Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Chapter 26
It took them two more days to reach Darwin because Finn, still not used to move that much, needed to pause a lot although Dani and Elliott more or less carried him and the female selkie had super strength. Finally, the three friends could see land and lights, and the water got shallower. "We did it, guys!", Finn said excitedly when he dragged himself to the shore of a deserted beach. He high-fived with the seals' flippers and the two selkies barked happily before they changed into their human forms. "Good job, Dani! I don't know what we would've done without your powers", Elliott praised his companion. Dani grinned. "It was teamwork, Starchild. We are a great team", she said and put her arm around Starchild's shoulders. Finn balled his fists and dried off his tail. After he changed, he got up, but he swayed on his feet. Quickly, Elliott and Dani both put a hand around his waist, supporting him. "You know, I could carry Finn with my pinky finger only", Dani commented. The guys laughed. "That would be a little bit suspicious. How could we explain that a tiny blonde can carry a giant?", Elliott chuckled. Dani's eyes narrowed. "Who are you calling tiny?! I'm five foot three!", she pouted. Finn defensively lifted his hands. "Okay, okay, you are not tiny. Are you happy now?", he asked jokingly. Dani nodded, contented. "Very."
On their way to the next hospital, they made up a story to explain the whole thing. According to their version, Finn had been washed ashore on an island and bumped his head. Dani and Elliott, who were travelling around with their boat, found him, took care of him and brought him to the next coast. They didn't mention that he was in a coma for almost two years because they still didn't know how Finn could survive. Although the doctors looked sceptic, they seemed to buy the story. Dani and Elliott nervously waited in the waiting room while the doctors examined Finn. "Shouldn't we call Rachel and Kurt or something?", Dani thought out loud. Elliott grimaced. "Do you know their phone numbers?", he asked her. Dani shook her head. She frowned. "Didn't those guys on the fishing boat mention that their friend Mercedes Jones was in Australia right now?", she remembered. The male selkie nodded. "Dani, you are a genius. But how do we get to Sydney with no money?", he wondered. Dani smirked and playfully smacked his shoulder. "We are selkies, remember?" Elliott rubbed his shoulder and grimaced. "Ow."
Mercedes sighed contentedly while she was walking down the private beach of her hotel. The climate in Sydney was milder than in Lima or New York and the beaches were gorgeous. Maybe she would stay there forever… She put off her jeans-shorts and her cardigan, went straight into the waves of the sea and submerged. She needed that time out after those hectic rehearsals with her back up singers and the dance routine. Swimming around helped her calm down, and the scenery underwater was so much better than the one in the lake of Lima. She had a lot of time now, that Beyoncé was rehearsing, maybe she could swim to the Great Barrier Reef everyone was talking about? Thanks to her tail, she was a fast swimmer; she could be there in no time.
When Mercedes arrived at her destination, all she could do was stare. The Reef was stunning, and even more beautiful than on the pictures. Thousands of schools of fish which were more colorful than a rainbow where swimming around aimlessly, bright corals could be seen everywhere, clownfish which were bright orange were gaping at her and there were underwater plants she had never seen before in her life. Some playful dolphins were swimming to her direction, nudging her amicably. The mermaid smiled. Brittany would have loved them. Suddenly, Mercedes saw something familiar. Something blue disappearing between some corals. Was that…the end of a tailfin? Another merperson? Gwen had explained to the gleeks that merpeople were extremely rare. Mercedes swam over to where the tailfin had disappeared. The other merperson turned around, and grinned. -Surprise!-, Kurt said. -Kurt?-,Mercedes asked, surprised, and hugged him. -I really wanted to see the Great Barrier Reef and check if it was really that exciting!-, Kurt said, still grinning. -Sooo…you are here to see that Reef and not your bestest friend in the world?-, Mercedes asked incredulously. Kurt smiled broadly. -Someone doesn't understand jokes. But to be honest, I'm here because of Rachel- Mercedes looked around. -Is Rachel also here? I can't see her-, she wondered. Kurt grimaced. -No, she stayed at her hotel room because she is still jetlagged. I didn't want to let her fly by herself, so I came with her.- he answered.
-Flashback-
"Australia? Are you nuts?", Kurt said to Rachel while she was busy packing her suitcase. "I can't explain it to you, but I feel like I need to be there, now. Besides, the school is closed anyway because of the holidays", she answered quickly. Kurt opened his mouth, but Rachel raised her finger, cutting him off. "Don't even try to talk me out of this. I am 21 years old and I am a grown-up woman, I can do whatever I want to", she said, sullen. Kurt incredulously watched her while she threw some more clothes into her bags. "Let me guess: It has something to do with Finn, right?", he asked carefully. Rachel stopped in her tracks. "I really don't know", she admitted and sat down on her bed. "But I think it's highly probable. I need to find out whether my intuition is right or not. I don't want to regret it one day…", she sighed. Kurt frowned. He knew how stubborn Rachel could be if she wanted something. "So you want to leave tomorrow?", he asked. Rachel nodded. "I even booked my ticket and a hotel in Sydney, so there is no turning back. Besides, Mercedes is also there because of her tour. Maybe I could check on her." Kurt sighed. "Well, let's head to the Outback, then", he said, defeated. Rachel cocked her eyebrow. "We? That's not necessary, Kurt. I don't need a babysitter", she pouted. "Yes, I know, but you are one of my best friends, I would never forgive myself if something happened to you. This way, I can also surprise Mercedes, it had been a while since she left. And Blaine also wants some bro time with Sam and the guys, he won't even notice I'm gone", Kurt said. Rachel sighed deeply and threw her hands up. "Fine, I'm giving up!" Kurt excitedly jumped to his feet. "Well, then, I have to start packing, prepare some fabulous, Australian looking outfits. This is so exciting!", he gushed. Rachel smiled to herself. Actually, a long journey like that without company would've been kind of boring. She was somewhat glad Kurt decided to join her.
-End of Flashback-
Mercedes quirked her eyebrows. -We need to keep an eye on her, she had been acting weird since Finn's disappearance-, she said. Kurt nodded. -Yes, you are right. She claimed that she had been talking to Finn in her dreams and I think that her sudden interest in Australia has something to do with Finn as well…-, he thought, worried. Mercedes frowned. -I think we should check on her-, she suggested. The two friends were about to turn around and leave when they heard some barking. A seal was swimming to their direction, looking excited. But not just any seal. Kurt's eyes widened. -Elliott?-, he said, stunned. Mercedes turned to the selkie. -Wait, Elliott? As in Elliott "Starchild" Gilbert? That guy who got beaten up back then?-, she said. Kurt nodded. -What a coincidence!-, he said. Elliott swam over to Kurt and nudged him towards the surface. -Okay, okay, I don't know why you are so excited!-, he laughed. -Ermm, Kurt? He can't hear us…-, Mercedes reminded him. -Oh, I forgot that-, Kurt grimaced. After the three of them surfaced, Elliott changed back into his human form. "Guys, I really need to tell you something!", Elliott said breathlessly. "Yes, and I'm fine too, thank you for asking, Elliott", Kurt answered sarcastically. Mercedes just laughed. "Sorry, man, but that is really, really important. Will you just listen, please?", Elliott pleaded. The other two nodded obediently. The selkie sighed contentedly. "Thank you. Well, a lot of stuff happened when Dani and I left. We swam around the globe and so on, but some weeks ago, we stumbled over someone. Guess who it was!", he said excitedly. Kurt rolled his eyes. "Elliott, you know how much I hate guessing. Just spit it out, already!", he whined. Elliott took a deep breath. "We found Finn, your brother. He is alive and he is fine, the doctors confirmed that when we brought him to the next hospital. He will stay there for a few days, though. At the moment, Dani is with him", Elliott broke the news to them. Kurt's and Mercedes' eyes widened. "Finn is…alive?", Kurt gasped. "Oh my gosh!", Mercedes screamed excitedly and hugged Kurt. After the both of them calmed down a bit, Kurt frowned. "So Rachel was right, and we didn't believe her! We really owe her an apology", he mumbled. "But where had he been all the years?", Mercedes asked. "Dani and I found him on the bottom of the sea in the middle of the Indian ocean. He was apparently comatose for one year and eight months", the male selkie explained. Kurt nodded slowly. That would explain why he didn't reappear. Mercedes tugged their arms. "And what are we waiting for? We need to tell Rachel and then come over to him! Where is he?", she said excitedly. "Dani and I brought him to the closest coast we could find. He is in the hospital of Darwin now", Elliott explained. "Off we go!", she said and dove back in, her fin was splashing on the surface. Kurt followed suit. The selkie laughed. "Someone's excited!"
A/N: Yay, Elliott found them! Good job, Starchild...
