One fluke and two dummies

Copyright: I don't own the characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and I do not intend to infringe any copyright, trade mark or patent. But the idea for the story was mine… :-)

My friends – it's time to say goodbye. This ist the last chapter.
It's strange. I've been excited to finish my first fanfic on but
it's also a strange feeling of loss.
I guess I've gotten so used to the charas and the plot...

Now, sit back, relax and enjoy the last chapter in which everything will come to a conclusion.

Chapter 9 – Baby's coming
(...or: Why the story is called the way it's called)

His lungs hurt with every breath he took and yet he kept on moving. The burden on his back almost brought him to his knees, but he moved on, more stumbling than walking.

"Roxton, wait for me!", he heard Ned shout from behind, but didn't slow down. He had to go on.

"Roxton!" Ned walked faster and appeared next to him. "What's wrong with you? You're exhausted and yet you keep rushing forward."

Roxton sighed heavily.

"It's because of Marguerite, I've got the feeling something isn't right."

He expected Ned to say something, but he was quiet. Maybe he felt it, too.

And so the two of them kept moving through the rain-soaked jungle. Water kept dropping from leaves high above them and the air was wet, as well, just as they were.
His clothes were soaking wet and cold, but Roxton didn't even feel it anymore. His feet slipped on the slushy ground which made it hard to keep balance.

He didn't know how long they had been going, nor if they were still on the right way. He hoped, Ned hadn't lost orientation either, because he could only think of the most essential things – moving, keeping the balance and taking the body home.

They had actually found Challenger. How, they could not explain – it had been a coincidence, not more, not less. If they had not, Challenger would have been dead by now. He had been floating unconsciously in the hole, and he still hadn't woken up. They had tried CPR with the achievement that Challenger had started breathing again, but he was undercooled and in a desastrous condition.

So even if Roxton had not been profoundly worried about Marguerite, he would have had to hurry.

With the next step he made, Roxton slipped away so fast, that he couldn't keep the balance and would have fallen onto the ground if Ned had not been there and quick-witted engough to catch him.

"I can't look at this any longer, John." Ned shook his head as he helped his friend up. "You're exhausted – you'll break down sooner or later, and that will help no-one. Lets take turns and give Challenger to me so you can take a rest."

Roxton almost shook his head, but every inch of his body seemed to ache, so finally...

"Alright, Ned."

Somehow they managed to move Challenger onto Ned's back and went on, quietly, concentrating on the way in front of them.

With burning eyes, Roxton looked up into the first sunbeams of the early morning to the tree house enthroning the treetop in the distance high above them. They were home.

With every step they approached, he felt more and more relieved. But then, all of a sudden, he heard screams. They were coming from above.

And it took him only a split second to realize whom they came from.

"Marguerite!"

He moved faster so Ned fell behind, even though it was Roxton who was carrying Challenger by now. But he didn't care. All that mattered now was Marguerite. She had pains, but what was wrong with her? Had she been wounded?
Another look above almost made his heart stop beating – the tree house was ravaged. And suddenly he knew wherefrom – the thunderstorm.

He accelerated even more and reached the elevator, followed by Ned who had rushed after him.

The elevator moved upwards with the usual kracking sounds and soon the opening to the tree house appeared in front of them. Roxton flounced out of the lift leaving Ned behind who had taken hold of Challenger and now cautiously pulled him into the room.

Ned felt exhausted, as well. The long search in thunderstorm the whole night now took its toll and made his muscles ache. But compared to Challenger he was fine; their friend needed help.

"Veronica!", he sreamed penetratingly and soon heard quick steps approach.

When Veronica came around the corner, she stopped right away with eyes torn open.

"Ned! Oh my God, Challenger!"

Now, nothing held her and she rushed to help Ned with the corpse. Together they managed to lift him up again and carried him into the living room. With relief, Ned noticed that the tree house had seemed more ravaged from the outside than it was in the inside. Every loose thing in the room had been spun around to total chaos, but this was all.
When they had placed Challenger on the couch, Veronica sighed and hugged Ned.

"I am so glad you're back and alive... The thunderstorm was so strong – I feared you'd never come back..."

Ned stroke her cheek and kissed her, feeling this was the place he belonged – right in her arms.

"So am I, my dear. I promise I won't scare you like that again. But where's Roxton? And what's wrong with Marguerite? We heard her scream from above!"

Veronica stepped back with a worried expression on her face and while she bent over Challenger to check his pulse and condition she answered:

"She's getting the baby. Oh, Ned – it was a torture! You men were somwhere out there when hell broke loose in here, and then the labour pains started! I didn't know what to do, and I still don't know. I have no experience in how to help a mother giving birth! Now you're back and I'm glad, but what about Marguerite? I can't care for Challenger and her by the same time!"

Her desperate voice touched him and he softly stroke her shoulder.

"Stay with Challenger for the moment. I will go and look after Marguerite and Roxton. If we need you help, I'll take your post here, alright?"

He was glad to see Veronica nod and he could almost feel how a part of the pressure fall from her shoulders. He pecked her neck and headed for the bedrooms.

Marguerite had stopped screaming, but yet he only had to follow the suppressed moans which led him to Marguerite's bedroom which she had been used to share with Roxton for almost a year now.

How fast time passes, Ned thought with a slight smile and shook his head. His former life in London seemed so far away to him as if it had not been a few years, but a lifetime ago that he had wandered the streets beneath the Themse. Back then he would have never been able to imagine a life the way he had now, but he didn't regret it. Why should he? He had found loyal friends and a wonderful woman who was going to have their baby in a few months. The tree house had become his home more than any English mansion could have ever.

When he entered the room, he saw Roxton kneeling in front of the bed, holding Marguerite's hand and he cajoled her, who tossed and turned. Ned did not need to have the eyes of a sprecialist to see she was in bad condition. Her skin gleamed and her clothes adhered to her body.

Roxton looked up when he heard Ned approach and asked for hot water and towels.

Then he lowered his voice and whispered to Ned:

"I've only helped a cow giving birth a few years ago on my uncle's manor. Marguerite shouldn't hear that – she'd kill me for comparing her to a cow..."

Ned grinned and nodded.

"I'll be back immediately."

With these words he left the two of them with a clear conscience. Marguerite was in good hands.
His task to fetch hot water let him back into the main room, to Veronica who was still busy with Challenger. It had only been a few minutes ago that he had left, but even in that small amount of time she had managed to take off Challenger's clothes and wrapped him into a large linen sheet.

Ned couldn't help – he admired her.

After all she had been through this night, she still had things firmly in hand.

"I love you.", he said softly with a smile that reflected all his feelings, and Veronica smiled back.

"I know. I love you, too, Ned."

The darkness that had hold his mind captive slowly faded and made room for light and sounds.

He could not move, not even open his eyes, but he could feel his heart beat in the strong, well-known rhythm, and his lungs fill with air.

He realized, he was still alive, and he thanked God, because he knew he had been nearer to death than to life.

The sounds cleared to voices which seemed familiar to him.

"Quickly, Veronica, it's coming!" – "You've almost got it, press!" – "I can see it's head!"

Very slowly, Challenger's mind fought its way out of the all-embracing darkness and started working in its usual parameters, but yet he was unable to understand what he heard. He could not grasp the meaning of the words, that played on and on in his head, every time in a new, bizarre constellation.

What had happened?

He tried to answer his own question and it took him a lot of time and power to reactivate his memory. Funnily enough, it appeared last in – first out.
The ice cold water.
The rain.
His fall.
The cave.
The dinosaur.
With the next memory he accessed, a pulse of energy streamed though his body.
He had found a way off the plateau!

His eyes flew open and after a moment of disorientation he realized he was in the tree house. He didn't know why he wasn't in the hole anymore, but he was deeply grateful – he had to tell the others!

With the all of a sudden regained power he pushed himself into a sitting position and took a look around. It was definitely the living room of the tree house, but turned upside down. Plates lay smashed on the floor, pictures had been ripped from the walls and plants and herbs were far-flung. To cut a long story short: The room was a total mess.

Cautiosly, Challenger stood up and sighed. His mind was clear, but his body reminded him that he had had a near-death-experience. It was only now that he noticed someone had taken off his clothes and wrapped him into a sheet, but he didn't care. Instead he started to follow the sounds.

When he reached the open door to Marguerite's and Roxton's bedroom and rushed in, he shouted:

"I've got great news!" – but nobody noticed him and he broke off when he took a look around.

Roxton was sitting on the edge of the bed, his arms put around a tired Marguerite who was holding a small bundle in front of her breast. Could it be...? A quiet crying resounded from the inside of the bundle and Challenger realized that something wonderful had happened during his unconsciousness: Marguerite's and Roxton's baby had been born, the first child of the next generation of the adventurers. Yes, it was true. The way the brand new parents looked at their baby with this blessedly smile upon their face and that proud glimmer in the eyes – it was so easy to see and it conjured a smile on Challenger's face, as well. For a second he felt reminded of his sons, how proud he had been of them, not only at the day of their birth, but ever since.

He turned his head and noticed that his other friends were there, as well. Ned leaned against the wall, his arms wrapped around Veronica. They seemed tired, but happy, and they were whispering sweet nothings while Ned gently stroke Veronica's slowly rounding belly. Challenger felt as if he could almost touch their pleasant anticipation about having a baby, as well. Challenger quietly sighed. Oh, he'd given his right hand to be young again, but those times were over.

It was such a peaceful scenery that Challenger hadn't moved yet and the others hadn't noticed him until now. But he was still eager to tell them what he had found out, so he stepped in completely and said again:

"I've got great news!"

"Challenger, you're back!", Marguerite shouted as she looked up. Apparently, in the heat of the moment, no-one had told her about his return. He gave her a hearty smile and nodded while Veronica asked:

"How do you feel? You've been unconscious for a long time... Shall I get you anything? Do you want to sit down?"

"No, thank you, I'm fine.", Challenger repeated. "Apart from a little headache perhaps, and the fact that I feel a little dizzy. But that'll pass."

"Look, Challenger...", Roxton said and he was aglow with happiness as he stood up. "This is our daughter, Charlet."

"Charlene!", Marguerite corrected with a smile and handed him the small bundle. Roxton took it very cautiously and hold it a way that Challenger was able to take a look at the baby.

It was really cute. The eyes with dark lashes were closed now and the little, rosy face was an expression of peace. The girl aleady had a couple of dark, fluffy hair on her sweet head. Charlene, Challenger thought, what a wonderful name for a baby who will once be a wonderful woman. And about that, he was sure. He just had to look at Marguerite...

Roxton put the baby back in her mother's arms and turned to Challenger again.

"So... but you said, you had great news. What kind of news?"

Challenger felt the eyes of all his friends resting on him and he aleady opened his mouth to tell them when he startet to hesitate. If he told them it was possible, that some of them would want to go back to England. Others wouldn't want to and the consequence would be that the group – no, the family, Challenger corrected himself, because they were nothing else – would be torn apart.
Maybe Roxton, Marguerite, Ned and he himself would be able to return, but what about Veronica? They couldn't leave her behind on her own, especially not now as she was awaiting Ned's child.

But he had searched so long and so hard, he had not given up and he had risked his life for a way off the plateau. Back in England he would be celebrated and everyone would believe him. He would be able to prove he had not been mad, but right!

"Challenger?", Roxton asked with an inquiring look.

"Oh... well", Challenger said, then swallowed and hold in. Finally it was another look at the scenery that drove him to his decision. "Well, nothing. It's not that important. Congratulations to you daugther, John."

He smiled and squeezed Roxton's hand and he knew he had made the right decision...

Sometimes you have to let you dreams and hopes go, because you find out that you've haunted demons.
Finally, you'll follow the light and the angels and your way will be right.

The End

My dear friends and fans, I hope you have enjoyed the fanfic and all your questions have been answered. If not, please ask them!
Would you like a sequel?

Again, thankx a lot for all you reviews! You're great!