Hey, guys! I still can't believe the feedback I'm getting from this fic. I'm sincerely flattered by it, actually!

Well, this will be the last regular chapter. I will post an epilogue at a later date, since it's going to take me a while to write and I want to post it in one hit, rather than separate chunks.

After all of this is finished, I will be taking a break from CP and FanFic's to write my own novel. It's been bubbling along in my brain for ten years now, and I've procrastinated for far too long. I have the first four chapters planned out on paper, and I specifically bought my laptop 6 months ago to write it!

Anyway, enough babbling. Hope you like it.

The Tunnel

Chapter Eleven

Rhythmic beeps and blips filtered into her consciousness as Linka was slowly roused from a deep sleep. Eyes closed, she simply concentrated on the somewhat comforting sound, anticipating the next beep in her head. Breathing in, sterile chemicals invaded her senses, tickling her nose and throat. The electronic noises now hastily forgotten, her eyes fluttered open as it took several moments for her to focus on the dark, unfamiliar surroundings.

Her heart quickening, she attempted to sit up but encountered pain along the inside of her left arm. Fear turned to revulsion as she glanced at the IV drip sending nutrients into her blood, the needle embedded uncomfortably into her flesh. Shuddering (she hated needles), Linka's attention was again diverted to the heart monitor beside her bed, obviously responsible for the electronic noises that had woken her.

As the clean, clinical sparseness of the hospital room became apparent, several nurses ambled past her partially closed door, speaking softly in Linka's native language: Russian. Relaxing slightly, she propped herself against the pillows, careful not to dislodge the drip. As sunrise filtered in through the window, Linka became aware of a shape curled up in the shadows beside her bed. Had it not changed position, she wouldn't have noticed it at all. The figure stirred again, shifting uncomfortably in the wicker chair before turning and resting his head and plastered arm on an unused portion of her bed. Even in the dim light, she immediately knew who it was: she could pick Wheeler out blindfolded.

"Wheeler?" She whispered, gently shaking his shoulder. Gaining a grunt in response, she tried again.

"Wake up, Yankee!" She repeated huskily, gaining the desired effect as he groggily opened his eyes and stared at her for several seconds. As realisation dawned on his face, he sat up too quickly and thumped his injured hand on the bedpost, the noise reverberating loudly through the room.

"Shit!"

Linka watched in surprise and confusion as Wheeler cursed again and clambered to the floor before rolling expertly under her bed. Opening her mouth to question his peculiar antics, she remained silent as a tall, attractive nurse entered the room. Smiling broadly, the woman chatted to Linka in Russian while taking her blood pressure, temperature and changing the dressing on her arm. Seemingly satisfied, the nurse tucked the sheets around her and continued her rounds, closing the door securely behind her.
Hidden under the bed, Wheeler listened as the nurse had questioned Linka, unable tosee or understand what they were saying but fairly sure of the subject matter. The American sighed in relief as the nurse's sensible, white tennis shoes changed direction and sauntered back into the glossy hallway.

"The nurse said that a patient had gone missing from his bed. That wouldn't be you by any chance, Wheeler?"

Shuffling painfully out from his hiding spot, he stood furtively beside the bed before motioning for Linka to slide over. As she made room for him, he settled down next to her and lay back on top of the blankets, a troubled expression on his face.

"Do you remember anything?"

"Nyet, not really........ bits and pieces, really. I'm feeling a bit woozy, to tell you the truth. How are the others?

Oh God, she doesn't remember........

Wheeler decided to change the subject for now.

"We're in a Moscow hospital, hon'. From what we can gather, (or translate, he thought) you developed an infection from that cut on your arm. You've been totally out of it for about three days. They had to pump you full of antibiotics; you nearly lost your kidneys.........."

Linka slowly digested the information being relayed to her, before gently touching the heavy plaster cast. "Broken?"

"Um, crushed, actually. They had to insert metal supports to replace some smaller bones. They operated as soon as we arrived." Sighing, he closed his eyes. "I've been told I won't regain full use of it again."

"Anything else I should know about?" She asked, aware that he was wincing occasionally

"2 fractured ribs and lacerations." Could have been worse, he thought sadly.

Nodding, she stared sleepily at a watercolour painting hanging on the wall in front of them: a pretty, rustic cottage scene with garden beds of lavender edging along the foreground. Upon noticing that Wheeler had stopped speaking and seemed lost in thought, she reached across and grasped his uninjured hand, holding it within both of her own. Squeezing it in sympathy, they fell into a comfortable silence. Her thoughts again drifted towards her friends as she repeated the question she had received no answer to earlier.

"Gi had a moderate concussion, but she was released yesterday. Kwame took her back to the Island today to start packing up our stuff. Your brother was here earlier too, but he went home around 8 o'clock last night." Wheeler suddenly sat up, recalling something that he had wanted to tell her.

"Hey, guess what? Your Grandmother made it up the embankment using a cherry picker, drove our car into town and returned with half of Russia's police force! By the time we got you out, a couple of officers were restraining her from walloping Dr Blight and Plunder over the head with her handbag!"

Smiling, Linka tried to picture her nonna beating up eco-villains. She wondered if William and Ba'ra had received the same treatment........

William and Ba'ra.......

Sitting bolt upright, she gasped as memories and images began to assault her senses. The monster, trapped in a........I was upside down..... he tried to drop me through......we had called Captain Planet........argh! Frustrated at the hazy recollections, she hitched her knees up to her chest and dropped her head down, feeling Wheeler's comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Boshe moy........Ma-Ti!" she whispered, lifting her head and gazing at Wheeler, a distressed look apparent on her face. Unsure of how to proceed, the American simply shook his head, shattering her hopeful optimism.

"I'm sorry, Linka. Cap' went back in but couldn't find them."

"No!" Brushing aside the tears that had began to fall, she lowered her head again as Wheeler awkwardly put his plastered arm around her shoulders.

"The whole mine collapsed about half an hour after we left. He's gone, honey. I just didn't want you waking up and remembering what happened on your own."

Feeling her shudder, he leaned in close and spoke quietly into her ear, consoling her. "He made a choice, babe. If it weren't for him, all three of us would be gone."

"We don't know for sure," she argued passionately, "we have to find him, he could still be alive!"

Shaking his head unhappily, Wheeler knew better. "Listen to me, Linka. Cap's stuck and unfortunately for him he can't return back to the earth. I'm told this can only happen when a ring holder dies while the big dude is loose. He can't return power to the rings as a result of this either, so basically we're all stuffed."

"How do you know this?" she exclaimed, almost angrily.

"Cuz' Cap told me. He's been wandering around the hospital grounds for days in a panic. Since he can't recharge, he's losing his powers. There's no doubt that Ma-Ti's gone, Linka. Do you understand?"

Hitching her breath in, she turned her pale face towards the window, as if expecting to see Captain Planet pacing the street outside. "How is he holding up?"

Frowning, Wheeler thought about it for a moment. "Cap's inconsolable, actually. He's lost Gaia, Ma-Ti and now he's losing his strength. He keeps circling the hospital, muttering to himself......"

Pondering this new information, Linka wiped away a few stray tears from her cheeks before settling back onto the pillows again. "Too much.....what about Ma-Ti's family? Do they know?"

Wheeler wasn't sure. "I think Gi and Kwame are flying to South America next week to find his tribe and return his belongings." Sighing, he closed his eyes. The morphine was beginning to wear off, his hand now throbbing intensely. Ignoring it, he lay back against the pillow with Linka and studied the ceiling. In all honesty, he had spent the last few days grieving Ma-Ti in his own private way: Wheeler was the first to acknowledge that he had a habit of bottling things up.

"Do you want me to go?" He asked softly, turning uncomfortably onto his side to face her. Eyes still staring at the roof, she shook her head, then sat up unsteadily and reached for the cotton blanket at the end of her single bed. Throwing it over the both of them, she laid back down and further surprised Wheeler by gently reaching behind his neck and drawing his head forwards until he was settled contentedly in the crook of her arm. His breath tickling her neck, he stirred only once before drifting into a restless sleep.

Sighing heavily, Linka remained awake. Too much to process..... she reflected, sadly. She briefly wondered if Ma-Ti had felt any pain, but the tears that threatened to spring forth made her banish that thought quickly from her mind. Linka's other concern was Sutchi: Wheeler hadn't mentioned anything about Ma-Ti's constant companion. Running her fingers lightly through Wheeler's hair, she smiled as she recalled Ma-Ti's constant, abeit unsuccessful efforts to get the two of them together.

He was always too full-on, Ma-Ti. I was frightened by the attention he gave me.....

Hoping he had heard her almost apologetic confession, she wrapped her arms tightly around Wheeler's sleeping form.

I understand now, my dear friend. Life's too short.......
The following week was a blur of tearful reunions, traumatic memories and pissed-off nursing staff. Wheeler had eventually been found on that first night and had been accompanied back to his room by two burly males. As Gi had explained the next day, the head nurse apparently 'had it in' for the American and had effectively barred him from visiting Linka while they were in 'her' hospital. Thinking the disciplinary action was a little over the top, Kwame had simply shrugged.

"I get the feeling he may have thrown a few insulting words her way while he was in her care. Obviously the language barrier wasn't an issue," the African man had commented a week later, reclining in the wicker chair. In spite of it all, Kwame had escaped with few injuries. Gi had almost completely recovered, a couple of stitches on her forehead the only visible sign of her concussion.

"He said to say hi, though. It looks like the plaster will come of in about three weeks, he has to wear a bandage for a while, though. I won't tell you what he plans to do with the cast, though......" Gi shook her head as she sat perched on the side of Linka's bed, recalling Wheeler unhappily ranting about the situation.

Well, you shouldn't have called her a psychotic, wrinkled dinosaur! Gi had chastised him the day before, knowing how depressed and despondent he was in light of recent circumstances. With Wheeler having been discharged several days ago, Linka had learnt with amusement that he was now being doted on by her own nonna.

"I heard he was going to grind it up and add it to Nurse Gregoria's tea....." commented Cap unexpectedly from his spot on the floor. Dressed in a pair of jeans and a turtle neck, Gi had applied foundation to his face to mask the unusual colour. In spite of the constant reassurance he had received from the others, the 'big dude' still blamed himself for what had happened to Ma-Ti and Gaia. His strength had now dwindled to such a point that he couldn't even re-heat Gi's cup of tea that had cooled somewhat as a result of too much talking.

Chuckling at Cap's comment, the group entered into a thoughtful silence. "Where's Sutchi?" Linka asked, aware that she hadn't seen the little monkey for a few days.

"Won't leave Wheeler's side. Getting a little clingy, actually." Gi replied. "Poor little thing...... I think he knows, actually," she added sadly. "Will you both be ok to look after Sutchi until we get back?" Gi and Kwame were leaving for Paraguay early tomorrow morning.

"Da, that is fine. Do you know where Ma-Ti's family are?"

"Haven't a clue. Wheeler said that he'd pick you up tomorrow from the front foyer, so long as his arch-nemesis doesn't spot him." Kwame smiled inwardly: Ma-Ti often mentioned that Wheeler had more enemies than friends (or common sense, for that matter).

Their idle chatter was put to rest as Nurse Gregoria entered the room, giving Linka's guests a severe "Get out NOW!" expression. Rising rapidly from their places, the three hugged their friend in turn; Gi cheekily whispering, "go easy on his ribs, girl!" Blushing, Linka pinched her best friend hard before they bade her goodbye and left in a hurry, unwilling to be the recipient of the nurse's hostile intentions. As the 'iron maiden' went about her duties, Linka was overwhelmingly relieved that she was returning home tomorrow. She was growing sick of the hospital food and looking forward to a good, home cooked meal. Ironically, she became aware that Wheeler and the others would be sitting down to her grandmother's Sunday roast in about an hour or so.

Another trainee entered bearing a hot tray; setting it down in front of Linka before departing swiftly. Wrinkling her nose at the unappealing smell, she briefly picked at the vegetables and ate a bread roll. Pushing the tray and table away, she settled back and turned the TV. After an hour of watching "M.A.S.H." and "Seinfeld", she fell asleep listening to Kramer's badly dubbed Russian voice echoing in her ears.

Linka was full of nervous anticipation as she was wheeled by an orderly out of the elevator. Her bags were balancing precariously on her knees, her nurse having already clipped several corners with the edge of the wheelchair. She had argued that a wheelchair wasn't necessary, but it was apparently hospital policy so she wisely chose not to argue the point. She chatted to him as they moved through the corridors, learning that his name was Sergei, he lived in nearby Uglich and he didn't have a girlfriend (a fact that he eagerly, hopefully mentioned to the pretty blonde).

Entering the foyer, she spotted him immediately, sitting on the edge of a concrete platform housing colourful shrubs and plants and reading an old issue of People magazine.

"Yankee!" She exclaimed, startling him for a short moment. Grinning widely, he strided confidently over to them and took over from the orderly. Waving goodbye to the disappointed young man, she was rolled out through the automatic doors and into the daylight. Stopping on the curb, he pulled her up and out of the chair, wrapping his arms around her affectionately. Spinning her around several times, he suddenly stopped and placed her back on the ground.

"Hey, there...." He whispered happily, kissing her on the cheek and bending down to grab the bags that had flown of her lap. Following him to Mishka's car, she watched in surprise as Sutchi bounded towards her and flung himself onto her shoulder.

"He wanted to come, stubborn little bugger." Wheeler had explained after they had arrived at their destination. After a hearty dinner and countless hugs from her family, Mishka and Nonna had retired to their rooms, aware that they had a lot to talk about. "I don't know why he's taken to me all of a sudden. He used to hate me."

"No wonder, Wheeler: do you remember when Sutchi dropped your Discman into the water? You threw him head-first out of your bedroom window! Ma-Ti wouldn't talk to you for weeks...."

"What about the time I threw him at Plunder?" Wheeler smiled, remembering Ma-Ti's angry reaction on this occasion as well. "Ma-Ti accused me of animal cruelty and plastered my room with PETA leaflets."

"Da, well you deserved it. Still, it is strange to see him so......attached to you," Linka stated, observing the animal asleep in Wheeler's lap. "Gi and Kwame caught the plane, then?"

"Yeah, Gi said she'd ring you tomorrow. I reckon there's something going on between those two, though."

"How long did it take you to figure that one out, Yankee?"

"What!" He spluttered in confusion. "God-damn it," he muttered, "No one tells me anything, anymore."

"Wheeler, you are not the world's most observant person and besides, you never asked." Smiling with amusement, she ruffled his hair good naturedly and crossed her legs underneath her on the large sofa, tightening her dressing gown around her.

"I'm observant when it comes to you," he reasoned. "I know that you haven't taken your medicine, yet."

Punching him lightly on the arm, she stood gracefully and padded barefoot into the kitchen, coughing lightly into her hand. Although she was feeling stronger every day, she had been instructed to continue taking antibiotics to prevent a relapse: unfortunately the damp, humid environment in the mine had also affected her lungs.

Returning to the couch, she snuggled into Wheeler's side and laid her head on his shoulder for a while, watching the dying embers dance around the fireplace. Sniffing quietly, she asked the question she had been secretly avoiding.

"What happens now? I mean, our rings are......um, what is the word?"

"Useless?"

"Da, we are underemployed now, you know," she stated, unaware of how charming Wheeler found the delivery of that comment.

"Unemployed, babe. I don't know, but I think I'd like to go away for a while. I mean, not like a lazy, pool-side holiday or anything. Just something to keep my mind of......stuff." He shifted uncomfortably, nearly tossing Linka off his shoulder in the process. ("Sorry, hon.") "You know what's weird? Holidays were the last thing I remember speaking to Ma-Ti about."

"When? What were you talking about?"

"In the chamber, before all hell broke loose. You were drifting in and out, so I sat and chatted to him for a while. He liked the sound of Egypt and Pompeii."

"Archaeological sites...." she said thoughtfully as Wheeler smirked. Typical she'd know the English translation for archaeological and confuse other more common terms. "Da, I would love to tour those places one day. What was your choice at the time?"

"Surfing in Hawaii or something else undignified like......." he stated before trailing off, thinking about Ma-Ti again. Shaking himself out his depressed state, he directed the same question towards the pretty girl sitting beside him. "You got anywhere you wanna' go?"

"Anywhere you are," she replied without thinking. Upon realising what she had said, she blushed intensely and bit her bottom lip but bravely returned his shocked stare. "Boshe moy, I cannot believe I said that," she muttered. "Close your mouth, Yankee. You're attracting flies....."

"...and stubborn but attractive Russian women, obviously!" He laughed, still a little stunned and amazed that she would reveal that to him. "Lets go away then!" He stopped, waiting for an objection or refusal, but received none. "You sure you're not doped up on medication?" He inquired curiously, receiving another slap, but she seemed to be listening, nonetheless. "I mean, where ever you wanna' go, babe. I'll even promise to behave myself......Scouts honour!"

"You were never a scout, Wheeler," she reminded him in an amused tone, his enthusiasm catching on.

"OK then, I will try my best not to come on to you...... much. And we'll bring monkey brains with us, if you want. You can even choose the destination, babe."

Contemplating her options, Linka spoke. "I think you're right about one thing in particular, Wheeler. I do not feel in the least like celebrating or sunbathing. Maybe we could see Egypt? We have had our fair share of snow, ice, rain, floods... ("mudslides," he added with a grimace)" Observing the sleet falling beyond the window, she strengthened her resolve.

"For Ma-Ti too." Wheeler spoke solemnly, holding his good hand out towards her.

"Da, for Ma-Ti." Accepting the gesture, she shook his hand firmly before standing and briefly kissing him on top of the head. "Let's wait a couple of weeks until we're ready to leave, Wheeler. I'm going to bed."

"Night, babe."

Fin

Oh shit, now I have to start the epilogue, guys.