A pounding on his office door awakened Clayton Abernathy. The general rolled off of his couch. "Enter."
The silent man opened the door and began signing faster than the other man could keep up. Holding up his own hand, he signaled the younger man to stop.
"You know I can't follow when you start going too fast. That, and I haven't had any coffee—" His thought was interrupted by the phone. "Abernathy. What? Slow down, son… There's a car with FBI agents at the gate." He looked at the silent man who nodded. "Let them in. SE will be there in…" But the silent man was already gone. "Why do I even… Hold on, son. We'll get them taken care of." Shaking his head, he prepared to greet his early guests.
dvdv
Bobby tapped the wheel impatiently while the guard was on the phone. He was greatly relieved when the young man returned and opened the gate. "Here's your ID and papers, sir. SE will be here—"
A sleek black motorcycle roared up and the silent man jumped off. Running over to the car, he gestured for Bobby to go around to Sue's side and get in with her. The Aussie looked skeptical but did as he was asked. The other man got behind the wheel and took off in a spray of gravel. Going well over the posted limit for the base, the two men glanced at each other. The drive across the base that normally took twenty or so minutes took about five. Bobby had a death grip on the groaning Sue as the silent man took yet another curve at well over the recommend speed.
"Mate, we'd like to arrive in one piece." The agent grimaced as the brakes were sharply applied. "Oh-kay."
The silent man jumped out motioning for Bobby to bring Sue. A howl split the air as a window from the building in front of them was thrown open. From the back seat of the car, Levi began to bark. He was very agitated and became more so as the howling got louder. Bobby carried Sue but almost dropped her when she began to squeeze his hand with a grip so intense that she broke a bone.
"He's trying to let go!" a voice called from the window. "Hurry, or we'll lose him!"
Levi began to whine as Sue started to cry out, "NO! You said you'd hold on! You said you'd wait!" Her eyes rolled back.
The silent man took her from Bobby but had to drag him along. Sue's grip on the Aussie was like steel and the pair managed a lopsided run for the entrance to the med-ward. Psyche was there holding the door then running down the hall just in front of them.
"It's like he just decided to stop fighting at all. He's holding I'Lee's hand right now and she has several broken bones and Timber is going nuts."
They reached the end of the seemingly endless hallway and crashed through the door. Hector was flat on the bed white as a sheet with Timber standing over his legs howling for all he was worth. I'Lee was on his right side trying not to cry as the sailor had her broken hand in an impossible grip. Doc was on the other side of the nurse, supporting her and letting her squeeze his hand to relieve the pain.
Bobby took one look and shouted at the unknown man next to him. "Gurney, now! Right there! On this side."
Psyche dodged back out of the room and returned with a rolling bed. Pushing it next to the sailor's bed, he moved back as the silent man gently laid the crying woman down. A blonde blur darted into the room and up onto the main bed next to the wolf. Levi turned to face the door and snarled defensively. Bobby levered himself up next to Sue. She still had hold of his hand and he knew she needed him to ground her.
"Grab her head, mate. I need her to see me."
The silent man nodded and held Sue slightly upright so Bobby could look into her eyes. He touched her face and she pulled away. "Don't touch me!" she screamed.
Footsteps were heard pounding down the hallway. From his awkward perch on the bed, the FBI agent shouted, "Close that door, dammit, and lock it! And cover the window!" Psyche moved to comply as Bobby continued. Nodding toward the nurse, he spoke to Doc. "Get her up on the bed, next to him. Make her comfortable if you can."
"But her hand…"
"Mate, mine is too." Bobby took a deep breath and looked into a pair of hazel-green eyes so like those of his friend. "You know about this, then?"
The silent man nodded.
Bobby locked his blue-eyed gaze to the other man for moment in understanding. Bracing himself, he grabbed Sue's head with his free hand and gave a little shake. She gasped and opened her eyes, barely seeing him. "Sue, we're here, he's here. Go find him and bring him back, sheila. I'll be waiting for you." He winced as she bore down on his broken hand.
She looked at him with clarity for a moment and whispered, "Pray" before reaching over and grabbing Hector's free hand.
The darkness she'd seen swirling around him hit her full force and at that moment, it was the only thing she knew.
