A/N: In this version, I don't think I want Lucy to have been rescued, at least not yet. I may try to include her in the story and need her to be trapped to continue her storyline. Read and review! Thanks.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Well, I guess a few character names but they may even be wrong.

Ch. 1 Not That Simple

Jack Hall closed the latch on the helicopter and signaled to the pilots that they were ready to take off. He looked at his son across from him with his friends Laura and Brian along with all of the other passengers and realized at that moment that the joy that he had been feeling when he found them all alive wouldn't undo the desperate predicament that they would all face when they arrived in Mexico. He smiled reassuringly at Sam but knew that they were all homeless now, and though that's still better than being dead, there was less cause for celebration. He sighed to himself and let rest consume him as the others had already done.

Sam's eyes snapped open with a jolt as he felt a sudden rush throughout his body. He was on the helicopter with Laura snuggly next to him. A moment that seemed comforting mere minutes ago was now once again frantic. The helicopter shook inducing Jack to rise from his seat and peak in on the pilots. The passengers all awaited the news anxiously as more turbulence rocked the copter again.

"Sam," Laura asked. "What's going on?"

"I'm not sure," Sam responded uneasily.

Jack came back to his seat as the shakiness increased. "We're having some unexpected turbulence."

"Well, clearly." Brian spoke up. "But why? I mean, I thought that the storm was over."

"It is. The super storm is over but like with any other flight, there is still a chance of some sharp wind currents. The problem is that with the cold weather, the propellers are weak. They can only take so much pressure," Jack explained.

"Well, how big of a problem is this?" Sam asked. "We'll make it back right?"

Jack looked deeply into his son's and the other survivor's eyes and saw the pleas for reassurance. "We'll make it, if not with this copter than with another one."

The next five minutes were silent with only the sound of rocking and rattling as the wind picked up. When the shaking got to be too much the pilot came into the back.

"Listen folks," he shouted. "I'm gonna try to land her. Hopefully when we hit ground we can wait till this patch of wind lets up and take off again."

His announcement was met with moans from the frustrated, malnourished passengers.

"How long could we be grounded for?" Brian inquired.

Jack considered this then answered truthfully. "I really don't know. Probably for only a few hours." He raised his voice to address the entire group. "How are guys doing? Do you think you can last another couple of hours?"

"We'll be okay," J.D. replied. "Just as long as we're in Mexico by tomorrow morning."

Jack nodded and smiled. "Of course." He could tell these people were hurting. Even his own son, usually vocal and opinionated with his impressive knowledge seemed just drained. If they didn't get to a warm climate with real food and supplies, these guys were going to be in serious danger.

Suddenly, the helicopter began to wildly shake as the wind clipped the propellers disabling them from keeping the copter in flight. A few screams escaped the passengers as they heard the pilots yelling to one another in the cabin. Jack reached across the aisle and held onto Sam's leg.

"Everyone! Heads down!" Jack shouted to the group. They did as told. Sam puts his hand over Laura's head to help shield her as they both clung to each other for support.

The next three minutes were a literal whirlwind as the helicopter rushed for the ground. Though they were going too fast to land regularly with the loss of the control of the propellers, they could still make it if the angle was right.

There was a sudden crash and then stillness and darkness.

Jack lifted his head slowly mentally surveying the damage done to his body. Overall, he was okay. He had been bruised up but nothing was broken or out of place. His eyes shot to the rest of the group. He was overwhelmed at the sight before him. The co-pilot had been thrown into the back and was clearly dead, as he had been pegged through the stomach with a piece of metal. The red haired woman he learned was named Sylvia was looking around her, clearly in a state of shock. The homeless man had been hit in the head and was most likely dead. The librarians were both unconscious but seemed all right. J.D. was asking Brian if he was okay and Brian was doing the same.

Laura was still clinging to Sam, and finally, Jack found his voice. "Who's hurt?"

"I think this guy's dead," J.D. referred to the pilot. "Hey, Sylvia, check that guy for a pulse."

Sylvia pressed her fingers to the homeless man's neck and shouted, "I can't feel anything!"

"Laura! Sam!" Jack asked. "Are you guys okay?"

"Umm...I'm okay!" Laura shouted. She leaned into Sam who was unconscious. "He's not waking up. I think he got hit in the head."

Laura lifted Sam's head to reveal a large gash on his forehead, right above his temple. Sam's eyes fluttered open as she did this. Jack got out of his seat as the others began to help each other up as well, avoiding the two dead bodies.

Jack crouched in front of his son with his hands on his shoulders. "Sam. Can you look at me?"

Sam drew in a breath as he was finding it very hard to focus. He blinked a few more times until he saw his father leaning into him. He carefully nodded allowing the situation to come back to him. He looked to Laura who was getting up and out of her seat. He was glad to see that she was all right.

"Sam!" Jack stated again. Sam's head turned back to his father. "Where are you hurt?"

Sam tried to form the words while evaluating his body. "I...My...." He stopped to catch his breath and put his head down to regain focus. He couldn't seem to think straight.

Jack put his hand on his son's head and leaned in closer. "I think you have concussion. Just stay still for a minute. Okay, bud?"

Sam nodded. Jack turned to the rest of the group who were now examining and surveying the damage to the helicopter. "Okay guys. Let's get out of here. Guys come this way."

They came to him as he opened up the sliding metal door. Laura went through first followed by the rest of the group. The male librarian named Patrick was limping slightly. All were bruised and scratched a bit. Jack turned back to his son.

"Okay, Sam. Talk to me. What hurts?" Jack crouched in front of him again.

Sam looked up and slowly opened his eyes. As he did so a huge rush of pain came to Sam's head. "Ah. My head hurts. I think I'm okay I just...I can't concentrate."

"You've got a concussion and a pretty bad gash. Let's get you out of here." Jack helped Sam out of his seat into a standing position. "Can you walk?"

"Yeah but everything's spinning." Sam tried to focus but couldn't keep his eyes open.

"Here, let me help you." Jack basically lifted his son out of the helicopter where the others were huddled in a small group. J.D., Brian and Sylvia were all looking around at the numerous buildings. The rest were huddled close. The air was clear and there was little wind on the ground but it was still fiercely cold as they remained in the upper half of the U.S.

Jack shouted to everyone to huddle together and they all did as told. "Okay, who's hurt where?"

Patrick responded first. "My ankle hurts. I think it's jammed a bit."

"My side's pretty bruised but I think I'm okay," Sylvia said.

"I'm fine, just cold," replied Claire, the female librarian.

"What about you guys?" Jack asked Laura, J.D., and Brian.

"We're okay. Just bumps and bruises," Laura said. "What's wrong with Sam?"

Jack looked at his son who sat in the snow with his head in his hands. "He has a pretty bad concussion. He'll be okay. We just need to radio for help. I'm going to go see if I can find a radio or satellite phone and a first aid kit. Everyone stay close."

They all nodded as Jack reentered the helicopter. Laura went to Sam's side. He looked up and attempted a smile. She returned it and asked, "Is there anything I can do?"

He just shook his head and shivered a bit. "It's cold."

Laura sighed and grabbed his hand. "Yep."

After a few moments Jack returned with some supplies and a radio.

"I was able to get through. No one can fly in for at least another day. We're going to have to wait. Also, the other pilot is dead. I don't know if they have any food on board but I wouldn't think so. I think we're close to Chicago. For now we should all find a building close by, try to find some food and wait for a signal."

"We can't wait any longer. We're starving!" Claire replied.

"And freezing to death!" Brian added.

"Guys, I know you've been trapped for eight days and you really can't wait any longer but there's nothing else we can do," Jack pleaded.

"He's right," Sam spoke up, lifting his head. "We don't have any other choice."

Jack was grateful that his son understood. "Okay, I say we try to climb into that building through a window. Let's go."

Everyone headed out towards the building Jack had pointed to. Jack helped Sam while Laura carried the radio and supplies. When they arrived they immediately found a window, which J.D. kicked in with his foot. They jumped inside and soon realized that this was an office building. The top two floors were now all that was left. Everyone stepped inside and bundled together for heat.

"Find paper to start a fire!" Jack shouted from a cubicle down the aisle. "Patrick, come here. Let's bandage up that ankle."

He wrapped the man's ankle with an ACE bandage, and then turned to Sam who sat in the corner of the cubicle. They could smell smoke as Brian was beginning to start a fire with mainly paper and more books.

"Sam, let me take a look at your head," Jack said. Sam slowly stood; his balance was a bit better. He sat on the desk in front of his dad.

"Where's Mom?" he asked.

"She's okay. She's in Mexico. She said that she would ride down in one of her patient's ambulances," Jack informed his son as he began to clean off his head.

"Well, do you know for sure that she got there? I mean you can't be positive unless-"

"She got there, Sam. I'm sure she did," Jack replied. "Right now, you just worry about yourself. I don't want to lose you after all of this."

"Yeah, you're a big hero right," Sam muttered.

"What?" Jack asked. "Sam, why are you upset with me. I'm trying to help you. Look, I'm sure Mom's fine."

"No Jack! You aren't sure," Sam's words stung Jack as he used his first name. "The one time you are there for me is the one time Mom needs you too. How could you just leave her?"

"Sam, listen to me," Jack pulled his son's head into his hands. "I know I fucked up. I know I really haven't been much of a father to you but I had no choice. When you called me your mom and I both knew that I had no choice!"

"That's awfully noble and all Jack but it's interesting to me that the one time that you actually give a shit about me is the one time it somehow is connected to your fucking job!" Sam pushed him away.

"Sam, I need to fix up your head. It's bleeding too much and you have a concussion. We'll talk about this later. Just let me help you!" Jack begged his son.

"No Jack. Don't come near me," Sam backed into the corner. Jack stepped closer to him. "Just leave me alone."

Sam's eyelids suddenly felt heavy and he found himself trembling uncontrollably. Jack moved closer. "Sam, please."

Jack grabbed his son's arm. Sam tried to turn away but only made himself dizzier as the blend of malnutrition, exhaustion, freezing temperatures, and his concussion began to kick in.

"Sam!" Jack caught his son around the waist before he hit to the ground, pulling his body in front of him as he slid down the wall. Sam's head hung down, his back pressed against his father's chest.

"Laura," Jack shouted, his arms wrapped around his shivering son. "Bring me the radio!"

A/N: So let me know what you think. I'm hoping that there will be a category up for the movie really soon. Thanks for reading and let me know where you want this to go.