Overborad
It was a cold evening at see. The Nomad was heading
for Ameland, in the North Sea. The wind was blowing fierce
and all of the crew showed their discomfort. It was really
too cold for an Arabian crew, used to warm temperature and
moderated sea!
After having past the bigger part of the day inside, Bryn
finally decided to take some fresh air before going to sleep.
Some of the crew members were already in bed for they had
had a really long and difficult day, dealing with the wind.
She opened the hatchback door and came outside. As
she walk to Sinbad, she noticed that Doubar was at the
tiller and Ahmed was securing the deck. They were they only
guy on deck.
It was a special trip It was the first time they were
going where there was snow, but also because it was the
first time they were sailing without Firouz! The scientist
had decided to stay home saying he didn't like snow, but
every one knew it was more because Velda was going to join
him in Basra!
Bryn walked to Sinbad who was standing by the rail.
He was absorbed by the sea, as every time he was looking at
it. She crossed her arms on her chest trying to keep warmth.
The wind was blowing and she was freezing. "Sinbad?" she
called. He didn't hear her, lost in his thoughts.. and the
sea.
"Sinnbaadd" she said softly as she got closer to
him. The next thing he heard was Ahmed yelling for midship:
"Man overboard, man overboard, man over board". Then running
to the rail to point the man in the water.
"Whole hands!! " Sinbad yelt! All the crewmembers
ran on deck. "Rongar, prepare the longboat; Doubar, turn the
ship; Bryn, sent Dermott" Every one knew what they had to
do: the ship had to turn in circle to arrive almost in front
of the man in the water and then turn a bit, just to keep
that man into the circle. Then the longboat had just to get
the man out and go back to the ship. It was something simple
the had already practice, but now, it wasn't the same
thing: it was the night, it was cold, so was the water,
which meant that the man couldn't held on for very long
in the water.
"Capt'n Sinbad! I'm afraid it is Bryn!" Ahmed said.
Those words echoed in Sinbad's mind. 'No, it wasn't
possible! Not her! Not Bryn!! No!!' He grabbed the rail
"Hold on Bryn, we are coming" he yelled at the sea. "hold
on."
In the cold water, and with the waves, Bryn knew she
wouldn't be able to survive very longer. She felt herself
breathing becoming slow, her arms and legs were getting
unusable. She felt she was dying as the longboat drifted
closer to her, she felt her life drifting farther away.
Aboard the ship, Sinbad was waiting for the return
of the longboat with a warm blanket in his arms. He knew she
didn't have any other clothes and was wondering what she will
do once aboard. But for now that wasn't important . Sinbad
tried to see what was happening with Bryn and the longboat,
but all he could see was the little light Ahmed had taken
in the boat with him.
It was more than time when the longboat finally
reached Bryn. Rongar grabbed her arms and pulled her into
the longboat. Ahmed, who was also in the longboat signaled
with the lamp that she was now ok, on the long boat.
When they reached the Nomad, Bryn was completely
frozen. Sinbad helped her to get aboard and wrapped her in
the blanket to then led her down below in her quarters.
Once in her room, Sinbad lit up a candle. With the
light it brought, he noticed the color of her skin. It was
almost bleu! Bryn wasn't moving, she was sitting on a chair,
her arms crossed on her chest. Sinbad had taken back the
blanket so could removed her clothes, but she wasn't moving,
staring at her feet, frozen.
--Come one Bryn" Sinbad told her, "I'll get you
something dry while you get your wet clothes off." He
smiled gently and left the room, to come back with one
of his shirt. Bryn hadn't moved. She had wrapped her arms
around her and rested her head on her shoulder, eyes closed.
She was too cold to even try to move, paralyzed y the
cold.
--Oh Bryn!" Sinbad said sadly. "Ok, let me help you
ok?" she nodded slowly and Sinbad started to undo her belts.
Then he took her hands in his. They were as cold as ice.
"Bryn, you are really too cold, it has no sense!" He had
to hurry to do something with her for he knew she wasn't
about to move by herself.
After the belts came the boots, then... the dress
*I can't do that* he thought. He had no choice. He started
to undo the lace in her back. She didn't seem to care so
he continued and simply got her completely naked. *I can't
believe I did that. She will probably kill me for that
when her mind will defrost* Then, he smiled to himself:
she was beautiful, but he didn't take the time to enjoy
and helped her to put his shirt on.
Then, Sinbad took another blanket and wrapped her
in it, and led her out of her room to his own quarters.
"Mine is warmer. I lit candles earlier so you'll be better
there, ok?" He grabbed her gently but firmly by the waist
to help her to walk.
It was truth, Sinbad's room was warmer. Sinbad led
her to his bed "get into the blanket, I'll be right back."
Sinbad told her, laying her in his bed. Them, he got out
of the room and went in her room to take all her blankets,
to get them on his room for Bryn. "Sinbad!" Doubar said
"is she alright?"
--I'm not sure.. Allah, I wish Firouz could be here,
he would know what to do!"
--Sinbad.. you know what you have to do..." Doubar
gave him a look that said too much.
--Noooo no way Doubar I'm not going to.."
--Hey, you're the capt'n! So do your job! And it's
the best thing you can do... you have to go in bed with
her." Sinbad looked at his big brother, not sure about
what to do. "You have no choice Sinbad! Perhaps, it's your
chance!" Doubar said laughing softly. Sinbad knew Doubar
was right. And he had no choice but help Bryn.
Sinbad got back on his room. Bryn was laid on her
side and looked asleep. "Bryn??" he said softly, "Bryn,
please don't sleep, in your present condition, you may
never wake up!" he hadn't finished his sentence that he
already regretted it *Sinbad! it's not a good idea to
tell her that*
She understood and opened her eyes slowly, while
Sinbad place some more blankets on her. Then he got his
vest, his boot, his pants and his shirt off, keeping only
is boxer on and climbed on the bed with her. "I want you
to know that's I'm not doing that to seduce you but to keep
you alive ok!" he told her, feeling really stupid! Then
he simply grabbed her and wrapped his arms around her.
"Thanks.." she whispered, exhausted. Her hair was
all wet.. and she was so cold. Her eyes were closing by
themselves and Sinbad was afraid to loose her... "Please
Bryn, don't sleep, please." He knew why he wondered that
much about her: Beside she was a member of his crew, she
was also his best friend, his confident, and even more
than that.
They had grown closer together. He had always tried
to hide his feeling for her, just in case Maeve would come
back. But by now, he knew it was impossible. She and
Dim-Dim were in another dimension, so he knew that even
if he'd sailed every seas, he would never find her. And
he knew he just couldn't spend his whole life waiting for
somebody who would probably never come back. And it hurt
him to think about that.
But his pain of loosing her was now comforted by
another woman, totally different of Maeve. Someone with
who he could share everything, even the most personal
things of his life. And he knew she felt the same way
about him. Never she had tried to hide something from
him or get distant, they were the closest friends of
the world.. Sinbad thought. And now he knew what it
was much more than that, it was the love they had to each
other, a real love, not only passion, but something
about the deepest soul... "please Bryn, don't sleep,
don't leave me..."
Bryn was wrapped by Sinbad, feeling safe, and so
good, but so sick at the same time. She was shiving, and
even with all the blankets over her and Sinbad, she wasn't
sure she was going to be ok. She was more than worried
about herself for she knew how dangerous it could be to
be that cold.. and to sleep; though she was terrible tired.
Her head was resting on Sinbad's shoulder, his chin about
her head. He kissed the top of it.
She was breathing hardly, against Sinbad's chest,
eyes closed. She felt she was leaving. She wasn't able to
talk, not even to think. She wanted to cry. Sinbad too. He
too felt like she was leaving. And he knew if she sleeps,
it was going to be the end. "Allah. Please. Don't take her
from me. Please Allah, don't. Don't.." he whispered.
Time past slowly. Sinbad tried as well as he could
to warm her. He gently slide his hands under her shirt to
discover she was still freezing. The dry shirt he had given
her had got wet by her hair and her body, since he hadn't
taken the time to dry her. How could she get better with a
shirt like that? But that was the only thing she was
wearing. So he had no choice. Slowly, he removed it.
"If she's alive tomorrow morning, she will kill me for
that" he thought. But in the situation she was, he didn't
care. All he wanted was to help her to be ok.
Bryn to sigh. Sinbad held her as close as he could
against him. He could feel her very body over his. Everything
he's never got to see from her was now perfectly
determinates. And he just loved it. But even if they could
talk about any and every thing together, it was something
he would never admit to her. He closed his eyes, trying
to imagine her reaction if he'd tell her. He smiled for a
moment, and with these thoughts, even though he was
fighting against it, he fell asleep.
When Sinbad woke up, few hours later, he was laid on
his side. Bryn was laying on her back, half out of the
blanket. "Oh no!" Sinbad said, mad at himself for he had
slept, "Bryn, wake up! Do not sleep!" he shacked her.
"Bryn please, wake up!" He was more and more worried.
He couldn't feel her pulls. He couldn't hear her breathing.
He had fallen asleep, and so she had, and now she wasn't
going to wake up.. Never.
Sinbad felt so guilty. He couldn't let that happening.
"In the name of Allah, the most Grateful, the most
Merciful.." he started to pray, pulling her in his
arms. "May I be forgiven for what I've done. May she
lives, may she forgive me. Allah please, don't let her
die. Bryn please, wake up! WAKE UP!!" he was almost
crying.
At this moment, Bryn started to move. "Oh Bryn! Thanks
Allah!" he said with emotion, getting her back over him.
"Bryn, you ok?" She slowly opened her eyes, "Sinbad?"
she asked confused then was taken by a deep cough. "shuhhh
Bryn, it's ok.." "No.. Sinbad.." she coughed again, Sinbad
gently brushed his fingers on her cheek, "I won't be
ok.. I.. I won't pass through.. I.. I.. just can't.. I'm
sorry.." she sadly told him, trying to catch her breath.
"You'll be fine Bryn, don't worry.." he told her with
concern, trying to convict her as well himself.
And so Bryn fell back to sleep. Sinbad couldn't do anything
about it. She was exhausted. She needed to rest, even though
it was dangerous for her. All he could do was staying awaken
to be sure she was alright and breathing. And warm her. Warm
her to keep her alive, the only way.
He closed his eyes, unable to keep them opened anymore and
silently made a last prayer to Allah to allow her to pass
through the night. He'd never prayed that much, excepted
maybe when Maeve had fallen overboard. And Allah had
ignored his prayers. But Everything Has Its Purpose had
now there was Bryn. He didn't want to loose her, never.
So this time, he swore to Allah he would never forgive
Him to let her die. Gently caressing her back, fighting
against tears, he fell back in a deep sleep.
It was the morning when Bryn opened her eyes. She looked
around, confused. She was laid her side, her back against
Sinbad's chest, his arm protectively wrapping her arms and
chest. And she was in his bed, naked. Naked! And so he
was! Well.. almost! She slowly sat up in the bed, coughing,
and realized what was happening. "I am alive. I'm alive!!
Sinbad! You were right, see! I did it!" she managed to say,
breathless before she coughed again.
Sinbad opened his eyes and sat up, leaning his chest against
her back, "I know you could do it! I'm so glad." he said,
wrapping his arms around her waist. "Thank you Bryn. I'm
so happy, And thanks to Allah!" he said with emotion. She
turned in his arms and rested her head on his chest.
"no.. thanks to you Sinbad" She replied with the same
emotion.
He laid her back with him in the bad, so she was over him.
He held her thigh against him for a moment, then simply
rested his arms on her back, gently caressing it by a move
of his thumbs. He kissed the top of her head "You can rest
now, ." She nodded.
She was about to fall back asleep, feeling safe and protected
by Sinbad, when someone knocked at the door: "Sinbad,"
Doubar asked, "Can I come in?" Sinbad looked down at the
tired Bryn laying over him. He carefully covered her
shoulders with blankets so Doubar wouldn't notice she
wasn't wearing her short anymore. "Yeah, come in." Sinbad
finally answered.
Doubar walked in the room, looking at the couple comfortably
laid on the bed. He smiled. "Feeling any better?" he asked
Bryn. "Guess so" she replied to the big man. "In this case,
maybe you'll allow us to take back the capt'n! He's needed
on deck!" Sinbad sighed "Ok, I caught the message, I'm
coming.." Sinbad said growling. It made Bryn laugh lightly
but she started to caught, again.
"Ok, then I'll wait for you on deck." Doubar said, making
his way to the door. "By the way, you two would make a
really sweet couple!" he said before closing the door
behind him. "Looks like I have to go." Sinbad said after
he gave her another kiss the top of her head. Then slid
of the bed.
He took his clothes at his feet and Bryn watch him as he got
dressed. "Interesting?" he asked when he was done. "Very."
She replied. "There's some other clothes on the trunk, when
you need to get dressed since I don't think your dress is
dry yet." She nodded. "By the way, Sinbad.. you saw me naked
didn't you?" Sinbad smiled and sat by her side on the bed.
"I did, but don't be embarrassed about that ok." He bent to
whisper in her ear "You're a beautiful woman." He told her,
then kissed her cheek. She blushed.
He walked to the door and opened it. "Oh and Bryn, next
time you need attention from your capt'n, just tell me ok,
don't jump over board!" He gave her one last smile and
walked out the room, closing softly the door behind him.
"I will Sinbad, don't worry. I'll tell you." She told
herself before she fell back asleep on his warm and
comfortable bad. Too bad he wasn't there anymore..
The End