Author's Note: Another slightly early update, since I have animals to take care of on the way to work in the morning, and time will be short. Again, better early than late, right?
"Jacob has proposed to Annabelle, and she has accepted. While I have my reservations, I dare not voice them to him. But in my solitude I wonder--is she only settling for what she considers second best? She and Aaron were close. Everyone assumed they would eventually be wed. But his death brought many changes; not the least of which was Annabelle's turning to Jacob for comfort and support. If she knew that he was there when Aaron fell from the ledge, would she be so inclined? I don't know. But seeing my son so happy, I can't bring myself to interfere. I spend more time out in the forests and fields than I did before, with my dog Thunder for company. And I search my conscience and ask the Lord to somehow show me if I'm right to hold my silence. But I've yet to receive an answer..."
--excerpt from the private journal of Ephraim Barton
Smoky Hills Part 22
Into the Forest
Days had passed since the police came to the door, and the first issue of Hot Studs arrived in the mail, and Trowa had noticed an increasing restlessness in his roommate. He might have thought it was the tedium of chipping paint and sanding porch railings taking a toll. But he knew Heero far better than that.
Heero was--preoccupied. And for as long as Trowa had known him, the only thing capable of preoccupying him so completely was work. Only Heero wasn't at work.
Although--Trowa was beginning to wonder if Heero was more ready to return to duty than he professed to be. It was pretty clear he was in full-on cop mode, his keen mind sifting through the possibilities of how a single bone ended up in Thor's mouth.
If that was the case, Trowa wanted to be nothing less than supportive. Much as he enjoyed Heero's company, he also wanted him to be able to return to work, if he chose to--or at the very least, use some of his experience and training to solve the mystery that had fallen into their laps.
Of course, Heero would never come out and say he wanted to search for clues; that would be too much like admitting he couldn't stop being the investigator he'd trained to be. He was hiding from himself as much as from the incident that had resulted in his going out on stress leave.
But more and more, Heero's natural inquisitiveness and determination were returning to the forefront, and it didn't seem like he'd be able to ignore such an intriguing little puzzle as the whereabouts of the rest of the skeleton Thor had found.
When another letter from Catherine arrived, Trowa put his theory to the test over supper.
Heero had been picking idly at his food, while Trowa chattered on about the latest news from the circus, his keen gaze never leaving his friend's face. Trowa finally lapsed into silence, waiting to see how long it would take for Heero to look up and realize he was the object of an intense stare.
After a long moment passed, Heero looked up questioningly, and then scowled. "What?"
"You've been somewhere else all evening," Trowa accused. "Not that there's anything all that important for me to tell you--but I doubt you heard a single word."
"I heard it all--the baby elephant that was born, Nikos the trapeze artist's near-fall, the sold-out show in Atlanta--" He gave a small shrug. "Just didn't seem like it called for a response."
"So--what's the next step in the murder investigation you say you're not conducting?" asked the auburn-haired man, deciding to jump right to the point.
Heero looked sheepish. "I thought I might take Thor and Balder out hiking in the woods again--a bit further afield--and see if they lead me to the area where the bone came from."
"All right--when are we leaving?" Trowa asked, rubbing his hands together eagerly.
Heero cast a dark look his way. "You aren't supposed to be out hiking yet, Barton. Your knee--"
"It's fine,"Trowa argued. "Never felt better!"
"Except when you go up and down stairs, or walk on uneven surfaces, like woodland trails."
"I think I know my own limitations," Trowa retorted a bit irritably. "I'd be fine taking a little walk in the woods. And it'd beat the hell out of sitting around here while you have all the excitement."
"It's not about excitement," Heero argued. "It's about doing everything possible to uncover the truth."
"Spoken like a true detective," Trowa noted. Heero scowled at him, but Trowa waved it aside. "Seriously, Heero. You're fixated on this mystery, and you won't rest until you figure it out."
"Do you know the success rate of cold cases, Barton?" Heero shook his head. "It's low. Very low. The odds are that even if I find enough of the skeleton for Chang's people to make an i.d., there won't be enough physical evidence left to make any arrests."
"And yet you still want to find it, don't you?" Trowa leaned forward in his chair. "Let me help--please. I swear, I'm not going to mess up my knee again. I'm the last person who wants to end up back in that stupid hospital. I'll wear my brace, and I'll even bring along one of my crutches, in case I get tired." Trowa pulled off a fair approximation of a pout, though his stoic face was barely up to the task. "C'mon--you know two sets of eyes are better than one, and even if I have a weak knee, there's nothing wrong with my vision. I could spot something you miss out there--"
Heero gave him a stern look. "I'm not willing to risk your health, just to--"
"You won't be. My knee's getting stronger all the time. A little jaunt in the woods can't be any worse than what my physical therapist puts me through every week."
Heero eyed him dubiously. "You've kept up with your daily exercises?"
"Every morning right after my shower."
"And you're taking your meds?"
"As prescribed. Every pill." Trowa added a grimace after that.
"Do you promise that if you start to feel fatigued, or even a twinge of pain, you'll tell me so we can head back here?"
"Promise."
"You're awfully quick with that promise," Heero noted. "Why are you so set on this?"
"Because it's obvious to me that it's important to you, and I want to help you for a change. As supportive as you've been helping to get this place into shape, I'd like to return the favor."
"You don't have to go with me on an all-day hike to do that."
"At the moment, it's the only way I can see to give back just a fraction of what you've given me," Trowa said firmly.
Heero sighed, shaking his head. "You could wait here, and be just as supportive, you know."
"But I don't want to." Trowa gave him a wicked smirk. "Besides--you leave me to my own devices that long, and I might have to order a few things on line to go with that lovely magazine subscription. How would you like a package from 'Whips 'R Us' to arrive next week?" His grin turned downright depraved. "I can just picture Duo's expression when he's got to have you sign for that..."
"How about right after breakfast tomorrow we head out?"
Trowa smiled at his roommate. "Sounds great!"
~*~
While the two men at the farm were making their plans, Quatre and Duo were making plans of their own.
"So tomorrow after work, I'll swing by Howie's and pick up a bag of ice and some of that trail mix you like, and then stop at Hendersen's Grocery and get steaks and plenty of marshmallows and chocolate," Duo was saying, while he washed the dishes and Quatre dried them. "We can head out first thing Saturday, hike until sunset, and weather permitting, camp for the night and check out Chapman's Falls on our way back out to civilization on Sunday."
"You've done that trail before, right?" Quatre asked, his attention divided between Duo and the dishes. "Is it a hard one?"
"Naw," Duo assured him. "I wouldn't drag you up one of the bad ones, Quat. I know you're not as into roughing it as I am."
"Too true," Quatre agreed, thinking it was a bit early in the season for an overnight trek. "Any chance we'll stumble across your rhubarb vandal?"
"Depends," Duo shrugged. "The animal control officer over in Clearbrook said she found signs of a den up at the Indian caves last year. It wouldn't be far out of our way to check it out." He glanced briefly at his friend. "You really wanna encourage my wild goose chases?"
"You mean lion chases?" Quatre asked with a smirk. "I told you. If you believe the accounts of mountain lion sightings, I'll give it an honest effort."
Duo smiled brilliantly at him. "You're a pal, y'know."
"I'm trying to be."
"Hey, did I mention Hilde got a letter from Howard?"
"What'd he have to say?"
"Same old stuff--Florida's beautiful, the beaches are gorgeous, water's warm, and the weather's fine." Duo shook his head. "I suppose he deserves it. He delivered the mail route, and ran his convenience store for a lotta years. The man worked his ass off. 'Bout time he got to relax."
"I agree." Quatre had only ever met Howard once, when he first came to town and the old man was in the process of selling his shop to Hilde's father and getting ready to head for his retirement destination. But they'd hit it off very well. So well, in fact, that he'd taken to heart Howard's suggestion to rent a place with Duo. Prior to that, Duo had lived above the convenience store in a tiny apartment owned by Howard.
"He keeps tryin' to talk me into flying down there to visit," Duo added, frowning slightly at the pan he was scrubbing.
"Why don't you? You could afford it, you know." Quatre glanced sideways at him. "I know the Jeep costs a bit to maintain; but you make a decent wage."
"Yes, and I send a little bit of it to the orphanage in the city each month, too," Duo reminded him. "Even though it's not the old Maxwell Orphanage, I still wanna support it, y'know? In memory of Father Maxwell and Sister Helen. Then there's rent, utilities, repairs." He shrugged as if to dismiss the whole subject. "My extra money's going into savings so I can get an education and get out of this town," he added.
"But if you took a short trip--"
"--I might never come back," Duo finished for him. "Seriously, Quat, when I do leave this town, I don't want to have to come back. Going down to Florida to hang out with Howard would be like the world's biggest tease, y'know?"
"I guess."
"Besides, I like the way you and I hang out and do stuff. That's really all the vacation I need."
"Don't you ever want to travel, though?" Quatre asked with a frown. "See the world?"
"Is that what you want?"
"Well--no. Not any more," Quatre admitted. "You know what my childhood was like, Duo. We traveled all over creation--winters in the Caribbean, summers in Paris. I don't even remember what our house looked like; I saw so little of it. I want a place to call home and put down roots and stay."
"So why can't I want the same thing?" Duo wondered.
"Because you have that, and you hate it," Quatre pointed out.
"It's not that I hate being in one place and calling it home," Duo argued. "It's being in this place. Nothing ever changes here, Quat. Ever. At least, not for the better." He gave a weary sigh. "I mean, first Solo got adopted an' I didn't, which wasn't the end of the world, because he only lived up the road a ways, and we still were in school together. But then when he took off, everything just went downhill. I saw that stupid mountain lion and made the mistake of shooting my mouth off about it, which made me more of a laughingstock than being the gay, dumped guy did. And then the orphanage burned down, taking the last friends I had along with it."
"Not true," Quatre said quietly. "You still had Howard and Hilde. And I got here just a few months later." He looked earnestly at his friend. "You were never really alone, Duo. Not completely. And I'll bet if Solo had heard about the orphanage, he'd have come back."
Duo snorted skeptically. "Why would he have done that? It'd been two years. He probably had a whole new life and a new boyfriend by then."
"Yes, but, from what you've told me about him, I think he'd have cared enough to come pay his respects, and check on how you were doing."
"Well, he didn't," Duo said bitterly. "And how the heck did we end up on such a stupid, depressing subject anyway?"
"My fault," Quatre said with an apologetic smile. "I was trying to make you appreciate how homey and peaceful it is in Smoky Hills."
"I do appreciate that," Duo insisted. "I appreciate the way Mrs. Heinz makes cookies for me, and how Sally always knows exactly what I want for dinner when we hang out at the diner. An' I appreciate the way Hilde puts aside my favorite snacks when a new batch comes in." He looked up with a faint smile. "I really do see the good stuff about this place, Quat. Honest, I do. But you've gotta admit, life here has its down side."
"It has Otto and Trant," Quatre pointed out. "If they were gone, I'll bet you'd kind of enjoy living here."
"Maybe." Duo smirked a bit. "You suggesting we bump 'em off?"
"No!"
"Well, you did express an interest in making them 'gone,'" Duo noted.
"You're twisting my words," Quatre growled. "I just meant that maybe we should consider legal action the next time they try something."
"And how's that supposed to work? I'm supposed to convince cops who are second cousins of Trant's that they should arrest him? And you know Otto's dad could afford a whole fleet of lawyers to buy his son's way out of trouble."
"Yeah, well, not if it's big enough trouble," Quatre said darkly. "And running you off the road is pretty serious stuff."
"Only to you," Duo sighed.
"No, Duo. It's serious in anyone's estimation. At least in any rational person's mind." Quatre glared stubbornly at him. "Will you at least promise me that the next time they pull anything remotely as dangerous, that you'll come with me to the police about it? If they don't act on it, I'm willing to contact one of my sisters, who happens to be a lawyer and who still talks to me. She'd be willing to help you press charges, I'm sure. And she does a lot of pro bono work, so it'd be right up her alley."
Duo gave a frustrated sigh. "If it'll get you to stop hounding me, yes, I'll file charges next time--if only so I can say 'I told you so' when the judge laughs the case out of court."
Quatre smirked in satisfaction. "Deal!" he agreed quickly, before Duo could change his mind.
~*~
True to his word, the first thing Friday morning Heero led the way out into the forest shortly after breakfast, with the two dogs on leashes, and Trowa at his side. He'd also brought a backpack containing a map of their property and the surrounding area, a compass, some bottled water, a rope and a flashlight. He didn't believe in going unprepared. He'd even included packets of dog treats, in case either animal got loose, and some trail mix and sandwiches.
"You took your pain pills, right?" he asked Trowa as they headed out across the meadow where he and the dogs ran every morning.
"Yes, I did."
"And you're wearing the brace?"
"Yes."
"Is the one crutch going to be enough if you get tired?"
"For fuck's sake, yes!" Trowa blurted. "Honestly, Heero, when did you become such a nag?"
"When the rope on the trapeze broke and you nearly fell to your death!" Heero retorted. He stopped in his tracks and turned to face his friend. "You have no idea what it felt like to be sitting there when that happened, Trowa. I thought for sure you were going to fall. And as grateful as I am that you were able to tangle a leg in the remaining rope and dangle there until help arrived, I will never forget the sight, okay?"
Trowa hung his head sheepishly. "I'm sorry, 'Ro," he said softly. "I keep forgetting how badly I scared you." He looked up from under his bangs. "But that's history," he reminded him. "Even if I wanted to go back, my knee wouldn't be safe for high-wire or trapeze work. And you know I'm not going back."
"I do," Heero acknowledged. "But I still can't help but be a bit overprotective. I saw how badly you got hurt, and I don't ever want you to have to endure that kind of pain again." He frowned sternly. "Do you want to have to have more surgery?"
"No!" Trowa said quickly--vehemently. He recalled all too well how painful the injury had been, as well as the surgery to repair it. He never wanted to damage himself so severely again.
"Then promise me we'll go slow and easy, and that if you feel pain or fatigue, you will tell me."
"Of course."
They proceeded on their way then, more relaxed than before, and by mid-morning had covered a few miles of trail at a leisurely pace.
"It's really beautiful out here," Trowa said a bit breathlessly, as they took a break and drank some water from bottles they'd brought along.
"I imagine in the fall it will be spectacular," Heero agreed, picturing the trees in full autumn color.
"I see why Ephraim chose to settle here."
"Hai." Heero looked around them, pulling out the map and compass and taking a reading. "I think if we head east, it will take us along the ridge above the reservoir. You might like the view from up there."
"After our talk about falling from great heights?" Trowa teased, loathe to admit he wasn't entirely kidding.
Heero looked at him with narrowed eyes, and then nodded. "Okay then--we'll head back towards the dam. It'll be closer to the road, and if there was a body stashed anywhere, it probably wasn't carried all that far from it."
"You really think there was a murder."
"I see no other explanation for Thor's find."
"I guess I'd just like to find out that maybe a hiker stumbled and fell and the body was never found," Trowa mused.
"That's a possibility," Heero conceded. "But a hiker would have probably been on a trail, and someone else should have stumbled across the body before now." He shook his head as if to clear it. "Let's stick to one theory at a time, shall we? For now, we just want to find more remains, if possible, and maybe provide Chang's lab with enough data to make some sort of identification--or at least a way to hypothesize about cause of death and chronology."
Trowa grinned good-naturedly. "I love it when you talk all technical like that," he teased. "Kinda sexy, bro'."
"Shut up," Heero grumbled, thwapping him on the back of the head with the map before stuffing it into the pack.
They continued on their way, covering a couple more miles before Trowa felt the telltale ache in his knee and realized he'd have to make good on his promise soon.
"We stopping for lunch?" he asked, hoping maybe that pausing to rest would help him shake off the fatigue.
Heero stopped, looking at the dogs, who were tugging at the leashes, and then looking at Trowa's face. "You're tired, aren't you?"
"A bit," he admitted.
"Then we'll stop." Heero quickly tied off the dog leashes, using the length of rope he'd brought along, so they had extra room to move around.
While he dug in the backpack for their meal, Trowa found a log to sit on, near a flat-topped rock. "Hey, look! A dining room set," he quipped.
His roommate smirked back, setting a sandwich in front of him, as well as a bag of trail mix. "It's not gourmet cuisine--but it'll have to do."
"Works for me." Trowa dug in, while Heero dragged over a small log to prop between two boulders so he could sit up off the ground as well.
Thor and Balder immediately came nosing around, looking for a handout, and Heero sighed and dug out a few dog treats to appease them.
"Why don't you let 'em off the leads for a bit?" Trowa suggested. "They've been good about staying close lately."
"I haven't given them a chance to do otherwise," Heero pointed out.
"Well it might do them some good to stretch their legs then," Trowa added. "And they'll stop giving me the big, sad eyes while I eat my sandwich."
Heero laughed and shook his head, turning the dogs loose and pocketing the leashes, so they could roam around a bit and leave the two men in peace while they ate.
Both dogs immediately trotted across the clearing to investigate a rabbit burrow, and Heero figured they'd be intrigued enough to stick around. So he relaxed and enjoyed his meal.
"I like it out here," Trowa spoke up suddenly. "Are we still on our land, or State property?"
"We're still on the Barton farm," Heero replied. "Though, I think there's a road a mile or two in that direction, and the land around it is probably State Forest."
"You think Thor and Balder could've gotten this far the day they found the bone?"
"Hard to say. When Thor took off after a deer that time, he was covering some serious ground."
"Yes, but if they dug out of their enclosure, wouldn't they have just been nosing around out of boredom?"
"Not if they saw another deer," Heero countered. "But maybe we can focus our efforts between here and home as we head back after lunch. That way we'll cover the places they might have gone if they weren't really running."
He finished his sandwich a moment later, and began packing up their stuff.
"Want me to call the dogs?" Trowa asked.
Heero looked up realizing Thor and Balder had disappeared into the dense undergrowth. "Did you see which way they went?"
"Through those bushes." Trowa gave a whistle. "Balder! Thor!"
Balder stepped out of the underbrush, trotting obediently over to the auburn-haired man. "One down, one to go," he quipped.
"Thor!" Heero called sternly.
There was no response, and Heero cursed under his breath, tossing one of the leashes to Trowa before heading in the direction from which Balder had appeared. "Thor, come!"
He still got no answer, either in the form of a bark or the reappearance of his missing dog.
"Goddamnit, Thor," he muttered, pushing through the laurel bushes and down into a hollow filled with decaying leaves and old branches. There was no path here, and so he forged his own, heading in the general direction he hoped the dog had gone.
"Heero?" he heard from behind him.
"Stay put, Trowa. I'll be back as soon as I round up the damned dog!"
Heero hiked up the far side of the hollow, reaching the crest of a small ridge and scanning the forest ahead for his wayward hound. "Thor! Come here, you brat!"
He heard a distant bark and turned aside, heading for a thicker part of the woods, and hoping he wouldn't end up lost out there. His concern grew as it seemed to take an inordinate amount of time to make any progress in the heavy brush, but he heard another bark and the scrabbling of claws on wood, so he pressed onward.
And finally he emerged into a small clearing, to find the dog half-submerged under a fallen tree, digging furiously and sending dirt scattering behind him in all directions.
"Thor, no!" he bellowed, running over to attach a leash and pull the dog away from its quarry, afraid he might have cornered a skunk or something even more dangerous.
But as he pulled the dog back, it hastily grabbed something out of the loose soil and brought it along.
"Drop it!" he ordered, glaring sternly at Thor.
The wolfhound sat in place and then very grudgingly set down a white, spindly-looking thing that turned out to be the skeletal remains of a human hand.
"Fuck," Heero breathed, sinking down onto the nearest flat surface and staring in awe. "You actually found it," he said in wonder, looking back at the shaggy dog, who was panting happily, his tongue lolled out and dirt encrusting the whiskers around his mouth.
TBC...
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