Spike was staring through the window and edging closer and closer to the door, he wanted to try anything to get me out of the danger I was in – he would do anything to help me survive.
I started to hyperventilate again, dragging as much oxygen into my system to give me a chance in the water; it was going to hurt like a bitch since the heating was off, props were in the water and it wasn't a controlled landing.
Spike's breathing was heavy and he wanted back in there, his friends were watching the door and him, looking for any signs of a plan.
I closed my eyes and started on a final round of rosary prayers.
'Hail Mary full of grace…'
People looked at Spike; he looked up at Parker and made towards the door, only being blocked by two of the other team members.
"Don't even think it Spike, I am not endangering either of you!" Troy hissed.
Spike looked at him and clenched his jaw and fist.
The explosion ripped through the upper level of the roof and took out part of the glass wall, I had dived sideways milliseconds before hand and was thrown about before landing sideways in the pool; my head snapped on the solid water and I was out cold.
Spike screamed and tore at the door as the explosion happened, his team tried to hold him back as the fireball sent shards of debris around the pool; he fought them and ran into the room to find the roof a smouldering ruin over the pool and a huge hole in the wall. The smoke was still too heavy and the others had come into the room with flashlights and the first aid unit; they looked up the boards for me but I was not visible and within seconds someone shouted that I was in the water lying on the raised props. Two people jumped into the water and rushed over to the apparatus, they checked my spine and dragged me off the props and started swimming over to the poolside again.
"She's not breathing – get the oxygen ready!" Ross shouted.
I was pulled out of the water and laid flat against the floor, they started CPR and Parker held Spike back who was fighting to get to me but in a trance – he kept on saying 'not again….please not again!'
I opened my eyes and started coughing badly before I threw up all the water I had swallowed, I was turned on my side and an oxygen mask was put across my face as they checked my vital signs. I was shivering after the whole event and getting nearly blown up and drowned – that was the part that sucked. I heard the different sirens in the background and felt someone kneel beside me and wrap a blanket over me; fingers stroked my head and I looked up at Spike who was wiping away tears. I fought to right myself and I managed to kneel up and grab his face with my hands before he freaked out.
"I am here, I am safe!" I whispered to him.
His face was ashen pale and he was going to have a panic attack if he didn't calm down, I pulled him close into a cuddle and whispered what I would do to him later on, I felt the shake of laughter go through him and I laughed at his reply. Everyone was looking at us and I pulled away to stand up, several hands trying to keep me on the floor. I shoved them off and staggered off to the nearest bin and threw up violently – mostly just the water that I had swallowed but the gas had given me a fierce headache. I stumbled down the corridor with at least three people following me and Parker found me on the floor holding a pillow to my face; he pried it away from me to find me half laughing and half crying into it and saw the blood coming from the numerous cuts across my forehead – he wasn't happy. He grabbed my face and looked me straight in the eye, daring me to tell a lie.
"Mackenzie Fraser you are insane! You're picking up too many bad habits from everyone and trying to play the sacrifice – what were you thinking?" he hissed at me.
I looked at him slightly unfocused and grinned; my whole forehead was shredded on one side and my blood was running down my face due to a cut that was pretty deep. I didn't feel well!
"I love this job boss and I am going to be sick again – think I have a concussion from hitting the water – can you move or you're going to be thrown up on!"
He just dodged the mess.
EMT's run into the room and checked me over; I was ordered to the hospital and stretchered out as a precaution in case I had internal injuries; I found myself to be just tired and a little sore, but the doctors in the ER would not release me until the results came back. No concussion but several stitches later and a prescription for painkillers I was released with orders to come back if my headache worsened or my eyes blurred. Parker drove the SUV with Spike and me in the back cuddled up – he wouldn't leave my side and I was dosing off, the gas had caused me to get 'brain drunk' – basically I was wasted and it would take a few hours to come out my system. He parked up outside our house at 10pm with orders to phone him in the morning when we woke up and to give him updates. I goofily waved him off and was carried into the house by Spike and taken up to the bathroom for a hot shower. He just turned the taps on and helped me stand up under the water, bringing my temperature up slowly so I wouldn't catch a cold.
"Hey babe – that sucked!" I whispered seeing the bruises down my flank.
Spike was tight lipped as he stripped me and himself, he was still in his gear and was frozen cold himself; I cuddled into him and felt him shake. I looked up into his face and saw he was crying.
"Spike, this is not your fault and it did not end in the same way as when you lost Lou – I will be fine in a few days, it's only a few bruises!" I whispered.
He cried as he pulled me to the floor and all I could do was comfort him as he got his emotions out into the open and the stress left him.
I woke up with Spike still on top of me and out for the count, he had fallen asleep after the adrenaline rush and I was out cold with him, I stretched my muscles and winced as Spike pulled out of me suddenly and rolled onto his side; he was still out cold and was still rock solid even after the marathon session. I got out of bed gingerly and headed for another shower – getting changed I headed downstairs and looked into the mirror in the hallway. I had bruises across my flank, more than what I came home with; stitches in my forehead and a lump across it the size of a prune. I sighed and headed to the kitchen for a hot cup of tea and some toast; it was only 9am and I was wide awake after months of being awake at a moment's notice. I took a couple of painkillers and sat down on the couch with my breakfast and watched the news for a while; I knew with the drama of last night and the emotional fall out for Spike, he would be out for a good couple of hours yet. The doorbell went and I hobbled over to answer it – it was Wordy and Ed.
"What the hell are you doing up so early?" they both said.
"Headache and hungry – want me to wake Spike up?" I replied.
I was forced back onto the couch and a blanket thrown across me to keep me warm; both of them felt the cold in my skin when they hugged me at the door. I snuggled up and laughed as I heard Spike snore upstairs, he was out cold.
"How do you feel this morning?" Wordy asked.
"Like crap, I now officially have a beef with Propelling Charges." I replied.
"The SIU discovered a tracer unit on the wreckage – its military issue, part of a stolen container meant to be shipped to Afghanistan. Military have been made aware of the personal attack and other details relevant – some of your squad are coming with you tomorrow for your interview – consider them a personal bodyguard unit." Ed replied.
I heard footsteps coming down the stairs and shouted up to Spike that we had company; he came down quicker and saw us sitting on the couch talking over cups of tea. I got up and kissed him on the cheek while walking to make him some breakfast so he could get comfortable and talk to them both. They knew he was emotional and felt the loss of Lou last night when the explosion happened, he needed to get those emotions out – which to be honest he did – that explains the limping! I came back to the living room and handed him a plate of toast and refilled everyone's tea as I got comfortable again.