I would also like to thank Deborah for helping me to fix my numerous mistakes in grammar,etc. Thank you:) *******************************************
BA could hear what was happening behind him and it shook him to his core, so he did the only thing he could think of that could help Face, he stepped a little harder on the gas pedal.
They arrived at Maggie's driveway in 20 minutes. Hannibal had already called ahead and notified Maggie that they were on the way and informed her of how sick his lieutenant was. She had been waiting since they had hung up.
When the van came to a stop, the Colonel looked down at the younger man, still leaning against Murdock and still keeping his grip on both of them. But, his eyes were still closed and he stayed in a fitful state of sleep. Hannibal squeezed the hand in his and spoke softly to Face while shaking him gently. He was silently praying that when those eyes were opened, his lieutenant would look at him in relief. He shook Face once more, noting that the fever was still burning inside of him.
"We're at Maggie's, Face, wanna wake up for a minute, kid?"
Murdock added "Come on Muchacho, open your eyes for us". Of course, Face was in no condition to walk into the clinic under his own terms. BA would have to carry him whether he was awake or asleep, he was too weak to walk and there was no need. The Colonel just thought it would be better if he were awake and at least semi aware when they met Maggie inside, so she could talk to him herself.
They were awarded with a soft moan and after a moment, the blue orbs slowly opened. But Hannibal knew immediately that his prayers were not to be answered. Face had let go of his lifelines while struggling to wake up, but as soon as his eyes were opened, he manically began to grab for his friends again.
Hannibal took one hand while Murdock took the other, again letting Face know they were right there with him.
"We're right here, kid. Calm down."...gently rubbing the smaller hand that held his so tightly that his cuticles were turning blue.
Face squeezed harder.
"I don't want to be blind, Hannibal. Please don't let me stay like this." the moisture visible in his eyes that were the object of his terror.
"Face, we're going to do everything in our power to not let that happen. It's probably the fever and if it is, once the fever is down, your sight will come back.". The colonel spoke in a soft and reassuring voice, but inside he ached with worry and fear. He had no idea if the fever was causing this sudden and terrifying symptom.
Murdock still held Face against him, letting the slight frame lean against his own. He hoped this helped to reassure his friend that he wasn't alone even though he could not see. He could feel the hot body shiver against his chest and pulled him closer yet. He knew BA was headed to the back of the van to carry Face inside, so he began to gently pry his hand free as Hannibal was doing with his own.
"We're still here, Muchacho. Right here beside you. The big guy's just got to carry you inside."
As BA opened the door, Hannibal placed his freed hand upon the thin, tense shoulders. "BA is going to pick you up Face, it's just BA. You're okay, kid."
BA spoke before he reached in for Face. His gruff voice again taking on a softer tone.
"It's just me, Faceman. I'm going to take you under the arms and pull you away from Murdock so I can lift you out of the van.".
With that he reached gently under Face's arms and pulled him ever so slowly from the safety of his resting place. He could feel Murdock helping from the back, and could tell that Face was trying to help as well. They got him to the point where the big man could easily and safely lift the smaller one into his arms.
"Okay, little brotha, I'm going to pick you up now. I'm not going to drop you. You can hold on to me if ya want."
Face did indeed grab on to the first thing he could find with his flailing hands, which happened to be a handful of the heavy gold that BA was rarely seen without. Usually the big guy would put up a fuss and/or threat about such a thing, but he just let his friend hang on to the familiar objects.
The feeling of being in the air and not being able to see frightened Face more than he already was, but when his fingers found the ever present band of gold around his big friends' neck, he felt a sense of security try to break through the panic and fear. The heavy feel of the gold in his hand reminded him of who had him, and he knew as long as BA held him, he wouldn't fall.
Hannibal had already went to the door and had gotten Maggie out. They both stood waiting as BA lifted Face and began the walk inside the clinic.
Maggie ran ahead and opened the door, letting BA pass through with his arms securely and protectively clutching the bundle in is arms.
"Bring him in here, BA."
The big figure walked through to the examining table and went to lay his friend down. But Face held tighter to the chains around his neck, irrational and feverish fear overtaking him again as he felt the sensation of being lowered. BA looked to Murdock, who was standing nearest to him, for help. The pilot stepped closer and reassured Face that they were all in the room..."but you have to let go, buddy. We're right here", as he gently pried the fingers away from the shiny gold cross.
BA was finally able to lay his burden down, gently and slowly, while keeping his hand on Face's shoulder as he let go of him. He didn't want to break contact without first letting Face know. In his fevered state, BA knew his younger friend would panic. The fact that he could not see, BA thought to himself would make him panic whether he was otherwise ill or not.
Maggie looked on as BA stood there with his hand on Face's shoulder, not wanting to let go.
Hannibal had informed her of the newest symptom earlier, as the other two guys removed the lieutenant from the van. She understood BA's hesitation to take his hands from Face.
The Dr, stepped forward and touched BA on the back. He looked at her, told Face he was right here but had to move back so Maggie could take care of him. Then the big man squeezed the warm skin, slowly removed his hand, and backed away.
"Don't worry Face, it's just Maggie. I'm just going to examine you, take your stats, and we are going to work on that fever. Then we'll go from there. The other guys are right here in the room with us and they don't have to leave this room if you don't want them to." Face nodded at this and began searching with his hands for the human contact that he knew was nearby.
Maggie grasped the searching hand and held it tightly, speaking softly "I'm right here. I may have to walk away from the table every so often to find something I need, but I won't go far and nobody else is leaving. You just lay still so you don't fall off the table."
Trying to ease the young man's fear, she reminded him of the room he lay in.
"You know this room Face, the same room you guys brought BA into with the gunshot wound. You are on the examining table, there are a couple of chairs off to one side. Hannibal is in one of them, Murdock is standing beside him, and BA is standing not far behind me. The supply cart is off to the other side of the room, if I leave that's where I'll probably be. The room is not large Face, so at no time will you be left alone. I know you are afraid and confused, but try to stay as calm as you can and know that I will do everything in my power to help you. We're all here for you."
She was rewarded with a fraction of a smile that tore at her heart.
She rubbed the back of his hand, whispered once more that she was right there, then gently lay it down beside him with one final pat.
The first thing she did was take his temperature and found that it had risen since Hannibal had taken it earlier. She immediately started antibiotics.
After she had checked everything else and had given her patient a mild sedative to relax him and give the medicine a chance to work, she left the other guys to sit with him while she went to look through her library of medical books.
She had a sinking fear that she knew what they were dealing with and she hoped she was wrong.