Long Road Home
McRaider
Summary: There are moments which forever define our lives, the decision of one woman or another, the decision to go after a friend, or save your child. But Mitch doesn't have time to think of those, because he still has to save the animals.
Author's Note: Starts off towards end of 'Sins of the Father' and will go through to the end of the second season to encompass at least some of the time between the ten years to the third season. I originally planned to continue from Contingency Plan, but changed when I didn't like how it wrote. So Chapter 2 of that story will be removed and it will be updated on this one. This first chapter is different, it's a totally different story with the same idea. All errors are my own please let me know of them (politely) and I will update accordingly.

Chapter One

Mitch was tense, he was angry and more than anything he was tired, he'd avoided his father for nearly twelve years and had been perfectly happy that way. Now the bastard was on his plane, he sighed before he tossed back another shot. A hand on his shoulder startled him from his self-deprecating thoughts, he turned to see Jamie, "You okay?" She asked, her tone soft and cautious, probably not wanting to yell anymore.

"Uh, no," he replied honestly. "No, definitely not."

Before she could reply Trotter, their pilot came on again over the loud speaker, "I've got an urgent incoming message from the Portland Maine Safe Zone for you Dr. Morgan," he explained.

Mitch's eyes went wide before he hurried to the screen, "Hello?" He pleaded, it took a moment, but his ex-wife's face came on the screen, she looked dirty and as tired as he felt. More than any of that though, she appeared terrified, something he hadn't seen since their daughter had been diagnosed with a deadly disease. "Audra?"

"Thank god, I…I wasn't sure if this number still worked. Mitch, I'm sorry, I wouldn't…I wouldn't have called, but there's talk about taking the children and I can't lose her Mitch, I just can't."

Mitch's brow's furrowed, his heart beginning to hammer in his chest, "What? Why? Who is taking them, and where?"

She shook her head, tears coursing down her cheeks, before she wiped them away, determined to be strong, "The military, there was an animal attack two days ago, bears. They don't think it's safe here anymore. They're taking the kids first, tomorrow morning…Please Mitch, I'm begging you, come get her."

Mitch couldn't help but nod, he wasn't in love with Audra, but he loved her for what she'd given him, their precious child. Even more, the mother of his child, he could never forsake her, "I'm coming. Just, find some place safe, grab your stuff, I'm coming," he assured her.

"Thank you, I have to go. Mitch I'm so sorry," she whispered before disconnecting.

"Trotter, change in plans, we're going to Portland, Maine before we go to Chile," ordered Jamie, without so much as a second thought.

"Thank you," he whispered.

"What the hell is going on?" Allison demanded as she came up stairs, fury in her eyes for her orders being overridden.

"I'm the leader, we need to go to Portland," Mitch whispered, not facing the woman who'd betrayed him and left him so wounded. She didn't know about Clem, he was desperate to protect his daughter from things like his father and Allison.

"Why?" Allison demanded again, her voice firmer and filled with fire.

Before Mitch could respond a single gunshot echoed through the plane, everyone froze, their eyes wide, before Mitch and Jamie stood and raced down the stairs, just in time to see Jackson rushing off, Dariela holding a smoking gun, and Abe looking torn and horrified. "Shit!" growled Mitch.

"We have to go after him!" Abe yelled.

Jamie glanced at Mitch who wasn't sure what to do or say, then suddenly she had an idea, and hurried over to the wall communicator, "Trotter, scratch Portland, plan on Chile again, but can you see if another smaller plane could fly Mitch and I to Portland?"

"Yes ma'am," he replied.

Mitch's face was still torn between his daughter and friend, but he knew Jackson would want him to go after Clem. "Abe, you and Dariela go after Jackson, try and keep him alive, he's our incubator. Max, if you're on this plane by the time I get back I will forcibly remove you. Allison, screw you," he growled quietly before he stalked off to pack an overnight back.

Jamie followed him, more than a little worried for Mitch's state of mind, she too was worried about Jackson but she knew she needed to help Mitch, she didn't want him to go alone. "Hey, are you sure you're okay?" She asked, her voice gentle and neutral as she stood in his door way.

She noticed the way he shook as he shoved clothes into his duffel bag, the way he remained tense and up tight, she was worried about him. He's been running himself ragged the last few days and she was worried it would all come to an abrupt end in a very bad way.

"Fine," he muttered, for the first time she understood how the animals may be feeling, all the rage of the past centuries boiling just below the surface.

She moved forward, as if he was a caged animal, and with slow gentle movements, she grabbed his hands in hers, "Stop, please," she murmured. Thankful when his hands ceased their movements, they still shook, though she was unsure if it was because he was scared, or angry. She could see it all in his eyes, a little bit of everything. His father had hurt him in unimaginable ways. Ways no man should ever have to worry about.

"Please don't do this if you don't plan to…" he stopped and closed his eyes, tilting it the way he did when he was trying to bite his tongue.

It hit her like a ton of bricks, when he'd asked if they could start over this morning, he'd meant their odd…relationship. Not to completely move on. She'd hurt him too, and that was weighing on him just as much as all Allison had. Reaching out slowly, she pressed her hand to his cheek, "I'm sorry, Mitch. I'm a mess and I never, ever meant for you to fall in the cross fire. I know I haven't been very friendly lately and part of that is because I'm trying to cope with everything that's been going on. I do love you, probably more than I even realize. I'm so sorry."

It was as though that was all he needed, because a moment later he'd stopped putting all his stuff in the bag and had both arms wrapped around her waist, kissing her. Hard. She couldn't help but grin as she quickly returned the kiss with as much passion as he was putting in.

It didn't last long, looking back on it, one minute they'd been fully clothed and the next they'd been on the floor. Ultimately, as Jamie lay on her side, staring at him trying to catch his breath, she couldn't help but grin, "Good stress relief?" she chuckled.

"The best," he murmured. "I love you, I've waited almost a year and a half to say that. But god, I love you," he whispered.

"Dr. Morgan, I found a small charter plane that's willing to take you to Portland Maine, they're headed that way to drop off supplies. They're preparing for departure, so you need to hurry," he gave them the coordinates, which Jamie thankfully wrote down, before standing, and pulling her pants on and replied.

"Thanks Trotter, keep an eye on the kids while we're gone," she joked. She glanced over to see Mitch was also hurrying to get dressed. Within a few moments the two were dressed again and headed towards one of the SUVs.

"Be careful," Dariela whispered to the two as they passed.

"You too," Mitch offered, "Bring our boy back," he smiled before they tore out of the bay.

"My god they finally did it," Abe whispered grinned like an idiot.

"Those two!?" Allison asked, slightly horrified.

Abe glanced over her and shook his head, "You aren't the catch you think you are. Max, I do believe your son requested you leave."

o0o

The flight took far too long, Jamie spent the majority of it wishing she could go back and never hurt Mitch like she had again. She'd believed in him so deeply in New Brunswick. Now, knowing what love with Mitch felt like, she wished she hadn't ever missed a moment of the time they could've spent together.

Mitch was caught between pure bliss and fear about his daughter. What would they find when they got there? Would everyone be gone, would Audra be dead and he'd have to care for Clem who barely knew him. He gripped Jamie's hand as they neared their stop; fingers interlaced and held on for dear life. "It'll be okay," Jamie promised. She was nervous to meet Clem, but knew that if Mitch wanted to be a bigger part of Clem's life than Jamie would be too.

"Thanks for coming."

"Of course, Clem means the world to you, I know that. You've risked your life for her, a couple times at least. I think the least I can do is show up to help her," Jamie replied, squeezing his hand to show her support.

They landed, and were given a car to use, and given directions to the safe zone. As Mitch drove, knowing it was only a few more miles, he noticed buses pulling out from the exit, god he hoped his kid wasn't on one of them already.

Suddenly he slammed to a stop, before them lay the "safety zone" but it wasn't safe anymore, giant bears had taken down the fence and were now scattered across the camp, some over bodies, others scratching at tents and buildings to collapse them. Wolves looked to be roaming as well. People were screaming and trying to get out in what seemed like every direction.

"My god," Jamie whispered.

"I'm going in, stay in the car-" Jamie began to protest, but he stopped her, "Please, I lost you once…I can't," he paused and shook his head and he stared down at their hands. "Get in the driver's side. We need to be prepared if we have to make a quick getaway."

Jamie could reason with that, the place looked like a disaster, nodding she waited until he got out, before locking the doors and shutting the car off, she'd do what she could to go unnoticed. She climbed into the driver's seat and pushed the seat back. She held her phone up to signal for him to call if he needed her.

Mitch nodded, and with one last glance at her, he ran towards the fray. I someone had asked Mitch three years ago if he envisioned himself stealing medicine from one of the biggest companies in the world, curing animals, and possibly being eaten by a bear he'd have laughed at their wild imagination. But now, perhaps more than ever, he was a man on a mission.

He jogged into the camp and noticed another bus full of terrified children getting ready to leave, behind that was more children trying to be protected by a military officer who was attempting to take the bears out with his automatic rifle. Mitch felt his stomach in his throat when he recognized his daughter among that group.

"CLEM!" he shouted, hoping to get her attention. He was thrilled when she reacted by glancing from the bear to him, but unfortunately the bears heard him as well. "Come on Clem!" he screamed, despite every instinct to say not to, he ran towards the kids and the bear. As he was trying to go wide around the creature he didn't realize the group safe zone had set out bear traps to try and protect the children, he stepped right in it.

The agonizing cry that tore from his throat was as inhuman as possible a guttural scream alerting anyone nearby he'd just been trapped in something never meant for humans. Crushing, snapping pain tore up from his ankle up his leg, paralyzing him as he fell to the ground. He heard screaming voices around him, more popping but he was trying desperately to pull air into his lungs, his fingers clawing desperately to get it off his leg.

He felt two hands on his chest and struggled to open his eyes without sobbing or screaming again. "I know, I know, breathe though it, love," a soft voice with a hint of Scottish brogue soothed. He struggled to open his eyes, to stop focusing on the pain and keep his wits about him. But the pain was overwhelming, because now others were touching it and each touch, shift or jerk caused another wave of pain up his leg.

After what felt like an eternity, he felt the claw like teeth ease from his ankle; the bone crushing pain began to ease to a wretched throb as he rolled over and tried to grab at his leg, thereby protecting his organs and leg. "No, no, lad, don't touch it," the voice-female-soothed again. This time a hand ran through his hair tried to calm him via touch, "Gavin, you morons put these out, you can help me with him, Clem baby, grab your stuff."

Finally, he managed to pry his eyes open, though there was still some chaos, it seemed that he'd blacked out because the bears were either gone or dead, more troops had clearly arrived and secured the area, Jamie and the jeep were now inside the fence instead of outside. His daughter was kneeling at his side crying as though he died. He took a gulping breath, before reaching out towards her, "I'm here," he murmured.

She chuckled, despite the tears and nodded. He felt a hand grip his arm and he was lifted up from the ground, onto his good leg, he let out another cry of pain, as the sweat drenched his face, he shook from wave after wave of pain. With arms wrapped around his waist he and Jamie were led into a large tent and he was helped to lie down on the cot.

Almost immediately, upon stepping into the tent, the Scottish woman began giving orders. Even the military did as she said. She came over and knelt at the bed and smiled, "Audra used to say ye were handsome, she left out a few details," she chuckled.

"You're…you're Justin's mom?" he wasn't sure why or how he knew it, perhaps because Justin had some of her facial features. Or maybe because he could recall Audra telling him Justin's mother was from Scotland. Whatever the reason he was suddenly thankful she didn't hate him.

"Where…where's Audra?" he gritted his teeth as he tried to move away from the gentle hands as they began to cut his pant leg below his knee and remove his shoe. "No, no," he cried as he saw the flicker of sadness across the older woman's beautiful features.

"Your wife tells me your name is Dr. Morgan," the Scottish woman said again, "I'm giving you a sedative, you won't sleep long, but it'll be enough for me to get through this."

He watched as she slid the needle into his vein, he felt the push of the fluid into his bloodstream, and a few seconds later he felt the world darken as he sank into all too willingly. All eyes were on the Scottish woman as she forced a smile at the two individuals staring at him. "Will he be okay?" Jamie finally asked.

The older woman, with peppered black hair offered a warm smile and gave the woman's hand a gentle pat, "He'll be fine, love. I'll fix himm right up. I take it this lad is your da', Clem?"

The girl nodded, tears had dried on her beautiful pale cheeks as she gripped her father's limp hand now. She'd lost her mother only an hour ago and Justin earlier yesterday. It'd been why Audra had been so insistent about calling Mitch in the first place.

Maggie reached out and gave the girl a similar squeeze, before she removed the man's sock and shoes again, "Aye, let me just get this cleaned up. Gavin an' his men decided bear traps were a great choice, with all the wee children around it's a wonder this hasn't happened sooner. Damn animals never get caught in them."

"They're probably too smart," whispered Jamie. Then she paused and smiled, "I'm turning into him," she muttered more to herself.

"That's what happens when you're in love, lass. Well unfortunately, his ankle is broken, I'm going to try and treat this, but obviously I'm no orthopedic doctor." With a couple swift tugs she was sure she'd gotten aligned properly. Then she began to treat the wounds, clean up the blood and plastered the ankle. "The cast is acrylic, it breathes better these days. Six weeks then it can be removed, not a moment earlier. I'll see if I can scrounge up a pair of crutches."

"Oh, he'll love that," she smirked.

Clem was studying her and her father, "Are you his girlfriend?"

"Would it be okay if I was?"

The young blonde girl shrugged, "I don't really know him. Now he's going to have to decide if he even wants to bother with me," she wanted to cry again, but her mother had begged her to be strong.

Jamie reached out, gripping the girl's hand, "Hey, I can tell you unequivocally, he wants you Clem. He adores you, and would do anything to protect you." She watched the man she loved sleep due to the medication. She had been terrified when she'd heard the cry of agony, watched him step into the trap. It hadn't been well hidden, but enough so that the bears may not see it. Under leaves she hadn't realized what it was until it was too late, but they were all over the compound, and based on others avoiding them it was clear everyone in the compound knew what they were.