A/N: I apologize for the long wait. School work has had me very busy.
About an hour later, we arrived at the Thornboy residence. I looked to Dave. "Is this where Throttle grew up?"
"How did you figure that?"
"I can see pictures of him as a child up on the walls. I hope he didn't do anything to Throttle. I will kill him right then and there if he did."
"As soon as you get done in there, give me the signal and I'll help you get Throttle out of there."
I nodded my head and carefully snuck in there and up behind Tredz. I wrapped my arms around his neck in a choke hold and squeezed until he passed out. They don't call it a sleeper hold for nothing. I put the bastard to sleep. I put my finger up to my left ear and pressed. "All clear, Dave. Tredz won't be out for long, though. Let's make this quick."
"Understood. Coming in now."
Throttle couldn't believe what he was seeing. "I must be dreaming. You can't really be here."
"Pinch me and find out, hot stuff."
He pinched me and it hurt. "It is really you! I am so happy to see you, babe." He hugged me tightly. I hugged him back just as tightly.
Dave and Mitch both came in and searched the place to make sure no one else was there.
They came back into the living room. "All clear. Let's get him out of here and back to Earth."
All 4 of us had just made it out the door when Tredz woke up and noticed us just leaving. He grabbed his weapon and started shooting at us. Throttle's bike was only a mile away from us and came in, guns blazing. Throttle smiled. "That's my bike."
It was a perfect diversion for us to get the fuck out of there. I was happy that I was bringing Throttle home. Tredz isn't going to take him from me again. Not unless he wants to die at my hands.
I was the last one to almost get out of sight until I felt something hit me. I fell to my hands and knees. Throttle, Dave and Mitch were about 40 yards away from me when Throttle stopped and looked behind him. He saw blood pooling under me. He ran back to me and picked me up. He carried me in a bridal style all the way to the ship. Morgan, Modo and Vinnie were waiting for us there.
"Get her in the ship and quick! We need to stop the bleeding and quick otherwise her and the baby will die."
Throttle laid me down and walked back out of the ship. He whistled for his bike. Vinnie had noticed the look in Throttle's eyes when he had laid me down. He went after Throttle on his own bike.
"Throttle, don't do it, bro."
"Stay out of it, Vincent. Go back and help Morgan and Modo. This is my fight."
"I'm not going to let you get yourself killed, bro. What would Michelle say?"
Throttle stopped his bike and sighed. "She'd want me to stay by her side."
He looked at Vinnie with such sadness and hatred in his eyes. Hatred for what his father had done. Sadness for me if I lose the baby and my life.
"Then let's go back to the ship. She needs your strength to keep going. I'll take care of Tredz. He won't be expecting me to take him on."
"I can't let you do that, Vinnie. Harley would never forgive me if I came back with bad news of your death. It would crush her. It would also crush Charley."
"You're right. I can't do that to Harley. She's pregnant. I could never leave her to raise our baby alone."
"Its nice to see you thinking with a level head for a change. I hope they'll be able to get her stable enough to get her back to Earth and to the hospital. I refuse to lose her and the baby."
They turned around and headed back to the ship to see if they got Michelle stable enough to get her back to Earth and to the hospital.
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Inside the ship. Both Modo and Morgan had finally gotten Michelle stable just as Vinnie and Throttle had rode in.
Throttle got off his bike and walked over to them. "How is she, guys?"
"We have her stable enough to get her back to Earth and to a hospital. She may or may not lose the baby. Only the Drs. will know that answer. Let's get her back and fast."
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Back on Earth. Morgan had engaged the hyperdrive on the ship and got back in less than a day. They rushed Michelle to the hospital as fast as they could. They were all hoping that they wouldn't get her there before it was too late.
Modo had noticed the worried look on Throttle's face. He understood why Throttle was worried. That was his new family that was on the way to the hospital.
They got to the hospital in under an hour. Throttle got out of the back of the pickup, handed Michelle over to Modo after he had gotten out from the driver side. Once Throttle was out of the truck, Modo handed Michelle over and Throttle ran into the hospital as fast as he could.
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An hour and a half after Throttle brought Michelle in, the nurses hooked her up to IV's then the Dr. came over to see what the damage was on her body. Throttle told the Dr. that she had been shot in the back.
The Dr. carefully rolled her over and saw the gunshot wound. He also noticed that she is pregnant. He looked at Throttle. "How far along is she?"
"She's about 6-7 months pregnant. My friends managed to stabilize her enough to get her here. We had some business on Mars when she was shot. Please help her, doc. I can't lose her and our baby."
"I give you my word. We will do everything we can for her. We may have to shave her back in order to get the bullet out and see what kind of damage was done inside."
"She was shot with a laser gun. Martian tech is more advanced than Earth tech."
"Thank you for letting me know. I wouldn't want the surgeon to tell me that there was no bullet to extract when I know there isn't one now. If you'll excuse me, I'll see if the operating room is available."
Throttle nodded, then grabbed a chair. He sat down next to her and grabbed her hand. He held it tight in his. He started crying at the thought of losing her and the baby. He knew he'd be lost without both of them. He also knew he had to be strong for her, no matter the cost.
The Dr. came back and told Throttle that they are getting to bring her to the operating room to see if any damage has been done and if the baby is ok, as well.
Some of the nurses from the operating room came to get Michelle and wheel her there. Throttle went with them as far as he could. Once they reached the operating room double doors, they couldn't let him through. He watched them take her around the corner. That was the last time he would see her until the surgeon comes out with news.
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A few hours later, Morgan, Vinnie and Modo all came in to sit with Throttle. They had gone to get cleaned up, and see their girls before coming to the hospital. Throttle was very grateful to have such great friends by his side.
While they were waiting for the surgeon to come out with news concerning Michelle, Throttle decided he would go to the cafeteria to get something to eat. He was starving.
He picked some eggs, toast, bacon and a cup of coffee, paid for it, then went and sat down to eat.
"Is this seat taken?"
Throttle looked up and saw Charley standing next to him. "Have a seat, Charley-girl. Does Modo know you're here?"
"Nope. All 3 guys are fast asleep in the waiting room. I didn't want to wake them. We were told that you're here. I figured that you would be here in the cafeteria, getting something to eat. The Dr. came out before I came in here. I told him you were probably getting something to eat. He wants to talk to you as soon as you're done eating."
"Thanks Charley. I know you and Michelle have been friends for a long time, so this is gotta be hard on you like it is on me."
"We've been friends for as long as she's been out of the Marines. 20+ years and yeah, it is hard on me. I know she was adamant about going after you, but I didn't think it was a good idea cause she was pregnant. Wish I had tried harder to get her to stay behind while they went to get you."
"Its not your fault, Charley. She's a determined woman. When she sets her mind to something, there's no stopping her. I learned that early on in our relationship. I just want her and the baby to be alive."
He had just finished his bacon and egg sandwich and his coffee, then turned in the plate. Both Charley and Throttle headed back out to the waiting room to see the Dr.
The Dr. had been at the secretary's desk. Throttle walked up to the Dr. and asked how Michelle was.
"She made it through surgery. Nothing major was damaged and the baby is still alive. She's been wheeled into the ICU. Would you like to go see her?"
"Yes please. I'm so happy that they're both alive. I feel so relieved."
"I think she will be too."
"That and more. She's going to be pissed cause she was shot."
"Have the police been called about the shooting?"
"No, cause the shooting happened on Mars. If the shooter decides to come back here, then I will call the police and have him arrested. I'm hoping he don't."