Chapter 9

After a scream next door, Andy heard someone say, "Easy Jack, we're almost done". Looking through the narrow slit, he saw the rescuer in front of him start to turn around and he slid further back into the folds of the curtain. Andy got a good look at the man's face and recognized him as the guy who kissed his girlfriend, embarrassed him in front of his friends and called the cops on him.

Andy watched him glance dangerously close in his direction. After the rescuer hesitated, Andy released the breath he held when the tall man turn back towards the nurses' station.

Andy's hand closed around the gun in his pocket. Staring at the back of his victim, he took a step forward. But before he could pull the weapon out, two state troopers walked into his view and called him Virgil. Slinking back into the shadows, brows creased, he thought, 'So that's your name. Well Virgil, you are at the top of the list, my friend.'

With too many police around for him to try anything, he remained hidden in exam area #2. He couldn't risk walking out in case the flyboys recognized him as not being one of them. He would be patient and wait until the next opportunity arose.

Virgil turned in the direction he heard his name called. "Hey BJ, find out anything?"

"Terry thinks he saw the perp wearing one of your uniforms. We're going to check out any employee that may be holding a grudge against you guys." He looked towards the curtain. "How's Jack?"

"Still don't know yet, doc's with him now."

"Two of the squads are leaving, but you have the two of us here until you guys are safely back in the air. You're getting the royal treatment. By the way, I don't think you met Ray. Ray, Virgil. Virgil, Ray."

"Hi Ray" Virgil extended his hand to the young officer. "Thanks, BJ. We appreciate the police protection."

As Virgil and the two state troopers chatted, the closed curtains opened up. Dr. Bakelaar emerged and walked over. "I have asked the OR team to prep Mr. Commens for surgery. We'll be going up shortly so I can place a rod in the humerus to stabilize it. It's a clean break and didn't go through the skin, so the bone wasn't compromised."

"How long will this take, and what's the prognosis?" Virgil asked.

"Barring complications, the operation will be 2-3 hours. Prognosis is good. A full recovery's expected."

When Virgil saw Jack being wheeled into the open, the two troopers left to begin their patrol. "Looks like you're going to surgery now. Want me to call Wendy?"

"Yeah. Thanks Virg. But don't tell her about the gunfire. I want to break the news to her myself."

"What do you want me to tell her? That the stick slipped out of my hands? I was doing loop-de-loops in the middle of the night with an unbuckled co-pilot?"

"Think of something."

The orderlies, followed by the doctor and nurse, rolled Jack away before the conversation could end. Virgil was left standing alone in the ER.

Ginny, the dayshift supervisor, walked into Walt's office an hour before her shift started. A green-eyed, graying carrot top with tight curls framing a freckled face, at 57, she was older than Walt by just a few years. Although she hated the term, she had a matronly figure. She couldn't keep the athletic build she had when she was active in the field. "Walt, why don't you go home? You look exhausted."

"I will when both choppers and the people that were inside them come back here. I want to see how badly they were shot up and make sure that Virgil, John and Terry are okay. Jack will probably be staying longer if he needs surgery. If that's the case, I want to ferry Wendy out to the hospital.

"Walt, I can do all that," she insisted.

"I know you can, Ginny. This is something I want to do. It's bugging the sh ... uh, I mean crap out of me that someone's deliberately trying to shoot down my helos."

She leaned closer to him, her lips inches from his ear. "It's okay to say shit at a time like this."

When he looked up and smiled, she couldn't help but notice his blood shot eyes. "Listen, since the sun's just starting to come up, why don't you go home and freshen up. The boys can't check over their aircrafts until its full daylight and it will take at least an hour anyway. I promise, if we have to send out a repair crew, we'll wait for you."

"You have something there, but instead of going home, I think I'll just go downstairs to the locker room. Sarah's due in soon, so I'll have her bring me fresh clothes."

"Have it your way."

The phone rang as she was out the door.

After he spoke with Walt in the cafeteria, John drank the last of his coffee and waited for Terry to finish. They sat idle for a moment before heading back to the ER. As they entered the hallway, they ran into Jack and the entourage going up into surgery. The doctor gave them the same rundown as Virgil. After receiving the details, John flipped open his phone.

"Hi Walt. Me again. I just spoke with Dr. Bakelaar."

"What'd you find out?"

"Jack's heading for surgery now, needs a rod inserted into the bone. The doc says he should have a full recovery and be back to work within two months. We're heading back to the ER to get Virg. The sun's coming up so I want to take a good look at the choppers and see what that maniac did to them. Hopefully we can fly them both home soon. Call you back later."

"Thanks John. Bye."

Walt sat with his elbows on the desk, his forehead resting on the palms of his hands. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Still resting his head, he craned his neck so that he could read the time on the computer and decided that if he didn't call Sarah now, she'd leave home and he'd miss her. He rubbed his eyes then picked up the phone. At that moment a tall 50 year old graying brunette, wearing her security uniform, walked into his office. "Hi dear. Wendy called and told me all about what happened last night. I brought her in. Is everyone okay? How's Jack? Does he need surgery? How are you doing?" As Sarah asked her husband questions, she gave him a peck on the cheek.