Into My Heart

By: Izabel

Chapter 1: Hero

*~*~*~*

Kekoa eyed the sand cautiously. Her brown eyes scanned the area. Zero action was leaving her with a restless feeling in her stomach. She looked over at Sarah's tower and waved her can in the air. Sarah replied back with a similar gesture. A loud noise from the water caught her attention.

She climbed to her feet, shielding her eyes from the mid-day sun. A group of teenagers, probably cutting, were splashing around in the water. She couldn't tell if they were playing or distress. She looked over at Sarah to see if she was worried, but Sarah was helping an elderly couple with their problem.

Kekoa turned back to water. Wait. There had been six kids, now there were five. Her breath caught in her throat as she realized one was gone. She grabbed her rescue can and raced across the sand. Crashing into the water, she felt the pull of the current. It was a lot stronger than yesterday, so strong, in fact, she was struggling. She grabbed the nearest boy who grabbed her desperately. "Where's your friend?" she yelled.

"Help me!" he screamed, the other four were trying to get to her. Removing the strap, she pushed the can into his arms. "Wait here!"

She dove under the water; sand swirled into her vision. Finally, as she was running out of air, she spotted a figure lying on the bottom. Adrenaline kicking in, she forced her way to the bottom. She retrieved the girl and fought her way to the surface.

Drawing in a huge breath, she turned and saw Sarah taking in a panicked girl.

"Where's back up?" she yelled above the other four people screaming. Two clung to her rescue can, the other two were slipping below the surface and bobbing back up every few seconds. No sign of help was around.

"There was an explosion on the docks, everyone's there. They'll try and get here soon," Sarah gasped.

Kekoa groaned inwardly. There was no way they could pull this off. She glanced down at the girl in her arms. With a stab of fear, she noticed she wasn't breathing. Sarah and Kekoa reached the beach together. Sarah deposited her victim on the sand and ran back out for another. Kekoa began CPR. As she did the compressions she saw Sarah being mobbed by the four kids. She wanted to scream in frustration.

She pressed her lips together, silently counting to fifteen. She heard a shout as Sarah was pulled under.

Please, God… she prayed, breathing into the girl's mouth.

She looked up as someone ran past. A blur of dirty blond hair and a bikini. The woman ran to the water and swam purposefully towards the distressed swimmers. The girl beneath Kekoa coughed and sputtered. She blinked rapidly.

"I'll be right back!" Kekoa called behind her, already off her feet and going towards the water. She passed Sarah on her way out, and saw the other girl in the water towing in a victim. She instantly knew who the girl was.

Max Stiler. Max had left two years ago, and now she was back. She was Kekoa's childhood best friend, and the two were close right up until she left. No time for catching up now.

Kekoa grabbed a victim and began to swim back. She noted Jason and JD were in the water as well, ready to get the remaining two. Once everyone was on shore, Kekoa helped load the girl who she found at the bottom of the ocean, onto the ambulance. JD, Jason, and Sarah all stood behind her.

"That was too close," she said aloud without turning around.

"We're so short lately. With five quitting last week and two trainees dropping out yesterday, we're so tight," Sarah replied. "But thanks to—What's your name?"

Kekoa turned and saw Jason, JD, and Sarah looking expectantly at Max who had now changed into a pair of short denim shorts.

Max grinned at Kekoa. "I leave for two years and you get into trouble the minute I show up."

"Trouble follows you," Kekoa said smiling back.

"You two know each other?" JD guessed.

"Max Stiler, meet JD Darius, Jason Ioane, and Sarah Murphy," Kekoa introduced. "Max and I go way back."

"Yeah, ever since first grade when Dominic Ruttler stole your kickball," Max supplied.

"And you knocked him over and made him cry until he gave it back," Kekoa finished, laughing. "When did you get in?"

"This morning, actually," Max replied. She offered a limp smile. "Apparently just in time, too."

Kekoa smiled wryly.

"I better get back to my water," Sarah replied. "Nice meeting you, Max."

Max smiled warmly. "Ditto." She turned to Jason and JD, "I guess I should leave you guys to your work."

"Come over for dinner tonight. I know my mother would love to see you." Kekoa offered, her face looking hopeful.

"Actually, I have a lot of unpacking to do. Can I take a raincheck?" Max asked.

A shout came from a mother further down the beach. Her child, about four, was waving his hand around; a small crab held it fast.

Kekoa groaned. "I better go…Call me?"

"OK!" Max yelled as Kekoa ran across the sand. She turned to both guys and offered a dazzling smile. Max said as she eyed Jason. "Are you always this quiet?"

Jason looked startled. He gave her a weird smile. "We better get back to headquarters, our shift is almost up," he said to JD. He looked into Max's eyes. "Can we give you a lift somewhere?"

Max smiled. "Do you mind?"

Jason's brown eyes sparkled in the light. "Not at all. We just have to drop off the truck first."

"Cool," Max said. She looked back at Kekoa who was holding the little boy's hand. Shaking her head, she followed JD and Jason to the truck. She sat between them on the way across the sand. Once they reached Baywatch Headquarters, Jason and JD handed the keys to two new people who jumped in and took off.

"Um, we have to change first," Jason said to Max. "Are you in a hurry?"

"Nope," Max said. She looked out at the water. "In fact, I think I'll go down to the shore. Just yell when you're ready."

"OK," Jason agreed, heading off with JD. He watched her retreat to the shore where she waved to a small child playing in the sand.

JD hit his side. "Someone's got a crush."

Jason snorted. "I just met her."

"Since when has that stopped you?" JD laughed, ducking into the locker room before Jason could respond. Jason changed quickly and grabbed his bag. "See you later, man," he called to JD. JD nodded in response.

Jason stepped outside and looked around for Max. He noticed her with two men. Both were trying to win her attention and Max just laughed. Jason felt something twist in his stomach as he watched the threesome.

He could see why they were attracted to her. She was beautiful. Dirty blond hair that fell in loose waves to her shoulders, deep blue eyes, and the best body he'd seen on a girl in a long time. He began to walk across the sand to her. She spotted him and her eyes lit up. She excused herself and ran at him, full force.

He paused, shocked by her boldness. She threw herself into his arms and whispered, "Kiss me."

Needing no other urging, he pressed his mouth against hers. He pulled her tighter to get a better grip and her legs tightened around his torso. She pulled away and he set her down. She looked into his eyes.

"Are those two guys gone?" she asked.

He casually looked behind her. The two guys were hitting on another girl. "Yeah."

Max sighed. "Sorry about that. They kept hitting on me, so I said I was waiting for my boyfriend. I thought they'd leave, but they hung around."

Jason nodded. "OK." He shook his head, still a bit dazed. "Ready to go?"

Max laughed. "More than you'll ever know." As they began to walk back, Max slid her hand into Jason's. He looked at her with surprise.

"In case they look over," she assured him. When they got to the Jeep, Jason held open her door and she jumped in. He slid behind the wheel and turned on the ignition.

"Ugh!" Max cried. "What is it with guys? The more muscles, the less brains?" She looked over Jason. "Well, I guess you're an exception."

Jason felt himself begin to blush. He never felt this weird around women. He was usually the confident one, not the one trying to stop blushing. The rest of the way to Max's apartment was her giving directions and their casual chatter. Jason stopped at her building.

"Thanks for the ride, Jason," she said getting out. "I really appreciate it."

"Anytime," he replied, waving to her. He watched her go through the double doors to the apartment and disappear. He went to put his jeep in reverse and noticed her sunglasses on the seat. Putting the jeep back into park, he got out. He opened the doors to see Max with a bewildered expression on her face, in front of a pile of boxes.

"Max?" he said softly. She turned and gave him a strained smile.

"What's up?" she asked.

"You left your sunglasses," he said, holding them out. She rolled her eyes and took them.

"Thanks," she replied. She turned back to the boxes and a frown creased her forehead.

"Problem?" he wondered.

Max glanced at him, then apprehensively at the mound of cardboard. "The movers were early, and they left all my stuff here. So now I get to haul it upstairs."

"Which floor?" he asked letting out a long breath. He'd already made up his mind to help her carry all this upstairs.

She looked at him sheepishly. "The top level. I'm in Penthouse 3."

Jason laughed. He grabbed a box. "So let's go."