LSS--Unfinished (11/21,11/14,11/7)

"Head first surface dive! GO!" Charlie commanded.

It was the glorious time of year again as the Aquatics staff at Apache participate in the guard training for the summer. Being the largest area at Apache and the most dangerous, training had to be done effectively and efficiantly.

Today was the LSS drill. In the LSS drill, Jud (my director) will call Medic John over the radio and say we have a tag remaining on the board. John will ask for the information (The 'missing' campers name always ended up being Creepy Keith) while the Aquatics team starts the Lost Swimmer Search. We'll get into lines and dive down to the bottom of the lake to search for the "body" of Creepy Keith. (Schmidt and Allen hid two buoys earlier to take place of the body). The second LSS team will be called and we search until we find the buoy or the twenty minutes is up. Before the drill started we were practicing our surface dives. We had just finished practicing before Charlie called us out.

"Alright, nice job you guys. Take a breather, Jud is making the call over the radio, so Dan will probably sound the siren at any moment. So come up on the dock, relax for a little, drink some water, take a mustard shot if your starting to tighten up." Charlie finished and walked off to Jud, our head director, to talk about the drill.

I grabbed my water bottle and a mustard packet. I was terrified. It was my first year on staff and the first time I had been a lifeguard. This drill was to prepare me for the real deal. I turned to my friends Sara and Chris with fear in my eyes.

"Oh, common! You'll do fine Ash." Sara said. She was a firefighter and her fifth year working on Aquatics, so this wasn't her first time doing the drill. She motioned for my water bottle. She took my green bottle and drank. I ripped my mustard packet while Chris spoke.

"Yeah! Just remember what we told you, get all the way down sweep three times and come back up." Chris said patting me on the back. I squeezed all the mustard into my mouth and swallowed. I grabbed my bottle back from Sara, chasing the mustard with luke-warm water.

"I'm just scared I won't get to the bottom!" I said with a sour face. That mustard tastes terrible alone.

"Then make sure you're closest to the dock next to Sara. It's shallower there and you'll be fine! You're a stronger swimmer than some of the other Aquatics staff here." Chris said reassuringly.

"Alright I gues-" I was cut off by the loud siren. The siren wound up getting louder and louder. I took one more swig of water, lining up with my other staff members. We lined up with the dock and waited for Charlie's commands. The line up went Sara, Cody, Michael, Me, Amber, Dean, Jimmy, Allen, Xavier, Sally, Ryan, then finally Schmidt(Chris). Charlie stood on the farthest extending dock pleased and confident in us.

"Aquatics! Slide in entry!"

I got down on my knees, placing my hands on either side of them. Straightening my arms I slid my knees of the dock placing my feet in the cool water then slowly lowering myself into the water. With sore arms I held on to the dock as I waited for Charlie's next command.

"Search for missing camper under dock!"

I took a deep breath, pulled my goggles over my eyes sinking into the water. I checked underneath the dock. I made sure to kick my feet under the dock too, to check the surface that I couldn't see. With no sight of the buoy, I surfaced. Still facing the dock, I turned around to the opening of the docks, treading water.

"Aquatics! Count off!"
"1"
"2"
"3"
"4"
"5"
"6"
"7"
"8"
"9"
"10"
"11"
"12"
Each member shouted the number correlating to the number in line they were. When it got to me, I screamed 'FOUR' at the top of my lungs. Charlie nodded as each of his members were present.
"Alright! Head first surface dive!"

Putting my hands together in prayer I lifted them above my head and curled my body into the water. My ankles locked together, I swam down to the bottom of the brown lake, head first. The siren dying out the farther I got in the lake.

I reached the murkey bottom and swept my hand three times in front of me. I felt all around the soft clay bottom for the weight Allen hid earlier. After my third sweep I found nothing and began to rise back to the surface. I reached my hand above my head and surfaced.

During training, Charlie and Jud explained the importance of raising your hand when you surface. It's to ensure that you won't hit your head on the dock or run into anyone else. They had finished the talk with a story of Jud's son getting a bloody nose because he forgot to raise his hand.

As I surfaced I looked around for the others. I was third to last to surface. With Schmidt being one of our best swimmers, he surfaced last and most confident in the first round. I looked over at the commotion going on at the buddy board. Reid, Jack, and Connor all ran from different directions and were getting their buddy tags after stripping down to their trunks or for Jack, his boxers. Our second LSS team was arriving. Charlie walked back to Michael and lined up with him. Michael, being our weakest swimmer, didn't get too far. We lined up with Michael and counted off again. With everyone present Charlie continued.

"Head first surface dive!"

I gulped in air and raised my praying hands above me again, curled and dove into the water. I pulled my arms back to reach farther down to the bottom as the water got cooler. I mimicked what I had done before and swept across three times. Mud swirled in the water around me, making it difficult to see around me. Sweeping my hands, I felt the roots sprouting from the caked floor. Making a mental note I took one more sweep to be safe. My lungs burned while the seconds added as I held my breath under the water. I needed air soon. I kicked off the bottom of the lake and shot up to the surface with my hand above my head. Before I reached the surface I couldn't hold my breath anymore and I choked on the water that had gotten in my mouth. Surfaced, I coughed until I could breathe again. Charlie, worried, asked if I needed a sub. I looked over at the opposite dock and saw my the second LSS team standing there ready for their chance to sub me out. I waved it off and got ready to dive again. Jud walked over to make sure I was alright.

Kneeling down to me, Jud stated. "If you need a sub, come out. Don't push yourself."

I responded with "I'm fine! I just swallowed water! We're wasting precious time! Let's just go!"

"Alright! Aquatics count off!" Charlie screamed. After the count off Charlie boomed "Head first surface dive go!!" We dived once more. Sweeping the bottom three times I found nothing. The buoy wasn't in my lane so far. After surfacing, my neighbors changed as my friends subbed out and took a place next to me. After three more dives, we made it to the middle of the dock. Still no luck in finding either of the buoys. I decided on making one final dive before coming out for a break.

"Feet first surface dive!" Finally! My favorite dive! With this dive I could easily get to the bottom. I sucked in air and straightened out. My hands remained tight against my side as I made it down the water. After a foot under water I clapped my hands above my head to push me farther down into the water.

As the water grew colder and colder, I placed a hand below my shoulder to search for the ground. After a couple milliseconds, I found the familiar clay bottom. Feeling around I felt roots grab on to my hands as I swept; Rocks rolled as I moved them from underneath their mud homes. On my last sweep I swept my hand to the right when it touched an unfamiliar rough, cold object. THE BUOY! I FOUND IT! 

Grabbing on to it I prepared to kick off from the ground again. As my feet sank into the mud I kicked from my left foot. I jolted but was stuck in the ground. It felt as if there was a band around my right foot preventing me from taking off. Quickly I reached down to my foot to where a root was wrapped around it. I was  running out of air. My lungs burned more than ever before, I struggled to keep my breath. I tried pulling on my leg, pulling on the root, trying to rip myself free, but nothing worked. I looked up toward the streaking light. I could make the faint outlines of bodies treading water at the surface.

I thought quick and grabbed the buoy. I untied the double half hitch keeping the dirty white buoy on the weight and dropped the weight, keeping the buoy in my hand. There was no doubt that my team was worried where I was. I could sense their urgency grow the longer I stayed down. I tied my goggles around the buoy and let go of the buoy. I floated there watching it float up to the surface. My lungs felt as if they were going to burst, and my vision tunneled. That buoy was my last hope and quite possibly the last thing I would see.

"Aquatics count off!" My voice boomed across the lake. My heart raced as I counted the Aquatics members pop up one by one except for one. I searched for her in the water as staff re-emerged. The whole team resurfaced except one. Sara stood on the dock across from me. She looked up at me with urgency and concern. She knew what I was thinking. The team counted off but there was no number 4. As the count off cut at four, the other staff members grew impatient. Schmidt screamed: "Four, Count off!" No one else realized that Ash hadn't come back.

A white bulky object floated to the surface of the water, behind our company front. Everyone stopped what they were doing, turned back and looked as the object surfaced. It was the buoy that was attached to the weight. A pair of gray goggles were wrapped around the buoy. Ash's goggles. Ash was still under the water and she was stuck. That buoy was her signal. Everyone remained silent, until I jumped into action. 

"Sara take over! Ash's still in the water!" I screamed. Aquatics members quickly got out of the water and prepared themselves for the worst. I ran down the dock to the middle, where the line up took place, cupping my hands over my mouth I yelled to Noah. 

"STAFF MEMBER DOWN! CODE RED, ASHLEY SWIFT HAS NOT COME UP FROM HER DIVE. IM GOING IN!" Admin staff members ran into emergency mode. John the medic came rushing down the dock along with Jud. Noah quickly pulled out his phone, while Matt grabbed his walkie talkie. 

Program Matt, to everyone. We have a Code Red. I repeat we have a Code Red, staff member has not returned from her dive. Keep all remaining staff members on the drip line. My walkie fuzzily audited. 

Taking a step back I leaped for the water and dived in. The water was merky from all the diver's sweeps, but got worse the farther down I got, to where I could only see a couple inches in front of me. I thought I was in her lane, I prayed I was in her lane. I swept close to the bottom, hoping to find her soon. I wanted her to be safe on the surface, not down here stuck. Lord, please let her be on the surface...alive...

As the seconds ticked I grew more and more impatient. Finally as if a light was shown from under the water, I saw a dark sillouette in front of me. Shakily I reached my hand out. My hand grazed cold skin. Oh God no! I found her... 

Grabbing what I assumed was her waist I pulled her tight to me. Something resisted against me and I pulled her hard. Kicking off from the bottom raising my other hand above me so that I signaled that I was surfacing. 

As I got to the surface the Aquatics staff moved into emergency mode. Someone threw me a life tube while Xavier and Allen ran back from the Guard Tower with the orange emergency board. Noah had called 911 and I could hear the faint sound of the ambulance making it's way down the main road. 

I put Ash on the tube and side stroked to the dock with one arm locked with her elbow. Xavier knelt down to grab her wrist as Allen grabbed the other flipping her on her back on the board. Securing the board they both grabbed one handle of the board with one hand and the other gripping Ash's wrists. They swiftly pulled her onto the dock with ease. A line of blood followed her right foot as they pulled her up. A wide brown and red band wrapped around her dainty foot. She was caught on a root and I'd freed her. Xavier ran to get gauze for her foot as I pulled myself onto the dock to start CPR. 

I was still in my shoes and my radio was missing from my belt, but nothing mattered; she was pale and her once pink lips were a shade of blue. She wasn't breathing and quite possibly dead. We all had lost hope the second we saw her face.

Allen gingerly placed two fingers on Ash's throat to check her pulse. His eyes widened as he looked back at me. "SHE HAS A PULSE, BUT NOT A STRONG ONE!" Xavier sprinted back with the whole medical kit putting a handful of gauze on her bleeding foot. 

All the LSS divers were huddled and grabbing each other for support. For a group of mainly guys, every single one of them had tears in their eyes. Ash was one of the kindest staff members we'd had. Sure we'd only known her for such a short time, but she was always happy. She acted as if this wasn't her first year here, she acted as if she were meant to be here all her life. 

When Allen announced her pulse, everyone lifted their heads. Rejoice written in their eyes. I quickly bent down to Ash. Her face pale and her red suit was caked in mud from her sweeps. Her face expressionless, I remembered her bright smile, matching her deep gray eyes. I desperately wanted to see those beautiful eyes filled with life. Putting my ear to her chest I heard the faint bump-bump....bump-bump....bump-bump of her heart. I didn't have to do compressions! Thank god. I tilted her chin, to open her airway, and began with one rescue breath. I heard Sara counting loudly One mississippi, two mississippi, three mississippi, breathe! Syncing with Sara I breathed. I plugged her nose and put my mouth on hers breathing. 

I'd day dreamed about the first time my lips touched hers, but this was never what I had in mind. 

The paramedics pulled into the Aquatics parking lot and began unloading their equipment while two paramedics began sprinting down to the dock. The LSS teams were still holding one another as time ticked away. "Common Ash! You can do this! Pull through!!!" I screamed in-between rescue breaths. Everyone on the dock started chanting between sobs for her. Sara counted and screamed for me to breath. Responding, I did a rescue breath. I felt a jolt from under me. I could practically hear her heart beat pick back up to normal speed as I breathed. I quickly sat back as she rose up on her elbows and vomited water on the dock. Sputtering, she coughed up water, trying to replace it with air. You could hear all the staff members on the dock take their first breath in minutes. The paramedics breathed heavily from their run from the Center and stood behind me. They stood watching our rescue, waiting in anticipation with the rest of the Aquatics Staff. Ash looked up at me and everyone around her. 

"What's going on? What happened?" I said weakly. I couldn't remember much about what happened. The last thing that I remember was letting go of the buoy. 

"Oh my god, Ashley!" Charlie screamed he pulled me into his body and held me. My mind swirled. My head was pounding, and now I was curled into Charlie. I'd liked Charlie. I just wasn't allowed to. Considering the fact that I'm 16 and he was 24 it was beyond illegal to date him. Charlie and I had known each other through the two staff developments and throughout staff week. I always ended up in Charlie's set up crews because of Aquatics. I let him hold me as I gathered together the fact that I was most likely dead for a couple minutes. I picked up my gaze to my friends standing worried on the dock. 

They all came to me surrounding me in hugs. I held on to Charlie the most though. I was practically lifted into his lap curled into his arms. Soon the paramedics came in and pulled me away. They ordered for me to get on their gurney and come to the ambulance with them. I obeyed and did as they told me. 

Staff members filed down from the grand lodge into the Aquatics building. I wasn't sure what was going to happen, but everyone looked sullen. 

Back at the ambulance they sat me inside as they performed a physical on me. They placed an IV in my arm, filling my body with saline. As I sat on the gurney in the ambulance, the paramedics jumped out to talk to Noah, Sampson, and Jud about my physical health. Charlie walked over and sat on the bench across from me. As he sat down leaning forward, our knees touching. 

"Thank you for saving my life Charlie. I uhh, I owe you one." I said laughing at the end. He leaned closer to me placing on hand on mine and the other on my knee. 

"I had to Ash. I...uh..care for you a lot. I'm just glad you're ok." I couldn't stop smiling. He cared for me. I looked out the truck and saw no one. Everyone had been gathered into the aquatics center so the Paramedics, Noah, and Sampson could explain to the rest of the staff exactly what happened. 

I looked back at Charlie and noticed how deep he was looking into my eyes. His emerald green eyes full of compassion. We leaned closer and closer together when Charlie tucked his hand under my hair and behind my ear. His fingers gripped my head and he pulled me closer. I'd wanted this for a little while. I'd dreamed about it and finally my fantasy would become a reality. My eyes flicked from his eyes to his lips. I closed my eyes as our lips met. His overlapped mine and pulled away. His eyes flickered back from my eyes to my lips as I smiled wide. He grinned and pulled my lips back to his. His soft lips perfectly meshed with mine. We kissed multiple times before we heard footsteps outside the truck. As we quickly pulled away, I pretended I was deep in a conversation with Charlie. 

Paramedic Hudson was a middle aged man who, had practically killed me trying to get the IV in my arm. He was tall and thin with thick blonde waves as hair. He walked up and explained to me what was going to happen next. "Alright, so just because you were deprived of oxygen for such a long time, we're going to take you back to the hospital with us just to monitor you. This is all standard precautions, just to make sure you don't have any seizures through the night. But as far as we can see, you are perfectly fine. If you want we can allow you to say good bye to your friends before you go." His voice was low but comforting in some way.

I nodded in approval and got up from the gurney. Hudson helped me get down from the truck as Charlie hopped off, putting an arm around my shoulder to help me hobble to the Center. As we walked, a smile crept on my face.

The center was open and Staff members were packed in to the building. Non-Aquatics came running up to me and hugged me. They all swarmed with hugs and "Oh my god you're ok!" "We thought we'd lost you!" " We're just so glad your ok!" I couldn't help but laugh. I was still weak from the whole event so I walked over to the table and leaned on it. Sara came up to me and asked if I needed my bag, which I replied with yes and that everything was in my locker in the adjacent room.

Noah and Sampson silenced the room as Sara went to get my stuff. Sampson stepped up to our splintery podium at the front of the Center and started:

"Alright, as we all just experienced, the LSS drill is no joke. Being on camp staff is a tough job, but being a lifeguard here is even tougher. Thankfully Miss Ashley here is safe and has few problems. Thanks to Charlie, and the Aquatics' smart thinking, she was rescued within seconds after the realization that she had drowned." He looked over at Charlie and I, then smiled. He gave me a quick wink and continued. "Credits also go to Ashley, for her smart thinking under the water. To my understanding, you found the weight and untied the buoy, releasing the buoy to the surface to signal distress?" He looked over at me.

"Umm....Yeah. I knew I was stuck and that I couldn't get loose, so I untied the weight from the buoy and prayed that Charlie-and everyone would take that as a sign that I was in danger." I responded quietly. My throat hurt from all the water I had swallowed. My throat was more irritated with each word I spoke. Everyone was looking at me with sympathy. I had almost just died and now was going to the hospital over night.

Sampson turned to Noah giving him the floor. Noah stepped forward. "I hope this is some sort of reminder to everyone on how a drill can go from controlled to dangerous in a matter of seconds." He paused and pursed his lips as he looked around the room at the Staff. The LSS teams sat with towels around their shoulders still soaking wet from the drill. "Now, Ash is going to the hospital just for observation. She's going to be fine and it's just to make sure she isn't hurt more than we can see; Because miraculously you are awake and completely fine." He looked at me with a surprised look on his face. "I'm just glad that our Staff was quick on their feet and saved her before it was too late." He finally finished and gave the floor back to Sampson.

Walking toward me, Noah smiled and leaned against the table with Charlie and I. Sampson continued talking about safety and preparedness and how the rest of the week would flow while Noah leaned toward me and started told me about the plan.

"Alright so, you're going to go with Paramedic Hudson and George, you're going to be in the Hospital for one night, you're going to be completely fine, and Charlie and I will be there in the morning to check you out. Okay?"

I nodded and looked down. This was my last day at Durant and I could tell. They wouldn't want me to work after that happened. Noah caught on to what I was thinking and reassured me. He put a hand on my shoulder as he talked, "Now, this is completely your choice, but if you want to come back to work here, you are more than welcome to. If not, that's ok. We're going to call your parents as soon as the ambulance leaves and ask them. But, understand that you make the final decision. We'd love to have you here, you're one of our hardest workers and personally, I think you belong here more than some of the returning members." He finished with a smile, nodded and walked back to the front with Sampson.

Sara returned with my bag and sat on the table next to me. I leaned my head on her but kept my arm touching Charlie's.

"Everyone say their condolances to Ashley. She will need your strength and encouragement in her absence. She will only be gone twelve hours and be back by breakfast tomorrow." Everyone looked over at me and I grew even more uncomfortable. I didn't like this much attention, especially since it's about my mistake. I pulled the thin blanket the paramedics gave me closer and Charlie turned his head to me.

"Are you ok?" He mouthed. He could tell I was uncomfortable, and he felt bad. I nodded in reassurance. I shifted my weight so my hand was behind my back. Charlie kept his glance forward and slowly moved his hand on top of mine, stroking his thumb over mine. No one ever suspected Charlie. He was always the least watched staff member. He would leave and go as he pleased, no one had any suspicion.

Sampson finished his safety speech and dismissed everyone back to staff land. Only aquatics, and admin stayed to send me off with the ambulance. Hudson came over and handed me a pair of crutches to use for the time being. My foot still hurt tremendously, and I couldnt put any pressure on it. Paramedic Hudson and George helped me to the ambulance as the rest of my staff remained in the Aquatics Center, waiting for directions. Charlie and Noah followed me to the back of the Ambulance. Noah held my shoulders keeping me in front of him.

"Alright. Here's what's going to happen. You're going to go to the hospital for 12 hours, pass all your medical tests with flying colors, spend the night in a nice hospital bed, then by 7:00 am tomorrow morning, Charlie and I will be there to pick you up. Okay? You don't have to worry about anything. You just have to do as the Doctors and Nurses say and we'll be there afterward. Now get in the ambulance so you don't have to be away longer than you already have to be."

I laughed and teared up a little. Noah has never said this much to me all week let alone in one conversation. He was a quiet guy, but also really scary. Staff were terrified of him. But, I wasn't. He was kind and actually cared. After reassuring me, he awkwardly hugged me with my crutches and waited for Charlie to say his peace.

"You got this. You'll be back before you know it." He leaned in and hugged me tight. He then leaned into my ear and whispered,"I'll be there bright and early to get you. I promise." He gave me one last squeeze and pulled away.

Noah and Charlie then helped me get into the Ambulance. Getting in the ambulance was easy, but getting settled on the gurney was absolute hell. It was going to be a twenty minute ride out to the Hospital since we weren't in a rush to go. Hudson stayed in the back with me while George drove. Charlie and Noah waved to me one last time before Hudson leaned forward and closed the doors.

"Ready?" Hudson asked. I nodded shyly. The ambulance jolted with live as George turned it on. As he pulled out of the Aquatics Lot, I kept my head down. Hudson jolted my shoulder pointing out the windows. "You got some fantastic friends, you know that right?" Lifting my head I saw all my friends standing outside the ambulance windows all holding up hand hearts. Every single one of them. I smiled and put my hand over my mouth in astonishment. As we drove down the gravel road to the front gates, the mob of staff followed.

Turning onto the main road I looked one last time as my staff stood showing encouragement, at the front entrance of the gate. I turned to Hudson. "Lets get this shit done." Confidence flowed out of me. I was ready to get back to camp.

"All staff back to Grand Lodge, it's dinner time!" Noah's voice boomed on the empty road. Everyone broke up into their cliques and walked back to Grand Lodge. 

During dinner, the Staff sat in silence. The group Ash usually sat with left an open space for her at their table. Their heads down, with food untouched. I couldn't handle this. Ash's coming back in the morning, and she's fine. I stood.

"My goodness guys! She's okay! I was with her in the ambulance while they were running the tests! She is Okay. She wouldn't want you guys to be this upset, now for the love of God, eat! We don't need more of you guys going to the Hospital." I spoke with irritation. It was an accident, and it's a miracle she's alive. Everyone soon began to shuffle in the awkward silence that followed. After a couple seconds conversations flurrished. Her name was everywhere. "We should do this for Ash!" "I wonder if she's going home?" "Ash is such a brave sole." "She's the true definition of 'fighter'." "She's lucky to be alive."

I finished my food quickly and walked out of Grand Lodge without speaking to anyone. Walking down the road, I made it to Lady Land before I started thinking about her and I broke. She was dead. She was absolutely dead. But she's alive. She's okay. But then we kissed. That was all real. And real illegal. She's eight years younger than I am. But my parents are that age apart. My mind raced. Does anyone know? Can anyone tell that we like each other? I'm so fired if anyone finds out. I was so occupied in my thoughts I didn't even realize that Noah had pulled up next to me in his bright red Jeep.

The Jeep was a camp owned vehicle. The front spelled out JEEP and was missing an E so we started calling it the JEP. The car suited Noah and his ginger hair. 

"Charlie. What are you doing. Get in, we have Camp Fire rehearsal." Noah was worried. I remained silent. "Charlie. Just get in the damned Jeep." I stopped and hopped in the car. Noah went the long way to camp fire by going around the whole new loop of camp sites. 

"Alright man, tell me what's gotten into you. This isn't you. Ever since you saved her, you've acted odd. You were near her every second she was out of that water. Now you're blowing up on staff, and isolating yourself. This hasn't happened since Rachel in '07." He stopped the car at the Magnolia campsite and waited for my answer. 

"I don't know! I just feel this urge to protect her. I can't describe it. I just want my staff safe. She's so little. She needs to be protected." I kept my gaze at the dash board in front of me. 

"Charlie, please don't tell me you've fallen for her. She's sixteen!" I remained silent. He caught on to my silence. "That's illegal Charlie! Please tell me you've done nothing more than just hug and that CPR, but she was under for that." 

"Just keep this quiet Noah. I'm not going to do anything obviously! I can't! I'm a director here. People are watching me from the council. They're still keeping an eye on me since Rachel. Just please Noah. Help us." I pleaded. His face was unreadable to everyone except me. I'd known Noah for eleven years, ever since we started here as CITs. He was my best friend. His eyes gave it all away. No one ever looks at his eyes because they're too afraid. But his eyes showed sympathy. He knew the struggle of wanting to date someone at camp. 

Three years ago, Noah met his soon to be bride here at camp. She worked Trail to Eagle while he worked University. No one knew they were a thing until after camp. I'd kept the attention away from them. 

"Charlie...Please, just be careful with her. I don't care if you two date, just remember that things could end really badly." Of course I knew the dangers of being involved with a staff member, let alone a younger one. I just wanted the night to go by so we could go and get her. 

"I know...Let's just get to campfire. I'll be better when she's back I guess. I don't know Noah, this girl, she's special to this camp. I've never seen people act so kind to her. It's like she's the camps blessing. I've never seen returning staff members act this way toward a new female staff member." Noah had started the car again and was on the road toward the Campfire pit. 

"She's an attractive girl Charlie. Of course the guys like her." He didn't get it.

"No, I mean, people are having a bad day and she'll come up to them and talk to them. She's peculiar. Did I tell you what she told me in the ambulance?"

"No...what?" He grew worried and turned his head slightly to me.

"She told me that she didn't want to leave. She said that she was afraid that you would make her go home because she almost drowned. She said, she'd only been here for three days and already felt like she was home." Noah had pulled up next to the golf carts and turned off the engine. He sat in his seat thinking. I'd never seen him think that hard. He was thinking the same as I was: Ashley was destined to be here.


When we got to the hospital, George parked the ambulance while Hudson unbuckled me from the gurney. 

"Ready Ash?" He asked encouragingly.

"Yeah, I'm just a little scared. I've never been admitted into a hospital. But, I can do this." I said sheepishly.

"Absolutely!" Hudson proclaimed. George came round and opened the back up, holding the crutches I'd used. Hudson had hopped off the back and gestured for my hand. I took it ready for the adventure that would follow. Hudson picked me up and gently placed me on the ground, making sure my foot didn't touch the ground. After, George handed me the crutches. Hudson and George stood on either side of me, guiding me to the back entrance of the Hospital. 

As I hobbled on my crutches, Hudson stayed at my pace as George ran in to admit me. Finally making it into the Hospital, we took a seat as I waited for my nurse. Hudson sat next to me and put a hand on my shoulder.

"Ashley, you are truly a miracle, you know that?" He said softly. "You need to understand that God has put you here for a reason, my child. He wants you here for a reason." I smiled. I'd had great Faith and it  had reassured me.

"Thank you! Thank you so much for everything Hudson. You are an amazing emergency responder, and I hope that our paths cross again!" I gave him the best hug I could. I wasn't exactly sure how to respond. I knew God's grace was in me, but when I was in the water something weird happened. Its cloudy but I know someone talked to me.

"Ashley Swift?" A young nurse in blue scrubs came up to Hudson and I. I nodded and smiled at her.

"Alright, this is it girl! You can do this! I hope to see you soon and I hope everything goes well at camp." Hudson hugged me tight. After Hudson pulled away, George hugged me and whispered in my ear: "I believe in you. Never stop being who you are." He pulled away and gave me a sheepish smile.

After my goodbyes, I followed my nurse down the lifeless halls. She stopped me at the room 121. She opened the door and turned on the lights. The room was white and pale. A freezing breeze filled the room that made my bones shiver. I looked over at the neatly made bed. A robe with a pale green hospital gown laid neatly folded at the end. Waiting for me to change, the nurse stood at the door.

"We're going to have you change from your uhhh...suit and put on the gown on the bed. It's just standard precaution, so we can perform on your foot." She looked at me up and down, I was still in my red and black suit and soccer shorts. I blushed as I compared myself to her. My hair was a tangled mess in a bun, while her golden brown hair was perfectly straight in her ponytail. Her scrubs had showed off her perfectly thin body as my suit was still caked in dry mud from Durant. My face grew red from embarassment. I turned toward the bed, grabbing the clean white clothes and headed for the bathroom.

In the bathroom, was a body length mirror. Staring into it, I got my first good look of myself since last night when I brushed my teeth. I stood awkwardly with my toes inward. My legs pale but strong. My black shorts and red swimsuit were coated with chipping mud. My arms staying close to my body, I noticed the blank spot on my wrist where my survival bracelet use to sit. I lifted my eyes slowly to my face. My baby face was no longer fat. It was thin, but still recognizable. My eyes were deep gray, while the skin on my face remained pale. I lifted my hands to my face, gently grazing my fingers across my cheek. Stone cold. I shivered. I imagined Charlie grazing my face while I was in the water. He knew I was dead. I was snapped out of my observations with three sharp knocks on the door.

KNICK KNICK KNICK "Are you almost done in there? We have a schedule and you have a checkup in five minutes." The nurse said sassily through the heavy bathroom door. I frowned.

"Yeah, give me a sec, I'm coming." I said low. I quickly stripped and put on the stiff hospital gown and robe. I left the bathroom without another look in the mirror.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Alright Ms. Ashley, you look good to go!" The doctor said confidently. He'd check just about everything on me. He checked my heart rate, my blood levels, my blood pressure. I felt as if he'd used every single instrument in the hospital.

"Does this mean I'll be released back to camp early?!" My head perked up. Dr.Chan chuckled and continued.

"You will be released at the same time, my girl. We still have to admit you for at least 12 hours. But, I promise you that time will fly right by! The last thing that's going to happen is the observation. We're going to hook you up to a couple machines and make sure there's nothing neuralogically wrong with you. Okay?" He looked at my with kindness. I liked him way more than my nurse.

"Okay..." I said with a little smile. I looked up at the clock, 9:37. I've been in this hospital for three hours and I have 10 more.

Dr. Chan looked at me. "Erin, do you understand what happened. Do you remember anything from this afternoon?"

I looked at him confused. "I remember doing my surface dives, I remember finding the buoy and untying it from the weight." My head pounded from trying to remember. My eyes squeezed shut as my head pounded. "I'm sorry, it just hurts sometimes to remember." I looked at him scared. I prayed it was normal for my case.

"Well, that's normal. That side affect will go away within a couple days. But, I want you to know how special your case is. Ash, you died. You had died in that water. The human body can only sustain three minutes without air. Now, we'd asked the time estimate, from Ms. Rake, from the time Charlie announced you're distress and the moment you came back after respiration. The time was approximately 7 minutes. We added a couple seconds in there, to match with your story. You told the paramedics you did not witness the buoy reach the surface, you only saw it start to float up when you passed out?"

I don't remember saying that. But it sounded right. "Yeah, I think so." Dr. Chan picked up a couple sheets off his clip board and showed me the Paramedics' series of events log. It said right there in blue ink 'Victim reported: did not see the buoy surface.'. Well that cleared that up. 

"Ash, you need to understand how special you are. Do you understand the survival record of drown victims with that time?" I shook my head. "2%." I swallowed hard. I'm not suppose to be alive right now. "The fact that you were caught on that root says that you were exerting energy to free yourself too. So, that means a lot. Ash you are the definition of Miracle Case." 

This was the third time I'd heard this. I decided to sit and just listen. "Now, people will hear about your story and ask questions. Don't feel the need to answer them, okay? Now I'm going to release you back to your room, so you can get some rest okay?" I nodded and got up from the foam table. I grabbed my crutches from the corner of the room and waited for my nurse. 

"Make sure you stay out of the water for a couple days, and make sure that your injury heals, alright?" I nodded once more with a smile. "And if you have any more questions, don't be afraid to call me." My nurse walked in and opened the door wide for me. 

I turned back, "Thank you for everything Dr. Chan." I turned back around and followed my nurse back to my room. 

Once in my room, I was readied for bed. Doctors and Nurses came in surrounding me in my bed attaching wires to my brain and to my heart. All these wires connected to machines on either side of my bed. Once the last suction cup was added to my temple the Doctors and Nurses told me the procedure. 'This just measures your brainwaves and heart rate while you sleep. You don't have to worry about anything. Just get a good nights sleep.' With that, they all left. My room was dark and I was left alone. I laid there thinking about today. I thought mainly about Charlie. 

I wanted Charlie here the most. I wanted to open my eyes and him be in the chair next to me holding my hand. I wanted to wake up and not be in this damned hospital. 

After finally deciding to get over myself, I got some sleep. By some, I mean little. Some where around 3 or 4 I woke in a cold sweat. I'd had a flashback to yesterday. As I woke, I looked around the room. I was still hooked up to these machines and couldn't get up from the bed. I groaned and slammed my head back down on the pillow. 

"Ash?" a young boy's voice audited by the door. I looked up scared, there stood a silouette by my door.

"Wh..Who are you?" I asked. I sat up slowly on my bed. My eyes adjusted to the dim lighting and I could start to make out some physical features on the unknown being. It looked like a boy my age, with shaggy dark brown hair dressed in 80's clothing. His face looked familiar.

"You know who I am Ash." I looked closer. It couldn't be. But, how.

"Grant..." I stated. Grant was my older brother. He was my half brother but still my brother none the less. He was born in the 80s, but he died when he was four. I never knew him. I only knew that he was my brother. I've seen pictures of him when he was a child but seeing him here now is more than anything.

"Yes," He smiled. "I'm here to make sure you're okay." He started slowly toward my bed. I couldn't decide my feelings, I was seeing my dead brother for the first time, but also terrified that he's visiting me in this state.

"Wh..How?" I stammered. He was sitting on the stiff arm of the lounge chair in my room. With him close, I could start to see the similarities him and I shared. We both had "butt" chins, baby cheeks, the same deep blue gray eyes, and the same small narrow nose. There was no mistake in him being my brother.

"Ash, you died this afternoon." He said. I understood that, but I wasn't grasping the real reason why people kept telling me.

"Why does everyone keep saying that! I just passed out from the loss of air. I didn't die!" I was angry. I kept going, searching in his deep gray eyes for some answer. "I don't rememb-...wait. The figure...I thought that was Charlie..." Grant placed his hand on top of mine. For a ghost he gave off a lot of heat.

"No, I helped guide Charlie to you. You were also stuck on that root. It was completely tangled. I loosened it so Charlie could just pull you up. If you'd been down there a second later, you would've been with me and Grandpa up here." He spoke with knowledge. I was speechless. It all made sense. "God came to me, saying it was my time to help. When he showed me the situation, I knew it was God's work. I was meant to save you from a situation I couldn't save myself from."

"But..but...How did you know who I was..."I stuttered. He never knew me, I wasn't even thought of when he was alive.

"Ashley, we were meant to be siblings. If I hadn't died when I did, we would've been full blooded siblings. I've followed our father. I followed him and my sister Ellen. Her children were kissed by me before their birth. I've followed you mostly. I've watched you from Heaven, and you are an incredible person. I am so proud of all you have accomplished. You are truly a gift from God himself." His eyes beamed with love. Tears formed in the corner of my eyes. I'd wanted to visit his grave for such a long time, but never got to because our father was never ready. I clasped my hand around his. Ever since I found out about Grant, I vowed to live my life to the fullest, so he could live through me too. Give him a live he never got.

"I want to thank you too. I know you live life for me. I am eternally grateful for that. You make the best decisions and you do so much more than I would've ventured. You live a fantastic life. I've seen it, you have absolutely beautiful children, you even name one after me. I am beyond touched. I love you Ashley. We were destined to be related, and I know God has not regreted this decision."

"I love you too Grant, I really wish we would've been alive together..."

"We will. One day, we will be reunited in Heaven, but for now, live life and always know I am with you."

"Wait, you're leaving?! But you just got here!" I sat up in my bed, pleading for him not to leave.

"I must go. I am needed for another task. I am very proud of the beautiful young lady you have become Ash. Now, I must go." He leaned forward kissing my forehead. I held his hand until he let go.

"Goodbye Ashley Ellen." He said, then a flash of light surrounded him and in a blink of an eye he was gone. I laid back down feeling extremely tired all of a sudden. The second my head hit the pillow, I was out like a light.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I woke by my loud alarm clock. I awoke groggily, and slowly made my way out of my bed. I got up with a loud yawn and stretched. I grabbed a change of clothes and my towel making my way to the shower. I walked across the circle of cabins to the bath houses, half way through I stopped at Noah's cabin, knocking lightly on his door. After a couple seconds he opened the door revealing that he was on the phone with someone important. He mouthed the words 'Hospital' when I came in. I sat on his couch and waited. 

"Mmhm, okay. But how is she. She's still getting released right?.....mhm...okay...Mame, I just want to know how my staff member is....I don't care. I'm on my way now. I'll be there with my associate in thirty minutes. Mhmm....alright...good-bye." He hung up the phone and looked at me. It wasn't good news. Please, Lord let her be okay. 

"She's fine Charlie. Just get some clothes on and lets go. She's going to need us there." I quickly changed and we walked out to my car in the Staff Lot and were soon on the road. 

I gripped the steering wheel. I had no clue what had happened on the phone, Noah still hadn't told me. "Noah, what happened? What did the hospital say."

He sighed heavily. "The hospital is just a little shaky on letting her leave. They're telling me that they want to keep her to run more tests because it was physically impossible for her to survive. There is also Press everywhere. The Media is raving over the Miracle Girl. It's complete shit. They won't leave her alone. So we're going to pick her up, get her some real food and get her back to camp. No matter what." 

"What about the Press? Won't they try to follow us or try to get to camp?" Noah turned to me. He waved his hand in the air. 

"Already taken care of. I have Ranger John on it. Sampson already saw that coming and has made a new plan for her on check in days and for a more secure check in. It'll all be okay Charlie. I promise." He reassured me. I relaxed and let my tight grip go on the wheel. The color running back to my knuckles. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At the hospital, we parked as far as we could. I grabbed a hoody from my back seat for Ash. 

"Why are you bringing that? It's summer." He asked quizically. 

"Not for me. It's for Ash. She only has her swim suit Noah. And so that no one can recognize her while she gets out of this place."

"Smart thinking man. Excellent." 

As we walked thoughts raced through my head. We saw Press everywhere, trying to talk to doctors and nurses. Half way through the waiting room, we heard the Security officers usher the Press out of the building. Relief filled my body.  

Noah reached the front desk first. He went up to a middle aged woman squinting at the desk top in front of her. 

"Excuse me, I'm looking for Ashley Swift's room? I'm Noah Smith, her director and Charlie Miller, assistant director. We're here to pick her up." He spoke in his professional tone. His face was yet again expressionless to the public. 

"Room 121." She was monotone. She must've been on her last couple of hours until she got off. Noah and I stood there for a second confused if we were allowed to continue to her room. Guessing from the silence the Nurse gave us, we headed down the hall searching for her room.

The pale hospital walls gave me a sense of urgency. It made me feel like there was someone dying around every corner. The smell of hospital filled the halls, making it innausiating. 

Finally after wandering for about ten minutes we found her hall. The numbers 121 were plastered on the wall above the door frame. The observing window next to her door was open and we could see her, sleeping. 

Noah knocked on the door lightly and opened it. The lights were dim and the consistant beeps of Ash's heart monitor filled the room. She was hooked up to three machines with wires connecting from the machine to her. She was still knocked out. 

I walked over slowly to her bed and sat in the chair next to her. I took her hand in mine and kissed it lightly. Her heart rate beeped faster when her eyes fluttered open. 

"Ch..Ch..Charlie? Is that really you?" She was drouzzey, they must've drugged her hard.

"Yeah, I'm right here with Noah. We're here to take you back to camp."I said softly. She sat up in the bed a little more and pressed a button. 

"It was just to get the nurse. But thank god you guys are here! I hate it here. Please just take me and never let me leave camp again." She clung on to me, wires and all, holding on tight. Noah came over, putting a gentle hand on her shoulder. 

"We're here now kid. We're taking you home." Noah said softly.  

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Look, I'm not the one wanting to run the tests. Other doctors who are on this case are really curious as to how she survived. I'm just as much on your side than yourselves." Dr. Chan spoke trying to calm down Noah. 

The four of us sat in Dr. Chan's office. Charlie and I sat in the two stiff chairs in front of his desk, while Dr. Chan sat behind his desk, Noah paced the room. The office was small and square. Diplomas and certificates decorated three of the walls. On the wall behind Dr. Chan's desk, were light boards with my x-rays pinned up. My brain illuminated on the black sheets. In my chair, I'd curled up and pulled my knees close to my chest. The hospital provided me with some bland khaki scrubs and white nurses shoes from their supply room. Charlie's jacket hung loosely on my shoulders. I gripped it closer as the breeze from the vent above crept down my neck. Noah paced behind Charlie and I while he thought of an answer. 

"She's not staying here. She's coming back with us. I refuse to let her stay in this depressing hell hole of a hospital." Noah gripped onto the back of Charlie's chair.