Title: Another Day, Brother - Chapter 4

Author: jbdean ©

Rating: G

Summary: Later that night.

The sun felt good on his face as he kept a firm hand on The Nairne's rudder. They were fairly far out from shore, Fiona and he, but not so far out that a few gulls hadn't found them.

He watched as she held up bits of fish to the huge gray and white birds, as they hung in mid-air over her head as if they were suspended by invisible wires. He watched as each one took its turn, gently taking the fish from her long slender fingers. Normally, gulls would be loud and rowdy as they fought to get their scraps but it was always different when Fiona would feed them. She had a way with animals that calmed them, and it calmed him to watch her with an animal. Soon there were at least ten gulls floating over her head, each one going in to take their food and moving out so the next one could feed. It never ceased to amaze him. She was never bitten or blessed with their droppings. It was as if she and they, all animals, had a silent communication between them.

"You're going to spoil them, Fiona. They need to hunt for their food ... you know that," Desmond's words broke the silence like a harpoon.

She smiled, sweetly, never turning to look away from her charge. "I'm nearly out here, sweet. Just a few more ... " She reached into the bucket where the smelt lay on ice and tossed the last one up to one of the smaller birds. "There you go," she spoke to it directly. "That's all I have ... for now." She smiled, again, at each one separately and as if they spoke her language each one turned on the wind and flew back toward shore.

"I'm going below to wash up and clean out this bucket," she said as she lifted the aluminum pail. "You want anything while I'm down there?"

She turned for a brief moment while she spoke to him and the sun caught on her hair and skin like a golden veil. His heart swelled with the love he had for her as he managed to whisper his reply, "Just for you to hurry back top side."

"Aye, aye 'capin'!" she said as she turned and vanished below the deck.

It had been nearly two years since he had met her. At a friend's insistance Desmond had attended a New Year's Eve party. Never having been one for parties, he felt out of place and hung close to the wall, clutching his drink like it was the Crown Jewels. He'd been there about an hour and there was still 45 minutes until midnight. Looking around at all the couples, Desmond suddenly felt out of place and decided he'd just slip out and go home. Placing his drink on the table, he went to the bedroom and got his coat. A quick glance at the crowd showed him that his host was deep in conversation with a pretty brunett and wouldn't notice him leaving. He headed to the door and let himself out. He had just reached the bottom of the steps when light from his friend's front door spilled out onto the steps and sidewalk. Quickly, Desmond moved into the shadows, thinking his friend had come looking for him but as he peeked around a bush that blocked him from view, he saw another guest making an early exit. She had her back to him as she quietly closed the door and when she headed down the steps, the street lamp gave off just enough light so that he could see her lovely features.

"I don't recall her being at the party," Desmond thought to himself. "If I'd seen here there, I'd have stayed!" He watched as she turned away from him and headed down the sidewalk.

Desmond had stood watching her walk until it dawned on him that he might never find out who this lovely creature was if he didn't go after her. Moving out from behind the bush, he quickened his steps so that he reached her in little to no time. They both stood beside each other in silence as they waited for the light to change so they could cross the street. As the light changed, Desmond was thinking of a way to start a conversation as the young woman stepped off the curb into the crosswalk. No sooner had she taken two steps than a motorcycle came around the corner, disregarding their red light and nearly ran her over. Desmond quickly grabbed for her arm and pulled her back to him. Without any hesitation, the woman threw her arms around Desmond's neck and buried her face in his chest. It seemed like an eternity that they stood like that in the night air. He gently held her and rested his cheek against her hair. It was the first time he had gotten a whiff of her perfume. That lovely scent that was a mixture of vanilla and wild flowers. Slowly she turned her face up toward his and he looked down at her. His brown eyes meeting her blue, his brown hair mingled with her gold. He clearly remembered thinking, "This is someone I could fall in love with ..."

Then, as suddenly as he had pulled her into his arms, she stepped back. Blushing, she began to apologize for her not seeing the motorcyclist and thanking him for being there to save her. He gave the usual polite "It was nothing," and "Just glad I was here," when what he really wanted to say was, "You smell wonderful! You're so beautiful! Will you marry me?" But just when he thought he'd made himself sound like a dim-whitt, she spoke again.

"I'm Fiona, Fiona Dunn."

"Fiona," he thought to himself. "What a beautiful name!" But what came out was, "Hi ... I'm Desmond. Desmond MacLachlan."

"Well, Desmond MacLachlan, let me buy you a cup of tea. It's the least I can do for your saving my life." She smiled at him in a way that made it impossible to say no ... even though it would have been impossible even if she hadn't. Desmond was falling in love.

"You in there?" Fiona asked, bringing Desmond back to the present. He looked up at her and smiled.

"Yes, yes I'm in here," he took one of his arms and wrapped it around her waist and pulled her down on his lap. "Want to join me?"

She giggled softly against his cheek and whispered her 'yes' in his ear. He hugged her with his one arm and kissed her neck. "Just let me toss the anchor over and I'm all yours."

Fiona sat at the rudder, watching as Desmond hoisted the heavy anchor overboard and stood watching it to make sure it sank properly. "You're such an excellent sailor," she said. He turned and looked at her over his shoulder and smiled.

"And you're an excellent sailor's wife!"

Suddenly Desmond woke up. It was night and he was disoriented. "Where am I?" He asked the darkness. He felt uneasy and as if something unusual had awakened him. Sitting in the dark, he listened ... to what he wasn't sure but he felt there was something he should be hearing. Then, as if in reply to his curiosity, he heard it. A loud banging that was hitting the outside of his boat. It was as if someone was walking with a club on deck. He strained to follow the sound. Yes, it was someone on deck. He could tell that the banging was moving from one end of the boat to the other.

He jumped up from his bunk and flung the hatch door open. As he stuck his head out, he looked around quickly, trying to find the cause of the noise. In the pale moonlight he caught a glimpse of what looked like a person jumping off the deck and onto the sand. Quickly he climbed out from the hatch and made his way to the railing where he'd seen the person jump. He thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. He saw, at least he thought he saw, two or three people running off into the jungle but they were so fast that he wasn't sure if they were people, animals or just his imagination. But the banging, he knew he'd heard that. It had to have been people or an animal. But if it was people, who were they? Were they part of John and Jack's plane survivors? For some strange reason, Desmond didn't think so. He felt quite unsettled by the whole event and decided he'd sit watch on deck for the rest of the night.

CONTINUED