Blood & Thunder (THIRDS 2)

Calvin winced. “I’d say…. Mariah Carey pissed.”

“Shit. Mariah? Really? You sure he’s not Tom Cruise pissed, demanding a hotel be cleared out for him and his dinner?”

“Nope. Definitely Mariah pissed.”

“Damn it.” Maybe he should play up his injury. No, that would probably blow up in his face. He had no idea what lay in store for him, as it was the first time he’d gone against Sloane’s orders. But Dex had been right to do so. If he’d waited until backup arrived, waited for them to clear the area, before going in for Hobbs…. He’d rather not think about it.

“Calvin? Dex? Where the hell are you two?”

“Speak of the devil,” Dex murmured. “We’re on our way.” Calvin helped him down the stairs and the moment he stepped foot in the lobby, Sloane was waiting for him, and he was most definitely pissed off.

“What the hell—” Sloane took in his bloodied leg, his face going red as he pulled off his helmet and thrust it at some poor agent within arm’s reach. “I told you it was dangerous. Did you get that looked at?”

“It’s fine, just a scratch. I’ll go now.” Dex thanked Calvin, who couldn’t mask his relief at being able to run off, and Dex made his way outside the building. The sidewalk and street were littered with agents, EMTs, firefighters, news vans, reporters. It was a nightmare. Outside, Sloane pulled Dex to one side.

“What the hell did you think you were doing?”

“My job,” Dex replied, making certain no newspersons heard him. The last thing they needed was the press reporting how the THIRDS couldn’t even manage their own teams. They were going to be crucified for this. Didn’t matter that they weren’t clairvoyant, that they didn’t have enough evidence, or information to go on. All they would see was that the THIRDS had failed and innocent kids were hurt. A part of him believed they were right. The last thing he needed right now was to be chewed out by his Team Leader.

“No. Your job is to follow orders, and you sure as hell weren’t doing that.”

Dex limped over to their BearCat and tossed his helmet inside the open back doors. Rosa was at the console connected to dispatch, updating the various THIRDS units on scene. Instead of helping, Dex was stuck arguing.

“You really thought I was going to walk away when there was even the slightest chance of going in there and saving him?”

“I expected you to wait for backup,” Sloane insisted.

“There was no time to wait for backup!”

“Dex!”

You’ve got to be kidding me. He really was not in the mood for Ash. Dex turned to snap at him. “What?” At Ash’s stricken expression, Dex knew something was wrong. “What happened?”

“It’s Cael.”

“What about Cael?” Ash’s hesitation, coupled with the pain on his face, scared the hell out of Dex and he grabbed Ash’s vest. “Ash, where’s my brother?”

“He got knocked out during the blast. Part of the ceiling collapsed in one of the rooms he was in. The EMT that checked him over says they won’t know how serious it is until they get him back to the hospital. They’re loading him up in that ambulance there.” Ash pointed out one of the ambulances, and Dex started for it when Sloane caught his arm.

“We’re not done here.”

“Are you serious?” Dex gaped at Sloane. “That’s my brother.”

“I know that,” Sloane replied, clearly attempting to summon patience he didn’t have left. “I know you’re worried, but we have a job to do. You have a job to do.”

Ash put his hand on Sloane’s shoulder. “Can I talk to you?”

“Not now, Ash.”

“Sloane.”

“Fine.” Sloane released Dex, jabbing a finger in his direction. “I expect a debriefing later, Daley.”

“Yes, sir,” Dex ground out through his teeth before he made a dash for the ambulance calling out to them. “Wait!” He reached one of the EMTs before he could close the door. “I’m coming with you. That’s my brother.” He climbed into the back of the ambulance, taking a seat on the bench as the doors closed.

“Cael.” Dex ran a hand over his brother’s head, hating the look of him covered in grime and blood. He’d been so lost in his thoughts he hadn’t heard the EMT talking to him. “I’m sorry, could you repeat that?”

The guy pointed a blue-gloved finger at Dex’s leg. “Would you like me to take a look at your leg?”