"Kevin, no," moaned Darien in a feverish sleep. He had been having nightmares for the past hour, raving softly about Kevin, Arnaud, Chrysalis and Claire and Bobby.
Claire rubbed his cheek as small sobs came out of his mouth. "It's okay, Darien, it's okay," she whispered soothingly, still holding him in her arms.
Alex busied herself with changing Darien's bandages, on Claire's request. She was glad for the distraction, not really knowing what to do with herself. She wasn't used to feeling so helpless.
Darien opened his eyes with a soft moan. He looked up at Claire with distant, feverish eyes. "Claire," he whispered somewhat dreamily.
"Are you okay?" she asked softly.
"Oh yeah, I'm fine, Kevin took the gland out. It only hurt a little bit," he replied.
Alex looked at Claire with concern.
"He's out of it from the infection and the fever," whispered Claire to her look.
Darien reached up with his hand and touched Claire's hair. "You're so pretty, Claire," he said with a dreamy smile. "Did I ever tell you how much I love you?" he asked with wide eyes.
Claire flushed a deep red.
Alex chuckled. "First Bobby and now Darien," she said.
Claire gave her a confused look.
"Never mind," said Alex quickly.
"Keepie, let's go to Vegas and get married. Hobbes can be the best man," slurred Darien as his eyes once again closed. Within seconds, he was snoring softly.
"Well that was interesting," said Alex with a smile.
Claire tried not to look impressed. "He was just hallucinating, that's all."
"Sure he was," said Alex.
Claire scoffed. "Alex, really."
"I think someone has a crush," Alex replied.
"I do not," said Claire.
Alex gave her a surprised look. "I was talking about Darien."
"Oh," said Claire quickly. She looked up at Alex with apprehension. "You're not going to tell anyone about this, are you?"
"Of course not," said Alex smugly.
"Alex," said Claire sharply.
"Fine, you're secret is safe with me," she said.
That's what scared Claire.
Bobby made his way silently around the cabin, looking for any sign of Darien, Alex or the Keep. All he was seeing through the windows was piles of guns. Well, it looked like they had plenty of proof to arrest these guys. Unfortunately, Bobby couldn't take on 10 guys by himself. Okay, that wasn't true. Bobby Hobbes could take on a hundred guys and come out with nothing but a scratch, but at this point, arresting Palms and his friends was the furthest thing from Bobby's mind. He had spotted a few drops of blood on the ground near the cabin and he was getting very scared. Somehow, he just knew that was his partner's blood. He didn't know how he knew, but he could just feel it.
With practiced cat-like steps, Bobby walked away from the cabin to try and make his way down another trail, trying to sense where Darien was.
"Come on, partner, give me a sign, buddy," whispered Bobby softly to himself.
He ran his flashlight over the ground and saw another spot of blood. Okay, this really wasn't the kind of sign Bobby wanted from his partner, but it would have to do. He continued through the forest, following the drops of blood that he desperately hoped was not his partner's. But somehow, he didn't think his partner was so lucky.
The tears were running hard and heavy down Claire's cheeks.
Alex sat next to her with tears trickling out of her own eyes, a supportive hand on Claire's shoulder and another hand on Darien's shoulder. She looked down at Darien's lifeless face. He hadn't stirred in two hours and he had grown incredibly still. He was still alive, but for how much longer she couldn't say.
Claire was a wreck. She could literally feel the life drifting out of Darien. She kept her hand on his chest just to assure herself that he was still breathing. He was, but his breath was incredibly shallow. His pulse was also faint. She ran her hand over his cheek, caressing him softly. He didn't deserve to die like this. He hadn't suffered as much as he had over the past year to die of a gunshot wound in the forest. It just wasn't fair. Then again, the gods had never really been fair to Darien.
"Is there anything..." asked Alex, trailing off. She knew the answer. Darien was going to die.
Claire looked at her with sad eyes. "I think all we can do for him now is just let him know that we're here, to let him know that he's not alone," she said as she ran her fingers through his soft hair.
Alex nodded. She took Darien's hand and held it tightly between her own two hands, letting him know that she was there with him too.
"Oh this is a pretty picture. Leave it to my partner to be unconscious while two beautiful women caress him," said Bobby as he stepped towards them.
Claire and Alex both jumped.
"Bobby! Oh my god!" yelled Claire with excitement.
Bobby walked to where Claire was cradling Darien and leaned down next to them. He shined his flashlight over Darien and saw the wound. "Fawkes," he said softly. He looked at Claire with fear in his eyes. "Is he dead?" he asked.
Claire shook her head and she gently rolled Darien off of her. "Not yet, but he will be if he doesn't get out of here," she said.
Alex looked at Bobby with amazement. "How did you find us? I mean how did you even know we needed help?" she asked incredulously.
"It's a little trick I do. Let's just say I have a sixth sense when it comes to my partner," he replied. He knelt down next to his partner, taking his hand. "Hold on, buddy, just hang on," he whispered softly in Darien's ear.
"Where's the van?" asked Claire.
Bobby pointed to his right. "Down the path. I can't drive the van through the forest; there's too many trees. I'm going to have to carry him," said Bobby.
"Okay, let's get out of here," said Claire eagerly as she gathered her medical supplies and put them in her bag.
Bobby reached under Darien and gently picked him up, cradling him in his arms. Darien didn't even stir. "It's a good thing you're a light weight, my friend," said Bobby as he easily held Darien in his arms. He could feel the dampness from Darien's clothes and skin start to soak through his own clothes. Damn, he hated seeing his partner so helpless.
"You got him okay, Bobby?" asked Alex, when she saw Bobby's pained expression.
Bobby nodded. "I got him, let's go."
The walked for about forty-five minutes before they reached the van. Bobby's back was killing him from carrying Darien, but he could have cared less. He would've walked a hundred miles with his partner in his arms if it meant Darien would live.
He eased him into the back of the van. "Easy pal," he said soothingly. Claire took a seat next to Darien and held his hand. Alex joined Bobby in the front seat. Bobby gunned the van into life and drove off, leaving a pile of dust evident in the dark night.
Bobby and Claire sat on both sides of Darien's bed, waiting patiently for him to wake up. They had gotten him to a hospital in the nick of time. The doctors had pumped some much needed blood and antibiotics into his system, effectively saving his life. Darien had since been moved to lab 3 of the Keep, where Claire could keep a close eye over him.
Darien's head moved slightly and a small moan worked its way out of his throat.
Bobby took his hand. "That's it, D. Show us those baby browns," he said.
Darien's eyes fluttered and then opened, trying to focus. He eyed Bobby. "Baby browns?" he whispered sarcastically.
"Smart ass," replied Bobby. "It's good to have you back, pal."
Darien looked at him with confusion. He turned his head and saw Claire on his other side. "How did we get out?" he rasped.
Claire pointed to Bobby. "Bobby found us. He carried you all the way to the van and then we took you to a hospital," she said with a smile.
Darien raised his eyebrows, looking at Bobby. "You carried me?" he asked with disbelief.
"Oh sure, beanpole like you, it was no problem," said Bobby.
Darien slowly pulled his hand out from under the sheets and eyed Bobby intensely. "Thanks, partner," he whispered.
Bobby slapped his hand. "I would do it again, my friend," he said. He looked over at Claire and then back down at Darien. "Well I'm going to let you rest, Fawkes. I'll come see you later and sneak in a taco from Poncho's Taco Shop for ya. God knows what the Keep's going to feed you here," he said with a smile, as he slowly walked out of the lab. "Catcha later, Keepie," he said as he walked out the door.
Claire laughed and waved goodbye to Bobby. Then she turned back to Darien and put a supportive hand on his shoulder. "How are you feeling?" she asked gently.
"Tired," he said. He looked up at her and his lips curled into a smile. "Thanks to you too. And Alex," he said. He looked around the room. "Where is Alex, by the way?" he asked with curiosity.
"Oh, she's up at the cabin, she sends her love. The Agency sent a SWAT team and busted up the whole gun ring based on the evidence Alex got on camera and the evidence Bobby saw when he was looking through the cabin, trying to find us. As soon as you're able, you're going to identify the guy who shot you and he will be charged with attempted murder," said Claire with satisfaction.
Darien nodded. His eyes started to droop.
"I'll leave you rest," said Claire as she started to get out of her chair.
He eyes shot open. "No," he whispered urgently, grabbing her hand. He looked up at her with his hurt puppy look. "Stay with me," he said softly. "It was nice to be held in your arms," he added sheepishly.
Claire smiled. "Well, it's all part of the Keeper's service," she said.
He smiled for a minute and then a look of anguish passed over his face.
Claire touched his chest softly. "What's wrong?"
Darien shook his head. "No....I just.... I had these nightmares, I don't know. I kind of remember them and I kind of don't. They just...I don't know..." he whispered.
"They just kind of scared you?" she asked.
He nodded.
"I know. You were ranting and raving out there," she said.
He looked up at with slight panic. "I didn't say anything embarrassing, did I?" he asked.
Claire shook her head. "Hardly anything at all," she said with a smile. "Now get some sleep. I'll be right here when you wake up," she said softly.
Darien did what he was told and closed his eyes. Within seconds, he was asleep.
Claire looked at his peaceful face and sighed happily to herself. Oh, if only you knew what you said out there, Darien, if only you knew.
That's All Folks!