Stranded

Chapter Seven: Alex Martin

Alex was hot in the muggy airport terminal. As he shifted his carry-on bag from his right hand to his left, he studied the line of passengers boarding the plane ahead of him. Steve was among them, his arm around his pregnant wife's shoulders. Alex saw Community General's new gynecologist, Joyce, boarding as well.

Alex glanced down at his ticket to check his seat. It was C-14. As he adjusted the seat and settled his bag underneath, Alex saw his mother, and his sister, strapping their seatbelts. In fact, when he looked around, Alex realized that all his friends and family were on board the plane.

Just then, the plane's nose dived downward, although Alex didn't remember it even taking off. Time froze as he watched everyone he cared about struggling for the dangling masks.

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Alex was awakened by his own screams of terror. His face flushed with embarrassment, although his apartment was empty. As his breathing steadied, Alex glanced at the alarm clock. It was three in the morning. He did not have to get up until six.

Alex pulled on his robe and padded barefoot into the kitchen. He brewed some coffee and sat on a stool beside his counter, head in his hands.

The nightmares had started the night after Steve and Ellen disappeared. At first it was only once a night. But now, they were coming steadily every few hours. Alex was running on fumes, but that was better that Mark.

Mark Sloan refused to accept that his son was dead until the airline gave him proof of the crash. He hounded the officials on the phone and at the airport, until finally, he collapsed. Jesse and Amanda realized that he had not been eating, out of worry. Now Mark occupied a room on the third floor of the hospital, an IV giving him sustenance. Amanda sat vigil at his side.

When Alex dragged in to work later, he looked almost as bad as Mark. He walked down the hallway to say good morning, and entered room fifteen.

Amanda was still at Mark's side, asleep in her chair. Alex pulled a blanket out of the closet and covered Amanda with it, then went down to the E.R.

Dr. Jesse Travis was at a counter, two file folders open in front of him. Sitting on top of a patient's chart was a folder containing the waitress' schedule for Barbeque Bob's. Big black bags hung under Jesse's eyes, signs of the past forty-eight hours, during which he had pulled double shifts at both the hospital and the restaurant without sleep. When he saw the young man, Jesse smiled wearily.

"Hi," he said, almost mischievously. Alex greeted him placidly. "So, are you doing anything this weekend?" Jesse asked, looking back down at his schedule.

"What do you need?" Alex said.

"I'm having a tough time at Barbeque Bob's without Steve," Jesse said. "I would really appreciate it if you could help me out for awhile. I know that it's not your responsibility, but honestly, you're the only other person I could trust to manage the place."

"Jesse," Alex interrupted. "I've still got Steve's keys. I'll do it. Under one condition: you go home. Take a nap."

"My shift is over, but I've got to be at Bob's in half-an-hour."

"When will you sleep?"

"On the way, in the car. There's bound to be a couple red lights," Jesse said wearily.

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"Alex, I need you to cover for me for a couple days," Steve said, handing the intern his copy of the key to Barbeque Bobs. Alex took the keys, protesting that he didn't think that he should be left in charge of anything. But Steve was gone as soon as the metal ring was out of his grip.

It was hard to lose someone you loved, especially when you weren't there. Alex knew this. And he couldn't imagine being in Ellen's position. But Alex still couldn't picture himself getting in an airplane and going to Tokyo at the drop of a pin.

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There was a bell on the door at Barbeque bob's. So many times in the past, Alex had been standing behind the counter, and looked up at the bell's toll to see Steve walk through the door. But not, it was not the familiar form of the cop, but that of Tanis Archer. Alex didn't know her very well, but he had seen enough of her to know her face.

The Sergeant had a young girl by the hand. She sat her down in a chair near the door, warning her not to run. Then she walked over to the corner.

"Hi, Alex," she said. "This is Mollie Walters. I found her out wandering the streets alone, and I thought that maybe you could talk to her." Tanis did not explain the girl's connection to Alex, but he immediately knew it. Mollie's mother was on Flight 314.

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"I need suction!"

The O.R. was bustling with activity. Dr. Joyce Walters was performing a difficult Caesarian section on a young woman. Alex Martin was on his Maternity Ward rotation in his internship. He and two other interns were in the room, hoping for a chance to help.

"Martin, I need your hand," Dr. Walters ordered. "Hold this clamp steady." The procedure went on without difficulty, and Alex could not help but feel a little pride.

Three hours later, scrubbed out and ready to go home, Alex stood, watching the newborns through the glass. He saw the little girl that he had helped deliver. She opened her mouth to give a big, sleepy yawn.

"That's what it's all about," a voice said, startling Alex from behind. He turned to see Dr. Walters. "The little things: yawns, smiles, fingers and toes." Alex smiled at the woman.

"I think you're right."

"Well, that's why I'm the doctor and you're the intern," Dr. Walters said with a chuckle. "You show so much potential. Keep up the good work. Now go home and get some sleep, Martin. You're gonna need it."

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Alex slid into the seat opposite from Mollie. He smiled at her.

"Hi."

"Hi," she mumbled. Obviously this girl was smart. Alex decided that tact wasn't going to get him anywhere.

"My name is Alex. I know your mom," he said, sliding a glass of coke across the table.

"You do?" Mollie asked. She turned her head to look up at the doctor's eyes, and as she did, wisps of her dark hair fell, framing her face.

"I'm an intern at Community General Hospital. I worked really close with your mother a couple of times." Mollie eyed him up.

"What's an intern doing working at a barbeque restaurant?" she asked suspiciously.

"I'm covering for a friend of mine: Steve Sloan. Steve was on Flight 314."

"So was my mom," Mollie said. "I miss her." The girl's eyes filled up with tears. "I know that my mom isn't dead, but my dad said that they'll probably call the search off soon."

"They might do that, but it's only been one week. They usually give it a few more-"

"Usually?" Mollie asked, her voice rising with anger. "There's nothing usual about this at all. How does an airplane just disappear?" Alex had seen Joyce get upset when a gurney had mouthed off to her in the O.R. Mollie was the spitting image of her mother.

"Mollie, my friend, Steve, well his father works at Community General too. And I know that no matter what, Dr. Sloan is not going to give up until we find them."

"Promise?" Mollie asked.

"Promise," Alex said, crossing over his heart with his finger.

"Thank you, Alex," Mollie said, coming around the table to give the doctor a hug.

"Now, why don't I get you a nice hot dinner, and then I'll take you home," Alex said, shuffling towards the kitchen. Tanis left, knowing that Mollie was in good hands. She said something about visiting Dr. Sloan. As Alex and Mollie shared a platter of ribs, he found that he liked this little girl. He liked her very much. And what was better, her hope spread to him, and that night he got a good night's sleep.

A/N: Just a short chapter to add suspense before I solve poor Blayr's dilemma...

Speaking of which, I still don't know if the baby is going to be a boy or a girl, and I would take any suggestions into consideration. Look for the next chapter soon. I'd tell you who it's about, but then you'd all know who (if anyone) comes to Blayr's rescue.

Well then, I guess that's all. Please review!