Chapter 2: Back to the Clinic

Rudy's shout still hung in the air as he stared in disbelief at the guard, holding the recently fired gun. The rest of their captors rushed in behind him, as Rudy numbly ran to Steve's side.

"Steve!?" Rudy's eyes poured over the younger man, until he saw the source of the blood. The bullet, hastily fired, had entered the side of Steve's left shoulder. It had not exited. Blood seeped through the thin blanket that was laid over Steve's torso.

Moving quickly, Rudy unbuckled the straps that restrained his friend and peeled the blanket from the battered bare chest. Rudy's heart broke as he took in the black and blue bruises that littered Steve's arm and chest now sporting red stripes from the tight bonds. The hastily crafted bandages to hold Steve's ribs had nearly fallen off in his squirming. Seeing no more available material, Rudy decided to chance Steve's ribs and use the bandages to stop the bleeding. He quickly worked to strap the arm down tight enough to cut off the blood.

While Rudy worked, Alfredo angrily turned to the guard with the gun. "YOU IDIOT! Now, you've really done it! Why couldn't you have just shot the phone out! Now he'll probably bleed out…I should just end this now…" Tucelli angrily pulled a gun from his coat.

Rudy leaped in between the whimpering cyborg and the fuming villain. "NO! I will not let you kill him! Look Tucelli! We can make a deal! You allow me to try and stabilize Steve! He can still be of use to you!" Rudy pleaded, "I can make him well, and then he will do as I say… and I'll tell him to do whatever you want…."

"Hm….Another interesting proposal, Dr. Wells…we'll compromise….I'll give you exactly 2 hours. If there is visible improvement by then, I'll let him live…for now…If not? Then… Let's just say I'll put him out of his misery..."

Rudy glared at Tucelli, but went to work tending Steve's wounds. Inwardly, he was grateful honestly knew it made no difference. This deep in Phase 3, Steve didn't have 2 hours.

END OF CHAPTER 2