| Chapter 7 Diane woke to the smell of food. She lifted her head, looking out of the tent. Kevin and Howie where sitting by the fire, busy cooking. A.J. was just coming back from the river, carrying the large pot they kept their water in. She sat up and looked over, seeing Brian awake. He smiled at her, "Hi." "Hey, you alright?" she asked. He nodded his head, "I feel a little better. I don't know if I'm used to the pain, or if it's going away." She smiled as she made her way over to him, "Well, either way, it's good to see you feeling better. How come they didn't wake me?" "We figured you needed your rest," Brian answered, looking over at Nick. "So they have you on Nick watch huh?" she asked. "Yeah, it keeps my mind on something other than how much I hurt," he admitted. Diane patted him on the arm, "I guess it does. You OK with him for a while?" "Yeah, I'll yell if I need someone," Brian said. "OK," she said, getting up to leave the tent. "Diane?" Brian said. She turned to face him, "Yes?" "Thank you for getting me through yesterday," he said. She smiled, "You're welcome, Brian." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I think maybe if we set something up here in the clearing and at the river, it would be better," Kevin said. "Yeah, but what Kev?" Howie asked, stirring the contents of the mornings breakfast. Kevin looked around, "I dunno, it has to be something they can see from the air, something colorful." "What do we have that's colorful?" Howie asked. Kevin thought for a moment, then a smile crept across his face, "Our clothes, we can use our clothes." "Good idea," Diane said, walking up behind them. "Morning," Howie said, smiling at her. "Morning," she replied, sitting down and pouring herself some coffee. "OK, so we're using our clothes. What are we gonna do with them?" A.J. asked, having heard the conversation from the other tent. "That's what I gotta figure out," Kevin said. "I have a suggestion," Diane said, "Why don't we make arrows with them, large ones pointing to the clearing. We could put one at the river, and one between the two parts of the plane, both pointing in this direction." The three men glanced at one another, smiles on their faces. "That's brilliant," A.J. said. Diane laughed, "I dunno bout brilliant, practical maybe." Kevin reached over and hugged her, "You are a life saver." Diane blushed, "Guys, stop it. We're a team in this." "Yeah, and you're the captain," Howie said. Diane rolled her eyes, "Lord." The guys laughed at her reaction. Diane sat her cup down and stood up, "I'm gonna go clean up, save me some food." "Ai ai Captain," all three said, saluting her. Diane shook her head, laughing as she walked into the tent to get some clean clothes. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kevin looked over, watching Diane and Howie as they filled the water bottles for the day. He and A.J. where going through the suitcases, pulling out all the colorful clothes they could find. "What the hell?" A.J. said, pulling Kevin's attention back to the matter at hand. "What?" he asked. A.J. help up a handful of CDs, "Look what I found." Kevin took them from him, glancing through them. "These are all our CDs, even you guys's solo ones," Kevin said, "Who's bag is that?" "Guess," A.J. said, holding up a black lacy bra from the bag. Both men glanced over at Diane, then back to one another. "So she's a fan," Kevin said, handing the CDs back to A.J. "I dunno Kev, I get the feeling it's more than that," A.J. said. "Like what Alex? You know they background check everyone that has contact with us. She's not some psycho stalker or anything," Kevin defended. "Well I wasn't thinking that," A.J. said, "Just that ....hell I dunno, just that something isn't right." Kevin looked at his friend, "Listen, if it makes you feel better, tonight we'll strike up a conversation, get her to tell us a little about herself." A.J. nodded, "Yeah, it would." "Alright, now quit playing with her underwear and let's get busy. We have a long day ahead of us," Kevin said, laughing as A.J. dropped the panties he had in his hand and moved to another bag. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Diane came out of the woods and walked over to Kevin, "How's it going?" "Finished," he said, gesturing to the large arrow on the shore of the river. "That's good, there's no way they won't see that," she said. "That's what I'm hoping," Kevin said, sighing. Diane looked at him, "They'll find us Kevin." "It's been three days already, and we haven't even heard a plane. What if they're looking in the wrong place?" he said. Diane bit her lip, having had the same thought. "Kevin, we can't give up. They'll look until they find us, no matter how long it takes," she said, trying to sound convincing. "Yeah, and in the mean time, my cousin is paralyzed from the waist down, and who knows what's wrong with Nick. We need to be found now!" he said, getting upset, and angry. Diane moved closer to him, placing her hand on his arm, "Kevin, getting angry isn't going to help our situation. We have to be positive about this, especially in front of the others." He looked at her, his green eyes blazing with emotion. "I don't feel positive about this," he said. "Well, then you have to act. You're a good actor, so do it. The other's look to us for what to do, we can't flake out on them now," she said, "Do you think I'm this together? I'm hanging on by a thread Kevin, but I know I can't break down in front of them. They rely on both of us to much to let them see how scared we are." Kevin stared at her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, "I'm sorry. We never meant to put that kind of pressure on you." She shrugged, "It's alright, I understand why you did though." "Because you're part of the flight crew," Kevin said. Diane nodded, a flash of something going through her eyes that Kevin couldn't read. "Well, still... we're all only human. It wasn't fair of us to do that," he said. "What's done is done Kev. Right now we have to concentrate on the present, on getting us outta here," she said. He nodded, "You're right... but Diane, you know you can come and talk with me right? We're in this together." She smiled at him, "I know, and thanks." Kevin nodded, taking her hand, "Come on, let's see how A.J. and Howie are doing with the other one." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Oh my God," Kevin said under his breath. Diane had to put a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing. A.J. and Howie where yelling at each other, throwing clothes back and forth. Half of an arrow was positioned on the ground, and they where picking part of it up to throw at one another. "Yeah, well you stink!" Howie yelled throwing a yellow t-shirt at A.J.'s head. "Not as bad as you, you ..... whiney ass Puerto Rican!" A.J. yelled back. Kevin walked over pushing his way between them, "What the hell is wrong with you two!!" "He started it," they both said at the same time. Kevin rolled his eyes and shook his head, "I don't give a fuck who started it! It stops right now, you got it! We are not in a situation to be fighting with each other, I don't care what it's about, now shake hands and clean up this mess!" Both Howie and A.J. looked at the ground, still angry at one another. "DO IT NOW!!" Kevin boomed, causing them both to jump, "Or I swear I'll beat you both to a bloody pulp." A.J. and Howie moved to shake each others hand, "Sorry," they both mumbled before turning and picking up the clothes they had scattered. Kevin walked back over to Diane, muttering something about children. Diane couldn't take it anymore and burst out laughing. Kevin looked at her, then started laughing himself. "I'm sorry, but that was just so...so funny," she giggled. "Yeah, welcome to my world," Kevin laughed. Pretty soon even Howie and A.J. were laughing. As soon as they would calm down, someone would get the giggles again and they would all fall into another fit of laughter. It took forever for A.J. and Howie to finish the last of the arrow, but they finally did, laughing the entire time. "Man, what the hell where we fighting about?" A.J. asked. "I don't remember," Howie admitted, causing them all to laugh even harder. They walked back into the woods, heading for the clearing when they all heard it at once. Brian was screaming at the top of his lungs for help. "Oh shit!" Diane said, running for the tent, all three guys close on her heels. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "HELP SOMEONE PLEASE!!" Brian screamed. Diane rushed into the tent followed by the guys, "What is it Brian?" "Nick," Brian said, looking over at his friend. Diane quickly moved to Nick's side, fear rising in her as she watched his body convulse. "Damn it, guys get between him and Brian, make sure he doesn't kick him," she ordered, "Brian, when did this start?" "A couple minutes ago," he answered. Diane moved to Nick's head, making sure he didn't bump it on anything. "What's happening?" A.J. asked, fear in his eyes. "He's having a seizure," Diane answered. "Oh God," Howie said, looking down at his friend. The group watched helplessly as Nick continued to convulse. "Brian, was he awake before this happened?" Diane asked. "Yeah, he moaned and opened his eyes for a second, then they rolled back in his head and he started this," Brian said. Finally Nick's body started to relax as a trickle of blood flowed out of the corner of his mouth. "Roll him on his side," Diane instructed, seeing the blood. The guys did as she requested. "Where's that blood coming from?" Howie asked. "He probably bit his tongue," Diane answered, "A.J. go get a pan of water and a couple wash clothes. Howie hold him just like this for a second." Howie held Nick on his side as she inspected his mouth, "Yup, he bit it, but it doesn't look to bad." A.J. returned with the water and wash clothes handing them to Diane. She quickly cleaned his mouth and held one of the clothes on his tongue to stop the bleeding. "Kevin, can you hold this?" she asked. "Sure," he said, moving over and taking the cloth from her, applying pressure to the bite. "If he starts this again make sure you pull your fingers out of his mouth," she told him. Kevin nodded, checking to make sure he was breathing alright. Diane wet the other cloth and carefully washed the sweat from Nick's forehead and face. "Brian, are you alright? He didn't kick you did he?" she asked. "No, I'm OK," Brian answered, watching as they cleaned Nick up. "What caused this?" Howie asked. "I'm sure it has something to do with his head injury," Diane said, glancing up at him. "A.J. can you look and make sure he didn't um go on himself," she asked. "Eww, why do I have to look?" A.J. protested. "Because you're down there," she said, "And if he did, we need to get him cleaned up." "Why would he?" Howie asked. She sighed, "Sometimes when people have bad seizures like this they lose control of their bodily functions, now will you just look please." A.J. lifted the sleeping bag up with two fingers and peeked, sighing in relief, "Naw, he's good." "Thank you," Diane said, continuing to wash down Nick's arms and chest. Kevin pulled the cloth away from Nick's tongue, making sure the bleeding had stopped. "What does this mean?" he asked. Diane looked up at him, "It means his head injury is more serious than we thought." "I was afraid of that," Kevin mumbled. "What can we ......?" A.J. started, but stopped, hearing Nick moan. Nick rolled himself over on his back and brought his hands up to hold his head. Kevin and Diane grabbed them before he touched his forehead, bringing them back down to his sides. "Nick?" Kevin said. Nick struggled to open his eyes, blinking rapidly. "Nick, honey, look at us," Diane said, cupping his cheek with her hand. As before Nick leaned into her touch, forcing his eyes to stay open. He stared at her a confused expression on his face. "Can you hear me?" Diane asked. Nick blinked a few times and opened his mouth, but nothing came out. It seemed as if his voice was strangled, no audible sound escaping his lips. Diane watched as the look of confusion left his eyes, being replaced by one of fear. He reached up to her, tears welling up in his eyes. Diane moved closer to him, pulling him up, placing her arm under his neck and holding him to her, "Shh it's alright," she soothed, gently rocking back and forth, "Try and calm down OK?" She could feel him trembling in her arms and knew he must be terribly confused and frightened. She lowered him in her arms where he could see her face, smiling at him, "Nick, listen to me. You're gonna be alright. Do you remember the plane crash?" Nick blinked away his tears, nodding slightly. "OK, you where hurt, and I'm sure that's why you can't talk right now. As soon we're found, we'll get you to a doctor and they can help you OK?" she said, putting on the bravest face she could for him. Nick stared into her hazel eyes, letting his tears fall down his face. He nodded slightly, letting her know he understood her. Diane carefully lowered him back down to his bed. Nick reached up and grabbed her hand, not wanting her to leave him. She smiled at him, reading his expression, "I'm not leaving." Kevin put his hand on Nick's arm, getting his attention, "Hey," he said smiling at him. Nick half smiled, looking around. His eyes met A.J.'s then Howie's. Diane could tell he was searching for Brian and moved out of the way so the two friends could see each other. Brian stretched his hand out and took Nick's, "I'm right here." Nick stared at him, seeing the door Brian was laying on underneath the sleeping bag, his face becoming concerned. "I'm OK," Brian said, trying to reassure him, squeezing his hand. Nick squeezed back, wincing in pain as he did. "Hey kiddo, your head hurt?" Howie asked. Nick nodded, again raising his hands to touch his head. Kevin grabbed them, "Nick, you can't touch it alright?" Nick stared at him as Diane grabbed one of the water bottles and lifted his head, "Here you need to drink a little." Nick took a few drinks as A.J. handed Diane a couple of pills. "Do you think you can swallow these?" she asked. Nick nodded, taking them from her and placing them in his mouth. She helped him drink some more until he pushed the bottle away, fighting to keep his eyes open. Diane helped him get comfortable, holding his hand as he drifted to sleep. The guys watched, waiting until they knew he was out to start talking. "Why can't he talk?" A.J. asked in a whisper. "Yeah, he didn't hurt his throat," Howie agreed. Diane shook her head, "I don't know guys." Kevin stared at her, "But you have an idea don't you?" Diane bit her lip and looked at him, nodding. "What is it?" Brian asked. "I think he has some kind of brain damage," she said, cringing at her own words. She looked at the devastated faces staring at her, her heart breaking for them. She then looked back down at Nick. He was still holding her hand, even in sleep his grip didn't loosen. She gently touched his cheek, God, please let me be wrong, please.... Chapter 8 |