Present Day -Tim Gutterson's POV
Beep ...
Beep...
Beep...
The monotone sound reaching his ears makes Tim wake up from his sleep. His eyes still closed and a frown between his brows. He didn't recognize the sound. It wasn't his alarm clock. Hell, he never had to use one because his inner clock made sure he was always wide awake before dawn.
Maybe it was his phone?
No, it had a different ringtone and whoever was calling him was stubborn because the sound just kept going.
Beep...
Beep...
Beep...
His right eye twitched...Slowly opening and glancing into the room. The bright light hurting his eyes and Tim immediately shuts them again. The sharp pain bolting through his head made him take a few deep breaths.
'What the fu...,' he thinks. He wasn't in his bedroom at all.
His mind didn't work with him. Trying to remember how he got in this room and if his environment was hostile. Tim tried to ball his hands into fists and that's when the pain hits him.
The sharp pain travelling from his head to his torso. Every time he took a breath his chest hurt and his eyes snap open when memories of Bobbie suddenly flash before his eyes. The pain made his head clear again.
He reaches for the IV in his left arm, while eyes travel around the room and now Tim recognizes the equipment and his surroundings. Apparently he was in Lexington hospital and the annoying beeping sound was from the machine taking track of his heartbeat.
Which was spiking to 130 at this moment.
"Calm down," the man's voice made Tim turn his head to the window. The movement too fast and for a few seconds his vision's blurry. "You're in Lexington hospital and have a few broken ribs. You went into surgery because one of them punctured your lung."
When Tim's vision cleared again, he saw the familiar shape of Raylan's cowboy hat. His coworker moving closer to his bed. It was the first time that Tim saw a look of concern on Raylan's face that was directed toward him.
Beep...
Beep...
Beep...
"Can someone please shut that piece of shit of a machine of? I'm wounded but if it keeps beeping I'm gonna lose my goddamn mind."
"Language, Tim," another voice came from his other side and Tim closed his eyes. Cursing slowly in his head before opening them again while turning his head.
"Art...," his voice is hoarse, feeling a raw pain in his throat and knew that during his surgery he probably had a breathing tube.
His boss nodded and Raylan went to stand next to him. His eyes saying sorry and the man shrugged his shoulders.
"I had to tell him, Tim," his voice is soft, hands disappearing into his jeans. "He's here to help."
Art turned his head to Raylan, already shaking head and rubbing his neck.
"You're an idiot, Gutterson," Art muttered in between breaths, "you could've died on that surgeon's table."
Tim grinned his half smile and shook his head. "There's more to get me six feet down then some broken ribs."
It as meant as a joke but Art suddenly glared at him. "You did something illegal, Marshall Gutterson. You helped a fugitive escape and I'm not even gonna start on all the things that makes you belong behind bars! And you did all of it right under my damned nose."
Tim always was a sarcastic little son of a bitch. He knew that since he was a child and always being one of the smaller kids, he had gotten his fair share of beatings when his mouth was quicker then his mind. Taller kids always picked on him. Not only because he was smaller...Mostly because his Daddy was a beat up guy who didn't do shit. Except getting drunk.
When Tim got home from school with bruises, his Daddy was there waiting for him. Drunk as fuck and ready with his belt. That's when Tim got his second beating of the day. That went on until Tim decided to join the Army. And during that time of his childhood, he grew an armor. And that was his dry humour and sarcasm.
Luckily, when Gutterson joined the Rangers and after that the Marshall's...He tried to keep his mouth shut when he felt that little sarcasm devil whispering on his right shoulder again.
Gutterson knew...this was one of these times that Art didn't need Tim to say anything. Especially nothing funny. So he just looked at his boss and nodded.
"I know," he admits, his pride hurt but his ribs pained him more at this point. And he's trying everything in his might to not just ask where Bobbie Lee was. But he needed to know... Tim just needed the assurance that she was still alive.
"Bobbie Lee?"
Raylan leaned against the frame of Tim's hospital's bed and glanced at Art who raised his hands in surrender. Their boss murmured something about getting a coffee before he'd hear something he didn't want to know and disappeared out of the chamber.
Both Marshall's waited until Art was out of the room before looking at each other again. It was Raylan who finally put the heart machine on silent. Tim had no idea how the machine was called and decided to just call it a piece of shit.
Pain always made him cranky...
Raylan came closer and sat himself on the bed next to Tim, making the sniper frown at the closeness of his co-Marshall. If he'd be able too, he'd move away from him but he couldn't even grin without feeling a sting of pain over his whole body.
"You're being guarded by Homeland," Raylan's eyes pointed at the closed door and Tim suddenly knew why the man sat so close to him. "So am I and Art. They're not sure Bobbie Lee's death. Although they found her hip and DNA , ... etc."
Raylan locked eyes with Tim. "There hasn't been a word or sign," he murmured, "and we're all grounded...for now. At least, until they're sure it was Swagger who died there."
Tim frowned but nodded anyway. Raylan had no idea if Bobbie survived and Tim understood he couldn't find out seeing Homeland was everywhere around them.
"You remember that great roast Meghan made?"
Gutterson arched a brow, shaking his head in confusion. "What the hell? You think I'm hungry at this moment?"
"I mean, that girl can cook. Even better then Wynona...I wonder what she's doing now?"
Raylan stared at him, waiting for the hint to soak in and Tim's eyes widen whilst shaking his head.
"Oh no no, that's the worst idea I've ever heard."
"She can handle herself," Raylan muttered, getting up from the bed again. "Maybe I'll ask her to make one again when I see her at the office."
And his fellow Marshall left the hospital room after saying he needed something to eat and would bring Tim something that was better then the hospital food he would get. Leaving Tim in distress thinking Meghan and Bobbie would meet up.
But he never felt so relieved knowing Bobbie Lee survived the attack. And that Homeland was investigating her death. That meant their plan had worked...
But he wouldn't be able to see her anytime soon and Tim stared out of his window again, pressing the morphine button. The waves of the pain killer flowing into his veins made him close his eyes again. Seeing the smile of Bobbie before him was the last thing he remembered before sleep took him.