Page 23 of Rogue Mission

We don't need to talk. He knows what I'm doing.

I know he's got our back.

After putting on my headlamp, I scoop Rosalie up, grabbing the defibrillator.

I'm not taking any chances with her.

"What's happening," she groans weakly.

"Just rest."

Taking the stairs two at a time, I head up to the next level's exit.

"Won't be long now, babe. There's a chopper coming for you."

She moans softly as I take the corridor to the other stairs.

"Stay awake, I need you to stay with me."

"Hurts."

The weight her pain grinds me to ash as I race down the secondary stairs and out into the dark parking lot. "I know baby, I probably destroyed your ribs. I'm so fucking sorry."

Above us the glorious sound of rotors shakes the night air.

Lights from the bird sweep the ground as wind whips at us. Dust bites at my skin.

“Here's your ride," I rasp, my chest shaking with restrained sobs as I shield her face against my shoulder protecting her from the rotor-wash.

"Everything's going to be okay."

It has to be.

NINE

Someone pushes at my arm. “Sir, you have to move back!”

Disbelief has me frozen in place as the air medics hustle around Rosalie, buckling her into the stretcher, preparing her to be loaded.

Truck grabs me, wrapping an arm around my neck, pulling me close to his side.

“Let them work,” he growls, giving me a shake. “She’s got a strong pulse. They’re going to make sure she gets to the hospital safe. We’ll meet them there.”

“She was almost lost.”

He squeezes my neck. “We’ve all gotten close.”

“Not like that,” emotion clogs my words as the lead medic settles an oxygen mask over Rosalie’s delicate features.

A pain of blue-white headlight beams slash across the helicopter, blinding us for a second before they shut off.

“That’s Beast,” he says, “Go tell her you’ll meet her there, and then get your ass to the truck.”

My legs are weirdly wooden and weak at the same time as I move toward the stretcher. There’s nothing normal inside of me right now.

I’m an ocean of anger and fear.

“Hey,” I rumble, as I push my way up the bed she’s on. “I’ll meet you there, promise.”