stranded (closed for asetikish)

[MrGoatee]

Sleep came easy and deeply. It was probably just due to the exertion of the day before and the stresses. Mason stretched awake as the sun hit his eyes.

He slid out of the hammock and stretched 'morning' he smiled and removed his shirt again. The sun already warming quickly.

He nodded to the spears, 'will you be needing help?'

 

[asetikish]

"Oh! Good morning!" Jesse smiled at him. "Actually, I'm done. Want to have fish for breakfast? Or lunch if we suck." She tossed him one of the spears. "I saw a rocky shore at the eastern part of the beach. Hopefully there will be a lot of fish there too."

She stood and tested her foot. It still hurt, that meant sitting down while spear fishing. She doubted she'd do well with that.

"Any morning rituals before we leave?"

 

[MrGoatee]

He nodded and laughed, 'yeah, coffee, the papers and a 5 mile run, but I guess thats out of the question"

He reached for a spear "I'll suck at this" and offered a hand "where's the larder?" He smiled

 

[asetikish]

Jesse winked at him. "Keep jogging across the sand until you get five miles. Maybe you can also be another signal to our rescuers."

For the first time in days, Jesse laughed. "Let's see who sucks more." She leaned on him not wanting to strain her foot. "I already have a huge handicap. Literally."

In all, Jesse really was grateful he was there to support her. She had never let herself rely on anyone before, and secretly, she was liking relying on someone else.

 

[MrGoatee]

Mason smiled, the only thing that was good about this was that they were not alone, he felt they had warmed because of the situation. Embracing the need for each other when so often in the outside world there was no need.

He helped Jesse to the spot, remembering to bring one of their water bottles. Glancing over the beach, the damaged plane looked forlorn, all the fuel burned out and the shell sitting cold and lifeless. He scanned the area, spotting the tree he had climbed the day before and taking in the size of the island.

It wasn't big. It would be enough to support the two of them but was small enough for him to be concerned about being located

 

[asetikish]

Jesse threw the spear at a fish and missed, as expected. She pulled the spear back by the string and sighed. "This is going to take a while."

"Sorry for being an ass the first time we met."

 

[MrGoatee]

Mason copied her technique, feeling she knew more than he did. It turned out he was a worse shot than her. 'its ok, I guess the military I a tricky life, especially when you are based in a remote place.' He turned to watch her ' I get the civilians are no good thing too, the worlds are so different' he paused ' and I'm sorry too, I get nervous and act like an ass'

He looked about then sat in the water, cooling his body

 

[asetikish]

"Nah, you were actually really nice." Jesse threw another the spear flopping in the water. "Well, I guess that's even worse than your last throw."

She looked at Mason go down to the water and envied him. Wading would have been good if her ankle didn't have a problem.

"It's going to be harder casting your spear when you're half in the water like that! You're going to scare the fish with your ugliness." She stuck her tongue out.

 

[MrGoatee]

He laughed. 'maybe I'll scare them to you! Besides it cool. Might be good for your ankle' he stood and walked closer, hand offering her help, the water on his skin

 

[asetikish]

Jesse hesitated but agreed in the end, taking his hand. She took a step, but slipped on her good foot falling on him and dropping her spear in the water.

 

[MrGoatee]

He dropped his spear, second hand quickly moving to grab her before she lost her balance totally. He managed to pull her to him, holding her tight and safe. 'sorry' he muttered 'that was a stupid idea, are you ok?'

 

[asetikish]

"U-um, yeah. Sorry..." Jesse had never felt flustered before, but right then, she was feeling really vulnerable, which was a new feeling for her.

She tried to regain her balance, only to be looking directly at his eyes. For a while, she held his gaze before tearing them away.

"Well, we're here...I'll just sit down here and splash the water under my feet."

 

[MrGoatee]

Mason paused as if for some reason unwilling to let her go. He returned her look, 'you sure?' He eased his grip. Nervously beginning to search for the spears

 

[asetikish]

"Yes." Well, no. Not really, but years of standing on her own and being on her own became her automatic answer. Jesse really was enjoying in herself in his arms, but the words were already out of her mouth and she doubted being honest about how she felt was going to be in the table anytime soon. Besides, years of building a wall around her was pretty hard to break if it were possible.

 

[MrGoatee]

He slowly let her go, allowing her to carry her weight. He stooped and recovered his spear and held out a hand to help her sit. Sitting with her her turned to her and placed his hand on hers 'its ok to not be strong all the time you know'

 

[asetikish]

Jesse blushed in embarrassment. It was as if he read her mind, but maybe too much in her body language was giving her away. In any case, there was no use hiding what she felt.

"Not when you live in the ghetto and then in the military. It's a way of life. Maybe you won't understand, but that's my life. Besides, after we leave this island, we'll go our separate ways and I'm back to my old life, so I can't let my guard down."

 

[MrGoatee]

He smiled 'if we never meet again after, what have you got to loose?' He playfully flicked some water on her 'if we're stuck here for a few days we may as well forget the past and get on with it. We need to survive, I need you to survive.' He paused. 'far more than I realise I suspect'

 

[asetikish]

"if we never meet again after, what have you got to loose?"

"Hey! No fair!" Jesse kicked some water up with her good leg, but it didn't even reach his face. "It takes three days to break a habit, Mason. Remember that."

She wiped away some of the water on her face as she listened to him. "if we're stuck here for a few days we may as well forget the past and get on with it. We need to survive, I need you to survive. Far more than I realise I suspect."

Thinking that he was still joking, she followed it up. "Yeah, you are kinda like a lost kid out here without civilization."

 

[MrGoatee]

He grinned 'so teach me! while you get that ankle better I can be your hands' he leaned back, letting the water lap against his back. 'I'm going back in the plane' he said, 'there may be more equipment in there or some clue as to what happened. Maybe I can rip out a seat or two, build us a deck, maybe a flushing toilet!' He laughed

 

[asetikish]

Jesse tried to splash him with water without success and watched him retreat to the plane. She took up the spear she dropped from the rope she tied on her wrist and continued spear fishing.

If we never meet again... She sighed at the thought. She didn't want that. If anything, his company made her happy.

 

[MrGoatee]

He walked slowly, listening to her splash in the pool. He almost didn't want a quick rescue. She was such good company. She made him feel strong, wanted. But at the same time she had her own drive and strength that he knew he could rely on.

Climbing back in the plane he assessed the interior. The two seats were bolted down firmly, but the padded part was only bolted to a frame, he grabbed the toolbox he had left the last time and managed to free the seats.

Returning to the cockpit, he tried the door once more. It gave a little, but there was no way he would get back in. What kept him trying was the third parachute, sat just behind the co-pilots seat. Surely it could be useful and there may be more essential equipment on the harness.

Stepping back he looked out of one of the windows at Jesse, no, he thought, i hope we do meet a lot when we get out of here

 

[asetikish]

Not wanting to think about the future, Jesse continued to repeat the practice over and over. After several tries, she finally caught a fish and she squealed in delight as she pulled her spear in.

"I caught one! I caught one!" The sun was already climbing up and though it was a little late for breakfast, but at least, they had fish. Even though it was only a little bigger than her hand.

 

[MrGoatee]

He managed to rig a crude sled from some twisted metal and had placed the seats and some other useful items from the toolbox on it, dragging was slow and hard but possible. When he heard her call out however, the worst thoughts passed through his head. The sled dropped, he ran full tilt down the beach to her, jumping rocks until he got close "what's happened, are you ok?" He shouted, concern obvious in his voice

 

[asetikish]

"Oh! Huh? Yeah!" She held up the spear with the fish. "Look! I caught one."

Seeing his expression, she bit her lower lip. Sorry, I screamed like that. "I just got so excited I caught one."

 

[MrGoatee]

He laughed. Blushing now, at his foolishness. You're a genius' he grinned 'I could kiss you!" He stepped out into the water to look at the catch.