"Eddie status, Eddie, Eddie, we heard guns shots...STATUS NOW"!
Eddie forced his eyes open with the sound of Greg's command in his ear...through the excruciating pain and confusion he was feeling he tried to focus his brain and remember why he was on the ground, why was Greg shouting in his ear asking about his status, what was his status at this moment in time he had no idea everything was swimming. It was a lovely summers day why was he so cold and wet, not just his tac vest, but his shirt, trousers and the ground beneath him, reaching down to his side Ed's hand came away sticky and wet the source of which being his own blood, why was he bleeding? while trying to gather his thoughts all of a sudden in slow motion everything came drifting back, how he had gotten split off from the rest of the team, chasing kids with guns through the woods, the young girl no more then 14 Clark's age stopping just in front of him turning round and raising the gun, how had he been so careless? why had he now taken her seriously?...he knew her she went to Clark's school, he had seen her when he had gone to talk to them about a career in law enforcement and doing the job ...he had never thought that she would shoot, he knew she recognised him he had seen it in her eyes that split second before she had pulled the trigger and shot him twice the last thing he remembered as he hit the ground was her telling him she was sorry.
"Eddie status, come on buddy talk to me" Greg's voice close to panic rang in his ear again.
"Greg" Ed whispered through clenched teeth while doing his up most to not pass out again
"Eddie where are you, are you hurt"?
"Shot, twice... I think" came Eddie's laboured reply
The whole team were stunned into total silence for a few moments at Ed's reply "Ok buddy stay with me...where are you, how bad?" The team stood waiting dreading the answer to Greg's questions.
Through laboured breath Eddie replied "West side of ravine...under vest...too much blood...I don't have enough time."
"Eddie just hold on we're on our way...just keep talking to me, you need to stay with me, we're coming to get you just please hold on EMS are on their way" while tell Ed all this Greg was praying to god that they got there in time.
"Ok guys you heard all of that we need to find Ed and fast...let's go" Greg was already off and running with his team close behind hoping that he reached his team leader and best friend in time.
Though the haze of pain Eddie repeated over and over to himself "Come on just breathe through the pain, in and out, in and out", Ed closed his eyes and tried to put this usually simple thought into practice, "come on Lane you can do this, you just need to do your part" he tells himself "this isn't the way to go out, laying on the floor of the woods bleeding out, your team are on their way but so tired just need to sleep", and once again the blackness gained its upper hand and surrounded him in complete and total darkness.
"Eddie open your eyes for me buddy, come on you can do it" Greg's soft but shaky voice filtered through the haze of darkness and pain "Eddie I know you can hear me I need to put pressure on your wound to slow down the bleeding I'm gonna push on it now buddy, I'm sorry but it's gonna hurt" as Greg finished the sentence Eddie's cry of agony echoed across the ravine as he tried to move himself away from the source of the pain "I'm so sorry I've got to do this, I now it hurts but try and work with me here EMS are 5 minutes out" Greg hoped he wasn't giving his friend false hope. "Spike go and meet them tell them they need to hurry"
Spike for a few seconds just stood and looked no sure whether he had hear Greg correctly.
"Spike NOW!" Greg shouted bring him back to reality and sprinting off into the undergrowth. "Sam you and Leah need to find the sonofabitch that did this to Eddie"
Sam and Leah looked at each other "Boss we need to stay and help with Ed" Sam replied already knowing that Greg would tell them that they were more help to Ed by finding his shooter then standing around waiting for Spike and EMS, keeping his fear and anger under control Greg expression left both team mates in no doubt that they were to follow his order and not question it and in unison both replied "copy that" and set off trying to find the teenager that had tried to kill Ed and who may still succeed if help didn't arrive very soon.
Eddie could feel the burning sensation radiating though his body and the pressure like a weight bearing down on his side, why wouldn't it just let him go, he didn't need to stay any more it would be so easy to slip away, no more pain no more nightmares or split decisions to make to whom lived and died, no more Scorpio just peace but he needed Greg to tell those he left behind "Greg" he managed to speak though chattering teeth and bouts of shivering.
"Hey Ed back with us, you had me worried for a moment there" Greg replied trying to make it casual "just hold on for me buddy we'll have you on your way to hospital in not time and you know how you love those and then they can fix you up"
"Greg...need...you...to...tell...Sophie...sorry...for...everything" Ed 's voice was nearly a whisper and his breathing coming in short sharp gasps as he struggled on "Loved...her...from...first...time...I...saw...her...didn't"...Ed paused to try and stop the darkness creeping up... "Always...show...it...but...I...always...will...proudest moments...Clark & Izzy...the team"
"NO don't you do this to me Eddie it's not ending this way...it can't your stronger then this we need you I need you. You fight damn it you fight, Sophie needs a husband the kids need their father and I need my friend don't you dare leave like this" Greg's tears flowed freely down his face "Eddie don't you quit on me...Eddie!"
Greg looked at his fallen friend who was summing all his strength to open his eyes for what he believed to be the last time and focus on his Sgt's words and now his voice barely a whisper "So...quiet...need to go...now...always my friend."
Ed's words cut Greg to core where was SPIKE and EMS pulling Eddie into his arms refusing to let this happen Greg knew that oblivion had come back to claim its bounty . With Ed up against him his arms trilled even more tightly trying to pour his life's blood and warmth into this man that was more then a friend to him, he was a brother willing him to keep breathing...to keep living.
"Eddie I know your tired but don't quit please don't quit I'm not letting you go, I'll get you though this, I promise I just need you to stay" and with that Greg focused on the biggest fight of his life...to save his friend.
