Chapter 26

Seeing the mayhem in front of him the Princess finally springs into action, only now noticing the wailing sound coming from the wheelhouse and the moans from on top of the stack but not paying attention to any of it. He has three man down on deck on his watch as safety worker, Travis on the stack can wait, that isn't a live or death situation. Keith's panic attack is the least of his worries right now.

Art is scrambling up to his feet on his own in a panic trying to get to his buddies as fast as he can. His only injury a bruised backside and maybe some damage to his pride, but he is sure that his buddies are dead, or dying.

Art makes it to Monte first and he's checking for vital signs. Monte is unconscious but breathing with a steady heartbeat, at first sight he looks in one piece, all his limbs are in place and in a normal angle to the rest of his body and no blood showing but a small cut on his forehead. Heaving a big sigh of relief Art signals to the still panicking Keith that Monte is doing relatively well.

Lenny is sitting in a fetal position with his back to the hydraulics protecting his face and upper body with his hands and arm and his abdomen with his legs. Mumbling nonstop something that sounded like " sorry baby, so sorry" those must have been to his daughter. Will is the first to reach Lenny and he carefully lays his hands on Lenny's shoulders. Even more slowly he is sliding his hands down Lenny's arms, looking for injuries.

"Lenny, are you okay? Tell me where it hurts. Please just tell me where it hurts?"

Lenny slowly, ever so slowly lowers his hands, it is as if everything is going in slow-motion. Seeing the Princess his worried face Lenny lets out a shaky laugh. "Am I dead, are you an angel?" is his first question. "No its me Will or Princess." Is Will's response. And with that Lenny surges forward and hugs the Princess to his chest, amazed but gratified to still be alive and on the boat, while he was sure he died only seconds before, sure he felt his bones crushing and opening his eyes to a vision with dark flowing hair and starlight eyes. But after blinking it is indeed the Princess and Lenny goes for a hug.

So Will is able to signal good news to Keith as well. Keith stops wailing, not believing what he is seeing for a split second, and then starts screaming for everybody to get inside. His panic is gone and he is now in captain mode. Getting to the shore and proper medical attention for everybody, calling it in to the hospital and the coastguard as well, so they have a helicopter and doctor standing by in case of need or for advice. Ordering Dough to wake up Lynn and to get ready with the first aid kit. Keith is in control again now he knows his brother isn't dead.

Crosby and Tinkle Tina in the mean time are trying to get the injured Travis down from the stack without hurting his left hand anymore than it is. Tinkle Tina had a flashback to his own close up and personal meeting with a pot gone wild and he nearly wetted himself again. It also took some serious self control not to faint at the sight of Travis his wobbly fingers in the red leaking glove. But somehow the two manage and they get Travis into the galley without removing the glove, it's a good thing that glove is duck taped onto the sleeve of his rain gear. Neither is brave enough to cut it loose. Crosby only takes time to get Travis seated on a horizontal surface before he makes it outside again to help Will and Art to carry Monte inside.

Lenny is able to walk by himself, even if he is a bit uncertain on his feet. He is moving and ready to hug and love everybody in the world. But the first person he meets is the huggable Lenny. So after accepting his hug Crosby gets Lenny settled on a bench as well before trying to make it outside for the second time. By now Monte is starting to show signs of live. Moaning and trying to get his hand to his head. But Will keeps telling him to keep still and not move too much.

When Will sees Crosby coming outside again, he orders him inside again.

"Crosby go get something like a body board, so we can carry Monte inside without moving him too much, he might have a spine injury." Turning around Crosby starts thinking what he can use as body board.

By now Lynn is at the wheel so Keith and Dough are in the living area taking care of Lenny and Travis.

Crosby going back inside runs into Dough and all he can think of is, body board so he just asks. "What can we use as body board, to put Monte on?" Keith overhears and the three go for a rummage for a long and wide enough piece of plywood. Within two minutes Keith starts yelling, he has pulled to boarding from his bed. That would work.

Crosby makes it outside with his board and together with Will and Art they manage to get Monte on and secured, lifted and inside where Monte is parked on the floor.

Now everybody is save and inside Will can really get to work.

First up is Lenny, he seems okay, shook up but fine, no pain, no blood. Clearheaded and conscious enough to answer questions. So Lenny is put to bed with a waking every two hours order.

Monte is save for now and there is little Will can do until he is conscious. But with the overzealous Keith hovering over his brother Will is sure he will hear as soon as Monte is showing any clear signs of live.