by Holden, Abby
Megan's eyes rested momentarily on the door then came back to Albunimda.
A smile greeted her.
She spit a mouthful of blood to the floor then smiled back. "Is this going to be professional or are you going to get nasty?"
CHAPTER 14
Jake slowly and painfully pulled himself to an upright position. Every inch of his body competed for his attention. But his heart hurt the worst. He would trade anything to be getting the beating he knew Megan was receiving. And he also knew that he would probably not see her alive again.
Resting his head on his knees that he drew up toward his chest to alleviate some of his stomach pain, he contemplated his options. He should already be moving toward the door that Megan told him about. With everyone watching the beating and probably participating in it―he didn't even want to think of the possibility that they were raping her―it would be his best shot at escape.
Yet, he sat there.
It seemed like forever before he heard footsteps heading down the hall. Jake had moved back to a laying position since this gave him the best rest possible, which he knew he needed. Footsteps and a dragging sound, then the door flew open and two men walked in. Between them was Megan, limp and seemingly unconscious. They dropped her to the floor, and with just a passing glance at him curled in a ball, they left the room.
Jake listened and just like Megan said, there wasn't any sound of a lock. Of course, there was probably a guard now. He got up on his hands and knees and crawled over to the still body. The first thing he did was to feel for a pulse. It was there but very weak. He gave out a sigh.
As he rolled her onto her back, a moan escaped her clenched lips. Jake cradled her head in his hands, whispering, "Meg. Megan come on, talk to me. Wake up."
Jake was surprised that her face had not been beaten. Her lips was split and swollen from earlier. One eye was swelling with a large reddish area that he knew would turn into a massive black eye, if she survived. But other than that, her face was still intact.
She opened her eyes.
Jake could tell she was having trouble focusing by how she kept blinking. He tried to smile for her. Not that she could probably tell he was smiling; his own face was smooshed like yesterday's potatoes. "Chief?"
"Why are you here?" she managed to squeak out.
"Waiting for you."
"Go. I'm dying."
"Not on my watch."
"Go. Prayers."
"What?"
"They're at prayers. The storm is raging. Best chance."
Jake considered. This was a good time to escape. With everyone participating in the religious ceremony, there would probably be no guards. If the storm was bad enough, they might not even chase them right away. His attention came back to the lady in his arms.
"Can you walk?"
"No." Megan groaned. "Broke my leg."
Jake glanced down her body and sure enough her right leg lay at an odd angle. He grimaced.
"Just go."
"I won't leave you."
Megan opened both eyes. Tears filled them. "I have internal injuries. Please go. I don't want you dead."
Jake placed his head on her forehead as tears threatened to spill out of his eyes. His breath became ragged as he tried to contain his emotions. He was mouth breathing since his nose was crusted and blocked by dried blood.
"Jake…" Megan moaned again.
"Yeah?" he whispered, his voice cracking.
"Please go. Live. You took my heart, now get away from here."
Jake lifted his head and looked into her eyes. "If I leave you, I'm leaving my heart."
Megan smiled. "Follow orders, Cupcake. Last time."
Jake watched as her eyes got a vacant look then rolled up into her head. His hand flashed to her neck. There was still a pulse. He stared at the door for a long second then looked back down at his lady. "No, Chief. Together or not at all."
Jake gently laid her head on the ground and quietly made his way to the door. He opened it cautiously. With a quick look, he saw that as she said, there was no one there. Maybe they thought the two of them were too hurt to escape, or more likely they knew that the chance of getting down the mountain during this storm was next to nil.
A grin burned in his heart. Next to nil was still a chance.
He backtracked to the unconscious body. With a massive grunt, he managed to get her into his arms. She should have weighed a lot to his sore and bruised arms, but she seemed more like a feather.
Determination burned in him. It was all he had left.
***
Megan opened her eyes briefly as consciousness returned. The first thing she realized was that she was wet and cold―no longer in as much pain, but cold.
A slight movement over her caused pain to lace again through her back and abdomen. She blinked and focused on the area above her. A body. She was laying in some sort of crack with a body over her.
Jake.
She groaned louder as pain laced up her leg.
He jerked awake. "Meg?"
"Yeah." She managed to get out. "Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why didn't you leave? Knew you couldn't follow orders." She closed her eyes again.
"We did leave."
Megan took several seconds to process that thought through the pain. "What?"
"Look around, Chief."
"Can't. Hurts too much."
"We're about half way down the other side of the ridge. I found a small recess between two rocks. I need to rest. I figure it's about midnight or so." Jake moved with a groan to a slightly more comfortable position over top of her on two ledges of rock. "How do you feel?"
"Cold."
"Good. It's helping with the pain." Jake felt her head gently. "I set your leg."
"Yeah. It doesn't hurt quite as bad. Now it's only a major pain."
"That's the spirit."
"Shut up," Megan said, with a slight grin, knowing from his voice that he had been amused by her attempt at humor. She grimaced in pain and felt his arms tighten around her. A drop splashed on her face as she felt him move. She moaned at his movement.
"Sorry."
"Is it still raining?"
"Yeah."
"How come I don't feel it?"
"I'm sheltering you."
"My hero." It was said with a touch of sarcasm. "You should have left me, Special Forces hero. I'll only slow you down." She held back the grunt of pain as her leg cramped. Cramp was the wrong word for what her leg just did. It felt like someone had shoved gravel into her leg and was trying to turn it into sand. Her leg was on fire as though a volcano spewed out of her thigh. The large quads and hamstring contracted at the same time, grinding bone against bone.
"What's wrong? Talk to me."
"Cramp." She got out softly between clenched teeth. "Jake?"
"Yeah, Chief?"
"Do me a favor." Her teeth were still clenched tightly, her words strained and tight.
"What?"
"Kill me."
"What?"
"Kill me. Put me out… of my misery. I can't do this. I'm… not that strong, Jake. The pain. Just kill me."
Megan felt him lay his head on hers.
"Can't."
"Why not?"
"I love you."
"Then if …you really do… kill me."
"Can't."
"Why?"
"I won't let you die. I promise. I won't let you die."
"Cupcake…you ain't…got much choice…in the matter." She opened one eye to see him staring at her from his one open and one half-open eye. His face was mushed and turning colors. "I'm dying. Nothing…you can do… Make…easier on me."
Jake shook his head. "You aren't going to die."
"Wanna bet?"
Jake's lip twisted in what was probably a smile but with his swollen lips it was hard to tell. "You're on. What's the bet?"
"I die…you…dance on Cowboy's…face."
"And if you live and I win?" An amused tone was in his voice.
"Name it…'cause…ain't happening."
"Sleep with me."
Megan tried a chuckle, but it came out more of a cry of pain. She nodded. "Done…I think…you'd …a great lover."
"I am."
"Lucky…me."
Jake leaned forward and kissed her with his cracked, swollen lips.
She gave a huff of pain after he pulled away from her; the leg was more than dominating her thoughts. All she saw was red. "Oh yeah…" She managed to get out. "Now you… foreplay."
Jake grunted out a chuckle. "What can I say? I'm that kind of a guy."
She shook her head. "If… not kill me… What's…game plan?"
Jake sighed softly. "Keep moving."
"Where…we?"
"Straight down over the ridge. Several miles. I ran out of energy and had to rest."
Megan struggled not to cry out in pain. Her head and stomach were now competing for attention from her leg.
"Meg?"
"Oh God…hurts," Megan whispered as she screwed up her face in pain.
"What? Where?"
"Every…where. What…was I thinking?"
"Meg?"
Megan opened her eyes again looking straight up at Jake. "Are…heading to…secondary rendezvous?"
Jake nodded. "We'll make it."
A smile cracked her lips. "Liar."
Jake opened his mouth but she shook her head.
"You got…chance without me...Go."
"Stop talking like that. I'm not leaving you, so just shut up. We'll get out of this together."
"One way…or other?" Megan asked with a slight grin.
Jake nodded back. "Stubborn, old coot."
Megan's smile got bigger. "Sure…Mr...Optimist." Her hands moved to feel her upper body. Her outer coat was still on. She patted the collar. Still intact. A larger smile formed on her face.
"What are you doing?"
"If…one of ours…mini-transmitter…sewed collar…my jacket." She arched as a lightning bolt of pain struck her leg from the bottom of her foot. "It only…beep… but if… Cowboy… around… he'll hear… He knows… Oh God… Jake!" She grabbed his arm as the pain got worse. She stifled a scream.
She barely felt the soft, gentle hands grip either side of her head, or the whispered, "I'm sorry, but you are going to live, my love." A kiss touched her lips.
Her head was twisted and blissful darkness swept over her.
***
Jake held her head, his forehead resting on hers. His eyes closed in heart aching pain as he had knocked her out. He felt for a pulse and it was there―weak and fast. He knew she was in shock, not to mention probably bleeding internally. He felt the tremors of her broken leg as he lay on top of her, shielding her from the downpour with his body. The last muscle spasm actually pulled the broken bones together. He heard the femur ends grinding and snapping.
The splint he'd made was simple―two branches bound by his belt, meant only to keep her leg straight. If he had the ability to stretch the leg, to hold the broken bones apart, the pain would be less, but he didn't have any way of doing that.
The best he could do was to knock her out. Besides, he knew she wouldn't be able to handle the movement of him carrying her. He knew that the jostling as he carried her would cause her even more pain.
Jake let go of her head and gently placed it back down. He took a breath. He was more than tired. He had numerous injuries, probably internal ones too. He shook his head of water and reaching out to a small shallow in the rock next to him, scooped up a small amount and took a drink.
Before moving her, he felt around her collar. Damn. An emergency beeper radio. Very high tech. Very James Bond.
Jake smiled through cracked and swollen lips. "You aren't cashing in, Little Lady. Not on my watch, even if I have to carry you kicking and screaming all the way down the mountain. I'll win that bet, so help me God."
With that, he pushed himself up with sore hands and arms. As gently as he could, he scooped her up into his arms and got her settled in a comfortable position. He shook his head again of the water raining on him.
Down.
Go down.
With a grim determination, he put one foot in front of the other. His mind was numb from the pain in his body and heart.
***
Megan's leg contracted again in his arms. He took another step then paused to lean on the hillside path he was following. Jake let out his breath, and took another deep one.
This was taking way too long.
Jake looked out at the bleak, almost nonexistent sunrise. The rain was still coming down in torrents. Shaking his head to clear the cold water, his eyes spied something dark only a few feet away tucked into the hillside.
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, preferably 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 indent, 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?"
&nbs
p; "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 their footprints away.
