Jaz's POV

I was awake yet I couldn't open my eyes. I had no dominion over my body. There was still a considerable amount of pain though at least my nausea had improved. I extended my senses and noted that two people near me were clearly sleeping based on their breathing patterns. Another was sitting close to me and took my hand in his. I knew it was Preach the second he touched me. I heard him leaning close to my ear before he whispered,

"Hey, Jaz. I can tell you're starting to wake up. McG fixed you up and we're going to get out of here soon. No worries."

I heard the sound of footsteps approaching and Top quietly asked, "How is she?"

"I'm pretty sure she's starting to come out from under the anesthesia. Vitals are still the same as before McG started his power nap. How's our exit strategy coming?"

"Pretty good. They've been looking for us on the streets but they've started moving their focus to airstrips. Noah is working to get some ground resources to us."

By the time he finished his update, I was able to open my eyes but the light was so bright that I quickly closed them. I heard Preach move around the room and then Top's voice suggested that I try again. This time when I opened my eyes the light had been dimmed considerably. I was able to glance around and noticed how tired they both looked. I couldn't see much more from flat on my back but moving around was not going to be an option. Intense pain was lurking in the distance.

I cleared my throat and whispered to them both, "I need a gun."

I could tell they weren't the first words they had expected from me but they should have been. I didn't like to be unarmed if I could help it and they all knew it.

"I think we'll hold off on that a bit," Top told me.

I frowned at him. While I sorted through my arguments of why he should give me a weapon, he was coming up with his own for why he shouldn't, and he beat me to it.

"Jaz, you're just coming out from under anesthesia. I'd like your brain to be a bit clearer before I arm you."

I struggled to gather my thoughts enough to find the right words to convince him otherwise but I was distracted by McG. He was rustling around on the floor and then stood to look over Top's shoulder at me.

"How's my favorite patient?"

"Sore."

"I bet. Your spleen was lacerated, Jaz, and the bleeding was causing pressure on your other organs. Your rib is broken in the same area so movement will need to be cautious. Understand?"

"Uh huh," was all I could say. In an enemy State I couldn't count on the opportunity to be cautious but I would do my best.

I let my eyes drift closed again. I was so dizzy. I didn't think you could be dizzy while lying flat on your back but that just showed what I knew.

"Still awake, Jaz?" McG asked softly.

"Yes, but I'm dizzy. I feel like the room is moving."

"I'm not surprised. Your blood pressure is on the low side. You might need more blood once we get somewhere safe."

I wondered where that was and when we would get there. Yet at the same time the thought of getting there made me sweat. I wasn't sure how I was going to manage. I was in no condition to help them. The medication I had been given must have caused every thought in my head to be reflected on my face.

"Stop worrying, Jaz," Top instructed, "We've got this covered. Director Campbell and her team have worked out a decent exit strategy for us."

I couldn't help but worry. I was good at it. But I wasn't able to focus on my worries for long, as Preach informed us that we were about to start our exfil.

"Top, I think our ride has arrived."

"Thanks, Preach."

I felt McG move closer to check my vitals again. I opened my eyes to see him smile.

"Ready to go home?"

"Yes."

"Me too. I'm giving you some extra pain medication. Please don't fight it. You need to let go."

"Why?"

"I don't want you to keep tensing your muscles as we move you around. I've got you stapled up pretty well but it would be best if you slept through as much of the trip as possible. We have a long way to go."

"Top?" I called.

He came around into my view. Once again he could read my thoughts. He knew that I wanted him to say that I was fine and that McG shouldn't worry.

"You heard our medic, Jaz. In medical matters he outranks me so he's your boss at the moment. Close your eyes so we can get this show on the road."

Top's words were the last I heard until strange noises woke me up. It sounded like. . . sheep? I opened my eyes to see a strange looking ceiling. I wanted a better view, so I tried to push myself up to my elbows, but my gasp of pain meant McG was immediately there to push me back down.

"Stay flat Jazzy. Everything's fine. We've stopped for the day on this farm so we can all rest. We're down in the root cellar which is why you are under so many blankets. It's a little chilly."

Chilly was an understatement. It was really cold which just made the needs of my body more urgent.

"I have to use the bathroom."

"I'll get you a bed pan."

"You most definitely will not."

I don't know what McG was thinking. I was pretty sure hell hadn't frozen over and that was the only way I was using a bed pan.

"Jaz, don't give McG grief," Top's voice echoed from the corner.

"It isn't grief, Top. It's how it's going to be."

I was willing to do a lot when we were out on a mission but I was not willing to do this.