Chapter 4

There was a jolt, a noise of metal grinding together, Ben prayed that it was bad enough for the trunk to open or the car to be searched by the police or someone, anything would be better than it had been. His shoulder throbbed from the fall and he had pains all over from cramp and lack of food and water. He listened hoping that he would be found knowing he could only wait he had no way of attracting attention.

Tubs sat watching the policeman coming towards him hoping that Jake would calm down. He turn and told Jake to shut up it was not his fault that the fool behind had not stopped quickly enough, and that some other idiot had done the same thing a few cars a head, only had been going faster so the police etc were there.

Then he got out to look at the damage and gave the policeman his driving licence. The other driver, thankfully looked a quiet type, and he just hoped he would not be told to check the trunk.

The policemen took the details of both drivers and checked them over the radio, they both came backclear, looked at the damaged which was not very much and told them exchange details and then to get on, he wanted to finish his sift.

Ben shivered as he felt the driver's door close, the engine start and the muffled sounds of the music they played start up again. Flashes of panic threatened to overwhelm him as his mind drifted back through everything that had happened. Then gradually he calmed as he felt her presence beside him, hearing her voice as he remembered the many times they shared their love...

Derek was enjoying the thoughts of success; he was going to have it all. Benjy seemed to be on best form. The only question mark was Tess but he knew she would come round and get over Tim - the money he had paid her would help. Charles had given him all the documents now so no-one could take anything away from him now.

He remembered how jumpy he felt when AJ had told him he was flying to Seattle that afternoon and would not be back till tomorrow. His first thought was he had been found out, but then it became clear that AJ was seeing some business people who were there for a Conference. At least it would be a quiet day and then the acceptance by everyone that was good. He knew he would have to stop teasing Meg or Maria would get upset again. Some things do have to come to an end, he supposed and soon they would leave.

The car swayed erratically and came to an abrupt stop. Ben woke with the jolt, his hopes and fears raised, and waited.

In the car they were arguing. It had been a long trip, things had not gone as planned - the accident, tension every time they stopped for meals, getting lost and now, just few more miles, and they were stuck sat at the side of the road. At least it was dark but it seemed that everyone was out taking a night drive. The tyre had a puncture and, of course, the spare tyre and equipment were in the bottom of the trunk.

They could not decide who was going to do what and whose fault it all was. Jake had been drinking, so was in a very touchy mood. Tubs knew Jake should be kept away from Ben, but he could not do both jobs. He would just have to hope that he could do the job quickly.

Eventually the break came. They both dashed out opened the trunk and pulled Ben out and got the equipment. Jake took the opportunity to give Ben a quick prod as he dropped him heavily on his side on the ground out of sight of an on-coming car. For a moment they thought it was slowing down but, no, it was safe it went on by. Ben could not do anything, even without Jake's rough handling. They managed to change the wheel and after a short wait dragged Ben back into the trunk with an extra prod Jake told Ben that the next stop would be his last.

Despair and pain washed over Ben as the motion of the car told him that his brother and Maria really would win. His thoughts raced through everything again that had happened...with waves of blind panic... he fought against it. He clung to the thought of Meg and his mind drifted to the Casita, where they had found their love again. He pictured them holding the love bowl and heard the words he had spoken to her, "Now there is no rain, for one is shelter to the other. Now there is no night for one is light to the other. Now there is no loneliness , now and for ever...". They seemed to echo, wrapping around him - he could feel her presences beside him getting stronger, as he remembered it.

Then everything drifted, he no longer felt the movement of the car. It was as if he was actually there, in the hotel room at Thanksgiving, the sound of the music when they danced together, the perfume of the roses. Feeling her body next to him, her touch, their connection was so strong. The happiness they both felt, when they danced and later when they made love...

Suddenly it was broken as he was yanked from the trunk, the pain racing through him as he was dragged forward. His mind was racing, he could faintly hear Derek's voice in the back ground, he knew this was it. He heard Tubs speaking in his ear telling him to say his prays and Jake hitting him hard in the ribs as he was pushed down... in his mind he called her name with all his heart and soul. He was falling, he hit bottom, pain shot through his body, the wet earth landing on him then nothing...

Meg woke up screaming out Ben's name. It echoed through Surf Central waking Casey and Sara who came running. Meg was sat up in bed trying to get her bearings. She looked at them as they entered not realising she was crying and gasped out "I tried to catch him! I tried to catch him!" She looked dazed and tried to get her thoughts together so she could explain what she had said. They sat on the end of the bed Sara handed her a robe to wrap up in as she was shivering.

Meg started slowly "I was there in the hotel room dancing with him...making love to him...our thanksgiving holiday... I could feel him... we were so close... then I felt him being pulled away... gone... I don't know... can't explain it ... just the feeling if I could catch him, hold onto him... we would be together... but I could not... I reached out... now I feel an empty space, a feeling that he's gone... lost." She looked at them knowing that they could not understand, she didn't fully understand it herself, her tears still falling.

Sara could not think of anything to say but got up and went to her and hugged her trying to make her warm, give her comfort, and help take the pain away. Casey went quietly out of the room and got them a hot drink.

Later they then sat in silence, drinking the chocolate, not knowing what to say but not feeling uncomfortable. Eventually Sara and Casey went back to their bedrooms and left her curled up in a ball hugging the white teddy. As she slowly drifted back to sleep, her thoughts went back over her time with Ben -The good times as well as the bad, comparing the change in him.

Derek had been drifting in and out of sleep when he felt the change, it was like a short sharp shiver going through him and he realised that this time it was final - he had really won. He turned to her and woke her with a whisper "I want to celebrate our success my love."

Maria looked at him puzzled at first then with a smile of satisfaction. "Can you really feel it?"

He smiled as he reassured her. "Only faintly but yes this time I'm sure." Kissing her gently, then together they passionately made love.

Benjy was dreaming about sitting in the room with Daddy listening to the story, the one he used the different voices. He wondered how could Daddy be listening and not reading, they were laughing together. As he watched the two of them together he realised that they were by a toy tape machine, it was the one that had broken when Daddy was away and had been put in a cupboard downstairs. He knew what he had to do, and he really wanted that story but slept on.

Tess was restless, she was realising what she had got herself into but she could not make up her mind what was the safest thing to do. Perhaps she could go to her sisters and take Benjy. If she went she would have Maria and Derek after her and she knew she would never be safe. Perhaps it would be wise to stay, she did love them both and providing she was careful Maria was alright.