“Standish is hiding injuries,” Jim commented when they were out of the room.
“I figured as much,” Chris nodded. “Nathan won’t let him get anywhere without being checked out by the EMTs. Easy, Malloy. You’re safe.”
“Ezra. They have Ezra!”
“We’ve got him too. Moran is dead. So is that Stalker woman.” Jim assured him. “You’re a bit of a mess here, Malloy.”
“Really? I couldn’t tell, Captain.” Trent muttered sarcastically.
“Smartass. Except for your ribs there doesn’t seem to be any broken bones. It feels like you might have one broken rib, a couple others are cracked.”
“The cuts and the knife are the bigger problem,” Chris continued for Jim. “I’ve already put a tourniquet on your leg and we can probably bandage your arms and wrap your ribs using some bed sheets. We could rig up some kind of stretcher to carry you but I can pretty much guarantee it’s going to end up putting some major pressure on that knife making it hurt like hell. We’re also going to have to take the stairs rather than the elevator so if you try to walk out with us supporting you it’s still gonna be pretty damn painful. It’s up to you what you want to do.”
Trent bit his lip, lines of pain evident on his face, as he decided which would be the lesser of two evils. Finally, “I’ll walk. Trying to get a makeshift stretcher down those stairs isn’t going to work very well.”
“Alright. You sit still for a minute while I go get something to bandage you up.” Chris moved into the bedroom that Ezra and Vin had come out of. The sight of a chair in the middle of the room with severed ropes around it had Chris clenching his teeth. The ripped and discarded dress shirt and the heavy scent of sex in the air told him more than enough about what had happened in here. He spared little more than a glance at the body of the woman who had caused Ezra so much pain and heartbreak. If she hadn’t been dead Chris would have been more than happy to fill her full of bullets himself.
Ripping the sheets off the bed, which thankfully appeared not to have been used, Chris headed back into the main room. He knelt down next to Trent and began ripping them into strips. Jim used them to bandage Trent’s arms as best he could before moving onto his chest. By the time Vin and Ezra returned they had Trent bandaged as best they could.
“The east stairs look to be sound as far as we can tell.” Vin looked worriedly at Trent. “You going to make it, Sensei?”
“I’ll make it, Vin. No way am I going to let that bastard win.”
“Good. Hopefully you’ll still feel that way when we get you on your feet,” Jim said smiling slightly. Moving carefully, they slowly raised the injured blond to his feet. Jim took the side with the knife wound, while Chris supported him from the other side. Trent’s eyes were squeezed shut, his breath coming in harsh pants as he rode out the pain. After a tense moment he nodded his head.
“Let’s go.”
They moved slowly out of the suite, Ezra and Vin leading the way. Both to make sure the stairs were stable and because there was no telling how many of Moran’s goons were still lurking in the hotel.
By the time they reached the ground floor Trent was pretty much unconscious again, Jim and Chris carrying rather than supporting him. Ezra and Vin came behind them. Coming into the lobby, they were surprised at the amount of damage. The floor and walls were fairly intact but the furnishings had been tossed about or shredded. The large glass windows appeared to have shattered outward. Through the haze that filled the lobby they could see various emergency workers moving about in the street outside.
Stepping through the ruined lobby doors, no one noticed them at first. It was Carlos who spotted them, his eyes going almost comically wide.
“Trent!” His shout and dash through the wreckage drew the attention of several others. Chris surrendered his place to Carlos, the man already babbling so fast in Spanish Chris could barely make out individual words never mind understand him. He scanned the area looking for the rest of his team, hoping they’d all made it out okay. He found Buck, Nathan, and Josiah. He could see Simon in the distance coordinating with the various agencies there. No sign of JD or Blair for that matter.
“Where’s JD?” Chris asked once Buck was close enough. “I figured you two would be together.”
“Ellison didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?” Chris demanded turning to glare at Jim who glared right back.
“Don’t look at me like that. It wasn’t exactly the best time to say anything.”
“Would someone please tell us where Mr. Dunne is?” Ezra asked before Chris could start anything.
“Just before the hotel was taken JD and I stopped back at our room. A cleaning girl came in and tranqed me before I realized what was happening. I saw her tranq and take JD before I passed out completely. We think she might be your Stalker, Ez,” Buck said apologetically.
“She was,” he replied tiredly. “She’s dead now.”
“Did she anything about JD?”
“No. Had I known I certainly would have demanded to know his whereabouts.”
“You guys want to move and let the EMT’s through before Trent bleeds to death,” Nathan interrupted. Buck, Chris and Josiah immediately stepped to the side letting the EMT’s through with a backboard. One immediately started cataloging Trent’s injuries, discussing what Nathan had already found with him. Jim mentioned the broken and cracked ribs he’d found. The EMT’s just nodded as they worked. They pulled out stabilizer pads to immobilize the knife in Trent’s thigh before they moved him to an ambulance. Within ten minutes they had him strapped to the backboard and headed out; Carlos helping them to carry him.
By that time Simon had joined them. Jim looked around in concern. “Where’s Blair?”
“They took him to the hospital.”
“What?”
“Calm down, Jim. He should be fine.”
“Should be? What the hell happened, Simon?” Jim demanded.
“In case you haven’t noticed, the hotel blew up,” Simon snarked at him. He paused rubbing a hand over his face. “He was helping the fleeing hostages when the building blew. Some of the debris knocked him out and he ended up with a chunk of glass in his shoulder. They took him to the hospital and the EMT’s expect him to be fine.” Simon looked over the rest of them. “Any of you guys need an EMT as well?”
“Ezra does,” Vin said. “Captain could use some looking at, same as Chris with the way he’s favoring that shoulder.” He ignored the three sets of glares aimed his way with a smirk.
Before anyone could say anything there was another shout from the corner of the hotel. Turning, they saw an officer supporting a familiar figure.
“JD!” Buck called out. The young man looked up and smiled when he saw them, giving a weak wave. It was hard to say who moved faster, Buck or Nathan as they reached JD at the same time. The others were only a few steps behind them. Up close they could see that JD taken quite a beating himself. Cuts, abrasions and bruises littered his torso and arms. One eye was well on it’s way to being swollen completely shut and the corner of his mouth was cut and swollen. The bruising around his wrists standing out harshly against his pale skin. Buck was patting him softly on the shoulder though he was clearly vibrating with the need to hug JD but afraid to cause him more pain.
“Thank God, you’re alive, kid. What did that crazy bitch do to you? How badly are you hurt? Where were you? How’d you escape? Damn. Almost wish Ezra and Vin hadn’t killed her so I could.”
“Buck, calm down,” JD said with a tired smile. “I’m alright. A little battered but I’m okay. She just tied me up and beat the crap outta me.” He looked over at Ezra and Vin. “She’s dead? Really dead?”
“Yeah, JD. She’s really dead.” Vin assured him. “How did you escape?”
“A guy found me. Looked like some kinda soldier. I guess he might have been one of the people who took over the hotel. He got me down from the pipe she’d cuffed me too and then helped me out of the building. We’d only just made it to the backdoor when the bombs went. By the time I came to he was gone. He saved my life.”
“Sounds like a guardian angel,” Josiah said. “Something we can all be grateful for.”
“Amen to that,” Buck agreed.
“She just cuffed you to a pipe?” Ezra asked with a frown, then realized how that might sound. “Not that I am not grateful she didn’t injure you in any other way, Mr. Dunne, but it doesn’t fit with her usual methods.”
“The pipe she cuffed me to was right in front of a steam vent that’s scheduled to release everyday at 6pm. So if someone didn’t find me before then I’d’ve been boiled alive.”
“Ah. Yes, that’s more her style.”
“As fascinating as this all sounds it looks like at least half of you need to go to a hospital. You mind letting us do our job?”
They all turned around at the voice behind them finding three EMTs standing there with a gurney. The one who’d spoken, whose nametag said Gibbons, pointed at JD, Jim, Ezra, Vin, and Chris. You five are coming with us. Any of the rest of you need attention?”
“I don’t need to go to the hospital,” Chris insisted.
“Uh-huh. Then stop hugging your arm when you say that. I might believe you.” He shook his head. “Let’s go boys. None of you are getting out of this.”
JD let them put him on the gurney while the others reluctantly let Buck, Josiah, Nathan and Simon herd them to the waiting ambulances.
Walking away looking at the destruction around them, Ezra couldn’t help thinking. Veni, vidi, vici. We came, we saw, we conquered. Although in their case corruo was probably more accurate. We destroyed.
*******
Four hours after the hotel blew up Simon, Megan and Joel were finally able to join the group in the hospital waiting room. Buck, Josiah and Nathan had been checked over for any lingering effects from the tranquilizers they’d all been subjected too. The graze on Vin’s arm had been stitched closed and only needed to be watched for signs of infection. Chris’ dislocated shoulder had been popped back in place and he was now wearing a sling. Jim’s cuts and bruises had been deemed minor so he was treated and released quickly. Vin, Carlos, and Jim were all pacing around much to pretty much everyone’s annoyance. Buck had considered joining the pacing, worried about JD, but decided he didn’t feel like dealing with the glares the other three were receiving.
Several people in the crowded waiting room looked up when a nurse stepped into the doorway clipboard in hand. “Is anyone here for Jonathan Dunne?”
“We are,” Buck shouted, immediately jumping to his feet. The others all clustered around as the nurse joined them.
“You’re all...?”
“Yes, ma’am. We’re all, er,” Buck paused to reword what he was saying, “some of us are on the same ATF team as JD back in Denver, some are friends from the local PD, and friends from the PD in Dallas. How is he? He didn’t seem too badly hurt. Are they going to release him soon?”
Nurse Lowe held up her hand before he could keep going. “Mr. Dunne is going to be fine. Mostly minor bruising and cuts. The muscles in his shoulders are strained so lifting them is going to be painful for awhile. Some deep bruising along his back, and three cracked ribs. There is also still some type of sedative lingering in his system so the doctor has decided to keep him for at least a day for observation. They’ll be moving him to Room 302 shortly.”
Before she could walk away Vin stepped in front of her. “What about Ezra Standish?”
“And Blair Sandburg?” Jim asked.
“Or Trent Malloy?” Carlos also asked, the three crowding around her to see her clipboard.
“Guys. Back off,” Chris ordered the same time as Simon said, “Jim, give the lady some room.”
The three men reluctantly backed off to the nurse’s relief. She quickly scanned her clipboard for the status of the men they’d asked about.
“Mr. Malloy and Mr. Sandburg are both listed as in surgery. Mr. Standish has been treated, his dislocated shoulder reset. The doctor is also keeping him overnight for observation because of the sedative used on him and the possibility of a concussion. They’ll be moving him to room 314 shortly.”
Vin let out a sigh of relief though he didn’t relax. He wouldn’t relax until he’d seen his friend for himself.
“Would it be possible to put JD and Ezra in the same room?” Chris asked. “It’d be fewer rooms for us to move between and easier to keep Ezra from trying to escape.”
“Escape, sir? I wasn’t aware he was under arrest.”
“He ain’t a criminal, lady,” Vin growled.
“Vin!” Chris said sharply. “It’s not that, ma’am. Ezra just doesn’t like staying in hospitals any longer than he absolutely has to. If he’s mobile he’ll try and leave. Putting him in with JD would save everyone a lot of trouble.”
“The same if you could put Sandburg and Malloy either in with or near them,” Simon added.
“I’ll see what we can do, gentlemen. Someone will let you know as soon as they’re in a room.
They all thanked her as she left. Simon looked at Chris as everyone settled back down. “Is Standish really that bad?”
“Let’s put it this way. Houdini’s got nothing on Ezra when he wants out of the hospital.”
“That bad.”
“Yep, and Vin can be just as bad. The hospitals back home have taken to stationing orderlies just outside their doors if they want to keep them overnight. And always put them in the same room if they’re both injured to make it easier to keep an eye on them.”
Simon chuckled, thankful that his own people weren’t quite that bad. Then again it was usually Sandburg who was injured and with Jim in Blessed Protector mode Blair was lucky if he could get up to go to the bathroom. He almost groaned. God, he was going to be dealing with two cranky men for the next couple of months. Blair couldn’t sit still for two minutes and Jim was not going to be happy about it. Maybe Denver PD wanted a pig-headed Cop/Sentinel and his partner/Guide?
*******
About twenty minutes later the nurse was back. “Alright. Mr. Dunne and Mr. Standish have both been put in room 306. Barring anything unforeseen happening during their surgeries Mr. Sandburg and Mr. Malloy will be put in room 307. You may go up to room 306 now and remember, gentlemen, that this is a hospital and you will be quiet.”
They all agreed, eager to see for themselves that JD and Ezra were alright. Finding room 306 easily enough, they entered the room quietly so as not to disturb the two sleeping men. Buck made a beeline for JD while Vin headed straight for Ezra. Chris settled himself in a chair between the two beds leaving the others to arrange themselves around the room.
Ezra’s eyes opened the second Vin sat down next to him. Vin smiled softly. “Hey, Ez? How ya feelin’?”
“They are refusin’ to release me from this institutional breeding ground of illness and disease. They want to *observe* me.”
The rather cranky tone got chuckles from around the room.
“They just want to make sure that you’re alright, Ez. The Doc is concerned that you might have a reaction to the sedative Moran’s guys used.”
“I’m fine. Besides, I believe I would have shown some reaction by now, would I not, Mr. Jackson?” Ezra looked at Nathan who was standing at the foot of his bed reading his chart. Nathan shrugged.
“Probably, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Plus you dislocated your shoulder again. The doctors are probably concerned about any negative interactions the pain medicine they gave you might have with the sedative. One night won’t kill you, Ezra.”
“Fine,” Ezra huffed, “but if I catch so much as a sniffle while I am here it will be your fault.”
“Sure, Ez. Whatever you say,” Nathan grinned as he sat down.
“Buck?”
“Hey, kid, how ya feelin’?” Buck asked quietly, brushing JD’s hair back from his forehead. “You in any pain?”
“M’fine.” He grinned dopily. “Gave me the good stuff. Doan feel a thing right now.”
Buck looked worriedly at Nathan.
“They gave him a shot of Demarol, Buck. He’s fine. Once it wears off they’ve got a note to put him on low-dosage Codeine. Nothing to worry about.”
“Good. Good,” he repeated turning back to smile at JD who was blinking his eyes drowsily. “Go back to sleep, JD. We’ll be here when you wake up.”
“Kay.” JD quickly slipped back into sleep. The guys just smiled fondly at the innocent picture their youngest made.
“Any idea how long they’ll be holding them in here, Nate?” Chris asked.
Nathan shrugged. “I’m not the doctor so I can’t say for sure, but best guess is they’ll release Ezra tomorrow unless something happens. JD might get released tomorrow, more likely the day after.”
Chris nodded. He would call AD Travis in a little while after he’d talked to the doctor so he could let him know what was going on. In the meantime they’d wait to hear what was happening with Blair and Trent.
********
Two hours later a nurse knocked on the open door of the room. “Excuse me, I was told to let you know when Blair Sandburg came out of surgery?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Jim was instantly on his feet. “Is he alright? He’s going to make it, right? Can I see him?”
She smiled. “He came through surgery with flying colors. They’ll be bringing him down in just a few minutes. You’ll be able to see him then.”
“Thank you.”
“Your welcome,” she smiled and left.
Jim hovered by the door until he finally saw them wheeling Blair down the hallway. He followed the orderlies into the room, standing to the side until they were done transferring him to the bed and the nurse had finished fiddling with his IV. Once they were all done and had left he sat down in the chair beside the bed and allowed his senses to scan his sleeping Guide.
After a moment he slumped back in the chair relieved. Blair’s heartbeat was strong, he could find no signs of infection in the shoulder wound, and beyond the small lump on his head was in good health. Jim inhaled deeply, taking in the familiar scent of his Guide and friend, finding comfort in the steady heartbeat. Now he just had to wait for him to wake up.
*******
It was almost three hours later when they finally wheeled in the gurney with Trent, Carlos trailing behind. Blair had roused briefly during the wait so Megan had returned to the precinct leaving Simon and Jim in the room to watch as Trent was carefully transferred to the bed. Most of his body was covered in gauze bandages. His left leg had been placed in a full length brace to keep him from moving it and then elevated slightly at the ankle in a sling.
Carlos sat down heavily in the chair next to Trent’s bed. Simon glanced over him then at Jim before nodding his head. He rose to his feet. “I’m going to go get a cup of coffee. Why don’t you come with me, Jim. You want anything, Carlos?”
“Uhm, no, I’m good. Thank you though.”
“I’d rather...”
“You need a cup of coffee, Jim,” Simon stared hard at him.
“But...” Jim looked from Simon to Carlos, then back. “Oh, yeah. Coffee would be good. You’ll let me know if Blair starts to wake up, right?”
“Of course,” Carlos answered immediately, though he suspected it didn’t matter where Jim went in the building he would know as soon as Blair started to wake up. Jim hesitated a second longer but finally let Simon drag him out of the room.
Finding himself alone now, Carlos stared sadly at Trent’s sleeping form.
“God, Trent, mi amigo, mi hermano, I’m so sorry,” he murmured, voice barely above a whisper. Once again he mentally pictured all the wounds that had been inflicted upon his best friend, always coming back to the sight of that knife jutting obscenely from a powerful thigh. That wound alone was going to take a couple of months to heal and then months of physical therapy and Trent might never be as strong as he had been. And it was all his fault.
“This is all my fault. I never should have left you guys alone. God, you were both hurt and I was supposed to be there to help protect you. If I’d been there…”
“You’d probably be dead,” Vin interrupted from the doorway. He was leaning against the frame, arms folded over his chest. Carlos swallowed heavily, positive that Vin hated him for not being there to protect Ezra from that psychotic bitch. And hadn’t that been a shock that the stalker was a woman.
“I don’t hate you, Carlos. Yeah, I was pissed that you weren’t there but in the end it really was best that you weren’t. Ezra got a concussion trying to stop‘em from taking Sensei. You’d probably’ve gotten the same then probably killed when they came back for Ezra. And who knows, we might not’ve found that sewer access if it weren’t for you.”
“But…”
“Vin is right. You can’t blame yourself for this,” Blair chimed in.
“But I should have been there.”
“I’m glad you weren’t.”
Carlos started at the soft voice. “Trent?”
Trent gently grasped Carlos’ hand. “I am. It was bad enough what they did to me and they wanted me alive. I don’t want to even think about what they would have done to you. Plus, the last thing I want to have to do is tell my mom that you’d gotten injured much less killed.”
“Oh, so instead I get to do it.”
“Mom always did like you better,” Trent teased.
“It’s because I’m better looking,” he teased back with a grin. The grin faded a little as he looked at Trent with sad eyes. “You sure we’re good, mi amigo?”
“Very good, my friend. There isn’t anyone I would rather have at my back than you.”
“Same here.”
*******
Wednesday Afternoon
Blair, Jim, Trent and Carlos all looked towards the door when Ezra and JD entered in wheelchairs being pushed by Vin and Buck respectively the rest of Team 7 behind them.
“They’re letting you guys out?” Blair half-asked, half-whined. “Man, that is so not fair. Why won’t they let us out?”
“Maybe it’s because they pulled half a glass window out of your back, Chief,” Jim responded drily.
“Still…”
“You’re not going anywhere, Sandburg, until the Docs okay it.”
Trent looked at Carlos. I’m not that bad when I’m in the hospital, am I?”
“No, thank God. You’re usually much more patient.”
“And how often are you in the hospital, Mr. Malloy?”
“Uh…”
“Often enough,” Carlos answered for him, “but not as often as any of you from I’ve heard.”
“Aw, we’re not that bad,” JD said.
“Not that bad?” Buck asked incredulously. “Hell, boy, if I had a gray hair for every time you’ve been in the hospital I’d be grayer than Josiah.”
“Are you trying to imply something, Brother?”
“Uh, have I ever told you how distinguished and, er, stately your gray makes you look, Josiah?” Buck said plastering a grin on his face.
Josiah just raised an eyebrow.
“JD hardly has the market cornered on time spent in the hospital. I can think of two other people in this room who seem determined to put me in an early grave from wondering if this is the bust where they’re going t get their fool heads blown off,” Chris glared specifically at Ezra and Vin.
“I take umbrage at that heinous accusation. I refuse to be anything but a dignified corpse and fully intend to have an open casket when I die of old age, thank you very much.”
“Yeah, what he said, Cowboy,” Vin replied with a grin, enjoying the way Chris’ eye twitched ever so slightly at the hated nickname.
Blair started to comment, but Jim slapped his hand over his mouth. “Don’t even think it, Chief. The words pot, kettle, stones and glass houses are running through my brain right now.”
Blair just rolled his eyes. Nathan also rolled his eyes at everyone’s antics as he stepped forward. “Before everyone starts getting too excited we just came in to let you know that Ezra and JD have been released, we’ve got rooms at the Marriott on 34th. We’re on the same floor as you and Trent, Carlos. I figured we’d let the hotel know that you still needed the room and about Trent being in the hospital for the moment.”
“Thanks. We’d appreciate that.” Carlos nodded.
“Alright, now all of you out before a nurse or their doctors come by and throw us all out. We’ll talk to you later, guys.” Nathan herded them all out with Chris’ help.