"Enjoy being food to the sharks."
Without taking another breath Black Jack raised his foot to her chest and with a powerful kick, Lotte was sent over.
Lotte felt herself flipping through the air as she fell. Her back hit the water first. She let out a scream audible to no one but her. Lotte felt herself slowly sinking towards the ocean floor. She didn't try to struggle. Frozen in fear her body was paralyzed. Lotte knew Fitz was not going to jump off the ship and save her. She was going to drown. Her worst fear was becoming a reality all around her. Even worse, she was going to be eaten. Her eyes remained tightly closed. If she didn't see the water around her she could lie to herself. She could tell herself she wasn't drowning until she did.
Lotte thought of Fitz who was still back on the ship. Black Jack was going to kill him. Fitz was going to die and the boys would no longer have a leader. The worst part was there was nothing she could do about it.
Suddenly the pressure in her head had stopped. Lotte no longer felt like her head was going to explode. In fact, she felt peaceful.
Slowly, she decided to open her eyes. The crystal blue water crateled her into her grave. Lotte could almost hear the sound of her heart starting to stop. Her arm reached to the surface of the sea that was very far away now. In a way Lotte felt like she was already dead. She imagined death to be peaceful. Lotte was very peaceful.
Lotte was in blackness, nothing but blackness. Something was pounding in the center of the chest hard enough to break her ribs. The only thing around her were voices.
"We've got a !"
"Take it easy, you're going to break her ribs!"
"Let me, you're going to hurt yourself more."
The sight of light came like being slapped in the face: quick and unexpected.
"Quick roll her on her side!"
Lotte's face collided with a wet wooden floor. Her hair was stuck to her neck and wrapped around her face. Water that had submerged her lungs was now flooding out into the floor.
"Lotte are you ok?" the sound of many small voices came from behind her.
"Give her a second."
Lotte felt hands pulling her wet hair away from her face. There was a hand on her shoulder.
After Lotte had gotten in a few breaths of air she weakly turned herself over. Fitz sat kneeling beside her, sopping wet. Behind him was Trigger and everyone else.
"Welcome back," Fitz smiled at her. The bright sun outlined the features of his face.
"You're alive?" Lotte looked at him in disbelief.
"You really didn't believe we were going to abandon you did you?" Trigger spoke up from the background." We just had to find a way around the pirates. You plumpting over the edge though, kind of put a bump in the road."
"Sorry."
Lotte sat up slowly to get a better look at the faces around her. Her back hadn't even left the ground before pain shot through her sides.
"I would stay laying down if I was you?" Arrow said." If that fall didn't break your ribs, Fitz definitely did."
"I saved her life!" Fitz protested.
"None of that matters now," Trigger spoke up amongst the two." Let's just get you two home before you bleed out and you die of something else."
"Where are we?" Lotte asked.
"About twenty five minutes away from land," said Trigger." Don't move until then."
Lotte complied with Trigger's instructions. Feeling the waves rocking the boat she looked up into the red sky. Each breath felt like a stab to the side but it was no worse than what she had been drugged with. Even though Fitz had the most experience with rowing he refused to leave Lotte's side. The wounds on his chest were still very fresh and raw. Especially since they had been doused with salt water.
"How deep did you have to dive?" Lotte asked, her eyes still remaining in the sky.
Fitz shrugged," nothing too difficult."
Trigger let out a laugh, choking on his own spit." That bastard nearly drowned."
"Hey, who are you calling a bastard?" Fitz snapped his head towards him.
"I saved your life," Trigger groaned as he rowed." Twice. I can call you whatever I want right now."
Fitz rolled his eyes as there was a hard rock in the boat.
"Land!" Major's little voice called out.
The boys departed the ship except for Trigger and Fitz who were slowly pulling Lotte to her feet. She groaned loudly with each movement, suppressing her cries so she didn't upset Fitz.
"Yeah you definitely broke her ribs," Trigger said as he struggled to carry her weight.
"Shut up."
"She's not going to be able to walk," said Trigger. "Unless we find her some pain meds mixed with crack."
"I'll carry her," said Fitz.
"If you don't bleed out by the time we get home. Let me."
"You're struggling to hold up half of her weight," Fitz protested." It will take us days to get home if you–"
"Guys I'm going to fall!" Lotte shouted at the arguing boys as her legs gave out.
Fitz caught Lotte's legs just as they crumbled. As Fitz pulled her into his chest Lotte let out a cry she wasn't able to suppress. She was wrong, this was worse than the drugs.
Fitz swallowed his pain. He knew that if Lotte saw him struggling she wouldn't allow him to carry her. Lotte would argue against it but Fitz thought he was less injured than he was. Even if he wasn't, no one could carry Fitz.
Lotte and the boys were about half way home. Half way when they heard the sound of a gun cocking around them.
"What's going on?" Major's tiny body cowered behind one of the older boys.
No one had guns on this island. No one except—
"Black Jack," Fit growled coldly." What are you doing here? You never leave your ship."
"Calm down Fitz, I'm not hurting any of you. I'm only here to collect what's mine."
"Quit with the mind games and get straight to your point. You've done enough damage already."
"The girl," Black Jack's head tilted toward Lotte cradled in the boys' arms. " She belongs back on my ship."
"You tried to down me!" Lotte spat at him.
"It was a grave mistake my dear. I never really got the chance to explain myself. You were taken away too soon."
"She doesn't need to hear whatever lies you're going to tell her," Fitz argued.
"The choice is hers, boy not yours."
Lotte pondered for a moment. She knew no matter what Black Jack told her she wasn't going to leave Fitz. Lotte told Fitz to put her down; very reluctantly he did so. Lotte took a few shaky steps towards the captain.
"What?"
Black Jack cleared his throat," I brought you here because I hoped you would consider joining my crew. But if you refuse I will take you home this very minute. You can see your family by this evening. If you join my crew we can leave Fitz and these boys alone. I am always a man of my word, aren't I Fitz?"
Fitz growled.
"Fitz calm do–" Trigger started but was cut off by the raging boy. He snatches the sword from Triggers' hands and starts walking towards the captain.
"Lotte do me a favor and step aside."
Quickly Black Jack pulled out his sword. He planted his feet firmly in the dirt, ready to block the boy's movements. Fitz didn't hesitate to strike first. For Black Jack this was an easy fight. The angry teen could not move nearly as fast as he usually did. Even if he was being fueled by rage.
"She is not yours to have, boy," the captain swung at Fitz.
Fitz effortlessly blocked the attack. More so he began pushing the captain backwards.
"Might I remind you that's not your choice to make," Fitz spat the words of Black Jack back at him.
The swords clashed, both of them perfectly blocking the other's move with each swing.
"She'll choose me," Fitz pushed him back once more." She'll choose me again and again and again."
Fitz continued to push the captain back between each of his '.'
"Besides," Fitz blocked another one of Black Jack's swings." I can give her whatever she wants."
"Not everything," the captain began pushing Fitz back this time." You can't take her home. But I can."
"You're lying to her!"
Lotte never expected to be put in such a predicament. Lotte could go home, the one thing she wanted most. Even if she couldn't do that Fitz and his family would be safe. She couldn't have asked for more. The only thing stopping her was uncertainty. If Black Jack was indeed lying to her she would never see Fitz or her family again. Was it worth the risk? With the two men yelling at each other it was impossible to think.
"Shut up! The both of you!"
To Lotte it felt like the whole jungle went quiet. The men had stopped in mid strike and boys behind her all had their jaws to the floor. No one spoke to Fitz like that. Better yet no one had ever spoken to Black Jack in such a manner before.
Lotte felt herself on the verge of a breakdown. The risk of choosing either side was too great for her to have an answer. But she had no reason to trust Black Jack.
Lotte opened her mouth to shout her answer but all that came out were tears from her eyes. With the pressure of everyone staring at her Lotte did the only thing her body would allow her to do. She walked away in the direction she knew was home.
Fitz withdrew his sword," you'll never have her. She will never want you."
Black Jack had accepted Lotte's answer. But it meant he was no longer holding up his side of his bargain.
"This isn't over Fitz. I gave her a chance, you can blame her for your's and everyone's death."
This was the first time Black Jack had ever backed down from a fight. Fitz knew it was likely the only time he would see it happen. It meant Black Jack was planning something dangerous. However, that was insignificant now. He had won over a girl he was very fond of. Right now she was wandering the woods with broken ribs.
"Come on," Fitz ordered his boys as he went after the blonds trail. He knew she couldn't get far.
The boys behind Fitz murmured loudly about the situation that had just passed. Normally Fitz would have scolded him but at this moment he didn't care.
Only a couple of feet from where Lotte had walked off she sat slumped against a tree. Unable to go any further. Fitz would have walked right past her if it wasn't for the sound of her heavy breathing.
"Are you ok?" Fitz wasn't sure what else he could say. He knew it was a dumb question.
Every happiness Lotte felt on this island with Fitz felt like it had been ripped away. She had gone back to hating the island. Lotte hated everything right now.
"I want to be alone," Lotte refused to look at him.
"You can be–you will be. But being alone in the jungle after dark is dangerous."
"I'll take my chances."
Fitz couldn't afford to have the group separated. Black Jack could be planning to kill them all at this very moment. He probably was.
"If you let me carry you back I will leave you alone for however long you want."
"I'm not going anywhere right now," Lotte smashed her fist into the ground." Take your boys and go home."
"Fitz if we don't get you home you are going to bleed out," Trigger spoke up from the back.
Fitz didn't like this anymore then Lotte would. But he didn't have time to argue or debate.
"Don't let me bleed out."
The glare Lotte gave Fitz was something he would never forget. He would never admit to it but truthfully it frightened him a little bit. Lotte resented herself for it but she reached her arms out to Fitz.
At the burrow Lotte watched as Fitz sat on the end of his bed. His left hand man Trigger sewing up his wounds.
"Ow!" Fitz shouted for about the twenty seventh time. Trigger hadn't even begun to start the beginning of the 'B'.
"I know it's not very nice Fitz, but you need to hold still or I'm going to mess this up."
Lotte sat with the blankets up to her waist. Her eyes went back and forth between the two bickering boys. Trigger looked back at her, his eyes filled with annoyance.
"Lotte can you please pass me the vial on the drawer?"
Lotte nodded and reached slowly to the drawer beside her. With a simple roll the vial reached the palm of Trigger's hand.
"How many more of those until I pass out?" Fitz asked as Trigger stuck him with another needle. The medicine in his blood stream was reaching a dangerous amount.
"Hopefully none," Trigger sighed. "Lotte, how good are you at giving stitches?"
"Probably horrible since I've never done them before."
"Somehow I think Fitz would like them better," Trigger laughed at his own joke. "Tell me Fitz how can you take getting your flesh carved into but not put back together?"
"Well this might be hard for you to believe, Trigger," Fitz grumbled." But I didn't exactly sign up for the first one."
Lotte rolled her eyes at both boys. All she wanted to do was sleep but Fitz demanded her ribs to be looked at. And as fate would have it all the medicine was in Fitz's bedroom. Fitz also didn't want to traumatize the other boys more than they already had been. It was only the afternoon and Trigger had been kidnaped and beaten; Fitz had been shot and the insides of his chest was visible; Lotte had drowned as well with a few other injuries. To say the least it had been a shitty day.
It wasn't until Fitz had nearly passed out from the painkillers that Trigger was finally able to finish the stitches on his chest.
"Finally," he grumbled after he had been sitting there for what felt like hours." I guess I have to pull that bullet out of your leg now don't I?"
Fitz returned a few week grumbles in response.
"Are we sure he is going to be alright?" Lotte asked. Her head tilted sideways at the boy slumped to his side.
"He's too cocky not to," Trigger said.
Lotte winced at the sound of Fitz's flesh squishing as Trigger stuck his hand inside the wound.
"Thanks for saving me," Trigger said quietly." I guess we're even now."
"You're the one that did most of the saving," Lotte fumbled with her sheets." If it weren't for you Fitz and I would both be dead."
"Something you'll learn Lotte is that Fitz is too brave for his own good. He might be the strongest, fastest and smartest but he's an idiot. Especially with you."
Lotte raised her eyebrow at him," and what's that supposed to mean?"
The bullet in Fitz's leg clanked to the floor.
"I don't mean it as an insult," said Trigger." I really don't, the opposite really. He's quite fond of you. Fitz would take another sword to the chest before he admits it. My point is that he would die over and over again before he let someone scratch you."
Lotte stared silently at Trigger who was now starting to sew up his leg. What was she supposed to say? Had Trigger just told her that Fitz liked her? Did she like him back? Lotte knew she wanted too but some part of her wouldn't let her. She couldn't be with Fitz right now. Lotte needed to be home.
"I–" Lotte started to explain to Trigger but he cut her off.
"You don't have to explain yourself to me. I don't want to know, really. Just please don't tell Fitz I told you any of this. He might put me back on Black Jack's ship."
Lotte nodded silently, knowing the boy was only joking. Her eyes followed the boy as he walked over to Fitz's drawer.
"I guess we should sober him up?" Trigger chuckled as he held up a bottle. " I do like the quiet though."
Effortlessly Trigger slid the needle into Fitz's vein.
"He should wake up in a few minutes. Holler if he starts seizing."
Both of Lotte's eyebrows raised at the twelve year old walking out of the room. She didn't know a lot about seizures but she knew they were kind of important.
"Welcome back," Lotte watched the boy slowly fade back into his reality.
"Is Trigger done already?" His voice sounded like a drunk five year old. High pitch and wobbly.
"You should probably lay down," Lotte looked at the wall and not at Fitz. Even though he was high out of his mind she found it hard to look at him with the information she had just received.
Lotte pulled her knees to her as Fitz collapsed down beside her. His chest was bare and she had never laid next to a boy in behind before. Aside from the few times she had fallen asleep next to her brothers playing on their game console. She was in a dirty dress, her hair stank of salt water and hadn't brushed Lotte hadn't brushed her teeth in days. She had been trying to comb her hair with her fingers but it was nothing short of a disaster.
"Do you want me to leave?"
"No you can stay," Fitz drooled onto his pillow." I won't be long."
Something about Fitz's loud snores told her differen't. Lotte awkwardly slid herself down into the blankets. Trigger had given her strong pain medicine but it still wasn't enough to walk on her own. Well Fitz lay peacefully sleeping, Lotte stared up at the ceiling. She listened to the sound of his shallow breaths. From the corner of her eye Lotte watched his back rise and fall with each breath.
'So much for being alone' she thought to herself.
As Lotte's mind wonderd she laughed at the thought of how her brothers would react if they could see her situation. Hans would probably pass out and Stefan would could an ambulance before he beat the shit out of Fitz. Imagining her brother's strange antics is what helped her fall asleep.
The sounds of whispers and giggles awoke Lotte from her nap. She groaned loudly as she rubbed her eyes.
"What's so funny?" Lotte asked as she rolled onto her side. Living with seven younger boys and being the only girl out of eight boys was getting annoying.
"What are you doing? Get out!"
Apparently Lotte wasn't the only one who thought so.
Startled, Lotte shot herself upwards. The seven younger boys who were all standing in the doorway had rushed downstairs. A very flustered Fitz was sitting up right beside her.
She had completely forgotten the events of what had happened. Fitz looked at the girl who was equally startled sitting beside him. Her cheeks were flushed red and she was breathing heavily.
Fitz's hair was messy. It was messy and to Lotte it looked cute. The two stared at each other silently and awkwardly. Lotte's mind kept cursing at her to say something.
"Hi."
"Hi," Fitz said cautiously. "What–what happened? Did we…?"
"No!" Lotte nearly choked at Fitz's bizarre idea. "No we did not! You passed out from pain medication."
Fitz's eyes darted down his bare chest. Even though he was desperately trying to hide it, Lotte could tell Fitz face was a hot shade of pink.
Fitz very quickly pulled himself together and jumped out of the bed.
Lotte stared at the shirtless boy gripping the white sheets of the bed as he leaned over the bed.
"I am very sorry about this I never meant to–"
"It's fine," Lotte cut him off. She very much wanted this conversation to be over. "You were kind of out of your mind."
"Are you ok?" Fitz asked, "how are your ribs?"
"Better, I think," Lotte fumbled with the sheets." Trigger said they should heal on their own in a few weeks."
"That's good," Fitz nodded in his own awkwardness." I'm going to go downstairs. Do you need anything?"
"No," Lotte said. She very much wanted this conversation to be over.
Fitz nodded, syncing Lotte's awkwardness.
"Good night."
"Good night."