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"I love you," she told him, squeezed his hand.
"And I you," he answered, pressed their clasped hands so that his was against the cradling valley between her hip and her mons pubis, and hers against the length of his penis inside his jeans.
"Now... Darling..." she kissed the sensitive area before his ear, "No more thinking tonight... Only... Feeling."
The words were spaced out, poignant, pointed, darting, making his skin even more sensitive.
"No thinking... I can... Handle that."
His eyes closed in anticipation, a smile on his lips, his neck snuggling against her lips.
"It's absolutely not allowed. That's an order."
Adam wrinkled his nose and then pouted his lower lip. "I hate orders."
"Then consider it a suggestion," she quickly improvised.
"No, no, that's alright," he murmured, "It just means you will have to be... Very, very good."
The next thing, Adam woke up startled and his movement made Saphyre wake up.
"What time is it," he barked at her.
"10 o'clock love."
"10 o'clock! I'm late for work, damn it. I've got to go. Don's going to kill me."
"No he won't. I took care of it when I went by the shop yesterday when you were out on assignment."
"I wish you wouldn't do that... Don doesn't know I'm seeing the woman I am watching. You're immortal and I'd like to keep it that way."
"Don't worry Adam, I was careful. My face and voice were disguised. All he knows is that some mysterious middle eastern woman wanted to have Adam Pierson come look at her husband's collection of ancient texts her husband just recently bought. So, all Don knows is that you are working... Working on making me a very..." a kiss as her hand began to stroke the front of his recently put on jeans, "Very happy woman..."
"Who am I to refuse the most seductive, Irish accented, sweet, good-hearted, huntress I know."
"That's my boy," Saphyre said in her native tongue.
"I love you," Adam said in kind in the same language.
"I love you too."
Saphyre Ravyn's Cabin.
Ransom Lake.
Near Whistler.
5:30 a.m.
Saphyre woke up suddenly and noticed it was dark. Her fire had gone out and the embers were slowly dying. She got up, added more logs, and re-ignited the fire even though the sun would be up shortly. Then she went back to bed but lay awake and wished Adam was still hers. Saphyre felt the anger from her soul through her heartache.
Bunk House Number 1.
Stovall Ranch.
Whistler.
1:30 a.m.
Adam was awake in his bunk while Duncan and Joe soundly slept in the bunks at his head and his feet. They made sure the furnace was at 60 before going to bed just in case the temperature dropped during the night. They were all bundled up in flannel sleep clothing, and Adam wore his blue-checkered flannel pajama bottoms and a plain gray sweatshirt. Adam smiled when he heard both Joe and Duncan snoring at different tones.
[So much for sleeping... All I'm missing is a bloody baton and I could conduct a duet here. Oh hell, it's not like I was asleep anyway...] Adam rolled over, pulled the sleeping bag up over his head, and tried to go back to sleep.
As he entered into REM sleep around 3 a.m., his subconscious settled on a dream of Gypsy. He saw her in a bed, a bed of all sorts of soft and luxurious furs. She was sitting up and as she reached for him with her hand, her left held up the fur that, obvious to Adam, covered her naked body. He crossed the room to her and as he did so, he didn't recognize the surroundings but it looked homey and comfortable. Adam looked down to find himself only wearing his flannel pajama bottoms. He crawled into bed with Gypsy and they were about to unite as one again. He softly felt her lips upon his. They felt so real. Adam was taken aback by her so readily opening herself to him. He knew he had to be dreaming. Adam felt her hands in his hair and on his body, slowly tracing his body as he too savored her kisses. He felt a growing need in his pajama bottoms as he felt her warm hands gripping his bottom and he could feel the heat coming from his lady's cradle.
He felt her nails over his butt cheeks and spine like small knives and he hissed. He turned the tables and he kissed her along her neckline and collarbones. Adam used his hands to caress and explore the smooth skin of her body and he felt her body instantly react. His hands were reminded of their first night and morning together and how they felt then, how her skin had been so soft and warm. When she ground herself against his groin he knew he would have to distract her. He gently cupped and caressed her breasts, he inwardly smiled as he heard her moan and watched her as she arched her back closer to him.
"Adam, oh I have missed you," she said as he flicked his tongue across her nipples.
"Mmm, me too. God I love you," he responded and he slipped lower to get to the good stuff.
Adam looked up into her beautiful and dilated eyes as he came up and captured her heart with a kiss over her wildly beating heart and followed it with another kiss just below her rib cage. He smiled to himself when he heard her giggle. Slowly, he used his lips like a paintbrush and paint a path to the valley of her body that he thought made the softest pillow for his head. Adam poked his tongue her belly button and heard her giggle again. He smelt her essence as it more intense and he went in search of the source. He felt his head being pulled up and he waited so that she could get more comfortable position. Adam felt a pillow hit the side of hid head and he put it under the small of her back. Then he felt her push him back to his task down between her legs; his hands supported her buttocks. He stopped a moment and stared at the golden and hidden treasure, moist and open, just waiting to be kissed. Her lips were full and pouting and her clit already seemed to be throbbing in expectation.
He inhaled deeply, and sighed at the sweet smell coming through his nose, and then he covered her swollen hood with his mouth. His tongue lashed out and so light that she moaned and Adam smiled.
"Ooooh!" She cried out as her hips bucked. He flattened his tongue and slid it down the length of her slit. "Oh yes! Mmmm!"
With deliberate and careful swipes, Adam's tongue cleaned her out like a cat lapping up milk. He heard her groan as he used his tongue to probe her depths, like a tiny piston. He felt her practically yank the short ends of his hair, like she was trying to pull his hair out, and he had his face ground into her mound. Adam toyed with Gypsy and made her hips spasm when he touched her clit with his tongue. Adam controlled the pace and followed the cues, he backed off each time she started to go over the edge. He knew he was on the right path when she began to plead with him to let her come.
"Yes! That's it! Right the… Oh, Please, don't stop!" He heard and suddenly he was made to lift his head, his mouth and chin glazed with her juices. He looked into her eyes as they glared at him, desperate and pleading. Adam was enjoying this and his smile was truly wicked.
"Roll over," he ordered.
Adam wasn't sure is she would do it after she didn't move for a few moments. He saw her smile and then she moved her beautiful body. He couldn't help but touch her pearly, rounded ass cheeks. He ran his hands over them and squeezed the soft flesh. He playfully slapped them once and she wiggled her hips, moaned into the pillow. Adam brought his warm lips down and kissed first one and then the other, allowed his hand to slide lightly between them. Then he play bit and kissed her ass as he shoved three fingers into her sweetly saturated pussy. He heard a bit of what sounded like a scream and then he felt her gush, washing over Adam's fingers, and watched as it trailed down her legs. He knew her orgasm hit like a sledgehammer. Adam continued to work his fingers in and out of her while his tongue flicked and made a trail up her spine.
He hated to leave her in a lurch but he stood up and freed himself from his flannel pants. It wavered a little because of the coldness but that was soon rectified as Adam climbed back into bed, shifted himself behind her, and slid his cock into her open pussy in one smooth thrust. He narrowly missed a head butt as her head came off the pillow.
"Yes! Oh, God! Fuck me hard!" Adam rammed her as deep as he found the canal went, each time changing the angle of his thrusts by rotating his hips in a wide O.
He felt her slam her ass back against him, matching him stroke for stroke.
"Yes, dammit! Give it to me!" He hit her ass cheek; a stinging slap that left a palm print outlined in pink, and yet she still cried out for more. "Yes!"
Suddenly, Adam slapped her other cheek, again she cried for more, and wriggled her ass for more. Hazily, both of them became aware that they both had surpassed some gateway of passion and vigor; that their groans of love were now sounding more like grunts of animal lust. And even as the realization sunk in that they had entered into the realm of Caveman Sex, they both knew that there was only one thought on both of their minds. More. Give me more. Adam wrenched his member from her pussy and pulled her up on all fours. At first he moved his bulbous head back into her lips and then he suddenly shoved it back into her love pocket. He heard her cry louder than before, so he paused, concerned that he hurt her.
"Wait! Oh, Jesus, I think you're gonna split me in half!" now he really was worried and started to withdraw.
"Do you want me to…"
"Stop! Don't pull out! Just wait! Let me get used to it." He waited for her to breathe and then she pushed back against Adam and he slipped in a little further.
"Okay. Now, just take it easy for a minute." He relaxed a bit when her voice calmed down and slowly he inched forward.
"Wait!" He paused and then gingerly continued to feed his cock into her. He smiled when she asked how his member got larger.
Finally when the shaft is buried to the hilt, she moans, and Adam slides back out, and left only the thick head inside. Then forward again, until his balls gently slapped the wet folds of her cunt.
"Oh, fuck! I thought I was full before!"
Adam held his station, leaned forward to place a soft kiss on the nape of her neck. He slipped his hands beneath her, cupped her breasts, and flicked at her nipples.
"So tell me," he whispered in her ear, "How's it feel?" To him it felt damn good.
"Let's just say I know how a pig feels when it's on a spit."
Adam laughed and she wiggled her ass playfully. "Okay. You got that monster in there. Are you gonna fuck me with it or just enjoy the view?"
His answer came as a sudden jerk of his hips and he watched her as she shook as if she were out in snow. With slow controlled movements Adam began a slow comfortable screw, the kind to be enjoyed on a spring picnic by a lake. Adam started to pick up speed like a galloping horse and soon they're back in sync again. The feeling of tension was indescribable between them. He thought back to his four horsemen days, he reached out and pulled her hair back to show he was in control, dominant. He touched her and she backed up her ass to him even harder.
"Yes! That's it!" He lunged his manhood into Gypsy as if his cock were a sword and she were its sheath.
Adam had a good clutch of her hair in his hands to warn her there was no escape.
"Oh, yes! Please! Do it!" One more thrust and Adam tugged on her hair. Hard. The scream she let go made his orgasm explode.
"God, yes! I'm coming!" Adam cried out as he let go and began to fill her with his essence.
The power that rushed through them was so strong it was hard on them both not to pass out. Adam spasmed and filled her wet tunnel with what remained of his gism. He released her hair as his muscles went out of control. He watched her body crumple beneath his. With one more final thrust he collapsed on her. They laid together on the bed, still joined, both of them completely spent. He felt the covers as they were placed over him and with the last spark of energy Adam owned, he drew up his arm around Gypsy, and he felt her slowly stroke his arm. He needed to feel her touch to know she was safe and well. Before Adam faded into dreamland in his dream, he felt her hand grab hold of his, and the warmth of her lips upon it. Then they fell into a post-coital sleep.
Later when Adam woke up in his dream, and found Gypsy still there, he was so amazed she felt like she was so alive.
"You feel so real I could just reach out and touch you like if you were here in my bed with me."
"In your dream you are seeing where I am. I am as real as your heart beats slowly."
"How could you be real in my dream, Gypsy?"
"Your dream? Wait, this was my dream first. Anyway, I am trying to show you where I am by a gift I have, of which I will explain later. I have been taken hostage."
"What? By whom? How? Where?"
He watched her try to mouth the details but he had trouble understanding her, and then as he was about to find out the information he needed to save her, he heard someone waking him for coffee, and her voice cut out. Then he saw her as she began to quickly disappear into blackness, until neither one could see each other.
"Nooooo, come back… Gypsy!" Adam yelled as he woke up with a start.
Bunkhouse Number 1.
Stovall Ranch.
Whistler.
7:30 a.m.
"What in the BLOODY HELL do you want MacLeod?" Adam yelled at the top of his lungs at his friend. "I was THIS close to finding out where Gypsy was and you have the bollocks to come wake me up at… Checked watch… Seven fucking thirty for coffee! I should take BOTH your heads for this…"
Duncan just took it all in and chocked it up to Adam not having his coffee yet.
"Whoa man, I asked Duncan to do me a favor while I finished shaving," said Joe. "Bad dream?"
"Bad timing is more like it," Adam said a bit more calmed down since Joe came to Duncan's defense. "I was this close to finding out where Gypsy is. Some how she entered my dream and told me she's being held hostage."
"Where," Duncan asked.
"Well thanks to our Boy Scout… By you waking me up it broke some kind of link as best I can tell."
"Do you know how it works," asked Joe as he turned down the heater just under 60.
"I'm not sure. She said she'd explain later. I think it works if we are dreaming of each other at the same time."
"Do you remember where you were," asked Duncan as he put fresh hiking boot socks on.
"A bed, a bed of all kinds furs, mostly soft. I think. I crossed a span, might have been a room. I didn't recognize the surroundings but it looked warm and comfortable," Adam said with his eyes closed. He opened them again and took another sip of coffee. "I don't remember if there were windows or another entrance or exit."
"It's a start," said Joe.
"Adam, we're meeting the rescue teams in half an hour. I'll go take Joe up to the main house first, if you wanted a bit extra time getting ready."
"Thanks Mac. Sorry about earlier. I don't like getting woken up."
"Noted and preserved for future sleepovers on my sofa," said Duncan.
Both Joe and Duncan headed out of the Bunkhouse and left Adam alone with his thoughts as he began to get changed.
Ransom Lake.
Near Whistler.
7:30 a.m.
The dense misty fog hung over the lake like a puffy cloud that hadn't risen to its place in the sky. The fog ran wild through tree limbs and down along the bases of the trees. The canopy of the trees floated just above the sea of the dense misty fog. A few intermittent early morning birds called out into the forest morning air, and the air was so crisp, cold that it could give you the 'brain freeze' effect if you breathed in too fast. The grasses and low to the ground plants hibernate under piles of decaying pine needles and snow. The decaying pine needles served as a coat for the plants to keep warm and temperature controlled when the sun heated the snow. The lake was still frozen solid. Sometimes Saphyre had come out and seen animals like deer, elk, and bears come slide and play on it. Small furry woodland creatures loved to take running starts from the banks and see how far they could slide across before hitting a snow embankment on the other side of the lake. A time or two Saphyre had gone ice-skating on the lake.
Saphyre Ravyn's Cabin.
Ransom Lake.
Near Whistler.
7:30 a.m.
Saphyre started the coffee and changed her clothing. With a fresh cup she wandered over to the window seat under the front window. As she drank her Irish coffee with a little Irish whiskey she recalled her plan and reviewed it one more time before putting the next part in action. Now that she had Gypsy she had to put out some bait for Adam to find them. Saphyre would go back to the cave and draw him to the cabin. But how was she going to keep watch on Gypsy? She'd have to take her back to the cave to draw Adam there. Then get Gypsy back to the cabin, and just sit back and wait. Then Saphyre wondered why she was going to lug Gypsy back and forth. She had no idea of how resourceful Gypsy could be if she was left in her cabin alone. She didn't need Gypsy to pull a MacGyver on her and getting away. Saphyre didn't want to lose her advantage, so she'd be lugging the extra weight.
She checked on Gypsy. Gypsy was still asleep and Saphyre checked her pulse and respirations to make sure she was out of it. Saphyre prepared and delivered another dose of the drugs in her hip to keep Gypsy unconscious. She dressed her warmly and tied her up to the bed while she went out to the barn to prepare their mode of transportation, Atlas.
Bunkhouse Number 1.
Stovall Ranch.
Whistler.
7:45 a.m.
Adam was in the bathroom brushing his teeth when he felt this sharp prick in his hip.
"Bloody hell, ouch!" He looked to the site of the pain but there was no wound.
Stovall Ranch.
Whistler.
8:00 a.m.
He finished getting ready and made it to the meeting in the living room with five minutes to spare. His leg was a little sore but there was no numbness. He only felt tired because of the lack of sleep and the usage of the sleep he had.
"You feeling ok," asked Duncan.
"Yeah, but I felt something funny a few minutes ago, while I was brushing my teeth. I'll explain later," said Adam as he saw Joshua and Dan come in the room. All the other search and rescue teams give them their full, coffee-induced, attention.
"Morning folks. I know we all don't want to be here this morning but sometimes things happen in life that weren't expected. Let's face it we've all seen our share of problems up in these mountains, and I am sure Mr. Pierson and his friends, and I thank you for coming so quickly. We're gathered here to find Patti Hill. She appears to be in her early 20's. She's 5' 3 and petite. Hair is brown with copper red and gold-blonde highlights, and straight to waist length. Eyes are primarily brown but change to other colors when mood changes. Has a black rose tattoo, back of right hand and a rearing horse's head on left bicep. Has ear piercings 4 in left ear, 3 lower on the ear and 1 higher. She has 2 piercings in her right ear," Joshua said filling in information Adam had given him while he defrosted after trying to contact MacLeod and Dawson.
"Lost last night in the monster storm we had. Thankfully we have a break today. We'll break up in teams of three. By the looks of it we have enough people here for 6 teams. Three of the teams have dogs and the others will not. We've mapped an area according to where Mr. Pierson thinks he may have lost contact. All the radios have been checked and you all are going to have extra batteries just in case. I will be staying behind with Mr. Dawson here to hold down the fort. To be realistic we'll have you check in every hour. If you get too cold, radio in and we'll come get you, dry you off, and warm you up before we take you back out. We'll search as long as the break in the weather lasts. So let's get out there and find her," Joshua concluded the meeting and they all organized the teams outside.
Adam and Duncan ended up on the same team with a search and rescue member without a dog. Duncan would do his best and try to use his tracking techniques to find Patti, even though most of the tracks had been erased overnight. The teams went up to the area with monster trucks with chains on their tires, because they were unsure of how deep the snow was. They knew they couldn't helo people in and out because of the weather. They decided to save the helo until they found her.
Ransom Lake.
Near Whistler.
4:30 p.m.
The weather began to worsen and as Adam, Duncan, and their teammate were about to head back for the day, they passed a section of the mountain where they felt two buzzes, where they had previously felt nothing. Adam looked at Duncan and vice versa. Duncan knew what Adam wanted.
"Eric, Adam's going to be along in a minute. I'll walk back with you," said Duncan.
"Oh, he shouldn't be out here alone. The weather is getting worse."
"He knows. He just needed sometime alone. He'll be fine."
All the teams make it back minus Adam, who was searching and digging where he felt the buzzes the strongest.
"Where's Mr. Pierson," asked the driver.
"He's back up the mountain," said Eric.
"I'll go stay with him and we'll be back shortly," said Duncan.
"No need, I'm here. Let's go, I need something warm," said as he came up behind Duncan.
Duncan gave him a strange look. Adam shrugged his shoulders. He hadn't been gone long enough.
Bunkhouse Number 1.
Stovall Ranch.
Whistler.
6:45 p.m.
After a nice dinner in the chow hall, Adam, Duncan, and Joe retire to the bunkhouse.
"So what was that all about earlier," asked Duncan.
"Which earlier?"
"Up on the mountain," Duncan clarified with a scowl at Adam's sarcastic tone.
"I searched and then the buzzes disappeared."
"Disappeared like how," asked Joe.
"One minute they were there, next they were gone."
"And I felt it too so it just wasn't him," said Duncan.
"What was the other earlier you were referring to," questioned Joe.
"I told Duncan I felt something funny in the bathroom this morning. As if someone had stuck me in the leg with a needle. My leg's been a little sore all day but I'm fine to walk on it."
"That's odd," said Duncan as he passed around mugs of hot chocolate.
"One thing's for sure Mac. We have to get back up to that mountain tonight, storm or no," said Adam.
"I agree. But how are we going to get up there," Duncan wanted to know.
"Take my vehicle. I've got a radio in there. You can keep in contact with me here. I've got to do some searching in the database for who's in the area."
"Thanks Joe," said Adam.
Ransom Lake.
Near Whistler.
8:00 p.m.
Adam and Mac changed and snuck out of the ranch gates as it began to snow. They got to the mountain and began to search. From where the two immortals were they couldn't see Saphyre's cabin at the far end of the lake. They began to search where Adam had left a marker… A medium sized snowman that was about the height of his kneecap. Duncan smirked at the old man's humorous marker.
"Its just snow Mac. We have to get started, the snow is falling faster."
Saphyre Ravyn's Cabin.
Ransom Lake.
Near Whistler.
8:00 p.m.
When Saphyre had felt two buzzes not just the one she was expecting. Not one to panic, she took Gypsy back to the cabin, secured her to the bed, and had to leave her alone. She hated to take the calculated risk, but she had to. Saphyre grabbed some turkey jerky and a couple biscuits off the kitchen table for some sustenance until she could come home and cook. She rode Atlas as hard as the weather would allow back to the mountain and ate along the way. Once on the mountainside, in the snowstorm, she made Atlas rear to get the two immortals' attentions. When she noticed them both coming after her in the bad visibility, she made a get away to the cabin and the snowstorm made sure that they couldn't track her since the snow was covering the tracks faster than they could find them.
Ransom Lake.
Near Whistler.
8:15 p.m.
Adam and Duncan felt an immortal presence and saw a horse and rider on the mountainside about 50 feet away. With the bad visibility they couldn't see the rider very well, like if it was male or female. Then when they tried to go after it, it disappeared into the night and storm.
"Duncan, we have to chase it."
"Come on, I'll drive."
They chased the tracks for another ten minutes before the snow was completely covering them.
"Damn it," exclaimed Adam.
"Whomever that was, knows what their doing. They know how to use the snowstorm to their advantage. They are getting away by using the low patches of snow to get away and staying away from the deeper snow."
"I want to get back before this gets worse. We'll just have to wait until the snowstorm stops or we at least get a bigger break than the last one. I hope Joe found something."
"You and me both Adam."
Ransom Lake.
Near Whistler.
7:30 p.m.
Gypsy had woken up earlier to find herself in the cave. She felt two new immortal presences and she was glad she was lying down. She wished she could call out for Adam but she didn't want to incur Saphyre's wrath. She knew it had to be Adam and maybe Duncan. As the drugs continued to wear off, Gypsy faked sleep as best she could, when she heard someone coming. She was carried and suddenly she riding on air and cold. She was in and out of consciousness along the way to try and get a sense of the direction they were going in so that if she got free she had a way to go. Then the ride stopped and then she was on a bed. This time she was tied to the bed. Gypsy realized that Saphyre meant business by having her tied to the bed.
As a kid Gypsy loved magic and wanted to be an escape artist among, being a female pilot, and an equestrian rider. So when Saphyre left and the last of the drugs wore off so she could walk, she got out of her bonds, and went through Saphyre's closet for something warm to wear. She stuffed the pockets with whatever food she could find. Then she headed east into the near by forest of trees, away from the cabin as fast as her feet could move, the opposite of the direction of the path she thought she had. She thought Saphyre would be looking for tracks going back the way they came. She wondered if Adam was still searching for her. Oh how she missed him. She remembered bits and pieces of her dream as she ran, like she could hear Adam's voice calling out to her in the snow stormy night.
Saphyre Ravyn's Cabin.
Ransom Lake.
Near Whistler.
8:30 p.m.
Saphyre returned to find the front door of her cabin open. She jumped down from Atlas and ran into the cabin to check for evidence of bears or large animals. She checked the bedroom and found Gypsy gone.
"Damn," she cursed out loud.
Gypsy had escaped out in the middle of a snowstorm, unprepared for the bad weather. Saphyre knew Gypsy wouldn't stay alive in the storm for long. She stomped back out of the cabin and wondered how far she had gotten. She ran back in for a pillowcase, then went out and grabbed Atlas' reigns. She tilted her head back and began to bay like a wolf. Saphyre called out three times while she calmed Atlas down.
~~ I never should have left her alone. Damn it. I must get her back! ~~ She thought as she waited for the response to come.
Ten minutes went by and she heard the answering howl of her pack coming. A pack of six wolves came through the trees to her cabin. They made a circle around Atlas and Saphyre. Saphyre kept Atlas calm so that he didn't spook around the wolves. She tied his reigns to her belt and knelt down to greet her friends, Faolan the alpha male, his mate Faoiltiama, their teenage son Felan. Pasha, Faolan's best friend, his mate Sasha, and their teenage daughter Rasha. Felan and Rasha had become mates that past summer but she wasn't ready for pups yet. Saphyre had been hoping that they had consummated their matehood but she felt no pups yet. She had hand raised and released each of the wolves, since the time that she bought the property, after Adam abandoned her. She was like an alpha mother to them, since she raised them, and was one of them.
She greeted them all warmly and then had them all smell the pillowcase to get Gypsy's scent. Saphyre talked to them in wolf speak that she wanted her found and to hold her there by whatever means necessary. They took off into the storm and Gypsy climbed aboard Atlas and followed behind. Saphyre trained the wolves to walk with Atlas so Rasha stayed back to make sure she was lead to the right place. She noticed the winds died down some but snow still fell fast.
East of Ransom Lake.
Near Whistler.
9:30 p.m.
Saphyre followed behind on her horse, Atlas as Rasha lead her along. It only took the wolves an hour to find Gypsy with their excellent tracking skills, even though she had been gone two hours. Felan had been racing his dad Faolan to Gypsy when they spotted her. They chased after her and attacked her to bring her down. Then the others caught up with the two males. Her mistake was that she tried to fight them and consequently made her wounds worse. She was a shivering, moaning, bloody mess by the time Saphyre caught up to her pack.
Bunkhouse Number 1.
Stovall Ranch.
Whistler.
9:25 p.m.
Duncan returned Joe's vehicle where he thought it had been because the snow had covered the old spot. Five minutes later as Duncan and Adam were walking back to the bunkhouse, Adam suddenly doubled over in pain that almost sent him to his knees. Duncan saw Adam going down and threw his right arm across Adam's back to his right hip to hold him close and steady. Both men were scared as pain surged through Adam like a thousand quickenings at once.
"Are you all right? What is going on?"
"Well if I knew what was happening Mac, I'd tell you. I think I'm just exhausted," Adam said as he felt another slash of pain on his body. "Yes, definitely been a long day. I am going to go crawl in the bunk and sleep, and hope for a better tomorrow."
"I'll fill Joe in on what happened," Duncan nodded, understanding.
Duncan helped Adam into the bunkhouse and to his bed.
"What's up with him," asked Joe, "He looks terrible."
"Gee thanks," said Adam
Duncan crooked his head, motioned to have Joe follow him to the other side of the cabin where they could talk and give Adam some privacy. He waited until Joe closed the door behind him.
"What is going on with the old man?"
"He said he was tired, but I know there's more he's not telling me. I can feel it. He doubled over in pain on the way back here."
"Tired? Well what about the rest of us?" Joe sarcastically pushed toward Duncan. "Sorry man. I've been on the phone and computer all day. You know, watcher red tape and all. Whatever it is, do you think it's serious?"
"I don't know. He's not showing any signs of injury or no blood, but he is feeling a lot of pain."
"And if he was, they'd heal fast because of his age, right?"
"I'm not sure about speed but, yeah something like that. We ran into one of us out there. Adam confirmed that it was the same immortal that he had felt while we were out with the search and rescue teams. They were on horseback, who ever it was, stayed long enough to get our attention, and then rode away quickly. We gave chase, but the snow was covering the tracks before we could find them."
"That's odd."
While his friends caught up, Adam undressed to his boxers, and couldn't find any wounds on his body. If he had any he knew he would have seen blood on his clothing before they healed, but no blood anywhere. He didn't feel bad about claiming exhaustion to dissuade Mac from becoming his nursemaid. He didn't understand what was going on himself and didn't need a brooding Scot hanging around him all day and night, asking questions he didn't know the answer to. Adam thought he might get some sleep ahead of his friends' snoring, maybe dream of Gypsy again. He slipped into the covers and curled into a ball. He was almost asleep when he felt another prick in his thigh. He shot up in bed and hit his head on the underside of the bunk above him.
"Ouch, bloody hell!"
"You ok," asked Joe as he and Duncan came back in the room.
"Yeah, just felt another prick like this morning. Did you find anything?"
"No. There isn't any immortal activity anywhere near here according to the records. I have people working on it, and now that Duncan's filled me in, I'll get back to them in the morning. I've got to get some sleep."
"Thanks Joe," said Adam.
Duncan hung his coat up and slipped his boots off. He rolled into bed not bothering to change his clothing. It would give him something to do in the morning before breakfast and after working out. Adam settled back into his bed and as he lay there looking at the bottom of the top bunk he felt the pain from earlier begin to dull, but it was still there. He began to feel a little sleepy again so he closed his eyes and exhaled slowly. Soon he was asleep. Joe turned out the light once Duncan was settled into bed. He slipped out of his jeans, artificial limbs before getting into some sweat shorts, and rolling into his covers.
East of Ransom Lake.
Near Whistler.
9:45 p.m.
"Please call them off!" Gypsy cried out in pain.
"Off," she yelled and the wolves began to lick the blood from Gypsy's body.
Saphyre dismounted and came closer, the wolves backed off, and she was able to over take Gypsy back into her custody. Gypsy had no way of fighting back; even with her limited quickening energy she wasn't healing fast enough. It would be a while for her to regain some energy to fight. Saphyre pulled a syringe from her pocket and gave Gypsy a stronger dose of drugs this time. Assuredly, this would keep Gypsy under wraps for a couple days at least.
Bunkhouse Number 1.
Stovall Ranch.
Whistler.
December 27, 2003.
7:00 a.m.
Morning and Adam woke up to the smell of warm coffee brewing. Duncan was up before the crack of dawn, worked out, and was in the shower. He had set the Mr. Coffee machine before hitting the hot water. Adam felt much better but something wasn't right. Gypsy hadn't come to him in his dreams like before. Something had to be wrong with her. Joe woke up not too long after Adam.
"We've got to kill off those leftovers today," Adam said out loud in a random thought.
"I could reheat it for lunch if you want. Breakfast will be in a half hour and then the meeting is afterwards."
"That's fine. I hope the weather will be good today."
When Duncan finally got out of the shower they worked on a plan before going breakfast and to the morning search and rescue meeting. Just before the meeting Adam and Joshua had a talk and decided that with the cold and storms at the end of the day they would have to change the status from search and rescue to search and recovery. If they had no signs in change Adam agreed to call off the search before the new year so that everyone could get home to families, friends, and parties. Then he could start a more intensive search with MacLeod and Joe. Joshua told Adam that he and his friends could stay as long as they needed. Adam thanked him and got into the vehicle he was in yesterday to head back up to the area.
Saphyre Ravyn's Cabin.
Ransom Lake.
Near Whistler.
12:30 p.m.
Saphyre began to prepare some lunch. It was overcast out and cold winds blew. It would be good to have something to warm the heart and hearth. Chili was on the menu and was now heating over the fire in the fireplace. She sat in her chair nearby and occasionally stirred it. Her brain began to ponder the recent events and her heart felt like things were escalating, not quite out of control but getting closer to the edge. She didn't want to hurt or even kill Gypsy but things were not going as planned. Saphyre knew that somehow Adam and Methos would make her pay for what she had done to his lover. To some degree she felt like Adam and Methos were getting their just desserts for the pain the two personalities had caused her. Soon the chili warmed and she served up two bowls. She left one on the table for herself and carried the other one in to Gypsy. She was still under so Saphyre left the bowl on the dresser. Turning, she left the room, relocked it behind her.
She grabbed her coat and headed out to the small kennel she had built just to the side of where she kept Atlas. Every once in a while they came for a visit when it got too cold and they couldn't find food on their own. The wolves knew the rules though, they could only stay three days, then they had to go back out, and survive on their own. The wolves were awake and waiting to be fed when she came in through the small door. She pulled the 6 bowls down from the wall and rinsed them in a mall barrel of melted snow. She dried them and began to scoop out dog food from the bin she kept. In a cooler filled with snow she kept fresh deer meat chopped into chunks. Oh they really loved that so she mixed it in with their food every time they came to visit. She put down the first three bowls and then came back to the counter for the other three. She absently left her lunch in the cabin and stayed with her family. As they gobbled their kibble and raw meat she talked to them as if they were almost human. They understood her voice and so they listened to her and sometimes offered her a sign of a bark or paw tap that they agreed with her or to give her comfort, unconditionally.
Back in the cabin, Gypsy opened her eyes and realized where she was. She ached in pain as her wounds still healed but she felt as if she might be able to win this day of freedom. She knew she might get caught, but to her, to see Adam again and hold him in her arms was worth the cost. The smell of the food in the room made her stomach growl. Gypsy once again freed herself, still beating her personal best time according to the grandfather clock in the corner, and tried not to make any noises to attract attention. She stood up on her shaking legs and grounded herself before moving to get another coat and get going. She got another coat and slipped into it. The scent of warm food attracted her to the dresser. Gypsy hungrily ate like an animal, starved. She left the bowl, climbed out of a nearby window, and landed on snow that was almost up to the window. She began to run to the west this time, unknowingly towards the ranch.
Faolan the Alpha male barked to call Saphyre's attention.
"What is it my boy?" She asked in her Irish brogue.
He barked again and went for the door.
"What is it?" She stood up and opened the door.
Fast as lightening Faolan was gone. Then a few seconds later the other five came chasing after Faolan and whatever it was he was after. Saphyre watched them run from the doorway. Someone was on the snow and now was trying to get away. Saphyre rushed into the cabin, figuring if it were Gypsy, they would hold her for her. She found the bedroom door closed. She unlocked the door and found the room empty and the open window.
"Damn her," Saphyre cursed and then went to mount Atlas.
This time she rode bareback in her jeans and thick jacket to catch up with her pack and her escapee. She was pissed, not that it took much, but this could not happen again. She couldn't figure out how she kept getting away. Saphyre considered having the wolves sleep in the room with Gypsy to ensure she didn't try to escape again.
West of Ransom Lake.
Near Whistler.
1:00 p.m.
The wolves chased their prey down and made a perfect circle around Gypsy, teeth bared, growling, like each one dared her to make any sudden, deliberate move so that they could attack her, and taste blood. They were not afraid of her by any means.
Gypsy didn't want to get attacked again so she stopped. She remembered from a book she read in a college biology course that wolves were more afraid of humans than vice versa, but on occasion there were wolves that attacked humans without provocation. God she wished Adam was there nearby and could see her. She hoped he could feel her nearby, without immortal presence, but by the gift she had given him in her dream.
Saphyre caught up with the pack and Gypsy. She jumped down off of Atlas and marched in the snow towards her. She marched right up to her and backhanded her into submission. Gypsy fell and as she tried to get up Saphyre kicked her and broke a few ribs this time.
"Why do you insist on testing my patience," she angrily yelled.
Gypsy groaned in pain and stayed close to the snow.
East of Ransom Lake.
Near Whistler.
1:00 p.m.
Duncan and Adam were searching with a new team member, Jack when Adam fell to the snow. His face stung and suddenly he had trouble breathing. He felt as if his ribs suddenly punctured his lungs. He got upon his knees and placed the top of his head on the snow. He buried his face from sight.
"Mister Pierson, are you alright?"
"Is it happening again," asked Duncan, as he went to his friend.
"Yes," Adam coughed.
"What does he mean?"
"He'll be fine," said Duncan, making up a lie as he went to buy Adam time to heal before he could stand. "Sometimes he gets panic attacks."
"Should I call for help?"
"No, no. I'm fine," Adam coughed.
"You don't look fine," said Jack while Duncan looked around.
"Just give me a minute," said Adam.
As Duncan looked around he noticed smoke coming from the west, but it wasn't in the direction of the ranch. He didn't point this out right away because he assumed that region was covered by one of the other teams. If it hadn't been searched Mac and Adam would be going out after hours to find out anyway. Duncan had a feeling that the smoke was the key to finding Gypsy.
"I'm hungry and we've been at this five hours. We need a break on something a little warmer than snow," said Duncan.
"I agree. I want to check in with Joe," said Adam, "And maybe take a nap."
Adam considered sleep again to try and see if he could connect with Gypsy again. His healing factor already mended the bones and was starting to repair the lungs.
"I could use a change of socks and some hot food," said Jack and he turned his back to the two men to radio in.
While he did so, Duncan helped Adam up and pointed out the smoke signal. They knowingly nodded to each other that they knew what they would be doing later.
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