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Trey looks worse than Nathan did. His eyes are shut, lips blue and slack as he's pulled along. Marco's face is a focused snarl. He reaches the boat as the lifeguard and two crew members lean out to assist. They yank Trey and Marco over the side, quickly hurrying to aid Trey.
Marco heaves large gulps of air. He moves to get close to Trey, but I grab his arm, yanking. "Let them help him," I insist.
He snaps his head toward me so fast that water splashes onto my face from his hair. There's a wildness in his eyes. It settles after a moment, as he finally sees me. "They're trained for this. Trust them, Marco."
Letting out a shudder, he leans into me. We climb from the rescue boat and onto the main deck together.
"Marco! What the hell! Is that Trey down there?" Heratio is sprinting towards us, pushing anyone in his way aside. Word must have spread fast that some people had needed to be rescued from the water.
Marco grabs his brother's shoulder to stop him from jumping down into the rescue boat. "Don't, you'll get in the way."
Heratio struggles a moment before giving up. "Nathan!" he yells.
The younger brother looks over at us. He's kneeling next to Trey as the doctor works. I huddle close to Marco, wanting to offer some comfort. I rest my head against his shoulder and hold his arm in mine.
One of the lifeguards approaches our group. He pats Marco on the back. "Your brother is alive, but he needs emergency treatment. We're going to bring him to shore to go to a proper hospital."
"It's that bad?" Heratio demands. All the blood is draining from his face. My heart breaks for the nightmare this family is going through. "He'll be okay, right? Right?" he implores.
Cringing, the lifeguard turns away. He assists loading Trey onto a stretcher. The crowd watches silently as the doctor leads the procession across the deck. Someone runs ahead––probably to tell the Captain the ship has to head to the dock immediately.
I stare at Trey as he's carted by. He looks frail, nothing like the relaxed, self-amused man I'd come to know.
Nathan stands with us, his towel saturated, his face grim. "This can't be happening," he whispers.
"Howdidit happen?" Heratio snaps. He whirls on Nathan, shoving him hard. Nathan stumbles backwards into the railing. The people milling around back away, gawking at the scene. "You were with him, Nathan!"
"Easy," Marco cautions. He tries to wedge himself between them but Heratio won't allow it; he moves around his bigger brother, grabbing Nathan by the front of his wetsuit.
"Leave him alone! He nearly drowned, too!" I yell.
Nathan is wide-eyed, sallow and sick looking. He isn't defending himself. He just stands there as Heratio shakes him roughly. "I'm sorry," he whispers hoarsely. "I'm really sorry. If I hadn't suggested the swim, maybe..."
"Stop it!" I can't take it anymore; I wrap my hands around Heratio's forearm, tugging as hard as I can. "Can't you see how guilty he already feels?"
"Stay out of this," Heratio snaps. He yanks out of my grip with such force I stumble. Marco's snarl is instant.
But Nathan is the one who acts first.
The shame melts from his white face as he grabz Heratio, pulling him so they’re nose to nose. "Don't you dare touch her like that! She saved my life!"
Heratio freezes, mouth falling open. He gapes at Nathan, then at me. "She what?"
Putting a hand on Heratio's shoulder, Marco says, "Filia jumped in to rescue him. She didn't think twice. Calm down, Heratio. No one here is your enemy."
Heratio deflates in front of us. He backs away scrubbing anxiously at his neck. "Dammit. I'm sorry. I'm just...my adrenaline is flying. I'm so worried about Trey."
"We all are," Marco says.
Scanning the distance, I point. "We're docking now. Look, there's an ambulance waiting for Trey." The brothers follow my finger. Nathan hurries to the railing to watch closer. Heratio joins him. I start to move, but Marco clutches my wrist.
He gives me a serious look. "Areyouokay?" he asks.
"Yes. Except..." Frowning, I lean my weight into him. My tone is miserable. "You promised you wouldn't make me worry again. Then you dove into the ocean."
"I'm sorry. I had to."
"I know." Linking my fingers in his, I collapse against his wet chest. We're both soaked and now that the situation seems to be in hand, the shock or whatever it was that was keeping the cold at bay clutches my body. I shiver, even though the air is warm. "I guess it's not fair to scold you. I jumped in, too."
