Written by Mahonechic89:

"Josh!" screamed Jake in panic.

He felt his heart race with unspeakable fear. His chest tightened as he gazed over the side of the boat. He could not see his brother. It had been nearly a minute since he fell off the picking hook.

"Come on Josh!" he shouted, "Come on!"

Murray heard Jake's cries of panic and rushed over to see what was going on. Some of the other deckhands came out from the galley and looked around, trying to figure out what was going on.

Murray leaned far over the rail and searched the surging seas for Josh. Jake stood beside of him, beginning to shake.

"He's…he's gone," he stammered, "My brother…he's gone! And it's all my fault! I shouldn't have let him do that…"

By now the other deckhands had figured out what had happened. They grabbed nearby life-rings while Freddy hurried below deck to put on a survival suit. If they found Josh, chances were that he would be unable to swim to the boat or to any life rings that were tossed his way. Someone may have to jump in to guide him back to the boat.

"What the hell just happened?" shouted Phil Harris over the loud hailer, "Where is he?"

His heart thudded with terror for his oldest son. He saw him fall and disappear beneath the water. For Phil, it was the worst sight he had ever seen.

Meanwhile, below the freezing, rolling waves, Josh Harris was struggling to survive. The second he hit the water it felt like his entire body was being stabbed by sharp knives. The shock of the cold water took his breath away just before he felt his head go under. Instinctively he forced his body to not gasp in desperation. He knew if he breathed in the water it would all be over in a matter of seconds.

His arms flailed out and his legs kicked in the direction that he assumed was up. A thrill of fear filled him when he realized he could be swimming down, not up. His mind was so numb it was hard to think properly. His limbs were beginning to fail as the cold quickly took all his body's heat from him. As blackness began to close in around him, he broke the surface.

"There he is!" shouted Dave, "Someone give me a life-ring!"

Murray tossed Dave a life-ring just as Freddy emerged back on deck, fully dressed in his survival suit. He put one foot up on the rail, prepared to jump in if Josh did not make an effort to reach the life-ring.

Josh felt a sudden rush of hope when he saw the ring land a mere two feet away from him. He forced his numb legs to propel him forward a little more. He reached out and latched onto the ring and held on for dear life.

Jake ran his hands through his hair and laughed with relief when he saw his brother grab onto the ring. His breath came out in shaky gasps as he watched the crew haul Josh back onto the boat.

"Is he okay?" shouted Phil, "How's he doing?"

Murray and Dave pulled Josh onto the deck. He collapsed and began to cough, desperate to get air. Freddy rushed over and got behind Josh. He forced him to sit up and began to hit his back to clear his airway.

Josh coughed up a lot of water and began to take deep breaths of fresh air. He closed his eyes, relief 

flooding through his freezing cold body.

"Josh?" asked Jake, hesitantly as he kneeled beside his brother, "Are…are you okay?"

Josh saw the fear and panic reflecting from his little brother's eyes. Suddenly his bitterness dissipated for the moment. He smiled weakly and nodded.

"Yeah bro," he said as he patted Jake on the knee, "I'm okay…just…very cold."

He began to shake almost violently. His teeth were chattering and the water on the tips of his hair were already freezing in place.

"Guys we gotta get him inside," urged Murray, "Help me, would you Dave? Jake you follow."

Dave nodded and helped Murray get Josh to his feet. They put his arms around their shoulders and led him down to the galley. Jake followed them closely, glancing at his brother every second, as if something else might happen if he didn't.

Freddy approached the intercom and pushed the button.

"I think he'll be fine, Phil," he said, reassuringly, "They're taking him below deck right now. We're gonna get him warmed up and let him rest for awhile."

Phil sighed with relief.

"Thank God…"