"G…Gus…"
"Hold on, just hold on Shawn, we're almost there!" Gus mashed his foot down until the gas pedal struck the floor. At his side, his best friend was panting heavily, a thick red stain growing around his midsection. Reaching out, Gus wrapped one hand tightly around Shawn's bicep. "Come on, stay with me!" His eyes flicked back and forth from the highway to the other man's face- noting that his breathing was becoming more ragged by the second.
Raising a shaking hand, Shawn suddenly clawed at his collar. "I can't- I can't bre- breathe…" He tore at the buttons, sending them in a scattering spray as he tilted his head back against the seat, gasping harshly.
"SHAWN!" Gus jerked the wheel as the small car swerved, desperately trying to control the vehicle while battling to keep his friend from clawing out his own esophagus. Shawn's desperate attempt to take in oxygen was becoming absolutely frantic as he made a panicked cry, arching his back and bracing one hand against the window. Gus clenched his jaw, shifting his grip to a rigid shoulder. Ahead, he could see the sign for the hospital- next right, just a few more minutes. "Come on, come on…" he murmured in sick fear, noting Shawn's skin had become clammy and pale… almost bluish. His raspy inhalations were torturous to listen to, knowing there was nothing that could be done- save for what was already being done.
A car jogged in Gus's lane, and he was forced to slam on the brakes, feeling the little vehicle shudder at the sudden deceleration. Slamming a fist on the horn, Gus rode the tailgate until the other driver, with a traditional salute, slid back into their previous lane. Ignoring the extended blast from the other car, Gus roared onward again, gripping the wheel with both hands and taking the exit so fast he was surprised he didn't go up on two wheels.
He caught a break at the light, barely starting to slow when it switched to green. Cutting across the intersection, he tore down the frontage road towards the emergency entrance. Moments before he entered the lot, Shawn's left hand suddenly shot to the side, snagging Gus's wrist. The wheel jerked again, and Gus fought back control before glancing again to the side. Shawn's eyes were wide, his chest hitching as he clutched at his throat with his free hand. But he wasn't breathing. Almost immediately afterward, the fingers wrapped around Gus's wrist went slack, and Shawn's eyes started to close.
"No…nononononoNO!" The car slid to a stop in front of the hospital, and Gus barely threw it in park before leaping from the vehicle and running around to the passenger's side, screaming at the startled medics already rushing towards him.
"MY FRIEND- SHOT… HE'S NOT BREATHING!!"
He yanked open the door, then felt himself pushed out of the way as two emergency techs filled the car opening.
"Does he have any neck injuries?" Inquired one of them sharply. Gus shook his head. "NO- HURRY, PLEASE!"
Carefully easing Shawn from the car, they immediately laid him out on the ground and started CPR. Shortly, another medic appeared with a doctor following closely on his heels. "Status!" He barked out sharply as he knelt down on the pavement.
"Gunshot wound to the upper right chest- the bullet may have punctured a lung- no respiration and bp is falling!"
"Okay people let's get him inside now!"
Still working on his friend, the cluster of medics managed to get Shawn on a gurney before racing him through the double doors. Pausing only long enough to push his car doors shut, Gus ran inside after the group.