On Point (Out of Uniform 3)

“Pneumothorax.” The senior chief’s voice was clipped. “Wizard’s on it.”

It didn’t escape Maddox’s notice that the senior chief didn’t offer a reassurance that Ben would make it. And a collapsed lung was absolutely a medical emergency, especially this far from a base. He started to try to talk again, but Rogers’s big hand pushed him back. “Hold still. Good drugs are coming.”

“What? I don’t want...” He was already spacing out again, a deeper haze this time, pain receding.

God, please spare Ben. I don’t care about my sorry self. Just save him. Maddox’s hurried prayer was his last conscious thought.

* * *

Bright lights. Acid smell. People all around him. He had no idea where he was—a base hospital? A ship? And he hurt too much to care.

“Horvat? You’re going to be okay. Heading into surgery now.” That was the LT’s voice, deep and gravelly as ever. “They’re going to take good care of you.”

“Ben...” Maddox tried to talk, but he was already moving, stretcher—this one with wheels—barreling through double doors, and then he was out again.

* * *

When he woke up next, he was alone. And hot, his skin feeling like bricks in the July sun. He itched from the heat, and his throat was drier than the burnt toast Ben insisted on calling breakfast.

“Help,” he muttered. Hospital room, he guessed from the monitors beeping all around him.

“Hey there, Preacher.” Wizard hovered somewhere above him. There were dark circles under his eyes, and his caramel hair stood up at alarming angles. “Still with us?”

“Never better.” Maddox had to work for each word. “Hot.”

“Yeah, the docs are working their tails off on that. You’ve got a bad infection, but you’re fighting.”

“Ben...” Maddox didn’t remember much, but he knew that Ben was somewhere, hurting. Shouldn’t Wizard be with him?

“Don’t worry about Tovey.” Wizard’s hand was cool on Maddox’s shoulder. “They’re about to dose you again, and I need to ask you...” Wizard took a deep breath, one that made Maddox inhale too, and that hurt.

“What?” he coughed.

“Do you want me to call your folks? Try to talk to them, I mean. Or the LT can do it. I know things aren’t the best with them—”

“Ha.” Maddox wasn’t sure when was the last time he’d spoken to them. A year ago? Or was it closer to two now? The days and weeks used to be etched on his heart, but now he was just numb to it. Probably when Addy got married—he’d sent an engagement gift and called to see if she wanted him to get leave to come. She’d waffled, and he’d known then that things were never going to change with his parents and the rest of the family. No invitation had arrived, and he’d shipped out with his team. They were his real family now, the ones who actually gave a shit about him.

But if Wizard wanted to notify his family...this had to be bad. He shivered despite his burning skin.

“Addy,” he said at last, because she at least might care, at least a little, and would spread the news. If he were about to kick it... Well, he didn’t much care to think about that, but he had a powerful urge for his mother right then. Almost visceral in its intensity and equally as hopeless. She wasn’t coming, but maybe she’d pray for him. That would be nice.

“I’m on it.” Wizard squeezed his shoulder. “Anything else you need?”

“How bad...” Hell, Maddox was already starting to float again. Words were just too hard.

“You’re a fighter, right? Just keep with us, okay?” Wizard’s voice wasn’t exactly reassuring. “You’re going to sleep now.”

Someone else was in the room, maybe two someones, and Maddox couldn’t find the voice to explain that it was Ben he was worried about, that it was Ben he needed to know would make it. Maddox would make whatever deal he needed to with God to ensure that. And if this was the end, well it was Ben, not Addy, not his parents, who he needed at his side.

* * *

Ben was covered with snakes. Sharp, mean reptiles slithering over his torso, pricking at his arms, wrapping around his face and neck. He need to fight, needed to flick them off—

“Hey, Tovey. Don’t make them sedate you again, man.” Wizard’s calming voice reached through Ben’s dream.

“Snakes,” Ben mumbled.

“It’s a hallucination—one of the painkillers isn’t playing nice with you. Last night you were moaning about spiders. They’re trying to switch your meds and still keep you comfortable for transport.”

“Transport?” Ben licked his dry lips.

“You’re going back home. Better surgeons there. That’s why I’m here—I wanted to say goodbye.”

“Home? Surgeons?” Ben coughed.

Raising the bed, Wizard held out a cup with a straw. “Whatever you do don’t try to raise your arms. You can have a small sip of ice though. Clear your throat.”