Chapter 9

Gale and Ben had just got back from their adventure on Rotary Trails. That was a pleasant journey. They decided to stroll around the trails with bikes and were very happy as they enjoyed Golden's view.

The bridge was amazingly huge for a pedestrian bridge. Gale didn't remember anything when he was there, but there's a feeling inside his heart that made him feels warm. It's like his body was familiar with the surroundings, and he was in his element. Gale loves that bridge. He loves standing in the middle of it while looking at the stream. It calms him.

He believes there are lots of beautiful memories from that place. If only he could remember it...

When they got home, Gale doesn't feel quite satisfied with the outdoor activity despite the fact that he had already been outdoor since six in the morning. Ben said that he was crazy for not feeling tired as he automatically slumped to the couch the minute he stepped into his house. Gale only laughs it off.

After taking a quick shower to rid of the sweat and put on some clean clothes, Gale got out to the woods that starts expanding from the backyard. He felt so energized, and nature was calling him.

The ground was slippery because of the moss, and it was also steep. Gale wanders around slowly and aimlessly while trying to keep on walking straight so he wouldn't get lost.

It's been a peaceful five minutes since he enters the woods. Suddenly, he heard a sound that was like a scream. A moment later, a loud sob replaced the eerie quiet after the screaming.

Gale looked around as he tries to locate where the source of the sound came from. He followed the sound and was relieved when it got louder and louder until he saw two children – a boy and a girl. They were huddling together as the girl cry out loud. She grips the boy's hand so tightly. Even from this distance, Gale could note that there's something wrong.

Of course, there's something wrong.

What did they do in the middle of the woods without any adult around to look for them? And one of them is crying? They must have got lost on their way home.

Gale walked closer but careful not to startle the kids. The little boy notices him first, and his face was turning from panic to one of that relief but still full on alert.

As he got nearer, Gale could see the swelling on the boy's left shin.

A fracture? Gale can only hope it's not an open one. Gale noticed the boy's mouth moving, and he presumed that he was talking to the little girl. The wailing suddenly stopped as the little girl whips her head towards where Gale was walking.

She stood up, crouched again and picked up something from the ground. When Gale was only ten feet away, she pointed a thick stick that obviously too heavy for her to lift with one hand and on the other, she grips a rock that also too heavy for her.

"Stop!" Her voice cracked, but there's so much determination in it.

Gale stopped and raised his hands in surrender.

"Hey, I just want to help. I won't hurt you or your brother," Gale said calmly. He looked at the boy's leg and saw no sign of bleeding. Thank goodness.

"You are a stranger!" The girl said. "Mommy said if she's not around, I shouldn't believe a stranger!"

What a clever and obedient little girl to listen to her mommy even when she's not around. But in this situation, it only makes the situation worse.

"Where is your mommy then?" Gale started softly. "You see, I'm a doctor. I can tell that your brother broke his leg. All I want to do is to help you guys out of this woods and bring you to the hospital. And then after that, we can contact your parents, and you'll be home before you know it. How's that sound?"

The girl's face looked constricted. She frowned at Gale, but there's worry etching in her expression. Gale was sure she's not more than five years old, but somehow she understands the situation was dangerous. She was thinking, evident from how she scrunched her brows together. Her hands were trembling from the heaviness of the stick and rock she holds, and probably she was frightened too.

"But you're still a stranger." She said with a hiccup.

"Will you let me introduce myself so we won't be strangers anymore?" Gale suggested. The girl and the boy nodded their heads. "Okay, my name is Gabriel Blackwell. I'm going to turn twenty-nine in November, and I live in Toronto. I'm a doctor, but I am on vacation now. I stay here with my cousin, Ben. His house is just five minutes walk from here. He has a baby daughter named Dani, and his wife's name is Molly. And you are?"

"I'm Alex Brooks. I'm going to turn eight this year. I live on Alexander Drive. My mom named me after the street because she was on the street when her water broke." Gale chuckled. What a weird lady to name her son after a street because her water broke there. "And this is Julia. She's going to turn four. We shared the same birthday this weekend."

"Oh, happy early birthday, you two," Gale said sincerely, and he starts walking again to be closer with them. Julia – the little girl, finally drops the items she's been holding.

"I'm from Toronto too," she suddenly croaked.

Gale smiled at her. He extended his hand, and she took it. He shakes it a little, and then with his free hand, Gale cups her cheek.

"We could be neighbours," Gale said, and Julia only nodded. "Do you have any injury too that I should worry about? Is there anything hurt?" He asked to make sure.

"No, I didn't climb the tree like Alex." She said weakly. The poor girl was still in shock but she stands her ground when she thought Gale was a threat.

"I'm going to check on your brother now. Is that okay?" She nodded her head again.

Gale exhales, feeling relieved. He let go of Julia and hastily move to Alex who sat still against the tree.

"How much does it hurt?" Gale asked while he inspects the swell.

"It did hurt so much when I fell. I don't know now. I don't want to move it because I'm scared." Alex said, his voice slightly quivering.

Whatever it was that made Gale felt so energized today – he thanked it. Imagine if he decide not to wander the woods. What would happen with these kids?

"Why are you guys wandering the woods alone? Where are your parents?" Gale asked as he looked at Alex's face. He noticed there's a cut on his temple. It's not bleeding, but internal bleeding might occur if he fell from enough height that it can cause a fracture. "Is there anywhere else that hurt?"

"My head got cut, I guess. But I don't feel dizzy anymore now. So it's not hurt anymore, just a little sting." Alex said. That's good. Gale thought. "We were playing in our backyard. Everyone was busy. Dad works, Grampa is at the garage checking on his employees – he can fix cars, Mom teaching yoga at her studio, and Gran and Aunty are shopping for our birthday preparation. I insisted on staying at home with Julia because we want to watch cartoons instead of shopping. After all, it's boring. But then we get bored watching as well. So, we played in the backyard. But the backyard was boring too, and then Julia saw a squirrel on the tree, and we decided to follow it."

"Why did you climb the tree?" Gale asked again.

"I watch on YouTube with gramps that if you get lost in the woods, you can use a tall tree to look for your way back. We were lost, so I think I'd go climb this tree to see where our house is." Alex explained guiltily. "We shouldn't have left the house."

"What matters now is you already been found." Gale paused, and then after a while, he spoke again. "Okay, Alex... I'm going to pick you up. The sudden movement might make your leg hurt, is that okay?"

"Okay..." Alex replied.

"Julia, you hold on to my shirt here," Gale instructed her while pointing to the hem of his shirt and she nodded.

Gale crouched on the side of Alex's body and positioned his left hand on Alex's back. He looks at the boy after Gale lifted one leg that is okay into his arm and slowly lifted the broken one next. Alex hissed, and he made a strangled voice. Gale kept focusing on the leg, careful not to touch the swelling. When Gale glances at Alex's face, the boy's eyes were glistening with unshed tears.

Before standing up, Gale told Alex to breathe slowly. The boy did splendidly.

It seems like Alex holds himself from crying even though he was in pain. Then Gale realized that Alex kept looking at Julia that was so quiet. She waits patiently behind Gale while looking back at her brother's face. The siblings were worried about each other, and it made Gale's heart swell with fondness. He loves kids. Especially kids that behaved themselves so well like Alex and Julia.

"Ready?" Gale asked.

"Yes," Alex said meekly.

Standing up slowly, Gale watched the movement of Alex's injured leg. He then heard Alex makes a sound that tells him how painful the movement had caused.

"It's okay to cry if it's hurt, big guy," Gale assured Alex. The boy holds himself so much. Tears were already streaming down his face, but he resists letting out the sob, and it made his face red.

It was only then it registered in Gale's brain that the siblings' hair is red but with different shades. However, Julia's hair looks so much similar with...

Gale shook his head a little to get rid of his silly ideas. He focused back on the kids to make sure they were alright.

Alex swallowed hard and wiped his cheeks. "I'm fine, doc."

Gale nodded his head and smiled at Alex before he looks down at Julia. She was already clutching his shirt tightly. Her eyes were wide with worry while watching Alex's swelling leg dangling from the inside of Gale's elbow. When she averted her gaze towards Gale, he smiled reassuringly at her.

"Don't let go of my shirt, okay? If I walk too fast and you can't keep up, tell me, and I'll slow down." Julia nodded her head, and they start walking towards where Gale was coming from Ben's backyard.

Every once in a while, Gale would ask the kids if they were okay and both of them would answer either with a nod or 'yes, doc.'

By the time they reached the end of the trees. Molly's patio was the first that they saw.

Molly, just like usual, was reading her book on one of the chairs. The baby had fallen asleep with her dad, and this kind of free time was rare for Molly after she gave birth – she tends to use it to calm her mind and rest in her beloved patio without worrying that Dani will get mosquito bites. It's not even twelve. Molly had expected Gale to come back from the woods after twelve. But then she heard a rustling of bushes. Molly turned her head to look at the source of the sound. She was expecting to see a squirrel or any other wildlife that live inside that small woods. But instead, she saw Gale, and he was not alone.

"Oh my Lord. Gale?" Molly stood up and rushes toward Gale.

"Where's Ben?" Gale asked, ignoring Molly's worried face. He needs to bring the kids to the hospital.

"He's asleep with Dani," Molly said confusedly. "Gale, who are these children? Where are their parents? Why are you bringing them here? Oh-"

Molly stopped rambling when she saw the swelling on the boy's leg.

"We need to get to the hospital," Gale instructed, not wasting any time. "You drive."

"But, Ben-"

"Molly!" Gale interrupted harshly. "Focus! Ben and Dani are going to be alright. These kids might have internal injuries undetected that I didn't notice, and I don't want to waste any more time."

This was doctor mode Gale. Molly only ever seen it once, and at that time, Gale hasn't even graduated from med school yet. She shook her head to get a grip as the gear in her brain finally working.

Injured children.

If it's Dani, she would be devastated. These kids' parents will also feel devastated if something happens to them.

"Wait by my car. I'll go grab my keys and phone first." Molly ran inside.

Gale walks fast-paced towards the front yard. Julia was clutching his shirt and didn't make any complain as she runs to match his steps.

He felt bad. Julia must be tired. But if Gale is her dad, he would be proud of her for being so understanding in this kind of emergency.

Molly came a moment later with Ben in tow. He looked slightly disoriented behind her.

"We'll be back as soon as we can. Dani's milk just needs to be heating up, but I don't think she'll wake up for another hour. If you're hungry just eat whatever is on the fridge. Love you." She said to Ben before hopped down from the porch and runs towards the car.

She unlocks the car and helped Gale situated himself on the back seat, Alex on his lap. Then Molly closed the door and carried Julia towards the other side of the car. She opens the door and lifted the toddler to the baby seat. It's too small for her, and Molly was expecting some kind of a complaint or whining, but the girl kept her mouth shut. Julia even took the belt and tried to buckle it by herself in a hurry. Molly snapped out from her startle condition of how much the little girl was so well behaved. She helps Julia put on the seatbelt, and after she was sure Julia was comfortable enough, Molly gets to the driver's seat.

"Okay, let's go," Molly said anxiously and turned on the car. She drives not too fast but faster than she usually did.

"Alex, if the car's movement makes your leg hurt, you'll tell me. You understand?" Gale instructed the boy sternly but very kindly.

"Yes, doctor Gabriel."

"Just call me Gale." Gale smiled down at the boy. "Julia, are you okay? Is the seat too small for you?"

Julia shook her head. "I'm okay, doctor Gale. Alex, is it still hurt?" She asks worriedly at the older boy.

"Yes, but I'll be okay," Alex said while grinning and then winches when Molly makes a sudden turn.

"I'm sorry!" Molly exclaimed while looking at Alex from the rearview mirror. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, ma'am."

Gale caresses Alex's arm up and down to distract him from the pain.

"Boy, you look familiar to me. Are you related to Denise Brooks?" Molly suddenly asked.

Alex's face lit up. "That's my mom, ma'am. Do you know her?"

"No wonder! That's why you look so much like her. She's my yoga instructor." Molly smiled at the boy. "Gale, I know his mom. Once we get to the hospital, I can immediately call her."

Gale released a breath. Relief washed all over his body. He had been worried that it would be hard to contact these kids' parents. "Thank goodness! You both are lucky!" Gale looked at the kids' faces.

Julia looked so tired, and Gale stroked the hair that sticks to her forehead back to her head. She was sweating and so quiet. Gale looks at her worriedly. Suddenly the girl raised her hands to take his that still on her head and bring it to her lap. Gale grasped one of her hands and caressing the little knuckles with his thumb. When she looks up at him, Gale smiled, and she smiles back. That was the first time she smiles since they first met in the woods.

Somehow, he feels like looking at his own reflection and not Julia’s face.