Chapter 17
Steve now only hopes that his lungs will cooperate. In the meantime, he has cut the harness with the knife. He is preparing for an apnea dive. He has no idea if his idea will work, because the suction of the plane will pull him down with it and he has no idea how deep and if breaking out of the side of the vortex will even work. In addition, he has neither a guide line nor fins.
He must try. He consciously takes a long breath in and exhales for twice as long. Then he takes one last deep breath and as the nose of the Boeing sinks into the sea, he lets himself be pulled down with it.
After the nose of the Boeing has also sunk, Steve also climbs out of the window. He uses the suction of the Boeing for depth and only his strength to move further and further away from the sinking plane. Slowly he notices how the downward suction is weakening and he gets into a current away from the wreckage. Damn, where had gotten into it now? He lets himself be pulled along, fighting it would be suicide, especially since his lungs are clearly demanding air. Slowly he tries to get back to the surface in the current. He has no idea how deep he is in the meantime. He only realizes that he can't hold out much longer, the swim has taken more reserves than he has. When his chest threatens to burst, he finally breaks through the water surface.
Breathing heavily, he pulls on the life jacket and lets it inflate. When he finally catches his breath, he looks around. Catherine and the others are nowhere to be seen. The ocean current has apparently already driven him far from the crash site, because he can't even spot any debris. Exhausted, Steve lets himself drift, he has just no more strength to fight his way out of the current to get back to the crash site. His thoughts are with Catherine and the other two. Hopefully they are okay and got far enough away. The Navy should already be looking for them according to current protocol. Whether they will find him out here, however, he dares to doubt.
Steve is cold, he has a headache and his joints hurt. At least it's overcast, so he doesn't dry out so quickly and the sun doesn't totally burn him. He is thirsty anyway. He must be drifting on the sea for hours by now. For some time now, he has not only been hanging on to his life jacket, but has been lying on the lid of an old wooden box that was floated to him. He has no idea where he is. Again he looks around to see if he can spot land or a ship somewhere. There is nothing to be seen. He has the feeling that the current is more likely to drive him further out to sea again. Tired, he lets his head sink back onto the wood. Sadly, he thinks of Catherine. Yes, she has often disappointed him and broken his heart not only once, but this time he had the feeling that she meant it honestly and would really stay with him. And now this. He would probably never see her again, but would eventually become shark food out here.
He must have dozed off again briefly when a noise reached his ears. Was that a ship's engine he heard? He lifts his head and looks in the direction from which the noise is coming. It's true. Not so far from him, a trawler is plowing through the water. Steve waves and tries to draw attention to himself, but the ship simply continues on its course. Disappointed, Steve sits back down on his lid. But then the trawler doesn't seem to move any further away. Steve sees a dinghy being lowered into the water and coming toward him. Relieved, he waves to the men.
On board the trawler, the two men take Steve to the cabin and get him a blanket and dry clothes. The ship's cook immediately prepared something warm for him to drink and eat. Grateful and trembling, Steve accepts everything. While Steve is still eating the meal, the captain joins him. His English has a Norwegian accent. "Tach also, Captain Laarssen my name, with whom do I have the pleasure?" "Commander Steve McGarrett. Thank you very much for collecting me."
"Sure, what happened? We ourselves have unfortunately been out of radio for two days and are therefore not quite up to date. But we didn't want to cut the tour short, they know the cost. We're on our way back to Norfolk now, though."
Steve reports on their emergency landing. "Oh my, you have drifted pretty far north and I can't even make a report. Get some rest for now. I've got to get back to the bridge." "Thank you, captain. Would you like me to take a look at the radio?" "If you'd like. But our radio operator has already tried everything. I'm afraid it's due for a new one."
After Steve has warmed up a bit, he goes to the captain on the bridge. Maybe he can get the radio working, he needs to know what's going on with Catherine and the others. After an hour, the captain sends him back to the cabin. He has noticed that Steve's eyes keep falling shut. Steve wants to rebel at first, but then complies. He lies down on one of the benches and closes his eyes. Shortly thereafter, he falls asleep.
Hours later he wakes up when the captain touches him on the shoulder.
"Good morning Commander. We've just docked at Norfolk. Is there anywhere else you'd like us to take you? I have to go into town anyway to see about a new radio." Steve shakes his head and thanks him. It's not far from the port to Navy Base. He walks the distance straight.
His heart begins to pound wildly as he approaches the gate. Hopefully Catherine and the others had been saved. When he reports to the gate with his name, he is stared at in amazement and invited in. Shortly after, the base commander approaches him and greets him warmly.
"Welcome, Commander McGarrett. Please excuse our reactions. We must confess, we had already given up hope of finding you."
"Commander Henry, please tell me you were able to rescue everyone from the transport plane."
Commander Henry nods and grins, "Except for you, Commander, yes."
Steve breathes a sigh of relief. In the meantime, they have entered the building.
The commander points to a door. "I think that's where you'll be missed the most. Go there." Steve nods his thanks and opens the door.
Catherine is sitting on the edge of the bed and looks up when she hears the door open.
"Steve!" Surprised, she stares at Steve, then jumps up and falls around his neck. Tears stream down her face. Firmly he takes her in his arms, he has been so afraid for her. Just as tightly, her arms are wrapped around him, as if she never wants to let him go. Then he takes her face in his hands, lovingly wipes away the tears with his thumbs and gives her a long kiss. Then he holds Catherine a little away from him again and her eyes get lost in his.
"Steve!" Smiling, Steve lets go of Catherine. He knows that voice. As he turns to the door, a stunned Danny stands there, just about overcome with relief that Steve is alive.
"Hey Pal." Steve can see what's going on in his head. Firmly, he takes him in his arms. "I love you too, Danno."
Shortly after, the door swiftly opens again and Fred comes storming into Catherine's room. "It's true! I was just thinking the Commander was pulling my leg."
He simply pulls Steve into a friendly embrace. Marie also enters through the still open door. She smiles shyly at Steve. Fred pats Steve on the side.
"Now tell me, where did you go?" Steve sits down on the bed with Catherine and takes her in his arms, then he begins to talk.
Danny almost feels sick at the idea of diving in the Boeing and hoping that maybe, just maybe, you can resurface. Again and again he shakes his head. Fred, on the other hand, is virtually hanging on the Seal's every word.
When Danny's cell phone rings, everyone goes quiet and looks at Danny, spellbound. For a few minutes they just listen, then he hangs up. "So, I have some interesting news. They found the copilot. Unfortunately, he didn't survive his jump from the Boeing and was fished out of the water by a tanker.
But even more interesting is the information from Senegal. You were right, Marie, it was a huge money laundering operation in which some bigwigs had their fingers. A huge can of worms. The Agency busted them all. Your name Marie is clear again. So if you want, you can go back home." Gratefully, Marie looks at Danny. "Thank you, detective. That means a lot to me. But while I'm here, I'd still like to take a look at Hawaii."
Danny grins, "I can understand that."
"And this is coming from the man who usually doesn't have a good word to say about Hawaii. Too hot, too much water..." Danny jostles Steve in the side. "Shut up, Steve."
Steve grins broadly at him and pretends to lock his mouth and throw away the key.
Danny, however, is already not looking. He remembers that the team at home doesn't even know yet. Wildly, he types a number into his cell phone and puts it on speaker. "Danny? Any word?"
Steve takes over the conversation, "Hey Chin, I guess we're all up."
"Steve, man am I glad to hear your voice. Kono! Lou! Catherine and Steve are fine." "That's great to hear from you guys. We've been worried about you. When are you coming home?" he hears Kono's voice now.
"I don't even know, Danny, when are we coming home?"
A day later, Steve, Catherine, Marie and Danny are off to Oahu. During the flight in the Gulfstream, Danny and Catherine catch each other every now and then checking to see if Steve is really sitting in his seat. Fred stays in Norfolk; he still has to process what happened. And he's decided to change gears and join the rescue squadron in Norfolk.
In Hickam, Kono, Chin and Lou are already waiting for them. Glad to see everyone again, Steve hugs each of them. He would never admit it, but during the diving maneuver in the Boeing, he too thought he would never see them again. And an attentive observer might notice that Steve holds each one a little longer than necessary.
After Chin drops Steve and Catherine off at home, the two of them drop onto the bed, exhausted. Just as they close their eyes, Steve's new cell phone rings. Wearily, he fumbles for the phone. "McGarrett?" "It's me, I was just listening to see if you were really back." "Yes, Danny, I'm back." "I love you, Steve." "I love you too Danno, sleep tight."