The Colonel Vs. The Angel of Death Chapter 5 The Finger of the Death Angel
Devon finds the real reason behind Casey's heart attack, but unfortunately, Sarah and Chuck must hide some facts from him in order to obey General Beckman, facts that may hurt both Casey and his woman.
The next time a cell phone rang, it was Sarah's phone. Sarah glanced down and saw the photo of
of the General. "Yes, ma'am" Sarah answered swiftly, and Chuck leaned in to hear.
"Agent Walker, you and Agent Bartowski need to understand that Pastor Coburn knows somehow that the Colonel is hurt."
Chuck broke in and stammered, "I never got the chance to tell her, General."
The General stopped speaking for a moment, angered at Chuck's interruption, but she continued on. "Pastor Coburn knows that Agent Casey is wounded, and that puts us all in a very precarious position."
Chuck again interrupted, "how bad is she, General?"
The agents heard the general take a sharp breath in, and then she spoke." The Medivac e.m.t. said that she was still bleeding profusely, and the knife used by her attacker had clipped her right kidney. The attending paramedic feels she may loose that kidney before she is stabilized. I have authorized them to transport her to the N.S.A. Hospital there where you two are, but therein lies the problem."
Chuck pulled the phone away and spoke again into it. "Please General, forgive my interruptions but why is this a bad thing? Annie and Casey need each other at this point. Why is that so precarious?"
"Bartowski, give the phone back to Agent Walker this very moment." The General barked out her order, and Chuck obediently passed the phone back to Sarah. "Go on General," Sarah smiled at Chuck and spoke a little softer to her superior.
"Ellie Woodcomb does not know your true vocations, neither does she know Col. Casey's full identity. We cannot divulge any more information to Dr. Ellie without compromising the Intersect and putting both Doctor Woodcombs in danger. She is not to know that Dr. Devon is taking care of Col. Casey. Dr. Ellie's job is to save Pastor Coburn and then get back to the regular hospital. Do you two understand? Your cover must not be exposed to your sister by any means. Do you understand, Agents Walker and Bartowski?" The General has spoken quietly to Walker, but when she mentioned Chuck's last name, her voice rose a few octaves.
Sarah and Chuck glanced at each other and murmured in unison, "Yes, ma'am!"
"Now, " the General's voice softened as she asked, "How is our Colonel Casey?" The agents were surprised at the General's use of the intimate pronoun. Chuck maneuvered closer again the Sarah's phone and reported, "We haven't heard anything from Devon yet, but..." Chuck stopped speaking as he say his brother-in-law stride quickly to them.
Sarah took her phone back from Chuck and passed it to Devon, mouthing the words, "General Beckman."
"General, yes ma'am. We just opened Casey's chest up and we found a tiny pellet dart lodged in his mitre valve."
Chuck and Sarah involuntarily gasped at the news, as Devon held up his hand to quiet them.
"We removed the dart, and he is stabilized in the C.C.U. Yes, ma'am. The dart caused the valve to fluctuate so much his heart was flipped into rapid tachycardia." Devon paused, "No, ma'am, there's more."
Devon glances at Chuck and Sarah's ashen faces and continued reporting. "The dart released a toxin into Casey's heart muscle and that's what caused the heart attack. Unfortunately, his heart muscle was damaged."
At that, Chuck moaned, "Oh, Lord," and sat down abruptly, holding onto Sarah's hand even tighter.
Devon continued, "No, ma'am the damage is minimal, but he still is in critical condition, and I can see some pretty intense cardio-rehab before he can be released. Yes, ma'am, he is not awake and I have directed the nurses to keep him in a coma for about 24 hours until his heart muscle can begin to heal. Thank you, ma'am. I appreciate your confidence in me." Devon grinned and shot a thumbs up Chuck's way. In spite of the crisis, Chuck relaxed and he and Sarah actually smiled. Devon was about to give the phone back, when his face went entirely white.
"You what?" Devon snorted and then added quickly, "ma'am. My wife is coming with Pastor Annie? But ma'am," this time Devon sat down, and he gulped. "General Beckman, you know I cannot hide anything from my wife. Look what a disaster that was before, when I lied to her about Casey being an raging alcoholic and a flasher. Ma'am, I cannot do what you are asking me."
Chuck snatched the phone. "Please, General. John Casey needs Annie next to him, he requested it. What do we tell Ellie as to why Casey, Sarah and I are all here in this facility?"
The silence from Chuck made Devon and Sarah extremely nervous, but when Chuck's shoulders slumped, they knew the red-headed spit-fire Army General has won yet another battle.
"Yes, ma'am, we will let you know if there is any change in both Casey and Pastor Annie." Chuck closed the phone slowly, and handed it back to Sarah. "Guys," he sighed loudly, "we are in a boatload of crap!"