Rescue My Love

by Lynn Story

  “Yes. We have someone from Camp Allen coming over to confirm the inventory of items.”

  I nodded. I felt tired. It must have been the meds they had given me. My knees were a little weak.

  “You okay?” Logan paused.

  “Yeah, just tired.”

  “Why don’t I take you home.”

  “No, office.”

  Logan shook his head. I knew he disapproved. He had no room to talk as he was a Marine and a tough son-of-bitch and he would have done the same thing. Besides, we were going to have a ton of paperwork to do and putting it off wasn’t really an option.

  “Boss, should you be here?” Stephanie looked up when Logan and I came through the door.

  “No.” Logan answered again showing his disapproval.

  “Getting shot only adds to the paperwork; it doesn’t make it go away.” I went to my desk and started sorting through the files.

  Chapter Six

  Kay

  I woke up in a hospital. I remembered a blast of light. Everything was silent as a bright white light blinded me. Then as quickly as it had appeared it was gone and all that was left was chaos. Screaming, shouting, and gunfire. Someone was yelling at me. Everything was grey and black, like all the color had been sucked out of the world. I could barely see anything. It took me a minute to realize what had happened. We had been hit with an RPG. I couldn’t fine the new kid that had been standing next to me. He was a young Marine that had joined the team recently and Chris had taken him under his wing. The rest of the team was to my left and they were on the ground. I needed to move and fast. I tried to run. It felt like something was attached to my leg and it was making it hard to move. I didn’t have time to investigate. I looked down and saw my camera on the ground. I grabbed it and then crawled over to Oliver as he was the closest to me. I needed to get to the rest of the team. Oliver was unconscious so I went to check on each of the others. Chris was semi-conscious and in a lot of pain.

  “Get my pack.” He looked to the right. “First aid kit.” He managed to say.

  I crawled over and grabbed it.

  “There is a morphine injection in there you are going to need that for Oliver.”

  “Why?”

  “Look at him; he has a huge hunk of wood sticking out of him you need to remove it.”

  “What are you talking about? I can’t do that!” I exclaimed.

  “Well, normally I would but I can’t right now, so you have to be my hands.” He replied.

  I wanted to argue further but I knew he had a point. I could see his right arm was mangled. “Why don’t we fix you first and then you can help the others.”

  “He is dying while you are arguing.” Chris grabbed me with his good hand. He was right, I could see the blood pouring out of Oliver. He would certainly bleed to death if I didn’t do something.

  I took a deep breath and did what Chris told me to do. I had never been squeamish about blood before, but I hadn’t seen it from the inside out either, not like this. With Chris’s help I started to get Oliver stabilized while whoever had launched the RPG was approaching. I could hear the whine of a vehicle engine and shouting. I turned to look at Chris.

  “What do we do now?” Just give me direction, I thought.

  “Grab Oliver’s gun!” He didn’t leave me any room to argue. “Point and squeeze.” He showed me as best he could with his functioning hand.

  I was near panic. This was all too much, the blood, the mangled bodies, the smoke and that awful smell .

  “Devon!” Chris shouted. “Grab your weapon Marine!”

  I wasn’t sure what injuries Devon had but I knew he hadn’t moved since the blast. He moved now. Micah began to move too. I thought it must be auto-reflexes because they all were pretty seriously injured as far as I had been able to determine. The ones that could move did so to take what cover was available. I got behind an overturned table. I wasn’t a pacifist, but I never learned to fire a gun my mother had thought it undignified.

  “Stay calm, Kay. Wait until they are close.” Chris whispered.

  I had hoped they assumed we were dead and would just leave. Apparently, that wasn’t going to happened.

  The door opened. Four men with rifles entered through the hole where the door had been. Their faces were covered with ski masks. Definitely not here to rescue us. My heart sank and I felt sick. There was no time to think about any of that as I concentrated on the four men. They walked around kicking debris out of the way. I knew if they found us alive, they would kill us. I couldn’t let that happen.

  I heard Chris whisper. “Now.”

  I braced the butt of the rifle on my shoulder the way I had seen them do before. I aimed and squeezed. My arm jumped. I wasn’t expecting the gun to be so powerful. I refocused and tried again. I could see the intruders aiming at us and firing but I couldn’t hear anything. I looked to my right and saw Chris and then to my left and saw Devon and Micah firing their weapons. Oliver was still unmoving on the ground. I aimed and fired. I don’t know how many times.

  Finally, all the intruders were on the ground. Chris laid back down and closed his eyes. I had been imbedded with these guys for months. I had watched them work. I knew what to do. I got up and carefully checked to see if the intruders were dead. They were. Then I collected their guns and I looked outside. I didn’t see anyone else around. I crawled back over to Chris.

  “Can you hear me? We got them all.”

  Chris opened his eyes. I could see he was in pain.

  “Tell me what to do.” He shook his head and closed his eyes. “Dammit!” I crawled over to the others and checked on them. They were in the same condition as Chris or worse.

  I needed to be able to stand. I looked down at my leg. I wasn’t in any better shape than they were. I was bleeding and my leg below the knee wasn’t anything recognizable. I was pretty sure there was debris in there from the explosion. I knew we had to get out of here. I went back to the first aid kit and found what I thought I needed to wrap up my leg. Then I found two table legs and made a splint. I limped outside there was a beat-up pick-up truck, I assumed it belong to the four dead guys. The keys were in it. I limped back inside.

  “Chris, we have a truck and we need to get out of here. Get up!” I commanded as he groaned. “Get up, Marine!” I tried lifting him by the shoulders which was useless as he was too big and heavy. “Come on, get up, we have to go!” I begged to each one of them.

  I could see they weren’t going to be much help. I rolled Oliver onto a blanket. I then took the tabletop and made a ramp for the truck. I was able to drag him outside and up the ramp. My leg screamed in protest the entire time and when I was done, I was sweating, and it wasn’t from the heat. I had three more marines to go. It took me some time to recover from Oliver and I found half a bottle of water. I wet my lips and then I took it to the others. I talked them through what I was doing even if they didn’t respond. I had to load them in the back because I couldn’t get them to cooperate enough to put them up front in the cab. I was the only one with any chance of driving and that was going to be iffy at best.

  Chris revived a little after the water and was able to help me get him into the truck. He chose to ride in the back and look after Oliver.

  I got my cell phone out and kept redialing phone numbers to the base. I just wanted to make sure they didn’t shoot us when we approached. I had all the guns I had collected plus our own in the front with me. I had given Chris the first aid kit. I was finally able to reach the camp. “This is Kennedy Dandridge; I am in a stolen truck with four injured marines and I’m driving to the camp. Don’t shoot!!!”

  “Ma’am, can you repeat?”

  “This is Kay, don’t shoot, I’m in a white pick-up truck!” I could see the camp coming into view as I got closer and I could see the MP’s standing at the ready. “It’s me, I see the MP’s. Please don’t shoot, I have injured marines in the back!”

  “Slow down and approach slowly.” The voice on the other end advised.

&
nbsp; I did as I was told when I got close enough, I stopped and held my hands out the window. The MP’s approached on high alert They looked at me and, in the back, and waived to the gate. One of them called on the radio for medics.

  I leaned my head back on the seat and closed my eyes.

  “Kay, Kay can you hear me?” I heard a voice trying to revive me.

  “Yes.”

  “Can you open your eyes?” the voice continued.

  I tried to open them, but they felt incredibly heavy. I managed one than the other. It was the Unit Commander.

  “What happened? He asked.

  “RPG, I think and then four men with guns.” I replied a bit in a trance.

  “Where are they?” he pressed.

  “Dead.” I told him. He nodded to me and then to someone else and I closed my eyes again.

  ◆◆◆

  When I opened my eyes there was a stench of rubbing alcohol in my nose. I had tubes in my arms and hands. I had something on my face. I could hear beeping and clicking. I tried to move; my whole body screamed. Everything hurt like hell.

  “Hey there, glad you’re awake.” A nurse leaned into my field of vision.

  “Where?” I whispered.

  “You’re in the hospital at Ramstein Air Force base.” She informed me.

  “Team?” I continued.

  “You need to rest.” She was in nurse mode.

  “Team!” I said with all the strength I could muster. My throat was dry, but I was determined to make her understand me one way or the other.

  “They are all here, too.” She said, understanding I was not going to give up.

  “Alive?”

  “Yes.” She smiled. I relaxed back into the pillow.

  When I woke up again there was a doctor leaning over me.

  “Good to see you awake.” He smiled.

  “How long?” I asked. I no longer had an oxygen mask covering my mouth, so it made it easier to speak.

  “Have you been here?” He asked. “They brought you in four days ago.”

  “Team?” I asked.

  “All still here.” The doctor was checking my vitals while he was answering my questions.

  I nodded.

  “Want to see them.” I felt weak like breathing was too much effort. But I needed to know the guys were okay.

  “I’m afraid that is going to have to wait.” The doctor pulled his eyes away from this tablet to look at me. “Ms. Dandridge you are severely injured. You need to rest.”

  “Need to know how the others are doing.” I insisted.

  “You need to stop talking.” The doctor insisted.

  “Water!” I demanded my throat was on fire.

  He frowned.

  “Nurse, bring Ms. Dandridge some ice chips on the condition she stays in this bed and rests.” He smiled down at me. I frowned up at him.

  “We need to talk about you.” He continued as if my steely gaze had no effect on him. Which apparently it didn’t. He pulled up a chair and sat down next to the bed. I fumbled with the buttons on the bed so I could see him better. He reached over and helped me.

  “Better?” he asked. I nodded. “Okay, so here’s the deal. I’m not going to sugar coat anything.”

  I nodded again.

  “Your left leg is pretty bad. I’ve saved it although, I’m not sure how long that will last. I am making sure there is no secondary infection. I won’t lie to you. There is still a chance you could lose it.”

  I thought I had fallen asleep again and was having a nightmare. I was thinking I needed to try and wake up. The doctor reached over and touched my arm and I knew I wasn’t dreaming.

  “Ms. Dandridge?” He looked concerned.

  “Save my leg.” My voice sounded calmer then it should have. I wanted to shout at him to demand that he do everything he could, but my body and my mind didn’t seem to be syncing at the moment.

  “I am certainly going to do everything I can.” He patted my hand reassuringly. He started to get up.

  “Wait!” I said reaching for him.

  He sat back down.

  “Details.” I demanded.

  “What kind of details.” He asked.

  “About my leg.” I said. He looked at me curiously and then nodded.

  “Okay, tell you what. I have to go check on a few other patients. Then I’ll come back, and you and I will have a long talk, okay?” he said clearly trying to placate me.

  I nodded. “Promise?”

  He smiled. “Promise.” He left and a nurse appeared with ice chips.

  I was done sleeping now. I had a new mission now. I had to figure out how to save my leg. “Can you bring me a phone?” The nurse gave me a sympathetic smile.

  “Sure.” A moment later she was back. “Can I call someone for you?” She indicated all the tubes in my hands.

  “No, thank you.” I needed to handle this myself.

  She nodded and left. At the moment Eddie’s number was the only one I could remember. I took a deep breath and punched in the numbers.

  “Hello?” Eddie’s voice sounded like home. I wanted to cry. I wanted to ask him to come get me and take me home. But I knew that wasn’t possible. Not yet.

  “Eddie, it’s Kay.”

  “Kay, where are you? You sound like you’re in a barrel.” Eddie’s voice already conveying his concern.

  “I’m in a hospital Germany.” I heard a sharp intake of breath.

  “Are you hurt?” He wanted to know.

  “Yeah.” Was all I could manage to say.

  “Is it bad?” His voice was hoarse.

  “Yeah.” I squeaked.

  “Oh god.” He said more to himself than to me I’m sure.

  “Listen Eddie, I need you to do something for me, can you do that?”

  “Of course, you know I would do anything for you.”

  “I need Michael to come over here and I need either you or him to find the very best reconstructive orthopedic surgeon. I don’t care about the cost just get him and bring him here.”

  “Kay tell me how bad you were hurt.” Eddie’s voice trembled.

  “I was in an RPG attack and my leg is pretty bad, Eddie.” My voice cracked a little. I refused to cry, not yet.

  “Oh god.” He said again.

  “Can you get Michael and the doctor for me.” I got back to business; it was the only way I was going to keep sane in this situation.

  “Of course, I will.” Eddie promised.

  I lost my cell phone, so you’ll have to call me back here at this number to reach me.”

  “Kay, are you going to be okay?” He was beginning to panic.

  “I’ll be fine Eddie. I’ll be home soon.” I tried to soothe him. I thought I heard him crying when I hung up the phone. I laid back on the pillows. There wasn’t anything more I could do at this point. I closed my eyes and thought about Ethan and walks in the moon light; the smell of the salt water, the warm breeze on my face. I imagined he was here to hold my hand the way he did that night at the Ironclad. Thinking of him made me smile.

  The next day there was a knock at my door and Dr. Gordon poked his head in.

  “Ms. Dandridge you have a guest.” He announced.

  He stepped aside and a man who looked to be about forty, with blonde hair and horn-rimmed glasses stepped inside.

  “Hello, I am Dr. Klaus.” He smiled. I had been expecting someone older. His youth took me by surprise, as did his Bavarian accent.

  “I’m glad to meet you Dr. Klaus.” I greeted him.

  He walked over to the bed and shook my hand. “I understand you have an interesting proposal regarding your leg.”

  “Yes. I do.” I smiled up at him.

  “Do you mind?” He pointed to the blanket.

  “Go ahead.” I nodded.

  Dr. Klaus turned to Dr. Gordon. “Of course.” Dr. Gordon insisted.

  Dr. Klaus started to remove my bandages. I watched intently; I had a long incision from my ankle to my knee. “Do you know what sort of shrapnel did t
his?”

  Dr. Klaus looked from me to Dr. Gordon.

  “Um, well.” Dr. Gordon looked uncomfortable. “There were some metal fragments from but mostly it was bone.”

  I cringed as I knew that the only thing left of the new kid was what they dug out of my leg and left side.

  “Bone?” Dr. Klaus asked.

  “Yes,” I filled in the blanks. “There was a Marine standing next to me when we were attacked. He took a direct hit.” It broke my heart, a young vibrant life reduced to less than a pound of bone, placed in a six-foot coffin and draped in a flag. That made me want to cry more than anything.

  Dr. Klaus looked horrified. “It doesn’t matter how many times I see or hear about war injuries I never get used to it.” He shook his head and looked at me. “I am very sorry.”

  “Thank you.” I nodded reassuringly.

  “I must also say you are very lucky to be so close and to not have suffered more life-threatening injuries.”

  I nodded. I had to admit I wasn’t feeling so lucky at the moment although he did have a point. Things could be worse.

  “I’ve looked at your x-rays and the video from your surgery. I don’t see why we shouldn’t be able to save your leg if you’re up for another surgery.”

  “If it will save my leg. I’m up for anything.” He nodded gravely. “I do have one small request though.” I looked to Dr. Gordon.

  “Oh?” Dr. Gordon raised his eyebrows in my direction.

  “I want to see them first.” I said definitely. “I want to see all of them, my team.”

  I had one IV still in my hand which they hooked to the back of a wheelchair and insisted that a nurse escort me. I didn’t mind, my chest and shoulder still hurt and manuring the wheelchair on my own would have been a little too much.

  “Oliver?” I said quietly as the nurse parked me next to the bed and waited. He opened his eyes slowly. “Oliver? It’s Kay.”

  He looked over in my direction and tried to smile. “Hey Kay!”

  I noticed that he was missing his left arm from the elbow down. I tried not to let my anger show.

  “Hey how are you feeling?” I asked. “Oh, I don’t know they keep me pretty doped up.” He looked down at his arm. “What am I going to do? I can’t be a marine with only one arm!”