Chapter Twelve
The White Knight's Plight
Ryder Trauma Center
When the elevator door to the ICU floor hissed open Nala bolted through it. She looked right, and then and seeing Rios pacing to the left she turned and sprinted towards him her booted feet clomping on the tile floor. Rios spun in his pacing, and upon seeing the frantic child headed his way, he threw his hands up in frustration. Before he could voice his thoughts Samantha held up her hands, and shook her head warning him off. Nala, still clad in her black mission clothes, skidded to a halt just inches in front of the big man. He sighed, and looked down at the flustered child. She stared gape mouthed at him, and then reaching forward pressed her palms into the still tacky blood soaking his TAC vest.
"My Dragon One's blood?" She asked quietly, almost reverently.
Rios looked down at her, and then squatted so that they'd be eye to eye. He took her small hands in his and grasped them tightly before kissing her on the forehead.
"Yea, baby it's Elliot's."
She took a shuddering breath, and furrowed her brow while reaching out again, and touching the dark crimson patches. Some of the blood blotted out the TWO insignia on his chest, and more clotted the seams sewn into the vest. Small puddles had also congealed in the top of some of Rios' ammunition pouches. Rios tried to garner what she was thinking by watching the emotions playing across her young face.
"There's lots of it."
"Yea Nala, he lost a lot of blood, but we got an I.V. in him, and started to get him some more real quick."
"It's still sticky, I can smell it."
She lifted her damp fingers to just beneath her nose, and took and inhaled a shaky breath.
"He gonna be alright?"
Rios ran his shaking hand back across his head, and looked her in the eyes. These situations often took a bad turn. Salem should be alright he should make it, but too many times Rios had seen men crash.
"He's in surgery," He began evenly; "He was breathing on his own when we handed him over. He never really lost consciousness from anything other than the concussion of the head shot, so I think he'll make out ok. Nala, listen to me though. Nala?"
"I don't want the bad news."
"There is no bad news yet. What I was going to say, baby; was that sometimes, sometimes men crash, and we lose them even when it seems like they should be ok. So let's just pray that doesn't happen today. You came here, and so I just want you to know the facts. You're here, so I need you to be a strong soldier like the rest of us."
Nala took a huffing breath, pursed her lips, and met Tyson's eye. He'd been crying. He was afraid. He was angry, and wanted to hurt the men who'd done this to the man they both loved. Yet behind all of those emotions she read an impenetrable resolution that Salem would be fine. She reached out, cupped his left cheek, and smiled weakly at him.
"I will, and we all will, and my Dragon One will be just fine. Where'd the son of bitch hit him at?"
Rios stood, placed his hand on her shoulder and herded her toward the small alcove the team had commandeered to await news of Salem. He might as well update the ladies and Nala at the same time.
As Rios reached the rest of the group, Nala stepped away from him allowing Samantha to great him. She watched angrily, as her mother made a face betraying her disgust at seeing Tyson covered in Elliot's blood. Giddy's wife Gwen and Heck's wife Zoe both had embraced their husbands despite the blood. Rios too was annoyed, not so much that she didn't want to soil her clothes, but that she seemed disgusted by the blood.
"It's Elliot, Sam. He's shit, puked, pissed and bled on me more times than I can count get over it."
"Still you should get cleaned up. It's un-sanitary, and Nala should wash her hands."
"They don't get washed until I've talked him mom so don't even try."
"See how she is. She refused to change out of those ridiculous clothes too."
Tyson was on the verge of fury. His best friend, his brother the other half of his heart was in surgery with multiple gunshot wounds, and all the self-centered woman cared about was a few germs and what Nala had chosen to wear to the hospital.
"I'm not getting into this with you right now, Samantha. Sit down with Zoe and Gwen, and I'll fill you in."
Samantha knew Tyson well enough to follow the growled command. She took a seat on the hard plastic chair in between the other two women, and seethed as Nala sat down on the floor in between Heckler and Giddy.
"He's still in surgery. Critical condition. Lost a bit of blood, but we had him going with an I.V. and prepped, intubated etcetera when he got here which saved time. He took the first round straight to his face, and his mask did its job, but was knocked off. The mask cam showed a second shot to the back of his head. It grazed him thank god. The third somehow tore into, and through his right bi-cep, missed his vest, and into his chest. His lung collapsed, but I got a chest dart in him. The last tore into his left thigh. No exit wounds. It's a waiting game. Might be a while."
"Sit down Tyson," Zoe said standing up, "I'm gonna go get everyone some coffee and something to eat."
"Sounds good, but I'll sit after I see him."
A few hours after Zoe returned with the supplies a nurse came over, and turned on the large television hanging in the small waiting area. She flipped through the channels and then handed the remote to Heckler.
"He's still in surgery. I thought, though, that you all might want to see this. It's the news conference from the police and SSC. I also wanted to tell you that the hospital has established a security perimeter so you won't have to worry about the press getting anywhere near here, and if any of you need to leave you will be escorted out through the back. Let us know if you need anything else."
The group muttered their thank you, and Heckler turned the volume up.
"Hello, I am Leslie Radcliff, I am standing in front of SSC headquarters awaiting the arrival of members of Dade police Department and SSC staff. They will be giving a press conference to update us on the events of this morning. It is now six a.m., five long hours after the culmination of a nearly two day hostage standoff.
We have no information about the man who was grievously wounded ending the standoff with one perfectly place shot. We observed a team of SSC operatives detaining, and turning over two members of the Dade Elite response team to other officers. These two individuals are in custody awaiting interrogation. We do not have their names at this time. We hope that this press conference will bring to light some of this information. Public outcry for revenge upon the assailants of the SSC operative has been feverish. People want to know why these men, if they are the assailants, chose to kill the man who saved twelve innocent lives. The speakers have just taken the stage so I will cut to the shot of them speaking."
As the group watched, Art, several other Dade representatives, Alice Murray, Richard Dalton and Ernest Stockwell filed onto the top step of SSC headquarters' front steps and lined up behind a lone microphone. Art took the podium first.
"Good morning. I am Detective Art Norris spokesmen for the Dade police force. I have a short statement, and then I will turn it over to SSC. I think the questions you are all going to ask are fairly similar so I'll just jump straight in and there will be no questions afterward.
First, at the wishes of SSC, due to the nature of some of the operations their men are tasked with, the identity of the injured asset, and all other assets involved will remain confidential. These men are a strategic link to national security, and their anonymity is of paramount importance. I'll leave any questions about that, or the operative's condition to the SSC contingency.
Second, we do have two men in custody. Both of these men are members of Dade's Elite Tactical Response Team. Their names are: Gregory Vincent Delgado and Karl Offenbach. Both have been members of the department for ten years. They are being charged with discharging a fire arm in public, public endangerment, attempted murder, attempted murder of a law enforcement member, aggravated assault, and if, god forbid, this young man dies capital murder. They are, at this point in the investigation, maintaining their innocence.
Third how did this happen? As best as we can establish, after interrogating the SSC team, the following occurred; Delgado and Offenbach were charged with securing the front entrance of 108 South Point, the building north of 110. On two separate occasions the SSC team was sent to verify the security of 108 for fears that there might be a second shooter working with the perpetrator on the boat. On both occasions the Dade officers allowed the SSC team to pass, conduct their search, and leave. After the shots were fired at the SSC asset on the roof of 110, the SSC team returned to 108, and found Delgado and Offenbach missing from their post.
The SSC team moved to the top floor via the stairwell, and the elevator, and could hear gunfire. As they made entry into the top floor hall from the elevator they were met by Delgado and Offenbach moving toward the elevator. The two men claimed that the assailant had fled, and that they were in pursuit. One of the SSC team noted the odor of Cordite, or gunpowder, and was suspicious. The SSC team questioned the two, and they replied that they had fired at the assailant, and that they needed to hurry. The lead man for SSC radioed for his other assets to seal the exits, and they moved forward.
Upon entering the room, where the shots were fired from, they became suspicious, and returned to Delgado and Offenbach who were waiting for the elevator, unaware that the SSC teams had shut them all down. They again questioned the pair, noting that they were very agitated, and one of the SSC men grabbed Offenbach's weapon, noted that it was hot, and the same caliber as the shell casings found in the room. Further examination showed that Delgado and Offenbach's weapons had fired the same amount of rounds as found in the room. Convinced that they had the shooters they took the pair into custody. The building was searched, and no other assailants were discovered. The exits were all sealed, and there was no way for this second shooter the pair claimed to be pursuing to have exited 108 South Point.
This leads us to believe that Delgado and Offenbach, for reasons they will have to tell us, tried to take out the SSC asset, and blame it on this second gunman. Was it jealousy for being pulled from the operation? I can't tell you, but what we all need to do now as say a prayer for the wounded man, and hope that justice is served to his assailants. Thank you."
Art stepped away, and Alice Murray took his place. Those who knew her could tell she was barely controlling her anger.
"I am Alice Murray, SSC contract writer and mission specialist for the two teams involved in this operation. As Detective Norris stated our assets will remain, for their safety, anonymous. What I can tell you is that he is a twenty-nine year old, former Army Ranger, trained as a Sniper, and that he was, on several occasions, decorated for his service. These include several Purple Hearts and two Bronze Stars.
He is currently in Ryder Trauma Center, listed in critical condition, undergoing surgery for what appears to be at least four bullet wounds. We had an asset with him immediately who is a highly trained Combat Medic. He was nearly completely prepped for surgery when they handed him off to the Ryder team. He received four wounds. One to his face which was blocked by his ballistic mask. One to the back of his head a grazing wound, one through his right bicep and into his chest, and the final round entered his left thigh. All are very damaging injuries. We will see justice for his suffering."
The crowd began to rumble at the terse declaration, and Alice paused to let them get quiet again.
"SSC stands behind its assets one hundred and fifty percent. We have an excellent working relationship with the Dade law enforcement community, via training, expert consultation, techniques and equipment. This is a blow to that relationship. This mission or operation was taken Pro Bono as a show of good faith. We, at SSC, hope that in return the Internal Affairs department and any other departments involved in the coming investigation will shed any prejudices, and conduct an open, honest, transparent investigation, and prosecute all involved to the fullest extent of the law. If this is not the case, then, I as the voice of my team, will go on record and say that justice will be done. If the perpetrators of this attack are wrongfully freed there will be nowhere on this earth that they can run to escape us. They will be brought to justice, and we do not follow the general rule of law when we pursue our personal enemies. Thank you. I have a wounded man to see to."
Heckler muted the television and whistled quietly.
"Whoa, Murray's pissed."
"We're all pissed, Heck." Nala added looking at her blood stained hands, "We're all pissed, and I'll be the first one to shoot the bastard that hurt my Dragon One."
"No, you're in line after me Mini Merc. I get to those sons a bitches first, and they'll die slow and painful. Rios isn't the only one who's been to School with Ferrell."
"You can be all the pissed you want, Phil, but I'm not sure it's such a good thing to broadcast it."
"No worries, Gwen. Like Murray said if these two ass wipes did it, and they walk because of some I.A. cover up there is nowhere far enough for them to run to, we will find them."
"Phillip, this isn't some third world country where there is no justice. You go after these two, and it's you guys that will end up in prison. You have families, and I think we already suffer enough because of the job without needing to worry about this type of personal vendetta."
"Yea Gwen, that's true, but a brother's a brother, and if that's what it takes to get revenge than you'll just have to fucking live with it. Nobody hurts Salem, nobody; not without getting it right back ten-fold." Giddy snapped at her uncharacteristically rude.
Gwen flinched at the upbraiding. She'd never seen him like this. His pale eyes were blood shot from crying, and riddled with rage. She'd never seen any of them like this. The fury roiling off of them was so intense that she felt they'd explode at the slightest cause. They were worried, that was clear, but the longer they waited locked in inaction, the more furious the men seemed to grow. The only one who seemed to fit in with the trio of blood soaked men was little Nala. She sat against the wall, elbows resting on her knees studying the blood on her hands. Gwen had the idea that if given a gun, and access to the two men she'd gladly put bullets in both of their heads and never flinch. Before she could reply Rios stopped pacing and turned down the hallway. The quiet was shattered by his roaring of Yarborough's name.
The men collided just outside of the alcove, and Yarborough was hard put to keep his feet under Rios' furious charge. He tried to wrestle Rios' hands from his throat, but the man's fury was making him that much stronger. Heckler and Giddy jumped up, and tried to tear Rios off of the big man finally getting them apart, and shoving Tyson back into the alcove. Yarborough bent at the waist trying to catch his breath.
"You were supposed to clear that fucking building; you god damned useless fucker. I know you hate him, but this?"
"Rios, we did clear it, man. We did. Those fucks went in after we left. They had it planned. Fuck me, Rios I don't hate the boy. He pushes me, and we fight. You of all people should know him by now. Would I fucking be here if I'd have wanted this shit to go down. The only fucking reason those pukes aren't dead is 'cause I figured you guys'd want first dib's. Shit man."
Rios waved him off. He knew it to be true. He'd seen the news conference, but after spending nearly six hours seething that Yarborough had dropped the ball, and allowed Salem to get hurt he just couldn't control that rage. Yarborough walked forward and extended his hand. Rios shrugged, and took it before the older man pulled him into an embrace. They were all soldiers, they were by extension a team, and he knew, from having been in Rios' shoes, what the man needed to feel and hear. Strong arms and words of hope that would keep him held together until word of Salem's condition came to them.
"He's as tough as they come, Rios. He'll pull through this. You know he will. He has to, because I owe him an ass beating. We've got your six in this too. With what Murray said, you guys are too exposed; so you just give the word, and justice will be done.
Then, he released him, and stepped back two steps.
"We got two guys here too. O positive if he needs it so…"
"Thanks for that, thanks, no so far they haven't said anything. Heck's O pos. too so thanks though, come on join us."
It was only a half an hour after Yarborough's arrival that the surgeons finally appeared with news about Salem. The guys all stood up, and swarmed toward the Doctors. Two of the men were from Ryder's staff, a third man Rios recognized as an SSC medical asset, and to his dismay Salem's old girl- friend Cielia rounded off the surgical team. The tallest of the group held his hands up to silence the anxious group.
"He made it through the surgery. We're moving him to ICU for observation for the next probably forty-eight hours. If you will all come with me, I will show you his pictures, and describe what was done."
They group filed into a conference room, and the tall doctor turned on a screen.
"We did a high res CT of his head. He has a slight Subdural Hematoma from the shot to his face, but that's very mild. We did insert a shunt just to be safe. He has a concussion which is also to be expected from that amount of impact. It took thirty stitches to close the scalp wound. He lost some hair. He also has a stress fracture to his C5 and C6 vertebrae, probably from the force of the head shot snapping his head around. These we'll treat with a neck brace and time will heal them.
Moving on. The next injury, as you can see here, that the bullet tracked through his right long and short biceps, just nicking his Humerus, and shattering his third rib. It continued through his chest wall, and slammed into his right Scapula shattering it into five pieces. The rib pierced the upper lobe of the lung which caused its collapse. The chest dart saved his life. We re-built the rib and his Scapula. Repaired the chest wall and lung. There were numerous bits of bone splinter to remove. The Biceps were torn, and we re-attached them, they should make a complete recovery.
The thigh wound; the round entered through his inner thigh here, plowed through his Quadriceps, and lodged in the lower end of his Iliotibial Tract. The tears were repaired, and again we saw no nerve damage, and he should recover from this wound as well. All in all he's a very lucky man.
That said his rehab will be slow. We have left his breathing tube in place. Anytime you deal with that amount of trauma to the chest wall things can go south in a hurry. We noted that he has scaring from previous bullet wounds so I will assume you are all somewhat familiar with the process. One of you will be allowed into ICU to see him for ten Minutes every hour. I suggest the rest of you head home, get cleaned up and rest. The next forty-eight hours will be a waiting game. Barring infection, or another lung collapse we should be able to move him out of ICU to Respiratory critical care by Thursday. Thank you."
The doctors filed from the room and as Cielia passed Rios she squeezed his right shoulder. The SSC doctor waited until the others had gone and approached Rios.
"He's critical but stable. They did a great job. It's up to Salem now. Send the rest home, have one of them bring you some clothes, and I can arrange for you take a shower here so that you don't have to leave. Your daughter can stay, but she will not be allowed to see him in ICU She is not even allowed to go to the ICU recovery waiting area with you; so I suggest you send her home as well. I know that they are very close, but there really is nothing she can do here, Tyson. I need to debrief with the surgical team, and I'll see you later."
For a few moments Rios felt in control. Having the surgeon give his terse informative report made him feel that once again the situation was in control. He needed to feel in control. They all did. They thrived on controlling their situation. With that thought in, mind he took a deep breath, and prepared to take command of his team, Nala included.
"Ok you heard the man. Now, this is what's going to happen. Yarborough, your team is to monitor the cops. I want to know about any information that gets leaked about those fuckers. Bail amounts anything. I won't risk losing them. Giddy, Heckler, And-A-Half go home. Go home, get cleaned up…Nala these are orders. Follow them. Go home, get cleaned up, bring me back clothes and my phone and wallet etcetera. Any change in Elliot and I'll call. Nala come here."
The girl complied wordlessly her face furrowed in tight frustration.
"You can't go up to where he is. It's against the rules. Go home, get washed up, and sit by the computer. I'll try and get a visual for you ok. I'm gonna have Murray try to have MIT set something up on the sly. Roger that?"
"Roger that, Papa Tank. And-A-Half, out.