|
|
Strip 'n Dales |
|---|
"Hello again Vincent," Frank said as they entered the room."Bastards!" Vin spat out hoarsely as he fought against the cuffs, binding him to the brass headboard. "I'll kill you for what you did to Chris!" he shouted as loudly as his spent voice was able. It came out as a raspy whisper.
"What's the matter Vincent, cat got your tongue?" Adam goaded as he inched nearer to the bound man. Standing right next to his head, he peered down. "Hell, you look worse than when me and my buddies worked you over a couple weeks ago. You're a mess Vincent. Who'd you piss off this time?"
Adam leaned down further, to stare at Vin smugly. Vin couldn't resist the urge, and spat a glob of saliva onto the other man's leering face. Adam hauled back and smacked him sharply on the face, following it with a backhanded blow. "Still haven't learned your lesson, I see Vincent." He looked at Frank. "May I?" he asked, indicating Vin with a wave of his hand.
"Be my guest Adam. And I'll take great pleasure in watching. It'll give me something to do until Mr. Williams's car comes for me."
Adam smiled evilly at Vin. "Oh, this is going to be fun Vincent," he declared. He looked the handcuffed man up and down, zeroing in on the severely bruised ribs. He ran his hand down Vin's injured side lightly, laughing cruelly as Vin flinched from the touch. "Looks like that's gotta hurt, Vincent. Does it?"
Vin ignored him, gritting his teeth against the blow he knew was coming.
"I asked you a question, Vincent! Does that hurt?" Adam shouted, squeezing his hand tightly, digging his fingers into the bruised area.
Vin peripheral vision darkened as Adam pressed harder. He gasped at the agony the other man was inflicting on his already painful side, but he was helpless to fight back. The room began to swim and he heard Adam and Frank's voices, as if from far away.
"Let up on him Adam, it's no fun if he loses consciousness."
Adam released Vin's side abruptly, then slapped him roughly across the face. "Stay awake!" he growled at Vin.
"Where's the rest of them?" Frank asked Adam, as they waited for Vin to fully regain consciousness.
"Van's got a flat, but they'll be along soon," Adam answered.
"Good, I can't wait to film Vincent and Jessie together. It will be truly magnificent," Frank crowed.
"What about me?" Adam asked.
"Oh, you and Chris should make a nice pair," Frank offered. "He's in the other room, most anxiously awaiting your arrival." He turned to Vin. "Isn't that right, Vincent?" he asked sarcastically.
"Chris? He's alive?" Vin whispered, looking up at Frank in disbelief. He panted as he lay back on the bed, trying to calm his pounding heart. 'Chris is alive! Chris is alive!' he screamed to himself happily. He was hurt, chained to a bed, held prisoner by criminals. But none of that mattered right now. Chris was alive. They would find a way to get out of this mess, together. He closed his eyes as another wave of pain washed over his beaten body, forcing it back, trying to be strong for Chris.
+ + + + + + +
Chris was going crazy with worry for Vin. He had heard Vin's crying out for him a while ago, and it had killed him not to be able to answer his lover back. Each time Vin had called to him and he had been unable to reply, had driven a sharp spike of pain straight into his heart. He wanted nothing more than to take Vin in his arms and reassure him that everything would be all right. But things weren't all right. Horrible scenarios flooded his mind and he struggled and pulled against the ropes and handcuffs holding him immobile. And now, there was another voice, screaming at Vin. Chris realized with a sinking heart that it was Adam. He knew Adam would show no mercy to Vin, and he just hoped his lover would be able to hold on a little while longer. He prayed that the others were on their way to help them.
Just then, the door to the cabin burst open, and the large, powerful body of Josiah Sanchez filled the doorway, followed by Nathan. Half a second later, the back door to the cabin shot open, and Ezra, Buck and JD pounded into the room.
The five men dove for cover as the guards opened fire at them. Chris rocked his chair over onto its side, to shield himself as much as he could from the hail of bullets. JD saw Chris from across the room. "Cover me!" he yelled to Buck, and ran over to their leader. He pulled Chris behind a couch, to relative safety, and yanked off his gag.
"Chris!"
"Vin....get Vin, JD!" Chris ordered in a ragged, breathless whisper.
"Where is he?"
"In that room over there," Chris gestured with his eyes, unable to move any part of his body.
JD nodded, but took his knife and cut the ropes binding Chris to the chair, first, before his left his side. Chris was still handcuffed and shackled, but at least he could move around slightly. He pressed his second gun into Chris's hand, then crouching down low, he ran across the open area toward the small room where Vin was being held. He stiffened and fell forward onto his hands and knees, as a bullet caught him high in the shoulder, but he righted himself and forced himself to continue on. He slipped into the small room, standing up and facing Frank and Adam.
"Drop it!" he shouted to Frank, eyeing the small pistol the man had in his hand.
"I don't think so," Frank said smoothly, moving to point the weapon at Vin's head. "You see, Vincent is our insurance policy, and we are walking out of here. So I think you'd better drop it."
"No way," JD said between gritted teeth, trying to ignore the throbbing in his shoulder.
"Oh, very well," Frank said, stooping down as if to place his gun on the ground. In a blur of movement, he pushed Adam into JD hard, driving both men to the ground. He stepped on JD's gunhand, and bent down to retrieve the pistol as Adam rose to his feet, picking JD up with him.
"Over there young man," Frank said, waving the gun to the far side of the room.
JD shook his head and walked over to the bed, placing himself in between Vin and Frank, protecting his friend from this madman. "I'm not leaving Vin," JD said stubbornly. "You'll have to kill me first."
"A very noble gesture, I'm sure," Frank said, "but you will die, young man. I am taking Vincent and getting out of here."
"Hey, what about me?" Adam said with a frown. "You and Vincent? Where do I fit in?"
"Sorry Adam, you don't," Frank said, turning the gun on Adam and firing.
JD saw his chance and leapt at Frank, knocking him to the floor. They wrestled for the gun and it went off. Frank jerked back, a large blood stain forming on his shirtfront. JD tried to get up and go over to Vin, but he fell back onto the floor, exhausted, as the blood poured out of his shoulder wound.
Chris and Buck appeared at the doorway, followed by Nathan.
"JD!" Buck called anxiously, kneeling down, pressing a hand to the wound to staunch the blood flow.
"Vin. Help Vin," JD panted weakly.
"Chris is with him, you just stay still," Buck insisted, then moved slightly aside as Nathan stepped in to help.
Meanwhile, Chris made his way carefully to the bed where Vin lay.
"Vin?" he said softly, leaning over his semi-conscious lover, angering at the sight of the bloodied lips, beaten face and horribly bruised ribs. Vin moaned, his eyelids flickering open.
"Chris?" he whispered weakly. "Chris....you're okay? You're...."
"Sshh, Vin don't try to talk," Chris soothed, reaching out a trembling hand to stroke back Vin's rumpled hair, trying to quiet the younger man. "I'm right here and I'm fine. We need to get you out of here, though. Just lay back and everything'll be okay."
"But...Chris...."
"Sshh, Vin, don't worry, everybody's safe," Chris reassured, kissing him gently on the forehead. "Just close your eyes and rest."
He watched as Vin slipped into sleep, then turned to the other members of his team in the room.
"How's JD doing Nate?"
"Gotta get him to the hospital. Bullet's went clean through, but he's bleedin' and..."
"Josiah called for backup and ambulances," Buck interrupted. "I'll get these two out of here," he said, pointing at Frank and Adam's bodies.
"They dead?" Chris said coldly.
Buck nodded and began dragging them out of the way.
"Hold up Buck," Chris said, and checked Frank's coat pockets. He pulled out two sets of keys, and stepped over to the bed, undoing the handcuffs and gently placing Vin's arms on the bed, then freed his legs.
"How'd you get yours off?" Buck asked with curiosity.
Chris grinned at him ferally, showing his even, white teeth. "Ezra's got a skeleton key."
+ + + + + + +
As the ATF agents worked inside to secure the crime area, a black limousine slowed in front of the cabin.
Sirens sounded in the distance, and the man riding in the back called up to his driver. "Move on, Salvatore, it seems our business is concluded here."
The limousine sped away, leaving the cabin quickly behind.
+ + + + + + +
"It's been three hours! Dammit! What the hell are they doing in there!" Buck yelled in frustration as he paced the long corridor outside the critical care waiting room.
"Buck, they're closing the wounds on JD, and Vin's in x-ray by now," Nathan replied calmly. He knew Buck didn't really want the answers from him, but rather from the medical personnel working on their friends, but it made him feel better to answer the anguished questions. It made him feel useful, instead of just sitting around helplessly and waiting for word.
Helpless. Drained. Lifeless. That was exactly how Chris was feeling at the moment. He sat, slumped over in the hard plastic chair, fingers in his hair, nails digging into his scalp in frustration. He pressed harder, nearly drawing blood, concentrating on the discomfort that it caused. The sharp needles of pain that flew to his nerve endings kept him focused, allowing him to sit, seemingly calm in the chair, when what he really wanted to do was run to the nurses station, grab the nearest doctor or nurse and demand that they take him to see Vin. He had been kept away from the younger man since almost the second the paramedics had arrived at the cabin, and it was killing him. His mind whirled with unanswered questions. How badly were Vin and JD hurt? It had looked bad at the cabin--all that blood. And what had happened to Vin in that room at the cabin? Had Frank hurt him? Damn, he wished he could have killed the bastard with his bare hands. Just throttled the life right out of him, slowly, for what he had done to Vin. And what about right now? Was Vin awake? Alone? Wondering where Chris was? And what about JD? What the hell was happening with him right now?
In his mind, Chris could still see the youngest member of the seven, severely wounded himself, trying to drag himself over to Vin's side. It had just about broken Chris's heart to watch JD fight against Buck to try and get to Vin. Christ, he was in charge of these men--why couldn't it have been him that was hurt? He pulled his hands out of his hair to cover his face, wishing it would be that easy to block out the nightmare that was unfolding around him.
"Agent Larabee?"
Chris's head snapped upward with surprise. He'd been so lost in his thoughts, he'd failed to notice the doctor who was now standing before him.
He glanced at the rest of his team, each one of them staring back at him intently with grim expressions.
"Yes, I'm Agent Larabee," Chris replied as he stood up.
"I'm Nancy Vachon. I'd like to fill you in on Agent Dunne's condition."
"Thank you, we'd appreciate that, Dr. Vachon," Chris replied flatly.
"Would you like to step into the lounge? We can talk privately there."
"We'll all join you there, doctor. I want the rest of my team to hear the news, also."
"Very well," Doctor Vachon said with a sympathetic smile, and waited until the other agents were settled before beginning. Chris gave her a slight nod and she began speaking.
"Overall, it's good news about Agent Dunne. He's going to have a five week recovery ahead of himself, but things could have been a lot worse," she announced to the men, listening to her with rapt attention.
"He's suffered a bullet wound to the muscle at the top of his collar bone and sustained quite a bit of tissue damage to the exit wound area. His collar bone was also broken by the bullet. There's a chance bits or clothing or dirt that entered the wound may cause an infection, so we've started him on an IV of antibiotics and we'll keep a close eye on him here for a few days."
"Can I see him?" Buck interrupted anxiously.
"Certainly," the doctor answered kindly. "He's in recovery now, and then he'll be moved to his room. You can see him in an hour or so, depending on how quickly he comes out of the anesthesia. I'll have one of the nurses find you when you can go in. Are there any questions I can answer for you in the meantime?" she asked.
"What about physical therapy?" Nathan asked.
"Yes, there will be some need for that," Doctor Nancy said. "We'll be able to better evaluate Agent Dunne in the next few days to gauge his recovery time. But he's in excellent physical condition, so I expect him to make a full recovery in time."
"Thank you doctor," Chris said. He felt as if a large part of the weight crushing into his chest was lifted. 'JD was going to be all right. Thank God. But what about Vin?'
"Is there anything else I can do for you right now?" Doctor Nancy asked.
"Yes, yes, there is, doctor," Chris said, trying to keep the panic from his voice, not sure if he suceeded or not. "Another member of our team, Vin Tanner, was brought in at the same time as Agent Dunne. We've heard nothing about his condition."
Doctor Vachon frowned. "Had he been shot, also?"
"No, beaten. Severely," Chris replied in a strangled voice.
"Oh, I believe Dr. Hislop is with him. Let me go talk to her and see what I can find out," Doctor Vachon offered.
"Thank you, we would appreciate that," Chris said. He now stood alone in the center of the room, as each of the other men moved away to resume their private vigils for their fallen teammates. He started to pace, slowly at first, then faster with each passing minute. His shoes slapped the carpet with each step, echoing in the silent room as they hit the floor.
+ + + + + + +
"You know, that's new carpet, Agent Larabee. I'd hate for us to have to replace it again so soon."
Chris stopped mid-stride at the soft voice. He whirled around and faced Dr. Vachon.
"Sorry," he mumbled. "It's just..."
"I understand, Agent Larabee," Doctor Vachon said gently. "You're worried about your friends. It's only natural. Please, if it makes you feel better, keep pacing."
"No, no, I'm done with that. Did you find anything out about my other agent?"
"I'm sorry, I wasn't able to. Dr. Hislop is still with him, but there's no word yet on his condition."
"Damn!" Chris swore in frustration. "When will you know something?" he barked angrily. Almost immediately, he regretted his actions. "I'm sorry, Doctor, please, forgive me..."
"No apologies necessary Agent Larabee. I know how frustrating it can be. Dr. Hislop will be out to see you as soon as she's able. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go on rounds. I'll be back to check on Agent Dunne when I'm through. Please have me paged if you need anything in the meantime."
Chris nodded slightly and tried to give the kind doctor a small smile.
Alone again, Chris walked over to the long wall of windows covering the front side of the room. As he leaned his head against the cool glass, he noticed it was raining outside. Pouring, in fact. He watched the water run down the glass in torrents, falling several stories, down to the streets below. Nights like this, he loved nothing better than to build a fire and snuggle up with Vin on the couch, under a mound of blankets. Once he was wrapped up in Chris's arms, the sound of the falling rain always managed to lull Vin to sleep right away. Sometimes Chris would read as he held the younger man tightly to him, but usually, he'd spend the rest of the evening just stroking Vin's hair and watching him sleep.
God, how he wished tonight was one of those nights. What he wouldn't give right now to have Vin safe and secure in his arms, and home at the ranch.
"Agent Larabee?"
"Yes?" Chris replied, turning from the window to face yet another doctor. God, he hated hospitals.
"I'm Wendy Hislop. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get with you about Agent Tanner..."
"How is he doctor?" Chris interrupted.
"He has three lower rib fractures, a hematoma to his spleen, a fracture to the infraorbital ridge, and severe lacerations to his face and mouth, along with some other scrapes and cuts," Dr. Hislop answered.
Chris forced himself to stay calm. "I'm not sure what all this means doctor. Is he going to be all right?"
"We're doing everything we can for him, Agent Larabee. He'll get the best of care," Dr. Hislop assured. "Now, let me explain things to you in more detail." She led Chris over to a small row of chairs and they both sat down.
"The infraorbital ridge is here, just under the eye and above the cheekbone," the doctor began, pointing to the area on her own face to help explain things to Chris. "Agent Tanner's eye has swollen shut from the fracture, and it will stay like that for several days. After that, his eye will be very bloodshot, with blurred vision for several weeks after as a common side effect. The beating he took to his side caused the rib fractures and a contusion to the spleen. We've run a CAT scan, which showed slow bleeding from the organ. As a precaution, we'll draw blood counts every six hours and keep him on complete bed rest, until we can run another CAT scan in 48 hours. He won't be able to eat anything during that time, either, I'm sorry to say. And, barring any further complications, if all goes well with the second CAT scan, he'll need to be on a soft food diet for several weeks."
"Why's that doctor?" Buck, who had walked up quietly during the doctor's explanation, asked.
"Chewing solid food may displace the facial fracture and it will be also be extremely painful for Agent Tanner to do so," she answered. Her pager when off just as she finished speaking. "If you'll excuse me?" she asked.
Chris and Buck nodded. "Thank you doctor," Chris added.
"You're welcome. And please, have me paged if I can answer any other questions for you." She patted Chris reassuringly on the shoulder. "I'll have one of the nurses find you when Agent Tanner is settled in his room," she promised, then left.
The two men sat silently in the room for several moments, both dwelling on the horrible injuries their friends had suffered. Suddenly Buck stood up.
"We need to have those two boys put in the same room Chris."
"What?"
"Vin and JD. They need to be in the same room. Be easier for us to keep an eye on the two of them and they can keep each other company."
"Fine with me," Chris replied absently, lost in thought.
"I'm gonna go look into it," Buck said and hurried off.
Chris watched him go, knowing Buck needed something to do to help blow off some steam. He understood exactly how his oldest friend was feeling. The waiting and wondering were getting to him, too, and he had a feeling their ordeal was only just beginning.
+ + + + + + +
Time stood still for Chris as he sat in the small hospital room, watching the silent drip of the IV, hour after hour, as the liquid medicine seeped into Vin. A constant flurry of activity surrounded the hospital room, as Josiah, Nathan and Ezra moved in and out at staggered shifts, stopping by to check on Vin and JD when they could, taking a break from their continued work on the case. Chris was grateful that the three took over, maintaining a presence of Team Seven at the ATF offices, to allow Buck and himself to remain at the hospital, standing vigil over the two youngest.
In a rare moment of peace, Chris glanced across the room, watching with detachment as Buck once again levered JD from his bed, helping the youngest of the seven out the door, to walk the halls of the hospital as part of his therapy. JD looked like hell, as he dragged himself down the hallway, IV stand and Buck in tow, but his doctor said he was improving and would be going home tomorrow. Tomorrow. God, how he wished he would be taking Vin home tomorrow. But instead, here he was, sitting in a chair, holding Vin's limp, seemingly lifeless hand in his, waiting, praying for Vin to wake up. The doctors and nurses all said that it was a good thing, for Vin to be asleep this long. They said this way, he wouldn't be awake to feel the pain. All the kindly doctors and nurses that flowed through the room at all hours assured Chris that Vin's body had just slowed down to help heal itself, and when he was ready, he would wake up. But Chris didn't care about what they had to say.. He knew he was being selfish, but he wanted nothing more than to see Vin's bright blue eyes staring back at him. He gripped Vin's hand tighter, risking a quick kiss to the pale flesh, hoping it would help rouse his lover.
"Vin, please, it's been two days. Wake up for me."
But just like the hundred other times Chris had been driven by fear and desperation to utter the plea aloud, there was no response. He dropped Vin's hand and leaned his head back, bending it against the edge of the hospital chair, where he had practically lived in for the past forty-eight hours. He tried to ease the ache of his cramped neck muscles, but he was locked up as tight as the proverbial drum. God he was tired. His eyes were gritty, red-rimmed slits, his brain was on auto-pilot. He knew he was running on pure adrenaline by this time, and it wasn't going to be pretty when he crashed. The last time, Kathy, the head nurse, had come in to check on Vin, she'd insisted Chris leave and get some rest. But he'd refused, defying Kathy and anyone else who dared to try and make him move. He would be staying at Vin's side. It was where he belonged.
"Chris?"
That rough whisper, coming from Vin's torn, cracked lips, had to be the sweetest sound Chris had ever heard. He snapped to attention, jerking himself upright, pulling his head off the edge of the chairback to gaze into the deep blue eyes of his lover.
"Vin," he said softly, gently stroking the rumpled brown hair, and smiling down at the pale face. "Been waiting for you to wake up," he said with a smile.
"Chris....what happened?" Vin asked weakly, squinting up at the older man through bloodshot eyes.
"Sshh, don't try to talk," Chris insisted.
Vin shook his head slightly. "No....Chris.....what happened? Where.....where are we?"
"You don't remember what happened?" Chris asked, a slight frown of concern forming on his lips.
"No....no......I was in the cabin with you....and...and....then...." Vin stared at Chris, his eyes widening in horror. "Nooo!" he screamed, suddenly remembering the awful truth. "He said....he said.... he'd hurt you if I didn't........Chris....no!" Vin screamed, pulling himself up in the bed, his face twisting in agony as he twisted his injured side.
"Vin, it's all right, everything's all right!" Chris cried out, holding Vin's hands, trying to settle the younger man down. "Please, just lay back for me, okay? You're gonna hurt yourself worse," Chris pleaded.
"Chris, I couldn't stop him....he....made me...do things...." Vin forced out, gasping from the exertion.
"No Vin, it's all right, it's all right, don't think about it, please," Chris said over and over, trying to calm the distraught sharpshooter. Vin was getting more and more agitated, trying to free himself from Chris's grasp, which pulled at the tubes running from the IV and pain medication machine. An alarm went off and Kathy ran into the room.
"Kathy, help!" Chris shouted to the nurse as she entered the room.
"What happened?" Kathy asked, running to Vin's side.
"He's upset about what happened," Chris responded tersely. "He won't calm down."
Kathy checked Vin over quickly, then made a decision. "I'll be right back," Kathy promised, hurrying out of the room, then returning a minute later with a syringe and bottle of medication.
"I'm going to have to sedate him, Mr. Larabee," Kathy said.
"But he only just woke up," Chris protested. "Can't we just give it a few minutes?"
Kathy shook her head sadly. "Sorry, we can't. His heart rate is sky high, and he'll could do more damage to those ribs or his spleen if he keeps moving around like this." She filled the syringe and injected the drug into Vin's system. The two of them held Vin down gently until his struggles lessened, then stopped altogether.
"Now we can take him to x-ray," Kathy said. "It's been 48 hours and we can check on the spleen hematoma. If everything checks out, he'll be able to eat when he wakes up."
"How long will he be gone?" Chris asked.
"Depends on how backed up they are in x-ray, but probably about an hour or so." She looked Chris over as she called for an orderly. "I can let you use the resident's shower if you'd like, Mr. Larabee."
Chris looked down at his wrinkled clothing, then back up at the nurse. "Thanks, I'll take you up on the offer. Buck brought me some clean clothes, too. Don't want Vin to see me like this next time he wakes up. I probably scared the hell outta him," he said with a small smile, trying to lighten the mood.
Kathy smiled back, knowing how worried the ATF agent was for his friend. The orderly arrived and they transferred Vin to a gurney, packing the IV bottle in next to him for the trip to x-ray. "We'll take good care of him Mr. Larabee, don't worry," she assured. "And I'll send another nurse in to take you to the showers," she called over her shoulder.
"Thanks Kathy," Chris replied, with a last glance at Vin, as the younger man was wheeled down the hall, toward the elevators.
+ + + + + + +
Chris walked back into the room a half hour later, clean and wearing fresh clothes. He saw that JD was back in bed, with Buck sitting at his bedside.
"How you feeling JD?" Chris asked, stopping to visit with the younger man, while he waited for Vin to get back from x-ray.
"I'm fine Chris," JD replied, trying to sound a lot better than he felt. Vin was the one that was really hurt, not him.
"That's good JD," Chris answered. "I hear you're going home tomorrow."
JD smiled happily. "Yeah, I'm getting out of here. I can't wait, it's boring, just laying around, not able to do anything."
"Kid, you ain't gonna be doing anything at home, either," Buck piped in. "Doc said you need to walk around and do some of your physical therapy exercises, but that's it. So you'd better make your peace with it."
JD frowned at Buck, the cross retort dying on his lips, as Vin was wheeled back into the room.
"Hi Vin," JD said softly, giving his friend a timid smile.
Vin stared at JD blankly for a brief instant, then closed his eyes. Chris and Buck exchanged worried glances, and Chris hurried over to Vin's bedside.
"How're you doing Vin?"
"I'm okay," Vin answered laconically, his eyes not meeting Chris's.
"Vin, look at me," Chris pleaded. "I've been waiting two days for you to wake up, please. Look at me. I want to talk to you."
Vin closed his eyes, and turned his head away from Chris.
"Vin, please," Chris whispered, gripping the steel bars of the hospital bed so tightly his knuckles turned white.
"Leave me alone Chris," Vin said tiredly.
"Not 'til we talk," Chris insisted stubbornly.
Just then Kathy entered the room, followed by Brigid, one of the hospital volunteers. Brigid brought JD's dinner tray to him with a smile, then went back out into the hall and returned with a tray for Vin.
"X-rays looked good Mr. Tanner, Mr. Larabee. Looks like you can finally enjoy some of our fine hospital food," Kathy said with a teasing smile.
Vin continued to ignore Chris and the two women. Kathy looked at Chris, who only shrugged.
"Vin," Kathy tried again. "You need to eat this, to get your strength back up. Sooner you do that, sooner you can go home."
"I ain't hungry now, I'll eat it later," Vin replied.
"Afraid I can't let you do that, Mr. Tanner," Kathy said. "If you don't want this, I'll have to hook up your IV again, so we can feed you that way."
"Vin," Chris edged in. "Please, eat just a little bit, okay?"
Vin finally opened his eyes, and stared back at Chris. The older man recoiled briefly, caught off guard by the naked pain in his lover's troubled blue eyes. He needed time alone with Vin, right now.
"Vin, we'll be right back, okay?"
Vin nodded absently, eyes downcast again. Chris ushered the two women toward the door.
"Kathy, I'll make sure that Vin eats, I promise. But I'd like some time alone with him right now, if that's okay," Chris began.
"Is something the matter, Mr. Larabee?"
"It's about the case we were working on Kathy, I just need to talk to Vin in private."
"Okay, Mr. Larabee, I'll check back in about an hour, how's that?"
"That's fine, thank you," Chris said. The two women headed out of the room, then Chris stopped at JD's bed.
"Buck, how 'bout if you and JD take a little trip to the patient's lounge for a few minutes?"
His oldest friend quickly understood the situation, and grabbed JD's dinner tray. "Sure thing pard, think there's a game on tonight, isn't there JD?"
"Yeah, guess I need to get up and walk some more anyhow," JD said, getting out of bed slowly. He turned back and looked at Chris. "Is Vin okay? Is something wrong?"
"He'll be fine JD, I just wanna talk to him," Chris assured, and watched as his two friends departed. He shut the door to the room and turned back to Vin.
"Okay Vin, everybody's gone, it's just you and me," Chris said softly. "I need you to talk to me pard. I need you to tell me what's going on."
+ + + + + + +
"I just wanna go home Chris. I want outta here," Vin mumbled, looking away from Chris as he spoke.
"I want you home, too Vin. More than anything," Chris replied. "But if you don't tell me what's going on, and you don't do like you're supposed to, you're gonna be in here a lot longer." He stared at Vin, hard, until the younger man turned back to look at him. "Now, are you ready to tell me everything that happened in the cabin?"
Vin shivered slightly at the recollection of the horrific events, his eyes cast away from Chris, his cheeks burning at the shameful memories. But Chris was having none of it. He hated to press his lover for the details, but knew that the only way for Vin to completely recover from the tortuous experience was to tell Chris everything. Secrets between them now would only fester and grow, causing more pain, and maybe even the death of their relationship. And Chris was never going to let Vin go without a fight. So he forced Vin to tell him everything, not because he wanted to hear it, but because Vin needed to tell it. Then the healing could really begin.
+ + + + + + +
"Thank you Vin. Thank you for saving me from him," Chris whispered, stifling a shudder, unable to even utter the name of the man who had forced himself on Vin so cruelly. The older man trembled with impotent rage at the suffering his lover had endured, in order to spare him from the same experience at the hands of Frank and his evil helpers.
Chris would have traded places with Vin in a heartbeat, would have done anything to have been the one lying in the hospital bed now. He closed his eyes and gulped down the bile that suddenly rose to the back of his throat as he recalled seeing Vin, handcuffed to the bed, beaten and bloodied, back at the cabin. Revulsion and anger coursed through his veins. He hated himself for putting Vin in such a vulnerable position in the first place, for doing everything but come right out and force him to take the assignment. Chris thanked God that Vin didn't despise him, after everything he had been through. He would be strong for Vin, and together, the two of them would get through this.
Chris opened his eyes again to look at his lover, his features softening as he noticed the single tear, slowly sliding down Vin's bruised cheek.
"Hey cowboy, don't cry, everything'll be okay, you'll see," Chris soothed.
"You can go on and go now," Vin whispered hoarsely. "I'll be fine. I can see how sick it's makin' ya to look at me," Vin continued on miserably. He'd seen the look of disgust on Chris's face, and seen the older man close his eyes, rather than look at him. "That bastard Frank took a lot away from me, but I still got a little bit 'a pride left, Chris. Don't need ya in here lookin' at me like that. Best ya just get on outta here now, and leave me be."
"Oh God no, it's not like that at all, Vin!" Chris shouted frantically, desperate to reassure the stricken man. "I love you Vin, just the same. I swear. I'm not looking at you any differently, I promise." He stared at Vin, unflinchingly, with his green eyes. Then he lowered his voice. "Well, maybe I am looking at you a little bit differently now, Vin," he admitted quietly.
"I knew it," Vin whispered, shutting his eyes hard against the pain that squeezed his heart so tightly it hurt to breathe.
"After what you told me, Vin, I'm looking at you with even more respect than I had for you before, if that's possible," Chris said in a voice gone husky with raw emotion. "What you did for me Vin, keeping...keeping that bastard away...." Chris swallowed hard as his voice began to break. He took a deep breath and continued. "....was nothing short of heroic. Keeping those bastards away from me, letting them...." Chris couldn't go on, overwhelmed as he was by the memories of what Vin had endured to save him. Unshed tears shone in his eyes as he looked down at his injured lover. Vin stared up at him silently, unable to believe what he was hearing. He didn't dare to hope that Chris would really want to stay with him after everything that had happened.
Worried by Vin's lack of response to him, Chris decided to try again to reach the younger man. "I love you Vin, and nothing's gonna change that, I swear to you." He reached forward to hug Vin tightly to him. "But if you decide that you don't wanna be with me, because of what happened, I'll try to understand. But I'll never stop loving you."
"Ya mean it Chris?" Vin asked softly, his voice muffled by Chris's chest.
Chris could only nod, overcome by emotion.
"I-I love ya, too Chris," Vin answered back shyly, his arms reaching around to press Chris even tighter to him.
"God Vin, when I think about what happened...." Chris began to say, then choked up and just held onto the younger man, rocking him gently.
After a few minutes of quiet togetherness, Chris felt Vin's arms slip from around him. Realizing his lover had fallen asleep in his arms, Chris gently eased Vin off of him and placed him back onto the bed.
"Didn't eat much, did he?" a soft voice said behind him.
Chris whirled around to look into the kind face of Kathy, the floor nurse.
"No, uh, sorry Kathy. He, uh, he told me about what happened and..."
"That's all right Mr. Larabee," Kathy reassured quickly, seeing how distressed the normally unflappable man was. "We can give him IV nutrients again tonight. We'll get him to eat tomorrow."
"Thanks," Chris said quietly, stepping out of the way to let Kathy examine Vin.
"I'll be right back with the IV," Kathy promised.
As Kathy left the room, Buck entered.
"Chris, it okay if I bring the kid back in? He's asleep in the patient lounge."
"Sure Buck, sorry," Chris apologized guiltily.
"No big deal," Buck assured. "There was a few of those pretty little candy stripers in there Chris. They managed to keep ol' Buck company," the ladies man said with a smile, as he turned out of the room, whistling, and headed back to retrieve JD.
Chris shook his head with a wry smile, glad that some things seemed like they were getting back to normal.
Vin stirred and moaned in his sleep, and Chris was at his side in a split-second.
"It's okay Vin, go back to sleep," Chris soothed, brushing Vin's hair back from his forehead, letting his fingers run over the soft curls. Within a few seconds, Vin quieted, and Chris settled in for another all night vigil at his lover's bedside.
Comments to tracyp@go-concepts.com