All of them needed to sleep. None of them had had any decent rest in over a week, and Gwen knew that all of their family was running dangerously close to empty. But retrieving the lost member of their pack had been a task without question--Gwen knew that all of them would move heaven, earth and hell, if necessary, to bring her home.
She watched Owen move to the back of the aircraft, taking the seat opposite Blue's stretcher, as always touched by the tender sincerity evident between Alpha and Beta. They were a team, Owen and Blue, and although Blue was growing up, becoming a strong individual in her own right, the bond she shared with her alpha--her father--would always be unbreakable.
Gwen jolted awake when she heard the copilot calling for her, saying she had a phone call. He passed her the receiver and she answered, not at all surprised to hear the voice on the other end of the line.
"Gwen! Where are you? How far out?"
"Airborne. As to how far..." She glanced up at the copilot, who held up two fingers. "...about two hours, I think. Is everything ready there?"
Debra's voice crackled over the staticy line. "I managed to get hold of everything you asked for, although just what you need this stuff for, I can't even imagine."
Gwen sighed, leaning her head back and covering her eyes. "I told you, it's emergency surgery for a very special client. An exotic. And I'd rather not have to wade through the Los Angeles Wildlife Department when we land, Debra, okay? Just...keep a lid on things, and I'll let you know when we make it."
"Right-O, Gwen, you got it. You'll have transportation from the airport to here, no lights, no siren, but quick all the same. And hey, you'll owe me big time for this, yeah? I want to know what the hell. So you better give, when it's all over."
Gwen signed off and handed back the receiver, heaving a tired sigh. Not for the first time did she wish she'd have been able to participate in a little destruction of property back on Isla Sorna, but those were just tired thoughts. She really did need to get some rest, particularly since once they landed, she'd be the only one familiar with Blue's specific medical needs. So after checking on her patient, administering another dose of the metronodiazole and adding another fluid protein bag, Gwen stepped around, placed a soft kiss on the top of Owen's head, and returned to her seat, ignoring the seat belt in favor of lying over and curling up for a little catnap.
The hum of landing gear woke her, a little over two hours later. Gwen abruptly sat up, started to rush to Blue's bedside, but the captain informed her that they were on approach and to stay put with her seat belt fastened. His hands must have been delicate, thank God, for their landing was smooth and easy, although Gwen was nevertheless a little anxious about debarking without having to go through Customs. But Debra was as good as her word; a plain unmarked van waited at the gate for them, and everyone piled in, Blue's stretcher in the cargo's middle, with everyone else huddled around her for the short ride to the University's Medical Building.
Los Angeles at three am wasn't really dark. There was more than enough ambient city light to see by as the van rolled up to the back entrance, a woman perhaps in her early thirties waiting. She greeted Gwen by name, offering hers as Debra Williamson, and gave Owen and Omega wary looks, but fell to in assisting Doctor Carruthers with her patient.
The latter brought her up to speed quickly, couching details in medical jargon as not to alarm the laymans and Dr. Williamson was wide-eyed and more than a little taken aback by the time she and Gwen had Blue set up in a private wing of the teaching center, Omega never more than an arm's width away from her, as usual. "So that's the game," Gwen was telling Debra quite pointedly when they rejoined Owen just behind the curtain. "We'll have to wait until she comes out of the coma for surgery, which shouldn't be too much longer, if I know Blue." To Owen, Gwen said, "Debra's going to run some tests, check a few things out, and let me know our options in an hour or so." She gave the other woman a nod, adding, "Just work around him, as long as he knows you're helping, he'll be all right."
Debra looked decidedly nervous, but moved off to do her chores regardless, leaving Gwen to tell Owen, "There's nothing I can do until I get those test results or she regains consciousness. There's a food court here, something's always open for the interns pulling all-nighters, and a set of showers and whatnot." She checked her watch. "Debra said it'll be about two hours, give or take fifteen minutes, before she gets anything viable, so we have a bit of a window."
no subject
She watched Owen move to the back of the aircraft, taking the seat opposite Blue's stretcher, as always touched by the tender sincerity evident between Alpha and Beta. They were a team, Owen and Blue, and although Blue was growing up, becoming a strong individual in her own right, the bond she shared with her alpha--her father--would always be unbreakable.
Gwen jolted awake when she heard the copilot calling for her, saying she had a phone call. He passed her the receiver and she answered, not at all surprised to hear the voice on the other end of the line.
"Gwen! Where are you? How far out?"
"Airborne. As to how far..." She glanced up at the copilot, who held up two fingers. "...about two hours, I think. Is everything ready there?"
Debra's voice crackled over the staticy line. "I managed to get hold of everything you asked for, although just what you need this stuff for, I can't even imagine."
Gwen sighed, leaning her head back and covering her eyes. "I told you, it's emergency surgery for a very special client. An exotic. And I'd rather not have to wade through the Los Angeles Wildlife Department when we land, Debra, okay? Just...keep a lid on things, and I'll let you know when we make it."
"Right-O, Gwen, you got it. You'll have transportation from the airport to here, no lights, no siren, but quick all the same. And hey, you'll owe me big time for this, yeah? I want to know what the hell. So you better give, when it's all over."
Gwen signed off and handed back the receiver, heaving a tired sigh. Not for the first time did she wish she'd have been able to participate in a little destruction of property back on Isla Sorna, but those were just tired thoughts. She really did need to get some rest, particularly since once they landed, she'd be the only one familiar with Blue's specific medical needs. So after checking on her patient, administering another dose of the metronodiazole and adding another fluid protein bag, Gwen stepped around, placed a soft kiss on the top of Owen's head, and returned to her seat, ignoring the seat belt in favor of lying over and curling up for a little catnap.
The hum of landing gear woke her, a little over two hours later. Gwen abruptly sat up, started to rush to Blue's bedside, but the captain informed her that they were on approach and to stay put with her seat belt fastened. His hands must have been delicate, thank God, for their landing was smooth and easy, although Gwen was nevertheless a little anxious about debarking without having to go through Customs. But Debra was as good as her word; a plain unmarked van waited at the gate for them, and everyone piled in, Blue's stretcher in the cargo's middle, with everyone else huddled around her for the short ride to the University's Medical Building.
Los Angeles at three am wasn't really dark. There was more than enough ambient city light to see by as the van rolled up to the back entrance, a woman perhaps in her early thirties waiting. She greeted Gwen by name, offering hers as Debra Williamson, and gave Owen and Omega wary looks, but fell to in assisting Doctor Carruthers with her patient.
The latter brought her up to speed quickly, couching details in medical jargon as not to alarm the laymans and Dr. Williamson was wide-eyed and more than a little taken aback by the time she and Gwen had Blue set up in a private wing of the teaching center, Omega never more than an arm's width away from her, as usual. "So that's the game," Gwen was telling Debra quite pointedly when they rejoined Owen just behind the curtain. "We'll have to wait until she comes out of the coma for surgery, which shouldn't be too much longer, if I know Blue." To Owen, Gwen said, "Debra's going to run some tests, check a few things out, and let me know our options in an hour or so." She gave the other woman a nod, adding, "Just work around him, as long as he knows you're helping, he'll be all right."
Debra looked decidedly nervous, but moved off to do her chores regardless, leaving Gwen to tell Owen, "There's nothing I can do until I get those test results or she regains consciousness. There's a food court here, something's always open for the interns pulling all-nighters, and a set of showers and whatnot." She checked her watch. "Debra said it'll be about two hours, give or take fifteen minutes, before she gets anything viable, so we have a bit of a window."