| Chapter 13 Tara was walking with more determination now. The harness was cutting into her chest, but she didn't care, she had to get Brian to the station. He had not woken up for a couple hours now, and Tara was becoming increasingly worried. Tara looked at the map in her hand, she should be on top of the ranger station by now, why wasn't she seeing it? Just as she topped the hill she could see the station in the distance. There was someone sitting in a chair just outside the front door. "Help!" Tara yelled. The man looked up, then came running up the trail towards her. As the man approached Tara, Brian started coughing. Tara slipped out of the harness and was next to him with the canteen. Brian was covered with sweat and was gasping for air. "Brian, we're here!" Tara said, "We made it to the ranger station." Brian gave Tara a weak smile, "I knew you could do it," he said. "What happened?" the ranger asked. "It's a long story, we need to get him to a hospital like now!" Tara said. "Is this......?" the man started to ask. "Yes it is, get ahold of the FBI but don't call his family." Tara instructed. The ranger looked at her confused. "Trust me, there's a good reason," she said. Brian looked at the ranger and nodded his head in agreement. The ranger helped Tara pull Brian down to the station, and got on the radio for help. "There gonna fly a chopper in here to pick him up," the ranger said, "Let's get him in the truck, we'll have to drive to the landing site." Tara helped the ranger load the sled in the back of the truck, then sat down next to Brian as they took off. Brian looked at her with fear in his eyes. "I'm not going anywhere," Tara said, "I promise." Brian felt a little more at ease hearing those words from Tara. The road to the landing site was very rough, but they finally made it as the helicopter was landing. Tara and the ranger unloaded the sled, and drug it to the waiting chopper. They helped Brian off the sled and into the helicopter. Tara started to get in but the medic in the back told her there was no room. Brian grabbed Tara's hand and wouldn't let go. "Listen, either you make room or he's not going!" Tara said rather agitated. The medic looked at Brian. "She's coming too." Brian said sternly. "All right, get in," the medic said as he scooted over to make room. Tara jumped in, and they were on their way. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ There was an awkwardness at the table as the guys and Leighanne ate. No one really knew what to say since the incident in the kitchen. Nick watched Kevin's every move, he really wasn't buying Kevin's explanation of what happened. "Nick, you don't have to do that," Kevin said as he looked up at Nick. "Do what?" Nick asked. "Watch me like that. I'm fine, OK," Kevin said. Nick glanced at Leighanne, "Are you sure, Kev?" Kevin pushed his plate from in front of him, "Yes, I'm sure," he said as he got up to leave the table. Just then they could hear a commotion in the living room. Mark was on the phone, and was looking pretty exited. "Yeah, Uh Huh. OK, when you find out, OK," Mark put the phone down, just as they all filed out of the kitchen. "Mark, what is it?" Leighanne asked. "There's a report of someone being flown out of the forest in a medivac. They're gonna call as soon as they find out who," he said with some hope. Leighanne and Nick looked at each other with excitement. This was the first glimmer of hope they had had since the whole thing started. "Now guys, we don't know yet," Kevin said, trying to curtail his own excitement. Just then the phone rang again, "Hello," Mark said. As Mark listened to the person on the other end, his face reflected his disappointment. He hung the phone up and looked at Leighanne, "It wasn't him." he said, "It was a couple of hikers that had had a climbing accident. I'm sorry Lee." Leighanne's heart sank and tears began to flow down her cheek. Nick and Kevin both embraced her. "Lee, we'll still find him." Kevin said through tears of his own. Leighanne turned and went upstairs, she wanted to be alone. Nick started to follow her, Kevin reached out and stopped him. "I think she needs this time alone," he said. Nick looked at Kevin. Kevin could see the hurt in Nick's eyes, as he nodded his head and went back to the kitchen. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The flight to the hospital was very short, only twenty minutes. As they rushed Brian into the emergency room, an FBI agent asked to speak with Tara. "Man, you guys are quick," Tara said as she sat down. "Mame, can you tell me what happened?" he asked. Tara took a deep breath and began telling him every detail of her time with Brian. As she talked the agent took notes, and nodded his head. When she was finished he looked at her, "When does he want his family to be notified?" "Not until he says so," Tara answered. "All right, we'll post an agent here in the hospital, when he's ready let him know," the agent said as he got up. Tara stood up and shook the man's hand, then went back down the hall to the emergency room. Just as she rounded the corner, the doctor and nurses were wheeling Brian out of the room. "Where's he going?" Tara asked the doctor. "We're taking him to surgery, it'll be a few hours before he's out," the doctor answered. Tara ran up to the side of the gurney and grabbed Brian's hand. He squeezed her hand tightly, and Tara could tell he was scared. "Brian, I'll be here waiting for you, OK. I won't leave, I promise," Tara said trying to comfort him. Brian smiled at those words. They came to the doors of the surgery wing, and Tara could go no further. She watched as they continued to wheel Brian down the hall and into a room. God please be with him. Please help the doctors as they operate, and please help calm Brian's spirit. One of the nurses came up to Tara and put her arm around her, "Hon, he's in the best of care," she said. Tara looked at her, tears flowing down her face, "I know, I'm just worried." "He's gonna be in there awhile, why don't we get you cleaned up?" the nurse said leading Tara back down the hall. They walked into what looked like a break room with a shower in it. "You can get cleaned up in here," the nurse said. "Thank you," Tara said as she put her bag down and started looking for some clean clothes to put on. "You're welcome sweetie, I'll come get you as soon as he's out, OK?" the nurse said. Tara nodded her head, and headed for the shower. Chapter 14 |