So sorry for the long wait for this chapter! I know you have all been eager for more! thanks for all the comments! I'm glad you all like this story so much!
Enjoy!
QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
I could see it, sort of. There was a little slope and above that, light broke through th remaning trees and the sounds of cars racing past from both directions reached our ears.
"We're almost there," I gasped, giving Gus a half smile.
Gus nodded, panting. He took another weary step, dragging me with him.
In reality, the slope wasn't really very steep, but in my exausted state, it may as well have been a mountain. We kept going, fueled only by the knowledge that help was not too far away. My head ached and my mouth was as dry as sawdust. It was starting to hurt to breathe, and I felt like I was going to faint. I could hear Gus grunting and gasping beside me and we were both hunched over in an effort to keep our balance.
Finally, we reached the top. Gus' hand caught hold of the gaurdrail and we hauled ourselves up against it. Gus climbed over the rusted metal and helped me do the same. The instant I was on the cement, my knees gave out and I sank to the ground. Gus was already waving and yelling at the passing cars. I waved my good arm, wincing at the pain the movement caused.
A car suddenly pulled out of the fast paced traffic and parked just ahead of us. Gus stopped waving and we stared as Juliet and Lassie climbed out and ran toward us. I couldn't believe it. What were the odds that they would be going by just as we came onto the highway?
But just as I was sagging in relief, I heard a yelp behind me. I turned and gaped. Robert Goodard stood behind my best friend, his arm around Gus' kneck and a gun pointed at his head.
"Don't come any closer or I shoot him!" Goodard yelled at the quickly appraoching detectives.
JUliet and Lassie stopped, but I saw that they both had their guns out, pointed at Goodard.
"SBPD! Drop your gun and put your hands in the air!" Lassie declared, glaring.
I lay there on the cement, staring up at Gus. He was terrified, wheezing as Goodard's arm tightend around his kneck. Goodard seemed to have forgotten I was there, but maybe he was just assuming I wasn't going to go far. I looked over at Juliet and locked eyes with her. She must have read my mind because her eyes widened and she gave a slight shake of her head.
But I knew I had no choice. I couldn't let this guy shoot Gus. Not on my watch. I rolled onto my right side and dragged myself up behind Goodard, biting my lip to keep from crying out in pain. carefully, I lay on my back and swivled my legs out in front of me. Taking a deep breath, I reared back both legs and kicked Goodard in the beck of his knees. Everything after that was sort of a blur. I saw Goodard crumple forward, and Gus fell too. I realised that his head was about to hit the cement and I rolled quickly, toward him. His head and torso landed on me and I cried out in pain.
"Stay down!" I heard Lassie yell.
Gus rolled off of me, gasping for air. I tried to say something to him but I couldn't seem to slow my own breathing.
"Shawn!"
Juliet was suddenly right there, kneeling beside us. "Gus, Shawn, are you okay?"
I shook my head, still panting.
Juliet looked down at me and gasped.
"Carlton! Call an ambulance!" She cried.
I couldn't see Gus and suddenly I panicked. "Gus w-where's Gus?" I slurred, trying to sit up. I felt a hand on my arm and Gus' face was suddenly above me.
"I'm right here, Buddy," He said, and I relaxed a little.
I could hear Juliet and Gus talking, but I couldn't seem to focus on what they were saying. Pain was pulsing through every part of me, drowning out any other thought. I vaughly heard a siren wailing.
"Shawn?" I felt a gentle hand on my cheek. Jules.
Suddenly, voices surrounded me on all sides and hands were poking at me and it hurt. I tried to pull away, but they stayed and then I was lifted and layed on something. My mind was foggy and I started to panic.
"Gus!" I cried, my good hand groping out. I opened my eyes, but everything was blurry. Something was pressed onto my face and at the same time I felt a sharp pain in my wrist. Then everything went black.
