Chapter 30

They jumped a couple of dunes on their ride. Leslie even screamed in excitement and then laughed after that. She seemed to like that kind of thing. In fact, Tony was starting to think she liked it a little too much so, he went around the next dune instead going over it. That turned out to be a good thing because, if he had not, he would have never seen Rusty.

The dog was laying at the bottom of one of the sandy hills. Tony stopped his ride and quickly jumped off. The dog had dried blood on his fur and big gaping tear that Tony could even peel back. Rusty was panting really heavy and made a painful whine as Tony looked him over. The dogs chest was rising and falling like the waves had last night. Tony went back to the four wheeler, grabbed his jacket from the front basket and then slid it under the dog before he picked Rusty up.

As Tony sat him in the basket, Leslie watched from the back of the ATV. She nervously asked, “is he all right?”

“I don’t know,” Tony told her. He wasted no time getting back to the station where he parked right by the porch. He carried the dog into the commissary, right by Bob who was sitting on the edge of the porch. Tony came rushing right back out the door before Bob could even get up. Tony, with no small amount of urgency in his voice, asked, “where’s Amy?”

That seemed to confuse Bob. He looked down at the end of the porch and then back to Tony, “I don’t know man? She was standing right there a second ago.” As Bob got to his feet he asked with some confusion, “what happened to Rusty?”

“Shit,” Tony grumbled beneath his breath. Then he told Bob, “looks like he got shot. I don’t know, last night maybe?”

Johnson thought about it and then asked, “you think he ran into those two goons?”

Tony was almost in a panic when he looked the guy in the eyes and said, “I don’t know Bob. All I do know is we need a medic and fast. The blood on him is dried. He’s been like this for a while.”

When Tony looked back towards the beach he saw a group walking up the pathway that led down to the dock. Calvin and Garcia were leading the way but, the person that interested him the most was tailing behind them, keeping to himself as usual. When the three men reached the building, Tony told that man, “Kent, we need your help.”

Kent walked past the ATV and nodded to Leslie as he did. He then announced to the world, “you know, all things considered, I think it would be a good day to skip my morning swim. I had thought of taking a nap but, Mister Tippet, if you are in so urgent need of my services. What may I do you for?”

Tony pointed back to the screen door behind him as Kent stepped up on the porch. Tony told the man, “it’s Rusty. I think he’s been shot.”

Kent looked to the door as if he could see the animal that was inside. Then, without showing any real concern he asked Tony, “you think he had a run in with last night’s mysterious intruders maybe?”

“It doesn’t matter Kent,” Tony told the guy with a bit of assertive force behind his voice, “he needs medical attention, now.”

The guy was actually still smiling and as polite as ever when he whimsically replied, “well in that case, there’s a veterinarian’s office not five miles down the road. My expert advice would be that you take him there at once.”

Even if Kent remained polite and happy, it was not Tony’s way. He was getting very agitated and even sounded passionate as he told the guy, “they’re not even open right now Kent. Sides that, he probably wouldn’t make the trip. We need help right now.”

When it did not appear as if Kent had changed his mind one little bit, Tony decided that the guy needed some special urging. He went for below the belt, “expert advice huh?” Tony put his hands on his hips and was bouncing around as he said it. His face was turning red, “let me ask you something Kent.” 

Cal was standing down by the ATV and watching the exchange. He thought it was getting just a little too intense, “hey guys, Tony.”

“Stay out of this Cal,” Tony shot back with a bite. Then he turned all of his attention on Kent, “you know you’re always talking about you went to medical school. I never heard you actually say that you graduated. You know Kent, we’re not stupid.”

Kent remained his usual self, even had a slight smile. It was almost as if he were finding amusement in Tony’s temper. He gave a polite little laugh when he told the pilot, “I don’t ever recall insinuating that you were Mister Tippet.”

Tony went on as if the guy had never spoke, “you know it takes more than just schooling. Doctors have residencies, and on the job training and all that other stuff. What’s the deal with all that Kent, huh?”

Kent snickered and then he acted as if he were about to give a lecture, “well I finished my courses if that’s what you mean. As for the rest. What’s being a doctor but having a piece of paper? I went to school for the knowledge Mister Tippet. I didn’t care about the paper and I certainly didn’t care for having to work with the self righteous tossers who tend to populate that particular field.” Kent moved a little closer to Tony and spoke with a little less volume when he said, “but I can see that the medical field isn’t the only one with people like that.”

Tony was even more jumpy now as he shot back, “you’re a smug bastard, do you know that? You talk about other people being self righteous, you got no room to talk buddy. What did you do last night? First you muscled your way on to my chopper and then, then, you disobeyed a direct order.”

“You might have been the pilot Mister Tippet,” still Kent refused to get upset, “but I and the chief medical officer at this station. The call was mine to make.” Kent smiled and gestured to Leslie who was standing nervously over the ATV. Kent then said, “and thanks to that call, there are two more people alive this morning that would not have been otherwise. Face it Mister Tippet, you were wrong.”

Cal spoke up again, “hey guys!”

They ignored him. That was especially true of Tony who was now in Kent’s face, “yeah some call. Amy had to take a dip to save your skinny little ass. If she hadn’t risked her life you’d still be out there in the drink.”

Despite the fact that this red faced hot head was nearly touching his nose, Kent smiled and politely said, “oh so that’s what this is really all about. So, Mister Tippet, does everything about you always boil down to that girl?” Tony snorted but Kent went on, “Let me ask you a very serious question Tony. How much do you really know about her?”

Cal almost jumped because it was becoming ever so obvious that Tony was going to swing. Johnson and Garcia were also now at the ready to jump in and stop a fist fight. None of them had too. Barbara stepped out the door, crossed her arms, and said, “what are you two doing?”

Tony snorted again but, he straightened up and backed off. His face was still red and his jaw was tight. His eyes never moved from watching that infuriating smug look on Kent’s face. Even so, Tony still managed to ask Barbara, “where’s Shannon at? Is she ok?”

Barbara took a glance back over her shoulder at the commissary door and then answered Tony, still using her command voice, “she went down like a rock. She’s in her room sleeping right now and I think that’s for the best.” With her arms crossed, Barbara then turned her attention to Kent, “Mister Gold, I would consider it a personal favor if you could help my daughters pet.”

Kent never unlocked with Tony’s eyes either, “sure Barbara. Anything you for you.” When he turned to walk away he noticed Barbara’s shirt. There was a small round blood stain on it, not far above the belt line. Kent pointed it out and said, “I think I better have a look at that first.”

Barbara had changed shirts and bandaged herself up almost as soon as they had gotten back. She had not realized that she was bleeding again. She looked down with alarm but, then she told Kent, “it’s nothing. I just cut myself last night. I’ll take care of it.”

Kent nodded and then told her, “if that’s the way you want it.” He almost went inside but then, turned and pointed to Bob, “Mister Johnson. If you would be so kind, could you fetch me a medical kit from the emergency supplies, please.” Bob nodded, still showing some concern about the little incident. He left, still looking over his shoulder. When Kent was satisfied that he would get what he needed he did have a parting comment for Tony, “oh, and Mister Tippet, if that dog bites me again. I’m coming looking for you.” He went inside.

Tony wanted to jump at the guy but, Barbara snapped at him, “Tony!” When he backed off she walked up to him and put a hand on his shoulder, “when did you sleep last?”

He was still jumping around when he said, “I don’t remember.”

Barbara pointed to the building, “in that case I want you back there in your rack and sleeping, this instant.”

“Na,” he replied, “I’m going to drive over to my Uncle’s and crash there.”

“No,” Barbara replied, “you are in no condition to drive anywhere. So go find you a rack and get in it.”
He wanted to protest but, in the end, Tony stomped off and did as instructed. With that out of way, Barbara looked down at Calvin and asked, “what happened out there?”

Cal’s mood lightened now that the war zone had moved on. He smiled, actually patted Garcia on the back, and told her, “oh I think we got us a whole new crop of hero’s, Barbara.”

Barbara composed herself and remained very serious when she replied, “I’ve already gotten the cliff notes version Mister Brandt.” Then she pointed to the door to make it clear what she was talking about, “I mean WHAT happened out there.”

Now Cal was at a lost for words, “I don’t know.” Then he pointed to her shirt and said, “you really should get that looked at.”

That led Cal to think about Amy and he started looking for her. When he didn’t see her he asked.

It was Leslie who spoke up, “I guess she left. She wasn’t here when me and Tony pulled in.”

That caught Barbara’s attention. She looked down at this girl with the short blond hair, “excuse me ma’am, but, who are you?” Cal explained where Leslie had come from and, while something still felt wrong, Barbara wrote it off and decided she did not feel like getting into it right now. She stepped off the porch and patted Calvin on the shoulder as she walked by him. She told him, “you did really well last night. All of you did.”

Cal just stood there and watched as Barbara walked down to the beach, turned west, and vanished behind the dunes. Garcia stood right beside him and watched with equal interest. The only difference was that Garcia actually asked out loud what they were both thinking, “what’s up with her?”

Once again Calvin had to admit, “I don’t know.” He shrugged it off, stepped up on the porch and announced to the world, “I think I’ll just skip breakfast this morning. In fact, come to think of it, I think today, I’m just going to skip today. See you guys tomorrow.” The screen door slammed behind him.