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

[the_nsa_agent]

Casey found the kid on the trail of a bird. He didn't see any adults around and hoped he hadn't shown up on the island alone, though he wouldn't say such a thing would be a surprise.

"Hey, little guy," he said, taking the kid's attention once the bird had flown away. He heard the yelling then, and added, "I'm guessing you're the 'Sam' in question here, huh?"

[new_ophelia]

Sam is a little hesitant about the stranger but manages a tiny wave and a quiet, "Hi."

Kate, on the other hand, is still crashing around, yelling her head off as she grows more and more frantic with every passing second. Sam could be mauled by a boar.

[the_nsa_agent]

"Hi." Casey kind of liked kids, when they weren't obnoxious. This one seemed to have a sense of adventure, wandering on his own in the jungle like he was, and Casey approved of that. "Is that your mom yelling for you?"

"I've got a stray kid over here!" he yelled back.

[new_ophelia]

Sam nods after a moment, pointing out in the direction of Kate's frantic shouting and says, solemnly, "Momma."

"Oh God, Sam!" Kate pants, skidding to a stop in front of a guy she doesn't know. She drops to her knees and looks him over. "What are you doing out here, huh?"

[the_nsa_agent]

"He was chasing a bird. Hunting, huh, Sam?" Casey was pretty sure this kid was too young for that, but he thought he should be encouraged in a useful pursuit. "I think he's okay. Has he been gone long?"

[new_ophelia]

"Almost half an hour, which might as well be a damn lifetime," she breathes, burying her face in Sam's hair for a long moment.

"Thank you so much for finding him," she says, offering up the guy a watery smile. "I'm Kate. He's Sam, obviously. Slipped his leash."

[the_nsa_agent]

"No problem." It wasn't like he'd even been trying to find the kid. "John. His leash, huh?" Casey thought that was a brilliant idea more people should use on their kids. He planned to suggest it to Ellie the next time he saw her. "Sounds like you need a new leash. Or a cage."

[new_ophelia]

"He learned to unclip it," she says, dryly. "Which was a fantastic surprise."

She grips Sam a little tighter and straightens up. Sam clearly knows he's in trouble and decides to stare down the new guy, rather than pay attention to his mom. He offers up another half-hearted wave.

[the_nsa_agent]

"Escape artist. All kind of career opportunities are open to someone with that kind of skill." Casey waved back at the kid, not really blaming him for not wanting to face the music. "You probably want to let your mom know where you're going, though. At least until you're a little bit older."

[new_ophelia]

"He'll end up being a dinosaur wrangler just to give me a heart attack," she says with a weak laugh.

"Sam, do you want to say thank you to John for not letting you wander off and get eaten by a tiger?" she prompts.

Sam dutifully sits back up and reaches out to pat John's arm and grin, about as close to 'thank you' as he's managed so far.

[the_nsa_agent]

"Someone's got to do it. Maybe he'll wait until after kindergarten, though. Education is important." Seemed like the right thing to say to this kid at the time. "You're welcome. I'm pretty sure you didn't want to get eaten by a tiger. I hear that's not much fun."

[new_ophelia]

"Kitty!" is Sam's enthusiastic response as Kate rolls her eyes with a long-suffering huff.

"So, have you been on the island very long? I figure you don't just spend all day hunting stray babies?" Kate asks, giving him a far less weepy grin.

[the_nsa_agent]

Casey gave an amused snort. He kind of liked this kid.

"I've been around a while. I guess I hunt whatever needs hunting, when I'm hunting. Which I do sometimes, since we all have to eat."

[new_ophelia]

"Yeah, so what did you do back home then? I'm always impressed by anyone with actual skills," she grunts as she wearily lowers Sam back down, fixing him with a look.

Sam starts toddling round and round John's legs, ignoring Kate entirely.