Page 25 of Andy

Chapter 13

Andy felt like everything had been rattled. He’d been closest to the blast and had been hit the hardest. When the world started moving, he glanced up and saw Bear dragging him away from the chaos.

He could stand. He was about to tell Bear to stop dragging him when another explosion went off. Bear dropped to the ground, covering him. Andy hoped nothing landed on them. They were too exposed. He needed to run, and he was letting Bear drag him.

“Fuck,” Bear cursed before standing up and holding onto Andy’s straps, tugging him away from the mess.

“I’m good,” Andy said, or thought he did, but Bear didn’t stop dragging him until they were positioned behind a rock.

Bear glanced down and met his gaze. “Shit, you’re conscious.”

He raised his hand, trying to wave off his buddy. “I’m okay.”

“Are you sure?” Bear asked.

Andy sat up, and his head spun. “Concussion.”

“Can you stand?”

Andy put one hand to the side and spun but stalled. “Give me a second.” He got one leg under him and regretted his choice to stand. “Fuck.”

“You okay?” Bear asked.

“Yeah, yeah. My head just hurts like a bitch.”

“Are you bleeding?” Bear asked.

Peach moved closer. “What’s going on?”

“Checking Andy for blood.”

“Fuck,” Peach said. “Nobody leaks this time. Okay. A chopper is about five clicks out. Hold it together, my man.”

Andy slowly made his way to standing and then leaned against the rocks as his stomach rolled. He couldn’t hold his cookies down and tossed them as pain slid down his spine. More than just his head hurt, but he couldn’t pinpoint the pain.

“Fucking hell, Andy,” Wild said. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good. Just emptying out some stuff.” Andy wiped his mouth on the back of his hand. His arm and shoulder hurt on his left side. He’d landed on his right, but the left hurt much worse. Was he bleeding? He was glad a chopper was coming his way because he wasn’t sure he would be much use to anyone.

He'd slumped a bit, and Bear helped him to stand straight. “Hell, you’re bleeding.”

“I’m okay.” Andy wasn’t. He hadn’t ever been hit like that. It wasn’t horrible. Pieces of him weren’t scattered over the land, but something bad had hit him, and he wasn't sure he could make it to the chopper.

“They’re here,” Peach said as he grabbed hold of Andy and started leading him over to the noise that seemed like it would split his skull open if it kept going.

Andy didn’t want to throw up again, but he was on the verge of losing it. He just had to hang on long enough to get inside the chopper and let someone strap him in. Passing out was on his agenda, but he needed to be loaded on.

He felt the world tilt, and he wondered if the helicopter was moving or if it was him. Peach had somehow gotten him secured in the chopper without him realizing they were there. He closed his eyes again, and his stomach rolled. He was forced to open his eyes and realized they were flying. The weird stomach-dropping movements were actual movements and not his body freaking out. He could survive this. They were on their way back to a ship where he would receive medical care. He just had to make it a few more minutes.

“Hey, man, stay with us,” Wild mouthed as he went to work getting Andy’s gear off.

He wanted to ask them what they were doing, but the lights kept going in and out. He didn’t like this feeling and wanted it to stop.

“Mel. Someone tell Mel I love her.”

Wild bent close, his ear at Andy’s lips so he repeated the words again. Wild moved so his lips were at Andy’s ear. “Fucking hell, Andy. You’re going to tell her yourself. You’re not dying out here.”

Andy grunted and closed his eyes. He wanted to sleep for a thousand years. He was so tired. He didn’t know how long they’d been in the air but was thankful when Peach tapped him on the shoulder before they moved to unload him.

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