Chapter 5: Sentiments
Billy stirred, his back arched and he clenched his teeth. His breathing rapid, he mouthed words and pushed at the blankets. Mychal put her hand behind his neck and tried to settle him down, he moaned and his body spasmed," Billy," she called softly.
"N-not gonna…" he tossed his head," t-tell…" Lee moved closer.
"Don't try and hold him down," Mychal told him," it'll send him into shock," Lee nodded.
"Stop!" his body jerked as he woke, the blankets bunched right above his thighs. He doubled over and grabbed handfuls of the sheets.
"Calm down," Mychal caught him and cradled him into her shoulder," you're safe now," his breathing didn't slow.
"Hey Kid," Lee made no sudden moves.
"L-lee?" he breathed, his eyebrows furrowed as he tried to piece together what had happened.
"I told you I'd get you out of there."
"I-I didn't th-think you'd…" he glanced at his chest, memories flooded back and he jumped.
Mychal ran her fingers through his hair," Lee is very good at getting out of tight spaces," Billy didn't notice he missed their inside joke, he couldn't stop shaking," Does it still hurt?" she tilted his chin up to face her.
He nodded, a bead of sweat dripped down the side of his face," W-water."
Lee held a straw to his lips, it cooled his raw throat," You hungry?" Lee put the cup on the nightstand, Billy nodded again," I'll see if I can get you some real food, the MRE's are getting old I'm sure."
"Th-thanks," Lee smiled at him and left the room.
Mychal eased him onto the pillow," You'll need a few stitches," she put some peroxide on a Q-tip, making sure she touched his face before she touched the cut she was cleaning.
He flinched, he was expecting Gunnar or Barney's methods for treating cuts. Usually a rough swipe with a wet towel and a chuckle followed by a 'suck it up buttercup'. It was fine for in the field, but this was much better," Be still," she leaned closer and he felt a pinch, he thought she was getting more blood off his face," That should numb it until I can stitch you," another small sting on his forehead made him realize she'd given him locals.
He'd always hated needles and was trying to brave it out in case Lee came back,' They already see me as a kid,' he thought gloomily,' I don't want them to see me scared,' as she finished up and was knotting the thread on his forehead Lee returned with something that actually smelled good.
"It's all I could find that wasn't in a sealed bag," Lee set the tray over his lap.
"It's great," Billy perked up at the sight of food, he propped on an elbow and tried to sit up and immediately fell back.
"I have one more dose," Mychal offered, he growled and grit his teeth. She took that as a 'yes' and pushed the last of the Morphine.
In a few minutes he was eating and talking with Lee," You're going to finish the mission, right?"
This surprised Lee," Yeah," he replied," in fact the others have probably left, I said I'd catch up with them. I wanted to see you before I went."
"Don't lie to me," Billy had noticed his left hand was taped up and flexed his fingers gingerly," you wanted to make sure I was gonna live."
"That too."
He finished the first meal he'd had in days," I don't remember how they got me," he said as he wiped his lips tenderly," I just remember waking up and…" his head spun as a flashback hit him, he shuddered and grit his teeth as the taser struck.
Mychal moved the tray and put it on the floor, Lee reached out and locked his hand with Billy's uninjured one," Get ahold of yourself," he put his other hand behind Billy's neck," Remember where you are," Billy nodded and regained composure.
The food seemed to energize him a bit, him and Lee spoke for a few minutes and Mychal gave them privacy. The less about the missions they went on she knew the better for her safety. She wasn't involved and didn't need to be, after all she'd be in their way. The thought wasn't comforting to her but didn't anger her either, Lee had taught her how to fight here and there but not nearly enough to be helpful to the Expendables team.
"He awake yet?" Barney's voice almost startled her.
"Yeah, Lee's talking to him," she folded her arms and sighed.
"Maggie says it's hard to find what you have on the list."
"If he doesn't have that in the next twenty-four hours…" she shook her head.
"I'm going to try and find some in the town on our way out, I can send a few of our friends to other reaches but I can't spare any of my team right now. Vilain has what he needs to…"
"Don't," she put a hand up," I don't want to know," he looked surprised," the more I know the more of a liability I am, I'm just here for Billy."
"You've done this before then," Barney glanced at the door.
"You could say that."
"I'm doing my best to get the meds."
"I know, I'll do what I can to ward off infection."
"Thank you," he put a hand on her shoulder," You don't have to do this you know."
"I know I—"
"Whatever favors you owed Lee are forgiven," Barney made sure their eyes met," You're putting yourself at risk by being here, you know that right?"
"I'll be moving him as soon as I think he'll make the trip."
"I didn't ask that," Barney persisted.
"I can take care of…"
"I just want you to understand that your life, as well as his, is on the line if you stay. Don't think you have to because of Lee, I don't know what your past is but you really should get out of here and let us send him to…"
"Where?" she demanded," where do you think you'll send him that's safe?"
Barney looked away perplexed," I…we'd find somewhere."
"And he'll die from lack of treatment, do you think we can get drugs delivered to coordinates in the jungle?" both tried to keep their voices soft so Lee and Billy wouldn't hear.
"I need to transport him to a hospital or a base with real medical facilities," Mychal pointed to her trauma kit," that stuff is going to run out fast, I only have enough Morphine for another day. Maybe! if we're lucky. I know what I'm getting myself into, I can't just leave him here or send him somewhere else to die and for you to…"
"Good," Barney smiled," I wanted to be sure he was in good hands."
"What?" Mychal broke his grip on her shoulders.
"In this line of work we can't trust too many people, I had to be sure you'd stay."
"So you…nevermind. You people are so weird sometimes," she shook her head.
Lee knew Barney would probably give Mychal the usual verbal shakedown he gave all the new members. He tried to enjoy the last few minutes of peace he'd get for the next however long and maybe the last time he'd ever see Billy alive. The meds were doing all the work, keeping him awake but calm and as comfortable as possible. Mychal was good, he remembered being in Belize and half-dead from dehydration and blood loss after being shot. She'd had nothing but that trauma bag and had kept them both alive until the helicopter came to pick them up. She had lost a considerable amount of weight and had given him almost all of the rations and resources but they'd both made it out alive.
Billy knew they'd leave soon, he fought the pain," I could still…"
"Don't even suggest it," Lee stopped him.
"I don't want to just lay here and…"
"Kid—"
"If I hadn't been…" his voice trailed off, he was dizzy and his head hurt.
"You're in no condition to get up," Lee uncrossed his legs," I don't mean this in a bad way, but I wouldn't want you to come with us even if you hadn't been tortured."
Billy shifted uncomfortably his back stung and each breath made the long gash on his chest burn, when the wave passed and he could open his eyes again he looked at Lee questioningly," Listen, I'd be worried about your every move," Billy could tell this conversation was difficult for him, it wasn't often Lee opened up about anything unless it was sarcastic conversation or asking advice from Barney. Lee paused as he searched for the words," I don't want you here with us because first off you're already a target and from an objective standpoint you're weak because you're hurt. Even if it was only the bruises on your face from them beating you, them mental injuries will take awhile."
"I'm fine," Lee saw him grip a handful of the sheets beneath the blankets.
"Like hell you are," Lee didn't want to have this argument," Listen, you're like a son to me. I don't want to see you killed," Billy looked surprised," I couldn't be on top of my game if I had to worry about where you were or if Vilain would get to you again. He'd kill you this time," he let his words sink in," I know what happened to you was terrible, I've been there; but this time it wouldn't end. He'd use you to get to us again and either we'd all get killed or we'd have to watch him kill you, slowly," Lee tried to shake the images from the video Vilain had sent them," Now, do you understand why I don't want you there?"
Billy swallowed, he had no idea these mercenaries actually cared when it came down to it. He'd had the impression this was business and what Lee had taught him was simply so he'd have everyone's back and would be able to hold his own. Not because Lee had seen something in him that reminded him of home or had sparked some sort of paternal instinct in him. Until now it was all business and he'd tried to keep himself as emotionally distant from his team mates as possible, he realized he'd failed miserably and that the first person he'd screamed for when Vilain had finally broken him was Lee," Thanks," he held his hand out and Lee took it and gave it a firm shake.