Chapter 28

Standing on the snowy stairs before the door, George Cowley had to take a few deep breaths to slow down his racing heart, as he didn't know what sight would be waiting for him. His knock didn't give any result, so he tried the handle, opened the door and stepped in. As his first view was of two men peacefully sleeping, he already opened his mouth to roar at them, but when his gaze focused on the terrible bruise that was the other side of Bodie's head, and what looked like a makeshift support around Doyle's neck, he closed his mouth and walked quietly in the living room, the wondering Duncan behind him.

Their gazes swept the room, seeing the various clothes hanging drying, car-seat dumped in the corner, heaters, dirty dishes on the floor, and the fading fire, to which Mr Cowley immediately added a little more wood. Duncan noticed the missing shelves, and seeing them under Ray's mattress pointed them out to the older man. They also saw the opened boxes of painkiller and dexamethasone, which made again Controller's pulse quicken, and stepping into the otherwise neat kitchen, he recognized the catheter-tube. And although he knew they had been moving around quietly, he also knew that in any normal circumstances both men would have already been wide awake. Och Lord Almighty, be merciful... don't let me lose these two as well... not these, not now...

"Duncan?" he whispered. Startled by the use of his first name, the young man tiptoed into kitchen. "I'll start making us all tea and something to eat, and waking up the lads. Can you use the radio?"

Duncan thought for a moment. "Aye, it's not that different from the ones we have, only a lot more efficient."

"Good. The electrician said that there's a list of frequencies in the glove box. Find the closest military base, or any place where you know they have a rescue service. Can you take the co-ordinates for the house from this map?" The Controller handed Duncan the map he had taken with him.

"Aye, Sir, I'm used to maps and this place is easy to locate."

"Good. Introduce yourself with your title, tell about the accident, and tell them that the request comes from the Controller of CI5, me, and that the injured men are two CI5 agents, just to make them prick their ears better, and that I'd appreciate if there was also a doctor on the board as I suspect", a deep sigh "a spinal injury on Doyle, and the way Bodie's head looks like, I am afraid he's got a fractured skull. And tell them everything they want to know about the crash. And DO NOT MOVE from that radio until you get the confirmation they are coming with a helicopter, and then rush back here as fast as you can, so that we can secure a landing-place in time. There's not that many hours of daylight left, especially in this snow."

Duncan, who had already taken the map and a ruler and a pen he had dug out from somewhere, nodded, and was back out from the door in a couple of minutes.

It wasn't the old Scot who started to wake up the lads, but the tiny tabby. Georgie had woken up to the slight noises that carried to his ears from the kitchen, and the little nose who peeked out to sniff, noticed unfamiliar scents. Georgie started to hiss, moan and growl, and that sound woke up not only Ray, but also the attention of the chief. When he noticed Ray's eyes open, he quickly walked next to the mattress and kneeled down.

"Easy, lad... easy." He still whispered. "Constable Lennox is calling help here as we speak. You've hurt your back, right?"

Ray's mouth was dry, and he barely managed to cough out his "Yes" through his astonishment.

The old Scot hushed him silent and tapped gently his shoulder. "Will give you a drink in a moment... but what on earth do you have there?" he gently lifted the cover and caught a peek of a kitten with bared teeth... and with a... splint? "Och... goodness... I get you water, we talk after that." And when the back of his anorach vanished inside the kitchen, Ray's eyes were filled with tears again and he was fervently thanking all the powers he could think of.

Bodie was relentlessly dragged out of his comfy darkness by Ray's hand tugging his arm and voices calling him. Once he finally managed to force his lids open, it took him a while to grasp what he was seeing. "... Sir?"

His chief was just getting on his feet after handing Ray his drink and collecting the dirty dishes. "Finally, Bodie, I was getting worried. No, stay down, stay down lad. Keep yourself warm. You'll get tea and sandwiches in a moment and we'll talk. We're in no hurry at the moment, Lennox is calling for help and will get back here once he manages to get in contact with the rescuers."

Bodie collapsed back to his mattress. He didn't know if he would have managed to get up in the first place, so the order came as a relief. He heard running water from the kitchen and a clatter when his chief rinsed their dishes, and the old Scot soon emerged with a tray. He gave the lads their mugs and sandwiches and then sat unceremoniously onto floor, with his back against the wood-box.

"Sir, how did you get here?" Ray couldn't control his curiosity anymore.

"Well you can thank PC Lennox for that. Maybe he has some Highland seer in his family. He got worried over you, and as he didn't reach you by phone, he eventually came to me. Brave lad, as he still was very hung over and I wasn't even close to my best moods. Anyway, he managed to pass on his worry and we got here. That's enough of that. Looks like you've got things pretty much under control, but now, tell me what happened here."

Bodie sighed. "Ok... I woke up in the car. We had crashed with that bloody fallen pole but I didn't know it by then and couldn't remember. Car was hanging on the edge, and fell and we got into the river. I needed to fiddle a little with Ray to get him back to his senses, and then as he said he didn't feel his legs, I detached the seat to get it off the water as it was fucking... freezing cold. I realised we had to be very close to this house so I followed the river to get here and get help. But the phone was dead, so I searched for something to help us and found the milk-cart or whatever, and ropes and stuff, and went to fetch Ray. I managed to get him and our luggage here and managed to find some medication. Oh and in the morning I went to see what had happened and left the anorach for warning as I had nothing else. That's pretty much it." Both Ray and Mr Cowley listened stunned to what even the old Scot guessed to be understatement of the decade.

"Anything to add, Doyle?"

Without a word Ray pulled away the quilt from his mate, so that their chief saw the horrifying bruises Bodie had. "He resuscitated me in the car for minutes, sir. And also he spent in the river a long time detaching the seat. With that shoulder and all. Then, when he came back with the wheelbarrow, he had to carry the other side of it for quite a while in the river, before he got to pulling. With my weight and all the extra. Then he dragged me in here, and managed to move me from the seat to this mattress, and get the wet clothes off. And use the catheter. And make food. And find more firewood this morning. And get over that fucking piece of fallen ground to warn others." There was a meow under the quilt and Georgie showed his nose. "Oh yeah, and on his way back, save the kitty from a fox and fix his leg."

Embarrassed Bodie managed to snatch the cover back and he curled under it.

"Och... " It was a rare occasion that George Cowley was at loss of words for more than a second.

"Yeah. And even that wasn't all. He figured out how to use seatbelts to secure me into my seat and things like that."

Only now Bodie opened his mouth. "Ray helped. He used his head too although the back must have given him hell's agony. Figured out how to move him from the seat to the mattress, and kept me going when I almost... gave up with everything."

The tabby, who was now confident the newcomer wasn't a threat, pushed his head farther off from under the quilt and mr Cowley saw Bodie smile. "Yeah, mate... and you helped us both. To have some sort of hold onto our sanity."

Ray's eyes turned to their chief. "Sir, could you see to it that Georgie also gets treatment?"

Mr Cowley blinked a couple of times. "What did you say his name was?" and colour started to spread on the faces of the two agents.

"Georgie... Bodie's idea!"

The said culprit was already pure crimson under his bruises. "Well it felt so fitting, and it's a good name, isn't it?"

Mr Cowley's voice was very soft. "And pray, tell me how it felt such a fitting name?"

Bodie coughed. "Because... because he's small, ginger and hardy. And street-wise. And brave. Sir."

"And fights and bites like a devil."

"Shut up Ray..."

There was a long silence which was finally ended by muffled chuckles that broke into hearty laughter, and after a moment the lads dared to join in.

"Och, it was a good thing you added that last bit, Doyle." Mr Cowley was still chuckling and wiping his eyes. "The two of you... There are times when I don't know whether you are a blessing or a curse for CI5. Or for me and my nerves... All right I promise he'll be looked after and cared for. But joking aside. What kind of injuries are we talking about here? I already guess that there's a spinal injury to Doyle's back."

All traces of merriness vanished. "That's right, sir. There's a bit of feeling and reactions left, though, so I'd guess there's nothing totally irrevocable if he gets into a good hospital quickly. Also, he's got at least three broken ribs, but they don't seem to be that bad. Maybe something in the neck too but that I managed to stabilize already in the car. Bump into head but it's minor. Some small bruises."

Mr Cowley looked at Ray's hands. "What are those scrapes and wounds?"

Ray grimaced. "Your namesake, sir. He wasn't very co-operative when Bodie tried to make the splint for his front leg a few hours ago. It's broken." Mr Cowley sighed.

"We'll pay for his treatment, sir", Bodie said quickly. "He has to be treated. Whatever it is that they need to do to him."

Mr Cowley looked at him. "And what about you then, Bodie?"

Before Bodie got his mouth open again Ray hurried in between. "His skull, sir. It has to be checked thoroughly because I think there may be fractures." Ray didn't miss the ugly glance Bodie gave him. "Save those stares, mate. I noticed already in the evening you flinched every time I touched even that side of your head. You hit it worse you want to let out. And your thoughts tarry and you're clumsier than usually."

Bodie muttered something that probably was a curse.

"And that shoulder, Bodie?" Mr Cowley's voice was quiet.

"It didn't feel broken at first... but now I can't use that hand almost at all, and my fingers aren't working properly either. Other than that, just bruising. And... "

"Exhaustion and fatigue", mr Cowley completed the sentence without hesitation, watching his top agent barely be able to lift his head. "Aye, lads... looks like I lost a lot more on this assignment than I bargained for. But thank the Lord at least the two of you are going to live to see another day. Whether you'll be fit for the streets, well, that's something that remains to be seen." He rose slowly to his feet.

"Finish your teas and sandwiches now in all peace and quiet, lads. Is there anything that should be done or be seen to right now that I could help with?"

Ray and Bodie exchanged a glance. "Well, there's Georgie... could you please offer him a some food and water?"

The two-legged namesake shook his head but with a little smile, and went to kitchen without further comments. He soon spotted Georgie's dishes and the tin, and returned to the living room. "Now, let me see my namesake properly." He added more firewood as Ray pulled down his quilt to expose the little feline, and then kneeled beside the mattress. "Ach... he's small alright. No more than 8 weeks, I would say, probably even less. Let's see... " and to the astonishment of both agents he gently took the kitten inside a little towel, and lifted him on his side of Ray. "Come now, little lad... nothing to worry about... yes I know you hurt... will leave your leg alone, just feeling about you a bit... let's see your mouth... 6, 7 weeks maybe... a little dehydrated... you've done quite a good job with the leg, Bodie... aye... no more probing, laddie, just a bit of cuddling and stroking, eh? Juuust a little bit of cuddling and stroking..." Finally the Scot noticed the stunned eyes of his agents. "What? I like cats. I used to have them before CI5 when my job only allowed. Can he already drink by himself?"

Ray was the first to get a word out of his mouth. "No sir, not from the bowl but he licks water from fingertip. Bodie taught him that. But he eats alright."

The thought of Bodie offering water from his fingertips made the Scot chuckle. Aye this kitten must be something special. "He probably hurts too much to have appetite, and is too scared of me, but maybe he'd take some water..." For the next good 15 minutes the agents followed fascinated how their feared chief coaxed the little kitten to drink and eat.

Just as he had tucked the tabby back against Ray's side, the front door opened and the out of breath constable emerged brushing snow from his hair. "Finally, Sir! E.t.a. in about two hours, they're on rescue-flights even now but will get here as soon as they can. Thank god the wind isn't too bad, they can follow the river and the valley despite the snowing and the dusk. Oh hello, you're all awake now. Anything I can do here, Sir?"

Mr Cowley nodded. "Take a bite and a cuppa from the kitchen, or make coffee if you fancy, and sit down for a moment. We'll have time to mark the landing after that." In a few minutes also Duncan had parked his bottom on the solid floor of his grandfather's house.

"Guess we should thank you then, Lennox. Mr Cowley told us you sounded the alarm." Agent Doyle gave Duncan a little smile.

"Well... aye, I got worried when I couldn't reach you by phone. Mr Bodie, did you throw one of your bottles to the river?"

Bodie nodded after a moment. "Did someone find it?"

Duncan sipped his drink. "Thank you sir, very good tea. Aye, one of the old farts... farmers from downriver had been at his place last night and had said in the village he'd found a bottle with a piece of paper in it this morning. I talked with the local PC this morning when I tried to find out if something had happened. He had dropped and lost the paper though, but as they said it was Glenfiddich, I went to see Mr Cowley."

Bodie grimaced. "Oh don't tell me there was someone home nearby..."

Duncan shook his head. "Nay, a few miles away. Besides if you had by some miracle made it there, that old bat wouldn't have dared to let you in anyway. He lets nobody in. Suspicious old bugger he is."

Bodie sighed. "Anyway, thanks Lennox. And thank your grandfather too. We owe him a lot. Sorry for the mess though."

Duncan grinned. "That's something I fix in five minutes so never you mind that, mr Bodie. And Gramp, he wants to keep things running smooth and always wants to be prepared. Good thing it helped you too, he'll be happy to know."

After that the two agents talked with their boss about yesterday's operation and the results, and about the hurt agent. Duncan, while sipping his tea, wondered how they could all three be so laid-back and calm, as if there was nothing to worry about, although if mr Cowley's first assessment was correct, both agents were seriously injured. Okay, he knew they had taken Gramp's pills which were quite hard stuff, but still. But, thinking about it, what could they do about things anyway? What would fretting help? Maybe they simply were sparing their energy, and by God, thinking that agent Bodie had managed to drag his partner with the seat from the car, and today manage to climb to leave the warning, and all that they must have gone through, they both certainly had to be really worn out.

Bodie tried to get up. Mr Cowley looked worried. "You'd better stay down, lad."

Bodie grimaced. "Just need the bathroom... dammit..."

Duncan was already on his feet. "Wait, mr Bodie. I'll give you a hand." When he saw the bruised shoulder he instantly half-kneeled behind Bodie and put his arm under the man and lifted. Bodie was so stunned that he didn't have time to say anything before he was already on his knees, and with one smooth movement Duncan had got him standing. "Fer goodness' sake, mr Bodie, the muscles in this other shoulder can't be much better. You've burned it with a rope, have ye? It looks like that." Duncan had noticed the other bruise.

"Yeah he did that dragging me from the car yesterday" said Ray.

"Aye mr Cowley, the constable in Muir called yer lot supermen, now I can tell him they certainly are that. Mr Bodie, mind your step, I once got my neck so bruised and jammed I felt I couldn't even walk straight for days..." And one of the supermen let himself be escorted towards the door of the bathroom without complaints.

"How did he do that?", whispered Ray. "Bodie didn't say a word to oppose! He would have lashed me if I had tried to walk him that way."

Mr Cowley hemmed. "I've noticed young Lennox has a special way with people. And he looks very strong indeed." Controller made a mental note that he should have a look at this young PC's file.

"Sir..." Ray's voice was quiet. "What if I don't make it back on my feet?"

Mr Cowley had already wondered the same. "Now, Doyle, I don't have an answer for that. I wish I had but I don't. But we'll see what future brings. You already made it back after that woman shot you. All we can do is to hope and pray you do it again, and also work for it to succeed. All I can promise is that I do what I can on my end too. How are things between you and Bodie?" Controller's voice was quiet too.

"He blamed himself... 'bout the crash." Mr Cowley had already guessed that. "We talked about it last night. And about other things. I don't blame him. It simply was an accident. And I think we've... sorted things out between us. We're friends."

That was the first time the Controller heard one of the duo to use that word about the other. And somehow it did sound a very big word indeed. But it confirmed the feeling of... peace between the two he had sensed. As if something had finally settled into its place. Something he had waited for years. But had it happened too late?