Author : Eveifan
Summary: A Father Son fic. Rick decides to take his little boy camping, what trouble will the find in the great out doors.
A Camping Adventure
Chapter 1 : Fathers and Sons
It had been a busy few weeks for Rick O�Connell. He had been away on business for the museum. Then when he got back he hadn�t wanted to do anything except to be with is wife. Now he lay in bed holding her to him after making love to her for the fourth time this moring.
�I�ve missed this,� he said to her pulling her closer to him. In response she nuzzled her face into his neck, and wiggled her hips closer to his now limp form. He chuckled.
�You keep that up, and we won�t ever get out of this bed,� he told her rubbing his hand over her back. She licked against his neck, and would have done more, when they heard a terrible crash. For now all thoughts of making love to her for the fiftht time left him. He eased away and put on his robe, then walked out, and down to the parlor. An entire shelf of books had been knocked to the floor, and one name came to his mind.
�Alex front and Center.� Evelyn told him that their son had not behaved this week, so now it was time for Rick to be dad, and he didn�t like this role as discipline giver.
�No way,� came his reply. Rick went to the couch, where his five year old son was hiding.
�One,� Rick said, beginning to count, and Alex came out looking down at his feet as he did. He was lifted up and settled on one of the couches, then Rick knelt in front of him.
�Now, your mother tells me you have been very naughty this week.� He used her term to describe their son�s behavior. Alex looked up, a defiant little look in his eyes.
�Not that bad dad. Mum gets very grumpy when you are gone, and she thinks I�m naughty but I�m just being myself,� he said trying to be convincing. With the long list of things that Evie had mentioned about Alex, and his behavior, Rick new better than that.
�What, may I ask ,were you doing with the bookshelf.� Alex looked over at the shelf, then back down at his feet. Gently Rick took his index finger, and put it beneath his son�s chin lifting it so they could see eye to eye.
�I just wanted to go mountain climbing.� Then he huffed.
�Your always busy,� he suddenly yelled. �Max�s dad takes him camping every year, and so does Tommy�s dad, and Danny�s, but you are always to busy, either going away or doing things with mummy.� He got up and ran up stairs and Rick heard the door slam.
�What on earth did he do?� Evleyn asked as she saw the bookshelf. He looked up.
�Evie am I a bad father?� This surpised her, and she sat by his side.
�Of coarse your not, why would you say such a thing?� He sighed, and she wrapped her arms around him.
�Because I have been so busy working that I�ve neglected my son in going on father son camping trips, or at least that is what Alex says.� explained her husband as he leaned back against the sofa taking her with him. She shook her head.
�Alex is just going through a phase, he shouldn�t have yelled at you like that,� she told him. He knew this, but then again, maybe Alex was right, it was time for he and Alex to take trips with just the two of them.
�I think maybe I will take him camping next week,� Rick announced. Evie sat up looking slightly concerned.
�But he is only five.� she pointed out. This was true, but at the same time it would be good for Alex to start to learn about the world around him, outside from having servants and maids to take care of his every need.
�I�ll be right beside him Evie, but I need to do this for us,� he said, and she nodded. She would miss not having the two men of her life around, but at the same time it would be good for them to go out and adventure together.
In his room, Alex lay on his bed petting Cleo, who always came in when he was not feeling happy. She was purring as he pet her.
�I guess dad cares more about mum and his stupid job than me,� Alex said swiping away a tear that had started to role down his cheek. He hadn�t known that his dad had walked in at that point, not until he was lifted, and cradled in strong arms.
�I care about you more than anything else in this world. Sometimes I get too busy, and forget what is important,� Rick said as he settled on the edge of the bed holding his son.
�But Max�s dad, and Tommy�s...� Rick held a finger to his son�s lips.
�I�m Alex O�Connells dad, not Max�s Tommy�s or Daniel�s, and I thought about what you said downstairs, so if you promise to behave yourself this rest of this week, and not be naughty then you and I will go camping next week.� Alex�s eyes lit up then.
�Oh cool.� He struggled to be put down and left to go tell Megan and Max that he was going camping.
His best friend Megan lived but a stones throw away from his home. It was a good five minutes walk through the woods, and when he arrived she and Max were on Thunderbolt, her horse.
�Alex climb on the fence and you can ride with us,� she yelled. Her horse was gentle, and her yelling didn�t startle him at all. He climbed the fence and settled on the very back behind Max and they took off riding up to the barn. When they arrived Michael, their farm hand, helped the children off of the horse. Then the three ran to the edge of the woods where Alex�s father had made a tree house for them in one of the larger trees. When they got inside, Alex told them about the trip.
�He says I have to behave though,� Alex said frowning, and for Alex that was hard.
�Then that means you can�t go with us to the park, cause we are going to sneak. They are having a boat race in the lake, and Nanna told us she couldn�t take us, so we want to go on our own,� Megan announced That was too much to resist. So Alex decided that maybe this once he could go, and they wouldn�t worry about him. He was here after all, and maybe no one would notice that he was gone.
At the Manor Evelyn and Rick had righted the bookshelf, and had put all the books back on it. Now they were sitting at the dining room table trying to fix one of the many plates that had broken, and one that they knew they could fix.
�So where will you take him,� Evelyn asked about their father son trip.
�I was thinking up north a little ways, there are some nice forest areas, and plenty of lakes, so we can go fishing, I might even teach him to hunt.� She looked up dropping the piece of plate she had, causing it to shatter.
�You will not teach my son to kill animals,� she protested. He had no idea she was so against it.
�Evie a guy goes camping, thats sort of what they do.� She glared at him.
�Okay okay but can I at least teach him to fish?� he asked. That she was a little more accepting for her, and she nodded.
�What�s so bad about teaching Alex to hunt. As long as we are out in the wild, and hunt to eat what we kill, its nothing that should be a big deal.� She stood up and paced.
�Killing is the key word there Mr. O�Connell. He is five years old, and if you are going to teach him that then he will not go.� She stormed out, and he sighed.
�Good going old partner, � Rick said to himself. He stood walking upstairs to their room. There he found Evelyn on the bed crying, and knew there was more to this than just hunting. He laid beside her and gathered her in his arms. She clung to him crying as though her heart had broken.
�Hey shhhh, I won�t teach him to hunt. I�ll get rations for us.� She sniffed.
�No, if you want you can show him.� she said hiccuping.
�No not if it makes you this upset.� She sighed.
�Once when I was about seven I went outside, followed Jonathan and his friends into the woods. When I found them they had a cat, an innocent little cat,and they had tied it to a tree, and were shooting it with their sling shots.� She started to cry again, and he held her close.
�Shhh. That was not right, and if Alex ever did that he wouldn�t be able to sit down for a few days,� he said. He let her cry herself out, and she went to sleep. He shook his head, kids could be so cruel, and he had done some mean things, but never that mean. After easing away from her he went downstairs to call over at Megans home, to have Alex come home for lunch and a nap. Nanna picked up and told him she would relay the message. After he made the call he went to the kitchen and started to make lunch. Marie had the day off, so he was in charge of preparing the food they would eat.
The park was crowded with people, and the three children arrived just as the boat races began. They watched that for a little bit, then went to the swings and had contests to see who cold jump the furthest while the swing was going. Alex won that game.
�What do we do now?� Max asked.
�We could go and get some popping corn,� Megan said. She had brought her money for that, and she bought a big bucket then they sat and ate, and fed the pigeons.
�Lets go to the picture show,� Alex said. He had enough money, though none of them thought far enough ahead for the bus fare home.
It wasn�t all that long, after Rick called for Alex, when the phone wrang.
�O�Connell residents, this is Rick speaking,� he said as he set Alex�s plate on the table.
�Oh Mr. O�Connell, I can not find the children. Michael says they came up to the house, and they are not in the tree house. Are they with you?� Rick frowned. So much for Alex behaving.
�No but I will go try to find them.� He hung up the phone, and got his coat and his keys. He remembered that there was a boat race in the park, and guessed they were there. He drove into London, and wondered how they had managed to get here, then remembered his son�s piggy bank. �No more allowance for Alex� he thought as he parked the car on the street by the park. He got out and went down to the lake. The race was over, and there were no children to be found. He didn�t find them at the playground either, and decided maybe he had been wrong and headed for Megan�s house to see if they were by chance there.
It was getting late when the Picture show let out, and Alex, Max and Megan, were laughing as they walked out, then they saw that it was getting dark.
�Uh oh, I bet our parents are looking for us,� Max said. They ran to the bus, and found they had no money.
�What do we do?� Megan asked a little upset.
�We can walk home,� Alex said. Both of his friends looked at him like he had eaten a worm.
�Oh come on where is your adventure.� He started out and they followed. At night the streets of London were really no place for children, and as they hit the edge of town it was getting pretty dark. Alex held Megan�s hand in his, and Max looked out behind them.
�We aren�t ever going to get home,� Megan wined.
�Megan shut up,� both boys said at the same time, and she got really mad.
�Fine.� She took off running and they both had to go after her. They caught up to her as a man grabbed her. Megan screamed bloody murder, and he let her go.
�Megan that was really stupid,� Max told her.
�Well your stupid.� They all three had a shouting match, which brought an officer to them.
�What is the problem here?� the man asked them. They looked at him, and knew this was bad, and ran from him. He yelled at them to come back, then yelled at some of the other officers, and soon the three were rounded up.
It was a zoo at the O�Connell house. Max�s parents were there, Megan�s father was there, and a few Constables taking descriptions of the children when one of them got a radio call.
�The children have been found, and they are going to bring them here.� A collective sigh went through the room, and it wasn�t long before the three children were returned. Once everyone was gone. Alex was left alone to face his parents.
�Start explaining buddy,� Rick said, as he and Evie settled in the couch across from him.
�We just wanted to go to the park, and we were all really careful, then we spent all our moneys, and we couldn�t get home so we decided to walk. Then Megan started to wine so we told her to shut up, and she ran off, and then we go taken by the officers.� He looked up, and got cold stares back, and looked at his feet.
�Alex, your too young to go down there all alone,� Evelyn stated tenderly. �There are very unkind people who would do you harm if they ever got ahold of you. Thats why daddy and I want you to stay with us.� Evie said to her baby. He sighed.
�I guess this means we aren�t going camping,� he said sadly.
�We are, but you are going to be grounded here until that day comes,� Rick told him.
�And for tonight its time for dinner and bed.� They both went with him into the kitchen where he had his dinner, then it was off to bed.
Disclaimer: Don�t own them wish I did.
Chapter 2: Alex meets the Wilderness.
It was quite early in the morning, when Evelyn felt her husband move out of their bed. She yawned, and sat up.
�Do you want me to make you two something to eat?� she asked,, as she got out of bed, and pulled on a robe. Rick smiled, and came over to her, gathering her into his arms.
�You don�t have too,� he said, knowing that she was still tired from last night. They had made love quite a few times, to make up for not being able to while he and Alex were away. She snuggled against him.
�I�m going to miss you,� she said. It was hard to let him go, to let both of her men go, but she wanted them to have this time to bond, as fathers and sons did on these types of trips, so she supported this.
�Get ready, I�ll go get Alex up,� she said. She tried to pull away but he held onto her. When she looked up, he lowered his head, and gently took her mouth in a slow searching kiss. His tongue moved in to her mouth, meeting her tongue, and his hold on her tightened. As much as she hated to, she was the one to stop the kiss, reminding him that he and Alex had a trip to make. Reluctantly, he let her go, knowing if he messed this up, that Alex would likely never speak to him again.
It was still dark as Evelyn walked down the hall to her son�s room. When she opened the door, she found that he was still asleep, laying on the bed sideways, so that his head hung over the edge, and his feet were raised on the wall.
She smiled and shook her head. He never slept in a normal position, it was either like he was now, or with his bottom stuck in the air. After getting his cloths out, long jeans, and a warm shirt, Evelyn went over to his bed and rubbed his back.
�Not go way,� he mumbled. She leaned down and kissed the top of his head.
�It�s time to wake up so you and your daddy can go camping,� she reminded. He came awake then, sitting up, and rubbing his eyes. Then he stood on his bed, and she got a hug, and he snuggled against her resting his head on her shoulder, something he hadn�t done in a long time.
�Mum are you mad cause me and dad are going without you,� he asked still letting her hold him.
�No baby, I�m glad you get to go with your father. It will be fun for both of you. While you are away, Marie and I are going to do some heavy duty cleaning. He lifted his head then.
�Thats boring.� She laughed, and spun him around, then set him down and helped him get dressed. As he was finishing, Rick walked in.
�Alright buddy, we need to hurry up.� They all went down to the kitchen to have breakfast, and after they ate, Evelyn saw her two men off, and hoped all went well. The drive to the area Rick had decided on, was almost a full days drive, which was why he was wanting to get an early start. Evie had packed food for them to eat on the long trip, and once they were on their way Alex fell asleep, leaving Rick to his own thoughts for the time being. He was happy about this trip. There had never been a time, when it had been just he and Alex over just a day, and he was looking forward to teaching his son about camping, and about how to survive without the finer things in life.
It was getting dark by the time they reached the forest area, and the lodge where Rick would leave his car. The first line of business was to get the nessary supplies they needed from the little store run by the lodge. Rations mostly for the nights they didn�t want to eat fish, and once that was handled, Rick put on his Rucksack, military issued which was huge, but which fit in everything they would need. He smiled as Alex struggled to put a smaller Rucksack on.
�Here let me help you with that.� Alex allowed him to do that, then they were off into the forest. The paths were set clear, and the site would take them an hour by foot to get too. It wasn�t even 10 minutes into the trip that Alex began to complain about his Rucksack being to heavy, therefore Rick took it off his hands, and Alex ran ahead.
�Alex not so far, I need to be able to see you,� Rick called out. A ways ahead Alex found a stick and used it to battle off the bad guys.
�Come on dad, you going to slow.� From his place Rick shook his head.
�I have allot of heavy things here, or I would run with you.� When they finally reached the site it was dark, and they were using lanterns, to see by. The first line of business was to start a fire, and this didn�t take long for Rick to do. While he did, Alex went down by the water.
�Dad I have to pee,� Alex yelled. He came back as his dad was getting the fire going.
�Well when we are outdoors, we can go pee where we want.� This was new to Alex.
�Really?� Rick grinned.
�Really, but only when we are camping.� With that, Alex went a little ways away and did his business. He couldn�t wait to tell Megan about this, glad that she wasn�t like other girls, who would think that was discusting.
�What do we get to eat dad?� Alex asked, as Rick set up their tent.
�Well tonight we will have soup. Hopefully by tomorrow we will be able to have fish.� Alex nodded and tromped around the site not going to far, and when dinner was ready they sat by the fire and ate.
�What do we do besides go fishing� asked Alex as he picked at his soup.
�Well we can go swimming, though its going to be very cold. Tomorrow we will likely go hiking and see if we can find any wild animals around, like Deer, and squirrels.� When they finished, Alex wasn�t tired, however Rick was, and said it was time for bed. They went into their tint, and Rick tucked Alex into his sleeping bag.
�Now, you stay in here, all right.� Alex nodded, and after a bit, Rick was asleep, leaving Alex awake and alone. He tried to go to sleep, but there were to many sounds, and too much excitement. Despite what his father told him, Alex got out of the tint, and decided to check things out. The first thing he noticed were all the fire flys. That was like home. He was barefooted, and the ground was cold to his feet, but he didn�t mind it. He went down by the water, and stuck his foot in, and pulled it out, it was freezing. Then he was lifted into the air and screeched until her realized it was just dad. Rick slung him over his shoulder.
�Alex, you do that again and there will be big trouble,� Rick said in a stern tone. When they were back in the tent, Rick tucked Alex back in to his sleeping bag.
�Dad, whats wrong with me going out all alone?� Alex asked as his father started to stand. At this, Rick settled down beside him.
�The wilderness is a dangerous place if you don�t know what you are doing, and it�s my job as your father to protect you.� He explained. It was not his intention to scare Alex, and he hoped he had not, but at the same time, he wanted Alex to stay with him, so that he could keep him safe.
�Now we both need to get some sleep,� Rick said kissing his forehead. His son nodded, and soon dad was back to sleep, but again Alex couldn�t sleep. He had slept most of the drive up to this camp site, and he was wired. He heard noises outside of the tent, something that made a �Hoo� sound, and something the squeaked. He remembered dad saying dangerous, and got very afraid, very fast. The next sound was a snap of a twig, and that woke Rick. He sat up and got in his Rucksack, pulling out his shotgun. Alex�s eyes grew wide, and Rick put a finger over his lips to indicate that he needed to be quiet. Whatever it was that was outside of their tent was big, and it made allot of noise, it was sniffing, and Rick had a sinking feeling they were being scooped out by a bear. He really didn�t want to shoot it, but if it tried to hurt Alex, or him he would have no choice. Luck seemed to be on their side, because he heard the bear move away, and once he was sure it was far from them, he went out and looked. He saw it at the water, getting a drink, an decided tomorrow he and Alex would find a site that the Bear didn�t inhabit. When he walked back in, Alex was huddled all inside his sleeping bag. After putting his gun down, Rick went over and Unzipped the bag and lifted his little boy out.
�I want to go home now,� Alex said crying. Rick carried him the short distance to his sleeping bag and set him down then got in, and Alex followed, until they were both snug inside. Alex was still sobbing,
�Shhh. It was a bear, and it was just seeing who we were. Tomorrow I�ll take the tent down and we will go up the path a ways to the next site. I will check to see if any bears have marked the area as theirs, and I�m guessing we won�t see anymore.� Alex was calming down.
�I don�t want to be here dad,� he said through a yawn. His eyes closed, and soon his breathing came in a steady rhythm of sleep. Rick would see how he felt in the morning, and if he still wanted to leave, then they would.
It was the smell of good food that woke Alex, and he scurried out of the tent, and found dad had made an interesting breakfast.
�Whats this stuff?� he asked as he sat on one of the stones next to the fire.
�Well, before we left, your mother helped me slice the potatoes into these little sticks.� Alex nodded.
�Potato sticks then.� Alex tried one, and liked it, and aside from that they had some bacon.
�Do you still want to leave.� Alex sighed.
�No. I want to go to that other place though.� Rick agreed, and after they packed up camp, and put the fire out, they headed up the lake. It was two hours of hiking, and Alex had a ball learning about all the plants. They even saw some Raccoons, and othe smaller animals. The next site Rick checked thoroughly, and found no bear marks, or any such signs of a bear. After he set up camp, he got a shovel and a bucked and he and Alex went over by the water.
�Are we going to make a mud castle?� Alex asked confused about why they were going to dig up the dirt.
�No, we need to dig up worms, so we can catch our Lunch.� Alex helped, and within ten minutes they had a lot of worms. The next step was to get their poles ready. The one he had for Alex was Alex sized, and after he put the weights on them and the hooks he sat down and Alex sat with him.
�Now, we have to hook the worm,� Rick explained he took one out, and Alex grabbed it away.
�No way dad, your going to hurt the worm?� he said holding the wiggling creature in his hand.
�Alex that is the way we catch the fish.� The little boy frowned, but let his dad show him how to hook a worm. Once it was over with, Rick cast Alex�s line in first, then handed the pole to him ,and cast his own line in.
�Now you take the real, and start pulling it.� As soon as Alex did he felt a tug.
�I thin I got one daddy,� Alex yelled Rick put his line down and helped Alex, and sure enough he caught a pretty big fish. Rick got a net and dipped it in the water, and pulled it out.
�Oh cool, can we keep him?� Rick chuckled.
�Actually Alex he is a baby, so no.� Rick grabbed it around its fins, and got the hook out of his mouth, then set it in the water and it swam off.
�Bye little fishy,� Alex called. When Rick picked up his line it was being tugged harder than Alex�s had. He pulled in an adult fish, and that one they kept. Rick put it in their bucket that they had filled with water, knowing he would have to deal with explaining to Alex about eating the fish, which entailed killing it, but one discovery at a time he decided. The O�Connell men caught 4 fish, before calling it quits, and went back up to the site.
�Dad what do we do now. Do we eat them like that?� Alex asked making a face.
�No,� Rick suddenly felt guilty, remembering what Evleyn had gotten upset about with the cat, and didn�t want Alex to be upset with this next part.
�Why don�t you go get us more wood, and when you get back I�ll have these guys ready for us to eat.� Alex nodded and left, and when he was gone Rick prepared the fish, for eating.
Gathering wood was its own adventure for Alex. He pretended to be Mogli, and wondered if there were any wolves. around. As he was heading back to camp he heard a cry, a strange cry, but a cry, and decided he better follow. The cry took him pretty far from camp, and what he found was a baby dog. It yelped and cried, and Alex held out his hand as he approached it. It kept crying, and as he got closer he found that its leg was caught in some sort of thing with teeth in it.
�Oh my god your hurt little puppy.� Alex sat down and tried to pry that thing off and the puppy cried louder. It made Alex cry.
�DADDY HELP.� Alex wouldn� t leave his new friend, and screamed for his father.
�ALEX?� Rick yelled from a far distance.
�HELP,� Alex said crying with his new friend. His crying led Rick to them.
�Look its got its paw caught.� Rick came over and knew that this pup was past the point of helping. Its leg was nearly ripped away, as if it had been gnawing at it, and it had a wound in its neck as well as its side.
�We have to help him daddy,� Alex cried. Rick lifted his son into his arms.
�Buddy I wish we could but he is so hurt, and we don�t have what we need to help him.� Alex just cried into his dads shoulder, and Rick swayed with him.
�Did a person do this to it?� Alex asked looking at his dad.
�Yes. though I don�t think they meant to catch a baby, but sometimes that happens.� Alex sniffed.
�It needs to die so it won�t hurt,� Alex said, wise beyond his years.
�I know it does.�
�Would it be bad for you to help it?� Alex asked.
�No. But you need to go back to camp.� Alex nodded and when he was far enough away and couldn�t see, Rick bent down and snapped its neck. From here on out he would have to watch their way for more traps, if he or Alex got caught in one it would be very bad.
When he got back to camp Alex was in the tent crying. This trip was turning into a disaster. Lunch was ready, but Rick left it be, and went to his baby and held him.
�You killed our fish.� Rick nodded.
�Alex thats how we eat, and its not wrong for us to do, if we are going to eat them. If we killed them to stuff and put up on a wall then that would be wrong,� Rick said trying to justify this to his five year old. Alex sniffed.
�Do they taste good?� he asked.
�Come try some.� They went out, and Alex found that fresh fish did taste good.
�Did you put the puppy in a grave?� Alex asked.
�I put him in some bushes,� Rick said taking a bite of fish.
�You killed it?� He nodded not feeling comfortable with this conversation.
�Yes, or it would have hurt for along time before it died.�
�Did it hurt it when you did it?� he asked finishing his lunch.
�No, it was very fast. Now since your finished we should go and try out the water.� That got a smile from Alex and they spend the rest of the day splashing in the lake and actually took a swim. It was a warm day and the water was cold, but not bone chilling. Alex had never had the chance to learn to swim, so now Rick stood on the bottom of the water, not too far from land and held his son afloat.
�Now kick your feet like I showed you and move your arms.� Alex did that, and without knowing it his dad let him go, and Alex did well. Rick was right beside him, and when he tired, he held on again.
�Oh wow, mum will be so proud that I can swim.� Rick nodded.
�It�s getting cold,� Alex said, his teeth chattering. At that, Rick lifted his son against his chest, and they got out, and went to the tent gettng their towels and dried off. Once they had dried off, Alex got out his new book. The Jungle Book, and Rick read to him about Mogli, the boy who was raised by Wolves.
�Dad was that A wolf cub?� Alex asked, of the cub he had found in the trap.
�I think so,� he responded kissing the top of his son�s head. Rick got through chapter one before Alex was asleep, then he leaned them back and decided a nap for both of them would be good. They slept for several hours, and by then it was time to get dinner underway. Alex stayed this time, and watched his dad prepare the fish, and was not so upset by it. He was having a wonderful time, and hoped that they would be able to go up to the cliff tomorrow like his dad had said. Neither knew that the next day would bring an end to their fun, but for now it was time for fun, and after a big dinner, and another dip in the lake the Father and son went to bed, to get an early start for the cliff.
Disclaimer: I don�t own them.
Chapter 3 : A very long Day
The next moring while it was still dark, Rick and Alex were up having breakfast. It was hot cereal this time, and Alex was having a hard time staying awake despite the excitement of going to the cliff, which would take them a good 2 hours to get too. Once he finished, Rick sent him down to the lake to wash his face, and hands and to brush his teeth while he cleaned up. He did all of this, and finished, then went back up to the tent where his father was packing a smaller Rucksack with lunch food, some dried soup and some dried beef.
�What can we do when we get to the cliff?� Alex asked.
�Well we will look out, and be able to see pretty much all of the forest in this area, � Rick said as he finished packing.
�What else,� his son asked, ever curious, just like his mother.
�We will take your copy of The Jungle Book and share that, and I will show you more plants. We might even see some deer.� That excited him, and once they were ready, they headed off for the cliff. As he always did, Alex stayed ahead of his father, pretending to be Mogli. He howled just like a wolf, and Rick chuckled.
�Dad you have to be Balou,� Alex told him.
�I do, and what does Balou do?� He asked his son, as Alex came back to him.
�He is the papa bear,� replied Alex.
�Hmm, so do I growl?� Alex nodded, and Rick cleared his throat and growled, and Alex laughed and howled back. He was having a great time, they both were. Two hours later they arrived at the cliff, and Alex started to run to the edge.
�Alex stop now,� Rick shouted. For once his son listened, and stayed put, letting dad catch up to him.
�It�s a long long way down to the bottom, and you need to hold my hand while we look, all right?� Alex nodded and the two went to the edge.
�Wow, it really is far away,� Alex told his father, as they looked out over the vast expanse of land. Once they had their look, Rick sent Alex to gather wood so they could make fire for lunch. Alex wondered a little further than he should have, gathering the wood, and heard something making growling sounds. Ever the curious sort, Alex followed the sounds , almost afraid he would find another hurt animal. What he found instead were two bear cubs.
�Wow Balou bears.� Without fear Alex went over to them. They were smaller than he was, and he touched one and it sniffed him as did the other bear.
�Come on I�ll show you my dad.� He picked one up, and the other one followed, as he made it back to the camp site. When he arrived, Rick as just finishing getting the fire lit.
�Hey dad, look, I have new friends.� Rick was working on the fire, not really paying any notice, not until one of the cubs came and stood in front of him. Rick�s blood turned cold as he looked at his son, who had one of the other cubs in his arms.
�Alex listen to dad very carefully, put the cub down.� Shrugging Alex did so.
�Come over here please.� He listened, and when he got to his dad, Rick lifted him into his arms and got their things and began to slowly back away. It was then in the distance they heard a very loud roar. The two cubs ran back into the woods, and Rick took his baby, and ran the way they had come down the path, and didn�t stop until they were back at camp. He was out of breath, but he didn�t let go of his son, and settled down at one of the stones, with Alex on his lap.
�Dad are you mad at me?� Alex asked, his voice trembling. Rick�s response was to just hug him.
�No big guy, Dads not mad, just very grateful. Those baby bears were very cute, and I know you thought so, but they have a very big momma bear, and if she would have seen us with her babies, she could have done us both allot of damage.� Alex nodded.
�I guess I messed up things,� he sniffed, and Rick kissed him.
�No, you are just learning, and the next time you see two baby bears, you will know to just look at them right?� Alex nodded.
�Now, how about you and I get our fishing gear out, and catch lunch.� Alex liked that idea, and they spent the rest of the day fishing, and having a good time.
Evening came, and the two adventures were exploring the woods. Alex had found a bunch of bugs he put in a bottle, and wanted to take home to show his mum, and they were now on their way back to their camp site. He walked ahead of his father, singing, when he heard a loud yell of pain from behind. Alex turned, and saw that his father, had fallen down, and ran to him.
�Dad?� Rick was having a hard time keeping conscious, for he had stepped on one of those steal teethed traps, and it was now inbedded in his ankle.
�Daddy whats wrong,� Alex said now panicked. This was the worst possible situation, and Rick, despite the pain, had to be strong for both of them.
�Daddy hurt himself pretty bad. Alex I need you to go back to camp, and get the first aid kit for me can you do that?� He nodded and took the large ball of string and handed it to his daddy then began to unravel it, so he could find his way back. When his son had disappeared, Rick managed to sit up so he could see his ankle. He knew he would have to get it off, and then tie something around it so he wouldn�t bleed to death. He looked around him and got a large stick which he would use to pry the trap away, and another smaller stick. He bit down on that, took some deep breaths, and pried the teeth open. It hurt worse, and he felt his head spin, but he made himself stay awake, and once he had the trap away from him, he let go and it snapped the stick into. He was bleeding bad, and he took his shirt off despite getting cold and wrapped it around the wound crying out as he did. He kept it tight, and prayed somehow he would figure out a way to get them out of this.
�Daddy?�
�Over here,� Rick said. Alex came with the kit.
�Daddy I�m afraid,� Alex said.
�I know baby. I need you to be really brave okay.� He nodded and sat by his dad. Rick got out some rubbing alcohol knowing that it would hurt like hell when he poured that over his wound, and some gauze and tape.
�Alex I may yell okay, because this is going to hurt me, but I�m not mad at you.� Alex nodded, and watched as his dad took the shirt away from his ankle and pulled up the cuff of his pants. The wound was six deep teeth marks, all oozing blood. Rick bit down on the stick again closed his eyes and emptied the bottle over his leg crying out in pain. That made Alex cry, and Rick felt bad about not being able to comfort his son. Once he had done that, he took the gauze bandage and wrapped it around his leg, then taped it up. Next he lifted Alex in to his arms.
�I want mummy, I want to go home,� he sobbed.
�I know buddy shh.� Rick managed to calm him down, then had him find a large stick, which he did with ease, and used that as a crutch. It was painful to even put the slightest weight on it, and when they got back to camp they got ready for bed, and went to bed.
It was the birds chirping the next moring which woke Alex. He sat up rubbing his eyes, and saw that his dad was still asleep.
�Daddy?� Alex asked in a shaky voice. His daddy didn�t respond, so Alex went to him and shook him. Rick felt hot and every part of him hurt. He knew he had an infection, and knew they were both in trouble. Despite how tempting it was just to drift in the safety of the blackness that he and driffted into, Rick made himself wake up into the world of pain.
�Shh. Al, listen to daddy.� Alex lifted his head from his fathers chest, and Rick reached up and wiped a tear from his little boys face.
�Go get me some water out of the lake. I need to drink allot of it.� Alex ran out, and got a big bucket filling it with as much water as he could carry. Then brought it in, and dipped a cup in and brought it to his daddy. The water was pure, and Rick drank three glasses.
�How do we eat daddy?� He knew there was no way he could get up, and was glad that they had the bag of potatoes, and the dried beef.
�Go get the rations.� Alex did and came back and they ate, but in little amounts. As he ate Rick realized they would have to wait to be found, and waiting with his leg could be deadly.
Back at the Manor Evelyn was working on some papers for the Bembridge Scholars, when a funny feeling washed over her. It was two days before her guys returned from their trip, and she missed them terribly. She tried to get back to work, but something wasn�t right. Finally, she got up, and went to the other side of the house where Jonathan was making up his bed.
�Jonathan?� he looked up.
�You are alive,� he teased. She had basically barried herself in her study, since Rick and Alex left.
�Jonathan something is wrong.� He frowned, and came to her.
�Not to worry old mum, Rick is a capable man, I�m sure its just you missing them hmm.� She nodded, he was right of coarse. In two days they would be home, and she would feel better.
�Well, I�m off to the museum.� He nodded and she left.
As the day went on Rick�s condition got worse. He had a raging fever, and couldn�t hold down anything food nor water. His son was in hysterics, and his cries brought him back to semi consciousness
�Hey..Buddy,� Rick managed. Alex came over to him.
�Daddy don�t die.�
�Shh. Do you remember what path to take to get back to the lodge?� Alex nodded. Rick had shown him markers, and now Alex despite only being 5, had to be brave to bring help to his dad.
�I need you to go and help me, bring help.� He closed his eyes again, and Alex got up and got his stick and left. He found the right path, and ran for a long way ,until his lungs burned, but still kept running.
His crying had not stopped, since he left, and 2 hour later he found their first campsite with a family. The woman looked up when she heard crying, and came running to Alex.
�Honey whats wrong.� she tried to hug him but Alex pulled away.
�My daddy got bitten by a metal trap and he�s sick� She stood, and yelled at her husband who was down by the lake fishing. The man, who was younger than Rick came over.
�Tom, this boy says his father stepped in a metal trap.� He ran to his tent and got their first aid kit.
�Barb take him to the lodge and get the Ranger.� she nodded, but Alex refused.
�No, I want to go with you.� The man, Tom leaned down.
�Whats your name?� Alex sniffed.
�Alexander Jonathan O�Connel,� he said. �But everyone calls me Alex.�
�Alex I know where the next campsite is. Was that where you came from?� he nodded.
�You need to go with my wife, and they can call your family to bring them out here.� The thought of hearing his mum�s voice sent him with the woman, and when they left, Tom gathered what he needed and jogged the two hours up to the campsite. When he got there, he went into the tent and found the man in a sleeping bag soaked with sweat.
�Alex?� came Ricks response to the scuffing that Tom made upon entering.
�No sir. I�m Tom Dudly, your son told us about your accident, and I want to try to help you, until the rangers get here.� Rick nodded, and Tom got out Iodine and cotton. He was in the reserves, not a medic, but being in the reserves you learned about first aid enough to help your fellow man. Once he had what he needed, he took a look at the wound which was swollen with infection. He took his knife and rubbed it with Iodine, then got a shirt he found.
�Bite down on this sir,� He said.
�Rick names Rick,� Rick replied. Tom nodded, and helped his new friend bite on the cloth. He rubbed the surface of his skin with the Iodine, then took his knife and cut into the wound. The new wound oozed with green infection, and Rick had not made a peep. The next step was to try and drain as much infection as he could. He squeezed Rick�s Ankle and Rick yelled out grabbing the sleeping bag. It took a while for the wound to run clear with just blood, and once it did. Tom poured Iodine into it. Again Rick yelled out as Tom took some of the gauze and soaked it with Iodine then dipped it in the cut. It was almost an hour later when Tom wrapped his wound with the fresh Gauze. Rick had gone to sleep, and Tom hoped that he saved this man from having to have his let taken off. Only time would tell.
Disclaimer: I claim non of these characters as my own.
Chapter 4: Help arrives
It was dark by the time Barb, and Alex reached the lodge. When they walked in, an older gentleman dressed in a green uniform looked up.
�There has been and accident out at campsite 2,� Barb said. She explained the situation, and he made a call for the Doctor to come out to the lodge.
�I want to talk to my mum,� Alex said.
�Do you know her phone number.� One thing Rick and Evelyn had done, was to teach their son his full name, their full name, and their address, along with their full phone number ,both long distance, and local. Alex told the man his number, and he got through to an operator, and in a moment the phone was ringing, and Alex waited for his mum to pick up. It was late at home, and here, and after a few more rings, the phone was answered.
�O�Connell Residence,� Evelyn said half asleep.
�Mum?� At hearing her baby�s voice, Evelyn came fully awake.
�Alex?� He started to cry, and her heart started to beat fast. After a moment she heard someone whispering something, then a strangers voice came on.
�Mrs. O�Connell, my name is Barb Dudly. Your husband has been in an accident, he stepped in an animal trap. We have help on its way to him, but it might be well if you can come now. I�ll stay here at the lodge with your son, until you arrive.� Evelyn was all for that.
�Yes would you please do that. See if he will talk to me.� As she talked, she got dressed.
�I�m scared mummy. He hurt and yelled and it was all bloody,� Alex sobbed.
�Shh baby, you were very brave, and I�m sure they will go and help daddy okay. Will you rest, and when you wake up I�ll be there?� she asked her baby boy.
�Sing to me mum?� he asked, as Barb helped him lay on the couch. She had brought the phone over and set it on the floor, and put covers over the little boy, then went to get some coffee for herself.
�Close your eyes baby.� Evelyn told him. He did what she said.
�Their closed,� he said. She closed her eyes wishing she was holding him in her arms. She hummed, then sang to him about The land of dreams, a song her mum used to sing. When she stopped there was nothing ,then Barb took the phone.
�He is asleep, and we will be waiting.� Evelyn thanked her, and after getting off the phone with Barb, she ran down to Jonathan�s room and woke him, getting him to come with her, and they left, knowing they could get there before Alex woke up.
While Evelyn and Jonathan made their way, up at the campsite, the Doctor had arrived. Rick was still with fever, but not nearly as bad. The first thing the doctor did, was to give Rick an injection of penicillin. The second was to look at the wound. He removed the gauze and didn�t find any infection.
�What you did saved this man�s leg. The penicillin should work with the rest of the infection,� He said to Tom. Rick woke up then.
�Where is my son?�
�Rest easy sir, he is at the lodge, and they have contacted your wife for you. You need to rest before we move, you, try to get a good nights sleep,� The doctor said. Rick wanted to go to Alex, but his body was very weak, so he drifted back into sleep.
The drive had been long, with Jonathan taking the first half of the trip, and Evelyn taking the second half. It was just starting to become day, when they pulled up to the lodge. Evelyn didn�t even turn off the car, as she got out of the car and ran up to the lodge. When she walked in, Alex was still asleep, and a woman was asleep at the desk but woke up.
�I�m his mum,� she said, and went over to her baby. She needed to feel him in her arms, and lifted him off of the sofa cradling him against her, which woke him.
�Mum,� he snuggled against her.
�I�m so scared for daddy mum,� he said starting to cry. Evelyn sat down with him, and rocked him. She wished she just would have stuck to her gut, and told Rick no to this, but then again this whole thing could have happened no matter how old Alex was.
�Shh, its okay baby.� He queited in her arms.
�I want to go see him.� She nodded, and Barb came with them and led them into the woods.
At the camp site, morning came, and Rick was awake, sitting up in his tent and drinking water slowly. The Rangers had arrived, and would help to transport him back down to the lodge, but the first part was to get him hydrated again
�We will leave around noon,� one of the men told him. Rick nodded, and after drinking the water, he went back to sleep. He wasn�t sure how much time had passed, and thought he was dreaming when he felt his wife�s lips on his. He opened his eyes and realized it really was her.
�Shh, Alex and I couldn�t stay away from you,� she told him. At that moment Alex ran in.
�Dad?� he looked afraid, and Evelyn helped her husband sit up. Once he was steady he took Alex into his arms.
�You were very brave, and I�m very proud of you for getting help to me,� Rick said. Alex had an strangle hold on him.
�I was afraid you would die like my wolf died,� Alex said. He lifted his head to look in his dad�s eyes. Rick leaned his head foreword and kissed his son�s cheek.
�I�m a tough guy buddy, and I wouldn�t die, because you and your mom need me here, and I need to be here for you.� He couldn�t think of a better answer, but Alex seemed to like that one. Evelyn looked at him, a questioning look about what Alex had said, but Rick shook his head, and for now she let it go. She and Alex helped to pack things up, then when they were ready, Rick was settled on a medical cot, and they went back to the lodge.
A few weeks passed, and Alex had told Megan and Max about how he helped to save his dad�s life. He was telling them all about it, and neither believed him. Rick came out, still using a cane to support his healing leg, to tell them lunch was served.
�Dad. I did save you didn�t I?� he smiled.
�Yes son you did.� Both Max and Megan wanted details then, and Lunch was spent telling them all about his time in the wilderness with is father. There would be many more camping trips with his father, but none ever as memorable, or as special to either of them as the first time. Despite the bad experiences, the trip as a whole brought them closer together, and it would not be the last adventure they would share.
THE END