he's going the distance, he's going for speed

[new_ophelia]

"Sam!"

She knew this day would come, but it seems too early. He's still so little and she should have more time to prepare, mentally and strategically. It shouldn't be this way. She's supposed to have more time.

There's just no way Sam should be able to unclip his leash already.

It's like every bad made for TV movie Kate's ever seen. She only left him

Comments

[legendarymadman]

It isn't exactly a rare thing to find Kate flailing around in the jungle, but that doesn't mean Geoffrey doesn't pay attention to it. After all, she's Kate, and she'll never not be Kate. He might tease, but he always pays attention.

"What's wrong?" he says when he finally locates her by the sound of her voice. "What's he done?"

Geoffrey suspects it involves a hammer.

[new_ophelia]

She whirls around, no doubt looking crazy as hell as she manages to grit out, "He unclipped his leash and he ran off and now he is gone. He was in the yard and now he's just gone and there are beasts in the jungle, Geoffrey."

[legendarymadman]

He thinks about telling her that most of the beasts of this particular jungle are actually small enough to creep into their houses at night, but that's probably not helpful. Especially when Sam is small enough to be eaten by a snake.

"Okay, well, Duck went thattaway this morning," he says, pointing up the path, "so I'd say odds are good Sam wandered in that direction."

They'll find him, or someone nearby will. After all, he's small and can't have gotten far.

"How long's he been gone?"

[new_ophelia]

"Like twenty minutes," she moans, scrubbing her hands over her face. "I tried your place and the rec center and off the path some and I keep calling for him and when we get him back I'm having Duck build me a pen for him."

[legendarymadman]

If she's already tried all of those places, he was probably only gone a couple of minutes before she started looking. And in fact, Geoffrey's pretty sure he sees a flash of color in the trees to the left of them, right close to the path. It might be a flower, but Geoffrey suspects otherwise, the way it's moving northward.

"This way," he says, nodding towards it.

[new_ophelia]

"Oh Jesus, do you see something?" she gasps, grabbing onto Geoffrey's sleeve. He is stuck with her until they find her child.

"What the hell, Geoffrey?" she trills as they turn towards the trees. "How the hell do people keep their kids from doing this?"

Sam, sensing that this is the best game ever, crouches down as low as he can.

[legendarymadman]

"They don't," says Geoffrey. "Apparently, it's just a part of parenting. At least he can't run into traffic here, right?" Because there have to be at least some upsides to raising a child on the island. "I bet Duck would build you a fence if you asked."

[new_ophelia]

Kate just manages not to retaliate that he could get run over by a dinosaur when she sees a flash of color in the bushes. "Sam?" she calls, still gripping Geoffrey's arm. "I swear to God Sam. Biggest fence anyone has ever seen."

[legendarymadman]

"Children are born to get into trouble," says Geoffrey, even though he knows that's a lot easier to say when the child isn't your own and you're not having a heart attack about his absence. But he feels pretty confident that Sam is just fine. "That's their job."

[new_ophelia]

Kate's ready with another retort when she hears a cooing, almost singing coming from the bushes to their left. "Jesus," she mutters, letting go of Geoffrey and charging in. She pushes the leaves back to find Sam, wedged underneath and grinning up at her. She takes a long, long breath in and out before reaching down and snatching him up.

[legendarymadman]

"You," says Geoffrey, at a little boy who is as yet oblivious to his mother's concern and very pleased with himself, "are in a whole lot of trouble, young man." But he really doesn't sound very serious when he says it.

[new_ophelia]

Kate holds him at arm's length as she fights the urge to burst into tears and wring Sam's tiny neck. "Christ," she grits out, pushing him into Geoffrey's arms. "Take him for a second. I'm about to have a complete meltdown."

[legendarymadman]

"Got him," says Geoffrey, his arms already outstretched to take him from her. It wasn't hard to see this one coming. "Go ahead. Do what you need to do." Sam still seems ridiculously pleased with himself; Geoffrey knows that can't last.

[new_ophelia]

She nods a couple of times before sitting down hard and burying her face in her hands. "Jesus," she moans, tears instantly starting to fall.

Sam squirms in Geoffrey's grip, hand stretched down towards Kate. "Mama," he says, looking in between Geoffrey and Kate.

[legendarymadman]

"Mama just needs a minute," says Geoffrey, holding a squirming Sam firmly in his arms. "You gave her a little scare, kiddo. You might want to think about leaving a note next time."

[new_ophelia]

"I have no fucking clue what I'm doing. Like, none at all," she manages, voice hitching with each breath as Sam buries his face against Geoffrey's chest, little hands grabbing at his shirt.

He's aware enough that something's wrong with Kate.