1 HOUR EARLIER.
The team saw the utter devastation on Eddie's face as he and Steve spoke to the doctor, they saw Steve and the doctor make a grab for him and Steve keeping a steadying arm on the man, and fear shot through them all.
What could the doctor have said that caused such a strong reaction in such a normally stoic man.
The doctor spoke to the two men a few more minutes before a nurse led Eddie towards one of the rooms, presumably where Buck was resting.
They watched as Steve ran his hand over his face and over the back of his neck for a moment and closed his eyes, suddenly he looked so jaded and weary, like an almost unbearable weight has settled on his shoulders.
"What the hell did that doctor tell them?" Red muttered what they were all thinking.
A sniff caught their attention, turning they saw Chim, who had been quiet the whole time, trembling as a solitary tear slid down his cheek, his face ashen.
"Howie? What's wrong? Are you hurt?" Maddie asked as she tightend her grip on his hand.
"No Mads. I'm not hurt. A few bruises here and there will heal. Your sister protected me. I guess it's all catching up to me now that it's over, what could have happened to us."
Chim said, for once clamping his lips on what happened in that cell. It wasn't his story to share and he'll be damned if he betrayed Buck like that. Enough of her choices had been ripped from her. He won't contribute to it too.
Steve came over then, "Viper is going to make it. She lost some blood due to the liver perforation and the bullet wounds. Though they were clean, through and through, so, no nerve damage, thank God for that," Steve muttered to himself, "But she will have lots of bruises to content with. Given time and rest, she will heal." Steve finished as he sat down, making eye contact with Chim, who met his gaze with solid determination, as he read Steve's silent request(command) to honor Buck by being quiet about what happened until Buck was ready.
Chim gave a small nod in acceptance. He would protect Buck now, like she had protected him. He owed her that much.
"So Chief will be fine, right?" Hammer asked with a suspicous look on his face as he clocked the exchange between Steve and Chim.
Steve met his gaze, eyes steely with determination.
"Yes. She will be. She's got all of us behind her."
"Hooya!' The SEALs uttered as one.