Chapter 3

The drive seemed like an eternity even with Pete doing the driving. Normally he would be breaking the speed limit in trying to get to Rapid City as fast as he could but with the weather as it is right now, he didn't dare risk it. The road conditions were treacherous as it was and it was still snowing. The snow had let up a bit but not enough. Steve was in the front passenger's seat while Myka was in the back. It was eerily quiet in the SUV they were in. Each one lost in their own thoughts and memories and of course they were all worried. Claudia hadn't even reached her twenty-first birthday yet that was still months away and Steve, Myka, and Leena had already begun putting plans together for it.

It was quiet in the car and Pete was thankful for it since he needed all of his concentration at the moment. Steve was in the passenger seat while Myka was sitting in the back. All of them were lost in their own thoughts hoping things weren't as bad as what the trooper had told them all earlier.

The sound of Myka's phone ringing broke the silence. "Hello."

Pete and Steve listened to the one way exchange.

"Leena, yeah ... we're still not there … Yeah, you have the number. " They could hear Myka rummaging in her purse for something to write with. "Okay Leena I'm ready." Hasty writing could be heard. "Thanks Leena I'll call right now … I'll let you know. Bye."

"Myka," Steve asked.

"The hospital in Rapid City called. I need to call them back." Dialing the phone number into her phone.

Steve resumed listening to the one way conversation as Pete drove his hands tightly clutching the wheel. This doesn't sound good.

"Yeah this is Myka Bering …"

Steve tuned out the conversation from the back seat, too upset by what had happened to Claudia and was dreading what Myka might be told from the hospital. His mind going through memories of himself and Claudia together. He thought back to five days ago before she left for Atlanta with Artie when the two of them had stolen the latest batch of cookies that Leena had made before Pete could get his hands on them.

*Flashback*

"Hey do you smell that," Claudia was saying eyes glued to her laptop.

Taking a sniff, a small smile formed on Steve's face. "Mmm … Yeah, chocolate chip cookies."

"My favorite Jinksy."

"You're not the only one that likes them Claud."

"Yeah but remember the last time Leena made them. Pete ate them all before any of us could get any."

"Yeah and Leena banned Pete from the kitchen for a month."

A mischievous grin formed on the red heads face. "Bet we can beat Pete to them this time."

"We'd have to get them the moment they come out of the oven. Pete has got some kind of cookie radar or something because he knows when Leena's baking them."

"Yeah, but Pete's at the Warehouse with Myka right now so it's perfect."

"But we'd have to be quick about it."

"Sure let's do it."

They waited until Leena had set the cookies on a large plate and set them to cool. While Leena was busy cleaning up Steve had snuck up and picked up the plate from the table and snuck out with them. The two then disappeared to enjoy the spoils. They also hid out of sight when Pete came back listening to him.

"Hey Leena, where are the cookies?" Pete asked walking into the B&B.

"On the table cooling off." She answered from another room.

They listened as Pete walked over and what they heard next had left the two hi-fiving each other and even Myka joined in later when she found out. "Leena you sure the cookies are on the table because they're not here."

"What do you mean they're not on the table," they heard her footsteps heading back towards the kitchen. "I know I put them here."

"Well they're not here and I know you made chocolate chip. The smell's still there."

"Sorry Pete, I guess somebody beat you to them this time. You should consider this a lesson."

"And that is?"

"Don't eat all the cookies, leave some for everyone else.."

*End Flashback*

Of course Leena figured it out later and wasn't even mad at them especially when she found out the two had shared some of the heisted cookies with Myka and Artie. She was enjoying the poetic justice they gave Pete.

By the time he brought himself back to the present, Myka had ended the call with the hospital.

"She's in surgery," Myka spoke from the backseat.

"How bad," Steve asked.

"It's bad, she barely survived the airlift. All they could tell me is that she's critical and had some severe injuries." Myka had given permission for the hospital to do whatever they could and that Claudia's brother was on his way in from Switzerland. But they were being realistic about the odds and Myka was hoping that Joshua would make it in but it all depended on the weather.

"Oh, God," Pete spoke. Too shocked by what Myka said. Some flashing lights caught his attention so he slowed and saw a couple of state trooper vehicles and a couple of tow trucks. One of the cars on the back of one of the tow trucks caught their attention. The front of the car was crushed in and Steve read the license plate that was still on the back. "I think that's the Prius," he spoke to no one in particular.

They pulled over realizing that it was the car. The sight of it shook the three to the core. They still couldn't believe that Claudia had survived something like this.

The three got out bundling themselves against the cold. One of the troopers came over. "This should be cleared up in a bit folks so why don't you all head back to your car."

"That's our friend's car," Pete spoke.

"You all were driving from Univille?"

"Yes, we were on our way to Rapid City. What happened?"

The trooper sighed. "She was hit head on by a drunk driver coming down the wrong way at a high rate of speed. A fellow trooper witnessed the accident since he was driving behind your friend. She didn't have time to react. The driver of the other car walked away with minor injuries. The trooper who witnessed the accident had the pleasure of taking the guy to jail."

"So he was drunk?" asked Steve.

"Yes, he refused a breathalyzer but his breath smelled of alcohol. The paramedics drew his blood here at the scene and the way he was acting, there was no doubt."

"What was he doing driving like that in this weather?" Pete asked.

"Your guess is as good as mine." Answered the trooper who still couldn't believe the drunk bastard was dumb enough to drive in these conditions.

"Well we'd better get going then."

"I'd be careful, the second wave of this storm is coming in and the roads may be shut down soon."

"We will, we'll try and get as far as we can tonight but we'll be careful, thank you." Pete spoke.

"Have a safe trip and I hope your friend makes it."

They all piled back into the car and as soon as a path was cleared, Pete started driving again. Steve was on the phone again with Lena while Myka sat quietly in the back too stunned by what she saw. By the time they glided into the parking lot of the hospital in Rapid City it was late. It had taken them three times longer to get Rapid City than they usually do and the roads were so icy and snowed over it was like traveling on ice itself.

Once inside the hospital, they were directed to a waiting room and the long wait began.

TBC ...