Crossing Boundaries

Getting her home

On the car ride back home, Sang pretty much slept the whole way cuddled up in the arms of Luke. North and Kota quietly conversed in the front about the whole ordeal and the following write up of the report. Half way back though Sang woke up feeling disoriented and sore everywhere. After a few moments to get her bearings, she bolted upright and shouted out, "Shep!" North and Kota turned their backs, startled out of their talk. Luke chuckled at her alarming expression and nudged her back towards him. Luke turned her around and guided her to look behind the back seat and in the alcove there lie Shep sleeping soundly, still dazed from whatever tranquilizer the dodgy doctor had administered to him. Sang cried a sound of relief and tried to reach her hands towards Shep. She petted his furry head softly and the big lug of a dog shifted in his slumber and let out a loud fart. Sang gagged and withdrew her hand. Luke clapped a hand to his nose and shrieked with laughter. North cursed while Kota quietly laughed, "I'm sure that's Shep's way of telling you that he'll be fine."

"Oh God, that's disgusting. If that dog reeks up the car you're in charge of fumigating the car, Luke," North declared.

"Me? He's not my dog!"

"Well, I can't very well ask Sang to scrub the car can I?"

"Why not? Shep's her dog."

"Well...because...because she's Sang."

Luke opened his mouth to retort but Sang beat him to it, "It's okay, North, I can do it."

"Sang Baby, it's not your fault."

"I know but I don't want any of you arguing over me."

"We're not arguing Sang, just friendly banter between us brothers," this came from Luke who could see the turmoil brewing behind Sang's eyes.

Sang sat back in her seat but she still felt guilty for putting the boys through all this. It was because of her that they had to go in to rescue Shep. For the rest of the car ride, everyone was silent and focused with their own thoughts. Kota had the window wide open to air out the car a little. Back at Sunnyvale Court, North turned the jeep into Nathan's driveway. Nathan was waiting by the front door and as soon as he spotted the black jeep, he ran towards them before North had even managed to park and yanked open the door.

"Sang!" Nathan shouted out.

"I'm alright Nathan." Before Sang could get out of the car, Nathan was there lending her a hand and gathering her up in his arms. He took her out and checked her all over. He felt up her arms and moved her head around to the side, checking under her chin and around her neck. Once he got down to her knees, Sand hissed a breath of pain. Nathan swore and hoisted her up into his arms.

"I'm alright Nathan," Sang tried again, "I can walk, you know."

Nathan ignored her and carried her into the house. Sang sighed and relaxed knowing that nothing she said would make a difference to how the boys treated her. She was just glad to be back with them.

Once inside the house, Nathan led Sang upstairs to her bed despite her protests. "But what about Shep, he needs a place and..."

"Relax Sang, the boys will make sure he's safe," with that, Nathan dragged Sang off.

North and Kota carried a still sleeping Shep to the laundry room where Nathan had set up a temporary bed made up of a large cardboard box and an old blanket. They put Shep on the makeshift bed and laid down newspapers around the box. With a bowl of water and some food, the dog was set up for the rest of the night.

They left the laundry room talking in whispers. "I knew you should not have taken her tonight, Luke," Kota started. He was worried about the aftermath. Knowing Sang's reputation for getting herself kidnapped, Kota wasn't completely reassured that this had been the best idea.

"I was under Mr. Blackbourne's orders. He seemed to think Sang was the best one for this job."

"Maybe so, but this isn't your average stakeout we're talking about. This dealt with dangerous criminals and you should not have taken the risk to go into that house with Sang."

"Have you ever tried to reason with Sang when she is adamant?"

North cut both the boys off, "Enough! We will have a group meeting tomorrow. Everything can be discussed then."

Luke opened his mouth to protest but with one look from his brother he shut it again and slumped of towards the front door. "I'll be waiting at the jeep, North." He glanced back at his brother and left the house.

Kota again tried to say his part but North wouldn't have any of it, "Let it go, Kota. You know Luke, he feels guilty about all this. He feels like he is the one who got Sang kidnapped."

"But, that's not what I said at all."

"I know that, and you know that. We all know that it wasn't Luke's fault. But for Luke, well he feels responsible for the whole thing. If either one of us were in that situation, you know we would feel the same about what happened to Sang. That girl is too precious to us; you know it would kill us if anything were to happen. Just put yourself in Luke's shoes."

That shut Kota up. Even though earlier that night he was sure they would rescue Sang, a part of him was trembling in fear. This girl meant too much to him and he would go to any lengths to make sure she was safe. The trepidation of Sang joining the Academy was starting to rise again but Kota knew that it was either all or nothing; he would just have get over his fear.