Without another thought, he launched himself out towards her, belly flopping hard and driving the gun hard into his privates, causing a loud anguished yelp. He ignored the excruciating pain and slid headlong towards her on the downward pitching wing. As she slipped into the water, he caught her upper arm and gripped it with all his might. He halted her descent into the water as the waves crested under her breasts. She groped for purchase on the wet aluminum wing with her free hand, and then shouted in a panic, “I felt something!”
How he managed to stop his own slide he did not know. Using all his strength and in one complete motion, pulled her up and out of the water so hard and fast she flew up and over his head and landed with a thump and a squeak on the wing. He swung himself around, jumped up to his feet, and began running up the ever-inclining wing. He quickly grabbed her forearm and yanked her up to her feet, she let out a yelp of pain. He saw she reached for her back, but he ignored it as the plane would soon be flying down to the bottom of the sea.
At the back edge of the rising wing, he picked her up and unceremoniously tossed her into the waiting raft with her letting out a shriek as she hit. He immediately jumped in after her, almost slamming into her as Joel did with Sarah. The raft bounced at his impact and he fought to steady himself. In one slick smooth move, his knife came flicking open, he severed the line and back into his pocket the black bladed knife went.
“HERE!” Halo cried out and handed him a paddle, he began paddling away and noticed her suitcase nearby bobbing in the choppy water. He swiftly leaned out, fished down and struggled for the handle in the water. He found it, strained hard making the tendons in his neck stand out and hauled her suitcase into the raft with a huge grunt.
Together they both paddled like gold medalists trying to get distance between them and the sinking jet. Halo quickly began to tire and he gauged that they were far enough away not to be sucked down along with the jet. He turned to her and motioned for her to stop. They both were panting like crazy, as they sat silently together and watched their plane sink from sight.
Suddenly Xander fell back into the center of the webbing in the raft with a huge grunt.
Halo scooted over to him and yelped, “Are you ok?”
Xander grimaced in pain as he quickly reached down, ripped open his pants and reached down deep inside his underwear. He caught Halo’s upward shift of her eyebrow as he pulled out the gun and he let out a loud relieved sigh.
Halo smiled broadly, “Oh my, Xander! Such a big gun you have there…”
Xander smiled though the pain, “Ha! I’m just happy it didn’t go off prematurely… hate that when that happens.” He chuckled as Halo began laughing in her adorable laugh. He then gently reached over and gave her leg a little push, “Please! No more scaring the crap out of Xander, at least for today?”
“Hey, you didn’t seem to have much going on! I wanted to keep you busy.” She smiled gratefully at him.
“Ah, touché!” He groaned and closed his eyes exhausted, the adrenaline now used up leaving him feeling like a wet, wrung out dishcloth.
“Xander?” She asked softly, scooting close to him. He opened one eye at her and she continued, “Thank you Xander, I owe you my life.”
He nodded and whispered to her, “I keep my promises…” Then closed his eye.
“Xander?” She shook his shoulder, “I’ll let you rest, but there is one more thing…” He opened his eye again slower this time and looked at her, “I get seasick, like bad.” She said worriedly.
He nodded and pointed to a pouch in the raft, “Should have Dramamine, somewhere… so tired, beautiful Halo… sorry.” He muttered and fell asleep where he lay.
Beautiful… Halo repeated to herself with a smile and watched him sleep for several long minutes. When his chest began rising and lowering in a deep rhythmic pattern, she reached over and ran her hand over his forehead, pushing his dark damp hair to the side, he did not even flinch. She then leaned close and hovered over his lips with hers, with a soft sigh she moved up and gave his forehead a gentle kiss then whispered, “Thank you for saving me and my friends. I don’t know how Mr. Mystery man, but I’ll settle up if it takes the rest of my life…” She reached into Joel’s bag and fished out a clear plastic wrapped red Virgo Air blanket, opened it and covered her hero up.
She rubbed at her sore back with her hand then began digging through all the compartments in the raft, finding the Dramamine she downed some. She looked out to the horizon and saw the Captain’s raft in the distance. The first one with JJ was nowhere to be seen. She remembered seeing Sarah fall into JJ and heard the impact, she prayed her friend was ok.
Joel was such a fucking coward, she thought. She knew things would never be the same when they got back to Pago Pago, worse yet when they all return to LA. She noticed the dark ominous clouds in the distance, reached for the placard showing how to get the plastic roof engaged and set out to get it done.
It was difficult working around her sleeping Mystery man without disturbing him, but she got the orange plastic top fully secured and tightly fastened. Then she organized their bags and tied them all down to the raft. When she was done, she opened up her waterlogged suitcase and found her satellite phone was soaking wet. She dried it off, got a Ziploc from Xander’s carryon, and sealed it up. She placed the box of Ziploc’s back and saw his phone resting in its plastic bag, the idea of checking out the pictures on his phone intrigued her. She resisted the urge, admonishing herself in the process. She zipped up his bag, looked out of the plastic window, and saw the sky was darkening with the setting sun. The ominous clouds, which seemed distant earlier now, looked closer and angrier.
She sat down and her back reminded her that it was still injured and she winced grabbing at it. She found a comfortable position and began wondering about being rescued. Surely, the authorities knew where they went down, all planes had secondary beacons of sorts… then she recalled Xander’s look when he mentioned they might be out here a few days and that worried her.
She recalled the Emergency transmitter that Teuila handed JJ. Surely, JJ would activate it. She reassured herself that it probably would take some time but she was sure the rescue party was already searching for them. They would more than likely find them by tomorrow. Hell, she knew her father would spend every dime he had looking for her. That thought made her feel better as she turned towards her Mystery man.
His lips were full, but not so much to be feminine; they looked so kissable and inviting. His thick dark eyebrows hinted at his being Greek as his name suggested, his skin had that sexy Mediterranean tone. His bio had said something about being half Greek and he spoke the language. She looked down his torso and remembered she had gotten a look at his abs when he pulled out that gun and they were so very well defined, with sex lines too… and holy hell! He was strong! Her arm was still throbbing from his grip and her flight over his head. She rubbed it and flinched, she knew a bruise would be forthcoming and it would be a big one.
She reached over and pulled the blanket up to cover him, exposing his left hand and saw his silver wedding band for the first time. She wondered what his wife was like, more than likely very attractive and tall. She wondered if he had kids… if so they must be very afraid hearing about their plane disappearing.
A jab of anger stabbed at her, if it wasn’t for Joel and that fucking asshole Johnny, they would be close to being done filming and Xander would be on his way safely home soon to his is wife. With that thought, a sudden sour feeling in her stomach surprised her. She did not care for that thought nor the feeling…
She scooted close to him and brushed her fingertips softly over his cheek, she liked how it felt, “Xander? Wake up honey.” Oh hell, she thought, did I really just say that out loud? I really must be tired she decided. With a sigh, she gently shook his thick shoulder, “Xander!”
He came awake with a start, “Wha! Oh! Halo are you ok?” He rubbed his eyes and saw her smiling down at him.
“Hey sleepy head, I’m fine, I found th
e Dramamine. I really am sleepy and it’s getting dark. She reached back, grabbed her half-empty water bottle, handed it to him, and winced as her back twinged in pain.
He sat up sleepily and accepted the partially drained water bottle, took the cap off and took a big swig. He realized with a start that this was her water bottle and her lips were at one point right where his was resting. He choked and began coughing and tried hard to clear his throat.
“Easy there!” Halo reached around and patted him on his back, “You ok?”
He gave her a nod, took another sip, and savored the thought of her lips so close to his. He looked out towards the window with alarm, “Where is everyone?” He crawled over to the window and looked out, “Hey you got the top secured!” He saw the bags were secured as well, “You’ve been busy! Damn, you’re good!”
Halo giggled, then answered, “You have no idea… uh Xander, I didn’t see JJ’s raft and the Captain’s raft was so far away. I was too sore and tired to try to paddle to them. I’m sorry.”
“Oh, Halo, don’t be sorry. I should have paddled us to them. I don’t understand why they didn’t come to us and I’m sure JJ is ok…”
“I hope so. Maybe something was wrong with Doug or the Captain…”
“Yeah, maybe. Uh… Halo? I just want you to know, I… uh, ordered Pete to come with us so you wouldn’t have to be alone with me. Uh, since we just met and all…” He saw her smile at him, she seemed to enjoy seeing him being uncomfortable, “I saw him sitting next to David… ah they were holding hands.”
Halo covered her mouth and giggled, “Set secret. They’ve been boyfriends for a while. They did good keeping it undercover, due to David being the Assistant Director and Peter being just a sound guy.”
“I see. Too bad they thought they should be secretive.” He gave her a shrug.
“Xander, I don’t think I have anything to worry about with you. Or do I?” She gave him a wry smile and a wink.
“What! Uh no!” He replied all flustered, “I will do anything to keep you safe and secure, like I said.”
She wanted to play with him and suggest that maybe ‘he’ should be the one to have to worry. She let it go, and smiled instead, “Xander I trust you with my life… if fact I owe you twice now.” She nodded at him and continued, “As you pulled me out of the water I felt a rough scrape pass by my leg, and then you yanked me out. I told myself it was the wing of the plane but I’m not so sure.” Xander frowned, and now she knew for sure it was not the wing’s surface after all.
Xander’s heart began pounding with the realization that a moment more in the water and Halo might have suffered a shark bite. He showed Halo the skin under is forearm, “I landed on a shark, its skin is rough and it did that.” He pointed to what looked like a rash.
She nodded with her full lips in an “O” her eyes wide with the truth hitting home, “I can’t believe you dived in after Doug… I know you figured you had no choice. Weren’t you afraid?” She asked.
Xander laughed, “Hell yes! Pucker factor ten plus!” He laughed and saw her look at him then squint in confusion, “Uh it’s a saying so to speak… uh a bad one.”
“I don’t get it, explain it.” She insisted.
His face turned hot as he tried to explain, “Uh… hmm. Ok let me put it this way: So scared that the sphincter is so tight that nothing can come out. Its severity is measured…” Halo began laughing and covered her mouth with both hands, “Really?” He laughed along with her, “You know?”
“Of course I do silly!” She patted his arm, “Sorry, just having some fun at your expense.”
“Ha! Payback…” He said with a raised eyebrow.
“Oh, you’d do that to little me?” She retorted in a sweet voice, tucked her hands under her chin, and blinked rapidly at him.
He paused at hearing her voice, it was so adorable but sexy at the same time, “You know it!” He smiled.
“Promise?” She retorted with a chuckle.
He stared at the odd little grin she was displaying on her gorgeous full lips. It had him wondering if it was an innuendo or if it was wishful thinking on his part, “Sure, why not?” He replied with his own arched eyebrow.
She so wanted to tease him with ‘…but you are married’ but that would be going too far she decided at the last moment. Instead, she smiled wordlessly. Ok, I really must be tired, she thought. Hell, I just met this guy, “Ok, Mr. Superman, mind if you take watch while I get some sleepy time?”
“Oh! Yes, please take my spot. I think it was comfortable.” He chuckled.
“Xander, one more thing,” Halo pulled out the Ziploc plastic bag, which held the satellite phone and handed it to him, “it got all wet. I didn’t turn it on, but I shook out what water I could and put it in here for safe keeping.”
Xander sighed, “I’m sorry about that… I kinda just reacted when I saw you fall. I’ll check it out.” He accepted the bag as Halo gave him a sorrowful look. She then settled down on the webbing and he covered her up with his blanket.
She looked up at him as he brought the blanket up to her chin, “Can you fix it, if we need it?”
“Well, if I had a bag of uncooked rice… and my tool kit, maybe. Don’t worry, probably won’t need it anyway, if so I’ll figure something out.” He stated as confidently as he could, “Get some rest.” Xander watched her nod sleepily to him.
“G’night, Mystery man.” She murmured, yawned and closed her eyes.
Xander crawled his way to the plastic window then pulled out the Sat phone. He recognized immediately that it would need a jeweler’s screwdriver to get it open as several very small screws secured the battery cover. He sighed when he saw the water damage to the small green screen. With the waves beginning to bounce the raft around harder, he stowed the phone back in his carryon for later.
He turned to look at Halo, as now she was fast asleep. He sat in wonder at how in the hell he got here, all alone with ‘The’ Halo Raines. He wondered briefly if he had really died in the plane and he was in some afterlife, like the people in the show “Lost”. His thoughts drifted to Athena, he worried how she and Evie were faring. Evie would more than likely be pissed off and the longer he was alone with Halo Raines, the more crap he was going to get from Evie, that was a given.
Then he remembered what Halo had just called him, ‘Mystery man’ that was odd… he took a moment to recollect what had happened on the flight. His first thought was getting to Halo and helping get her oxygen mask on. He remembered smelling her hair as it brushed up against his face, its fragrance was feminine and soft like some exotic sweet flower. Then when her eyes met his, it was as if time came to a stop. What surprised him now, was how easy it was to talk to her. His belly’s butterflies were waking up as he thought about her more, and how she touched him and spoke so casually with him… like they’ve know each other for years. This was something he in his wildest dreams did not expect. He knew he had to force his feelings back down, and keep them there as best he could.
He sighed and noticed that she had curled up and was in a deep slumber now. He reached up and turned on the small light mounted to the inflatable support arch, he moved quietly and began taking stock of their supplies.
He was impressed, as it seemed Halo had beat him to it and had organized their provisions as best she could. He realized why the one bag was heavy as he opened it—water bottles. At least two cases worth at the bottom of the bag all stacked. On top of that were packages of various food items such as fruit cups, oatmeal and mini cereal boxes, jerky and so forth. Searching inside the carryon, he found a tied off plastic garbage bag. He opened it and found it full of mini bottles of alcohol. He chuckled to himself and sealed it back up. Foraging more he found soda pop and an assortment of candy, chips and granola bars. No wonder the damn bag was so heavy, he muttered.
Checking the other bags he found blankets, two metal water pitchers, “No doubt for bailing…” he muttered with a smile and dug down further. Plastic cups, trays, a first aid kit, dishcloth
s, bowls and she had rolled up a bunch of utensils wrapped up in a towel. Next came a load of packets of instant coffee, hot chocolate and drink mixes. He chuckled aloud, “Looks like she packed for a huge company picnic”
He closed the bags back up and shook his head with a smile. He would have been more inclined to pass on most of that stuff. He looked to the raft’s supplies and took note of what was included: Flares, fishing kit, small first aid kit, Dramamine, folding utility knife, a cup, a collapsible water bag, compass, whistle, repair kit with manual air pump, a magnifying glass, a hand cranked flashlight, nylon rope, 4 large silver blankets, a collapsible bailer bucket and ration bars.
He looked out the window into the enclosing darkness, off in the far distance he saw a very feint orange light cast from the other raft. He judged the distance and knew he would tire way before he made it to them, his arms feeling like lead as it was.
The thought of going to the loo came to mind as his bladder began nagging at him, “Oh shit…” he muttered and set about to work something out. Later, when he finished he sat back and took out a granola bar and quickly ate it and washed it down with some water. The swells began getting a larger and he heard the wind pick up and flutter across the plastic roof. He saw Halo move a bit and her eyes came open with a start.
Forever and a Day Page 29