Search and Rescue - 4 Lost Hearts~
Chapter Four:

Nora turns and looks over at Alexis, "Did you hear that?"

"Yeah, I did", she reaches for one of their last candles and lights it.

"Do you think, maybe....." she hobbles towards the door.

Alexis reaches the door first and swings it open; suddenly looking into the blue eyes of a complete stranger, but immediately she knew who he was. She looked behind him and the tears began to fall, "You came”, she says through her tears, he nods his head.

He looked around the chestnut haired woman, and saw her standing there, tears in both their eyes, "Thank God you’re okay." He went to her, wrapping his arms around her, squeezing the air out of her.

She walked outside and fell into his arms, burying her head in the crook of his neck, just like she's done so many times before, "I knew you were alive," he whispered threw his tears.

He pulled back, "Let me look at you," he brushed the hair off the bandage that was covering her face, "what happened here," then pointing to her leg, "are you okay, shouldn't you sit down?"

"I'm fine, there were some scratches, some burns, nothing serious, other than that," she pointed to her leg, "I think it's broke, but Alexis did a good job setting it and..."

*~*

He pulled out of their embrace, taking her face in his hands, "Let me look at you. God I was so afraid...so afraid we had lost you", he ran his finger down the cut on her cheek, which was healing. Noticing her arm, "What happened?"

"I think I broke my arm and dislocated my shoulder, it’s hard to tell, but Nora", glancing over at the other two in the room, "Nora took really good care of it."

*~*

He helps her over to a couch in front of the fire, pulling her gently down beside him, "I was so scared I would never see you again, never be able to..."He's interrupted by the ringing of his cell phone..."Buchanan"

"Mr. Buchanan, this is the ranger's station, I just wanted to let you know that the storm that was heading this way, got here earlier then expected and you’re going to be stuck until we can get in there tomorrow and get you out. Do you know your location?"

He helps her over to the other couch, and pulls her down beside him; never letting go of her hand as they sit and listen to Bo’s end of the conversation.

"We are in an abandoned building, looks like an old ski lodge of some sort, pretty decent sized...and ranger," he looks at Nora, still holding her hand, "we found them, they’re alive."

"That's, that's a miracle, well stay warm and we will get you in the morning."

"Okay, thanks," he clicked the phone shut, looking down at Nora and then over at the other two in the room "well it looks like we are stuck here for the night, but they will be here to get us out in the morning.

*~*

Ned and Alexis sit across the room, her head against his shoulder as he pulls out his cell phone, handing it to her as soon as Bo’s conversation ended. "I think there are two little girls back in Port Charles that would like to hear from you."

She takes the phone from him and smiles through her tears, she dials the number and waits, "Emily.....yeah Em it's me....Em...Em....I'll explain it all later please I need to talk to my girls, where's Brook?"

"She's upstairs I'll go get her."

Alexis brushed back a few tears as she waited for Brook to pick up the phone, "Hello?"

"Brook, honey...It's me...It's Alexis."

"Daddy found you didn't he?", the little girl’s smile could be heard across the phone lines, "He told me he was bringing you home."

She looks over at Ned; taking his hand in hers, "Well you're daddy always keeps his promises....Always."

“Alexis, when are you coming home?”

“We should be home tomorrow night.”

“Oh…”

Alexis could hear her tone suddenly change, “What’s the matter sweetie?”

“I just want you and daddy to come home. I don’t like it when Skye is here and you’re not.”

She looks over at Ned, “Is Skye there now?” Ned looks over at her; noticing the pain in Alexis’ eyes.

“No, Emily sent her home. She told her that Daddy was bringing you home and that she didn’t need her help. She didn’t believe Emily, she told me you were dead and that you weren’t coming home.”

Alexis smiled, “Well I am coming home and I don’t want you to worry about Skye anymore, okay. You just need to be nice to her,” she pauses for a moment, the emotions rising up within her, “She’s your daddy’s friend, okay?”

“Okay, I’ll be nice.”

"That’s my girl. Brook honey, where's your sister?"

"She's right here", placing the phone on the little girl’s ear, "Hey baby, hey my sweet angel, its mama,” the tears beginning to fall.

Emily took the phone back from Brook and picked Kristina up and put her on her lap, "She's smiling from ear to ear, Alexis."

Ned reached out and wiped the tear off her face as she held the phone to her ear, listening to their little girl’s babbles, "Tell her I love her and I'll see her soon."

"I will Alexis...and I'm so glad you're alright, I'll take care of informing the rest of the family...and of course I'll tell Nikolas as soon as he gets back. He's been staying here with me and the girls."

"Thank you Em....we'll see you sometime tomorrow." She turns and looks at Ned, the tears falling onto her cheeks. He reaches out and pulls her close, brushing some hair off her forehead, “Shhh…honey; you’ll see your little girl tomorrow night.”

She looks up at him and smiles, “Our little girl.”

He smiles, the tears welling up in his eyes, “Right, our little girl.”

*~*

At the same time across the room he hits end and quickly dials another number; handing the phone to her. “There's someone who really misses you.”

"Mommy?" He picked up the phone more than a little excited. Tears came to her eyes as she heard the voice of her baby boy.

"Yeah sweetie, it's me." She falls back into Bo's embrace as the emotions overwhelm her.

"Daddy found you, just like he said he would." She looks over at Bo, who reaches up to wipe the tears from her eyes.

"Yes he did." She takes his hand in hers. "He came to my rescue, but your dad has a habit of doing that, coming to my rescue." He tightens his grip on her hand, as he pulls her into him.

"Are you coming home now?"

"Well, we can't tonight, because of a storm, but we will be home tomorrow night."

"I knew dad would bring you home,"

"You did huh? How did you know that?"

"I heard him on the porch.” She leans her head back into his shoulder, as she listens to her son, "I heard him say that he would see you again, he had to see you again, so that he could tell you."

"Tell me what?"

"I don't know, he never finished, Gabrielle made me go to bed then." The tears pool up in her eyes again, picturing Gabrielle tucking her son in, reading to him, trying to take her place. "Well, I see, speaking of going to bed, I think its time you found your way to bed now."

"Nah Granpa said I could stay up tonight, because I don't have school tomorrow."

"Oh, you're staying with Granpa and Gramma?"

"Yeah, dad brought me here before he left."

She closes her eyes, and smiles, thankful, thankful that he didn't leave their little boy with that woman. "Okay, well you be sure to listen to them and I will see you tomorrow. I love you sweetie."

"Love you too mom."

She lets the tears take over after she hangs up. He turns her around embracing her, "Shh honey, its okay...we are going home tomorrow, and you will see your little boy."

"Our little boy, she whispers.

"Yeah," a smile breaks out on his face, "our little boy."

She looks over at him, giving her the look that makes her feel like a million bucks, she leans into his embrace, allowing herself to forget that he is with someone else. He pulls her closer to him, resting his face in her hair, forgetting that he has pledged himself to another. As they sit there huddled together enjoying the closeness of being together, feeling their heart beats against each other, they fell asleep in each others arms.

*~*

Across the room; she looks over at him, he gives her that smile, that smile that’s always been meant just for her, and she forgets everything that's ever come between them. He pulls her closer to him and lays his head against hers as it rests on his shoulder; suddenly the past seemed to melt away, even if for just that night. He lays back; pulling her with him; her head resting on his chest. She fell asleep listening to the beat of his heart, as he slowly drifted asleep, his hand intertwined with hers.

*~*

He wakes up, his arm asleep from where she has fallen asleep on it, cold due to the fire going out. He can feel her shivering, he whispers, "Hey, Red wake up honey, let's get you to bed."

She opens her eyes, lazily at first, it’s the first decent night’s sleep she's had in 5 years. She smiles when she sees he wasn't a dream. He reaches out his hand, which she takes. He reaches around and picks her up, carrying her towards the stairs.

At the top of the stairs, there are two doors, "Which way?"

She points to the one on the right; he enters, placing her on the bed. Slightly uncomfortable all of a sudden, "Maybe I should, ummm, maybe you and Alexis and Ned and I....umm what, what would you prefer?"

Closing her eyes and taking a chance, "Can you just hold me, just for tonight?"

Smiling, grateful for her request, "Yeah, yeah I can do that," he climbs in bed beside her, putting his arm around her, she scoots back, so they are perfectly spooned together. Within minutes her breathing signifies she has fallen back asleep.

He smiles as he lets himself enjoy her closeness, falling asleep with memories of the good years on his mind. They both begin to dream…

She walks up behind him and wraps her arms around him, lying her hands against his chest, her head against his back. He takes her hands and turns around in her embrace; pulling her against him as he kisses her neck. She wraps her arms around his neck as he continues to sear her neck with his kisses. He takes her lips in a passionate kiss as he picks her up and carries her over to "the" couch and lays her down; falling down on top of her. Their tongues continue their passionate dance....she rolls over towards him, sighing,” Bo" as she snakes one arm under his shirt around his waist. A smile spreads across his face as he sleeps, the feel of her hand against his chest, subconsciously sending his mind on overload, He breaks their kiss as he lifts the sweatshirt over her head, his breath catching in his throat at the sight of her lying there in front of him. He reached down and undid the clasp of her bra; freeing her breasts from their silken prison. He brought his lips down onto her nipple causing it to harden against his touch. His hand reaches around and brushes against her nipple causing a moan to escape as she slept. She reaches around and lays her hands on his hips, pulling his sweats and boxers down over his hips. He kicks free of his clothes, moaning when she first makes contact with his desire. Her hand that was once on his chest; slowly made its way down; brushing against him, a moan escapes from deep within as he sleeps. He continues to caress her breast as his hand makes its way to the waistband of the sweats she wore. He hooked his fingers into the waistband and lowered them over her hips until they lie on the floor.

*~*

He woke up an hour after Bo and Nora. Alexis’ hand was still resting in his. He could feel her shivering against him, "Hey honey, let's get you to bed."

She opens her eyes and looks into his, a smile breaking out on her face when she realizes that it wasn’t a dream, that he was really there. He reaches out his hand and helps her off the couch. They walk up the stairs; his arm around her shoulders, her head resting on his. They stop at the top of the stairs, "Which one is yours."

They walk in the room and suddenly awkwardness comes between them, "Umm...I’ll just grab this blanket and sleep back down on the couch."

She looked up at him, the vulnerability she rarely shows, tugging at his heart, "Can you...can you just hold me...for tonight?"

He looks at her and smiles, "Of course I can,” taking her hand in his he leads her over to the bed. She lies down on "her" side and he climbs in on "his" side. He pulls her close, perfectly spooned together. Soon her breathing slows and he lets himself fall asleep, thoughts of the good times on both of their minds and as they sleep the two once lovers find themselves lost in the past as they dream.....

He walks up behind her and places kisses on her neck, her body instantly melting against him as he caresses that spot just below her ears with his tongue. She turns around and wraps her arms around his neck as he places his lips back onto her neck. His hands begin to move down her arms, He pulls her closer running his hands along her arm and across her thighs…She smiles in her sleep; moving closer to him as she dreams…She runs her hands under his shirt and across his chest; needing to feel his skin against hers. She turns and lays her hand across his chest; under his shirt…He smiles as he dreams; feeling her skin against his as her hand rests on his chest…He removes his lips from her neck; crashing them down onto her lips as his hands make their way towards her breasts. He runs his finger tips over her nipples…His hand brushes her nipples as they sleep; causing her to move closer to him, He picks her up and carries her over to the bed and lays her down onto it, his body hovering over hers. He unbuttons her pajama top as she reaches out and removes his boxers, shuddering at the first contact she makes with his desire…Her hand that was resting across his chest, slowly moves lower; brushing against him, a moan escapes from deep within him as he continues to sleep… He reaches around and unhooks her bra; exposing her breasts to him; as he lowers his lips onto them, he continues to caress her breasts as he removes her pajama pants until all their clothes lie on the floor…

The next morning he wakes up to her running her fingers over his chest, he opens his eyes and smiles as he notices she is still sleeping. He pulls her closer and continues to lie there not wanting to stop this feeling he had, this feeling like he was finally home.

She opens her eyes, realizing she is in his arms she smiles, not wanting to leave the safety of his arms, the warmth of his embrace; she closes her eyes, and lets out a sigh. Sensing she is awake by her sigh, "Morning Red." He runs his hand along her side.

She turns her head to look at him, "Good Morning."

Her smile quickly rises to her eyes, as she looks into his sparkling baby blues. "Did you sleep well?"

She catches herself caressing his chest, noticing he's not complaining, not pulling away, and is matching her caresses with his hand along her side, decides to just let herself be. "Better than I have in years. What about you?"

"Well," he takes his hand and removes the hair from her forehead, "I would tell you that I don't remember the last time I slept this well," he pulls her closer, "but then I would be lying, because the truth is, I remember everything about the last time I slept this well."

She continues to smile, taking a deep breath, "So do I."

Sensing that this is the time, they speak at the same time, "Bo", "Nora"

Laughing, again at the same time, "There's something..."

He takes his fingers and places them on her lips, silencing her, "Let me say this, and then you can have my undivided attention, okay?" She nods, he pulls her up next to him, so he is looking in her eyes, still holding her close, his hand holding her chin steady, he can feel his heart begin to race, as her breath hits his hand, he swallows, "I thought the last few weeks were hell, thinking that I lost you, thinking that you left me to raise, your son, our son without you, I was so angry, angry at you, angry at God, angry at Gabrielle for trying to be you, angry at Matthew for having your eyes, and reminding me of you every moment of every day....but the person I was angriest at was me."

"You?" She asked.

He nodded, "You see, I thought you would always be there, and you would think by now I would’ve learned how precious life is, but I didn't and I took it for granted and I took you for granted. The day that Asa told me that the plane crashed, I plunged into darkness and the only thing pulling me out, was our little boy, the little boy you gave me, because in his eyes, is the same light, that has always been in your pulling me to shore." He wipes the tears from her eyes, "Nora, you are my best friend, and…" He is interrupted by the ringing of the telephone.

She looks at him, "You have to answer it; it might be Matthew."

He picks up the phone, "Buchanan."… "Hi Gabrielle." He feels her stiffen in his arms; then she turns to get out of bed. He turns to look at her but her back is to him as she wraps her robe around her. "Yes, we found them last night......yeah they’re fine, some bumps and bruises, but nothing serious." He hears the door to the bathroom slam and he gets up walking towards it, "We're coming home tonight....yeah I'll see you then. Bye." He puts his hand on the door, leaning his forehead against it, realizing that his chance was gone, too much time had passed; she didn't want him anymore, so maybe he should just go home and go on with his life. Having his best friend was more important, that having nothing at all.

She closes the door and leans up against it, letting the tears run down her face.

“That was so close Bo, so close to me telling you how I really feel, and ruining everything we have left.”

*~*

Down the hallway he wakes up; the sunlight reflecting off the snow causing the room to be engulfed in light. He rolls over and looks at her; her head lying on his chest, her arm carefully resting across his stomach. He smiles as he watches her sleep. He closes his eyes again and thinks about how long it’s been since he’s gotten such a good night’s sleep. She stirred in his arms and slowly opened her eyes, “Hey there sleepyhead,” running his hand along her arm; down onto her thigh.

She smiles and stretches, laying her head back against his chest, her fingers absentmindedly tracing circles on his chest; neither one pulling away from the other’s touch, “How long have you been awake?”

“Not long. So how did you sleep?”

“I haven’t slept that well since…”, she quickly looks away, both knowing what she was about to say.

“I know what you mean; I haven’t slept this well since then either.”

Suddenly they both feel like it’s time to confess what’s in their hearts; they speak at the same time, “Ned…” “Alexis…”

They smile, again speaking at the same time, “There’s something…”

He takes her hand in his and brings it up to his lips, placing a soft kiss on her hand, “Let me say this and than you can talk all you want, okay?” She nods and lays her head back onto the pillow as he rises up onto his elbow, looking into her eyes, “I’ve been living in my own version of hell for the past three weeks, thinking that I had lost you forever, that you had left me alone to raise our girls. I was so mad and so angry at everyone around me. I was angry at you because you got on that plane during the storm, I was angry at Edward for telling me things happen for a reason, I was angry at Skye for trying to take your place and for not being you; angry at the fact that every time I would look into Kristina’s innocent face it was your eyes staring back at me, angry that although I love her like she’s my flesh and blood that there was no lifelong symbol of what we had once upon a time, but the person I was the angriest at was me?”

“You, why would you be angry with yourself?”

“I always assumed you would be in my life, for the rest of my life. I was afraid I wasn’t going to get another chance to try and set the record straight between us. I thought about all those times you’ve asked me to forgive you for what has come between us, for you running out on our wedding, for the nastiness that came between us during the custody battle, for the way I had let you believe that I hadn’t forgiven you. I do forgive you Alexis, and…”, he looks over at his cell phone lying on the table.

“You better get it, it could be Brook or Emily.”

He reaches over and picks up his phone, “Ned Ashton,”… “Hi Skye,” he looks over at her as he feels her pull out of his embrace, removing her hand from his, as she climbs out of bed. “Yeah, we found them,” he watches her walk over and pick up her robe pulling it tight around her, “We’ll be home sometime tonight.” She walks into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her, “Yeah, I’ll see you then, bye.” He walks over to the door and leans his head against it, fighting the urge to go to her. He looked down at the phone in his hand and back at the door. He sighed as he walked back over to the bed, knowing now that their time had passed. Too much has come between them for them to ever get back what they had. They’ll return to Port Charles and live their separate lives, connected only by the love they have for their daughter and Brooke.

She leans against the door; her hand resting on the doorknob. “I love you, Ned, but how I feel doesn’t matter, too much time has passed; our time has passed. It’s time to move on, move on with our lives; mine with our daughter; yours with Skye and your little girls.” She stood up and walked over to the shower; stepping into it, allowing the water to wash her tears away.

*~*

He walks into the kitchen and pulls out the items that he and Ned had brought from the plane He starts digging around for some pans to take to the fire. He looks over as Ned enters the kitchen, and can tell by the look on his face, the last 12 hours have been no kinder to him, "So, how's Alexis?"

"She's in the shower," he quietly says as he thinks back to their previous conversation; a conversation that was going to set things straight, well before Skye called.

"Want to give me a hand with breakfast?" He picks up the stuff and heads for the fireplace. Ned picks up the remaining items off the table and follows Bo out of the kitchen. As he walks into the kitchen, he notices the empty junk food bags and laughs trying to imagine Nora surviving on her own cooking, grateful he and Ned decided to pick up some groceries.

Ned looks around the room and laughs, "Nora likes junk food, huh?"

"Yeah, you could say that...but it has more to do with Nora can 'prepare' junk food."

"Hey!" She walks up behind him smacking him, "I heard that!"

"Yeah I know what you mean, I'm glad they had some supplies that didn't require a microwave because all Alexis knows how to make is popcorn."

"Don't complain...you loved my popcorn,” she says walking up behind him.

"Well, lucky for both of you, the gourmet chefs are here." Bo begins cracking eggs in a pan, then sets it over the fire.

"Ooooo, a real Boy Scout huh? I never saw this side of you before”, a childlike grin appearing on her face, as she leans down on his shoulder to peak in at the pan.

Alexis walks over to Ned and looks down at the stuff in the bags. "What no French toast?"

He looks over at her and smiles, "We'll save the French toast for when you get home."

"You're on."

"Ned, I do believe these women, these women that we saved I might add, are sounding ungrateful."

"Yeah....demanding broads aren't they."

"You know I’m kinda hungry, I think between the two of us we can eat all of this stuff; there might not be any left."

"Yeah, they've survived this long on cheetos and ding dongs...I think we'll eat the eggs."

"Sounds good to me."

"Oh no you don't, you two. We're", pointing between her and Nora, "the ones that survived a plane crash, we get the eggs."

"Besides," sitting down beside him in front of the fire, "I really don't want to have to tell your son, that you don’t know how to share."

"That's low Red, using the child."

"But you're gonna give us some eggs now, aren't you." He laughs as her eyes sparkle.

In his mind, he's thinking, 'I'd give you the world if you'd let me.' "Yeah, I think we can give you girls some of these eggs. Why don't you get the plates and silverware out of the bag, while we finish cooking?"

"But Bo," she whines, "We’re injured."

Rolling his eyes, "Fine, fine."

Taking his hand in hers, "You're my hero."

Ned looks over at Alexis and she points to her arm. He laughs and stands up and heads towards the bags sitting on the table, "Thank you, dear,” she says; her smile lighting up her face.

They sit there staring at each other, until Ned notices the smoke coming from the pan. "Bo! You're scorching the eggs."

"What?" taking his hand back, "Dammit, Nora, look what you made me do.“ He sets the pan down and heads for the kitchen. Ned follows him into the kitchen, "They certainly are something aren't they?"

Looking back at Alexis and Nora sitting on the couch, "Yeah, they're something else alright."

In the kitchen, "You know, I thought maybe this was our second chance, our chance to get things right."

"Yeah I was thinking the same thing about Alexis and me. So what's holding you two back?"

Meanwhile in the other room, she looks towards the kitchen, "They really are incredible, aren’t' they, saving damsels in distress, and they cook!"

"Yeah, incredible....", she looks down at her hands in her lap, "I was hoping this was going to be mine and Ned’s second chance but..."

"But what? What's stopping you? I saw the way he looked at you; he's obviously still in love with you."

"That's in the past...too much has come between us...I’ve hurt him one too many times."

Back in the kitchen, "I was all ready to tell her how I felt, but it's too late for us, and I don't want to lose the relationship we do have, because I can live without her in my bed, but not without her in my life."

"I know what you mean. I was just about to tell Alexis how I felt, and then well the phone rang and we were interrupted. I need her in my life. Maybe it's better this way. We've only just started to be able to overcome the things that tore us apart."

"Yeah, I guess so, but sometimes...."

*~*

Back in the living room they sit across from each other on the couch, both thinking about the men in the other room, "Yeah, I wished once that we would never hurt each other," she gives a nervous laugh, "but we did, we hurt each other more than I ever thought we could."

"I never thought we would find a quarter of what we've been able to find again, you know the friendship...having his friendship means more to me than having him love me again, to feel his touch again."

“Exactly, it took us so long to get back to being friends, that I know I can live without him as my lover, but not without him as my friend, he really is my best friend."

In the kitchen they finish scraping together the remains of the breakfast, "Sometimes you have to just let go of the past and try to make it towards the future....for our kid's sake."

"Right, let's go eat." Bo picks up the stuff and heads to the other room.

They ate their breakfast amongst lively conversation. They talked about their kids, Bo and Ned filling Alexis and Nora in on what has been happening in their respective lives while they were gone. Finally all the food was eaten and a comfortable silence fell over the room. Nora and Bo walked over to the couch and sat down.

Alexis stood up and walked over to the window staring out at the blanket of white that surrounded them. He walked up behind her and placed his hand on her shoulders, his closeness felt like a knife through her heart, "I'm going to go take a shower. I'll be right back.”

She just nods as he removes his hands from her shoulders, her skin still flushed from his touch. She heard the water running and decided to go and get dressed while he was showering. She walked into the room and pulled out the clothes that he had packed for her; her favorite sweater and a pair of jeans. She just smiled as she pulled out the rest of the items he brought her. "You always know what I need, don't you Ned."

She slips off her robe and begins to take off her pajamas, another thing he had brought with him from home. She never noticed him walk in, only looking up when she smelled his familiar scemt, "Do you need some help?"

'Um...no, I'm fine. I can manage.", as she continues to struggle with her clothes.

He walks towards her and begins to unbutton her pj top, "Here stop being so stubborn and let me help." Their eyes lock for a moment before they both look down at his fingers working the buttons on her shirt.

"Ned..." she breathlessly whispered

Back downstairs Bo and Nora sit in silence; her head resting against his shoulder. Suddenly their closeness becomes too much and she stands up to throw her stuff away. "Hey what do you think you're doing?" he stands up next to her.

"I thought I would help pick up, since you were nice enough to cook."

"Sit down, you’re injured, I'll take care of it." He says going to take it from her.

"Bo," she goes to pull it back and lost her balance, he grabs her, and she falls into him, their lips brushing, their eyes locking. They both swallow as they continue to stare into each other's eyes.

He drops the plates and takes her in his arms, their heartbeats racing, tentatively leaning towards her, preparing to kiss her, just as he goes to take her lips in his…

*~*

At the same time upstairs. He looked up and their eyes meet both seeing years worth of unquenched desire. He was just about to lean in and kiss her when there was a banging on the door, "Rangers, anyone in there?"

TBC.....