CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

UNEXPECTED OCCURRENCES

Jason made straight for the monitors at the Major's bedside, silencing the alarm that had sounded a split second after Dorian appeared outside Turlough's room. It's already starting, the Healer thought, and sooner than he expected. The Major's body was breaking down. Soon, the equipment wouldn't be able to compensate for the damage. Just hang on until the Doctor can work a little magic.

"Hang on, Klaus," Jason said reassuringly. "Just a few more seconds..." His fingers flew over the entry pad as he adjusted the settings on the equipment.

Klaus closed his eyes and drew on every scrap of his training to remain calm. He could feel his heart pounding and wondered abstractly if he would feel when it stopped; feel when his damaged body finally failed him and simply stopped functioning. Then he felt the pressure in his chest subside, little by little. Finally, breathing became easier. Crisis averted. He wasn't going to die. At least, not just yet.

Klaus heard Jason move up beside him and opened his eyes. He was still trying to get his breath back and could not find the energy to speak. The Healer's face was a study of compassion and worry. Dammit, why are we trying so hard? This was the last thought to go through the Major's mind before he blacked out.

"Shit!" Jason hissed. He ignored the monitors, his fingers going to the Major's neck. He did a quick scan of his condition, his worried expression darkening.

"Jason...?" Eroica said tentatively.

Jason's head snapped around. He had been concentrated on the Major so hard that he had completely forgotten the Earl was there. "Dorian, please leave," he ordered.

"Like hell!"

The Alterran straightened, giving the man a piercing look. "That wasn't a request."

"I don't care," Eroica countered fiercely. "I'm not leaving."

"Dorian, if Klaus finds out you were here while I was treating him-"

"He'll just pitch a fit," Eroica concluded. "So what?"

"More likely he'll kill me with his bare hands."

Eroica blinked, startled by the matter of fact tone in the Alterran's voice. "Surely you are joking?"

"You don't think he's capable?"

"Jason, I've seen what you're capable of. Are you telling me you think the Major is actually capable of killing you with his bare hands?"

Jason threw a quick glance back to his patient. "Well, not in his present condition, obviously. But under normal circumstances, if he were to catch me off guard, definitely. He came damn close when you were in my sickbay."

Eroica was taken aback. He couldn't imagine Jason being wary of anyone, even the Major. Why was everything turning on its head?

"I have the utmost respect for a trained killer," the Alterran stated flatly.

"I'm a trained professional," the Major corrected quietly.

Jason spun around. "Klaus, don't talk."

The Major gave an indignant snort. "Why?"

"To save your strength, for one thing."

Another indignant snort. "Why bother?"

"Major!" Eroica gasped.

Klaus wished he had the strength to turn his back on the pair of them. He settled for turning his face away. "Let me die in peace, will you?"

"Don't you dare give up on me, you pig-headed German!" Jason snapped.

"You call that an insult? Amateur."

"Will you at least listen to me?"

"Why?"

"Because we have a plan," Jason replied forcefully. "It's a long shot, but it might just save your life."

Klaus turned back to look at him, a suspicious expression on his face. "How?"

* * *

When Jason finished explaining what he and the Doctor intended, he gave the Major a searching look. "Well, what do you think?"

"I think you're both mad," the Major replied bluntly.

Jason rolled his eyes, throwing his hands in the air. "Terrific. So you won't even let us try?"

"I didn't say that. What do I have to lose?"

Jason gave the Major a disapproving sideways look.

"When are you gonna attempt this lunacy?" Klaus then asked.

"I don't know. Soon." Jason cocked his head and listened a moment. "We've already dematerialized."

"How can you tell?" Eroica asked.

"The TARDIS hum is different when we're in flight." Jason threw a quick glance over to the door. "Turlough is going to monitor things in the console room. I need to get him there. I'll be able to check on our status at the same time."

Klaus nodded and closed his eyes. "Then, I'll conserve my strength."

Jason could not prevent a small smile from coming to his face. "Good. You do that." He looked over at Eroica, who had been amazingly quiet during the entire conversation. "I'll leave Dorian to keep an eye on you, if that's alright?"

The Major's eyes flickered open. "Is the exclusion field still operating?"

"Yes."

The Major closed his eyes again. "Then it's alright."

The Healer gave the monitors another quick check before he headed for the door.

"I won't be a moment, Major. I need a word with Jason," Eroica said suddenly and followed the Healer to the door.

Jason stepped into the corridor, holding the door for the Earl. He closed it behind them and then turned. He was surprised by the angry expression on the other man's face. "Dorian, what's-" He got no further and was almost knocked off his feet when Dorian slapped him across the face as hard as he could. "What the hell was that for!" the shocked Alterran demanded, a hand going to his stinging cheek. When he pulled his hand away, there was blood on it. "I'm bleeding!"

"You bastard!" Eroica snarled, beside himself with anger. "You damned bloody alien bastard!"

"What did I do?"

"Do? What did you do? " The enraged Eroica looked on the verge of tears. He also looked on the point of striking the Alterran a second time. "You lied to me!"

Jason took an automatic step back. Despite the fact that the Earl was taller in stature and more muscular in appearance, Jason was considerable stronger than he looked, even in his human form. He was fully capable of inflicting some very serious injuries if he chose to, which he did not. He also did not want to have any more injuries inflicted on himself, either.

"When? When did I lie to you?" he asked helplessly.

"You told me the Major wasn't going to die!"

"No, I didn't!"

"You said-"

"I said," Jason broke in sharply, "not if I could help it."

"Damn you!" Eroica swung again.

This time the Alterran was ready for him and caught him by the arm.

Damnation, Eroica thought as the vice-like grip tightened around his wrist. Twice in one day! "Let me go!"

"Not if you're going to hit me again," Jason replied logically. "Now calm down."

"Calm down! You expect me to calm down with the Major-" Eroica broke off, correcting himself. "With Klaus lying on his death bed in there!" He waved his free hand at the door beside him to make his point.

"Yes," Jason countered fiercely. "In there. And you're out here having a hissy fit."

"Damn you."

"Yes, fine, damn me. But standing out here swearing at me and going into hysterics isn't going to make this situation any better," Jason said calmly. Dorian gave him a look that actually sent a chill down his spine. He had never seen the man so angry. "Now calm down. If Klaus sees you like this..."

"Shut up!"

"Dorian!" Jason snapped with an authority he rarely used, "Calm...down. Now!"

Eroica stood glaring down at the Alterran, who met his gaze unflinchingly.

"Please," Jason said in a level voice.

Eroica closed his eyes and drew a deep breath. He then made a valiant attempt to get hold of himself. It took a few minutes before he finally succeeded. "May I have my arm back, please," he said politely.

"Certainly." Jason released his grip and gave his friend a searching look. "Now, are you alright to go back in there?"

"I don't know."

Jason gave a small smile. "You'll be fine. You know where to find me if you need me." So saying, he turned on his heel and headed back to Turlough's room.

* * *

Eroica reentered the Major's room, pausing at the door. You can't die. You simply cannot die. Not like this. It's too senseless.

After several minutes, Klaus turned his head, seeing the Earl at the door. He was clearly surprised to see him. "You're back."

"Yes. You sound surprised."

"You're very quiet."

Eroica closed his eyes and fought to stay in control of himself. "I promised Jason I wouldn't upset you."

"Really?" Klaus gave the Earl a searching look. Now you decide to behave yourself.

"Don't look at me like that!" Eroica exclaimed, turning away from the officer's piercing gaze. Dear God, don't make me want to hold you!

Klaus could not help but smile at this. "I think I'm supposed to say that."

Eroica turned back to face him, a stray tear staining his cheek. "Oh, Major!" He could not say more and turned away again, struggling to get hold of himself once more.

Klaus merely sighed heavily. He simply did not have the strength for this anymore and closed his eyes.

Jason returned after several minutes. He took in the scene a moment before cautiously asking, "Have you two been behaving yourselves while I was gone?"

Klaus gave a snort but did not reply.

"I'll take that as a yes," Jason remarked. "We've arrived in my time zone," he announced. He crossed to a cabinet and started pulling linens from it. "I need to get you ready to be moved, Klaus."

Eroica cleared his throat nervously. "I know how this is going to sound, but is there anything I can do to help?"

Jason turned to face him, hearing Klaus respond with a low growl. "Yes, as a matter of fact, there is something you can do." He gave the Major a quelling look before any protests could be issued, being unaware of the fact that the officer lacked the strength to issue any.

Jason went to another cabinet and pulled out a small box, placing it on the counter. "The transmat will be reconstructing Klaus exactly as he was when he stepping into it. The more things he takes with him that he had at the time the better." He pulled out another, larger box that had the Major's jacket neatly folded on the top. Underneath were the shredded remnants of the clothing he had been wearing when attacked.

Eroica looked at the torn and bloodied material and felt ill, a hand going to his mouth. Oh, dear Lord, I don't think I can do this. Suddenly Jason was squeezing his arm.

"I need you to empty the pockets and put everything into that box for me," Jason said gently.

Eroica swallowed hard and nodded. "Alright," he managed to croak out.

Jason gave him a sympathetic look before returning to the Major's bedside. "Now, let's get you sorted out."

Klaus gave the Alterran an unfocused look. "If I'm on full life support, how are you gonna manage this?"

"Ah." Jason grinned. "I'm going to use a portable life support system. It only has minimal functions, so you'll feel a lot weaker than you do now."

"I don't think that's possible," came the sardonic reply.

Jason smiled briefly. "I'm going to revert to get you ready. I work much faster that way." His only reply was a resigned sigh. "Um...you may pass out when I move you."

Klaus gave the Alterran a suspicious look. "Why?"

"Because you're not exactly in peak health, are you? And you have been on your back for a while. Even if you don't pass out, you'll probably be very dizzy."

Before Klaus could think of a suitable reply, Jason was in his true form and moving him into a sitting position. A wave of dizziness washed over him and he gave a low groan, being determined to stay conscious no matter what. This was the last thing he remembered before blacking out.

Eroica tried to ignore what was happening behind him. He heard the Major groan and closed his eyes. Just concentrate on what you're doing, he told himself. He had emptied all the jacket pockets and was caressing what remained of the Major's trousers. He tried to push his lecherous thoughts out of his mind as he reached into the pockets. The last object he retrieved was the TARDIS key that Jason had give the Major what seemed like weeks ago. Should this go into the box?

Eroica turned to asked Jason what to do and froze, his eye growing wide as saucers. It wasn't because Jason was in his true form. He fully expected that. It was because the Alterran was holding the Major's naked form above the bed and was in the process of dressing him in a pair of cotton pajamas.

Eroica was so stunned by what he saw that he immediately forgot why he had turned, the key dropping from his hand and into the box. He let out a small gasp, a hand going to his mouth. He also started to have some very interesting sensations below his waist.

Jason realized his error much too late. He should have been doing this on the opposite side of the bed. Instead, he was giving Dorian a first rate view. He finished the job of dressing his unconscious patient before laying him on a clean blanket, which he then wrapped around him. A moment later, he was back in his human form, his eyes locked with the awestruck Earl. "You will not, under any circumstances, tell him what just happened," Jason stated categorically.

Eroica found he could not speak and just nodded. All those years of sneaking around and it happens by accident! My God, he's magnificent! Bruises and all, absolutely-

"Have you finished?" Jason asked sharply, bringing the Earl back to reality.

"Yes." Thank God, I can talk again. Just don't ask me to walk.

"Good. You carry the box, I'll carry the Major."

Shit!

* * *