Joaquin felt as if he could no longer breathe once the gun had gone off. All air had left his lungs and he had been standing there frozen in the middle of a random, broken down building in the desert. He had no idea what to do or how to respond. He just stood there, looking at the body that laid on the floor with his eyes wide opened and not even moving. Kevin. Beautiful, beautiful Kevin Keller-McCoy laying flat on the ground with blood spilling from his head down to his nose and cheeks. Joaquin stayed in his spot as tears started to blur his vision.
He didn't know who had the shot the rebel. Or if anyone shot him and Kevin was just shot twice. He didn't know if the rebel escaped or if he was ascending to hell like he deserved. He didn't know who had freed the captured soldiers or if they were still handcuffed to the wall. Joaquin didn't even know if he was the last one there that was still alive and breathing. He just stayed there frozen in shock and fear. All he could see was the gun being fired into the side of Kevin's head. It was like a song on repeat in his brain. The bullet just hitting and hitting and hitting and hitting him. Blood spilling and spilling and spilling and spilling. Kevin body just staring up at him with cold empty eyes.
"DeSantos!" he heard call from the sides, but he couldn't bare to look. Even though his vision was blurred from tears and panic, his eyes were still on Kevin. "DeSantos! DeSantos!"
Joaquin shook his head and finally looked over at who was trying to speak to him. Even though he didn't want to. He blinked hard three times and his vision was clear again and his pathway to Kevin was being blocked by two of the soldiers that had been previously held captive. One of them pressed her hand on Joaquin's shoulder. "DeSantos..." he called. "DeSantos, focus."
"He's... he's gone." Joaquin choked out, his body taking a step back. "He's gone isn't he?"
"No. He's not." the other soldier said, his eyes had the same fear and panic. "Keller-McCoy's gonna be fine. He's still breathing"
Joaquin pushed them away as soon as he heard that Kevin was breathing. He looked down. All the other soldier's were knelt down beside him. Two of them pressed their ripped sleeve to his gunshot wound and the other holding his hand tightly. Kevin's grip was slackening. One soldier stood up and looked over. "I signaled for back up." she said, yanking off her helmet. "Help's on the way."
Joaquin nodded and as he did he looked down at the body of the rebel. He had forgotten about him. And he was right that someone had shot him again. He was on the ground, pressing both of his big hands to the wound that was in the stomach. Joaquin pushed forward but was held back by a hand on his ankle. He looked down and saw Kevin. His eyes were disoriented and he wasn't looking somewhere in particular. But he was holding onto Joaquin. Joaquin knelt down and grabbed his hand in his. "Hold on." he whispered.
The next two seconds felt like two hours as the door to the building as slammed opened. In came a few more soldiers, guns raised. They immediately went over to the bleeding rebel and Joaquin watched as they cuffed him. He would be taken into his country's custody for rebellion. Serves him right. Joaquin looked down and saw as a few soldier's loaded Kevin gently onto a cot. Joaquin's hand stayed tightly clasped in his.
"DeSantos..." the same soldier called to him. She went to touch his arm and bring his hand away from Kevin's. "Keller-McCoy's going to be fine."
"No... no... I have to go with him... please I-" Joaquin cried as he felt his hand become empty from Kevin's hand.
"Calm down DeSantos." said the other soldier. "You're panicking. Don't panic, Keller-McCoy's going to be just fine. Just breathe."
"Get him back to the base and fast." the general, who had come on hearing that backup was needed and that her best soldier was the man down. "He's bleeding out too much. Get him to the base doctor."
The cot was raised and Kevin was lifted from the ground. A faint gasp escaped from his lips before he was hauled out of Kevin's sight. Joaquin moved forward again, but was pushed back. "No! No! Kevin!" he cried.
"Easy DeSantos." the general told him before turning over to one of the women there. "Bring another cot, DeSantos is panicking. He needs rest."
"I don't need rest ma'am, I need to get to Kevin! Please sir, he' dying! If anything happens to him-"
"I understand your relationship with Keller-McCoy, okay? I understand. If anything happened to my husband back at home while I was here I would be devastated." she sighed and adjusted her cap. "But we all have to stay calm okay? Being upset and thrashing out is not going to help anyone? Keller-McCoy will be just fine. We'll see how he is when he gets to the doctors."
"And what if he doesn't survive?" Joaquin found himself asking out of sure fear and panic that he would never see his green eyes beauty again and never be able to see him walk down the aisle.
"Don't think like that Joaquin." said the soldier that had told him that Kevin was alive in the first.
"Johnson, Martinez... go on get out of here. Glad to have you back." the general said.
"Yes general." they said in unison before leaving. Joaquin looked back over at his superior. She have him a sad smile and patted his shoulder before walking out of the building.
Leaving Joaquin the only one there. The man licked his lip and ran his fingers through his hand. He had to go. He needed to go out and be with his fiance. Joaquin would make sure that when he woke up that he was there holding his hand. Joaquin grabbed his gun and left the building, a piece of heart staying in there.
"... get some blood... we're... now!"
Kevin was trying so hard to keep his eyes open. But they were so heavy. He just wanted to close them. He was so tired right now and he wanted nothing but to rest.
"K...ller-Mc... you... hear us?..."
His ears were like headphones that you had to turn the wire around to hear your song. In this case, Kevin had to move around to hear what people were saying. But the burning, shooting pain in his head made it impossible for him to move. Kevin's mouth was too wet. It was filling with blood and Kevin could tell from the metaliallic taste that he had tasted before when he had bit Joaquin's bottom lip during sex.
Joaquin.
"Joaq... Joaqu..." Kevin opened his mouth but barely anything came out. His eyes felt like they were held down by weights and he needed to close them. His eyes rolled to the back of his head as he felt his body being lifted. Was he dying? Was he going to heaven? Those thoughts went away when he felt cold metal again his back.
"... losing... get the... come on... McCoy?"
Kevin moved to raise his arms but he felt two arms slam both his wrists down. The pain started to shoot through his entire body and it made him scream. Something went inside his mouth and he felt his blood leaving. It wasn't helping his breathing. Kevin felt like he was suffocating.
The blurred voices started to get louder, but nothing got clearer or more understanding.
"Br... please Kel..." one said.
Kevin rolled his eyes to the back of his head and then the darkness started to surround him. The voices got louder, but nothing called out to him as he closed his eyes.
Joaquin stood outside the room where Kevin was, tapping his foot impatiently. He needed to know how Kevin was doing. He needed to make sure that he was alright. Joaquin shook his head, praying that he was alive and hopefully wasn't being laid into a body bag. He didn't want his child to be the causality in this simple rescue mission. He would die if he had.
The door to the room opened and one of the military doctors walked over to Joaquin. "How is he?" Joaquin asked.
"He's still in the room. The army surgeons are working to get the bullet out." the doctor explained.
"It's still in there? Maldito cristo, él va a morir." Joaquin gasped, speaking in spanish because his body was in full panic mode and it went to the first language that came to mind.
"Mr. Keller-McCoy is not going to die DeSantos." the doctor said, rubbing his thumb and middle finger together. "The bullet wasn't too deep to kill him and it probably won't affect him."
"Probably?!"
"I can't tell DeSantos, I'm sorry."
"It's... it's okay..." Joaquin said. "I'm sorry. I'm just worried about him."
"I'm guessing that you two are together?" the doctor asked.
"Yeah. It's been five years." Joaquin responded, taking a seat in the chairs lined up.
"I get it. I have a girl back in Florida. She means everything to me. But you just need to relax and calm down. Maybe get some sleep. Some coffee?"
"I'll sleep when I know Kevin's alright. Thank you doctor."
The doctor nodded and the door to the room opened again. An army surgeon walked out, his gloved hands covered in blood. Joaquin's heart stopped seeing the sight of all the blood that was covered the hands. Was it Kevin's blood? Was all of it Kevin's blood. The surgeon leaned over to the doctor and spoke to him very softly, to the point where Joaquin couldn't really hear him. The doctor nodded and looked over at Joaquin again. "They've gotten the bullet out."
"Can I go see him?"
"Actually no." The surgeon said. "We've sedated him and let him rest, but he needs treatment. Treatment that we can't provide here."
"Keller-McCoy needs to go back to the states. We'll need to fly him out to the closest state." The doctor explained. "That's Virginia."
"That's an almost twenty hour flight! Would he survive that long?!"
"He would. We've stitch up the gunshot cut and given him some blood. It'll be enough for him to survive the flight and make it to a hospital." the doctor said. "We'll have to speak with the general about him leaving the base."
"I need to go with him."
"Your duty is here." the surgeon tried to say.
"My duty is to my fiance! I am not leaving him alone! I'm going with him!" Joaquin yelled.
"Then you'll have to speak with the general."
"Speak with me about what?" The three men turned over and saw the general approaching them. Her short brunette hair was waving against her high cheekbones. "How's Keller-McCoy doing?"
"We've just finished surgery madam." the surgeon said with a small grin that went away after three seconds too long. "But he needs proper treatment outside of what he can offer here."
"We're requesting to send him back to America. Virginia to be precise." The doctor explained. "We can contact a hospital. Let them know about Keller-McCoy being sent out."
"Okay. Contact them and contact his family." she said. "And you Mr. DeSantos?"
"I'm requesting to be sent out with him. Please ma'am... I can't leave him alone." Joaquin said. "Please..."
The general took in a deep breath and looked over at Joaquin. "You and Keller-McCoy have herby been honorably discharged."
"Oh gracias al señor." Joaquin gasped out. "Gracias, muchas gracias señora."
"Eres muy bienvenido DeSantos" she responded before turning to the doctor. "Get a jet ready for takeoff. They leave for Virginia immediately."
"Yes general." The surgeon said before walking off with the doctor. Joaquin watched as his general left and he sat down on the chair again. Head in his hands and heart heavy. Kevin would be okay. He would be fine.
Tom had been through a lot the past few years without his son. He had started out depressed and sad. But soon realized that he just had to live with his son being off out of the country and risking his life. Life had gotten better for him and Sierra and Josie. They spent all the time they could together. They hosted family dinners at Josie's house, went out to new restaurants whenever they could, tried to go to concerts where Josie and her Pussycats were opening up for. The Keller-McCoy's had a happy life together. With or without Kevin.
They still wrote to him every two weeks and tried to face time whenever Kevin wasn't on missions. Even though Kevin hadn't come in a whole year, they saw the young boy all the time that they could. They loved him. They were obsessed with him. They adored Kevin Keller-McCoy with all of their heart. They loved him. And their thoughts were always on him, even when they were together. One a date. Sierra and Tom were just thinking of Kevin as they sat down in a family friendly restaurant in Greendale for lunch. They had thought of their son while they were looking at the menu and they saw the desserts. And they thought of how much their child loved desserts and had such a huge sweet tooth.
"I wonder what kind of cake Kev would order if he was here?" Sierra asked, adjusting her necklace.
"Every single cake. And maybe two of the kiwi ones." Tom said with a chuckle. "I wonder if he's alright."
"Well he did promise us that he would be back for Josie's headlining show." Sierra said. "I'm really excited about seeing him again. I wonder if maybe he's found someone in the base."
"From the letters he writes back, I think that that Joaquin character is a pretty great significant other." Tom said with a laugh as his phone vibrated from his blazer pocket. He pulled it out and gave his wife a sympathetic smile. "Sorry sugar bee. I have to take this. Could be important."
Sierra nodded. "Go on ahead Tommy. I'll just see what else is here for lunch." she said with a smile.
Tom nodded and answered the phone. "Hey, Tom Keller, Sheriff of Riverdale speaking."
"Sir? My name is General Harley Grey. I work on you're son's base. I'm calling in regards to your son, Kevin Keller-McCoy."
"Um... okay? Is something wrong?" Tom asked, getting Sierra's attention from the change of tone in his voice.
"Your son has gotten into an accident."
"What do you mean accident?!" Tom said getting frustrated and frustrated that he was being in the dark.
"Tom what's happening?" Sierra asked calmy, putting her menu down.
"No, Sierra." Tom said to her. "What happened to my son?!"
Sierra moved forward and took the phone out of her husband's hands and put it to her ear, despite Tom's panicked protests. "Hello? I'm Kevin's stepmother. What happened?"
"We regret to inform you that he was injured. A rescue mission gone wrong. He's being sent back to the states for proper treatment. Do you live close to Virginia?"
"No... no. We're from Riverdale. All the way up in Canada." Sierra said, breathless.
"We just request that you get to Pioneer Medical Clinic in Virginia, just in case something terrible happens. We can provide housing and-"
"We'll be there. Thank you so much General Grey."
Sierra met eyes with Tom, who had nothing but a pure look of fear and pain. His hand was shaking violently. His wife learned forward and took his hand. "Is... Is he..." Tom tried to spill out.
"No... no he's not dead. But we need to go. We have to get to Virginia."
"It's a twelve hour drive from here. Give me the keys come on." Tom said, grabbing his jacket, slamming too many bills on the table and taking out the keys. Sierra grabbed her stuff as well and the two hauled ass out of the restaurant, But one more person still needed to be notified. Josie. As the couple got into the car and slammed the doors shut, Tom dialed Josie's number and handed the phone to his wife.
"If I had known that this is what you meant by lunch break, I would have taken up your offer a long long time ago." Josie said as he leaned up against the pillow. She looked over and met eyes with her beautiful boyfriend, Sweet Pea. Sweet Pea wasn't his actual name, but Josie preferred the nickname than his real name. Sweet Pea moved his arm around and started to rub Josie's skin. His thick fingers reaching the small tattoo of a treble clef on her wrist.
"You deserved some kind of time off. You've been in the studio all week kitten." Sweet Peas said collectively and seductively at the same time. Josie chuckled at him as he started to kiss her collarbone.
"I've been spending a lot of time on a special special song for the Pussycat's next album." Josie explained, turning over and covering her exposed beasts with the thick and soft dark purple comforter. "Remember my stepbrother?"
"The one that you're super close to to the point where you refuse to call him your stepbrother?"
"Yeah. And old pal Archie and I wrote a song about him called Army Base."
Sweet Pea smiled and pressed a sweet kiss into Josie's collarbone and then he slowly made his way up to her lips. They kissed for what felt like twenty minutes before letting go for air. "You're perfect kitten." Sweet Pea whispered. "And I love you for it."
"I love you more Sweet Pea." They two's sweet and romantic session was interrupted by the catchy gum commerical jingle that was Josie's phone ringtone. She groaned and sat up, grabbing the phone off the nightstand. "Two seconds love." she said.
"Two seconds too long." Sweet Pea called as Josie put the phone to her ear.
"Hello?" Josie's expression changed after the first few seconds of the conversation. Her arm started to shake and all the of color drained from her face. Sweet Pea looked over and saw her, pale and afraid. He pulled on some boxers and and walked over to her. She was still listening to whoever was on the phone. It was scaring Sweet Pea what was being said. Josie muttered something into the phone before hanging up and dropping it on the floor. Not caring that the screen had shattered.
"Josie? Kitten? Baby, talk to me." Sweet Pea called, begging and pleading in his voice. "Tell me what happened? Jo, look at me. I'm here. What's the matter?"
Josie looked up at her boyfriend, tears in her eyes and lip quivering. "That... that was my mom and-and stepdad. They... they got a call. And Kevin he'... he's been in an accident!" Josie sobbed.
Sweet Pea wrapped her in his embrace, rubbing her cheeks as she sobbed. "Breathe kitten." he whispered.
"He was in an accident and he-he-he-"
"Josephine... breathe with me okay? Come on. Everything is okay. Is he alive?"
"Yes... yes. They said that they're bringing him to Virginia. To-"
Sweet Pea cut her off. "Get dressed kitten and pack a quick bag. We're going to see your brother."
Oh how I love cliffhangers! They make me all warm and giddy to cause you pain and anxiety until I update in a week or month. Thanks so much for the fast support. Be sure to follow, favorite, share and review and I'll see you all a next time.