Disclaimer: I don't own.
A/N: Important message after the chapter. Please read it and respond!
Chapter 18: A Fight for Life
"Do you know where you're going?" Broots asked Sydney as they drove down the gravel road. Sydney shook his head.
"No idea. I know the general area, but nothing specific. Why?" He glanced at Broots who was fidgeting in his seat.
"No reason. It's just I'm not used to being dragged twelve hours from home and not having any idea where I'm going or what I'm supposed to do when I get there." Silence fell between two men. Broots glanced out the window, hoping to see some form of life that indicated a house. Sydney did the same.
"Hey, look." Broots said, pointing at oncoming headlights. "Looks like we're not the only ones on the road." Sydney only nodded as he served over to the right in an effort to avoid the car. Actually, it was two cars; nice black cars that really had no purpose in being on this gravely road. Sydney glanced at them both and slammed on his brakes. If it hadn't been for the seatbelt, Broots would have flown out the window.
"What was that for?" Broots demanded, as Sydney glanced behind him at the retreating cars.
"Those were sweepers." Sydney stated, driving on but at a faster speed.
"Uh oh." Broots whispered. "Then that means…"
"We'd better start praying." Sydney whispered, as they retraced the steps of the cars they had just passed.
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Miss Parker moaned softly and opened her eyes. She felt like a dinosaur had sat on her head. Moaning again, she rolled over, trying to remember what had happened. It all came back to her in a flash. Sweepers running in. Jarod being taken. Kyle trying to get away, but being shot. Her mother and… Lyle… where was Lyle? She glanced anxiously around for her brother. She spotted him next to the couch.
"Lyle!" She screamed, panic welling up inside. Her brother lay on his back, face a death pale. Blood from the bullet wound on his shoulder had soaked into his shirt. And that was the least of her problems. The blanket they had been in the process of using to stop the blood flow from the back wound was soaked as well. Lyle had lost a tremendous amount of blood.
Miss Parker scooted over to her brother and felt for a pulse. It was weak, but there was one. She glanced at the wounds and found that they had mostly stopped bleeding. She now didn't know what the do. It would be unwise to move him, but he couldn't stay on the floor. Looking around, Miss Parker tried to spot a phone, but she didn't see one.
"Please, Lyle." She whispered, gripping her brother's hand, tears held at bay coming forward down her cheeks. "Don't die on me." Releasing his hand, she got to her feet. Dizziness overwhelmed her, but she fought against it. Grabbing the couch, she steadied herself and headed for the kitchen.
Finding the phone, she was about to make the 911 call when she heard the sound of a car pulling up. Sweepers. Miss Parker thought. Going back into the living room, she picked up her gun that had fallen out of her hands when she was knocked out. Slipping around a corner, she cocked the weapon and got ready to fire.
Voices, two voices to be precise, could be heard coming up the walk. They were muffled so Miss Parker couldn't hear what they were saying. Listening to their steps, she heard them pass the threshold of the house. Stepping around from the corner, she leveled the gun and commanded the intruders to freeze. Broots jumped back behind Sydney and the papers in his hand flew all over the entry way.
"Miss Parker?" Sydney asked, shocked by her disheveled appearance. A cut could be seen across her forehead and she was pale. "Are you all right?"
"Syd." She whispered, suddenly feeling lightheaded. Broots and Sydney rushed over and grabbed her as she fell.
"Gently. Gently." Sydney instructed, as they lowered her to the floor. "Broots, go into the kitchen and get a glass of water for me." While Broots was away in the kitchen, Miss Parker woke up and looked at Sydney.
"Why are you here?" She asked, feeling weak. Broots came back with the water and Sydney made her take a few sips before answering the question.
"Broots found out about the portals and something else. But it can wait. Right now we need to get you to the hospital." Thoughts of Lyle sprang into her head and she made a move to get up. Sydney stopped her.
"Lyle. He's been shot. I think he's dying. Sydney, we need to get him to a hospital and quickly." She said, getting up. This time Sydney didn't stop her. Following her into the living room, both men were shocked at the sight of Mr. Lyle.
"Broots, call an ambulance. Now!" Sydney shouted, kneeling down to the unconscious man. He checked for a pulse, found a weak one, and breathed a sigh of relief. Broots came back into the room.
"They're on their way." He informed. Five minutes of intense silences followed. Sydney kept an eye on Lyle while the others crowded around him. Broots had run back into the kitchen and found an ice pack. Giving it to Miss Parker for her head, he stood by her, wanting to do something more than he was already doing but not knowing what he could do. Soon sirens could be heard in the distance. The ambulance pulled up and the paramedics came in.
"What happened?" One of them asked, checking on Lyle.
"Break in." Miss Parker lied. "He was shot." The man nodded.
"I have a male, about thirty, with gun wounds to his shoulder and back. Lost a large amount of blood. We need the stretcher." The stretcher was brought in and Lyle loaded onto it.
"Ma'm, are you his next of kin?" Miss Parker nodded. "You can ride in the ambulance, too. We'll help clean up that cut." Miss Parker agreed and turned to look at Sydney and Broots.
"Follow in the car." She said, before following the paramedics and her brother to the ambulance. Sydney and Broots got into the rental car and drove behind the ambulance to the hospital.
The papers on the floor were forgotten by all. Save for a shadow that walked down the stairs and picked them up.
A/N: Okay people, I need your help. Should Lyle live or die? Please tell me what you think. The one with the most votes will be what I do. So, is it death or life for the infamous Mr. Lyle?