Chapter 9

"You need an intravenous drug. It's called Levaquin. It's back at the ICU."

Sari looked at the doctor and as he said that then at Jake. This was going to be a difficult situation. The kind that involved shooting first and not asking questions at all. And that was from a long memory that wasn't even that too long ago.

Ravenwood had returned to Rogue River and Payton had to be stupid and pop off a few rounds. Not that it would have made a difference anyway. Sari remembered how they acted over there and from what Payton had told her, it seemed that nothing much had changed. And if that were the case, the leader of this unit would probably look down at her if she tried that thing she did with Payton.

Eric managed to grab the Cipro and they hid while Ravenwood did a sweep of the floor. That was until Kenchy told them that Cipro wasn't going to do Johnston Green any good because he was in septic shock. It was as the doctor said, they had to go back and get the other drug in order to save him. Sari looked at Jake and he looked at the doctor and asked, "What's it look like?"

"It's a clear bottle, purple label. You'll need syringes."

Sari looked at Jake and they silently spoke to each other going over their options. Eric recognized that look and could guess that they were planning something. It was always a marvel that they could understand each other without saying the words and still get the message about who was doing what. He said, "Jake, this is nuts. We can't go back there."

Jake looked at his brother and could see the fear in his eyes. He was scared too but they had come too far to quit now. Not with his father's life on the line and he knew that Sari was in the same mindset. He replied, "Well, we can't take the chance we have the wrong medicine."

"What, we gonna shoot our way through?" Eric looked at his brother and silently asking if he was being serious.

"If we have to," Sari replied looking at Eric. "That is if we had the manpower and firepower. Even then we would have to play it smart." She looked at everyone else. "Either way, we need to get the meds, and we still have to get past them."

"I'm with you," Payton said as he looked at Sari and Jake. He gestured at her and added, "I've heard of her reputation," and grinned.

Jake accepted that as he heard Sari give a slight cough. Now was not the time to get into this. He looked at Eric and asked, "Are you with me or not?"

It was a couple of tense moments as Sari, Jake and Payton looked at Eric as he came to his decision. Payton made the move and removed his pistol from his holster and held it out to Eric. Sari looked at Eric and said, "Eric, this is not going to be a simple walkout. There may be some shooting but we have to get out otherwise your dad won't have a chance. Please."

Eric looked at his brother and then Sari before taking the pistol from Payton. "Okay. But we need a plan."

"Did you think we'd do it without one?" Sari gave a slight grin at Eric that was teasing him. "I thought you knew me better than that. JJ certainly does."

Jake tried to keep the chuckle in and moved his lips. Sari was right on that point. Besides, he wasn't going to be foolish and go in guns blazing. That was stupid and certainly going to get them all killed. He was curious to see his partner's skills in action after everything she had been through. Back when they were in school she always saw the flaws in their games and plans and would fix it. Granted this was different but… "You got an idea, princess?"

Sari looked around at what they had available where they were hiding. There wasn't much to work with. She looked at Jake and said, "Well we can't just walk by with guns in our hands. They'd shoot us on sight. So what do we have that they would point a gun but not shoot?"

Jake thought about it and then came with an idea. He nodded, "You may be right."

It was moments later that they had Eric in a doctor's coat and heading back towards the ICU. Sari was by him, reiterating the plan, "So you go in, pretend to get what you need and put the meds and the syringes in the pack."

"Maybe you should be doing this," Eric said, feeling nervous. "You're the one that knows more about this like Jake."

"They'd recognize her like I did," Payton offered, "And let's just say she's not a popular favorite. Even the ones that haven't met her."

"Yeah that," Sari agreed. "Besides you look like doctor. Nice guy and nice manners. Just follow the plan. Believe in the role." She gave Eric a pat on the shoulder.

Eric looked at her like she was crazy for saying that but there was little choice. This was the plan they had come up with. He still thought he was not the best choice but he would do what he could. He just wasn't sure if they would buy it. That was what had him terrified; that they would figure out what he was up to and just kill him. Looking at Sari, he took in her look of confidence, the one that said she believed that he could do it and nodded. Taking a deep breath, he took the plunge and moved forward.

He walked towards the room where the Ravenwood mercenaries were busy looting. Taking a breath and swallowing back his fear, he lifted his hands in surrender and walked out slowly saying, "Don't shoot."

The reaction was fast. Eric didn't think that he would have so many guns pointed at him. If he looked down, he would see the laser targeting lights honing in on the center mass. If they pulled the trigger… He continued, "I'm a doctor. I'm unarmed."

"On your knees."

Do what they tell you to do.

Eric swallowed as he slowly sank to his knees. He knew that if he didn't make himself a threat and complied, they wouldn't shoot him. And that was if they were following the rules of engagement. Given what he had seen and been told…

"Who are you?"

Eric knew better not to give his name up. He also had to play the role of doctor. He glanced over at the injured man and said, "I can help your friend."

There was a long silence as the guns were still pointed at Eric. Then the leader asked, "What's your name?"

Eric wanted to answer but the fear held him back. It wasn't helping that he had at least four rifles pointing at him and by trained shooters. He could feel the adrenaline course through his body and the sweat starting to build.

"What's your name? Don't make me ask you again!"

Eric jumped at the barked order and replied, "E-Eric. Eric Green. I'm a doctor. The Red Cross brought me here." He took a quick breath but slowed so he didn't hyperventilate. That wouldn't help them.

"To shoot at me?"

Eric shook his head slightly, "That wasn't me."

"Who was it? The guys in that muscle car?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Where are they?"

Eric remained silent. He had told them that he didn't know what they were talking about but it was starting to look like they weren't buying it. He took a deep breath and looked away.

"Where are they?"

Looking back at the group, Eric noticed that the leader was starting to look through his sights. That didn't spell good for him if he didn't give them anything. Sighing, he gave up what he was supposed to, "They're in the therapy room downstairs. There's three or four of them."

The leader studied Eric before barking out the order to go find them and lowered his weapon slightly but not all the all the way. That was sort of good but not completely. But it was easier to gain rapport with one gun pointing at you than four or five. He gestured once more at the wounded man who was looking at him, "Your man lost a lot of blood. I can help him."

That seemed to work since the leader barked, "Get up."

Eric got to his feet slowly since the gun was still pointed at him. It was a good sign that he was told to move towards the wounded man but he wasn't out of the woods yet. He watched as the leader stripped the wounded man of his vest. Once it was off, he said, "All right we need something to cut his shirt." He interrupted when the leader brought out his knife, "Uh, s-something sterile."

Eric had no idea what he was doing even though his wife was a doctor. He didn't know all the details of treating a gunshot wound but he did have common sense working for him. Like the need to have sterile materials to reduce the risk of infection. At least that worked in his favor as the leader walked away to look for supplies. It was his chance to look for the medicine and he took it.

He walked over to the shelves and started looking for the medicine they needed while pulling random bottles to hide his true purpose. He kept an eye out for the exact bottles that he was looking for and prayed silently that this ruse would hold up. This was not like the time he and Jake set fire to his father's office. That wild story wouldn't have flown. This was better but it all depended upon him convincing Ravenwood that he was who he said he was.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

Eric tried not to jump as he glanced back at the two mercenaries. He replied, "I'm just getting something for the pain."

"He can handle the pain. Just get to work."

At least the guy wasn't shooting at him or investigating what he was doing too closely. But Eric didn't have a whole lot of time to look any further. He had to find the medicine and fast before they got suspicious. It was just luck that the next box he grabbed was what he needed. It was now or never. He picked it up and started to hug it to his chest when he glanced over and saw the next part of the plan and that was Jake.

Eric ducked and waited for his chance as Jake fired upon the Ravenwood mercenaries to provide cover fire and a distraction. He took his chance when his brother made a sound in his shout. He kept low as he made his way to where Jake had come in and where Sari was waiting to lead the way out while Jake provided cover.

"Come on Eric, go!"

Eric ran past Sari as she stood by waiting with her gun at the ready. He headed to where Payton was covering their escape and ran past him. He was scared shitless but he still had enough sense to hope that his brother and his friend made it out. He joined Kenchy in the car and turned to watch and see Sari come out and get into the driver's seat.

Eric thought Jake could be reckless with driving but being passenger to Sari's driving was going on a rollercoaster that produced a thrill and a chill. She turned into the fast and furious as she gunned it towards the emergency entrance just as Jake came barreling out with his shotgun. He shouted, "Where's Payton?"

"He's not coming," was all Jake said.

Eric blinked as Sari gave a slight sigh before she gunned the car's engine and took off. He didn't look back the moment that gunfire erupted. There was no need to ask further questions. He knew that Payton wasn't going to make it.

~0~0~0~0~0~

Ryan sat on the steps near the second landing of the staircase and looked out the window at the darkening sky. She had been there since late afternoon after she left when April came in. She watched as Gail went up the stairs to check on her husband and heard slight sounds. That had her running up the stairs and going in to check on the mayor.

Instead she found Gail and April hugging. They were smiling but it was saddened. It had her curious and when she asked, they told her. It made her pray that her sister and Jake and Eric come back with the medicine all the more. She had been praying there on the steps and hugging her knees. It made her argument with Sari seem petty. There were more important things to worry about.

It was getting dark and Ryan was getting worried. She knew that it was over 200 miles to Rogue River and that was a long distance. It would take about three hours or so driving at a steady pace and assuming that there were no obstacles in the way. She hated to think that they had run into trouble. As much as she had faith that her JJ would keep her sister safe, and that Sari would do what she could, she was scared of the possibility that something would happen to her sister and then she would truly be alone.

Unbidden, tears began to rise at the thought. In an effort to quench them, she buried her head in her knees and let the cloth from her jeans soak them up. "Please come home Sari," she whispered.

She didn't know how long she had been sitting like that. She was aware that Heather and Emily had gone up and down with the ice that Heather managed to make and Gail tried to get her to eat but she wasn't hungry. She just wanted the people she loved home and that thought was going through her head when she heard it.

The rumble of the engine that she had heard when Jake first pulled up. She lifted her head when she heard Emily and Heather come running down the stairs just as Jake and Eric burst through the door. She stayed where she was to avoid being trampled as Jake asked, "Is he?"

"Barely. Just go," Emily reported and moved aside to let Jake and Eric charge up the stairs with the medicine followed closely by another doctor.

Ryan looked at them and then noticed that Sari wasn't with them. She turned towards the door and looked for her sister, trying hard not to expect the worst. She stood up and looked at the door, past Emily and Heather as they were looking in the direction of the stairs. Where was her sister?

It was a drop of relief that fell when Sari walked through the door looking tired and carrying the rifle and shotguns she had brought. Ryan smiled big and ran towards her sister and gave her a big hug, squeezing her for all she was worth. "You're okay."

Sari wrapped her arms around her sister even though her hands were full with guns and returned the hug. "Told you I would be," she replied with a slight smile. "Are you okay?"

Ryan frowned at that since she was sure that her sister would have asked about Mayor Green first but she didn't. "I'm fine. It's Mayor Green you should be worried about."

"No, I'm worried about you. I left you alone all day," Sari replied as she looked down at her sister. "We were supposed to do something today."

"That's nothing," Ryan brushed it aside. She stood back and looked at her sister. There was something off about her. Something happened while they were at Rogue River and from the looks of things, it wasn't good. "Mayor Green is sick and… I don't want him to die."

Sari looked at Ryan and smiled gently before shifting the rifle to her other hand to ruffle Ryan's hair. "It'll be okay. He won't die,"

Ryan took in her sister's words. It wasn't like her to make a promise like that. She would say that it would be okay and leave it at that. It was her way of saying that no matter what things were going to work out. Here, it seemed like for once she was making a promise and one that could go either way. She didn't want her sister to start making promises that she couldn't keep. "Don't make promises like that."

"It will be that," came the reply full of calm and confidence.

Ryan released her sister and looked at her. Her sister had to be exhausted. That was why she was making these weird statements. She took the guns, not afraid of rebuke since she had been taught how to handle them and set them down. She started to tug on her sister to lead her to the couch but changed her mind and started tugging her up the stairs. "Come on. I know you want to see him."

Ryan was pleased that her sister was going to follow her up the stairs. She got the feeling that seeing Mayor Green would be a step in reassurance and maybe it would help with Sari's promise that he was going to be okay. She jogged up the stairs while her sister followed at a leisurely pace but still a quick pace up the stairs and headed toward the room where she had spent a lot of her day in. She stopped at the door and moved to let her sister come in.

"This is Levaquin," Kenchy was saying and explaining how it should be able to help.

Ryan heard the explanation as she lingered by the door. She looked over and found that Sari hadn't gone in but was lingering by the door as well. She looked at her sister's profile as she crossed her arms over her chest and observed the proceedings. She frowned at her sister's behavior since she knew that her sister was closer to the Greens than she was and she had heard the stories of her and Jake and Eric and some of the other adults in town.

"You're gonna be okay, dad."

Ryan looked into the room as she heard Jake say those words and watched. It was dark and the only light in the house was the lantern but she saw the slight movement from Mayor Green. Maybe that was all that was needed. It certainly was for her sister since Sari turned and quietly went down the stairs. Ryan watched as her sister went down the stairs. When she turned to look back, she caught Jake looking in the direction her sister had gone with a peculiar look on his face. It had her wondering about it and noticed that Jake continued to look as he stepped back but didn't follow.

Not wanting to interfere, she waited until his back was turned before slipping down the stairs to the living room. She looked around for her sister and found her sitting in the dark with her elbows resting on her knees and hands clasped together. Her chin was resting on her clasped hands and Ryan saw the look of relief on her face as she stared into the darkness and tears brimming. Ryan blinked at the sight little knowing that it was the result of some tension between her sister and Jake.

It was tempting to go to sit by her sister but Ryan decided against it. With the sudden insight of wisdom she received, she realized that her sister just needed to vent and relieve her feelings. People forgot that she was a person too and all they saw was the person that kept their town from going into chaos. The one who brought back some law and order and wasn't afraid to step up and stand up to people that she believed were going to ruin that. She saw her sister that was indomitable but forgot that she had feelings too and she had been torn by this and other decisions she had to make. And maybe no everyone was going to agree but Ryan knew that her sister was doing the best that she could and then some.

Leaving her sister alone, she went back to the stairs and sat on the bottom steps. There was nothing else to do so she sat there quietly until she was joined by Jake. She watched as he took a seat beside her and take a deep sigh of relief. It was probably rhetorical but she asked, "Is he gonna be okay?"

Jake looked at Ryan. "Yeah," he answered with a slight smile. He looked around and asked, "Where's your sister?"

Ryan wasn't sure how to answer that. She could let him know and let it go from there but she was also loyal to her sister. Maybe she didn't want to talk to anyone yet. She finally let out, "She's in the living room. You wanna talk to her?"

"No," Jake answered quickly, "I'll leave her alone."

Ryan wasn't sure about that answer. Part of her didn't like it but when she watched him shuffle in his seat, it made her more curious. She offered, "She seemed a little… I don't know like she wasn't letting it sink in until now."

"A lot happened today." Jake looked down at his hands. "She… she was amazing today." He then went silent and looked down at the table.

Ryan just sat there and folded her arms over her knees and rested her chin on them. She didn't know what to say. She wanted to ask what happened but she got the feeling that Jake was going to say that she was too young to be hearing that. So she was quiet and gently leaned against Jake, staring at nothing in particular until she felt a slight squeeze from his arm as he wrapped it around her. She muttered, "Glad you're back JJ."

Ryan heard him say something but she saw Emily and Heather and sat up immediately. She stood up from her spot and left to go into the kitchen, not seeing the look that Jake gave her. She did hear him thank Heather for staying with his mother and from there it was small talk so she went and joined her sister on the couch. "Everything okay?"

"I should be asking you that," Sari replied as she smiled at her sister. She opened her arm to let her sister curl up into her.

"JJ said he was going to be okay," Ryan replied as she tried to stifle a yawn. The events of the day were making her tired as the adrenaline was dying down.

"Usually what he says goes," Sari nodded in agreement. She paused a moment before saying, "And you were pretty good yourself from what I heard."

"It was nothing," Ryan said. She didn't think that talking to the mayor was of any help to anyone. She basically just kept out of the way of everyone.

"Sometimes being there is enough," Sari replied. She looked at her sister as she stroked her hair, watching Ryan fall asleep. "Just being there, being the calm one, reassuring… it does a lot more than what most people realize."

Sari continued to stroke Ryan's hair, not minding if her sister heard her or not, letting her sleep. She probably should wake her so they could go home but she decided against it. It wasn't like Gail was going to kick her out and she wouldn't if Ryan was fast asleep. Besides, she just wanted to be there just in case she was needed.

She didn't move except to turn when she heard Eric admit he was in love with Mary Bailey. She chuckled at that. Like that was well hidden. She knew they couldn't really see her and she wasn't inclined to make her presence known. So she remained quiet until she heard something that made her blood run cold.

"Jake I left my jacket back there. The wallet is in the jacket… the address. What if those guys come here?"

"Those guys are dead. Payton took care of it."

Sari knew it was more to reassure Eric and not send him into a panic. In truth… more likely they killed Payton. And if that were the case… that would mean that they would know that Jericho was on the map. And that meant they would come here. She looked up when Jake came into the living room, looking surprised that she was there but didn't say anything as he moved to open the shutters. She eased Ryan off her and down on the couch and stood up. She went to where her rifle and shotgun were laid down and picked up the rifle.

Turning towards Jake she looked at him full on so that he knew that she had heard about what Eric had said. She held up her rifle and nodded and received one in return. She joined Jake to sit on the back of the couch. It was going to be a long night but they were in agreement that they were not going to let anything happen to their town.