Stranded

Chapter Eight: Stuart Thatcher

Stuart ran out from behind the tree that had hidden him from the pregnant girl's view. Blayr had just grasped her stomach and slowly dropped down, her back to a large rock.

"Help!" she shouted, hoping to make her voice carry far enough to reach someone.

"I'm Stuart Thatcher," the man said, falling down to his knees beside Blayr.

"Stuart. I need help. Please. Go back to the camp and get the doctor. Get Joyce."

"We're pretty far from camp, Blayr. If I went, it would take almost two hours to get there, and then two hours back. I can't leave you for that long."

"But I need a doctor. I'm having a baby!" Blayr cried frantically.

"It will be alright, Blayr," Stuart said, picking up her hand. "I'm going to help you."

…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..

Stuart Thatcher had known Helen Vascan since they had been in grade school. He had pulled her braids, teasingly, and Helen was the first girl who teased back. After months of practical jokes and harmless pranks, the two finally decided on a draw, and became fast friends.

But in all the years that he had known her, Stuart had never seen Helen as worried as she was now.

Helen's six year old daughter, Emily, had been kidnapped. The captors had called Helen's cell phone and demanded 3 million dollars in exchange for the girl.

Helen was worth far more than this amount, which was now gathered into a duffel bag in front of Stuart. She was he designer of wedding gowns and dresses for other occasions. Her creations had been worn at many different events from Oscar-night parties to high-school proms. The company was a multi-million dollar, world-wide sensation.

When Helen received the call from the kidnappers, she had collected the ransom money and brought it to Stuart. He was the head of a private investigation firm. His style was occasionally unorthodox, but he got things done.

Now, as Helen paced the length of his office for the six-hundredth time, her cell phone rang.

…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..

"Breathe, Blayr. Just breathe," Stuart said as she struggled through another contraction. When the pain passed, Blayr turned to the man sitting near her.

"Why do you want to help me?"

"What kind of a question is that?" Stuart teased, stoking the fire he had built.

"Well, it's just that most of the others have been saying that you're kind of-"

"A jerk?" he finished. Blayr nodded. "I have my reasons."

…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..

Tony walked down the beach. After their fight, Blayr had not returned to the place where they slept. Now Tony was going from campsite to campsite, asking if anyone knew his sister's whereabouts. Joyce, Steve, Ellen, and Danietta were sitting around their campfire.

"She didn't come back?" Ellen asked in response to Tony's query.

"I haven't seen her since this afternoon." Joyce frowned, and it was noticed by the people around her.

"What is it?" Steve asked.

"I'm just a little worried about her. The baby will come in a day or two," Joyce said.

"She's not anywhere in camp?" Steve asked Tony. He shook his head adamantly.

"We have to find her," Danietta said, lighting a branch in the fire. She carried her torch away as she went to gather some help. Two search parties were formed, one heading down the east beach, one down the west. Tony followed Steve's faction, but stopped suddenly. He had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach, like his sister was in trouble.

"I'm coming, Blayr," he whispered. Then he ran to catch up with the rest of his group.

…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..

Stuart bit into a mango. He felt bad eating in front of Blayr, but he was starting to feel lightheaded, and he knew that if he was going to deliver the baby, he needed to be as calm as possible.

It had been a long night. Blayr had tried to get some sleep, but had woken up every few minutes in pain. Now she was exhausted, and the birth of the baby was still awhile off. Stuart brought her some water and she gulped it down between contractions.

"Thank you, Stuart," she said. "I'm sorry you're stuck out here with me."

"It's not your fault. It seems that babies live to come into the world at the most inconvenient times." Blayr smiled lightly.

"Why were you following me?" she asked.

"No one else was," Stuart answered with a smile.

"I'm so tired," Blayr said. "And my back is killing me." Stuart sat down beside her, and gently slipped his arm behind her, rubbing her lower back in a circular motion. Blayr turned her head, looking directly into his eyes. "Thank you," she whispered, settling her head on his shoulder.

To pass the time, Stuart started to tell Blayr of his life in the real-world.

…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..

Stuart nodded to Helen, and she answered the phone. It was hooked up to an extension, and Stuart could hear every word.

"Alright, Helen," the kidnapper said in an obviously distorted voice. "Have you got the money?"

"It's all here in an unmarked black bag. Everything is just how you wanted it."

"Bring the money and drive to the Santa Monica Pier. You'll get more instructions when you arrive."

"Before we do this," Stuart interjected, "I want to speak to Emily."

"Helen, Helen, Helen," the voice chided. "You've been bad. I said no police."

"My name is Stuart Thatcher. I'm a private investigator, and an old friend. I am not a police officer. I am not affiliated with any law enforcement agency, whatsoever. Let me talk to Emily. There's no point in giving you 3million dollars if she's dead."

There was a shifting sound in the background, and then Emily's voice transmitted over the telephone. It was full of terror and tears.

"Mommy?"

"I'm here, Emmy. We're coming to get you."

"That's enough for now," the kidnapper snapped as he snatched the phone back. "You have one hour."

Stuart accompanied Helen, and they were instructed to leave the money at the Santa Monica Pier, in a semi-secluded dumpster. They were then told to drive back into the city. About ten minutes later, the phone rang once more. The address they were given was of a long ago abandoned warehouse.

Stuart was now driving, and he floored the pedal, speeding towards the location given. He and Helen ran into the building. A few minutes later they came back out. Helen was holding Emily tightly in her arms.

A loud popping sound rang out and Helen fell to the ground.

…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..

"What happened?" Blayr asked, her voice labored and her face red with heat. Stuart was quiet for a moment. Then he whispered an answer.

"My wife and daughter died."

…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..

Stuart ran back to Helen. Blood pooled on her blouse, and on the pavement beneath her. But it was not hers alone. The gunshots hit Emilyas well as her mother. Stuart touched each of their necks with two fingers. No pulse in either one's veins.

With despair, Stuart called the police, and he was questioned for three hours before he was released. The funeral service was beautiful, but Stuart was the lone mourner standing beside the two graves as the coffins were lowered into them.

…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..

"I'm sorry-" Blayr began, but her breath caught in her throat. Stuart moved away from her side and checked on the baby once more. It was crowning.

"This is it, Blayr," he said. "With the next contraction, push."

"I'm scared," she said, breathing heavily.

"I am too, Blayr. But it's okay. I'm right here."

"Promise?"

"Cross my heart."

The rest of the birth was noisy, with Blayr screaming in pain, and Stuart shouting joyfully as a tiny body slid into his hands. Finally a third voice joined the first two, crying as tiny lungs filled with air.

"It's a boy, Blayr, a beautiful, big, noisy boy!" Stuart said, putting the slippery body in Blayr's arms.

"I did it," she said with an exhausted grin.

"You were amazing," Stuart said.

"Actually, you were the amazing one. Thank you," Blayr said.

"You're welcome."

A/N: So there's chapter eight, and the baby! Yeah!

Chapternine is almost done. Look for it soon.

Please let me know what you thought of this.