Parts 21 & 22

"How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face..."
-W.B. Yeats

*Part 21

Staring out the window of a taxi, Hayden grinned with sneaky pleasure.  It had been two long weeks since he'd seen Melissa and so much had happened.  He had watched everything CNN had to offer on coverage of the search of the train derailment, keeping an eye on Melissa and Kona until they left the site, bound for home.  Nearly every night that followed was spent talking on the phone.

It had been with great hesitation that he followed his Mom's suggestion to see 'Silent Heros' at the University.  The movie had left him numb in the screening room.  He watched Melissa do things and take risks that he never would have comprehended had he not seen it with his own eyes.  Finding himself nervously twisting his bracelet, he had watched them teeter across fallen beams, sink into piles of ash and dodge falling debris. 

Fighting back tears became impossible for him during a scene toward the end.  An entire search had been followed only to have it end up being a body recovery.  While the disappointment was evident on the faces of all involved, what ate at his heart was the composure and compassion that Melissa had displayed.  She never shed a tear but Hayden could tell she was holding it all inside.  He watched as she helped remove the body and praise Kona for a job well done, trying to lift her partner's spirits.  In his head, he could hear her talking to Justin, and a lot of what she said was making more sense to him now.  Those were memories she wanted to forget, how would he tell her that he'd seen what she couldn't talk about?

It was with greater understanding and respect that Hayden had decided to fly in several days ahead of schedule to spend more time with her.  As the taxi pulled to stop in front of the veterinary hospital where she worked, he grabbed his duffle bag and headed inside.

The man behind the counter appeared to be a few years older than he was and rather out of place in an animal clinic.  With a larger build and chiseled features, he spoke.  "Can I help you?"

"Yeah," Hayden stammered.  "I'm looking for Melissa."  As he finished speaking, Beth came out from the back.

"Hayden?" she said, completely surprised.

"Hi Beth," he smiled.

"So, you're the mysterious Hayden," laughed the man, now standing up, extending his hand in greeting.  "I'm Eric, Melissa's brother."

"Nice to meet you," he offered in return.  "Taking a break from firefighting?"

"Eric is here for supplies and I'm afraid Melissa isn't here." Beth interrupted.  "She said she was going to leave you a message."

"Is she ok?  I was on the plane and had my cell phone off," he explained.

"She left early this morning on a search mission in Yosemite with the rest of the team.  You weren't supposed to be here for a few more days, right?"  Beth wasn't often confused, but the sincere worry present in Hayden's eyes was throwing her off.

"I'm headed up to the base camp," Eric interrupted.  "You're more than welcome to come along and hang out until she comes back in."

"If you don't mind," he said looking over at a smiling Beth who could only nod in agreement.

"Ok then, let's go!"  Eric appeared to be highly energetic and a slightly flirtatious man.  "See ya' later darlin'" he added, giving Beth a hug and a kiss on the cheek as he stood to leave. 

Beth rolled her eyes and wished them a safe trip, reminding Eric to drive careful.  When they went to the parking lot Hayden wasn't sure how he had missed the truck and trailer parked outside.  On the trailer was a 4-wheel drive off road Jeep, decorated with Search and Medical emblems, stripped down to bare minimums.  "You planning on using that?" Hayden asked, pointing to the very high jeep.

"Depends.  My dad is up there with his already, not sure if they'll need two, but since they needed supplies for the dogs, might as well take it."

It was a several hour drive to Yosemite, but Hayden found talking with Eric quite easy and it helped to pass the time.  During one lull in their conversation, Eric noticed Hayden twisting the bracelet Melissa had given him.

"Lissa did a nice job on your bracelet," Eric hinted.  "I wear mine on my ankle because of my job.  It stays safer there."

"She gave it to me for my birthday," the memory bringing a smile to his face.  "I find myself twisting at it whenever I worry about her."

"Don't worry, she'll be fine.  Mountain searches are really Lissa's element, and it's for two lost kids, which is what Kona really excels at.  They'll find them and have them home in no time.  I'm looking forward to the look on her face when she knows you're here."

Interrupted by a call on the CB radio, Eric picked up the microphone and answered.  Hayden didn't understand a lot of the lingo used, but he gathered Eric was talking to his dad, telling him how far away they were and that Hayden was with him, referring to him over the radio as "Lissa's squeeze" which made him laugh.  It was getting late in the afternoon and he wondered when they would call Melissa back into camp for the night, so he asked.

"Oh, she won't come in," Eric told him.  "The teams would spend too much time getting back to where they were, so they stay out and pick up the trail in the morning.  The only teams that will come in tonight are the ones who haven't found anything to follow."  Noting the look on Hayden's face, he tried to help ease his mind.  "She's in constant radio contact and she relays her position into the base on a regular basis.  We always know where they are.  Speaking of...here we are," he finished as he parked at the base camp.

Hayden got out of the truck and looked around.  There were several trailers and tents set up, trucks parked in a row, and a shade tent covering a radio set up and boards with maps tacked to it.  Eric motioned for him to come along and before he had collected his thoughts, Eric was introducing him to his parents.  Shaking their hands, he wondered if this was how Melissa felt when she met his folks.  Will Hamilton, Melissa's dad, was pleasant but obviously busy, helping to track the 8 search teams currently out and leaving the tour guide duties to his wife, Leigh.

Pointing out various parts of the camp to Hayden, she explained what everyone was doing.  She showed him what trailer the families of the lost girls were in, what the people around the camp were responsible for, and giving him Melissa's current location on the map so he would know.

"They are currently pulling 4 of the 8 teams back in," she explained.  "They've been at it all day and haven't found anything.  Kona and Tawny seem to be our best bets so far, but Garry and Odie seem to have hit on something too.  We'll have to wait and see.  I'm making some dinner, you will join us, right?"

"Sure, I'd love to," he grinned, her smile reminding him so much of Melissa's. 

For the next couple of hours he hung around, watching as the other teams returned to base.  All was quiet when he heard Melissa come through the base radio.  "Search 2 to base, possible acquisition of victims, request location of nearest search team."

Eric manned the radio and sent the information back.  The closest team was Search 4, Garry and Odie, just a few miles south of her.

"Base, request Search 4 proceed to my location.  I have located one victim but am unable to reach her at this time.  Through voice contact she reports other victim southwest and injured.

"Copy that Search 2, sending Search 4 to new coordinates.  What is the status of victim 1?"

By now the parents of the girls had heard the commotion and come out, anxious to hear which girl was found and which girl was injured.

"Scared and cold, but otherwise appears fine," she replied.  "Terrain is too steep; she's stuck in a culvert.  Rigging up guide lines now, will have her up shortly."

"I have anxious parents here Search 2, which girl do you have?"

"Amanda," came the simple reply, causing the girls parents to burst into grateful tears.

Hayden watched the scenes play out before him.  Garry reported in just before nightfall that he had located Emily, and that her leg appeared broken.  Splinting it, he carried her the mile to where Melissa had set up camp for Amanda.  Much to the dismay of the parents, the decision was made to delay pick up until the next morning.  Maps showed the surrounding area to be impassible by jeep or helicopter.  Working into the night, they finally located an area where the jeeps could get to them, but it meant a 4-mile hike with Garry carrying Emily.

Eric and Will headed out in their jeeps to meet up with the two remaining search teams and brought them back in.  They had decided to not tell Melissa that Hayden was there and keep it as the surprise he had intended.  The people who remained at the base camp had all gathered around the fire relaxing after dinner when, once again, Melissa came across the radio.

"Search 2 to base, request current location of Search 5."

"Search 5 has returned to base," Will answered his daughter.

"We're passing the time with useless movie trivia here base, and I need to tap into his sci-fi knowledge."

Hayden watched as Peter, a small framed Japanese man, headed toward the radio.  "Tell her to give it her best shot," he laughed.

"Standing by for your question Search 2."

"We need to know the band colors of Anakin's padawan braid in Star Wars, Episode 2."

The camp couldn't stop laughing when Peter put his hand on Hayden's shoulder and said, "I'm leaving this one up to you."

"Search 2," Eric cut in.  "I would think of anyone, certainly YOU should know that."

"Yeah right base, like I'm ever looking at the braid."

Hayden turned six shades of red, before giving the answer to Eric to relay.  "Blue and red," he said simply, shaking his head when Melissa reported that Amanda had guessed correctly.

Will and Leigh had offered to let Hayden stay with them in their trailer, but he wasn't really tired, so he decided instead to sleep in the back of Melissa's truck where she had already set up a makeshift bed that awaited her return.  He opened the windows in the camper shell and listened to the crickets, dreaming of seeing her again.  When he finally lay down on her pillow he dug his face in, savoring the familiar smell of jasmine that seemed to follow her wherever she went.

"I miss you," he whispered to himself, holding onto the pillow.  Knowing the sooner he went to sleep, the sooner tomorrow would arrive and she would be in his arms again.  Sleep wouldn't come easily for him.  His mind raced with the things he wanted to tell her, struggling for the right words to say what was in his heart.  Sitting on the open tailgate and looking up at the stars, just knowing she was asleep under them seemed to calm him. 

Closing his eyes and thinking of the story she had told him about her grandfather he spoke softly into the night sky.  "Take care of her when I can't and please bring her back to me because it's me who's lost without her."  He breathed a heavy sigh and hoped that the guardian angel she believed in, had heard him.

*Part 22

Sleep had finally found Hayden, his dreams of Melissa helping him to rest, but they were to be short lived.  Just before dawn, moonlight still lighting the camp, he suddenly heard it come to life.  There was urgency in the noises that worried him.  As he looked out of the window he saw Eric fly off in his jeep, so he fumbled out of the truck in a groggy haze and made his way over toward Leigh who was observing the bustle surrounding the radio.  Will was checking out the map and Hayden heard Garry on the radio.

"What's happened?" Hayden yawned to Leigh.

"Amanda was bitten by a rattlesnake and they need to get her back here.  Melissa is bringing her to the rendezvous point and leaving Garry behind - he and Emily will follow once we've got Amanda.  They were trying to determine if there was a closer point but it doesn't look like it."

"Where is she?"

"Melissa is already in route, carrying Amanda on her back.  The less active Amanda is, the slower the venom will move through her system.  It's going to be rough on both of them - it's a 4-mile run through the mountains and then a jeep ride out.  Rattlesnake bites are extremely painful, which is going to make it even more difficult."

Hayden knew Melissa was a powerful runner, but running while carrying someone, even a young girl, he just couldn't picture.  His thoughts were halted by the sound of her voice on the radio.  She had stopped briefly to radio in her current location and to relay Amanda's status, which, Hayden gathered, wasn't good.

The sun was up and shining when the base received status from Eric.  "Rescue 3 to base, be advised I have Search 2 and victim on board.  Requesting medical transport from base, victims reaction to injury severe and increasing."

"Confirm that Rescue 3, what is your ETA to base?"

"ETA 40 minutes."

Hayden stayed out of the way as best he could while Leigh called for an ambulance to be standing by.  It was an emotional time at the camp.  Amanda's parents were holding onto each other, trying their best to be strong, their worry overcoming them when the ambulance pulled up.  Emily's parents could only listen to updates from Garry on their slow progress toward the rendezvous point.  While it was difficult to hear the updates on the radio, it seemed so much worse when all was silent.

Having done all he could do at the moment, Will came over to check on Hayden.  "How ya' holding up?"

"It's not me I'm worried about sir," he replied.

Will stopped and listened for a moment.  "Here they come!" he yelled to the camp before explaining.  "If you listen you can hear Kona barking and she NEVER barks unless it's really important."  It seemed that was a know fact because as soon as the camp heard the barking, they hustled into position.

Time stood still for Hayden as the jeep rounded the corner and he was sure it was a vision he would carry with him throughout his life.  With Eric at the wheel, Kona was sitting in the front passenger seat, barking for all she was worth.  Strapped to a backboard across the back seats of the jeep was Amanda with Melissa giving her CPR.  While it was probably not what he should have been thinking about, all that came to mind was how beautiful she looked.  Her hair was pulled into a ponytail and she was sweaty and dirty from the run, but he didn't care.  He watched as she stayed with Amanda until the paramedics took over, rambling off the time frame of events and detailing her decline.

The ambulance doors slammed closed and it drove away, closely followed by a park ranger truck carrying the girl's parents.  Melissa spotted her Dad, her mind still on the task at hand.  "Daddy, where's Garry?  Does he need help?"

"We've got it covered honey, don't worry.  Go see your mother, get some water."

Melissa nodded, as Kona came bounding over, jumping up on her to get her attention.  "Oh, what's my good girl want?" she teased.  "Maybe some play time?  Maybe a cookie?"  Hayden watched, as Kona seemed to understand every word, tilting her head and staring at Melissa with energy he had never seen between them.  "Nah, I know what you want," she said getting down on her knees. 

Kona jumped up, putting her front paws over Melissa's shoulders and burying her face in.  If dogs could weep, Hayden was sure that was what he was witnessing.  With the same composure and compassion he had seen her exhibit in the documentary, Melissa hugged her partner, assuring her they had done their best and it would be ok.

As Melissa stood up she saw a bottle of water held out for her to take.  "Thank you," she said as she looked up, her breath catching in her throat.  "Hi..."

"You truly never do cease to amaze me," he smiled.  One look into her eyes was all it took for him, pulling her close and holding onto her.  "I've missed you so much."

Pulling back slightly so she could look at him, Melissa couldn't seem to get over the shock of seeing him there.  "You can tell me why you're here and how you found me later, but right now I can think of just one thing," she said, running her fingers over his lips.

Raising one eyebrow and looking adorable as one corner of his mouth curled into a smile, he leaned into her, running his hands up her back.  "I think I can read your mind," he said as he brushed his lips across hers.  Feeling her lean into him he muttered softly, "Yep, pretty sure that's a yes," taking her into another tender kiss.

Interrupted by the sound of Will starting up his jeep, the couple walked hand in hand toward Melissa's parents.  "Mom, Dad, I assume you've met Hayden," she grinned when they got there.

"We've certainly had the pleasure," Leigh replied.  "Why don't you two head over to the trailer?  You can get a shower and I'll make you something to eat." 

"I want to make sure Garry gets in ok - that was a pretty hairy path you sent us on," she said to her Dad.

"I'm headed up there now, he says they're taking a lot of breaks," he grinned.  "I'll bring them in honey, don't worry.  Stay by the trailer, the hospital will call Mom with an update on Amanda."

Hayden saw her face drop, she had been so happy about seeing him that she had forgotten the state that Amanda had been in.  "Ok," was all she would say.

The day was fast becoming a blur for Melissa.  She showered and felt so much better, her Moms cooking helped a lot, but she was convinced it was mostly having Hayden there.  They received word in early afternoon that Amanda would be fine and was asking to see Melissa and Kona, so Hayden went with them after getting the ok from the doctor on duty to have Kona in the hospital.

Seeing Amanda sitting up did wonders for Melissa's spirits and Kona was beside herself, putting her front feet on the bed so she could lick the young girls cheek.  Melissa introduced Hayden as her boyfriend, not being able to contain a slight giggle at the still new idea.  Amanda stuttered when she said hello, knowing immediately who he was. 

"He's your boyfriend and you didn't know that Star Wars question?" Amanda snickered.

"I told you I never looked at the braid," she whispered back.

"I don't blame you."
Both the girl and her parents thanked Melissa, the one portion of the visit that seemed to make her uncomfortable.  Amanda needed her rest so they didn't stay long, but they couldn't escape without the girl's mother giving Melissa a tear filled hug.  "It's ok, really," she told the weepy mom, "we're just happy to help."

The trio returned to camp just before dinner to find most everyone else had gone back home.  Garry and Bob had remained along with Melissa's family, deciding to start back the next day after having gotten some sleep.  Leigh cooked for small group and everyone gathered around a campfire after.  Hayden, having returned from making a couple of 'necessary' phone calls, sat on the ground with his back against a log while Melissa took her favorite place, between his legs resting her head on his chest.

Wrapping his arms around her felt so right, there was nowhere else Hayden could have imagined being.  They fit together like perfect pieces to an intimate puzzle, the curves of their bodies, interlocking to form a whole.  He listened to her talk about the run out of the forest, and how she tried to keep Amanda's mind off the pain of the bite by having her tell her about her favorite music.  There was a tone to her voice that drove him wild, the kind of voice he knew he could happily listen to for the rest of his life.

As the subject matter turned to basic chitchat, Will looked over at the couple and mused,  "That took longer than I expected, I can't believe she lasted this long."  Peering down at Melissa, Hayden realized she had fallen fast asleep.  Eric hopped up and opened the back of her truck where the bed was still set up from the day before.

"Are you sure you won't stay in the trailer?" questioned Leigh.

"Mom, leave them alone," Eric pleaded.

"Thank you anyway Mrs. Hamilton, if she needs anything, I'll come get you," Hayden added politely.  Maneuvering out from behind, he scooped her up in his arms, her neck instinctively burying itself against his chest.  He could feel the softness of her hair against his chin and bent forward to kiss her head.  "Good night," he added to her family as he carried her away.

Sitting her down on the tailgate, he was able to climb in and guide her to her pillow before she woke up.  Kona jumped in right behind her, spooning in against Melissa's chest, almost as if staking her personal claim.  Covering her with a blanket, he moved to close the tailgate, looking up at the star filled sky as he had done the night before.  Everything seemed brighter with her so close.  Glancing over at her before returning his gaze to the stars, he looked up and smiled hoping her guardian angel knew how grateful he was to have her back. 

It didn't matter that he wasn't tired; he only wanted to feel her touch as he cuddled close to her.  Tomorrow would start the way all days should, with her in his arms.  Tomorrow would be the day he would tell her what was in his heart.  He would spend the night holding her, waiting patiently for tomorrow to come.