Chapter Seven

At the instant that Diana and Dale deplaned in New York City, Vincent, Jacob, and Father set foot on the valley floor that was to become their home from that moment on. All the remaining members of their tunnel family were congregated at the landing site to welcome them home. Seeing all the dear, familiar face, Father’s eyes began to fill with tears. There were so many missing; what had happened to them all? Then he spotted Mary and Peter standing together.

Peter had decided that he wanted to be in the welcoming party when Catherine had called him to give him the news that Vincent and Father along with Jacob had been found. He had arrived in one of the airlifts before the rescue party left for the desert. And now he stood watching his old friend alight from the chopper, and he wondered if he looked as old as Jacob did.

"Mary, Peter," Father shouted as he spied them and lurched toward them. The three old friends met in a flurry of hugs, kisses, and back slaps, murmuring joyful greetings.

Following Father, Catherine scrambled from the chopper with Jacob in her arms and approached a smiling Jamie. "Jacob, this is Jamie." Smiling shyly at the young woman, the boy ducked his head. He had seen all these strange people waiting on the ground, and it scared him a little. He wasn’t used to so many strangers.

"Hi, Jacob," Jamie said, returning his shy smile.

"Hi," he mumbled.

His mother knelt beside him. "Jacob, will you let Jamie watch over you? I need to help Daddy. Ok?"

If this strange young woman was his mother’s friend, he thought he could trust her and held his hand out trustingly to her as he vigorously nodded his head.

"Thank you, sweetie," Catherine said, ruffling his hair. She stood up and called out, "Cullen, Kanin will you help me with Vincent, please?" They hurried out of the crowd up to the chopper doors.

There was a collective gasp of dismay as the crowd got their first look at their friend and erstwhile protector. The once mighty frame had been reduced to skin and bones, his vaunted strength almost gone. Leaning heavily on his friends, he gamely tried to walk but only succeeded in stumbling between them as they turned their steps toward the cottage that Catherine had made her own. In the three-room cabin, they eased him onto his large bed. Knowing that he would rest better in familiar surroundings, she had restored his bed as closely to its original condition as she could. Even the green and yellow half-moon window had been salvaged and resided in the western wall of the bedroom directly over his bed.

The two men stepped aside allowing Peter and Father access to their patient. Catherine took Jacob from Jamie with a grateful smile and stepped into the bedroom as Cullen and Kanin left, albeit unwillingly.

"Thank you, " she murmured. Both of them nodded soberly and rejoined the group crowded on the front porch and were immediately barraged with a landslide of unanswerable questions

Conferring together, the two doctors felt that all Vincent needed was rest, good food, and love. He had been slowly wasting away from lost hope and unfeeling basic care. Catherine and Jacob’s love would do more for him than any medicine they could prescribe.

Peter clasped her shoulder as he and Father left the room, "He’ll be fine with you taking care of him. I’m going to return to Arizona with Elliot. He said he’d take me back, but I wanted to be here when you brought Vincent and Jacob home. He’s the son I never had, and I love him as much as I love you."

"I know you do. Thank you for all your loving care. Give my best to Susan and the grandkids, ok?" She reached up and kissed him on the cheek.

With a final tousling of Jacob’s hair, he disappeared from sight. Catherine turned back to the figure of the man she loved stretched out in a bed as close to his old one as she could make it.

"Catherine," Vincent’s weak voice called.

Rushing to his side, she set Jacob on the bed beside his father, reasoning that he would be a calming influence, and sat down beside the tired man. "What is it, love? Do you want a drink or something to eat? Are you in pain? Shall I get Father?"

"No, I just need to know, are we really safe? No one can find us here? I will die the next time I am captured."

"Oh love," she cried, as she took him into her arms, "we are as safe as I can make it. You don’t have to worry about anyone finding us. There is only one entrance to the valley, and it is through a cave that can be sealed any time we want to. And there are guards at the entrance 24/7."

"Good," he mumbled. "I’m tired; I think I’ll sleep for a while."

Tenderly brushing a lock of hair from his face, she bent down and kissed him. "Yes, sleep now, and when you wake, I’ll have some of William’s healthful soup for you."

"I love you, Catherine."

"And I love you."

"Good night, Daddy," Jacob said, crawling into his mother’s arms.

"Good night, my son." The next instant Vincent was sound asleep for the first time in four years. In his captivity he never slept without being aware of all that went on around him, fearing what would happen next.

*

For the next few weeks, Vincent could not bear to be parted from Catherine. He slept much of his first week of freedom. Physically and mentally exhausted, he was deprived of much of his needed rest as his sleep was constantly interrupted by dreams and nightmares. The days were busy but the nights were one long flight from terror, waking Catherine who slept beside him at his request. During one of the sleepless episodes that she had after soothing Vincent so that he could go back to sleep, she reflected on his healing. It wasn’t going as well as she had hoped. She decided that there was more that they could do than just keep him in bed until he got stronger. Deciding that it was a mistake to keep him cooped up in a small cabin, she concluded that he needed the company of his friends and the freedom of the outdoors. The next morning, much to Father’s surprise and agitation, she led an unsteady Vincent out onto the cabin porch and settled him into an old rocking chair. For several minutes, he sat silent and unmoving with his eyes closed. He was terrified that he was living another dream that would be taken away from him. Slowly, the sounds of the valley penetrated the protective wall he had built as protection around him: the sound of wind sighing through the large pine tree that stood at the corner of the porch; the singing of the birds; the hum of a humming bird’s wings as it hunted for nectar; the sound of an axe striking wood; the various moos, cackles, bleats, and honks of the animals roaming freely over the valley floor; and the happy carefree sound of children at play; all these he slowly grew aware of. His eyes snapped wide open when he heard Jacob shout, "Daddy, look at me."

He searched for his son and found him straddling a large tree branch about three feet off the ground. Jacob looked so proud and happy that a lump came to his father’s throat when he thought it was only a dream would soon turn to dust.

"Vincent," Catherine’s voice spoke into his ear, "It’s not a dream. It’s real. You really are safe and back with your family. Can you try to believe it?"

"I don’t know. It all seems too good to be true." He rose on unsteady legs and leaned against one of the porch posts. "It’s what I have dreamed of all my life. And I’m afraid that it’s not real."

"What can we do to convince you?" she pleaded.

"Nothing. There is nothing you can do," he replied bitterly. "They took my trust away from me."

Coming to stand beside him, she laid her head on his arm. "There must be something. Elliot will be here later this week. Maybe he can bring something . . . news maybe." She stopped, thinking. "Vincent, did they use Elliot in any of your dreams?" She didn’t know what else to call what they had subjected him to.

"No, only you." He shivered, looking away from her. The horrible things they had done with memories of her their love overwhelmed him again. Viciously he shoved them out of his mind.

"Maybe talking with Elliot might help. We can try it anyway."

He nodded and leaned heavily against the post.

"You’re tired," she said soothingly. "Do you want to go in or sit out here for a while?"

"I’d like to stay outside as much as possible."

"Ok." She helped him back to his chair, understanding his need of the solace of wide spaces.

"If you have things to do leave me here. I’ll be all right. I want to watch the children play."

"You’re sure you’ll be all right?" She really didn’t want to leave his side, but if he was becoming more confidant in his surroundings, maybe it would be best if she did.

"Yes, I’ll be fine." He stretched his legs out in front of him and, resting his arms on the armrests, relaxed his tense body.

"All right, I need to see William about lunch. I’ll be right back."

"Don’t hurry, Catherine. I’m not going anywhere." And he gave her a faint smile followed by a small chuckle.

She grinned at him, then after a peck on his cheek, she hurried away.

When she returned with their lunch, Pascal was sitting on the top step of the porch, and Mouse was seated at Vincent’s feet animatedly telling him about their idea for a communications network. Jacob was seated in his father’s lap and Josh, a new-found friend of Jacob’s, was leaning against the armrest of the rocking chair. Both of the children were listening avidly to their elders.

Oh, we were so wrong, she thought when she saw the sparkle in Vincent’s eyes and the animation on his face, he needed the company of his friends and to be involved in the life of the community.

"Hi, Catherine," the two men greeted her.

"Pascal, Mouse," she nodded then took the tray inside. Standing in the doorway, she said, "William

has lunch ready and I think it’s time for Vincent to rest."

"No, Catherine, I am fine." He was tired but was enjoying himself so much that he didn’t want it to stop.

"You can come back outside after you rest," she said.

"Bye," Mouse cried as he raced away to fill his always empty stomach. "Be back."

"Have a good rest, Vincent." Pascal followed after Mouse.

"Mommy, can I eat with Josh in the dining cabin?" Jacob turned pleading eyes to his mother.

"Have you asked your Daddy?"

Vincent heard the exchange and turned to her. "Let him go, Catherine."

"Thank you, Daddy," Jacob cried as he flung his arms around his father’s neck and squeezed it tightly then, grabbing Josh’s hand, ran away.

Catherine sighed happily. Another step toward complete health. A few days ago he wouldn’t have let Jacob or her out of his sight.

*

Later that evening after dinner and after Father’s daily examination of Vincent, Catherine excused herself and left the two men quietly talking. Father gasped in joyful wonder when she returned with a chessboard and a highly polished cherry wood box and placed them in his lap.

"My chess set," he exclaimed. Lovingly, he ran his hands over the surface and traced the silver rose with a trembling finger. "How did you . . . ?" Words failed him.

"It wasn’t easy, but we managed to save most of it, and I had it restored."

He shook his head. "Catherine, you are a wonder," he offered.

"I told you, Father," Vincent said smugly.

Graciously accepting the compliment, she said, "Thank you, Father. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get Jacob ready for bed."

Smiling at his son who was reclining in his bed, he said, "I think I’ll find out if this slug-a-bed is up to a challenge of chess. If he feels up to it, that is."

"I’ll take your challenge, Father, but we may not be able to finish it tonight."

"We can always finish it another day."

"Well, don’t tire him out too much," Catherine cautioned.

"When did you become a doctor?" Father laughed.

"I’m just being cautious, that’s all," she said as she left the room.

Vincent leaned back into the pillows after making a move, a gentle smile on his unique face.

"What makes you smile so, my son?"

"I can hear Catherine and Jacob laughing in the next room. It’s a sound I will never tire of." Suddenly, he turned to his father, "Father, do you think I will ever get well, will cease having these nightmares?"

"Son, you have always dreamed. I believe that as you come to believe that you are truly safe that the dreams will change, become dreams of your present and future life."

"I hope you are right. I am so tired of having bad dreams."

Placing a loving hand on his son’s still thin arm, the older man said earnestly, "It will improve, son. I’m sure of it."

Grasping the hand on his arm, Vincent gave it a squeeze, "Thank you, Father."

"You look tired. Let’s finish this game tomorrow."

Stifling a yawn, the younger man agreed. With a sleepy Jacob in her arms, Catherine came into the room and put the child in his own bed. After kissing him good night, she walked with Father to the front door. Returning to the man she loved, she snuggled into his warmth gladdened and heartened by all that had happened on this day. She felt that this could be the turning point in his road back to health, and as she listened to his happy recounting of all that had transpired between Pascal, Mouse, and him, she was almost sure of it.

The following days and weeks proved her right as Vincent began to improve both physically and mentally. Elliot’s visit added impetus to the improvement. His tale about the rescue of Vincent and Jacob helped to dispel the dreams and nightmares. It took several months, but at last, Vincent slept soundly and what dreams he did have were pleasant. Physically, his ability to heal quickly had him strong enough in a few months to begin to help with the establishment of the community.

*

One night as they were preparing for bed, he felt he was strong enough to face all that had happened and asked her to tell him everything that had occurred since her abduction. Lying in bed with his head on her shoulder, she told him all that had transpired from her abduction up to the time she had brought the two of them home to the valley. She knew it was too soon to ask him about what they had done to him and Jacob in the research facility. Jordan had found out that it had been owned by Gabriel, which accounted for the unfeeling and despicable treatment of Vincent and Jacob.

"We still need a knowledgeable farmer, rancher, and horticulturist," she said, bringing him completely up to date. "Elliot is looking for them."

"You trust him that much?"

"Yes, I feel that when he has conquered the world he will come here to rest and live out the remaining years of his life."

"What if we are found out again?" Vincent shuddered at the thought.

"The community has a five-year plan to get the valley self-sufficient and then to seal the cave if necessary."

"How will we get help if we need it?"

"There is always Elliot and the helicopter, and besides, there are other known ways to get out of the valley. Mouse, of course, had to go exploring, and Jamie just had to go with him."

Vincent shook his head in amazement. "Catherine, you are amazing."

"Not really. I only supplied the means; everyone else did the work."

Vincent looked at her, disbelieving. "I’ve seen you work as hard as anyone else, my love."

Downplaying her role with a chuckle, she said, "Oh, I’ve broken a fingernail or two."

Laughing hugely with delight, he snatched her to his breast and rocked her back and forth with his laughter.

Passionately, he kissed her. Then, pulling back from her, he said ardently, "Come. I have a desperate need of you tonight."

Leaning on an elbow, he loomed over her, drinking in her loveliness, almost unable to believe that she was truly here and waiting for him to possess her. She raised her arms, beckoning him to come to her, and joyfully he fell into her loving embrace.

It was still the dark before dawn when he awoke, feeling very pleased with himself. Something had been accomplished, during their loving, that would bear fruit in 6-7 months. Easing out of bed, he stretched luxuriously, and with a doting look at Catherine, he stepped out onto the verandah. The eastern sky was just barely beginning to brighten over the mountain. Leaning against a porch stanchion, he crossed his arms over his chest and took in a deep pull of heady, clear mountain air. Raising his eyes to the lightening sky, he reveled in the fact that this was something he could do every day.

He thought, with joy, of all the work that awaited him, thankful that he was at last at full strength and able to do his share. There was still much hard physical labor to do to make the valley self-sufficient. Yesterday, much to Father’s relief, Elliot had delivered the last of the medical equipment that was needed to complete the small community hospital, and as Father’s son, he would be expected to help with that. It was a chore he looked forward to because he owed much of his sanity these past four years to Father’s presence and love.

As the sun topped the summit, he sighed with contentment and raised his left arm to settle it around Catherine’s shoulder as she came to stand beside him. How he loved her and how grateful he was that she was there to brighten his life. He tousled the hair of his young son who had wrapped his small arms around his father’s right leg and leaned against its restored sturdy strength. Remembering and then consciously shutting the door on those dark days when they were apart, he smiled into her glowing eyes and said, "It’s a good day to be alive, my love."

Fini