Matt heard it, too. He started to get up, but Kara said, “I think you have a broken rib.”
“I doubt it,” he lied. “Just bruises, I’m sure.”
She glared at him, then kissed him. “I don’t believe you. Just sit.”
Kara got up and limped over to where a fire truck and police car pulled up side by side. There was another sheriff’s car behind them, two more fire trucks, and a paramedic. She held her hands up and said, “I’m Kara Quinn, FBI.” Technically, she was still LAPD, but figured saying that would elicit too many questions. “We need paramedics over here STAT. A woman, thirties, unconscious. My boss is injured, likely a broken rib, and he’s bleeding.”
The deputy was on his radio, and as he spoke to someone, Kara watched a helicopter land in the field next to them.
Michael climbed out of it.
“Michael,” she said though no one could hear her over the sirens and rotor blades.
She started crying. Damn, she never cried. But the tears came and wouldn’t stop as she limped toward him.
Michael ran to her, picked her up and squeezed.
“Kara.” He kissed the top of her head and put her down, gently held her face between his large hands. Stared at her as if he thought she might be a ghost. “Are you okay? My God, you’re here. You’re alive.”
She nodded because she was unable to speak. She hugged him again. His hug hurt her multitude of bruises, but she didn’t want to let go.
“Is Matt—is he okay?” Michael whispered.
She nodded into Michael’s chest. “It was too close, Michael. Too close.”
He held her tight. She was so damn happy that Michael was here. He wrapped his arm around her waist, and she led him to the tree where Matt was sitting. Three paramedics were there, two working on Lily and one checking Matt.
“Ma’am, you’re bleeding,” the paramedic who was checking Matt’s vitals said.
She looked at her leg. The bandage that Lily had put on was red again. The cut had broken open.
“He’s worse,” she said.
“Kara,” Michael said, and urged her to sit next to Matt. “Just humor me and let them check you out.”
Kara agreed, but looked over at Lily and Nathan. “How is she?” Kara asked.
“She’s coming around, but has a serious concussion and a deep wound in her side. A lifeline chopper has already been called in. ETA is ten minutes.”
“Can’t you get her to a hospital faster?”
“Closest trauma center is an hour away.”
“She needs to be in protective custody, both her and her son,” Kara said.
A deputy walked over. “Hello, folks. I’m Deputy Aberdeen.”
Michael said, “Agent Michael Harris. We spoke on the phone.”
“Yes, and I also spoke to your boss, Assistant Director Greer. He filled me in on what’s been going on with y’all. But he didn’t know where you two have been for the last what, fifty-some hours?”
“How about if we write it in a report?” Kara said.
Matt grimaced as the paramedic inspected his ribs.
“Broken?” Kara asked.
“I’d need an X-ray to confirm, and we need to make sure there’s no internal bleeding. You should both be checked out at the hospital.”
