A/N: Nothing real fancy, just a tiny piece on how Jackson got from the front of the car to the back.
"We gotta get him to a hospital," Mitch said, eyeing Jackson. He was already sweating, and pain was written all over his face.
Abe glanced at Jackson, not believing this was happening. He could hear himself repeat "My god" but in his mind he was already thinking of the fastest way to a nearby hospital. He was not going to lose his best friend.
"Hold on Rafiki. Hold on," he said, gripping the wheel tight and shooting glances at his friend every few seconds.
Mitch was leaning over the seats, trying to assess the damage. Jackson was breathing too fast and Mitch saw the muscles in his jaw work to keep him from crying out. It didn't look good. He leaned closer to him and pressed the shirt harder. Jackson whimpered, trying to get away from Mitch's hands.
'You need to keep pressing Jackson. You have to try to stop the bleeding as much as possible.'
Jackson nodded weakly, and Mitch pulled away his hands. He sat back a little, looking at Jamie. Barely overcome the shock from before, she was now frantically looking from Mitch to Jackson and back.
'Is he-'
'He'll be fine, we just need to get him to a hospital,' Mitch replied. He gritted his teeth. He wasn't lying, but he had no idea how much time Jackson had.
He turned his attention back to the front. Abe was driving fast but kept looking at Jackson. Mitch understood why he was distracted, but it was not something they could afford. He was about to open his mouth to say something about it when Jackson let out a groan and slumped forward in his seat.
Mitch shot forward and grabbed him before he hit the dashboard and pulled him back. He held him there with his left arm bent around the headrest to hold onto him, and pressed the shirt against the wound with his other.
'Rafiki!' Abe yelled out.
'Abe, pull over.'
Abe turned his head towards Mitch.
'What? No, we need to keep moving. We need to-'
'I know,' Mitch interrupted him, 'but you're distracted. Let's put him in the back and I'll drive.'
Abe thought about it for a second and then nodded. He stopped the car on the side of the dirt road and ran out to Jackson's side. As soon as he opened the door, Mitch let go and Jackson fell sideways in Abe's arms. He didn't move or shout, so he had to have lost consciousness. Abe tried to hold him as gentle as he could. He could feel the heat radiating from his body, and his short, fast breaths on his arm.
As Mitch and Jamie opened the doors, Abe carried Jackson to the back, and with their help laid him down on the left side bench.
'Keep pressing this on there if he doesn't do so himself,' Mitch said. Without wasting any more time, Jamie sat down in the passenger seat and Mitch behind the wheel. As he stepped on the gas and the car sped forward, he heard a soft groan, meaning Jackson had woken up. Mitch looked in the rearview mirror. Jackson was pale, and his breathing hitched with every small bump in the road.
'Hang in there Rafiki, and keep this on your side,' Abe said, moving Jackson's hands towards the shirt. Jackson didn't reply, but Abe saw him arm muscles work, so at least he understood.
'Abe, tell me where to drive to,' Mitch said.
'I do know the way, but it might not be the fastest. There is a map in the dashboard cupboard,' he said. Jamie quickly searched for the map, and found it stuffed somewhere in the back.
'Got it!'
Abe leaned forward and pointed at the map.
'The hospital is right there, and we are here,' he said, pointing at another spot.
Jamie traced the map with her finger, calculating the distance in her head.
'Looks like we're ten miles from the hospital,' she said, praying to god she was right.