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"Now boarding flight number 685," came the somewhat distorted announcement. "North American's flight 685 is now boarding at Gate 10."
Lee grimaced ruefully at his cousins. "Guess that's us." They had only just finished seeing Skip and Melanie off, a flight they'd nearly missed due to abnormally heavy traffic into Albuquerque. The delay resulted in an utterly chaotic race to the departure gate and a round of hurried farewells.
Andy smiled from where he stood holding Jenny in his arms. Wearily, the two-year-old's head rested on his shoulder as her eyes took in the bustle of the airport around them. "Where does the time go?" he wondered. "Seems like you guys just got here."
"Yeah. Between running after the kids and the odd terrorist or two, the time disappeared on us," Lee responded with a wink.
Murphy winced and rubbed his still aching shoulder. "You aren't kidding."
"Don't listen to him," Sherry advised with a chuckle. "He lives for the excitement and everybody knows it." Her eyes twinkled as she helped Amanda tuck an extra blanket around nine-month-old Matthew, who was sleeping contentedly in his mother's arms.
"Thank you so much for having us. It's really been wonderful." Amanda turned an affectionate smile toward Lee's older cousin.
"Always our pleasure," Andy drawled as he handed the little girl over to Lee.
The boarding announcement sounded once again and all humor was hastily set aside for genuine good-byes.
Lee balanced his daughter in one arm and swung one of the carry-ons over his shoulder. He faced his cousin reluctantly. "Thanks for everything, Andy." His voice was steady but there was an underlying emotional current to it.
Andy just grinned as he handed Lee the other carry-on. "Anytime, Lee." He waggled his fingers goodbye to Jenny who was now resting in her father's arms. "You know you're always welcome." He ducked his head away. He hated good-byes, nothing ever felt right about them.
But then with a resurgence of his natural good humor, he swung around and beamed at Amanda. "And you. C'mere." Andy hauled Amanda into an expansive hug, baby and all. "Be sure to send pictures of the kids. Caitlin'll drive me crazy if you don't."
Murphy made his own farewells and Sherry stepped up and gave Lee a quick kiss on the cheek. "Don't be strangers," she ordered with mock sternness, then reached out to squeeze Amanda's arm gently. "We miss you guys already."
"Same here," Amanda agreed as the final announcement for boarding was made.
Silently, Sherry, Murphy, and Andy watched as the small family disappeared into the line of embarking passengers.
They had gone no more than a hundred steps towards the next terminal where Andy would see them off, when, snapping his fingers, Murphy stopped short. "Forgot to tell Lee something." He gestured his family onward then turned back. Stepping around a luggage carrier and through the flow of the crowd, he headed towards the North American gate, only to see that a uniformed attendant was already closing the departure door.
His pace slowed. A secure sounding thunk could be heard clearly over the low din. There was no chance of catching up with them now. Reluctantly, he turned around and allowed the crowd of people to pull him back towards his family.
"Was it something important?" Sherry inquired upon his return. She, Andy and Tommy had stopped to wait for him near their gate.
Murphy eyed the closed door for a moment with a strange sense of foreboding, then with a mental shrug he smiled down at his wife. Hitching his shoulder bag more securely, he wrapped his free arm around her shoulder and shook his head. "Guess it's nothing that can't wait."
"Well, we survived another exciting Michael's reunion," Lee remarked dryly as he, Amanda, and the kids waited for take-off.
"What would a gathering of your family be like without a little adventure?" Amanda asked with a laugh. "It was a nice trip, though, even with the terrorists."
"It was great," Lee agreed with a chuckle, "but I can't wait to get home." He glanced at Jenny coloring next to him, then at his watch. "If we ever get going, that is," he complained impatiently. "We've been sitting here for over an hour."
As if on cue, the pilot's voice boomed over the loud speaker. "Good afternoon, folks. This is your captain. We're sorry for the delay but if you'll just sit tight, we'll be on our way shortly."
"Good," Lee sighed as he checked Jenny's seatbelt then leaned back.
"I do so like green eggs and ham. Thank you. Thank you, Sam I Am," Lee finished. He closed the book he was reading to Jennifer a short while later. In her seat across from him, Amanda cuddled Matt close. She was staring out the window, her face content. Lee's heart warmed at the scene, then brought his attention back to his daughter. Jenny perched on his lap and was tugging insistently on his hand.
"Wead it again, Daddy," she begged. "Again."
Lee sighed quietly. As usual, he found it hard to deny her anything. "But I've already read it three times, sweetheart," he reasoned. "Why don't we pick another one?" He raised his eyebrows hopefully.
"No, dis one," she persisted stubbornly. "Pwease, Daddy?" She lifted her big blue eyes up at him in a look that never failed to melt his heart.
Giving in to the inevitable, he took the book from her and began. As he turned the first page, however, a loud boom shuddered through the cabin and the plane dropped slightly. Instinctively pulling Jenny close to him, he met Amanda's startled gaze. She tightened her hold on Matthew, trying to quiet his startled cry. "What was that?" she mouthed nervously.
Lee shrugged, not quite sure himself. "Probably nothing," he answered, trying to convince himself as well as his wife.
The words were barely out of his mouth, when the plane banked sharply to the right and began to dive. Fighting a rising sense of alarm, Lee clung tighter to Jenny and reached across the aisle to grasp Amanda's hand.
It felt like an eternity before the plane finally leveled off and seemed to stabilize. As if they'd all been holding their breath, the passengers suddenly relaxed and began talking amongst themselves. Lee didn't share their relief. His gut was telling him the crisis wasn't over; something was dreadfully wrong. He worked to keep his voice calm as he quietly gave Amanda instructions.
"Start putting the kids' stuff away," he told her tersely. "I don't know what that was, but it couldn't have been good." She nodded mutely then began re-packing the baby's totebag.
Jenny, feeling the tension between her parents, turned her fear-stricken face to her father. "Daddy? What's wong wif da airpwane?"
Not knowing how to comfort his daughter, Lee hugged her tightly to him. "It'll be okay, Princess," he promised. "You just do exactly what Mommy and Daddy tell you to, all right?"
She nodded trustingly. Lee kissed her softly on the head.
As he went about silently packing up Jenny's books, a crewman's voice filled the cabin. "Uh, ladies and gentlemen, it looks like we might be even later landing in Washington than planned. We have a problem with the Number 2 engine. We've shut it down, but don't worry. We're equipped to fly with the remaining two engines. We do ask, however, that you remain in your seats with your seatbelts fastened."
The intercom clicked off, replaced with the noise of fearful passengers speculating on just how much danger they were in. Lee looked across at Amanda. While the crewmen's words were meant to be calming, Lee still had his doubts. He'd been in enough situations to know a carefully worded explanation when he heard one. He could see Amanda shared the same doubts.
Their fears were confirmed a few minutes later when the captain came on the public address speaker.
"Folks..." He paused only a moment, but that slight hesitation spoke volumes to Lee about the true nature of the emergency. "We have a bigger problem than we first anticipated," the pilot continued. "The problem seems to be affecting the tail of the aircraft as well as the engines."
He paused again and Lee could imagine all too well the struggle the man was having to keep his words straightforward without causing a panic. "Due to the damage, we're having trouble controlling the plane. We'll be making an emergency landing in Denver. I'll warn you just before we land and the flight attendants will show you how to brace yourselves." While the passengers registered this, he added in a somber voice, "I'm not going to lie. This landing'll be hard."
The loud speaker clicked off, leaving an eerie stillness among the passengers as they absorbed their situation. Lee reached to lay his hand on top of Amanda's.
"Hey, you all right?"
Amanda put on a brave expression, one Lee knew was for the kids' benefit. "I'm okay." Her voice was steady, but Lee could tell she was still frightened.
Unbuckling his seat belt, he stood and placed Jenny in the seat next to Amanda. "Let's trade," he suggested. "You take Jenny. We can cushion her with the pillows, and I'll hold Matt."
"Oh, okay," Amanda replied, handing Matt to Lee. She stood and found a blanket and pillow in the overhead compartment, then she quickly took off her jacket and wrapped it around her daughter for extra protection.
The toddler had remained silent up until this point, but as Amanda started strapping her in, she suddenly became very frightened and resisted Amanda's attempts to buckle the seat belt. "Mommy, I wanna sit wif you! Hold me, Mommy!" she begged, as her tiny arms reached up to grasp her mother's neck.
Amanda's heart broke as she gently pushed Jenny into her seat and snapped the belt. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. You have to be a big girl now. I'll be right next to you, though."
The child's tears continued to flow as Lee handed Matt to Amanda and bent down in front of their daughter. "Hey, Princess," he spoke tenderly. "It's okay. Mommy and Daddy are right here. We just need you in your own seat because the ride might get a little bumpy and it's safer for you there, okay? But Mommy will still hold on to you," Lee soothed, as he tenderly wiped the moisture from her cheek.
She sniffed back some of her tears. "Promise?" she whispered, her blue eyes trusting.
"I promise." Lee gently tweaked one of her curls. "So, can I see a smile from my brave little girl?"
Jenny smiled broadly. "Okay, Daddy." She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Lee returned the hug. "That's my girl," he praised proudly. "I love you."
"Love you, too, Daddy."
Conscious of the minutes ticking by, Lee gave her one last squeeze then reached to take Matt from Amanda. He could tell how reluctant she was to let go and he gripped her hand with reassuring pressure. Holding the baby close, Lee wrapped the ends of his jacket around the small body and zipped up around him. Only the little boy's head was left poking out, tucked under Lee's chin. The baby squirmed at the tight fit but at least he wouldn't fly out of Lee's arms if they hit hard.
A torrent of emotions and thoughts raced through Lee as he stood facing his wife. There was so much he wanted to say -- so much he was afraid he would never get the chance to say. But time was running out. Reaching out, he caressed her cheek.
"I love you." Simple words, but they were all that was needed. Amanda returned his gaze with complete understanding.
"I know. I love you too."
Lee leaned in and kissed her lips tenderly, memorizing the feel of her. The captain's warning broke them apart. Amanda rubbed her hand along Matthew's back, then took her seat. Lee did the same, noticing as he did how deathly silent the plane had become.
While the seconds ticked away, Lee had nothing left to do but let the images of a lifetime race through his mind. One after another, they careened past... the vague recollections of his parents, the fear and confusion he'd felt with their deaths, the loneliness he endured with his uncle. He remembered the surprise and delight at finding his mother's family and the happy times he'd spent in Glorieta. Then he smiled in spite of himself as he considered the absolute joy he shared with Amanda. The past eight years were the best of his life. They'd built a solid home together, based on a relationship of love and friendship. She made him complete, allowing him to now face death with only one regret -- not knowing if his children would have the chance to grow up.
He hugged his son closer and kissed him softly on the head. At least he knew that if the children survived, and Amanda and he didn't, they would be taken care of. Murphy and Sherry would always be there for them. Those arrangements had been made shortly after Jenny's birth. Lee hadn't wanted any child of his feeling as alone and abandoned as he had. Now the very situation they had prepared for loomed before them. He was grateful for his cousin's promise.
Lee lifted his gaze one last time to look at Amanda. She leaned protectively over Jenny. She must have felt his eyes on her for she looked up as the final second slipped past. Expressing more with that than any words could, they both steeled themselves for what was to come.
On impact, the lights in the cabin went out.
With an explosion of sound the plane lurched onto the runway, bouncing and skidding down the asphalt. The powerful momentum jerked Lee up, only the strength of his seat belt held him fast. His grip on Matthew failed, but his jacket kept the child close. As the aircraft gradually slowed, he felt gravity wrenching him back into the seat cushions and he immediately tightened his arms around Matthew again.
The plane skidded mercilessly along the airstrip. He darted a glance across the aisle and could see Amanda bent over Jenny and he allowed himself a brief surge of relief. They seemed okay for the moment.
The cabin suddenly dipped dramatically. As it's wing struck the runway, the plane cartwheeled in a fiery arc.
Inside Lee could no longer tell which end was up. He felt himself roll forward with the pitch of the cabin, his ears filled with a rush of sound -- tearing metal, screaming people and roaring explosions. It seemed like an eternity until finally the plane stopped with a force that slammed him against the seat.
A profound silence filled the air and Lee wondered if he was dead. Then he heard Matthew begin to cry. He held his son tightly, thankful they'd both seemed to have come through in one piece. He didn't know how long he sat there, but the acrid smell of fire spurred Lee into action. The cabin was already filled with dense smoke. He couldn't see more than a few inches in the darkness.
"Amanda!" he called as he fumbled with his seatbelt. There was a wave of sound now - the cries and moans of other passengers as well as the muted wail of sirens. But so far he'd heard nothing from across the aisle.
"Amanda! Jenny!" He swore as he finally jerked the buckle open and climbed out of his seat. He bent low, coughing, and strained to see through the dense blackness. What he could make out bore almost no resemblance to the original cabin and his soul filled with horror when he saw the empty space that gaped where Amanda and Jenny's seats should have been.
"Amanda! Jenny!" His terrified shout was lost in the growing cacophony.
Frantic, he stumbled through the debris of twisted metal, luggage and bodies, nearly blind from the smoke and tears that stung his eyes and ran down his face. He could hear Matthew coughing now too and he knew his time was limited. Neither of them could stay in the plane for long.
"Amanda!" he rasped in desperation, his throat already raw.
"Lee?" The voice was low and he wasn't even sure at first he'd heard her.
"Amanda? Amanda!" He moved to an overturned row of seats, kicking carry-on bags and blankets out of his way. Miraculously she was there.
"Amanda," he breathed as he bent beside her. Blood trickled down the side of her face and she opened her eyes and blinked in confusion.
"Lee?" she whispered feebly, groaning in agony as she tried to sit up, clutching an obviously broken arm. "Lee, where's Jenny?"
Lee hesitated, not wanting to panic her. He released her seat belt and helped her to sit up, noting the obvious pain she was in. "I... I haven't found her yet," he admitted. He supported Matthew with one arm and helped Amanda to her feet. "Come on... let's get you out of here."
As weak as she was, Amanda still managed to pull away. "No! I have to find her. I can't leave my baby!" A fit of coughing seized her and she bent over in agony.
Lee knew they had no time to argue. Amanda was hurt and disoriented, but he couldn't spare the time to be diplomatic if he was to save his family. He grabbed her uninjured shoulder and made her face him.
"Amanda, listen to me." Something in the urgency of his voice must have penetrated her fogged senses, for she focused on his face. "I'm going to find Jenny, but I need you to take Matt and get off the plane."
"What? Lee... no, I can't leave..."
"You have to!" he hissed. "I can't take care of all of you. Matthew needs you right now."
He unzipped his jacket and placed the crying baby into Amanda's good arm. As he'd been counting on, her maternal instincts kicked in and she held her son tightly. Assured she would cooperate, he took her elbow and steered her toward the gaping hole in the fuselage where other passengers were escaping the growing inferno.
Once there, Lee spotted a battered flight attendant, valiantly trying to maintain her post and help with the evacuation. He grabbed the woman to get her attention.
"I have to find my daughter," he choked out. "Please get my wife and son out of here."
The woman nodded and without a word, took Lee's place beside Amanda. Lee watched them disappear into the sunlight, then plunged back into the choking hell that had once been an airplane cabin.
"Jenny? Jenny, where are you?" he rasped. His voice was nearly gone and there was so much smoke, he was reduced to feeling his way through the wreckage. At one point he stumbled over what turned out to be the body of a woman. In his line of work he'd seen many dead bodies, but he'd never been as unnerved by them as he was now. This poor woman could so easily have been Amanda. And Jenny was missing somewhere in the midst of all this destruction.
Lee fought his feelings of utter terror. He had to find her. Desperately, he called her name. "Jenny! Jenny sweetheart, can you hear me? Where are you? Jenny, please answer me," he pleaded.
From out of the darkness he heard a woman's feeble entreaty. "Help me. Please? Somebody, please! I'm trapped." Wanting with all of his heart to ignore her and move on to look for his daughter, he knew he couldn't. He pulled the debris off of her and helped her up and placed her into the arms of another passenger.
"Take her!" Lee commanded. "I've gotta find my baby."
The stranger grasped the woman's arm. "Your kid's missing? How old?"
"She's two... little girl with curly blond hair. Have you seen her?"
The man shook his head sadly. "I'll keep my eye out."
"Thanks," Lee answered and turned back into the heart of the wreck.
Fire and smoke were quickly overtaking the cabin and Lee knew if he didn't find her soon, the flames and gases would kill her. To make matters worse, all around him he heard screams and cries that the plane was going to explode, claims supported by the unmistakable odor of fuel.
"Jenny?" he begged, more desperate than ever. "Can you hear me? It's Daddy. Please answer me. Jennifer!"
Suddenly, unbelievably, he heard a small cry. "Daddy? Where are you?" the terrified voice queried.
"Jenny?" Lee responded in relief. "Sweetheart, I'm trying to get to you. Where are you?" he questioned, dropping to the floor and heading through the narrow opening towards where it sounded like her voice had come from.
"I dunno," she cried. "'S dark, Daddy. I'm scared."
"I know, Princess, I know. Daddy's coming, just keep talking to me," he pleaded, crawling on his hands and knees over to where he thought she was. The cabin was completely filled with smoke so all he could do was feel for her in the darkness. His hands frantically scrambled over broken metal, unmindful of the cuts being inflicted.
"Daddy," she whimpered.
"I'm coming, Sweetheart," Lee reassured, realizing with relief that her voice seemed to be coming from somewhere right in front of him. Slinging baggage out of his way, he finally found her. Somehow, miraculously, she had landed in a small opening between two collapsed seats. Lifting one of them, he reached down and gently scooped her up.
"Are you okay, Princess?" He embraced her tightly as he stumbled towards the closest way out.
"Arm hurts," she sniffled and coughed, resting her head against Lee's chest.
Squeezing her to him, Lee soothed, "We'll make it all better soon."
She coughed again and nodded wearily, content for the moment just to be in the safety of her father's arms.
Hurrying through the ever-darkening plane, Lee scrambled out into the bright sunlight and rushed away from the wreck, unable to keep on his feet as the explosion swept over them and rocked the ground.
The obnoxious ringing of the phone greeted Murphy and Sherry and Tommy as they entered their home. Murphy dropped the bags in the living room and lunged to answer it before the machine picked up.
"H'llo?" he greeted a bit breathlessly.
"Murph? It's Andy. What flight were Lee and Amanda on?" a worried voice demanded quickly.
"Andy?" Murphy asked in confusion, trying to figure out what in the world his cousin would need that information for. "Uh... I dunno... six something or other. Why? What's wrong?"
"Murph..." Andy's normally easy manner was definitely strained. "Murph, a plane just crash landed in Denver. We think it was Lee and Amanda's flight," he explained soberly.
"What?!" Murphy exclaimed and shouted over his shoulder. "Sherry... turn on the news." He turned back to the phone. "What makes you think it was their flight? They left hours ago, how could they end up in Denver? It doesn't make any sense," he reasoned desperately.
"The news said something about the plane banking in that direction. The pilot was fighting for control. Denver was the nearest airport," Andy recounted anxiously. "Go watch. I've gotta call Skip."
"Yeah, okay," Murphy answered distractedly as the reality of what Andy said sank in.
Murphy hung up the phone and moved into the other room where Sherry sat watching the television, a somber look on her face.
She looked up when he walked in and asked in a frightened voice, "Does Andy think Lee and Amanda were on this flight?"
Murphy nodded his head miserably. "Yeah." He shuddered at the awful image on the screen of a plane slamming to earth. He felt frozen in time as he watched the aircraft break apart as it hit the runway, then leap up again, and smash back into the ground once, twice, three times before skidding sideways off the concrete and bursting into flames as it came to rest.
How could anyone survive that? he thought despairingly, hoping and praying for his best friend and his family. As the news replayed the footage, Murphy shifted his focus, unable to watch the tragedy again, knowing that people he loved may have been in the center of that horrible scene.
Needing to know the truth, he marched over to the phone and placed a call to the airline. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally reached a recording that played a vague and carefully worded message. Miserable, he hung up and met Sherry's anxious expression. Taking a shuddering breath, he announced, "That was Lee and Amanda's flight." Murphy buried his head in his hands. Sherry came over and held him helplessly.
After a few seconds of letting it all sink in, Murphy looked up with determination blazing in his eyes. "I'm going to the airport... see what I can do to help," he stated resolutely.
Sherry agreed with him. "I'm going with you. Mrs. Johnson can watch Tommy," she determined quickly.
Getting to the airport proved more difficult than they'd anticipated. Traffic was gridlocked for blocks around and they could see emergency vehicles coming and going. As they sat behind miles of cars, they could see the pillar of black smoke that rose up from behind the terminals. Murphy came to the grim
decision that by now, canvassing the hospitals would probably be their best bet. He made a few unsafe maneuvers and was soon traveling away from the airport and the scene of destruction.
After two frustrating dead ends, the Michaels pulled up in front of yet another emergency room.
"They just have to be here," Sherry asserted hopefully, unwilling to accept the other option.
"I hope you're right," Murphy said with less optimism than his wife.
They entered the mass confusion of the hospital. Like the two others they had been to, the building was in a state of organized chaos as personnel accessed severity of injuries and established a processing order. Taking advantage of the pandemonium, Sherry and Murphy strode purposefully toward the treatment areas, having learned earlier that asking anyone for names was futile.
Each took a side and they did a room by room search. As they came up empty in one wing, and started on the next, Murphy began to lose hope he would ever see his cousins alive again. Suddenly Sherry called from across the hall.
"Murphy! I found them!"
He raced into the partitioned room and breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of Amanda lying in the bed, Matthew curled up asleep beside her. He noticed with concern how pale and fragile she seemed. With dismay, he took in the huge white bandage on her forehead and the cast covering the whole length of her arm.
"Amanda," Sherry spoke softly, "Are you all right?" She sat gently on the side of the bed and examined Amanda's forehead.
"Sherry? Murphy?" Amanda mumbled in confusion.
"You're in Denver, Amanda," Murphy assured her. He wanted to ask Amanda where Lee and Jenny were, but held back, afraid of upsetting her. He could see that she was on the edge as it was.
A few seconds of awkward silence followed, no one really knowing what to say. Then, unable to meet Murphy and Sherry's gaze, Amanda averted her eyes to Matthew's peaceful face and asked in a whisper, "Have you seen Lee or Jenny?"
Not knowing how to answer her, Sherry and Murphy looked at each other for a moment, each pleading silently with the other to answer the question. Finally, Sherry shook her head sadly.
"No." She took hold of Amanda's hand. "But I'm sure they're fine."
With tears streaming down her cheeks, Amanda nodded mutely. Sherry, her heart breaking for Amanda, glanced up at Murphy. Her eyes begged for him to say something.
Battling his own emotions, Murphy tried to reassure her. "Amanda... Lee's strong. I'm sure he and Jenny are fine. In fact, I'm willing to bet they're somewhere in this very hospital, wondering where you are."
"No," she murmured. Then, without warning, her emotions erupted as she thought about what had happened. "Oh, God," she said, swallowing a sob, "It's all my fault. If only I'd held her tighter. Lee never would have gone back in there if I hadn't lost her. How could I let this happen? How could I lose her?" she sobbed in despair, her voice wracked in guilt.
Feeling helpless, Sherry reached over and hugged her comfortingly. "It's okay, Amanda, it's okay," she soothed. "Shhh, it's okay, this isn't your fault. Don't blame yourself."
As Sherry held Amanda, Murphy stood to the side, lost in his own feelings of grief. Then, suddenly, he realized what Amanda had said.
"Lee went back into the plane? He survived the actual crash?" he demanded excitedly.
Amanda frowned in confusion. She nodded, struggling to control her tears. "He got Matt and me out then..." her voice caught, "then he went to find Jenny." She broke into tears.
As Amanda cried inconsolably on her shoulder, Sherry saw relief flood Murphy's face as he absorbed the news. He bent down and grasped Amanda's hand.
"I'll find them. I promise," he asserted confidently. "One way or the other, I'll find them." Squeezing her hand and kissing her comfortingly on the cheek, he glanced up at Sherry then stood and strode purposefully toward the door.
Amanda turned to Sherry with fear and hope reflecting in her eyes. "Do you really think they might still be alive?"
Sherry moved to pick up Matthew, who had awakened and was fussing. "I think there's a chance," she finally admitted carefully, wanting to reassure Amanda but not wanting her getting her hopes up. "We'll just have to wait and see." She patted Matt's back to calm him, then moved to help Amanda lie down again. "You need to rest. There's nothing you can do right now," she pointed out softly, noticing with concern the darkening circles under Amanda's eyes. "Just rest," she commanded gently.
Amanda lay back against the pillows, but her lids didn't remain closed for long. She couldn't sleep until she knew, for better or for worse, what had happened to her family. With Sherry holding her hand, offering silent comfort, Amanda fought off the overwhelming exhaustion and pounding headache that threatened to claim her and waited in agony for Murphy to return.
Entering the confusion of the emergency room once again, Murphy stopped a moment to gather his thoughts. As nurses and orderlies raced to and fro around him, he realized with despair that the task of finding Lee and Jenny might be harder than he had anticipated.
How do you find two people in this mass of humanity? he thought dejectedly. Suddenly, though, he had an inspiration. How many kids could have been on that flight? he asked himself excitedly, moving hurriedly towards the front desk. Waiting impatiently for his turn, he finally reached the front of the line and inquired urgently, "I'm looking for a little girl. She's about two years old... blond hair. She was on the plane."
The nurse shook her head regretfully, "I'm sorry, I haven't seen her. But you might try the Pediatrics ward. I understand they're taking kids straight there. They might know more," she explained helpfully.
Murphy smiled broadly, "Thanks," he replied, hopeful once again that he would find them.
Stepping off the elevator a few minutes later, Murphy briefly noted the stark contrast to what he had just come from. While the emergency room had the feel of a war zone, the children's ward felt much more like a hospital, peaceful and quiet. The calm atmosphere had a soothing effect on him as he looked for a nurse. Not seeing one anywhere, he realized that most of the staff must have been diverted to help downstairs. With no other option, he started searching for Lee and Jenny on his own. He knew that wherever Jenny was, he'd find Lee. There was no way Lee would have left the plane without her, he rationalized silently. If he's alive, he'll be with her. If not... Murphy let the thought trail off, refusing to consider the alternative.
Racing through the hall, he peeked in every one of the brightly decorated rooms, certain he'd find who he was looking for in one of them. Most of the rooms were empty, though a few had patients in them, usually sitting with a family member or sleeping quietly. Murphy felt sorry for the kids he saw there, grateful that Tommy was safe and sound with Mrs. Johnson.
As he reached the end of the hallway, he noticed an examination room - a mini E.R. for kids. Peering in the small window on one of the doors, he sagged in relief. He could see Lee's tall form sitting uncomfortably on the edge of the bed, holding a tiny figure in the shape of Jenny in his lap. The doctor worked carefully on Jenny's broken arm, preparing it for a cast. Taking a steadying breath, Murphy pushed the door open, causing Lee to glance up in surprise.
"Murphy? What are you doing here?" he asked in confusion.
Murphy smiled warmly. "We heard about the accident and wanted to make sure you guys were all okay. Andy called me and said everyone was frantic with worry. The airline won't tell anyone anything, so Sherry and I came to find you ourselves." He checked Lee and Jenny from head to toe as he talked. "Are you okay?" he asked in concern.
"Yeah, we're fine," Lee reassured, giving Jenny a quick squeeze. "Amanda's not," he added worriedly. "She had a pretty bad head wound and her arm looks a lot worse than Jenny's. I left her and Matt with a stewardess. When I came out with Jenny she was gone. I don't know what happened to her," he finished distraughtly.
"They're fine," Murphy soothed calmly. "Sherry's with them now. They're a few floors down."
Lee visibly sagged in relief. "Good," he sighed softly.
Murphy didn't want to alarm Lee, but needed him to know the whole situation. "Lee, Amanda's terrified. The last thing she saw was the plane exploding with you and Jenny missing. She really needs you," he advised urgently.
"I can't leave Jenny alone," Lee countered in anguish. He had just about reached the end of his rope. He felt like the world was spinning out of control around him. He and Amanda were supposed to be safe and sound at home right now. He wished he'd wake up from this horrible nightmare.
Murphy saw the utter frustration on Lee's face and knew he was at a breaking point. He couldn't blame him, it had been an terrifying and overwhelming day. "I'll stay here, he assured his cousin."
The doctor nodded quickly in agreement, "I'll only be a few more minutes," he informed them with a smile.
"Go to Amanda. Jenny'll be fine with me, won't you Pumpkin?" he stroked her hair soothingly. "You don't mind if Uncle Murphy stays here with you, do you?" he questioned affectionately.
After all she'd been through, Jenny wasn't up to much talking. She was so confused by the events of the past few hours that she just smiled silently and shook her head.
Lee hugged her tightly. "Okay then, sweetheart. Uncle Murphy's gonna hold you while they fix your arm, all right? Then he'll bring you down to Mommy and me," he explained slowly.
Jenny nodded her head once again, then said in confusion, "Mommy? Where's Mommy? I wanna see Mommy."
Lee's heart broke for his little girl. It was obvious that she didn't know what was going on. It was all too much for a little two-year-old to understand. "Mommy's downstairs with Aunt Sherry and Matt. You'll see her in a few minutes, okay?" he clarified patiently, kissing her softly on the forehead as he stood and handed her to Murphy. "Take good care of her," he instructed quietly.
Murphy smiled reassuringly, "I will," he promised.
Waiting downstairs, Amanda's fingers pulled restlessly at the sheets covering her. It seemed like forever since Murphy left and they hadn't heard anything. Staring at the door, she struggled to keep it in focus as her vision blurred and made her see double. She knew she should rest, but she couldn't until she knew Lee and Jenny were okay. So, wordlessly, she watched and waited.
Sherry sat beside the bed, at a loss for what to do. Amanda hadn't said a word since Murphy left. She had tried to get her to sleep, but each time Amanda had shaken her head mutely in response. All Sherry could do was rock Matthew in her arms, and wait in the vigil with her.
Hearing Amanda sigh worriedly, Sherry leaned forward in her seat and covered Amanda's hand with her own. "Murphy'll find them," she stated confidently.
But even as the words registered, Amanda's gaze never wavered. She didn't even seem to blink. She was focusing all her energy on making Lee walk through that door, wishing it with all her heart. Closing her eyes for the briefest moment, she prayed silently, Please let them be all right. Please let Murphy find them.
She blinked in astonishment. There, standing frozen in the doorway, was Lee. Thinking she was dreaming or hallucinating, she rubbed her eyes with the back of her fingers, and looked up again. This time she knew she wasn't dreaming as Lee raced into the room and knelt down beside her bed.
He grabbed her hand. "Amanda! Thank God you're okay! I didn't know where you'd gone!"
"Lee? Where's Jenny? Did you find her?" Amanda's words tumbled over Lee's.
"She's fine! Her arm's broken, but she's fine. She's with Murphy. How's your head? Did they take x-rays?"
"I'm fine! The plane... it exploded, and I thought...."
"We got out... By that time you and Matt were gone."
"I was so scared. They put us in an ambulance and brought us here. They wouldn't let me wait. I begged them to, but they wouldn't let me. I thought I'd lost you and Jenny." She gave in to the overload of emotions she was experiencing and collapsed against Lee's chest, sobbing uncontrollably.
Holding her close, Lee stroked her back, offering her comfort as he allowed himself to feel some of the emotions he had kept in check all day. "It's okay, Amanda. It's all over," he soothed repeatedly. "It's all over. We're all okay. We're all okay."
Amanda clung to him tightly. "I'm sorry, Lee, I'm so sorry," she cried disconsolately.
Lee pulled back and looked at her in confusion. "What are you apologizing for, Amanda? None of this is your fault."
Amanda shook her head dejectedly. "Yes it is, Lee," she insisted guiltily. "We almost lost Jenny today because I didn't take care of her. She got hurt because I didn't hold on. I should have held her tighter," she lamented softly.
Lee couldn't believe what he was hearing. Amanda was blaming herself for something she couldn't control? Didn't she know there was nothing she could have done? Determined to make her see the truth, he cupped her face and forced her to look at him.
"Listen to me, Amanda. You have nothing to be sorry for. You hear me? Nothing at all. Jenny got hurt because of the accident, not because of anything you did or did not do." Seeing the argument and the doubt in her face, he continued. "I thought I was going to be pulled out of my seat... I thought Matthew was going to be torn from my arms, jacket or no jacket. It's a miracle any of us survived. No one could control what happened when we hit. You and I both know you would've given your life if it meant keeping her safe. There was nothing you could do," he stated firmly and unequivocally. "Nothing."
Amanda knew what he said was true, but it didn't make it any easier. She still couldn't forget what happened. With tears streaming down her cheeks, she relived the accident in her mind. "Lee, it was awful. One minute I was holding on to her, then in the next we hit the ground and...and I could feel her slipping from my arms. I tried to tighten my hold, tried to keep her next to me... She was ripped away and then something sharp hit my head. After that, everything went black until I heard you calling my name. It all happened so fast," she remembered, "I couldn't stop any of it." She buried her face on Lee's shoulder.
Lee held her helplessly, wishing he knew how to comfort her. Realizing she had to get it all out, he encouraged her to cry, stroking her hair as she did so. After a few minutes, she finally started to calm down.
"I'm sorry, Lee. I was just so scared and now that it's all over I'm just so relieved. Does that make any sense?" she asked with a self-conscious smile.
"Sure it does," he stated understandingly. "You okay now?"
"Yeah," Amanda assured him steadily. She looked deep into his eyes. "I love you."
"I love you too," Lee replied warmly, leaning in and kissing her tenderly on the lips. As they pulled apart and gazed in mutual relief at each other, Murphy cleared his throat in the doorway.
"Excuse me, I hate to barge in, but I believe this little girl belongs to you," he interrupted with a smile, walking over with Jenny to the bed.
"Jenny!" Amanda exclaimed happily, reaching up to embrace her.
As Murphy placed her next to her mother, Jenny threw her good arm around Amanda and smiled broadly, "Mommy!"
As Amanda reveled in the reunion, Lee moved over to thank Murphy and to take his son from Sherry, who had come in with her husband.
Holding Matthew close, Lee smiled appreciatively at his cousins. "Thanks for being here."
"We're just glad you're all okay," Sherry said earnestly as she moved to give Lee a hug. Stepping back, she added, "Listen, we're going to go let the family know everyone is all right. They're waiting for us to call. Then, we're going to get our house ready for some guests," Sherry stated firmly.
Lee started to protest, but Murphy cut him off. "Don't even think of turning us down, Cuz," he threatened good-naturedly.
Nodding in agreement, Lee shook Murphy's hand. "Thanks."
"What's that?" Murphy complained with mock hurt, pulling Lee into a short hug. As the men parted, Murphy gestured over towards Amanda and Jenny.
Lee smiled gratefully once more then joined his wife and daughter as Sherry and Murphy quietly left the room. Sitting gingerly on the side of the bed, with Matthew in one arm, he reached out with his other arm and gathered Amanda and Jenny close. Leaning back in the bed, he embraced his family tightly against him, and took a deep calming breath satisfied at last that the nightmare was indeed over.
Epilogue
After a few days of staying with Sherry and Murphy, the Stetson family once again boarded a plane bound for D.C. This time, however, the trip was a special one, booked solely for the survivors of Flight 685. The airline had gone to great lengths to make the passengers feel as safe and secure as possible. Even so, the aircraft seemed unusually quiet as people filtered in and took their seats.
Lee and Amanda quickly settled on either side of Jenny, with Matthew sleeping soundly in his father's arms. Jenny's eyes were big as saucers as Lee buckled her in, but she didn't say a word. Lee and Amanda had tried to prepare her the best they could for this flight, but they had no way of knowing how she would react once they started moving. She hadn't balked or cried when they got on the plane, so they both took that as a good sign. Now, however, as they slowly taxied out to the runway, she gazed up at Lee, trying to determine if she needed to be frightened or not. Seeing Lee smile down at her, she relaxed and returned the gesture. Exhausted after days of turmoil and confusion, she cuddled up next to her father, leaned her head on his chest, and wearily drifted off to sleep.
Deciding it was a safe bet that she was out for the count, Lee looked over to see how Amanda was doing. He knew she had been having nightmares about flying. He reached over to take her hand.
"I'm okay," she assured him bravely, squeezing his hand and adding, "as long as you're next to me."
Returning the squeeze, Lee sat back in his seat and held onto her hand. He wouldn't let go until the wheels of the plane touched down safely in Dulles and they could finally put this horrible accident behind them.