Honor Under Siege

the run. “The most critical thing for an exposure victim is to get

them warm as quickly as possible. Blair stopped outside

Dianes bedroom. “Are you okay?

Diane stared at her as if she were insane. “This is a nightmare

and

I keep praying Ill wake up. But until I do, Ill do anything I have

to. Im not going to let her die.

“Dont worry, Blair said grimly. “No one is dying

tonight.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

I t was too dark for Blair to see exactly what was happening on the

beach, even with the floodlights on the boat spotlighting the people

swarming al over it. When she had at empted to run down in search of

Cam, Paula had informed her that both she and Diane were confined to

the house until further notice. Blair would have argued, but that only

would have delayed Paula in organizing the teams to get Cam and

Valerie up to the house. She was acutely aware that Paula was doing

everything possible to take care of the injured, even though she had to be

crazy with worry over Renée.

Despite understanding the reasons behind the protocols, Blair couldnt

control what she felt, which verged very close on panic. She just

wanted to see Cam, and waiting was agony. She alternated between

stalking out to the rear deck and pacing in the kitchen. Diane waited at

the window, watching the activity on shore in pale silence.

“Here they come, final y, Blair said when she was able to make out a

clutch of figures transporting a stil form on a stretcher toward the

house. Only a single stretcher. Her chest tightened. What did that

mean? Where was the second casualty? Where was Cam ?

“Im sure theyl take them right upstairs, Blair said, concentrating on

what she could do rather than let ing the terror swal ow her. “Lets go up

so we can help.

Within minutes, Felicia and Wozinski half-carried Cam into the

bedroom. She was wrapped in an emergency thermal blanket and,

other than her shoes, appeared to be naked. Her face was gray and her

skin looked rubbery from the

cold, but Blair was nevertheless enormously relieved to see that

she was conscious and making some ef ort to walk. Blair pushed back

the covers on the bed. “Over here.

“Il get the IV set up, Wozinski said, as Felicia and Blair helped Cam

into bed.

“No, Cam rasped. “You and Felicia give Savard a hand with

Valerie.

“Stark had supplies brought over from the emergency aid center at the

marina, Blair said, replacing Cams damp blanket with several layers

of dry ones. “I heated four liters of saline in the microwave. Greg, I can

help you get Cams line started while Felicia assists in the other room.

“Yes maam, Greg

said.

Cam shook her head weakly. “I can

wait

“No, you cant, Blair said firmly. “Go ahead,

Greg. Felicia said, “Il be next door with

Valerie.

When Greg left to get supplies, Blair sat on the edge of the bed next to

Cam. She cupped her cheek, shuddering inwardly at the icy touch. “Are

you injured anywhere?

“Bumps and bruises. Cams teeth chat ered. “Fire feels good. Maybe I

can sit closer.

“As soon as you get some warm fluids into you. Blair stroked her face.

“You know that rapid external rewarming can cause problems. Blair

had skied in enough remote areas to know the protocol for exposure

and hypothermia. So did al of her security staf , and every shift

contained at least one agent who was an EMT like Savard and Wozinski.

Many hypothermia victims died during the initial resuscitation at empts

because warming the outside of the body without raising the internal

temperature led to cardiac col apse. “Wel get you warmed

up as fast as we can, but were not taking any

risks.

“Right now Id take my chances, Cam said, shivering violently. “Christ,

Im cold.

“Il get some more

blankets.

“No, Cam said, grasping Blairs hand. “It wont help. Juststay

close.

“I can do bet er than that. Blair kicked of her shoes, shed her jeans,

and got under the covers. She cradled Cams head against her shoulder

and wrapped her arms and legs around her. “Im not going anywhere.

Cam had drifted of by the time Wozinski returned. He silently and ef

iciently started an IV in Cams right arm and hung a liter of warm saline.

“That wil run for about ten minutes. Il be back to hang the second liter

then.

“Thanks, Greg. Blair said, stroking Cams hair. “For

everything. “Its an honor, maam.

Alone, Blair closed her eyes, even though she wasnt tired.

She wasnt planning on sleeping. All she wanted was to listen to

Cam breathe.

* * * * *

“Glad youre here Greg, Renée Savard said, applying EKG pads

to Valeries chest. “Start another IV in her left arm, would you.

We need to get another bag of the hot stuff into her. Her temps

ninety- two.

“Got it.

“Tell me what I can do, Diane urged, pressing close to the side

of

the bed near Valeries head, trying not to interfere but