Thanks to all who are reading and reviewing! You all are the greatest!
I know I'm keeping you all in suspense, but it's so much fun! So, please, do your part and read and review!
Over on the Time Bandit ...
Andy Hillstrand was on wheel watch, going through the same storm the Northwestern was. He was so intent on watching the waves that he never heard Jonathan or Johnny come up to the wheelhouse.
"Hey brother, how's it going?" Jonathan asked, coming up behind his brother. Johnny sat in the co-captain's chair on the port side of the boat.
"It's getting worse out here. The waves are getting higher. The radio has been going crazy. The Coast Guard has been called over and over. No one has sunk," Andy knocked on wood, "but it's bad."
"I've never seen waves this high," Johnny said, looking out at the sea.
"Yeah, they're calling for worse. I'm just trying to jog through it right now," Andy said.
"Well, I'm up now, so I'll take over. You go get some sleep Andy. Once we're out of this storm, we have to go back to that gear we left at Mr. Magoo.* It's been soaking for 3 days now."
"I think I'll stay up here for a little while. I'm sure an extra pair of eyes will help," Johnny said, glancing at the two captains.
"That's fine John," Jonathan replied.
Andy stood up, letting his brother take over. "Be careful," was all Andy said as he headed for the stairs.
Before Andy got too far, a rogue wave slammed into the Time Bandit, tipping it 90 degrees port side.
Andy and Jonathan were thrown, landing almost square on Johnny. All three were in a heap on the port side.
The general alarm sounded just as another wave slammed into the port side, righting the boat back upright. The wave had woken everyone up below, their voices drifting upstairs in the wheelhouse.
"Ugh, Andy, man you weigh a ton!" Jonathan said as he stood up, pushing his brother off of him. When he got no answer, he looked over and was horrified at what he saw.
His brother and Johnny were lying on the port side, not moving and very much unconscious.
"Andy! Johnny!" Jonathan yelled kneeling by his brother and their paramedic. Neither one moved.
Jonathan whipped his head around when he heard a noise coming up the stairs to the wheelhouse. He saw his other brother Neil, the camera guy and Mike Fortner racing up the stairs.
"Neil! Take the controls! Mike, I need your help with these two!" Jonathan yelled, starting to check the two unconscious men.
Just as Mike started checking Johnny, Andy started to moan.
"Andy, can you hear me?"
Andy blinked, his brother's face coming into focus. "Yeah, I can hear you," he said, trying to sit up.
As Jonathan pushed him back, Johnny started moaning. He tried to sit up even before he opened his eyes.
"Whoa there John! Don't move around just yet," Mike said, holding Johnny down.
Andy looked over at Johnny and didn't move. Johnny opened his eyes, his head throbbing terribly.
"What...what happened?" Johnny asked.
"We got hit by two waves. Andy and I landed on you," Jonathan said.
"You two okay?" Johnny asked. He could tell he had a broken arm and probably a concussion. But he pushed his injuries aside when he saw Andy still on the floor.
Johnny sat up, despite Mike's effort to keep him down. He moved to check on Andy.
*This is the actual name of a favorite fishing hole for the Time Bandit boys.