It took Alex and Apollo the rest of the day to get back to the clearing. With the sun having disappeared over an hour ago they know they have to stop and make camp for the night. Alex wants to keep moving, keep searching, but Apollo reminds him of what he already knows. It's much safer to travel by day. After a very pointless argument Alex gives in and the two of them set up camp for the night. Alex gets to work making a shelter with whatever they have available. Apollo gathers wood for a fire. 

"Like old times," Apollo half jokes while attempting to start a fire. 

Alex looks at his old friend with a firm expression. "I'm not sure that's a fair comparison. We used to hike and camp in the woods behind my parent's house. Now we're stranded in the past where almost anything can kill us." 

Apollo resist the urge to snort and instead settles on rolling his eyes. "Come on, don't tell me this isn't bringing back memories," the medic jests. He gestures around them. "The fire, the night sky. The only thing missing is the crappy drink, the halfway decent food, and us ducking the girls because we spent the night in the woods to get away from their nagging." 

Alex's lips twitch into the tiniest of smiles. Apollo catches it though and grins himself. "The food wasn't as good as you remember." 

Apollo chuckles at that response. "Well, maybe nostalgia got the better of me." 

Alex rolls his eyes. "There's a lot more starts now than when we used to camp." 

The medic looks up at the night sky. "True. As many steps as they've taken to reduce and even eliminate pollution by our time, the damage is still there." Apollo takes a moment to take a deep breath and just enjoy the night. When he opens his eyes again he looks at his brother-in-law. "Let's just enjoy the night, okay? Pretend it's the old days again. Just for a little while." 

Alex squints at the man beside him. "Now is not a good time to get caught up in a game of make believe, Apollo. We're out here and surrounded by animals that are more than twice our size and so is Will." 

Apollo rolls his eyes. "Yes, I know that. But I also know that you won't get any rest tonight if you dwell on everything that's going wrong. Then you'll be tired tomorrow. Maybe even too tired to be of any use to me or Will. So take a little time to relax, rest, clear your head." He gives Alex a stern look. "Doctor's orders." 

Alex lets out a deep sigh. "Fine. Only because I wouldn't put it past you to knock me out." 

Apollo chuckles. "Nah, wouldn't want to waste it on your stubborn ass." 

Alex rolls his eyes at his lighthearted companion and settles in for the night, making it very clear that the conversation is over. So both men get comfortable, as much as possible, and get as much sleep as they can before the long day coming. 

The next morning Alex wakes to the sun on his face. He groans and sits up. He's a little disappointed in himself, he had hoped to be up before dawn so they could get moving while the sun was still coming up. "Morning Sleeping Beauty." Alex turns to the source of the teasing, almost cocky voice. He finds Apollo with a lopsided grin watching him. 

"Why didn't you wake me?" Alex asks in a raspy voice. 

Apollo looks at him as though the answer should be obvious. "Uh, because you need your rest for what we need to do today." 

Alex groans and gets up, starting to collect their things. "We should've been moving hours ago." 

Apollo sighs and starts collecting their stuff also. "Well, seeing as I can't convince you to slow down even for a second, let's go." They silently finish gathering their things and tearing down their campsite. Without another word, they take off, Apollo following the security specialist. 

"Where do we start?" Apollo asks. 

Alex takes a moment to remember the events of the previous day, especially the one that caused them to be separated. After a moment Alex starts marching purposefully into the trees. "He went this way. Let's go." Apollo follows him wordlessly. They continue through he trees, following a trail that only Alex can see. They aren't sure how long they march through the trees and underbrush. They don't pass the time with conversation. Apollo doesn't say anything the entire time. The crew comic is uncharacteristically silent the entire trek. This only adds to the heavy and serious atmosphere that hangs over the two. 

Suddenly, Alex stops in his determined march. Apollo is so shocked he stumbles and nearly bumps into Alex. After regaining his footing, Apollo turns to the other man. "What's going on? Why'd you stop?" 

Alex looks around carefully. "I can't see his trail anymore." 

Apollo looks at him confused. "What trail? We were following a trail?" 

Alex pays no attention to the medic's tone. Instead, he calmly gestures to a broken branch and some crushed leaves on the forest floor. Apollo looks at them with skepticism. "Anything could've done that. We are in a place full of animals that are more than large enough to do that." 

Alex shakes his head calmly. "Most things here are too large to make the pattern I've been following." 

Apollo still looks skeptical, but he knows that Alex knows what he's doing. "Okay, so what now? You said you lost the trail." 

Alex doesn't answer. The two of them continue to stand there, looking at their surroundings. Every tiny sound catches Alex's attention and he scans the area with even more determination. A sudden rustling from the trees not too far ahead catches both of their attention. They both tense and turn towards the commotion. 

"Took you long enough to find me!" 

Both men look to the source of the voice that called out to them. When they look up towards the group of trees that the voice came from they see Will sitting on a wide branch high up one of the trees. The teen has a tired look on his face and is clinging to the trunk of the tree. The medic grins and waves to the teen. "You okay, kid?" 

Will nods to the medic. "I uh, I don't know how to get down." 

Apollo resists the urge to laugh. "How did you get up there?" 

Will looks from them to the branches below him. "I actually can't remember. It was late and dark and I was tired." 

This time Apollo really does laugh. He exchanges a look with Alex before nodding to himself. "Alright, give me a minute. I'm coming up." He walks towards the tree and starts climbing. He thinks for a second on why the teen can't just figure out a way down on his own. Then he remembers that Will is not as skilled at climbing as the rest of them. He has no doubt the boy was able to climb up there, when pushed to it people can do things they have to do but can't ordinarily do. But if this becomes habit for them, needing to take shelter up in the trees, then they should really take the time to teach this kid how to do things like climb and make a fire, any skill that could be useful and potentially life-saving really. 

Slowly and carefully the medic makes his way up the tree. When he is at the same height as the young man he gives a reassuring smile. "Just follow me down." After a moment's hesitation the boy nods and the two start slowly descending down the tree. 

This whole time Alex is keeping a close eye on their surroundings, not wanting to get caught off guard again. He is incredibly relieved that they found his nephew, and that he seems to be fine. But if the past few trips outside has taught him anything, it's to never let his guard down here. No matter how calm and safe it might seem at the moment. Alex barely glances at the two when they touch down. 

After both of the guys are on the ground and regain their stable footing it is no surprise to Alex when Will turns to him. "Why did you leave me behind?!" The teen demands, angry. 

Apollo steps up so he is standing between the two. "Hey, kid, he didn't leave you behind. He told us not to separate." 

"So this is my fault?!" Will turns on the medic. 

Apollo shakes his head calmly. "That's not what I'm saying. It happened really fast. None of us were thinking clearly. But your uncle went out looking for you as soon as we realized you were missing. He didn't even want to stop to sleep." 

There is a moment of silence where Will looks between the two adults. "And why can't he say this himself? Why isn't he defending himself? Why are you defending him?" 

A very tense silence stretches between the three of them for over a minute. Apollo isn't sue how to respond. Will is still filled with misplaced anger and glaring at his uncle. Alex is having trouble looking his nephew in the eye knowing there is nothing he can say to appease the angry teen. After a long, tense, almost painful minute Alex looks at his nephew. "Would you listen if I did?" The silence that follows is the only answer he needs. 

Apollo wants to protest but Alex holds up a hand and shakes his head. "It's okay. We should get going." After a moment's hesitation, Apollo nods. With no further argument, the three of them set out back to the ship. 

The tension follows them, their own personal storm cloud, so thick Apollo doubts it could be cut with the sharpest blade they have. It is almost hard for them to breathe with how strong the tension is pushing down on them. They seem to move slower, and not as carefully as they usually would. 

This proves to be a mistake when they step into a more open area. They find themselves walking into a territorial battle between two large animals. One had armor on most of it's body and a large, club-like tail. The other has a large frill over the back of its neck and a few large horns on its head. If the commotion long before stumbling between the two animals. 

Alex is suddenly on high alert. He sees the armored one swing its tail. On instinct he pushes the other two out of the way. He feels the impact of the tail against his ribs. It's just a glancing blow and causes him to stumble. No sooner had he straightened did the horned one lower its head, making the horns lower as well, and longest towards the other animal. One of the horns catches Alex's chest, causing a large gash. The combination of the two cause his head to spin and in his confusion he makes a potentially fatal miscalculation. Instead of staying low and backing out from between the two, he straightens and attempts to turn. This causes him to be caught between the two. Another glancing blow from the tail send him forward into the horns again, more broken bones and another, deeper gash. 

Alex falls to the ground, crumpling into a heap on the ground. Apollo rushes forward, his instinct as a medic kicking in. He grabs the other man under the arms and pulls him away from the two animals. Once they are a safe distance away he lays Alex down and attempts to get good look at the injuries. Alex's shirt is now completely red. 

"Will, get my bag!" The medic orders. 

Will scrambles to do as told. He grabs the medic's bag, which Apollo had thrown aside earlier, and rushes to kneel beside the medic. Apollo opens the bad so forcefully the zipper almost breaks. He pulls out a bag of gauze and tears it open. He puts gauze on each of the large gashes and presses on them. Alex grits his teeth and groans. His eyesight is getting blurry, dark spots beginning to fill his vision. His breathing is getting more ragged, pain fills his chest with every breath. 

"Will, take over here for me. I have to check his ribs." Apollo instructs the teen. Will shuffles closer and replaces the medic's hands. "Even, steady pressure. Don't let up. It's going to hurt him, but don't stop. Talk to him, trying to keep him awake." As Will does as he says Apollo gently probes at Alex's ribs. The medic keeps a straight face the entire time. After a moment Alex stops and looks at their surroundings. 

"We can't stay here. It isn't safe." 

Will looks at him alarmed. "What about him?" 

Apollo sets his face in a serious expression. "I can't do much for him here. This is an unsafe environment and it isn't sterile. If I tried I could end up doing more harm than good." 

"What about your bag? Don't you have something that can help?" Will asks, looking at the older man. 

Apollo sighs. "As much as medicine has progressed, all the improved equipment I would need for this are not exactly portable. And they definitely won't fit in my bag." He takes a deep breath. "I can wrap him up really tight to try to at least control the bleeding. But we have to get him back." 

Will helps Apollo wrap gauze around his uncle's chest and together they carefully lift him. Supporting him between them they start on their way back, right?" 

Apollo glances at the teen. "Yeah." He's impressed that he is able to keep his uncertainty from his voice. Truthfully, he is not completely certain that he knows the way back. 

Their trek through he woods is silent. The urgency of the situation is clear as the two carry their injured companion as though being chased by something. Apollo notices rather quickly that Alex has passed out and their pace increases. The trees and shadows almost seem to fly by. Their feet pound on the ground. It becomes harder to carry Alex between them. It almost feels like they're dragging him now. 

They don't even slow down when the ship comes into view. If anything they speed up even more. Their entrance into the ship is not quiet at all. Within moments of them entering the ship the girls fill the corridor. 

Meg rushes forward and takes Alex off of Apollo's shoulder and takes the weight. Apollo leads them down the hall towards the infirmary. 

"Please tell me the infirmary is fully operational." 

Val nods in response. The entire crew rushes into the infirmary. Meg and Will put Alex on a table. Apollo is already moving around to collect medical supplies. He gives order and makes decision. After making everyone leave except Meg he lays the supplies down carefully. 

Looking up at Meg seriously he asks a very important question. "Are you ready?" 

Meg looks down at her friend then back at Apollo. She gives a determined nod. Apollo sighs in relief and pushes a few buttons on the machine next to him. It hums as it wakes up and they slowly and carefully get to work.