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Old Acquintance
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Poltergeist: The Legacy fan fiction by Nicol Leoraine
"Most of us get only one shot at life. John Wesley Richter got two. First as a soldier who saw too much of death to die himself, and second, as the messiah for a strange and nameless god. Although there´s no way to know for certain, I´d like to believe his soul is at last to rest."
- Quoted from episode Finding Richter
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He was running in the woods. Something was chasing him, but he didn´t know what. He stopped at the small clearing. Something was missing. Something or someone. He tried to remember, but couldn´t. He heard the cracking branches. It was closing up on him, and there wasn´t a place to hide. He turned, wanting to see what´s chasing him, but he was scared to find out, he´s not on the clearing anymore. He was still in the woods, but in other parts. Nothing was running after him. Silence was everywhere.
The trees soared above him. He turned ´round, confused. Closed his eyes only to open them and look at the wreck of a helicopter, which was hunging on the tree, few yards from him. It was their helicopter - the sign of the Luna Nadation clearly visible on its side.
Walking nearer, he saw a body lying on the ground. It was face down so he didn´t see who it was. But it surely was a man with a knife sticking out of his jacket, clearly stuck in the persons back. Curious, he knelt next to him, trying to find a pulse. There wasn´t one. He carefully turned him... and looked straight into the face of Derek Rayne.
Nick Boyle woke up with a hushed cry on his lips in his room in the castle, belonging to the Legacy. His breath was coming out in shallow gasps, the sweat trickled down his face and he could hear every beat of his heart. Realizing it was just a dream, he let out a sharp breath and tried to calm down.
"Just a dream. It was only a dream, Nick. Dreams can´t harm you,"he repeated it fiercely. After he managed to calm down his heartbeat, he reached to the bedside table and looked at the alarm clock.
"Four fifty a.m.... good time for a morning run," thought Nick and get out of his bed. He was afraid that someone heard him scream, but when nobody came till now, maybe he didn´t really scream out loud.
"Only a dream," reminded himself Nick and started to dress, but he quickly realized that he needs a shower. Throwing off the sweaty shirt he got into the shower. "At least it will wake me up."
After the shower, he dried himself and dressed. He was wearing his usual jogging suit. Week ago he would´ve quietly wear a shirt, but in the last few days the weather changed and it was pretty cold outside. Slowly making it down the stairs, careful, not wanting to wake up anybody.
Well, only Alex and Derek were in the house. Rachel stayed home with Kat and Philip was somewhere in Ireland. Alex didn´t wake up before eight and Derek was usually awake by seven a.m. Of course, there was also Mitchell, but he was a tough sleeper. The rest of the servants were coming from the city. When he opened the doors, the cold morning breeze touched his face, but Nick didn´t mind it, he was used for his morning run. He started for his usual track, to the woods which was surrounding the castle from one side, then headed for the ocean. It was dawn and Nick stopped at the beach, sitting down to watch the sunrise. He was relishing in the sight of the ocean, it calmed him and helped to think. Right now, he was thinking about the dream that woke him.
"It was really only a dream? It looked real, but only Derek and Alex had the Sight, not me," Nick was confused. He didn´t thought that it was a normal dream, but neither did he thought of it as a Sight. If it would be a vision, Derek was most likely to have it. Nick decided to ask him, when he returns. Looking at his watch he realized, that he´s sitting here more than a hour. He stood and headed for the castle. It was after seven when he returned and Derek should be awake by now. Nick walked int the kitchen, pouring himself a juice, but Derek wasn´t here, so Nick returned to his room to take another shower and get changed. When he came into the ktichen few minutes later, Derek was there, sitting at the table, drinking his regular morning coffee and reading the newspaper. At his entrance, Derek looked up from the papers.
"Good morning. You going for a run?"
"I already returned from it," Nick poured himself a cup of cofee and sit opposite to Derek. He watched him intently, trying to find out if Derek had the same dream.
"How did you sleep?" asked Nick innocently. The question surprised Derek. Nick usually didn´t ask that type of questions.
"If I have to tell you the truth, excellently. The best sleep in the last weeks. Why do you ask?"
"Uh, just..." Nick shrugged. "No visions or something?"Derek put down the papers and closely eyed his associate. Only now he spotted the circles under his eyes and realized, that perhaps Nick didn´t slept too well.
"What´s going on, Nick?" he asked, warily. Nick had an urgent itch to smack himself. He wasn´t cautious and Derek wouldn´t let it go now.
"Nothing, I just asked," he tried to shift out, but Derek didn´t buy it and frowned.
"I just... had some dream; it´s nothing, really." But Nick couldn´t stop himself from adding:
"It seemed real."
"What dream?"
"It doesn´t matter. It was only a dream. If something should happen, you or Alex would know it better then me, not?"
The answer wasn´t enough to appease Derek, but he knew, that Nick wouldn´t tell him more. If something bothered him, Nick could be pretty stubborn.
"All right. But if you want to talk about it, come after me or Alex."
Nick nodded and quickly changed the topic.
"Do we have some job today?"
"Actually, yes. Sloan called last night."
"Yeah? What did he want?"
"One of his friend was jammed in Lokern and needs to get to San Diego for some meeting. I had to pick him up in the helicopter and fly him to San Diego House." At the mention of flying, Nick´s blood run cold.
"You should go to the city, I need to pick up some package from Dr. Woodrow on the University," said Derek, not noticing the sudden pallor of his Chief of Security.
"You can´t go!" spurted out Nick. Derek wanted to protest, but one look at the face of his colleague stopped him. Nick was white like a sheet and he looked as if he just saw the ghost of his dead father.
"Nick, what´s going on? You´re acting weird. Are you allright?"
Nick was silent for a moment, trying to arrange his thoughts.
"What? Yeah... I´m okay. You can´t fly the helicopter, Derek. Trust me."
"Why shouldn´t I fly it?" asked Derek, puzzled.
"That dream. I don´t know what really happens, but if you go alone, something will happen."
"Nick, I think you should tell me what was that dream about, otherwise, I wouldn´t know what´s going on." Nick hesitated, than nodded and began to tell Derek about his dream.
"...and when I opened my eyes..." Nick stopped and Derek nodded for him to continue.
"When I looked up, I saw the helicopter. It had a sign of Luna Foundation. It was hunging from the tree. On the ground, right below it, was lying a man. I didn´t see his face, but... he had your jacket and a knife in his back. I-I tried his pulse, but he was dead. I-" Nick gulped and looked straight at Derek."...turned him and... it was you, Derek."
There was a silence and Derek watched, as Nick tried to look everywhere but at him.
"Nick, it was just a dream," he started, then stopped, seeing Nick shook his head in frustration. "Can you tell me anything else? You were there too?" Nick shook his head.
"No. I know for sure that I wasn´t in the dream with you. I was there, but I only watched. Not in the helicopter, and I didn´t saw anyone else. Can´t you call Sloan and tell him you´re too busy? Someone else can pick him up,"
Derek sighed.
"No, the others are occupied and we have nothing to work on. Besides, Sloan wants to talk with me in San Diego about budget grants. Nick, it was only a dream, nothing more."
"I surely hope so. But if you still want to go, I´m coming with you. Anything could happen, I won´t let you go alone. Perhaps if both of us will be there, nothing happens." Derek wanted o protest, but seeing the resolution written in Nick´s eyes, he knew, that Nick would´ve probably stop him from going, if he can´t come with him.
"All right, than. I will send Alex to the University." Just then, Alex walked into the kitchen.
"Where do I have to go?" she asked with a smile, and poured herself a juice. She sit down next to Derek and fixedly eyed both Derek and Nick. She could swear something was going on, but she also knew, that they wouldn´t tell her, not now.
"Good morning, Alex. How did you sleep?" asked Nick trying to change the topic.
"Fine. So, where do I have to go, Derek?"
"To the University, I need to pick up some package from Dr. Woodrow."
"No problem. And what are you planning for the day?"
"We are going to pick up some friend of William Sloan and take him to San Diego." Alex looked at him, curious.
"Pick him up?"
"Yeah. Derek wanted to say, that we have to do a taxi for Sloan´s friend. I only hope, that he´ll give us a rich tip," said Nick with a smirk and Alex laughed. Derek only shook his head and thought that he´s dealing with two childrens, but he didn´t say it out loud. He knew, that neither Alex or Nick liked Sloan very much.
"Nick is going too?" Nick´s smile vanished and he became suddenly very interested in his coffee.
"Yeah, we´ll take the chopper."
"Why?"
"Mr. Dalton needs a quick drive and a car wouldn´t make it in time. Anyway, we´re staying in New Orleans for a while. Sloan wants to talk with me about our budget. I doubt that we´ll make it back today so we´ll probably stay in San Diego for the night."
"If you stay there, call me. By the way, what does he want with our budget?"
"Perhaps he wants to raise our salary," joked Nick and all three of them laughed at the thought.
"Why are you both going?" asked Alex and Derek promptly answered her.
"While I´ll talk with Sloan, I need Nick to handle some things."Nick looked at Derek, but din´t protest.
That was all both men was going to say her, and Alex felt, that they´re hiding something, but knew well enough to try to find it out."Men, they wouldn´t talk with a women, perhaps only in the doomsday, even than only in the last seconds,"thought Alex, frustrated.
Nick stood and proposed himself to do a breakfast. Nobody argued. Nick wasn´t the best cook on the island, but he was doing the best omeletts. After the breakfast, Alex headed for the city. She didn´t forget to tell Derek and Nick to be careful, though. Alex didn´t very like flying and she was always a little nervous when someone used the chopper or small planes. She pulled from Nick some informations about their flyway and she was out of the castle.
Nick took his pack he always brought when going to the woods our mountains. It was full of things they could need to survive in the unfriendly enviroment, if needed. The training in the Navy taught him to expect the worst and be prepared for everything. He took the pack and put it under the passenger seat in the chopper. Derek was still in the house, giving some instructions to Mitchell. Nick took the time and made a quick check of the chopper, looking at the motor and making sure, nothing´s missing. He had a bad feeling about the flight, but couldn´t back away.
Derek was there and Nick was prepared for the flight. Derek saw that Nick was in the place of the pilot, but didn´t protest. He knew that Nick is a good pilot. So he eased himself to the co-pilot seat. Nick once again controlled the indicators, then started the engine. In few minutes, they were heading to southeast.
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A hour later, Nick was beginning to relax. The chopper was running smoothly and the trip was going okay. Still he didn´t let his watch down. Anything could happen. In the last few minutes they were flying above the river which was now lost in the forest. Another hour of flight was before them. Nick tried to start a conversation with Derek, but they hadn´t really have a theme to talk about, so they rather kept silent. Derek watched the landscape they were fliting over. Forests everywhere. River here, few hills there, but mostly forest. He was thinking about Nick´s dream.
"If it was a vision, why hadn´t I or Alex see it? Why Nick from all the people?"But nobody could answer him these questions.
The chopper suddenly jolted. Derek looked at the startled Nick, who was watching the instrument panel and tried to discover, what´s wrong.
"What happened, Nick?"
"I don´t know. Maybe turbulence." At the moment the chopper shook once again, and dropped few feets. Nick tried to take control above the situation, but it was a vain attempt.
"I can´t control it. We will crash, Derek!"
The sound of the engine was oddly normal, but the pilot can´t stop their descent. Derek gripped the panel before him, realizing the futility of the act. Nick was anxiously trying to gain some control over the machine, but he couldn´t stop their rapid descent, which was quickly changing into a fall. Nick was able only to change the course of their fall from straight to a little slantwise, but that was it.
Their eyes locked on each other, before the green of the forest engulfed them and everything changed to black.
The helicopter crashed to the thick coppice. The trees were high and the chopper stopped good six yards above the ground, stuck between two trunks and supported by strong branches.
Nick came to himself in few minutes. He was still in his seat, but had a feeling, that he´s lying. Looking around he realized, that he´s indeed on his side and the only things that held him in the seat were a pair of safety-belts, which were damaged in the crash. Nick let out a trembling sigh and blinked. He was practically laying on his left side, bellow him nothin, only six yards of air and branches. The door to the cockpit on his side was gone - probably scattered in the crash somehow.
Now was time to find out, if his co-pilot was still with him. Nick turned to his precept, but the move created in the damaged belts more pressure, then they could manage. The ripping sound followed by a hushed cry, as Nick´s body lost the support and he was falling once again. The branches slowed his downfall, and caused dozen of scratches and bruises. With a sickening crack Nick felt the bone in his left hand go away, as he hit the ground. Few seconds later, his consciousness was taken away along with the pain.
Few yards above, the noise of the fall woke Derek. He too was lying on his left side, but his seat-belts wasn´t damaged. He had a headache and few bruises, but one look at his left side and he found out just how lucky he really was. Only inches from his head, there was a big branch sticking in the seat. Derek gulped down the feeling of a near-death experience and tried to remember, what happened and just why isn´t he sitting on the pilot seat. With a horrified clarity the image of his security-chief popped into his mind.
"Nick!"he shouted, but only silence was his answer.
"I had to get out," he mumbled. Careful, Derek moved, trying out the stability of the wreck. The chopper was unmoving, stuck tightly between the trunks. Derek let out a relieved sigh. The last thing he wanted was another fall with the machine - not ever, and not if he doesn´t know just where Nick is. Unlike Nick, Derek had something to hold on to. The branch penetrating his seat was a good support. Derek´s hand was ready to unclip the seat-belt, when his foot banged into something familiar. He remembered that Nick was often bringing with himself an emergency pack - something they could use if anything happens. Right now, it can be the thing that will save them. Digging with his legs, Derek tried to free the pack. After few gasps and curses, when the precept thought his leg is stuck too, the pack came out. Not retained by anything, it was pulled by the gravitation, much like the apple falling onto Isaac Newton´s head. Derek only hoped, it didn´t hit Nick.
Now, Derek could start to free himself. He had to be careful. One bad move and he will repeat the experience of a bird falling from its nest, only he didn´t have a wings to save him. He warily unbended himself, clinging to the branch with all his might, as the gravitation was claiming him. His legs gave away, but he was holding on for dear life. Hanging from the cockpit, he was trying to find a support for his legs. Finding one, he stepped on it and slowly eased himself down, looking out for another branch or bough. Slowly, he made his way down, until there was nothing to hold on to. He was maybe two yards above the ground so he just let go. Falling to the "soft" ground, he realised, that the last night was raining.
He slowly stood up and with a relief constated, that nothing is broken or sprained. Only then did he saw the unmoving Nick, lying before him. The backpack was resting only inches from his head and Derek trembled, thinking what would´ve happened, if it fell on him. The precept kneeled down, with a horrible feeling, that his young friend is dead. His trembling fingers found a pulse and Derek looked up, thanking to God.
"Nick? Wake up. Come on, Nick," but Nick didn´t move. Derek looked closely at his friend and began to assess his condition. His left hand was surely broken and a big laceration on his right temple was still oozing blood. Derek opened Nick´s pack and was glad to find a first-aid kit. He hastily cleaned the wound with peroxide, than put a bandage on it, hoping, that it will stop the bleeding.
This finished, he opened Nick´s jacket then pulled up his shirt and hissed at the sight of the purple bruises covering Nick´s torso. The gentle probing evoked a small whimper from Nick. He left the ribs, feeling Nick´s abdomen but there wasn´t any hard places indicating internal bleeding. Derek decided to leave Nick´s ribcage for later - he needed him sitting to bandage him up. Looking at his hand, Derek didn´t know what to do. It was a closed fracture, the bone didn´t penetrate the skin, which was a luck, because in this enviroment, it would surely led to an infection which could´ve been fatal. Derek touched the arm and Nick moaned, this time louder.
"Nick? Come on, wake up! You hear me? Nick!"
The darkness was too inviting, too comfortable. There was no pain, no fear. But someone was there, calling his name and touching his body, causing him so much pain. The pain was dragging him to consciousness, even if Nick clinged to the darkness with all his might. It didn´t help though, as the voice of his precept called him once again. This time, Nick heard the fear and the alarms get off. His precept is in trouble, he need help. Nick couldn´t sleep any longer, not when one of his friends was in danger. Nick blinked, and groaned, as the light hit his head sending pain through his brain. For a moment, it was all he felt - pain. It blinded him, holding him in place like a trapped animal.
"Nick, please. Open your eyes. I really need your help there,"
The uncharacteristic tone in his precepts voice brought him back and Nick repressed the groan, trying to manage the pain. Someone needed him, it wasn´t the time to take a vacation, reminded himself the ex-seal and blinked, trying to wave away the fog. He was welcomed by a worried face of Derek Rayne. He tried a reassuring smile, failing miserably.
"Nick, do you hear me?"
"Yeah,"he mumbled. "Ease up, Derek." He tried to sit up, which was a great mistake, realized Nick as the pain returned with a vengeance. "Argh..." Nick lied back.
"Easy, I think you have some broken ribs and a broken arm. Not talking about a concussion."
"Oh, I didn´t notice," was a sarcastic reply. "Help me sit up," asked him Nick, and with Dereks help, he was propped up, even if there was nothing to lean to.
"If you could stand, I think we should move away from the wreck. I don´t think it will crash, but who knows." Nick only now realized, that they´re straight under the chopper. He stood up, fighting the dizziness and the creeping nausea. With Derek´s support, he was able to make it to the nearest tree, where he could finally sit down and lean againt the trunk. Derek grabbed Nick´s pack and brought it along.
"Are you injured, Derek?" squinted Nick, eyeing his precept with concern. If Derek would be hurt, their chances are quite low.
"No, just scratches and bumps. Nothing serious." Nick felt a little relief - if something happened to Derek he wasn´t in the state to provide him any help.
"How do you feel?" asked Derek.
"Like I´d falled out of the chopper."
"I can imagine. Look, Nick, I don´t want to cause you more pain, but... I think we should bandage up those ribs. It wouldn´t do any good, if they damage something inside." Nick sighed, wincing by the way, as it was more then a little uncomfortable for him to breath. Derek took out another bandage and lifted up Nick´s shirt. Nick gritted his teeth, but didn´t let a sound escape - Derek was grateful for it. After it was finished, he wearily sat back next to Nick, not looking at him because he didn´t want to see the pain in his eyes.
"Okay. Try not to make any sudden moves and I think it will be allright." After a second of silence, Derek pointed at Nick´s hand.
"But we have another problem."
Nick gulped and nodded, eyeing the throbbing joint. He managed to move one or two fingers, but it sent an explosion of pain through his arm, straight to his chest and Nick had to close his eyes, because he don´t wanted to throw up, not with broken ribs anyway.
"We should make a splint."
"Y-you will... need something straight," stuttered Nick. Derek stood up and get to look out for something, which could be used as a splint. Eventually he found a piece of propeller. He returned to Nick, who was still sitting with closed eyes trying to supress the nausea.
"Nick? You okay?" It took a while for him to answer.
"Yeah, just my head is spinning a little."
"It´s the concussion. You should be in hospital."
"You found something?" was the reply.
"I think this could do." Nick looked at Derek and the thing he found. He chuckled.
"Yeah, that should do."
Derek kneeled next to him, grabbing another bandage. Then he looked at Nick, as if it was him who need a little reassurance. Nick smirked but it quickly changed to a grimace, as Derek put his arm on the prop and started to bandage it. This time Nick couldn´t stiffle the moan, but Derek didn´t stop. Sooner he finish, sooner it will end. Finally, he made a sling.
"Thanks,"he said after a while.
"You´re welcome. We should wait for the help."
"If it comes."
"What? We have a locator, don´t we?"
"If it´s functioning."
"Why shouldn´t it?"
Nick shrugged and instantly regretted the movement.
"Maybe it works. I don´t know."
"Why did we fall, Nick?"
"I don´t know. Everything was all right and suddenly... everything went crazy, the height meter, the fuel indicator... everything. Even the GPS system. I don´t know if the locator is working, because I don´t know what caused our fall," said Nick quietly.
"How did you get out of the helicopter?"
"My safety belts were damaged and I fell."
Derek looked at his watch and with a start discovered, that more than two hours slipped away from the crash. They should be on their way to San Diego right now, with Dr. Dalton on the board.
"They should start looking for us, by now," he stated.
"What time it is?" asked Nick.
"Few minutes after twelve."
"We should make a camp."
"So you don´t think they would find us today?" Derek asked with disappointment.
"It depends whether the locator works. Are the flares in the copter?"Derek nodded.
"One of us should take them and look if the locator works. We should also try out the radio."
"I´ll go," said Derek and stood up.
"Wait. I´d go myself but... Is the wreck safe?" he asked Derek thinking, if it´s stable.
"It is. I tried it out while I was inside - didn´t want to fall it at my head on the way down."
"Can you climb up the tree?" asked Nick with a glint in his eyes. Derek smirked.
"I was climbing trees long before you was born,"
Nick looked doubtful, but Derek ignored him, trying to find the safest way up. Before, he was coming down by the left side, but now he spotted a good way up from the right. There was a log quite near the ground, so he could pull himself up without much problems. Slowly and warily, he made it up to the helicopter. He get inside the cockpit from the pilot´s side and opened the box next to the seat. He took out the signal rockets and the map. He put the flares to his pocket and the map stuck behind his belt. The whole time his hand gripped the branch. He was trying to find the control light indicating, that the locator is working and signalling out their position. It should be red, but the only red in the cockpit was the drying drops of blood on the panel. He grabbed the transmitter, trying if the radio is working. He tried out all frequencies, but nothing - there wasn´t even static.
Disappointed, he was about to head back to Nick, when something caught his eyes. It was Nick´s mobile. Grabbing it, Derek made a slow retreat. It took him more time, but he found an easiest way.
"It´s working?" asked Nick eagerly.
"No. You´re right. Nothing´s working - not the locator, not the radio. I tried all frequencies, not a static. I think we´re here pretty much alone." Derek was unloading his pockets, putting the signal light and another three rockets on the ground. After that he opened his jacket and handed Nick the map.
"I also found your mobile, Nick. I doubt it will have a signal here, but maybe..."
"You can try," answered Nick with doubt. "We should look at this map and see, where we are. Give me my pack, please,"
Derek gave it to him and while Nick searched for his compass, Derek lay out the map, careful that Nick could also see it.
"So, I´d lost control roughly speaking in this sector," Nick looked at the compass and continued. "It means, that we was falling this way," and he pointed at the map.
"Now the question is, how far away did we fall from this point."
"While going down, I spotted something blue - maybe a little stream from the right side. It shouldn´t be far." Nick and Derek observed the map.
"Here. Only it´s not a stream, but a river."
"So, we have water. The river shouldn´t be farther then few hundred yards from us, maybe half a mile." Nick nodded.
"It´s not so hard to locate it with compass."
"The question is - what will we do?"
Nick was thinking about it the whole time Derek was climbing that tree. He had a feeling, that the rescue wouldn´t come too soon. But if the locator works, they should still be home tonight. And if nobody came today? Well, they would have to take care about themselves - alone.
Derek wasn´t glad to hear this.
"I don´t like it anymore, Derek, believe me. It´s not like I´ll enjoy the walk through the woods which can take few hundred miles. Not when I have the feeling, that someone is waiting at us."
"Your dream?" Only now was Derek reminded about the visionand the warning, it brought. Suddenly, he felt guilty.
"I should´ve listened to you, Nick."
"It´s not like I have a Sight, Derek," replied Nick, trying to ease his precept´s conscience. "I don´t usually have vision or precognition, so it´s nothing you should be feeling guilty for."
Derek still wasn´t convinced, and Nick knew, that he wouldn´t be, not while they´re still in the forest, lost.
"Anyway, you was alone in the dream and something... killed you. Now we´re two, but there could still be something. I think that we aren´t in immediate danger, not here, but if nobody comes, we will have to get on our feet and walk."
"We´ll think about it tomorrow," closed the debate Derek. "We have to make the arrangements for the night. We need water and food."
"I have some water - not much, but for now it could do. Tomorrow, we´ll head for the river and replenish the flask. The food´s not a problem - I´ve some conserves, dried meat, chocolate and energy bars."
"I see you was prepared."
"You don´t know it? Our motto was: Always be prepared and await the unexpected," said Nick sarcastically.
"No one can expect everything. It´s not possible."
Nick gave him a half shrug, wincing.
"Tonight will be cold. We should find some wood."
"And dry leafs, and lops if it´s posible. We need something to sleep on, the ground will be too cold in the night." Nick started to get up and Derek pushed him back.
"What do you think you´re doing?"
"Derek, I need to take a walk. My leg is dead." Derek nodded and helped him stand. He was supporting him from the right side, careful not to touch his hand. Nick took few slow steps alone, with Derek at his heels.
"I´m grateful for your help, Derek, but I´m okay. I don´t need a babysitter. We will have to walk tomorrow, anyway."
His precept looked at him, doubt and concern playing clearly in his eyes. He eyed the young man, hunched, and in pain, but still trying to look okay and suddenly felt proud of his"step-son".
"Okay, I´ll gather the wood and everything else. You sit down and rest."
Nick wanted to argue, but know better of it. And Derek was right. They had a hard trip ahead of them, and even the little walk left him feeling drained. He had to muster some energy for tomorrow. Sitting down on his place, he started to control they supplies. Derek smiled, seeing that the young man obeyed him, and get to gather the wood. Walking, he was deep in thoughts about the situation, that get them here. Why didn´t he dreamed about it? Why Nick? He didn´t have an answer for this question. Maybe it´s something concerning Nick, but what? And the dream didn´t really replay itself - because now he wasn´t alone. Derek shook his head - it was irrelevant right now. His thoughts turned to Alex and the Legacy. Are they searching for them, yet?
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To be continued in the next chapter
Disclaimer: I don´t own them, the MGM does and who knows what else. This is purely my imagination, the only persons from my head are Dalton and some Docs. Don´t sue, I´m poor like a church mouse (heh, does it mean the same in english?)
Author´s notes: This was my first PTL fic, and one of the first things I ever wrote in my language. The piece you´re reading right now is a translation, little reedited from the original. I´m sorry, my english still isn´t very good. As for the story - I know, it´s nothing "original". My first try, so please, excuse me. I wrote this when I was 15 and only starting with the FF.
Ah, something else - I know nothing about USA, I was never there, never in CA, in San Francisco etc. The city of Lokern does exist, it is located somewhere in the Central Valley, 369 km (don´t know how many miles, sorry, I´m from EU) from San Francisco, near Bakersfield. I was never in this city either and I took it only for it´s location. I´m also not very good at technical terminology concerning helicopters and such a machines.
I still hope you´ll like my story - and pleeease.... (I´m begging on my knees, you see)
Write
or you can return to
Poltergeist: The Legacy fan fiction by Nicol Leoraine
"Most of us get only one shot at life. John Wesley Richter got two. First as a soldier who saw too much of death to die himself, and second, as the messiah for a strange and nameless god. Although there´s no way to know for certain, I´d like to believe his soul is at last to rest."
- Quoted from episode Finding Richter
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He was running in the woods. Something was chasing him, but he didn´t know what. He stopped at the small clearing. Something was missing. Something or someone. He tried to remember, but couldn´t. He heard the cracking branches. It was closing up on him, and there wasn´t a place to hide. He turned, wanting to see what´s chasing him, but he was scared to find out, he´s not on the clearing anymore. He was still in the woods, but in other parts. Nothing was running after him. Silence was everywhere.
The trees soared above him. He turned ´round, confused. Closed his eyes only to open them and look at the wreck of a helicopter, which was hunging on the tree, few yards from him. It was their helicopter - the sign of the Luna Nadation clearly visible on its side.
Walking nearer, he saw a body lying on the ground. It was face down so he didn´t see who it was. But it surely was a man with a knife sticking out of his jacket, clearly stuck in the persons back. Curious, he knelt next to him, trying to find a pulse. There wasn´t one. He carefully turned him... and looked straight into the face of Derek Rayne.
Nick Boyle woke up with a hushed cry on his lips in his room in the castle, belonging to the Legacy. His breath was coming out in shallow gasps, the sweat trickled down his face and he could hear every beat of his heart. Realizing it was just a dream, he let out a sharp breath and tried to calm down.
"Just a dream. It was only a dream, Nick. Dreams can´t harm you,"he repeated it fiercely. After he managed to calm down his heartbeat, he reached to the bedside table and looked at the alarm clock.
"Four fifty a.m.... good time for a morning run," thought Nick and get out of his bed. He was afraid that someone heard him scream, but when nobody came till now, maybe he didn´t really scream out loud.
"Only a dream," reminded himself Nick and started to dress, but he quickly realized that he needs a shower. Throwing off the sweaty shirt he got into the shower. "At least it will wake me up."
After the shower, he dried himself and dressed. He was wearing his usual jogging suit. Week ago he would´ve quietly wear a shirt, but in the last few days the weather changed and it was pretty cold outside. Slowly making it down the stairs, careful, not wanting to wake up anybody.
Well, only Alex and Derek were in the house. Rachel stayed home with Kat and Philip was somewhere in Ireland. Alex didn´t wake up before eight and Derek was usually awake by seven a.m. Of course, there was also Mitchell, but he was a tough sleeper. The rest of the servants were coming from the city. When he opened the doors, the cold morning breeze touched his face, but Nick didn´t mind it, he was used for his morning run. He started for his usual track, to the woods which was surrounding the castle from one side, then headed for the ocean. It was dawn and Nick stopped at the beach, sitting down to watch the sunrise. He was relishing in the sight of the ocean, it calmed him and helped to think. Right now, he was thinking about the dream that woke him.
"It was really only a dream? It looked real, but only Derek and Alex had the Sight, not me," Nick was confused. He didn´t thought that it was a normal dream, but neither did he thought of it as a Sight. If it would be a vision, Derek was most likely to have it. Nick decided to ask him, when he returns. Looking at his watch he realized, that he´s sitting here more than a hour. He stood and headed for the castle. It was after seven when he returned and Derek should be awake by now. Nick walked int the kitchen, pouring himself a juice, but Derek wasn´t here, so Nick returned to his room to take another shower and get changed. When he came into the ktichen few minutes later, Derek was there, sitting at the table, drinking his regular morning coffee and reading the newspaper. At his entrance, Derek looked up from the papers.
"Good morning. You going for a run?"
"I already returned from it," Nick poured himself a cup of cofee and sit opposite to Derek. He watched him intently, trying to find out if Derek had the same dream.
"How did you sleep?" asked Nick innocently. The question surprised Derek. Nick usually didn´t ask that type of questions.
"If I have to tell you the truth, excellently. The best sleep in the last weeks. Why do you ask?"
"Uh, just..." Nick shrugged. "No visions or something?"Derek put down the papers and closely eyed his associate. Only now he spotted the circles under his eyes and realized, that perhaps Nick didn´t slept too well.
"What´s going on, Nick?" he asked, warily. Nick had an urgent itch to smack himself. He wasn´t cautious and Derek wouldn´t let it go now.
"Nothing, I just asked," he tried to shift out, but Derek didn´t buy it and frowned.
"I just... had some dream; it´s nothing, really." But Nick couldn´t stop himself from adding:
"It seemed real."
"What dream?"
"It doesn´t matter. It was only a dream. If something should happen, you or Alex would know it better then me, not?"
The answer wasn´t enough to appease Derek, but he knew, that Nick wouldn´t tell him more. If something bothered him, Nick could be pretty stubborn.
"All right. But if you want to talk about it, come after me or Alex."
Nick nodded and quickly changed the topic.
"Do we have some job today?"
"Actually, yes. Sloan called last night."
"Yeah? What did he want?"
"One of his friend was jammed in Lokern and needs to get to San Diego for some meeting. I had to pick him up in the helicopter and fly him to San Diego House." At the mention of flying, Nick´s blood run cold.
"You should go to the city, I need to pick up some package from Dr. Woodrow on the University," said Derek, not noticing the sudden pallor of his Chief of Security.
"You can´t go!" spurted out Nick. Derek wanted to protest, but one look at the face of his colleague stopped him. Nick was white like a sheet and he looked as if he just saw the ghost of his dead father.
"Nick, what´s going on? You´re acting weird. Are you allright?"
Nick was silent for a moment, trying to arrange his thoughts.
"What? Yeah... I´m okay. You can´t fly the helicopter, Derek. Trust me."
"Why shouldn´t I fly it?" asked Derek, puzzled.
"That dream. I don´t know what really happens, but if you go alone, something will happen."
"Nick, I think you should tell me what was that dream about, otherwise, I wouldn´t know what´s going on." Nick hesitated, than nodded and began to tell Derek about his dream.
"...and when I opened my eyes..." Nick stopped and Derek nodded for him to continue.
"When I looked up, I saw the helicopter. It had a sign of Luna Foundation. It was hunging from the tree. On the ground, right below it, was lying a man. I didn´t see his face, but... he had your jacket and a knife in his back. I-I tried his pulse, but he was dead. I-" Nick gulped and looked straight at Derek."...turned him and... it was you, Derek."
There was a silence and Derek watched, as Nick tried to look everywhere but at him.
"Nick, it was just a dream," he started, then stopped, seeing Nick shook his head in frustration. "Can you tell me anything else? You were there too?" Nick shook his head.
"No. I know for sure that I wasn´t in the dream with you. I was there, but I only watched. Not in the helicopter, and I didn´t saw anyone else. Can´t you call Sloan and tell him you´re too busy? Someone else can pick him up,"
Derek sighed.
"No, the others are occupied and we have nothing to work on. Besides, Sloan wants to talk with me in San Diego about budget grants. Nick, it was only a dream, nothing more."
"I surely hope so. But if you still want to go, I´m coming with you. Anything could happen, I won´t let you go alone. Perhaps if both of us will be there, nothing happens." Derek wanted o protest, but seeing the resolution written in Nick´s eyes, he knew, that Nick would´ve probably stop him from going, if he can´t come with him.
"All right, than. I will send Alex to the University." Just then, Alex walked into the kitchen.
"Where do I have to go?" she asked with a smile, and poured herself a juice. She sit down next to Derek and fixedly eyed both Derek and Nick. She could swear something was going on, but she also knew, that they wouldn´t tell her, not now.
"Good morning, Alex. How did you sleep?" asked Nick trying to change the topic.
"Fine. So, where do I have to go, Derek?"
"To the University, I need to pick up some package from Dr. Woodrow."
"No problem. And what are you planning for the day?"
"We are going to pick up some friend of William Sloan and take him to San Diego." Alex looked at him, curious.
"Pick him up?"
"Yeah. Derek wanted to say, that we have to do a taxi for Sloan´s friend. I only hope, that he´ll give us a rich tip," said Nick with a smirk and Alex laughed. Derek only shook his head and thought that he´s dealing with two childrens, but he didn´t say it out loud. He knew, that neither Alex or Nick liked Sloan very much.
"Nick is going too?" Nick´s smile vanished and he became suddenly very interested in his coffee.
"Yeah, we´ll take the chopper."
"Why?"
"Mr. Dalton needs a quick drive and a car wouldn´t make it in time. Anyway, we´re staying in New Orleans for a while. Sloan wants to talk with me about our budget. I doubt that we´ll make it back today so we´ll probably stay in San Diego for the night."
"If you stay there, call me. By the way, what does he want with our budget?"
"Perhaps he wants to raise our salary," joked Nick and all three of them laughed at the thought.
"Why are you both going?" asked Alex and Derek promptly answered her.
"While I´ll talk with Sloan, I need Nick to handle some things."Nick looked at Derek, but din´t protest.
That was all both men was going to say her, and Alex felt, that they´re hiding something, but knew well enough to try to find it out."Men, they wouldn´t talk with a women, perhaps only in the doomsday, even than only in the last seconds,"thought Alex, frustrated.
Nick stood and proposed himself to do a breakfast. Nobody argued. Nick wasn´t the best cook on the island, but he was doing the best omeletts. After the breakfast, Alex headed for the city. She didn´t forget to tell Derek and Nick to be careful, though. Alex didn´t very like flying and she was always a little nervous when someone used the chopper or small planes. She pulled from Nick some informations about their flyway and she was out of the castle.
Nick took his pack he always brought when going to the woods our mountains. It was full of things they could need to survive in the unfriendly enviroment, if needed. The training in the Navy taught him to expect the worst and be prepared for everything. He took the pack and put it under the passenger seat in the chopper. Derek was still in the house, giving some instructions to Mitchell. Nick took the time and made a quick check of the chopper, looking at the motor and making sure, nothing´s missing. He had a bad feeling about the flight, but couldn´t back away.
Derek was there and Nick was prepared for the flight. Derek saw that Nick was in the place of the pilot, but didn´t protest. He knew that Nick is a good pilot. So he eased himself to the co-pilot seat. Nick once again controlled the indicators, then started the engine. In few minutes, they were heading to southeast.
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A hour later, Nick was beginning to relax. The chopper was running smoothly and the trip was going okay. Still he didn´t let his watch down. Anything could happen. In the last few minutes they were flying above the river which was now lost in the forest. Another hour of flight was before them. Nick tried to start a conversation with Derek, but they hadn´t really have a theme to talk about, so they rather kept silent. Derek watched the landscape they were fliting over. Forests everywhere. River here, few hills there, but mostly forest. He was thinking about Nick´s dream.
"If it was a vision, why hadn´t I or Alex see it? Why Nick from all the people?"But nobody could answer him these questions.
The chopper suddenly jolted. Derek looked at the startled Nick, who was watching the instrument panel and tried to discover, what´s wrong.
"What happened, Nick?"
"I don´t know. Maybe turbulence." At the moment the chopper shook once again, and dropped few feets. Nick tried to take control above the situation, but it was a vain attempt.
"I can´t control it. We will crash, Derek!"
The sound of the engine was oddly normal, but the pilot can´t stop their descent. Derek gripped the panel before him, realizing the futility of the act. Nick was anxiously trying to gain some control over the machine, but he couldn´t stop their rapid descent, which was quickly changing into a fall. Nick was able only to change the course of their fall from straight to a little slantwise, but that was it.
Their eyes locked on each other, before the green of the forest engulfed them and everything changed to black.
The helicopter crashed to the thick coppice. The trees were high and the chopper stopped good six yards above the ground, stuck between two trunks and supported by strong branches.
Nick came to himself in few minutes. He was still in his seat, but had a feeling, that he´s lying. Looking around he realized, that he´s indeed on his side and the only things that held him in the seat were a pair of safety-belts, which were damaged in the crash. Nick let out a trembling sigh and blinked. He was practically laying on his left side, bellow him nothin, only six yards of air and branches. The door to the cockpit on his side was gone - probably scattered in the crash somehow.
Now was time to find out, if his co-pilot was still with him. Nick turned to his precept, but the move created in the damaged belts more pressure, then they could manage. The ripping sound followed by a hushed cry, as Nick´s body lost the support and he was falling once again. The branches slowed his downfall, and caused dozen of scratches and bruises. With a sickening crack Nick felt the bone in his left hand go away, as he hit the ground. Few seconds later, his consciousness was taken away along with the pain.
Few yards above, the noise of the fall woke Derek. He too was lying on his left side, but his seat-belts wasn´t damaged. He had a headache and few bruises, but one look at his left side and he found out just how lucky he really was. Only inches from his head, there was a big branch sticking in the seat. Derek gulped down the feeling of a near-death experience and tried to remember, what happened and just why isn´t he sitting on the pilot seat. With a horrified clarity the image of his security-chief popped into his mind.
"Nick!"he shouted, but only silence was his answer.
"I had to get out," he mumbled. Careful, Derek moved, trying out the stability of the wreck. The chopper was unmoving, stuck tightly between the trunks. Derek let out a relieved sigh. The last thing he wanted was another fall with the machine - not ever, and not if he doesn´t know just where Nick is. Unlike Nick, Derek had something to hold on to. The branch penetrating his seat was a good support. Derek´s hand was ready to unclip the seat-belt, when his foot banged into something familiar. He remembered that Nick was often bringing with himself an emergency pack - something they could use if anything happens. Right now, it can be the thing that will save them. Digging with his legs, Derek tried to free the pack. After few gasps and curses, when the precept thought his leg is stuck too, the pack came out. Not retained by anything, it was pulled by the gravitation, much like the apple falling onto Isaac Newton´s head. Derek only hoped, it didn´t hit Nick.
Now, Derek could start to free himself. He had to be careful. One bad move and he will repeat the experience of a bird falling from its nest, only he didn´t have a wings to save him. He warily unbended himself, clinging to the branch with all his might, as the gravitation was claiming him. His legs gave away, but he was holding on for dear life. Hanging from the cockpit, he was trying to find a support for his legs. Finding one, he stepped on it and slowly eased himself down, looking out for another branch or bough. Slowly, he made his way down, until there was nothing to hold on to. He was maybe two yards above the ground so he just let go. Falling to the "soft" ground, he realised, that the last night was raining.
He slowly stood up and with a relief constated, that nothing is broken or sprained. Only then did he saw the unmoving Nick, lying before him. The backpack was resting only inches from his head and Derek trembled, thinking what would´ve happened, if it fell on him. The precept kneeled down, with a horrible feeling, that his young friend is dead. His trembling fingers found a pulse and Derek looked up, thanking to God.
"Nick? Wake up. Come on, Nick," but Nick didn´t move. Derek looked closely at his friend and began to assess his condition. His left hand was surely broken and a big laceration on his right temple was still oozing blood. Derek opened Nick´s pack and was glad to find a first-aid kit. He hastily cleaned the wound with peroxide, than put a bandage on it, hoping, that it will stop the bleeding.
This finished, he opened Nick´s jacket then pulled up his shirt and hissed at the sight of the purple bruises covering Nick´s torso. The gentle probing evoked a small whimper from Nick. He left the ribs, feeling Nick´s abdomen but there wasn´t any hard places indicating internal bleeding. Derek decided to leave Nick´s ribcage for later - he needed him sitting to bandage him up. Looking at his hand, Derek didn´t know what to do. It was a closed fracture, the bone didn´t penetrate the skin, which was a luck, because in this enviroment, it would surely led to an infection which could´ve been fatal. Derek touched the arm and Nick moaned, this time louder.
"Nick? Come on, wake up! You hear me? Nick!"
The darkness was too inviting, too comfortable. There was no pain, no fear. But someone was there, calling his name and touching his body, causing him so much pain. The pain was dragging him to consciousness, even if Nick clinged to the darkness with all his might. It didn´t help though, as the voice of his precept called him once again. This time, Nick heard the fear and the alarms get off. His precept is in trouble, he need help. Nick couldn´t sleep any longer, not when one of his friends was in danger. Nick blinked, and groaned, as the light hit his head sending pain through his brain. For a moment, it was all he felt - pain. It blinded him, holding him in place like a trapped animal.
"Nick, please. Open your eyes. I really need your help there,"
The uncharacteristic tone in his precepts voice brought him back and Nick repressed the groan, trying to manage the pain. Someone needed him, it wasn´t the time to take a vacation, reminded himself the ex-seal and blinked, trying to wave away the fog. He was welcomed by a worried face of Derek Rayne. He tried a reassuring smile, failing miserably.
"Nick, do you hear me?"
"Yeah,"he mumbled. "Ease up, Derek." He tried to sit up, which was a great mistake, realized Nick as the pain returned with a vengeance. "Argh..." Nick lied back.
"Easy, I think you have some broken ribs and a broken arm. Not talking about a concussion."
"Oh, I didn´t notice," was a sarcastic reply. "Help me sit up," asked him Nick, and with Dereks help, he was propped up, even if there was nothing to lean to.
"If you could stand, I think we should move away from the wreck. I don´t think it will crash, but who knows." Nick only now realized, that they´re straight under the chopper. He stood up, fighting the dizziness and the creeping nausea. With Derek´s support, he was able to make it to the nearest tree, where he could finally sit down and lean againt the trunk. Derek grabbed Nick´s pack and brought it along.
"Are you injured, Derek?" squinted Nick, eyeing his precept with concern. If Derek would be hurt, their chances are quite low.
"No, just scratches and bumps. Nothing serious." Nick felt a little relief - if something happened to Derek he wasn´t in the state to provide him any help.
"How do you feel?" asked Derek.
"Like I´d falled out of the chopper."
"I can imagine. Look, Nick, I don´t want to cause you more pain, but... I think we should bandage up those ribs. It wouldn´t do any good, if they damage something inside." Nick sighed, wincing by the way, as it was more then a little uncomfortable for him to breath. Derek took out another bandage and lifted up Nick´s shirt. Nick gritted his teeth, but didn´t let a sound escape - Derek was grateful for it. After it was finished, he wearily sat back next to Nick, not looking at him because he didn´t want to see the pain in his eyes.
"Okay. Try not to make any sudden moves and I think it will be allright." After a second of silence, Derek pointed at Nick´s hand.
"But we have another problem."
Nick gulped and nodded, eyeing the throbbing joint. He managed to move one or two fingers, but it sent an explosion of pain through his arm, straight to his chest and Nick had to close his eyes, because he don´t wanted to throw up, not with broken ribs anyway.
"We should make a splint."
"Y-you will... need something straight," stuttered Nick. Derek stood up and get to look out for something, which could be used as a splint. Eventually he found a piece of propeller. He returned to Nick, who was still sitting with closed eyes trying to supress the nausea.
"Nick? You okay?" It took a while for him to answer.
"Yeah, just my head is spinning a little."
"It´s the concussion. You should be in hospital."
"You found something?" was the reply.
"I think this could do." Nick looked at Derek and the thing he found. He chuckled.
"Yeah, that should do."
Derek kneeled next to him, grabbing another bandage. Then he looked at Nick, as if it was him who need a little reassurance. Nick smirked but it quickly changed to a grimace, as Derek put his arm on the prop and started to bandage it. This time Nick couldn´t stiffle the moan, but Derek didn´t stop. Sooner he finish, sooner it will end. Finally, he made a sling.
"Thanks,"he said after a while.
"You´re welcome. We should wait for the help."
"If it comes."
"What? We have a locator, don´t we?"
"If it´s functioning."
"Why shouldn´t it?"
Nick shrugged and instantly regretted the movement.
"Maybe it works. I don´t know."
"Why did we fall, Nick?"
"I don´t know. Everything was all right and suddenly... everything went crazy, the height meter, the fuel indicator... everything. Even the GPS system. I don´t know if the locator is working, because I don´t know what caused our fall," said Nick quietly.
"How did you get out of the helicopter?"
"My safety belts were damaged and I fell."
Derek looked at his watch and with a start discovered, that more than two hours slipped away from the crash. They should be on their way to San Diego right now, with Dr. Dalton on the board.
"They should start looking for us, by now," he stated.
"What time it is?" asked Nick.
"Few minutes after twelve."
"We should make a camp."
"So you don´t think they would find us today?" Derek asked with disappointment.
"It depends whether the locator works. Are the flares in the copter?"Derek nodded.
"One of us should take them and look if the locator works. We should also try out the radio."
"I´ll go," said Derek and stood up.
"Wait. I´d go myself but... Is the wreck safe?" he asked Derek thinking, if it´s stable.
"It is. I tried it out while I was inside - didn´t want to fall it at my head on the way down."
"Can you climb up the tree?" asked Nick with a glint in his eyes. Derek smirked.
"I was climbing trees long before you was born,"
Nick looked doubtful, but Derek ignored him, trying to find the safest way up. Before, he was coming down by the left side, but now he spotted a good way up from the right. There was a log quite near the ground, so he could pull himself up without much problems. Slowly and warily, he made it up to the helicopter. He get inside the cockpit from the pilot´s side and opened the box next to the seat. He took out the signal rockets and the map. He put the flares to his pocket and the map stuck behind his belt. The whole time his hand gripped the branch. He was trying to find the control light indicating, that the locator is working and signalling out their position. It should be red, but the only red in the cockpit was the drying drops of blood on the panel. He grabbed the transmitter, trying if the radio is working. He tried out all frequencies, but nothing - there wasn´t even static.
Disappointed, he was about to head back to Nick, when something caught his eyes. It was Nick´s mobile. Grabbing it, Derek made a slow retreat. It took him more time, but he found an easiest way.
"It´s working?" asked Nick eagerly.
"No. You´re right. Nothing´s working - not the locator, not the radio. I tried all frequencies, not a static. I think we´re here pretty much alone." Derek was unloading his pockets, putting the signal light and another three rockets on the ground. After that he opened his jacket and handed Nick the map.
"I also found your mobile, Nick. I doubt it will have a signal here, but maybe..."
"You can try," answered Nick with doubt. "We should look at this map and see, where we are. Give me my pack, please,"
Derek gave it to him and while Nick searched for his compass, Derek lay out the map, careful that Nick could also see it.
"So, I´d lost control roughly speaking in this sector," Nick looked at the compass and continued. "It means, that we was falling this way," and he pointed at the map.
"Now the question is, how far away did we fall from this point."
"While going down, I spotted something blue - maybe a little stream from the right side. It shouldn´t be far." Nick and Derek observed the map.
"Here. Only it´s not a stream, but a river."
"So, we have water. The river shouldn´t be farther then few hundred yards from us, maybe half a mile." Nick nodded.
"It´s not so hard to locate it with compass."
"The question is - what will we do?"
Nick was thinking about it the whole time Derek was climbing that tree. He had a feeling, that the rescue wouldn´t come too soon. But if the locator works, they should still be home tonight. And if nobody came today? Well, they would have to take care about themselves - alone.
Derek wasn´t glad to hear this.
"I don´t like it anymore, Derek, believe me. It´s not like I´ll enjoy the walk through the woods which can take few hundred miles. Not when I have the feeling, that someone is waiting at us."
"Your dream?" Only now was Derek reminded about the visionand the warning, it brought. Suddenly, he felt guilty.
"I should´ve listened to you, Nick."
"It´s not like I have a Sight, Derek," replied Nick, trying to ease his precept´s conscience. "I don´t usually have vision or precognition, so it´s nothing you should be feeling guilty for."
Derek still wasn´t convinced, and Nick knew, that he wouldn´t be, not while they´re still in the forest, lost.
"Anyway, you was alone in the dream and something... killed you. Now we´re two, but there could still be something. I think that we aren´t in immediate danger, not here, but if nobody comes, we will have to get on our feet and walk."
"We´ll think about it tomorrow," closed the debate Derek. "We have to make the arrangements for the night. We need water and food."
"I have some water - not much, but for now it could do. Tomorrow, we´ll head for the river and replenish the flask. The food´s not a problem - I´ve some conserves, dried meat, chocolate and energy bars."
"I see you was prepared."
"You don´t know it? Our motto was: Always be prepared and await the unexpected," said Nick sarcastically.
"No one can expect everything. It´s not possible."
Nick gave him a half shrug, wincing.
"Tonight will be cold. We should find some wood."
"And dry leafs, and lops if it´s posible. We need something to sleep on, the ground will be too cold in the night." Nick started to get up and Derek pushed him back.
"What do you think you´re doing?"
"Derek, I need to take a walk. My leg is dead." Derek nodded and helped him stand. He was supporting him from the right side, careful not to touch his hand. Nick took few slow steps alone, with Derek at his heels.
"I´m grateful for your help, Derek, but I´m okay. I don´t need a babysitter. We will have to walk tomorrow, anyway."
His precept looked at him, doubt and concern playing clearly in his eyes. He eyed the young man, hunched, and in pain, but still trying to look okay and suddenly felt proud of his"step-son".
"Okay, I´ll gather the wood and everything else. You sit down and rest."
Nick wanted to argue, but know better of it. And Derek was right. They had a hard trip ahead of them, and even the little walk left him feeling drained. He had to muster some energy for tomorrow. Sitting down on his place, he started to control they supplies. Derek smiled, seeing that the young man obeyed him, and get to gather the wood. Walking, he was deep in thoughts about the situation, that get them here. Why didn´t he dreamed about it? Why Nick? He didn´t have an answer for this question. Maybe it´s something concerning Nick, but what? And the dream didn´t really replay itself - because now he wasn´t alone. Derek shook his head - it was irrelevant right now. His thoughts turned to Alex and the Legacy. Are they searching for them, yet?
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To be continued in the next chapter
Disclaimer: I don´t own them, the MGM does and who knows what else. This is purely my imagination, the only persons from my head are Dalton and some Docs. Don´t sue, I´m poor like a church mouse (heh, does it mean the same in english?)
Author´s notes: This was my first PTL fic, and one of the first things I ever wrote in my language. The piece you´re reading right now is a translation, little reedited from the original. I´m sorry, my english still isn´t very good. As for the story - I know, it´s nothing "original". My first try, so please, excuse me. I wrote this when I was 15 and only starting with the FF.
Ah, something else - I know nothing about USA, I was never there, never in CA, in San Francisco etc. The city of Lokern does exist, it is located somewhere in the Central Valley, 369 km (don´t know how many miles, sorry, I´m from EU) from San Francisco, near Bakersfield. I was never in this city either and I took it only for it´s location. I´m also not very good at technical terminology concerning helicopters and such a machines.
I still hope you´ll like my story - and pleeease.... (I´m begging on my knees, you see)
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