Wow. You all must be ready to kill me by now. I know I'm horrible at updating. Something about me and time just don't get along. So, here's chapter 4.
"Talking"
Thinking.
"phone call"
&: Chapter 4- Gone &:
"Boys, where's Kai?"
The captains glanced around and swiftly realized that the Russian enigma was gone. Immediately, doubt began to fill them. Their minds became frantic.
"Sir, I'll go look for him," Tala offered. Though he and Kai had not been on excellent terms recently, he still tried to watch out for the other. To find him gone so soon after the shooting made Tala's stomach flip.
"No." Mr. Dickenson's reply was sharp. "No one else is leaving unless I say so. I don't want anyone else to go missing. Robert, I need you to call a hospital. Tell them we have a bullet wound, but mention that we're not leaving the hospital. Michael, call around and make sure that no other teams have lost any members. Lee, you have some medical skills, right?" He received a nod from the Chinese blader. "Good. Tend to Miguel's wound as best you can. Tala, stand here and watch them all. I don't want anyone gone for too long." Mr. Dickenson stood and began to walk down the hallway.
"Mr. Dickenson, where are you going?" Robert asked.
"I need to take care of some things." And with that, he was gone, leaving the captains to fend for themselves. They stood silently for a moment, contemplating what to do.
"Come on, let's get moving. He gave us our orders," Tala said with a demanding voice, trying to get them moving. "Michael, when you call the teams, don't mention that Kai's missing. Garland, call Kai. Keep calling until you have an answer."
They all set off on their jobs. Lee left for a moment, coming back with towels and a bowl of water. He set the items next to Miguel before soaking a towel and placing it on the Spaniard's forehead, trying to cool him down.
"Tala, I need you to talk to him. Keep him awake, no matter what. If he passes out, it'll be hell," Lee ordered. Tala nodded, bending down next to the injured captain.
"Miguel, can you hear me?" he asked.
"Yea... Tal-a," Miguel replied in a quiet sigh. Tala continued to ask him questions, waiting patiently for his answers, while Miguel, tired as he was, continued to answer them as best he could.
Robert bent down next to Tala. "They're sending someone from the nearest hospital right now. They said it'll be about fifteen minutes." Tala nodded.
"Miguel, do you know who this is?" he asked, gesturing to Robert.
"Rob-ert."
"Yes, it's me. Just hang in there, Miguel. Help is on the way. Can you do that? Can you promise me you won't go to sleep?"
"I pro-mise."
"Thank you, Miguel. I'll check on you in a little while."
"Tala!" Michael's frantic cry broke into the conversation. "BEGA is missing Brooklyn!"
"What?" Tala turned swiftly.
"They said he went on a walk about two hours ago and he hasn't come back yet!"
"Garland!" Tala hollered. Garland rushed over, egged on by the urgency in Tala's voice. "How long is Brooklyn usually on his little walks?"
"Less than an hour, usually. Why? Is something wrong?" Garland sensed some wasn't right.
"He's been gone for two hours and hasn't come back."
"What? They haven't gone to look for him?" Garland turned, intent on finding his missing teammate. However, Tala quickly shot his arm out and grabbed Garland's ankle, stopping him from moving.
"We don't need you running off. Call him and tell him to head back, then get back to calling Kai," Tala ordered, his tone threatening Garland to argue. He didn't.
Garland removed his cell phone and punched in a memorized number. After a moment, he began to speak. "Brook...? Finally... where are you... they're worried... head back to the hotel, now... yes, now... all right... bye.
"He's coming back now," Garland reported, sighing with relief.
"Tala...?" Miguel added himself to the conversation with a soft, hoarse voice. Tala noticed with fear that Miguel's breaths were coming out shorter; he hoped the ambulance would get there soon.
"Yes, Miguel?" Tala fought to keep his voice steady.
"Is Brooklyn... all right?"
"Yea, he's fine."
"That's... good. What about... my t-team?"
"Hang on. Michael! How's Barthez?"
Michael was silent for a moment, listening to the phone. Finally, he answered, "They're fine. Everyone's there."
"Your team is all right, Miguel. They're safe."
Lee removed the blood soaked cloth from Miguel's shoulder, also soaking another towel to replace the now-warm towel on his head. He pushed firmly on Miguel's bullet wound; the Spaniard winced but didn't object. Lee then moved away, trying to clear his head from the smell of blood. Instead, he joined Garland in calling Kai.
"Good. Tala...?" Miguel's voice was softer now.
"Yes?"
"Why is it... so... cold?"
"What do you mean, Miguel?" Tala's eyes widened with fear.
"It's warm... when I close... m-my eyes. Can I... sl-sleep n-ow?" Miguel's voice was quieter still.
"No, Miguel. You mustn't. You have to stay awake." Tala was frantic.
"But... I..." Miguel didn't finish as his head titled to the side and his eyes slipped shut. His breathing became softer, slower.
"Miguel! Miguel, wake up!" Tala shook the Spaniard but he didn't respond. "Miguel!" No... Tala's mind was a jumbled mess but one thing was clear. This cannot be happening...
"Tala, what's happened?" Lee rushed over, hearing the Russian's frantic cry.
"He's passed out, Lee! Robert, where the hell are those medics?!" Tala yelled, his authority back in his voice.
"They're close. Nearly here. Remember Tala, we're in New York. It's going to take some time to-" Tala cut him off angrily.
"We don't have time, Robert! We need them here now! Miguel's passed out and-" Michael cut him off just as he had done to Robert, though his voice was frantic.
"Lee! Gary's gone missing and Mariah's freaking out and on the verge of leaving. Help me!"
Lee ripped his head around, giving Michael a mixed stare of worry and anger. "Give me the phone, he ordered. Michael handed it to him willingly.
"Kev? Where is he..? Tell Mariah to calm down... no, stay there... both of you... make Mariah stop screaming... did you call him...? Ok, don't worry... try to make her relax... I'll call you later." Lee shut the phone and tossed it back to the American. Then he placed his hand over his eyes and sighed.
"As soon as Mr. D comes back I have to go look for Gary. Mariah's a nut case and Kevin can't get her to relax."
"All right. Just help me wake Miguel," Tala said. Lee nodded, quickly remembering the problem at hand. They gently shook the Spaniard, calling out to him.
After a few moments, he wearily opened his eyes. He blinked and glanced around, a confused look on his face and a haze over his eyes. He focused on a spot just past Tala's relieved face.
"Tala? What's going on?" The Russian captain jumped as the unexpected voice spoke from directly behind him. He turned to find Mr. Dickenson hover above them.
"Miguel passed out. He's fine now. Lee, you can go." Tala nodded to the Chinese blader. Lee nodded back and took off, racing down the hallway. In a split second, he was gone.
"Where in the world is he headed off to?" Mr. Dickenson asked, his forehead crinkling in worry. He seemed about ready to take after the boy himself.
"Gary's gone. He's gone to look for him."
At that moment, Miguel mumbled something incoherent. Tala spun around, gripping the Spaniard's hand tightly. "Miguel, you all right?" Tala knew it was a stupid question, but he asked it anyways.
"Yea... what... what happened?" he asked, his voice shaking.
"You passed out. But you're all right now. The medics will-" Tala was cut off by a shout.
"EMS!"
"About damn time. Fifteen minutes my ass," Tala muttered. Mr. Dickenson gave Tala a chastising look but said nothing.
They wore all white, carrying medical supplies. A woman knelt next to Miguel, removing the bloodied towel and examining the wound. "What happened?" she asked.
"He was shot," Tala answered.
"All right. You're not leaving, right?" Tala nodded. "Very well." She turned and opened a white box, pulling out something sharp and apparently made of metal. "This is going to hurt. I won't lie. But the pain won't last too long, ok?"
"Tala..." Miguel whispered, his eyes searching.
"I'm here, Miguel. I'm not leaving." Tala gripped Miguel's hand tighter.
The next hour and a half past slowly for all of them, with Miguel crying or screaming in pain nearly the entire time. Through it all, the Spaniard clawed at Tala's hand desperately. Tala, in response, never once objected.
Finally the medics pulled back. The bullet lay discarded off to the side, the wound stitched and the bleeding stopped. Miguel was leaning against Tala's shoulder, fast asleep, exhausted from the experiences of the day.
"All right, we're done here. The bullet didn't hit any major arteries, but it did strike bone. It'll take time, but your friend will be all right." She offered one final smile, then left, Robert politely thanking them for their help.
Once they had left, Robert walked over and gently touched Tala's shoulder. Immediately his icy blue eyes opened and glanced up at the German. Robert offered a simple smile and Tala's face too broke into a smile of relief. Ever so gently, Tala moved Miguel's head so it would lean on the wall before standing.
"Has Lee returned yet?" he asked in a whisper, determined not to wake Miguel.
"No. Michael's about to call him," Robert replied, just as quiet.
As if on cue, Michael called out, "Tala! It's Lee! He says he needs to talk to you." The American brought over his phone and placed it to his ear.
"Lee?"
"Tala, I'm here," Lee replied.
"What's wrong?" Tala could tell by his voice that Lee was worried. "What is it?"
"I've found Gary."
"And?"
"He's dead, Tala."
&: Chapter 4- End &:
Dun-dun-dun! Gary's dead?! And Kai has yet to return!!
How'd you like it? This has been one of my favorite chapters so far. And I'm going to add another pairing to this story. Don't worry. If you can't tell who it is, I'll make it clear in chapter 5.
R&R!
--blueXXphoenix--
