Chapter 6

In another part of the woods...

"JERRY!"

Danger Mouse's screams alerted Penfold, Kim and Belinda, who had ventured into the woods after half-an-hours trekking around the outside. They had found the Mark III still in the clearing, thankfully untouched and had settled inside when they heard DM's cries.

"It's DM! He's found Jerry!" cried Belinda.

"Let's go and get them!" said Kim, in the driver's seat. She had had a few driving lessons in the Mark III, and she knew the basics. She only hoped Belinda would be able to take it.

"Hang on!" she barked, as everyone put their seatbelts on. "This is going to be bumpy!"

She started the car and without warning, the Mark III shot off into the air.

*

Where is he?

DM did his best to keep his head above the water. He kicked as fast as his legs would allow.

"H-help! Ankle - my ankle! Can't swim!"

DM strained his eye in the water and managed to spot Jerry's head, barely bobbing above the water. Taking a deep breath, he ducked his head down and started to swim frantically towards him.

"Hang on!" he choked.

"Can't - got to - " Jerry was getting closer to the weir.

"Swim here! Jerry, swim towards me!" cried DM. "Get away from the weir!"

"Current's too strong!" yelled Jerry.

He was right; water washed into DM's mouth and he continuously had to spit it out. He was a good swimmer, but now even he had to admit that there was a good chance that both he and Jerry would drown.

Just like Damien...

NO! Not now! Don't think about that night! Keep going!

DM tried to swim further towards Jerry and held one arm throguh the churning waters.

"Grab my - NO!" His voice rose to an octave as an exhausted Jerry ceased his struggling. He floated to the edge and as DM watched in horror, Jerry was washed over the weir, into the lake. DM caught a glimpse of his brown hair as he vanished into the current.

And then - DM was alone.

*

Penfold, Kim and Belinda climbed out of the Mark III as they landed on the bank next to the lake.

"I know I heard him around here", said Kim. "Don't go to near the edge, Penfold", she added to the hamster who had ventured to the edge and was gazing into the water.

"Alright, sor - " Penfold stopped in midsentence as he glanced up the lake.

"KIM!" he cried. "Look!"

Kim ran to his side and peeked down the river. She gave a scream as she saw her brother being washed over into the lake.

"Oh, my gosh", she hissed.

"What is it? What's wrong?" asked Belinda.

Kim turned to her, as her sister in law came to the side. Her face paled as she saw her husband out in the lak, disappearing beneath the water.

"JERRY!" she shrieked, and before she could do anything, Kim grabbed her to try and restrain her.

"No - Jerry - Jerry!" Kim put her arms around Belinda, and the woman sobbed into her shoulder.

Kim looked at Penfold over Belinda's head and Penfold saw tears flowing out of her eyes. He turned away to watch the lake, praying for Jerry to be OK. But what he saw next made him yell.

"DM!" He turned to Kim and Belinda.

"DM! He's been washed over the weir too! He's gone into the lake!"

*

DM knew he had to get after Jerry. There was still a chance he was OK. A very slim one, but a chance none the less.

DM swam as fast as he could towards the weir. As he got closer, the water swept him up even more and DM's stomach churned as the water carried him towards the weir and over the side.

DM was forced under the water by the impact. He shut his eyes tight as his body was worried to and fro. And on top of that, he had to hold his breath.

Last time I couldn't...last time, I couldn't breathe...and I couldn't save...

CUT IT OUT!

Suddenly, DM's body was brought to the surface as he was swept away from the weir's current. His face dripping, he looked around fervishly for Jerry.

Oh no, oh no, oh no...

Suddenly, he saw Jerry's jacket nearby. He gasped and swam over, picking it up out of the water. Jerry wasn't in it.

It can't be...no...he can't have...he hasn't...

Unless he was...

DM took a deep breath and dipped down back under the water.

Underneath, it was dirty and DM could hardly see anything. The clammy feeling scared him, and he longed to go back up into the air. But he couldn't. He had to find...

JERRY!

There he was, his body still. He had obviously been knocked out. He wasn't moving at all.

DM immediately swam down after him. But as he got nearer, he started to slow down.

Jerry looked so much like...like...

Like Damien. The same helpless look, hair floating above his head in the water; still, and not moving.

DM froze. He wasn't looking at Jerry anymore. He was looking at his brother - the final moments of his life, all over again. He suddenly felt smaller, and even more afraid - as if he were once again thirteen and trying in vain to save Damien's life.

Suddenly, DM was aware of his air running out. He wanted to make for the surface, but something stopped him.

Don't give up, boy.

DM heard gentle voices in his head.

Keep going. Don't stop.

DM gripped his hands through the water and started to swim again. By now, he couldn't breathe.

Keep going, don't stop, keep going, don't stop, keep going, don't stop...

He reached out with a hand and it just missed Jerry's own. DM pushed himself that extra bit further, determined to reach him.

He grabbed Jerry's hand and pulled him up. He wrapped both his arms around him and then realised he was feeling dizzy. His lungs were out of air - he had to surface quick.

DM kicked with all his might and the surface came closer. Clinging onto Jerry, DM fiercely swam upwards, all the time unable to breathe, and all the time thinking that he and Jerry were going to either live or die.

Suddenly, his head broke the surface and DM gasped in the air. He brought Jerry up and opened his mouth. Water dribbled out down Jerry's chin.

They were safe.

*

"HE'S UP!" shrieked Penfold. "He's got Jerry!"

"Oh!" gasped Belinda, turning around, tears streaming down her face. "Really?"

"YES!" Penfold stood up. He started jumping up and down.

"DANGER MOUSE! DM!"

The mouse turned and saw them. He smiled in relief. He put Jerry's arm around his shoulder and started to swim towards them.

"It's alright, Jerry", he hissed as he swam along. "We're going to get you out of here".

"He saved him", whispered Kim, as she stood by Penfold. "He actually did it".

"Of course he did", grinned Penfold. "He can do anything".

"But - how did he do it? Remember - Damien?" said Kim. Penfold gasped and put a hand to his mouth.

"You mean he might have panicked? Because of what happened to his brother?"

Kim nodded.

DM stood up with Jerry in a lifeguard hold as he reached the shallow edge of the lake. Kim jumped in, and came to meet him.

"Hi", said DM breathlessly. "Help me, will you?"

"Of course". Kim put an arm around her brother's shoulder and helped DM get him onto the bank.

"Oh, DM!" cried Penfold, as he made a run for his friend. "I was so afraid!"

"Easy, easy", said DM, as Penfold leapt and threw his arms around his neck. Kim took her brother and lay him on the ground. She frowned at his still form, and then held an ear to his mouth.

"DM", sobbed Belinda, going over to him. "Thankyou. You were so courageous - "

"DM!" cried Kim, looking up. "Come over here a minute".

DM frowned and kneeled down next to Jerry.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't think he's breathing!"

"What? Oh, good grief!" DM held his own ear to Jerry's mouth.

"What's wrong?" Belinda turned around worriedly.

"Kim, stand back. You're right, he's not...".

DM put Jerry's head to the side, put both his hands to his chest, and started to pump.

"One...two...three...one...two...three..."

Kim, Penfold and Belinda stood back, Belinda's eye filling with panic.

"He'll do it", said Kim, trying to reassure them both. "He's come this far - he can still save Jerry".

I hope, she added. If he dies, I'll never forgive myself. It was me who sent him back into the woods, after all.

Suddenly, there was a coughing sound. And Jerry threw up a load of river- water. DM stood back a bit, allowing him to breathe.

"Jerry!" cried Belinda. She and Kim ran to his side. "Oh, Jerry!"

"Hey - what happened?" Jerry sat up wobbily.

"DM saved your life". His sister gave him a nudge. "I think a thankyou might be in order".

Jerry looked up at the mouse, who smiled a bit.

"DM - you - saved me?"

"I couldn't let you drown", replied DM.

"Well - thanks". Jerry nodded a little, embarrassed, and then turned to his sister.

"Sorry, sis", he whispered.

"That's OK", she said. Then she turned to DM and stood up next to him.

"DM", she said, throwing her arms around him. "You're a good man".

"I'll always be here", said DM. "You know that".

Kim smiled. "You really are one in a million, you know that?"

"Well, it - never crossed my mind before..." smiled DM.

Suddenly, Kim kissed him on the cheek. DM was shocked and before he could say anything, Kim had turned away, back to her family.

Belinda gave her husband yet another hug.

"I don't know what I would have done if you - "

"It's alright, love", said Jerry. He wrapped his arms around his wife, glad that he was still here to do it. "I'm never leaving you, not ever. I'll be here for always for you".

"Jerry, you adorable - " began Belinda. But suddenly, she doubled over.

"Belinda! What's wrong?" asked Jerry, his eyes immediately registering panic.

"Oh no - oh my - " Belinda suddenly began to breathe very heavily.

"What's wrong?" DM and Penfold came running over.

"I don't know!" cried Jerry. "She's - "

"Jerry", whispered Belinda. "J-Jerry..."

"What is it? What's wrong?" asked Jerry again.

"Jerry", said Belinda. "It's started. The baby - the baby's on the way!"