Ninety Degrees Out

Captain Whipper watched the Chinook take off with its load of eight passengers. Satisfied, she hurried into the big training building to watch two of her female rescue swimmers take Angel by both arms and toss her into the pool.

The girl sank like a stone to the bottom of the eighteen foot deep end. Not that the bottom anywhere was less than ten feet.

Was Angel really not able to swim, or playing possum at the bottom? Like hell she was playing dead. Not after the workout Oscar and Elvis had chasing her down.

Elaine had an eye on the clock and held up two fingers to her partner. Ingrid was a blond as the Swedish animal doctor at Stargazer ranch. Her hair cut in a boyishly short, she insisted it was easier on her to care for.Janice couldn’t argue. Her own wasn’t very long either. They would go in after Angel in another thirty seconds.

The girl was moving, she came up slowly, trailing bubbles as she head up to break the surface. Angel moved her legs in strong circling kicks as she maintained her position.

“I can too swim.My dad taught me before he disappeared.Why won’t anyone believe me?”

Her voice echoed through the cavernous area. The training capsule they used to teach escapes from sinking helicopters hovered over her head.

“Because you lie about almost everything. You’re going to have to prove yourself, Angel.”

Elaine went over to ease into the water.

“Elaine is drowning. Rescue her.”

At Ingrid’s command, Elaine sank under the surface.

Angel was after her with strong strokes, pulling her toward the surface. Elaine started to struggle grabbing at Angel and pushing her under, trying to climb out of the water using her rescuer’s body.

Angel twisted free and brought an arm around from behind Elaine and pinning her in proper towing position. The girl was like a seal in the water. Why didn’t anyone know? Janice watched as Angel towed Elaine over to the ladder, told her to hang onto it, and pulled herself up on the edge of the pool.

The girl was phenomenal.Even with her shoulder injured, her skills in the water were undiminished.

“Doesn’t that hurt?”

Ingrid touched Angel’s bandaged shoulder. The wrapping was waterproof, but they could see a small ooze of blood starting to show.

“I can ignore anything when I’m swimming.”

“We know you were bleeding like crazy when Elvis caught up with you,” Ingrid said.

“You’re one of us you know,” Elaine added from the pool where she relaxed floating on her back.

“Like hell, my mother always told me I was a good for nothing like my dad. He wasn’t, he just wasn’t. And Rico wasn’t even close to being like my Dad. I wish I could find him.”

Hiccupping sobs shook Angel’s shoulders and she shook off Ingrid’s supporting arm.Janice watched her struggle for control.The girl had guts.

“Angel, I’ll make you a promise.You have all the skills of a great rescue swimmer.You work your ass off and pass all the qualifications, I’ll get your record expunged and you can join us here.It’s your call.”

She deserves a second chance. Why didn’t anyone figure this out before? The damn girl is half dolphin. Dropping off the Chinook into the water when they landed on the water at Anchorage airport. Took three of my best men to catch her bring back in.

Stormy brown eyes glared back at her.

“Why should I believe you?”

“Because the army believed in me and look where I am now. Transferred through the Navy to the Coast Guard, and now I’m Captain of this station. You can do it too.”

Janice Whipper studied the mutinous face glaring up at her.

“It’s your only chance, Angel. Otherwise, if you continue like you have been, it’s going to be jail. Only that’s not available right now with the justice system in shambles, I can’t let you go. The other alternative is a cage. We do have a brig. You will clean it and sit in it afterward for the next four years, or until we can transfer you to Juneau juvie.”

“Come on, girl,” Elaine urged.“There’s only twelve female rescue swimmers in the Coast Guard right now. We need a lucky number thirteen.”

“I’ll give you a chance. I don’t like it, and I’m out of here.You can’t catch me if you don’t notice me swim away.”

The sneer and bravado of Angel’s voice were at odds with the slump of her shoulders as she curled her arms around her knees to rock.

When Ingrid sat down beside her, and put her arms around Angel, the girl curled into her and sobbed.

Maybe we have a chance at saving her. There’s a lot of strength in there. She’s a survivor, even if she took a few wrong turns.Sometimes facing death makes you think about now you live. I know. I’ve been there.

Elaine waved her away.

“We’ll take care of her, Captain.She’s ours now.”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

“Deborah, you’re almost there,” Dr. Mike said.“You can start pushing.”

“Are you sure?I’ve been on and off again so many times with this.”

The humor in her voice had him grinning.

“Move in behind her, Earl.Give her shoulder some support and we’ll have this baby in the world in just a few more minutes.”

Deborah took a deep breath.

“Here comes the next one,” Earl said

Mike watched the muscles of Deborah’s abdomen bunch together. Her face scrunched up as she started to push.

“Head’s here, one or two more,” Mike encouraged her.

He watched the wonder on Earl’s face as he saw his child’s face for the first time, and then Deborah began to push again.

“You have a baby boy.Let me get him cleaned up,” Anya said as she took the squalling infant from Mike after he quickly cut the cord.

“Welcome, Joshua Michael,” Deborah whispered when Anya came over to lay her son in her arms.

The grin on Earl’s face as he stroked his son’s face was all Mike needed to see.

“I’m Jewish.We’ll need a Moyle in eight days.Would you do the honor’s Doc?” Deborah asked as she looked up.

“She’s right. Both sides of his heritage. Please Doc,” Earl added.

“I’ll do it. We’ll have a quiet ceremony for him.”Mike nodded as he spoke.“But for now, I’ll go announce the birth to the waiting crowd. He gestured toward the door.

“Guess this wasn’t much of a secret,” Deborah said.

“Not with everyone but Armaruq missing the date early. He’s going to get a hefty prize, I’ll do it Mike,” Anya said with a smile and left to deliver the good news.

Deborah unwrapped her son.

“I promise, everything’s there. He’s healthy and a good weight.My guess around eight pounds,” Dr. Mike teased as he watched the new mother inspect her son.

This is why I love medicine.And it’s going to be a regular thing in the next while.The women of this community are a fertile lot.