Everything Happens for a Reason

Pushing a wheel chair in the sand was an interesting task for Danni. But it wasn't entirely the sand making it difficult, Josh wasn't exactly a light weight. You would think someone in a coma for so long would lose their muscle mass but not Josh apparently. But Danni had seen and admired his sculpted body. He had caught her staring once as she helped him into a bath. He pretended not to notice as she quickly averted her eyes and tried to hide her warming cheeks. She was surprised a computer geek could be so fit.

"Did you bring the crutches?" he asked as she stopped for the fifth time.

"I don't mind pushing you."

"I know you don't, but I think it'll be good therapy to get some practicing in."

"I need something to do since Kyra and that silly brother of hers have gone off with no explanation. This isn't exactly a beautiful beach," she wrapped her arms around herself, "it's cold and dirty."

"It's probably warmer on the boat."

"But you're restless on the boat."

"I'm restless in this chair. I appreciate your dedication as my nurse, wheeling me around in this sand with such great strength, but the sooner I get out of this thing the better."

"Fine, I'll go get the crutches. Are you hungry?"

"That depends on if Patsy prepared something normal for a change. I see what you mean about your cook," he patted his stomach, "Breakfast surprise just finally settled."

Danni laughed, "I'll be right back."

When he was sure he was no longer in her line of sight he climbed out of the chair, slowly, but steadily. He wanted to surprise her. He couldn't walk far, but he could get up on his own and stand without a support, for a few minutes. He had practiced this for weeks at night back at the hospital when his nightmares would rip him awake.

She returned shortly but she was empty handed. Her face showed signs of distress that disappeared when she saw him standing behind the chair rather than in it.

He smirked, "Surprise!"

"Impressive. You'll be walking in no time."

"I hope so. Is everything alright?"

"There's some trouble with the weather."

"What kind of trouble?"

"Rain. Lots of rain and strong wind. I know how much you wanted to walk, but we've got to make it to shelter."

He patted her shoulder, "Don't worry about it. You're a good doctor. You'll have me walking in good time. I think it's all that massage therapy. It's nice."

She felt a shiver run through her at his touch. It was a thrilling one, but she shrugged it off. It must be from the cold she tried to convince herself as he folded himself back into the chair. She began wheeling him in the direction Kyra's call stated there would be shelter.

~0~

Ebony sat on the pier staring out at the horizon. She was sure a storm was coming once the wind picked up around her, but she didn't want to move. She was trying to ignore the couple walking along the beach, hand in hand. She tried not to let it bother her that Jay was now using Ruby as a pawn in their game of to be or not to be. For days he had been bothering her. Literally. Popping up wherever she went, and today he came out of Ruby's room, clean shaven, hair styled, and he was still sober.

"Well maybe it's finally gotten through that thick skull of his," she felt her anger deflating. She couldn't be mad at him. Hadn't she been telling him he no longer had a chance with her?

She felt the vibrations of someone walking towards her. She knew the pattern of the walk and her heart began to do a little dance, "Did you get him to sleep?" she asked.

Slade sat beside her, taking one of her hands in his, "How did you know it was me?"

"I learned a thing or two from the Ecos. Besides you're still wearing those ugly boots. I'd recognize their sound anywhere."

He laughed, "Since Thunder's sleeping soundly, we have a few hours of alone time," he pulled her closer.

She could feel eyes peering in her direction as she snuggled closer to him. They were practically boring a hole in her back. But she wasn't going to turn around and stare back.

"Alone time? What's that?" she joked. Having a child meant very little free time. She and Slade hadn't had any alone time for months. Towards the end of the pregnancy she hadn't wanted him to touch her, and then Thunder had come and all their time was spent learning to be parents."

"Come away with me and find out," he paused, "if you're okay with the fact that Salene is babysitting."

Ebony clenched her jaw, thinking it over. She didn't fully trust anyone with her son's life because she didn't trust them with her own, but it couldn't hurt for a few hours could it? She was tired. "Salene is fine, I guess, just don't ever go leaving him with Trudy or Amber. "

Slade sighed, "Someday you will have to bury the hatchet."

"When hell freezes over," she muttered under her breath.

But he heard her, "After all they did deliver Thunder and made sure you lived through it. And don't act like I don't know the reason you all really fell out in the first place. He shouldn't matter anymore, because you've got me!" he kissed her, giving her hand a tight squeeze.

Ebony wondered if he knew another man was still trying to matter. A man that had further drove a wedge between her and Amber. A stubborn man who didn't give up so easily.

A huge splash to their left, pulled them apart. Ebony knew the culprits. And they were in hysterics.

"Thought you guys could use a little cooling off," Ruby exclaimed, teeth chattering. Jay was just floating there, a smug look on his face, holding Ruby to him.

"Fools! I hope you catch a cold!" Ebony glared.

Slade helped her to her feet. She was shivering with cold from the wind and her now ocean sprayed clothing. He smirked, "I know how to get you warm."

Ebony flashed him her signature smirk before kissing him. She wanted Jay's heart to ache. Maybe he'd give up on her for good, "Well don't just stand there, we're on a time constraint remember?"

Slade instantly began tugging her back towards the hotel to their room missing what Ruby saw for a fraction of a second. Jay looked at them scornfully before realizing she was watching.

I can play this game too she thought silently. She was not going to lose another man to Ebony. She had Jay back and she was going to keep him!

~0~

Salene was attached to the lounge in the hotel. It was like an indoor jungle, adorned with the flowers from which the island got its name. There was a large, fish tank and a water fountain. Virtually no one hung out here, and that's why she liked it. It was peaceful.

She smiled at the sleeping infant in the basket beside her. Thunder seemed to like her secret place too. His features were soft and angelic as he made suckling sounds in his sleep like he was sucking on a binky. She looked through the small baby bag to see if maybe Slade had left one, but she didn't find one.

"Babysitting? I'm surprised; I thought Ebony would sit on him 'til he turned 18."

She sighed looking up at the face that went with the voice. She had been trying to avoid him all day. She felt weird around him after their night together, and most of all she felt as if she had betrayed Amber and whoever this Kyra woman was.

"What do you want Bray?"

"I just wanted to make sure we were...ok. I don't want what happened to ruin our friendship."

"I'm glad you feel that way," she said in a bored tone. Hadn't they already talked about this?

"You could put a little emotion into it."

"What?" she questioned.

"I don't know. If you sounded upset or something maybe I would feel like what we did was wrong."

"It was wrong! You're in love with someone else and Amber is still in love with you! If the one who has your heart never reunites with you I hope you'll give Amber another chance to reclaim your heart."

"But I didn't go to Amber the other night. I came to you. Why?"

"I don't know Bray, you're all messed up! Besides I've always been your fall back girl remember?" her tone taking on a more bitter edge now.

"Remember when you and Trudy first appeared in the mall. You led me to believe you actually liked me, but come to find it was Amber who was lighting your fire."

"Ah c'mon Sal, you know that's not true. I liked you. We were young we didn't know what we wanted. I didn't want things to keep getting complicated with Trudy in her state of mind, so I pulled away. Amber and I, we just happened."

She rolled her eyes, "And had the Technos never come, you would still be together, raising your son, and I would still have Pride and we wouldn't be sitting here debating on the fact that we made a mistake."

"Amber and I weren't destined to be so you don't have to worry about feeling guilty. And well I don't think I'll ever see Kyra again, stuck on Fleur Island."

"Nobody's holding you hostage here!"

"I love my son Sal. I want to be a part of his life. If I go, I'm likely never to see him again."

"Maybe she'll come looking for you then. And when that happens I want whatever happened between you and me not to matter. You cannot dwell on it Bray. It was a mistake. A one night stand. We were just two, lonely, drunk friends. End of story."

Thunder stirred, slightly whimpering. She picked him up grateful for the distraction. He opened his eyes a wink, but her gentle rocking lulled him back into slumber.

Bray lingered watching her. Maybe she was right. Maybe he was all messed up and didn't know what he wanted. But in his life he learned, everything happens for a reason. There was a reason he was reading more into things than he should. A reason why he felt so connected with Salene. She was kind and full of advice and she'd always been a good friend.

Realizing the conversation would stay dead Bray looked at her smiling, "You've always been good with the little ones. You'll be a good mother someday."

Salene smiled back thinking of her dreams, "I know. Thanks."

~0~

Kyra's weather predictions were spot on. The rain came down hard and fast. They were lucky to have gathered in the small, abandoned shelter.

It was hardly big enough for the seven restless bodies that waited impatiently for the storm to move on.

"The worst part is it's moving in the direction we're going," Dragon peered out of the window.

"It'll be fine in a day's time," Kyra spoke, but she sounded a million miles away.

"If you don't mind me asking, what are we doing out here?" Josh questioned.

"You may as well all know then," Kyra said.

"Know what?" Patsy was anxious to hear.

"When I was away, I compromised my position as a leader. I met a prisoner there, and I fell in love."

Danni heard Dragon snort as he turned his attention back to the window, uninterested in the story.

"If you're out searching for him then why are we here?" Josh's curiosity was not pacified.

Kyra shrugged, "Dragon's my brother and my strength, Patsy's my cook, Danni's my doctor, you're her patient, and twiddle dee and twiddle dumb back there," she jerked a thumb at the men who were bickering between themselves, "are my weather men and navigators. You all come with the package of being a leader."

"Hey!" the bickering man with shortly cropped brown hair glared at her.

The other man with flowing, wavy, blond hair snickered, "You're clearly twiddle dumb."

They started bickering again and the attention was turned back to Kyra and the question at hand.

"Reasonable enough," Josh said letting her off the hook.

But judging by the disturbance in his brow, Danni was sure he wasn't convinced. She herself didn't understand why Kyra couldn't go on a wild goose chase for her supposed lover by herself.

"Well I for one and glad for the change in the scenery," Patsy said cheerfully, "So who is hungry?"

They all groaned as she handed around the sandwiches, "Relax, their plain, old, boring, and bland, just the way you all like them!"

A chorus of cheers went around. As they ate, they all stole glances at Kyra. They were each wandering the same thing; why were they really being included in this mission.