by Laura Acton
Dan gradually came to his senses. Special Forces training kicked in, and he began to take physical inventory. The first thing he noted was the intense, painful pressure in his ear was gone, the incessant ringing continued. The ear pain was supplanted by back pain. Lying on something hard, movement of any sort caused his muscles to scream at him.
He lifted his eyelids and blinked trying to clear the blurriness. That didn’t work, so he brought a hand up to wipe them. A fire roared to life in his eyes, and they flooded with lubricating liquid in an attempt to douse the flames. Shit that stings! What the hell is on my hand? Where am I?
A sound caused Dan to freeze. I’m at the Toronto Zoo. He tried to blink away the welling water in his eyes to view the sound’s source as something leathery slid across his face. Crap! What is that? A snake? Tears kept responding to the fiery sensation, but as the fluid drained down his cheeks, he caught a glimpse of something looming over him. Elephant! Oh shit!
Dan racked his brains seeking to recall any details on elephant behavior, but one thought kept coming to the forefront. I’m dead if any of them steps on me. I’m like an ant to them—easy to squash. He stayed still as the tears did their job abating the inferno in his eyes, although things remained extremely blurry.
Returning to his assessment, Dan did a scan of his environment. At the zoo, surrounded by concrete, and elephants. Ah crap, Jon is gonna be pissed at me for falling in the damned enclosure. He spoke quietly not wanting to draw the attention of the behemoths around him. “Jon? … Boss? … Anyone?”
Nothing but silence registered, static being absent as well. He put a hand to his right ear and tugged off his headset. The device didn’t appear damaged, though his vision was too impaired to distinguish details. Running a hand along the cord, he came to a dangling end which should be attached to the unit.
Dan patted his belt finding his coms device gone. It must’ve been knocked off in my fall. Needing to locate it to communicate with the others, Dan rolled to his side and pushed up to rest on an elbow.
“Whoa!” Dan listed to the left side, wobbling as something wet drained out of his left inner ear canal. The water dislodged. Unfortunately, a dull ache remained. Pushing to a seated position, Dan swayed and fell backwards, but his shoulder hit something substantial. He peered up. Oh shit! An elephant leg. A long trunk snaked around his waist and held him securely against the thick limb.
With no idea what to do, Dan tensed, remaining still as baby elephant’s trunk landed on his chest and snuffled. The appendage moved to his groin, causing him to cringe and hold his breath. Oh crap. I hope no one finds me with a pachyderm’s nose in my crotch. The razzing would never cease. He finally breathed when the snorkel moved down his thigh and away.
Adrenaline pumped fast and hard through his system. Fight or flight demanded a response, but he remained frozen in place. The calf’s trunk returned and explored the top of his head. The non-threatening behavior and gentleness of the animal softly caressing his hair caused Dan to relax.
Curious too, Dan reached up to touch the young elephant. Surprised that the calf allowed contact, his fingers stroked the soft, leathery skin. Dan chuckled as the muscular trunk curled over his hand. Wow, so cool.
Dan interacted with the inquisitive animal for several minutes until a sharp pain in his right ear brought him back to the reality of his situation. His eyes still blurry and burning, he recalled the cayenne pepper mixed with the flour. I must’ve transferred some pepper to my hands from my uniform.
He shrugged off his backpack and pain rippled down his spine as he did so. Damn, I’m a mess. Eyes on fire, both ears aching now, and my throbbing back will surely be a kaleidoscope of colors soon. Opening the pack, he dug out a water bottle and a rag. After dampening the cloth, he wiped his irritated eyes.
The blurriness began to abate, though the stinging continued. Dan started scanning for his communication unit. Unable to see much in the dark, he pulled out his flashlight to illuminate the area. He spotted some marks in the dirt and gathered something had been pushed or dragged across the ground. He followed the path from him outward as he comprehended … I was the object. An elephant moved me. Why?
Coming to the end of the trail, he located his point of impact. Dan moved the beam around in ever growing circles searching for the device. Crap. He stopped when he found fragments of plastic and metal. It’s crushed. Wow, that could’ve been me. Though in my case it would be blood and guts.
With disbelief, he wondered if one of the elephants relocated him to prevent the others from stepping on him. His gaze shifted upward, and in the dim light, he studied the eyes of the humungous mammal. Though he couldn’t explain how Dan sensed maternal care emanating from the female elephant’s eyes. He sighed.
Knowing full well she wouldn’t understand his words, but needing to say them anyway, Dan whispered, “Thanks. I appreciate the save.” He lightly stroked the trunk gripping his waist and the little hairs covering it quivered. Interesting. When she released her hold on him but didn’t move away, Dan continued to lean on her.
Damn, I hurt. My equilibrium is entirely off. I doubt I can stand and maintain my balance. No way I will be able to scale the wall without falling and breaking my neck. My coms unit is smashed to smithereens, so no help there either. I can’t inform the team of my location. I’m screwed! Wait, my phone!
His hand moved to the vest’s front top pocket out of habit. Encountering no compartment, Dan recalled he wore one of the laser vests and had to store his phone in his backpack. After pulling the pack to him and turning it around to reach the outside pocket, Dan released a low moan of disappointment as he discovered a shattered, non-working phone. I landed on my back. Shit! Now, what am I gonna do?
For several moments he concentrated on sniper breathing to calm down. The only thing I can do is wait for the team find me. I need to listen for anyone calling my name. Would be easier to do if I didn’t have to deal with the constant buzzing.
Dan closed his eyes as the warmth of the elephant’s body seeped into his shoulder. At least I’m not alone.
Toronto Zoo – African Savanna – 10:00 p.m.
Dan drifted in and out of a dazed state, likely caused by the fall, and he lost track of time while listening for the voices of his teammates. Though the ringing in both ears lessened over time, the ache remained and occasional sharp pains lanced through the right one as pressure increased.
The loud pop before his fall most likely released pressure in the left ear but also produced the foul discharge running down his neck. Dan refrained from touching the ear because he didn’t want to introduce more bacteria to his probably ruptured eardrum. As blood and pus dried on the side of his face, he realized all his symptoms resembled Bram’s. A damned ear infection.
At some point, the long proboscis returned to his midsection, carefully holding him in place. He found the gesture oddly comforting. The protective elephant made no effort to move, and neither did he. It hurt less that way.
Unsure when it occurred, Dan realized the calf laid near him. The heat radiating off the young animal helped chase away the chill of the night. Running around would’ve kept him toasty, but with being stationary, the cold seeped in and caused him to shiver. Wanting to sleep, Dan forced himself to stay awake, hoping the team recognized he wasn’t still hiding from Charlie Team and that he needed help. Cognizant of search protocols, he wondered how long it would take them to discover him in the sprawling zoo.
Jon rechecked the time. It is taking too long to locate Dan. After searching the giraffes, warthogs, and rhino enclosures, Jon headed to the elephants. Hoarse and parched from shouting, Jon halted and drank some water.
As he stood in the encounter area, Jon gazed at the far elephant, fondly recalling bringing Kent here as a little boy. Kent enjoyed petting the huge elephants after the informational lecture from one of the volunteers. When Kent was ten, for several months after a visit, his boy professed he wanted to become a zookeeper. Fun times. I should bring Joey soon.
My four-year-old would enjoy interacting with elephants as much as Kent.
Noting the massive animal standing near the wall and a sleeping calf next to it, Jon disliked having to yell and possibly startling them, but he must find his teammate. My voice should carry in the quiet of the night if I half-shout. “Dan, are you here? If so, give me a sign.”
Patiently … well, truthfully impatiently waiting, he remained silent and still, hoping to locate his lost rookie. Each member of the search and rescue teams muted their headsets to keep the airwaves uncluttered so they could communicate if they came across Dan. It also made it quieter so they could hear softer noises in case he was unable to shout out to them. In the calm stillness, Jon’s ears detected an almost imperceptible sound.
“I’m down here,” Dan said and wondered at the softness of his voice.
Almost afraid his mind conjured the voice because he wanted so desperately for Dan to answer him, Jon used his flashlight to search the area, endeavoring to find the source of the sound. The beam illuminated something not too far away from the enormous animals. Is that? Yes, it is. A destroyed coms unit.
His gut clenched when he spotted what appeared to be drag marks. Is my rookie hurt so severely he is not able to rise and had to haul himself to safety before they stomped on him? A lump of fear formed in his throat as his light followed the path.
Jon froze when the light revealed Dan. The rookie leaned against a pillar-like leg, and a long trunk wrapped around his torso. Focusing on Dan’s head, he noted red-rimmed, bloodshot eyes, and a trail of drying blood down his neck. Getting past the lump, Jon unmuted and called out, “Found Dan. I need a keeper and EMS now!”
“Where is he? How is he?” Nick responded, relieved Jon pinpointed Dan but also concerned he requested medical assistance.
“Appears Dan fell into an enclosure. Unsure of his status, but there is dried blood on his face. We need an animal keeper because one of the elephants wrapped its trunk around him. Though it doesn’t appear to be acting aggressive, I’m not sure if it’s hurting him.”
Dan projected his voice as much as possible, “Helping, not hurting.”
Unable to stop a happy grin from growing, Jon was grateful Broderick couldn’t see him in case he had to reprimand him later. Only our rookie could get himself in such a situation. I can’t wait to find out how Dan ended up there.
Within minutes, help arrived. The keeper went in and moved Tinker, Toka, and Tonka out of the way, allowing the paramedics to tend to Dan. Though Dan insisted he was fine, Nick and Jon ordered him to the emergency room. Nick went with Dan in the ambulance as the rest of the TRF members, and the zoo security team watched the vehicle leave.
When the excitement died down, Colton turned to Jon. “Gambrill canceled the remainder of tonight’s training. My guys will handle cleanup if your team wants to go to the hospital. But you gotta promise to tell us how Broderick managed to fall into the elephant’s compound.”
Jon patted Colton’s back. “Deal. Thanks, buddy.” He signaled the others to follow him, and Alpha Team headed out.
My Safe Harbor
37
March 7
Centenary Hospital – ER Waiting Room – 11:45 p.m.
Lexa sat in the corner of the waiting room, deep in thought as the team waited to hear how Dan fared. She thought about Dan and their dinners. It had given her some insight into the man although their conversations consisted of topics with no import. Sports, guns, a few funny moments from calls, a smattering of amusing anecdotes about friends, and talk of food.
Without fail, Jarmal brought them cookies at the end of their meal and never let them pay for the treats. She left with three double chocolate chunk cookies, and Dan took home a dozen oatmeal raisin walnut ones. Lexa suspected Jarmal’s care played a part in the return of Dan’s muscular physique. She recalled stories of Jarmal filling Dan’s food with protein powder. Dan’s weight rebounded, and his cheeks fleshed out nicely again—no longer hollow.
By unspoken agreement, they shied away from discussing their families since both appeared to have painful pasts. But Lexa began to share bits and pieces of the team with Dan, to highlight their better qualities despite how poorly they treated Dan when he joined.
Dan laughed when she shared some of the pranks Loki pulled over the years. In return, Dan revealed some things to her about Brody. From the few stories Dan disclosed about his friend, Lexa started to understand why Brody meant so much to Dan. Brody sounded like a true friend—the type who only comes along only once in a lifetime.
Lexa equated Dan’s friendship with Brody to hers and Loki’s friendship. On the surface, it seemed like an odd pairing for both of them, but there existed a connection which couldn’t be denied. The absence of a caring father and being the only sister or brother to their siblings. Loki helped her to laugh, even when she didn’t want to, much like she assumed Brody did for Dan.
The latter thought brought her to the realization she and Dan were also a lot alike … both hid their awful pasts behind shields. Both built walls to protect themselves from more hurt. Both were alone in the world at one point. But she’d found a new family, a chosen one, and a place to belong when she joined Alpha Team. Lexa hoped one day Dan would enjoy the same sense of belonging as a member of this family.
Lexa scanned the room appreciating the team’s presence. Dan needed this display of concern. He needed to experience for himself, how they operated. When one of them ended up sick or injured, they circled the wagons and ensured they were well taken care of—as a family should do. Pulling herself out of her reverie, she tuned back into Jon, Loki, and Bram’s discussion.
Jon said, “It’s my turn. The rookie should come home with me if he must be monitored.”
Bram shook his head. “I don’t think changing his situation would be wise, as he wouldn’t be able to relax, and he needs his rest. I doubt Dan is ready to accept another venue and more strangers to be on guard around. Kellie made a bit of a connection with him. She would be happy to care for him again.”
Loki chimed in, “My ma keeps asking me to bring Dan over for supper. I got the spare room. Dan can stay with me.”
Adding her two cents to the conversation, Lexa said, “Sorry, but I don’t think Dan will accept your offer either, Loki. Not yet at least. I believe Bram’s place is the best. He did call Bram at Christmas.”
Noting Loki’s disheartened mien, she added, “Perhaps you can help Kellie out, and your ma might prepare a dinner you can take over.”
Bram nodded. “Yeah, assisting with meals relieves Kellie of the chore. You and your mother are welcome to join us for dinner, too. I’m sure Dan would appreciate your visit.”
Loki’s smile returned. “A friendly sit-down would be fun if Kellie won’t mind us coming over. Oh, it will also include Sonia. She’s here for a quick visit.”
Bram grinned. “Kellie and the girls would love having you there. Emilie misses her favorite Uncle Loki. But you must promise not to tell her anymore silly things you did as a kid. We finally got her to stop flushing things down the toilet.”
“Yeah, my bad. I shouldn’t have revealed that tidbit. Cross my heart, no more tales of my misspent youth.” Loki laughed recalling that specific dinner conversation. While enjoying his meal, he revealed his affinity for flushing toy cars as a little boy. He recognized his culpability for Emilie’s latest fascination.
Ray arched his brows. “You so sure you want to go? I mean, do you really want Sonia meeting Dan? Sonia’s a lovely girl. Dan might attempt to add her notch to his belt.”
Loki frowned. “Dan wouldn’t …. Would he?”
Ray slung his arm around Loki’s shoulders as he grinned. “Relax, Loki. I’m only joking. I don’t believe Dan would, and even if he did, we’d never find out. He never talks about the women he dates.”
Loki nodded, relaxing. As a big brother, he became incredibly protective of Sonia as she grew into a beauty. Plagued by the memories of his mother’s mistreatment by his stepfather, he a
lways worried she would date the wrong type of guy. But facing the facts, he acknowledged Sonia was an adult, despite only turning twenty-one not long ago, and possessed a level head. Attending university, immersed in studies to become a lawyer, she wouldn’t allow a pretty boy to turn her head. Sonia is too mature to go gaga over Dan.
The team waited for nearly an hour, and they all turned when the physician entered the waiting room and headed towards the group. Dr. Emery assessed the TRF team as he approached them. He dealt with lots of cops and firefighters during his years as an emergency room physician. He recognized many teams were often closer than family.
“Sorry about the long wait, Constable Broderick, Dan as he insists on being called, will be fine. He may go home shortly if someone gives him a ride. Also, it would be advisable since he lives alone that either someone remains with him or he stays with someone until his equilibrium returns. It will take a day or two to clear up.”
Nick interrupted, “Doctor, please back up and tell us about his injuries.”
“Ah. Yes. Sorry. We bathed his eyes to remove all remnants of pepper. His corneas, while irritated, show no abrasion. Barring infection, he should not suffer any permanent damage. Dan also developed acute otitis media. The blood and pus you observed coming from his ear are indicative of Dan’s eardrum rupturing.
“As a result of the infection, Dan is having trouble with his balance. From what he described to me, the intense pain he experienced as his eardrum burst caused him to lose his stability and fall into the elephant enclosure.
“The remaining time involved removing the dusting of capsicum. Once we finished addressing his immediate medical needs, the constable’s treatment followed along the protocols of a HAZMAT exposure. We removed his uniform and undergarments, which we bagged for him to take, and did a cursory hosing down to prevent any further irritation from the residual powder. With assistance as needed for stability, he changed into a pair of scrubs we provided.”