Treasure for All

21. Fighting Gravity

It wasn't long before the crew returned to the ship with the next piece in hand, and they covered the elephant's trunk back to where they had found it before booking it to the ship. No one was out by the river, so they were able to sneak back to the ship without anyone else noticing. Mingi double checked that everyone was on board before gearing up the ship to take off towards Egypt, Grace-Anne stored the piece in her lab with the other diamond, and Dinah set up the shield as dark clouds thundered as they rolled in. Three members rushed to the medic as everyone else tried to clean themselves from their journey.

"It stings!" Hongjoong whined as Dahae and Yeosang treated his left arm. He had been the one to accidentally touch a crystal after dropping one of the notes. He was able to retrieve it, but not without getting attacked by the glowworms.

"Even the captain stumbles sometimes," Yeosang sighs in sarcasm as he gives him an herbal shot to drink.

Hongjoong was about to comment back, but the bitter taste of the medicine restrained his tongue. At least it was a distraction for the stinging in his arm.

"It'll keep you from getting an infection," Dahae reassured him. "However, it's possible that you're gonna have some...frequent bathroom runs."

"Like what?" the captain's brow rose, his face still contorted in disgust from the bitter elixir. "Pooping?"

"It's only a side effect, babe. It just flushes out any bacteria. An infection from those glow worms can cause intestinal issues as well if the poison gets deep into the bloodstream."

Hongjoong sipped on some water to wash down the bitter herbal taste. "Diarrhea I can deal with."

"If you do end up having that side effect, it will only last about a few hours."

The captain nodded and let his fiancée finish patching up his wound as Yeosang went to go check on San. Hongjoong just kept his eyes on Dahae, the pain in his arm becoming numb the less he paid attention to it. Three years of traveling the world and finding artifacts in dangerous territories, and she still stayed with him.

"How did I get so lucky?" he wondered out loud, a smile growing on his face.

"I should be asking the same thing," Dahae giggled as she began to bandage his wound, her small hands working gently at it.

"I know I don't say it often, but I'm so thankful to have you in my life."

With a small smile, Dahae leaned forward and pressed a tender kiss to his brow slit. "And I'm thankful for you."

"I just hate putting you in danger with such adventures as this," he sighed regretfully as she finished bandaging his arm.

Dahae met his eyes, cupped his face, and whispered, "There's going to be danger with each adventure. If I hadn't gone with you after that bar fight, I think my life wouldn't be as exciting as it is now."

Hongjoong leaned into her touch. "But what happens if I can't protect you, or I...I lose you? Or something happens to me?"

"Then we'll know that our adventures were spent together in love."

Before they could share a kiss, they were both jerked by a force of gravity, causing them to bonk heads. Next, the lights went out, leaving them in near pitch darkness.

"Are you okay?" Hongjoong asked as he massaged his forehead.

"Yeah," Dahae nodded as she went to go find the emergency flashlight. "What just happened?"

"I'm not sure."

The captain didn't hesitate to exit the medical wing to see the potential issue. Some parts of the ship still had electricity; but he knew something was wrong the moment he saw the worried look on Yunho's face.