Disclaimer: I own nothing unless specified.
Author here: ( Oh, no, he's fixin' to start typing again. RuN!! Someone, give him a W key!) Seriously, thanks for all the support. This is the continuation of my Island Exile books: Hotel Havoc, Island Hopping and Uncharted Island ere the FIRST trilogy, this is the first of the new trilogy. But it's all really one big story with Jackson's Other Lives drawn from it, but not really anything but one paragraph gone wild . Sugar144, Jouce, Aov8, thanks for the dozens of review and I hope you keep them coming, if I deserve it.
Questions or comments are always welcome.
Strong violence, drug references and SLASH(!), plus adult situations. Don't like, don't flame, just send a message via the PM system. That's its PROPER use.
Oh, I goofed on Lex's mom's name. I put in Maria, bit according to Ten Simple Rules, it's Gwen. So, I combined them. Her family calls her Gwen, her coworkers, Maria.
Flight 29 Down: Crash Landing
Chapter One
What You Leave Behind
" Nathan, show the boys which room they'll be sharing while I go call and check on your mom and sister. They should be getting on the plane from Juneau soon and I want to catch a few z's before I head back out to the airport, " Nelson McHugh said from here the four men stood at the staircase of his to storey house. The tall, powerfully built man, a half dozen shade darker than his mahogany toned son reached over to tousle Nathan McHugh's springy red and brown hair , yawning as he did so. " Man, I appreciate Rex chartering the jet for you guys, but he could have picked a better time than 4 am for it. " Good night fellows, or rather, " he corrected with a tired smile, "Good Morning. Sleep as long as you need to, then, when you get up, I'll take you to see your mom Jackson."
" Go to bed, tired old fart, " Nathan said, taking a couple of steps up the stairs, " I got this." He waved an exhausted Cody Jackson and Eric McGorrill up the stairs behind him as he went to the top floor. He paused at the second door on the left, opening it up for them. There ere two beds in the large room. One was twin size, the other a full, oddly enough.
Fittingly enough, Eric pointed the oddness out: " Why the two different sized bed?" Then, his eyes went wide as a sudden thought crashed into his tired mind, " Nate, you didn't tell your dad that Cody, Mel and I are?' he couldn't finish the sentence because Nathan suddenly clamped a hasty hand over Eric's mouth.
" Shut Up Eric! My dad's got really good ears and he'd freak out if he heard you say that you're sleeping with Jackson and Mel!" Nathan hissed . " He already flipped out hen I told him we had all been molested by the pilot and his pirate friends. If he though he had a couple of bi guys in the same bedroom in his own house, he'd have a stroke or something."
Eric glared at him. One of the things he had learned during their involuntary months of exile was that it truly sucked, having to deny his feelings and he didn't feel like reverting back to his old ways . Not about this matter, especially. " If we're not welcome here as we are, then we need to leave. Now." He acted as if he was going to walk out of the room when the silence Jackson had observed since leaving the airport was finally broken.
" Eric, just let it lay for one night, please, " came the plea of a proud young man who did not ordinarily beg, " We all have a lot to sort though, especially you." He walked over and put a strong hand, fingers callused from his beloved guitar playing , on the smaller teens shoulder. " You haven't even mentioned your dad to me or Mel since you found out he was dead at Guam. And now that we know your mom may have had him killed, " he broke off as Eric shrugged the hand off his shoulder. Nathan stood there silently watching the drama play out between the two others.
Eric stood there, fists balled, face tense and asked bitterly, " What do I do now, huh Cody? Sure, I have you and Mel. I know that, it's the only reason I haven't just given up, but it can't be all about me. Mel's dad died thanks to those fucking monsters and your poor mom killed herself, rather than be alone. And Taylor's mom in in a rich person's nuthouse. Nate, Daley and Lex are the only ones who got either no bad news or good news since we got back. I don't mean that with any sarcasm Nathan, " he added, bestowing a watery smile at the taller boy, ho leaned against a tall dresser by the bed.
" I didn't think you did man, " Nathan answered, " But Jackson is right, of us all, you got the really raw deal. I just don't know what to say." He looked at a loss for words, a rare event for the usually self possessed Nathan. His personality had rapidly improved since the battle with the monsters, even though his health had faltered badly. He had barely eaten since their rescue and still had loud nightmares about his on ordeals. His eyes had rings around them even worse than Jackson's or Eric's.
A fact not lost on Jackson, who walked over and , in a relatively rare display of affection for Nathan, hugged the other teen tight. " Thanks for arranging a place for us to crash. There's no way he could have handled being alone or in his parents house, even if he won't admit it. I have him, but you need sleep Nate. You're out on your feet. Beside, " a true grin briefly lit his face, " Daley threatened to castrate us if we didn't get you to try to sleep tonight. Today, whatever." He pulled away and walked back to Eric's side.
To his surprise and relief, Eric laid his head on Jackson's shoulder. " Are you ok?" Cody asked as the other teen leaned ever more heavily onto him.
" I'm wiped out. And I'm scared to go to sleep. Damn, I wish Mel was here too. She needs us just as bad as we need her," .
" I know, but she has to discuss things with her mom first, you know that." Cody answered.
" I still wish she as here, " Eric replied, somewhat petulantly.
Nathan cleared his throat as he touched the door knob, having walked to the door and as about to walk out. " Uh, I don't know about the sleeping arrangements, but for now, lock the door. And put a chair in front of it, to be safe. In case you to want to sleep together. " He flushed , his light colored ears gone crimson.
Eric snorted in derision, " Sleep's all we'll be doing. Even Cap'n Chaos's Subversion couldn't get him laid right now" " he said, gently shoving at Jackson.
" Every dark cloud has a silver lining, " Jackson quipped tiredly as he kicked his shoes off, rubbing his socked feet on the thick gray carpet. " Got to sleep Nate."
" See you guys later, " he said, pushing the lock and stepping out, quietly closing the door behind him.
Jackson walked over and placed the small chair in the corner against the door, as Nathan had asked. He got surprised when he turned around.
Eric was nude, draped across the bed.
And already snoring softly.
Moments later, Jackson was wearing exactly the same outfit, issued at birth. He had the sheets pulled over them and drifted off to sleep just as the first rays of sunshine touched the drawn curtain, He had two last thoughts drift through his head before sleep took him completely.
I miss you Momma. I may never forgive myself for not being here for you. I'm sorry.
And then his last thought took him as Eric curled up next to him in his sleep, I can't bury myself with Mom, they both need me, him and Mel. I wish she were her too.
His and Eric's breaths meshed together into a rhythm as they both left their cares away for a few hours of rest.
Next: We check in on the Marin and Wu's . Oh, and Eric' mom makes bail!