as I need to.
“How far away is help?” I scream between breaths and then clamp my mouth down on Sierra’s again.
A gurgle erupts from deep in her chest and I pull my mouth away and quickly turn her head to the side as a mixture of water and vomit erupts in spurts, followed by coughing and gasping and then more vomiting. I’ve turned her on her side and have her propped against me.
“You’re going to be okay, baby. You’re going to be okay.” I brush her wet hair back from her face. “Everything’s going to be all right.”
“Texas Guard has arrived.” I’m informed by someone.
“Let’s AirEvac her out of here and we’ve got a wounded man in the north stairwell. His right leg is in bad shape. He’s going to need fluid resuscitation.”
“Sir, will you be going with them?” Someone asks.
“Yes. I’ll be there in a moment.” There’s a part of me that feels responsible for everyone here and making sure that they leave here securely. That is typically what I would do.
But this time, I realize there is only one place I need to be and that is with the people I love.
Grabbing Palmer and two other guys, we head upstairs and quickly find our logistics guy and the site commander with the Texas Guard.
“We’re moving everyone to Camp Mabry for individual debriefing, Mr. Lundström.”
“You realize how sensitive this is?” I need to make sure my guys let them know with what they are dealing.
“We do, sir, and Homeland is going to be coordinating everything.”
“Okay, great.” Turning to Palmer, “Make sure Colonel Hoffman is brought into this immediately. I’m going with Ms. Stone and Mr. Garber to Brackenridge Hospital. You can get hold of me there.”
And with that, I begin sprinting across the lawn so that I don’t hold up their flights to the hospital any longer.
My lungs are burning. I want to cry out, but I can’t. It hurts too much. And then I feel a sharp pain in my finger. Where did that come from? I wonder.
Opening my eyes, a nurse is squeezing my finger, trying to get blood into a little tube.
“Welcome back,” she whispers with a smile.
“Where am I?” my voice isn’t more than a weak croak.
“Shh, don’t strain yourself. You’re at Brackenridge Hospital and you are going to be just fine.”
“How did I get here?” The effort to speak is enormous. My lungs and windpipe are searing.
“Shh, don’t talk. You were AirEvac’ed in early yesterday afternoon. Your boyfriend can give you all the details.” She looks at me kindly.
“My boyfriend?” I have no idea what she’s talking about. Early yesterday afternoon?
She motions over to a sleeping figure in a chair, “He must’ve just fallen asleep. He’s been by your bedside since you arrived.”
In the dim light, Hale rests in a chair wearing hospital scrubs. The scruff on his jaw is heavy.
“Get some more rest. Your body needs it. I’m going to give you something to make you comfortable and it will also help the burning feeling in your lungs.” She empties a syringe directly into my IV line.
I want to protest, I want to talk to Hale, find out what happened, but by the time she finishes injecting the medication, I can no longer keep my eyes open.
I feel his hands in my hair. His voice is gruff with emotion even though he’s speaking at little more than a whisper. “That was a scary few minutes there, mermaid. I couldn’t let myself think the worst. That just wasn’t an option. If you think I’m going to let you go that easily, well, you don’t know me.” He continues to caress my hair. “We really need to get away. Maybe the mountains, go up to Wyoming. I would say the beach,” he chuckles, “but I think the only water I’m going to let you near is the shower and that’s only if I’m in there with you.”
I wonder if this is a dream. My mouth is beyond dry. Opening my eyes, it’s not a dream. Hale is sitting close to the bed, up near my head.
“I need water.” He gives me an odd look at the request. “Thirsty.” It hurts to talk. My throat and chest are in agony. I feel bruised and broken.
“I think you are allowed these.” He puts a spoon of ice chips to my lips. They cool my parched lips and throat for a moment. Only a moment.
“More.” He feeds me another spoonful. Looking around, I spy a small Styrofoam water