5

Stowaway.

Chapter five.

Aiden's point of view.

I look down at our beautiful boat the Mary Jane; we named her after our precious Grandmother when I say our I mean myself and my three brothers, Noah, Jack and Carter. The Taylor brothers. We've spent hour after hour painstakingly restoring our beautiful Mary Jane back to its original glory, well apart from the few modern features we've installed, mostly the modern kitchen and the power shower in the bathroom. I mean we're all big guys and the tiny cubicle that was in there before it just didn't work.

Oh yeah, there's also the powerful engine we added we like to sail when we can, but it's always good to have a backup.

We also fitted a large bed in the main bedroom and the other two rooms we added bunks, my brother's hand made them so there slightly more significant than a standard sized bed, but it works we have so much more room now.

I drop down onto the deck; the tide has reached its full height now, Noah gives me a wave before he says.

"Hey bro, you snooze you lose my kits in the master."

"Yeah yeah,"

I say as I laugh at him before taking my kit and throwing it on the top bunk, and heading back outside where Noah passes me a beer.

"Thanks, Noah I needed that,"

I say as I take a drink of the ice-cold beer, watching as my other two brothers make their way into the boat.

Jack comes over first giving us both a hug then Carter does the same; both head off to the other bedroom with their kits slung over their shoulders.

"Cheers Noah,"

They both say in unison; It still makes me laugh when they do that, more so when they finish each other's sentences off.

We've owned boats all our lives and virtually grew up on the water; our father was a Navy Officer, Noah left the Navy three years ago when he found out his wife was pregnant, he didn't want the constant upheaval for his wife and daughter he now restores furniture for a living and hes damn good at it, my two younger brothers are both in the navy, and me well I'm a Navy seal I always wanted to push myself that little bit harder and It paid off; I love my job.

Still, it's good to get some time out, especially with my brothers. This is the first boat we've restored, and it's the biggest one we've owned, she really is a beauty.

Carter pulls the anchor up as Jack fires up the engine, Noah takes the ship's wheel to guide us out of the dock, Im quite content to just sit back and relax after just returning from a mission it suits me just fine.

Were pulling out of the bay when I notice a lot of police boats and the harbour master boat,

"What going on over there," I ask.

Noah replies.

"Some woman missing presumed dead apparently."

How sad I think to myself before Carter says,

"The rumours say its Austin Rutherfords fiancee."

"Really? I can't stand that pretentious prick and his father."

I reply.

"Yeah, shes a beautiful looking girl too, such a shame," says Noah.

We pass the search party and head for the open waters. I can't help but think to myself.

Why would anyone want to marry Austin Rutherford probably some money-grabbing gold digger as shes surely not with him for his personality?

Once we're out on the open water, we cut the engine drop the sails and sit back and relax, where are we going? You might ask, wherever the wind takes us would be the reply.

A couple of hours later we're out in the middle of nowhere the sun beats down on our backs as the tunes blast from the deck. Carter and Jack are now fishing from the bridge.

This is the life!

Noah turns to me and says, 

"you look tired, bro! Tough mission?"

"You could say that."

Is my reply, my brothers know I can't talk about the missions I go on, I know they worry about especially not knowing where I am and not being able to contact me.

"I'm proud of you Aiden, you've made so much of your life,"

Noah says, I reply.

"Im proud of you, you're a dedicated father to Emily you gave up everything for her.

Noah smiles as he says.

"Emily and Linda are my life now, and I am a better man because of them, they complete me Aiden one day when you find the other half of you, you will understand."

"Na I'm not the settling down type,"

I say as Noah gives me knowing look, could I give everything up for a woman fuck she would have to be an extraordinary woman.

I finish my beer before standing up and turning to Noah,

"Im going to take a shower before dinner."

Noah nods as I make my way into the bunk room picking up my kit I grab my towel and toiletries before making my way into the bathroom. I step inside the shower turning it on full blast.

Sighing as then water beats down on me, I'm so glad we installed this. I wash my hair and body, wrapping the towel around me when I step out, once bac,k in my room I throw on a pair of shorts before dropping down on my bunk.

What the fuck!

I jump back up when I almost roll on something in the bunk; my blankets wrapped tightly around the something. I peel back the bedding, revealing a mass of long blonde hair.

"Woah, what you doing in there" I ask the bundled up blonde worm, but there's no reply.

I tentatively unwrap the person from the bedding, its not a child liked I first thought but a beautiful young blonde woman who is very unresponsive, her face an unnatural shade of red, touching her forehead I swear as I realise shes running a fever.

"Fuck,"

I unwrap her from the confines of the blankets realising she's wearing my t-shirt If I weren't so worried about her I probably would have noticed how good she looks in it, I run onto the deck shouting for Noah.

"Noah.......come here........."

I yell at the top of my lungs before heading back inside, for some reason I feel the need to hold her hand, I don't know why I've never been one to hold hands before, Noah comes through the door.

"Fuck Aiden man, wheres the fire, woah when did you sneak her on."

"I didn't she must be a stowaway bro, but shes seriously burning up." 

Noah touched her head.

"fuck get her in the shower now; I'll get the first aid kit." 

He goes running off as I pick the young woman up Carter and Jack have now joined us to see what all the commotion is, Jack, runs ahead to turn the shower on and open the door Its easier to step inside with her as I hold her in my arms the cold water spraying down on us both.

Noah comes back with a thermometer; he checks her temperature.

"39.2 fuck keep her under for a few minutes."

I stand under the spray as Noah checks again

"38 thank god it's coming down, bring her out I will contact the emergency services."

Her bright blue eyes blink open as she weakly says.

"No, he'll kill me." I look down at her beautiful face and ask.

"Who will sweetheart." 

"Austin"

Is all she says before her eyes close again.

Carter stands at the door as he says.

"That's Austin Rutherford's fiancee," he says

"Fuck, what do we do now?"

I ask Noah.

"If we can get her temperature down, she can stay at least until we find out what's going on if not then we contact the emergency services we can't risk her life out here. He says I nod my head in agreement as I carry her into the master bedroom her temperature is slightly above average now, I sit her up, trying to get her to wake up. Noah comes in with the paracetamol.

"Come on, sweetheart, we need you to wake up."

I say as her eyes flutter open again as I manage to put the pills in her mouth Carter passes me the water, so I hold it to her lips.

"Come on baby I need you to swallow the pills."

My brothers look at me with raised eyebrows, not realising what I've just said to her I say 

"What?" 

Noah just laughs as he turns to leave, you have one hour to get her temperature down baby."

Baby! What the fuck is he on about I think to myself as he closes the door.