Radclyffe - Honor Under Siege

tonight.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

I t was too dark for Blair to see exactly what was happening on the

beach, even with the floodlights on the boat spotlighting the people

swarming al over it. When she had at empted to run down in search of

Cam, Paula had informed her that both she and Diane were confined to

the house until further notice. Blair would have argued, but that only

would have delayed Paula in organizing the teams to get Cam and

Valerie up to the house. She was acutely aware that Paula was doing

everything possible to take care of the injured, even though she had to be

crazy with worry over Renée.

Despite understanding the reasons behind the protocols, Blair couldnt

control what she felt, which verged very close on panic. She just

wanted to see Cam, and waiting was agony. She alternated between

stalking out to the rear deck and pacing in the kitchen. Diane waited at

the window, watching the activity on shore in pale silence.

“Here they come, final y, Blair said when she was able to make out a

clutch of figures transporting a stil form on a stretcher toward the

house. Only a single stretcher. Her chest tightened. What did that

mean? Where was the second casualty? Where was Cam ?

“Im sure theyl take them right upstairs, Blair said, concentrating on

what she could do rather than let ing the terror swal ow her. “Lets go up

so we can help.

Within minutes, Felicia and Wozinski half-carried Cam into the

bedroom. She was wrapped in an emergency thermal blanket and,

other than her shoes, appeared to be naked. Her face was gray and her

skin looked rubbery from the

cold, but Blair was nevertheless enormously relieved to see that

she was conscious and making some ef ort to walk. Blair pushed back

the covers on the bed. “Over here.

“Il get the IV set up, Wozinski said, as Felicia and Blair helped Cam

into bed.

“No, Cam rasped. “You and Felicia give Savard a hand with

Valerie.

“Stark had supplies brought over from the emergency aid center at the

marina, Blair said, replacing Cams damp blanket with several layers

of dry ones. “I heated four liters of saline in the microwave. Greg, I can

help you get Cams line started while Felicia assists in the other room.

“Yes maam, Greg

said.

Cam shook her head weakly. “I can

wait

“No, you cant, Blair said firmly. “Go ahead,

Greg. Felicia said, “Il be next door with

Valerie.

When Greg left to get supplies, Blair sat on the edge of the bed next to

Cam. She cupped her cheek, shuddering inwardly at the icy touch. “Are

you injured anywhere?

“Bumps and bruises. Cams teeth chat ered. “Fire feels good. Maybe I

can sit closer.

“As soon as you get some warm fluids into you. Blair stroked her face.

“You know that rapid external rewarming can cause problems. Blair

had skied in enough remote areas to know the protocol for exposure

and hypothermia. So did al of her security staf , and every shift

contained at least one agent who was an EMT like Savard and Wozinski.

Many hypothermia victims died during the initial resuscitation at empts

because warming the outside of the body without raising the internal

temperature led to cardiac col apse. “Wel get you warmed

up as fast as we can, but were not taking any

risks.

“Right now Id take my chances, Cam said, shivering violently. “Christ,

Im cold.

“Il get some more

blankets.

“No, Cam said, grasping Blairs hand. “It wont help. Juststay

close.

“I can do bet er than that. Blair kicked of her shoes, shed her jeans,

and got under the covers. She cradled Cams head against her shoulder

and wrapped her arms and legs around her. “Im not going anywhere.

Cam had drifted of by the time Wozinski returned. He silently and ef

iciently started an IV in Cams right arm and hung a liter of warm saline.

“That wil run for about ten minutes. Il be back to hang the second liter

then.

“Thanks, Greg. Blair said, stroking Cams hair. “For

everything. “Its an honor, maam.

Alone, Blair closed her eyes, even though she wasnt tired.

She wasnt planning on sleeping. All she wanted was to listen to

Cam breathe.

* * * * *

“Glad youre here Greg, Renée Savard said, applying EKG pads

to Valeries chest. “Start another IV in her left arm, would you.

We need to get another bag of the hot stuff into her. Her temps

ninety- two.

“Got it.

“Tell me what I can do, Diane urged, pressing close to the side

of

the bed near Valeries head, trying not to interfere but

wanting desperately to do something. Valerie looked so white,

so stillso lifeless. “Please.

“Here. Felicia tossed Diane a thermal towel from the emergency

kit brought over from the marina. “Dry her hair and when

that towel gets cool, Ill get you another hot one.

Valerie moaned, her body twitching reflexively when

Diane touched her. Diane blocked out the sound and

concentrated on doing anything she could to get her warm and

dry. “Is she going to be all right?

“Yes. Renée placed an oxygen mask over Valeries face.

“Here, hold this on. Its real y important. The warm air will heat

the blood in her lungs and help raise her core temperature.

“Ive got it, Diane said, taking the mask from Savard.

When Valerie moaned again and jerked her head away,

threatening to dislodge the mask, Diane leaned down and

whispered in her ear. “Valerie, darling, its Diane. Youre all right.

Youre safe. Let us help you.

Valeries eyelids, so bloodless that the blue of her irises

shone through the skin, flickered and opened. Wordlessly, she

stared into Dianes eyes.

Diane smiled and caressed her forehead above the re-

breathing mask. “Youre going to be all right. I love you.

Valerie nodded almost imperceptibly and closed her eyes

again. Diane shivered, not from cold, but from the pain of

losing that brief connection. “Tell me what to do. Tell me how

to help her,

she said desperately.

Renée slid an arm around Dianes shoulders and hugged her briefly.

“Youre here, and she knows it. Thats exactly what she needs.

* * * * *

“Do we know yet what happened out there? Renée said,

slumping into a chair in the command center. Mac and Paula

hunched over the monitors. Printouts spewed from several nearby

machines.

“Theoriesno confirmation. Mac said, looking over his

shoulder. “How are they doing upstairs?

“Both stable. Valeries in for a rough ride for a

while.

“Mac, Paula said, pushing away from the computer console,

“take over here for a second.

“Sure thing, Chief, Mac said.

Paula grasped Renées hand and gently guided her to her

feet. Then she wrapped an arm around her waist and led her

toward the hal . “You need to change your clothes. Theyre wet.

Renée looked down as if realizing for the first time that her

shoes and jeans and shirt were dripping. She shivered. “Yeah.

Good idea.

Once upstairs in their bedroom, Paula took Renée into

the bathroom. “Are you okay?

“Yeah. Renée kissed Paula and brushed her fingers through

her hair. “Im fine, sweetie.

“Okay, Paula said shakily, wondering why she always seemed

to lose it after she knew Renée was safe. “Stand there. She pul ed

off Renées T-shirt and unzipped her jeans. “Take your shoes off