Page 39 of Lucky Charm

“They’re a mix of experienced and tactically inept. Could it have been a trap?” Quaid squirmed as Cait put a pressure bandage over the wound.

“Lay still.” Cait calmed him with a hand over his. “I’m close to finished.”

“Lies that doctors tell you.” The man huffed out a laugh.

His idea that it had been a trap for the team wasn’t the first time Hunt had considered the notion. Still, mission debrief was best left for afterthe mission. They still had to accomplish returning Cait to safety.

“You still with me, Quaid?” She moved carefully to finish fastening the bandage over his side.

“I’ll be fine, Doc. My Aunt Elizabeth and grandfather would give me an earful if I died here.”

“Of course, you’ll be fine. You have me taking care of you. I don’t easily let my patients die.”

Hunt studied the fatigue on her face and realized how deep she was digging to provide Quaid’s care. Easy movements, fisting her hands frequently to stop shaking fingers, and careful breaths were prime indicators.

Cait stuffed away Carter’s medical supplies. “Move as little as you can until Hunt tells us we have to leave. The less you move, the more the wound will coagulate, and the less that bullet will move around.”

Hunt reached for Cait’s hands and helped her to her feet. “You should rest. We’re going to have to continue in a bit.”

“I need movement more than rest. I’m getting cold again,” she answered.

He wrapped her in his arms. “Turning the furnace on right now.”

Quaid started mumbling. “I’m getting too cynical for this job. Time to get out and go into private work. You ever think about that Hunt?”

Hunt released Cait and squatted at Quaid’s side, leaving his hand in Cait’s. “Every time I have to come into Afghanistan and mess with this.”

Quaid cracked an eye. “That surprises me. I’d heard you were a super soldier, the go-to guy for mission achievement.”

“Doesn’t mean I don’t get tired of wading in the crap. Five years to retirement stops me.” He kept his voice quiet, trying to lull Quaid into rest. His radio went off instead.

“Alpha One?”

He rose to his feet. “Go Alpha Six.”

Baxter’s voice was strong and clear. “We’ve got our ride. More weather is incoming, though. Rendezvous in two hours. Alpha Two heading that direction to verify LZ. Alpha Four and I are inbound.”

“Copy.” As soon as the two men arrived to help, they had to move.

“I hate snow. I live on the beach,” Quaid mumbled.

Hunt put an arm around Cait, concerned by how quiet she was. She looked at him with sleepy eyes, swaying on her feet. “You and Doc. You’re missing the perks.”

Cait snorted her disagreement and snuggled back into his arms.

Quaid cracked an eye. “We got a plan?”

“Yep. We’re over and out to our LZ. We’ll be home for dinner.”

“That’s good.” He stumbled over the words. “I can’t walk, LT.”

Hunt stared down at the man, not wanting to let go of Cait again. “We got that covered, Marine. I’ll carry you. We’ve got two more klicks to the LZ.”

A shake of Quaid’s head followed. “What about Doc?”

“Carter and Baxter are inbound. Doog went ahead to secure the LZ. We’re meeting with the rest of the team in about half a click. We got this.”

“Confirmed?”