"Is there a chance that Scott can help us out on this end?" Came a request over the radio.
"No!" Laura answered quickly, "He needs medical attention."
"That's a negative," was the response given on the radio. "He's in need of medical attention. We'll have to take him to the hospital with the rest of this lot."Once at the hospital Scott was quickly dispatched to a sofa in the corner of the forth floor waiting area. He had received medications to reduce the swelling associated with his head injuries clearing up his vision and dizziness along with some pain medication that took the edge off the pain in his leg, now there were no resources left to give any further treatment even though it was needed.
Three of the children had already been reunited with their parents, two of them being siblings, and the rest were transported to another location where all children were being gathered.
Laura was needed at every corner of her assigned floor in the hospital and all at the same moment. When he was awake Scott would watch her work. Now that his vision was clearer he noticed that her pants were torn and her knees and hands were scrapped up along with one elbow. She was still covered with dirt except for her face that the children had cleaned and even that was streaked with dirt and mud. Her hair was so dirty that Scott wasn't sure what color it was but he thought it was some shade of blonde, maybe.
As she moved constantly from cot, to bed, to wheelchair, to supply carts, Scott noticed that she offered a tenderness and compassion that was very different from anything involved in the actions of his team. But then they just pulled them out of immediate danger and turned the rest of the treatment over to local programs.
Besides, Scott reasoned within himself, that kind of compassion and tenderness would be difficult to find in any group of tough guys.
As busy as Laura was she still took time to stop by and check on Scott at regular intervals. She knew that the nature of his injuries meant that he would get little or no attention from any one else and those early warning symptoms could so easily be missed.
If Scott were dozing when Laura stopped to check on him she would tenderly touch his arm with the back of her fingers and gently rub. Always she would say that she was just 'stopping by to see if he still knew who he was' a statement that seemed humorous to him every time he heard it. He was running out of humorous answers to come back with but he still enjoyed and looked forward to her warm smile.
Toward evening Laurawas on her way to check on Scott again when she saw three of his fellow crewmembers getting off of the elevator. Laura knew that the one leading the way was the team coordinator and also answered to "Dad'. She also knew that if they were here the rumors she had been hearing must be true. The disaster scene was now in recovery phase, no longer were they dealing with a rescue situation.
Laura noticed another health care worker giving him the direction of his son then responded to a cry from another patient watching the reunion from of the corner of her eye.
A gentle touch on his good leg was enough to alert a dozing Scott to the presence of his father. No words were available to either mind as they grabbed each other at the elbows, sharing a moist eye contact and held on. Both aware of what could have been and relieved that it wasn't.
"How are you feeling now son?"
"Still a little scrambled but better," Scott answered.
"Well, we've done all we can do here, who do I need to talk to, to get you out of this place."
Scott cracked a smile as he could only think of one sure way to describe Laura so that she could be easily and quickly picked out of the crowd of workers.
"Just look for the worker still covered with an inch of dirt."
Scott's dad gave him a confused look then turned around to view the field of workers and patients. Sure enough one of them stood out in the crowd and the layer of dirt she wore was the most obvious reason.
"Isn't she the one we pulled out of the hole with you." Scott's brother, Virgil, asked.
"Yep," Scott answered with a tone of respect and admiration in his voice, "I don't think she's even as much as sat down since we got here."
While they all watched Laura in action, a uniformed police officer walked up and started questioning her. She said something that didn't seem to make him happy then turned to walk away. That's when the police officer grabbed her by the arm and shook her around to face him and three rescuers moved to her aid.
"Excuse me officer is there a problem here?" Scott's Father addressed the police officer
Seeing three of the most elite rescuers in the world intimidated the officer just enough. "This woman's visa has been revoked she was told to leave last night." The officer stated.
"I was trapped when the building collapsed." Laura defended with an unwise cockiness that didn't help the situation.
"She's with us," Virgil spoke up using the team's diplomatic immunity. "We needed her help."
"So that's why she doesn't have her bag anymore?" the officer sneered, "Since your done here, can I assume that you will be taking her with you?" The police officer talked big while in a cold sweat.
"Of course were going to take her with us," Scott's Father responded.
The police officer walked away but Laura didn't relax.
"Thanks for helping me out but he'll be back with a few of his friends." Laura informed from past experience.
"Can my son be moved?"
"Yes," Laura turned toward the team commander and answered quickly and professionally. "He needs more treatment on his leg and his head injury needs a complete evaluation by a specialist but it won't happen here, not with all this chaos."
Laura picked up a computer chip and after making sure it was Scott's information handed it to Scott's father. "Here's a record of what was done here and in the tunnels, wherever you take him they'll want this information. I'll work on getting a wheelchair for him but it could take an hour or more."
"If it's going to take that long forget it," Scott's father said then turning to his other son's, "Boy's we're out of here."
"He can't put any more weight on that leg," Laura quickly tried to stop them, "He's already caused some major tissue damage with the walking he did in the tunnels."
"You hear that Scott, no weight on that leg." A father's orders were given then Scott was helped to sit up and swing his leg around. That's when Scott saw Laura's bag. It was tucked under his 'bed'. Picking it up he gentlemanly handed it to his brother before accepting his father's help to a standing position with all his weight on his good leg. Scott then placed his arms around his father and other brother's shoulders and they locked their hands behind his back before reaching under his legs and locking their hands there.
The brother carrying Laura's bag motioned for her to follow his father and brothers and took up the position behind her.
"Do you have a Doctor that you plan to take him to?" Laura started talking as soon as the elevator door closed behind them. "His head injury really needs to be evaluated and there is a Electro-stimulation treatment that will heal that leg fracture much faster than traditional treatments."
"We know about that one," Scott's father responded, "we have a network of medical facilities that we work with."
"Of course you do," Laura realized she was rambling. "Sorry, I just wanted to help."
"How come you don't have one of those Electro-gizmos in your bag. You have every thing else" Scott inquired.
"I did until two weeks ago," Laura said, "It found its way under the tires of a police car."
"Was the same police officer driving it that approached you in the hospital?" Scott asked.
"Yeah, He a, confiscated all of my narcotics when I first got here." Laura detailed. "I thought he would leave me alone as long as I didn't have any, so I never reordered but he still stopped by regularly to search my bag just to make sure."
As the elevator doors opened Laura tensed up again and the rescue group took that as a hint that they should hurry. Out side of the hospital was some kind of a tank with all kinds of 'big toys' on it. Scott and Laura were aided inside an open door and one of the brothers climbed behind the controls while Scott's father and other brother climbed on top and they were on their way.
A short distance away were the main rescue crafts one looking like a jet the other a huge cargo plane type of thing. Quickly the tank drove right into the cargo plane and the doors were closed behind them.
Scott looked around as they were helping him out of the tank. "It looks like we still have equipment to load."
"Nope." Another brother, Gordon, responded, "what ever isn't here now was history the second that building came down. We thought you were too." Silence filled the next few seconds before shoulders were squeezed and Scott was moved into a seat where he could be belted in and his leg properly supported."
"You can just drop me off at the nearest train station, or just about any embassy," Laura stated as she realized she had no idea what they planned to do with her.
"She's headed for Gondar, Ethiopia, can we drop her off on the way." Scott spoke up.
"Gondar it is." Dad said, "why don't you sit here." Laura was guided to a chair and her hand was held as if she were a real lady as she sat down. From the awkward look on her face, she was clearly unaccustomed to such treatment.
The rest of the seats were filled as team members took their places and everyone started talking back and forth in lots of phrases all ending in green or go.
"Where in Gondar are you headed?" Dad asked. And when he got no response he turned around to see that Laura was sound asleep. "I guess we can find out when we get a little closer."
A few minutes into the flight Laura let out a panicked gasp and leaned forward in her seat as far as the safety restraints would allow.
"Are you O kay?" Scott asked as he took hold of her hand. This was his chance to return her tenderness. "It's alright you were just dreaming."
"The building came down on us." Laura was still not fully awake and looking around in panic trying to remember where she was. "The children!"
"They're fine," Scott talked in a soothing tone just as she had done to all of her patients. "you saved them. They're with their families now."
By now Laura's breathing was slowing down as she looked around and made eye contact with Scott and saw his leg still braced and supported. Then her eyes opened in panic again, as she looked Scott in the eye.
"That last cave in. We were only ten feet in front of it." It was as if Laura had just then realized how close to death they had all come.
"It's over now, you got us through it." Scott continued to offer comfort.
Laura leaned back in her seat and looked forward letting out a few deep sighs.
"Well lady if you're going to panic you picked the right time to do it." One of the brothers called out.
After Laura had calmed down she was able to direct the pilot to an encampment a few miles out of town where they were able to find plenty of room for landing. Scott's Dad helped Laura undo her seat belts and helped her up from her seat. Before carrying her bag for her and leading her from the cockpit.
"Don't get up," Laura ordered Scott as she left the cabin area. "You be sure to take all the time you need to heal before you go out saving the world again." She cautioned. Then turning to his brothers with seriousness in her voice, "you guys tie him down if you have to."
They all agreed that sounded like a fun thing to do to their brother.
As they neared the hatchway Scott's father thanked Laura for the care she had given his son, to which she replied, "It was my honor. "
"I'm sorry about your lost equipment," Laura talked as they waited for the hatch to open, "the Mikealson foundation, gives grants to organizations such as yours. I believe they would be willing to help replace your equipment."
"I know the man that started that organization," Scott's Dad, stated, "we'll call him if we need to."
By the time Laura and her escort were outside the aircraft several people from the encampment were coming toward them.
"May we help you?" one of the men stepped forward and asked.
"My name is Laura Linstone, I'm expected."
sighs, and looks of relief filtered through the crowd.
"We thought you were coming by train early yesterday morning. Your trunk was there but you weren't" The man explained, "We've been wondering what happened to you."
"Yes, well," Laura shook her head a little realizing she was still in shock. She thought again on the last three days. "That was the original plan but I was unavoidably delayed. These gentlemen have been kind enough to deliver me." Then getting down to business, "have my replacement supplies arrived yet? My medical bag has never been so empty."
"No they have not, but may we provide you with a bath while you are waiting?"
"Yes, please!" Laura sighed, "And then a little sleep if I may."
So it was, Laura was led off to her well-deserved bath and the elite rescue team went on their way. With no plans to cross paths again.