Chapter Text
This is it. It has to be, Javier thought as he felt his brain splatter against the side of his skull. A punch to the side of the head was the culprit and the agent never wished he was dead more than he did at that moment. With any luck, his captor would beat him to death and that would be the end of his suffering. He had nothing more to give.
Another blow to the head.
Javier felt light explode behind his eyes as the world went black.
There were his final moments and he sunk into the darkness.
And yet his body held on just to feel one more final kick to the head from the man standing above him. Why couldn’t he just die?
***********************
Steve felt his skin practically vibrating on his bones as he seethed in pure rage. It took both Connie and Carillo keeping a firm grip on both of his arms to keep him from bursting into the abandoned warehouse the bomb squad was currently sweeping.
Miguel’s brother did not take the news of the trial as well as they’d hoped despite Carillo’s reassurances that he would tip the scales in Miguel’s favor. Enraged, Javi’s captor had struck a new deal since his brother was at least back in Colombia; they could have Agent Peña back alive... if they could get to him before he died.
Steve had never felt such acute desperation as he pushed the search and rescue team as fast as they possibly could to the given location, praying that they weren’t too late. And now here they were, watching…waiting…hoping.
“Area’s all clear. No sign of the perpetrators. They’ve completely cleared out. Send in search and rescue,” a static-filled voice announced over the walkie-talkie.
Steve tried to bolt but Carillo was ridiculously strong and held him back.
“Let go!” Steve growled.
“You can’t do anything for him right now, Steve. Let them help him first. We don’t know what kind of shape he’s going to be in,” the stoic superior reminded him.
Connie chewed her lip nervously. Her medical training and instinct suggested that Javier would be in a bad way. She’d come along as emergency medical support should they need it and she had no doubt in her mind that they would.
A terrified, agonized scream echoed from the warehouse and Steve felt his heart leap in his chest. He knew instantly it was Javier before the leader of the search and rescue team could crackle over the walkie-talkie.
“We need some help in here. It’s pretty bad. He won’t let anyone touch him. We suspect he’s suffering from compromised eye-sight.”
“Fuck, Carillo. Let Connie and me go in there,” Steve growled, still trying to wrench his arm from the general’s grip.
Carillo gave him a hard look and weighed his options. After all this time and effort they couldn’t afford to lose Javi now. They were so close to getting him home.
“I’m sending in the Murphys. Stand by,” Carillo said into his radio as he released his grip on Steve. “Do as Agent Murphy tells you.”
Steve didn’t even wait to see if Connie was following him. All he cared about was seeing his partner alive and breathing. Ten more steps and he reached the warehouse. He could hear his wife’s soft footfalls behind him. Five more steps and he was inside. The air was dank and smelled of blood, sweat, and urine. It was dark. Javier had spent almost a week in the dark. Twenty more steps and he had arrived. Nothing could have prepared him for the sight that met his eyes. The urge to vomit washed over him so strongly he had to fight to keep it down. Javier was top priority now.
To call him a man would be inaccurate. Javier looked like some sort of deranged creature. Blood and sweat decorated his skin like a macabre abstract painting. Steve couldn’t tell where it all was coming from but the red matted in his partner’s hair was the most concerning. Javier shivered in nothing but his black boxer briefs as he pushed his weak body as far back into a corner of the room as he possibly could. He looked frightened and sick, a mere husk of a human being.
“Steve, I don’t think he can see,” Connie breathed out, noting how Javier’s eyes stared blankly ahead and couldn’t focus on anything.”
“No-no more,” Javier pleaded from his corner. “I-I do-don’t know anything.” A wet, hacking cough exploded from his lungs and Steve’s heart somersaulted in his chest. Javier was barely alive and fading fast. This last spark of adrenalin would kill him if they didn’t get the agent to calm down.
“Ok. Half of you need to leave,” Steve ordered in a calm and even voice. “There are too many people in here and it’s stressing him out.” Steve waited until a sizable chunk of the search and rescue team left the area before continuing. “The rest of you back up and give him some space. Let Connie and me try to get to him first.”
The leader of the team nodded and wordlessly motioned for his remaining men to back away from the injured agent. Carillo’s orders had been explicitly clear and no one wanted to cross the general.
Once a path was clear, Steve moved to approach Javier first. Connie hung back, waiting for Steve’s signal. There was no order or suggestion. Connie had come to know Javier very well and knew her husband would be able to calm him. They silently flowed with each other and it was what made the Murphys such a good couple.
“Javi?” Steve said softly.
Javier flinched at the sound of his name and his blind eyes searched the room desperately. It couldn’t be his partner. That was too good to be true. Surely he was dead and this was some dream in the afterlife. He pressed himself even tighter into the corner he was trying to defend himself from.
“S-S-Steve?” He shuddered out.
“That’s right buddy. It’s me. I’m here,” Steve reassured as he inched closer. The horrendous smell radiating off his partner was suffocating now but he fought to keep his stomach settled as he finally arrived at Javier’s side. He could hear the weak and wheezy respirations forcing themselves from the agent’s lungs and noted some of the deep lacerations and stab wounds littering Javier’s torso, arms, and legs. It’s a wonder the man hadn’t bled out yet. He was certain the agent was at the threshold of fatal blood loss so it was important to work quickly. He moved to rest his hand on Javier’s shoulder but the agent, startled by Steve’s sudden presence at his side, pulled away and cried out when the movements caused him unbearable agony.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Javi. I didn’t mean to scare you,” Steve reassured, keeping his tone calm and even.
“S-S-Steve?” Javier rasped again as a violent shiver rolled through his body. His mind was caught in a loop of remembering and then forgetting where he was and who was with him.
“It’s me. Connie’s here too. We aren’t going to let anyone else hurt you ok?” He watched his partner’s chest heave unevenly and out of the corner of his eye, he could see Connie slowly start to make her way to them.
“Javier?” Connie called softly and Javi’s head lolled to face the direction her voice came from.
“C-C-Con-“ Javier cut another cough shredded through his lungs. A whimpering growl rumbled past his lips as he gasped for breath.
“It’s me, Javi. We’re gonna get you home in time for dinner ok?” Connie said gently. “Do you trust me?”
“C-Col-d,” Javier whimpered as he trembled violently.
“I know, Javi. I’m going to fix it. Now stay with me ok? Do you trust me?”
Javier somehow summoned the strength to nod at her weakly and Connie breathed out a quiet sigh of relief. This was going to be much easier with Javier co-operating. She could keep up command of the room now and ensure that the next part went as smoothly as possible.
“Ok, Javi. I’m going to move you so we can get you out of here ok? I’m going to touch you but I promise I will be gentle. Tell me to stop if it gets too much.”
Javier nodded and Steve watched with anxious anticipation as Connie began to maneuver Javier onto his back. Another soft whimper escaped his partner and his wife’s brow furrowed.
“Don’t fight me, Javi. Just relax and let me do the work,” Connie urged and at last, the pair arrived at their destination. Connie went into full nurse mode as she carefully assessed the injured agent.
“How is he?” Steve murmured softly as his trembling had found its way into Javier’s.
“Ok, Javi. We’re going to get you packed up and out of here. The other medics are going to do a couple of things. I won’t let them do anything to hurt you and Steve is going to hold your hand the entire time ok?” Connie said, brushing off Steve’s question. She looked at her husband and shook her head, signaling that now was not the time to discuss it.
“N-No! C-Connie! C-c-c-can’t s-see!” Javier gasped as he flailed limply. Connie put a reassuring hand on his chest and motioned for the search and rescue team to halt in their trajectory towards the injured man.
“You have to relax Javi. Just relax. What if I do most of it? We have to stabilize you.”
“J-Just y-you,” Javier forced out.
Connie bit her lip but nodded despite the worry settling in her stomach. “Ok, Javi. I’m just going to get a few things. Steve is going to stay with you. He’s got your hand. I’ll be right back.” Getting to her feet and faced the search and rescue team. “I need a unit of blood. He’s O positive. I also need some oxygen support and a sedative. We’ll patch him up and get him on fluids in the ambulance.” She turned to another medic standing by. “Alert the hospital so they can be ready for us. We’re looking at multiple lacerations and stab wounds. Some third-degree burns. Multiple broken fingers, several ribs, and a broken ankle. He’s got severe pneumonia just by the sound of that cough, a fever, infection, possible sepsis, and severe concussion resulting in temporary loss of eyesight due to what I suspect is cranial swelling.”
Steve felt his stomach roll as he listened to the list of injuries inflicted upon his partner and he couldn’t believe Javier had survived so much over the past week. Javier’s pained gasps for breath past the congestion in his lungs made his heartache and he found himself clutching his friend’s limp hand as if his life depended on it.
“It’s ok, Jav. You’re ok. Connie’s gonna fix you up and we’ll be back to work before you know it.”
In a few minutes, Connie returned with her requested supplies and knelt beside Javier once more. “Ok, Javi. I’m gonna get you feeling good enough to get you out of here ok? Hang tight with me. I’ll talk you through everything that I’m doing. I’m going to get you on some oxygen. Don’t fight it. Let it help you.”
Carefully, Connie pressed the clear oxygen mask over Javier’s mouth and nose and expertly slipped the strap over his head. Worry knotted inside her when his breathing was still strained and heaving. The pneumonia was terrible if the fever radiating off his body was anything to go by. The next order of business was to address the blood loss before it killed the agent.
“Ok, Javi. I’m going to get you on a unit of blood. You’ve lost so much and this will help you feel better. You might feel a slight pinch in your arm. It’s just me ok? Just squeeze Steve’s hand.”
Connie carefully swabbed the blood and grime away from Javier’s arm before trying to get a suitable vein to puncture. It was easier said than done with how dehydrated the agent was.
“Shit,” Connie breathed out.
“What’s wrong?” Steve asked nervously.
“He’s so dehydrated. Gonna have to mine a bit for a vein. Hold him steady,” Connie replied before she pressed the needle into Javi’s skin.
A hoarse cry left Javier’s body as Connie dug the needle into the agent’s skin. Steve felt a surge of strength from his partner and he found himself pressing the man’s shoulders to the ground in an effort to keep him flat on his back.
“I-I don’t know anything! P-Please stop! Please!’ Javier pleaded as his head thrashed back and forth.
“It’s alright, Javi! I’m almost done. Just hold still!” Connie soothed as she finally found a halfway decent vein and pressed the needle in. Within a few moments, the blood was flowing steadily into Javier’s depleted body. The nurse sighed in relief.
“There we go. There we go. It’s over. I’m sorry. I won’t do that anymore. I promise. Just breathe, Javier. Breathe,” Connie coaxed as she rested her hand on Javier’s chest in an attempt to ease the harsh, shuddering breaths forcing themselves from the agent’s chest.
“P-please,” Javier begged weakly, gasping for air that wasn’t coming.
“It’s over. Just breathe slowly. You’re gonna be fine.”
Breathing seemed like the most impossible task in the world the moment as Javier choked and gagged on the congestion in his chest but Connie was telling him to and it seemed like a logical suggestion. So he lay in the darkness and gasped like a fish out of water while Connie finished the rest of her work.
“Ok. Last little pinprick and then we’re gonna get you out of here,” Connie informed as she injected the sedative into the agent’s broken body. It wouldn’t knock him out completely; that was too dangerous with the head injury lurking, but it would ease the pain and make moving him a lot less painful for everyone involved.
Javier barely felt the rushing numbness in his veins until it settled over him like a warm blanket. The pain wracking every nerve in his system was muted in the background now and the panic that had been steadily rising in him faded to nothing. He flinched when he felt something drape over his eyes but his body felt like it was moving through honey so he didn’t get too far.
“It’s alright. Just a strip of cloth to protect your eyes. I’m not sure if any light is going to get through but I don’t want to take any chances,” Connie’s voice explained and he relaxed so that she could finish securing the cloth behind his head.
“The stretcher is ready,” the leader of the search and rescue announced quietly.
“Ok. The sedative should take the edge off. We’ll move slowly and if he tells you to stop, we stop,” Connie directed as the team moved in to pack up the downed agent.
A few short minutes and only one pained cry from Javier later, the search and rescue team had the injured man strapped down to the gurney and began to move with Connie racing to keep up so that she could hold up the bag of blood. Steve stayed by Javier’s side, refusing to let go of his partner’s hand until they reached the ambulance.
“I’m sorry Agent Murphy. There’s only room for one and we need your wife to help us stabilize him,” the paramedic told Steve who still fought to climb into the van beside Javier. He wasn’t going to take his eyes off his partner for even a second and he didn’t care who he had to fight to make that happen.
Connie could sense that her husband was in confrontation mode and passed the unit of blood off to a nearby medic so that she could surge forward to reach Steve’s side. She put a gentle hand on his chest and guided his face so that his gaze moved to her eyes.
“Steve, he doesn’t have time. We need to get him to the hospital so that he can get taken care of or he isn’t going to make it. He’s sick and hurt and needs medical attention. I know you want to stay with him. But I promise I’m not going to let anything happen to him. You have to trust me.”
Steve’s eyes darted from his wife to his struggling partner, and then back again to the woman standing in front of him. He took a deep breath, let it out shakily, and then nodded that he understood.
“Carillo and I will follow in the car. We’ll meet you at the hospital,” Steve said before jogging off to find his superior and get rolling.
Connie relieved that for once Steve had listened to her, climbed into the ambulance after the gurney, and the door slammed shut behind her. She ignored the way the tires scrapped along the gravel underneath or how the ambulance bumped onto the main highway as it screamed in the direction of the nearest hospital. Her focus was on Javier and Javier alone.
The man in question was still lax and calm as the sedative continued to pump through his veins. However, the moment a medic started to field dress the deep wound in Javier’s abdomen, the sharp pain cut through the numbing haze of drugs, and his back arched. A pitiful cry was muffled through the mask on his face and he moved to push the medic away.
Connie caught the agent’s hands and gently eased him back to the gurney. “Easy Javi. I’m sorry but we’ve got to stop the bleeding.”
“C-Connie,” Javier whimpered as the nurse gently carded her fingers through his hair, trying to soothe him.
“I know. I promise all of this is almost over. We’re on our way home.”
*******************
“What do you mean you need me to scrub in?” Connie asked the doctor standing in front of her incredulously. She still couldn’t believe his words.
“He won’t let anyone touch him and given the trauma he’s undergone we think it would be best if you were there while we treat him and conduct the MRI. He’s not going to do this quietly and you are a medical professional,” the doctor explained.
“I’m a nurse.”
“You’re someone he trusts and right now that’s what he needs. Now we’ve delayed his treatment long enough. Are you coming?”
Connie’s eyes shot from the doctor to her husband’s worried face. She had intended to sit with Steve in the waiting room and keep him grounded while they waited for news on Javier. Guilt racked her stomach at the thought of leaving him to wait alone.
Steve sensed the conflict in his wife and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “It’s alright, Connie. I’ll be fine. Javier needs you and I need to know someone is looking out for him. I’ll be waiting here when you get done. I promise I’m fine.”
“Alright. We shouldn’t be more than a few hours,” Connie replied, giving her husband a quick kiss on the cheek before following the doctor out of the waiting room.
********************
Steve was a liar. He was anything but fine. Anxiety and fear of the worst happening behind the closed double doors filled him to the point of boiling over and all he could do was wear a hole in the floor with his incessant pacing. He was is tired and it occurred to him that he maybe had five hours of sleep in nearly a week under his belt and that was all. And yet he knew he would never be able to sleep until he knew the fate of his partner. Fighting the exhaustion, Steve tried to down some crappy instant coffee only for it to come fighting back up and force him to race for the restroom.
At last, a blessed voice; his wife’s.
“Steve?”
Steve jumped to his feet, searching Connie’s face for any sign of how his partner was. The anxiety was almost unbearable. The smatters of blood on his wife’s clothes weren’t helping.
“How is he?”
“I’m not gonna sugar coat it, Steve. He’s in pretty bad shape but as long as there are no complications from pneumonia or sepsis he’s got good chances. He’s responding well to the treatment and so far it doesn’t look like the infections reached his bloodstream. He’s a fighter, and we’re going to help him every step of the way.”
“What about his eyesight?”
“He’s responding well to the anti-inflammatory we gave him. The MRI suggests there’s no permanent damage.”
Steve let out a sigh of relief. Javier would be lost if he didn’t have his eyesight.
“When can I see him?”
“We’ve got him sedated for now to let the medicines do their work but I know Javier would appreciate you being there when he wakes up. The doctor thinks so as well. Come with me,” she said as she took her husband by the hand and lead him down the quiet halls to Javier’s room. Carefully she pushed open the door and allowed her husband to enter first.
Javier was a mess of tubes and wires. A PEG tube was currently delivering nutrients to the agent’s frail body while oxygen flowed through a mask strapped to his face in an effort to assist his struggling lungs to breathe through the heavy infection. Worst of all, bandages covered his torso and hands. He was nearly as pale as the gauze wrapped around his body and Steve had to look away for a moment. Connie put her hand reassuringly on his shoulder.
“It’s alright, honey. I know this looks like a lot but it’s all helping him. You know Javier. He won’t go down without a fight.”
“I know. It’s just weird seeing him like this. That’s all.”
“I know. But he will get better. I have a good feeling about it. Here,” she said as she pulled up a chair beside Javier’s bed. “I got you a chair. Figured you might want to wait until he wakes up.”
“Yeah,” Steve replied tiredly as he rubbed the back of his neck and sat in the offered chair. Weariness was rapidly taking over him and still he forced himself to stay awake. Taking his partner’s hand into his, he did as Connie suggested.
Steve waited.