“I’m… there’s… Skyler?” Devin said, her voice holding fear.
“What happened babe?” Skyler asked.
“I was… I was coming home….” Devin began, her voice halting and out of breath, “there was… something hit my car… Skyler I can’t see!”
“Okay, babe, calm down, you gotta tell me where you are,” Skyler said, her tone calm even as her hands shook.
Putting one arm up, Skyler made the motion for starting the rotors on the helicopter. Jams nodded and restarted the engines as he tried to listen to what was happening. Skyler also heard Jams on the radio, requesting a mission deviation. She also heard control giving him grief. She shook her head at him, there was no way they weren’t going.
“I was going home…” Devin said, her voice small.
Skyler winced as she did her best to hear Devin over the sound of the rotors starting.
“Okay, were you on one?” Skyler asked, knowing the route to Devin’s house.
“Yes… Skyler? I’m so scared… I don’t know where I am… I don’t know… there’s glass everywhere…” Devin was crying at this point.
Skyler had to steel herself, knowing that if she lost it at that point, she was going to be no good to Devin.
“Babe, stay with me,” Skyler said, as she motioned for takeoff. “What was the last landmark you remember seeing?”
“What?” Devin asked, still crying.
“What did you see babe? What was near you? What’s the last thing you remember?”
“I… I remember that Japanese place… Um… Nobu… I saw that….” Devin said, sounding calmer as she had something else to focus on.
“Good, babe, good,” Skyler said, motioning for Jams to pull the restaurant up on the navigation. “Okay, how long do you think it was before you got hit? Five minutes? Ten?”
“Um… five,” Devin said.
“Great, that’s perfect babe, we’re coming for you, okay? I’ll be there,” Skyler said, infusing her voice with confidence.
“Okay…” Devin said, sniffling.
“Do you know what hit you?” Skyler asked then, turning the aircraft west to head towards Highway 1, even as Jams calculated the distance.
“I think it was mud…” Devin said, sounding scared again.
“Stay calm, babe,” Skyler told her, “I’m coming for you right now. Are you hurt?”
There was silence for a few moments, and Skyler wondered if Devin had passed out.
“My head hurts…” Devin said, “and my arm… I don’t know… what else.”
“That’s okay, babe, that’s okay. Are you bleeding?” Skyler asked, even as Jams motioned to her. He showed her the points on the navigation screen, she nodded, making corrections in their flight path, putting her hand over the mike she said, “Call it in, there’s probably going to be more cars hit.”
“Roger that,” Jams said nodding as he got on the radio.
“Devin?” Skyler asked, when she realized Devin hadn’t answered her.
There was silence for a long minute. Skyler pushed the stick forward, pushing the engines in her need to get to Devin.
“Easy…” Jams cautioned, then turned his head to look behind him, “You two get ready, we’re gonna need to get in there fast, no telling how precarious this vehicle’s gonna be,” he said, wincing as he realized he was talking about Skyler’s girlfriend, and glancing at his partner. She only shook her head in response, basically telling him she couldn’t think about that at that point in time.
“What’s our fuel look like?” Skyler asked, knowing they hadn’t been too low when they’d landed.
“We got about 60 minutes to bingo,” Jams told her.
Skyler nodded doing the calculations in her head and knowing they were going to be cutting it close if they really had to look for Devin’s vehicle. Fortunately, Devin drove a massive white Hummer, it should be hard to miss. Skyler prayed it would be hard to miss.
“Devin, you still with me?” Skyler asked.
“Yes,” Devin answered, but her voice was very faint.
“I’ll be there in five minutes, you hold on, okay?” Skyler said.
“Okay,” Devin said weakly.
It was the longest five minute flight of Skyler’s life, and she pushed the helicopter to it’s full 122 knot capability, knowing she was pushing it, but she couldn’t lose this particular race. She knew that the mudslide could have literally pushed Devin over the cliffs of Malibu, but she also knew that just because it hadn’t yet, didn’t mean it couldn’t at any moment. Time was of the essence.
“We’re nearing the coordinates,” Jams said, looking at the instruments.
“Roger that,” Skyler responded, slipping into full rescue mode and doing her best to forget that this was someone that was extremely important to her that they were rescuing this time.
“Come left fifteen,” Jams said.
“Do you have anything?” Skyler called to the guys in the back.
“Nothing yet,” Jerry called, “searching!”
“Come left another five,” Jams said.
“Roger that,” Skyler confirmed.
“Anything?!” Jams called.
“White SUV! Got it!” Tom yelled triumphantly.
“Take her down,” Jams said.
“Roger, taking her down,” Skyler said, nodding. “Devin?” she tried again.
“I hear you!” Devin called, tears in her voice.
“I’m here babe,” Skyler said, “just sit tight. Jerry’s coming to get you.”
“Okay,” Devin replied, sounding childlike suddenly.
It took 30 minutes to get Jerry down to the SUV, and for him to get through the sunroof, into the vehicle and get Devin in the basket. Skyler was fairly certain she held her breath the entire time.
“I’ve got her!” Jerry finally called.
“Bringing them up!” Tom called.
“Holding steady,” Skyler replied. “Where we at on fuel?”
“Twenty-five to bingo, we’re cutting it close,” Jams warned.
“Roger that, twenty-five to bingo, and I’m pushing it,” Skyler said, adding the last with a grin.
“Roger that,” Jams replied grinning with relief.
“Rescue on board!” Tom called from the back of the aircraft.
“How is she?” Skyler called, wishing she could see Devin at that moment.
“She’s banged up, and her pulse is all over, she’s lost some blood, we need to get her back now.”
“Roger that,” Jams said, when he saw Skyler pale slightly.
“Radio ahead,” Skyler said, her voice not quite as strong suddenly.
“Stay with me partner,” Jams said, his tone strong.
Skyler nodded, blowing out her breath and refocusing.
“Con this is Rescue ten,” Jams said into the mike, “we’ve got an injured woman, age twenty-seven to twenty-nine, height five foot, four inches, approximately one hundred twenty-five pounds. She has a head injury and possible internal injuries. We’re getting a thread pulse, request ambulance on scene when we land.”
Skyler listened to Jams radio call, and took that time to collect herself. When he glanced over at her as he closed his mike he saw that she was back in control of herself. They made the flight back and even had a couple of minutes of fuel left to spare. They all knew that they would likely get reamed for ignoring mission control when they refused to deviate their mission, but if Devin was okay, it was worth it. Skyler didn’t even want to think about how close the Hummer had been to the edge of the cliff.
Skyler rode in the ambulance with Devin, holding her hand the entire time, even though Devin had passed out before they’d set the helicopter down at the airport. At the hospital, Skyler paced waiting to hear from the doctor. The hospital had gotten contact information from LAPD for Devin’s parents and had called them. Skyler felt stupid not having any of that information.
An hour after getting to the hospital, the doctor walked out, even as Jams joined Skyler in
the waiting area. Devin’s parents hadn’t arrived yet.
“For Devin James?” the doctor queried.
Skyler stepped up to the doctor.
“How is she?” she asked, her tone worried.
“Are you a family member?” The doctor asked.
Skyler looked back at the man for a minute, wanting to punch him for asking her such a stupid question.
“She’s the pilot that rescued her,” Jams put in, his tone serious.
The doctor looked at the two of them; they were both wearing their flight suits with the LA Fire Department Air Operations patches on them.
“She’s also my girlfriend,” Skyler put in for good measure.
The doctor looked like he wanted to debate the point. Fortunately, Devin’s parents walked up at that moment.
“We’re Devin’s parents,” said the woman walking up to the doctor, “and anything you have to share with us, can be shared with the people that saved her life.”
Skyler glanced over at the woman, she was definitely no nonsense, she liked that.
The doctor nodded, going into his officious mode, “Ms. James has suffered a minor head injury with some scalp lacerations. She’s got abrasions and contusions, but all in all she’s in good condition. We’ll want to keep her for a couple of days to make sure the head injury isn’t something we should be more concerned about. “
“Thank you doctor,” said Devin’s mother. “When can we see her?”
“You can see the nurse at the desk to go back and see her.” The doctor told them.
The doctor turned and walked away then. Skyler turned to Devin’s mother, extending her hand, “I’m Skyler,” she said, smiling at the other woman.
“It’s good to meet you Skyler,” Devin’s mother said, shaking her hand, “I’m Suzanne and that’s Harold. Thank you so much for rescuing our daughter.”
“Yes,” agreed Devin’s father, a tall man with black hair, and brown eyes, “thank you.”
Skyler nodded, not sure if they’d heard what she’d said before they’d walked up about dating Devin. She looked at Devin’s mother, and saw where Devin got her petite size, and her eyes, Suzanne’s eyes were the rich emerald green like Devin’s, but Suzanne’s hair was red. Devin’s dad was definitely where Devin had gotten her dark hair, but he didn’t have very many other features of her father, and he seemed quite happy to let Suzanne do all the talking.
“Let’s go see our girl, shall we?” Suzanne said to the group.
Suzanne led the way to the nurse’s station. The nurse tried to say that Skyler and Jams couldn’t visit Devin because they weren’t family, that didn’t work with Suzanne.
“I’m her mother, and I’m saying they can see my daughter.” She pronounced and proceeded down the hall.
Skyler and Jams grinned at each other, and followed along.
The room they entered was dimly lit, Devin lay on the bed, a bandage on her head. Skyler had to hold herself back from walking straight over to her, she didn’t want to push her luck with Devin’s parents. That went out the window when Devin opened her eyes at their entry and looked straight at Skyler.
“Sky?” Devin said softly.
Skyler strode over to the side of the bed, reaching her hand down to very gently touch the bruise on Devin’s cheek.
“You scared me to death,” Skyler told her honestly.
Devin looked back at her for a long moment, tears in her eyes, “And you saved my life.”
Skyler smiled, “What else was I gonna do?”
Devin smiled at her, “How fired are you?” she asked then, her look concerned.
“You don’t worry about that,” Skyler told her, her tone serious.
“But Sky,” Devin began, Skyler’s finger on her lips stopped her.
“I’ll take whatever they throw at me,” Skyler said, “but there was no way I wasn’t coming for you. If they can’t understand that, I can’t work for them.”
Devin blinked a couple of times, looking very effected by what Skyler was saying, but only nodding in response. Her eyes moved to her parents then and Skyler moved to step back, but Devin held her hand out to her. Skyler took Devin’s hand, and moved to sit in the chair next to the bed. Devin squeezed her hand, Skyler squeezed gently back. Skyler suddenly realized that Devin’s parents made Devin nervous.
“Hi there, honey,” Suzanne said, stepping forward and leaning down to kiss her daughter’s cheek.
“Hi mom,” Devin said, sounding very young suddenly.
“You banged yourself up pretty good, huh?” Harold said, moving in to kiss her cheek as well.
“Yeah,” Devin said softly.
“We understand that your connections came in handy in this case,” Suzanne said, looking over at Skyler and smiling.
Devin glanced back at Skyler, “Yeah, it’s pretty handy to know a rescue pilot when you’re trapped in a mudslide at the edge of a cliff.”
“Indeed!” Harold said, grinning.
“Did you guys meet Jams?” Devin asked then, just noticing him hovering in the back.
“No,” Suzanne said, turning to look at Jams suddenly, “Jams?”
“It’s actually Daniel,” Jams said, grinning, “Jams is my call sign.”
“Call sign?” Suzanne queried.
“It’s a pilot thing, mom,” Devin said, winking at Jams.
“So you’re a pilot?” Harold asked, looking interested.
“I’m Sky’s co-pilot,” Jams said, nodding toward Skyler.
Harold nodded, looking impressed with both of them.
Devin’s parents stayed for a little while longer, but then said they’d come back the next day, they didn’t want to tire her. Jams also excused himself, telling Skyler he was going to go check in with their CO and see when their next shift was scheduled.
“You lay there and get better,” Jams told Devin, winking at her.
“Yes sir,” Devin responded tiredly.
When they were alone Skyler moved the chair closer to Devin’s bed, putting her on eye level with the girl.
“You should be home getting some sleep,” Devin said after a long moment of looking Skyler’s face over.
“I’m not leaving,” Skyler said simply.
“Sky…” Devin began, but Skyler shook her head.
They had a staring match, which Skyler won, because Devin was getting tired again.
“Fine,” Devin finally said, “then come lay here with me,” she said, patting the side of the bed.
“I don’t think the hospital will appreciate that,” Skyler said, “I’m fine, babe, I can sleep right here.”
“No, you can’t,” Devin said, “you’re not going to get good sleep that way.”
“I’m fine,” Skyler told her.
“You’re going to get over here, or I’m going to…“
“Going to what?” Skyler countered grinning.
“Meanie,” Devin said, pouting prettily.
“Oh, sure, pull out the big guns,” Skyler said, rolling her eyes, “okay, okay, you win.”
Skyler bent down, unlacing her boots and kicking them off. Then she got up and walked around to the other side of the bed, climbing carefully into the bed. Fortunately, Devin wasn’t even on an IV at that point, so there were no tubes or wires to avoid. Lying on her side, Skyler slid her arm under Devin’s neck carefully, and rested her other hand lightly on Devin’s stomach.
“Is this okay?” Skyler asked Devin.
Devin responded by snuggling closer to Skyler, putting her hand on Skyler’s hand that rested on her stomach.
Skyler smiled fondly, thinking this night could have turned out so differently and ever grateful that it hadn’t. Within minutes the two of them were asleep. When the first nurse came in to check Devin’s vitals she stopped and looked at the two. The story of what had happened with these two had made it around to all the staff in the hospital, seeing them laying the way they were warmed the nurses heart.
Skyler’s eyes opened when she felt the nurse reach
for Devin’s hand to check her pulse.
“You’re okay, honey,” the nurse told her, when Skyler looked like she was going to move, “You had a rough night.” The nurse said then, with a wink, “You just stay right there.”
Skyler smiled at the woman, nodding tiredly, as she lowered her head, nuzzling it against Devin’s head. The nurse left a minute later, smiling with tears in her eyes. She loved stories like these, it was rare, but she knew love when she saw it.
Devin woke first the next morning, when another nurse came to check her vitals. As the nurse walked out, Devin saw the woman standing in the doorway. She recognized the dark haired woman immediately and tensed automatically, which alerted Skyler, who stirred immediately.
“Damnit,” Devin muttered, having not wanted to wake Skyler.
Sarah took in the scene before her, her brown eyes scanning the woman lying next to Devin on the hospital bed. She noted the flight suit the woman wore, twitching her lips in agitation. This was unexpected.
“What are you doing here?” Devin asked, her tone cool.
Skyler moved to sit up, looking down at Devin, and then followed the direction of her look and saw the woman in the doorway. She wore a Marine battle dress uniform, the name “Blankenship” on the patch. Skyler also noticed the possessive way she was looking at Devin, and that put her on alert immediately. Moving to get off the bed, Skyler walked around the bed and moved to sit in the chair she’d vacated the night before, bending down to pull on her boots, even as she glanced up at the woman who hadn’t spoken yet.
Devin waited, looking at Sarah, her eyes then moving to Skyler who was lacing up her boots.
“I asked you a question,” Devin said, her tone slightly sharper, which had Skyler standing up, and stepping closer to Devin.
Sarah moved into the room, her eyes connecting with Skyler’s, reading a challenge in them. She narrowed her eyes at the woman, then looked at Devin again.
“I saw what happened,” Sarah said, her tone concerned.
Sarah saw Skyler tense as she stepped closer to Devin, which made her feel the need to reach out and touch Devin’s hand. Devin moved it away immediately.
“Okay,” Devin said, her tone unrelenting.
When Angels Fall Page 7