Jess sat on the aeroplane, looking out of the window. She had been in the air for nearly 16 hours. Closing her eyes, she drifted off to sleep. Dreaming about their last night together four months previously and how he refused to say goodbye to her. She was stood in her kitchen washing up. She was trying not to cry as; it was the last night she would see dutchy in six months. "jess, I will be fine. It's only six months." Dylan said passing her a glass. "I know but..." she said as he cut her off with a kiss and pulled her close to him, and wrapped his arms around her. "shhh, let's just enjoy tonight." he said brushing her hair from her shoulder, and placed a kiss on her neck. Picking her up he carried her in to her bedroom. Gently laying her down on the bed, he placed a kiss on her lips before moving down her neck and on to her shoulder. Reaching up jess, brushed her hand over his cheek leaning up to kiss him. He started to undo the buttons on her shirt, and pushed it out of his way. "jess, you're so beautiful," he whispered in to her ear before placing kisses down her neck. Reaching up, jess traced the scar on his arm with her finger. "Stay with me" she said, looking up at him, doe eyed and pleading. "I will be with you forever and always," he said "stay there, I have something for you," he added getting up and walking out of the room. He was gone a matter of minutes, he returned holding a small velvet box. Opening it, he took out the ring with a single aquamarine stone flanked by smaller diamonds that had been nestled inside, turning to jess he said "Jess, I love you more than words can say, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to grow old next to you. Marry me and I will give the world" sliding the ring on to her finger he placed a kiss over the ring. Jess could only nod her head "for once your speechless," Dylan said laughing "ouch," he added after jess hit him. "right, you asked for it," he said gently grabbing jess and pushing her back on the bed pinning her there, placing passionate kisses down her neck and down her body.
Jess woke to the sun streaming through the windows. Dutchy was still asleep next to her, his arms pulling her close to him. the sun reflected of the ring that was on her left ring finger. Raising her hand slightly, she started to admire the ring. "not having second thoughts," a voice brought her back. "never," she said pushing herself up on her elbow and placing a kiss on to his lips. "what time do you have to be at the ship?" she asked putting her head back on to his chest, her fingers tracing patterns in the hair. "1200hrs," he replied grabbing her wrists and gently rolling on top of her.
Walking to the quay side, jess wrapped her arms around Dylan's waist and lent in to him as they walked towards the ship. As they reached the point where they were to be parted, jess stood on her tiptoes and kissed him first softly then with more force she said her goodbyes to him before turning to go and stand with the rest of the ship's crews loved ones. As the ship pulled out of the naval base aided by a couple of the smaller boats in the fleet jess looked up to the heavens and sent a silent prayer to keep dutchy safe.
Jess woke up as an air stewardess tapped her on her arm. "excuse me ma'am, we are about descending in to Sydney, could you put your seatbelt on and return the seat to the upright position," jess sat up and stretched her arms, her eyes catching a glimmer of her ring. bringing it up to her lips she placed a kiss on to it, closed her eyes and whispered "hold on, I'm coming,"
getting of the plane, jess walked through the border and customs as quickly as she could and made her way out of the airport. the late afternoon sun low in the sky. Pulling her phone out of her bag she opened her phone book and scrolled down to Kates name and pressed the call Button. it rang out twice before she answered. "jess, where are you?"
"Sydney, i just got off the plane. Which hospital is he in?" jess answered
"he's at the Base hospital in Cairns," kate replied " we are taking it in turns to sit with him. He is holding on," she added
jess said goodbye and made her way back in to the airport and to one of the many sales desks and got a flight to cairns. Checking in to the flight she made her way to the domestic departures and waited.
Arriving in carnes, jess hailed a taxi and asked to be taken straight to the hospital. The taxi had barely stopped as she thrust a handful of notes to the driver, grabbed her case out of the back and ran to the hospital. As she made it through the door, she saw the doctor speak to Kate and the rest of the crew. walking towards them she spoke "Is he...?" she had barley finished when Kate turned and said "Jess, im so sorry," rushing forward to catch jess as she crumpled in to a heap sobbing her "please no, i have to see him," she said pushing Kate away from her and ran down the corridor. stopping outside a room she saw the medical staff removing the tubes and wires from dutchy's body and pull the sheet up and over his head. Then everything turned black.