AN: So I tried to get this chapter up as fast as I could but I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with this chapter and where I wanted it to go so it will probably take me a couple days. Not to mention I have several exams this week. Anyway, I hope you all continue to enjoy this story.
Jason's head pounded as the doctors spoke quickly. Eric, the only one with a clear head still, had taken over command of the room. Jason usually would have been trying to order the guys to take care of themselves, to get an update on Sonny, to make sure they had teams on the ground still trying to get the guys who did this to them. To Sonny. Right now, though everything was moving too fast to keep up. Trent's eyes groggily opened, and it was Brock who was there to calm him.
"Hey bud, just stay still. It's time for someone else to take care of you for once." Trent attempted to sit up, but Eric kept his hands firmly on his shoulders, keeping him down.
"Stay down. Let the doctors get you fixed up. You've been slowly bleeding all day." Eric's voice was soft as he spoke to him. It reminded Jason of a time during their first operation with Eric as their Lieutenant Commander. Jason had broken a rib in the middle of the op but kept that information to himself until he got on the plane and practically collapsed during the team debrief. It was Eric who had been by his side. He used the same hushed voice and where there probably should've been anger and malice in his voice there was nothing but kindness. He wanted him healthy before he would chastise him for not telling Trent about an injury. Trent was obviously confused. "S,Sonny? How? Is he? Where?" Trent could seem to settle on one question to ask. Jason stepped forward then, realizing that he was the team leader. He didn't get to just call it a day. Despite the pounding in his head, despite the fact that he could practically feel the adrenaline draining from him, taking every last ounce of energy with it.
"BRAVO 5 you did good. Now it's time to stand down." Trent kept at is though, tried to sit up again. "No, no, C,clay, and, and Ray's arm, Brock he,he needs stitches, or, or a, a, chest x-ray. Fluids. You, ne,need fluids." Jason shook his head and leaned in close as he grabbed Trent's hand in his.
"Trent, everyone is fine. You got all us back to base. You're good. You gotta get help yourself now. Alright? I promise you we will all go get checked out. We will drink fluids. We will eat. I promise you. Let the doctors take you. For Sonny's sake, you go get yourself fixed up."
Eric couldn't hear the words Jason was whispering but he could practically see the tension relaxing away from Trent's body. Jason then nodded to the nurse who injected his arm with an IV of fluids and sedatives. Jason didn't let go of Trent's hand as he continued to mumble about the guys and checking on Sonny. Jason didn't get frustrated with the repetition, he only continued to assure him that they were all taken care of. Finally, Trent succumbed to the sedative and pain meds and his hand slipped out of Jason's. The doctor who had been patiently waiting to get to actually examine his patient stepped forward as the nurses began to wheel him into an exam room.
"He most likely lost consciousness due to his adrenaline finally crashing. His shrapnel wounds don't look too serious. He'll need rest and some time but as of right now I have no reason to think he won't make a full recovery." Eric shook his hand before the army doc turned to go work on Trent. He then turned to the rest of the team.
"Mandy and Lisa are on their way. They were ordering the last air strikes on the area before coming this way. We believe we have located the members of the group who attacked. I know it's probably not the justice you're all looking for but there are no remains of the compound they were operating out of. For now, I want everyone to be seen by a doctor. That is a direct order. We won't hear about Sonny for several hours so it's time to stop and get some help. Ray, get that wrist looked at. Brock, you look like you're about to collapse so please, for the love of God sit the hell down." Brock didn't have to be told twice as he sank down against the cool wall and down to the ground, not bothering to find a chair. The ground would be good enough for the time being.
"Kairos, you need to at least have your ears checked for damage. Jason you too. You're all at least a bit bruised." Eric paused, emotion catching him by surprise. "I know you all, you all have had a long couple of months. This, this couldn't have been easy. I just, I want you to know that was a, a hell of a job. You all are, are top soldiers. I'm proud to call you my team."
Ray used his good hand to clap him on the shoulder. Eric then turned to the nurses' station and quietly asked for some doctors to examine the team before turning to Jason.
"So, do you want to go find Clay or should I?" Jason immediately shook his head, "I got him. I'll go. Make sure the guys get what they need." Jason started to move when Eric grabbed his shoulder, spinning him back to face him. "Then you are getting looked at yourself Jason." He nodded at Eric. "I, I thought, I thought we were losing him. I, I really did Eric." Eric stayed silent for a beat before replying. "I did too Jason. I, I could hear him losing it the last few minutes. I could hear him fading. Your COMS were on." A tear welled in the side of Jason's eye. "I know they were."
Jason turned then and walked to the bathroom he had seen Clay disappear into nearly 15 minutes ago when he had first emerged, blood covered, from the trauma bay. Jason left Blackburn staring at the ceiling tiles, the light blinding him as he tried to keep the tears from falling. Jason left this COMS on for him. On purpose. He really did think he was saying goodbye. Knew that Sonny was saying his goodbyes to the whole team, support staff, everyone. Saying goodbye to Eric. Eric had to press on though, through the pain that was nothing compared to what the team had gone through the past 24 hours. He went back to shepherding the team to their appropriate doctors. After they had all been put into rooms and he could see them finally starting to relax he took a seat in the waiting room and began the waiting game.
Jason opened the door slowly to the bathroom. The sound of retching only increased his speed as he searched for the noise.
"Son of a bitch." He muttered as he spotted Clay, shaking over the toilet as he let up everything he had eaten in the past few days.
"Clay, I'm here man." Jason didn't miss the flinch as he put a hand on his back. He didn't know how to do this, how to be comforting. He did what he would for Emma or Mikey though and began to rub small circles on his back. He could feel the tremble through his gear. Jason realized then that he too still had all of his gear on. His tactical vest, his mags, his sidearm. It seemed like a 1000-pound weight after all of this. Jason wasn't sure how long it went on, but it lasted for several minutes before Clay leaned back against the wall, practically collapsing against Jason's side. He panted, trying to catch his breath.
"Clay talk to me. You good?" Jason leaned back against him slightly, trying to elicit some sort of verbal response.
"I- I can, I can't breathe." Clay's face had broken out in a sweat as he clutched at his chest. "I, I got, I need, this, the, vest, I need, I need it off." His voice croaked from the dust and debris and from yelling all damned day. Clay stumbled to his feet, attempting to get out of the now crowded bathroom stall, nearly tripping over Jason's feet in the process. Jason was behind him, helping him stay upright.
"Hey, hey, hey. Easy." Clay's eyes were wide, blood still all over him marking him of the events.
"I can't fucking breath!" Clay desperately pulled at his gear.
"Stop." His voice was calm. An anchor in the chaos that was puling at him from all directions. Jason grabbed at his arms. "Stop, slow breaths. You can do it Clay." Jason calmly continued to push Clay's groping hands out of the way as he unclipped Clay's vest and pulled it off the side of him. Clay grabbed at his chest, happier now that it was off. He was bent at the waist, clutching at his chest. Jason tossed the vest to the side as he pulled Clay back down to the ground, his knees happily collapsing. From their position on the ground, Clay gripping at his chest, Jason holding him as steady as he could. Jason murmured in his ear over and over, "Breathe, it's ok, it's over now. Breathe." Clay continued to gasp, "I, I can't, b,breathe. I, I thought we would, would lose him. Christ. I thought he, he died." Jason knew what this was. Had gone through it himself. "I, I co,could feel, his pulse in my hands. Just g,get,getting slow, slower and slower."
"Clay, you're having a panic attack. It's the shock and the adrenaline crash and the trauma. Try to take slow breaths. Listen to my heartbeat and try to match my breathing. You can do this. Breathe kid." Jason only continued to hold him as he struggled.
"There, there was, was, so, s,so much b,blood." Clay repeated it like a mantra and each time Jason would reply, "I know kid. You did so good. He's still fighting. Breathe. He's still fighting."
Clay tried desperately to follow Jason's instructions. Slow breaths. Listen to his breathing. He just couldn't get the image of Sonny writhing in pain out of his head. Even worse, the image of Sonny unmoving. He could practically still feel the faint pulse in the palm of his hand as he held the artery. With every horrible memory harassing his brain though Jason's voice would cut through the darkness, reminding him it was over, they were safe, Sonny was in good hands. Breathe.
After what seemed like only a few moments but what Jason knew to be more like 30 minutes, Clay sat up a bit. "I'm good now. I'm good. Sorry, I just" Jason cut him off, "It's no big deal Clay. It happens. It's happened to me before, I'm sure it will happen again. Keep breathing." Clay nodded as he continued to sit up more and more. Jason stood then and helped Spencer to his feet as well, holding his elbows until he was sure he wouldn't fall right back down. Clay then took himself in as he looked in the mirror. His eyes red rimmed and shiny, blood caked on his face, dirt and debris stuck to the side. Cuts littered his chin and neck. His pants and shirt covered in blood. He couldn't tear his eyes away from his own disastrous sight.
"Come on, let's get you to a doctor, get you cleaned up." Clay let Jason lead him back out of the bathroom, his legs moving without realizing it. Eric stood as they exited the bathroom, eyeing Clay. He came to Clay's other side.
"I, I think I, I have some bruised, r,ribs." Clay still struggled to breath even now that he was calmer. Eric nodded, "There's a doctor waiting for ya." Jason let Blackburn take him then and watched as he helped get him on a gurney. Let out a long breath as he could hear Eric from the hallway remind Clay, he saved Sonny's life.
Eric came back into the hallway to find Jason continuing to hold it together. He put a hand on his shoulder, guiding him to a chair in the waiting room but he didn't want to sit. Was still too amped up, emotionally drained but physically ready to continue to fight.
"Jason, what happened out there? What did we not hear about." Eric pushed. Jason paused and for a moment Eric wondered if he needed more time before talking about it. He knew it couldn't wait but he hated feeling like he was forcing Jason into talking.
"The grenade went off, I came around, Brock was bleeding and Trent was putting Ray's wrist back in place. Then Clay he, he told us Sonny was down. I knew Clay was hurt too. It was, was obvious. Trent too. We, we uh moved to the shaft and realized that Trent would have to take the pipe out or Sonny would probably go into septic shock. We, we held him down as best we could, but we couldn't give him much morphine and, and he was sweating and trying not to move or scream but, but the pipe was on his artery, so he was, was bleeding everywhere. Bleeding out right on the ground. Trent he's, he's the best though so he managed to clamp it. We, we thought we were in the clear. But the clamp didn't hold while Trent was resting. I ordered him to rest and it almost killed Sonny."
Eric thought about cutting Jason off, forcing him to sit down, take a drink. Maybe he pushed too hard. Jason continued though, "Clay he grabbed pressure though and he ended up grabbing the bleeder too. He had to hold the pressure himself and basically clamp it off with his hand for hours. He was keeping him from bleeding out. But Sonny, he was going downhill and, and Adam he didn't get to say goodbye so when Sonny started I just, I just wanted him to be able to, to say what he needed. I, I got through to him though, I he was fighting still. Trent remembered Clay had extra Epinephrine and hit him with that to keep his body going still. It was the last, last effort. Then you came." Jason sat down then, sinking in the chair with a thump. Eric handed him a water bottle then and watched as Jason's trembling hand brought the bottle up to his mouth and began to guzzle it down. Blackburn silently reached up and gently pushed it away from Jason's mouth, "Small sips." Jason frowned at the reminder.
"How did you manage to get approved to come with the EXFIL truck?" Jason thought back to his surprise he felt as he saw Eric hopping out of the back of the truck and running towards them.
"Well, I didn't completely get approval before I made the call. I just, I couldn't leave you guys out there alone anymore and I just, I wasn't sure we would make in time for Sonny. I just, I couldn't have you all be alone with a random support team if that happened." Eric put a hand on Jason's back as he hung his head and tried to relax his muscles.
"Come on, you need to be checked out just the like rest of the team." Surprisingly Jason nodded and with a huff of slight discomfort he walked to the exam room that was waiting for him. Eric paced back and forth as he waited for news on any one of his guys. He knew they were all with doctors, all in good hands, out of harm but he couldn't keep his heart from pounding in his chest. He heard the automatic doors swoosh open and turned to meet the head of trauma.
"Doc, do you have an update? On any of them? Anything?" Eric was desperate. The doctor nodded and motioned for him to sit.
"Well, let me start with the less serious of injuries. Sergeant Perry has a small fracture alongside his dislocation in his wrist. We had to reset is slightly again, but your field medic's initial reset of the wrist was almost perfect. We expect to keep him in the cast for 4 weeks, but he'll make a full recovery and it's his non-dominate hand so that also will help."
"That's great to hear. When can he be released? I'm sure he's anxious to get back out and be with the rest of the team." The doctor smiled and nodded, "yes, they all are very anxious. Can't stop asking about each other. He'll be released in just a few minutes actually. We're asking that he continue to rest and keep a watchful eye on him. All of them actually." Eric nodded.
"Your bomb expert, Kairos? He has just some minor lacerations that are being stitched up and is getting some fluids through an IV but as soon as his IV is up he'll be free to go as well. Brock has a rather severe concussion and had a major head laceration that required stitching. He also had a bruised collar bone from his initial impact. We don't expect any major issues, but we would like to keep him a few extra hours for observation and possibly overnight. He's already arguing with us, but I was hoping you could talk some sense into him." Eric let out a small chuckle. "These guys are petty thick skulled, but I can try."
The doctor continued, "Your field medic Trent, his injuries were slightly more extensive." He flipped to a different page on his chart, "He also is concussed with bruising on his ribs and chest. Some superficial lacerations, but of course our main concern was infection and debriding the shrapnel wound he had on his side. We sedated him to get him to rest, he was rather combative for a while. We removed the shrapnel and have him all stitched him up, but we would like to keep him sedated for a few more hours and keep him overnight. We think it'd be best to wake him when has some familiar face around." Eric didn't like the sound of that.
"Is the infection under control?"
"For now, it is but he is spiking a slight fever. We're monitoring it and we're giving him all the antibiotics we can. We expect a full recovery but it's crucial he rests right now." For now, Eric let it rest. "What about Hayes and Quinn and Spencer?" Eric knew the doctor was putting off Sonny's condition.
"Well, Lieutenant Hayes is still being examined but besides some stitches and a nasty bruise on his back that we want to check up on every couple days to make sure it doesn't turn into internal bleeding he's alright. We're going to release him as soon as he gets more fluids in him. He's not the easiest patient."
Eric couldn't take it anymore. "What about Sonny? Is he alive. Tell me he's alive." The doctor was quick to respond, "yes, he's alive. He certainly was leaving us for a moment, but we managed to keep him with us. He lost a lot of blood. A lot. The clamp from your soldier saved his life. If he would have lost much more, he would not have been around. We had to do a transfusion and of course infection is a major cause of concern right now. He's still in surgery. They're finishing up repairing his artery. For now, we believe we have it under control, but the next 24 hours are critical. We are admitting him. We'll be heavily sedating him to keep him resting once he comes out of surgery. With repair to the artery and with physical therapy he should make a full recovery. He also had the laceration on his stomach that we re-stitched after cleaning out the wound a second time. He's fighting now. He just needs to continue to fight. Your men can sit with him once he's out of surgery and into a room." Eric thanked God silently as he began to feel hopeful for his guys.
"Finally, Spencer will also make a full recovery. He has a bad concussion and was extremely dehydrated. We noticed his medical chart was marked with various warnings about reaction to different medications, so we took extra care for that. He has a few cracked ribs and the bruising from his injury a few weeks ago. I understand he took a shot to the chest with his body armor. It is most likely going to be very sore again but he should be fine with some rest. They all need rest. Rest, food, and water." Eric leaned back in the chair and let out a large breath.
"I know it's a lot to keep track of and to process but with time they'll be alright."
He heard two familiar voices begging the nurse's station for updates, Mandy and Lisa.
"Mandy, Davis, over here." They both whipped around and rushed over to Eric.
"What have you heard? Are they ok? Is Sonny? Did he, did he make it?" Lisa managed to push the question out into the air and let it hang. She only started breathing again when Eric nodded his head yes.
"I'll leave you three to talk. I'll send the guys out here when they are discharge and will have nurses come get you when they have more updates." Eric shook his hand and thanked him before he left. Eric caught the girls up on all that had happened from Trent collapsing to what he found out. He left out a few of the parts he knew they shouldn't know. It would only make them worry more. At the end of the rolling story Eric asked the question that had been hangin in the air.
"Do we have confirmation that the air strike hit?" Mandy nodded immediately. "We left to come to the hospital as soon as we got it." Eric nodded. He knew it wouldn't fix anything and he knew the particular son of a bitch who tossed the grenade probably was still alive and not in the compound when they set off the airstrike, but he had to believe it at least decreased their numbers. At least hurt them a little bit as a cell.
"Hey, what's everyone looking so stressed for?" Ray's voice was light and happy. He sarcasm welcome in the stiffness of the day. He looked significantly better than when he had been brought in. He was cleaned up decently well but still had his uniform on from the day which was covered in dirt and debris. Davis and Mandy both hugged him and Kairos who had also emerged from the back areas of the hospital.
"We're glad to hear you both are ok." Mandy said as she pulled away from Ray. He and Kairos both sat down. Davis spoke up, "I have someone bringing you all a change of clothes. They should be here soon." Ray smiled at her, "You're the best Davis."
"Jason should be out soon, and Brock." Kairos spoke up for the first time since he had come out from his exam.
"I thought Brock was supposed to be admitted for a few hours for observation?" Mandy asked quietly. Eric shook his head. "I'll go talk to the doctor." He stood up and stretched, "And to Brock. You guys should get something to eat." Ray shook his head, "I'm not that hungry. I'll wait until we get another update about Sonny." Eric turned back to him, "That wasn't an order Perry. Eat." Eric disappeared down the corridor. Mandy stood up, "You guys stay here and wait for news. I'll go to the cafeteria and get us all food and coffee. It's been a long day." Before she left though she motioned at Ray to come talk to her.
"How's Jason? I mean I know he's still grieving for Alana and he feels responsible for Adam. Is he holding up?" Ray placed his hands on his hips, stiffly moving his left arm that was in a cast.
"I mean he's not doing great. He thought he was going to lose Sonny. Hell, we all did. Jason though he was hanging on though. He's be ok so far. I think he just needs to process it all." Mandy nodded. She knew what Ray meant. He was in that position of having to continue on for the sake of the mission. He couldn't stop and think yet. Couldn't stop and feel. None of them could. It was a crucial part of their training that ingrained in them like instincts at this point.
"And Clay? Is he doing alright?" Ray shook his head at that one. "He's alright now but he lost it a bit earlier. He just, he needs to cope and grieve. He was holding Sonny's artery in his damned hand. Felt him slipping away. It would have screwed with any of us. He just needed to lose it for a second but he's good now. He's, he's good." With that Mandy was satisfied. She resumed her hunt for food.
Eric asked the nurse to take him to Brock's room. Normally he would leave the guys to be examined by themselves but if Brock was being an idiot he'd have no problem stepping in. As he approached the room, he could hear Brock yelling.
"Look, I'm fine ok? There are other people on the team that need a hell of a lot more help than me! Please just discharge me. I'll still be in the hospital. I'm certainly not going anywhere anytime soon! I just can't sit in a damned bed!" The doctor started to respond but stopped when he spotted Eric lingering the in the doorway. Eric took in how he looked now that he had been cleaned up. He too still had the pants of his old uniform on. His shirt had been ditched. His head laceration looked painful and angry but now that it was stitched up and now bleeding continuously down the side of his face, Eric had to admit he felt a hell of a lot better. He could see the bruising on his collar bone, black and blue and painful looking. His right arm was in a sling. He looked exhausted and his chest had small cuts all over it from debris. He looked better though. Not great, but better.
"Good, you're here. Maybe you can talk to him. He wants to be discharged and leave. He has a bruised collar bone which is why we've put him in a sling and a major concussion. He needs observation and rest." Brock sat up and began pulling at his IV, "I'm fine." The doctor moved forward, "Stop that!" Brock only pulled away more though. Eric finally intervened.
"Woah, alright slow down." The doctor stopped his advancements and Brock stopped his dumb pulling. "Could I have a minute with him?" The doctor nodded, "I'm going to go discharge Lieutenant Hayes. He also is very upset." Eric chuckled for the poor doctor who was simply trying to do his job. "You can send him to me."
Eric turned back to Brock who had now swung his legs over the edge of the bed and was making a move to stand up. He hissed with the pain in his head at the movement and just about tipped forward if Eric hadn't been close by. He gently grabbed at his chest, careful to miss his collar bone.
"Easy Brock. Just wait a sec. Sit back." With a huff of distaste Brock did as he was told. "They just want to keep you for one night."
"They haven't even given me an update on Sonny or Trent or Christ not even Clay!" Brock was getting angry again. He tried to sit up when he stopped suddenly.
"Shit I'm gonna, sick. I'm gonna be, be sick." Eric quickly grabbed the basin that was sitting next to his bed. He knew nausea and vomiting was common side effects of concussion so he wasn't surprised. Still, he felt for the young man as he clutched the bowl and retched up the water, he had been filling his body with. There wasn't much to come up but that only seemed to make it more painful. Eventually, when it had calmed down a little Brock managed to get out, "You should, g,go." Eric only stepped closer and offered him a cup of water. "I didn't leave you guys in the mine shaft and I'm sure as hell not leaving now." Brock took the water and accepted small sips before leaning back in his bed and trying to get his ragged breathing back under control. "How, how is everyone?"
"Sonny is still in surgery and Trent is sedated until tomorrow morning, so he can rest. Clay is still being looked at but they think he'll be just fine. There's your update." The seemed to calm Brock at least a little bit. "How's Clay doing? I heard he kind of lost it." He eyed the tiles on the floor, "Jason got him. He's good now." Brock nodded and leaned back further into the bed.
"I can't just lay here and do-nothing, sir." Eric knew how he felt. He knew how it was to have your team needing you and be laid up in a bed, disconnected form everyone else.
"If I agree to have you discharged you will still be checking in with the doctors every few hours and you will be resting. I'm not joking around here. You can go and sit with the rest of the team, but I will not hesitate to re-admit you if you start to go downhill. If you start getting nauseous again, you're getting looked at and readmitted." Brock let the smile ease across his face. The doctor came back in with Jason in tow. Brock noticed the slight limp to his step but all in all he looked alright.
"You good Brock? You getting out of here?" Jason asked as he stepped into the examine room.
"Yeah man, sure as hell am." Brock took the hand Eric offered and took a moment to let the head rush go away as he stood on slightly shaky legs. He shivered with his exposed torso, standing in only his tactical pants from the mission.
"I heard Davis got the clothes from our barracks. Lets go get the hell out of these clothes." Jason took Brock's elbow then and lead him out of the room. The doctor shook his head at Eric.
"This is a dangerous game Commander. I understand but," Eric cut him off. "Trust me, he will be well looked after. Do you have anymore updates?" The doctor smiled at him.
"I do actually. Trent has been moved to a room and is resting now with sedation. Clay is awake and we'll allow your men to visit him once they get changed. I'll have a nurse come get you." That sparked Eric's interest.
"That's great. Thank you so much. Any update on Quinn?" He practically held his breath. "He's still fighting. Last I checked they were closing up from surgery." Eric hung his head with tension, "I understand the need for optimism but from what I've heard this unit has been through a lot the last few months. They should be cautious with their optimism. He lost a lot of blood. He's weak and fighting and infection. He's not out of the woods yet. I'm happy to say this to your unit myself or if you would like to you can but they need to know the next 48 hours could be extremely rocky." Eric nodded along with his words.
"They're the strongest men I know. I'll talk to them. They do need to know. Hope is all they have though. They're tough as hell and can handle just about anything they're thrown but the reason they're able to do that is their training and their hope. They have complete faith in each other that they will all make it out each mission." This time is was the doctor who nodded, "I never said hope was a bad thing. You know your men. I'll check on when Spencer can have visitors." Eric thanked the doctor before returning to the waiting room.
Ray and Jason were talking in the corner, they both had redressed into the clean uniforms Mandy and Davis had delivered. Those women were so vital to the team. He looked to Kairos and Brock who were also talking. Brock was sitting which eased the pit in Eric's stomach slightly. The guy needed rest that was for damn sure.
Davis spotted Eric and came to her feet, leaving her position with Mandy.
"Blackburn? Is there an update on Sonny? We uh, we haven't heard anything new yet." Eric sighed and motioned for her to sit. "Everyone, come over here I do have updates." Mandy nervously bit her lip, the same way she did during the tough spots in operations.
"Sonny is almost out of surgery. The doctor would like me to remind everyone though that is he is not out of the woods. By a long shot. He's fighting a serious infection and they worry that the infection is already in his blood stream too much. He's very weak right now from blood loss but we all know he's a fighter. That's the most important. The doctors are doing everything they can." Eric looked up at Jason first and could practically feel the anger coming off him. Ray noticed too though and nodded at Eric. He had him under control. Eric pressed on, "Trent is still sedated and from what I understand will be sedated until tomorrow morning. The doctors are moving Clay to a room for the night. We'll get to visit him soon." Mandy shook her head in worry. "For now, we need to continue to take care of ourselves. Continue to drink water. Eat. Don't have too much coffee. They need you at your best." Eric glanced up just in time to see Jason angrily, yet half-heartedly, slam his hand against the wall. He wasn't sure if he was just too tired or in too much pain to really take his anger out but Ray simply pulled him away, down the corridor for what Eric could only assume was a walk to clear his thoughts. Ray knew Jason better than anyone. He would be alright.
Several minutes went by before a nurse approached Eric. Jason had just returned and Eric had just been able to relax again as he saw Jason was considerably calmer than when he had stormed off just a few minutes earlier.
"Would you like to see Spencer? He's been asking for his team. Doesn't quite believe us when we say you're all alive and well." The nurse smiled as she spoke. "I can take you to his room. Um, it's just that the uh doctor wants me to remind you he needs rest. He'll be discharged in the morning." Ray smiled at her, "Of course. We'll be sure to let him rest."
Jason hesitated outside Clay's room, not entirely sure he could force his feet to move. The kid needed him. He needed to see he was ok himself. He just wasn't sure he could return Clay back to Stella less than 100% yet again. He knew how much she worried, knew how much they loved each other. With Alana gone now he valued their love even more. Ray came up beside him, the others were coming up in a few minutes. "So, are you going to actually go see the kid or spend the night in the hallway?" Jason huffed, "I just can't keep seeing everyone get hurt. Keep losing people. Or almost losing people." Ray nodded in the way he always did that made him seem wise beyond his years. "Jace, there is nothing you could have done to prevent this."
"I know that Ray. I do. I just, the kid, you didn't see him earlier. He was, he's been through hell. His rookie year and he's seen shit most guys don't see in 5 years."
"It's because he's on the top team. You know that. He's the best of the best so he rolls with the best of the best. He's not with us because he's mentally fit, or a good shot, or good with tactical analysis. He's with us because he has the mental fitness. He can handle it or he would have broken a long time ago." Jason pushed away from the wall then and sauntered inside, his face showing off the slightest of smiles as he eyes the kid, hospital gown, IV, and stitches.
"Hey kid."