“Okay.” He let Jacob assist him over and around the next rock formation. Even with Jacob’s help, he slipped and slid. “Fuck.” Then, as he righted himself, he glanced up at the smoke rolling by. They still weren’t clear of danger by a long shot. Renewed urgency surged through him, but not simply about their destination. There were things that needed saying. “I’m sorry. About everything. And when we’re back—”
“Not. The. Place.” Jacob gave him a hard stare. “Just let me help you without you feeling obligated in return. This doesn’t have anything to do with...that.”
“Not feeling guilty. More like I’m realizing—”
“Let’s get out of this and then you can see if you’re still feeling so...apologetic.”
Fuck. It hadn’t occurred to Linc that he could figure his shit out and Jacob not believe him, not rush to make up, and not seem particularly inclined to listen.
“I hurt you and—”
“Next drop is the creek bank,” Jacob interrupted. “And yeah, we’ve got some talking to do. After. Right now, focus on making that evac flight.”
Jacob’s tone was just this side of patronizing and made it clear that he still assumed that Linc was prepping some sort of deathbed confessional. But there was no time to correct him, because they were dropping to the shallow water, and the rocky creek bed made walking with the crutch even more difficult.
The other group was already farther down the creek, but Cyrus doubled back to them. “We’ve made contact with the chopper. We’re looking at a very tight load window. Need to pick up our pace.”
“Trying.” Linc sloshed through the water with more effort.
“Let us carry you.” Cyrus nodded at Jacob, who was quick to agree.
“Yeah. It’s the best option and you know it.” And Jacob being Jacob, he didn’t wait for Linc to come to terms with this change of circumstances, simply scooping him up along with Cyrus in an impressively coordinated chair carry. And then they were on the move, it glaringly obvious how much Jacob had been holding back to keep up with Linc and the crutch as he and Cyrus easily plowed through the water. They made up ground with the sort of determination most recruits reserved for their first timed pack-out test.
Meanwhile, Linc struggled to keep his pride in check. It was one thing to know he might have to be stretchered out and another to be bodily carried, realizing there wasn’t a damn thing he could do to make this easier on Jacob and Cyrus who were both huffing with exertion. And yeah his head still ached, but he was conscious enough of every movement, every bounce and jostle. But then they caught up to the stretcher, and one look at Garrick put all that pride to shame. This was nothing. A little indignity, but he wasn’t complaining, not with his friend fighting for his life right next to him.
“I hear something!” Jacob’s voice was breathless but excited. “What’s the word from Command?”
“ETA five minutes,” the comm set reported, Ray’s voice even more filled with static. “The creek widens a little around this bend, and that will give them enough room for a tight landing.”
The drone of an incoming helicopter increased as they all sped up, the sound giving everyone a renewed burst of energy. They reached the wide, flat section of creek bank, and after setting Linc next to Garrick, the rest quickly prepped for the helicopter landing.
“Hang in there,” he said to Garrick, trying to summon all of Jacob’s usual upbeat energy. “Come on, buddy, just a little longer.”
“Yup.” Jacob came to crouch in front of Linc. “Listen, here’s the deal. And you can’t have a fit, okay?”
“Okay,” he reluctantly agreed.
“Because of how bad off Garrick is and because there’s seven of us to evac, they’re updating the plan. They’re sending a second chopper. First chopper’s going straight to the hospital in Bend. Cyrus and Duski want you on that chopper—no one likes the look of your head bump even if you are talking okay. We’ve all seen latent head injuries go bad fast. You need checking out.”
“And you too. Your wrist—”
“Is fine. Even after carrying your ass, I’m fine.” He gave Linc a hint of a rascally grin. “Just a sprain.”
“You need an X-ray.”
“And I’ll get one if the medics say so.” Jacob kept his voice low and patient. “But they’re balancing loads, and I’m on the second chopper. No fits, remember?
“Fuck. Jacob.” He held Jacob’s gaze, trying to get him to see reason, knowing it was pointless, but needing to try nonetheless. “If the fire shifts... If they can’t get a second chopper in...”
“We’ve got our shelters. We’re near the water. And I’m tough.”
“You’re...” My heart. My everything. The words were right there, but then Jacob looked away.
“Here it comes!” he shouted, standing up, helicopter noise increasing now, drowning out whatever Linc might have tried to say. To Linc, Jacob nodded. “Just trust me, man.”