So Close, Tough Watching, Now Eddie & Good Lord Landry Help!

Cross Country Skiing on Access Road to General Store

Scott was freezing. It felt like the temperature had dropped even further. It was most likely the wind chill since the wind had picked up even more. He had revised his timetable once again. He had been out here for nearly five hours. That meant he was going only three miles an hour. Sad. Really Sad. He thought he would be able to move faster.

Seeing a sign ahead he breathed a sigh of relief. He was almost there. Almost to the general store. Scott jammed his ski pole down and pushed forward harder. The pole snapped in two.

Scott's momentum propelled him forward and he fell. That would not be so bad except as he fell the part of the pole he was holding shifted in his hand and it skewered him as he hit the ground. It went in deep, embedding itself in his thigh.

His screams of pain were swallowed by the wind. Scott rolled to his back and laid panting in the snow with the pole firmly lodged in his thigh. The brilliant white snow around his leg slowly started turning bright crimson.

Scott screamed at the unfairness of it all and due to the pain. So close. So very close. He had to get back to Sam. So close, was his last thought as blackness edged in and Scott lost his battle to remain conscious.

Remote Mountain Cabin – Main Room

Spike got purchase under Sam's hand and pried them away. He was gulping in air as Sam fell into unconsciousness again. The only thought Spike had was thank god. In reality the only way he was able to remove Sam's hands was because he became unconscious. If Sam had remained conscious just a little longer Spike knew he would have lost the battle with consciousness himself.

He backed away from his friend. Concern etched his face. What did Sam see to make him attack? It had to be horrible for Sam to want to kill. Spike rocked back on his heels as he lightly rubbed his abused neck.

Shit, Sam was gonna beat himself up over hurting him. Spike knew it was not on purpose but something like this would surely haunt Sam. Truth it would haunt Spike too.

He had taken Patch's, rather Jim's, warning seriously that Sam could kill quickly even when seemingly incapacitated. But this? This was proof. Solid, painful proof of Sam's ability.

Spike didn't want it too but it made him a bit leery of getting too close to Sam. He wondered if he should try to restrain Sam in some way. No. No. That would not do. Sam might understand why he did it. Hell what was he saying, Sam would understand why he did it. But he just could not bring himself to do that to Sam. He would just have to be more on the ball.

As Spike packed more snow around Sam, keeping a cautious eye out, he began to wonder if Scott was on his way back yet. Did he even make it to the general store?

Once he was done packing the snow around him he wrung out the cloth again and put it over Sam's forehead. He took another cloth as wrapped some snow in it. Then he held it to his own throat. Spike knew he needed to prevent any possible swelling.

He stood and walked to the kitchen after checking the thermometer. The temperature had to be record shattering. It had dropped another five degrees and the wind had increased by ten miles an hour. Spike poured himself some cool water and sat heavily in one of the kitchen chairs.

Spike took a sip as he thought this is the ski trip from hell. Then a bubble of strained laughter escaped his throat. Hell? No hell would be hot. All this snow would melt in seconds if they were in hell. He swallowed hard as the vibration on his vocal chords irritated his throat a bit.

Holding the ice cloth to his neck Spike was glad he did not bruise easily. If there was no physical evidence of Sam choking him then he could simply ignore it. If Sam asked him about it, which he doubted he would, he could simply deny it. Spike could tell Sam that he must have been dreaming or hallucinating.

Spike would not hurt Sam with the knowledge that he nearly choked him out. Sam did not need guilt like that. Particularly knowing that Sam was going to feel guilty enough over Scott going out in this storm. Sam hadn't wanted Scott to go.

His thoughts returned to Scott. Spike hoped Scott made to the general store and was able to call for help. He didn't know how much more Sam could take. Sam needed a hospital and more care than he could give him.

Standing and going back to the main room Spike blew out a frustrated and worried breath. It was tough watching someone you cared for suffer and not be able to really do anything to help. He headed back to Sam and rinsed and wrung out the cloth again as he prayed for both Sam and Scott and for him too.

Greg's Home

Greg handed Ed and Wordy each a cup of steaming coffee "Thanks for the help today."

Ed grinned "No problem."

Wordy sat down on one of the new chairs for Greg's new table "Always happy to help. Just wish it wasn't snowing." He blew on the coffee and took a sip. "So what exactly happened to your old table?"

Greg smiled "The leg finally gave out. Been duct taping it for years but it finally gave up the ghost last night."

Ed smirked "Bout time you got a decent table. Next get together can be here. We can dine in style."

Wordy laughed "Won't stay nice too long if my girls get their sticky fingers all over it. Think we should stick with the parties at yours or my house for now. Let Greg enjoy his new table a bit." Then he changed the subject and asked "Wonder how Spike's and Sam's ski trip is going?"

Ed shook his head "Jules called yesterday. I doubt they are getting in any skiing with that storm. Might just have to run those two a bit more to get them back into shape after four days of sitting by a fire and doing nothing but eating."

Wordy's eyes grew concerned "That's right they are where that storm of the century is dumping all that snow. Hope they have enough provisions to wait it out."

Ed laughed "Spike's Ma supplied them. They'd have enough for two weeks."

Wordy grinned "Her portions are enough to feed an Army. You're right. They won't be running out of food."

Taking a sip of coffee Greg began thinking. He had been watching the weather reports after Jules called yesterday. He said "It's likely they will be snowed in longer and not make it back for shift on Thursday. We might need to see if the guys covering for them tomorrow and Wednesday will able to cover a few more days for them. If not Holleran will need to find us a few to cover or we will be off hot calls."

Ed grinned "One good thing with no skiing is that Sam's leg is gonna get a good rest." He rubbed his hands and smiled evilly "When they do make it back I've got a few things in mind to get them back in shape fast."

Greg chuckled "Now Eddie. It's not their fault they are snowed in."

"No but it's my job to keep the team in tip top shape. I take my job seriously. They're gonna need my drills after days of pigging out on Spike's Ma's food" Ed said with humor.

Wordy chuckled "Glad I'm not Spike or Sam right about now. Your drills can be tough. What do you have planned for them?"

Ed began to tell them what his drills would be. The conversation then turned to other things and after another hour both Wordy and Ed headed home.

Cross Country Skiing on Access Road to General Store

Scott had no idea how long he laid there. However he found it was long enough that the blood that seeped out of his leg had frozen. That can't be good he thought as he sat up. He felt the pain which was a good thing. He had not frozen to death himself.

Carefully he stood using his other pole for leverage. He didn't dare pull out the pole from his thigh. He managed to clip both his boots back into his skis and pulled the partial pole from the snow.

It hurt like hell but he managed to get a limpy-like rhythm going and moving forward towards the general store. He was so close but it seemed like hundreds of miles as agony rippled through his leg with every glide forward. Fresh blood started to flow.

After what felt like an eternity but was more like fifteen minutes he was pounding on the door of the general store. Luckily it was on the opposite side of the blowing snow and had not drifted like the door at the cabin.

General Store

Landry Craig was startled when there was pounding on his door. Who in the world would be out in this mess? Maybe it was the ski patrol from the lodge checking to see if he was okay.

He grabbed his cane and slowly rose from his chair. His old bones did not move so fast anymore. The cold weather was murder on his joints but he could not bring himself to move to someplace warmer. This store was home. He and Maisie had fifty six good years in this place and he expected they would have many more.

Maisie Craig wandered down the stairs "Landry what is all that ruckus. You trying to wake the dead with all that loud pounding?"

"It ain't me Maisie. Some fool is out in this weather. I'm heading to the door" Landry replied.

Maisie looked at her husband. She loved the old coot but his knees were not what they used to be. He hated to be coddled so she humphed then said "Well they will freeze to death before you get there. I'll go get the door you sit."

Landry looked to his spry wife. She still had the energy of a thirty year old even though she was in her mid-seventies. She never seemed to run low. He smiled "Yes Ma'am."

Maisie shook her head and started for the door. She grabbed her coat and slipped into it on her way. As she opened the door a blast of frigid air blew in along with snow and a near frozen man.

Scott stumbled into the store his skis still attached. He clutched a shelf to keep himself from falling as he unclipped his boots. He took five steps in then fell to his knees. He was shivering from cold and pain. He had very little left in reserve.

An old lady swam into his view and Scott mumbled "Phone. Need help." His eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed to the floor.

As soon as the man moved into the store Maisie closed the door. She saw the pole sticking out of his thigh as he fell to his knees. Maisie yelled "Landry! Good lord, Landry help!"

Landry shuffled as fast as he could to Maisie. He stared in shock a few moments then he said "Maisie get my kit. Quick please."

Knees creaking as he lowed himself down Landry laid his cane next to him. Then he reached out and pulled off the goggles and the full face mask. At least this poor man was equipped properly to be out in this weather.

He took the man's pulse. Strong but a little too fast. He lifted his eyelids and checked his pupils. No head trauma it appeared at first inspection. That was good. Landry's gaze moved to the pole sticking out of the man's leg. That was a problem. He'd have to cut away the material to determine just how big of one it was.

Maisie came back with Landry's black bag. She gasped when she saw his face "I know him. He is a lot older now. Used to come here a lot with Wilson when he was a teen. Now what was his name?"

Landry said "Name's not important right now Maisie. Get the roller. We need to move him away from the door and into better light if I'm gonna be able to see to his wound."

The two septuagenarians worked together to roll the man onto the flat board with four wheels they used to move heavier items around with. Once on the board Landry worked his way up to his feet again as every joint creaked. With his cane in one hand and the rope attached to the board in the other Landry started to pull the man towards their home attached at the back of the store.

"Maisie get several blankets and pillows then start some broth. Only warm not steaming hot. Also get some water boiling and grab me several packets of sterile gauze" Landry instructed. Maisie set off to get those items after she set his black bag on the floor near their sofa.

Scott came to as he was being pulled. It was disorientating. He blinked several times trying to make sense of it. His eyes focused and he saw an old man using a cane and pulling a rope. The old man was pulling him. How?

Then his mind registered he was on a board and he heard the squeak of the wheels. The pain shot through his leg and he groaned.

Landry turned at the groan "Hold still young fella. Getting you to a place I can take a proper look at that pole sticking out of your leg." He stopped near his sofa.

Maisie came with the blankets and saw that the man was awake "Landry sofa or floor?"

Landry looked at the man and asked "You think you can move to the sofa? I don't have the strength to lift you. If not we can put you on the floor. Easier for me if you can manage the sofa though."

Scott blinked several times taking in the old man and old woman. Softly he said "Sofa."

Maisie quickly laid out a piece of plastic on the sofa and the blankets over it. She placed the pillows on one end "Okay ready when you are."

Scott slowly sat up. He was a bit dizzy.

Maisie moved forward "Let me help with the jacket and gloves first to keep the blankets from getting too wet. Nothing more uncomfortable than lying on cold wet blankets." Then she removed his gloves, unzipped Scott's jacket and helped him shrug out of it.

Both Maisie and Landry were glad to see no signs of frostbite on the young man's fingers. He was truly outfitted for artic-like weather.

As Scott started to pull his uninjured leg back to move to the sofa Landry instructed "Take it slow." Then he handed Scott his cane as he lowered himself to the table near the sofa. "Here use this to help you. If I were in my prime I would've been able to lift you myself. Getting old sucks."

Scott took the cane and used it to help push himself up enough so he sat on the edge of the sofa. Pain rippled through him and he hissed and groaned with the slightest movement. Stars danced in his head and blackness threatened to take him back to the place with no pain.

Once he was on the edge Maisie stepped forward again and helped him position on the sofa and lay back on the pillows without jarring the pole. Then she covered him with several warm blankets avoiding the pole.

Taking his cane back Landry stood and asked "Maisie can you bring me the rolling chair please."

Maisie was off like a shot again and back in moments pushing a rolling chair. Landry lowered himself into the chair and set his cane aside. Without being asked Maisie moved the table closer and put Landry's black bag on it then switched on all the lights making the room blazing bright. Then she was out of the room again returning with a large bowl and two mugs.

She set the bowl on the table along with the mugs then was out of the room again. She came back this time with a large steaming pot and a bag full of sterile gauze packages.

Scott watched all this activity slightly disjointed as fatigue washed over him.

Landry was watching the young man closely. He was clearly in pain and exhausted. There were signs of shock too. Luckily no signs of hypothermia though. It was a wonder in this weather.

Taking up one of the mugs Landry held it out to the man "I'm Landry Craig and this is my wife Maisie we own the general store. Looks like you've gone and got yourself right hurt."

Scott gratefully took the mug and sipped the warm broth. In a shaky voice Scott asked "Do you have a phone? I need to get help."

Landry half smiled "Phone is down. Power too but we have our own generator. You are a lucky young fella. Help is already here. Maisie has always run the store. When I retired I started helping her. But before I retired I was a general surgeon. We need to see what damage this pole did."

"Do you have any way to contact emergency personnel?" Scott asked urgently.

Maisie shook her head "Sorry no. We used to have an old CB radio but it quit working several years ago and we never replaced it."

Scott laid back and his fists clenched in frustration as he thought no, no this can't be happening. His face screwed up in pain both from the physical wound and from the pain in his heart knowing Sam's life depended on getting him help quickly and that was not happening now. Softly he cried "Shit."

Landry looked at him "I'll have you set to rights son in no time. No need to worry. I may be old but I still know what I'm doing and have everything I need right here. Don't you fret."

Maisie had been staring at the upset young man when the name popped into her head "Sam. You are Sam Braddock. I'd know that blonde hair and those blues eyes anywhere. You and Wilson used to come in here all the time when you were just a teen. You always stayed at old Emmett's place."

Scott was surprised Maisie knew Sam back then. He turned and looked Maisie in the eyes "Sorry Ma'am I'm not Sam. I'm his cousin Scott Braddock. We look a lot alike. Our mothers are twins and they married brothers."

Switching his gaze to Landry he added "My cousin, Sam, needs help badly. He has an infected cut on his leg, has a very high fever and I believe sepsis has set in. I need to get him help or he is going to die."

Maisie's face fell and she looked to Landry "What can we do Landry?"

Taking a deep breath he said "First I take care of you Scott. Then we can see if there is anything we can do for Sam."

Scott asked "You wouldn't happen to have a snowmobile? If I can make it to the lodge I'm sure they will have a way to get emergency help."

Landry shook his head "In your condition you can't be going back out in the storm."

Scott remembered the general store sold skis and poles. He firmly stated "I am going with or without your help. I'll buy a new pole and be on my way. I cannot let my cousin die."

Maisie put a hand on the agitated man's shoulder. She said in a soft, kind voice "We will help. Let Landry take care of your wound first. Then we will outfit you in new outerwear since this is damaged. The snowmobile is in the shed out back and fully gassed up."

Scott relaxed at the kind words of support. A snowmobile would get him to the lodge quickly.

Landry shook his head slightly "As Maisie says we will help. It is against my better judgement to let you head back out into the storm but I understand your need. This is going to be painful. I have some morphine. Are you allergic or have bad reactions to taking morphine?"

Scott shook his head "No I don't but Sam sure does."

Landry chuckled "Hallucinations?"

"Yeah big time. His system is sensitive to antibiotics too" Scott shared.

Landry set to work after giving Scott only a little morphine to take the edge off but not enough that would hinder him riding the snowmobile.

Scott was glad he had not drank much of the broth because when the pole was removed his stomach revolted and he ended up spewing the half-digested trail mix he had eaten in the SUV into the bowl Maisie had brought out. Scott realized she was prepared for this. He vaguely wondered how often she assisted Landry.

Maisie wiped the beads of sweat off Scott's brow and held his hand as Landry worked. She thought that Scott was a brave man. He held very still as Landry disinfected the wound then stitched it closed. He clenched his jaw and only a few groans escaped.

She kept up a flow of conversation with Scott to distract him from the procedure. She learned that he and Sam and their friend Spike were staying in Emmett Haley's cabin that he rented out for ski season. Emmett lived there until the weather got cold each year then traveled to his winter home in New Mexico.

Landry listened as Scott told Maisie about Sam's wound. To his mind infection like that would not set in by missing one or two doses. Something else was afoot.

Finishing wrapping the gauze around Scott's thigh to hold the bandage in place Landry said "You say he only missed three doses of antibiotic?"

Scott nodded but then added "Well he's missed this morning's dose too. So that makes four. Why?"

Landry said "You said he is sensitive to antibiotics. What did you mean?"

The light went on in Scott's mind as he said softly "Oh shit." He looked at the old surgeon "Some work. Some don't."

Taking in that information Landry said "Could be Sam was given one that doesn't work. Or his wound was infected with bacteria that is resistant to the antibiotic he was given. Do you know where he got the gash?"

Scott answered "He slipped and hit his shin on the corner of a wall in the SRU locker room near the showers."

Landry whistled "Bathrooms and locker rooms harbor many nasty buggers like staph bacteria. When you get to the lodge you need to tell the responders that they might be dealing with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus. MRSA as the general public knows it."

"Really? MRSA?" Scott asked stunned.

Nodding Landry said "From what you described and not seeing it first-hand that would be my best guess. They need to be prepared. Now I want you to eat something and rest a half hour. Then we will help you get going."

Scott shook his head "No I need to go now" as he tried to rise from the pillow.

Maisie pushed him back down and said in a stern grandmotherly voice "And just how do you propose to help your cousin if you die before you get there? You are still shocky and need something warm in your stomach before you set out again." With that she turned and headed out of the room.

Landry chuckled "Better listen to Maisie. She's got a cast iron will and if you don't listen she's also got a cast iron pan. Wouldn't be surprised if she whacked you upside the head with it to get you to rest a moment and eat."

Scott sighed. He could see reason even though he didn't want to. He needed to recoup some energy or even with the snowmobile he would likely pass out on the way. Scott took a drink of the broth after Landry handed him the mug. "Okay but I'm on my way in no more than forty-five minutes. That's as long as I'm willing to wait."

Landry nodded and set about cleaning up the area after performing minor surgery. He would have liked to start Scott on antibiotics but he had none on hand.

When Maisie came back in she had a plate with a large portion of meatloaf, mashed potatoes with gravy and green beans. Scott's stomach roared. Maisie smiled a smile that said 'see I told you that you needed something to eat'. But she remained quiet as she laid the plate in his lap and handed him a fork and knife.

After eating Maisie brought over replacement gear for him and Scott redressed. It was a little embarrassing dressing in front of Maisie because he needed the help to stand. She rewarmed the broth in the thermos Spike gave him. He drank several bottles of water and two cups of coffee.

Exactly forty-five minutes later he was on his way. He had thanked them profusely for all their help. Scott knew that both he and Sam would have died if they were not there to help. Scott promised to let them know how things turned out.