Uncharted: Seekers of the Lost
By Obrusnine
Last updated: July 4th, 2012 fD
(ED: Basic Edit / RW: Rewrite / fD: First Draft / FD: Final Draft)
Chapter 13: Aftermath
"It doesn't matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was." –Anne Sexton
The tunnel was long and dark as Nate slid along it with pain coursing across his broken rib. He eventually put the pain out of his mind and took the time as he slid to consolidate his thoughts and to think of the events that had occurred… and to try and remember the past, to remember his childhood. But no matter what he did, when he thought back and tried to remember his father as he had been, he only saw Sully's face.
After some effort, he managed to remember something. He rushed forward as a small child, and jumped into his then young father's arms laughing with joy and love. Once he had it, he would not let it go. He would keep that memory with him.
He would do so because it didn't matter what his father had done for the rest of his live. The fact that he had loved Nate, and that he did whatever he did to protect him was all that mattered. No matter what he had done, Nate would remember the good things about him. It wasn't about who his father was; it was about who Nate remembered he was.
After all of the events recently, and after witnessing the power of the Holy Grail, Nate felt oddly spiritual. He had found in the short amount of time he had spent with his father that Harold had actually been a devoted Christian. He had told Nate this during the ride to the Airport.
Nathan had replied by telling him that he didn't believe in that stuff and Harold had accepted that. But knowing that his father had believed in God, and knowing that he had died to protect Nate and his friends, he couldn't help but respecting those believes and praying. It was something he hadn't done since he had left the orphanage.
But all the same, he prayed. He prayed to God for him to deliver his father to safety, wherever he was, and to tell him that his son loved him to, even if he had only known him for a short time.
Eventually, the tunnel started to even out. He started sliding across flat ground and his pace began to slow. Nate saw a light in the distance suddenly, and as he approached he raised his hand to block out the light as his eyes had grown accustomed to the darkness.
Then, he flew out of the tunnel and slammed into the arms of Charlie, who fell backwards with the force Nate had transferred to him. Sully grabbed him and managed to stop him from falling. But as Charlie tried to maintain a grip on Nate, he touched the broken rib causing him to cry out in pain. This surprised Charlie and he lost his grip causing Nate to fall to the ground and again scream in pain.
"Shit, are you alright mate?" Charlie asked.
"No thanks to you!" Nate said.
"Sorry." Charlie said scratching his head.
"Just help me up." He replied, and Charlie helped him back to his feet while Nate groaned. Elena came over and let him lean on her for support.
"Are you alright honey?" She asked.
"I'll be fine for now." Nate replied. "It hurts like a son of a bitch."
"They tend to do that." Sully said. Nate didn't even look up to acknowledge his comment. Sully grunted as he realized that he was going to ignore him.
"Where are we?" Chloe asked.
"Looks like that slide took us back to the base of the mountain." Flynn said looking up.
"Good, then that should mean the truck is somewhere close by." Nate said.
"Those trees over there look familiar." Sully said. "I think I know the way back to the truck."
"Hey Flynn, will you please tell Victor..." Nate let the word hang in the air for a bit. "…to lead the way already?"
"What…?" Flynn asked.
"Just follow me…" Sully said. Flynn and Chloe grabbed Harold's body and followed as he walked over to the tree line and led them away from where they had come out. Sooner than later, they reached the truck. Then, Nate's vision started blurring and he started leaning on Elena very heavily. His breathing started to get shallow.
"Nate, what's wrong?" Elena asked worriedly stopping in her tracks.
"Can… barely... breath!" Nate said gasping out the last word.
"Sully, something's wrong with Nate!" Elena said. He looked back.
"Shit, the broken rib must have punctured one of his lungs." He said. Nate coughed up more blood.
"Did… did you learn about that in the navy Sully…?" Nate asked. His eyes swinging out of focus.
"Yes I did kid…" Sully replied. "The lack of oxygen to his brain is making him delirious. Put him in the back seat of the truck. You can put Harold on the floor below him. Chloe and Flynn… get into the trunk and throw out all of the guns and ammo we left back there plus whatever other shit Captain Rogers left there. Elena you stay next to Nate, Chloe you drive while I jump in the passenger seat. Flynn and Charlie, you two are going to have to sit in the trunk."
They all looked at him for a second.
"What are you all waiting for? Get moving!" He shouted. They all started moving. Elena half-guided half-dragged Nate to the back door and threw it open. She then gently laid Nate down on the back seat then wrapped the center seatbelt around his waist and clicked it in. She then lifted up his head and laid it across her lap before buckling herself in.
Chloe and Flynn quickly loaded Harold's body onto the floor in front of Nate and then went to the back trunk and threw everything they could find onto the ground with Charlie's assistance. After they were done, Flynn and Charlie jumped in and closed the trunk in front of them as Chloe hopped into the driver's seat and started the car with Sully jumping into the passenger beside her.
"You're going to need to step on it." Sully said. "He's going to need to get a medevac from the SAS base; no backwoods hospital is going to be able to repair the damage to his internal organs."
"That's what I do best, you better buckle up, 'cause this is going to be one rough ride." Chloe replied buckling herself in. Sully did the same. "Hold onto your balls everyone."
On that note, Chloe slammed her foot down on the gas and flew forward. They were back onto the road in seconds and speeding along at 100 miles per hour. Sully leaned back and grabbed Harold's cellphone out of his jacket. He found Captain Rogers on speed-dial and hit the button.
"Elena… Marlowe has Sully… can't wait… need to go to Airport… Cargo Plane…" Nate whispered.
"Nate, Sully is right here. He's fine." Elena replied fearfully.
"No… NO! They have Sully! He knows where the city is!" Nate said. He tried struggling but Elena held him still.
"Calm down Nate! That was over 3 months ago! Marlowe is dead, Sully is safe!" Elena said. "Now stop moving or you're going to make your wound worse."
The phone rang a few times before Captain Rogers picked up the phone.
"Hey Harold, what's-" Captain Rogers said.
"Captain Rogers. I need you to get a priority Medevac to the SAS base as soon as possible!" Sully said.
"What? Why? Who's hurt?" Rogers asked.
"It's Nate, he broke his rib and it punctured one of his lungs." Sully said.
"Why isn't Harold making this call?" Rogers asked.
"He's dead!" Sully said.
"Wh-what?" Rogers asked.
"This isn't the time, get me that Medevac now!"
"I… I'm on it." Rogers replied hanging up.
Chloe started entering traffic which swung to avoid her as she rampaged around the road.
"Get out of the way you morons!" Chloe shouted beeping the horn.
"Chloe!" Nate yelled.
"What is it love?" She asked.
"Chloe and Charlie…! They were captured in Serbia! We have to go and get them!"
"I'm right here love, hold on!" Chloe said swinging past a care. "Watch it!"
"We have to get Jeff out of here!" Nate yelled.
"Nate, Jeff's dead! He died a long time ago!" Elena said tearing up.
"Elena! She got hurt with the grenade! We have to get her out of here!" Nate yelled. Elena went into full on tears now.
"Nate, I'm here… I'm fine…" Elena said.
"Sully… he survived… He wouldn't betray us like that!" Nate went silent for a moment. "See! The journal saved him from the bullet! Navarro, I'll kill you!"
Suddenly he started shaking in Elena's arms and sweating profusely.
"Sully!" Elena said. "Something's happening!"
Sully flipped around to look.
"Shit, he's having a seizure!" Sully said. "Hold him still; he'll worsen any internal damage like that!"
Elena did as Sully asked, holding Nate as tightly as she could.
"Chloe, get us there now!" Sully said.
"You've got it boss." Chloe said. She really put her foot down; they went from 100 to 140, speeding along the road at far beyond the speed limit. She was good though, and handled the car like a professional race car driver. She was avoiding traffic on a whim with only minor slowdowns.
She took the long way around the town, as it would just take longer with the reduction in speed she would need. As she turned yet again onto another road, Nate stopped shaking.
"Okay, it's stopped. He's unconscious though, and he's sweating really badly." Elena said.
A few minutes later, the Airfield finally emerged in the distance. A red and white helicopter was touching down on the runway not far away. Chloe raced up and stopped with a screeching slide which left skid marks on the runway. Captain Rogers ran for the truck and flung open the back door.
He then saw Harold's body.
"Oh my god." He said.
"This isn't the time to freeze up, just get those medics to get Nate now." Sully said. Captain Rogers nodded and ran for the chopper as it touched down, as they did, Paramedics jumped down and he directed them towards the truck as Elena undid Nate's belt buckle. They grabbed a stretcher and started to run over.
Their gaze passed over Harold's dead body and they found Nate alive.
"Miss, we'll need your help to get him onto the stretcher. Lift his head and I'll get his legs." One Paramedic told her in a British accent. Elena nodded and grabbed Nate's head and lifted it up as the Paramedic grabbed his legs. They both lifted him up and out of the van, with Elena jumping to the blacktop with some difficulty. They then set him onto the stretcher and the Paramedics lifted him up, she followed them as they brought him back to the chopper.
"Sorry miss, one family member only." He said.
"I'm his wife." She said. "My name is Elena Drake. He's Nathan."
"Alright Missus Drake, climb in behind us." The Paramedic said. Captain Rogers came rushing up.
"I'm coming to." Rogers said.
"Only one person can come sir, its protocol."
"I'm the SAS Officer that called you here." Captain Rogers said. "Everything about this case is classified, no patient records will be made, and you are letting me come with you and my Godson to make sure nothing happens to him."
"How do I know who you say you are?"
He flashed a badge.
"On that note, get on board sir."
Tom Rogers climbed in and sat in the seat opposite Elena.
"I told the others where we're going." Rogers told her. "They'll fly over to a classified airstrip in London in Sullivan's plane and be escorted to the hospital by SAS operatives."
"But what about the Temp-" Elena started.
"Their existence is classified remember. Not around them." Rogers said.
"Okay, what about them? Can't they track us down? Find out where we're bringing Nate?"
"That's why I'm handling this very sensitively; I am only going through my most trusted middle-men and contacts to make this happen. Everything to do with this operation is heavily classified, be assured… they won't be able to find us. They'll still think that you are…" He glanced at one of the Paramedics. "…indisposed."
Elena nodded as the Paramedics hooked up heart monitors to Nate.
"Hey, he's not breathing." The second Paramedic, a woman in her mid-20s, said. The heart monitors starting ejecting a long beeping sound and a straight line crossing the heart monitor as soon as they started up.
"He's in V-Fib, get the Defibrillator."
She grabbed two metal paddles with plastic handles from not far away as the first Paramedic tore open Nate's shirt and started applying gel.
"What's going on?" Elena asked worriedly.
"He's in cardiac arrest." He replied. "Not now Missus Drake, I need to concentrate if I am going to save your husband."
Here tears continued but she tried to remain silent to make sure they could work.
"Charging to 100." The second Paramedic said as she put the two paddles against his chest. "Clear."
She pressed down the two buttons on the Defibrillator and Nate's body jumped as an electric shock surged through his body. She then proceeded to rub the two paddles together and adjust a dial on the machine.
"Nothing." The first Paramedic said. "Again, this time charge to 200."
"Charging to 200." She replied again sticking the paddles to his chest. "Clear."
Nate jumped again, and beeps started issuing from the heart monitor again.
"Normal cardiac rhythm restored." The Paramedic said.
"Oh thank god…" Elena said letting out a pent up breath.
"Don't worry hun, these are good people. They're very good at their jobs; they'll take care of him." Rogers said. "Besides, he's a tough a lad. He'll be fine, I'm telling you."
"Thank you… Captain Rogers…" Elena replied.
"Call me Tom." He said.
"Okay Tom." Elena said.
"It's alright to be stressed considering what just happened. Don't keep it pent up; it'll only make it worse." He said. Elena grinned.
"You sound like a therapist." She replied.
"I guess I do, don't I?" He said giving her a weak warm smile.
"Are… you alright?" Elena asked.
"Harold, he's really dead…" Tom said with a tear coming from one of his eyes. "He… was all that I had left of the life before returning to Britain. Sure, I have other American friends, but he really was the only one I stayed in contact with. The only one Lucy also had a close friendship with."
"So, according to the story you told Nate, you moved to America, and you said your British…"
"Yes, I actually met Lucy through an online dating site believe it or not." Tom said. "Most people don't think those things work, but they actually work pretty well."
"Was she CIA like Harold?" Elena asked.
"Yes, and so was I for a time. I had transferred over to America to be with Lucy and I decided to share her job to." Tom said. "When I moved back, I rejoined the SAS."
"They let you switch the country you serve around like that?"
"Yes actually, but with some terms. Like that I never participate in operations that would hurt the interest of either country and I do not exchange classified information between the two unless it would help both."
"…and they completely trust that?"
"I can see how you wouldn't believe me, but it's true." Tom said. Elena nodded. "Now, could you please tell me what happened down there? Leave out the classified information though. You can call the you-know-what the HG. Just call the other one the Ark, if that has anything to do with it."
She told him what had happened, sometimes improvising to hide locations and specific happenings. When she told him about Harold's death at the hands of Jason, he seemed to get really angry.
"That… rat bastard…" He said. Elena continued until finally she got back to the point where they were in the truck. "So Jason has it huh?"
"Unfortunately." Elena said. "But at least we know where he's going next, Bethlehem, The Church of Nativity."
"Hm…" Tom said.
"But… I and Nate can't go with him like this."
"Don't worry about that. Jason is going to need to grease a few palms to empty the church and get equipment over into Bethlehem. That should take him at least a month to do, and Nate should be back on his feet by then." Tom said.
"Heh…" Elena said. "Well, maybe I did just want an excuse to get out of all of this."
"I would understand if you did."
"But… I couldn't leave Nate. He needs me, even if he doesn't like to admit it. Of course he won't give up; he thinks it's his duty."
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, the only reason we've gotten this far is because of him." Tom said.
"Oh? Does that really matter? Jason has the HG, we failed. How are we going to get to the true Ark before Jason does if he can just take control of our minds?" Elena asked.
"According to the research Harold…" He stopped here for a moment. "…did on the historical records and the findings of them… that thing only works if the target is within Eyesight. In order to maintain control once it's exercised its ability on a target, the person has to stay within a hundred yards for it to work. Although, there have been certain people whose minds have been completely destroyed into servitude by the HG."
"So? What does all that mean?" Elena asked.
"We can set up a sniping position somewhere." Jason said. "As long as we stay far away from him, he won't be able to take control of us unless he looks directly at us. If we make the shot before he expects it, we can take him down before he has the chance to do anything."
"Well, let's just hope it's that easy." She said.
12 hours later
Nate slowly awoke, blinking as the light hit his eyes from above. He groaned in pain as his right side surged with it. Although, it did feel significantly dulled.
"Nate?" Elena asked.
He tried to sit up to find that it hurt too much to do so. Suddenly, the bed shifted under him and lifted his head up a bit. He looked around and saw Elena.
"Elena?" Nate asked.
"Oh thank god you're alright…" She said. She kissed him on the lips as she teared up.
"What… happened?"
"Well, your broken rib also punctured and then collapsed one of your lungs. Fragments of the bone also cut up a few of your blood vessels and caused internal bleeding. We're in a hospital in London; you were in the OR for hours. You only got out a little while ago." She said.
"Is… everyone else alright?" He asked.
"Yea, they're just outside the door. They decided to give us some time alone." She said. "But don't expect to be getting any; you're still hurt pretty bad."
"I wouldn't dream of it…" Nate said then grinned. "…or rather I will dream of it."
"Oh, I bet you will." She said grinning.
"I'm… I'm sorry I got hurt again like this." Nate said. "I… couldn't just leave him there."
"I know." She replied grabbing his hand. She squeezed it, and he squeezed back. "I'm sure you're not trying to get yourself hurt on purpose."
"Heh, you would be surprised."
"I'm sure I would… not."
They both laughed, although Nate a bit weakly.
"You can… let everyone else in now."
Elena nodded and went over to the door and pulled it open. Suddenly, everyone else walked into the room. Although Flynn was in the back and Tom was nowhere to be seen.
"Your Godfather is tidying up, making sure there is no record of your stay here." Elena said. "I'm sure he'll be here soon."
They all pulled up chairs next to Nate's bed.
"Hey kid, are you doing alright?" Sully asked.
"I may be a bit delirious due to morphine, and you may have been part of saving my life, but that does not mean we're talking again." Nate said. Sully grumbled in response.
"But… are you doing alright mate?" Charlie asked.
"Yea big guy, I'm doing okay. Hopefully, I'll be back on my feet in no time." Nate said.
"The doctor said you're going to need a few weeks of rest before you'll be back to normal." Elena said.
"A few weeks? But what about Jason and the Grail? We can't let him get the Ark." Nate said.
"Tom told me it's going to take him at least a month to do that, you should be alright by then." Elena replied.
"Tom?" Nate asked.
"That's your Godfathers first name."
"Oh."
"You recover quickly love, we wouldn't imagine going on an adventure without you." Chloe said.
"Don't forget me." Flynn said.
"Do you honestly think you're coming along?" Elena asked.
"Look, I saved all of your necks. I think I deserve a little respect." Flynn replied.
"He's right…" Nate said. "Besides, if he's with us, he can't betray us for the other side like last time."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Flynn said sarcastically. Nate laughed in response.
"We're all pulling for you mate." Charlie said.
"Thanks guys." Nate said. The door opened and Tom walked in.
"Okay, looks like we're going to be alright here." Tom said. "How are you doing son?"
"I'm feeling a little broken, but other than that I'm alright. Thanks Cap." Nate said.
"Call me Tom." He said. "Look, I'm going to be joining your little group here. Not bringing any SAS buddies along, just me."
"Are you sure?" Nate asked.
"Yea and you get the less-than-official backing of a UK operation." Tom said. "I also have contacts and such all over the world to help us out when we need it. So can I come?"
"Of course you can Tom." Nate said. "We're lucky to have you."
"Thanks." Tom said. "Now, we should leave you alone so you can get some rest. Come on everybody."
Everyone got up and went for the door except Sully.
"I'll be right behind you, there's something I have to talk with Nate about." He said. Tom nodded and everyone left. Nate didn't look up at him or acknowledge his presence in any way.
"Look Nate, I know you're angry about what I did." Sully said. "But kid, that just isn't fair. Your Dad was suffering, you got to talk to him in his last minutes, in essence say your goodbyes… not everyone gets that you know. I saw that you were going to try and do it yourself after thinking about what he had asked. But, I couldn't let you do that. I couldn't let you regret killing your father for your entire life. So, no matter what happens or how you feel about me for the rest of your and my life, I would never take back what I did. Ever."
Nate didn't reply.
"But no matter what happens kid, I love you. I took care of you when you were growing up, even if it was in a roundabout manner. Sure, I almost got you killed… a lot." He chuckled. "But the fact is that you stand here, alive and who you are today is because of what I did for you. Yes, your father made up for abandoning you and everything else in his final days. But that in no way erases everything I did. I was your father…"
Nate turned his head away to hide that he was crying.
"So, maybe you'll forgive me, and maybe you won't. I… just didn't want you to forget what I did for you kid. I love you. Even if that is a bit corny. But… um… you should get a good night's sleep, okay? I'll… I'll see you tomorrow."
He stood up and started to walk for the door.
"Sully…" Nate said. He turned around to look at Nate. "I'm sorry."
Sully nodded and then went through the door closing it behind him.
One Month Later
They walked through the London Airport, slipped through the crowds but staying together. Quickly, they made it to the checkpoint. Tom went to the woman who was manning the scanners for the cargo.
"Miss, look at this please." He said. He handed her a slip of paper.
"Oh, Captain Rogers." She said.
"There is a Sniper Rifle and few guns in the briefcases I'm about to send through." He whispered. "Ignore that and process it just like it was normal cargo."
"Of course sir." She replied. "Go on through."
Nate was walking slowly behind the rest of them with Sully.
"Geez, I wish they wouldn't walk so far. I'm getting to old for this." He said.
"Like we haven't heard that before Sully." He said.
"I'm just happy we got that mess sorted out." Sully said referring to the tension between them.
"It wasn't your fault, I should've realized that. When people are angry, they can forget what's important." Nate replied. "Thanks for coming to the funeral with me."
"Everyone came Nate." Sully said. "I didn't do anything special."
"It was pretty special to me." Nate said. "Now come on, we have a plane to catch old man."
Sully grinned.
"Right behind you kid."
Phew, done. Sorry about this being more filler, I'm such a liar *sadface*. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Now I am serious that the next chapter is going to have action, so I hope you can't wait. Happy Independence Day everyone. Remember to review! In the words of Sully, I be go to hell. Or Chloe, hold onto your balls everyone! Hahahaha