Thank you so much to everyone who is reading and reviewing! I've had another brilliant idea for a story (thanks to my bestie Emily!) centered on the NW and events that have gone on recently with the boat (namely tensions between Sig and Edgar). So I will begin to work on that story and work on the plot line after I finish this one, just to give everyone a head's up.
Disclaimer: I said this in an earlier chapter but just as a reminder, I will be depicting Phil's passing in the next couple chapters. I will not stick to the exact facts of what happened so that it will fit into the story and it won't be as realistic due to the fact that this event occurred in real life and has deeply affected so many people (myself included). However if this bothers any reader at any time and you can't read it, feel free to skip those parts (I won't be offended I promise! lol).
Wings of an Eagle
With each kick Summer's vision grew more and more dim. Her cries of agony were beginning to subside as she lost the ability to scream. The pain was overwhelming.
She was vaguely aware of someone entering the Elbow Room and yelling loudly above the clamor. Whoever it was sounded infuriated. A few seconds later she saw Blake fly across the room and slam into the wall, crumpling to the floor with a cry of surprise and pain. She felt a pair of warm hands caress her body gently and voice murmur gently to her, asking if she was okay before the man turned an enraged glare back in Blake's direction as he slowly stood up from the floor.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" demanded Blake, "This is none of your business!"
"The hell it isn't!" snarled Josh Harris, not even attempting to suppress his growing rage, "She's our new greenhorn and she's a woman being abused by an asshole. Those two reasons alone make it my business!"
Blake sneered as he sauntered coolly back over to where Josh was leaning over Summer's still and broken body.
"Back away from her…I'm not done," he said as he pushed Josh away and prepared to land another kick into Summer's abdomen.
Josh threw a roundhouse punch to Blake's face and caught him just along the jaw. A sharp crack sounded as his fist pounded into his face. Blake screamed as he fell to the ground, clutching his face.
"No Blake," growled Josh, "You are done…but I'm not."
The dangerous light that danced in Josh's eyes startled Blake. He saw the young deckhand's intent and scrambled to his feet in an attempt to escape, but Josh moved faster. He grabbed Blake by the collar and threw him up onto the bar. The few remaining patrons moved farther away and murmured to each other nervously as they watched the scene unfolding before them.
"Stay the hell away from her, you hear me?" seethed Josh as he shoved Blake down onto the bar, "I said, do you hear me?"
"Yeah…I, I hear you," choked out Blake after a moment.
"If I ever catch you anywhere near her I will tear you apart," Josh said through clenched teeth as he released Blake from his vice-like grip and stepped away.
Blake's eyes were as round as saucers as he gazed back at Josh in startled amazement. He had not expected Phil's oldest son to be so aggressive and brutal. As he hesitated, watching Josh as he knelt back down next to Summer, Josh looked up and through Blake a threatening look. Blake nodded once, understanding the glare as his official dismissal, and made a bee-line for the back door of the Elbow Room.
Josh ran his hands over Summer, his eyes tense with worry as she moaned quietly under his touch.
"It's gonna be okay," he whispered, "I'm here…it's all going to be okay. I won't let anyone hurt you ever again…"
…
Three hours later...
"Hey you," greeted Jake Harris as he walked into the hospital room, "I hear you got yourself into a nasty bar fight."
Summer smirked at Jake and rolled her eyes, "Yeah something like that."
Josh sneered, "Yeah well the guy that did this to her is lucky to still be breathing."
"Yeah I saw Blake in the room a few doors down," said Jake, attempting to stifle a laugh, "His face is swollen like a frickin' balloon. What the hell did you do to him, bro?"
Josh smiled an almost evil grin as he glanced away, "Oh…I just gave him something to remember me by. His jaw might be broken…fractured at least."
Summer's eyes widened at that as she gazed at Josh in disbelief, "Are you okay?"
Josh laughed, "Oh yeah…you know me, tough as steel. My hand's a bit sore but other than that, all is well. It's you that I'm worried about."
Now it was Summer's turn to roll her eyes, "Oh it's not that bad. Nasty bruise under the eye, some seriously bruised ribs…but it could have been a lot worse."
"You're lucky the ribs aren't broken," agreed Josh, "He was kicking you hard."
Jake's eyes narrowed at that. He cursed under his breath as he set a bouquet of lilies next to Summer's bed.
"Aw thanks, Jake!" said Summer as she reached out to smell them, "They're so pretty!"
Jake shrugged, blushing slightly under her praise, "Oh I just got them at the gift shop…when Josh called and told me what happened I felt like getting you something to cheer you up a bit. Although it sounds like what my big bro did may have been even better. I mean seriously…Blake's face is swollen bad."
Josh laughed and his smile grew broader at that last comment, "Good…it'll teach him a lesson. Don't mess with Summer, cause the Cornelia Marie will be all up your ass."
Jake and Summer laughed at that just as Josh's cell phone rang.
"It's the boat phone," said Josh as he looked at the caller ID. He frowned slightly as he answered the call, "Hello?"
Summer and Jake watched as Josh's face slowly began to drain color. His eyes took on a terrified, almost shocked-looking gleam as he gazed blankly at them.
"I'm on my way," he said quickly as he ended the call.
Josh stood quickly and threw on his jacket.
"What was that about?" demanded Jake, worry straining his voice.
"It's Dad," said Josh, his voice quivering, "He…he had a stroke. He's on the boat…they called the paramedics to get him off."
Jake and Summer's eyes grew wide with horror as the news sunk in. Summer knew about Phil's health condition. Josh had told her what had happened a year ago and his near-death experience as well as various other issues that he had not shared with his youngest son, Jake for fear that it would seriously upset him.
"We're coming too," said Summer as she climbed out of bed and reached for her clothes.
"No you need to stay here," ordered Josh in a more composed, authoritative voice, "I need to take over the boat if necessary and settle things there."
Summer glanced anxiously at Jake. He had gone eerily quiet and looked grief-stricken. He was clearly in shock.
"But…someone may need some support right now," she said, her eyes shifting quickly to Jake then back to Josh.
Josh glanced at his little brother and sighed in resignation. He knew that Jake would take this harder than anyone else. His baby brother depended on their dad for so much.
"Okay…just be careful. The last thing we need is for you to injure yourself worse."
Summer quickly got dressed behind the curtain next to her bed and followed the Harris boys as they made their way out of the hospital. Summer sent up a silent prayer for Phil and for his sons as they ran outside and jumped in Josh's pick-up.
As they drove down the road, the Cornelia Marie came into view. A huge eagle was sitting on the railing near the wheelhouse and as they climbed aboard, it took flight, spreading its massive wings and giving out a loud, long call. Summer shivered…the call sounded almost mournful in a way. The symbolism of the event sent chills down her spine as she followed the brothers into the wheelhouse. She cast one final glance in the direction where the eagle had flown off. She felt another chill course its way through her body as she realized that it was slowly circling above the Cornelia Marie, calling out its shrill, mournful cry…
PLEASE REVIEW!
