Desperate Situations (28 page)

Narrowing his eyes, he looked harder at it in the twilight of the rainy morning. A cave. Hefting her again in his arms, he stumbled toward it. The last hour or so he had been moving on pure adrenalin, not knowing or caring where he was walking, just as long as it was down. He needed to rest, preferabl
y out of the rain.

He stepped into the semi
-dry opening and gently laid his warm burden on the ground. Jake gave out a sigh of relief then stumbled to look around the small cave.

It was more of an i
ndent, no animals, and small, only about six feet in depth and width. But it was dry―the wind blowing the rain in the opposite direction.

Jake stumbled back to Megan's side and checked her neck for a pulse. He knew that she was in grave danger. Her broken
femur was grinding away as the broken ends rubbed together. And he worried about the blood vessels. If they were torn and she was bleeding into her leg or hip…

He shook his head.
Can't think that way. She'll make it.
He looked around again. If only he had someway to relieve the pressure of bone on bone, but there was nothing here.

As gently as he could, he laid her straight, elevated her feet on a small rock and lay down next to her. He pulled her into him and held on, trying to impart body heat, or as was the real case, to get body heat from her. She was hot, most likely a fever.

His eyes dimmed as he thought about the storm. It was here to stay for awhile. He figured all day. Maybe, just maybe, it would clear tonight, and if he could make it to the rendezvous, maybe Cowboy would be there.

He opened his eyes at the thought.
Cowboy won't be there. He's the leak. He knows we've been captured and probably dead.

Jake thought about that. He shook his head. His gut couldn't get around the fact that Cowboy was the traitor. He would try for the pickup. It was on the way down anyway.

It wasn't like the al Qaeda guys were following them. The wind and rain would wash away any trace within minutes of their passing. He doubted even bloodhounds would be able to track them after this storm.

His last cognitive thought before he drifted off into numb sleep was about Megan. He would carry her through hell if need be.

***

A groan got his attention. He looked down at the body he was still carrying. Yes, she was coming around. This was not good. He gently but quickly laid her on the ground. He barely got her legs straight when she groaned into consciousness.

Jake moved to her head and tried for a smile. His face hurt worse than anything he'd experienced before. He hoped at least his eyes showed a smile, although deep inside he was worried, seriously worried about his wounded lover. "Hey. How're you doing?"

Megan looked up. He could tell she wasn't totally with it. Her eyes had a glazed look.

"Meg?"

"Jake." A whisper.

"Yeah. How are you doing?"

Megan smiled sickly. "Peachy. You?"

"More Applely for me," Jake said, trying to relieve the tension.

"Cold."

"What?"

"I'm cold."

Jake frowned. She had at least a 103 fever. It had kept him warm during his sleep and walk. He tried harder for a smile. "How's the leg?"

"Which one?"

"The right leg."

"Still broke. Thanks."

"For?"

"Resetting it again. The pain's almost gone."

Jake nodded even as his heart sank into his boots. She was in massive shock, her body starting to shut down. This was not good. He forced his smile to stay. "I told you, you aren’t dying."

"My one time I'm wrong and you have to see it." Megan
's eyes began to glaze over again. "Jake."

"Yeah?"

"Tell me a secret," Megan whispered.

"What?"

"You know about my secret life. Here, I'll tell you another secret, I'm scared of heights."

Jake chuckled. "I never would have guessed."

"Yeah. I hide it well. You?" Megan's eyes were closed and her voice got softer and softer.

He swallowed hard, knowing that she was slipping away. "Uh…"

"Come on. Won't tell anyone. Good at keeping secrets."

"Okay." He felt a slight flush rising to his face even though he knew that the blush would never show through
the bruises and dried blood. "I, uh, I like bubble baths."

"No shit?"

"Yeah."

"Special Forces Hero likes to soak in a bubbly bath," Megan tried teasing. "Jake, I never said this before to anyone… I love you."

Jake's eyes filled with tears. "Yeah. I know. Just hang in there. We're almost to the rendezvous."

Megan mumbled something.

Jake reached out and felt for a pulse. Still there, but her neck was hotter than ever before. He lifted an eyelid but her eyes were glazed over and vacant.

"Tell Cowboy to light a fire under Famine, but to watch the collective. She's been sticking." Megan's voice drifted off then she was unconscious again.

"Just hold on," Jake said and with a deep breath. He looked around the area. He was only about a mile from the rendezvous.

The rain had stopped but the clouds were hanging tight. It was late afternoon
, but he couldn't get a more precise time than that. The ground was slippery with mud. He had only to cut across a small valley to get to the other side, then get to a small grove of trees to be at the rendezvous. In reality, if any rescue showed up, even at this distance, he could probably flag them down. But he wanted to be near cover. If they had to stay the night, he wanted concealment.

Jake glanced behind him and up the mountain. He knew that the al Qaeda guys were probably on the hunt for them. And it wouldn't be long before they might pick up the trail, now that the rain wasn't washing the
ir footprints away.

Still, he hoped that he had put enough distance between them. He glanced down at Megan again.

"Chief, if they find us… I won't let them hurt you again." He leaned over, gave her a kiss on the lips, then stood up.

Once more he got her settled into the crook of his arms and started walking. His eyes riveted on the other side of the valley, the trees, and his destination.

***

After getting Megan settled under a small tree near the edge of the small grove, Jake checked the area. There was no movement anywhere. He let out a soft sigh
of relief. He could rest for a while.

He'd wait the night.
If no one comes by morning, and they probably won't, I'll start the walk out of the mountains.
He didn't have a hope in hell that either of them would make it, particularly Megan, but he would try.

Jake wiped
the sweat off his forehead and realized that he had a fever too. Not surprising. He probably had internal injuries as well. He glanced down at Megan then settled his butt into the dirt near the base of the small tree and leaned back.

***

Jake woke with a start. Something wasn't right. His gut screamed at him. He always trusted his gut. His eyes panned the meadow area. Nothing. The sun was lower in the sky.

He berated himself for falling asleep then looked back at Megan. She had a sheen of sweat on her face
, it was draining of color and whiter than ever. He cursed softly to himself as he caught movement out of the corner of his eye.

Slowly, he swiveled his head back to look at the meadow. He swept the far hillside again and this time
found the movement on the hillside. Narrowing his eyes, he finally figured out what it was. A deer had just darted over the ridge.

A deer running scared.

Jake became more alert. Something had pushed the deer over the ridge. He waited but nothing showed itself. Slowly, he relaxed. Probably it was a natural predator.

He flexed his muscles to get them ready for the pain that would hit as soon as he move
d. Then he painfully leaned over Megan's side. He felt for a pulse.

It was racing. And her skin was hot and clammy.

Damn.

He squatted down by her and sighed. He was fighting a losing battle. As much as he hated to admit that Megan had been right, she was dying. And there was nothing he could do for her. That tore at him the worst. He'd have to leave her body somewhere so when he came back he could find it. His heart
was breaking.

With tears in his eyes, he went into survival mode, stripping her of the outer coat. Then he searched her pockets for anything of value that he could use. There was nothing.

He felt around the collar of the coat again but decided to leave it in tact in case something happened. The beeper was still well concealed. He put his face into the coat in desperation, hiding his grief.

He didn't want her to die. He had finally found someone he truly loved and loved him back
, and now he had lost her. With a plop, he sat down on the ground and looked at Megan, tears streaming from his swollen eyes.

Jake grabbed her hand then leaned over and kissed her. "I'm sorry, Chief. I failed."

With a burst of anger, he tossed the coat away, grabbed Megan and pulled her onto his lap. He held her tightly to his chest, rocking and whispering to her. He poured out his soul sitting there, telling her things he could never otherwise admit.

A gunshot snapped his head up.

Jake quickly laid her down and moved cautiously past the tree. His eyes immediately moved to the ridge.

Two men were firing at another deer from the ridge. They were pointing at the carcass that had fallen
farther down the mountainside. They were too far away to recognize, but he had a strong suspicion that they were with the group that had captured them. He watched them as they slowly topped the ridge, then after checking the area, headed to the fallen deer.

Jake cursed again and glanced back at Megan. There was no way, unless the guys left, that he was getting out of here carrying
her. He might be able to scoot away by himself. He hurried to Megan's side, looking down at her. He started crying again.

"Guess it's time," his voice broke, "…to follow your orders… one last time, Chief." Jake squatted down by Megan and grabbed her head. He held it.
I can do this. It's for the best. She wants this. I can do it. I can do it.
But in his heart he knew this moment would haunt him the rest of his days.

Tears streamed out of his eyes.
I have to do this. It's the only way
. Anger suddenly burned in him.
I'll kill the leak, just like this Meg. I’ll kill him too
. His training started to kick in.
Survival. Live. Anyway you can.
He adjusted his grip.
Survive for Megan. Do it for her. I love you.

Jake took a deep breath, hardening his heart to what he had to do. He took another deep breath and tensed his muscles. He squeezed his eyes shut as he took his third deep breath.

A whirling noise sounded in the distance.

Jake opened his eyes
, his ears straining to hear what had to be his imagination.

Whirling.

Jake released her head and sprang to the edge of the woods. He cocked his head again. Yes, there was the distinctive sound of a helicopter. His eyes panned the far hillside, but the al Qaeda guys apparently couldn't hear it yet. Jake turned back to look at Megan.

The coat. The transmitter.

He sprinted to the coat and literally tore the collar open. His eyes swung back to the meadow and the other guys on the side. Even as his hands worked the material away from the small device, he kept an eye on the al Qaeda guys.
If I can just get the helicopter's attention before the other guys see or hear…

He saw their heads snap up and look at the ridge near him.

Jake looked down at his hands.
Concentrate on what you're doing.
He quickly had the small transmitter out of the collar and gave it a quick look; he started to assemble it. He'd seen an article on one of these in an instruction book during training. He barely remembered it, but his training came back instantly. Even if he hadn't seen the article, he could probably guess how to assemble it. As he got the pieces in order, he glanced at Megan.

Pale. No sweat.

"Stay with me, Chief. Help's on the way."

Jake tapped out an SOS on the small device, then the word 'Ghost
.' He did it again even as the whirling sound of a Black Hawk became distinct.

He moved to the edge of the trees and watched as the helicopter topped the ridge and hovered. His eyes panned the opposite hill and saw the al Qaeda guys running toward his side of the valley.

Famine hovered.

Jake looked at it again as he tapped out the message again. He didn't want to run out and flag the chopper down because if he missed, the guys would be sure to see him. And it had been drilled into him in training
; never expose yourself to the enemy unless rescue is waiting.