When You Least Expect It Part 9



Thanks to Neuroscpr for reading



Darion approached the ruins cautiously. He saw no one in sight. 'Perhaps they are in the tunnels searching for John.' Hopefully the man was dead by now. He was in a very weakened state when he escaped from him. This would definitely solve his problem.

Darion was not to be that lucky as he saw Travor and several men exit the tunnels. The Luxan was also with them. 'Frell! How did Travor get here before me?' He knew he had trouble on his hands now! He had to figure a way to get to the tunnels without being detected. He was worried because he didn't see the Peacekeeper. This only compounded his problem.



xxxxx



"What are your intentions, Luxan? We don't want any trouble."

Travor spoke for D'Argo, "His intentions are to rescue his friend. Nothing else. He wishes none of us any harm. D'Argo just wants to get John and go back to their ship."

"Am I correct, D'Argo?" Travor asked looking at the Luxan.

D'Argo nodded in ascent to Travor's statement. "How many others are in the tunnel?"

"Perhaps five or more."

"Understand me. We don't wish to harm any of you. If you want your friends to go unharmed you will have to convince them to let my friends pass unharmed."

"Friends? How many of them are there?"

"John and the women who has gone in after him. As long as no one tries to stop them, there will be no trouble. But we will protect ourselves at all costs."

"Understood, D'Argo," Travor said looking at his men for their agreement.

The men nodded. "We agree Travor."

"Then let us go in and find the others," Travor said with hope in his voice. He had not felt this way in days.

The men did not to have to go very far, as two of the men were running towards them as if they feared for their lives.

"We were threatened by a Peacekeeper in the tunnels," he said gasping for air and hugging his knees. "She said she would kill us if we got in her way." The panic was evident in the man's voice.

"Calm down," Travor said in a quiet voice. "It's alright. You aren't in any danger from her, or from him." Travor pointed to the Luxan. " They are here to help their friend, who is not a Peacekeeper."

The man had a surprised look on his face, "But Darion said.."

"I know what he said," Travor replied impatiently. "He lied. As I have told the others, I am just as guilty as Darion since I didn't tell you the truth. We are going to help them get their friend out and take a stand against Darion. Are you with us?"



xxxxx

John was having difficulty breathing as Aeryn dragged him along the tunnel. He had started sweating profusely again. His vision was starting to blur, but he couldn't say anything. They couldn't afford to slow down. 'Suck it up, John. If you don't keep going you are a dead man, along with Aeryn.' He couldn't do that to her.

Aeryn noticed John's labored breathing. She leaned him against the tunnel wall, "John, you need to rest. I can tell you are having difficulty with the condition you are in."

"No, Aeryn. We need to keep moving," John said as he tried to advance on his own. He started to fall to the ground as Aeryn caught him.

She lowered him to a sitting position as she said, "I frelling didn't come here to take a dead man home! So do as I say!" She turned away from him to compose herself. "John, whether you know it or not you need medical attention. I can't do anything for you until I can get you back on the Leviathan. And that's what I intend to do, but I'm not going to see you die getting you there."

"Aeryn," John replied in a voice barely above a whisper. "I know what you are saying, but we can't afford to rest." John paused trying to catch his breath, "I may be a dead man either way."

John lay back exhausted. Just talking was more than his body could tolerate anymore.

Aeryn kneeled down beside him, stroking his face, "John, you have to stay with me. I'll get you out of here, I promise," she said wishing she had brought a medical kit with her. The gash on his face had opened again, and it was an angry red.

John was struggling to get to his knees despite Aeryn's protests. He saw a movement out of the corner of his eye.

"Aeryn, behind you," he shouted, falling to the ground.

Aeryn turned with her gun raised. She was looking into the eyes of one of the men she had temporarily incapacitated on her way into the tunnels.

She had her gun pointed directly at him. "I intend to take my friend out of here and back to our ship. I will destroy whatever gets in my way," she said in her Peacekeeper voice.

The man fearful now replied, "I don't intend to stop you. You could have killed me back there and you didn't. If you'll allow me I would like to help. I don't believe Darion anymore."

Aeryn looked at him untrusting, surprised by his statement. She could use the help, but how did she know she could trust him. "Very well, just don't do anything stupid. You will get yourself killed."

"To show my good intentions, let me look at your friend," he said watching John on the ground holding his stomach. "He looks to be in a lot of pain. I once was an assistant to a healer. I don't know if I can help him, but I can try."

Aeryn nodded in ascent, watching him closely as he knelt next to John. She saw how he calmed John, with compassion in his voice, and helped him get his breathing regular again. His hands were so tender going over John's body, checking the abused areas.

"What is your name?" Aeryn asked impressed by his talents.

"I am called Roland," he replied never taking his eyes off his patient. He touched a sensitive area and John moaned in pain. "Shh, I will try to be more careful."

He looked up at Aeryn now. "What is his name?"

"John," Aeryn said simply. We need to start moving we have quite a ways to go, she thought to herself.

"John, can you hear me?" Roland asked in a quiet voice. "I need you to lay flat on your back so I can get a better look at the area you are holding. Can you do that?"

"Don't know, hurts to much," John's voice caught in his throat.

"Well let's try, shall we? I will help you. We will do it slowly, together." John nodded.

"We will need your help," he said looking at Aeryn, in a strange way.

Aeryn was worried by the strange look in Roland's eyes, but she knelt down on the other side of John without any questions.

"John, we will slowly start to move you to your back, but you must help us. Ready?"

"No, but do I have a choice?" John chuckled softly, only to start coughing again. He was sweating again.

They slowly moved John to his back, stopping several times, as the pain appeared to rise. John never said a word, but they could see it in his face as he clenched his teeth. He pulled his legs up as they positioned him on his back.

"John, can you lower your legs for me?"

John shook his head.

"Alright, I think I can work around it," Roland said proceeding to examine his abdomen.

Aeryn knew he didn't like what he was finding by the look on his face. The anxiety was building in her. He had to be all right.

Roland touched John lightly on his shoulder as he said in a calming voice, "Everything will be alright. I'm sorry for any pain I put you through, but you will be happy to know I am done for the time being." He rose with a worried look on his face and motioned to Aeryn to follow him.

As she rose, John grabbed her hand. "Aeryn, don't leave me. I need you. Hell, I feel like my belly's on fire and my head is ready to explode." John closed his eyes.

"John, I won't leave you. Just sleep now. I'll be here when you wake up." Aeryn looked up at Roland, her eyes full of questions.

She stayed with John until he fell asleep. She slowly removed her hand from his grasp, trying not to wake him. She rose and approached Roland.

"Well?"

Roland looked at her almost afraid to tell her the truth. If she didn't like what he told her perhaps she would kill him. He knew he had to tell her the truth.

"Aeryn, he can't run through these tunnels or he will surely die," he said hesitantly, watching for her reaction.

"Frell!" She shouted. "What are you saying?" She was pacing back and forth now. "We have to get him back to Moya!" She looked him in the eyes, "I will do it with or without your help, but he will not die here!"

"Calm down. You don't understand what I am trying to tell you!"

"Then just spit it out!" Aeryn said angrily.

"Then hear me out. John's injuries are extensive, the worst being the broken ribs. I believe if he exerts himself any further he may damage some internal organs, if that hasn't already happened. He is having trouble breathing and has a fever. I am not sure of his physiology, but I know that is a danger sign among my people. We need to attend to him here, before we move him."

Aeryn calmed down thinking about what Roland said. She knew in her heart he was right, she just wished it wasn't true. She saw the decline in John, Roland just confirmed it.

She turned to Roland. "You will have to stay with him while I get help. We'll move him to a safe place first. There were supplies in tunnel twenty- five where Travor hid him from Darion. Let's use that tunnel."

"So Travor doubted Darion as I did. I knew someone had helped John; I just wasn't sure who it was. I should have guessed Travor. He has the kindest heart of all the men. Aeryn understand, we will have to move him very carefully."



Aeryn nodded kneeling by him. "John.. John," she said in a very quiet voice.

As his eye's fluttered open she continued, "We need to move you back to the tunnel I found you in. We have such a long way to go to get to the end of these tunnels Roland doesn't think you can make it. I don't either. I will bring help to you. Roland will stay with you while I go."

John was trying to protest, but the words wouldn't come out. He knew he had to fight, he just couldn't find the strength. His body was aching and his mind was numb.

They helped him to his feet carefully, helping to support his stomach area. The walk to tunnel twenty-five was long and tedious. They finally reached the tunnel and helped John get as comfortable as possible. His fever was getting worse and Aeryn knew she would be out of time soon.

"Roland, keep a moist cloth on his head to help keep the temperature down. Let's get rid of as many clothes as we can so his skin can keep cool," Aeryn said as she removed his jacket, vest and t-shirt.

"He will probably alternate between being hot and cold. This is normal for him. He is human not Sebacian.

"Human," Roland replied. "I have never heard of such a species."

"Just trust me," Aeryn replied looking down at John, her heart aching for him. 'If only I had seen your pain on Moya.'

Aeryn broke out of her thoughts knowing the longer she stayed with him, the less time he had.

"John, I don't want to leave, but I have to. Roland will take care of you until I return," she said taking his hand in hers. "I will be back before you know it," she said in a choked voice as the tears were threatening.

"Aeryn. I.am sorry for getting us..in this mess," John said through clenched teeth.

"No need to be John. It wasn't your fault. Rest now." She saw the tears start to trickle out of the side of his eyes.

"Roland, take care of him. I will be back soon."