A Fight to Remember

Count Down Pt. 1

A/N: Thanks for reading and voting, everyone! I appreciate it! 

Dec. 31 2036

Derek

For once it wasn't raining, which was a good sign. I stared out at the morning sky, sipping my coffee. I couldn't sleep last night. I kept having a dream about a plane crash.

I saw people staggering around. I felt pain. Everywhere, but mostly in my arm. I smelled burning fuel. But one thing stood out:

Derek! Derek!

Someone had called to me, and I answered. Was my name Chris? Or Derek?

"Chris?" Megan called from the kitchen... "Want some french toast?"

My lips curved in a slight smile, "Love some."

"Benny!" she called, "Breakfast!"

"Coming, coming, I'm coming..." Benny walked on his tip toes down the hall in nothing but pajama pants. I couldn't believe he was ten years old now... time slipped by so fast... too fast.

"Hey bud," I said, greeting him.

"Hello. Hi." He said, smiling at me. He'd been working with a therapist to learn how to make eye contact, and to improve his social skills. Megan said he was doing remarkably well. I was impressed so far too. "Wanna play go fish?"

"Sure, after breakfast okay?"

"Okay," he said.

We ate in comfortable silence for awhile. It was nice just to relax and enjoy this time together, I was starting to wonder if this would be my life now. Would I ever find my true family? And if I did... would it be like this? Comfortable? Warm? Stable?

"You going out with Lynn and Charlie tonight?" Megan asked, reffering to the New Year's party at the hospital.

I shrugged, "I don't know... maybe." I didn't want to be a third wheel, although I knew quite a few people would be going... I just- "Something feels different... I feel..." Like my skin was stretching. Like I wasn't myself. I was supposed to be this Derek guy. But who was Derek? Did he do parties? Was he entertaining? Jumping on a unicycle and juggling? Or did he like the quiet of a houseboat and the swish of a line being cast into the ocean. Who was Derek? Who was Chris? Who was I?

I squeezed my fork and gritted my teeth, frustrated. And then I watched Benny who seemed far more interested in the texture of his food than actually eating it. I laughed. "C'mon Benny, get the cards," I said.

xxx

Later I did decide to go out... but not with Lynn and Charlie. I met Mark on crutches and in a fresh cast at the Dinghy Dock Pub. It was quite full of rambunctious New Year's partiers, but I didn't really mind.

"Scotch please, and whatever he's having," I called to the barkeep, who nodded at Mark.

"Just a beer, man."

The drinks slid in front us and I gripped the cool glass. "Well?" I asked.

"Another year," Mark said.

"Another year," I sipped my Scotch.

"There'll be fireworks later... you gonna watch?" He asked.

"Of course," I said smiling.

"Great! But you'll have to help me, I'm a gimp."

"Yes..." I said, looking him up and down... "Yes, you are Mark."

He shook his head, "You suck."

I mock bristiled, "Do not, you suck. We had to wait eighteen hours in the rain for rescue. On Christmas!"