A family spiralling out of control.
A child forced to grow up too fast.
Is there any room left for a young girl to find herself?


Book Two ‘Childhood’
Chapter 14 – End of Childhood

 

---

Author's Note: This chapter completes Book Two of Cassandra’s journey and launches her out into the world. In Book Three – ‘Womanhood’, Cassandra has to start making her own decisions without the security of her team of big brothers. As ever please be tolerant of my failings, and forthright with your criticism. ~Persephone

Current Score: US Readers 15 – 2 UK Author

Photo by  Christopher Campbell on Unsplash
© Persephone 2019

~o~O~o~

“Hi Mrs. Dubock. How are you this afternoon?”

“I’m good Cassie. What brings you over today? Especially bearing gifts and accompanied by trouble here?” She reached down to let Hoover sniff her hand before giving him a quick scratch behind the ears.

“Um, trying to bribe you?”

“Good answer! So what’s the problem girl?”

“I’ve got to do a birthday cake for the tenth of next month and I’m useless at decorating. So Marie told me you are the best baker around, with a real artistic flair. It’s a kinda special day for the guys, and Mr. Jones is coming to dinner too. So I wondered if I could ask you to help?”

“The tenth huh? Would that be for the Corps birthday?”

“Yes Ma’am.”

Mrs. Dubock thought for a long moment. “I guess I can do that, although it’ll be better than a bunch of Jarheads deserve. But you’ve got at least one of mine in your crew haven’t you?”

“Yes ma’am, Wayne Bass.”

“Good boy that. Okay I’ll do it. It’ll cost you two Pecan pies and a jar of your Pork glaze. Deal?”

Cassie grinned. “Definitely a deal ma’am. I’ve already got the pies in the oven. I’ll bring them over in an hour.”

“Damn! You’ve been hanging with those reprobates way too long girl.”

On the tenth, when Cassie fetched out the beautifully decorated cake while humming ‘Happy Birthday dear Jarheads’ at the end of the celebratory meal several of the guys groaned.

“Cookie, you just stuffed us full to bursting, and now you want us to eat ca… Holy shit!”

Josh was already heading for the stairs. “Cookie, don’t you dare let anyone touch it until I get pictures. The rest of the guys are going to be drooling all over Facebook when they see this.”

Bob Jones was next. “Forget that, I don’t want anyone in the management accommodation to see that. I need them doing work, not drooling, and it’d be too good for a bunch of civilians anyway.”

“Hey Cookie, how come you’ve never done fancy cakes like this before? That’s like a work of art!”

Cassie giggled. “Probably because I asked Mrs. Dubock for help, and appealed to her better nature in helping out a bunch of Marines.”

“But she’s Navy!” Bob Jones exclaimed. “How did you find a Squid’s better nature?”

“Oh, that was easy, I bribed her of course!”

This time the groans were accompanied by several face palms. “Only our Cookie!”

Once everyone had finished their cake and had a cup of coffee in front of them, Mr. Jones stood up.

“Gentlemen, First I’d like to thank you for inviting me tonight to your celebration of the Corps’ birthday, and especially for allowing me to sample Miss Metherick’s famous cooking. Miss Metherick, that was a truly stupendous meal. Thank you!”

The guys all cheered and banged the table in appreciation.

“However, there’s another reason I wanted the chance to talk to you all, and I hope that some, if not all of you, will be interested.” He looked around the team who suddenly quieted. “I know you are all planning to go on to college after this year, but you’ve attracted a lot of positive attention. Not just here, but also at our headquarters in Fort Worth, and the Company would be very interested in keeping your services, at least for the following year, and perhaps for a full career with KM&M.” He spotted Cassandra slip briefly into the kitchen and return with a notebook and pen before resuming her seat.

“The site here is growing fast. Faster than the Company expected, so for the next operating year we have a skills shortfall and we’re going to need additional line management and safety supervisors to plug that gap. People who can hit the ground running. Basically, if any of you agree to stay on you’ll see a major pay rise, a firm promise of a place on our career development program and a college scholarship package. Even if you don’t join KM&M you’ll get a great reference for college and a great entry on your résumé. What do you say?”

Wayne was the first to ask a question. “That sounds great Boss. But not all of us are going for degrees in engineering, management or business. How would that work for someone like me wanting to train as a doctor?”

Bob Jones grinned at that. “I’m real glad you asked that Wayne. If you get yourself through pre-med the Company will offer you a ‘full ride’ deal through med school in return for a four year minimum contract on completion. The doctors here at the site will also spend the year tutoring you to pass the MCAT even if you don’t take the deal.” He looked around the table. “Guys, I imagine you’ve got a lot of thinking to do and a lot of questions to ask before you can make your decisions. I’m more than happy for you to send them in, or to arrange for another meet up, especially if it is over dinner,’ he winked to Cassie at that. “The only thing I will say is that we need to know, one way or another, by February first.”

It was a very thoughtful team that went to bed that night.

~o~O~o~

Cassandra had always ‘sort of’ known that this was coming. She ran her fingers through the soft fur of Hoover’s neck as he snuggled in close beside her on the narrow bed.

The team were only committed to a three year contract and they had all planned on going straight to college when it finished. Somehow she had managed to put that out of her mind, hiding in the daily routine of the site and looking after her guys. But now she was forced to face the truth. Her family of big brothers would be leaving her. For the first time since she had arrived in Oregon Cassie was scared and unsure.

Would any of them stay? Probably a few, but they’d all be living in the management accommodation and wouldn’t need her. The rest would scatter, leaving her alone. She could try and go back to live with Aunt Megan, but the court would force her to go live with her father. Sean might be released on parole by then. Cassie shuddered at the thought. She’d have to run away again if any of that happened. Maybe one of the guys would let her look after some student flat or something. She wouldn’t need paying. She could even help out a bit with what she’d saved. All she needed was a safe place to stay until she turned eighteen.

She wouldn’t cry, she told herself fiercely as she rolled over to face the wall. And she wouldn’t beg the guys to keep her safe like some helpless little girl. They deserved better than always having her hanging around their neck.

She absolutely wouldn’t cry, she tried to tell herself again, even as her pillow grew damp.

The next evening Michael called a team meeting after dinner.

“Well guys, I sure didn’t see that coming.” He joked, breaking the ice as the team settled into their favorite chairs. “The good news is, it gives all of us more options than we had yesterday morning. We all knew that the team would finish the contract this summer and move on. Now, we’ve all got more directions to choose from. The second thing I’ll say is that this has to be a personal decision for each of us. It’s not something the team should be involved in. Discuss it, sure, but it has to be an individual choice. It’s not about being loyal or disloyal to the team okay? This is about what happens after the team.” He waited until everyone acknowledged that point.

“And last, there’s no pressure. I know I’m going to take my time, discuss it with family, do a whole lot of thinking and planning, and only finally decide in January. Not before. I’m also going to start up a list of questions for the boss. Probably ask him back over at least once between now and February. He made the offer. I think we’d be dumb not to take advantage of it.”

It was obvious that a lot of the team had felt pressured and conflicted, so Michael’s little speech calmed a number of the guys down as they nodded along to each of his points.

“Okay, that’s all I’m going to say tonight. Like I said, there’s no rush.” He pushed himself away from the wall as the rest of the guys either started chatting quietly or heading upstairs. “Cookie, you got a minute?”

She tried to give him a bright smile. “Sure Uncle Michael. What’s up?”

“Let’s talk in the kitchen kiddo.”

Pushing down her despair, Cassie followed him reluctantly through the dining room. She knew what was coming. This was when he’d tell her she’d be on her own next summer. At least he was sparing her by not doing it in front of everyone.

“Cassandra, I couldn’t help but notice you’ve been down today. It’s not hard to guess why.” He started.

‘Oh god, please don’t drag it out.’ Cassie had to struggle hard to keep her composure. She wouldn’t start crying and pleading. She’d promised herself that much.

“The team was always going to finish after three years.”

‘Damn it, I knew that. I just, sort of, forgot. Please don’t make this harder than it already is.’ She felt tremors start in her fingers and gripped her hands together hard to hide her reaction.

“But my promise to you doesn’t Cassandra.” He went on. “Do you remember what I told you at Paris’ house? I told you I was responsible for you. I said I’d keep you safe. I gave you my word. Whatever happens I am not going to abandon you. You are not going to get dumped back in LA or Pasadena while you are still at the mercy of the courts. You are going to have somewhere safe to live. You are going to finish High School. We are going to get you legal and whole and able to stand on your own two feet. Do you understand? None of us are going anywhere unless we know you are safe. You’re ours Cassie, You’re mine.”

It took a while for his words to finally reach her.

At first she didn’t understand, then she didn’t believe. Then, at last, they made sense. Her head span and her knees buckled as wave upon wave of all her built-up dread finally spilled out. Within moments she was wrapped up in Michael’s arms as tears ran down her cheeks.

“I thought you didn’t want me. I thought you were all leaving me.” She sobbed into his chest.

“I made you a promise. I’ll keep you safe. You’re ours. You’re loved and wanted. We would never leave you behind.”

~o~O~o~

From that moment on Cassie no longer knew for sure what her future would hold. But she did know that Michael would be part of it, and her heart gave a little flip at the thought. After Bob Jones’ surprise invitation, the team slowly settled back into their normal routine, although Cassie noted that the carefree attitude of the last two and a half years was beginning to slip away. Now she regularly saw them go off in ones and twos in the evening, either to research their options, or to discuss ideas with their closest friends. Everyone was now thinking about the future.

She knew that both Eric and Jordan had had places already confirmed at their chosen colleges before the offer had been made. Cassie didn’t think that either of them would throw that away for another year in Oregon. Eric, in particular, had always made it clear that his first love was Art, and this job was merely a way for him to achieve his dream.

Over the Christmas break she spent hours talking with the guys who stayed behind. Brandon and Norman tried to explain their decision not to stay on.

“We just want to settle down. First four years in the Corps, going wherever we were sent. Then coming here. Don’t get me wrong Cookie, we couldn’t have asked for a better team or a better home. We love you guys to bits.” Brandon told her. “It’s just… well, it’s just that we want a little place of our own. Somewhere to put down roots.”

On the other side, it was Malik whose thoughts most closely matched her own. He was driving Cassie to Caldwell to do the main grocery shop before the rest of the team returned, when he finally shared his reasons for why he wanted to stay on.

“I guess it’s because I grew up in ‘care’ facilities and foster homes. Never really had a home, somewhere I knew I belonged. I thought that the Corps would give me that but… well, the guys are great and I trust them with my life, but it wasn’t a home. Then I came up here.” He paused and chewed his lip as he stared at the empty ribbon of asphalt stretching out in front of them. “I guess it’s your fault Cookie. We all expected it to be like in the Corps, but then you showed up and turned us into a family. Making us wait that day ’til you had turned the place into a home, our home, that we’d made. Giving us traditions and being our bossy little sister that we all look out for. So why the hell would I give up the first place I truly feel like I’m home when I don’t have to?”

“But I thought you’d all be moving into the management accommodation?”

Malik snorted at that. “And give up the best food and the nicest place to live on site? Sorry Cookie, if they want us to stay on, you are very definitely part of the deal.” He suddenly looked worried. “You do want to stay too don’t you? I don’t want to pressure you or anything, but I kinda assumed you’d want to stay on.”

Cassie gave a contented sigh. “If I’m able to, I want to stay. Like you say, this is home.”

In the end it was only Eric, Jordan, Brandon and Norm who decided to move on at the end of the year. The rest of the team would stay, having been tempted either by the money, the scholarships, the career path, or the chance of another year of stability. When all the teams’ decisions were presented to Bob Jones he smiled. When they told him that staying in Bunk house twenty-two, rather than moving into the management accommodation, was part of the deal so that Cassie could continue to run their support operation and cook, his grin damn near split his face. “I guess I can agree to that. However I’ll need to regularly come by for liaison meetings.”

Cassie couldn’t help herself. “Once a month at dinner time Mr. Jones?” She cheekily asked.

“Twice a month Miss Metherick.” Was the immediate come back.

“Deal!”

~o~O~o~

To Cassandra, the rest of the team’s third year at the site flew past too quickly. They celebrated her seventeenth birthday in February, and it seemed that only days later that she was sat down in the dining room talking through her Junior year report card with Michael.

“Well, if you keep this up Cassie, we couldn’t have planned this any better to give you the best shot at any college you want to attend. Have you given any thought about what you want your future to look like? What college and courses would help you reach that goal?”

She hadn’t. Planning meant admitting that her wonderful life here, with its comfortable routines and small circle of friends and family, was coming to an end. She didn’t want to try and see a future somewhere else… except…

A half smile touched Cassandra’s lips. In her secret thoughts, and always on the edges of sleep, she could sometimes feel strong arms around her. A sense of utterly belonging. In those half dreams she had never seen his face, but she always knew his scent.

“Cassie!”

Her eyes flashed open. Suddenly embarrassed at being so obviously caught.

Michael patiently repeated his question. “I know you’ve got another year at High School, but your course choices now will have a major impact on what colleges you can apply for. So what courses are you thinking?”

She glanced down at her notebook and was mortified to see Michael’s name neatly repeated all around the border of the page. Quickly she flipped to a new sheet, hoping Michael hadn’t seen her doodling.

“I, uh, was thinking Calculus BC, Statistics and Computer Science A as AP courses, and French, American History and English Lit as honors courses.”

Michael scanned her report card. “Well that pretty much matches up with what your teachers recommend. So what about colleges?”

“I know it’s a dream, but I’d like to go to CalTech and do Math with some Comp Sci I guess. I don’t know if I’d be good enough though. Or if I could afford it.”

“Well, between your teachers, Eric and Tony, I think we’d all agree you’re good enough. As for affording it, when was the last time you added up how much you had saved? Once you’ve done that we could see what scholarships you might qualify for. Heck, I bet Bob Jones would even see if he could arrange something from the Company if we asked.”

Michael gave her a big smile as he wrapped up their talk. “It’s a great report card and shows what you’re capable of Cassie. You just need to start thinking about the future now so you point all that ability in the right direction. We’re all proud of you, and I know your Mom would be real proud of you too.”

That evening, after everything had been cleaned up and put away, Cassie took Hoover out into their yard for a final run around and then headed up early to her room. She hadn’t thought about money, well her money, since she had slapped three thousand dollars on the table in that motel down in Vale.

She started jotting figures down on her note pad. ‘Three, no four now, years at twelve thou, plus what she had when she arrived, less four years of High School costs at three thou a year, and the three thou initial stake, and a thou each year for her ‘mones. Oh yes! Don’t forget that last comic.’ She did a quick online search and it had actually dropped in value a bit. ‘Okay, add another seven grand. That makes about forty six thou. There’s still surgery to pay for, say twenty, and lawyers, at least another ten.’

Cassie sagged. Even with a scholarship and working part time she’d struggle. She knew that trying to get the eight grand she’d given her father for her college fund and savings wasn’t an option, and she wouldn’t ask Aunt Megan for money. Being trans she couldn’t even join the military for the college benefits. She started putting away her notebook when she dislodged one of her old USB sticks from the desk drawer. ‘I’d forgotten about that. God, what was I thinking? They’ve probably tanked. I wonder…’

Cassandra was quite proud of herself that night. She hadn’t squealed or shrieked. She’d calmly closed down her laptop and tidied everything away before going back down to say goodnight to the guys. Then she washed her face and brushed her teeth as always before settling into bed and giving Hoover a final cuddle.

All the while her brain was fixated on the image of that trading screen; 1.000 Aetherium = $347.829.

~o~O~o~

The rest of that summer was a mixture of sadness and excitement. Her guys who were staying were already being groomed for their new roles, and evenings round the table bubbled with conversations about company protocols, production processes and technical slang. At the same time Cassie noticed how Brandon, Norm, Jordan and Eric started to slowly ease back from the chatter. It was no longer their world or their future, as they began to focus on life after their home in Eldorado.

Cassie presented her final set of figures for ‘Leatherneck Inc.’ as the guys had all started to call it. Each of them had managed to save a hundred and seven thousand dollars over the three years after all expenses and the monthly drawings. It would have been a hundred and nine thousand if they’d let her share out the emergency funds. She had tried to argue about that, but in the face of a unanimous wall of refusal Cassie was forced to accept their decision. She felt even more guilty about it, now she knew how much her investment was worth.

In August they had a house barbecue to say goodbye to those who were leaving. Then all four retrieved their bags from storage, emptied their rooms, and quietly slipped away after a short round of farewells.

“Hey, don’t cry li’l sis.” Eric had told her as he himself battled to keep tears from his own eyes. “It’s the start of a new adventure. We’re all going to keep in touch no matter where we are. In five or six years I’m going to expect a call from you and your multi-million dollar company to commission me for some artwork okay?”

At the house they rearranged the rooms so everyone had their own, and Cassie struggled to get used to cooking and shopping for four less mouths. Another blow was when Marie and Doug announced after church that their team was also moving on.

“When Doug’s Mom died six years ago she left him the family farm in upstate New York. We didn’t have the cash to pay the taxes owed and keep the cows. So the cows went. We leased the land to a neighbor and have been saving ever since to get enough to start it up again. Well, we’re there now.”

Cassie hugged her friend and unwitting mentor. “I’m going to miss you.”

Marie laughed. “Doug and I will miss you every time I cook Doug one of your Pecan pies girl! Don’t you dare be a stranger you hear? I’ve still got to raid the rest of your recipe book!”

Despite all the changes, the team didn’t allow Cassie time to mope over that summer. Josh continued to push her hard with her Wing Chun, while Hector and Michael kept her shooting and driving skills fresh. Even Mario Ribas, the former Texas Ranger, had a hand in her ongoing education.

“Seems a shame not to train up that hound of yours given his pedigree Miss Metherick.” He’d told her again one afternoon as he watched Hoover hunting out a tennis ball that Cassie had accidentally thrown into some scrub.

Cassie wasn’t so sure “I don’t think I’d want him to be an attack dog. He’s a big softy really.”

“Who said anything about being an attack dog? One of the best tracking dogs I ever worked with was a German Shepherd. I bet your boy would be a natural.”

With the encouragement of the team Cassie finally agreed and within six weeks Hoover had got used to the working harness Mario Ribas had arranged for him. Soon he was regularly dragging Cassie up and down the hills and gullies surrounding the site in pursuit of a scent track laid down by one of the security team. Like Hoover and his harness, Cassie was equally unimpressed with the gear her team required her to carry. This time it was Wayne who laid down the law.

“Proper boots with ankle support, half a gallon of water for you and Hoover, radio, GPS, trauma pack, sun block, an MRE, dry dog food, survival blanket, flashlight, spare batteries, emergency signalling flares, smoke grenade, multitool, twenty meters of para cord, fire starter, leash, bowl and toy for Hoover and a box of dextrose tablets.”

“Is all that really necessary?” Cassie whined.

“I took out half the kit Michael wanted you to carry. He was going to insist you carry a full 782 load-out. Don’t worry, you’ll soon get used to it.” He added with absolutely no sympathy.

He was right, she did, although there were an awful lot of cuss words along the way and she never did find out what a ’782’ was.

“Told you he was a natural Miss Metherick!” Mario proudly announced as he watched her stagger back from yet another training exercise in late October. “You two make a fine search and rescue team.”

A dishevelled Cassie looked down to the happy dog at her side, barely panting after the eight mile trek. “He may be but I’m not.” She complained. “I’m shattered!”

Mario Ribas just chortled. Then turned up at dinner with Bob Jones the next night to present her and Hoover with an official looking framed certificate and a metal security badge in a leather folder.

Kenneport Mineral and Mining
Oregon Security Operations Group.
Search and Rescue Team #01

Michael and the guys had thought it was hilarious, until she dragged a couple of them out with her and Hoover on the following Saturday’s exercise.

“Come on guys! I thought you were Marines.”

“Jeez Cookie… Why did you… have to go up… every hill?” Hector finally gasped out.

“Don’t blame me. The guys from the security team laid the trail.”

Cassie didn’t hear Hectors next comment. “What was that big bro?” She asked.

“I was just thinking how best to thank them is all.”

Cassie snickered and reached down to make a fuss of Hoover. That wasn’t quite how it had sounded to her.

~o~O~o~

By her January report card it was clear that, unless something went horribly wrong, Cassandra should have no problems getting good enough grades to attend CalTech.

“Your current weighted GPA is 4.63. Keep it up kiddo! Have you started to think about getting ready for your ACT or SAT, and writing your applications yet?” Michael praised her.

“I just want to finish High School first, I guess I’ll have time over the summer.”

“You’re going to be busy in July and August, getting lawyers and doctors sorted out. Has Aunt Megan got you lined up with anyone?”

“Yep. I passed her all the information that Paris kindly sent me. I’ve got appointments with both the week we get back to Pasadena.” She gave Michael a look. “Are you sure I should tell them everything? I mean, wouldn’t that cause problems for you and the guys?”

“What are they going to do to me? We can prove you weren’t abducted or transported across state lines. Your father was in Jail for a homophobic attack and you were still in serious danger in LA as we saw with that a’hole Rheinhart. Your Aunt knew where you were and agreed it was for the best. For some reason you’ve never been listed as a runaway on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children website, nor here in Oregon. You were safe, fed, had a home, were under a doctor’s care and attended school all year. The only people who might be pee’d off are the Company.” Michael shrugged. “Heck, you’re going to be eighteen and an adult next month, so it all becomes irrelevant anyway.”

So Cassie just buckled down to her final semester and put her efforts into getting the best grades she possibly could. Occasionally she would nervously check the current price of her Aetheriums, scared to look as it jumped and dipped like a mad rollercoaster. But she was happy that was the only excitement she had to contend with in her life.

Until the spring morning when Mario Ribas pulled up outside house twenty two and started hammering at the door.

“Excuse me ma’am but someone is knocking at the door. May I be excused.” Cassie asked her French tutor.

“Go on. Get back as soon as you can Miss McCarrick.” She sighed.

Cassie and Hoover dashed downstairs to find Mr. Ribas hopping from foot to foot.

“Get your gear and hound girl. We’ve got a call out.” He demanded.

“Uh, What?”

“Missing family, two hours northwest of here. Left their truck at the trail head and went for a hike. They’ve been missing since last night but their truck has only just been found. Baker City PD are calling round for any SAR team with a tracking dog they can reach, and Ontario PD gave them our number.”

Cassie went cold. The training had all been fun, but now people were expected her and Hoover to do it for real. She gulped.

“Um, sir, I need to close down some stuff and inform my tutor. Be right back.” With that she dashed back up to her room and was apologizing to her tutor even as she was pulling on her boots and grabbing Hoover’s harness, her ‘phone and backpack.

“Ma’am, I’ve just been called out. I’ve got to go.”

“Go? Go where? What’s wrong?”

“Hoover and me are one of the local search and rescue teams ma’am. Our boss, Mr. Ribas, is downstairs waiting for us right now. A family went missing last night.”

Mrs. Courtauld was flustered. “Yes, yes go on. Bon chance Cassandra.”

Two minutes later Cassie was downstairs and ready.

“All sorted?” He asked. “Good, let’s go.”

She snatched up the site radio from its wall bracket, locked the door and followed.

Before they left the site Cassie was already worrying about her team.

“I haven’t got dinner ready for the guys…”

Mr. Ribas just grabbed the handset on his dashboard. “Control this is Ribas.”

“Go ahead.”

“Sort out dinner for team twenty-two in the management accommodation. SAR zero one will probably be late.”

“Roger that.”

It took them a good two hours to reach the East Eagle Creek trail head and meet up with a local Deputy.

“Afternoon Mr. Ribas, Ma’am.” He touched his hat. “This is their truck.”

“Afternoon Deputy Arnold. This is Cookie and Hoover. Anyone been near the truck since you got here?”

The embarrassed look told Mario everything he needed to know. Cassie took a look inside to spot a booster seat in the back.

“Can we get inside to get Hoover a decent scent?” She asked.

The Deputy just looked at her until Mario sighed, pulled out an asp baton and smashed the passenger window before pulling up the lock. “Go round the other side Cookie.”

Careful of the broken glass, she led Hoover around, then persuaded him to snuffle the booster seat and coats in the back. She thought for a moment, then snatched up the coats and stuffed them into her pack.

“Okay, ready. Who’s coming with me?”

Again she was met with a blank look from the Deputy.

“You know I can’t keep up with my leg Cookie.” Mario added.

Cassie began getting annoyed. “So how do I call for help if I find them?”

Reluctantly the Deputy pulled his radio from his belt. “The reception ain’t great up here, but if you get through use the callsign ‘Kenneport SAR zero one.’”

She just rolled her eyes, then took the radio and added it to her pack as she quickly programmed her GPS, then turned to Hoover. “Hoover, find it!” Then they were off and running.

It was nearly midnight when Mario dropped Cassie and Hoover off at house twenty-two. She’d called Michael as soon as she’d had cellphone coverage to let him know they were safe and heading back, but all the lights were still on when they finally arrived.

Cassie made it as far as a couch in the living room before collapsing lengthwise into its embrace, with Hoover deciding to do his impersonation of a comforter on top of her. Michael got to Cassie first, looked down at the exhausted duo, and started to unlace her boots.

“We heard you found them. What happened?”

“Junior decided to go scrambling on a small butte some way off the hike late yesterday afternoon. Dad followed and broke his ankle. They managed to all snuggle up through the night. When we got to them Mom was about to try and head back, without a map, compass or GPS.”

Hector joined them, handing over a mug of hot chocolate and putting a bowl of fresh water down for Hoover, who looked at it for a moment, then ignored it as too much effort before dropping his head back on Cassie’s chest.

“How did you get them out?” By now Michael was working on freeing Hoover from his harness.

Cassie yawned. “Had to go a mile back down the trail to get a signal on my ‘phone, the radio they gave me was useless, then I guided a paramedic and some locals back to the family. We had to carry the dad out. When we finally got back to the trailhead he tried to have a go at me about his car window being broken.”

Wayne snerked. “What did you say to that?”

“Told him I didn’t do it, it was above my pay grade, so SITFU¹.” She muttered tiredly.

All three of the guys completely lost it at that. When Michael finally got himself under control. “I think we have definitely been a seriously bad influence on you missy.” He turned and nodded to Hector who picked up Hoover like a puppy while he in turn rescued the mug before lifting Cassie in his arms. “Bed time for you two. Don’t get up early. We’re going to grab breakfast at the management accommodation, ‘kay?”

He didn’t get an answer from either of them.

~o~O~o~

Thankfully ‘Kenneport SAR Zero One’ wasn’t called out again. Although she did have to get Mr. Ribas to come round and explain to her school counsellor by video link that she really was part of a search and rescue team, and she really did get called out. In the end she sent a link to the story on the Baker City paper’s website, complete with cheesy photo of Hoover and her. The difference in surname she just blamed on a cloth eared local reporter.

Two months later she graduated with her expected grades. And then it was time for goodbyes.

“Miss Metherick. You have been a wonderful member of our congregation here and will be sorely missed.” Reverend Davies told her as he warmly shook her hand after she had told him the team would be leaving early the following week.

When he finally wandered off Mrs. Dubock came over and gave her a hug. “More like sorely missing your cooking.” She muttered, then looked Cassie up and down. “So Cassie, now you’re on your way, do you want to tell me how old you really are?” She asked with her eyes twinkling. “And don’t try and bullshit me. I’ve been watching you grow up for the last four years.”

Cassie blushed. “Sorry, I’ve been eighteen since February ma’am.” She offered apologetically.

Mrs. Dubock grinned. “Don’t apologize Cassie. I guess you did what had to be done. I just have one question though.” She leant in close and whispered. “How did you get Hardcastle onto the church roof?”

On Tuesday morning the last of Team Leatherneck finally headed off on their separate ways with promises of keeping in touch. Michael, Cassie and Hoover piled into his truck to retrace their route from four years ago. Cassie picked up another lame picture postcard in New Pine Creek’s post office, then she and Hoover walked over the State line. It seemed vaguely appropriate that Hoover decided to cock his leg and christen the ‘Welcome to Sunny California’ sign as they passed.

“Looking forward to getting back home Cassie?” Michael asked as they continued south west.

“We just left home.” She sighed, then perked up. “But I’m looking forward to my next adventure.”

Thirty six hours later she and Hoover were bounding up the stairs of Aunt Megan’s apartment block, to be met with a squeal of joy and a flurry of arms and legs from her now not so little sister.

Cassie burst into tears. “Oh god, I’ve missed you guys so much!”

~o~O~o~

Note 1. SITFU. United States Marine Corps unofficial acronym. Stands for ‘Suck It The F**k Up’.