My Life Closed Twice
Chapter 33: Swimming with the Fishes
Disclaimer: General Hospital and all its characters belong to ABC, Disney, etc.
Author's Notes: Thanks to my faithful beta reader. Please read and review!
I hit the water hard. The shock and pain caused the world to go dark for a second.
Come on Kristina. Don't let Mata Hari win.
I kicked out with my legs. With my hands tied they weren't much use against the current. It seemed to take eternity to reach the surface. I came up sputtering and gasping for air. I desperately tried to get more air then water in my lungs before going under again. I got the barest gulp of air before gravity dragged me under the surface of the water again.
I repeated this process two more times. Each time reaching the surface became harder. Each time the amount of oxygen I got was smaller. Each time I had to fight the pull of black water calling me to just rest.
As I was going under for the third time, someone grabbed me. I only knew of one other person in the water with me. Talk about choosing between the devil and the deep blue sea. I struggled. I'm sure I looked just like a fish struggling on a hook.
Then I heard a voice talking to me. "Kristina calm down. I've got you. You're safe, it's all right Kristina you're safe."
Junior! Relief shot through me. I could have kissed him right there and then. I stopped struggling.
Junior kept talking as he readjusted his hold on me. "That's right. Everything is going to be fine. We are just going to head over to that boat. You're safe." The crazy sea-sawing light from the helicopter steadied and made it easier to see.
Once Junior was satisfied that he had a good grip on me he started making his way over to a small boat. Junior kept talking the entire time. "Come on, just a little farther and then we'll get you out of this cold water."
We finally got to the side of a small motorboat. A hand reached over the side and grabbed my arm. I was hauled over the side and into the bottom of the boat. Once there I curled up on my side and began coughing up seawater as Junior was hauled in.
"Wrap her in this. We don't want her going into shock," Mr. Morgan said. I didn't even wonder what he was doing there as Junior wrapped a blanket around me.
"I need a something to cut these ropes," Junior said. Mr. Morgan passed Junior a pocketknife. Junior used it to free my hands.
I was so cold. I clutched the blanket around me with shaking fingers.
The motor started. "What about the other person?" Junior asked
"Helena," I said through chattering teeth. I saw Junior shoot Mr. Morgan a concerned look.
"Call ahead for an ambulance," was Mr. Morgan's only response.
Helena was still out there. At least she is down here not still up on the cliff with Mom. "Mom!" Why wasn't that louder?
Junior didn't hear me. He was talking into his cell phone. I could here him answering the same questions I had answered for Michael. I tried to sit up. Junior placed a restraining hand on my shoulder. "Mom," I said again.
"Just get an ambulance to the pier," Junior barked before hanging up. "Lie still, we'll be at the dock soon."
He didn't understand. "Is Mom OK?" I tried again.
Understanding dawned in Junior's eyes. He looked up toward the end of the boat where Mr. Morgan was running the engine.
"We have Kristina and are heading to the dock. Is everyone else all right?" Mr. Morgan was saying. Who was he talking to? It was just Junior, he, and I in the boat. We all knew where I was. Then I heard a murmured response with the distinct accompaniment of electronic static. He must have a walkie-talkie.
"They are all fine. They are going to meet us at the dock," Mr. Morgan reported.
I wasn't entirely sure they would tell me even if she were hurt. Still I let myself believe it was the truth and relax again. "Everyone's safe. You just lie there and rest," Junior said. He kept one hand on my shoulder and brushed my hair out of my face with the other.
When we reached the dock two men helped Mr. Morgan and Junior lift me out of the boat and onto the dock. I didn't have the strength to protest. Junior stayed right by me while Mr. Morgan held a hushed conversation with the two men. I think I may have fallen asleep because suddenly there were paramedics all around me. They loaded me on a gurney and into a waiting ambulance.
Wait a minute. I didn't see Mom anywhere. I didn't want to go anywhere without her. "Mom," I called out.
Junior moved into my sight. "Can we wait a minute? Her mother is coming over on a launch. I'm sure she will be here any minute."
"She can follow us," the paramedic told him. "We are backed up tonight. We can't just wait around."
"Fine, but I am going with you," Junior said. "Jason, make sure Alexis knows that Kristina is fine and where we are," he called over his shoulder. Then he climbed in next to me.
I had the weirdest feeling of not quite déjà vu. Is this what it had been like for Michael? Lying there starring at the ceiling as people passed equipment over you. Straining to hear what the person sitting next to you is saying over the dull roar in your ears. Hoping that the reassurances being given were the truth.
I was nowhere near as injured as Michael had been. My chest was sore from coughing up water and the parts of me that had hit the water first ached. Still I felt small and tired. I wanted Mom and I wanted to be safe at home.
We arrived at the hospital and the real chaos began. People and objects were moving in and out of my line of vision at a rapid pace. Orders and questions were being barked. Responses were given in no order that I could discern. All the monitors were going off at once. Most of this didn't seem to be centered on me, but around me. The only stable thing amidst the confusion was Junior.
He was still by my head. Even if I couldn't always see him, he somehow managed to keep a hand on my shoulder. Who knew Junior could be reliable in a crisis?
Just as I thought things were beginning to calm down the door to the exam room burst open. Mom ran straight to my bedside. "Are you all right?" she asked as she grabbed my hand.
I nodded my head. "You're all right?" I returned.
She gave me a shaky smile. "I think we are both going to be fine." She leaned down and placed a kiss on my forehead.
Mom was fine. I could see Uncle Stephan over her shoulder standing in the doorway. I gave him a smile before turning my gaze back to Mom.
"Why don't you get some rest? I'll be right here," Mom said. So like the dutiful daughter I was, I went to sleep.
Chapter 33: Swimming with the Fishes
Disclaimer: General Hospital and all its characters belong to ABC, Disney, etc.
Author's Notes: Thanks to my faithful beta reader. Please read and review!
I hit the water hard. The shock and pain caused the world to go dark for a second.
Come on Kristina. Don't let Mata Hari win.
I kicked out with my legs. With my hands tied they weren't much use against the current. It seemed to take eternity to reach the surface. I came up sputtering and gasping for air. I desperately tried to get more air then water in my lungs before going under again. I got the barest gulp of air before gravity dragged me under the surface of the water again.
I repeated this process two more times. Each time reaching the surface became harder. Each time the amount of oxygen I got was smaller. Each time I had to fight the pull of black water calling me to just rest.
As I was going under for the third time, someone grabbed me. I only knew of one other person in the water with me. Talk about choosing between the devil and the deep blue sea. I struggled. I'm sure I looked just like a fish struggling on a hook.
Then I heard a voice talking to me. "Kristina calm down. I've got you. You're safe, it's all right Kristina you're safe."
Junior! Relief shot through me. I could have kissed him right there and then. I stopped struggling.
Junior kept talking as he readjusted his hold on me. "That's right. Everything is going to be fine. We are just going to head over to that boat. You're safe." The crazy sea-sawing light from the helicopter steadied and made it easier to see.
Once Junior was satisfied that he had a good grip on me he started making his way over to a small boat. Junior kept talking the entire time. "Come on, just a little farther and then we'll get you out of this cold water."
We finally got to the side of a small motorboat. A hand reached over the side and grabbed my arm. I was hauled over the side and into the bottom of the boat. Once there I curled up on my side and began coughing up seawater as Junior was hauled in.
"Wrap her in this. We don't want her going into shock," Mr. Morgan said. I didn't even wonder what he was doing there as Junior wrapped a blanket around me.
"I need a something to cut these ropes," Junior said. Mr. Morgan passed Junior a pocketknife. Junior used it to free my hands.
I was so cold. I clutched the blanket around me with shaking fingers.
The motor started. "What about the other person?" Junior asked
"Helena," I said through chattering teeth. I saw Junior shoot Mr. Morgan a concerned look.
"Call ahead for an ambulance," was Mr. Morgan's only response.
Helena was still out there. At least she is down here not still up on the cliff with Mom. "Mom!" Why wasn't that louder?
Junior didn't hear me. He was talking into his cell phone. I could here him answering the same questions I had answered for Michael. I tried to sit up. Junior placed a restraining hand on my shoulder. "Mom," I said again.
"Just get an ambulance to the pier," Junior barked before hanging up. "Lie still, we'll be at the dock soon."
He didn't understand. "Is Mom OK?" I tried again.
Understanding dawned in Junior's eyes. He looked up toward the end of the boat where Mr. Morgan was running the engine.
"We have Kristina and are heading to the dock. Is everyone else all right?" Mr. Morgan was saying. Who was he talking to? It was just Junior, he, and I in the boat. We all knew where I was. Then I heard a murmured response with the distinct accompaniment of electronic static. He must have a walkie-talkie.
"They are all fine. They are going to meet us at the dock," Mr. Morgan reported.
I wasn't entirely sure they would tell me even if she were hurt. Still I let myself believe it was the truth and relax again. "Everyone's safe. You just lie there and rest," Junior said. He kept one hand on my shoulder and brushed my hair out of my face with the other.
When we reached the dock two men helped Mr. Morgan and Junior lift me out of the boat and onto the dock. I didn't have the strength to protest. Junior stayed right by me while Mr. Morgan held a hushed conversation with the two men. I think I may have fallen asleep because suddenly there were paramedics all around me. They loaded me on a gurney and into a waiting ambulance.
Wait a minute. I didn't see Mom anywhere. I didn't want to go anywhere without her. "Mom," I called out.
Junior moved into my sight. "Can we wait a minute? Her mother is coming over on a launch. I'm sure she will be here any minute."
"She can follow us," the paramedic told him. "We are backed up tonight. We can't just wait around."
"Fine, but I am going with you," Junior said. "Jason, make sure Alexis knows that Kristina is fine and where we are," he called over his shoulder. Then he climbed in next to me.
I had the weirdest feeling of not quite déjà vu. Is this what it had been like for Michael? Lying there starring at the ceiling as people passed equipment over you. Straining to hear what the person sitting next to you is saying over the dull roar in your ears. Hoping that the reassurances being given were the truth.
I was nowhere near as injured as Michael had been. My chest was sore from coughing up water and the parts of me that had hit the water first ached. Still I felt small and tired. I wanted Mom and I wanted to be safe at home.
We arrived at the hospital and the real chaos began. People and objects were moving in and out of my line of vision at a rapid pace. Orders and questions were being barked. Responses were given in no order that I could discern. All the monitors were going off at once. Most of this didn't seem to be centered on me, but around me. The only stable thing amidst the confusion was Junior.
He was still by my head. Even if I couldn't always see him, he somehow managed to keep a hand on my shoulder. Who knew Junior could be reliable in a crisis?
Just as I thought things were beginning to calm down the door to the exam room burst open. Mom ran straight to my bedside. "Are you all right?" she asked as she grabbed my hand.
I nodded my head. "You're all right?" I returned.
She gave me a shaky smile. "I think we are both going to be fine." She leaned down and placed a kiss on my forehead.
Mom was fine. I could see Uncle Stephan over her shoulder standing in the doorway. I gave him a smile before turning my gaze back to Mom.
"Why don't you get some rest? I'll be right here," Mom said. So like the dutiful daughter I was, I went to sleep.