ggg

"Blimey! Why'd they ever let him out a that hospital anyway?"

"'Cause they have too many guys there right now, and you said we wouldn't have any trouble takin' care of him out here."

"I said that?" Goniff stared down at Warden where he lay crumpled on the floor. He reached to help lift him but was waved away by Actor and Casino. Stepping back out of the way he rubbed at the bandage that was still taped across his belly and watched as they lifted the Lieutenant off the floor and laid him back out on the bed.

Actor checked the bandages that encircled Garrison's legs. The doctors had taken all the shrapnel out, but they'd left the wounds open to drain. They were already infected when they reached England and they couldn't close them with stitches, that might only serve to seal the infection off and let it build. The Lieutenant could lose his legs if that happened. The wounds had been carefully cleaned and tightly wrapped in hopes the flesh would knit together on it's own. It seemed to be working too, when they'd discharged him to come back to the mansion to make way for the influx of injured men from the Italian campaigns he was far from recovered, but he'd improved and was already making his way around on crutches...the con man shook his head.., when he remembered to use them.

The Warden had fallen the first time two days ago when he heard Chief during the night. The concussion the young man suffered on the latest mission left him unsteady on his feet and when he rolled out of bed after a bad dream he'd lost his balance, shouting out as he twisted and grabbed the frame of the bed to keep himself from falling. They'd bundled the Indian back into bed just in time to see the Lieutenant collapse in the doorway to the room the men shared. He'd managed to come up the stairs from the room they'd fixed up for him down on the main floor without the support of the crutches. Actor figured he'd torn the wounds in his legs open during the climb to get to them and only fell when the pain caught up with him.

The fever came back after that, but by then the hospital was full to over flowing. They didn't have any choice now, they had to handle him here. Actor knew how to deal with the pills and the dressings and a doctor or nurse came out if he called. Garrison was actually getting better, but the fever left him weak and confused, and it got worse at night.

The con man turned and called over his shoulder. "Goniff, you'd best go and let Chief know everything is all right. He's been dizzy again today and if he tries himself on those stairs we may have more to do that just look after the Warden."

g

Casino was beat. Playin' nurse maid for three injured guys was takin it's toll. He didn't begrudge them the effort…they'd do the same for him, and had more than once when they were over on the continent on a mission. But even though he hadn't gotten hurt this time he started the gig with a big disadvantage. The group had gotten separated during a bombing raid. The Warden had to handle the other two on his own, hurt as he was, and make his way to the safe house. He and Actor had to find their way there after the Allies had finished trying to annihilate the town they were operating in. Damn military geniuses! Couldn't they ever leave a place alone until after they'd gotten out of it?

It had taken them over twenty-four hours of dodging German patrols to get through to the farmhouse, by then the others were in pretty rough shape and needed lookin' after. They'd missed their connection with the sub too, and had to wait another whole day to hook up again so he was either standin' guard outside, or takin' care a the guys inside. Once they got back across the channel he and Actor sat in with the Warden as he debriefed with Reynolds while the doctors worked on his legs, and then spent another restless forty-eight hours at the hospital until they heard everything was going to be OK with the guys. They got to take Chief back with them when they headed back to the mansion, and they got one decent nights sleep before Goniff had been sent back. A piece a one a the bombs, or a hunk of a building or the street had torn across the guys belly, slicing the muscle from one side to the other and the little Limey'd kept them hopping helpin' him when he needed it. And then the next day they'd kicked the Warden back to them.

"So who's sittin' up with him tonight?"

"I'll do it. You blokes need to get some sleep." Goniff stood leaning in the doorway, sweat beaded across his forehead and he was pale from the effort going up and down the stairs had taken.

Actor studied the little man a moment, looked over at the dark circles under the safecracker's eyes and then turned and watched as Garrison tossed restlessly on the bed. "No. I'll stay down here with him. And, Casino, if you'll get that kit the doctor left I think we all may be able to get some sleep."

The east coast thief stepped away into the hall and was back in less than a minute. "He said he didn't want none a this stuff, remember?"

"I know. But he's hardly in the position to refuse, and we all need the rest." The con man opened the leather case and took out the needle and attached it to the syringe. Twisting the cap off one of the bottles he tipped some alcohol on to a wad of cotton wool. Picking up the next small vial he wiped the top clean and slid the needle through the rubber stopper drawing up a measure of the medicine it contained. Motioning the others forward to help he settled himself on the side of the bed.

The gaze the Warden turned on him was wide and unfocused. "Actor?"

"That's right."

"Actor?"

Garrison's second took the hand that reached out towards him and straightened the arm out. Shoving the sleeve up he used the cotton to swab down the skin. "Casino, hold on to him from that side and try and keep him still. Goniff, can you take his hand and keep him from moving?"

"No!"

"Hold on to him now, don't let him move." Actor slid the needle home and delivered the drug. He wiped at the drop of blood and waited for their commander to relax.

"Actor?"

"That's right, I'm right here." Nodding the others away he turned to secure the bottles in their leather case. Casino stepped away to the door but Goniff was still there by the bed, standing in his way as he tried to get to his feet. "Goniff, it's all right now. Go on up to bed and let the Lieutenant get some sleep."

"Uh, I think he's got other ideas." The little man tipped his head down to where Garrison gripped him by the wrist, holding him where he was.

"Goniff?"

"That's right, mate. What can I do for ya?" Actor slipped away from the bed and Goniff sat down in his place, wincing at the pulling sensation under the bandage on his belly he placed his hand over it to ease it. Garrison's eyes followed the movement and remained locked on his hand.

"You got hurt."

"It's nothin' Warden."

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry? You didn't know nothin' about that bombing raid, did ya?"

"No. They didn't tell me."

"Then you got nothin' to be sorry over. It wasn't your fault Warden. 'Sides, we all got out alright this time, didn't we?" Goniff shook his head, imagine the fella feeling sorry for somethin' he had nothin' to do with in the first place. He'd have to have a talk with him tomorrow when he wasn't so tired and his thinking wasn't muddled by fever.

"Goniff?... Goniff?!"

"Right here, mate, I ain't goin' no where." Actor motioned towards the cot in the other room and the second story man nodded his understanding. He'd sit up with him long enough for the medicine to take hold and put the Warden to sleep. For some reason or other it was him their leader needed close this time. Soon as he fell asleep he'd make his way back upstairs to his own rest, Actor'd be right there in case the man needed anything.

Gradually Garrison's grip on his wrist eased and he watched as his eyes drifted closed. The man's breathing deepened and evened out and the frown eased off his face. Finally his hand dropped away and released Goniff to go on his way.

g

"He stayed behind so we could get clear. So the rest of us could get away. The camera jammed, we couldn't get film of the documents we were sent after. So I studied them, memorized them. I have the better memory. He stayed behind and got killed so I could get the information out. If he'd been a regular soldier he would get a medal for that, but as it is…"

"You're sure he wasn't just wounded?"