Chapter 17: Chapter 16
Disclaimer: I do not own anything you recognize. This is the re-uploaded chapter.
The paramedics became frantic, shouting at each other about 'cardiac arrest' and 'hypovolemic shock.' Eagle felt his heart drop. Alex couldn't die, not when he had finally been rescued.
The defibrillator was brought out and the paramedics went to work on restarting Alex's heart. It took three tries and when it finally came back the paramedics said it was too fast. It happened once more before they finally made it to the hospital. The doctors meet them halfway and immediately more medical jargon was thrown around. Eagle stood in the door of the ambulance and watched as Alex was wheeled away.
Eventually, the driver came around and gently guided him inside and into a chair. The driver went and talked to the receptionist and Eagle watched as Wolf, Snake, John, and Ben were all wheeled in one by one, less frantically than Alex had been.
Wolf was, of course, arguing with the medics, claiming he could walk. One paramedic looked slightly frightened when Wolf started threatening lives. Eagle was able to see that the usual fire wasn't there and Wolf looked like if he tried standing up he would fall right back down.
Snake was quiet. Answering questions that were asked and telling them the worst of his injuries. He's mind was elsewhere however. Preoccupied with worry for everyone but himself. It was normal for the team medic. Sure he took care of himself (he wouldn't be much use if he was sick or injured) but Snake was always worrying about everyone self.
John was wheeled in next. He was curled under the blankets and his thumb had found its way into his mouth. The doctors were quiet as they looked him over. Trying their best not the wake him.
Ben was the last one to be wheeled in. His skin was white and the only thing on his mind was making sure that Alex was alright. The man was probably in shock, but the paramedics knew more than Eagle did and he trusted them to take care of his friends.
It was an hour before Eagle could see anyone.
He was allowed to visit Snake first and not long after that Wolf wheeled himself into the room growling about nurses not allowing him to walk by himself. Snake just shook his head and told the man to stop acting like a child. White bandages peeked out from the back of Wolf's dressing ground, and Eagle noticed how the man didn't sit back against the chair. Snake had a few bandages decorating his own body. His wrists were completely wrapped and there was a lump where his ankle was meant to be, indicating a brace containing a sprained ankle.
"Wolf quit being such a child. They didn't baby you, the treated you like any other patient. And any other patient with wounds as extensive as yours would be confined to a wheelchair." Snake sighed, hoping Wolf would get the hint that this was not what Snake wanted to be talking about.
"Any news on Alex and Ben?" Wolf asked, turning to Eagle.
"I've heard nothing on Alex condition but he flatlined twice on the way here. He had a heartbeat when they brought him in, but I haven't heard anything since." Eagle ran a hand through his short hair. A habit he had as a kid that only seemed to resurface in great times of stress.
"What about Ben?"
"I think he was in shock when they brought him in. He was really pale and I believe he kept saying Alex's name." He paused before remembering they had another much smaller member that had also been brought in. "Oh and John is fine. They just don't want anyone disturbing him. He's been sleeping."
"That makes sense. None of us got much sleep...there...especially, John." Snake was picking at his nails; a nervous habit he had had for as long any of them could remember.
There was silence. No one wanted to broach the topic of what had happened in that compound. Thankfully they were saved from any such conversation raised voices came from outside at the nurse's station.
Snake and Wolf jumped as something hit the ground with a loud bang. The voice stopped for a second before the younger female voice started apologizing profusely.
With a sigh, Eagle got up from the chair he had just gotten comfortable in. He had a theory as to who it was. Said theory was confirmed as he opened the door to find an apologizing Maria and an irritated nurse that was cleaning up the mess from a tipped over a cart.
"I am so sorry, but I need to find a man from the SAS. He should be here, but he's not in the waiting room, and I'm really worried. I really am sorry, just please help me find him."
Eagle stepped up behind Maria, arms crossed over his chest and a smirk in place.
Maria turned at his presence, an embarrassed smile on her face. "Hey... What's up?" Before Eagle could answer, her smile disappeared, replaced with a deep frown. "Where did you go? You were supposed to meet me back at base but no one told me anything. I was lucky to know you guys even got back!"
Wolf rolled out of Snakes room. Only to start laughing as Maria continued to rant at Eagle. The sight of a small teenage girl, yelling at a relatively large SAS soldier, was not a sight that was seen everyday.
Eagle smiled and let her rant. They had become close over the week Eagle had spent recovering. She had kept him company in the boring hospital. She also kept him feed, sneaking in food from nearby fast-food restaurants.
She ended with a huff, continuing to look up at Eagle.
"I was afraid you were going to get hurt." Her eyes glistened as tears threatened to fall.
He looked down at her a smile on his face, before opening his arms. She fell into them without further prompting.
"I hope you realize that you sound like my mother." He said gently.
She laughed before finally letting go.
Wolf had gone quiet and was now just staring at the pair, eyes squinted in confusion.
"Wolf meet Maria. Maria this is Wolf. Don't let the name or face fool you. He's really a big softy."
"It's nice to finally meet someone from the team. I've heard a lot about all of you. I'm happy to see you're all right." Maria said as she held out her hand for Wolf to shake. Wolf took it, looking up at Eagle with the mention that he had talked about the team.
It was definitely something to talk about later.
"Is there anyone else I can meet. I know you were going to rescue five people. There has to be more." Maria's eyes sparkled with curiosity. She knew quite a bit about the team, including how Snake's accent got heavier the angrier he got, and how Wolf would act childish if forced to sit still for too long.
"This is Snakes room right here, actually." Eagle stepped into the room only to find Snake watching some children's T.V. show with bored eyes, pointing out everything unrealistic with it.
"That's the point," Maria interrupted his grumbling. "Making it unrealistic helps keep children young and innocent. Keeps their imagination going and their belief in Santa and the Easter Bunny real." Maria smiled as she took the empty chair by Snake bed. "I'm Maria. You must be Snake. It's nice to finally meet you. Eagle says you're the mother hen of the group."
Eagle looked at Maria questioningly. "Did you happen to find the coffee machine? I only remember you acting like this that one time you found the coffee machine."
"Right around the corner. This coffee's much better than the other hospitals." She smiled as she talked, seemingly to forget that she was still a little bit mad at Eagle for keeping her uninformed.
"Eagle, is this your long-lost sister or something? She seems to act a lot like you after having caffeine or alcohol." Wolf scowled as the girl started bouncing her leg.
Snake couldn't help but laugh. Everything was okay. They had finally been rescued and were getting the care they needed. Eagle was safe and sound, while Wolf was acting like a child all because he couldn't get up and move. Everything was good.
It was short lived.
A nurse knocked lightly on the door before walking right in.
"I'm looking for Matthew Jacobs." With a single sentence, everyone went quiet.
Stepping forward Eagle declared, "I'm Matthew, but please call me Eagle."
"Ben Daniels is awake and asking for you." She said almost completely ignoring Eagles request.
"Of course, what room is he in?"
The nurse gave him the room number and showed him what hall to take before rushing off again.
Eagle's mood sobered as he entered Fox's room. Ben was looking down at his blanket, fiddling with a loose string. He too was covered in bandages.
Eagle had barely made it past the door frame before Ben was throwing questions at him.
"How's Alex? It's he okay? Where is he? Please tell me he's okay?"
Eagle covered the room in two steps. "Whoa, slow down there buddy. One at a time please."
"Sorry. How is Alex? Have you heard any news?" Ben finally looked up and Eagle could tell he was close to breaking down.
He contemplated lying so he didn't have to worry Ben, but with a sigh, Eagle told him the truth. "I haven't heard anything. He's probably in the operating room right now. He..." Eagle hesitated, scared that he might push Ben over the edge, but finished his sentence anyway "He flatlined a few times while we were on our way here. He had a heartbeat when they brought him in though!"
If it was possible Ben got paler "What about everyone else? Are they okay?"
"Everyone else is okay. Wolf is complaining. One of the nurses won't let him out of the wheelchair. Snakes got a bit of a concussion but they said it was nothing too serious. John is sleeping in his own room. No one's allowed to visit him because the nurses want him to get as much sleep as possible. It's not a question of if he's going to have nightmares, it's when they're going to start." Ben seemed to calm a little after hearing everyone else was still alive. "What about you? How are you doing?"
Ben sighed, running his hands down his face, before resting them where his neck and shoulders meet.
"I'm fine. Small concussion, sprained wrist and a lot of cuts and bruises, but I'll survive." Ben leaned back in his bed closing his eyes.
"Get some sleep, you look like you could use it." Eagle raised from the seat he had fallen into, making his way to the door before Ben could argue.
Ben mumbled some unintelligible respond before Eagle slipped out of the room, heading for the coffee machine before going to the nurse's desk.
"I was wondering if I could get an update on Alex Rider?"
"Are you related?" The nurse didn't even look up. Eagle always hated that question, he usually ended up lying, the never took 'friend' as an answer.
"I'm his brother."
The nurse looked up, a skeptical look on her face. She was tired though and really could have cared less. She pulled up the files without asking for id.
"Well, he's still in the operating room, but should be out soon. He had some internal bleed and had lost a lot of blood. He had multiple lacerations, a few broken ribs, an extremely sprained wrist and ankle, and a broken arm. They are finishing up as we speak. He should be in a room in the ICU in about half an hour. They're worried about his concussion and he's flat lined one too many times. They want to make sure he hasn't got any brain damage, but all in all they think he should make a good recovery."
Eagle muttered a quick thank you before going back to Snake's room. They all turned to look at him as he entered, Snake and Wolf asking the same question. "How's Ben?"
"He's fine. Small concussion and a sprained wrist, but nothing really life threatening. He seems exhausted though." Eagle flopped into the chair near the door, limbs sprawled out awkwardly.
Snake nodded, taking the information in and filing it away I his mind. As medic of the team, he had past injuries of everyone filed away in his mind.
Wolf nodded. "So when he can he come visit? Can we go visit him?"
Eagle shook his head. "The doctors only want one at a time, he's still a little shook up from...everything."
They all nodded and everyone was quiet until Maria put her feet up on Snake's bed.
"Will you keep your feet off the bed!" He yelled as he pushed her feet off before she and Snake started laughing. "Eagle tell your little pet to keep her feet of the bed." He was whining again.
Eagle rolled his eyes while Maria took offence to being called a 'pet.'
"Listen here buddy! I'm not a pet, besides I'm not the one with an animal name!" She immediately shut up when Wolf gave her a glare only Cub could beat.
That was the only interesting thing to happen for the next hour. They sat in Snake's room, quietly chatting while the T.V. played a movie none of them had heard of. Maria fell asleep in her chair, her feet once again propped up on the bed.
The nurse from the desk came in an hour later, announcing that Cub had finally been moved to a room, but had yet to wake up. They were happy to learn, however, that John had woken up and Ben was currently visiting him.
Eagle got up, telling Snake he would be back later, Wolf had fallen asleep soon after giving up with Maria's feet and so Snake was left to watch T.V. in peace.
Eagle walked into John's room. The little boy was propped up in bed, animatedly talking to Ben about a T.V. show that was on. His blue eyes sparkled, his hair gave off a healthy shine, and his skin was pale but clean.
Ben laughed at something John said, listening contently, looking the closest to happy they had seen in weeks.
Eagle cleared his throat, earning the attention of both occupants of the room. They both visibly relaxed once they recognized who it was. They were all going to need a lot of therapy after this.
"Eagle!" John all but squealed, making both men chuckle. John jumped up, standing unsteadily on the bed, trying to get to Eagle. Ben held him back, keeping him from ripping out his IV. Eagle quickly walked over to the bed and once he was close enough John tackled him with a hug.
"Thank you! You saved us! You're like a superhero!"
Eagle laughed at John comparison, setting him back in the bed. A smile was still on his face as he suggested that John tries to get some more sleep.
"But I'm not tired." His answer was quickly followed by a yawn. His face reddened as he admitted defeat. "Okay, maybe I'm a little tired."
The older men chuckled. Ben pulled the blankets up around the child and turned the T.V. off as he stood to leave.
"Wait! Don't leave me!" John gripped at the blanket, eyes wide and terrified.
"It's okay. We're going to be right back. You're safe now, okay?" Eagle bent so he was eye level with John. It wasn't fair that such a young boy should be so scared in a place where he should feel safe.
John nodded and Eagle stood, ruffling a hand through the boy's hair.
"Do you want us to stay until you fall asleep?" Ben's voice was gentle.
John gave a soft nod, looking down at his blankets as if embarrassed.
Ben gently moved the boy over, sitting on the bed. John curled into his side with little hesitation.
"Want to hear a secret?" Ben whispered. Eagle moved back toward the door, turning the lights down to a more comfortable glow as he waited for Ben to work his child magic. He always seemed to have a way with children that the rest of the unit struggled with. Ben knew what the needed, Eagle guessed sometimes even before what the children themselves needed.
John nodded, face still buried in Ben's side.
"Sometimes I don't like falling asleep by myself either."
It seemed to have the desired effect, John giggled.
"But you're an adult. You're supposed to sleep by yourself."
Ben shook his head. "Sometimes, after something scary happens, it's hard to be by yourself. Just remember, that sometimes, even adults need help. It's not a bad thing, okay? So don't be afraid to ask."
John looked up, eyes droopy, but understanding.
"Okay." He said. Another yawn overtook him and John dropped his head back to the pillow.
The hospital was quiet. Eagle and Ben had found their way to a coffee station. Ben leaned against the counter, a large black coffee wrapped in his hands as Eagle dumped sugar and milk into his own cup.
"John's family should be here sometime tomorrow." Ben's voice was soft, and if the hallway had not been so quiet Eagle would have missed what Ben had said.
"Any idea as to why he was taken?" Eagle asked before taking a sip of his coffee, grimaced and then proceeded to dump more sugar into his cup. A nurse passed by, her pace brisk as she looked at the clipboard in her hand. She didn't even glance at them.
"Jones came in to talk to me earlier and I asked the same question. Turns out his father is an agent for MI6. He was undercover in Scorpia, trying to collect intel. They figured out he was a spy, they didn't know who for exactly, but..." He trailed off. He took a sip of his coffee before continuing. "If wasn't until after he was pulled out that Scorpia figured out he worked for MI6. A couple months later his dad went to pick him up from school. John wasn't there. Scorpia took him, planning on sending his father pictures, mentally and emotionally torturing the father while physically and mentally harming the child." Ben explained with a blank face. K-Unit called it the 'Spy Face.'
"So they took the kid as revenge? That's just messed up." Eagle shook his head, he hated spy politics.
"John's father quit MI6 and I think they plan on moving to the states. Start a new life." Ben watched as Eagle tried his coffee once again, and when there was no grimace, he pushed off the counter and started down the hallway. Eagle was quick to follow.
"Don't blame them," Eagle mumbled as they came to Snake's door. Maria's feet were propped up on the bed again, but it seemed Wolf had found something else to argue about.
"It obviously Ten! David Tennant was amazing! He was good-natured but stern when he needed to be. The new Doctor throws all worry out the window. He's pretty reckless if you ask me."
"How dare you insult Matt Smith! His Doctor makes things interesting, you never know what he's going to say. He is anything but reckless he's constantly worrying about his companions. Matt Smith portrays the Doctor beautifully, and his doctor brings an element of wonder that Tennant couldn't compete with."
"Sounds like Wolfs got a man crush," Ben said, making everyone burst out laughing. Wolf glared, throwing daggers with his eyes, which only pushed Ben to laugh harder.
When they finally calmed, smiles on their face and Wolf in the corner pouting, Snake took the opportunity to burst the bubble of happiness.
"Alex is out of surgery. He's going to make it, but the doctors have him in the ICU and he's going to be here for a while. He's still asleep, but he is allowed to have one visitor at a time."
Ben stared at Snake, "How long have you known this?"
"We only just found out before you guys walked in." The room had gone quiet the mood immediately diminishing.
After a few minutes, Eagle spoke for everyone. "Go ahead Ben. We'll all be here when you get back." Eagle gave him a gentle smile all but pushing him out of the door.
The halls were quiet and the only sound he heard was his own footsteps. Slowly turning the corner, he found his destination. Room 415 was tucked away in a corner, hidden by shadows. The blank white door was closed and a small window allowed almost anyone to look into the room. A curtain was hung around the bed, keeping the patient hidden.
The door was silent as Ben opened it. Ben couldn't help but think of how alike the room was to its patient. Quiet, hidden in plain view but still hard to find. It was almost funny.
Any hilarity the situation held before was gone as soon as he saw the small body on the bed. No child should be covered in the many bandages; no child should have to be hooked to that many machines.
The heart monitor showed his heart beat as normal, a mask covered his face helping him to breathe. A brace held his wrist still and bandages snaked around his chest, covering the many cuts hidden underneath. Needles were stuck in his arm, IV and morphine being pumped into his system, keeping the pain at bay, and giving his body some much need nutrients.
The problem was that as soon as he woke he would still be in pain. MI6 didn't want him to become addicted to anything and so the pain medication wasn't as high as it should have been.
Even in sleep Ben could tell he was in pain, a grimace was firmly planted on his face.
As the anesthesia wore off Ben could see nightmares start to plague him. Small groans of pain and movements of defense gave him away. The signs were small, barely noticeable, but Ben knew the nightmare was the opposite. Alex was a spy. Any spy knew how to sleep with little movement or sound. Ben hated that Alex knew the same things any good spy knew. He should have to know those things. Ben grasped the hand that was not wrapped in a brace. Maybe if he knew that someone was there for him it would help. Alex might not think he deserves help, but Ben was going to be there to give it to him anyways.
A/N: Quick note. I was too lazy to look it over myself so I just threw it into one of many online grammar/spelling checkers. So I apologize for any errors. Feel free to let me know if you find something that need to be fixed. Thank you!