Ch. 3 Abby Found Once More
"Hey Daley; Eric, Lex, and I are going out to find more food," Nathan informed Daley while she fed the fire with more wood the next morning.
"Okay, thanks, and while you're out there, say hello to Herbert for me," Daley joked while giving Nathan a quick kiss.
"Can do," Nathan smiled, "love you."
"Love you too," Daley smiled and went back to her work. Nathan left with the other two, Eric and Lex arguing the whole way. Melissa walked over to Daley.
"You can't get enough of hearing that from him, can you?" Melissa laughed at the look of pure joy on Daley's face.
"Maybe," she said mysteriously. Melissa laughed again and rolled her eyes a bit.
"Well, come with me. Jackson, Taylor, and I are going to go listen to her iPod. She has the theme for Friends, and one of the episodes recorded, so we're going to dream of being back home and watching TV."
"Sure, I love Friends!" Daley laughed as they walked back together.
Nathan walked in the forest, collecting fruit. Eric and Lex were behind him. He soon tripped on something, and found it was pale. He panicked slightly.
"Guys, guys! Get over here!"
Both ran over immediately, familiar with his current tone of voice and worried.
"Look," Nathan pointed to the arm. Lex gasped and Eric's eyes widened. They immediately began pulling junk of the arm, to reveal a body, and a head, and another arm, and two legs.
"Abby…" Nathan gasped. Surprisingly, Abby moaned.
"She's alive!" Nathan gasped, "Eric, Lex, help me pick her up!"
"I got her," Eric whispered and did so. Lex lifted Abby's legs over his head, mumbling something about blood loss and keeping it above the heart. Nathan held her head.
They walked carefully into camp, and Eric laid her down on the sleeping bags in the tent, before all three running out and getting the water bottles saved and some cloths. The others didn't notice, being wrapped up in a verbal Friends episode with many headphones on, until Nathan tapped Daley's shoulder.
"Wha- Nathan! What's wrong?" Daley asked at the look on his face.
"We found Abby," he murmured. Daley paled, and managed to get the other's attention and repeated what Nathan had said. They all paled as well, and ran over to help Eric and Lex.
Lex was wrapping bandages around Abby's bloody legs, and Eric was keeping wet cloths pressed to her forehead, which was burning up. Nathan let water from his bottle drip into Abby's mouth. Daley was helping Lex by wrapping bandages around Abby's scarred hands. Jackson and Melissa were running to the ocean and to the well for water. Taylor was handing people whatever they needed.
Soon, all they could do was wait.
"I am so worried about Abby," Daley muttered to herself as she sat on a log by the remade fire. She held her face in her hands and cried a bit, not looking up when she felt a comforting arm around her shoulder.
"Shh, shh, Day," Nathan murmured, "It's going to be okay."
Daley couldn't help but believe him- when Nathan said it, you could.
Daley looked up and bit her lip, "she's been through this twice! I don't know, Nathan…"
"We did all we can," Nathan sighed, "we have to remember that."
"I know," Daley murmured, "but you can't help but to blame yourself if something goes wrong."
"I know, Daley," Nathan wrapped his other arm around Daley, and rubbed her back, "I know." He kissed the top of her head.
Daley couldn't help but smile back at him, "thanks for this, Nathan."
"My pleasure," Nathan laughed.
"I love you," Daley murmured into his chest. Nathan grinned like a fool again.
"I love you too," Nathan sighed as Daley wrapped her arms around his neck.
They rested in each other's arms, hoping that they would never have to leave.
Melissa was bringing food back from the jungle, just as worried as everyone else. She sighed, dumped the food in the bin, and walked back to the jungle, hugging herself. She was so distraught; she didn't even hear the footsteps coming up behind her.
"Hey, Melissa?" it was Jackson. Melissa jumped a bit before turning towards him.
"Hey, Jackson," she sighed, "what's up?"
"Are you doing okay?" he asked with a concerned expression on his face.
"I'm worried about Abby," Melissa admitted, biting her lip.
"Oh Mel," Jackson wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. Melissa cried into his chest for a bit, before pulling back.
"Thank you, Jackson," Melissa smiled a bit as Jackson took her hand in his.
"Anytime," he smiled a bit. Melissa leaned up and kissed him, to his surprise.
He kissed back briefly before Melissa pulled away. She smiled shyly and held his hand. He grinned back, and they walked together to go gather food.
Daley and Nathan had not moved an inch in an hour, both soothed by the other's rhythmic breathing. Daley finally looked up after a while.
"Nathan?" she asked, and saw that his eyes were closed.
"Yes Day?" he asked, smiling a bit.
"Thank you. So much."
"For what?" Nathan smiled.
"For being the most… amazing boyfriend in the history of the world."
Nathan smiled and kissed the top of her forehead, "your welcome."
Daley looked up and kissed him lovingly. Nathan kissed back, and they continued to kiss. Even when they heard footsteps coming up behind them.
"Um… guys?" said a scratchy voice. They looked up in surprise, to see Abby standing before them.
"Abby!" Daley gasped, and broke away reluctantly from Nathan.
"Hey guys," Abby said, her voice depressed.
"Abby," Nathan got up, as did Daley, and they both walked over to help her.
"Thanks you guys," Abby murmured, and they both shrugged.
"What do you need?" Daley asked earnestly.
"I need to sit," Abby smiled a little, and Daley and Nathan helped her sit.
"So, you two are together?" Abby asked earnestly.
Nathan pulled Daley in close, both grinning, "Yeah."
"My blessing," Abby laughed.
"I'll go get everyone," Daley said reluctantly. She left, but her and Nathan held hands until she was too far away. Nathan watched her go longingly.
"You love her, don't you?" Abby asked. Nathan blushed a bit before nodding.
"Good job," Abby laughed. Nathan grinned a little.
"Does she love you?" Abby asked, curious. Nathan blushed again, and nodded again.
"Wow. You really have my blessing," Abby laughed as Daley came back with everyone.
(1, 083 Words) Cliffy! Again!