A/N: I've fleshed out parts of this chapter. If you've already read it, you don't have to read it again.

Chapter 14 The Storm

Stephanie

My body aches turned to excruciating pain. Moving into numbness was a blessing, though this time it might be my end. Remembering my troubles the trouble closing my eyes before in the library, I shut them early. All I had was my hearing and thoughts. The cinderblock walls muted outside sounds, there were no breezes to lull me to sleep. Unfortunately, the peacefulness was passing. The house's upper level began creaking. Would the house remain intact? It was doubtful.

Gradually the storm's sound penetrated to this lower level. The wind's howling was filled with might and fury. There was no way to dampen the piercing sound. I could not run, hide or even put my hands over my ears. I had to listen and pray I would not go crazy. At least my companions were deeply asleep. Then again, Turner might be waking up.

The noise was as if the gates of Hell creaking open and the screams were those trapped, screaming at me I would soon be joining them. A loud bang and immediate increase in sound told me the house was being torn apart. I heard something fall on the plastic covering over my body but felt nothing. Fearing debris now covered us, would we ever be found, even by rescuers? If these walls failed, would we be washed into the ocean to become dinner for the crocs and sharks? I prayed for sleep, but the sounds and fears were too high. I thought I would lose my mind, but really, what did it matter? Let this end NOW!

In a moment of clarity, Rick filled my mind. Would he come? How many times did Ranger and then Rick rescue me over the years? "Are you hurt Babe?" Nobody else thought to ask, especially Joe Morelli who instead began a rant that threatened his blood pressure risking stroke level. Where is Joe now? Does he finally have the family he so desired? My thoughts went to my family. Were my nieces being raised away from the Burg constrictions? If my father held to his promise to protect them, perhaps they will be happy and well adjusted. Did my mother talk about me? No, I was an embarrassment to her Burg standing. Everything had to be Helen's Way.

Perhaps I slept because I was now aware there was nothing but silence. There were no wind sounds. Nor were there bird sounds. I thought I heard the ocean, but perhaps it was an illusion. Did the walls hold or we now out in the open food for scavengers?

-0-

The coordinates on the recently acquired yacht Crystal Seas, the former Nashib, brought Rick, Angela, Stefan and several of Angela's agents to a decimated island. The navigation coordinates matched. This had to be it. There were no other islands in the vicinity. The map showed a more significant island. Perhaps the storm surge erased part.

The Nashib sailed around the island, keeping out to sea least watching for shoals, an indication the island was not partially submerged. The exposed perimeter in total was slightly less than two miles. There were remnants of a pier extending out into the ocean and deeper water. The map incorrectly showed shallower water. Was this why the island was overlooked? A mapping mistake kept people away. Perhaps that and the fact there was no other island from horizon to horizon. Only four pier posts remained, the planking was gone. Carefully watching his depth gauge and with observers forward and aft, Stefan moved the yacht as close to the shore as possible while watching for debris. When he could get no further, the ship was secured to a wood piling still yards from the shoreline. Hopefully, it would hold the yacht. Just in case two members of Angela's team remained aboard. Angela, Rick, Stefan, and two more men armed with rifles and machetes came ashore in a small rubber raft. The devastation was immense. Only a few palm trees remained standing, the rest lay broken or uprooted. Once dense shrubs had been ripped to shreds. A cobra greeted them on the beach, "Shit, how many of these are there?" Rick asked as he dispatched it with a machete.

"Keep your eye out for crocs," Stefan warned.

Rick thought there now were not enough island or vegetation to protect and support any crocodiles. Hopefully, they abandoned the island looking for new homes.

Several dozen yards from the landing stood a small cinderblock foundation wall, four feet in height stood near at the water's edge. Oily residue floated at the water's edge from a ruptured fuel oil tank. Scattered about were mechanical equipment and pipes. Rick emerged after looking around inside. "It appears to be a desalination plant. The snakes now have a little protection."

A longer roofless building with short walls was not far away. One of the men looked inside, "I didn't check thoroughly, but I suspect this was crew quarters. I see furniture inside."

They continued their island exploration moving inland. The elevation change was not noticeable, but the downed trees impeded their travel. Their passage was slow to avoid risking disturbing a snake or perhaps a croc under the island's litter. Coming to a much larger roofless building. They walked around the perimeter but for no access.

"Apparently the stairway to a second floor blew away in the storm along with whatever was up there. We'll need to make our own access," Angela said.

"We can easily jump up there," Rick said.

"Are you certain what's on the top? It could be broken glass, sharp metal. Be safe and create a quick ladder," Rick's younger but wiser cousin counseled.

The island debris provided the material to create ladders. Seeing the destruction, Rick wondered how powerful a storm it had been. Scientists were still examining data, but most felt it was a level 5, if not a level 6 if there was such a classification.

Angela kept her rifle in hand watching for unfriendly reptiles as the men created access. Several crude ladders were placed on the wall's top. Rick went first, not because he was the leader, but because of what could be behind the walls.

Quickly on top, he checked the wall's stability and signaled down it was safe. He could see the enclosed area was comprised of two rooms, each about 500 square feet in size. Looking into one room he saw storm debris; palm fronds, broken lumber, furniture remnants, and cabinets on one the interior wall. Signaling he needed a long pole for probing, he waited for a bamboo pole to be handed up. There was standing water depth knee deep. If the room had drainage, it was not working. Inching his way across the wall's top, he looked into a second room. There were more broken lumber, palm fronds, water, and something else. It appeared to be a mummy floating above the water. His heart sank. Did the wrapped body indicate all had died? The only way into this room was the same way he got onto the wall.

He and the other men reversed their makeshift ladder allowing Rick to climb down next to the body. The ladder did not do down as deep as the problem. It was resting on something adjacent to the body. The body wasn't floating, it was atop a table or bed. Scurring down he dreaded opening the corpse wrapping. A large sheet of plastic covered but didn't surround the body. It appeared to direct the rain away. Ropes were tied to the table securing the covering as well as the body. Carefully cutting the restraints, he pulled aside the plastic and recognized the face. It was a very emaciated Turner Stevens. His color was white, not the grey of death or decay black. He might be alive. Carefully reaching down to his throat and chest he felt a slow heartbeat. Rick looked up to the wall's top where the rest were waiting and smiled and gave an arm pump. He couldn't speak, though, the emotions were threatening to overcome him.

Hope exploded in Rick's chest that Stephanie was here, also alive. Sloshing through the water mindful of dangers, he moved aside debris and found another table with a body. It was Lester and he, too, was still breathing. He had no time to celebrate, he had to find his wife. The next table held a woman he did not recognize. Like the other two, she was still living. Is Babe here? Looking back and forth in confusion, he had to find her. Lumber, palm frond debris, and broken furniture clogged the rest of the room. Taking a piece of wood, he began carefully poking under the rubble for another table bed. He hit something solid.

Stefan was instantly at his side, and together they started clearing away the debris. On the fourth table lay what he prayed was Stephanie. As Stefan cut the ropes, Rick tore at the plastic. The face was instantly recognized, if not quite a bit thinner. Stephanie, his wife, his life, his heart, and his reason for living. Like the others, she is unresponsive. Her color was right, but he had to check for himself. I felt her carotid and placed a hand on her chest. Her heart was beating, perhaps a bit stronger than the other three. Did Salem wrap them up before he left hoping to return? No, he abandoned them. Rick remembered the bakery box, women's clothing, and Salem's admission; she was a lady. Lester and Turner had only days old beards. Did she shave them? Perhaps she did this preparation and was not yet in the deep coma.

Rick wrapped his arms around the unconscious woman and cried. The stress and anxiety of the months' long search broke free in giant sobs. He did not care if the others thought less of him, only he knew how important she was to his very being. He prayed he would find her and she would avoid the pain of the near-eternal black hell. Here she is! He would never leave her side until she woke up, perhaps many months in the future.

As Stefan loosened the wrapping, he found the plastic box tied to her body. "This must be important."

Angela called from the wall directly above. "I've called for a medevac. How many are alive?" Ranger held up his hand with four fingers, he could not speak for the emotion.

Stephanie

I hear something! It sounds like Salem's yacht. Salem is back! Will he now take us away from this dreadful island? Will the blocker still work on me?

For what seems like an eternity, there are no more sounds. Maybe I was dreaming. In the distance, I hear scratching then something moving. Oh, please no, not the crocodiles. My mind wanted my heart to speed up, but the breathing seems to be one steady pace. I have to control myself, or I risk suffocating.

Something is in the room. I hear scratching and tearing. Something is moving through the water! The crocodiles are feeding on the others! I listen to the plastic crinkle close to my years! No, no, no…. Will I feel pain when the croc attacks?

"Oh, Babe..."

Rick is here! I cannot move or communicate. My body wants to vibrate and cheer, but nothing happens. Rick is crying. Does he think I am dead? No Rick, I am alive, I am still alive! My emotions, even in this semi-coma are causing my heart to ache as it wants to beat faster.

There's another close sound, something said. I only catch the word important. Did Rick find the journal? Yes, it is very important!

There is a new sound, like a voice far away, "How many are alive?"

I do not hear an answer. I want to know if the others are alive. Answer Rick, say something!

I hear water sloshing and hear different voices, but I feel nothing. Apparently, "Babe, you are light as a feather. We are getting all of you out of here. Stay with us."

A woman's voice says, "They need hydration immediately. Airevac will be here in four hours, we should have enough for all of them in the meantime."

Another voice responds, "We'll prepare a landing site for them."

"Babe, you will be fine. The Navy will get you to a hospital. I'll be with you."

I must have gone to sleep because I'm suddenly awakened by a loud noise. It is familiar, but I can't place it. Is the storm returning? I hear Rick close to my ear, the Navy is here. We are leaving this paradise. Babe, I'm so proud of you, everyone is still alive; Lester, Turner, and Sandra."

If I could cheer, or even smile, I would.

-0-

Perhaps as the result of Angela's or even Aunt Madge, a US Navy Knighthawk helicopter was dispatched to the tiny island for the rescue. The rescue operation took all day as much of Mindanao was in havoc and unable to support the big aircraft. Rick went with the four rescued, Angela and the rest returned to Mindanao with the Crystal Sea. Due to the cyclone's destruction, the survivors went first to Cebu City and on to Manila where more of Angela's team was waiting. Once deemed stable, the four continued to Texas Medical Center in Houston. Several Medevac jets had been contracted to fly the four, and Rick, to Houston. The first jet arrived with Rick and Stephanie.

Bobby watched Rick get off the small Lear jet. He was never more than a few feet away from Stephanie.

"Rick, you can step back now," Bobby said.

The old Ranger glare was instantly back.

"Let us have her now. All have been brief on what to expect. You need to let us do our job."

Slowly he began to let loose. Months of anguish were pouring off him. His exhaustion was remarkable. Bobby thought he would have a fifth patient.

"There's a private room set aside for you. Go shower, eat, and if possible rest. I'll get you as soon as you can camp out next to her again."

Rick nodded and allowed a nurse to lead him away. On his way, he saw himself in the mirror, except it was Jose. For an instant, he wondered why he was here. Then in a burst of mental clarity, they needed to maintain the charade Jose was her husband. Jose came up and whispered, "Welcome home Cowboy." The name was used in case someone was listening.

Initially, scientists on the East Coast wanted the foursome brought closer to Washington DC. Angela, Bobby, and Enrique-Jose insisted they would be in Texas where Stephanie and Enrique "lived."

Bobby was the first to read Stephanie's journal. He immediately removed the letter to Rick unread and gave it to him privately. In her writings, Stephanie had carefully spelled out the care of each patient and now herself. Her notes on supplies in the laboratory, her observations and thoughts about immunoglobulins and venom jump-started the research.

Bobby appreciated her gradual understanding of the coma. He never knew about Stephanie's love for science, knowing her mostly as the Bombshell Bounty Hunter. Why had she given up a science career? Did she bow to the Burg's expectations? Is that was she was so stubborn to prove herself as a bounty hunter?

Salem never considered a viral or bacterial contaminant. He was convinced the drug, was solely from plants and animals. Immediately the scientists began testing concentrating on the various biological poisons from the reptiles.

There was also the single syringe filled with the blocker, maybe it would hold a clue. Stephanie had refused to inject herself in hopes the blocker would be of some use. Fortunately, it had not degraded over several days without refrigeration.

-0-

"Babe, can you hear me?"

"Rick?" I whispered.

"Yes, love."

"Am I dead?"

"No, but you are still under the chemicals. We have brought you back partially only with what remained of the blocker. You are too far under to come back completely. The scientists are working with your notes."

"Others...?" I had to know if the others survived.

"They are still asleep, but well. Babe, I'm right here with you just as you were with me. You will slip back but know it will not be for long. I'm always here."

"...hurts."

"Yes, you are not deeply under. You have some feeling, be strong."

"I knew..."

"Always Babe." He reached over and kissed my lips. Something was wrong. "…..stub…" I whispered. His soft beard was gone he had stubble. I slipped back into the darkness though I could hear Rick every so often, or so I thought.

-0-

One research team worked on replicating the blocker, another on the anti-venoms from the list in Stephanie's journal. The problem was which anti-venom. The chemical formula showed several different venoms with traces within the victims. A third team started looking for the immunity indicators Stephanie had theorized.

Unfortunately, on their own, several scientists were secretly trying to recreate the poison as Aunt Madge had feared months ago. Immediately they were pulled form the project, all their notes and computers were confiscated and destroyed.

In the end, the blocker research stopped, Turner's blood proved to contain the answer. The human body was overcoming the poison and an unknown virus. Turner woke up naturally several weeks after the rescue. He had lost 9 months of his life.

Stephanie was the next to wake. Turner's blood was detoxifying the poisons and virus in her body. Salem had suspected the blocker used to keep her awake was retarding the chemical's effectiveness which is why she was able to remain awake longer between blocker injections. As a result, between her own buffer from the drugs and Turner's, her body never reached the full coma where Lester and Sandra now resided.

Stephanie awakened to the sound of her husband talking to her. It was a glorious sound. She was still groggy but Rick knew she would be concerned about the others. It was a trademark of Stephnie Plum in Trenton and continued to this present. "Turner is awake and receiving physical therapy. Lester and Sandra are receiving transplants of Turner's and your blood. Doctors can only estimate when they might wake. Hopefully, it will be soon. Your research jumped started the hunt. We are all so proud of you, Babe. "

-0-

Stephanie

Rick rarely left my side. He helped me walk a step or two at a time, encouraging me to try a few new steps each day. He had a bed in my room so we would rarely be separated. We ate together, though I begged him no fish or cassava.

He chuckled, "I think we will find cassava hard to find here."

We were sitting quietly talking when his cell phone range. Noting the name, he only said, "Yes." He listened then hung up. "Babe, I can't stay here. Someone is coming who must see me. I will be near and return shortly."

For a moment, I thought it might be Salem coming back. I had not yet asked about my kidnapper.

Rick had been gone no more than 30 minutes when an older woman walked in. "Do you remember me?"

I did, or at least I thought I did. My confusion was enough to convince her I didn't.

"My name is Madge, Aunt Madge. You and your husband Jose came to see me months ago. I've come to tell you Salem, the man who kidnapped you, is dead."

"Confirmed?" I hissed.

"Yes. He was trying to duplicate long-lasting anesthesia the natives used on him when he was injured. Without ready access to surgical and orthopedic material, keeping the patient quiet for as long as possible would aid in healing. Initially, it might have been a noble effort or a new business for him. He was already mentally unstable, but ,further deteriorated. The drug became his way to send his enemies into a deep coma to atone for their sins before he would let them die and be judged by a higher power. Stevens and Santos were part of the initial Ranger team sent into Columbian for drug interdiction. Manoso thought he had killed Silvio/Salem in South America, but not quite. The native healers found Salem and restored him. He lived with them, learned their ways with the native plants and animals then modified them for his own use."

"Why did he take me?"

"You were something special to Carlos Manoso. Perhaps he considered you gilding on his Manoso trophy? Then again, maybe he needed a new test subject. We don't know if others were kept awake like you, only to fall away.

The cyclone destroyed the house and lab. We do not believe Turner, Santos and his fiancée would have survived if you had not cared for them. Carlos Manoso didn't have the support they did."

"Sandra. Lester's fiancée's name is Sandra."

She ignored me and continued, "I must commend Carlos Manoso for training such dedicated men for aiding Angela in her search and rescue of you four."

"Did Angela kill Salem?"

"Does it matter to you?"

"No."

"He and most of his crew are gone. A few escaped into the town before the cyclone hit. They were located, but they never knew precisely what Salem was doing on the island. The whole experience terrified them. They thought he was making biological weapons.

This has been a giant fuck up. Several of my staff and others on the Hill are indicted for treason. I'm getting too old for this bull shit. I probably would have been as well except I was running a surveillance on my own team and at the same time keeping one from tipping off Salem. Still, I'll be lucky to retire unscorched. All I crave right now it to move to South Carolina. I'm going to watch the waves and listen to the ocean."

I involuntarily shuddered.

"I'm sorry you were part of this."

"You set me up."

Madge said nothing. "I wish you a speedy recovery, and you and Jose can return to your home on the range in Sabinal. I commend Jose for blurring your location. I assumed it was in New Mexico, but it turns out to be here in Texas. "

Sabinal? What was that? I was wasn't sure if Aunt Madge was testing me or misspoke. Texas was the Burg gossip. Maybe she did not know about Rick after all. I countered with a bluff, "It's not all prairie rangeland."

Madge waved her hand, "I don't care as long as you two are safe and happy."

I said no more and nodded.

-0-

Aunt Madge was leaving the building when she encountered Bobby Brown with Jose, Stephanie's pseudo-husband. "She's a remarkable woman, more intelligent than most people give her credit, courageous, she'd be a good agent."

"Over my dead body," snarled Jose. "She's endured enough, losing Ranger and damn near losing me plus being kidnapped and poisoned for months."

Bobby didn't need to say a thing, his face showed his anger.

After Aunt Madge left, Jose, her supposed husband, and Bobby entered her room. One of the last times Stephanie saw Bobby was in Trenton just after her mother's funeral. Ranger had already returned and was sitting next to her.

Noting the two near lookalike men, Bobby remarked, "In case you don't remember me, I'm not another Enrique, I'm Bobby. We are not married."

Stephanie rolled her eyes, "Did you take over the comedy while Lester was away?"

He chuckled, "No way I can achieve his level, just a poor imitation."

"How is he doing? Any idea when he'll wake up?"

"He's coming around. It would help his transition if he could hear your voice. You were the last one with him before he went under. Sandra isn't near as far along as is he and we will not know her mental state when she does wake up."

"Can you explain something Aunt Madge just said? When we were in her office originally, she thought Jose and I lived in New Mexico. Now she referred to us living somewhere called Sabinal in Texas. What was that all about?"

"Oh what a tangled web we weave," Jose started. "Remember your mother believed you were in Mexico. The people in Trenton thought we lived in Texas because your mother did not want others associating her family with Mexicans. I needed driver's licenses from all three; Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico. Hector used the same town. Sabinal, New Mexico is south of Belen. You and I brought back an FTA from there when you worked for Butler."

I held my head, "Explain it to me in another day when my brain clears."

-0-

Rick supported Stephanie as she walked into Lester's room, but he dare not speak. Lester might be awake enough to hear his cousin's voice. Beginning softly Stephanie began, "Lester, I am Stephanie, Bomber. I am here with you. We are home in the US, Texas actually. We are in a hospital. You are coming out of the coma. It will be a bit longer, but I am here with you. Sandra is also getting better. Squeeze my hand if you can. I know it hurts. The more you move, the faster you will return." For hours, she sat and talked to Lester as she moved his arms and rubbed his chest. "I know you want me to rub a little lower, but Sandra is in the next room," she kidded. Rick assured her he was able to hear her for weeks before he woke up, but didn't know who she was until later. Her talking to him provided a pathway back to reality.

"Babe, imagine being stuck in a cave for months having to feel your way out. You want to give up. Maybe many of Salem's victims did give up. But Les is strong, he will find a way out if there is any light or sound. His eyes are open now. He should be able to discern light. In time shapes will appear. Your voice is calming. He will begin to realize he knows the voice and will want to find his way back. You are his beacon as you were mine."

"I remember you took quite a bit of mental healing after."

"Yes, but you were there just as you will be for Lester until Bobby and others can take over. I can't be for him the way I am with Turner now. It is heartbreaking but must be."

"Les can keep a secret," I countered.

"Remember my nightmares? He might say something unintentionally."

Bobby knocked on the door, paused, and walked in. "Has Hector had any luck with the laptop?" Rick asked.

"Aunt Madge has been told it was destroyed," Bobby smiled. "Hector got into it rather quickly and divested Salem's accounts as well as finding names and addresses of illegal drug dealers, black market product dealers, and ISIS activity through Asia."

"Is Angela going to be able to pay for our adventure?" Rick asked

"She's putting the yacht on the market. She should get a tidy profit after paying off the cost of the operation."

Stephanie

It took a few weeks before Lester began squeezing my hand. His eyes began to focus on the far wall. They were of him, his family, and friends at Rangeman. He could concentrate on those as his body and mind returned. Rick had told me how helpful it was when he emerged from the coma to have me close by and familiar objects on the walls to force his mind to work again.

Bobby and I were sitting quietly talking when Lester turned his head and looked at us, actually looking from person to person. "Hi there. Remember me?" I asked. "Yes, my hair is short, but it will grow back. Bobby is here too."

"Les," Bobby began, we are both here to help. Sandra is here too but not as awake as you."

Within a few days, Lester was speaking a word or two and moving more than his head and one hand. With Stephanie's constant manipulation in the Philippines and the intense physical therapy here in Texas, he was taking his first step within two weeks. In the meantime, Sandra's eyes were open. She could hear, though her eyes were not yet focusing or her hands squeezing Lester's hands.

Bobby spent hours with Les, working with other mental health professionals in helping him through the mental turmoil. Lester had been through PTSD before and even knowing coping skills, he needed more help. I stopped in every day to assure him we could get over this catastrophe in our lives.

-0-

Rick avoided Lester, as he needed to remain "dead." Instead, he spent hours with Turner who had no wife, no family to ease him through the transition. It took Turner about 8 days after waking up to realize Enrique Delgado was actually Ranger Manoso. As Turner's mind continued to clear, Ranger could explain the sordid mess to him.

"We killed him..." Turner whispered.

"I made a mistake. We should have climbed down the cliff and removed his head."

"How many years...?"

"From the beginning briefing to today, eight frigging years." Rick shook his head wondering how many others he had interacted with were still carrying a grudge.

"Will you be Manoso again?" Turner croaked.

"I can't, he's buried in Arlington. My family assumes I'm dead."

"They should know."

"I can't decide. There may be other Salems out there. If they believe I am dead, they will not bother my family. Everyone is safer this way. Anyway, my family is large, somebody might talk."

"Could your parents keep a secret?"

"I believe so."

"Let your parents meet Enrique. Their pain has been the greatest."