crimson, chapter fourteen

Days past on the yacht, the children played and were given a lecture about there not being much

space so they had to put things away when they were done with them and the adults spent time

getting everything set up. Once there was nothing to do they found things to occupy their time,

such as cards and playing with the children. The mist was still covering everything from sight. Jack was up top alone thinking about his sister and everything that had happened since then. He felt guilty for some of his thoughts such as he was glad she had died in the crash and not been taken now. But then again he had survived so what if she had lived and she survived this too. Kate had come up top without him noticing. She stood and watched him for a moment. “Are you alright” she startled him. “I’m fine, just thinking” he replied. “Do you want to talk about it” Kate asked as she walked over to the railing next to him. “not really” was his reply but then he added “the doc said it was good to talk and well I guess with you being the only doctor left you’re as good as I can get”. He didn’t mean it as an insult but it sounded that way. “Don’t worry I won’t take it the wrong way after all I’m and ER doctor not a psychologist” she joked to lighten the mood. He began telling her about his sister and how he had become her legal guardian. Then he went on about what she was like and how much he loved her despite her antics. Kate kept quiet and just listened. Jack then began telling of the accident and how after wards he felt it was his fault and that he still did. Explaining his fall into depression and drinking and being forced to take leave from work, Kate saw the pain welling up in his eyes. Kate was about to try and speak to comfort him then he added “I can’t help but feel that she was better off dying now, and that she didn’t live to go through all of this. I mean what if she hadn’t survived this or what if she had” jack looked confused by these thoughts. “Jack the feelings you have are normal and all you can do is work through them I will help you as much as I can” she told him unsure of what to say. “I know you’re not qualified to help but it does help to talk to someone about it so thank you” he said to her as he straightened up away from the railings. “We can start by getting you off the alcohol then take each day at a time” Kate offered. He nodded in agreement as bobby came up onto the deck with Lethanial and a couple of fishing poles. “It's ok I won’t say a word” Kate reassured him sensing that he wasn’t ready to let anyone else know. She felt a bond forming between them as they locked gazes in acknowledgement that it was between him and her.

Jack and Kate joined bobby and Lethanial on the deck below. “Do you think there will be any fish

left” jack asked them. Bobby turned to them and told him “well the mist can’t go into the water so I figure that the fish should be safe. I guess we will find out”. Thinking out loud jack said “there could be other survivors then”. “How do you mean” asked Kate. “Submarines, under water stations” he said. “If they were under the surface when the mist past then they cud still be alive” he went on. “The radios don’t work no more though, so how do we contact them” bobby asked. “We don’t we just have to keep an eye out for any sign of them” jack explained. “morse code” Lethaniel said. The others looked at him and he explained. “we can bang morse code on the side of the boat and it will vibrate through the water ad if there is any submarines nearby they will pick it up”. Jack looked at the boy then said “that’s brilliant very clever Lethaniel now we just need to know morse code”. “i know S.O.S will that do” asked bobby. “that will work fine simple and to the point” jack agreed. Lethanial and bobby went about setting up the fishing rods and getting settled for a relaxing day. Jack and Kate returned downstairs to join the others and to find something to bang their message on the boat. Pamela was making some sandwiches with some fresh made bread and Jessica was playing with Tanisha and Tara kept an eye on the babies. Clive was reading in a corner with his cup of tea. Sarah and molly were playing a board game on the coffee table. If it wasn’t for the blood red mist outside it would seem like a nice relaxing cruise. When live heard about the plan to send a message through the water to any nearby submarines he left his book and went to find a big wrench that he could use to send the S.O.S. Over the next few days jack and Kate became close spending lots of time together every day. Kate had gone to bed leaving jack sitting on deck alone to finish his coffee. Pamela went out to join him, sitting in the seat that Kate had been in. “So, how's things with you and Kate” she inquired. “What do you mean” jack asked. “You have been spending a lot of time together talking and laughing” she explained “There is no harm in that is there” asked jack “None at all, but I’ve seen the spark between you two” “What do you mean a spark? You’re not insinuating there is anything going on is you” “I insinuate no way. I’m just pointing out that she is an attractive woman who seems to have a soft spot for a very handsome cop.” “If I didn’t know better i would think you were playing match maker Pamela” “Honey if I were fifteen years younger id have a crack at you myself” she laughed Jack smiled and let out a slight hint of a laugh. Taking another drink of his coffee he turned to Pamela. “Do you think she likes me that way”? “Ha, I knew it” she blurted out. He drank the rest of his coffee then stood up “I’m going to turn in before you have me serenading her from the deck.” He told her. He gave her a kiss on the cheek bid her goodnight then disappeared downstairs