Steve's eyes closed and he felt his body go limp. God, he was tired! He listened closely, trying to focus on the numerous voices sounding out around him.

"We need to get them into the shade men, how's the gunshot victim Parker?"
"He's unconscious and his pulse is weak and thready. His wound is severely infected and he's lost a lot of blood. We have to get him to a hospital fast Sir"

The first man replied, "Doherty is calling for a Medevac Chopper. How is his body temp?"
"He's warm but his buddy did a good job of keeping him out of the direct sunlight. How's your guy?"
"He's definitely suffering from heat stroke. Jeff and Abbott you stay with Parker. I need the rest of you to carry this guy over to the shade of that tree"

The Military unit moved with amazing efficiency and moments later the leader was bending over Steve as he was laid out on the sand, but finally out of the blazing sun. He placed a hand on Steve's cheek and said softly, "Sir, can you hear me?"

Steve moaned and he tried to lift his arm, but it fell weakly to the ground. His head, face, neck, back and chest were all burned to a point that his skin was blistering in places.
The leader again asked, "Sir, can you open your eyes?"

Steve's eyes slowly fluttered open and he mumbled, "Dddannyy..."
"Your friend is alive and help is on the way"
"Who aarre yyou?"
"Master Sergeant Nick Carpenter. My unit is on a survival training mission. Can you tell me your name?"
"Stteve...I...I nneed wwater"
One of Carpenters men knelt down and as the Sergeant lifted Steve's head the man brought his canteen to Steve's parched and bleeding lips. Steve's hand grasped at the canteen as Carpenter said, "Just take sips Steve, drink slow"

Damn the water tasted so unbelievably good. Steve's eyes closed as he continued to sip on the water.
The soldiers worked quickly placing water-soaked shirts onto his red, hot flesh. He was no longer sweating and Carpenter knew that was a major sign of heat stroke and he had to get Steve's body temperature down...and quickly. Steve lost consciousness and leaving a couple of his men with the SEAL, Carpenter moved over to check on Danny.

As he drew near, Andy Doherty approached. "Sergeant, the chopper should be here in about fifteen minutes"
Carpenter nodded, "Good, thank you Doherty" He then looked down at the unconscious blonde man. "How's he doing?"

Tom Parker looked up and shook his head, "Not good sir. What do you think happened to these guys?"
"I don't know" Motioning back towards Steve he added, "The other guy is a SEAL"
"Really?"
"Yeah, he has a SEAL Team 3 tattoo"
"I guess that explains how he's survived out here"
"You're right, he's been through hell out here but he's trained to survive"

The men spent the next ten minutes tending to Danny and trying to bring Steve's body temperature down. When the Medevac Chopper arrived, both Steve and Danny remained unconscious while the EMT's worked diligently on them. After inserting saline IV's into both men's arms, they transferred them onto stretchers and loaded them onto the helicopter.

As the helicopter was taking off, Steve came to as the EMT's strategically placed ice packs under his armpits, neck, back and to his groin area.
"Nnno pplease...hhurts"
One of the EMT's moved quickly to calm him down, "Steve, you're going to be fine. You'll be at the hospital in just a few minutes"

Steve's breathing was rapid as asked frantically, "Dannyyy...mmy partt...tner"
The EMT reached out and turned Steve's head, "He's right here Steve. We're taking care of him"
"He's okkay?"
"We're taking care of him but he's lost a lot of blood. Steve, do you know what his blood type is?"
"Yeeah...B posittivve..."
"B positive? Are you sure?"
"Yeah...same aas mme. You ccan take some ffrom me...I ggot pplenty"
The EMT chuckled, "We won't need yours, we've got it covered"
Steve watched on as the two EMT's moved swiftly, taking a bag of blood from a small cooler and starting a transfusion into his partner. As the blood began to flow into Danny's veins Steve reached out and took hold of his hand saying softly, "I'm rrright hheree Danno"

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Rachel was terrified when the phone rang...
"Hello?"
"Mrs. Edwards...Rachel...it's Police Chief Stallworth. They've been found"
"Are they..."
He interrupted her, "They're alive, but they're injured"
"What happened...where are they?"
"An Army unit on a training mission in the Mojave Desert found them"
"They were in the desert?"
"Yes. Rachel, I don't know many details yet but one of them has been shot. They've been airlifted to Mercy Hospital in town and I'm heading over there now"

Rachel replied nervously, "I'm on my way"
After notifying Stan of the turn of events, she dropped young Charlie off at a neighbors house and she raced with her twelve year old daughter to Mercy Hospital.

When they arrived at the Hospital, they were led to a private waiting room where Chief Stallworth was waiting.
After greeting each other Stallworth spoke, "They've arrived Rachel and the Doctors are treating them now" Taking a couple of dollars from his pocket he handed the money to Gracie, telling the child "Why don't you go to the machines and grab yourself a snack sweetheart"

Gracie looked up at her Mother who nodded, "It's okay Gracie, the Chief and I need to talk"
Once the child was out of earshot Stallworth said softly, "Rachel, Danny has been shot and they rushed him into surgery"

"How bad is it?"
"It's bad...really bad. He was shot in the lower abdomen and the wound became infected"
"What's the internal damage?"
Shaking his head Stallworth replied, "I don't know"
Rachel sighed briefly and asked softly, "What about Steve?"

"He suffered a severe concussion and they're treating him for heat stroke. He saved Danny's life Rachel. He was extremely resourceful in designing a stretcher from branches and vines and they ate wild berries for the juice. He also placed leaves from a plant that locals use for medicinal purposes onto the wound and used his shirt as bandaging. He used Danny's shirt as a shield to keep him out of the direct sunlight. The military men found them about seven miles off the main road and Steve was staggering as he pulled Danny behind him. He was in obvious physical distress but he did everything humanly possible to save Danny..."

Tears slid down the young woman's cheeks as she responded quietly, "I don't doubt that at all. Those two are like brothers...they love each other dearly"

Stallworth grinned, "I sent a text to Detective Kelly updating him"
"Good, thank you"
The two moved over to grab coffee and then they sat at a table to wait.

505050505050505050505050505050505050505050

Steve opened his eyes to see a Nurse smiling down at him.
She turned her head, "Doctor, he's awake"
The Doctor looked down at him, "Hello Steve"
Obviously confused, Steve asked "Where am I?"
"You're at Mercy Hospital in Las Vegas"
"Las Vegas?"
"You were found in the Mohave Desert"
Steve instantly became agitated, "Danny? Doc...my partner"
The Doctor pushed down on Steve's shoulders, "Your partner's here Steve, I need you to relax"
Steve turned his head frantically searching for Danny, "Where is he?"
"Relax...he's in surgery. You got him here Steve, you did it"
"Okay...good...okay"
"Steve, can you tell me how you feel?"
"I'm dizzy, my vision is blurry...my head hurts"
"We're working on dropping your body temp so I need you to relax and try to sleep"
Steve said weakly, "Uh huh...okay"

As Steve's eyes closed, Doctor Chris Markus went back to work.
Steve's body temperature was still at 104.7 but in the last hour they had lowered it. It was down from the 106.5 it was at when he was brought in, so they were making progress. They had stripped him naked and along with ice packs they had wrapped him in cold gel pads and fans were beating cool air onto him. They were also pumping cooled saline through his veins.

Suddenly Steve cried out in pain as he pulled his knees up towards his abdomen. "OOOHHH SSHIT"
Doctor Markus placed his hands on Steve's shoulders, "Steve...Steve talk to me"
"My sstommach...ccramps"
The Doctor instructed a Nurse to administer a muscle relaxant and in moments Steve's tension eased and he slept. After a final check of his vitals the Doctor left the room.

A short time later he was in the waiting room giving Rachel and Gracie and update on Steve's condition.

"So he's going to be fine?"
"He's not out of the woods yet, but he's young and he's strong. He has a concussion, and that combined with the heat stroke he's suffering is causing him severe discomfort, a headache, dizziness and muscle cramping. We're working on lowering his body temperature and fortunately he's not showing any signs of heart or organ damage at this time"

"That's good news Doctor, thank you"
"You're welcome. I'll check on Mr. Williams and get back to you"
Smiling, the Doctor then left the room leaving Rachel, Gracie and Chief Stallworth to again wait.

****** MORE TO FOLLOW - Thank you for reading an taking the time to review - each review provides great motivation to continue writing ! ******