A/N: First off thanks to everyone who stumbled upon my story and read it-To the people who reviewed-you get a High Five.
Reviews are love-so if you start reading this story-go ahead and leave a token of your appreciation. I know you want to ;)
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or One Tree Hill-I just feel compelled to tell a story about a time and a place that just doesn't exist in our world reality-but nonetheless feels the need to be shared.
Chapter 2. Into The Jungle
As the smoke cleared, all that could be seen was a charred, twisted metal mess. The helicopter had landed in a forest of trees. Luke opened his eyes and saw so much blood everywhere. He was covered in it. He craned his neck behind him; he could see branches and leaves poking through what was left of the chopper.
It took him a few moments to clear his vision and then fear began to set in. His first thought, his only thought was; Where are Nate and Chase?
We are all haunted by our dreams in some way, be it because when we awake from them-we struggle to discern truth from reality or perhaps we long for the comfort of a place where we feel no real pain-just the comfort of a thought wrapped in a mystery.
These thoughts echoed through my mind for hours after the helicopter crashed. I couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had seeped into my bones and covered my body in a thin layer of sweat. I gingerly made my way out of the charred and tangled mess and scanned the surrounding jungle around me. There was a slow dripping sound coming from somewhere over to my left and the hum of insects going about their day engulfed and overwhelmed me. I was in trouble, big deep life threatening trouble and I had no idea where Nate or Chase were.
I took several deep shuddering breaths and felt a dull pain throb just below my right kneecap, I looked down and saw that the material of my trousers was torn and bloodied. I tore off a strip of cotton from my shirt and hastily tied a tourniquet to stem the flow of blood and also because this simple task forced me to focus on something other than the fear threatening to take over. After I had hastily bandaged the wound, which didn't look too bad, I could still walk okay without it being too painful. I heard a rustling coming from behind me; I crouched down low and slowed my breathing.
Meanwhile back at the base Peyton, Haley & Brooke are setting up for the USO show
The stage was massive, giant speakers dwarfed the sides and wires lay strewn on the floor-they looked chaotic but upon closer inspection had been elaborately and somewhat carefully taped down and held in place. Only a moron would trip on them or get tangled up in them.
'Peyton, this looks amazing', Brooke was staring around at all her friends hard work and she couldn't help but feel a warm sense of pride well up inside her.
'Thanks, I can't take all the credit though, I had a lot of help and Haley has been running around checking with all the bands and making sure everyone has what they need'. Peyton said all of this with a kind smile in her eyes and an arm slung loosely around her friends shoulder.
'Ladies, I'm going to do a few more sound checks and then sing under the table until it's time for me to go on'. Haley said this with a wobbly smile in place but a look of steely determination reflected in her eyes. This little trick of hers had given her the confidence to face three thousand fans and perform like she didn't know she was always meant to.
Peyton and Brooke hugged their friend and smiled as she scampered off to psych herself up for her first live gig in a long while. Everywhere around them was a hive of steady and organised activity, there were people scurrying to and fro setting up lights, cameras, microphones-it was at once overwhelming and oddly satisfying. The thrill of being in charge of such a mammoth project had Peyton using every skill she had developed over the years when preparing for her shows at Tric.
Brooke was busily flirting her way through a throng of eager and wet behind the ears marines all the while shooting glances to Peyton as if to say "Meh, it's all just harmless flirty-whatever".
Peyton just giggled quietly to herself and shook her head, only Brooke could stand about and flirt with marines and still somehow look like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth.
Little did they know that in the next five minutes, all this activity, this excitement and hard work would all become meaningless. Peyton was wearing a tank top, a loose skirt and had her hair falling gently onto her shoulders with a broad smile fixed in place.
Brooke had disentangled herself from her admirers and was standing next to Peyton wearing a beautiful midnight blue slip dress-she looked achingly young and full of hope.
Haley was sitting cross-legged underneath the table in her dressing room wearing a Brooke Davis original-a slash of fiery red and black roses were embroidered on the side of the gun-metal grey dress, it looked stunning. Haley had finally managed to compose herself and felt more than ready to rock out. Little did she know her sense of normalcy was about to fly out of the window.
Peyton and Brooke were now making there way over to Haley's dressing room; the two were sharing old jokes and reminiscing about their junior year. The arrived outside of the dressing room and shared a smile before pushing the door open. Haley had moved from the floor and was now standing in the corner looking at a lyric sheet her posture was relaxed but tinged with excitement. The door opening alerted Haley to their presence and a smile crept over her delicate features, she knew those two would come and find her before it was show time.
'Hales, how you feeling now?' Peyton asked with a comforting and loving smile in place.
'Great actually, I was nervous before-but now I'm just excited about singing live again. I have a good feeling about this'.
'You're gonna do great! I know it!' Brooke spoke forcefully and clasped Haley in a comforting and reassuring hug.
'Thanks you guys, ok well I think I'm about ready to go-could you guys give me a minute?' Haley needed just a few moments to focus herself and then she knew she would be fine.
'Sure, we'll be right outside'. Peyton smiled at Haley and then felt her pocket vibrate. 'Guys, it's the Staff Sergeant I gotta take this-it must be something to do with the show'. Peyton quickly walked out and answered her phone.
The air outside had started to cool a bit and the merest whisper of a breeze ghosted across Peyton's arms. The air felt different-as though it could sense a change in the world.
It's that moment between dreams and reality, five little minutes, 300 seconds and your life is changed forever. One minute you are smiling and joking around with your oldest friends and gearing up for a night to remember. Like a bolt of lightning streaking across the night sky the landscape subtly changes for just a moment-and that is all it takes. Your blood runs cold, the smile vanishes from your face and the fear sets in.
The ache builds up in the pit of your stomach and rises until your heart is clenching in pain. The pain is so intense you clutch wildly at the air in front of you. Your body literally collapses in on itself. You are scared, you are terrified-you realise you have no idea what to do or how to feel.
Peyton stood clutching the phone tightly in her hand whilst all the colour had drained from her face. Her eyes were misting over as tears threatened to fall. A hundred thoughts were stampeding through her mind all fighting for prominence.
The words spoken to her over the phone replayed over and over in her mind; 'Miss Sawyer, I'm very sorry to have to tell you this but Lucas's helicopter has been confirmed as missing for over an hour, we have tried to reach them on the radio to no avail. The last signal we received from them pinpointed their location to Vietcong controlled territory (a no fly-zone). The danger of a rescue by chopper is critical-they have surface to air missiles so we can't even do a fly over. At this stage we have no idea if anyone will have survived the crash. For the moment they are listed as MIA'.
'Luke could be dead, Nate could be dead, Chase could be dead'. Peyton couldn't seem to stop these twelve words from repeating themselves over and over in her mind. Brooke in the meanwhile had gone in search of her wayward best friend wondering what could possibly have taken so long on the phone.
Peyton had gotten the call and walked outside figuring it was the Duty Sergeant checking last minute details for the show.
Brooke walked outside and saw a pale and trembling Peyton.
'What's wrong? What's happened? Please talk to me P Sawyer you're scaring me'. Brooke rasped the last words out of her mouth and then stood petrified in front of Peyton-a million thoughts racing through her mind. Brooke knew it had to be something unimaginable for Peyton to look this way (Brooke could only remember one other time when Peyton had looked like this-she was just nine years old).
'It's Luke…Nate…uh and ummm…' Peyton gulped out, 'and Chase'. Peyton had been struggling to breathe properly for the last five minutes, and seeing the look on Brooke's face didn't exactly help. Peyton bit down on her lip and squared her shoulders in a desperate attempt to hold herself together.
'What's Luke, Nate and Chase?' Brooke asked, from the moment Peyton had said those names every fear that she had came barrelling over her in wave after wave. Brooke knew the risks of being a soldier-she just didn't think it would be "her soldiers"-they had been there less than a week.
'Oh God, I can't breathe…I…uh..' Brooke felt light-headed, all the joy and excitement had vanished from her eyes and even before Peyton could utter another word Brooke knew. It was the look of heartache and fear in Peyton's eyes. Brooke looked down and saw Peyton tightly clutching her phone.
Brooke's eyes spilled over with tears and chokingly between sobs she gasped, 'Are they dead Peyton?' Peyton felt a darkness enter her heart at the thought of Lucas no longer being alive-the possibility that the same fate had befallen Nate and Chase was almost too much for her to bear. Peyton pushed aside these thoughts and managed to softly say; 'No, they're missing, the chopper went down in a no-fly zone…they think there's a chance they could have made it-but because of the danger of flying over-they can't order a search and rescue yet'. Peyton swallowed the lump in her throat and pulled Brooke into a tight embrace. Both of them crying silent tears, not yet ready to accept that they may have just lost the most important people in their lives.
Brooke ever the optimist refused to accept that Chase was anything other than alive, hurt yes, but alive nonetheless. For Peyton's and Haley's sake, Brooke prayed to whatever God existed out there that all three would make it home alive.
'They have to be alive, Chase, Luke & Nate wouldn't die without telling me first!' Peyton half chuckled and sobbed at Brooke's logic. Peyton nodded her head against Brooke's shoulder and then stepped back looking into Brooke's eyes-they nodded at the same moment. It was time to tell Haley the terrible news and also to postpone the USO show. After dealing with this harrowing development the Duty Sergeant had already put a stop to the show.
Haley turned around and saw Brooke and Peyton walking hand in hand over to her, she saw Peyton's tear-stained face and the wobbly smile on Brookes and knew something was very wrong.
'Oh God, what is it? What's happened?' Haley knew these two well enough to know that from the look they had on their faces the news was bad.
'Haley-Nate, Chase & Lucas are missing, their chopper was shot down, they are MIA for now-and a search and rescue hasn't been launched yet, but I have an idea of how we can get going on that'. Brooke told Haley and managed to keep the tears at bay, Peyton squeezed her hand in comfort and all three stood in a tight huddle with their arms wrapped around each for support. Not one word was spoken; they were all just breathing in the same air, trying to get a handle on a situation that seemed wholly inconceivable just hours earlier.
Meanwhile Lucas has managed to stem the flow of blood from his leg wound but he still needs to find Nate and Chase.
'Nate? Chase?'. Lucas starts shouting both their names very loudly whilst scanning the undergrowth for any signs that they my have landed nearby. After a few minutes of this, Lucas hears something, it sounds like a very weak and faint moan or groan. He keeps calling out and hears the distinct sound of a loud groan. Luke starts running; he comes to an abrupt stop and sees Nate hanging upside down all tangled up in a tree. His leg is bleeding from a gash on his upper thigh and his head has a superficial wound on it. Lucas laughs-not because Nate looks ridiculous but because he is relieved to have found his brother alive and well. Haley won't kill him now for not taking good care of her husband!
'Nate, Nate can you hear me?'. Luke is gently cradling Nate's head.
'Luke?? Are you really there, cos I keep thinking you are and then I'll start talking to you and then you're gone'. Nate's head wound had obviously caused him to have hallucinations-all the blood rushing to his head probably didn't help either.
Lucas got out his bayonet knife and gently cut Nate free. He caught him and placed him slowly and carefully on the ground.
Lucas shook Nate gently and wiped some of the blood from his face with his shirtsleeve, 'Nate have you seen Chase?' Luke asked.
'No…I uh.. last thing I remember is the trees-there was so much greenery everywhere, and then there was darkness. I remember talking to you though. You said it would all be okay that we would find a way home.' Nathan had a glazed over look in his eyes, and Luke started to get worried, he needed Nate conscious and well. Not all confused and out of it.
'Nate, I'm gonna wrap something around your thigh to stop the bleeding ok? Then we are going to go and find Chase. We can't stay here; it's not safe ok? I did some quick calculations whilst I was looking for you and I would say that we are deep within the arranged Viet Cong controlled zone-which means we have very little time to find Chase and get the hell out of here. They would have seen us crash from where they were shooting from, we need to be fast'. Luke needed to shock Nathan into complete alertness, he knew that if Nate had a firm grasp as to how serious the situation at hand really was-then maybe just maybe he would start operating on pure adrenalin.
Luke's words had the desired effect on Nathan, with a deep sigh from within, Nate stood up slowly and assessed how well he would be able to walk. He noticed that although the cut on his thigh was painful he was still able to walk.
The sound of gunfire echoed off in the distance, Luke looked at Nathan and both of them quickly ran into the bushes, taking cover. A few minutes passed during which Luke was very aware of the thumping of his heart and the sweat slowly pouring down his back both out of fear and because it was sweltering. Nathan didn't look much better, he was sweating profusely and whispered; 'Luke that could have been Chase they were firing at, we need to get closer to where the gunfire is and see what's going on'. Luke just nodded silently and then very carefully they made their way closer to where they had heard the guns going off.
Through the tangled branches of a low slung tree, they could make out the slumped figure of Chase being dragged away into the jungle. Nate's eyes widened in fear and his breath came out in stops and starts. Luke felt a coldness seep into his bones, things had been bad before-but this was much worse. Tears sprung into his eyes, he quickly swallowed down the fear and hardened himself to what had just transpired. Luke knew that Chase would need both him and Nate to be strong and come up with a plan to save him-or at least go for help.
'Luke we need to follow them'. Nate whispered looking into his brother's steady eyes.
Luke nodded and together they wandered back to the wreckage of the chopper and grabbed what they would need.
'You ready?' Luke asked Nate.
With a nod of his head the duo set off into the jungle-destination unknown…..
Back at base camp….
Brooke stood facing Peyton and Haley, her brow was furrowed in concentration. She started pacing back and forth; the beginnings of a plan were coming together in her mind. It needed some key components but if they agreed then just maybe they would have an answer to the ache in their hearts.
'Peyton, call Derek. Haley call the Staff Sergeant. I have an idea-we're getting them back! Don't ask me any questions just get Derek and the Staff Sergeant. I'll explain everything when they both get here'. Brooke's scheming was legendary, if she had a plan then it would more than likely work-or at least give them a fighting chance.
Ok, so this is the conclusion of chapter 2. I have lots more in store for you guys. Think rescue missions, the girls and an unlikely but most welcome partner in crime.