I'd like to dedicate this chapter to all my fellow Sully/Nate fans! I wouldn't be doing this without you guys! You make me so happy and keep me going! :D So, this is for you buddies!
Also, a big thanks to EVERYONE who has reviewed this story and others! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
Uncharted 3
You Kept Me Going
Drake quickly skidded to a stop as he ran to the well. Snatching up the rope, he quickly brought it up with a relieved laugh. "Alright, bring it on up! Heh, don't care if it's cold or not!" His eyes shined as a small leather pouch came into view. Grabbing it he quickly brought it to his lips, but stopped cold.
"Remember Sully...I'm just not that lucky..."
Releasing the top, Drake watched sadly as nothing but sand fell out. "Goddamn it..." Stepping back, he let the pouch fall and he leaned forward, resting his hands on his legs with a sigh of defeat. "Oh shit...you've gotta be kidding me..."
Drake looked around him, no strategy left inside to help, no drive to continue. "..Now what..?" He was ready to fall face first into the well and hope he went easy.
-UC3-
"Goddamn it kid..." Sully put his hand over his face as he shook his head and Drake reached over and took his shoulder. Although he was sitting fine at his side, it was still paining the man to know he suffered before hand."I'm not sure what you're more horrible at, telling stories or getting out of trouble..." Sully pulled his hand away bringing his cigar to his lips and he took in a deep puff.
Drake eyed the look in his eyes then he nodded sadly looking down a bit.
"Well...cheer up buddy." He looked up smiling softly. "You'll be happy to know I tried to be you and find my way out with the stars!"
-UC3-
"...Alright, Where are you Sully? ...Where are you?" Standing on top of the highest hill near by, Drake's gaze was on the MANY stars over his head. He was relieved for the darkness, having been ready to pass out from the burning hell fire above. He still wanted to..but while laying on the ground, something clicked in his head. "Well yeah of course, if I had a sexton that is..." With Sullivan in his mind once more, Drake jumped to his feet and began his work!
Minutes he stood in silence, finger to the sky as he mumbled softly to himself. The last time he looked at the stars was back when he was in Syria. He was thankful for the less stars then cause he wasn't keen on always looking to the sky when doing nothing else. Instead of up, he was always looking forward for the next adventure. "Ah come on Nate..." Right now though, life was kicking him while he was down and he could almost drown in the many stars above.
Bringing his hands over his face, Drake peeked out between his fingers and his heart skipped a beat. He sighed inward and pointed, letting his other hand drop. "Okay! There's, there's Orion..." He pointed off to another location. "..There's the big dipper..." As he looked over the familiar figures, pictures Sullivan use to show him flashed through his mind. He was shown them constantly and there was always a Navy story behind them! Sighing, Drake wanted to punch himself in the head for never really listening in the first place.
Drake leaned his head down, his neck beginning to ache. "Ah...shit.. Should have been in the Navy." Giving up with what was above, Drake continued forward.
-UC3-
Opening his mouth to continue, Drake suddenly cried out as Sullivan flicked him hard in the ear. He glared over smacking his hand over it. "What the hell was that for!"
"For never listening to me!" He pointed his finger at Drake leaning close and Drake eyed the the cigar that was to close to his liking in disgust. He felt like a kid getting told no by his father. "I didn't tell you those stories to put you to bed kid, I told you those to teach you something!"
"How the hell was I suppose to know I'd be stranded in a desert!" He lowered his hand letting out a soft ow and Sullivan shook his head. "Lesson learned kid...never assume something bad won't happen." He brought the cigar to his lips looking down. "I can't always have your back ya know?..As much as it hurts to admit that..it's true."
Drake gave a nod as he eyed the man closely. Letting the words linger in his mind, he formed his hands into a tight fist. Fire coming to his eyes.
-UC3-
The walk through the night had brought Drake closer to nothing and as soon as the sun hit overhead, his strength left him on his knees and his brain refused to move him. His heavy eyes followed his hands as he gripped at the sand, he was grasping at nothing though as the sands slipped through his fingers. "I don't know...who I'm talking to..." Opening his hands, he tiredly pushed off the ground and stood, ignoring the aching of his legs. As he stepped forward, he nearly dropped again as his legs fought to give out. Each step took all the effort his body had left. "..I'm exhausted.."
He lifted up his head, following the heat waves that lifted from the ground. Before he could follow them to the sky, his gaze stopped on a figure in the distance waving at him. Squinting his eyes he looked past the waves and his eyes quickly shot open. "Sully...thank god!" He began forward and watched as Sullivan turned and vanished down the hill. Not wanting to lose him, Drake ignored his tired body and picked up the pace.
Before getting far though, Drake stopped catching something out of the corner of his eye. "What the hell is that?" Looking to the right, he raised a brow not believing the view in front of him.
"What are the roots that clutch, what branches grow out of this stony rubbish?" Smack dab in the middle of the dusty wasteland was a palm tree surrounded by a small field of grass and a light puddle of clear blue water. Drake took his steps slowly towards it, his mind fighting, struggling! "Son of man, you cannot say, or guess," Suddenly at the breeze, the whole thing slowly vanished and Drake choked at what was being left. "What is that!"
"For you know only a heap of broken images..."
Getting closer, Drake held his hand out, reaching for what was only just a dream, a hope...that was now completely gone. "That's the well!"
"Where the sun beats, and the dead tree gives no shelter, the cricket no relief, and the dry stone no sound of water."
Drake stopped at the well and he grabbed his legs as he nearly dropped to the ground once more. "Goddamn it, I've been going in circles!" He gripped his pants as he wanted to call out in anger, but his lungs struggled to take in enough air and his throat fought even as he spoke in whispers. "Shit! Damn it Nate..." He slowly began to shake his head, as he realized how deep he was in. "Stupid, stupid, stupid..."
He closed his eyes as the heat forced in the winning smirks of Talbot and Marlowe.
At the rate I'm going, I'll know the Rub' Al Kahli like the back of my damned hand when I'm done with this story! Not only did I go back to make sure I had quotes right, I'm also searching for the treasure that's hidden in the sands. (DON'T GIVE AWAY IF YOU KNOW IT'S LOCATION!)
I'm not complaining though, the desert is one of my fave places. I love the poem Marlowe speaks!
Oh, and the whole "Sexton" line is probably wrong but I just had to put it in there. And fun fact, the whole Nate wanting to go head first into the well, that's my own thoughts! XD If I was in the desert and found a well with no water I'd want to give up right there!
See ya next chapt!