We're Back
Summary: (Sequel to Time to Dance) After one long year the eight stranded are finally going home. But they find that things have changed at home- changed dramatically. Their old friends seem to hate them, their families falling apart. Luckily, they realize that all they need is each other.
Ch. 1 Boat ride
A/N: Yet another vote! I have way too many Flight 29 Down ideas for after this one. Vote between the three on my profile, please. Voting closes on Sunday.
Nathan stared at the crystal-clear, perfect, ocean. A bottlenose dolphin occasionally jumped or broke the surface. They had named the little loner Flipper, who often came up close to the shore to have a nice little chat with one of the 8. He was an orphan- a 2 year old calf whose family was killed by the transient orca pod that passed through every 2 months. Abby had saved Flipper, though, and the orcas (who were, ironically, just as friendly) knew not to kill him.
Nathan let out a small sigh. He was 17, and had been on this "tropical paradise' for a year now. It had been an extremely eventful year- mostly in the beginning of it, till about a month after they had crashed. Then everything toned down a bit. His pants, however much he had tried hard to prevent, were beginning to rip at the ends. His feet were bare- he was getting used to the hot sand. He had a long, deep scar across his cheek, the result of a twig (he called it a brutal, vicious twig) that had scratched him while he was looking for a distraught Daley, upset over a fight with Lex.
Flipper was just swimming over when Nathan heard footsteps coming up behind him.
"Hey Nathan," said the tired and worn out voice of Daley.
"Hello Day," Nathan smiled and gave the curly-red-haired blue-eyed 17 year old a kiss as Flipper came into the shallow water and let out a loud squeak.
"Hey Flippy," Daley grinned and patted the dolphins rubbery nose. It squeaked at Nathan, who grinned.
"How's it going, Flip?" Nathan raised his hand near Flipper's flipper, who patted Nathan's hand.
"All right, high five," Daley grinned.
"Yup," Nathan laughed as the dolphin slipped into slightly deeper water and began to swim around playfully.
"So," Daley turned to face Nathan, "How are you doing?"
"Fine. Just tired. And profound- I think…" Nathan smirked.
"Uh oh, alert the media," Daley joked as Nathan rolled his eyes.
"How about you?"
"I'm lonely," Daley buried her head into Nathan's chest as he rubbed her back.
"I love you, Daley," Nathan grinned.
Daley flipped around so she was lying in Nathan's lap, smiling. "I love you too, Nathan," she murmured and leaned up and kissed him, he pulling her up into his arms. They continued kissing until an excited squeak was let out from Flipper.
"Yeah Flipper?" Nathan asked in a slightly annoyed tone.
Flipper bobbed his head in the direction of the ocean. In the distance, Nathan and Daley could see the dorsal fins of 8 orcas.
"The orcas are here!" Nathan laughed. Daley grinned.
"I wonder how Willy's doing?" she asked. But Daley's eyes widened as she saw what was behind the orcas.
"Guys, Get down here! NOW!" she cried.
Jackson was in the middle of a very important activity. He and Melissa were involved in a very passionate make out session.
"I-love-you," Melissa panted between each kiss.
"I- love- you- t…" but Jackson was cut off by the shrill, familiar sound of Daley's voice from across the beach.
"Guys, Get down here! NOW!"
"Aww Daley," Melissa sighed as she and Jackson got up and started walking.
"Some other time," Jackson wrapped his arm around Melissa's shoulder and kissed the top of her head as they walked to the beach.
Eric, Taylor, and Abby were already there, and gaping. Lex was running towards them, so Jackson and Melissa took off running as well.
"What's going on?" Jackson asked.
"Look," Lex cried. Jackson looked, and saw a huge boat behind the orcas.
"Over here!" all 8 cried, jumping up and down to try and get the boat's attention. The boat turned in the direction of the island.
"Over here!" they continued to shout as the boat stopped in the middle of the ocean, and a small rowboat came over as Flipper swam over to the orcas, who greeted him with excited clicks.
The rowboat, being ridden by a tall man, landed on the sandy beach.
"Who are you all?" he asked immediately.
"The survivors of 2 Niner Delta Winium November, AKA Flight 29 Down (A/N: I'm so sure I spelled that wrong…). I'm Lex Martin, that's my sister Daley; that's Nathan McHugh, Cody Jackson, Melissa Wu, Abby Fujimoto, Eric McGorrill, and Taylor Hannigan. We've been stranded here for a year," Lex panted.
"Well, gather your stuff. You guys lived in…?"
"California, LA," Nathan looked hopefully at the man.
"Good. That's where we make berth. Gather you things and quietly while I radio the captain."
Everyone rushed into he ten, excited beyond belief. Soon they had everything packed, including the tent. They ran back to the man.
"Yes. The captain- Captain Slovin is happy to give you immediate passage home. Get in."
"Thank you, ah…" Abby began.
"Ralson. Mr. Ralson, navigator," the man said pompously as all 8 clambered into the boat.
"Thank you, Mr. Ralson. We're all in your debt," Jackson murmured.
"Your welcome, erm…. Cody?"
"Jackson!" all of them cried out at once, making the navigator jump back.
"Okay, okay. We're here now," and they all climbed up the rope ladder and jumped on the ship.
"Yes!" they all cried and hugged and were so happy. They were finally going home.
Nathan took Daley up in his arms and kissed her passionately. Jackson and Melissa were holding hands and jumping up and down. Eric was spinning Taylor around. Lex and Abby were walking over to the Captain, who was standing there, looking on the other's happiness.
"Captain Slovin?" Lex asked.
"Yes? What are your names?"
"Lex Martin and Abby Fujimoto," Abby and Lex shook his hand.
"Good, good. Soon we will go back to LA- you are quite far away, in Indonesia. We were following that orca pod for some Scientists who happen to be big paying passengers, so we have enough rooms for you all."
"You mean Willy and them all are the California Orcas?" Lex said, surprised.
"We could have just ridden them home," Abby joked.
"Do you have a phone? We really want to call home, it's been a year," Lex asked.
"No, I'm afraid. Our phone line is dead, luckily our telegraph and radio aren't."
"Oh well, how long will it take to go home? The orcas just go back to California from here…"
"We'll be going faster than usual speed, so probably a week."
"Yay!" Abby and Lex hugged briefly.
"Go get your friends. I'll show you your quarters- we have 3 one bed rooms and one two bed room left from the scientists, is that okay?"
"That's absolutely perfect," Lex grinned.
The week ran smoothly. Well, as smoothly as a week at sea can truly go. Soon, the ship pulled into harbor, and the 8 went with their junk to the lodge and called home.
Everyone was sitting in chairs, four on one side and two on the two facing sides. The phone was on the remaining wall.
"Well, who first?" Nathan asked.
Everyone shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
"I'll go," Daley and Lex stood up. Nathan gave Daley's hand a reassuring squeeze.
Daley walked up to the phone, put in the two quarters the captain gave them, her fingers shaking as she dialed the number and held the receiver to her ear. Lex gripped her shoulder as a woman picked up on the second ring.
"Hello?"
"Mom?" Daley asked, her voice shaking.
(1, 238 Words) Ooh, cliffy!