Sandy, Kirsten, Seth, Ryan, Sophie and Summer were all sat round the dinner table celebrating the beginning of the holiday season.
'So Summer, what's your dad doing for Christmas?' asked Ryan.
'Oh he's gone to Aspen with the stepmons-.. I mean Gloria. They asked if I wanted to come as well, but you know me and snow don't go well together.' She replied. Sandy smiled.
'Well it's a pleasure to have you here with us.' He said. Seth suddenly had a moment of realisation and asked.
'I can't believe Jake is coming for Chrimukkah. He, Uncle Dan and Aunt Elle haven't been here since when?... 97? 98?' he said curiously. Sandy nodded.
'Hey I was as surprised as you were when Dan called me and asked if they could spend the holidays with us, but the more the merrier I say. It'll be just like old times' he said.
'Yeah except we have two new family members now' said Kirsten looking at Ryan.
Ryan had been a little nervous about meeting Sandy's brother and his family ever since he had mentioned they were coming for Chrismukkah. Ryan had never really thought about other parts of this family that he was now a full member. He'd never really had an extended family back in Chino, he saw the occasional uncle or cousin every now and again, but to be honest he thought even their own relatives wanted to stay away from the drunken violence that was the Atwood household. And now here he was about to meet his uncle, aunt and cousin for the first time, he couldn't help but feel anxious about the whole thing.
'So what are they like?' he asked. Kirsten must have spotted the slight anxiety in his eyes because she smiled and said.
'Nothing like the Nana, so don't worry.' Ryan laughed off the comment but in all the honesty the thought had crossed his mind. Seth spoke up.
'You'll get on well with Jake Ryan.' He said. 'Before you came to Newport, I couldn't wait for the holidays so that I could spend some time with someone who wasn't a water-polo playing jock. He's into comic books and listens to decent music… well at least he used to. I haven't spoken to him in a while.'
'Why'd you guy's lose touch?' asked Ryan.
'Well I still get the occasional email from him, but one year they just stopped coming over.' Replied Seth. 'Why was that dad?' Sandy shrugged.
'Dan got a new job and worked a lot more over the holidays.' He said. 'I'm not sure what the whole story was.' He paused. 'Still I just think it's strange he phoned out of the blue and asked to come.'
'Well whatever the reason, they're coming and it's gonna be awesome' exclaimed Seth.
I was going to be awesome, thought Seth, his favourite cousin was coming back after almost a 10 year absence. But he too, was also nervous. He hoped that Jake hadn't changed too much over the years. What was he going to say to him? He also noticed Ryan had been a little quiet around the topic of them arriving. Was he nervous too? Summer who had been keeping quiet throughout this family conversation asked.
'Well if this Jake is anything like Cohen here, then we're gonna have one hell of a Christmas.' Everyone laughed except Seth who scowled. 'So when do they arrive?'
'Tomorrow morning. I'm picking them up at 8am' sighed Sandy. 'Seems all I ever do is go back and forth from that airport.' Seth smiled.
'Taxi service, maybe there's a new career in that for you dad' he said.
'Oh yeah? Well next time you're walking' replied Sandy.
The conversation moved on to college life and how everyone was doing there. And eventually all Ryan's nervousness was forgotten.
30000 feet, somewhere over the US.
Jake was nervous. He didn't think he would be, but he was. He had kept in touch with Seth a lot when they were younger, but as he grew up the emails shrank in size and number. He wondered how everyone had changed. Whether Seth would still be the same. He scowled and thought. Of course he won't, we're 21! I haven't seen him since I was 12. He was also anxious about meeting his newest cousins, Ryan and Sophie. He hadn't heard too much about them, but his dad assured them that everything would be fine. He sighed and turned up the volume on his Ipod. He hated flying, the seats were so cramped and Jake being over 6 foot tall was always uncomfortable. The movies were no better either. Princess Diary 2 was playing. Jake rolled his eyes and stared out the window at the clouds. And he knew it was a mistake because he started thinking about her.
Elle looked across the aisle at her son who was starting transfixed by something outside the window. He had been doing that a lot recently, just staring at nothing. She could only imagine the thoughts racing in his mind, replaying over and over again. And she couldn't do a thing, nothing she said or did had helped. She couldn't look at him any longer, she turned and tried to focus on the movie that was showing. Why can't they show decent movies and these flights she thought. No wonder Dan and Jake hate flying. She turned to look at her husband who was fidgeting and complaining about the person in front of him who had put his seat back. She couldn't help but give a small smile and snuggled into him and began to settle down. This holiday has to help… otherwise I don't know what will.
Jake cringed as another memory flashed through his head. Suddenly he was startled from his trance by an announcement by one of the cabin crew.
'Is there a doctor aboard this plane?' the woman said. 'Would any medically trained persons please step forward.' Jake looked around to see if anyone stood up. Noone did. Elle leaned over to her son.
'Jake… I think you should offer to help' she said cautiously. Fear flashed through Jake accompanied by the image of her. He calmed himself and said.
'No mom, I'm only a first year medical student. They want an actual doctor.' He whispered. 'It's probably someone having a panic attack or something'
'Jake there's noone else standing up yo-..' she started but was harshly cut off by her son.
'Mom NO!' he said a little more loudly than he had intended.
The announcement came over again.
'There is an emergency in first class. Any medical personnel please come forward.' Jake felt fear in every part of his body. This can't be happening. It's too soon. Then something in the back of his mind told him: you have to Jake. He stood up. A female stewardess walked over to him. He whispered in her ear.
'I'm a medical student, I don't know how much I could help.' the stewardesses eyes went wide, she grabbed his wrist.
'Come with me now!'
The stewardess half led, half dragged Jake up the plane and through the parting curtain into first class. A man was lying on the floor, shaking, grabbing his chest and he had vomited. Many people were crowded round him. Jake knew exactly what was going on as soon as he saw him. He was having a heart attack. One of the stewards was about to attempt CPR. Jake shouted: 'STOP!' Suddenly all the fear drained out of him he forgot about past events.
'That won't help him' he said. 'Where's your portable defibrillator?' One of the stewardesses hurried off and returned moments later with a yellow box.
'He-here' she said shaking. Jake grabbed it and unpacked the equipment. He placed the two pads on the man's chest and waited as the machine calculated his heart rhythm. The screen flashed VF and began charging. It gave a shock to the man. Jake looked at the defibrillator, VF it flashed again, Jake scowled. The machine began charging again. One woman began crying hysterically. He assumed it was the man's wife. As a steward moved her away from the scene the machine delivered another shock. The machine again displayed VF. 'Come On!' shouted Jake as the machine charged yet again. The shock delivered and Jake waited… and waited… Sinus appeared on the screen. He sighed with relief and slouched back.
'Is he alright?' asked a steward. Jake shook his head.
'No, he's had a heart attack. Make sure there is an ambulance waiting for us when we land.' He replied, emotionally drained. 'How long is that?'
'About 15 minutes' said the steward. Jake nodded.
'He'll probably make it.' He groaned and stood up. 'Make him comfortable and have someone with him at all times until we land.' The steward looked at him speechless. Jake turned to his mom standing with the man's wife. The woman stepped forward.
'Th-thank you' she said. Jake said nothing, showed no expression because behind this old woman he saw her as real as day standing there smiling.
'Amy' he whispered.
Elle stepped forward and embraced her son as tightly as she could and Jake's vision vanished.
'You did it sweetie, you saved him' she exclaimed. Jake still said nothing. 'Don't you see honey, it wasn't your fault, you couldn't save her… Amy-..' she continued but was again cut off.
'Mom… I need to use the bathroom' he said quietly with no emotion. Jake walked past his mother and calmly went into the toilet and locked the door. He looked into the mirror and broke down in tears where no-one could hear.
Ok I'm a medical student myself and this is my worse fear. That I'll be on a plane and someone will need a doctor. I've kind of dramatised this a little bit, because in truth the cabin crew would have probably been able to use the defibrillator. But hey it's the OC so what's a little bit of inaccurate drama:P Also I've yet to see what exactly happens when someone is shocked with a defib, but I've heard the older students talking about it. So this is probably accurate. I wasn't sure what to do with this chapter. How much of Jake's past I should reveal. Anyway I hope I haven't overdone it too early. Enjoy and review please!