Sarah had a brief glimpse of brown eyes, craggy features, and a welcoming smile before she was sent flying behind him from the force of his assistance.
“Hey old buddy, you gonna keep showing off or are you gonna board this plane?” His comment had been meant for Clint. Sarah was surprised to see he was right behind her. A glance outside the plane showed her a man lying motionless on the ground. While others were closing in and firing recklessly at them. Clint pulled the steps up and swung the door closed in one swift movement. Stan turned and hurriedly headed for the cockpit.
“How was that for a landing?” He was talking around a stubby, unlit cigar, which was clamped tightly between his teeth.
“I’ll reserve my comments until after we get this fucking bird off the island. And you better make it quick.” He turned after securing the door. “Thanks for coming to the rescue.”
“Looks like I got here in the nick of time, too!” Stan pointed out, looking back at Sarah and shooting her a wink.
She attempted to smile, listening to their brief exchange, but their voices seemed to be coming from far away. Light-headed and dizzy all of a sudden, she found her breathing was becoming difficult too. Her throat felt like it was closing up on her, her mouth so dry it felt like someone had stuffed cotton in it. Just the same she held out her hand.
“Sarah Reynolds.” She released a strangled cry when Stan took her hand in his, squeezing it gently. She swayed, sinking to her knees before either man could catch her.
“Sarah!” Clint reached for her as she fell to the floor.
God, what is happening to me? She shook her head to clear it of the fuzziness.
“I…feel funny, Clint, so funny.” Things were starting to spin wildly out of control. “Clint…” Her voice trailed off as she succumbed to the black void closing over her.
****
“What’s wrong with her?”
Clint knew she’d either been bitten by a poisonous spider or was having an allergic reaction to the bite. Fear raced through him and he shot Stan a warning glance. “Spider bite. Stan, get this fucking plane in the air now!”
Because it was a cargo plane, there weren’t any seats. Clint carried Sarah to the makeshift cot Stan used when he had to stop to rest on long flights. He laid her down gently, picking up her hand to examine it. It was swelling at an alarming rate around the bite area, a bad sign.
“Clint…what?” She was beginning to come around. "Can't…breathe…"
“Save your strength, angel.”
He opened his duffel bag, digging through it for some alcohol, antiseptic and the auto- injector of epinephrine he kept on hand for emergencies. His job often took him to far off jungles in third world countries where medical care was not available.
Without hesitation, he injected Sarah in the muscle in her thigh. Next, he unsheathed his knife and doused the blade with the alcohol, wiping it on his army blanket and then dousing it again. Picking up her hand, he tightened his jaw knowing he was going to cause her pain. She instinctively tried to pull away, but he held on tight, knowing that it had to be done.
Before he could change his mind, he lanced the sac that was already forming around the bite. She screamed, struggling to pull away, cursing him. He turned deaf ears to her verbal abuse, steeling himself from the pain he was causing her. He squeezed out the venom from the wound and didn’t stop until he saw the fresh flow of blood, and then doused it with antiseptic.
"Got any fucking ice?" He had to shout over the noise of the plane.
"My thermos!" Stan yelled back, tossing it behind him to Clint.
Clint undid the cap and dumped out what was left of the contents, catching several cubes of ice in his palms. He tossed the thermos aside and applied the ice to Sarah's bite, elevating her hand. When he’d done all that he could, he sat back against the side of the plane. Sarah had passed out again, thank God, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away from the shallow rise and fall of her chest.
Releasing a deep sigh, Clint knew it was going to be a long, hellish flight before they reached Florida…and a hospital.
Hold on, baby. Fuck, hold on.