Re: Say the Words - ch.47 -- The Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman Fan Exchange

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Date Posted: 08:33:07 03/26/03 Wed
Author: dqfan
Subject: Re: Say the Words - ch.47
In reply to: dqfan 's message, "Re: Say the Words - ch.45 & 46" on 08:24:48 03/26/03 Wed

CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN

"The Hell you will!"

Alexander's bombastic greeting was less than welcoming as he shot Peter down like an enemy under fire.

"Are you out of your mind?" his tirade continued.

"Josh, he's out of his mind�" Alexander reiterated to the stunned young pilot, who suddenly had an extra passenger on his plane.

"It was the only way I could think of to keep Sophie from coming along," Peter explained in a rush, seizing the one moment when Alexander finally stopped raving.

"Sophie was coming?" Alexander echoed incredulously.

Then, pausing for only a split second, Alexander came to an easy conclusion, "You're BOTH out of your minds!"

"She wanted to do the double-jump with you, just like you used to, so you'd have a memorable farewell�" Awkwardly, Peter began to present his case but he was cut off by Alexander's fury once again.

"Oh, it's memorable all right!" Alex's hands flew up in exasperation while Peter continued his explanation, undeterred.

"When I checked with the doctor, she wasn't sure Sophie's ankle would hold up on landing, so I decided to take her place as your partner�." he offered, hoping to put a positive spin on the situation.

"My partner�" Alexander muttered under his breath, still unable to believe this was actually happening.

"Peter, how many solo jumps have you made?" his future father-in-law asked, with eyes shut, trying to calm down.

"Ten," Peter reported confidently, including his two jumps into the air mattress as well as his other eight from the cliff.

Alexander eyed Peter warily. He was not born yesterday. "How many from a plane?" he specified, fairly certain he knew the answer.

Peter scowled. He knew he was capable of performing this stunt. Why couldn't Alex just give him a chance?

"There's a first time for everything�" Peter replied indignantly.

"And this isn't yours�" Alexander snapped, putting Peter in his place with frightening alacrity.

Alexander had successfully subdued the enemy for many years. Peter wasn't even a challenge.

Until�

The cockpit's audio warning system blared loudly and several red lights began to flash as the powerful jolt sent Alex and Peter lunging to the cabin floor.

"What the Hell was that?" Alex barked at Josh, who was the only one strapped into his seat.

"Smoke coming out of the number 2 engine, Commander," Josh shouted above the screech of the alarms. "It's on fire, Sir!" he reported, looking back out his window at the shooting flames.

"Shut it down!" Alex ordered, grabbing Peter by the arm and bringing them both to their feet.

"I did, Sir, but the fire's still burning�" Josh informed him nervously.

Alexander took a deep breath. He had wanted to go out in a blaze of glory, but this was definitely not what he had in mind�

^^^^^^^

"The plane's on fire!" Someone screamed, sending a chain reaction of gasps and cries throughout the crowd.

"Oh, my God, look!" Charity's heart stopped as she pointed toward the flames.

"Peter�" Sophie breathed, paralyzed at the sight.

"Curtis, you've got to raise them! Ask how we can help�" Frank demanded, as Curtis fiddled even more frantically with the radio dial.

"I'm trying, Frank, but they're on a military frequency�" Curtis flustered, spinning the knob until his hand was red and raw.

"Sully, I don't think I can watch this�" Michaela turned her back on the flaming engine.

"Ya wanna go?" Sully asked, wincing at the sight before him.

Michaela swallowed hard, choking back her tears. "We should be here�we're his family�"

Family� Michaela's invocation of that cherished convenant gave her the courage she needed, and, stalwartly, she lifted her eyes, facing the tragic drama once again.

"Okay, so this was a stupid idea�" Ezra admitted, as he and Daisy walked slowly back from their investigation of Alex's motel, their spirits glum.

Still two miles from the fairgrounds, Ezra could only repeat his perception that Peter had somehow been acting "weird."

"It's just that he made me tell Sophie her Dad needed her at the motel. I was sure we'd find a clue there�" Ezra poked the ground with the makeshift walking stick he'd acquired along the way, as he sought to justify their unexpected detour.

As Ezra rambled on, he failed to notice that Daisy was no longer beside him.

"Daise? What's wrong?" Ezra asked, turning back to find Daisy, stopped dead in her tracks, with the most horrified expression on her face.

Stricken, Daisy pointed upwards.

"Look�"

^^^^^^^^^

"Let me in there, Josh," Alexander commanded decisively, taking the controls from the young officer. "You and Peter suit up�"

"Suit up?" Peter repeated, astonished, wondering if he'd heard Alex wrong.

"You wanted to jump," Alexander barked, wondering what he'd ever done to deserve a day like this. "Looks like you're going to get your chance."

Frantically, Alex struggled to steady the aircraft long enough for Peter and Josh to jump. Although it was dangerous, they'd be jumping from the side opposite the flames and their landing, undoubtedly, would be softer than the one Alexander was anticipating.

With their parachutes on, Josh pulled open the side panel of the aircraft door. The rushing wind nearly knocked Peter off his balance as he gripped the hold bar tightly.

"We've got some strong uppers, Commander," Josh advised loudly over the incoming whoosh.

From Sophie's lessons, Peter knew Josh was referring to the upper winds at exit altitude.

"'Fraid there's not much choice," Alexander yelled to Josh above the noise.

"Peter�" Alex called Peter over to him urgently.

"You're coming with us, aren't you?" Peter asked, stunned by the diastrous turn of events, but prepared to jump, nonetheless.

Fondly, Alexander observed Peter, tightening his harness straps, all decked-out and ready to go. He had that same combined look of determination and fear that Sophie had as a young girl, just before her first jump. They were so much alike, these two, Alexander considered with fatherly pride.

For Alexander was already beginning to think of Peter as his son�the son he never had. Alexander could only pray that Peter would live to see Sophie again soon...that they would go on to marry and be happy - whether or not he'd be there to witness it.

"No, Peter, I'm not," Alexander explained gently, softening the blow, for Alex could see how desperately Peter wanted to protect him.

"I can't let a burning plane crash into a crowd of innocent spectators, Son." Alex's use of the word "Son" touched Peter almost as much as Alex's selflessness in the face of what could easily be his own death.

"If I stay with her, I might be able to bring her down in one piece." Alexander patted the control panel as if it were an over-excited border collie, hoping to soothe the plane into responding to his touch.

"This is my command�my responsibility," he added soberly, ever the consummate professional.

"Now, no stunts�" Alex threatened Peter sternly.

"Nice and easy, straight down, and into my daughter's arms - you understand?" he commanded Peter in his most authoritative tone, making sure his orders were followed to the letter.

Peter forced a small smile at Alex's description, so reminiscent of Sophie's own drop into his arms, that glorious day she came back into his life.

Peter took one look at the darting flames outside the window and agreed willingly to Alex's plan. This was definitely not the time for bravado. A simple jump and a soft landing were all Peter wanted right now. Besides, Peter was fairly certain that Alexander coming in for a landing with an engine on fire would be a pretty memorable farewell all by itself.

"Alex, I'm sorry�" Peter whispered. The words felt so inadequate at a time like this. Peter was sorry for so much�

Sorry he'd stowed away on the plane�Sorry he'd caused Alex so much trouble�Sorry Alex might never see Sophie again�

The only result Peter wasn't sorry for was that his actions had succeeded in preventing Sophie from being onboard. If he hadn't, Sophie would be scrambling for her life now, just as they were.

No one was more aware of that fact than Alex. Whatever happened, at least his daughter was safe. And he had Peter to thank for it.

"Don't be sorry�" Alex smiled weakly, putting on a good front. "Just give Sophie a kiss for me and tell her her old man loves her, okay?"

"We're over the D.Z. now, Sir," Josh shouted from his station, interrupting Alex's choking emotions.

Peter extended a quick, firm handshake to Alexander, one filled with respect and admiration. "Tell her yourself," he winked, daring the renowned aviator to a safe, speedy return.

From the rear of the plane, Josh summoned Peter. "Ready?" Josh asked him, preparing to jump first.

Peter nodded nervously. It was all happening so fast. The wind was howling through the open doorway, the red sparks of the engine fire visible outside the starboard window. He and Josh were leaving this nightmarish scene, but Alex� Peter took one last look forward, toward the cockpit. Would this be the last time he'd ever see him? Would the sight of Alex battling valiantly, man over machine, to control the injured jet be the last memory Peter would have of this extraordinary, yet quite human man?

Josh's words snapped Peter from his reverie, forcing him into action. "Watch my form, try to copy it�. After I jump, count to ten and then go," he ordered, giving Peter his final lesson.

Peter nodded, more confidently this time, and gave Josh a pat on the arm. "Good luck, Josh," he wished sincerely.

Ten seconds seemed an eternity as Peter grasped the hold bars on either side of the gaping portal, his quickest route back to Sophie. The cold wind was relentless, shaking his balance and chafing his face, but Peter held tight, focused on his goal. So far, the flames appeared localized in the opposite engine and Peter prayed they'd remain contained just a little while longer. Just long enough for them all to survive this.

"Eight�nine�ten�"

Peter released his hands from the grab bars and stretched them outwards at his sides. He took a deep breath and let his mind go completely blank, clearing it of all his worries, fears and apprehensions. When those thoughts were gone and the slate was completely empty, Peter replaced them with one vision - and one vision alone...Sophie.

She was waiting for him�

He saw her smile.

He heard her voice.

He felt her touch.

And then�

He jumped.

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Replies:

Re: Say the Words - ch.48 -- dqfan, 08:35:35 03/26/03 Wed
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