"I can't believe Vincent was foolish enough to attempt such a dangerous stunt," Throttle fumed in Carbine's private quarters the morning after Vinnie returned to Freedom Fighters headquarters. Throttle, along with Carbine, Charley, Modo, Stoker, and Torque stayed at the infirmary all night, anxiously awaiting news of Vinnie's condition. Fortunately, Vinnie's injuries weren't as serious as first believed. He had several bruised ribs, a few sprains, and scrapes all over his body. He had regained consciousness and was now sleeping peacefully in the infirmary.
"He's in a lot of pain," Carbine said as she walked over to Throttle's from across the room. "Imagine how you would feel if it had been me instead of Harley."
Throttle smiled grimly. "I'd probably be in worse shape than Vinnie." He then hugged Carbine. "I hope I never have to go through what Vinnie's going through now," he told her softly.
"I hope we both never have to go through what Vinnie's going through," she said.
"General Carbine," a medic called from Carbine's vidcom. She reluctantly pulled from Throttle's embrace and went to her vidcom.
"Carbine here, what's going on?" she asked the medic. "Vinnie woke up and tried to escape from the infirmary," the medic informed her. "He began pulling off his bandages and he started to fight the medics who tried to stop him. We gave him a sedative and he's sleeping right now, but I don't know what's going to happen when he wakes up again."
"We'll be there as soon as we can. Carbine out," Carbine informed the medic. She then turned to face Throttle.
"Vinnie is not taking too kindly to his treatment, as you probably heard," she said.
Throttle nodded in the affirmative and the two left Carbine's quarters and headed for the infirmary.
"Oh Vinnie, why did you do this to yourself," Charley asked the sleeping Vinnie as she sat at his bedside. She was holding his hand.
"What did you say Harley?" Vinnie mumbled, half-asleep and half-awake.
Charley sighed in exasperation. "I don't have the heart to tell him that I'm not Harley and that Harley is…"
She was interrupted by Modo and Torque walking into the infirmary. They had just returned from eating breakfast.
"Charley-ma'am, I think that you should go eat and get some fresh air," Modo told Charley. "The two of us will look after Vinnie while you're gone."
Charley looked at the sleeping Vinnie, a smile on his face. Charley thought that he probably was dreaming of Harley.
"I don't want to leave him when he's in this condition," Charley said.
Torque smiled slyly. "So you do care about Vinnie after all," she said with a mischievous grin on her face.
"Well, someone has to make sure that the wrench head doesn't get himself killed," Charley said defensively.
"I think that's too big of a job for one person to handle alone Charley-ma'am," Modo said to her. "Like my dear old gray-furred Mama used to say, it takes a village to raise a child but it takes an army to keep Vinnie out of harm's way."
"Well then, in that case the cavalry has arrived," Throttle said as he and Carbine walked into the infirmary.
Modo walked over to Charley and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Go on Charley, we'll make sure nothing happens to him while you're gone," he said reassuringly.
"OK, you big lug I'll go," Charley said with a smile as she got up from Vinnie's bedside.
"Harley!" Vinnie cried when Charley let go of his hand. His eyes were still closed and he started to break out in a cold sweat. He soon started shaking uncontrollably.
"Harley, don't leave me!" Vinnie exclaimed.
Modo and Throttle rushed over to Vinnie's bedside and tried to wake him as Carbine, Charley, and Torque watched, their faces stricken.
"Vincent, wake up!" Throttle urged Vinnie.
"Harley!" Vinnie screamed.