she sighed, stopping to sigh with resignation. Something prickled along the back of her neck, making her feel like the tiny hairs beneath her braid were standing up. Alarmed, she scanned the horizon to her right, then her left.

He turned to face her, his expression changing to a guarded one. "What's wrong?"

She turned slowly, sure about the feeling that someone was watching them. Raising her hand to shield her eyes from the sun, she scanned the trail down which Bobby had first wandered and her breath caught.

A figure stood in the distance, watching them. Her heart pounded with fear as she studied the bloody and torn upper body and slight slump of the broad shoulders. Her eyes traced downward along the bloodied fabric the wind plastered against his muscular legs. The right arm held something closer as he lifted his head, meeting her gaze across the distance between them. Recognition punched her in the stomach and her heart leapt for joy.

"…is that—?" Bobby began just as she broke into a run.

"Doug!" she shrieked in disbelief, charging toward him with renewed energy. "You came back!"

"Doug!" Bobby yelled, his voice cracking. She heard his steps come up behind her and watched him pass. Beast circled them yipping with excitement while Bobby leapt forward and grabbed his brother-in-law in a bear hug.

"Don't knock him over!" she screeched, watching Doug shift to try to keep his balance. His eyes held hers until she finally reached him and curled her arm around his back. Pressing her face against his neck despite the blood plastering his shirt to his chest and an odor of death, she eased Catherine from his rip to hold her and kiss her cheek. He gazed blankly at her as if he wasn't sure this was all real. After a moment she felt his hand slip behind her while he inspected his dirty but apparently unharmed little girl.

Satisfied with Catherine's present condition, she shifted her attention back to Catherine's father, looked past the blood and dirt coating him to examine the bruised and battered condition of his upper body. He bore countless cuts and dirt-encrusted wounds, his jaw swollen on one side. His left hand was bound with a bloody rope so that she could not see its condition. She looked up into his eyes, which were bright behind the cracked lenses of his glasses. Something in them told her that he had looked into the face of Death more than one time. Her eyes filled with unshed tears and she bit her lower lip.

Don't you dare cry, Brenda! Not now!

She was aware of Catherine's tiny hand reaching out to grab a strand of his hair which the wind blew toward her. Tugging it, she cooed softly to him and his eyes closed. Brenda watched his lips turn up on one side, as if her pulling his hair was something to be cherished. In that moment her heart swelled with love for both of them. Bobby swallowed loudly and cleared his throat.

"Let's get you back," he suggested, lifting Doug's arm to sling it over his shoulder. They heard him gasp in pain but he started in that direction, leaning heavily upon them both for support. She gripped the back of his shirt to help hold him steady, not liking the sound of his breathing. Over his bent head she met Bobby's look of concern.

"Easy now," Bobby urged, "it's not much further—we have water for both of you. "

When they finally eased him down onto a boulder Bobby went to get the water they'd managed to save. She clutched Catherine and knelt before him, gently touching his arm as she studied his color. It wasn't easy, he was so bloodied and beaten. He rested his arms along his thighs and hung his head while she touched the bindings on his left hand, its filth unable to hide the glint of his gold wedding band. He turned his head and eyed her warily.

"They chopped off my fingers," he rasped, trying to swallow. "I was lucky to lose so little."

"You saved Catherine," she said reverently, squeezing his arm. "And you came back for us."

He hung his head in exhaustion. "I killed so many…I just kept killing and killing..."

Bobby strode up to hand him a half filled bottle of water, which he offered to Catherine until she had a few swallows. Brenda cradled her against her shoulder as Doug tipped his head back and drank greedily until he stopped abruptly, as if realizing it had to be shared. His eyes closed in thanksgiving and regret. "How much left?" he rasped.

"Two more half bottles," Bobby reassured him as he went to Brenda's side. "Let me take Catherine so you can check him out—I wish we'd saved the first aid kit."

Bobby took her to Beast and poured out a bit of water for the dog to drink. Brenda rose to her knees and touched Doug's shoulder.

"Let me see where you're hurt," she ordered softly.

He met her gaze and for a moment she felt that he was seeing her as never before. Ignoring the pull of emotion between them, she concentrated on his wounds and gently opened his shirt. A large cut ran from the top of his shoulder halfway toward his heart, making her grimace. When she tried to peel it off he stiffened, clutching his waist and slowly getting up.

"We have to go—" he said in a gravelly voice.

"But you're hurt—" she objected, surging to her feet.

"Now," he ordered, walking past her toward Bobby and Catherine. She ran to catch up. "Doug please—"

"Night's coming," he warned them both, "we have to get far away from here."

Bobby shot to his feet, patting Catherine's back to reassure her that everything was fine. "But you got them all," he said with a shaky smile, "otherwise you wouldn't have come back."

"Leash the dog," he ordered, taking Catherine back. "Let's move."

Amazed at the his renewed strength, Brenda shook her head at her brother so that he wouldn't argue. She took Doug's arm and slipped beneath it despite his glance of disapproval.

"I'm fine," he warned as she wrapped her arm around his waist as they walked.

"You're exhausted and we need you," she chastised him. "So just let us help."

He pursed his lips but said nothing, even letting her take Catherine. Bobby caught up and passed them, leading toward the way they'd come with Beast in tow. After several moments of silence, she gazed up at him.

"Where did they have Catherine, and how did you get her back?" she asked gently.

He kept his gaze ahead, and she studied the veins bulging out along his neck. "You don't want to know."

"Doug, man!" Bobby teased from where he was waiting for them to catch up. "You're dead on your feet!"

"Bobby," she warned.

"Do you actually think we can make it back to the highway, or even back to the gas station?"

"That and more."

"But there's no one for miles—"

"We'll walk at least until we get a signal."

"That's miles from here, why can't we just rest at the old man's house?"

"We're not going anywhere near that place—"

"Why not? You wanna freeze out here in the cold that's coming?"

"The old man was the one who directed us here!" Brenda couldn't help reminding Bobby.

"But you don't know anything about the outdoors!" Bobby stated, his voice sounding crazed.

"He knew enough to get Catherine back—"

"Stop arguing, it's a waste of energy! You'll both do as I say if you want to survive!" he said quietly, frightening them both.

"Fine!" Bobby complained, turning his back and taking the lead again. For some time they said nothing, and sooner than they'd hoped they gained the main road. After they had long since passed the gas station, she stretched up to whisper in his ear.

"You need to rest," she pleaded softly. "We couldn't handle it if you collapsed."

He ground his jaw. "We have to keep moving," he insisted, glancing back behind one shoulder.

"Why, Doug? Didn't you kill them all?"

"I don't know anything!" he whispered, keeping his gaze directed ahead. "I think I did."

"But you're not sure?"

He glanced down at her then, pursing his lips. She could see the deep crack in his lower lip, which was fuller than the upper. "Let's just hope your mother's prayers get answered after all."

At the mention of her mother her eyes flooded with tears. She swallowed with effort and adjusted Catherine higher against her shoulder. He swung his gaze back up as she felt the cold weight of guilt deep inside her for all the years she'd balked at her mother's faith and resisted her efforts to include any form of religion in their lives.

When she composed herself again she stared up at his profile, remembering how he had always respected her mother's faith, never speaking against it when they all had. Then she remembered Mom's dying words to him, for he had been able to get close enough to her to help ease her suffering as she was bleeding to death.

Sweet Doug…her mother had gasped, I know why Lynnie loves you so…

Her respect for him grew again, and she secretly prayed that somehow they would find a way to get back in one piece, though in her mind that would require nothing short of a miracle. Before today she had never believed in miracles, at least not until Doug and Catherine had suddenly appeared.

She listened to the sound of his breathing, loud in the silent cold night. As they caught up with Bobby he waited, walking alongside Doug to take his arm and relieve her. She watched him accept her brother's help, though he kept his arm curled protectively around his middle. She worried that he had broken ribs or worse, and she wondered how he'd managed to walk carrying his daughter from wherever they'd come from. She had no idea what they'd suffered, but judging by his appearance and totally different manner, it had to have been horrible. Her mind filled with questions she felt were better kept to herself, for it was obvious he didn't have the will or strength to answer. That much was obvious.

On and on they walked while the stars appeared and a half moon rose higher in the sky. Always keeping a vigilant eye upon their surroundings they pushed themselves despite exhaustion, thirst and now cold. Doug's condition seemed to worsen, but any suggestion they rest was met with him speeding up the pace and pushing himself harder. She longed for him to tell them what had happened instead of keeping everything dammed up inside. Furthermore he'd watched Lynne die right before his eyes, and they'd been helpless to prevent it. Then he'd almost lost Catherine too. The combination had to be a lethal one, but it was obvious that he was being fueled by adrenaline. Unfortunately there would come a time when it was all used up, and she worried what would happen then. For now, all he would do was concentrate on getting back to civilization in one piece.

It occurred to her that this was not the Doug she'd known all this time, the lighthearted and easygoing guy whom her sister had been able to wrap around her little finger. And she'd accomplish this with as mere a gesture as a peck on his cheek or an affectionate hug in public. She knew for sure that he'd made her sister very happy, and the sight of them together kept her secretly in awe, at least when they didn't realize anyone was watching. There were times when she'd caught a glimpse of the passion between them, the last being just before her father had sent him to scout in the opposite direction when he'd taken himself.

But she would not think of her father now, and instead forced herself to remember the farewell kiss Lynne and Doug had shared, not knowing it would be their last. Even the thought of it still affected her more powerfully than she wanted it to. She remembered how his arms had gently circled her sister's waist, how he'd tilted his head and softly but thoroughly kissed her mouth. Just the memory of it rocked her to her core, and she shifted her attention to his profile to readjust her reality. Now, studying his vacant stare and downcast spirits she wondered how he would survive even should they make it back home. Lynn was gone, and he would be alone...he and Catherine.

The baby's coo drew her attention then, and as her little hand stretched toward him he turned to gaze at her longingly. After a moment he pulled his arm from Bobby's shoulders and motioned for her to hand her over. She watched him take Catherine back in his arm and hug her close, and in that moment Brenda felt she knew the answer.

Suddenly something changed, and light flashed at the distant horizon. Doug lifted his head warily and Bobby stopped. They slowed their steps to listen, Doug's panting far too obvious. She reached for the baby as he stooped slightly to catch his breath.

"I've got her," she told him softly, her hand upon his arm. She could feel the heat coming from him beneath his dried and bloodied shirt. They heard the distant sound of engines and moved to the side of the road.

"It's a truck!" Bobby declared beneath the sound of shifting gears. Suddenly a dark shape slipped over the hills, heading toward them. "We're saved!"

Doug tensed and touched her shoulder. "Hide behind the cactus, and keep her quiet!"

Sensing his fear, she obeyed as they stayed at the roadside to watch the two vehicles approach. Their headlights illuminated them as Bobby gripped Doug's arm.

"Finally, help is coming!" he said excitedly.

"You don't know that!" he hissed, shaking his head. "Let me do the talking!"

Bobby stared at him as if he was crazy. "What, you think it's them?"

"We don't know who it is!"

"Those are army trucks, Doug—see their camouflage?"

He peered nervously into the darkness, studying the trucks. "We had a car accident—don't say anything about anything else," he ordered, glancing toward Brenda to be sure that she heard him. She nodded as Bobby ran to the edge of the road and began to wave his arms. Almost immediately the engine noise decreased, and their clutches ground down through the gears.

"Hey! Over here! Help us!" Bobby cried, jumping up and down while Doug stayed close.

The trucks finally stopped a few yards from where they stood. For a moment silence reigned.

"What's the trouble, son?" a deep voice called out.

Brenda shivered, clutching Catherine close and praying she would not cry out.

A flashlight shone on Bobby's face and then switched to Doug's, but he squinted as if in pain, turning his head away.

"What's wrong with him?"

"Car accident," Bobby explained, taking Doug's arm in support. "He's hurt pretty bad, sir."

Doors opened and booted feet started toward them. Sinking back into the shadows, she waited and watched.

"My name is Doug Bukowski," she heard him pant, "…this is my brother-in-law Robert."

"Bukowski?" the driver drawled as men surrounded them. There were at least dozen of them, all dressed in uniform. "Where you from?"

"We've been stranded out here for days," Bobby informed them, nodding back toward the place they'd left behind. "The rest of us didn't survive."

One of the men took Doug's arm. "Sir, you look like you're going to pass out—why don't you come with me? I'm a medic—"

"I want to see identification," he replied, standing his ground.

Finally the driver opened his door and got out, coming over to Doug and taking out his wallet. He shone the light on it while he studied Doug's face. "Our unit is from Fort Mann, over in the next county. We got word of a family reported missing, and when the locals gave up we kept up looking."

"They were looking in the wrong place," Doug said tightly, swaying slightly.

"Insisted they'd searched everywhere—earlier today the driver of a semi reported seeing smoke, like explosion had gone off."

"Who reported us missing?" Doug wanted to know.

"Man with the same name as yours," the driver stated. "Said you had a wireless phone with you."

"It's dead," Doug stated with a touch of sarcasm, motioning for her to come out of hiding. "My daughter and sister-in-law are joining us now."

The driver glanced around, spotting them coming up to the pavement. "You're wise to hide them," he said respectfully, nodding to his men. "If you don't mind we'd like to check you all out, just to be on the safe side. After that we'll escort you to base—"

"I'd rather we went to a local hospital," Doug choked, "but thank you anyway."

"Base is closer, and our facility is much better equipped," the medic stated calmly. When Doug nodded, they turned toward the other vehicle.

"Come out of the cold," the driver urged, following them toward the medical vehicle. He noded to Bobby. "God only knows what creatures might be lurking out here in the dark."

"You have no idea," Bobby said under his breath, putting a hand on her shoulder as he followed them toward the other truck.

"Ladies first," Doug stated, his voice catching on a wheeze. Brenda studied him warily, noting the tight grip he kept at his middle.

"Steady there," the medic ordered, taking his other arm. "Help me get them in the van."

As they approached it Doug stumbled and they caught him before he fell, gripping him tightly. They steadied him but his head fell forward and he collapsed between them.

"Doug!" she gasped, rushing toward him as they gently sat him on the edge of the van. Without further word he was gently lifted inside and settled him on a gurney. She gripped Catherine tight, but she began to fuss as she stretched toward him.

"Pulse is erratic and weak," the medic called to the others. "Get the oxygen on him while I check his pressure. Probably has broken ribs, maybe a ruptured spleen."

"Please, let us stay with him," she pleaded, noting how his eyes fluttered to stay open. He moaned and tried to sit up.

"Just you and the baby," the medic ordered, nodding to Bobby. "Ride up front and give us room to work?"

"Yes sir," Bobby answered, touching Brenda's arm. "I'll be fine—make sure they take care of him. He's all we got now."

She nodded, taking the hand extended to her and climbing in. "He needs to see his daughter," she explained, making her way toward him. Seating herself at his shoulder, she leaned closer and touched his brow, which was extremely hot. "We're here, Doug—Catherine and me."

He glanced up at her, his eyes not quite focusing. She didn't know if it was because of his condition or the fact that they had taken his glasses away.

"I'm going to get an IV into him," the medic told her as he finished injecting a huge needle into Doug's upper arm. "This is a combination of antibiotics and painkillers—what happened to him in the accident? Did he injure this side?" he asked as he moved Doug's arm away and prodded him. He grunted in pain and turned his head, where it fell limply upon the pillow. "He's out."

"Doug," she breathed, clutching his right hand. "I think he broke some ribs—he was pretty well beaten up. His shoulder is bad too."

At that news one of the others brought scissors close and cut open his shirt. Peeling it back, he swabbed the badly bruised and cut skin, and the men glanced up at the same time. "This man was beaten, not thrown by an accident," she was informed. But Doug had told them to say nothing about what really happened, and that is what she did.

"Look at his hand," the other assistant warned, tossing away the rope binding. He lifted it onto a small pillow and slid out a metal pan which held instruments and gauze. "Someone chopped off his fourth finger, and half of the third."

She groaned, turning away from the gruesome sight. "You have a lot of explaining to do, miss," the medic in charge warned, glancing up at her before returning to his work. "I have to report this to the lieutenant."

She nodded. "Just take good care of him," she croaked, ignoring the IV placed in her own arm. "He's been through hell."

"I can see that," the man next to her stated. "What's your call sir?"

"I want a surgical suite made ready—we'll get a CT scan and prep him for Dr. Hall."

"Ruptured spleen?"

The medic nodded. "It's a given, I'd say," he agreed, glancing meaningfully at her. "The baby's fine, miss, and so are you. Whatever you all are hiding, it's best we know, for his sake."

She stared down at Doug, her eyes filling with tears that slid out from her eyes. She coughed and started to weep. "We lost our parents and sister—his wife," she cried softly. "He's all we have now."

"Well he sure wanted you all safe, before he finally gave in to his pain," the medic said soberly. He finished suturing up the long gash in his shoulder and covered it. Cleaned up, Doug looked even worse now that she could see the extent of his injuries.

"We need to stay close, in case he wakes up," she said, wiping her eyes and nodding to Catherine.

"He's going to drugged and out of it for at least a few days, especially if his spleen has to come out."

"But he'll know it, if we're kept apart."

The man wiped his brow, taking a rest from his work. "All right—I'll see what I can do."

She nodded, taking Doug's hand in hers and holding it tight. "Thank you."