Part 14

Tony tilted the light to shine on the floor.

"Good boy. Now, put your gun down, nice and slow."

Bending carefully, slowly, Tony laid the shotgun on the floor, then stood back up.

As easily as he would swat a fly, Michaels reversed his gun and slammed the butt against McGee's temple. McGee's head snapped back and his body twisted and fell to the bed. He didn't move. Tony grimaced but held still. The last thing he needed was to get killed; if he died, who would protect McGee?

"Let's you and me take a walk to the barn, Navy man." Michaels gestured with his gun. Tony lifted his hands and turned around. He froze when another man rushed toward him through the front door. Past him outside, Tony noticed that dawn was beginning to turn the sky gray with light.

"He killed Austin, Stuart."

Surprisingly, he didn't hear anger in Michaels' voice. "I know Justin, I heard it - figured Austin was gone when this one showed up instead of him."

Justin didn't have Michaels' self-control. Rage flashed in his eyes. Before Michaels could stop him, he reared back and slammed his fist across Tony's jaw. Tony stumbled, but kept his feet.

"An eye for an eye." Justin pushed past Tony and stomped into the bedroom.

"Wait!" Alarmed, Tony moved to follow him but stopped when Michaels' rifle dug into his chest. "He's dying anyway, you won't get any satisfaction from him. Listen!" Frantic when Justin pushed McGee to his back, Tony slid forward, despite the painful pressure against his chest. "Take your revenge out on me - I'm the one who shot your friend!" Ignoring Tony, Justin lifted one knee to balance on the bed and lean over McGee. He encircled Tim's throat with both hands; his extra weight pushed the mattress down. McGee woke up with a gasp. He clawed at Justin's knuckles, then wrapped his fingers around his attacker's wrists and pulled to no avail. His back arched off the mattress and his face began turning red.

"Justin! Don't!" The need to help McGee burst through him. Tony grabbed Michaels' gun, pushed it away, and dove for Justin. Throwing his arms around Justin's throat from behind, Tony yanked back and managed to pull him off balance. Justin stumbled backward, pushing them both into the wall. He jerked away and twisted to face Tony. Eyes wide, Tony saw a punch coming and dodged it, then swung his fist and managed to clip Justin hard across the face. Justin went down to his knees.

"Enough!" A gunshot blasted through the room and debris from the ceiling rained down on them.

Blinking, Tony straightened up to find Travis Mansfield and Vernon Stanley in the door, facing down Michaels. Vernon held his pistol, pointing unerringly at Michaels' head.

Undeterred, Michaels swung his rifle around to point at the two doctors. "What are you going to do, old man? Shoot m-?"

Vernon fired and the bullet struck Michaels high in the shoulder. Surprise and shock registered on his face just before his knees buckled and he sank to the floor.

Tony pushed Justin out of the way and reached for Michaels' gun. He kept it trained on Justin. "Didn't I tell you two to stay upstairs?"

"I simple 'thank you' would be nice." Vernon stepped into the room and moved around to cover Michaels. Mansfield crossed the room to check on McGee.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"How's McGee?" Tony's eyes didn't leave Justin, but he moved closer to the bed.

"Not good. We need to get him to a hospital - now."