Im so sorry guys, eventually this story will get done. My dad passed away suddenly on August 1st, and its been a really rough time. I should have some writing up soon, but I just can't seem to get life out of the way. Anyhow, please enjoy this slightly scrambled update. I think there may only be one or two chapters left!
Marco drove like a wild thing that was let out of a cage after a decade of captivity, as he desperately tried to make his way out of town. He couldn't believe that he had let an opportunity to rescue his friends slip through his grasp. The heavy truck slipped and slid in the growing drifts as its driver strained to see through the light curtain of snow that was falling once more upon the sleepy houses. The lights of the small town slowly vanished behind him, leaving all sense of security and peace in their glow.
He felt like he was going to throw up.
The cabin. The cabin. Get to the cabin. It became a chant, a rallying cry in his scrambled mind. He could think of nothing else. His weathered hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that they lost all feeling inside his winter gloves. What if he was too late? What if the snow was still unsteady and it would not hold his weight? What if he, Marco, failed his friends in not following his gut feeling earlier. The fireman did not realize that sheer desperation was stealthily clouding his judgement and he was so desperate to find his captain that he forsook all wisdom, not realizing how slim the chance was that they had made it to the hunter's cabin alive.
But it was a chance he just couldn't turn his back on. What he did not consider was that no one knew where he was headed. No one would notice his absence.
He shook his head to clear his thoughts and stomped the gas pedal to the floor, leaving a spray of snow behind him in the road.
"It's getting colder."
Hank looked up from the array of radio parts that he had strewn across the small table to see his sister up and walking around. She was rubbing her hands together, and she smiled a little when she caught his eye.
He didn't know what to say at first. She seemed alert and awake. They had not had any conversations worth mentioning without them both being mostly out of it. He didn't know if she would remember their earlier discussions about her experiences and her troubled past. He wasn't sure what to say.
She saw the deer in the headlights look in his dark eyes and she nervously bit her lip. Jumping at the sudden pain it caused, she realized that she had forgotten about her lip being injured. Rubbing the back of her hand across it, she spoke quietly. "You don't have to look so scared, Hank."
Hank Stanley raised his eyebrows in an attempt to change his facial expression, but it didn't help at all. "I'm not scared a bit, Peanut. How are you feeling?"
Hugging her arms around her upper body, Ashley shrugged noncommittally "Cold."
Hank chuckled, his eyes crinkling kindly. "Other than that?" He pointed to the chair across the table and offered her his coat.
She waved it away and sat down opposite him, fixing him with that puppy dog face that he remembered fondly could get her anything when she was little. "I'm sorry."
Hank took up his screwdriver again and drew his eyebrows together for a second. "Sorry about what?"
The eyes gazing back at him were sincere. "Everything, Hank. I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry that I didn't come to you before - all - this." She waved her arms aimlessly at the surrounding walls, indicating their current predicament. "I'm sorry I've been such a loser."
Hank's face definitely changed at those words, and he stood suddenly, coming over to take her shoulders in his hands. She was startled at the quick move, and cowered, her head down, eyes closed.
"Ashley, look at me." His voice was quiet but firm.
She whimpered a little, but was completely frozen. Hank bent down a little and caught her gaze, a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Look at me, Peanut. Look at me. I don't ever want to hear you say that again. You hear? Someone else may have said that to you, but not me. I wouldn't even think it. You are beautiful, you are special. You are family, to me and to the boys at the station. You are a bright, vibrant girl, and I am so lucky to have you as my sister. You may have strayed down a lonely path, but its I who am sorry, Peanut. I am sorry I was not there for you. I am sorry I didn't notice. But I promise you this." He wrapped his hands around the harmed wrists. "You are worth more than this. You are worth so so much more. You can always come to me. And if I ever seem unavailable, you tell me. Tell me when I mess up. Tell me that you need me and that you need me right then. Make me listen, Ashley. Trust me, I will hear you."
"That's what Dr. Brackett said."
Hank hesitated at the sudden change of direction. "He said what?"
Ashley looked up at her brother. "When I first woke up in ICU, before you got there, he told me that you would have always been there for me, if I had just asked. He also told me that Roy or Johnny or even himself or Dixie would be backups if I ever needed it."
Hank smiled kindly. "Well, that is your support group. Hold them accountable and they will hold you accountable. Fair?"
She nodded, smiling crookedly at him. "Fair."
Hank patted her shoulder. "Good. Come on over by the fire then."
She nodded and let him wrap his coat around her. Stretching her back in front of the fireplace, she looked around.
"I think they lied to you, Hank."
His face crumpled in confusion, Hank picked up his screwdriver. "Who did?"
"The vacation club. The vacation flyer looks nothing like this place." She smiled wickedly at her brother.
He laughed, a genuine stress-free laugh. "Girl, I am with you on that one! This cabin needs some serious updating. Talk about a rip-off. Wait until Johnny finds out –"
The room fell silent and Ashley looked down at the floor.
"Ash, it's going to be okay." Hank spoke softly.
With brimming eyes, Ashley looked up at him. "Promise?"
Hank threw down the screwdriver and came to her side, pulling her into a tight hug.
"Promise me, Hank," she whispered sadly into his shoulder. "Promise me it's going to be okay. Promise me Johnny will be okay?"
He looked up at the ceiling, trying to keep his own tears at bay, tightening his hold as he rested his forehead on his sister's arm.
"I can't Peanut. I really can't promise you that it will be okay. I don't know where Johnny or Roy are. But I can promise you that I will never give up on you, okay? I will get you out of here."
He pulled away so he could look at her. "I promise you that."
She nodded, squeezing her eyes shut, sending the tears down the pale cheeks. "I'm scared, Hank."
Hank grimaced and pulled her close again. "Me too, Peanut. Me too."
At exactly that moment, there was a desperate pounding on the cabin door.
"Come on, Johnny. I need you to wake up."
Joanne DeSoto patted the young man's shoulder as he stirred. The dark eyes opened and for a moment, the confusion on his young face was endearing.
"How ya doing, tiger?" Joanne whispered, brushing back the dark curly hair from his forehead.
Johnny sighed and squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. "Bright."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Johnny. Let me get that." She moved quickly to close the slats in the blinds to a bare glimmer of light. "Better?"
"Yeah," Johnny nodded slowly.
"How do you feel?" Joanne asked, pulling a chair up next to him and taking his hand in hers, she pushed the nurse call button at the same time.
Johnny gazed at the ceiling for a moment. "Head hurts. But I think I'm ok. Roy!" He nearly sat straight up, had Joanne not been twice as fast and pushed his shoulder's back down. "Easy does it, tiger. He's awake and talking, just like you. He may be dismissed later this afternoon if all goes well."
Relief visibly crossed Johnny's face. "Wanna see him."
"Oh, don't worry, I already did. I want to spend time with you now." Joanne said gently, in her mothering way, her eyes firm and unbending in her decision.
Johnny's face crumpled into a stubborn frown. "No, I want to see him."
Understanding made Joanne smile, and she patted his arm. "Okay, fine. Sure thing. Let me check with a nurse for you. She will talk to the doctor for you"
As she went to move away, Johnny reached out and grabbed her sleeve. "Joanne, was Marco here?"
She hesitated and glanced around the room. "I'm not sure Johnny, why do you ask?"
Johnny studied her face for a moment, the confusion evident in his eyes. "No reason, I guess. I thought he was here earlier. Must have dreamed it. No worries, Jo."
"If you say so, Johnny. You were really out of it. I will get Roy for you."
Johnny nodded, a crooked smile crossing his face. Roy was pretty much a brother to him, and he had to see for himself that his pal was okay. As she left the room, Joanne passed the young nurse headed to check on Johnny. "He's awake now, sister. Be prepared, he's a fun one." Joanne said cheerfully, enjoying the look of confusion on the woman's face. She had no idea what kind of patient that Johnny could be. "Heartbreaker." She mumbled to herself, getting on the elevator to head to her husband's room.
Joanne walked into Roy's room to find the window blinds open and a gently snow falling outside.
"It looks like Christmas, doesn't it?" A voice behind her spoke cheerfully. She jumped, startled, and whirled around.
Roy stood at the bathroom door in his hospital gown, leaning on the door frame, looking perfectly normal except for the abrasions and bruises that would take time to heal. Joanne's eyes grew wide.
"Roy! You know what the doctor said! Wheelchair only until tomorrow! If you fall, you'll be right back in here, and if you don't mind me saying it, I am ready to get out of here!"
Roy chuckled at the fire in his wife's voice. He put his arms around her and pulled her close, kissing the top of her head. "That makes two of us. Where, pray tell, lieth my golden chariot, oh fair one?"
She playfully smacked his arm. "Get over here, and sit down. We have a quick stop by Johnny's room first."
Roy turned from the wheelchair, grasping the arm for support, and glanced at her, his face searching hers with his unspoken question.
"It's okay, Roy, he's awake and asking for you. Probably flirting with the nurse that was headed to check on him when I left."
Relief flooded Roy's face and he grinned broadly. "Well, lead on then. Let's rescue the poor girl!"
"Just a minute, Roy." Joanne leaned forward and took his chin in her hand. For a moment, Roy could only focus on the soft touch of the gentle hands and was thinking about how he almost lost the most important person in his life other than his kids and Johnny, and how tragic that would have been. He came back to earth to find Joanne gazing strangely at him.
"Roy? You okay?" She was concerned about the faraway look in his eyes. After last night, she was still jumpy. She swallowed her concern and tried to cast off the fear.
"Sorry, Jo. Was just thinking." Roy smiled reassuringly, his eyes clear and honest as he looked at her.
She nodded agreeably. "Noticed. Roy, don't go in there and try to treat Johnny, okay? The doctors will take care of him. Just be a friend. You know how Johnny hates coddling."
Roy threw up his hands in a sign of surrender. "I promise, Jo. No doctoring. Just want to make sure his vitals are steady and his eyes-"
"Roy!"
"Okay, okay!" He crossed his arms in mock frustration.
Joanne laughed. "Just relax okay? At least try?"
Roy rolled his eyes. "Eye, eye, Captain!" He playfully saluted as she pushed him out into the hall.
Johnny's room was still and quiet when Roy and Joanne peeked around the door to Johnny's unit. Only the comforting beep of the heart monitor broke the silence. Roy made a mental note of the sounds, and was satisfied with what he heard and saw. Joanne gave him a look of warning and he held up his hands in a motion of surrender. The floor creaked beneath Joanne's foot and Johnny's head turned to face them. The trademark Gage grin spread across his face, and the visitors could tell he was genuinely glad to see them.
"Hi Pally," Johnny grinned, reaching out his hand to them.
Roy took it in his own gladly. "Hey yourself. You look good."
Johnny chuckled. "Thanks. I actually feel pretty okay. I know they probably won't let me out of here for a bit, but sure feels better than I did."
Roy smiled weakly. "Yeah, you were pretty out of it there, buddy."
"Any word on Cap and Ashley?" Johnny asked quietly.
Roy just shook his head, unwilling to break the news just yet to his recovering comrade.
Johnny looked away and frowned. His hand was squeezing Roy's nervously, the only indication of where his thoughts were.
"Did Marco come see you?" Roy asked, trying to change the subject gently.
"You know, that's a funny thing. I musta dreamed it, but I thought I heard his voice a while ago. Maybe I was still asleep and he just left."
"Well, in that case he is probably at the hotel." Joanne said kindly. "We should get you there too, Roy, so you can rest. You, tiger, we will hopefully see tomorrow. If they release you, you can count on me to come get you. Be good and don't break any hearts." She gave him a mischievous wink, and Johnny smiled.
"Thanks Joanne, Roy. You guys are the best pals a guy could ever ask for."
Hank hurried to the front of the cabin, Ashley following close behind him. He threw open the door as a tall, hunched over figure stumbled in, covered in snow and breathing heavily.
Nearly stumbling over his snowshoes, the newcomer fell to his knees, trying to pull off his gloves.
Hank grabbed the large hands in his own. "No, there, fellow, leave those on. You are almost frozen yourself. Let's get you over to the fire."
A mute nod from the man gave Hank the permission he needed and he effectively dragged the man to the warmth of the blaze. He reached down and pulled back the scarf, trying to identify their visitor. With a pang of shock he looked down into the nearly frozen face of his fireman, Marco Lopez.
