Disclaimer: I do not own The Fantastic Four. That would be so cool though; just imagine all the things that I could make them do!
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Even though she was saving lives, the Invisible Woman couldn't help but think of a cruise she and Reed had taken last year on their honeymoon. The Atlantic Ocean had been serenely calm, and the cloudless blue sky had been picture perfect; a sharply contrasting foil to the scene before her now.
A sinking cruise liner in the Maury Sea channel (right off of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge) had been caught in a violent storm. The SS Norwegian Princess' passengers were currently being ushered onto the safe decks of a large rescue ship. Perched on the edge of the Princess' keel was Sue Storm Richards. From that vantage point she could see and maintain her force field. The force field acted as a bridge connecting the two ships so that the crowd of hundreds could safely change vessels. Mr. Fantastic was stretched along its length, acting as the role of a handrail.
Sue's stomach rolled right along with the ten foot waves beating against the ship. The black night poured icy cold rain onto the frantic crowd. Sue couldn't remember a time in her life when she had been so cold. Her suit did little to keep her warm in the sub-freezing temperatures.
This must be what the people on the Titanic felt like, Sue thought bitterley. She cast a jealous glance at the passengers who were being helped onto the rescue ship. Blankets and hot drinks were being passed out, and people huddled together in groups for much needed warmth.
This was why her mind drifted longingly to her honeymoon cruise. Her warm honeymoon cruise.
Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a particularly forceful lurch of the ship. She had to redouble her focus in order to keep the force field bridge intact.
Ben Grimm tightened his grip around Sue's waist. He stayed with her to keep her solidly anchored. He shuddered to think what would happen if Sue fell and lost her concentration. A lot of people would find themselves in deadly whirlpool.
The water was more than halfway up the SS Norwegian Princess' hull. Ben figured they had about three more minutes to work with before she was completely lost to the sea. He glanced at the deck and was relieved to see that there were only about thirty passengers left.
Meanwhile, Sue still couldn't believe how cold she felt. Sure, Ben was hugging her. But how much warmth could she possibly get from a rock? Her whole body was trembling from the icy night, on top of the physical exertion she was using to maintain her power. Sue was the only member of the team who had physical side effects for using her powers. Sue had fainted on more than one occasion from over exertion. A sudden wave of dizziness swept over her, and her attention wavered for a moment.
The force field heaved. The six remaining passengers on the bridge jerked forward. Four held onto Reed for support, and two toppled into the icy waters.
Reed magnified the lenses of his eyes and scanned the water. Even with super vision, it was hard to pick out individuals in the angry tide. There was one! He stretched an arm out and picked the middle aged man out of the water. Now where was the other one? To his relief, he saw members of the rescue ship's crew already fishing the elderly lady out to safety.
Reed let his body elastically snap back to the Cruise Liner. He found Sue and Ben.
"It's our turn now," he shouted to them over the storm's roar. On wobbly legs, Sue stood up and followed Ben across the bridge with Reed on her heels.
Johnny, who had been helping people aboard, came up to Sue.
"Are we having fun yet?" he teased. His smile faded away though when he looked at Sue's face. It was deathly pale, and her mouth and cheeks had a definitely blue pallor to them.
"Oh, Susie," he said sympathetically. He enveloped her in a crushing hug. Carefully he raised temperature of his skin. To Sue it was wonderful; like hugging an electric blanket. After awhile her shakes and shivers subsided and she pulled away from Johnny to seek out Reed. He appeared beside her instantly, wrapped in a blanket. He held an extra blanket for her in his hand.
"You must be exhausted honey," he said with real concern in his voice. "You burned a lot of energy out there tonight. You need sleep." Holding her hand, he led her away.
Sue nodded numbly and obediently followed him to a sheltered room below deck. Other families were already hunkered down for the night. Reed sat down against the wall and pulled Sue down next to him. Sue nestled herself against his side and rested her head on his chest. Reed wrapped his arms tightly around her several times for warmth- his as well as hers.
Through rapidly closing eyelids she watched her family. Johnny burned softly nearby (The crowds, particularily women, gravitated toward his heat). She knew that Ben would be making himself useful on deck. Because he was made of rock the weather didn't bother him at all. Finally she turned her head up to look her husband. The man she had chosen to spend the rest of her life with. She looked up to find him already gazing lovingly down at her. Content, Sue buried her head into Reed's chest and promptly fell asleep.