Search and Rescue: Unexpected Arrival

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Coming back from town on an errand, Lorna spots a familiar face on the side of the road.



Lorna knew that she'd be scolded if Amelia discovered what she was doing. It was hardly a week out from having her shoulder reset and the sling still held it firmly immobile. So the fact that Lorna had taken a car and driven to town today was probably on the list of things that would make the Russian doctor extremely cranky. But Lorna had needed spices from the one store that didn't deliver and what Amelia didn't know wouldn't hurt Lorna. She completed her errand without incident, except for getting jarred by a hurrying teen as she had walked back to the car. But for now, the return drive was quiet and pleasant and she hummed along to the radio as she turned up the drive.

For a moment she thought she was hallucinating. There was no other reason that she could be seeing the blond in surf shorts stumbling over the hot black asphalt. But the sound of her car made him turn and she slammed to a halt, staring in her rear view mirror in shock. "Alex?"

Yes his feet were used to hot sand and often he didn't even notice. But hot asphalt was a whole nother matter when you were barefoot. And of course, he had stood there considering is options for a few moments before coming to the conclusion that the only way for him to get to the door of the mansion and some answers to what the hell he was doing in New York was by crossing it.

And it just figures that when Alex finally made up his mind to cross, as fast as he could but it was slow going anyway, a car came down the driveway. "Fuck!" He shouted as the car distracted him and he stayed in one place too long, the asphalt burning the soles of his feet. He ran to the grass on the side of the driveway as the car passed and turned to see who had almost run him over as his feet cooled off in the damp grass.

Oh shit, it just wasn't Alex's day..."Lorna?"

Lorna was out of the car in a flash, she didn't even remember unfastening her belt and running back to him. "Alex, what are you doing here? Are you all right? Where's your suit?" She nearly grabbed hold on him and only barely managed to restrain herself. Her hands clenched into fists, eyes wide with shock.

Yep, today just sucked. "You know, I wish I could answer those questions, really. But since I was kidnapped yesterday while surfing and then randomly released here in New York without being told why just now, I kind of can't." He was in shock still from the whole thing, especially as retelling it made it actually real. Alex hugged his arms around himself again, both from the cooler New York temperature and beginning to freak out.

Again she half reached for him and again she jerked back, running her good hand through her hair. "Kidnapped? You're okay though right? You don't look hurt." Her mind raced a mile a minute trying to get over her initial panicked response to Alex--Alex--being in trouble and move on to solving the problem. "Let's get you inside and checked out. And some water. It's so hot out."

"You kidding? I'm cold." Okay so maybe not cold but Alex had always found New York cooler than his liking. "And yeah I'm fine. They didn't do anything to me besides keeping me chained up. And I just don't know why! What purpose did some military dudes have in kidnapping me of all people?" And it was bugging him more then he could say. He hadn't let his fear and worry get to him during the whole thing but now it was taking over.

Why Alex indeed? Why bring him from Hawaii all the way to New York only to let him go? "Okay, okay. So it's cold. We should still get you inside." She stepped back. It was her habit to touch people. To reassure through contact. Keeping her distance hurt, especially when it was him.

Alex wished she would. He knew how she usually handled people with problems, god did he know. Lorna keeping her distance was beginning to feel almost like an insult and it wasn't helping his current state of mind. "I'm not going to break or bite you." He mumbled, as it wasn't in his nature to say it fully out loud. "I just want to know what is going on!" He said louder.

Lorna hesitated a moment longer, not really hearing what he'd said but reading it well enough in the way he held himself, the way he tensed ever so slightly when she'd backed off. Biting her lip, she stepped forward and curled a hand around his elbow, tugging him gently into motion, "I'll drive up to the house. You look beat. We'll figure out what's happening, don't worry."

Pulling his elbow out of her grip, Alex was not about to pitied, not by her, he walked over to the car himself, silently getting into the passenger seat where he could lean his elbows on his knees and bury his face in his hands.

Because he'd turned away he didn't see her shiver and flinch when he pulled away. Of course, she thought wearily, of course she had no right. She slipped back into the driver's seat, used to driving one handed these days and drove them back to the mansion without another word.