Chapter 196

Tegan sat in the cab looking at a photo of Casey, Ryan and Jeremy on her phone. She smiled and turned the screen off. The cab stopped at her destination in town a couple of minutes later. Tegan paid the driver and got out. "Just do it" she whispered to herself and walked into a building.

A couple of minutes later Tegan was filling in forms.

"Medical conditions" one of the questions read. Tegan stopped and tapped the pencil on the counter.

"Everything okay m'am?" asked the guy behind the counter.

"Yeah sure" said Tegan and started writing, "Occasional respiratory distress".

"Please tell me more about the respiratory distress" said the man who had introduced himself earlier as Chris.

"Um… it's nothing, it's a bit like asthma" said Tegan.

"Like asthma or asthma?" asked the guy.

"It's… kind of like… like a type of asthma I guess" said Tegan.

"Do you use an inhaler regularly?" asked the guy.

"Yeah, sometimes" said Tegan.

"Does stress cause you breathing difficulty?" asked the guy.

"No… not really. I'm fine, really. It's not a big deal… honestly" said Tegan.

"Okay m'am, we have to ask. You're going to have to show me where you keep your inhaler" said the guy.

"Whatever you say" said Tegan.

"Are you sure you're okay to do this?" asked the guy.

"Yes! I'm fine to do this" said Tegan.

"Please sign the release forms and come with me" said the guy.

Tegan had a briefing session that lasted about 45 minutes.

"You still wanna do this?" smiled the young guy.

"More than ever" said Tegan.

"Alright, let's go get you fitted" said the guy.

"Um… Chris, I have a request… may be a bit of a weird one" said Tegan.

Sara got back to the cabin and sat down at the kitchen table and inspected her new book purchases.

"Teegs" Sara called. She didn't get an answer.

"Tegan" she called again. Nothing. She got up and walked to the river where she left Tegan.

"Where the fuck are you?" mumbled Sara.

She got back to the house and saw a note on the kitchen counter. She read it and raised her eyebrows.

"Something to take care of?" she said softly.

She dialed Tegan's number. It went straight to voicemail. Sara closed her eyes to control the anger building inside of her.

Sara paced around the cabin unsure if she should feel scared or mad. She had no idea where Tegan could have gone to. She walked to her room and looked around. She saw her iPad on the nightstand. She picked it up and switched it on. It asked for a passcode. Sara correctly guested it first time, "0919" - their birthday. "So predictable" she said rolling her eyes. The web browser opened on the screen. Sara's eyes went wide. "No no no…. fucking hell Tegan!" she shouted and ran for her phone.

There was no denying that Tegan was nervous. She sat with her hands on her thighs and her eyes closed as the plane ascended into the sky. Her palms were sweaty and her breathing ragged. She quietly did some breathing exercises.

"How're you doing Tegan? Almost ready?" asked Chris.

"I'm ready" said Tegan emotionless.

"Okay let's tape this to your hand" said Chris.

"Hi. This is Sara Quin. I think my sister is with you trying to sky dive" said Sara racing down the road towards town.

"She was, she's up in the air right now. Maybe she's already done it" said the lady on the other side.

"Can you call them… or radio them or something? Don't let Tegan jump… please don't let her jump she's got medical issues" said Sara.

"Miss Quin, your sister did inform us of her medical condition and she assured us it's not an issue. She signed the release forms" said the lady.

"Yeah, she probably lied about it. Please…. Please just call them" said Sara. "I don't know" said the girl.

"Just call them" Sara shouted as she came running into the building.

"Okay…. Exactly as planned Tegan. Follow the plan" said Chris.

Tegan nodded. Her heart was beating fast and hard and her breathing was racing but she didn't feel short of breath. Chris clipped himself to Tegan as his colleague opened the door. Tegan looked at the earth below. It looked miles away. She started hyperventilating but forced herself to slow down. Chris didn't give her much time to think about it.

"Okay Tegan, deep breath … here we go…. In 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… goooooo" shouted Chris.

"Johnny don't let her jump. We have an issue here" said the girl into the radio.

"Sorry, too late, they just did" the radio crackled.

"Fuck it Tegan!" exclaimed Sara and stomped her foot. "Sara, they should be landing pretty soon, on the football field right next door" said the girl. "Thanks" said Sara and ran outside.

Tegan was still hesitating but Chris picked her up and the next second Tegan felt cold air rush onto her face. She fought to catch her breath and opened her eyes. It was overwhelming, it was scary but incredible. She took a couple of seconds to get her wits about her before she felt Chris squeeze her hand as a signal. She took a large breath and reached for the ziplock bag taped to her hand. "I love you Jer…. Goodbye my friend" she whispered to herself and pulled the bag open. Grey ash flew up into the air. The tears escaping Tegan's eyes collected in her goggles. She shook her arm to get rid of the last bit of ash and then just relaxed as much as she could. She felt a sudden tug on her harness as the parachute opened and her body was pulled into an upright position. The speed of descend slowed down considerably and they were now slowly floating back down to earth. Tegan closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. "You okay Tegan?" Chris shouted behind her. Tegan just gave him the thumbs up. Tegan marveled in the sheer beauty of the earth below her. She didn't know if the incredible rush she felt was from the jump or from letting Jeremy go.

"There they are" said the girl and pointed up at the sky.

"How long is this going to take?" asked Sara.

"Should be about five minutes now that the chute is open" said the girl.

Sara stood with her hands in her sides staring at the parachute slowly floating towards her.

"Oh here are the bags she wanted me to get to her as soon as she landed" said the girl.

"I'm sure she did" said Sara shaking her head and taking the oxygen concentrator from the girl.

Sara's phone buzzed in her pocket.

"Hey Babe… can't really talk right now. Everything okay?" said Sara.

"Yeah, something wrong Sar?" asked Kate.

"Yes something's wrong… Tegan… she jumped out of a fucking airplane… Don't know what the fuck she was thinking" exclaimed Sara.

"She did what?" asked Kate sounding confused.

"You heard right. She's skydiving… right now… I'm looking at her" said Sara.

"I'm…. speechless… livid… but speechless" said Kate.

"I'm letting you go Jeremy…. I love you… but I'm letting you go. Fly Jer… I'll always remember this and I'll always remember and love you" said Tegan softly. Tegan just tried to get her emotions under control for the rest of the fall to earth.

"It's so beautiful… this is so right" said Tegan softly, to herself.

"Almost there Tegan" said Chris.

Tegan nodded. She saw a figure standing on the field, she assumed it was the skydiving company employee. The figure grew larger and larger.

"Sara? Oh fuck" whispered Tegan.

The earth came closer reasonably fast and Tegan did as instructed and pulled her legs up slightly for the landing. As soon as she felt the earth she yelled in agony as she felt her ankle twist before she fell into a heap on the ground. Chris kind of landed on top of her. It was a disastrous landing.

"Ahhhh fuck" yelled Tegan.

Chris immediately unclipped himself and tended to Tegan.

"Tegan… are you okay? I'm sorry, don't know what happened, Tegan?" he said. "I'm okay" said Tegan sounding out of breath.

Sara came running up to them. "Tegan you fucking idiot! What the fuck did you do?" yelled Sara.

"Calm down Sara!" said Tegan loudly, still lying on the ground. She sat up with great difficulty and clutched her foot.

"Are you hurt? Tegan? Oh my gosh you're hurt… I'm sorry Tegan" said Chris sounding worried.

"I think I just sprained my ankle" said Tegan.

"I can't believe you did something this irresponsible" shouted Sara with her hands in her hair.

"M'am it's not irresponsible. Skydiving is usually very safe" said Chris

"Oh okay… Well that explains why she's lying on the ground clutching her leg in agony and wheezing" said Sara sarcastically.

"I just have shitty luck I guess" said Tegan

"Ya think? Jesus Tegan… it's not your ankle I'm worried about here" yelled Sara.

"Sara just calm the fuck down" yelled Tegan.

"Don't you tell me to calm down!" yelled Sara.

"Sar it was incredible… it was so fucking incredible. Whooo hoooo! Thanks Chris" exclaimed Tegan.

Chris started speaking into his two way radio.

"Base this is Chris. Could you please send an ambulance? Jumper seems okay but she has a sprained or fractured ankle" said Chris.

"I'm fine don't worry about it" said Tegan starting to sound wheezy. She pulled her inhaler out and took a deep puff. That didn't help much and she took another. She put her head between her knees, trying to normalise her breathing. Sara suddenly stopped her ranting and raving and knelt next to Tegan.

"Tegan… are you okay? Just breathe… I'm getting the oxygen out for you" said Sara.

Sara rushed to get the oxygen flowing. She put the mask on Tegan's face, her hands shaking.

"Base this is Chris… can you hurry the ambo along, jumper is having breathing difficulty" said Chris.

"Lie down" Sara instructed.

"No it's… better when I sit up" said Tegan holding the mask over her mouth and nose, trying to normalise her breathing.

"Tegan are you okay?" asked Chris looking petrified.

"Sure… this happens sometimes… it's nothing" said Tegan wheezing.

"Nothing? Nothing?" yelled Sara.

"It's not nothing sir… it's a major medical emergency" said Sara.

"Oh stop being so dramatic Sara…. Calm down and shut up" said Tegan.

"I was worried sick Tegan…. God… you don't jump out of planes when you're sick!" said Sara.

"I'm sorry, we weren't fully informed" said Chris.

"I'm not sick!" yelled Tegan.

"You have a chronic lung condition" said Sara.

"Yeah… so… I have a life too" said Tegan out of breath.

"Okay… we'll discuss this later. Just calm down and breathe" said Sara.

Tegan lay back on the grass still clutching the mask over her face.

Her sprained ankle now the least of her worries.

"Sara… I need the… the other… inhaler" mumbled Tegan out of breath. Sara dug around in the backpack and handed Tegan the inhaler, the big gun. Tegan took a puff from it.

"Okay just breathe" said Sara.

"I'm okay just give me a minute" said Tegan looking kind of out of it.

An ambulance came racing onto the field a minute later. This was the benefit of being in a small town. The town's one and only ambulance was close by and didn't have much to do on a normal day.

"I don't need an ambulance!" said Tegan under the mask.

"Shhh. Breathe" said Sara.

She jumped up and briefed the ambulance officers as they walked up to Tegan.

Tegan sat up again.

"I'm okay guys… it's fine really" said Tegan.

"Why don't you let us be the judge of that" said the male paramedic.

"What's your name sweetie" asked the kind looking female.

"Tegan" mumbled Tegan looking annoyed.

"What happened Tegan?" asked the lady.

"I just twisted my ankle landing, that's it" said Tegan.

"Mmm, your ankle is the least of our worries right now. Why are you on oxygen?" said the guy as he opened his bag.

"Look, this happens all the time, I'm fine… my breathing… it'll be back to normal in a minute" wheezed Tegan.

"Okay Tegan just lay back for us, we're just going to give you a quick once over" said the lady.

The medics gave Tegan a thorough exam.

"Lungs are a bit tight, pulse ox only 88" said the guy.

"It's nothing… just give it a minute" complained Tegan.

"Just relax for us, deep breaths" said the girl.

Tegan still felt out of breath but tried her best to pretend otherwise. Her foot was throbbing, the ice pack the medics put on it didn't help much.

"Pulse is still around 125" said the guy.

"Of course my heart's racing. I just jumped out of a plane! Quite an adrenaline rush" said Tegan.

"Yeah speaking of, your BP is okay but it should in actual fact be a lot higher after all that adrenaline" said the Medic.

"Just give me five minutes" mumbled Tegan.

Sara handed the medic her phone. "Please speak to her doctor" she said.

"Oh my God… you phoned Kate? Seriously Sara, can you just chill for a minute" said Tegan annoyed.

The medic updated Kate and got instructions from her.

"Alright, your sats are looking up, pulse is down. I think we're ready to move" said the girl.

"Okay thanks guys, bye" said Tegan.

"No no, I don't think you understand. You're coming with us" said the guy.

"I'm fine, my breathing is fine, it's under control" said Tegan.

"Yeah but your ankle needs to be checked out" said the guy.

"It's fine really" said Tegan trying to get up.

"Ouch… motherfucker" breathed Tegan and fell back down.

"Can't you just give me an ankle guard or something, and maybe some pain meds. I really don't feel like going all the way to the hospital" said Tegan

"Yeah the hospital… in the next town… thanks for wasting our afternoon Tegan" said Sara rolling her eyes.

"Nobody asked you to be here Sara… go home! I'll get a cab, I can take care of myself" said Tegan sounding angry.

"Don't worry, we'll take you to the day clinic. They have an x-ray machine there. If need be we'll transport you to the hospital but your vitals are looking fine right now and I'm pretty convinced it's just a sprain" said the girl paramedic.

"Seriously Sar… go home" said Tegan.

"Don't be ridiculous…. I'll follow you there guys" said Sara.

The medics helped Tegan up onto the stretcher.

"Ouch, Ouch…. Go figure… the one in one thousand jumper that gets hurt just HAS to be me" mumbled Tegan.

"Stop feeling sorry for yourself... Yo did this" said Sara.

"Oh bite me Quin" said Tegan.

"Wow… If only I had a camera to record Canada's darlings fighting I could give up this gig for good" laughed the paramedic.

"Ha" exclaimed Tegan.

Sara found Tegan already being examined in the very empty clinic by its only doctor, a motherly looking middle aged lady. "Okay sweetie, we're going to x-ray this to see what we're dealing with but the shot I just gave you should make you feel a bit more comfortable. Your breathing seems to be a bit more under control now" she smiled.

"Yes thank you" said Tegan sweetly.

"Hi, you must be Sara. I'm Dr Mackenzie, call me Barbara" said the doctor when she saw Sara.

"Nice to meet you Doc" said Sara.

"My daughter is a huge fan!" said Dr MacKenzie.

"Really? We can take a photo for her" said Sara.

Tegan was lying back and seemed to be in a bit of pain.

"So how's my very silly sister Doc?" asked Sara.

"Her saturation is okay. Lungs sound clear again. I had a chat to Dr Morgan before she arrived and she gave me her history. I have to say you have a very proactive and attentive doctor?" said Barbara.

"Don't be too impressed… it's Sara's fiancé" said Tegan.

"Oh I see… lovely lady, congratulations" smiled Barbara and pushed Tegan towards to x-ray machine.

"So what are you two doing in our little town?" asked Barbara.

"We're just taking a bit of a break" said Tegan.

"Lovely… hold still now" said Barbara.

Tegan lay back and tried to relax as Barbara left the room. "I'm so stupid… who the hell injures themselves skydiving" she mumbled.

"Okay Tegan, Let's get a side view" said Barbara and readjusted Tegan's foot.

The nurse pushed Tegan back into the exam room. Sara didn't say a word.

"Sar… I'm sorry" said Tegan

"Save it" said Sara.

"Alright, Miss Tegan… well… it looks as if this ankle is just sprained as suspected. It's a pretty bad sprain but I'm not picking up a fracture and there doesn't seem to be any ligament damage" said Dr Barbara.

"Thank you, thank you!" smiled Tegan.

"I'm going to give you an air splint, some crutches and some pain medication. Don't worry, I checked all the meds with Dr Morgan. Please take it easy for the next few days. Ice and elevate that ankle. Try not to put too much weight on it" said the Doctor.

"Thanks so much. Big relief!" smiled Tegan.

"Don't get too excited. It's still going to be quite painful for a while. Let's just recheck your vitals and you're good to go" said the Doctor.

"Your sats seems to be struggling a bit again" said the Doctor.

"It does that from time to time. I'll go take my meds at home and breathe some oxygen" said Tegan.

"Mmm… I'm not convinced. Your BPs low too" said the Doctor.

Tegan sighed.

"Given your medical history, I'm going to keep you for another hour or two. Breathe some oxygen, keep the ice on and relax, take a nap" said the Doctor.

"Thanks Doc. I'll come pick her up in a couple of hours. Going to go have something to eat in town" said Sara.

"Sar, please bring me something, I'm famished" said Tegan.

"Yeah right I'm bringing you something" said Sara rolling her eyes.

"Come on Sar… please" said Tegan.

"Alright already! Now do as you're told and get some rest so we can get going" said Sara.

When Sara got to the car her cellphone rang. "Hey Linds" she said.

"Hi Sara. Tegan with you?" asked Lindsey.

"Um… no… she" said Sara before being cut off.

"Where the hell is she? I've been trying to get a hold of her the whole day!" said Lindsey.

"Oooooh… Linds she… um… she did a really stupid thing today" said Sara

"What did she do?" asked Lindsey.

"Well she… jumped out of a plane?" said Sara.

"What the fuck? Is she okay?" asked Lindsey sounding horrified.

"Yeah, she's in the doctor's office right now. Sprained her ankle. She's keeping her for an hour or two to make sure her breathing is under control. Don't worry Linds… she's okay. Kate's also been in contact with the doctor this side" said Sara.

"Oh my poor Boo! Are you sure she's okay? I swear… sometimes I don't know what's going on in that one's head" said Lindsey.

"I know right… but Linds… I think, I dunno… I think she's getting better… slowly but surely… emotionally I mean" said Lindsey.

"That's good to hear" said Lindsey.

"I'd let you speak to her but the doctor instructed her to take a nap" said Sara.

"Okay…. Please tell her to call me when you get home" said Lindsey.

Sara came back to the doctor's office about two hours later.

"Sara where've you been. I've been awake for an hour. Doc said I could go" said Tegan.

"Good… you deserve to wait" shrugged Sara.

"I guess I do" said Tegan and moved to get up.

"Here, let me help you" said Sara.

"I'm okay thanks" said Tegan.

"Tegan… just shut up and let me help you" said Sara.

Tegan obliged and held onto Sara's shoulder for support. She struggled out of the doctor's office on her new crutches cursing in pain through her gritted teeth.

"Sar… It was so amazing… not the jump I mean… the…. Letting him go" said Tegan as they drove back up to the cabin.

"I'm glad Tee" said Sara.

"It's just… yesterday I remembered how much he wanted to go skydiving and then he…. ironically… sprained his ankle the day before we were supposed to go. So we never went. I wanted to do this with him" said Tegan.

"I understand Tee" said Sara still looking annoyed.

"I think this sprained ankle… it's a sign… that he was with me" laughed Tegan.

"Maybe" laughed Sara.

"I'm sorry Sar… it was irresponsible, I know that" said Tegan.

"It's fine… let it go" said Sara.

"I only took half of it" said Tegan.

"Half of what?" said Sara.

"The ashes" said Tegan.

"Oooohhh…. You scattered his ashes up there" said Sara, finally understanding.

"I didn't realise that" said Sara.

"Maybe tomorrow, the two of us can go scatter the rest of it by the river" said Tegan smiling.

"I'd like that" said Sara suddenly looking sad.

A/N: Tegan was pretty irresponsible but maybe this was exactly what she needed? Review please!