(to Phoenix615, who wanted to know where Root got the money - I figure it came from the same place (or a similar one, depending) as another time John needed a suitcase of money to facilitate his medical care. S1 Ep10 'Number Crunch'. The money belonged to Finch - Root just knew where to find it)

"I told you, Benjamin." Root murmured sweetly from where she stood still holding a gun on the first paramedic.

Ben threw one last glare in her direction and went to join his partner.

"Thank-you." Finch told him sincerely as he passed.

oO0Oo

Root came to stand next to Finch and handed him a folder as she explained. "I gave her all the information we had on the Patterson case. She ran some simulations, and this was the most likely outcome." She shrugged. "She doesn't want to lose John either."

Finch just stared at her, disbelieving. Then he turned back towards the car where the paramedics had pulled John out and laid him flat on the backboard.

They worked over him unsuccessfully for nearly ten minutes before deciding on another course of action. Ben stood and addressed the three while his partner went to retrieve a second backboard. "With the temperatures out here - we've got little to no chance of reviving either of them. It's just too cold. We need to get going." He started to turn away but Finch stopped him.

"But his heart…"

When Ben turned back there was a note of compassion in his expression. "It's bad." he admitted. "But don't lose hope yet. Nobody's dead until they're warm and dead, okay?"

Finch just stared after him as he returned to John's side.

Fusco went to help carry the two victims to the chopper.

Root laid a hand on Finch's shoulder. "You'll be going with him, Harry. He needs you."

Ben overheard her comment and protested. "We got a weight limit. There's no room. You want to put your friends at risk?"

Root just looked at him as if he were a rather slow child. Gesturing purposefully with her weapon she replied. "Harry doesn't weigh much. It'll be fine. I have it on good authority."

Then she turned back to Finch. "Everything you need is in the folder… I'll ride with Lionel."

Ben and Fusco wore matching expressions of distaste, but finished loading and securing the patients.

Resigned and quietly thankful, Finch climbed aboard the helicopter and secured himself in the front seat. He looked out the window down at the other two climbing into the car to escape the swirling snow kicked up by the rotors as they rose and sped away into the night.

oO0Oo

Flying through the night, the noise of the rotors prevented Finch from hearing (or being heard by) the paramedics who were equipped with headsets. He was forced to simply observe. It was horrible to feel so thoroughly useless, and to see his friend so absolutely helpless. John was completely limp. He was unresponsive. He was pale. He was… Finch nearly panicked as the appropriate adjectives flowed through his mind. John looked lifeless. But then… he was lifeless. He was a corpse. "Please, Mr. Reese," he whispered, "Come back to us."

Patterson was given an injection to hopefully stabilize him until they could reach the hospital. There was little that could be safely done for his condition in the field.

Finally, after what seemed an impossibly long time, the heart monitor attached to John's chest came to life sluggishly. Ben spared a moment to nod reassuringly in Finch's direction before returning to his efforts to get John stabilized and warm.

Finch looked at his watch and swallowed hard. John had been dead for nearly half an hour.

Before he knew it, they were landing on the roof of a hospital and for once, Finch didn't care which one it was. This situation was far beyond their usual resources. He would just have to try and manage the danger. He finally remembered the folder in his hands and opened it. Inside he found several printouts regarding Ben, his partner, the pilot, and apparently, several other members of the hospital staff. Information provided either by the machine, or some of Root's research. Either way, each page was a detailed report of something the individual wanted to hide or something they needed. It was all the leverage Finch would need to keep John safe at the hospital until he was well enough to be moved to one of their safe houses.

Staff flooded out of the hospital to meet them and both men were rushed inside.

oO0Oo
TBC…
oO0Oo