A Quiet Walk (Arynn)

[Walker Gregg]

It had been days since Walker had been out of his dorm for anything more than walking between classes, and he was getting stir crazy. Toby had been out now and then (always in the company of Rufus, or Danny, or Andi), so at least he didn’t have to deal with his son acting like a lunatic on top of his own insanity. Still, it was bad enough trying to sit down to homework while all he really wanted to do was burn the books and go live in Pinhurst. Who knew? Maybe he’d make a really successful mountain man if he got the chance. Toby would love it, too – he’d always loved visiting parks and forests, and had even thoroughly endorsed the idea of living in the woods one of the times they had been forced to camp out for the night. That had been one of those time that pride for his son had nearly driven him to tears, and one of the memories he pulled out every now and then to smile over.

That settled it. “Toby!” The three year old’s head popped up from the coloring book he was busily working on, and Walker nodded toward the door with a smile. “What do you think about going for a walk in the woods?” Walker’s favorite smile sprang into existence and Toby scrambled off the bed to meet him, whooping excitedly, at the door.



The woods were even quieter than Walker had expected, the space between the trees void of any noise but the wind. Well, it was until Toby got there – he darted back and forth across the path, alternating between questions and “Ooh, Papa, look what I found!”

[/i], which was usually accompanied with the brandishing of whatever new treasure he’d uncovered. Walker feigned excitement each time, even though most of his attention was elsewhere. Getting outside had been what he needed, and he felt himself relaxing despite his better instinct. It had been so long since he’d had to worry – really worry – about Schneider that where this walk would have once sent him into fits, he could now enjoy it. He closed his eyes and basked in the sheer pleasure of that thought.

It was only a moment later that he lowered his head and opened his eyes, but as soon he did he knew something was wrong. Toby wasn’t in his line of sight – which wasn’t immediately alarming by itself, since he’d spent most of the walk in the nearby bushes – but there was also no sound of him. Even when he’d been in the bushes, there had always been giggles and “oohs” mixed in with the general rustle of movement through the leaves. Now, though, there was complete silence. “Toby?” He was surprised when his voice came out strangled-sounding, but then he supposed that was inevitable when it had to squeeze past the heart lodged in his throat. Panic was making his heart thud irregularly, and with it lodged in his throat like that, it was exceptionally uncomfortable. Part of him felt like he deserved it, though – he had been stupid enough to let his guard down, and now his son was missing. “Toby!”[/blockquote][/size]

[Arynn Carter]

Blood pounded in her veins with every powerful beat of her heart. The peaceful sounds of the Pinehurst forest around her were the only music to her ears as Arynn weaved in between trees and jumped over fallen logs, underbrush, and even a few rocks. Long, muscular legs carried her at a brisk running pace, and she allowed her instincts to take over to avoid the natural objects in her path. Since coming to live at Silas Academy upon accepting a teaching position, one of the first things she had done was map out a few circuitous running/obstacle courses she could traverse daily so as to keep up her exercise regime. As fancy as the academy's gym was, and as cool and useful as the simulation rooms were, they would never be able to beat nature. There was a relaxing quality to the outdoors that interior workout places--regardless of their high tech level--would never be able to match. And Arynn had always preferred the outdoors to the indoors.

As she ran, her body taking over for her mind, she let her thoughts drift. A few memories sprang to the forefront of her mind. It was nice to be able to simply work the body while the mind drifted. She'd been able to find answers to questions and solutions to problems on countless occasions that way. Why, she could remember one time when she'd been taking a college Shakespearean class and she'd been struggling with one particularly tricky analysis paper on Hamlet. She'd cooped herself up in the library all day to finish that paper. And, as much as she adored the library and its numerous books, it hadn't been till she'd taken a break and gone running through the park that all her thoughts and seemed to clear and string together into what soon became a cohesive A-grade analytical paper. Such success felt good. Exercise felt good. The fresh, crisp air outside felt good.

It just felt good.

Out of the corner of her eye, Arynn caught a glimpse of movement. A flash of blonde hair and a small body toddling off to her left. Leaping over a mound of underbrush, she came to a halt as gracefully as her environment allowed. Crystalline eyes snapped back to the spot she'd thought she'd seen movement. Sure enough, and to her surprised delight, a small boy--perhaps three or four--was ambling around. His wide, interested, and fascinated eyes studied the world around him in a way that only a young child could. Eyes darting around, she also didn't see the kid's parent(s). That was trouble with a capital T.

Arynn's heart warmed. She had always had a soft spot for children. As nasty and whiney as they could be, their unadulterated innocence for life and hunger for learning had always brought out a side of her that she generally kept locked away. It was the side of her where she actually--truly--opened her heart to someone. She could remember the love and devotion that her parents had showed her until the day they'd died. The world was a cruel place anymore, and she would take any chance she could to protect the little ones from it... just as her parents had done for her.

Hair pulled up under a sport's hat, face flushed red from exertion, Arynn slowed her breathing and stepped toward the little boy. "Hey there, sweetie," she greeted in one of the sugary voices that women tended to have when speaking to kids. Her British accent was noticeable but not overwhelming. She'd worked on toning it down since she'd decided to move to America. She stopped about six paces from him, not wanting to scare him. Crouching down, that same warm smile on her naturally pouting lips, she placed hands on her knees and said, "I'm so glad I found you. It's unsafe out here in the woods all by your lonesome. I might need someone to watch my back."

She winked at the little boy, her meaning clear. He was supposed to be her little hero. "Speaking of, where's the person watching your back? Your mum or dad? Both?" It was in that moment she heard a panicked male voice scream out 'Toby.' It wasn't difficult to assume that the little boy equaled Toby. Calling back, she yelled, "Over here!" She winked again at Toby.

"Toby, huh? I like it. Good, strong name."

Toby watched her with huge eyes and then finally smiled. It was a broad expression that split his entire face. Awww, the cuteness overload was almost too much. He toddled toward her, closing the distance she'd purposefully put between them earlier, until he was arm's length away. She was reaching out to rest a gentle hand on the boy's shoulder when she looked up to see, presumable, Toby's fretting father bumble into view.

... And he was shockingly young.

[Walker Gregg]

Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid! Walker jogged down the path, senses straining for any sign that Toby had been through. He wanted to panic – just break down a lose it – but that part of his brain that handled that had been locked away a long time ago and instead his mind felt too sharp as he moved. “Toby!” Almost right away there was an answer – a woman with the edge of an accent in her voice – and he plunged into the trees. The underbrush wasn’t thick, save in spots, but he somehow managed to hit every single one of those spots until he was so hopelessly tangled he could barely move. He had to stop then, and he took several calming breathes as he jerked sticks and thorns from his hair and sleeves. If the woman had been trying to do something, she wouldn’t have called out to Walker, so he could be pretty sure that she was alright. Not that it helped that thud of his heart, but at least the rational part of his brain was working hard to accept it.

He finally slipped free and staggered out of the bush and straight into a clear area. Where Toby’s voice called “Papa!”

[/b] excitedly. Walker’s attention was on the woman, though, his mind buzzing to try and place why she looked familiar – she wasn’t one of Schneider’s people, and after a second he called up a vague recollection of seeing her in the halls. . . . A teacher, he thought. Relief made his legs feel weak, and he finally shifted his attention down to the still-smiling Toby, holding out a hand as he frowned slightly. “I’ve told you not to run off like that Toby. C’mere and leave the lady alone.” Before he had finished speaking, Toby was shaking his head emphatically and pointing behind the woman, “Uh-uh, I gotta watch her back! She says I’m strong.” Walker couldn’t help smiling – he doubted that was exactly what the woman had said – and closed the distance himself instead. Close up he realized the woman was very pretty, only a few years older than him and dark-haired – and nearly naked. He tried not ogle her as he stuck out a hand, “I’m Walker Gregg and this is Toby.” Toby solemnly stuck out his hand to have it shaken after Walker’s, and Walker leaned in conspiratorially, mock-whispering, “And if you don’t mind, could not tell anyone my son’s a superhero? It’s hard enough to keep all the villains away now.” He tore his eyes off the woman to shoot a wink at Toby, and the three year old giggled. Feeling a little embarrassed – both from losing his son and from being close to the lovely woman – he forced himself to look at her and gave an awkward smile. “Thank you for staying with him. He knows better-” Toby squirmed guiltily and edged a little closer to the woman at Walker’s exasperated look, “but I guess he got excited and wandered too far.”[/blockquote][/size]

[Arynn Carter]

Crystalline eyes flickered over the young man's form as he stumbled out of the bushes into view. It was painfully obvious that he'd been panicking in his search for his little boy. The poor dear. She knew how children had a way of getting away in the blink of an eye. One of her cousins had always been a little mastermind when it came to playing Houdini. It had caused Arynn several heart attacks and numerous tiffs with her prudish, self-righteous, and judgmental aunt. Honestly, it was a miracle the woman had ever let her babysit the kids when Arynn had been living there after her years of drug abuse and all around self-destructive couple of years after her parents had died. Luckily for her, and for those kids, her uncle was a far more level headed and forgiving man. He'd probably be the only reason if any of their kids managed to not turn out exactly like their mother. Arynn almost shuddered at the horrible thought.

She laughed, her eyes crinkling at the edges, at Toby's response. Wiping her hands once on her very short black spandex shorts, Arynn straightened. "It's quite all right. He's not bothering me in the slightest, albeit I'm certain his momentary absence might have shaved off a few of your years. And I cannot deny that I did mention to him how very much I needed someone to watch my back until we found his mum or dad." She smiled disarmingly at Walker as he introduced the both of them formally. Her wavy brown hair with golden highlights bobbed in its ponytail as she reached forward to grasp the young father's hand in hers. As she did so, she took the opportunity to give him the once over. He was handsome with intense eyes. She also easily picked up on the undertone of shyness he was exhibiting with his body language. It wasn't hard for her to guess that her current ensemble choice was most likely the culprit. As it was, her half naked body was thin sheen of sweat layering it with flushed cheeks from the the exercise. She had been out here running for almost half an hour. In fact, she'd manage to cross their paths on her return trip.

Bending over just enough to shake Toby's hand on a more eye-level basis, Arynn smiled fondly at the boy and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you both. I'm Professor Arynn Carter." She made mention of her teaching status for Walker's benefit. It might help put him at ease a little more to know that the half naked lady was a teacher and not some questionable female jogger. Not that he might not think that anyway. She was half naked after all. She couldn't honestly say that bothered her much. "You know, Toby, it's easy to see that you have a daddy that loves you very much. You ought not to leave his side like that. He might need you to watch his back, too." She gave her own wink to him and then straightened again. Her smile deepened as Toby giggled at his father's words. "I'll do my absolute best, Mr. Gregg," she responded with a mock solemn face, playing along with the charade. "But you can imagine how difficult that might be for me. After all, damsels in distress need their dashing superheroes to come save the day."

She made a show of studying first Walker and then Toby and commented--seemingly to Toby, but obviously for Walker--"I do see that the rugged good looks run in the family. I must say you are one luck boy, my little superhero." Resting hands on her hips, she faced Walker more straight on. "It's not a problem at all Mr. Gregg. I'm thrilled that we've had the pleasure. Now, this might seem like an asinine question, but I shall ask it regardless." A small self-deprecating smile. "Do you live around here? Or just visiting, as it were?"