Red Light

Aftermath: Part 4

Lan Zhan checked his watch again. It had been over thirty minutes since his brother had called for a new room.

No word. Nothing.

He was done waiting. There was a corpse in the corner. An assassin handcuffed at the end of a bed

This was no place for the boys or Wei Ying.

He stood just as Nie Mingjue arrived back.

"Watch them for me." Lan Wangji said with determination.

Nie Mingjue grabbed his uninjured arm.

"Where are you going?" he asked rather reasonably.

"I'm getting Wei Ying and the boys out of here. It's too much, and they're taking too long." His voice was almost a growl.

"Have you looked at yourself lately? You have blood on the remains of your shirt, and you look half crazed. If anyone sees you wandering the halls, they're going to be terrified." he sighed. "I agree with you, though. We have to get those kids out of here. You stay here. I'll see if there's an empty room nearby."

The detective was surprised, but he nodded.

"Just hurry." He looked seriously at Nie Mingjue. "Please.

"I will."

As he started to walk to the nurse's station,Nie Mingjue thought about the recovery room and his brother. He had stayed for a few moments after Yu Bin had been taken back for surgery.

"You okay." he had somberly asked his brother.

"No. Not really. Yu Bin had to kill to save me... but I saw it. The Warrior Angel, Da-ge." Nie Huaisang's voice was raw.

Nie Mingjue hugged his little brother.

"You did well, di-di." he whispered.

Huaisang nodded then moved away. He was looking at the floor.

"Can you go back and make sure the others are ok?" His voice was quiet. Still as his body was.

Mingjue knew his brother well. He needed time to deal with this his own way.

"If you need me, just call." he said softly as he turned to leave.

"Thank you, Da-ge." There was a wealth of words in that simple phrase.

Mingjue nodded and smiled slightly as he slipped through the doors.

He knew he'd have to check up on Huaisang soon. Just to be sure.

A call on his walkie-talkie broke him from his reminisces.

"Inspector?"

'Steve Chen?' he wondered.

"Yes. ID, please."

"It's Steve. I need your help."

Mingjue grunted and listened carefully.

Ten minutes later, the inspector was back in the room with a pile of warmed blankets.

"We're leaving." Mingjue announced. "I won't say anything else because there are ears here. You first, Wei Wuxian."

He had Wei Ying stand. He wrapped him in a blanket and scooped him from the floor as if he were a child. There was a startled squawk, but no sounds of pain.

"I'll be back."

Outside the room was Steve Chen and a large, wheeled, industrial laundry cart.

"Your carriage awaits, sir." he grinned.