Chapter Eighteen
"If this is you two's idea of a romantic getaway, you're doing it wrong."
the shrink quipped as he surveyed the room and saw his friends huddled together
on a bare mattress lying on the floor.
"Walter has a broken rib and a punctured lung," Paige announced as her
face turned pink. But she didn't move away from the genius as he would have
expected her to do. She appeared to be clinging to him like a lifeline.
Toby immediately became serious as he crossed the room and saw that Walter
was unconscious. "How long ago? How did it happened? Have you done anything
to suction. . .?
"I don't know," she wailed, bending under his barrage of questions. "Just
help him. I don't know. . ." He could hear the hysteria rising in her voice
"She's breaking down," he said, recognizing the symptoms. "Happy, wrap
her up in the blanket and be as nice to her as you can while I examine Walt."
He was surprised as she did as he ordered without a word or even an angry
glare.
A cursory check confirmed Paige's amateur diagnosis. "He needs to get to
a hospital, pronto," Toby said, wincing as he stared at the contusions on
his friend's torso.
"You can't do something. . .?" Happy began to ask.
"I could, but it would take time and equipment we don't have." He tapped
on his com. "Cabe?"
"Where the hell are you guys?"the agent's familiar growl sounded in their
earpieces.
"Walter needs to be evaced as soon as possible, he's in pretty bad shape."
"Goddamn it." His tone went from anger to concern in an instant. "We have
a chopper on standby. Get him outta there. I'll meet you inside."
"Help me get him on his feet," Toby said. Happy stood, trying to bring
Paige up with her.
"Doc, she's not letting go."
Toby knelt down beside the liaison, who was clutching Walter with all her
might. "Paige, you have to let go." She shook her head. "Yes, you do. If
we don't get Walter out of here, he's going to die. Do you want him to die?"
Tears started coursing down her cheeks. He noted a cut near her chin was
going to need stitches and scabs on her lips looked infected. What the hell
had happened to them?
"No," she murmured. "He needs help."
"Then let go."
"Okay." She reluctantly eased her grip on the genius, waiting until the
last second to lift her left hand from his chest. Happy helped Paige to her
feet, where her legs nearly gave out from under her.
"Dammit, it's going to take both of us to carry Walt out. If she can't
walk. . ." Toby began.
"I can. I can walk." Paige took a tentative step off the mattress then
nearly fell on her face. Happy had to catch her again.
"I'll help her out."
A woman, dressed in paramilitary gear, appeared in the doorway. Both Happy
and Toby raised their hands when they saw the weapon in her hands. Paige
moved toward the newcomer, nearly toppling over again.
"Paige." hissed the shrink, wondering what she was thinking.
"It's all right," she said.
The woman came forward and let Paige lean against her. "Well, are you going
to help him or not?" she asked.
Her words set them into motion. They were hampered by the fact Walter was
as boneless as a sleeping cat. Toby shoved his shoulder under the genius's
armpit on his injured side while Happy did the same on the other. Then they
set out, the woman and Paige leading the way.
"She's messed up pretty bad," Happy said as they moved down yet another
hallway. "Almost as bad as Walt."
Toby lifted his eyes and watched Paige limping in front of him, pressing
most of her weight onto the militia woman. He had to concur with Happy's
analysis. Their ordeal was going to leave more mental scars than physical
ones, probably for the both of them.
The woman led them through the maze of corridors, bringing them to a dead
end. Toby was about to open his mouth in protest when he noticed the elevator
doors.
"It will be easier to get them downstairs this way," she said, pressing
the button. "This is as far as I can go. You should be able to carry on from
here."
Paige clutched the woman's arm. "Wait," she said. "I don't even know your
name."
The woman stared stoically for a moment. "Mary Jo. It's Mary Jo."
"Thank you, Mary Jo," the liaison whispered. "For everything." She gave
the woman a hug as Toby and Happy looked on worriedly.
Mary Jo nodded uncomfortably. "You better get going," she said before spinning
around and disappearing around the corner.
Before anyone could say anything, a clunking noise announced the arrival
of the elevator. The doors slid open, revealing Cabe, two medics, and a
gurney.
"Fancy meeting you here," Toby said as the two men came out to collect
Walter. He quickly explained his friend's injuries as the EMTs strapped
him down on the stretcher. Happy helped Paige inside then they were slowly
making their way to the ground floor.
As the medics were working on Walter, Toby kept an eye on Paige, who was
swaying unsteadily. "Oh, crap," he said as he watched her sink to the floor.
"Ammonia," he snapped at the closest man. The EMT rifled through his bag
and shoved a handful of packets at Toby, who immediately ripped one open
and waved it under Paige's nose.
She started to come to as he checked her pulse. "What's wrong with her?"
Happy asked, crouching down next to him.
"Dehydration," he declared angrily. "They must have been without water
all this time."
"Looks like it," said one of the medics. He nodded toward Walter. "He's
showing signs of it too."
"Bastards," said Toby as the elevator shuddered to a stop. It didn't take
long for Walter and Paige to be loaded onto the waiting helicopter and airlifted
to the nearest hospital.
Cabe waited until the chopper's noise has subsided to a low roar before
addressing the two remaining team members.
"I thought I told you two to get the hell out of there."
"You know we have a problem with authority," said Toby, still holding down
his hat so it wouldn't blow away.
"Well, this time I'm damn glad you didn't listen," Gallo replied.
"Ah, Cabe, you're not going to get misty on us, are you?" the shrink inquired.
"Shut it, Doc," Happy and Cabe said at the same time.