Chapter 6
Rocky Mountains, CO
123 hours missing
"Martin!" Danny yelled again, as he looked wildly around. He slowly made his way down to the last place he saw Martin. Finding himself slipping, he quickly secured a rope to the rock and then to himself. He again slowly made his way down to the ledge. "Martin!" he yelled desperately. This couldn't be happening – not again. Clenching his jaw, he closed his eyes tightly as childhood memories danced in front of his vision. He shook his head, he had to keep it together, and he had to rescue Martin. He wasn't going to abandon him like he did with his mother. He took a deep shaky breath as he forced himself to concentrate on the task in hand. But it was so hard when all he could think about was his mother falling to her death. Angrily, he wiped away the tears that started to fall. Martin couldn't die like his mother did. He had abandoned his mom and let her fall to her death – but he wasn't going to abandon Martin.
"Martin!" Danny yelled as he crawled towards the ledge. Carefully, he peered over the ledge and felt his heart skip a beat when he saw Martin lying motionless a few feet down. "Martin!" he yelled again.
Martin stirred as he thought he heard a voice calling him. He shifted as he tried to see where the source of the voice was coming from, but cried out as pain shot through his leg.
"Martin, are you okay?" Danny yelled in concern as he watched Martin move in obvious pain.
"Danny?" Martin tried as he rolled onto his side.
"That's right, man," Danny called out. "Are you okay?"
"U-mm," Martin said as he shifted again. He moved his leg and almost cried out when pain shot through it. "I think I may have broken my leg."
"Shit," Danny swore quietly. Raking his hands through his hair, he tried to figure out what he was going to do. He wasn't use to all of this outdoors mountain shit. Looking around, he spied a rope a couple feet from his position and quickly secured it to the rock.
"I am going to pass you down a rope. Tie it around yourself, and I will pull you up."
Martin watched as a rope was thrown down to him, he grabbed it and quickly tied around himself. He tried to move into a move comfortable position but it was near impossible with the pain that radiated through his leg. "Danny," he called up, trying to hide the pain from his voice. "Are you okay?"
Danny frowned – why was Martin asking if he was okay, when he was the one with the broken leg? "I'm fine. Don't worry. I will get you out of there in a few minutes," Danny reassured. He closed his eyes – why were the flashbacks happening now of all times. He hadn't had a nightmare of his mother's death in years. Why now – when Martin's life was depending on him? Taking a breath, he forced himself to concentrate on the task at hand – saving Martin's life. Leaning back, he started pull. At first, he didn't think he was making any progress but as the rope began to move in his hands he felt as though he was making progress.
"Danny, I am just below the ledge," Martin yelled out as he made the slow but steady progress to the ledge.
Danny took a breath and quickly secured the rope around the rock and carefully made his way down to the ledge. "Martin," he yelled in relief as he saw his friend alive. He took Martin's arm and pulled over the ledge. Pausing briefly, he took a deep breath before he started to pull Martin up the mountain – away from the ledge. He closed his eyes as his lungs, ribs and hands began to protest.
"Danny, you can stop now," Martin called out. He frowned with concern when Danny didn't stop. "Danny…it's safe now, we are far enough away from the ledge."
"No, Martin, we have to keep going. We can't be anywhere near that ledge. I am so sorry, Martin, I am so sorry. I am so sorry, Mom," Danny rambled as he pushed his fever-ridden body farther up the mountain.
Martin frowned; he could've sworn that Danny had said Mom. He was beginning to think there was a lot more to this than him slipping off the ledge. He grabbed the rope and yanked it – causing Danny to fall. "Danny, look!" Martin exclaimed. "Danny, we are safe. Under this snow is solid rock – Danny, look the ledge is all the way down there!"
"I'm so sorry Martin, I'm so sorry," Danny said as he continued to ramble. "You've broken your leg and its all my fault and I'm so sorry Martin. I never should've abandoned you. Its all my fault."
"What are talking about? It's not your fault. You didn't abandon me – you saved my life," Martin started. He looked at Danny's pale face and almost glazed eyes, and found himself beginning to panic. What if Danny was going into some form of shock? He knew Danny's parents had died when he was kid, so maybe him slipping off the cliff had triggered a delayed post-traumatic stress attack?
"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," Danny continued to ramble as he held his head in his hands. He closed his eyes tightly as he fought the visions of his mother falling to her death. "I should've never abandoned you, I'm so sorry."
Martin grabbed Danny's shoulders and shook him slightly, as he continued to get no response. "Danny, I am fine. You did not abandoned me – you saved my life," Martin stated clearly. "What's up, man?"
Danny blinked and stared at Martin as if he hadn't been aware that Martin had been there the whole time. "Nothing," he quickly stated and looked down – feeling embarrassed.
"Oh come on. Something is up. You can tell me. I won't judge you," Martin reassured. "Maybe I can help."
"You can't help," Danny almost yelled as he quickly stood up and turned away.
"You don't know, unless you try," Martin stated. He hissed in pain as his leg reminded him the reason he was probably having this conversation.
"You can't help because she is dead!" Danny exclaimed. He angrily wiped the tears that started to fall. Spinning around, he stared at Martin – why was he doing this? He didn't understand why he was reacting like this – Martin was only trying to help. When he was the one that should be helping Martin.
"Who died Danny?" Martin asked gently.
"My mom," Danny said quietly as looked away from Martin.
Flashback
An eleven-year-old Danny sat in the back of the car playing with his baseball glove, as he tried to ignore his parents' argument. But it was so difficult – why did he always have to yell and hit her? His mom never did anything wrong in his eyes. But she obviously did in Papi's eyes – then everyone did something wrong in his Papi's eyes.
"Why do have to yell at her?" Danny asked – not able to contain it any longer.
"What did you say you ungrateful little brat?" Marco Alvarez yelled.
Danny closed his eyes briefly as the unmistakable smell of rum and whiskey invaded his senses. "I-I said, I-I said why d-do have t-to yell at her," Danny stammered feeling very brave all of a sudden.
"Oh you think you are so brave. You think you can tell me what to do?" Marco yelled as he raised a fist and thumped Danny on the shoulder. "Well I tell you what you ungrateful little brat – I think me and you will be have a little 'discussion' when we get home"
"Marco!" Daniela Alvarez yelled in fright at truck that was come straight at them.
Marco yanked the steering wheel to the right, barely missing the truck. But his reactions had been drowned in the copious amounts of alcohol he had consumed through out the day. The car went into an uncontrollable spin – if Marco hadn't been drinking then he may have able to recover it. But he couldn't and the car continued spin out of control towards the cliff edge. It slammed into to a tree and all was suddenly silent.
Slowly opening his eyes, Danny surveyed the wreckage. There was a tree branch sticking through the windshield on his father's side – he couldn't see his mother. He opened the door, and was so just around to step out when something stopped him. He looked out and promptly emptied the contents of his stomach on to the floor when all he could see was blue Miami sky – car was hanging over the edge of a cliff. It had to be about 200ft drop.
"You little brat, you are going to pay for that," Marco slurred as he turned around to face Danny.
"I-I I-I," Danny stammered and looked down. He was trapped in here with his father.
"Look what you have done," Marco slurred. "This is all your fault."
"I-I I-I'm s-so s-sorry," Danny stammered. He looked up again to find his father was staring at him with glazed eyes – his father had died right in front of him and it was all his fault. He slowly and carefully began to make his way to the other door. All the time the car continued to creek and shifted slightly.
"Danny," a weak voice called out.
Danny spun around to see his mother covered in blood and trapped, on the cliff side of the car. "Mom," Danny exclaimed quietly. "Mom, I-I'm so sorry."
"Danny, this is not your fault," Daniela said weakly. "I love you Danny-boy, that's why I named you after me."
"Mami, I am going to get you out of here," Danny started.
"Danny, I want you to get out of the car and get help," Daniela instructed weakly.
"No. I am not leaving you," Danny exclaimed.
"Danny, I am trapped. I need you to get help," Daniela exclaimed. "Go Danny I am so proud of you, but I just need you do this one thing for me."
"But Mom," Danny started. He looked into his mother's eyes and knew he had to get help. But he didn't want to abandon her. He didn't want to leave her alone with the body of her abusive husband. He closed his eyes tightly as tears stung his eyes. He looked from his mother to the door and very slowly edged his way towards it. As his feet met firm ground, he turned around and looked into his mother's eyes. "I won't be long, I promise."
"I know you won't because you are my Danny and I am so proud of you," Daniela said with a smile. It wasn't as though she didn't love Raffi, but Danny was her little boy and there was nothing that she wouldn't do for him. She felt the car rock again and closed her eyes. "Go Danny," she called out – knowing the car was about to fall. She knew Danny would achieve so much in his life and she didn't want him to die with her and that bastard of her husband.
Danny reluctantly started to back away. "I will be right back. I promise," he said as he turned and started to walk towards the road. But sound of creaking and scraping metal caused him to spin around. He watched in horror as the car started to slide off the edge. "Mami!" he screamed as he ran towards the car. He locked eyes with his mom and felt his knees buckle as he watched the car fall. Collapsing to the ground, he broke down. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," he cried as he rocked back and forth.
End of flashback
"Oh Danny," Martin exclaimed – not knowing what else to say.
"You see Martin, it is all my fault," Danny said in between tears. "It's my fault that my parents died, it's my fault Raffi died, it's my fault the plane crashed and it's my fault you fell off the ledge."
"Danny, listen to me!" Martin said slightly firmly. "None of it is your fault Danny. I hate to speak ill of the dead but – Raffi made his choices. It was my fault that I fell off that ledge – I shouldn't have been walking so close. We both decided to take the FBI plane, but we didn't crash it."
"What about my parents?" Danny exclaimed, as he hung his head – tears falling freely down his face. "My father blamed me and I abandoned my mom. I fucking abandoned her!"
"Danny, your father was driving! There was nothing you could've done – you were just a kid, Danny. You didn't abandon your mom. She was trapped and you went to get help. You were trying to save her Danny! Its not your fault," Martin reassured.
Danny wiped away the tears that had been falling and tried to take a couple of calming breaths. "I'm sorry, Martin. I am going to pieces while you have broken your leg," Danny said in a shaky lost voice. "Are you okay, man?"
"It's okay, don't worry about it okay?" Martin reassured. "I am not fine, but it's going to be okay and we are going to get out of here. I'll just strap my leg up and continue walking."
"No. No way," Danny exclaimed. "There is no way I am going to let walk on that leg. I will carry you or-"
"No, Danny, you are not going to carry me. For one, you will just sink into the snow and it will make it near impossible to walk. I think what's best if you log my position into the GPS and go for help." Martin could have slapped himself as soon as the words came out of his mouth.
"No Martin I can't… I won't leave you here. I abandoned Raffi and he died. I abandoned my mom and she died, I am not going to leave you here to die!" Danny rambled. He looked wildly around for some means of transporting Martin. "We'll try converting the sled thing we have been using to transport the food. I will pull you – but I am not going to leave you here."
"Okay, Okay," Martin said soothingly. He really didn't want to put any extra strain on Danny put it didn't look like he had a choice – but he had no idea how much longer Danny could go on for.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
26 Federal Plaza
Same Time
Jack stared at his computer with glazed eyes. After he had yelled at George, he had forced himself to calm down and try persuaded him to start search again – but to no avail. Did they really think that Danny and Martin were dead? He closed his eyes and raked his hands through his hair. He had to tell Viv and Sam that the search had been called off and when it resumed it would be a recovery mission. He bit his lip as his eyes fell on a photo of the last Christmas party – before Martin had joined. He just couldn't get it into his head that he may never see Danny and Martin again. It would kill them if they lost the boys, especially Danny. It was not because they disliked Martin just they had known Danny for much longer. He took a breath this couldn't wait any longer; he had to tell the team – or what was left of his team.
"Viv, Sam can you come here a minute," Jack said in a tired voice, as he stepped into the bullpen.
The two women looked up, observing their boss's downcast expression and felt a chill down their spines. "Jack?" Viv questioned, as she closed the door behind them.
"I've just been speaking to George Thompson of the FAA – he's been coordinating the search. Well anyway, u-mm, he said…" Jack trailed off not knowing what else to say.
"He's called off the search, hasn't he?" Sam asked quietly.
"Yes."
"How can he?" Viv exclaimed. "That bastard doesn't know them like we do, I know the boys are still alive."
"What did Victor say? Please don't say he agreed," Sam added.
"Whoa, whoa," Jack said as he held his hands up in mock surrender. "As I said, the search has been called off. The search teams and Victor may have given up, but I haven't. I am going to get the boys back – I know they are alive somewhere out there."
"What are we going to do?" Viv asked. "I mean, the search has been called off."
"Well every now and again you have to max your credit cards," Jack said with a slight smile as he pulled out his wallet. "I am flying out to Denver in a few hours, where I am going to rent a chopper, find the boys and bring them home."
"There's not much on this one," Sam said as she handed her credit card over. "But use it – I will sell my car if have to. I just want them back."
"I've got credit cards, a car I will milk everything just so we can get enough money to search for them," Viv added. She held her head in her hands. "Jack it's been five days – honestly what do you think the chances are that they are still alive?"
"I don't know. I really don't," Jack sighed. "But all I can say if anyone would still be alive it would be Danny and Martin." He looked down at his watch. "Look, I have to go."
"Well I guess I should head home, if I want to catch the flight as well," Sam said as she stood up and walk towards the door.
"No, Sam you and Viv have to stay here and hold the fort. I need you here to relay any information about the boys," Jack cut in. He looked at both of their grim expressions and added. "I will bring the boys home, I just I-I just need you two here."
"That's a good idea," Viv agreed. "But we will drive you to the airport."
Jack smiled softly. "Thanks," he said. "Look I have to go by my apartment and pick up a couple things before I head to the airport."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Rocky Mountains, CO
125 hours missing
Martin felt guilt weighting heavily on his shoulders as he watched Danny struggling. He didn't want to Danny to burden with his life but he didn't have a choice. He briefly closed his eyes – watching Danny struggling reminded him of his twin sister. Danny and Jessica would've got on so well, he thought sadly.
"Hey Danny, why don't we take a break?" Martin called out.
Danny collapsed onto his knees and gasped for air. "No Martin we have too go farther so we can make it to that place before nightfall," Danny gasped as he picked himself up again and tried to carry on.
"Danny, you need to rest. It doesn't matter if we don't make it to that place before nightfall. It was only a plan to begin with and it was made before I screwed up," Martin exclaimed. "Danny you can take five minutes – you need to take five minutes."
Danny sighed and staggered towards Martin. He collapsed next to him and held his head in hands. "Martin this is screwed up," Danny whispered. "This is so screwed; I mean we shouldn't be here. We should be in the office, probably being yelled at by Jack."
"I know Danny, but we will be soon," Martin started. He looked at Danny's confused expression and added. "We will be sitting in the office being yelled at by Jack, but you have just take it easy – okay?"
"Take it easy?" Danny exclaimed. "How the hell can I take it easy when we are the stuck in the middle of nowhere?" He tried to take a breath but found he could only cough - deep painful coughs.
"Its okay man, just take it easy. Just breathe, just breathe okay," Martin coached. He closed his eyes – all he could think about was his twin sister dying of leukaemia. He knew Danny didn't have leukaemia, but all he think about was his sister taking her final breaths.
"You okay, man," Danny asked – still slight breathless from the coughing fit.
"Yeah I'm fine thanks," Martin replied in a lost voice.
"Are sure, you seem a little lost – it's not your leg?" Danny asked – concern evident in his voice.
"No, I mean my leg hurts, but its not that I was just thinking," Martin said in the same lost, small voice.
"About what?"
"My sister," Martin replied.
"You have a sister?" Danny asked with a slight frown.
"She was my twin sister, but she died from leukaemia when I was nine," Martin explained sadly.
Flashback
Martin sat on the hard hospital chairs and held his head in his hands. They thought that he didn't understand what was happening to his sister – but he did. He knew his sister was dying, he had seen it in the doctors' eyes. He had seen in his parent's eyes. But they had to be wrong – Jessica was the strong one. Jessica was born first and had weighed two more pounds at birth. She was their parent's favourite and there was nothing he could do to change that and he doubted that would ever change. He looked up and watched the doctors' leave Jessica's room. He quickly scanned the corridor for signs of his parents as they never let him see Jessica – they thought he couldn't cope with see her like that. But all he wanted to do was see her and talk to her.
"Hey Jess," Martin said as he walked to her room. He forced a smile and bit back the tears that threatened.
"Martin," Jessica said weakly. "I haven't seen you in a while."
"I know, I'm sorry Jess – but mom and dad wouldn't let me," Martin said quietly as he gently held her hand. "But I am here now."
"So what have you been doing?" Jess said as she coughed weakly.
"Nothing much – well you know school and stuff," Martin replied quietly
"How's school?" Jess asked weakly as she smiled at her twin.
"Its okay – not the same without you," Martin said. "But you will see for yourself, you will back before you know it."
"No I won't, and you know it," Jess replied.
"Yes you will, you will," Martin said almost pleading. He briefly closed his eyes – why was this happening to Jess. Why couldn't it have happened to him? Jess had been so full of life – this was so unfair.
"No I won't, Martin," Jess said sadly
"Jess what are you talking about? Jess you're going to be fine," Martin said – nearly rambling.
"No I am not Martin, they don't say but I know," Jess replied. She weakly coughed again, and closed her eyes.
Martin felt himself begin to panic. Jess seemed to be getting paler by the second – it was though her life was leaving her right in front of him. "Jess, Jess are you are okay?" Martin asked in a panicked voice. "I'm going to get a doctor."
"No, don't leave me."
The voice was so quiet and weak that Martin almost didn't hear it. He turned to see Jess's eyes were barely open. He gently took her hand and squeezed it. "I'm not going anywhere," Martin said gently.
"Thanks," Jess said as she closed her eyes one final time.
"I will always be with you, I will never leave you," Martin said, as tears began to roll down his face, as he realised what was happening.
"I love you," Jess said – her voice barely more that a whisper now. She took a shallow shaky breath.
"Please don't go. Please don't leave me," Martin said in between tears. "I love you Jess."
"Goodbye Martin," Jess whispered as she took one final shallow breath.
Martin buried his head next to Jess's and broke down. He barely noticed the alarm sounding or the doctor coming in to silence it. She was gone, she had left him. He had felt like part of him was missing – he had Jess had almost telepathic connection. But that connection was broken now – forever. He closed his eyes and cried himself to sleep.
End of flashback.
"I'm so sorry, Martin," Danny said quietly.
"Yeah," Martin sniffed. "She was so full of life and intelligent, I still feel as though part of me is missing."
"Man that must be tough," Danny said as he stifled back a cough – not wanting to add to Martin's guilt or fears.
"I know my parents didn't let me visit her – but I should've gone. I left her there when she needed me. She was my goddamn twin," Martin exclaimed – not bothering to wipe the tears that were falling freely down his face.
"Martin, you did all you could. You were there when she needed you most. Because of you she didn't have to die alone – and there is a lot of honour in that," Danny said gently.
"I guess," Martin said quietly. He sighed and looked down at his hands, he hated talking about his sister's last moments of her life and he hadn't talked to about it to anyone for ages. In fact, he couldn't remember talking about it to anyone before and he couldn't believe he had just told Danny. "So you wanna grab a bite to eat?" Martin said quickly
Danny produced a small smile. "Sure. What shall we have from the wonderful selection of food?" he said – letting Martin change the subject.
"Well we have energy bars, crackers, airline food and energy bars," Martin reeled off with a small smile – glad that Danny allowed him to change the subject.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Somewhere above the Rocky Mountains, CO
127 hours missing
Jack pressed his head against the cool glass and stared out on to the beak landscape below. All he could see was snow for miles on end occasionally broken up by the odd rocky outcrop. Viv was right – could the boys be still alive in this beak landscape after five days? He closed his eyes – this was so screwed up. He thought would feel better once he knew what had happened to the boys – but he felt worse. He had no idea where they were and he had no idea if they were alive or not.
"You want something from the drinks trolley?" a voice asked
Jack turned around, what he really needed was a small whiskey to calm his nerves, but he needed to be alert. "Coffee please," he said. "Thanks," he added once the flight attendant handed him a mug of steaming black coffee.
"Going anywhere nice?" the flight attendant asked.
"U-mm, I hope so," Jack replied tiredly. He looked down and stared into his coffee – his thoughts were as black as his coffee. It had been 5 days – the likelihood of the boys being still alive was slim to none.
