by Bella Juarez
“Get Doc, Mac! Friday! Find whoever you can, lock this building down! No one comes in or out! Whiskey, get an ambulance over here, now!” Jack shouted. “And Friday, get Gamez back here if he’s already left. Have him pull the surveillance video and do a review. See if there’s anything there.”
“Now, sir?” Steve asked.
“Yes! Damn it! Now!” Jack said, throwing Steve his phone. “That son of a bitch is here somewhere and I want him caught.” Jack turned back to Anna.
Jack called out as Steve started his retreat, “Friday! I want him alive and able to talk.”
Jack knelt next to Anna and saw that she was still breathing. He made no attempt to move her. In the background he could hear Mac and Rafe shouting orders. Senior Chief Alex “Doc” Richards rushed up from behind carrying a large kit. Kneeling next to Anna, Doc began to assess the situation.
“Jesus Christ! What the hell happened here?” Doc asked, opening his bag and pulling on his gloves.
“Someone’s been shot, Doc,” Jack replied sarcastically.
“No shit. The computer babe? She’s such an angel. What the hell, I thought we were in Texas?” Doc asked as he examined Anna’s wound.
In a matter of minutes the SEAL members still in the building created a perimeter and started a sweep of the entire hangar and all its offices. Steve and three other SEALs set up a small perimeter around Anna, Jack, and Doc, who was pulling out a myriad of tubes and bags.
“There’s a lot of blood. We need to turn her over, Rock. I need you to hold her up into a semisitting position. You’ll need to put pressure on the sponges while I get the IV started. Did anyone call an ambulance? She needs a hospital and a trauma surgeon,” Doc said, looking concerned.
Jack and Doc gently turned Anna over and Jack slowly lifted her into a sitting position and held her against his chest. Doc handed him some sponges and Jack lowered her just enough so that her body weight would put pressure against her wounds and Doc could have access to her arms. Anna’s eyes fluttered open, and she jumped at the sudden pain he knew was shooting through her.
“What happened?” Anna asked in a panicked whisper.
“Shush, stay still. It’ll be okay,” Jack said gently.
Anna started shaking violently, and her breathing became irregular and labored. She seemed to be at the point of hyperventilation.
“Keep her calm, Rock. We don’t need her going into shock right now,” Doc warned.
“Anna, baby, look at me,” Jack commanded softly.
Anna opened her eyes again and stared at him. Jack could see the fear and confusion in her eyes and wanted to melt. Jack’s battle-hardened senses kicked in. There was no way to save Anna if he gave in to the fear that threatened to take him over.
“Everything will be okay. Stay with me. Keep looking at me. Breathe, slow down and breathe,” Jack said calmly.
“Where the fuck is that ambulance? Juan! Get over here and help me with this!” Doc shouted to one of his junior medics.
“It’s on the way, XO called,” Petty Officer Juan Villalobos said, coming to Doc’s aid.
The young SEALs surrounding Anna, Jack, and Doc kept a tense vigil. They never abandoned their constant scanning of the area as they kept their weapons leveled in heightened awareness.
* * * *
Anna closed her eyes again. She was getting very cold and her body was shaking uncontrollably. There was a slowly comforting numbness taking over, and the pain was going away. Anna heard voices in the distance
“Mama?” someone called.
Anna opened her eyes and started looking around. Alyssa! She clearly heard Alyssa’s voice.
“Mama?” Alyssa gently called again.
Anna was drifting in and out of consciousness and this time heard someone else, someone she didn’t recognize.
“Rock! Damn it! I’ll do more damage than that fucking bullet. Keep her still!”
Bullet? Was that what happened?
“Anna. Anna, baby, look at me. Stay still,” Jack said soothingly.
“I’m very cold,” Anna whispered.
“I know, baby. You’ll be all right. Just stay with me,” Jack coaxed.
Anna wanted to say more, to tell him she was getting very sleepy. She knew her mouth was moving and something was coming out, but she couldn’t remember what.
“It’s okay, baby. You’ll be okay. Stay with me. Keep talking to me,” Jack said.
“Help me,” Anna said weakly.
“I’m right here. I’m not leaving you. Don’t leave me,” Jack said reassuringly.
“Mama? Are you there?” Alyssa asked again.
“Anna, baby. Stay with me,” Jack urged.
Anna was fighting to stay awake but sleep was so much easier. Giving in to the comforting sleep meant she could hear Alyssa. Something wrapped around her arm and tightened. Anna relaxed at the security of Jack’s hands on her back and his arms around her. She opened her eyes to look into emerald pools and calmed, not really seeing him, but knowing he was there. For the first time in a very long time, she felt safe and secure. Anna also found comfort in Alyssa’s voice and wanted nothing more than to be with her daughter.
“Mama? Where are you?” Alyssa asked.
“Anna. Look at me. Talk to me,” Jack pressed.
“Alyssa,” Anna whispered as she passed out.
* * * *
“Shit!” Doc swore.
“What is it?” Jack demanded.
“She’s crashing on me. Put her down, Rock. Bend her knees. Juan, get some atropine and epinephrine ready,” Doc ordered.
Jack laid Anna gently down onto the floor and did as Doc had requested. He grimly watched the scene unfold before him and cursed to himself. He couldn’t lose her, not now. There was so much he wanted to say. Anger at his helplessness coursed through him. He closed his eyes and willed Anna to survive. Doc ordered Juan to start preparing various machines and medications from his bag.
“Take her shirt off,” Doc said as he turned to his kit.
Without thinking, Jack reached out and ripped open Anna’s blouse. Her skin was cold and clammy. Her blood pressure was dropping so fast Doc was having a hard time getting a reading. Doc attached a small portable monitor to her. It was a miracle she was even breathing at this point. Juan pulled out a small defibrillator, just in case Anna’s heart stopped and they needed to revive her. He started administering some drugs to try and control her heart rate and falling blood pressure.
“Ambulance has arrived, sir,” one of the young SEALs said.
“’Bout fucking time! What’d they do, stop for happy hour?” Doc demanded.
While the EMTs were assessing Anna’s condition, Jack pulled Doc aside.
“Get her to BAMC. Make sure no one gives her anything you don’t know about, and make sure the only people who come near her need to be near her. You do not leave her—under any circumstances. Do you hear me? No more bullshit like what just happened here. Do not leave her. I will meet you there,” Jack commanded.
“Will do, sir.” Doc understood exactly what his boss expected.
Since the War on Terror, SEAL medics usually obtained credentials at military hospitals in the area, just in case. Doc would be able to care for Anna at BAMC. He helped the EMTs get her outside and took the lead in her care. Doc crawled in with the medical team as they continued working on Anna.
Chapter 24
Brooke Army Medical Center, Texas
Front Entrance
August 21, 2008/2341 Zulu
Jack arrived at BAMC ER and fled his truck, knowing the ambulance had arrived ahead of him. It had taken him forever to find a spot and get into the building. There were two people sitting in the emergency area that never looked up when he passed. He saw several people hurrying around in scrubs and guessed the hospital was probably in the middle of a shift change. He looked around, trying to get his bearings and read signs. In frustration he grabbed the first person that looked like staff.
“Hey! You! You work here
? I need to find someone,” Jack said.
The man turned and took a look at Jack, alarm registered on his face.
“Yes, sir. Would you come this way with me, sir,” he said, gently leading Jack by the arm.
“What the hell are you doing?” Jack demanded, freeing himself from the man’s grasp.
“You’ll be okay, sir,” the nurse said, reaching for Jack again.
“Let go of me!” Jack said, giving the man a violent shove.
“Sir, you’re bleeding! I’m just trying to help you. Let me get you into triage,” the nurse said calmly.
“It’s not me! It’s someone else. I need to find a lady they’re bringing in from Randolph,” Jack insisted.
Jack look down at his uniform and saw he was covered in Anna’s blood. It was all over has arms and hands where he’d been holding her. He was lead to the emergency room and looked around. When he couldn’t find Anna, he commanded someone’s attention it was then Doc peeked around the corner of one of the closed-curtain areas.
“Yo! Skipper! Over here,” Doc called.
Jack charged to where Doc was standing. He threw open the curtain and witnessed what looked like chaos.
“What the hell! Credentials or not you two need to leave! Now!” a doctor commanded.
The doctor shouted orders to the staff running back and forth. The doctor turned away from was giving Anna his attention as he saw Jack and Alex still standing in his area.
“I said get the hell out!” the doctor ordered. Frustrated with Jack and Alex’s lack of response, the doctor shouted at the outside staff, “Call security! Get these two outta here!”
Jack rushed forward and grabbed the doctor.
“Quit fucking worrying about me and get busy! The only reason I haven’t shut you up is because she needs you. Get to work and save her,” Jack snarled.
Jack shoved the doctor backward toward Anna.
“Are you her husband? Because that’s the only way you can stay,” the doctor said, slightly backing down.
Jack didn’t respond. He just glared.
“Well?” the doctor demanded as he turned back to Anna.
“Yes! I’m her husband!” Jack lied.
“Would you please fill out this paperwork, sir?” a nurse asked gently as she handed Jack a clipboard.
Jack took the clipboard, started writing, and moved very close to Doc. Alex was staring at him as if he’d just lost his mind.
“Get Mac on the line. I need to talk to him. Now!” Jack ordered quietly.
Chapter 25
Brooke Army Medical Center, Texas
Emergency Patient Registration Office
August 21, 2008/2421 Zulu
Cheryl sat in her cubical reading the latest entertainment news on her computer when a trauma ER nurse walked in her cubical with a clipboard.
“What’s this?” Cheryl asked.
“Gunshot victim,” the nurse said, handing Cheryl the clipboard.
“Oh? We got more coming? Shit! She’s a damned O-6’s wife,” Cheryl said as her fingers flew over the keyboard. The nurse said nothing. “Huh? She’s civil service? Randolph?” She removed the CAC card from the clipboard.
Cheryl put the card through the reader and instantly got all emergency information. Funny, the emergency contact information had no husband, unless the chick was a lesbian.
“You sure she’s married? I’m getting a different last name than what’s here and no husband,” Cheryl said.
“Register her just like he put on those forms. Maybe she’s recently married. I don’t know. All I know is I don’t want to screw with the guy that’s in there that says he’s her husband,” the nurse said shortly.
“Okay. You need to get him to come out here and sign all the releases and insurance stuff,” Cheryl said as she started to enter the information.
“Why do you think I’m waiting? I’ll be taking that to him,” the nurse said.
“What the hell? Who the hell is this guy?” Cheryl asked.
“Just get the release forms! Please!” the nurse snapped.
Cheryl finished in no time. She handed the clipboard to the nurse, just knowing that she would screw it up and the floor admin would have to round this husband up and get it right. Cheryl was a little pissed at the way that asshole had treated the staff here. She looked back at her screen. She picked up the phone and dialed the duty officer at Lackland.
“Yes, I need to get ahold of the commander of 1427 Communication Group. This is BAMC ER. We have an employee of his here,” Cheryl said.
Cheryl filled the duty officer in on what was going on. She looked at the phone with some satisfaction. If the asshole wanted to play that game, she would play. Besides something about all of this stunk to Cheryl.
Husband, my ass! We’re gonna find out real quick.
Chapter 26
Brooke Army Medical Center, Texas
Trauma Surgery Recovery Room
August 21, 2008/0330 Zulu
Anna was weightless and warm as if she were floating. Someone called her name and she tried to respond. Everything seemed to go dark, and then there was a small white light that seemed to get bigger as it moved toward her.
“Mama?” Anna heard Alyssa.
“Lys?” Anna asked.
“Mama, we’re waiting. Come on. Hurry!”
Anna could see Alyssa’s long, curly brown hair. Alyssa was running in front of her, almost within her reach. She reached out to touch Alyssa but couldn’t quite catch her daughter. Something was pulling her away from Alyssa. She was fighting to follow her daughter.
“Alyssa, come back!” Anna cried.
“Anna?” a gentle voice called out. It was a voice she didn’t recognize. “Anna?”
Anna wanted to open her eyes, but they were so heavy. It was very windy and she was having a hard time breathing in all the wind. She reached up to try to brush the wind from her face as she moved her head away.
“No, no, honey. Don’t grab that,” Anna heard the gentle voice say.
Anna was drifting back to where she’d last seen Alyssa.
“Mama? Come on, we’re waiting,” Alyssa said more urgently.
“Anna, your husband is waiting,” the gentle voice said again.
Anna’s eyes opened, she was having a hard time breathing again. She tried to speak but couldn’t, so she concentrated on breathing. A man dressed in green appeared next to the angel who was talking to her.
“She’s fighting the tube. Let’s go ahead and take it out. You say her husband’s out there?” someone asked.
“Yes, doctor,” the gentle voice responded.
Anna lost consciousness again. This time there was no light and Alyssa was gone.
* * * *
The nurse worked quickly as he removed the breathing tube as well as all of the tape that was holding it to Anna O’Malley’s body. She seemed restless as she tried to speak. The nurse touched her shoulder, attempting to calm her. The surgeon turned away and went to the surgical waiting area.
“Family for Anna O’Malley?” the doctor called out and someone stood.
“Captain O’Malley? Dr. Frank Wong, I was the attending surgeon,” Dr. Wong said.
“Yes?” Jack asked.
“Your wife is resting. She’s in critical condition, but if she can get through the next forty-eight hours, she’ll be all right. It’s touch-and-go right now.”
“How bad was it, doctor?” Jack asked.
“Well, relatively speaking, not too bad. We took so long because I had to clean up the broken bones in her shoulder and for some reason we had a hard time controlling the bleeding. There was also some tissue damage. But while she was in, I called an orthopedic surgeon and we went ahead and did the reconstructive surgery on her shoulder. You can go and see her in a little while. The ventilator tube is being removed. The nurse will come and get you. Do you have any questions, sir?” Dr. Wong asked.
“No, thank you, doctor,” Jack said.
* * * *
Jack wa
tched Doctor Wong leave for a moment and then returned to his seat next to Doc. “Alex, did you hear all of that? What’s he talking about?”
“Her organs and her body need to stabilize from double trauma. The gunshot wound as well as the surgery. I heard what he said about the tissue damage so there might be a risk of infection. If anything goes wrong, it’ll be in the next forty-eight hours. She’ll probably be in ICU for a few days, maybe a week. They’re not letting you stay there, Rock,” Doc said.
“You think?”
“I know. I’m surprised they let us stay in the emergency room as long as they did,” Doc said, looking at the TV.
Jack turned his attention back to the TV as well, not really watching but thinking.
“I just can’t see it,” Doc said without looking at Jack.
“What?”
“You doing dishes, wearing an apron, and flipping hamburgers and weenies on a grill. You know, all domesticated.”
Jack tried not to smile. He just shook his head and looked back at the TV.
“Captain O’Malley?” a nurse called.
Jack stood and followed the nurse without a word through double steel doors. He was led back into an open area with several closed-off curtained bays. The nurse opened one of the curtains to a bed and led Jack inside.
“Anna, would you like to see your husband?” the nurse asked.
Jack held his breath. Anna knew nothing of her new status, and he wasn’t sure how she would react. He was hoping she was so drugged that she couldn’t understand what was happening to her.
* * * *
Anna felt the soft, gentle touch again. Someone was talking to her. The blackness was fading and she detected dim light through her closed eyes. She wanted so badly to wake up now. She opened her eyes as best she could and looked in to the angelic face.