Chapter 3 – Guardian Angel

An hour later they'd settled in the hut. Garrison was lying on a rickety bed against the wall on a makeshift mattress made from two of the parachutes. Actor had removed his wet clothes while he'd given him a quick medical examination and he was now wearing some of the French farmers' garb they were going to use on the mission. Another parachute had been folded and placed over him to help keep him warm.

Apart from the bed there was an old table and four chairs in the middle of the room and a sink with a pump in the corner that spouted a stream of black, evil smelling water. A cupboard produced a large cooking pot, bowls and some spoons. Chief asked Actor if he would mind taking the pot to get some fresh water from the river, the other two were sent out to collect firewood.

Chief made sure they all were gone, he checked the Warden, he was still unconscious. He opened his mission bag, winced and gasped in agony as he stiffly stripped off his damp clothes and changed into dry ones. He raised his arms up level with his shoulders and slowly moved them backwards and forwards, he then tried a few bends to either side to ease his screaming muscles and sore, bruised ribs. He closed his eyes and breathed deep, rasping breaths to control the pain and pull himself together.

Goniff and Casino were the first back with the firewood. Chief helped them lay it out in the hearth to make a smokeless fire and then lit it for them. "Good on yer mate, we'll soon have this place and the Warden toasty warm." Goniff was going to pat Chief on the arm but a warning look and a quick headshake from the scout made him change his mind. Instead he patted himself, found a pack of cigarettes took one and threw another to Casino. He snatched a blazing stick from the hearth and lit both before throwing it back.

"Home sweet home!" declared Casino as he looked around and waved the cigarette.

Chief heard the sound of Actor coming back with the water, he turned and headed for the door. He opened it and walked stiffly outside to meet him coming up the track. Actor stopped and gave him a quick look over. "You ok Chief? What are you doing out here when you should be inside with the others?"

Chief looked him in the eyes. "I'm fine Actor. I'll take first watch. Won't be able to sleep for a while anyways." That part was certainly true, his body was throbbing with pain. "Keep a good eye on the Warden while I'm gone." He disappeared into the trees before Actor could say anything. Actor watched as he faded from sight, shook his head and joined the others warming themselves next to the fire.

GG-GG-GG

Two long hours passed before there was movement on the bed as Garrison finally regained consciousness. He cautiously opened his eyes, tried to get up and fell back wracked with pain. "What the hell happened?" he groaned weakly.

Casino leapt up from the table where he and Goniff had been playing cards and quickly strode over to the bed followed by the others. "You nearly drowned Warden that's what happened. We thought you were dead for sure!" He exclaimed throwing his arms in the air.

"Thank goodness Lieutenant, you're back in the land of the living. How you feeling?" asked Actor. He frowned as he visually assessed the injured man on the bed with concerned eyes.

"I'm fine," gasped Garrison.

"Warden don't try to con me, especially in your condition," scolded Actor. "Tell me the truth or I'll throw you back in that river myself!"

Garrison shuddered at the memory. "Ok, sorry Actor. I feel groggy, it's really hard to think. My head hurts...everything hurts and I think I've cracked a rib or two."

"Can you remember anything about what happened?" Actor asked gently.

Garrison paused to collect his thoughts. "I can remember landing in the river and I couldn't get free of the chute...It dragged me down and I couldn't breath...I remember being banged up against a rock, the chute must have snagged on something...I was too tangled in the lines... I couldn't breath …. I knew I was going to die."

They could see the shock in his eyes as he recalled his ordeal. He took a breath, pulled himself together and carried on. "Everything was whirling round and I felt like I was going to pass out and then something hit me. I thought I saw something...someone ….a shadow but that was impossible. I must have blacked out after that. I don't know how I managed to survive in that."

"Well you did Warden," piped up Goniff.

"I must have had a guardian angel up there watching over me Goniff," Garrison said wearily.

Casino humphed and jabbed a finger at him. "Ain't got nuthin' to do with Heaven, Warden. You'd better be grateful your guardian angel's down here and carries a blade! I don't think anyone else could've done what Geronimo did for you today."

"What?" Garrison stared at Casino with uncomprehending eyes.

"I swear that crazy Indian hit the water before you did. I don't know how he managed it in all that commotion but he found you, tangled up in all that mess and cut you free. We managed to pull you both to the bank but you weren't breathin'. He wouldn't give up workin' on you until he got you breathin' again and then you went and threw up all over him, twice. Nice way to say thanks!"

"Chief!" gasped Garrison. "He went in and saved me?"

Casino nodded. "You betcha Warden. I reckon Geronimo would've followed you to the gates of Hell and brought you back if he had to. Personally I would've just bought some nice flowers for your funeral!"

Garrison gave him a weak smile. "Thanks Casino it's nice to know you care!"

Casino waved a dismissive hand. "No sweat babe, glad you're ok."

Garrison looked around the hut. "Where is Chief?"

Goniff shrugged. "Oh you know Chief, Warden. He got us here, made sure you were settled in then sent us out to get wood and built the fire. He changed into some dry clothes and said he'd take first watch. He's been gone more than a couple hours now though, perhaps we should go look for him."

"Good luck tryin' to find that ghost," said Casino dismissively, "I mean one minute there's nothin' and then bang, he just appears outta thin air and gives you a heart attack!"

Garrison looked up at his confidence man. "Was Chief hurt Actor? He's already wounded and that was one hell of an ordeal out there. I feel like I've been run over by a truck," he shifted slightly and groaned, "make that ten trucks... and a tank!"

Actor smiled grimly. "I expect he's feeling just as bad as you, but you know him, he won't admit to anything. He just said he was fine and went out on watch. I am worried about him, he seemed to be favouring his left side. He'll be back shortly and perhaps I can check how he is."

Actor knelt down by the side of the bed. "In the meantime I need to check your ribs are alright. I can wrap them in some parachute silk if they aren't. We salvaged them for blankets and bandages. Can you sit up if we help you?"

Casino and Actor gently started to lift Garrison into a sitting position while Goniff hovered anxiously like a mother hen. "Ok...OK...OW, that hurts like hell, careful Casino!" Garrison exclaimed hoarsely.

Casino smiled apologetically. "Sorry Warden, but Doctor Beautiful here needs to check you over and make sure you ain't gonna die on us again any time soon. How's he doin' Actor?"

Garrison felt Actor's fingers gently probe around his chest and abdomen. "He's badly bruised." Garrison winced as he pushed at a tender spot on his left side. "Possible cracked ribs here and here but thankfully nothing major to worry about. I'll clean and bandage you up Warden, you'll be as good as new in a week or so."

Garrison tried to make himself comfortable. "Thank you for your consultation, Doctor."

"I will present my bill when we get back Lieutenant!" They exchanged smiles – more of a grimace in Garrison's case as pain shot down his side again.

GG-GG-GG

Twenty minutes later the door quietly opened, a figure appeared out of the dark and silently walked in. "Jeez, let a person know you're comin' will ya Geronimo. Make some damn noise!" shouted Casino.

"Wouldn't be heard over your racket, you're makin' enough for everyone Pappy. Could hear your bawlin' halfway to the river!" Chief produced a sack and tipped it out onto the table. The others looked in surprise at three fat rabbits, some wild onions, herbs, mushrooms and greenery. "Supper," he said.

"Oh, would you look at that, Chiefy's brought some grub back for us. You must've known I was starvin'" Goniff was delighted at the prospect of a good hot meal inside him.

"You're always starving Goniff," laughed Actor.

"Those mushrooms good to eat?" queried Casino suspiciously peering and poking at them, "don't wanna die of food poisonin' when there's so many other interestin' ways to go 'round here!"

"Tell you what Pappy. You have first taste, if you don't die we'll know they're safe," replied Chief drily.

"How did you find all these in the dark Chief?" asked Actor as he sorted through the welcome supplies.

Chief shrugged. "Saw a patch of 'em down by the river when we landed earlier. Easy enough to find 'em again. Rabbits are everywhere 'round here, no problem catchin' a few."

Goniff inspected the rabbits. "Er Chiefy. These bunnies have still got all their fur and everythin'. Couldn't you have, um, undressed them first, so to speak?"

Casino laughed. "Ain't you ever skinned a rabbit before Goniff? It's easy. First you need a good sharp knife...," he clicked his fingers and held a hand, palm up out in Chief's direction, an open blade was slapped into it, "...thanks Geronimo. And now my Limey friend I'll take you outside and show you the joys of bein' a culinary expert!" He grinned, put an arm around Goniff's shoulders, picked up the rabbits and escorted him just outside the entrance. They left the door open so some light could be thrown on the proceedings.

Actor shook his head as he watched them leave. "That man's irrepressible," he chortled. He turned to their scout. "What's it like out there Chief, any trouble?

Chief rubbed his hand through his hair and tried not to flinch as his ribs reminded him of their presence. "There was a small Kraut patrol goin' up along by the river earlier, made sure there was no signs we'd been there for 'em to pick up on, but it was too dark for 'em to see anythin' anyway. Followed 'em for a couple miles but they showed no sign of comin' back this way. Picked up the supplies on the way back."

Actor was relieved at the news. "Well done, if Goniff had to go hungry tonight I am sure they'd hear him complaining as far away as Metz and come to investigate. Get some rest Chief you look done in. It appears Casino and Goniff have volunteered for kitchen duty tonight anyway." Actor nodded towards the bed. "There's someone who wants to talk to you. I'll stay over here."

Chief turned and saw Garrison propped up in the bed, he walked over and took a good look at him. He was pleased to see that a healthy colour had started to return to the Warden's face, he was still pale but was no longer the ghastly shade of blue/grey he'd been earlier when he'd gone out on watch. Chief looked round to see where the bed was in relation to the door and leaned his rifle deliberately against the wall. "Hey Warden, how're you doin'?" he said softly.

Garrison looked up at him. "I'm fine Chief. The others told me what you did, how are you?"

Chief tried to shrug nonchalantly. "I'm fine."

"Ahem!" Actor coughed loudly as he read his book.

"Now it's been established we're both pretty bad liars, tell me, what's the damage?" Garrison looked intently at his scout scanning for any visible sign of injury.

Chief fidgeted. "Couple bruises, some grazes, nothin' bad."

Garrison narrowed his eyes as he heard the prevarication in Chief's voice. He looked at him sternly. "You're not telling me the truth are you?"

"Honest Injun Warden," Chief said wearily as he leaned against the wall next to Garrison and slowly slid himself down to sit on the floor between the bed and the rifle. He stretched his legs out in front of him and closed his eyes. "Just need some rest that's all."

Garrison frowned, he knew something was wrong with his scout. He snapped his fingers to attract Actor's attention and tilted his head towards Chief. Actor jumped up and hurried across the room.

"Chief, I want Actor to check you over right now." Garrison said as Actor knelt down beside him, he reached out and touched his shoulder.

Chief pushed Actor away, sending him sprawling on the floor. "Don't need seein' to, leave me alone."

Actor got up, walked back and reached out a second time. "You're hurt Chief, take off your jacket and let me help you."

Chief again reacted to the unwelcome contact and tried to stand up, he collapsed on the floor struggling for breath. "Keep your hands off me Actor," he warned. He flexed his hand to get his knife but nothing happened.

"You gave it to Casino, remember?" said Actor as he attempted to tend to his unwilling patient.

Garrison looked up at Actor, he shook his head and held up a hand to stop him. He painfully sat up, swung himself round and leaned forward. "Chief, look at me."

He watched as Chief's dark eyes moved to stare into his. Garrison kept his gaze steady and his voice calm. "Will you please do as Actor asked?" Chief glared at him for several long seconds then he breathed out and painfully removed the jacket.

Garrison slowly moved his hand forward and laid it on Chief's arm, all the while making sure Chief could see what he was doing. He knew he was pushing the trust he'd built with his volatile scout to the limit, he felt him recoil but he didn't pull away, he kept his voice quiet and level. "I know you don't like to be touched, but you're injured and you need to be seen to. If you don't trust Actor, I'll do it if you'll let me."

GG-GG-GG

They were interrupted by Casino and Goniff coming back in with the cleaned rabbits. Goniff looked a little green round the gills from watching Casino prepare them, despite it being dark outside he'd seen enough. Casino tossed Chief's blade over to him. "Here's your knife back Geronimo."

Actor and Garrison held their breath as Chief caught and held his blade. Garrison gently kept hold of the young man's arm. "Chief?"

Chief felt his blade in his hand, he knew he could easily kill these men. He could sense their apprehension as they waited to see what he'd do next. He was exhausted, hurting and desperately wanted to be left alone. He knew his wounds needed to be tended but didn't want the contact that went with it, contact had always meant pain. He held on to the one thing he knew was true, he trusted Garrison and because of that he trusted his teammates, he knew he wouldn't harm them or let harm come to them. He decided not to resist any more, he handed his blade to Garrison. "Ok Warden. Go ahead Actor, I won't do anythin'."

Chief bowed his head and allowed Actor to approach him. He flinched and stifled a low moan as his shirt was removed to reveal livid purple and black bruises all over his body. There was an angry rope burn on his back running from his right shoulder down and under his left armpit from where they'd been dragged through the water. He had deep cuts and scratches everywhere. Actor noticed they'd started bleeding again from where they'd dried and scabbed into the shirt material and been reopened when it was pulled off.

"Dio mio Chief," he said as he inspected the wounds. "These would have become infected if you'd left them any longer. I'll clean them and put on some sulfa powder. Most of them will need stitches."

Chief felt the Warden unintentionally grip his arm tighter as he saw the extent of his injuries. Garrison had been really worried about how badly injured his scout was, he suspected it must have been serious if he hadn't wanted them to see and now he knew. "Chief, I'm so sorry," he said quietly.

Chief looked up into Garrison's worried eyes and, unexpectedly, put his own hand on the one holding his arm. "It's ok Warden. Not your fault."

Chief raised his knees, leaned forward and rested his arms and head on them to give Actor better access to his injured back.

"Chief why didn't you let me know about this earlier?" scolded Actor gently.

"You were busy with the Warden and I had things to do," a muffled voice replied.

Actor looked over the scout's bowed head at Garrison, they exchanged glances. Actor sighed, shook his head and went to get some clean water, cloths, needle, thread and sulfa powder. He came back and started to attend to the bloody wounds. "This is going to hurt Chief, I'm sorry." He stitched the deep wounds, Chief flinched but didn't make a noise during his ministrations. He took comfort from Garrison's presence, once or twice he gripped Garrison's hand a bit tighter and felt him tighten his hold in return.

At last Actor finished suturing. He glanced at Garrison. "Chief, I'm just going to feel round your chest and sides. You could have broken ribs, I'll need to check. I promise I'll be as careful as I can."

Chief shook his head. "I know what broken ribs feel like Actor, had enough of 'em in stir. Maybe got one or two cracked ones but that's all. I can breathe easy enough."

Garrison leaned forward and spoke quietly. "Let Actor do his job, I need to know you're alright." Chief looked at him and gave in.

Actor breathed out in relief. "Alright, I'm going to start examining you it should only take a few minutes, I'll be as gentle as I can. Then I'll bandage your wounds and bind your ribs tight to keep them supported, just in case."

"Ok Actor." Chief did his best to relax his muscles as he felt Actor's hands on his body. He desperately tried to push the memories of the prison guards to the back of his mind. He'd been young, they'd thought he was easy meat and tried to drag him away somewhere quiet where his screams wouldn't be heard. He'd fought them off, killing one and putting the other in hospital. That had been the first time he'd ever killed a man and he still had nightmares. Since then he hated being touched. He found himself breathing heavier, trying to fight off the emotions that threatened to engulf him.

A quiet voice broke through his turmoil. "Chief, you ok?" He breathed out and let the sensations of disquiet flow away. "Chief?" He looked into the concerned face of the man who'd given him his freedom and a chance to prove he was more than just a worthless breed. After Garrison's actions in Poland he'd vowed to himself he'd follow the Warden wherever he lead and watch his back no matter the cost. He'd never had that kind of bond with anyone before, but this man had earned not only his trust but also his loyalty. He squeezed the hand still holding his arm. "I'm fine Warden, really," he whispered.

Casino stared open-mouthed at Chief's injuries. "Jesus, Mary and Joseph Chief! Is all that from earlier? Then you go off out like nothin's wrong. You really are one crazy son of a bitch! You look even worse than the Warden and that's sayin' somethin'!"

Chief breathed in sharply as Actor started to bind his ribs. "Thanks Pappy. Appreciate it."

Goniff winced in sympathy. "Bloody hell Chiefy, that must hurt like the dickens! Can I get you somethin', anythin' at all mate? It's no bother."

"I'll be ok Goniff, thanks," Chief replied, appreciating their concern but wishing they would stop making a fuss and leave him alone.

Actor finished bandaging his patient. "Can you bring over a clean shirt for him please Goniff," he pointed to the bags they had piled in the corner on their arrival.

"Sure mate." Goniff wandered over and started rummaging around. He produced a thick flannel shirt and brought it over, he carefully helped Chief put it on and gently wrapped his jacket back around him. "There you go Chiefy, just you get some rest. Casino and me'll cook supper, don't you worry. I'll wash the sick off your other clothes in the mornin', they'll soon dry by the fire."

Goniff and Casino went to the other side of the room to prepare supper and Actor returned to his book. Garrison painfully turned to his scout, gave him back his blade and gave him a stern look. "Honest Injun my ass, Chief. Don't you ever tell me a lie that big again. I need to know if you're hurt so I can change plans if necessary. You could jeopardize a mission or, even worse, get yourself killed."

Chief put his blade in the sheath, leaned back against the wall, winced at the pressure of the bandages wrapped tightly round his chest and closed his eyes. "Ok Warden won't do it again, promise," he said faintly.

Garrison's glare softened as he watched his scout try to make himself as comfortable as possible against the hard wall next to him. His breathing sounded easier and he seemed to be in less pain, but it was hard to tell, he was just as good, if not better at covering up his injuries than himself.

Actor looked up from his book and noted that Chief had deliberately positioned himself between Garrison's bed and the door. His rifle was still where he'd placed it earlier, propped against the wall close to his side. He'd laid out two fully loaded automatic pistols within easy reach on the floor ready to be used at the first sign of any attack. His right hand was lying across his lap in front of him so his blade could be put into action at a second's notice. It was clearly obvious that, as exhausted and injured as Chief was, he was making sure that anyone who tried to attack Garrison would have to go through him first.

Actor considered the young scout and smiled. After all the events of today he had no doubt as to the outcome if someone was foolish enough to try to hurt the Warden. He didn't envy their fate one bit!

Actor narrowed his eyes as he recalled Casino's earlier words. "You really do have a guardian angel Warden," he thought. He then remembered how Chief had helped them with their parachutes and looked out for them, keeping watch and finding food despite his own discomfort. "Perhaps we all do." He went back to his book and smoked his pipe.

A low voice whispered in Chief's ear. "One more thing Chief."

"What?" he whispered back.

"Thanks for saving my life. I'm sorry I threw up on you."

A small smile played around Chief's mouth, "Any time Warden." He fell into a deep sleep.