Captivated
Chapter 7: Come To Me
Story Warnings: More drama in this one and a bit of language, but that's all.
Thank you for your support for this story and my others here at FF!
Author Notes:
The plane crash: Skipping is something that can happen when a small plane ditches on the water…it can skip, the nose going down, before the plane completely stops and usually levels out again right over the water.
My research:
Thanks to Erin for first giving me some advice on the plane crash and finding me a very helpful account about an amphibian crashing on the water. That helped me to make things as real as possible. This is the link Erin gave me. That link helped me see that there are other places on the net that give this type of information. TBS Reports/Air 2001
Equipped To Survive: is a site that I heavily used for this story and am still using. It has actual ditching accounts so I read those and also read about life jackets, life rafts, ditching procedures, waiting to be rescued…a lot I found there. Now for ditching the best thing usually is to stay with the plane if possible. In NH's case, the plane went down. Also, they lost communication with the control tower which is another important thing when ditching. But NH didn't have that because of Martin's tampering with the plane.
If you would like to read any of the other links, they're listed at my board. FF won't allow full links.
~~Onto the story~~
Brrrrinnnggg… Brrrrrinnngg
The ringing of the phone quietly stirred him out of his sleep. Then hearing the ringing one more time, he opened his eyes and suddenly jumped up, racing to get the phone from where he had been sleeping on the couch. Anxious after his dream, he had watched TV most of the night before, and waited to see if the phone would ring. "Hello…"
Hearing a question, he swallowed hard. It wasn't Nathan. They were asking about him. Asking about Nathan? It could be one of those annoying autograph hounds…or it could be…
"Yes…my brother is Nathan Scott….what's going on?"
He listened and swore as he heard the words. He wished it had been an autograph hound. That would have been better.
"What do you mean he didn't come back? Okay…he rented a plane…yeah…and he didn't come back?"
He gasped at the next words he heard. It would have been so much better if it had been someone just wanting his autograph. This was not what he wanted to hear. This was…
"Wait…are you telling me the plane didn't come back? What about its course…yes I'm a pilot. I understand about it so if you can give me more information. Right…right…OH NO."
Lucas closed his eyes hard as the information was relayed back to him. Nathan had taken an amphibian out. The pilot calling was the regular pilot of the plane…the Skydolphin. A friend had taken over for the day…another pilot. The control tower said the plane had fallen off the radar somehow…all communication to it had been cut off. The pilot had never returned and neither had the plane. The Skydolphin was missing…last communication heard of it…somewhere possibly off course over the Atlantic ocean. Nathan and the pilot were missing…and a possible third passenger.
Lucas swallowed now, feeling his heart beating too fast against his chest. Oh no. No. Okay…he needed to stay calm. He had to stay calm. Once when they had been kids Nathan had gotten lost in the woods, but he'd found his way back. Nathan came home.
Nathan would be okay. He'd come home.
Lucas forced himself to stay calm and replied to the man's further details about what had happened. It wasn't much. It was mostly more questions that needed to be answered. And there was only one way to answer them. "Yeah…yeah…okay. Okay."
Lucas hurriedly ended the connection and started a new one. He needed to go to Aruba. He needed to go find his little brother.
"Hi…I need the next flight out to Aruba…"
II~II
"Haley…get up…come on…Haley…"
"Mmmmm…five more minutes Brookes."
Nathan smiled slightly at that, imagining she was probably talking about her sister…or uh…maybe a guy. But didn't she say that lawyer guy was her boyfriend? Hmmm…
He pulled at her shoulder harder now. "Haley…Come on!"
Haley stirred, feeling something bulky around the front of her body and feeling…what she was lying on…it was rocking. Rocking?
"Haley!"
Hmmm…and a deep voice…deep hoarse voice. She turned now and opened her eyes to see a man looking down at her. She nearly screamed before she put two and two together and realized her worst nightmare really had come true. Well…a nightmare she never would have wanted anyway. She was in a raft, wearing a lifejacket, slightly wet clothes, with Nathan Scott the NBA Miami Heat basketball player…oh and they just happened to be floating over the Atlantic ocean to…destination unknown…hopefully soon to be rescued. She pulled away the blanket that had been wrapped around her body and sat up, looking at him, speaking in a dry tone. "It's not a nightmare. It's real. Oh fantastico."
"Yeah-yeah…I know. I didn't wake up great either, but come on. I want to show you something."
She felt him pulling her along to the outer part of the raft. "Are we being rescued?"
Nathan shook his head. "No…but look."
Haley looked outside the canopy, seeing much calmer waters thank goodness, but also…nothing but water. Water here…water there…water…everywhere. She frowned. "All I see is a wave…and another wave…and another wave…and another wave…and another wave…get the picture?" She turned to him with a wry look. She groaned now, looking up at the sky and seeing the sun blazing powerfully…feeling it already burning at her skin. "Oh that sun is hot."
Nathan nodded his head. "Yeah…there's some block in one of the bags. You should put some on."
"Okay." Haley looked out more at the water, shook her head, and started to go back in, but Nathan pulled at her arm, not allowing her to. She turned to him now. "Look Nathan…I realize that water is an amazing thing to some people, but after all the water we saw felt and tasted yesterday, I would be very happy to never see another wave of water…again!"
Nathan chuckled at that slightly, and then grabbed her face, positioning it in a certain direction. "Look there…you see it?"
Haley had almost protested him grabbing her face, but gave it up, now still too tired and not feeling that great either. She wasn't one to get seasick, but after all they had endured last night…and hey…what had happened last night? She had been sitting there with him, both of them holding onto a ring…for a long time not even saying anything. She remembered closing her eyes just a little, and taking comfort from the warmth of his chest, a broad one. He was big and tall so he had a thin, but broad body, something she had not minded at all last night while she was scared and cold. It made her feel a bit strange now, how they had been joking and holding each other last night, even talking a bit, but of course…floating on the Atlantic Ocean after surviving a plane crash in the morning was…somewhat strange too.
She looked now as she heard his voice again telling her to focus. She looked…and saw nothing spectacular…wait…
"What is that?"
Nathan shook his head. "I don't know. But it's not water. I mean…it doesn't look like it. I just wanted you to see it too to make sure I wasn't going nuts and having a mirage or something."
Haley turned to him now. "Well if it is a mirage…I'm seeing the same one."
"Yeah."
"So what do we do now?"
Nathan turned to her, seeing her face pale as the sun hit it hard. Gently, he moved a hair back from her face. "Well…first of all you better get some block on…your light colored skin isn't doing that well out here. I have my Miami tan at least."
Haley looked at him, noticing yes he did, his skin not dark, but displaying his light summer tan. He wasn't wearing his life jacket anymore either, just his shorts and shirt, all dry now. She took off her life jacket now too, struggling a bit. The raft rocked over a wave and she moaned, holding onto the side of the canopy. "Not again…please…no more big waves!"
Seeing her afraid and looking a bit ill, Nathan held onto her arm and whispered to her gently. "No more big waves…not right now anyway. "Come on…let's get you back inside. I think the water motion is getting to you."
Haley let him lead her back into the canopy covered part of the raft. She sat down on the floor with a moan.
Nathan watched her with mild concern, looked inside one of the bags she had packed and took out a cold pack from it. They were instant ones; they had a few of them. Should help, he thought. He wrapped it in a small towel that was in the bag too…more emergency gear. Gently pushing her back against the side of the raft, he used the now cold towel to wipe at her forehead.
Haley opened her eyes, having closed them after he pushed her against the side of the canopy. She opened them now, looking up at him. "Mmm…I just feel a little dizzy…weird."
Nathan nodded his head, wiping the towel over her forehead once more. "Yeah…it's the water motion getting to you. I'll give you one of those tablets like you gave me last night. You could also probably benefit from some food in your stomach."
Haley scrunched up her face with disgust. "Oh those freeze dried packs whatever they are…they're awful. I could never be an astronaut."
Nathan chuckled at that slightly, letting go of the towel and yet leaving it on her forehead for her to move if she wanted to. "Yeah…they're not that great. Had one for breakfast, but uh…they're food at least."
"Yeah I guess." Haley answered as she took the bottled water and tablet he handed to her, then reluctantly the pack. She smiled excitedly suddenly. "Hey…there was real food in the refrigerator…hmmm…I saw those little string cheeses and uh…something else. String cheese would be good…mmmm…much better than this other stuff. Oh and in one of the cabinets I found a bag of corn chips."
Nathan looked at her strangely. "Well where's that stuff?"
Haley shook her head as he searched the wrong bag and the wrong area. "No…not that bag… I put it in the little neon bags in the other bag. She watched as he started to open up the other bag…then realized something…making her get up quickly. She moaned at the bit of sickness she felt.
Nathan startled as Haley got up suddenly. He pushed back at her. "Hey…no…relax…I'll get it."
Haley shook her head profusely though, grabbing the bag from him and managing to actually get it. "No…it's okay…I got it…I know exactly where it is…I got it!"
Nathan stared at her. "Why so anxious?"
"I'm not anxious!" She found the string cheese and corn chips, past some of the other stuff, and took it out.
Noticing her desperately closing the bag when she was done, Nathan nodded his head. "Yes you are."
"NO I'm not!" Haley protested. Then she smiled tightly. "I just wanted to make sure you didn't uh…crush some things while trying to find the food."
Nathan looked at her strangely, but gave it up, not really caring anymore now as he saw the corn chips and string cheese…real food. He took one of the packs of string cheese and opened up the bag of corn chips. Then tasting the chips and cheese, he smiled with contentment. It was so much better than what he had for breakfast. "Oh man…that's so good."
Haley nodded her head, closing her eyes with satisfaction at the taste, but eating a little more slowly, her stomach only starting to feel okay. "Yeah…"
Nathan watched her carefully. "You feel really sick? You need help getting out there…let me know."
Realizing what he was saying…back to bad egg here now, Haley shook her head. "No…I don't think I'm that sick. I just need to eat a little like you said." She stared at him now questioningly. "Nathan…what happened last night? I don't remember falling asleep, and you told me not to fall asleep."
He smiled now quietly. "It's okay. You were tired. You didn't fall asleep until the winds got calmer and the waves weren't so rough. So I just let you sleep." He remembered it now. She had actually fallen asleep while they had been sitting there. Talking and even joking some at first, they had fallen into an almost comfortable silence. They'd both been tired. But she had started to close her eyes as the rocking gentled some. He let her, and then lay her down on the floor of the raft so she'd be more comfortable, wrapping a blanket around her body. Afterwards, he moved back to his position and just sat there…watching her some…watching the walls some…and just…listening to the waves. As the morning dawn finally came, he used the sun block and then sat outside for a long while. When he saw that weird sight though…he decided it was time to wake her.
She looked at him now questioningly. "Did you get any sleep?"
Nathan shook his head. "No…but I'm all right."
Haley shook her head with disbelief. "No you're not…you must be exhausted. Get some sleep." She grabbed one of the blankets and laid it out for him. "Here…come on."
Nathan smiled at her a little, but shook his head still. "No…I'm fine, and I want to know what that thing we saw is." He watched her eat a chip. He took a tube out from one of the bags. "I'm glad you packed this…my toothpaste. I was stupid enough to not bring a brush, but uh…hey if you want some."
Haley looked up at him, taking the tube for later use. "Thanks…no wonder you have good breath. I have chapstick too if you need any."
Nathan laughed slightly at her first comment. "Yeah…I don't go anywhere without it. And thanks. I'll keep that in mind. Okay…you rest some…I'm going to go outside for a bit." He grabbed some more chips from the bag, took his string cheese, and made his way to the outer part of the raft again.
His eyes stayed trained on that area ahead…not water, as he munched on the chips. Were they getting closer? It looked like they were. He could use the paddles, but it seemed the waves were going right in that direction right now…towards that unknown place. Unknown, but hey…it was something other than water.
Inside Haley ate a bit of her string cheese, munched on a couple of chips, slowly drank her water and felt herself getting tired. Yawning…her eyes started to grow heavy. Within a few moments, they closed entirely.
II~II
She listened to him tell her maybe she had forgotten to call. She shook her head with exasperation even though he couldn't see it over the phone. "No…you don't know my sister Pierre! She would have called. Now I told you I can't come to work today. I have to go…no…you stay…yeah…okay…bye."
She rushed around their loft now anxiously. She was going to fly out there, find out what happened to her sister. She just wanted to know if Haley was okay. Hearing the doorbell ring, she walked rapidly to it. "George!"
George looked at the beautiful Brooke Davis and saw right away the stress on her face. The woman was gorgeous, but it was Haley he actually knew better and who he was anxious about now. "Brooke…has she called?"
Brooke shook her head dismally. "No…I don't know what's going on!"
He touched her arm, getting her to sit with him on the couch. "Okay…okay…calm down a little. She told me she was going to go look for him at the airport since he wanted to take out one of those amphibians."
Brooke nodded her head. "I know…I just don't know if she got to him or not."
George sighed in frustration. "Yeah." Then something hit him. "Wait a minute…his brother…he lives with his brother in Miami. Maybe his brother knows something."
Brooke looked to George with hope. "Maybe…do you have their number?"
George nodded his head. "Yeah…the station gave it to us." He reached into his wallet, bringing out a folded piece of notebook paper, and then handed it to Brooke. "Here it is."
"Okay…I'm going to call." Brooked dialed the number. She waited anxiously…
"Hello!" Lucas called out urgently. He had been almost out the door, but then heard the phone. If it was about Nathan…
"Hi, I'm Brooke James and my sister is…"
Lucas swore bitterly and exasperatedly. "Look Lady, I don't have time for any of this now…I have an emergency! You want his autograph…go to a signing!"
Brooke reacted to that quickly, blurting out. "I don't want his autograph! My name is Brooke James and Haley James is my sister, a reporter. She followed your brother to Aruba. I haven't heard from her and I'm…I'm worried about her! Do you know anything?"
Lucas started now at hearing all of that, remembering the angry petite little reporter. "Oh man. You're her sister?"
"Yes…what…did something happen?"
Hearing her voice anxious and high, Lucas tried to speak calmly, but he wasn't feeling that calm himself. "I don't know Miss James. All I know is my brother rented a plane yesterday and now it's missing…after flying somewhere over the Atlantic ocean."
"OH MY GOD!" Brooke gasped, slapping her hand over her mouth. George moved closer to her, putting a hand on her back, trying awkwardly to comfort her.
Brooke tried to breathe evenly now, but she felt her heart tightening. She felt sick. She didn't want to do this, but she wasn't like Haley. She wasn't cool and calm about things. She reacted right away…she panicked. "Oh God…oh no…"
"Hey…" Lucas cut in quickly. "Try to stay calm. I'm going to Aruba now to see what's going on. Give me your number and I'll let you-
Brooke quickly cut him off now. "I'm going there too…I'm going right now. I'll see you in Aruba!"
"But Miss James I really don't thi-damn! She hung up." Great, Lucas thought. The last thing he needed was some panicked woman there too while he tried to find out what had happened with the plane and his brother. He wanted to know about Nathan. He didn't need to have to deal with this woman too.
Oh well…
He couldn't worry about that now.
He grabbed his stuff and raced out of the apartment. He needed to find out everything and the only place he would learn of it all was in…Aruba.
"I'm going to Aruba George. Right now. He told me that the plane went down. It went down."
George stared at Brooke. "But Brooke…was Haley even on the plane?"
Brooke shook her head miserably. "I don't know, but I need to find out. I need to know."
II~II
Haley opened her eyes now, looking around with a bit of confusion. She was sitting on the floor…of the raft. Focusing ahead, she saw Nathan sitting outside the canopied area now. She got up slowly. She smiled as she realized she was feeling better, not as motion sick, not as hot, and a bit better nourished. She took the sun block out of one of the bags and put it on herself. She wanted to avoid getting too much sunburn if she could. She also wanted to go sit outside of the canopy. She had been in this covered part for so long. The sun had already been strong earlier and harsh to sit underneath, but she'd rather have the sun than this big tent like thing that was starting to make her feel a bit claustrophobic. She squeezed out some toothpaste, from the tube Nathan had handed her, onto her finger…brushed her teeth that way…rinsing out her mouth with some water, and then got up. She moved over to where Nathan was.
Nathan turned back around at the sound of her making her way forward. "How you feeling?"
Haley nodded her head, smiling slightly. "Better…you let me sleep again."
Nathan nodded his head. "Yeah…you looked a little pale. You do look better now."
Haley started to say something, but then noticed it. That area…of non water…it was much bigger now. It was much clearer now. It was most definitely not water and it was most definitely not a mirage. "Oh my gosh…it's so much bigger…Nathan…"
He saw her looking at him questioningly, her eyes big, and he nodded his head. "I'd say it is…wouldn't you?"
Haley clapped her hands together, a thrilled cry coming out of her mouth. "Nathan…it's land…it's actually land!" She threw her arms around him, holding him tightly. "Oh my gosh…we're going to be saved…it's land!"
He chuckled softly, holding her back. "Uh…yeah, but it seems surrounded by water still…Haley I think it's an island."
Haley felt a little of the thrill go, but just a bit…island…land…island…okay. She could take an island for now. Just dry land…dry land anywhere and she would be blissfully happy. She hugged Nathan again, before hearing him groan.
"Ow…"
"Oh…sorry!" She let go of him quickly and noticed him holding his head now with a slight grimace. She had pulled him so tightly against her, he had hit his head on the canopy…his still hurt forehead. "Oh it's your head…are you okay?"
Nathan slowly nodded and let go of his head now. "Yeah, I'm all right." He turned away from her and looked back at the piece of land that was getting bigger and bigger with every bit further the raft traveled. So far that travel direction matched perfectly with the direction of the island.
Haley looked out now, sitting next to Nathan. "We're going right to it…" She ignored the blazing sun, feeling better at being outside. She had been inside that closed in canopied area for so long. It was nice to be in the open fresh air, even if it meant miles and miles and miles and miles of oceanic salt water.
Nathan moved a hand down to the water now. It was much calmer than before. He touched it and lifted his hand back up. "It's warmer. The water's warmer here. I bet it'll keep getting warmer as we get to that piece of land. We need to be ready though. Keep watching it. If the water starts to pull us in another direction, we'll have to row our way over." He turned to see her reaction, but she wasn't around anymore. He frowned, started to call out to her, but then she was coming out of the canopy again, with something in her hand.
"Here…I think we should re-bandage where Martin cut you with that can. And I brought you a cold pack too."
Nathan shook his head. "I'm fine."
Haley gave him a tight firm look, taking his hand in hers and putting the cold pack in it. "Put that on your head now…Nathan Scott. Don't argue with me. I may be small and a shorty, but I promise you I have scared men…well I would say twice your size, but there is probably no man twice your size and most men in the news business are not even your size…so let's just say I have scared men almost your size many times. I even scared your brother yesterday." She thought of it…wow! Was it yesterday she had grabbed his brother and hopped on a plane all the way to Aruba just to get an interview? Unbelievable.
Nathan chuckled at that, but put the cold pack on his head as he felt her start to remove the old bandage from the cut area. He hissed as she got it all the way off, but otherwise was quiet about the slight pain. "My brother…ahhh…isn't very scary at any time. I told you. He's a petrologist. His life is rocks. You probably turned his hair white."
Haley laughed slightly, finishing bandaging his cut again with a nice clean layer of bactine. "Actually he was pretty annoyed at first, but when I found out about you being in Aruba…I got pretty angry."
With the conversation now on his brother, both thought of their siblings…thought of home…
Before pushing the thoughts away. They had to stay focused like they had before.
Nathan looked down at her, smiling slightly too. "Yeah…I bet you did." He turned away from her now, noticing it. Oh great. "Okay...enough talk…we've got to start rowing. We're turning in the wrong direction."
Haley looked out and saw that the raft was even closer to that piece of land now, but like he had said, it was starting to turn also, in the opposite direction. She nodded her head resolutely. "Okay…what do we do?"
"We're going to work to get this raft towards the island…land…whatever it is…it means we might have to turn in some interesting ways. We don't want to go completely against the waves…that could lead us to tip over. But we do want to get there. So we can't go entirely with the waves. I know…doesn't make much sense, but we'll feel our way through it. So for now…get your life jacket on. Can you get mine, please? And let's make sure everything's securely in the bags in case we hit rough water. Can you do that?"
Haley nodded her head with a smile, happy to be back in a place of preparation again. It just always made her feel safer…and that land thing…was just making her feel better too…even if it was an island. "Yeah…I'll go get it all readied, put my life jacket on, bring you yours, and then help you out here with rowing duties…" She flexed her muscles sheepishly. "I may be small, but I have power in these arms!"
Nathan chuckled at that, feeling a sudden urge to give her a quick hug, but restrained himself. "Yeah…I saw that when you rowed out to me almost completely against the waves. A lot of power in those little arms." He teased her now.
Haley clapped her hands with decisiveness. "Okay…getting prepared!" She started to go back in to get everything ready. She thought about it…let's see, get the food back in the right packs they needed to be, get the flashlight in the bag, check for-
"Haley…"
She turned back around at his voice, hearing it serious. She stopped and looked at him. "Yeah…is something wrong?"
He shook his head. Most women now would be screaming. Most women now would be complaining about not having their make up. Most women now would be moaning and groaning at the sun and the water. Most women now would be crying in hysterics. Most women now would be completely freaking. But she…she…
"I'm sorry I ditched the interview. I'm sorry I made you follow me all the way to Aruba. I was an ass about it all. I'm sorry."
Haley stared at him now, seeing sorrow in his blue green eyes that were almost piercing, but gently piercing in the sunlight. He was showing her that more emotional side of him, quiet, but…almost kind. She swallowed a little at it…pulling on a bit of her torn skirt. She looked at him, his shirt torn on the shoulder, wrinkled, and the material torn in some other places. His shorts too torn in places. His legs scraped like hers. His face hurt from what Martin had done…his forehead… They both had scrapes everywhere and their clothes were torn and getting more torn as this crazy venture to just live continued. But somehow they had gotten it together…together.
That was what mattered now. That they keep it together.
"I probably shouldn't have followed you so far either. If I hadn't you'd be with Anabella now…screwing around on this wildly rocking raft." She joked lightly, thinking he probably would have preferred that. Well…she'd prefer to be home right now.
Hearing a bit of scorn and self mocking in her voice, Nathan shook his head. "If you hadn't, I'd be at the bottom of the ocean right now probably. Remember…she didn't know what the Atlantic ocean even was." He looked at Haley harder now, moving over and touching her face with his fingers, whispering in a slightly hoarse voice. "You may have saved me by demanding that interview."
Haley stared at him. It was too easy to see every definition of his face when he was this close to her, when they were on the same level.
He noticed now too all her torn clothes and all the scrapes…and yet she wasn't complaining. She wasn't making a big deal of it at all. She was just doing whatever she could to keep them both alive. He brought her windswept hair back from her face now, grabbed onto her arms, and spoke quietly but firmly. "Look…you came all the way out there to Aruba and you followed me because you just wanted your interview. And normally I would hate a reporter for doing that…it would disgust me. But you also kept your cool in that plane…and you've been…you've been great about all this. So I give you my word…okay…I give you my word…anything happens…whatever happens…I'm going to protect you just as much as I look out for myself. I'm going to keep you safe. And we're going to get back home to our families and everything. Okay? You have my word. And that may not mean anything to you, but I promise you that when I give it…I mean it."
She felt him suddenly release her. She had wanted to say something to him, but he had already turned away from her now.
"Get inside…we're moving away from that land…I'm going to start rowing, but as soon as you can I could really use your help."
Haley just nodded her head at first, his words still ringing through her mind…the intensity in his face.
"Okay…Haley?"
She heard him call out to her a bit urgently, but he didn't turn back. She smiled a little. He still hadn't forgotten her name. "Okay." She went back inside to get everything packed up.
Nathan undid some of the buttons on his shirt. The sun was starting to blaze strongly. That ocean water was starting to look good, but that land…that land… He worked with the oars, remembering her face for a moment when he told her what he had just told her. She had looked practically astonished. He wondered if she believed him.
Didn't matter.
He knew what he believed.
And he knew what he would do.
He worked with the oars now, trying to find a way to get around the water's direction it was flowing in…a way around it that would lead to the island. He knew just completely fighting the waves wouldn't work. He had to go around them as much as he could, but still go in the direction he needed to. Not a fun or easy task. He worked his way around more, rolling at the sleeves of his short sleeved shirt. He was getting hotter as he continued to row. The sun had risen quickly, very quickly. Early on, when he had sat down on the outside part of the canopy, at just dawn, he had seen the sun follow not too far behind. It rose high and now sat there...powerfully beaming. It was strong, but he was what he had said yesterday, a trained athlete, with conditioned muscles so he would use that as much as he could.
Haley came back out now, having finished making sure everything was in its proper place.
"Okay, I got everything secured inside. I just closed down most of the canopy. Now, I'm ready to help row." Haley sat down near Nathan. He gestured to her with the other paddle and gave it up to her. Haley started rowing, a smile coming to her face. "Row row row your boat gently down the stream…" She gestured to Nathan. Nathan just laughed. Haley smirked at him. "Oh come on."
"Hey I don't even know the rest!"
Haley giggled and filled it in for him. "Merrily merrily merrily merrily life is but a dream!"
Nathan snickered at that. "Merrily merrily merrily merrily life is but a dream? Now I remember…oh shoot. I always thought the person who wrote that song must have been high on something. I mean merrily merrily…life is but a dream. Sounds like The Yellow Submarine Song."
Haley laughed and filled in as they both continued to row underneath a very hot sun, but kept each other company with the…uh…singing. "We all live in a yellow submarine…yellow submarine…"
Nathan chuckled adding with a deep voice, "Yellow Submarine…"
"Okay round time…I do the first part of Row your boat…no wait…you do the first part…I'll do the second part!" Haley called out excitedly.
Nathan laughed at her exuberance, but felt the rowing was easier with her there to help do it. When she started going the wrong way he just kind of redirected her with his hand. "Oh man…all right…Row row row your boat gently down the stream…"
"Row row row your boat gently down the stream…"
"Merrily merrily merrily merrily the guy who wrote this was on weed…"
"Merrily…" Haley exploded into giggles as she heard his second part. "Oh my god Nathan…you've got me cracking up…you ruined the song…you ruined our perfect round!"
He smirked and raised one of his arms up in the air with a victory signal… "Yay…I ruined the song…ooooohhhhoooo!"
Haley ignored him and thought of a new song. "I'd like to be under the sea in an octopus's garden…hmmm…I don't remember the rest."
Nathan snickered. "Good."
Haley stuck her tongue out at him. "I was just trying to make things a little more pleasant."
Nathan laughed. "Haley, I don't think you can make things much more pleasant. We're sitting our asses down on a raft floor. We're slowly rowing our way over to what we hope is an island and we're underneath a blazing sun."
"But we're alive." Haley added with a wink.
Nathan smiled at that. "Yeah…we're alive. And you're being a good sport."
Haley smiled back comically. "Thanks…I'll be the bitchy reporter when we're safely on land again."
Nathan put up his non rowing hand in protest, "No please…don't." Then he turned serious as the waves started to jar them more. They were coming closer to that piece of land. "Hold steady!"
Haley nodded her head with a bit of fear, seeing that the waves were rushing at them now, crashing against the sides of the raft. "Okay…I'm trying!"
Nathan turned to her now. "Here…hold onto me with the hand you're not using to row. If we hit a wave too hard, we'll go in together. At least that's better…Actually…" Nathan thought of something now. He reached into the water and felt that it was much warmer here…much more comfortable for swimming. Hmmm… "Okay Haley. I'm going to go in the water. I think I can help steer the raft better that way. You can keep rowing and I can tell you the best direction to go in, and I can help pull the raft partly too if I need to. Okay?"
Haley shook her head, not liking the idea at all. "Nathan…that's too much for you. And what if the water's not safe…what about sharks…you said the water's warmer here."
Nathan nodded his head. "Yeah, but I don't think there are as many sharks in the Atlantic as the Pacific so we have that in our favor. There are other sea animals…but hey…we need to get the raft over there…look Haley…look at it…"
Haley did look now ahead, seeing the area growing bigger and it was most definitely a piece of land…most likely an island like Nathan had said. This whole time out here they hadn't seen any signs of people, a ship, a boat, or even a plane. They were all alone for right now. If they could get to that island and somehow get help. If they could go back home…
Haley looked at Nathan now, touching his hand. "Okay…just be careful in the water."
Nathan touched her hand for a moment with a small smile before adding. "I will." Then he moved to the very edge of the life raft, took off his life jacket, pulled his shirt off his body, put his life jacket back on, and let himself fall into the water. It was so much warmer than the temperature the water had been where they had crashed. It wasn't warm like a pool, but it was enough. He wasn't expecting it to be perfect. Though they were both feeling much better having seen something that was obviously land, he still knew they had to be careful, and that this wasn't going to be easy. He swam ahead of the life raft some, against the waves, feeling them yank and pull at him forcibly a few times. It was the life jacket too. He couldn't swim underneath water with it on. He pulled it off now, swimming back over to the raft. He saw Haley stare at him questioningly.
"Nathan, what are you doing?"
He shook his head, throwing the life jacket down inside the raft, but staying in the water. "I can't swim that good with the life jacket on…can't go under the water. And that's what I need to do. If I can go under, I can more easily swim through the waves and see the direction you should steer the raft in. The water's not too rough here to do that. As long as we go carefully we can manage."
Haley shook her head with doubt. "But Nathan, what if it gets rougher?"
Nathan sighed. "Deal with that when the time comes. Okay, keep rowing…I'm going forward some." Nathan dived down more under the water, swimming underneath the waves now. He came back up after a bit. It wasn't too bad. The water here was almost beautifully clear with some bits of murkiness. The current was strong, but he was doing pretty okay with it right now. He swam forward a little more…finding the current not fighting him too much in the way he was going. He signaled to Haley. "Haley come this way…follow me."
Haley navigated the raft over towards him. Nathan swam partly back to her. "You doing okay? You all right with the rowing?" He asked, even though she seemed to be pretty adept with it. Haley nodded her head.
"Yeah I'm okay."
Nathan moved closer to the raft and then moved forward again, starting this new pattern they had devised, over.
He walked through the streets carefully, a hat pulled over his head. He didn't want anyone to see him. Didn't want-
"Ow…you should be careful mister!"
He looked up. He had run into a kid on his bike. Made the kid fall over. "Yeah…yeah…sorry…" He pulled his hat lower over his face and then hurried along.
They boy watched curiously for a moment before shaking his head and continuing along his way.
"Wow Nathan…look…"
Haley called out to him now. The pattern was working. They had been using it for a while now, but just a bit ahead it looked like they might soon hit much rougher waters. The sun was still powerful and it seemed it was getting to be maybe afternoon or so. It was hard to tell with neither of them having a watch. Haley was wearing one, but she had joked with Nathan earlier that her Timex had definitely taken a licking yesterday and yet it hadn't kept ticking.
Now both of them took a tiny break as they saw it…the island…so much more closer. And yet still…so far. But it was nice to see…they were making definite progress.
Nathan moved near the raft once more and saw how much closer the island was to them now. Much closer. They still had quite a task ahead of them though. The waters were getting rougher as they continued to go more against the tide to get to the island. Nathan stared at the island now. It looked like a large mass of sandy colored land with masses of green here and there. He was starting to see the faint outline of trees even. He breathed in and out a little heavily. He normally swam in Mimi…he liked to go to the beach and even swim in the ocean, but the beach lined ocean there in Miami was nothing like it was now here…in a non beach part of the Atlantic ocean. It was much different.
"Ohhhh…Nathan!"
Nathan turned back around, seeing Haley struggling with a wave, the raft tipping to the side precariously. He called back to her urgently. "Haley, don't fight it! Go with the wave…go the way it takes you…don't fight it! Go with the current!"
Haley furiously tried to get the raft going back to the way of the current, but it started to tip in the other direction. She watched in horror as the blue white waves raced at the raft. It made her feel dizzy and frightened…out of control.
Nathan swore, watching it. Seeing the fear on her face and the way the waves were going against the raft, he sprang to action and started to swim back to her, his strokes rapid.
Haley tried to hold on, but couldn't. The wave was too strong. She screamed as the raft tipped again, tumbling her out of it backwards right into the ocean water.
"Shit! Haley!"
Haley felt her back hit the water, but the life jacket protected her in keeping her above the surface mostly. She spit out some salt water, but at least it wasn't too cold. She was just startled, after having gone into the water so unexpectedly and so forcefully. "Nath-
He cut her off, grabbing hold of her around the waist. After seeing her full tumble into the water, he had made his strokes even more urgent and sped up to get to her. He was just grateful she was wearing her life jacket as he now checked her face to see how she had fared. "Shhh…I'm here…you okay?" He asked her now.
Haley nodded her head. "Just a bit…shaken."
Nathan nodded his head sympathetically, relieved to see now she was all right. "Yeah…I'm sorry…I went too forward probably. Didn't check out those waves enough."
"It's okay…I'll get back in and keep rowing."
He noticed her firm look. She knew what needed to get done still and she wasn't panicking. She must be in her pretend interview mode, he thought with a wry smile. He moved back to the raft now and carefully steered her ahead. Once again…they worked well…together.
If they really thought of it, it would surprise them how well they worked together. They were such different people. But maybe that was part of it. Haley was an organized person. She had been one her entire life. She liked everything prepared. A lack of preparation frightened her. Chaos scared her. So when Nathan told her he needed her to do this or that, she was more than happy to. She was more than happy to prepare. It was her comfort zone there. Nathan, on the other hand, was not an organized person. He was someone who was very spontaneous. Because of it, in a wild crazy out of control situation, as they were in now, he thought quickly and decisively on his feet. He was able to figure things out, sometimes a little haphazardly, but it was almost as if he thrived on the chaos. Haley…a reporter…planned all her interviews meticulously. She organized every little part of each one. Nathan…a pro NBA player…was ready for action at a second's notice. He was someone who could on the court figure something out quicker than most and yet he didn't really plan…just quickly assimilated a situation and did what he believed was the best thing to do.
Now, they used those abilities…together. Haley with her organization and Nathan with his quickness…they worked with each other using those assets to diminish each other's faults. They put together what they knew…what they intrinsically had in themselves and used it to get to the island. They were now…a team.
And so maybe it seemed their differences would hinder them…but now those differences…aided them.
The waters were about to get much rougher though than they could imagine, the sun was getting no less weaker up in the sky where it fired down on them, and the island would continue to not be something easy to get to…they still were about to be challenged more…desperately challenged in this fight for survival…this fight for their life.
II~II
Almost there now, Lucas sat fidgeting in his seat on the plane. He just wanted to land in Aruba. He wanted to know what had happened to the amphibian his brother had rented, the pilot. To Nathan. Hmmm…the pilot had been changed at the last minute. Well…Nathan had made the reservation the night before, but still…a bit odd. Probably some obligation of the other pilot, but it wouldn't hurt to ask about it. Whatever he could find out so he could find…
His brother.
II~II
The island view became even more clear. There were palm trees on it. And some other trees with twisted branches it seemed a bit similar to the divi divi trees of Aruba. Exactly how large the island was, they couldn't tell, but it seemed oval in shape from the front and that it wrapped around pretty far.
"Nathan!" Haley called out to him in warning now as after a while of more at times scary rowing, battling the waves, one attacked Nathan. She watched in horror as the strong wave hit him and picked him up. "Nathan!" Then the wave moved towards the raft, lifting it too. She tried desperately to hold on, but it was too strong and once more she was pushed out of the raft, sent to tumble into the water.
"Haley!"
"Nathan!"
Each called out to each other now as they battled with the ever strong tides. Nathan resurfaced after being pushed down below. He had felt his breath leave him for a moment as that wave came, picked him up and painfully crashed him into another wave. Who said water didn't hurt? Ha! He spit out a bunch of salt water now, thankfully not swallowing any though. He didn't want to go through that again. Spinning around in the water, his breath fast and clipped, he looked for her. "Haley!" Turning around again he saw her floating with her life jacket and looking too for him. Seeing one another they both new swam to each other.
Quickly, as quick as they could go through the growing rougher waters, they made their way to each other's sides.
"You okay?" Nathan asked her, his voice hoarse and tired.
"Yeah…" She breathed. Her voice too now was getting hoarse and tired.
Screaming and yelling the day before, swallowing water, the incredible effort they were using to just stay alive…their voices were going, their bodies were wearying, their drive was just a little weak, and they were simply nearing in all states of mind and physical sense…exhaustion. But they were also still…very determined. The sight of that land growing with each stroke of the water, each row of the water…the thought of getting back to their families…their lives…was enough to make them want to push on.
Nathan looked around him now. There was not a sign of a plane in the sky…not a sign of a boat in the water…not a sign of any help. All around they still were surrounded by water…they had a sun beating down on them…they were being roughed up by these now not so friendly waves…but…over there…in the distance…was sanctuary. It was a safe haven…safer than here anyway. "Okay…this isn't going to be easy. But see…we're getting closer. Haley…we have to keep going. Can you manage?"
Hearing how tired he was and knowing that wave had just battled him harshly, Haley nodded her head. "Yeah…I can...that's probably not the last time we're going to have to deal with big waves…is it?"
Nathan slowly shook his head. "No. We're going to have to deal with them a lot now I think."
"Thought so…" She answered with a resigned sigh, but then swam back over to the raft. They had to do this. She looked ahead…seeing that island. It was like it was playing mind tricks with them now. It looked so close and yet it was still so far. They would get closer and yet still they had to go a long way. She climbed back into the raft now.
Nathan swam ahead, but as the waves got stronger and continued to stay that way, he felt his lungs start to burn a little. He was used to swimming, but not like this. This was practically brutal. He didn't focus on it though as he steered Haley.
They continued on and not without difficulty still, not without mishap. Nathan got picked up by more waves. Haley got hit by more of them as she steered the raft. He sunk down a few times. She was thrown into the water a few more times. As they got closer…close enough now to see the island was lined with sand and covered with those tall palm trees and twisted rooted other kinds of trees…other tall trees and short trees…to see rocky formations and dirt ones too…to see even wild grasses…their task only grew harder.
II~II
Brooke looked out the window of the plane, seeing water down below. It made her swallow hard. He had said the plane disappeared somewhere while flying over the Atlantic ocean. Flying over it…oh no…
But maybe Haley hadn't even gotten on the plane. Maybe Haley was safe…maybe…
Oh she needed to know. Had Haley been on that plane? Or hadn't she? And where was she now? Where was her sister?
II~II
The sun that had seemed at its full power before, was now brutally strong. Haley felt at times like it was cooking her skin, but she didn't say anything. She had a task to do. She felt awful. She was hot. She was hungry. She was thirsty. But she didn't say anything because they had a plan…and she was sticking to it. The water she had been drinking in a bottle had already cooked and was too warm to be comfortable under the sun. She was exhausted. Her arms hurt from rowing. And her body hurt from falling in the water too many times. The only good thing was that when she did fall in, she felt a nice relief of the cold water hitting her too hot body.
Nathan too was struggling. He had been pulled down by enough waves to have been battered around plenty of times that would let him easily confirm, water can be very painful. His throat was dry. His lungs were completely burning now. And the tides seemed to be fighting him more and more. He looked back at Haley to see her rowing, but her face was red and she looked tired, her arms reddening too. Damn…she was getting burned. He looked at his shoulders to see they two were burning…parts of his arms. Great. He redirected his attention on Haley now though as she steered haphazardly right into a wave, hitting it hard. He swam back over to her.
"Haley, look out!"
Haley hearing the warning steered the raft back in the right direction, but then moaned miserably. Nathan saw it and climbed back into the raft, crawling over to her. His legs could function in the water. Here now out of the water they suddenly fired up, nearly going limp, but he ignored the pain and the feeling of his muscles nearly freezing to a halt. "Haley…come on…just a little more. We're almost there."
Haley whimpered. She didn't feel well at all. She felt so hot. So hot. She hadn't complained, but now as Nathan held onto her and the sun kept hitting her with wave after wave of hot burning heat, she whimpered once more and felt her body just start to fall apart. She didn't know what was happening…she felt so confused and so hot…so so hot…so…she just wished for some relief…anything. Her eyes started to close and her body began to sag…her head falling…
Nathan watched her and then pulled at her, bringing her body down with his so she was in the water. Tearing off her life jacket, he submerged her under and held on. She was getting heat exhaustion. It was sickening her. He held her under the water with him for a fast second. Then he brought her back up with him. "Haley?"
She choked, gasping, but it felt good to have water on her face. She moaned and held onto him. "I want to go home Nathan…I want to go home….I'm h-hhhhot…s-ss-o hhh-ottt and I j-just…"
Hearing her crying and feeling her body sagging weakly against his, Nathan held her tightly in the water and spoke to her softly, his wet cheek now touching hers as he ran his fingers through her hair. She had endured so much. She had sat on that raft not complaining and now he could feel it. Her skin was burned. She was too hot. She was weak from too much sun and too many times falling into the water. He could feel her arms shaking with pure fatigue…all the rowing. It was too much for her. He was feeling exhausted himself now and he was so much taller than her, bigger, an athlete. He could only imagine how terrible this was for her. And yet…she hadn't complained. Not until now she finally let him know, when she was reaching the end of her strength. If she could just hang on a little longer though. He spoke to her firmly, but gently. "I know…I know…we're almost there…come on you can't give out on me now. Come on, we'll swim together. You can race me and prove you're faster."
She didn't answer, just stayed limply holding onto him. Nathan rubbed her back, knowing now how miserable she had to be feeling. He was getting there too. But they had to keep going. He dislodged her weakened arms from around his neck and then steered her back over to the raft. Putting her hands on it, he grabbed her life jacket and put it back around her. "Come on…come on you swim with me…it's okay…come on…"
He heard her cry out, but with him pulling her a bit she started to swim too. He grimaced though, realizing they were leaving the raft. He couldn't do both. He couldn't help her and steer that raft too. He turned her around to face him. "Haley…look at me. Look at me." His voice was quiet, mostly because it was getting hoarser after yelling and screaming and gasping and breathing and using his muscles and limbs and everything so much. He had barely nothing left in his voice. And looking at her, he could see again that she barely had anything at all left in her. "Look at me Haley…" He waited til her eyes came back up to him. "You want to ride in the raft or stay in the water with me? If you stay in the water, you have to swim. You have to. Can you do that?"
Haley moaned again, but actually the water was cooling over her skin. It was soothing a bit and she wanted to stay with him. She whispered to Nathan weakly. "Stay…I can d-do it."
Nathan nodded his head and they began to go forward again. He watched her carefully as he pulled the raft along behind him. It wasn't the easiest thing to do. The raft wasn't that light, but over the water it floated pretty smoothly. Thankfully the water was getting gentler in some areas. The sun was still scorching above. The winds were light. And yet…yet…
"Oh wow. Haley look…look…"
He swam forward to where she was slowly but steadily pushing along. "Look…" He stopped her now and got her to look up.
Haley gasped. The island was just feet away now…just feet. And then it blurred. She watched it with confusion.
Nathan saw the confusion on her face, saw her face still burned from the sun, saw her still breathing heavily and knew her heat sickness might be even getting worse. He went back to the raft, pulled it over some, and then left it alone. He had an idea. The island wasn't too far away now. And he wanted to get to it. Get her to it. "Come on Haley." He removed her life jacket again. He was taking a chance, but the water here wasn't quite as deep and he was prepared if she went under. He threw the jacket down in the water, and pulled her with him to go back down under the water again. Then he pulled her back up with him.
Her face now refreshed with the coolness of the water again, Haley felt a tiny bit of relief from the sun. She felt Nathan pulling her and she swam with him. Swam…swam…swam…
Oh gosh…when would the water ever end…when would she feel gr-
And then there it was. She was touching the surface. Her legs scraped over the ground of the ocean. She looked at Nathan in shock.
Nathan smiled weakly, tired, but resilient. "It's the ground Haley…the ground."
"Oh th-thank God!" She cried out and stumbled.
Nathan caught at her though and helped her to walk over the ocean floor… the waves lapping at their chests…their stomachs…their waists…their legs…their feet.
Haley almost fell, but Nathan grabbed at her as they walked up finally the sandy beach of the island. He looked up seeing palm trees ahead and some other kinds of trees. He felt Haley stumble again, but he pulled at her. "Come on Haley…into the shade…come on."
Haley felt herself almost falling, but he was keeping her up, not letting her land on the ground. She just wanted to fall to it, but he wouldn't let her. The sun was still strong…too strong. She didn't like it. And then she found herself under a tree. She was under some kind of shade. She felt Nathan slowly let go of her and she let her body fall to the ground, her face, lying on the sand.
Nathan looked down at her, seeing if she was okay. She was still of course red faced and she looked completely exhausted as she lay still with her eyes closed, but she was breathing and she was in the shade at least. He looked back to the ocean, seeing the raft floating and her jacket. He groaned, knowing he had to go back to get them. He got up and quickly fell. His legs were screaming at him enough. He ignored it though and forced them to move, nearly staggering back into the water. He started to swim, every muscle in his body crying out they had enough. But he ignored those muscles. He'd often played in pain. When you were an athlete you learned how to do it. You learned how to go beyond pain. You learned to hit that threshold and then go past it. Past the suffering…past the agony… Past it you entered a place so euphoric. You developed an energy you never knew you had. You felt it drive you. And it was only afterwards, when you ended you felt the real effort of what you had just put your body through…what you had driven it to do. It was almost like a drug, but a natural one. It was a natural high. He used that now as he grabbed the raft and swam with it and her lifejacket, throwing it into the raft. He went beyond his overused limbs. He went beyond his entire body telling him it couldn't take it anymore. He swam and swam and when he felt his feet touch the surface finally he cried out and crawled through the water…crawled back to the sand as his legs completely gave out…crawled…crawled…
Crawled…
Until finally he was out of the water…just feeling the tide rush against his feet…his knees…he fell forward and lay down, not even bothering to go to the shade, but at least here the dampness was cooling. He just fell. And closed his eyes. He had pushed his body beyond pain. Now it was finally allowed to feel relief as finally he could rest. It was over.
Haley looked up, her eyes opening slowly. She looked down the sandy way and saw the raft…the raft…and him lying there…lying there…Nathan? Lying there? She tried to get up to her feet. It was hard. She clung to the tree to stand on her legs and as she passed the tree she felt them quickly give out on her sending her tumbling down onto the hot sand. She crawled to the raft and grabbed Nathan's shirt. Then she tried to walk over to him, but once again her body was not cooperating with her. It felt too hot. It felt too used. Her legs and arms just had nothing in them it seemed. Her lungs burned. Her throat was raw. She crawled over to him on her hands and knees now…until she finally reached him. Taking his shirt, she covered his exposed back with it and then letting her body sag, she lay down next to him, closing her eyes. Her fingers dragged through the wet sand they now lay next to each on until they found his limp fingers…she held on.
Nathan stirred at the touch…and slowly opened his eyes. He looked to see big brown eyes looking into his. Taking an exhausted breath he weakly uttered, "We made it Haley…we made it…"
She nodded her head just slightly, feeling him squeeze her fingers just a bit. She latched on tighter, feeling his fingers curl around hers as she whispered back, "We made it Nathan…together…we made it…"
Their eyes exchanged meaning and then both sets closed. Finally…their battered fatigued bodies and minds…
Rested.
On the wet sand. Under the sun. Under a clear day. On an island.
An island. An island they knew nothing about. An island they did not understand.
But they would. They had survived the crash. They had survived the water. Now they would have to survive…the island.
It was an island of beauty. It was an island of life. It was an island of mystery. It was an island of exotic plants. It was an island of unknown creatures. It was an island of hidden wonders. It was an island of sustenance. It was an island of shelter. It was an island of…danger.
It was an island that would hold them captive. Two strangers…it would now hold captive. It was surrounded by water. It was surrounded by perils. It was an island that would challenge them as it held them captive in its grasp. As it forced them to need it. It was an island that would scare and terrify. It was an island that would amaze and dazzle.
It was an island they had found together…two strangers…who maybe in this world had never meant to be only strangers after all. Maybe fate had never decreed that. It was an island that had whispered to them the minute they hit the water…
Come to me…come to me… Come to me… And let me hold you captive. Let me hold you…
~*~Capti*vateD~*~
Next time in Captivated
"What do we do now?"
"Everything we can to be rescued…"
"Aren't you the lingerie model?"
"I'm Brooke Amanda James…I'm here to find my sister."
"Look…I prefer to be alone…I can get more done."
"I'm going with you…I have to know what happened to my sister."
"Uh…sleep here?"
"Yeah…unless you prefer the vibrating bed…"
All this and more to come next time in Captivated
Thank you for reading. Feedback is adored.
Charli's idea and requirements are right below. The term 'shorty' is Charli's idea and a great one. You will see she requested a line using it and that will be coming in a future chapter.
Your Name: Charli
Genre: Romance/Angst/Drama
Rating: anything
Season/Time frame: AU N/H don t know one another
Reference to episode: - AU Must include the phrase: I promise, I will protect you with my life. You got that shorty?
Additional requirements: N/H in plane crash, end up stranded Luke, Nathan s bro, Brooke Haley s sis. A warring Lucas and Brooke trying to find their respective siblings, on search and rescue with team. N/H hooking up amid the chaos. Can be a one parter, or three parter whatever you like but I d love to see lots of NH with a lil L/B too
