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"Nursing Supervisor to Admitting. Can we get..."
JJ adjusts his pillow behind him before looking out the window. He sits up noticing the man he stabbed in the hallway of the hospital. The man glared at him as the nurse tries leading him into another room. JJ keeps his eyes on him as the man finally turns away, "Estrella. Estrella, wake up."
Estrella hums lightly in her sleep as JJ turns over to her, "Estrella, wake up. Hey, look at me. Hey. Listen."
"What?" She says opening her eyes slowly. Sitting up as she finally notices JJ's urgency.
"There was a guy in the hall just now. I think it was the guy." He explains, "The dude from the wreck. 'Cause he had a wound. Right where I got him with the spear gun."
"Did he see you?" She asks
JJ turns toward the window, "Yeah."
"So, he knows we're here."
"Yeah. We've got to get out."
"We gotta go."
JJ sits up hitting the window, "Wait. Ma'am."
"JJ, no, don't."
"Ma'am. Miss. Hello! Ma'am. Is there anyone out there?" JJ says gaining the attention of a nurse, "Ma'am. Hello. Hey! Ma'am. Come here. Ma'am, there was a dude in the hall just now."
"I'm sorry. It's only a few more minutes." She says
"That man tried to kill us, okay? He tried to kill us." JJ says gesturing to himself
"I can't hear you."
"No. Ma'am. Ma'am!" JJ yells as Estrella pulls on the latch of the door, "Call security."
"Can you help me with the door?" Estrella breathes
"Calm down. All right? Just breathe." The nurse says, "Breathe."
"Ma'am, I need you to call security." JJ says
"Jay, just help me." Estrella says, "She's not letting us out. Just help."
"Just relax, okay? You're almost done." The woman says before walking out
"Hey, wait! Ma'am. Please, listen to me." JJ calls out
"Please help me. We have to get out." Estrella says, "Help me with the door."
"Okay." He says crawling over, "Two, one, go."
The two grunt as they struggle against the door. Estrella groans as JJ hits the door. She looks around, "Shit. Why are none of these open?"
JJ turns hearing the panic rising in her voice, "Star, Star."
"I'm freaking out." She pants
"I know. Deep breath. Okay?"
"We have to go." She breathes
"Calm down." He says softly, "We're going to figure this out."
"Oh my God." She pants as he looks around
"Wait a minute. I've got an idea. All right?" He says before laying back and putting his feet up against the window, "This is not my best idea."
"Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah."
"Okay." He says before slamming his feet up against the window. He grunts as he kicks at it again.
"Yeah. Yeah, yeah."
"Come on." JJ grunts before kicking again
"Kick it harder. Kick it." Estrella encourages. JJ kicks two more times before the glass shatters. The alarm blares around them.
"Security to hyperbaric chamber. Security, hyperbaric chamber."
"One second. One second." JJ says climbing out
"Come on." She says. She crawls over as he yanks the door open. JJ grabs her waist pulling her out.
"All right, I'm gonna buy you some time. Meet me outside."
"What do you mean?" Estrella asks as JJ walks out into the hallway
"Oh my God, my brain! We were in there way too long. No, you microwaved me. What are you trying to do? Fry me like chicken?" JJ yells as security grabs him, "No, no."
"All this movement is not good for him." The nurse says as Estrella sneaks past and hides up against a wall
"Settle down." A guard tries
"All you had to do was relax." The nurse says as JJ looks past Estrella watching as the man from the dive walks down the hall, "He was basically done until he lost his mind."
"You know what? You gentlemen take me out of here. I gotta make a phone call. I'm gonna file a formal complaint." JJ says. Estrella's head tilts in confusion.
"You were done."
"Okay?" JJ says looking at Estrella, "File a formal complaint."
"Yeah, yeah. Have your people call my people." The nurse says as they turn down a hall
"He wants a file." Estrella mutters to herself walking toward the waiting room. She looks around her before her steps speed up. She approaches the desk calmly, grateful no one was there. Her eyes bounce around the desk before they land on a picture of an injured arm. She looks around before reaching over and grabbing the file. She then rushes out with the file under her arm.
•••
Charlotte and Kie turn as the door to the hospital opens. Charlotte frowning as Estrella runs out. Cleo sits up, "Jesus Christ. How do you climb up a tree in a hospital?"
"Guys." She pants
"Uh, where's JJ?" Pope says starting the truck
"JJ's coming." She says hopping in the trunk with Charlotte and Kie, "Drive. Go!"
Pope speeds off and it's not long before JJ runs out from the back door.
"Come on!" Cleo and Kiara yell
"Come on." Estrella yells
"Get in." Charlotte says as JJ tumbles into the trunk
"Are we good?" Estrella asks
"Yeah. Go, Pope." JJ says
"Are you guys okay?" Kie asks
"Yeah. Yeah. So you know that guy that was down at the wreck that tried to kill us?" JJ asks
"He was there." Estrella says
"At the hospital with you?" Charlotte says
"Yes." Estrella and JJ say before JJ turns to them, "He was getting stitched up where I got him with the harpoon gun."
"I got this. I swiped his file. It's got an address." Estrella says holding the file up to the window, "Downtown Pelican somewhere."
"What are we supposed to do with that?" Pope says
"What do you mean? Pay him a visit."
"Exactly. We find out who this goon is, Pope." JJ says, "Six against one? I mean, I think we could take him."
"Or get there first and just scope it out."
"I'll be ready for him this time." JJ breathes
"Are you guys sure you're okay?" Kie asks
Estrella nods as she takes a few deep breaths and falls back against the truck. JJ reaches over and wraps his arm around her shoulders pulling her into him. As Estrella falls into him, he kisses the top of her head. His head falls back and his eyes shut in exhaustion.
