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There is a team of a dozen or more medical personnel waiting for us. When the chopper touches down and the doors open, a small group of the people waiting rush forward with a gurney. They usher me out before carefully transferring Jackson onto the gurney and rushing him away, one medic by their side to give them the rundown on his injuries.
As they clear out, a second team comes forward, none other than Dr. Franks himself at the front of the pack. I don't have time to do more than gawk to acknowledge his presence before they are rushing Bennet away.
Lukas folds his lanky body out of the helicopter next, staying bent at the waist as the rotors are still moving. Luis and Six hop out next. We follow the remaining staff members into a small room with an elevator.
When we are inside the elevator and the sounds of the wind and rotor blades are muffled, one of the three medical personnel that are with us introduces herself.
“My name is Dr. Tiffany Kuodo. I'm the Chief of Operations at this hospital. I wanted to introduce myself formally and assure you that every measure is being taken to keep Mr. Adley's presence and treatment completely confidential. We are honored to have you all here, and I assure you that your health, safety, and privacy are our top priority. We have some of the top surgeons in their field called in and, of course, Dr. Franks, as requested.” She doesn't sound entirely pleased about us apparently bringing in our own surgeon, but she doesn't make any further remarks.
For the most part, we all stare back at her dumbly, too overcome by the last few hours to articulate an appropriate response. I use our exit from the elevator as a cover for our silence. I know Tony is behind all of this, but we've yet to be able to touch base and corroborate our official story.
I clear my throat. “I apologize, Dr. Kuodo, it's been a long night. We are all very appreciative of the exceptional service.”
“Of course, you've all been through a terrible ordeal,” she says. Again, I wonder what Tony would have told them to explain our predicament. “We are taking you straight to the treatment suite where Mr. Adley will be taken once he's out of surgery. Dr. Harcut and Nurse Turner will check you each out and treat any wounds you may have.” She gestures to the two staff members standing behind us.
Six speaks up, the rasp of her voice betraying her exhaustion. “What about Jackson?”
“Jackson is the second trauma patient with the gunshot wounds?” Dr. Kuodo questions.
“Yes ma'am, he's part of our group as well,” I confirm.
“He has been taken to surgery as well, and we will update you as soon as we are able.”
“And he'll be brought to the treatment suite as well, right?” Six asks her.
Dr. Kuodo pauses, clearly unsure how to answer.
“I feel certain that's what Mr. Adley would want,” I assure her.
“Are you by chance…Mr. Posa?” She asks, consulting a tablet to confirm the name.
Luis steps forward. “That would be me.”
“Oh. Well, as you have a medical power of attorney, I suppose I'll leave who stays in the room up to you. It would be unusual, but I recognize these are special circumstances.”
At a loss for words, we all stare at Luis. He looks just as bewildered as we do, but overcomes it quickly and assumes an air of confidence.
“It would be best if we all stayed together. Given the circumstances.”
“Understood. It was nice to meet you all. I'll check in on you tomorrow, or rather, later today. For now, if you'll follow Dr. Harcut and Nurse Turner to the treatment suite, they'll see you are well taken care of.” She hands a business card to Luis. “Call me if you need anything.”
Luis and I shake her hand before she leaves, and all of us turn to follow the two men. They lead us to a different elevator and into a section of the hospital that looks more like a hotel. The floors are carpeted, the walls covered in a textured blue-grey wallpaper, and there are actual light fixtures rather than fluorescents.
They lead us through a pair of double doors, a plaque on the wall indicating that we are in the “Presidential Suite.” Inside truly looks like a fancy hotel, with plush carpets, a seating area, and a kitchenette. There are three bedrooms, each with their own en suite bathrooms.
The only things that even suggests we are in a medical facility are the monitors and equipment that are built into the wall of one bedroom. The other rooms are typically used for patients' families, but the staff assures us they will bring in the correct equipment to care for Jackson as well.
Dr. Whatever-his-name-is and the nurse, who told us his name is Levi, checks each of us over, and other than tending to a few minor cuts, we all pass a checkup. Once they leave, Luis calls Tony, and I finally get a chance to sit with Lukas.
He hasn't said a word since we got here, and I know he's hurting and afraid.
Sitting next to him on one of the plush sofas, I place a hand on his leg. I don't want to force him to talk, I just want him to know we're here for him.
“You saved us,” I tell him gently.
“That's the worst part,” he says, turning to look at me with watery eyes. “As sick as it all makes me, I know I'd do it again a hundred times over. I'll never get over the fear of thinking you might not make it out of there, that none of you would. And while part of me may never stop wondering if there could have been another solution, I took Adley's words to heart. I had to assume they'd shoot to kill. I had to. I couldn't lose you.”
Tears spill from his eyes. My heart aches for him.
