Thanks for all the comments and the grammer D- I got! I read and read this to be sure it was ok, if not... I am sorry... I hope you can enjoy this anyways. I am a redneck girl OK, I'm lucky to have a signature that is not an "X"...

Chapter 20

Doug and Dennis jumped as their younger partner staggered backwards holding his stomach and looking up at Darren. Darren still held tight to the knife, the once shiny silver blade now crimson with blood. As if on cue Penhall, Booker, Dean and Jim shot across the ground to where Darren Thompson stood a look of shock mixed with satisfaction on his face.

"Do-ug…" Hanson choked out. Doug screeched to a halt and dropped to his knees behind the officer his arm across the officer's chest. Holding Hanson up, Penhall brushed the sweat and mud soaked bangs out of his eyes. Hanson was filthy dirty from head to toe. A thin layer of mud and dirt encrusted his hair. His skin was clammy from the feaver which had started to envelope his younger partner. A dark bruise started to rise on his chest where he had been hit multiple times. His wrists were swollen with angry burns from ropes that secured his wrists in place for so long.

"Hang in there Tommy… help's comin!" Doug forced back the sound of desperation in his already cracking voice. A young female officer walked over to where the trio sat on the ground and handed a blanket to Penhall. Doug draped the blanket around the injured officer as best he could. He continued to hold Tom tightly searching for reassuring words to say to his failing friend.

Tom struggled as the pain tore through his gut like a raging inferno. He sucked a deep breath in through his clinched teeth and shook violently. Dennis had ripped off the flannel shirt he was wearing and held it tightly over the knife wound. Within seconds the shirt was already foul with blood. Booker's hands were soaked with the crimson life force slowly seeping from Hanson. He looked up at Penhall, terror ablaze in his dark eyes.

"Tommy… don't quit on me now!" Dennis shouted out to his partner.

"Doug… help… ahhhhh!" Hanson cried aloud as pain and fear were taking over his body and mind. He was terrified as his breath was becoming more difficult to catch. His mind registered his body was faltering as Tom was beginning to loose control of his body. He was shaking like a leaf. He was not sure if he was cold or if the pain was making him shake. The abundance of pain was engulfing him like a cocoon. The world was turning grey as a new feeling of helplessness and numbness started to befall him. "Doug…" Tom choked out. He closed his eyes tightly and winced as the pain and loss of blood threatened to push him into unconsciousness. He spoke up again; his voice nearly a whisper "… hurts… please Doug…" Tom's pleading voice was devastating to Penhall as he held onto Tom's blood soaked hand and looked at Booker, tears threatening to spill at any moment.

"Hanson… don't give up on me!" He whispered forcefully to his best friend. "We need a medic now!" Penhall shouted.

--

Dean and Jim subdued Darren, handcuffing his hands behind his back. Dean carefully picked up the knife placking it into a plastic evidence bag. He carefully sealed the bag and handed it to another officer. Jim walked slowly behind another police officer leading his son to the back of a patrol car. There was a bustle of activity as students one by one had their wrists bound behind their backs, read their rights and placed into waiting vans and cars. The sound of a siren tore through the bustle of activity.

A medic unit was rushed in and a path cleared, multiple people jumped out of the large box shaped truck. They were pushing a gurney and carrying an oxygen tank, an EKG machine, and a trauma kit. The lights continued to flash red and white as the engine was set to idol. Booker distracted by the lights looked over reading red letters on the side of the ambulance: "WAYLON COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMEN".

"Sir, you're going to have to step away." The ladies soothing voice cut through Penhall's thoughts.

"No." Doug said flatly.

"Please sir; we need our space to help your brother. You're going to have to step aside, please." She was being so kind, but Doug wasn't walking away easily. There was no comfort for him. His friend was slipping into unconsciousness and he was going to be there.

"Dean, please…" The EMT looked over at the police chief who walked over and placed a hand on Doug's shoulder.

"Doug, please… they have to get Tommy out of here and you are not helping. Now please, go with Dennis to my car. Were leaving now and Angie is going to meet us at the hospital." Dean took Doug's powerful hand in his own as he got the officer to release Tom's hand.

"Dean please… let me stay." Doug's eyes glistened with a agonizing desperate tears.

"Doug, I know these people… he's in good hands. Now come on."

No sooner had Doug abandoned his watchful position the emergency team quickly moved in. The team hovered around Hanson moving him like lightning onto the cot, securing him to the portable bed. They fitted him with an oxygen mask, and putting an EKG monitor on him. Penhall watched as the light on the screen bounced up and down quickly. His friend was loaded into the back of the vehicle. The doors were closed tightly and it pulled away. Penhall stepped forward in the direction it moved almost following watching the back window intently. He saw a bag being hung from the ceiling just before the van moved to far into the distance to see inside.

"Tommy…" Doug looked down at his feet as he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Dennis Booker standing beside him in just a sleeveless t-shirt. He was holding his blood soaked flannel in his right hand. Dennis shook with a sudden chill. The air was cold and Dennis had given up his own shirt to try and stave the loss of blood from a man he could hardly get along with. The two men, Tom and Dennis, tolerated each other, but defended each other in a menacing situation.

"Let's go Doug." Dennis steered the taller man into the direction of Dean waiting SUV.

So, where do we go from here?? Hanson is in the arms of capable medical personel, but there are a million things that could go wrong... We shall have to wait and see:-) Thanks again for all the comments and reviews, I get really excited to get them so, I luv ya'll:-)