Generation 2, Chapter 29 - Accidents Happen

They had arrived in Oasis Landing a couple months ago.  The first thing he and Beverly did was start looking for the materials they needed to fix the alien space ship.  Materials that could only be found here in Oasis Landing.  This trip to the future was less thrilling then the trip Adam had made as a child.  This time no matter what he was doing or where he was, he always felt like someone was watching him.  He wanted to believe it was just his imagination but he was uneasy with what his father had told him about the watchers and Logan. He wasn't safe here and neither was his son.  To be on the safe side they never left the house without bringing a dragon along with them.  With the dragons natural cloaking ability their activities were relatively private except for the people who recognized them and reported their comings and goings to the watchers.

Early one morning Adam found Beverly eating breakfast alone in the kitchen.  Looking around, apprehension creasing his forehead "where are the kids?"

Glancing up Beverly smiled "outside." She took a bite of cereal as she watched Adam look out the window.

Adam felt tension melt as his shoulders relaxed as he watched Heath playing with his sister.  "Do you mind finishing your breakfast poolside while I dress?" Adam asked.

Shrugging Beverly looked up "I guess but why?"

"I just don't think it's a good idea for the kids to play so close to the pool without supervision," uneasiness clear in his voice.

"What's wrong?" she asked picking up on his apprehension.

Shrugging "probably nothing.  I just have a bad feeling that somethings going to happen."

He sounds like my dad  she thought as got up to move to the table outside.  Maybe these premonitions were a side effect of being abducted.  Shrill screams cut off her line of thought.

"Dad, dad come quick!" Heath screamed as he splashed into the pool trying to reach his sister.

Panic knifed through Adam as he ran outside. Crying in anguish as he saw Irissa lying at the bottom of the pool, Adam jumped in to the pool without a second thought.  He reached Heath first pushing him up towards the surface Adam continued swimming towards Irissa.

Grabbing her he expected to pull her up with ease.  Instead she dragged him down with her.  What the...? Lungs burning he tried again to left her without success.  Refusing to give up he strained to find what was weighting her down. Her hand was stuck in the drain.  Frantically Adam tried to pull her hand free as time ran out.  His vision was dimming as his oxygen deprived lungs were aching.  It took all his concentration not to give in to the urge to breathe.

Movement to his right made him jerk. He pointed towards the drain as Beverly motioned for him to go up.  Shaking his head he resumed his struggle to free his daughter.  He felt rather than saw Beverly add her strength to his as he pulled.  Pulling together, Irissa's hand became free of the drain.

Beverly grabbed her and swam to the surface. Adam watched as if through a tunnel until he became aware of small hands grabbing at him.  His face broke the surface of the water, gasping for air as he coughed and choked on water.  Again he felt the tug of small hands steering towards the edge of the pool.  Heath?  "I'm okay," he gasped.  Feebly he tried to swim towards the ladder.  Vision dim he blindly swam in the direction his son directed him.  

"Heath?" his voice hoarse from coughing.

"Yes Dad," Heath spoke in his ear.

"How's your sister?" Adam bumped into the ladder with his shoulder.  Grabbing hold of it he wrapped his arms around hit in an attempt to rest without slipping down into the water.  Closing his eyes as he struggled to fill his lungs with oxygen.  Opening his eyes he found Heath staring at him with wide fear filled eyes.  "How is she?" he repeated.

Shaking Heath said "I don't know."

Mustering what little strength he had he pulled his numb body up and out of the pool.  Falling, he tried to walk but found his legs wouldn't support his weight.  He dragged himself over to where Beverly was administering CPR on Irissa.  "Is she ..." voice cracking as he watched his unresponsive daughter.  "Come on baby breathe," Adam mumbled "come on breathe for daddy."

A low moan and sigh reached his ears as he Irissa took her first breath.  Sitting back on her heal, Beverly wrapped her arms around herself crying "oh thank god."

Irissa gasped and sputtered as water come from her nose and mouth. As she began to scream it was music to Adam's ears.  He reached out trembling arms and held his daughter "it's alright baby girl, daddy's here."

"Dad I'm sorry," Heath stood back hanging his head.  "I didn't mean to .... I'm sorry."

Reaching out his hand Adam pulled Heath close.  "Son I don't know what you're talking about.  At the moment I'm just thankful you're both alright."

Beverly inched away from them afraid of disrupting them.  How could she have been so stupid as to leave them alone by a pool.  This was all her fault.  Shaking she went to call for an ambulance.

Several minutes later the doorbell rang.  Beverly went to let the EMT's into the house and showed them to the pool.  Adam looked up "what are they doing here?"

"They're here to check you guys out." Beverly explained hoping she hadn't overstepped her bounds.  Nodding Adam when back to soothing his children.

"Mr. Van Winkle your daughter seems to be ok.  We should take her in just to be safe but she should be alright."

Reassured by the Paramedics words Adam tried to stand but found he couldn't move his legs.  "Sir are you alright?" the paramedic asked "how long were you without oxygen?"

Shrugging "I don't know.  I was too preoccupied with freeing my daughter to notice."  His legs were beginning to tingle as a slow burning sensation began.  It was the same sensation he had when his legs began to wake up on the alien ship. 

 

"Sir we better take you in as well."  Nodding Adam allowed them to lift him up onto a stretcher.  He reached out and grabbed Beverly's hand "take care of Heath for me?"

She nodded biting her lip as they wheeled Adam out.   She grabbed Heath's arm as he attempted to follow the paramedics.  "Let me go," he yelled struggling to get free "it's my fault they got hurt."

Swinging him around to face her "it's not your fault."

"It is.  I pushed Irissa." Heath cried "I didn't mean for to fall into the pool.  I just wanted her to stop bugging me.  I told her to stop but she wouldn't."  He started to sob harder gulping for air, "now dad's hurt because of me.  I'm just like Windy, bad."  He tried to run away but Beverly held him tight. Struggling in her arms, Beverly let him release his pent up anger and fear.  When he calmed a little Beverly lifted his chin up to peer into his face.

"No matter what you think, it's not your fault." She held him fast as he tried to bolt from her grasp. 

"Did you mean to push Irissa into the pool?" A slight shake of the head was her response.  "Did you know Irissa was so close to the pool when you pushed her?" another shake of the head "Did you cause her to get stuck in the drain?"

Shaking his head Heath looked up with a tear streaked face "but my dad .... he's hurt," choking on sobs "what if he hates me for what I did?"

"Shh Heath honey don't think like that" she soothed "your dad loves you."

"I don't see how," Heath mumbled "I look like her.  Now I'm acting like her.  Hurting people I'm supposed to love.  I'm a bad person."

Without thinking Beverly wrapped her arms around the distraught child pulling him close.  "No your not," she mumbled into his hair.  Heart breaking she had visions of her brother Gene.  She would do anything to spare this child the debilitating self loathing her brother went through growing up.  When his sobs ceased she felt his arms wrap around her and heard him mumble "thank you."

Lifting his head up she smiled into his grief filled eyes." Do you feel better?" A slight lift of the shoulders was his only reply. Cupping his face in her hands "would you like to see how your dad and sister are doing?"  Heath nodded looking away. "Come on let's change out of these wet things.  Then we'll go the hospital."

On impulse Heath grabbed her hand as she turned to leave.  The light tug had her turning and smiling at him.  "Trust me everything is going to be alright." she continued to walk into the house, Heath following alongside clinging to her hand.