Chapter 7 #2
“Just pulling up beside Greer’s Bronco.”
“My bag’s in the back. Grab it and haul ass to the rear courtyard. Stick together and make sure Nyx is on high alert.”
Kash ended the call, the emptiness a stark reminder of how the previous night had ended. Greer had Shirley on the line next, calling in backup, emergency services. Hell, everyone.
Kash rounded the facility a minute later, Nyx practically frothing at the mouth, hackles raised.
She’d obviously picked up a scent based on the way she dug in with every stride, tugging against Kash’s hold.
Jordan kept pace, flashlight in one hand, KaBar in the other.
Looking every inch the seasoned Shadow Ops agent she’d once been.
Kash handed off Nyx to Jordan, then dropped down on the other side, opening Chase’s bag. “Tell me what you need, buddy.”
“Nothing’s getting through. Her throat must be too damaged from the trauma. I need that seven-millimeter endotracheal tube and laryngoscope.”
Kash didn’t miss a beat, handing him the instrument and supplies. Helping position Stacey as Chase attempted to intubate.
He cursed, trying several times before shifting back over. “Airway’s obstructed and we’re already two minutes in. She won’t last much longer without oxygen. Cric kit.”
Kash handed it over, then swabbed her skin. Chase focused on the woman’s neck, slicing through flesh and membranes before inserting the large-bore tube.
He secured everything, then wiggled his fingers. “Bag.”
Kash took over bagging her once Chase had it in place, freeing him to get the IV going, meds on standby as he did a quick body scan. He checked her pulse. Weaker. Pressure ninety over sixty and dropping.
Chase shook his head. “She’s crashing.”
Greer gripped his shoulder. “I’ve notified everyone, but there’s been multiple calls for ambulances, and your night crew’s aiding a water rescue.”
“She’s not going to last long enough for them to get here.” He cursed when nothing moved beneath his fingertips. “Damn it. Starting compressions. C’mon, Stacey. Don’t give up on me, now.”
Jordan raced back from the facility a moment later carrying a portable defibrillator, Nyx at her side. “I thought this might help.”
“Thanks.” Chase nodded to the spot beside him. “Do you know how to work one?”
“I’ve had some training.”
“Of course, you have.” He kept pumping, his arms already starting to cramp. “Get it juiced up, and we’ll see if she’s got a shockable rhythm.”
Sweat beaded his brow, his chest heaving from the strain, but he kept going, pausing once Jordan and Kash had positioned the pads.
The machine started talking, going through the motions. Taking so damn long Chase had to physically stop himself from ripping off the leads and resuming compressions. It took a good thirty seconds before it finally sent out a charge, jerking Stacey’s body before telling Chase to resume CPR.
He muttered under his breath. Stacey was young.
Healthy. With her airway restored, he’d thought she’d rally.
Sure, she likely had some internal bleeding on top of additional side effects from the hypoxia, but he’d believed she’d make it to the hospital.
Would eventually pull through. Having her code so quickly after being attacked…
“Kash. Buddy, grab me one milligram of epi.”
Kash snagged a syringe, measured out the meds then handed it to Chase. Chase stopped long enough to inject it into the IV port, then started up again when nothing happened.
Just his pulse thundering in his head.
Her limp body shaking with every compression.
Time ticked in the background as a siren sounded in the distance. Faint. What Chase guessed was still minutes away.
He tried shocking her, again, got the same non-response, then went back to work.
He could spell off. Kash was highly qualified.
Had saved Chase’s ass a few times when he’d been the one to fall.
But every time he opened his mouth to ask Kash to switch, her sightless gaze transformed into Rhett’s wide eyes.
As if he’d known it was the last time he’d see Chase.
Footsteps.
Not like before.
These were lighter. Faster.
Jordan took point, that freaking knife clasped in her hand, glinting whenever her flashlight caught the edge. She waited, relaxing a bit when a man rushed around the side of the building, glasses half-fogged from the weather, a small medical bag grasped in one hand.
Dr. Tremblay. Who Chase suspected had been on call.
The doctor headed straight for them, settling in beside Chase. “Jesus, Remington, what the hell?”
Chase hissed out a breath. “It’s every bit as bad as it looks.”
Tremblay ran through her vitals, shaking his head when another shock attempt failed. “How long has she been down?”
Chase kept working, his arms twice as heavy as when he’d started. “It’s been ten minutes since I started compressions.”
“Damn.” He pushed another round of epi, constantly assessing the situation before sighing. “She’s gone.”
Chase grunted and kept pumping, glaring at Tremblay. “She’s still got time. If we had more sophisticated equipment—”
“It’s a twenty-minute drive to Providence. And the ambulance isn’t even here, yet.” Tremblay shook his head. “You did everything you could. It’s time to call it.”
“No.”
“Remington…”
“We don’t give up until there’s not a ghost of a chance. No one left behind.”
“This isn’t the field, and she’s not a soldier.” Tremblay placed his hand over Chase’s. “I know it’s hard, but you can’t save everyone.”
Chase panted out a few breaths, slowly stopping his efforts until he simply hovered over Stacey, fingers still laced together, sweat running down his cheek.
He glanced at her face, saw Rhett’s eyes staring up at him again, before he rocked onto his heels.
Closed his eyes. All that weight from the previous night closing in around him.
Pushing down on his shoulders until he scrambled to his feet — backed up until his ass hit the building.
The rain picked up, the foghorn still sounding in the background as he stared at her, hands fisted at his side, defeat burning a hole in his gut.
A couple orderlies appeared around the corner, talking with Greer before erecting a makeshift tent around the body.
Saving what evidence they could from washing away.
Unlike his mental health. The wind shifted, and it slipped away on a surge of rainwater, his last shred of sanity drifting further away with every drop.
Drowning in the puddles. Swirling away with the runoff.
Kash shouldered up beside him, face grim, his hands shoved into his jacket pockets. He didn’t talk, just leaned against the wall, staring at the water running in rivulets along the courtyard.
Chase kicked at the muddy grass. “I should’ve been able to bring her back.”
Kash sighed. “Losing people sucks, but it’s part of the job. You did everything you could.”
“I’m sure that’s a comfort to Rhett and Stacey.”
“Jesus, Chase, cut yourself some slack. You’re not God.”
“No, just cursed. It just took a bit longer to manifest than with my dad.”
“You’re not cursed, and you’re not your father.
” Kash pushed off the wall and turned to face him.
“I realize losing Rhett broke something inside you. That you saw last night as your second chance. That forgiveness you’ve been looking for since retiring.
That all of this is somehow your fault. And I’m the last person who’d ever tell you to get over it.
Hell, we’re all to blame for Rhett’s death because we were all in that fucking helicopter.
” He took a step closer. “What I will say, is that if you couldn’t bring either of them back, then they were never going to survive.
You’re hands down the best damn medic I’ve ever seen. ”
Chase whipped his head down when Nyx nosed his thigh before sitting next to him. Nothing overt, just her easy pressure against his leg. The occasional nudge when he stopped scratching behind her ears.
Kash looked at Nyx, then up to Chase. “We’re worried about you, brother.”
He took a few steps back. “And for the record. That forgiveness you’re trying to find…” He motioned toward Greer, then back. “It’s not at the bottom of a medic bag.”
Chase stared at him, his tongue too thick to work, until Nyx finally trotted over to Kash, glancing back at Chase one more time before following Kash when he sighed and strode off, stopping next to Jordan.
She smiled, nodding at something he said before they headed for the corner.
What Chase assumed was further clearing of the facility.
Maybe evacuating the residents if Faraday couldn’t get the power back on.
Chase glanced at Greer. Head bent in conversation, she looked almost regal as she handled everyone. Allocating resources without losing her cool, all while constantly scouring the grounds. Guarding everyone’s six.
She must have felt him staring, because she paused then focused on him, eyes narrowed, her head tilting to one side. The same expression she’d given him last night when she’d told him she’d hunt his ass down if he tried to ditch her.
He scrubbed a hand down his face, then grabbed his bag. Second night in a row he’d have to restock — not that having all his supplies had mattered.
Greer appeared at his side, palm resting on her weapon, gaze still searching the tree line. “I’m gonna be here a while. I’m sending Kash and Jordan home once they’ve cleared the building with Nyx. You should catch a lift.”
He frowned. “And just leave you here? Alone?”
“Bodie and Eli will be here once they’re back on shift. My apartment’s not far. I’ll be fine.”
“Right up until someone targets you, next.” He swung his bag over his back. “I’m staying. And you’re not spending the night alone. You choose where, but… You’re stuck with me.”
He pushed past her. “I’ll go toss my bag in your Bronco.”
He struck off, the intensity of her gaze following him to the corner nearly crippling him. While he wasn’t ready to act on what they’d been building for the past several months — allow himself to feel anything other than the fire raging beneath his skin — he wasn’t about to compromise her safety.
Having her walk away was one thing. Allowing this bastard to hurt her…
He’d die before he let that happen because despite everything — his training, all his tough talk — he knew he’d never come back from that.