Sorry it took me so long to update! I was having trouble logging on. But, anyways, here's Chapter Seventeen! So glad you guys are still enjoying yourselves! Keep it coming with those reviews, and I'll keep it coming with the chappies!

Chapter Seventeen

Huddled in a cave on the far side of the bank, Jack Driscoll heard gunshots from the other side of the river. He hoped they meant that Englehorn and the Seabornes were getting the better of those raptors, but he couldn't erase Wilson's hate-filled expression from his mind. Surely the big, mean sailor hadn't caught up to the captain and the others… Surely not…

"Jack, I think we need to find out what's going on over there," Jimmy spoke up from nearby.

Jack nodded. "Me, too. I'm worried for them."

Ann lifted her head from his shoulder. "Jack, how are we going to cross the river? It's flooded with rain. And those creatures are still out there!"

"We'll find a way," Jack said decidedly. "We have to."

Sitting nearby, hugging his knees to his chest, Preston thought of Clytie. Was she all right? Were her brother and her beloved captain all right? It bothered him to think that anything bad might have happened to her, his good friend. "I'm up for anything, Jack," he spoke up. "I'll even go ahead as a scout if you need me to."

"No. I'll go."

Everyone turned and looked at Jake Atkins.

"The last time I spoke to my godchildren, it was in anger," the older man said sadly. He looked horrible. His expensive suit was muddy and ragged, his thin gray hair tangled. "If anyone has to risk their life to go alone after Clytie and David… and the captain… it should be me."

Jack shook his head quickly. "No one is going alone."

"Jack," Ann said suddenly, worriedly. "Where's Jimmy?"

(LINE)

David, Clytie, and Englehorn trudged along in the rain, walking uphill, close to a tall rock wall, which gave them a little protection from the elements. David was in the lead, cheerful as usual. Clytie walked quietly in the middle, continually glancing back at Englehorn, who took up the rear.

His face is so pale, she thought as she looked back at him once again. I don't think he feels half as well as he says he does.

The captain gave her a tired smile. "Clytie, I'll be fine."

She frowned at him. "I wish I could be sure of that."

Englehorn barely heard her words. He felt utterly exhausted and dizzy, every breath stung his ribs, and his shoulder throbbed. He could feel that the bandage was already soaked in blood, but, of course, he wasn't going to tell that to Clytie. The girl worried too much about him. It wouldn't do her any good to know what kind of shape he was in. He grimaced, hating to be such a useless, pitiful wreck.

"Eric?" Clytie called back to him.

The captain stopped walking and leaned against the rock wall. "Let's--let's rest for a bit, Clytie," he panted. His knees were shaking. Angry at his weakness, he slapped his palm against the rock. That accomplished nothing except to make the sting in his ribs worse.

"David! Stop!" Clytie called to her brother, who had trotted ahead imperturbably.

The young archaeologist turned quickly around, hazel eyes wide. "What is it?"

"It's Eric. He wants to rest awhile." Clytie turned back to Englehorn and walked to his side. "Eric… What's the matter? Are you all right?"

Englehorn pressed his right palm hard against his left shoulder. "I'm fine, Clytie. Just… tired."

To Clytie's horror, there was blood leaking between his fingers. "Eric, you're not fine. Your shoulder--"

"Will be all right," he said sharply. His thoughts were getting fuzzy, and that bothered him, nearly to rage. "I've been through worse than this before. Just let me rest and I'll--I'll be fine."

David jogged back down the hill to where they stood. "Captain, if you like, I'll carry you up this hill," he volunteered.

At first, Clytie thought her brother was joking, then she realized that he was being very serious.

"I don't need you to carry me, Seaborne," Englehorn replied. He closed his eyes and clenched his teeth against a wave of pain. "I'll be--"

"Dead if you keep this up," David cut him off. "You're not fine. You won't be fine, not unless you stop walking and let us help you."

"Shut up, David," Englehorn snapped. "I'll be--" Suddenly, his knees buckled and he pitched forward.

Clytie caught him just in time and gently lowered him to the ground. Her guts twisted into knots inside her. Oh, God, please… Don't take him away from me! She settled him against her shoulder, upset at how weak he was.

"I guess you Seabornes were right," the captain managed with a hoarse laugh.

"That's not funny," Clytie replied, her voice breathless. She was barely holding back another set of hysterical tears.

David knelt beside Clytie and the captain. "So, Englehorn… Have you reconsidered my offer to carry you up that hill?"

(LINE)

Darby and Bruce shrunk even deeper into their hiding place as they heard the sound of movement in the trees nearby. Something was coming…

Suddenly, a human form leaped out of the trees, waving a rifle. "Mr. Galyon! Mr. Baxter!"

Bruce peered through the rain. "Is that that Jimmy kid?"

Darby immediately jumped up and ran toward the person standing in the rain. "Jimmy! You found us!"

(LINE)

Clytie and David had somehow managed to get Englehorn to his feet, and now, they were fairly dragging him up the hill, supporting him between them. At the top of the hill, fortunately, there was a small cave, occupied only by a few large insects, which Clytie quickly blew away with her pistol. Her aim was perfect. By this, David knew that she was really upset. She was a good shot to begin with, but when she was upset, she was really good.

Clytie and David gently lowered the captain down to the ground next to the cool wall of the cave. Clytie instantly sat down beside him, checking the new bandage on his shoulder. She shuddered. It was already darkening with blood. "Does it hurt?" she asked quietly.

He shook his head. "Not much anymore. It's just numb. My ribs still hurt, though."

Clytie was quiet, listening to his breathing. It didn't sound good. "Eric, I think we might need to wrap your ribs. Your breathing sounds pretty bad. They might be broken."

He nodded absently, barely able to remain conscious.

"Clytie… I think I heard voices," David spoke up suddenly from where he stood at the mouth of the cave.

Clytie glanced sharply at her brother. "Are they nearby?"

He shook his head. "Sounded like someone was yelling… Out that way." He pointed toward an area of the jungle. He turned to meet his sister's eyes. "Clytie, I think I need to go find them, and then we can all go back to the ship."

Clytie felt a moment of panic at being left alone with the wounded Englehorn, then she took a deep breath to calm her down. "All right."

David frowned worriedly. "Will the two of you be all right by yourselves?"

Clytie held up her pistol. "We'll be fine."

Englehorn smiled groggily. "Your sister is a good shot, Mr. Seaborne. I trust her."

David nodded. "All right." He picked up one of the packs and hoisted it over his shoulder, then took up a Tommy gun. "Bye, sis. Take care of the captain."

(LINE)

"Eric, let me see your ribs."

Englehorn nodded quickly and leaned back against the cave wall. "All right, Clytie."

His meekness surprised her--and worried her. Gently, she began to unbutton the front of his shirt. Her fingers trembled slightly. Finally, she had his shirt opened. She winced at the dark bruises on his lean, strong body. Obviously, he had taken a rough beating from Joe Wilson, even though in the end, he had emerged the victor. "You definitely need these ribs wrapped," Clytie said softly, reaching for her pack.

He nodded dazedly, trying to focus, to stay conscious.

Carefully, Clytie began winding long strips of gauze around the captain's waist. She hoped that this would keep his ribs from shifting and doing damage to his lungs.

Englehorn sighed and closed his eyes. The cool touch of her fingers felt good on his feverish skin. Everything about her was soothing, even the quiet sound of her breathing.

After finishing with the bandage, Clytie rocked back on her heels and sighed. "There. That should help," she said quietly.

Englehorn opened his eyes and looked at her, smiling weakly. "Thank-you," he said. He reached impulsively and took her hand, drawing it to his lips. Her breath stilled as he kissed the back of her hand, then turned it over to kiss her palm, then her wrist. Then, wincing, he set her hand down on his chest and dropped his own, closing his eyes. "Speak to me, Clytie," he whispered. "Tell me something. I want to hear your voice."

Clytie swallowed, moved by this sudden show of emotion from him. Softly, gently, she settled down at his side, leaving her hand on his chest. "What would you like me to say?" she asked quietly.

"Anything… Just to hear you… would be… wonderful…" he managed breathlessly.

She reached to touch his forehead, which was startlingly warm. "All right. Let me get you some water first." She reached behind her, not leaving his side, to fetch a canteen from her pack. Then she held it to his lips. "You're burning up, Eric," she said quietly. "You've got a fever."

His reply was a short nod.

Clytie reached into her pack for more bandages and soaked one in the cool water. She gently ran it over his face. Then she remembered his request for her to talk to him. "When I was a little girl," she started softly, "Jake took me to the ocean all the time. Me and David…" Quietly, she began to tell him about her life, little stories about her and David as children, her teenage dreams and plans, her career as a marine biologist. "And that shoe!" she said after awhile, smiling. "I knew it was David's! He's such a slob, leaving his stuff lying around everywhere. I don't know how many times I've tripped over that silly boot!"

Englehorn chuckled softly.

"And then there's you, Eric," she said suddenly, her voice changing in tone.

He glanced quickly at her, taking in the haunting, almost other-worldly look in her eyes.

"When I first met you on the docks, you were so--so impressive, so… alluring… captivating." She smiled. "Your eyes… They drew me in, made me want to know you, want to be around you, want to watch you. But at the same time, I was afraid, like I told Jimmy that time when you were eavesdropping on us. I was afraid of this powerful attraction to you." She sighed and looked down at him. "I'm not afraid anymore," she whispered. "That day when you saved my life, I knew I did not have to fear you or my feelings for you."

The captain closed his eyes, smiling crookedly. "Tell me more, Miss Seaborne. You are an excellent story-teller."

(LINE)

Trekking through the rain and mud, David searched frantically for any sign of the rest of the rescue party. He knew he had heard their voices. So where were they?

He began to move faster, his heart rate ascending. He was desperately worried about his sister's captain. The man was tough, true, but… He was badly wounded. He really needed to be on his ship, leaving Skull Island, hopefully for somewhere with a good hospital.

Suddenly, there was a low growl in the bushes just behind David. He stopped jogging and slipped his finger onto the trigger of his Thompson, swearing under his breath. "Come and get me. I dare you," he said from between clenched teeth. He had lived long enough on this hell-of-an-island to know that pretty much anything that growled wanted to eat you…

(LINE)

Jimmy quickly led Darby and Bruce back to the others.

Jack jumped to his feet from where he had been sitting on a rock. "Jimmy! Where were you?" His brown eyes widened. "Darby! Bruce!"

"I noticed some footprints back there," Jimmy explained with a shrug. "So I just… went after them."

"Where's the captain?" Darby asked immediately.

"And that Seaborne gal?" Bruce added.

Ann shook her head, crossing her arms. "We don't know. The captain and the Seabornes were on the other side of the river last we knew." She sighed. "They still may be."

"Seabornes... plural? You found Clytie's brother?" Darby asked.

Jack nodded.

"We heard gunshots," Preston said, standing up. "More than enough to deal with those raptors that just attacked us." He frowned. "I think Wilson was chasing them, the captain and the Seabornes."

Darby quickly cocked his rifle. "Well there's no time to lose, then. Let's find them."

(A/N: Sorry if this was kinda short. It just ended well right here. Chapter Eighteen is under construction!)