"Just hang in there man. The paramedics are just around the corner." The agent told Toby as agent Jerald and another took Florence and put her in the back of the SUV.

Happy was kneeling next to Toby as tears ran down her face. "Damn it Toby. Now will you admit it, it was a bad idea."

Toby nodded just a bit as he struggled with the pain and trying to breath. "F-fir-first aid, oxygen."

Happy jumped up and ran into the building and ran into the hallway and opened the closet where they kept the first aid supplies including oxygen masks for smoke and fire escape. She grabbed one and ran back out. She fell to her knees as she grabbed the oxygen canister and slid it into the hood. She activated the canister and put the hood over Toby's head and adjusted the straps holding it snug against his neck.

Toby's eyes closed for a minute and then he gave her a weak thumbs up and Happy began crying again.

Sylvester stood there watching as the scene played out. Florence had refused to explain her grin and suddenly he looked at one of the agents. "Can I see what is in her purse?"

The agent brought it over and opened it. Sylvester looked in and saw normal things and then saw a small vial. He ran down to the SUV and opened the door. "What is in that vial? What was it you put in Toby's coffee?"

Cabe pulled up to the helicopter and before he had completely stopped, Paige had jumped out of her side of the SUV and was running around. Cabe began climbing out as Paige climbed up into the helicopter as the blades neared minimum RPM for take off. Cabe crossed the intervening space and climbed up inside and slid the door closed as the pilot began increasing the rotor's speed and pulled back on his stick and the copter began lifting up.

As Cabe buckled in and as the helicopter a rose high enough, the pilot pulled back and to the left and the copter began turning as it continued to rise and then the blades tilted further as the CH-47F Chinhook took off to the north-east. "Agent Gallo, Major Tom Dunn. We're cleared for maximum speed. We should be at Hollow hills in just under an hour."

Cabe nodded. "Thank you Major." Cabe reached over and grabbed Paige's hands as she sat there her foot rapidly bouncing. "Walt's going to be okay kid."

Paige smiled wanly as she squeezed his hands back.

"Capt Benson, I got what looks like two bodies on the ground, about one thousand yards, east-south-east." Johnson replied.

Capt Benson half turned and hit the pilot's shoulder. "Take us down, east-south-east, thousand yards."

The pilot nodded as he adjusted their heading as they flew over CA-127.

"Yep, two bodies, both males. Neither appears to be moving." Johnson reported.

"Are you able to tell which one is Collins?" Capt Benson asked.

"One man is face down in the dirt. The other is on his back. I believe the one on his back is O'Brien judging by the hair color." Johnson reported.

The helicopter came down about thirty yards away from where Walter and Collins were lying in the dirt. Capt Benson was out of the helicopter first followed by the rest of the men breaking into two teams. Capt Benson ran quickly up to the two men and seeing Walter on his back he stepped just past him to make sure Collins couldn't reach him if he suddenly tired.

The rest of team one dropped down around Walter and their medic began assessing his condition.

Team two moved on up and grabbed Collins by his wrists and pulled him further away before relieving him of his rifle and securing his wrists and feet.

Florence grinned at Sylvester. "It doesn't matter, there isn't an antidote. It is tetrodotoxin poison."

Sylvester's eyes opened wide as he turned and ran back up to Toby and Happy as the ambulance pulled up besides the building. "She poisoned him with tetrodotoxin."

Agent Jerald ran from the SUV over to the ambulance. "He's been poisoned with tetrodotoxin."

The paramedics nodded as they pulled out the gurney and put the EKG machine on it along with their respirator and began moving quickly up to where Toby was lying. The paramedic looked at the oxygen mask and nodded. "That was smart thinking putting that on him. Sir, can you tell me your name?"

Toby's eyes fluttered. "Dr. Tobias Curtis." He spoke slowly and with great effort.

The paramedic began cutting down his t-shirt since Happy had already unbuttoned his shirt. "Okay Dr. Curtis, can you tell me are you experiencing any pain?"

"My chest and left arm, I'm having difficulty breathing and movement in general." Toby explained slowly.

The paramedic nodded as he began putting on the EGK pads. "That's normal for tetrodotoxin poisoning. After I get you wired up we may give you some adrenaline and sodium chloride. We've got our respirator here. Do I have your permission to tube you if your breathing gets worse?"

Toby nodded.

Happy looked at the paramedic. "I'm his wife and you got my permission to do whatever you need to do to keep him alive."

Toby smiled slightly as the paramedic nodded.

The medic looked up. "Capt Benson, O'Brien's got a through and through, but it definitely pierced his left lung above his heart. It might have broken a rib or two as it transverse through his chest. I've got him stabilized for now but I recommend we get him on the copter and get him to Barstow ASAP."

Capt Benson frowned. "What about the base? It is much closer."

The medic shook his head. "Barstow Community would be a better choice and we need to go now sir."

Capt Benson nodded as they got Walter onto a litter and picked him up and began running him back to the helicopter. "Team two I want you to stand fast with Collins. I'll call for transport to pick you up."

Capt Benson climbed in last and hit the pilot's shoulder. "Get us airborne and take us to Barstow Community hospital. Let them know we have an incoming emergency gunshot."

The pilot nodded as the rotors began speeding up. As the copter began lifting up the pilot radioed ahead.

Capt Benson hit his mic. "Capt Benson to Fort Irwin, we've secured Homeland asset and are in route to Barstow Community hospital. Dispatch a transport back to coordinates to pick up team two and terrorist Mark Collins. Advise Col Halston as to our status."

"Fort Irwin copy that. Dispatching transport and informing Col Halston." The controller acknowledged.

Paige's phone buzzed and she pulled it out and saw a message from Ralph.

"Agent Gallo, I've just received word from Homeland. We've been directed to alter our flight path. We're going to Barstow Community hospital." The pilot called over the headsets.

Cabe looked up at the pilot, "What for?"

Paige read from Ralph. "Mom, they have picked up Walter and are taking him to Barstow Community hospital. He's in serious condition but stable at this time. A single gunshot from a .22 caliber rifle, the bullet went through the top of his left lung."

The pilot shook his head. "They didn't say. Just said orders came from Homeland to divert."

Paige managed to breathe a sigh of relief as she looked at Cabe. "What's going on Cabe?"

Cabe looked over at Paige. "Unsure, Homeland sent word for our pilot to change course to Barstow Community hospital." Cabe pulled out his phone and called Katherine Cooper.

Paige nodded. "They got Walter and are taking him there." Paige began laughing as tears ran down her face and she threw her arms around Cabe and they hugged tightly.

"Cabe, they got Walter and they are rushing him to Barstow. Your pilot should have already been given orders to divert to there." Katherine said as soon as she picked up the phone after seeing his name.

Cabe smiled and let out a breath. "Thanks Katherine. I'll give you a call as soon as we find out what is going on."

"Cabe, our agents apprehended Florence but she poisoned Toby. He's suffered a heart attack and they are rushing him to Cedars." Katherine explained.

Cabe nodded. "I copy that, thanks Katherine." Cabe looked to Paige with a smile. "You were right, they got Walter and they are taking him to Barstow."

As Cabe sat back his expression turned serious again. "Katherine also advised me that while they apprehended Florence, she poisoned Toby. He's had a heart attack and they are rushing him to Cedars."

Paige frowned. As angry as she was at what the Stooges had done she didn't want that to happen to them. "Poor Happy, she must be beside herself."

Cabe nodded.

Paige pulled out her phone debated calling or not. Finally she pulled up Happy's contact and sent her a text. "Happy, I just heard what happened. I am so sorry. If there is anything I can do when I get back to LA please let me know. You and Toby give each other a hug for me."

Happy was pacing back and forth outside of the ER room they had Toby in as Sylvester sat in a small chair next to the room. Her phone buzzed but she didn't register it. Sylvester looked up. "Happy, I think you just got a text."

Happy looked up at Sylvester before pulling her phone out of her back pocket. She looked down and read the message and frowned. "How the hell did the waitress find out about Toby?"

Sylvester shook his head. "I didn't even think to contact her. Maybe Homeland did?"

Happy frowned. "Why would Homeland advise her about what was happening? And why the hell is she not here in LA. She didn't say she was leaving town this morning did she?"

Sylvester shook his head. He pulled out his phone and pulled up her contact and pressed dial.

Ralph and Allie had sat monitoring communications traffic from Fort Irwin after Ralph hacked into the base again. After hearing they had Walter and were taking him to Barstow Community hospital, Ralph began hacking into the hospital's system so they could stay up to date with Walter's condition.

Ralph saw the ER system update with a new patient but no name yet. He hacked the camera system and pulled up the camera for the room the patient was taken too. He smiled seeing Walter laying on a gurney with medical personnel all around him as they began examining his gunshot wounds. He hacked the system and pulled up a read out of Walter's vitals from the equipment in the room.

Allie thought about stopping him but all things considered this wasn't that bad. As soon as they moved him to surgery she planned to take Cabe's SUV and drive them both out to Barstow anyway.

Ralph grabbed his phone and began typing. "Mom, Walter is in the ER now. Allie and I are watching the CCTV system. I also have his vitals pulled up so I can monitor how he is doing. His heart rate is a little high and the rest of his vitals are a little low but not too bad."

Paige smiled at her phone and turned it so Cabe could read it. Cabe laughed. "You've got your hands full with that boy."

Paige nodded as she grinned.

Major Dunn looked over his shoulder. "Agent Gallo, it looks like we'll have to put down a bit of a ways from the ER. There is another helicopter already there so we'll land close by it."

Cabe looked out the windshield and nodded. "That's fine Major. Homeland and I really appreciates this."

The Major nodded. "I'm happy to be of service Sir."

Paige's phone rang and she looked down and saw Sylvester's name. She sighed as she hit answer. "Sylvester, how is Toby doing?"

Sylvester frowned as he could clearly hear the rotor wash in the background. "We don't know just yet. They are working on him in the ER room. Ho-how did you find out?"

Paige felt the helicopter beginning to settle down to the ground. "Homeland advised Cabe and he just told me."

Sylvester nodded. "Are you and Cabe on a helicopter?"

Paige cleared her throat. "Yes, we just touched down at Barstow Community hospital. Look Sly, I've got to go now. We've got to leave the helicopter so we can go check on how Walter is doing."

Paige hit 'hang up' even as Sylvester spoke. "Walter? Why is he at…" The phone went silent as Cabe pushed the door open and they both jumped out of the helicopter and began moving thru the parking lot as four Army members in full gear stepped up and began escorting them to the door.

Sylvester looked to Happy. "Homeland told Cabe what happened to Toby and he told Paige. But something is wrong with Walter. Paige said her and Cabe just landed at Barstow Community hospital in a helicopter."

Happy growled in frustration as her heart pulled in both directions. "Just great, now we have two medical emergencies in two separate locations and I can't be at both at the same time. Look, I can't leave here but I want you to get out to Barstow and stay up to date on Walter for me."

Sylvester stared at her. "J-Just how am I supposed to get out there?"

Happy glared at him. "Sly, damn it, call a taxi if you have too." Happy's shoulders slumped. "Or just stay in contact with Paige I guess. Why did we ever leave Scorpion?"

Sylvester chose not to respond to her question.

As they got about half way to the hospital the one man looked at Cabe and Paige. "Agent Gallo, Ms Dineen, I'm Staff Sergeant Johnson, I wish our meeting was under different circumstances. Capt Benson is inside maintaining a presence with Mr. O'Brien."

Cabe nodded as he reached his hand out and shook his. "We're both very grateful for what you guys did for Walter. How is he doing?"

Johnson shook his head. "I'm not a medic Sir, I'm a sniper. The medic said he had a good chance though."

They ushered Paige and Cabe on into the ER and Cabe flashed his badge. "We're here about Walter O'Brien."

The receptionist looked startled but he began typing and read the screen. "He's stable for now. They're waiting on some test results."

Cabe frowned. "What tests do they need? He should be in the OR receiving care for his gunshot wound."

"Sir, please have a seat in the waiting room. I'll try and get the Dr to come out here as quickly as I can." The receptionist told him.

Johnson reached up and pressed against the mic around his neck. "Capt Benson, I've got agent Gallo and Ms Dineen here in the ER lobby. Yes, sir, I'll let them know."

"Agent Gallo, if you both will wait here with me, Capt Benson will be out here to get you." Johnson told them.

Paige smiled gratefully. "Thank you Sergeant."

Johnson smiled. "It was my pleasure Ma'am."

Greetings! Hope this finds you all well! Wife is still in the hospital, still haven't done the stints. She said her kidney functions have perked up so the medicine helping her heart seems to be helping her kidneys by increasing blood flow.

No cliffhanger but still lacking resolution. Maybe next chapter! hehehe

Franxine - No, honestly I really don't enjoy hurting Walter. After what I did to the poor guy in my Uncivil War story line, he really deserves a serious break from pain!

To the Adventure! -Tim