Re: Studs, Texas - Book Two - Wait... -- The Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman Fan Exchange

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Date Posted: 14:06:02 12/22/02 Sun
Author: dqfan
Subject: Re: Studs, Texas - Book Two - Wait...
In reply to: SoldierBlue 's message, "Re: Studs, Texas - Book Two - The Little Alamo III" on 14:30:00 12/21/02 Sat

"Wait! Not yet!" Shane's halting command to the ambulance driver startled both Val and Nick.

Even in his weakened state, Shane's senses were as sharp as ever and right now his eyes were trained on Andy. Shane had seen his deputy take many grim calls from dispatch in the past, but this particular call seemed to have Andy at a complete loss for words.

CeCe saw it, too. Unconsciously, she placed her hand on Andy's arm to steady him. Perhaps her support with this�whatever it was�could help to make a difference.

"I�I�see�" Andy choked into the phone, staring from Shane to Val to CeCe. "We'll be right there�"

"What is it?" Shane was already off the stretcher and out of the ambulance, rocky but ready to take charge and respond.

"It's�it's�uh�there's been an incident�" Andy truly didn't know how to say it.

"An incident?" Sometimes Andy's ability to deliver bad news in vague terms could be more successful than even the finest Romulan cloaking device, Shane fumed.

"Rob Lawson�" Andy began hesistantly.

"Rob�" Val repeated, more than a little surprised that Andy would take any incident with Rob Lawson so to heart. "What happened to Rob?"

Shane felt his heart sink to his stomach. He and Nick and Rob had been friends for years. The idea of one of them not making it to their agreed-upon retirement, south of the border - three, old, cranky, beer-slugging, amigos from hell, was simply unacceptable.

"Rob Lawson's Camaro was found at the bottom of Heartbreak Hill. Apparently, it didn't make the hairpin turn�" Valiantly, Andy tried to recover his professionalism.

"Heartbreak Hill�" Val muttered to herself. First, The Little Alamo and now Heartbreak Hill! Studs certainly had its share of colorfully-named landmarks. The Texaroo Ranch would, undoubtedly, be a huge success.

"We gotta get to him, Shane�" Nick was about to turn toward his car.

"It�uh�" Andy's shaky voice brought back Nick's full attention and gave Shane a horrible feeling.

"Is it too late? Shane asked in an even tone, anticipating the worst. "Is Rob dead."

But, even as he asked, Shane noticed what he hadn't noticed before. Andy was studiously avoiding Nick's gaze.

"Nick�" Andy took a single deep breath. He could do this. He would do this. He would be the officer Shane had taught him to be.

Suddenly, Andy's focus became crystal clear.

"What?" The question slipped softly from Nick's lips. His pulse quickening, Nick looked Andy straight in the eye, not sure why news of Rob's death would be directed solely to him.

"Rob wasn't driving�he wasn't even in the car�" Andy explained, tears beginning to glisten in his eyes. "Nick, Randy was behind the wheel."

Shaken, Val turned to Shane and squeezed his hand tightly. They had come so close to losing each other tonight and, yet, miraculously, they'd been spared. Would they now be forced to witness Nick and Randy torn apart?

"Randy� No�no�that's impossible�" Nick shook his head, a fierce, dark, look on his face. "Rob never lets anyone drive his Camaro�You know that. We all know that�"

Nick was pacing now, shouting and railing as if ready to do battle with God himself. And why not? What did he have to lose? God had seen fit to take Nicole already. But, if He planned on taking Randy, then He'd have to take Nick first.

"Is she dead?" he asked emotionlessly, pulling his revolver from his belt.

"Nick� C'mon, Nick�give me the gun�" Shane spoke slowly and carefully.

"Is she dead?" Nick demanded again, holding them at bay long enough to place the gun barrel tight against his temple. "Is she dead?"

"Nick!" Instinctively, Shane and Val both moved toward him, but they pulled back immediately when he cocked the trigger.

"TELL ME, DAMMIT!" Nick's voice was half choke and half sob as tears began to stream down his face.

"Nick, don't!" Andy shouted, raising his hands in surrender. "She's not dead� I swear�She's not dead. The paramedics got a pulse�she's still breathing. They're transporting her to the hospital now�"

As Andy's words filtered through, Nick's arm slumped to his side, lowering the gun mindlessly in his grief. Val grabbed it from him instantly and secured the safety on the trigger.

"I�I gotta go�" he mumbled, dazed, and physically unable to absorb it all so fast.

"I'll drive you�" Shane took two steps toward Nick and stumbled, himself.

"You're not driving anywhere, Shane," Val snapped, taking total command of the situation. "You're riding�"

"Andy, you drive Nick in his car. Shane, get in the ambulance. I'll come with you and we'll meet them at the hospital..."

"After you've been checked out," she insisted, before Shane could get a word in edgewise.

"CeCe, use Shane's car to get to the crash site, gather what information you can, and meet us at the hospital." Val's tone stunned everyone, Val included, but there was no time to waste.

"Let's go!" she yelled, the sound of distant sirens howling in the distance.

And, incredibly, for once, no one disagreed.

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Replies:

Re: Studs, Texas - Book Two - Wait... -- dqfan, 13:55:26 12/27/02 Fri
- Re: Studs, Texas - Book Two - More non-life-threatening fluff! -- CCCook, 19:56:02 12/27/02 Fri
- Re: Studs, Texas - Book Two - Meanwhile, back at the hospital... -- DQ&SB, 11:39:13 12/29/02 Sun
  - Re: Studs, Texas - Book Two - Meanwhile, back at the hospital... -- dqfan, 18:23:43 12/29/02 Sun
    - Re: Studs, Texas -book two- Garnett Family Ranch, Late Saturday Night. -- Sue, 22:32:10 12/29/02 Sun
      - Re: Studs, Texas -book two- Studs Trek II: The Wrath of Lucy -- CCCook, 14:22:51 12/30/02 Mon
        Re: Studs, Texas -book two- Still at the Hospital -- dqfan, 16:46:14 12/31/02 Tue
        Re: Studs, Texas -book two- Still at the Hospital -- dqfan, 08:40:51 01/02/03 Thu
        Re: Studs, Texas -book two- Still NOT at the hospital -- CCCook, 15:50:23 01/02/03 Thu
        Re: Studs, Texas -book two- and even more angst if you can handle it. -- Sue, 01:13:21 01/04/03 Sat
        Re: Studs, Texas -book two- Back at the hospital -- dqfan, 08:23:03 01/14/03 Tue
        Re: Studs, Texas -book two- An unexpected visitor and a quiet chat -- Sue, 21:17:42 01/15/03 Wed