Jake's View

3

The Carrero Effect

~ The Holiday: Part 2 ~

Jake was searching under the water, too dark to see anything and scrambling with his hands at anything that felt like it could be Daniel. Panic gripping his stomach as he frantically surfaced for air and dove again. He had hit the water without a thought the second he knew Danny was in here. No cares that he was maybe too drunk for this and just endlessly searching despite his muscles aching and being so heavy he could barely move anymore. It felt like it had been hours instead of minutes and he still hadn't found him. He wouldn't give up on him, he wouldn't lose his best friend this way.

Surfacing for air quicker this time he took a moment to drag more into his burning lungs and wipe the water from his eyes. He could hear yelling from the deck, crying from Leila and other voices but he was fully zoned-in on the surface of the water looking for any signs of him.

"He's here, Mr. Carrero," yelled out one of the crew from the speed boat nearby and he felt his body lose all fatigue and started swimming their way frantically. He could see them hauling a lifeless body into the boat under the moonlight and a sickness swept through him, a fear that maybe they had been too late which only made him swim faster to his friend's side

* * *

The hospital had given Jake some dry clothes to wear, he hadn't really thought about anything when he had jumped into the air rescue chopper holding Hunter's hand, only that he had to be with him at all costs. It had all passed in a blur of drama and chaos. Daniel's lifeless, pale face lying still and closed-up on the stretcher below him, he felt like he had barely breathed in that entire journey to the mainland hospital.

Hunter had been breathing on his own but still wasn't conscious and the paramedics had been messing with tubes and ventilators while Jake curbed his panic the best he could. He had lost a friend this way once before, saved them from drowning only to have them die later from too much fluid intake.

It had felt like an eternity sitting in that hall waiting for word, his stomach churning itself in knots and his hands trembling and cold when they had got here. The ship's captain had been sent back to the boat as daylight had broken. He wanted him to take care of Emma in his absence, it was the only rational thought he could formulate, focusing on her to give him some peace.

He hadn't given himself much chance to think about what had been happening with her when Daniel had fallen overboard, he had been focused on him and what was going on, the fear and agony of searching for Hunter. Anytime she had come into his head he had pushed her back down, wanting to analyze it later, not tarnish the happiest moment of his life with possibly the worst. Until he knew Hunter was going to be okay, all thoughts were on him. Losing Danny would be like losing Arrick, he was as close as a brother and would never forgive himself if he died.

"Mr. Carrero? Mr. Hunter is asking for you." A young female voice drew his attention, looking up at a young nurse in blue scrubs beckoning him to follow, so he did without hesitation. She smiled his way warmly.

"He's okay? He's going to be okay, I mean?" He tripped over his words, half relief and half exhaustion. Walking behind her and trying to drag his heavy weight with him. He felt about a hundred years older suddenly.

"Yes, he will be kept in for observation of course but he's fine. His father has been notified and on his way."

Jake sighed, relief washing over him and a sudden ache to wrap arms around Emma shocked him. He didn't have his cell with him to call her. He'd gotten here in soaked clothes, a shirt, and chinos, not even wearing shoes.

Jake was ushered into a side room that resembled every hospital he had ever been in, a lot like that time he had gone with Emma to Chicago. A single bed that was tilted into a comfier position, surrounded by white curtains and a bunch of machines and Hunter sitting grinning at him from the middle of it all like a fucking asshole. Dressed in a hospital gown and tucked in like a goddamn child under blue sheets and a blanket.