Post by Liz on Dec 9, 2005 9:54:16 GMT -5
TITLE: Lost
AUTHOR: Lizzie
RATING: Suitable for all
SPOILERS: Yes, big ones for the UK
DISCLAIMER: The Characters are not mine
PAIRING: Karl/Susan, Susan/Alex
SUMMARY: What if Karl had been the one on the plane?
He was so cold, so very cold. That was all he could think about at this point in time, nothing else mattered. He lay upon a beach somewhere on an Island. He couldn’t quite figure out where he was but all he knew was that he had survived that crash.
Karl Kennedy closed his eyes as he remembered the terror and fear of everyone on that plane. He remembered Isabelle trying to reach for him, to tell him she loved him but yet he hadn’t acknowledged her. He didn’t even want to. All he was thinking about was Susan, who thankfully had decided not to come on this trip. She and her fiancée Alex had backed out at the last minute. Karl was glad of that now, he was glad she was safe.
But oh how had he needed her during the plane crash. Karl had never been so frightened in all of his life. He had always thought that if he died in a crash somehow, he would be prepared. But he had realised no one could ever be prepared for death, not ever. All through those terrifying moments, Karl had closed his eyes tightly and tried to remember his life with Susan before he’d left her. He had been shaking while doing it and had almost run his fingers deep into the seat. While everyone else on the plane had had someone, Karl had had no one and he had been left to be scared on his own.
When the plane had finally crashed into the Bass Straight, everyone had been plunged into the freezing waters. Karl shivered violently as he thought of the moment he hit those waters. The temperature…well he did not want to think. But it must have been bloody cold as he was still freezing even now. Karl knew that if he did not find help soon, he would likely freeze to death. Being a doctor, he knew he probably had a slight touch of hypothermia and it would get worse if he didn’t get up and start moving.
He slowly dragged himself off the ground and stumbled up. Managing to draw his tuxedo jacket around himself, Karl started walking along the beach. He looked a state, his hair was mussed, his face was covered in cuts and bruises and blood was streaming from his forehead. He was slightly limping too. He wore an old forties style tuxedo, which was not the greatest thing when you were freezing and suffering from god knows what. But he had never envisioned that the plane would crash. Who had?
Susan…I love you. I love you so much. Karl thought. He hoped she could hear him. He wanted her to know he was all right. She would be worrying for sure, he knew. He wondered how long he’d been missing for. The sun was setting as he walked along so he reasoned that he must have been missing for at least two days or so including the crash. Stumbling along the beach, Karl looked for any type of shelter or somewhere he could call for help. He knew on a desert island like this, he was going to have make use of the resources there but right now he was half functioning. Perhaps hypothermia was setting in, he didn’t know. He was growing colder by the second and he was finding it hard to carry on. Only the thought of Susan made him battle on, nothing else would. It would be so easy for him to collapse and let himself freeze to death slowly or pray that someone found him but that was the easy way out. This time he wasn’t going to be a coward and do that. All his life, Karl had looked for an easier solution to things but that had to stop right here and right now.
Cold…so cold…
That was all Karl could think now as the chill spread right through him. It was the end of the day too and it would only get colder as the night progressed. This wasn’t what Karl needed. The thought of him in his bed back in his flat alone seemed suddenly rather appealing then this. He looked ahead of him; the beach seemed to go on forever. Perhaps he should head inland but all there was there was forest, after forest. He had to do something though; he could not wander about aimlessly.
For god’s sake, you’re a doctor. Use your head. Karl told himself sternly. But he was hopeless at survival skills and his two trips into the Australian Bush proved that. Sighing, he stumbled up to the beginnings of the forest, hoping against hope that he would find help.
*. *….*
Susan Smith glanced at the sky as she walked back to her house. It was sunset now and the end of a very long and nerve wracking day for Susan. All day she had been hearing reports of survivors of the plane crash. Izzy, Elle, Lil and Sky had been found. That had been such good news to many residents of Ramsey Street but there was one name that had not been on that list, the name that was the most important in Susan’s opinion. Karl Kennedy.
Susan’s eyes welled with tears as she thought of her Karl on that plane. She could not imagine how frightened he must have been. In fact she didn’t like to think about it. There had only been one time Susan had ever seen Karl terrified and she had hated seeing him like that, really and truly hated it. Susan had heard nothing about Karl since the plane went down and it scared her to her soul. She didn’t want to admit that to anyone especially not Alex but she was so frightened for Karl.
Where is he? She thought sadly. I know he’s out there somewhere…surely…
Susan did not want to give up hope, she couldn’t. The thought that he might be…no she couldn’t even think of that. It was too much. That kind of pain would be dealt with only when she knew for certain and she could not be at the moment. Letting herself into her house, she saw that Alex was sitting at the table waiting for her.
“Susan.” He jumped up when he saw her. “Any news?”
“No.” Susan didn’t look at him when she said that.
Alex instantly came to her and wrapped his arms tightly around her. Susan went into his embrace, seeking comfort. She closed her eyes, drawing from his strength.
“He will be found darling.” Alex told her. “He will.”
Susan looked up at him. “I know…” Her voice cracked. “I just…Karl must have been so scared.” A couple of tears fell down her cheeks.
“I imagine so.” Alex replied, he didn’t know what else to say. He didn’t know how Susan felt, he could only imagine how worried she was about him and Alex had to admit he was pretty worried about Karl himself. Karl had been very supportive to him and Susan over Alex’s illness and it would just be such a shame if he was lost. Not to mention Susan would be heartbroken.
“So who did they find today?” He asked Susan gently, hoping that he could soothe her somewhat.
“Oh, they found Lil, Elle, Sky and Isabelle.” Susan answered, wiping her tears away. “That’s good.” Alex spoke. “I mean if they’ve been found, chances are Karl will be found in no time.”
“Yeah.” Susan said so quietly that Alex had to strain to listen. “Yeah…”
But she didn’t feel so optimistic now. Inside, she wondered if Karl could survive that. The Bass Straight was freezing and Karl had been in those waters for around two days. There was no way anyone could survive that. But if Izzy, Sky etc had then why couldn’t Karl? He could have washed up somewhere.
“Alex, I know this is going to sound awful but…but why did they find Isabelle and not Karl?” She asked him. “Why does that woman survive and Karl…” She left the sentence unfinished, she couldn’t bear to say the rest.
“Hey, you don’t know that.” Alex said. “Don’t give up hope now, he will be found.”
“You’re right.” Susan said suddenly and pulled away from Alex. “I mustn’t. Karl will be all right, he will.” But she could hear a little voice inside herself saying ‘you just keep telling yourself that’. She shook her head, trying to clear the negative thoughts and smiled at Alex bravely.
“So what’s for dinner?”
“I…I didn’t know when you would be home.” Alex stuttered sheepishly.
“That’s fine, let’s get a takeaway.” Susan suggested. Alex wasn’t entirely surprised at her lack of response, normally he would have expected a smart or witty comment from Susan but understandably she was not in the mood.
“All right, I’ll order.” Alex spoke and went to the phone. Susan watched him but her mind was on other things, namely one other man. Susan recalled when Karl had his heart attack, she had been frightened for him then but this…this was something else entirely. The old saying no news was good news would have worked for her in cases like this but knowing that Karl had been on that plane and he was out there somewhere, it was different. She just wanted to know if he was still alive or if he was dead. This not knowing was killing her. She just wanted to know.
He trawled through the wet undergrowth of the forest and sighed once more. Somehow Karl was completely lost in this forest. He didn’t know how he’d gotten so lost. He’d only been in the bush for about an hour or so and he had sworn he could find his way back to the beach. But now he couldn’t and it was growing dark and bitterly cold, or so Karl thought.
Oh great…terrific. Yet again I have managed to lose my way in this bush. I am such an idiot; I am hopeless in the bush. But at least there are things to eat here and I can try and find my way back in the meantime.
He pushed his way through a bush and all he could see was forest and trees. There didn’t seem to be anyway out. Karl hoped against hope he would be able to find somewhere familiar soon. The darkness was setting in and he really didn’t want to be alone here much longer. Karl started shaking again. The cold was really getting to him now. He couldn’t feel his hands and he was slowly losing the feeling in his feet.
Susan…Karl’s thoughts returned to her. If he kept thinking of her, he thought he might be able to find the strength to carry on. He knew she would be worried about him. He hoped that she wasn’t crying for him. He wasn’t worth that. Not after the hurt he’d caused her. As Karl continued to stumble through the forest, he thought about Susan’s life with Alex. Alex Kinski was a decent man and loved Susan. He was the kind of man that would never cheat on Susan unlike Karl. He would love Susan unconditionally. Susan would never be hurt by him. However she already had. Alex was ill, terminally ill with cancer.
She’s going to be hurt yet again and I...I can’t do anything about it. Karl thought furiously. d**n it, why I am here stuck in this stupid forest? In a fit of anger and rage, Karl tried to run through the bushes ahead of him. But he tripped and fell over a log stuck in the middle of the pathway. Karl landed on his back. He lay there in agony.
“Oh god.” He groaned. He did not even know if he could get back up. Closing his eyes, Karl hoped that he was somewhere else. He wished himself to be in Susan’s arms, in their house, in their bed. He wished he was snuggled up next to her. But he wasn’t. Opening his eyes again, he found himself in the same hell he was in a minute ago.
“Karl?” He heard a familiar voice call weakly. He tried to turn to see who had called him but the pain was too intense. He groaned in agony again.
“Yes…who is it?” Karl ground out, trying to forget the pain. “I…can’t….see.”
“David.” Said the voice. Instantly Karl knew the voice. Of course it was David. Karl wished he could turn to see him.
“David…how…what?” He tried to say but the cold and the pain was stopping him from saying anything that remotely made sense.
“Don’t….know where I am.” David slurred and Karl guessed he was in much the same state as himself. “Got washed ashore…Lil…Oh god…Serena. You see them?”
Karl wished he could say yes to David, he wished that he could even lie but he couldn’t. “No…I haven’t.” He tried to sound sincere. “I’m sorry David.”
“God…please let them be all right.” David begged brokenly. “They have to be.”
“I’m sure they are.” Karl tried to reassure David even though it would be of no use. Finding that the pain had dulled a bit, Karl forced himself to sit up and turn to face David. It took a huge amount of effort but he finally did so. When he saw David, he was shocked at the state of him. David was holed up underneath a tree, covered in little icicles from the freezing waters. His forehead and left leg was gashed and he was holding his arm as if it was broken.
“Karl…mate, you look terrible.” David said.
“So do you.” Karl said and crawled over to David. He had to help him, no matter the pain he was in. He was a doctor after all, trained to save lives. David smiled weakly at him and tried to move to make space for Karl.
“I’ve got to help you.” Karl spoke, shivering. “But I can’t see anything round here that can…” He trailed off.
“We’ve got to help each other.” David told him. “Mate, don’t…try to be a…doctor here. You are suffering too, be no good.”
Karl knew David had a point. What good would he be to David in this frame of mind? He couldn’t even look after himself, let alone David. But yet the two of them needed to stick together. They would surely be able to get help together, two minds was better then one.
“Lil…” David muttered. “Lil…Serena…I…love them, didn’t…say goodbye.” A couple of tears streamed down his cheeks and Karl’s heart broke. Karl hadn’t seen Lil or Serena but he hoped against hope that they had survived.
“You…can’t think like that David, they’ll be fine. I know they will.” Karl spoke. “Don’t…give up hope.”
“But…how could anyone survive that?” David wondered. “It’s impossible…”
“Look at me.” Karl commanded and David looked at him. “David, we survived. We are here. So if we survived, I am sure Lil and Serena and everyone else did too. You have to go on believing this, if you don’t, you may never get out of here and see them. Come on.”
“You’re right Karl...” David agreed weakly. “They’re okay, they have to be. I’ll kill Robinson for this.”
“Me too.” Karl agreed. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew this wasn’t Paul’s fault but right now, he seemed to be the easy target. Besides whoever had caused the plane to crash had to be connected to Paul. But that didn’t matter at this moment in time. What mattered was that Karl needed to rescue David and himself from this endless forest. He didn’t know if they would ever get back to Ramsey Street.
She didn’t know why she was there. She couldn’t even remember how she’d gotten here. But for the last five minutes, Susan Smith had felt more comforted then she had in the past few days. She surveyed the scene. There were shirts tossed on the couch, his leather jacket on the back on a chair and his briefcase on the table. Everything seemed so familiar.
Susan was in Karl’s apartment. She couldn’t even believe she’d got in it; he hadn’t even bothered to lock the door. As she looked around at the living room, she noticed a small photo frame. Moving closer towards it, she saw that it was a picture of the two of them just before her amnesia. Picking it up, Susan noticed how happy they looked. Karl was even smiling in that photograph. Normally he always grimaced in them and Susan had hated it. She had always told him to smile but Karl could never smile naturally in photographs for some strange reason. However this picture was different, he was. Susan traced her hand over the image, gazing into those brown eyes of Karl’s.
He hasn’t changed a bit. She thought to herself. Well not appearance wise anyway. How can he still look like that and he is 50 now?
Susan’s eyes welled with tears as she looked at the single image of them. Was this it? Was this how they were meant to say goodbye to each other? Susan didn’t want to believe it but Karl had been missing for three days. Nearly everyone had been found except David, Karl and Serena. Susan shook her head. Alex had told her not to think so negatively. It wouldn’t help Karl at all. But yet, Susan couldn’t help it. Her worry for Karl outweighed everything else at this moment in time, even her wedding to Alex.
I hope Alex understands. I don’t want to put the wedding on hold but…Karl…Karl is more important to me then I could ever explain. Oh Karl…where are you?
“Mum?”
Susan turned to find Libby at the doorway with Ben. Instantly Susan panicked. She hadn’t told the kids about Karl. Oh god…how was she going to explain this to them?
“Libby!” Susan said, brightly and came to her daughter. She pulled her into a hug. Libby hugged her back and then pulled back and frowned at her.
“Mum, what are you doing here?”
“Oh…I…” Susan’s voice cracked. “What are you doing here actually?” She changed the subject.
“I heard about the plane crash on the news.” Libby spoke. “I had to come down, Mum, do they know if everyone’s okay? Who was on board?”
Suddenly Susan dissolved into tears. She couldn’t help it. Covering her hand over her face, Susan sat down on the sofa, trying to control her tears. She didn’t dare glance at Libby, for she knew Libby would pick up on it.
“Mum, WHO was on board?” Libby asked again and Susan could hear the worry in her voice. Susan turned to Libby and just looked at her. It was then that Libby knew, Susan could tell.
“No…” Libby said quietly, her face pale. “No…not…Dad.”
“I’m sorry darling…I didn’t know how I could tell you…” Susan wept. “We don’t…know where he is. He hasn’t been found yet.”
“So he’s not dead? It’s not confirmed?” Libby asked and Susan recognised the tone in her voice. It took her back to the days when Libby used to ask Karl to read her a story before bed because she was afraid of the dark.
“No…he could be alive, I’m sure he is.” Susan tried to comfort her daughter. “I…I’m just…worried.” She felt herself being pulled into Libby’s embrace and she let Libby comfort her. It was supposed to be the other way round, she knew but right now…Susan just couldn’t find the words.
“Yeah Mum…yeah you’re right.” Libby said but she didn’t sound convinced at all. The worry and panic in her voice was there more then ever now. Susan wished she could do something, anything to comfort her daughter. But she couldn’t. The prospect of never seeing Karl again terrified Susan.
“But…what if they never find him?” Libby asked sadly. “I…” She broke off, obviously not wanting to think of that.
Susan looked at her beloved Elizabeth. “Oh darling, they will.” She mustered up strength. She had to carry on for her children’s sake. Libby was quite clearly distraught at the thought of losing her dad. How could Susan put her feelings before her daughter? It wasn’t right, not in Susan’s eyes.
“Daddy.” Libby spoke tearfully. “They have to find my dad.”
“They will.” Susan wept. “They will darling, we have to hold on and pray. After all they found Isabelle.”
“Urgh!” Libby stood up, in anger. “They found her! How come that woman survives anything??”
“Libby.” Susan cautioned.
“No Mum, no way can she survive and Dad doesn’t. I’m sorry but that’s how I feel. I know you do too even though you won’t admit it.”
“I know but would you really wish for Isabelle to die?” Susan asked. “I wouldn’t, I may dislike her but I wouldn’t wish this….on anyone.”
“Guess not.” Libby spoke emotionally. “I just….they have to find Dad.”
“I must phone Mal and Billy.” Susan told Libby. “How could I have….”
“I’ll do it.” Libby answered. “I’ll tell them.”
Mother and daughter sat in silence as they tried to grasp with a future that didn’t involve Karl.
“David.” Liljana said tearfully. “He has…he has to be found.”
Lyn looked at her friend and her heart broke for her. Lyn couldn’t imagine the trauma Lil had been through the past three days. It was something she’d never experienced. The two of them were in the hospital, Lil lying in the bed being treated for hypothermia and shock. She looked so fragile, thought Lyn.
“He will.” She spoke to Lil gently. “I am sure David will be found as will Serena.”
At this, Lil dissolved into tears again. “Serena….my baby girl. Oh…my baby.” The thought of Serena in those cold waters was…it was unthinkable. Lil didn’t want to think. She had always known Serena wasn’t a strong swimmer.
“Shhh.” Lyn took hold of her friend and pulled her into her arms. “Shhh you mustn’t think like that.”
Lil looked up at Lyn with those dark eyes. “How can I not?” She asked, beginning to tremble. “We’ve heard nothing Lyn! Nothing! I know people can’t survive in that…”
“But you did!” Lyn told her. “You did Lil. There’s proof that David and Serena could be alive!”
“I…don’t know how I did.” Lil spoke quietly. “It was…awful. We were in the air one minute…the next we were in the water…trying to find anything to hold onto. So cold…Lyn. I was so cold…and so frightened. I was alone…David, I didn’t see him. I saw a glimpse of Serena…she…she was with Connor.”
Lyn stared at her friend in horror. She couldn’t believe the trauma of the crash. She blinked back tears before Lil could see her. It scared Lyn to think that there were still people out there…David, Serena…Karl.
“So…so who else is…lost?” Lil bravely asked Lyn.
“Karl.” Lyn replied sadly. “Nobody’s heard anything about him either.”
“Oh no. How…how is Susan taking it?” Lil tried not to cry again. She wouldn’t. She couldn’t give up hope. Not yet, David and Serena were somewhere. She knew they were. All she needed now was for God to bring them back to her.
“Not too good.” Lyn said shakily. “I mean she tries not to give up hope but I can see it in her eyes you know. She’s devastated.”
“I’d like to see her.” Lil spoke. “Is…there a reason she hasn’t come here yet?”
“Oh I’m sure she will. She’s just…trying to cope.” Lyn replied. “I suppose we all are. I can’t believe this has happened. And why…why would anyone do that to a tourist flight?”
“Do what?” Lil was confused.
Lyn realised she’d put her foot in it and quickly backtracked. “Never mind.” She said. “It’s nothing for you to worry about.”
“No tell me.” Lil demanded, suddenly sounding more alive then she had before.
“I suppose you would find out. Apparently…someone put a bomb on the plane.”
“What??” Lil was horrified. “A Bomb??”
“Yes…we don’t know…why.” Lyn stuttered. “Lil…please get some rest.”
“I won’t now!” Lil was practically shouting. “Who the…why would any person…any human being do that??” Her eyes widened. “And I don’t need to guess that this is connected to Paul Robinson.”
Lyn didn’t say anything, she didn’t need to. Lil’s face darkened with anger. She knew that this wasn’t Paul’s fault but that didn’t stop her being angry with him. Why did he have to cause so much trouble? If he hadn’t gotten involved in that shady deal with Affirmacom, then none of this would have happened. Better still, he should never have appeared in Erinsborough. Then she would still be with David and that…rough patch between them would never have taken place. Lil’s eyes filled with tears at the thought of her beloved David. How on earth was she supposed to survive without him? It was impossible.
Please bring David back to me…please. We were meant to be together…forever. The thought that…no he can’t be dead. He can’t be. David…
AUTHOR: Lizzie
RATING: Suitable for all
SPOILERS: Yes, big ones for the UK
DISCLAIMER: The Characters are not mine
PAIRING: Karl/Susan, Susan/Alex
SUMMARY: What if Karl had been the one on the plane?
He was so cold, so very cold. That was all he could think about at this point in time, nothing else mattered. He lay upon a beach somewhere on an Island. He couldn’t quite figure out where he was but all he knew was that he had survived that crash.
Karl Kennedy closed his eyes as he remembered the terror and fear of everyone on that plane. He remembered Isabelle trying to reach for him, to tell him she loved him but yet he hadn’t acknowledged her. He didn’t even want to. All he was thinking about was Susan, who thankfully had decided not to come on this trip. She and her fiancée Alex had backed out at the last minute. Karl was glad of that now, he was glad she was safe.
But oh how had he needed her during the plane crash. Karl had never been so frightened in all of his life. He had always thought that if he died in a crash somehow, he would be prepared. But he had realised no one could ever be prepared for death, not ever. All through those terrifying moments, Karl had closed his eyes tightly and tried to remember his life with Susan before he’d left her. He had been shaking while doing it and had almost run his fingers deep into the seat. While everyone else on the plane had had someone, Karl had had no one and he had been left to be scared on his own.
When the plane had finally crashed into the Bass Straight, everyone had been plunged into the freezing waters. Karl shivered violently as he thought of the moment he hit those waters. The temperature…well he did not want to think. But it must have been bloody cold as he was still freezing even now. Karl knew that if he did not find help soon, he would likely freeze to death. Being a doctor, he knew he probably had a slight touch of hypothermia and it would get worse if he didn’t get up and start moving.
He slowly dragged himself off the ground and stumbled up. Managing to draw his tuxedo jacket around himself, Karl started walking along the beach. He looked a state, his hair was mussed, his face was covered in cuts and bruises and blood was streaming from his forehead. He was slightly limping too. He wore an old forties style tuxedo, which was not the greatest thing when you were freezing and suffering from god knows what. But he had never envisioned that the plane would crash. Who had?
Susan…I love you. I love you so much. Karl thought. He hoped she could hear him. He wanted her to know he was all right. She would be worrying for sure, he knew. He wondered how long he’d been missing for. The sun was setting as he walked along so he reasoned that he must have been missing for at least two days or so including the crash. Stumbling along the beach, Karl looked for any type of shelter or somewhere he could call for help. He knew on a desert island like this, he was going to have make use of the resources there but right now he was half functioning. Perhaps hypothermia was setting in, he didn’t know. He was growing colder by the second and he was finding it hard to carry on. Only the thought of Susan made him battle on, nothing else would. It would be so easy for him to collapse and let himself freeze to death slowly or pray that someone found him but that was the easy way out. This time he wasn’t going to be a coward and do that. All his life, Karl had looked for an easier solution to things but that had to stop right here and right now.
Cold…so cold…
That was all Karl could think now as the chill spread right through him. It was the end of the day too and it would only get colder as the night progressed. This wasn’t what Karl needed. The thought of him in his bed back in his flat alone seemed suddenly rather appealing then this. He looked ahead of him; the beach seemed to go on forever. Perhaps he should head inland but all there was there was forest, after forest. He had to do something though; he could not wander about aimlessly.
For god’s sake, you’re a doctor. Use your head. Karl told himself sternly. But he was hopeless at survival skills and his two trips into the Australian Bush proved that. Sighing, he stumbled up to the beginnings of the forest, hoping against hope that he would find help.
*. *….*
Susan Smith glanced at the sky as she walked back to her house. It was sunset now and the end of a very long and nerve wracking day for Susan. All day she had been hearing reports of survivors of the plane crash. Izzy, Elle, Lil and Sky had been found. That had been such good news to many residents of Ramsey Street but there was one name that had not been on that list, the name that was the most important in Susan’s opinion. Karl Kennedy.
Susan’s eyes welled with tears as she thought of her Karl on that plane. She could not imagine how frightened he must have been. In fact she didn’t like to think about it. There had only been one time Susan had ever seen Karl terrified and she had hated seeing him like that, really and truly hated it. Susan had heard nothing about Karl since the plane went down and it scared her to her soul. She didn’t want to admit that to anyone especially not Alex but she was so frightened for Karl.
Where is he? She thought sadly. I know he’s out there somewhere…surely…
Susan did not want to give up hope, she couldn’t. The thought that he might be…no she couldn’t even think of that. It was too much. That kind of pain would be dealt with only when she knew for certain and she could not be at the moment. Letting herself into her house, she saw that Alex was sitting at the table waiting for her.
“Susan.” He jumped up when he saw her. “Any news?”
“No.” Susan didn’t look at him when she said that.
Alex instantly came to her and wrapped his arms tightly around her. Susan went into his embrace, seeking comfort. She closed her eyes, drawing from his strength.
“He will be found darling.” Alex told her. “He will.”
Susan looked up at him. “I know…” Her voice cracked. “I just…Karl must have been so scared.” A couple of tears fell down her cheeks.
“I imagine so.” Alex replied, he didn’t know what else to say. He didn’t know how Susan felt, he could only imagine how worried she was about him and Alex had to admit he was pretty worried about Karl himself. Karl had been very supportive to him and Susan over Alex’s illness and it would just be such a shame if he was lost. Not to mention Susan would be heartbroken.
“So who did they find today?” He asked Susan gently, hoping that he could soothe her somewhat.
“Oh, they found Lil, Elle, Sky and Isabelle.” Susan answered, wiping her tears away. “That’s good.” Alex spoke. “I mean if they’ve been found, chances are Karl will be found in no time.”
“Yeah.” Susan said so quietly that Alex had to strain to listen. “Yeah…”
But she didn’t feel so optimistic now. Inside, she wondered if Karl could survive that. The Bass Straight was freezing and Karl had been in those waters for around two days. There was no way anyone could survive that. But if Izzy, Sky etc had then why couldn’t Karl? He could have washed up somewhere.
“Alex, I know this is going to sound awful but…but why did they find Isabelle and not Karl?” She asked him. “Why does that woman survive and Karl…” She left the sentence unfinished, she couldn’t bear to say the rest.
“Hey, you don’t know that.” Alex said. “Don’t give up hope now, he will be found.”
“You’re right.” Susan said suddenly and pulled away from Alex. “I mustn’t. Karl will be all right, he will.” But she could hear a little voice inside herself saying ‘you just keep telling yourself that’. She shook her head, trying to clear the negative thoughts and smiled at Alex bravely.
“So what’s for dinner?”
“I…I didn’t know when you would be home.” Alex stuttered sheepishly.
“That’s fine, let’s get a takeaway.” Susan suggested. Alex wasn’t entirely surprised at her lack of response, normally he would have expected a smart or witty comment from Susan but understandably she was not in the mood.
“All right, I’ll order.” Alex spoke and went to the phone. Susan watched him but her mind was on other things, namely one other man. Susan recalled when Karl had his heart attack, she had been frightened for him then but this…this was something else entirely. The old saying no news was good news would have worked for her in cases like this but knowing that Karl had been on that plane and he was out there somewhere, it was different. She just wanted to know if he was still alive or if he was dead. This not knowing was killing her. She just wanted to know.
He trawled through the wet undergrowth of the forest and sighed once more. Somehow Karl was completely lost in this forest. He didn’t know how he’d gotten so lost. He’d only been in the bush for about an hour or so and he had sworn he could find his way back to the beach. But now he couldn’t and it was growing dark and bitterly cold, or so Karl thought.
Oh great…terrific. Yet again I have managed to lose my way in this bush. I am such an idiot; I am hopeless in the bush. But at least there are things to eat here and I can try and find my way back in the meantime.
He pushed his way through a bush and all he could see was forest and trees. There didn’t seem to be anyway out. Karl hoped against hope he would be able to find somewhere familiar soon. The darkness was setting in and he really didn’t want to be alone here much longer. Karl started shaking again. The cold was really getting to him now. He couldn’t feel his hands and he was slowly losing the feeling in his feet.
Susan…Karl’s thoughts returned to her. If he kept thinking of her, he thought he might be able to find the strength to carry on. He knew she would be worried about him. He hoped that she wasn’t crying for him. He wasn’t worth that. Not after the hurt he’d caused her. As Karl continued to stumble through the forest, he thought about Susan’s life with Alex. Alex Kinski was a decent man and loved Susan. He was the kind of man that would never cheat on Susan unlike Karl. He would love Susan unconditionally. Susan would never be hurt by him. However she already had. Alex was ill, terminally ill with cancer.
She’s going to be hurt yet again and I...I can’t do anything about it. Karl thought furiously. d**n it, why I am here stuck in this stupid forest? In a fit of anger and rage, Karl tried to run through the bushes ahead of him. But he tripped and fell over a log stuck in the middle of the pathway. Karl landed on his back. He lay there in agony.
“Oh god.” He groaned. He did not even know if he could get back up. Closing his eyes, Karl hoped that he was somewhere else. He wished himself to be in Susan’s arms, in their house, in their bed. He wished he was snuggled up next to her. But he wasn’t. Opening his eyes again, he found himself in the same hell he was in a minute ago.
“Karl?” He heard a familiar voice call weakly. He tried to turn to see who had called him but the pain was too intense. He groaned in agony again.
“Yes…who is it?” Karl ground out, trying to forget the pain. “I…can’t….see.”
“David.” Said the voice. Instantly Karl knew the voice. Of course it was David. Karl wished he could turn to see him.
“David…how…what?” He tried to say but the cold and the pain was stopping him from saying anything that remotely made sense.
“Don’t….know where I am.” David slurred and Karl guessed he was in much the same state as himself. “Got washed ashore…Lil…Oh god…Serena. You see them?”
Karl wished he could say yes to David, he wished that he could even lie but he couldn’t. “No…I haven’t.” He tried to sound sincere. “I’m sorry David.”
“God…please let them be all right.” David begged brokenly. “They have to be.”
“I’m sure they are.” Karl tried to reassure David even though it would be of no use. Finding that the pain had dulled a bit, Karl forced himself to sit up and turn to face David. It took a huge amount of effort but he finally did so. When he saw David, he was shocked at the state of him. David was holed up underneath a tree, covered in little icicles from the freezing waters. His forehead and left leg was gashed and he was holding his arm as if it was broken.
“Karl…mate, you look terrible.” David said.
“So do you.” Karl said and crawled over to David. He had to help him, no matter the pain he was in. He was a doctor after all, trained to save lives. David smiled weakly at him and tried to move to make space for Karl.
“I’ve got to help you.” Karl spoke, shivering. “But I can’t see anything round here that can…” He trailed off.
“We’ve got to help each other.” David told him. “Mate, don’t…try to be a…doctor here. You are suffering too, be no good.”
Karl knew David had a point. What good would he be to David in this frame of mind? He couldn’t even look after himself, let alone David. But yet the two of them needed to stick together. They would surely be able to get help together, two minds was better then one.
“Lil…” David muttered. “Lil…Serena…I…love them, didn’t…say goodbye.” A couple of tears streamed down his cheeks and Karl’s heart broke. Karl hadn’t seen Lil or Serena but he hoped against hope that they had survived.
“You…can’t think like that David, they’ll be fine. I know they will.” Karl spoke. “Don’t…give up hope.”
“But…how could anyone survive that?” David wondered. “It’s impossible…”
“Look at me.” Karl commanded and David looked at him. “David, we survived. We are here. So if we survived, I am sure Lil and Serena and everyone else did too. You have to go on believing this, if you don’t, you may never get out of here and see them. Come on.”
“You’re right Karl...” David agreed weakly. “They’re okay, they have to be. I’ll kill Robinson for this.”
“Me too.” Karl agreed. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew this wasn’t Paul’s fault but right now, he seemed to be the easy target. Besides whoever had caused the plane to crash had to be connected to Paul. But that didn’t matter at this moment in time. What mattered was that Karl needed to rescue David and himself from this endless forest. He didn’t know if they would ever get back to Ramsey Street.
She didn’t know why she was there. She couldn’t even remember how she’d gotten here. But for the last five minutes, Susan Smith had felt more comforted then she had in the past few days. She surveyed the scene. There were shirts tossed on the couch, his leather jacket on the back on a chair and his briefcase on the table. Everything seemed so familiar.
Susan was in Karl’s apartment. She couldn’t even believe she’d got in it; he hadn’t even bothered to lock the door. As she looked around at the living room, she noticed a small photo frame. Moving closer towards it, she saw that it was a picture of the two of them just before her amnesia. Picking it up, Susan noticed how happy they looked. Karl was even smiling in that photograph. Normally he always grimaced in them and Susan had hated it. She had always told him to smile but Karl could never smile naturally in photographs for some strange reason. However this picture was different, he was. Susan traced her hand over the image, gazing into those brown eyes of Karl’s.
He hasn’t changed a bit. She thought to herself. Well not appearance wise anyway. How can he still look like that and he is 50 now?
Susan’s eyes welled with tears as she looked at the single image of them. Was this it? Was this how they were meant to say goodbye to each other? Susan didn’t want to believe it but Karl had been missing for three days. Nearly everyone had been found except David, Karl and Serena. Susan shook her head. Alex had told her not to think so negatively. It wouldn’t help Karl at all. But yet, Susan couldn’t help it. Her worry for Karl outweighed everything else at this moment in time, even her wedding to Alex.
I hope Alex understands. I don’t want to put the wedding on hold but…Karl…Karl is more important to me then I could ever explain. Oh Karl…where are you?
“Mum?”
Susan turned to find Libby at the doorway with Ben. Instantly Susan panicked. She hadn’t told the kids about Karl. Oh god…how was she going to explain this to them?
“Libby!” Susan said, brightly and came to her daughter. She pulled her into a hug. Libby hugged her back and then pulled back and frowned at her.
“Mum, what are you doing here?”
“Oh…I…” Susan’s voice cracked. “What are you doing here actually?” She changed the subject.
“I heard about the plane crash on the news.” Libby spoke. “I had to come down, Mum, do they know if everyone’s okay? Who was on board?”
Suddenly Susan dissolved into tears. She couldn’t help it. Covering her hand over her face, Susan sat down on the sofa, trying to control her tears. She didn’t dare glance at Libby, for she knew Libby would pick up on it.
“Mum, WHO was on board?” Libby asked again and Susan could hear the worry in her voice. Susan turned to Libby and just looked at her. It was then that Libby knew, Susan could tell.
“No…” Libby said quietly, her face pale. “No…not…Dad.”
“I’m sorry darling…I didn’t know how I could tell you…” Susan wept. “We don’t…know where he is. He hasn’t been found yet.”
“So he’s not dead? It’s not confirmed?” Libby asked and Susan recognised the tone in her voice. It took her back to the days when Libby used to ask Karl to read her a story before bed because she was afraid of the dark.
“No…he could be alive, I’m sure he is.” Susan tried to comfort her daughter. “I…I’m just…worried.” She felt herself being pulled into Libby’s embrace and she let Libby comfort her. It was supposed to be the other way round, she knew but right now…Susan just couldn’t find the words.
“Yeah Mum…yeah you’re right.” Libby said but she didn’t sound convinced at all. The worry and panic in her voice was there more then ever now. Susan wished she could do something, anything to comfort her daughter. But she couldn’t. The prospect of never seeing Karl again terrified Susan.
“But…what if they never find him?” Libby asked sadly. “I…” She broke off, obviously not wanting to think of that.
Susan looked at her beloved Elizabeth. “Oh darling, they will.” She mustered up strength. She had to carry on for her children’s sake. Libby was quite clearly distraught at the thought of losing her dad. How could Susan put her feelings before her daughter? It wasn’t right, not in Susan’s eyes.
“Daddy.” Libby spoke tearfully. “They have to find my dad.”
“They will.” Susan wept. “They will darling, we have to hold on and pray. After all they found Isabelle.”
“Urgh!” Libby stood up, in anger. “They found her! How come that woman survives anything??”
“Libby.” Susan cautioned.
“No Mum, no way can she survive and Dad doesn’t. I’m sorry but that’s how I feel. I know you do too even though you won’t admit it.”
“I know but would you really wish for Isabelle to die?” Susan asked. “I wouldn’t, I may dislike her but I wouldn’t wish this….on anyone.”
“Guess not.” Libby spoke emotionally. “I just….they have to find Dad.”
“I must phone Mal and Billy.” Susan told Libby. “How could I have….”
“I’ll do it.” Libby answered. “I’ll tell them.”
Mother and daughter sat in silence as they tried to grasp with a future that didn’t involve Karl.
“David.” Liljana said tearfully. “He has…he has to be found.”
Lyn looked at her friend and her heart broke for her. Lyn couldn’t imagine the trauma Lil had been through the past three days. It was something she’d never experienced. The two of them were in the hospital, Lil lying in the bed being treated for hypothermia and shock. She looked so fragile, thought Lyn.
“He will.” She spoke to Lil gently. “I am sure David will be found as will Serena.”
At this, Lil dissolved into tears again. “Serena….my baby girl. Oh…my baby.” The thought of Serena in those cold waters was…it was unthinkable. Lil didn’t want to think. She had always known Serena wasn’t a strong swimmer.
“Shhh.” Lyn took hold of her friend and pulled her into her arms. “Shhh you mustn’t think like that.”
Lil looked up at Lyn with those dark eyes. “How can I not?” She asked, beginning to tremble. “We’ve heard nothing Lyn! Nothing! I know people can’t survive in that…”
“But you did!” Lyn told her. “You did Lil. There’s proof that David and Serena could be alive!”
“I…don’t know how I did.” Lil spoke quietly. “It was…awful. We were in the air one minute…the next we were in the water…trying to find anything to hold onto. So cold…Lyn. I was so cold…and so frightened. I was alone…David, I didn’t see him. I saw a glimpse of Serena…she…she was with Connor.”
Lyn stared at her friend in horror. She couldn’t believe the trauma of the crash. She blinked back tears before Lil could see her. It scared Lyn to think that there were still people out there…David, Serena…Karl.
“So…so who else is…lost?” Lil bravely asked Lyn.
“Karl.” Lyn replied sadly. “Nobody’s heard anything about him either.”
“Oh no. How…how is Susan taking it?” Lil tried not to cry again. She wouldn’t. She couldn’t give up hope. Not yet, David and Serena were somewhere. She knew they were. All she needed now was for God to bring them back to her.
“Not too good.” Lyn said shakily. “I mean she tries not to give up hope but I can see it in her eyes you know. She’s devastated.”
“I’d like to see her.” Lil spoke. “Is…there a reason she hasn’t come here yet?”
“Oh I’m sure she will. She’s just…trying to cope.” Lyn replied. “I suppose we all are. I can’t believe this has happened. And why…why would anyone do that to a tourist flight?”
“Do what?” Lil was confused.
Lyn realised she’d put her foot in it and quickly backtracked. “Never mind.” She said. “It’s nothing for you to worry about.”
“No tell me.” Lil demanded, suddenly sounding more alive then she had before.
“I suppose you would find out. Apparently…someone put a bomb on the plane.”
“What??” Lil was horrified. “A Bomb??”
“Yes…we don’t know…why.” Lyn stuttered. “Lil…please get some rest.”
“I won’t now!” Lil was practically shouting. “Who the…why would any person…any human being do that??” Her eyes widened. “And I don’t need to guess that this is connected to Paul Robinson.”
Lyn didn’t say anything, she didn’t need to. Lil’s face darkened with anger. She knew that this wasn’t Paul’s fault but that didn’t stop her being angry with him. Why did he have to cause so much trouble? If he hadn’t gotten involved in that shady deal with Affirmacom, then none of this would have happened. Better still, he should never have appeared in Erinsborough. Then she would still be with David and that…rough patch between them would never have taken place. Lil’s eyes filled with tears at the thought of her beloved David. How on earth was she supposed to survive without him? It was impossible.
Please bring David back to me…please. We were meant to be together…forever. The thought that…no he can’t be dead. He can’t be. David…
