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I take the bag from his hand, place the items back into the tote, and shake my head no. “Grant, we’ve got no more time. We all have to leave…now.”
“Travis...”
“Grant, I most likely know what those drugs are and what to do with them. Since I have a change in plans, I will be meeting up with Stryker anyway. He can give me the rundown.” Stryker was a medic in my unit while I served in the military. We’re brothers, just not by blood.
“All right then.” He takes a good look at me in my wet attire and shakes his head in disapproval. “I laid dry scrubs out for you too. You need to change.”
“No time left. C’mon.” I feel the adrenaline of the chase pick up in the beat of my heart with each step I take. Walking back into the room I left Jules in, my heart sinks at the very sight of her. The medicine has her sleeping peacefully. Her blonde hair is soaked and matted, with half of it hidden behind bandages, which are wrapped around the top-half of her head. I die a little on the inside seeing her this way.
Grant places his hand on my shoulder and whispers near my ear. “She’s going to be fine, son. We just need to let her heal; give her some time.” I nod and move toward my backpack, getting the majority of the drugs out for Grant to take with him.
Grant carries the tote of supplies and my backpack, while I carry Jules in my arms. “Travis, I can get a stretcher, you know.”
“This is much faster.” We make our way through the hospital corridors, and then step out into the parking garage, and again, I’m thankful we’re only a few steps away from his vehicle. Rank sure does have its privileges in preferential parking for doctors.
Grant opens the backdoor of his sedan, and I lean inside the vehicle, gently laying her down on the backseat. When I step back, he moves in, pulling a blanket from his bag of tricks. He opens it and lays it over her. He’s such a good man.
“I’d drop you off at the house, but I don’t know what’s safe anymore.”
“No problem, really. I’ll just catch a cab.” Knowing him, he’d walk home, since he lives only two minutes away, but since it’s still raining hard and because of all the events that just played out, a cab would be safer.
I take the backpack and tote, place them on the floor of the backseat, and then turn around to give Grant a serious look. “Don’t go back into that treatment room. Just get the hell out of here, like right now.”
“I got it, Travis. I’m only two blocks away. Now, stop worrying about me; you’ve got more on your plate than I do.” Cocking his head to the side, I see the worry resurfacing in his frown. “Travis, you look really exhausted. When was the last time you slept?”
“About thirty hours ago.” I don’t tell him I slept for shit the night before; it shouldn’t even count as real sleep. “I’ve run on less for a lot longer than this, though.”
“Yes, but you’re no spring chicken anymore.” He erupts into a grin, trying to ease the tension.
I return his grin. “Point taken, Grant.” I pause, really looking at this man who means the world to me. “I’ll always have your back; I hope you know that, and thank you…for everything.”
“Ahh,” he waves off the sentiment with his hand and changes the subject, “just keep her on those meds. You need to be religious about them, and you really need to watch for swelling.”
“Got it.” We give each other one last man-hug and separate. “I’ll be in touch.”
As I pull out onto the main street, I’m immediately overcome with fatigue. Grant was right. He’s always right. The sharp drop in adrenaline has left me depleted. The chances of me being followed now are nil; not to mention, no one would expect me to stay in the downtown area. I wind up making an impromptu decision. I know the best place for both of us to lay our heads down and take a short nap. The fact I was born and raised here gives me home field advantage should someone be stupid enough to try me a second time in one day.
Pulling out my cell, I know my old friend’s number by heart. His phone rings twice before he picks up to answer.
“Hello, John, it’s Travis.”
“Travis! Long time no hear, friend.” I grin at the sound of his voice. He’s actually one of Grant’s old friends, and just like him, this man became a part of my family as well.
“John, it’s good to hear your voice.”
“Are you in town?”
“I am. Unfortunately though, I’ve run into a snafu and need a place to stay for a few hours.”
