Thank you to every body who has read, reviewed and alerted to this story. It is always greatly appreciated. Medical knowledge is not my strong point so I will apologize now for any mistakes but I had to explain that cast somehow!

Piece of Cake

The Frame-Up, Missing Scene

Chapter 7

Garrison sat huddled on the floor of the hut, half closed eyes watching as Actor worked on Chief's leg once more. Casino's coat had been hung over the small window to black out as much of the light from the dimly lit lamp as possible. Garrison shivered, wrapping his arms across his chest as Chief cried out in pain at the pressure Actor was applying to the wound.

"Hold him still Casino," Actor ordered as he fought to maintain his grip on Chief's leg.

"I'm trying dammit," Casino panted as he struggled to keep a writhing Chief still. "If you want him to stay still get Goniff in here to help me."

"I'll do it." Garrison pushed himself unsteadily to his feet and stumbled across the floor to the corner where the two cons had placed Chief's stretcher. The moment they had entered the hut, Craig had felt his body let go. The adrenalin that had been keeping him going on the trek back to their present location having abandoned him completely, leaving him light headed and weak. "Goniff needs to stay out on watch."

"And you need to rest." Actor scowled.

"That can wait until after you've treated Chief. You need my help as much as you need Casino's." Garrison snapped.

"Can we just get on with it?" Casino growled irritably. The squatting position he was currently in was playing havoc with his injured foot.

Without another word, Actor returned to his ministrations as Casino and Garrison held Chief as still as possible. Finally satisfied that he had done all he called for the Indian, he re-bandaged the leg and then sat back on his heels. Actor sighed, "That's all I can do for him here," he remarked apologetically, not looking at either of the men still squatting beside him.

"It'll be enough Actor; Geronimo's tough. He'll make it." Casino stated as he pushed himself to his feet, too slow to stifle the grunt or the curse as he put his weight on his injured foot.

Actor was on his feet in a flash. "Let me see," he snapped angrily.

Casino sighed, knowing the game was up now. He carefully lowered himself to the floor and offered his booted foot to the conman. "Nothings broken," he offered up as a defense against the hostile glare Actor was given him. "Besides there was nothing you could do on the track and we needed to get Geronimo back here."

Actor continued to glare as he gently eased the boot and then the sock off the safecracker's foot, revealing the dark bruising that ran its length from ankle to toes. Garrison cursed beside him. "I should have let Goniff go up and help you."

Both Actor and Casino shook their heads in objection. "No, you did the right thing Craig. Goniff was better staying with you."

"Besides," Casino pulled his foot away from Actor's hands, "He hadn't practiced going up and down with the…" Casino grunted, "Watch it Actor, will you…stretcher."

Actor ignored Casino's protest as he continued to gently manipulate the foot, finally satisfied but not happy with what he found. "Well it isn't broken…"

"I already told you that, but would you listen? No." Casino grouched as Actor deftly strapped the injured foot.

"…As far as I can tell. But," Actor snapped, "It is badly bruised and you won't be walking very far on it for a few days at least."

"We still gotta get Geronimo to the beach tonight," Casino pointed out, "So I guess I will be walking on it after all."

"I can help carry the stretcher," Garrison stated firmly. I haven't done anything all day."

Actor shook his head. "Goniff and I can carry Chief, Craig. You will be better off helping Casino."

"I don't need any help…" Casino started before he was cut off.

"Yes you do," Snapped Actor and Garrison at the same time.

Actor sighed, "We still have a few hours to the pick up. I suggest you both make use of the time and rest. I'll go and relieve Goniff for a while. Send him out if Chief gets worse." Actor stood and slipped out the door, not giving either man time to object. He found Goniff hidden behind the trunk of a large tree that offered a good view of the beach and surrounding area. Provided they kept their wits about them nobody should be able to sneak up on them. Actor apprised the little pickpocket of the latest developments and then sent him back to the hut.

GG

"Where's Craig?" Actor asked as he hurried down the hospital corridor to join Goniff and Casino who were sitting outside the closed door of a hospital room. Finally something had gone right for the team and the pick up had gone off without a hitch. He and Goniff had carried Chief down to the beach and with the help of the fishermen had safely loaded the stretcher on board. Garrison had helped Casino who could put no weight on the injured foot, hobble along behind them. Even the channel had been kind to them this time and kept the swells to a minimum and Goniff's stomach in its place.

"In there with the doctor." Casino replied tiredly. His foot had been prodded, poked and x-rayed and eventually re-bandaged. The final consensus being that it was only badly bruised, but even so he was to stay off it for the next two or three days and use the crutches they had provided him with.

"How's the foot?" Actor asked having caught sight of the crutches standing against the wall between the two chairs.

"Bruised like you said." Casino shrugged. "They want me to stay off it for a few days is all."

"Did you pass on the documents alright Actor?" Goniff asked.

"Yes, they are safely in the possession of Major Richards." Actor replied as he leant tiredly against the wall. It had been a long couple of days and nights, first worrying about the whereabouts of the missing men and then embarking on the rescue mission and subsequent fight to keep Chief alive long enough to reach medical help.

"Bet Richards wasn't too happy we found the Warden and Geronimo." Casino mumbled.

"On the contrary Casino, he was very relieved that we located them and were able to bring them out. Speaking of which have you heard anything about Chief."

"'Ee's still in surgery. They're taking an awful long time. Do you think everything's alright Actor?" Goniff asked worriedly.

"I'm sure he will be fine Goniff. If the bullet hit the bone as we all suspect, then it will take time for them to remove it."

"Cor, I don't fancy them digging in my bones." Goniff shivered.

Actor sighed, "They won't dig Goniff; they will have to break the bone, remove the bullet and then reset the bone."

"Blimey," Goniff lapsed into silence.

"How long has the doctor being in with Garrison?" Actor asked.

"About a half hour." Casino responded just as the door opened and the doctor stepped out.

Actor stepped away from the wall at the doctor's approach. "How is the Lieutenant, Doctor?"

The doctor, a short balding man in his early fifties, peered up at the tall Italian. "You must Actor," he stated in a thick Cockney accent. "The Lieutenant said I should look out for you and answer your questions."

"That is correct, Doctor…"

"Humphreys." The doctor added quickly. "The Lieutenant is suffering from a mild concussion, which I am told you have already diagnosed."

Actor nodded. "Is that all?"

Humphreys shook his head. "No, but that is the most serious of his injuries. He also has heavy bruising to his right shoulder and hip along with some minor gravel rash. He tells me he fell on a track and slid some twenty feet or so."

"Yeah, that's about right." Casino agreed. "You could see where he'd slid down."

Humphreys nodded. "Aside from the concussion and bruising he is suffering from exhaustion."

"When are you going to release him?" Actor asked.

Humphreys checked his watch, "Not before noon tomorrow. He needs a good twenty four hours rest. Considering the amount of time that he has already been awake I doubt very much that sleep now will affect the concussion."

"'Ee won't be 'appy, 'aving to stay 'ere for a day." Goniff stated.

"So I found out," Humphreys agreed. "He told me in no uncertain terms what he thought of my order."

"And he's still in there!" Casino eyed the doctor suspiciously. "What did you say to him?"

"I told him if he didn't stay voluntarily for twenty four hours then I would sedate him for forty eight hours." Humphreys shrugged. "He agreed to stay."

"Is that all?" Casino asked skeptically.

Humphreys cleared his throat. "I ah, may have mentioned something about a tube going where one really shouldn't be."

Casino burst out laughing.

"Shh." Goniff thumped Casino in the arm. "'Ee might 'ear you."

"Oh, that is good. I'll have to remember that one." Casino guffawed.

"Can we see him?" Actor asked before the conversation got out of hand.

"I don't see why not, but if he is asleep, please don't wake him."

"We won't and thank you." Actor shook hands with the doctor. "Ah Doctor Humphreys, I don't suppose you have any information on how the man that was brought in with him is? All we know is that Chief was taken to surgery."

"Chief, you say. I haven't heard but I will see what I can find out for you. I take it I will find you here."

"Yes. We won't be going anywhere until we hear about Chief." Actor agreed.

Humphreys nodded and hurried down the hall, leaving the three cons standing outside the Lieutenant's room.

"Well, shall we?" Casino grinned as he steadied himself precariously on his crutches.

Actor shook his head in exasperation, fervently hoping that Garrison was indeed asleep.

Goniff carefully pushed open the room door and poked his head around the corner before turning back to nod at the waiting men. "'Ee's awake." He announced happily as he held the door open for Casino so that the safecracker could maneuver through it with the crutches. "After you mate," Goniff bowed with a flourish of arms as both Casino and then Actor passed through.

Garrison watched the theatrics at the door with a tired smile. The little pickpocket never seemed to run out of steam.

"How are you Craig?" Actor asked as pulled up a chair beside the bed, watching Goniff help Casino sit down before taking the crutches from him and lean them against the foot of the bed.

"Yeah Warden, everything working alright?" Casino smirked, ignoring Goniff's slap and Actor's rolled eyes.

Garrison moaned; it appeared the doctor wasn't quite as faithful to the Hippocratic Oath as he should be. "I'm fine thank you Casino," Garrison growled before turning his attention to his number two. "And I don't need any comments from you either," he snapped.

"Craig, do you really think I would say something as crude as that?" Actor looked slightly affronted.

"Given the chance, I believe you would and in twenty different languages."

"'Ee's got you there mate, now me, me dear old mom would say…"

"Shut up you dumb limey," Casino gruffed.

"Actor any word on Chief?" Garrison asked tentatively.

Actor shook his head. "Nothing yet Craig. All we know is that he is in surgery. Doctor Humphreys has promised to go and find out and let us know."

"Actor said they'd 'ave to break 'is leg to get the bullet out." Goniff added uneasily.

Actor shrugged at Garrison's raised eye. "If the bullet is lodged in the bone, they won't be able to dig it out."

Garrison sighed in understanding. "What about the documents? Did you pass them on to Major Richards?"

Actor nodded. "They are no longer any of our concern. Major Richards also asked me to tell you he will drop by tomorrow for a debriefing."

Garrison closed his eyes, sinking into the pillows with a soft sigh. The three cons waited a few minutes in silence until they heard the steady deep breathing indicating that he was sleeping.

"Why don't you two go back to the mansion and get some sleep," Actor suggested quietly.

"And what are you going to do?" Casino demanded.

"Wait here for word on Chief, or in case Craig needs something."

"Seems to me mate, you can't be in two places at once." Goniff pointed out. "What 'appens if the Warden wakes up and wants 'elp and so does Chiefy? Besides I want to know 'ow Chiefy's doing too. I'm not going anywhere."

"And if you think I'm going home alone with the limey, think again." Casino warned.

A knock on the door interrupted any further conversation. Doctor Humphreys peered around the door and indicated that Actor should follow him out of the room. "Your man Chief is out of surgery. They will be moving him to a room shortly."

Actor nodded. "How is he? What about his leg?"

"The leg was badly infected but the bullet is out and as much of the infection as possible has been cleaned out also. You were correct in your assumption that they would have to break the bone. The bullet was imbedded. The bone has been reset and casted. They are giving him a high dose of penicillin to fight the infection. All going well he should make a full recovery but it will be several months before he will be ready to returning to his regular, shall we say, 'occupation'.

Actor sighed in relief. He had harboured a secret fear that if the bone became infected there was a very real chance that Chief may well have lost his leg. "Can I see him? He may be disoriented when he wakes up and he will be worried about the Lieutenant."

"Yes, of course. Come with me." Humphreys agreed.

"I'll just tell the others where I'm going." Actor opened the door, noting Garrison was still sleeping soundly.

"Actor?" Goniff asked worriedly.

"Chief is out of surgery and in a room. I'm going to sit with him until he wakes up. Will you two be alright here?"

"Yeah we'll be fine. Go look after Geronimo." Casino agreed.

"'Ow is 'Ee Actor? What did the doctor say?"

"The bullet is out and he should be fine, given time. I have to go now. When I get back I'll fill you both in."

"Tell Chiefy we'll come visit as soon as possible."

"Speak for yourself, you dumb Limey." Casino grumbled quietly, acutely aware that a raised voice would wake Garrison. Besides he was too tired himself to put up much of an argument.

"Aw come on Casino, you know you care about 'im just as much as me." Goniff whined.