The Hostage

Chapter six

"He's going to die if he doesn't get to a hospital!" Deaq spoke up angrily.

"That's not my problem. He shouldn't have gone for his gun." Gibson said.

"I'll stay in his place, just let him go."

"Why do you care so much about him?" Gibson said, suddenly suspicious.

"I'm a paramedic, I'm here to save lives not lose them."

Deaq watched as Clark walked over to Van. He quickly went to his partner's side and knelt beside him, he didn't trust Clark and had no idea what he might do. Deaq could tell Van was getting weaker. His bandage was completely saturated with blood and his breaths were coming in shallow little gasps. He took a clean cloth out of his medical bag and gently wiped the sweat from Van's face.

"Hang in there buddy, hang in there." He swallowed the lump in his throat. He knew his partner was slowly dying.

Van looked up at Deaq through half opened eyes.

"Can't………..can't breathe………I can't…………."

"Chris I need some oxygen over here!" Deaq called to the paramedic who had just finishing bandaging the security guard's arm.

Chris hurried over and took a portable oxygen mask out of his bag and put it over Van's face, then he looked at Deaq and sadly shook his head.

"If he doesn't get to a hospital within the next few hours there won't be anything we can do for him."

"Good." Clark said smiling. "I hope the pig dies."

"Yeah, there are already too many cops in this world. I say we waste him and do the world a favor." Winston walked over and pressed his gun against Van's head. "Bang cop, you're dead." Deaq had grabbed Winston's arm when he pointed it at his partner but Winston shook it off and now pointed his gun at Deaq.

"What are you some kind of pig lover?" He reached down and pulled the oxygen mask off of Van. "Can't get enough air can you pig?" He shouted into Van's face, then threw the mask across the room. "I'm going to enjoy watching you gasp your last breath."

"You son of a bitch!" Deaq angrily jumped up and grabbed Winston by the arm. Chris immediately jumped up and pulled Deaq away, then stepped between them. He held his hand up when it looked like Winston was going to retaliate.

"Everybody just chill!" Chris shouted. He knew Deaq was desperate to help his partner but also knew the situation could explode at any minute.

"Like the man said, everybody just cool it." Gibson said as he walked over. "I want the paramedics and the security guard out of here."

"I'm not leaving without him." Deaq knelt back down with Van. He once more put pressure on Van's wound causing him to cry out weakly.

Chris spoke up.

"I want to stay also. Just in case I'm needed. Let some of the hostages go in our place."

"You both aren't staying. One of you goes. You decide." Gibson and his partners walked away.

"Deaq." Chris motioned Deaq away from Van. Deaq patted Van on the arm and stood up. They took a few steps away from him so he couldn't hear them. "Listen Deaq, your friend doesn't look too good. I don't know how much time he has, maybe a few hours, maybe less. I'm a trained paramedic I think I should stay with him." He spoke softly, not wanting the gunmen or Van to hear.

"What can you do for him that I can't?"

"Not much more then we already are doing. But if he dies, and you flip out, who knows what could happen."

"I'm staying. He needs me here with him." Deaq eyes glistened. "If he doesn't make it, I'm not letting him die here alone with strangers."

Chris knew there was no way he was going to talk Deaq out of staying.

"Okay, if you're sure, but you've got to hold it together."

Deaq nodded.

"I will."

They both knelt down next to Van. His face was pale and covered in sweat, his breathing shallow. Chris took Van's pulse and shook his head.

"Looks like he's going into shock from the blood lose." Chris said as he took a thick pillow from a chair that was near by and put it under Van's feet. Deaq picked up his partner's limp hand and gently squeezed it. He looked at Chris.

"Can't you do anything else for him?"

"I'm sorry, they won't let me."

Deaq looked back down at Van.

"Van, you hang in there. We're going to get you out of this, you just got to promise me you'll hang in there."

Van slowly opened his eyes. His lids felt so heavy and it was hard to keep them open and to focus on Deaq. He knew he was dying and was worried what Deaq might do if he did.

"Don't…………don't know…………if ……….I can………..promise………you that." Van tried to give Deaq a small smile but even that effort was too much in his weakened state. "You……..you live………through this………partner. Billie…….Billie will be pissed off………if neither one of us……….makes it out of here." He gave Deaq a little laugh then winced in pain before everything turned black and his head rolled to the side.

TBC