"I absolutely hate ties, they should be declared the invention of Satan and banned from all civilized countries," Jason grumbled as his latest effort fell short…far short…of perfection again.
"Perhaps if you didn't try to set a new speed record it would help?" Billy suggested reasonably from the main part of the motel room they were in.
"The limo is supposed to be here in a fifteen minutes, and I do NOT want to be responsible for us being late," came the disgruntled reply.
"Somehow I don't think that's likely," Billy grinned. "You are so anal about being on time, it's scary."
"I thought you liked my anal qualities," Jason leered at him.
"Well, they do have a certain charm…hey!" the blond yelped as his burly mate gave him a lusty slap on the ass in passing.
"Watch your mouth. You said we were amongst the civilized folks here," Jason scolded him. "Come on, we can wait in the lobby before you find any more trouble to get into."
"As if I'm the one who'd cause trouble," Billy mock-sighed as they waited for the elevator.
Jason gave his lover a considering look. Billy was unusually happy tonight, playful even, which Jason hadn't expected. Oh, he'd expected Billy would enjoy himself, but this mood was unusual. They were in Chicago, invited to a very exclusive celebration for one of Billy's colleagues, Dr. Daniel Fanzler, who'd been awarded a Nobel Prize for scientific achievements, specifically his discovery of a new alloy that could withstand more than twice the pressure and heat of any previous alloy. His discovery had allowed for tremendous strides forward in space exploration.
"I thought the stuff they used on Terra Venture would have been better than this stuff he came up with," Jason had commented when Billy first told him about the invitation.
"Terra Venture was based on alien technology. This is our technology. It's a big achievement."
Jason hadn't argued, nor had he hesitated in agreeing to the Chicago trip. The world Jason inhabited at work might have been hostile to homosexuality, but Billy's world wasn't. Tommy had once commented that the science community probably wouldn't care if Goldar was Billy's lover, as long as they could get his help on their projects. Jason, after expressing his displeasure at the comparison, had to agree.
The limo arrived right on schedule and dropped them off at an impressive mansion, where their invitations were carefully checked by a couple of beefy security guards. After a quick electronic scan for weapons and/or electronic recording or listening devices, they were ushered into a huge ballroom, already teeming with elegantly dressed men and women engaging in subdued conversations.
"Oh, Lord, what I wouldn't give for a ghetto blaster about now," Billy whispered to Jason as they surveyed the scene.
Jason gave him a conspiratorial grin, and automatically checked the security of the room. He realized what he was doing and almost bit back a chuckle. Somehow he didn't think the esteemed Dr. Fanzler was lax in his home security.
"Do you see anyone you know?" Jason asked softly.
"I don't even see anyone I WANT to know," the blond replied in the same quiet tone.
"Dr. Cranston, I'm so pleased you could join us," a hearty voice from their left drew both men's attention.
"Dr. Fanzler," Billy greeted the effusive man, making no comment at the use of his title. Though he had achieved the status of "Dr." years ago he rarely used the title.
"I was quite worried you wouldn't be able to attend," the man went on, glancing at Jason briefly before dismissing him entirely.
"I appreciate the invitation. This is my partner, Jason," he said calmly.
"Nice to meet you. Now Dr. Cranston, there are some people here you must meet. Excuse us," he man added belatedly to Jason.
Billy started to protest, but Jason cut in with practiced ease. It was hardly the first time he'd been rather pointedly ignored at these functions. "I'll just mingle a while." It was a code phrase they used to tell the other not to worry, but to go ahead and ignore the rudeness.
Watching Billy being led toward a large group of men off to the side, Jason looked around for a friendly looking face, experience having taught him to check the quiet corners for other 'outsiders'. His drifting brought him to the edge of a mixed group of younger men and women who seemed to at least be speaking regular English, not a variation of 'Billyspeak.'
"Dr. Fanzler is just lording it over everyone today, isn't he?" one young man said with obvious bitterness. "Pretty big airs for a guy who rode others' coattails to a Nobel Prize."
"What do you mean, Sean?" a small blonde asked.
"I know for a fact he didn't do the background work. He used the work of some other guy. Cranston I think the name was. Some fellow stuck out in California. Has a reputation of being a little eccentric."
"Would have to be to stay in California. All the real achievements are being reached in New York, or here in Chicago. California is a scientific dead zone these days."
"Speaking of achievements, I hear there has been a new development in the research to create harvestable under water crops…"
The conversation shifted to more technical subjects, so Jason moved on, his mind whirling with what he'd overheard. He eventually found a trio of non-scientist spouses hanging out near the patio entrance and ended up enjoying their company until the call for dinner.
He went in search of Billy when the dinner announcement came and found his mate deep in technical conversation with several older scientists. Billy caught Jason's eye and smiled before excusing himself.
"You having any fun at all?" Billy asked quietly.
"It's okay. Found a nice group of misfits to hang with."
"Misfits in a nerd gathering. Pathetic, Jason, simply pathetic," Billy teased with a grin.
"Heh, just you wait. I'll 'misfit' you when we get back to the room," he grunted in mock irritation.
"Sounds…uncomfortable, actually."
"Guess you'll find out."
Laughing softly, they joined the rest of the party in the buffet room, finding a small table near the edge of the room to eat their dinners. After dinner Billy was dragged off again, and Jason spent the time roaming the area, listening in and getting another earful about their esteemed host. When Billy appeared at his elbow asking if he was ready to leave, Jason eagerly agreed.
"God, I'm glad that's over," Billy sighed, leaning back in the plush limo seat and loosening his tie.
"Yeah," his companion agreed, staring out the window moodily. Billy gave him a considering look, but decided to let it wait until they were back in their room.
Once in the room they silently took off their suits, changing to boxers and T-shirts while Billy ordered an overpriced snack from room service.
"Okay, Jason, spill it. What's bothering you?" Billy confronted his obviously unhappy partner as they sat picking at the tray of stuffed mushrooms and spicy meatballs.
"Why are you still living in Angel Grove?" was the unexpected question.
"Huh? Because I like living there," he answered with a puzzled frown. "My life is there."
"But why? Sounded to me like the real base of scientific discovery is in the East."
"Well, yeah, the biggest facilities are in the East. But for what I do I don't need those sorts of facilities."
"Why not?"
"I just don't. I don't do the refining work, usually. Just the research and testing. What's behind these questions, Jason?" Billy gave his lover a searching look.
"I'm just wondering how much you've sacrificed to stay in California all these years. How much more you might have achieved if you'd gone East. How much responsibility I have for that," he concluded, nearly whispering the last part.
"Jason, I made the choice to stay in California years ago. It was MY decision, not yours. I'm happy in Angel Grove, I'm happy in my life. I have no desire to change a thing. If there is one thing I learned from my forays into space, it's that there really is 'no place like home.' Angel Grove is my home, it's where I belong."
"I heard people say tonight that Fanzler stole your work, that if you'd had access to a major facility like he had, that you'd be the one getting the Nobel Prize."
Billy snorted in disgust. "Unlike some people, I'm not that caught up in glory. Jason, these days winning the Nobel Prize is less about what you know than who you know. And I've never been any good at that particular game. Besides, let me ask you something. If I'd come to you and said: 'Jase, I have a chance to work on a project that could lead to a Nobel Prize, but to finish it I have to move to Chicago for two years.' What would you have done? Honestly, what would you have done?"
Jason shrugged. "I'd have started making plans to get us moved to Chicago."
"Exactly. I knew that. Jason, I didn't want to move to Chicago, I wanted to stay in Angel Grove. It was my choice all along. I haven't sacrificed a thing I wanted to stay in California. I love what I do. The thrill of discovery, it's like a drug to me. The testing is okay, but the refining? Not that interesting. I feel privileged that I'm in a position to pick and choose what I do, that I can do just the parts I enjoy. Let Fanzler and his kind have the glory. I'm having the fun."
Jason couldn't miss the sparkle in Billy's eyes as he spoke; he knew Billy wasn't just saying it to make Jason feel better.
"Okay, as long as you're happy and I'm not holding you back in any way, then I'm happy. Though I still think some glory should come your way."
"I have you, wonderful friends, and work I enjoy. I've got more than anyone has a right to expect in life. Leave the glory to those who need its false warmth, I have the real thing."
Jason gave his partner a thoroughly bemused look. "Where did THAT come from? I tell you, Bill, conversations with you can take the most bizarre turns. The last thing I expected was such a poetic-sounding declaration."
"It was spur of the moment. I just thought it sounded a bit more mature than 'shut up and kiss me, you fool.'"
Jason snickered and reached for his lover. "Hell, that works, too."
Saturday, 6:36 p.m.
Jason waited impatiently in the terminal, pacing the length of the building, staring at the board announcing incoming flights as if he could will it to change. He and the others had decided that it would be best if Jason met Billy alone at the airport, rather than all of them. The local media had somehow missed the fact that an Angel Grove citizen had been on board the ill-fated flight, and they had no desire to alert them to that omission. Besides, they knew Billy would likely be tired and stressed after the events of the previous evening, and it would be easier if he didn't have to deal with the whole gang right away. They'd let Jason have Billy to himself that night, but they all planned to invade their home on Sunday.
Once Billy's flight was announced Jason took up a position near the window, watching the plane move into position, waiting anxiously for the passengers to begin deplaning. He hadn't realized how focused he was until he spotted the familiar figure of his partner and felt his body relax. The relief nearly knocked him over, and he had to take a moment to regroup before going to meet Billy.
The former Blue Ranger was decidedly ragged-looking, with some minor scrapes and bruises plainly visible, and his left arm cradled against his chest in a sling. His hair was mussed and needed washing, his glasses were gone, and the clothing he wore was rumpled and soiled.
And Jason considered he'd never seen his lover looking so good.
From the very beginning of their relationship they'd been careful in public to not show affection, keeping their hands to themselves. Though society for the most point was getting more and more tolerant, there was no reason to press the issue, especially given Jason's profession in particular.
But Jason had just spent far too many hours fearing his partner was dead, he didn't care who was watching; when Billy walked up to him, Jason enfolded him in a loving embrace, thanking God once again that Billy had been returned safely.
"I thought I'd lost you," he whispered, clinging to the shorter man as if he'd never let go.
Billy didn't reply, but held on with a desperate sort of strength, slight tremors running through his body.
"Come on, let's go home," Jason said at last, pulling reluctantly away and indicating the entrance. "I figure an airport is the last place you really want to be."
"You got that right," Billy agreed softly.
They made their way quickly to Jason's car and joined the crowd leaving the airport. It was the busiest time for a Saturday, and traffic was crawling.
"Are you okay, really?" Jason couldn't help but ask, concerned that Billy seemed so subdued.
"Yeah. I'm fine. Glad to be home, though. You really have no idea just how glad I am to be going home," he replied.
"And you have no idea how glad I am to have you coming home," Jason countered, reaching over and laying a warm hand on Billy's leg. "We were all so worried. We spent the whole night at Zack and Trini's, watching the news and waiting. Seems almost unreal, like a dream now. But that could be the lack of sleep talking," he chuckled.
"Oh, I hear you on that. I feel like I could sleep for a week, easy. Once I get a shower, that is," he paused, looking uncomfortable. "Uh…is everyone…" he trailed off, uncertain.
"It's just you and me tonight. They'll all be over in the morning, but we decided you might need a little recovery time." Jason didn't miss how Billy relaxed just a bit at that news.
"Thank you, Jason. You're right, I'm not feeling real social at the moment." Billy's expression was still troubled.
"You want to tell me about it? I want to know, and it'll help pass the time until we get home," Jason encouraged him.
"I suppose I should. You're going to get me to tell, anyway…"
Friday nightBilly closed his laptop with a satisfied sigh; the conversion problem that had plagued him the last three days had finally been solved. He'd be sure to contact his colleagues in France as soon as he got home, they'd been quite anxious about this. His head pounding a little from having concentrated so hard on the small screen, he rotated his head to loosen the muscles in his neck.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please put on your seatbelts," the stewardess announced, activating the seatbelt sign. A veteran flyer, Billy wasn't particularly worried; he'd been on other flights where this had happened. It had always been a false alarm, but he went ahead and buckled up - no need to take a chance. It appeared he wasn't the only one being nonchalant about the sign and the stewardess's request, over half the passengers had failed to comply, and the stewardess was working her way through the cabin to try to remedy that.
She had barely gotten started when the plane lurched violently, as if it had impacted on something. Piercing screams and cries of surprise and pain filled the cabin as it rattled and bucked, flinging luggage, debris, and passengers around like clothing in a dryer. Billy barely had time to register the thought that they were going to crash before something solid and heavy hit him in the back of the head, sending him into the darkness of unconsciousness.
He awoke to a world gone dark and mad. Groans, cries, screams; the dimness was flooded with sound, none of it good. A woman's voice called "Sarah….Sarah" with a mindless sorrow that was one of the most pathetic things Billy had ever heard.
Underneath it all he heard the reassuring voice of the stewardess telling them that they would be evacuated very soon. Billy shifted a little, trying to release his seatbelt, and couldn't bite back a moan of pain when he tried to use his left arm.
"Damn, feels like it's broken," he mumbled to himself. He managed to release the strap holding him in, and scooted forward as much as he was able so he could remove his belt. Using the narrow leather band, he managed to partially immobilize the injured arm. Having taken care of that problem, he began to get an idea of what was going on, and what was needed.
Moving toward the front of the jet, he started to help the stewardess search for live passengers, trying valiantly to ignore the fact he was searching in and among dead bodies.
"You should go through the section behind us and out to where they are launching escape rafts, sir," the stewardess told him. He figured she was only twenty-one or so, and her name tag said 'Janice'. He wondered what had become of the stewardess who'd been trying to get the passengers to sit down just minutes earlier.
"I can help you here, first. There should be enough time," he replied, having no idea how much time they may have, but unwilling to leave her alone with this task.
They found only four other survivors, whom they assisted to the evacuation point. Then they started on the middle compartment, uncovering more survivors there, but most were badly injured.
"I'm afraid most of these people won't survive if rescuers don't show up soon," Janice commented.
"You may be right. Do you have any idea what happened?" he asked as they continued their search.
"No, sir. We didn't even get a minute's warning. It must have been so sudden," she replied.
"Given the circumstances, I think you could dispense with calling me 'sir'. My name is Bill," he said, giving her a weary smile.
"I'm Janice. And, thank you, Bill, for helping with this."
"Janice! Come on, this is the last raft, and we're sinking fast!" The voice from the back was frantic. "If we want to have a chance, we have to leave now."
"Come on, Bill. We have to go," she said with a fearful look.
"Okay, let's go," he agreed. They had turned toward the opening when Billy heard a faint sound above the ominous creaks and groans of the jet as it filled with water. "What was that?" he muttered, moving toward a gruesome pile of bodies and luggage.
He quickly pulled limp bodies off until he found the source of the sound; a little girl trapped beneath, whimpering pitifully.
"Oh, God," he gasped, realizing how close they came to leaving the child here.
"Can you grab my arm?" he asked, reaching out with his good right arm. The child grabbed on and allowed Billy to pull her free. "Hold on, Sweetie, we're getting out of here, okay?" She nodded wordlessly at him, her brown eyes huge in the small face.
"Bill! There you are, we almost left without you," Janice said, reaching out to steady the former Ranger and his burden. "Oh, my goodness, where did you find her. Oh, never mind, in you both go," she said, urging them to leap to the craft below. With no time to think about it, Billy simply leaped on faith, and they landed safely in the center of the craft. Janice and another stewardess were the last to leap to safety.
"Quickly, we need to get away from here before it sinks completely," Janice told the passengers, four of which were holding oars. They immediately set to work, paddling for all they were worth in the churning sea. It was close, very close, but they managed to get far enough away from the sinking jet to avoid the undertow.
As the sea slowly stopped churning and the craft settled down a little, Billy turned his attention to the child who still clung to him. In the frantic moments after the jet sank Billy had been far too distracted to pay attention to her, or to his own pain.
"What's your name, Sweetie?" he asked the child.
"Vicky."
"That's a lovely name. Where are you from, Vicky?"
"Somerset."
"That's in England, right?" He wanted to keep the girl talking, distracted, until he could determine how they were doing.
"Yes. But we're moving to America for a year for Dad's work."
"Were your parents on the plane?" he asked, dreading the answer.
"No, they came to America last month. I stayed with my grandmother since then."
Billy breathed a sigh of relief. "So, you were traveling alone?"
"Yes."
"Me, too," he whispered in a conspiratorial tone.
The girl giggled a little, snuggling closer. The storm was raging full force, churning up the sea, blowing spray mixed with rain over the occupants of the inflated escape raft, soaking everyone to the skin within minutes. Billy was wearing a long-sleeved cotton shirt and jeans, his companion a short-sleeved dress. He wrapped his good arm around her, wishing he could provide more warmth.
"Vicky, would you do me a favor?" he asked softly.
"Un-hunh," she replied.
"Don't wiggle around too much, okay? My arm there is a little sore. Would you do that for me?"
She regarded him solemnly. "If I was already a healer, I could help you," she told him, gently rubbing the injured arm. "Does it hurt a lot?"
"Not too much. That helps," he smiled. Though he couldn't see her in the dark, he could feel her long hair brushing against his hand, and he enjoyed the musical accent in her voice.
He listened to their companions, many of whom were moaning in pain or grief; a cacophony of human suffering that would haunt him for years. The small, bright spark of life he held in his arms was a singular comfort.
"Is someone going to be looking for us?" Vicky asked in a small voice.
"Yep. Right away. So all we have to do is sit tight and they'll come for us. Think we can do that?" Billy joked lightly, wanting to cheer the girl.
"How exactly do you 'sit tight'?" she wanted to know, and in the dark Billy could hear the grin in her voice.
"Well, first you put on your tightest pair of pants…" he started, interrupted by her lightly swatting his good arm.
"Nuh-uh," she scolded him, giggling a little. "You know my name, what's yours?"
"Bill Cranston. From California," he replied seriously.
"Nice to meet you, Bill Cranston from California," she replied just as seriously before ruining the effect with a giggle.
He wasn't terribly surprised to hear a slight note of hysteria in the giggle, he'd felt her trembling increase and had suspected it wasn't due to the cold and damp. He tightened his grip on her, rocking a little.
"I'm so scared," she whispered suddenly, clinging to him with an almost panicky strength. He bit back a gasp of pain as she jarred his bad arm and continued his efforts to comfort her.
"It's okay to be scared, we all are," he murmured back.
"So we can be scared together? My mum always said that was better, if you could be scared with someone else."
"It is, isn't it? Not as lonely-feeling. But see, we're pretty safe here, this raft is big, and we can hold on to these ropes when it gets too rough," he explained soothingly. He didn't feel it would be a good idea to explain about hypothermia, the increasing storm, or the chances of being swept overboard; in fact he wished heartily he hadn't thought of any of those himself.
Vicky remained silent, still clinging tightly to Billy, still trembling a little, but calmer for all that. He wondered if she was going into shock, and how much of what had happened on the plane she remembered. Realizing the futility of worrying about those things, he concentrated on providing as much warmth and comfort as he could, finding that as he helped her, he felt better himself.
With the little girl resting, Billy was free to take quick mental stock of his own condition. His left arm ached with a deep, sharp pain that didn't seem to be getting any better. His head hurt abysmally, and with his glasses lost somewhere along the way he couldn't see much at all; not that he thought there was much to look at currently, anyway. Otherwise, he was cold and wet and his body hurt in places he didn't even know he had.
His thoughts turned to Jason, wondering how his partner was dealing with the news. He felt an unreasonable stab of guilt that he was causing his mate distress, even as he acknowledged it could hardly be deemed intentional on his part. The thought of Jason's steadfast love, solid strength, and unwavering courage steadied Billy as nothing else could, and he realized that any discomfort he might be undergoing now was worth it if it got him back to Jason in the end.
Hours passed with agonizing slowness as the cold reached bone deep, slowly eradicating the warmth needed to sustain life. Billy heard several of the more seriously injured on their raft lose the fight for life, and prayed Vicky was asleep and unaware of what was happening. She hadn't spoken for a long time, but he felt the reassuring movement of the young chest against him, and the occasional shift as she sought any comfort she could find.
He was startled when he felt her questing hand near his face, obviously urging him to bend down closer. "When are they going to find us?" she whispered to him, obviously upset.
"Soon, Sweetie, soon. I know they're looking for us; they have to be. We just have to hang on, okay?"
"'Kay. Is your wife going to be worried about you?"
"My wife? What makes you think I'm married?" he asked with a short laugh.
"You're wearing a wedding ring," she pointed out.
"Very observant of you." He found himself considering his answer. It wasn't in his nature to lie, but Vicky was ten years old, there were some things that just were not necessary for her to know. "Yes, my wife will be worried."
"Is she in California?"
"Yep. Probably watching the news. I bet your parents will be coming to the rescuer's headquarters to wait for word. I know I'd be if I was your dad."
"Isn't your wife going to come out?"
"I doubt it. California is pretty far away."
"What town do you live in?" She was full of questions, probably trying to distract herself from the danger and cold, Billy thought.
"Angel Grove."
"Really? You're from somewhere called Angel Grove? Neat. 'Cause you're my guardian angel, so that's the best place for you to be from."
He had to chuckle at her logic. "Gotta tell you, Vicky, no one's ever called me an angel before. I've got a lot of friends who'd never believe it."
She giggled again, a light, happy sound that was incongruous under the circumstances. However, her momentary energy seemed to fade, and she again drifted into a dozing state.
Billy himself must have nodded off, because the next he knew, bright lights were shining in his eyes, and the somehow comforting bulk of a ship was looming over their raft.
"Vicky! Honey, wake up. Look!" he nudged her gently, then more insistently until she roused and saw the ship. "I think the rescue is here."
She didn't speak, but tightened her hold on the young man, turning to him with wide eyes. "Are they GOOD rescuers?"
"Well, I hope so. I really don't think anyone bad is looking for us. Least I hope not. Why do you ask that?" he wondered.
"I saw a movie with my friends last week, where these people were lost at sea, and the bad guys got them and the diamonds they were smuggling," she explained very seriously.
"Oh, well, since we don't have any diamonds, I think we're okay."
"I hope so, but you promise not to leave me, okay? You'll stay with me until we find my mum and dad, okay?" she pleaded with him.
"I promise. I won't leave you until then."
The raft was secured to the side of the ship, and a ladder dropped down from the deck. Several rescuers clambered down and began to check over the survivors, helping those who could walk on their own to climb the ladder to the safety of the ship. Billy could see a stretcher being lowered to raise the non-ambulatory survivors. He and Vicky waited patiently, watching the others being helped to safety.
"Hi, how're you folks doing? Think you can handle the ladder?" The young man was wearing a life jacket over his uniform, his expression warm and caring. "I'll give you a hand over there."
Billy attempted to shift Vicky off his lap so he could stand up, but she cried out and reached for him in a panic.
"Honey, I have to get up, I can't do that while holding you," he explained as gently as he could. She wasn't having any of it, clinging to him like an octopus.
"Let me help, sir," the young man said, helping Billy to stand while the child clung to him. He assisted the pair to the ladder, where Billy managed to climb very slowly, despite his burden and only having one arm to use. Near the top, eager helping hands reached down to pluck them from the ladder and deposit them on the rain-slicked deck.
They were ushered into a large room filled with other soaked and shocked survivors. Handed a couple of blankets and told they'd be looked after as soon as possible, Billy found a quiet spot and settled them down, wrapping Vicky in one blanket and draping the other over them both.
"Hey, kiddo, I was right, wasn't I? We've been officially rescued. You're going to be okay now, and before you know it you'll be with your parents."
"But you're going to stay with me until then, right?" she insisted again.
"I'll stay with you," he agreed, wondering again how much she remembered from the crash. If his staying with her helped, he figured it was the least he could do. They settled back down, resting, content to be somewhere reasonably dry and warm.
"How are you folks doing," the businesslike feminine voice brought Billy's eyes open and Vicky's head peeking out of her cocoon of blankets.
"We seem to be doing okay," Billy replied politely, sitting up a little straighter.
"Except his arm is hurt, you need to fix it," Vicky spoke up in an authoritative tone that brooked no argument. "And I think his head hurts, too."
The woman chuckled warmly. "Are you his nurse, then?" she asked.
"No, but I'm going to be a Reiki healer someday."
"Are you? That's wonderful. I bet your father is very proud of you," she replied with a meaningful smile at Billy.
"Oh, I'm not her father. We were both traveling alone and sort of ended up together. Her parents are in New York waiting for her," Billy explained.
"I see, well, let me get your names, and I'll take a quick look at your arm."
She quickly noted their names and residences, then she gently probed Billy's injured arm.
"I think it may be broken," she commented as she made another note and stood up. "I'll let the medics know, in the meantime don't move it around too much. You, young lady, can practice for when you're a healer and keep an eye on him, don't let him damage it any further, okay?"
"Okay, I'll do that," the girl agreed, giving Billy a stern look.
"Come on, Vicky, get back under the blanket here, you're finally getting warm," Billy urged her when she continued to sit back where she could observe him.
"I don't want to hurt your arm. You didn't tell me it was broken," she said accusingly.
"I wasn't sure. And, besides, it makes me feel better when you cuddle against me, like a hug. Don't hugs make you feel better?" he asked in all seriousness.
"Yeah." Her expression showed she was remembering something very pleasant.
"Well, then, you know it makes me feel better," he reasoned.
She took him at his word and carefully snuggled up against him, avoiding contact with his bad arm and resting her head against his shoulder with a contented sigh.
He looked down at the dark blonde head and felt a familiar stab of mild pain. It was the only regret he and Jason harbored about their relationship - that neither of them would ever have children. They had at one point discussed adoption, but in reality they knew that would be unfairly difficult on a child; there would be the stigma of having two same-sex parents, plus the fact that Jason and Billy's careers were not conducive to domestic tranquility. Billy had to travel for work far too often, and Jason's occupation required such strange shifts they never knew for certain when he would be home. No, they had had to abandon the idea fairly quickly. They were devoted 'uncles' to the other Rangers' assorted offspring, and both did occasional volunteer work with various children's organizations, but it didn't quite offset the pain of knowing they wouldn't have children of their own.
"Do you have any children?" Vicky asked suddenly, craning to look up at him.
"No, Sweetie, I don't," he replied, startled by having his thoughts interrupted by that particular question.
"You should, you're a good hugger," she replied.
"I'll keep that in mind. Now, rest for a while, you should be sleepy by now," he said softly, smiling.
They dozed, lulled by the sound and motion, and both a little dazed in the aftereffect of the stress they'd been through. At one point a young medic stopped by and checked Billy's arm, securing it with a sling instead of the belt Billy had been using. He told Billy that it would be better for him to wait until they landed and could go to the hospital to set it properly. Billy understood what the man was really saying; 'there are people who are dying here, they need me, you can wait.' He couldn't argue with that reasoning.
They were jolted awake by an announcement. "Folks, we will be docking in a few minutes. We are asking that those who are uninjured wait until we get the injured out first. Please, we know you've been through a lot, but we're asking you be patient for a little while longer."
Vicky smiled radiantly at Billy. "We're here. We're in America, right? Will my parents be here?"
"I don't know. They may be. Though I doubt we're in New York, they may have been able to get to wherever we are landing. We'll see. But I'll stay with you regardless, okay?"
"Thank you, Bill," she said, the smile not quite hiding the nightmares brewing in those big brown eyes. He felt a stab of sorrow, knowing she'd probably have bad dreams and bad memories from this experience. Was this how Jason felt when he saw children hurt in his line of work? No wonder he got depressed sometimes.
"I got something for you," she said suddenly, fumbling under the spill of her long hair. She withdrew a thin chain, holding it up so he could see the angular crystal that dangled from it. "This will help keep you safe and healthy," she explained, reaching up to fasten it around his neck.
"Vicky, that's very nice, but you shouldn't give that to me," he started, staring down at the small blue crystal, so like the Zeo shard he'd been denied.
"I want to," she said simply. "It's the right thing to do."
He thought for a moment, then awkwardly reached down to pat his pants leg. Feeling what he wanted, he shifted the girl a bit and managed to get his hand in his pocket, hooking out his key ring.
"It just so happens, I have something for you, too," he smiled. Using his bad hand to help, he worked the ornament on the key ring free, putting the keys back in his pocket absently. "For you," he announced, holding out the small silver item.
"What is it?" she asked after carefully examining it.
"That is a dream catcher," he explained. "Native American legend has it that if you hang a dream catcher over your bed, it catches the bad dreams but allows the good ones through. Most are much bigger than this one is, but the idea is still the same."
"It's beautiful. Thank you for wanting to keep my bad dreams away," she murmured, reaching up to kiss him on the cheek.
"Thank you for the crystal and wanting me safe and healthy," he replied, returning the kiss.
She giggled and ducked her head, blushing a little, still examining the dream catcher. Billy chuckled and turned his attention back to their surroundings. More ambulatory survivors were making their way to the exit, so it looked like they'd be getting out of here soon. Noticing a young woman in uniform passing by he hailed her.
"Yes, sir?" she queried, stopping and regarding the two blanket-swathed figures.
"Vicky's parents were supposes to be waiting in New York for the plane. Would they have been transported here?" he asked.
"Yes, sir, I believe so. They can tell you more when you get ashore," she replied, warmed by the expression of joy on the little girl's face.
"Thanks. Come on, kiddo. Let's see if your folks are around, huh? Sound like a plan?" he grinned.
"Yup," she rapped out, making him chuckle a little. Their clothing had mostly dried, so they left the blankets behind, neatly folded, and headed toward the exit, hand in hand.
The next few minutes were a confusing whirlwind of being told where to go, giving their names over and over, being quickly checked over again by a paramedic. The middle-aged man wanted Billy to go to the hospital right away to have his arm set.
"Look, the arm's okay for a little longer, alright? I promised Vicky here I'd deliver her to her parents, and that's what I need to do first, okay? I'll come back right afterward and get the arm treated, I promise," he said, hoping the paramedic would understand what he wasn't saying. He seemed to, because he waved Billy on through without comment.
They were finally ushered into a huge room filled with people waiting for word on loved ones who'd been on the downed flight. Vicky held on to Billy's hand with a painful grip as she looked around desperately for her parents.
"Vicky!" The scream startled them both, coming from behind them.
The little girl whirled, and with a happy cry of "Mum!" threw herself into the arms of a dark-haired woman. Both mother and daughter were embraced by a tall man who seemed not to notice or care that tears were streaming down his face.
Billy started to walk away, leaving the happy family to their reunion, when the young voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Bill! You have to meet my parents," Vicky cried out, running to grab his good hand. "Mum, Dad, this is Bill Cranston of California. He saved my life," she told the weeping couple.
"Thank you," the woman gasped, hugging him tight, not hearing his hiss of pain when she squeezed his arm.
"Mum! Careful, his arm's hurt," Vicky scolded, only to find herself swept back up into her mother's frantic embrace.
"Thank you," the father said more calmly. "That hardly seems adequate," he began, but stopped when Billy held up his hand.
"I was glad to help in any way I could. Vicky is a wonderful girl. You should be very proud of her," he said with a warm smile for the child. "Take good care of her, you're lucky to have her."
"We intend to do just that," the father said, turning his attention to his daughter.
"I've got to go now, get this arm taken care of, call my own family. You grow up and learn to be a great healer, okay?" he said softly, running the back of his fingers down one soft cheek.
"Bye, Billy," she replied, startling him by the use of the old nickname.
He smiled one last time, and quickly made his way back to the entrance, the pain from his injuries suddenly making itself known. Finding the paramedics again, he turned himself over to their care, and spent the next couple of unpleasant hours being X-rayed and having his broken arm set. In between he made repeated attempts to call Jason, but extraordinarily high traffic was making getting an outside connection all but impossible.
By the time he'd finally managed to get through to Jason, he'd been treated and released from the hospital, and the airline had arranged transportation back to Angel Grove…
Saturday, 8:57 p.m.
It was deceptively like any ordinary evening in their lives, the two of them doing the dishes together after dinner. Billy had showered, shaved, and eaten, and was looking distinctly better if not necessarily happy. There were shadows in his eyes Jason hadn't seen before, and he suspected his mate was starting to really process what had happened the day before.
Billy had been fine while he had Vicky to take care of. Having someone depend on him had allowed him to concentrate on something other than the death and horror he'd seen immediately after the crash. Sifting through the dead bodies in search of survivors was an ordeal he could not have imagined. One sight in particular had haunted him. An elderly couple, who'd been sitting next to him, had died together, thrown forward by the force of the impact. He'd found their bodies, hands still clasped, when he started to assist Janice. They'd been from Ohio, he remembered, and the trip to Europe had been a gift from their children for their fiftieth wedding anniversary.
"Hey, you okay?" Jason's voice cut through his thoughts, bringing him back to the here and now. The taller man embraced him from behind, pulling Billy against the strong body.
"I'm fine. A little tired, a little overwhelmed, I guess, but fine." He turned in the embrace to face Jason.
Jason's dark eyes searched the thin face of his lover worriedly. There were a couple of bruises now more visible than ever against the pale face, and the light eyes behind the horn-rimmed glasses were troubled. The old glasses had the odd effect of making Billy look much younger, and that effect, coupled with Billy's obvious distress, brought out the fiercely protective nature in Jason. He tightened his hold on the blond as the reality of how close he'd come to losing him hit again.
Sensing a mutual need the two men went down the hall to the bedroom, both eager to feel alive and connected again, after the long vigil. After a round of lovemaking that assured both of them that Billy was truly alive and home, they settled down in comfort.
Tomorrow the other former Rangers would come over to see for themselves that Billy was okay, and to hear the story of what happened. There'd be tears and laughter, and everyone would rejoice that this incident had ended happily for them.
But tonight it was just the two of them, and Jason was grateful they had had this time to recover. He glanced down at the now sleeping face of the man he loved and breathed a silent prayer of thanks that he had been returned safely.
Closing his eyes, Jason drifted off to sleep content in the knowledge that things were as they should be at last.
The End