CHAPTER SIX

Tom stood on the bridge with binoculars watching as his team made shore. The helo set down and Vulture team disappeared effortlessly to secure a perimeter for safety. He watched his men move with precision as they accomplished their mission and started to unpack the helo.

"Nathan James, this is Vulture One. Port is secure. I repeat port is secure. We will be unloading the bird and sending her back to your whiskey."

"Copy that, Vulture team," Captain Chandler replied into the mic. Tom turned to his XO. "XO, you have the bridge."

"Ay, ay, Captain," Mike replied and took the binoculars from him. Tom left the bridge and headed towards the hanger where he was sure to find Rachel. He had not seen her this morning when he had sent Vulture team out with the first helo, and quite frankly he was relieved he didn't have to fight with her again this morning. By the time got there the bird had landed and was ready for reloading.

He saw Rachel directing his crew as they were loading the helo up again. She glanced up and saw him coming towards her and gave him a warm small smile. Tom felt his stomach tingle just a touch.

"Captain," she said as he got closer to her.

"Round two is a go, Vulture cleared the landing zone," he replied.

"That mean I can get on the next helo?"

"Yes, Ma'am, he rumbled, stepping in closer and laying his hand on her shoulder. He leaned close to her ear as he didn't want anyone to overhear what he had to say. "Thank you for not fighting me on this this morning."

"I understand why," she replied with a nod. He nodded back and pulled away from her.

"Get your gear situated and I'll join you before we leave for dry land."

He walked away from her as they continued to load the bird and he approached his pilot. They discussed what the pilot had seen from the air and Tom felt even better about sending in the medical personnel. The flight in was uneventful and as soon as they made land, Rachel had everyone hopping to get things unloaded, opened up, and distributed to as many people as they could come into contact with.

They had two separate stations, one for vaccines for healthy people and one for the cure for those who were already sick. She even made sure to send vials with people who said they had sick family members that couldn't travel. She showed them exactly how to administer the cure and made sure they were comfortable with the procedure before she sent them on their way.

Tom watched her work with amazement at how well she handled the stress and pressure of the day. Her easy nature with the people made him fall a little bit deeper in love with her. She had immediately put him to work when they had landed, and he had conceded his command to her for the day. It was refreshing for him to busy himself with the grunt work for once. To get into the trenches with the boys and help the sick people of the world recover. He also realized that he quite enjoyed taking orders from one Dr. Rachel Scott…not that he would ever admit that to a single soul.

The day grew long as he half listened to his Vulture team as they patrolled the perimeter keeping everything safe. His attention was distinctly split today between being the captain and working for Rachel. The hours stretched as more and more people came seeking the cure and vaccines.

The sun was starting to set on the horizon when Tom grabbed two waters from the stockpile and walked towards Rachel. He had stood back and admired her most of the day, letting his feelings run rampant in his mind. When he neared her, he held out the water bottle for her and she reached for it. Her hand grazed over his before she gripped the plastic bottle and took it from him. Electricity sparked up his arm as his heart fluttered faster from her touch. She opened the bottle and downed half of it in a single gulp, her eyes never leaving his. They were locked into a comfortable stare, each savoring looking at the other.

"Today was a good day," his voice rumbled as he pulled the second water bottle up and took his own drink.

"It was," she replied as she looked around the area. The crew was starting to clean up and pack what was left over up into the helo. It was almost time to head back to the Nathan James. Tom was debating what to say next. He wanted to reach out and touch her, to hold her. He wanted to tell her how much she meant to him, but then there was chatter in his ear. Vulture team was reporting a disturbance, his attention drifting off to the right where Lt. Green was standing with his rifle raised. He heard raised voices coming over his com link and across the expanse of the open area. A look of concern crossed his face, and he pawed at the com link to see if he could get a sitrep.

"Vulture One, what's your status?" he barked into his mic on his chest. Before anyone replied to him on the com there was an eruption of gunfire. There were screams from every direction. His first thought was of Rachel, and he turned and covered her body with his own, taking them both to the ground.

"Take cover!" Tom yelled as he tackled her. He molded his body over her own, covering as much of her as he could as the gunfire abruptly stopped. He could hear his men yelling "all clear" through the com link and Tom sprung to his feet. He needed to get Rachel to safe ground and back on the ship.

"Captain, Vulture One. All clear. All hostiles are secure."

"Affirmative, secure the area," Tom barked back, and he sat up and took Rachel's hand. He attempted to pull her up when he stood. "Come on we need to move."

But Rachel didn't come to her feet. Instead, she whimpered and collapsed back into a heap at his feet. Panic overtook him as he saw the growing pool of blood soaking her shirt and leaking onto the ground. He dropped down to one knee and clasped his hand over the wound squeezing hard to apply pressure, attempting to stop the flow of blood.

"I need a corpsman to my whiskey, now!" Tom yelled into his mic. Rachel's eyes traveled to his hand, and she gasped as realization hit her. She closed her eyes and Tom felt something bubble up inside him. He reached for her neck and dug his finger into her artery looking for a pulse, finding a weak one.

"Rachel, stay with me," he whispered as he leaned down close to her. Fear blossomed inside him, and panic was threatening to overtake him. He pushed it all down. He could hear the fear in his voice and hated himself for it. "You're going to be okay; I promise."

He shifted his weight so he could pull his hand up and see what the damage was, and he cursed internally. It was a gunshot through her side. He prayed it hadn't hit any vital organs or damaged an artery. He shifted again and pushed hard on the wound praying someone showed up quickly. When he put the pressure back on her, her eyes opened wide, staring widely at Tom. Then he watched as fatigue crept into her eyes and she closed them again.

"No!" Tom yelled. "Rachel, honey, come on. Open your eyes," Tom breathed out as he held her wound shut. "Where's my corpsman!" he shouted into the radio.

"Here, Captain," Rios said as he squatted down next to Tom. Rios moved Tom's hand off the wound and assessed the damage before pushing it back into place. "Keep pressure on, Captain. We need to get her back to the ship immediately. She's losing a lot of blood."

"Let's move," Tom replied. Tom took Rachel under the armpits and Rios took her legs. They moved her as quickly as they could to the helo. Once aboard Tom resumed applying pressure to her wound while Rios took her vitals.

Back on board the ship they rushed into the infirmary and Rios did a more thorough exam of the wound. Tom stood by holding his breath. The emotions that tumbled through him were blasting his senses and making it hard to concentrate. He had feeling love, fear, and anxiety. Rios finally started to work on her and managed to pull the bullet out of her. He then stitched her up and looked at the captain.

"No major organs or arteries were hit, Captain. But she lost of lot of blood. We need to transfuse her."

"I'm O Negative," Tom whispered and started to roll up his sleeve. Rios started at him a moment and the captain thrust his arm in his face. "Let's do this."

"Okay, captain. But you tell me the moment you start to get lightheaded, dizzy, or nauseous."

"Sure, just do this," Tom replied sitting down in a chair next to Rachel. He touched her face with the hand not being attended to by Rios.

It wasn't long before he was hooked up to Rachel and his blood started flowing into Rachel's veins. Tom used his other hand to take her limp one in his. After a while he started to feel woozy and lightheaded. He looked up at Rios and tried to say something, but his head wouldn't quite focus. "Ahh, shit, Doc."

"You've given enough, Captain. I'm pulling the plug," Rios said. Tom could only nod.

"Did she get enough?" he asked quietly as Rios stopped the blood flow and pulled the line out of Tom's arm.

"I think she did. Her blood pressure is stabilizing, and her pulse has been increasingly getting stronger. If both hold then it was enough."

"Thanks, Rios," Tom mumbled as fatigue was overtaking him. Rios handed him a cup of juice.

"Drink this, it'll help. Then you need to rest."

"I don't plan on moving," Tom replied as he downed the cup of juice and remained in the chair next to her bed. Tom couldn't stop the thoughts that were running like wildfire through his mind. She can't die. Not her, not now, not again. He didn't think he could handle losing again so quickly. Then guilt set in as thoughts of Darien filled his mind. He closed his eyes and pushed her away. Not now, he thought, not here. Another time he would have to finish grieving and properly deal with his guilt for his feelings, but right now…he needed to focus on Rachel.

But what if she didn't make it? His brain threw at him and the pain in his heart was palpable. He sighed and squeezed her hand with his, blinking back the tears building in his eyes. A lump formed in his throat, and he swallowed trying to dislodge it. Nothing was working and he knew he couldn't stop it. Tears slid silently down his cheeks as he watched her laying in the bed. Everyone in the infirmary was giving them a wide berth, except Rios who would check Rachel's vitals every once in a while. He always seemed satisfied. On one of his trips, once Tom had control of his emotions again, Tom finally spoke to him.

"How's it look, Doc?" Tom asked softly. His hand was still tangled with Rachel's.

"Her BP is holding in an acceptable level; her pulse is strong and steady. Her pulse ox is at ninety-eight. All good things. She should be okay, Captain. It's just a matter of time now."

"She's going to be fine?"

"Should make a full recovery. She'll be very sore for a while, but the bullet was removed and she is stitched up. There was only muscle and tissue damage so it's just a matter of healing."

"Thanks, Rios," Tom said. Rios dropped a hand on his shoulder and squeezed.

"She's going to be fine, Captain," he said with a nod. Tom looked up at him then back at Rachel. Rios started to walk away.

"Hey, Doc?" Tom called. He wasn't sure why, but he got the sudden urge that he didn't want Rachel to know where the blood transfusion had come from.

"Can we keep the transfusion between us?"

"I mean I have to tell her we gave her blood, Captain," Rios said as he stopped and turned around. Tom nodded slowly.

"Just not where it came from?"

"Okay, Captain. I can do that," Rios said. Tom could see the questions in the other man's eyes, but Tom didn't want to explain anything right now. Tom turned back to Rachel.

He needed to squash the fear running through him. Rios had said she was fine. She was stable. She was going to make a full recovery. But he still had the doubt nibbling at the back of his mind. He really didn't think he could stand to lose her. Even as confused as he was about her, he knew that he did indeed love this woman. Losing her would send him into a downward spiral to a dark place, and he wasn't sure he would ever recover.

He had cried some more, and eventually he had laid his head down on the bed next to her and fallen asleep, the weakness from giving so much blood to her catching up with him. He dreamed of her. He dreamed of a happier time, and life. A life with her, and the kids, away from here. Away from the horrors of the current state of the world. He dreamed of happiness.

It was the next morning and Rachel had yet to regain consciousness. Tom had turned the ship over to Slattery, and his XO had taken command with no questions. Just told Tom to take as much time as he needed. He thanked his friend for understanding.

Tom was worried that Rachel had not regained consciousness yet, but Rios had assured him it was normal with the amount of blood loss that Rachel had sustained. Her vitals had slipped in the morning and Rios had decided to give her more blood. They had started a blood drive to stock up supplies in the infirmary, but Tom insisted on using him again since they weren't quite ready with the other blood. So, Tom had given her more of his blood. Slattery had kept him up to date on their mission status and he knew they were set to reach port later that day.

He sat, his hand still holding Rachel's, in the chair staring at her small frame. She looked so fragile laying there unconscious, and Tom wanted to just be able to protect her. His fears of losing her were coming back again, especially since she was still out. What if she never woke up? He couldn't stop the new wash of tears that spilled from his eyes. He put his head down next to their hands again and let the fatigue wash over him again.

Something moved and a noise brought him out of his slumber. He slowly brought his head up, blinking away his dream. His eyes came up to meet her golden-brown ones and he couldn't stop the grin that split his face.

"Welcome back," he said softly as he reached out with his free hand and traced his knuckles down the side of her face. He felt her lean into his touch and a ripple ran through his insides. "We were worried for a moment there. Rios!" he yelled for his chief corpsman.

"What happened?" she asked thickly.

"We aren't exactly sure. An armed group came in. Our men tried to explain that they could have the cure, but gunfire erupted. You were hit. Vulture Team was able to subdue them."

"How long until we reach the next port?"

"A few hours," he replied his heart beating quickly. Rachel tried to sit up just as Rios came up to her side. Rios gently pushed her back down into the bed before Tom could even move. The corpsman smiled at her.

"Not for a while I'm afraid, Dr. Scott," Rios said.

"But I need to be ready for the next port," she protested. Tom tightened his grip on her hand, squeezing to gain her attention. It worked and she looked over at him.

"You're not going. And this time there is no debate," Tom said sternly.

"Captain," she breathed out and he could see she was gearing up to protest and attempt to make her point. He held up his free hand stopping her from continuing.

"Rachel," he said, in an enduring voice. His tone caught her attention. "You've been shot. You're staying in this medical bay until Doc here says otherwise."

He locked eyes with her, and she seemed to get the message. She blew out a breath, winced at the pain, and the nodded slowly. Tom nodded and squeezed her hand again. Relief flooded his system, and he thought he might cry again. But he was able to hold the tears at bay as he watched her settle back into the bed to rest. It was going to be okay. He needed to figure out how to fix his head and move forward, because in that moment, he knew, exactly where he wanted to be.

To Be Continued…

Author's Note: I hope everyone is enjoying this. I haven't heard from anyone so not sure how the reception has been. I thank you if you are reading. Hopefully I'm doing justice to the turmoil Captain Chandler is going through. Dark rolling sea.