By the time Trent stepped from the woods Brock was no longer in sight. He stopped at the edge of the gravel parking lot glancing to his locked truck and then to the ambulance that Ray and Sonny were helping Molly hobble toward. She glanced over her shoulder to him and he felt his smile meet hers as he nodded.
"She's pretty." Jason interrupted his thoughts.
"She's a kid who almost got herself killed." Trent kicked the gravel at his feet.
"She's what late twenties? That's not a kid."
"Is to me. Jesus, there's a whole damn search party here." He looked up at the Ranger milling around.
"Trent, you left your dress uniform on your bed." Jason also kicked at the gravel before looking up to meet his eyes.
"Brock used his key?" Trent once again looked for Brock among the gathered men as Jason nodded. "Jace, um I need you to well." Trent reached behind his back and pulled the glock from his waistband. "Here."
"Okay." Jason took the gun without hesitation or interrogation.
"Thanks." Trent started walking toward the ambulance.
Ray and Sonny were standing at the back with the doors still open as a paramedic hooked up monitors and asked questions of Molly who was leaning back against the gurney. He stood between them and nodded at her. "Good luck Molly. You're gonna be just fine now."
Molly smiled back at him trying not to wince as an IV was placed in her hand. "Hey Trent you'll be good too. And look your brothers didn't even need a call. They showed right up in the middle of the woods." She looked a bit confused or maybe intrigued about the search before nodding to the paramedic about pain meds. As Ray shut the doors she called out "Hey Trent, stay in touch will ya? I'd kinda like to know for sure we both really made it out of the woods."
Trent wanted to answer but tears were threatening to fall so he bit his bottom lip and nodded at her instead. He was sure he was still biting his lip as Ray finished shutting the doors and the ambulance pulled away. It wasn't until the sound of the siren was distant that he noticed Sonny's hand on his shoulder. "Where's Brock?" Trent looked around again wondering where his best friend could have gone so quickly and noticed Blackburn walking toward them a mixture of concern and seriousness written on his face.
"Gentlemen." Blackburn addressed the four members of Bravo. "As far as anyone is concerned what happened today was a few members of Devgru volunteered to help search for a missing hiker. Ms. Murphy was found injured and provided aide. The reports will indicate nothing else, Bravo has enough going on right now. Am I understood?"
"You are Eric." Jason nodded as he said it.
"So now what?" Ray looked between them.
"Where is Brock?" Trent interrupted any answer about to be given.
"He's in my jeep." Eric lowered his voice just slightly as he stepped closer to Trent. "Not sure now is the time to talk."
"It is." Trent stepped away as Blackburn shook his head in disagreement.
Trent slowly approached the vehicle. Brock was sitting in the passenger seat with his eyes closed, his head tilted back and Trent could see him counting his breath. As his brother reached up to wipe his brow Trent saw a tremble in his hand that he was sure was new.
Using the back of his knuckle the medic lightly knocked of the driver's side window. Brock shook his head so slightly most would miss the movement. Trent watched his brother exhale slowly and realized he was holding his own breath.