Chapter 8
"Only My Soul Could Hear"
Wil awakens to pain in his arm and leg they were broken he knew it. He searched around for Blake under a pile of snow Riker sees him and reaches for his arm to Wil's relief it moved..
"Good he's alive. We have to get out of here."
Wil painfully moves over to the snow and begins to dig out his friend. Blood soaked the wet snow beneath Wil's body. He didn't know if it was from him or Blake. With both arms Wil dug for what seemed like hours to find Blake. The pain in his right arm dissipated as he struggled to remove the heavy snow he wasn't sure if it was from the cold or the broken arm. Soon he reached Blake unconscious but alive. Wil reached for a pulse he let out a great sigh as he felt one. Blake soon came too and looks at Wil.
"Captain are you alright?"
"Yes, a few broken bones but nothing I can't handle what about you?"
"My head hurts I must have hit it against this rock when the snow covered us."
Wil looked into his eyes his pupils were normal but it was still early. Meanwhile Blake came to his commanding officer's needs quickly.
"We have to set those bones before they get worse. Those cuts also need proper care. Were you able to salvage the med kit?"
"No, it's somewhere under this heap of snow. Ouch we had better hurry I'm loosing to much blood did you take any first aide courses in Starfleet?"
"What officer wouldn't have? Your in luck I was ranked number one in my class. The first thing I need to do is set your bones do you want something to bite onto while I am setting your leg?"
"No I'm alright just get this over with. We have to dig our way out of here and find those missing crew members."
Blake nodded and gently took Wil's leg quickly setting it Wil let out a painful gasp. Blake took of a piece of branch nearby and braced Wil's leg. Then he moved to his arm, again with a quick pull and a painful gasp from Wil later the arm was set and splinted. Tearing off a piece of his uniform Riker handed it over to Blake who quickly wrapped up the wound on his forearm. He did the same with Wil's leg.
"Come Blake help me up we are about 6 feet under the snow the air is thin it won't last long we need to dig ourselves out. Can you do it?"
"Yes sir."
Wil moves over to Blake and begins to dig out the snow.
"Captain please you need to conserve your strength I can do this."
Reluctantly Wil nodded and began to nurse his wounds with snow. It will stop all sensations in them the snow was cold enough. Blake quickly continued digging the snow out from the cave in. Thirty minutes later Blake could see the sun.
"We made it come on lets go get you some help."
"No leave me here my suit will keep me warm for now. Try and find the med kit. If we find Captain Picard he's going need medical attention."
Blake nodded and started to look for the kit. Pain ripped through Riker's whole body but he remained calm. He wasn't going to let a few broken bones prevent him from finding his friend. As the hours of daylight slipped away Blake had managed to find the kit but the electronics were damaged with the avalanche. Wil began to nod off and Blake caught his attention.
"Captain you have to stay with me you can't go to sleep I need you to remain awake"
"I know lets talk about something?"
"Tell me about your wife Captain when did you finally decide to marry her?"
Wil smiled at the question that would certainly keep him awake. Talking about Deanna always did.
TBC…Chapter 9
