Chapter Five

With Government plates on the car and the temporary light on top of the car flashing, Oscar and Rudy made record time getting down to the marina. They'd intended to take Rudy's fishing boat, fairly solid and sturdy, but Captain Adamson was waiting for them on the pier, and he had a better plan.

"Mr. Goldman, your assistant contacted me to let me know you were headed out on the water, and I've got the fastest ship in the Guard. Give you a lift?"

Minutes later, they were speeding out onto the ocean, passing other vessels that were also heading for the specified coordinates. After making sure his Lieutenant was securely on course, Adamson joined Rudy and Oscar on the bow of the main deck. "Why don't you wait down below? Probably safer, in this weather, and definitely a lot warmer."

"Thanks," Rudy answered, "but we're ok for now."

"Do you think we'll get to them before the storm does?" Oscar asked quietly.

"Well, we're moving faster than the storm front, but it's had a good head start. It'll be a pretty close race."

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Steve was keeping tabs on the approach of the storm by counting the seconds between when he felt Jaime flinch (each time she saw lightning) and when he heard the ensuing thunder. It was moving slowly, but it was heading toward them. He had a plan to keep Jaime safe, but he was waiting until it was directly upon them first, so she wouldn't have time to try and stop him.

In the meantime, they floated along in each other's arms, each trying to buoy the other, to keep them from giving up hope. Steve's one regret was that they'd never had the chance to become husband and wife, but he didn't say that out loud, not wanting to cause her any pain. It almost seemed, though, as if she was reading his thoughts.

"You know," she said in a dream-like voice, "it's sorta fitting that we're facing this together. Our lives have been entwined for...forever, I think. We're probably more married than most couples with the rings on their fingers."

"You're right," Steve agreed. Jaime flinched again, and the thunder echoed just moments later. It was almost time, and he wanted to try and prepare her, as much as possible, for what lay ahead. "Jaime, I want you to promise me something."

"Ok..."

"They're looking for us by now; they have to be. It's only a matter of time. They will find us. When the lightning gets here, no matter what happens, I want you to hang on. Don't give up, no matter what. Keep hoping, and keep fighting. Ok?"

"Steve..."

"Promise - please?"

"I promise," she said through new tears. She sensed what he was thinking and knew that, with only her left arm, she'd be unable to stop him. "You've gotta promise me something, too. When we get through this - and we will - we need to make this entwinement of ours official."

"You've got a deal, Sweetheart," he answered, feeling her flinch again. Steve kissed her one more time, and then made his move.

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On the bow of the boat, Oscar and Rudy were watching the lightning. Rudy noticed one particular strike, very close, that appeared to change direction in midair as though pulled by an even stronger force than itself. "Over there!" he told Adamson urgently. "That has to be them!" With the throttle already fully open, the boat headed at full speed to the spot the lightning had just struck.

Rudy had been right. The boat circled and stopped next to the section of wood, and they saw a small puff of smoke next to the spot where Steve's body was stretched out across Jaime's, to protect her from the lightning. He didn't appear to be moving, but Jaime was. Her left hand was pounding upward, into Steve's chest, with all the strength she had left, and she sobbed broken heartedly at the thought of what he'd just done.

The boat's crew moved with rapid efficiency, pulling them both aboard, but it was Jaime who had just worked a miracle. The insistent pounding of her fist had re-started Steve's heart, and as they laid him out on the deck next to the woman he'd been willing to die for, Steve opened his eyes.

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