Re: Say the Words - ch.50 -- The Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman Fan Exchange

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, [3], 4, 5, 6 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 08:42:32 03/26/03 Wed
Author: dqfan
Subject: Re: Say the Words - ch.50
In reply to: dqfan 's message, "Re: Say the Words - ch.49" on 08:38:46 03/26/03 Wed

CHAPTER FIFTY

Before Frank knew what was happening, Josh had jumped head-first into the lake and was swimming toward the parachute. For one hair-raising moment, Frank lost sight of Josh amidst the smoke and debris, as the rescuers pushed him abruptly out of the way.

"Man down!" They shouted into their walkie-talkies, as search helicopters circled overhead and divers entered the water.

Frank crouched low to the ground and surveyed the scene carefully, his eyes level to the water.

"There he is!" Frank alerted them, spying Josh as he surfaced. Gasping for air, Josh was holding tightly to a floating piece of wreckage with one hand and something else with his other. "Someone" else�

"There THEY are!" Frank amended his cry, smiling broadly at the sight of Alex, tucked safely under Josh's arm. He looked none too worse for wear; and, in fact, seemed to be trying to swim to shore under his own power. Frank shook his head at the incredible strength and resilience of the man he had grown to think of as both a rival and a friend.

The rescue crews surrounded their fallen comrades with amazing speed and care. Oxygen, blankets, and immediate medical attention were provided before Frank even had time to reach for his cell phone.

Curtis answered on the first ring as the rest of the search party halted instantly in their tracks.

"Uh-huh�I see�Okay�Thanks for calling�" If Curtis was trying to drive his band of rescuers completely over the edge with his vagueness, he couldn't possibly have done any better.

Ezra fidgeted, Shelby chewed her nails and Scott paced, while Stephanie, Sophie and Charity stood perfectly still, afraid to move even a muscle.

It had been over forty minutes now since Alex's ill-fated plane took off and, finally, Sophie was about to receive some good news.

"Your Dad's okay�" Curtis flipped his phone shut and finally made his report.

Charity exhaled deeply and Sophie actually allowed herself to smile.

"They're taking him to the hospital now�" Curtis continued, but upon hearing the word "hospital," Sophie's smile turned to a frown.

"He's okay�really�" Curtis reassured her quickly. "He's got some second degree burns on his right hand�"

Stephanie interrupted Curtis immediately. "I should go� Be there when they bring him in�"

"Would you?" Sophie asked, appreciating Stephanie's offer.

"When you find Peter, page me. The ambulance team can radio me his condition and I'll be ready at the emergency entrance when they arrive." Stephanie was sincerely trying to make Sophie feel better but she could see that just the idea of Peter in an ambulance was making Sophie physically ill.

"That is, if he even needs medical attention�" Stephanie corrected herself quickly. "Which I'm sure he won't - knowing him�" she soothed with a wink.

Sophie nodded, grateful for Stephanie's encouraging words. It was important now to concentrate on the positives. Sophie knew that. Her father was alive and in fairly good condition. If only the same could be said for Peter.

"Thank you�" Sophie's hand reached for Stephanie's.

"Don't mention it," she smiled, racing back to the grandstand area and one of Curtis' waiting squad cars.

"One down, one to go�" Curtis sighed.

As the Cliffhangers groaned in unison at his inadvertent pun, Curtis' face reddened sheepishly. "Bad choice of words�" he mumbled, leading the search parties onward without further delay.

Peter opened his eyes and saw the sky above him. Tentatively, he extended his hand and felt beneath him. Hard, solid ground�God's green earth�Terra oh so firma� Peter had never felt anything quite so wonderful as the blades of grass, grains of soil, and scattered pebbles, which he now sifted through his fingers. The earth was below and the sky was above - everything right where it belonged. All was right with the world.

But was all right with Peter?

"Well, I'm alive�" he reassured himself. That was a very good start.

Cautiously, Peter sat up and examined himself for injuries. He felt a little dizzy. That was to be expected. His throat was sore�no surprise there. Gently, Peter touched his neck, pulling back his fingers with trepidation. Good�no blood.

Needing a few seconds to focus, Peter's eyes caught sight of the faulty harness and shredded chute, a few feet away. His ploy to jump and avoid strangulation must have worked. Not that he remembered much of anything after his feet brushed the first treetop. But, no matter�

Peter patted down his arms and legs. Everything moved�fingers, toes. Deciding to take his chances, Peter lifted himself up and stood, placing his full weight on both legs. He was stiff and probably had more than a few bruises under his flight suit but, amazingly, nothing seemed broken.

"Hah!" Peter complimented himself modestly, "Piece of cake�"

Peter shook his head at his ridiculous boast. Sure, that first jump was so easy, he'd be ready to try another one in say, maybe, a million years!

For now, it was time to get his bearings. Peter looked around the woods hoping to pinpoint his position. He couldn't be that far from town. He needed to find out what happened to Alex and Josh� Haunted, Peter couldn't shake his last image of Alexander, alone in the cockpit of the burning plane.

"He's okay�" Peter hoped with all his might.

And Sophie�

She must be worried sick by now, Peter thought to himself. "Either that or she's gonna kill me�" he muttered, considering how many of Sophie's "Skydiving Rules to Live By" he'd violated in the last thirty minutes!

But whether she'd be angry or tearful, happy or relieved, Peter didn't care. He just wanted to see her face�hold her in his arms�and feel her heart beating against his chest�nothing else mattered.

"I love you, Peter�"

Peter could still hear Sophie's voice inside his head. There were moments when it was the only thing that had seen him through - all he had lived for. He couldn't wait to hear her say those words to him again�

^^^^^^^

"Man, he could be anywhere!" Auggie grouched as another prickly bush reached out and scratched him yet again.

"Peter!"

"Peter!"

"Hey, Pete�You out here?!"

The Cliffhangers cries were tireless as the search parties fanned out into the woods.

Preoccupied with her thoughts, Sophie attempted to wander off alone but Daisy had been keeping a close eye on her and followed quickly after.

"He'll be all right, you know�" Daisy predicted encouragingly.

"It's in my cards, huh?" Sophie quipped, trying to keep a positive attitude.

"No�" Daisy smiled, accepting Sophie's jab in good humor.

"It's in your love�" the young girl replied simply.

"He loves you too much to leave you," Daisy reminded her, meeting Sophie's gaze with sincere and total honesty.

Sophie was so touched by Daisy's profound words that she could only nod. The bond these two women shared had gone far beyond teacher and student. Each had been wounded by old hurts and knew the pain it took to heal them. Their relationship was stronger than any mother and daughter - their moments together just as tender.

"Michaela, are ya sure you wanna come out here?" Sully asked, clearing a path for them with his tomahawk.

"Of course I do, Sully�" Michaela huffed, lifting her skirt above her ankles as she climbed a small embankment.

"Look, there's Sophie�" she pointed with a whisper.

"Daisy's with her�" Sully peered between the brush.

Turning to survey the area, Sully noted a particularly mismatched team.

"E.Z.'s bendin' Charity's ear," Sully indicated to Michaela, spotting Ezra chattering non-stop about his vast experience in woodland rescues.

Poor Charity had that same look on her face that Hank used to get right before he'd shut Horace up permanently with a right hook to the chin. That Charity had not inherited Hank's tendencies toward violence pleased Sully no end. In Charity, Sully had finally found a Lawson he could truly admire.

"But, where's Peter?" Michaela worried nervously.

"Peter!" Sophie shouted for the thousandth time.

"Peter, where are you?" she shouted more loudly, and more desperately.

In the opposite direction, a glimpse of movement caught Daisy's eye. With a smug smile on her face, she tapped Sophie on the shoulder, quite proud to be the silent bearer of good news.

Sophie pivoted immediately...

He emerged from the bushes like an answer to her prayers and Sophie stood paralyzed for a moment by the sheer sight of him.

"Right here�" he answered her hoarsely, his throat raw from his ordeal.

"She's got that same look on her face you had when ya got off the stage, comin' back from Boston�" Sully noted with a wry grin.

How well Michaela remembered Colleen's hand on her back, and that first sight of him amidst the bustling noonday crowd in front of Loren's store. It seemed like an eternity and yesterday all at the same time as Michaela watched Sophie and Peter experience that thrilling moment all over again.

Peter extended his arms, giving Sophie all the encouragement she needed.

She closed the space between them in less time than it took for Daisy to blink or for Charity and Ezra to hear the commotion and race to see what was happening.

Sophie jumped into his arms so quickly that Peter had to catch his balance as he grabbed her. Sophie's fingers locked in his hair and her lips smothered him as she spoke between her endless kisses.

"You're all right? You're here� You're all right?" she breathed over and over again against his cheek.

"I love you so much�" her mouth covered his.

Willingly, Peter enjoyed every moment of Sophie's relief, experiencing his own joy at their reunion. Quietly, he held her tight, letting her exhaust all her pent-up emotions in a single burst.

His lips reassured her passionately. "I love you, too�"

As Sophie began to feel more and more secure in Peter's embrace, her words took on a more playful tone, and her kisses did as well.

"You ignored everything I taught you�you realize that?" her mouth lingered softly on his, relishing his taste.

"I know�" Peter nodded repeatedly, prolonging the kiss with a smile.

"You took a parachute you hadn't packed yourself�" she continued reprimanding him with her lips.

"I know�" Peter took his punishment exceedingly well.

Every word from Sophie's mouth sounded like music to his ears. Blissfully, Peter prepared never to hear the end of Sophie's critique of his disastrous skydiving performance. With any luck, he'd be hearing it for the rest of his life�

Oblivious to the others present, Peter and Sophie broke apart sheepishly as Ezra cleared his voice loudly. "Ahem! Hmmm!!!"

With smiles on their faces, Peter and Sophie looked up to find Ezra had moved to Daisy's side, leaving one very drained and exhausted Charity standing alone.

Sophie stood happily aside as, guiltily, Peter shrugged and opened his arms to his weary aunt.

Relaxing for the first time since what seemed like forever to her, Charity sighed and went into Peter's embrace with slow deliberation.

"You are intent upon killing me, aren't you?" she admonished, touching his face with love in her eyes.

"Aww, Aunt C., the adrenaline's what keeps you young�" Peter smirked, as he rubbed his hands soothingly over Charity's back, truly sorry for the worry he had caused her.

"Then I shall live forever, after today!" she mocked with a begrudging smile.

Gathering her emotions, Charity broke from Peter's arms, smoothed her dress, and, in her usual imperious tone, summoned Daisy and Ezra to inform the others of their success in locating her troublesome nephew.

"And be quick about it�" she chided them, making her own way toward the clearing.

Unable to resist one last retort, as she scrambled over a particularly rough stretch of terrain, Charity shot back with piercing speed, "If I had known all Hell was going to break loose, I'd have worn more comfortable shoes!"

Indulgently, Peter accepted Charity's unique way of expressing her unfailing devotion.

With a moment finally alone to themselves, Sophie raised her fingers gingerly to Peter's neck. "You're hurt�" she winced, seeing the red scrapes of angry leather scored upon his skin.

"Not much�" Peter dismissed his injuries, almost afraid to ask what he feared most. "Alex?" he questioned softly.

"He's okay�" Sophie nodded with tears in her eyes.

"They took him to the hospital�some burns on his hand�I haven't seen him yet�" she explained, keeping her hand securely on Peter's chest to assure herself he was really there.

"Then let's go�" Peter winked, taking Sophie's hand tightly in his.

Contentedly, Sophie wrapped her arm snugly about Peter's waist, pulling him to her for the walk back to town, the smiles on their faces beaming like two kids on Christmas morning.

"Happy?" Sully asked Michaela gently, brushing away a stray tear.

"Very," she answered, capturing his hand against her cheek.

Mischievously, Sully mimicked Peter's wink. "Then let's go�"

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

Re: Say the Words - ch.51 -- dqfan, 08:51:20 03/26/03 Wed
- Re: Say the Words - ch.52 -- dqfan, 08:55:14 03/26/03 Wed
  - Re: Say the Words - ch.53 -- dqfan, 09:00:07 03/26/03 Wed
    - Re: Say the Words - ch.54 -- dqfan, 09:04:41 03/26/03 Wed
      - Re: Say the Words - ch.55 -- dqfan, 09:07:41 03/26/03 Wed