Stand on the Right, Walk on the Left

"How many fingers am I holding up, bud? Hey, bud, can you hear me? Wake up."

"Hmm?"

"There he is. I told you he was breathing, keep the crowd back, will you Chris?"

"Yes sir."

"How many fingers am I holding up?"

"What?"

"How many fingers am I holding up?"

"Well, shit, I- seven?"

"Close. Again now."

"Four. Ah fuck, my head..."

"Nope. Only one."

"One? Well, shit. That was my next guess."

"I'm sure it was."

"My head... I-"

"Took a mighty fall there, bud. Mia, come here, hold this against his temple."

"Yes sir."

"Where were you headed in such a hurry? Follow the pen with your eyes."

"I was headed to the, eh, ah shit..."

"Follow the pen."

"I'm tryin, you don't think I got some of that goddamn memory loss now, eh doc? Like John Wick?"

"Jason Bourne."

"What?"

"Never mind. Can you tell me what day it is?"

"The, eh, seventeenth."

"Mmm-hmm, and what's your name?"

"Jack."

"Nice to meet you, Jack."

"Pleasures all mine."

"What's seven times nine?"

"Fuck. Gimme a sec."

"We can come back to that one. Where are you?"

"The airport. I feel like I got hit by a truck."

"Where were you running to? Take these, they'll help with the pain."

"Thank you. Uh, sixty-three."

"Sorry?"

"Seven times nine is sixty-three, I think."

"Where were you trying to go? Look at me Jack, and think hard about this one."

"I was runnin to... I can't think straight I-."

"Think harder, and please stop trying to sit up. What were you running to? Do you think you can take the pills?"

"I don't fucking know. Sixty-three."

"What?"

"Seven times nine is sixty-three."

"You already told me that, Jack. I want you to explain to me what happened."

"I was runnin and then I tripped and I fell off the eh..."

"Escalator."

" Exactly, and then I, I hit my head on the railing I got myself over to the window here. And then you show up and we do addition."

"Multiplication, Jack. Take the pills."

"Shit, is all that- is that all from me?"

"Heads bleed quite a lot. Focus Jack"

"Damn."

"How many fingers am I holding up now?"

"Five. Why do you say my name so fucking much?"

"Three. Where are you from, Jack?"

"San Fransisco. You got a gun there-?"

"No. Stop trying to lean up. Take a few deep breaths for me."

"It hurts."

"I know. Do you remember which side you landed on?"

"I- I don't know."

"Left side or right side? Mia, steady pressure please, we don't want him bleeding out."

"I cant remember. It was too fast and..."

"You think he'll make it, Charley?"

"He should. He has lost a lot of blood and is concussed, from what I can tell his entire right side is what took most of the hit. We should be able to get him to Charlotte alright, I'm just worried he's got a brain hemorrhage or skull fracture. That could complicate things. But if we get him to her I'm sure she can patch him up well enough for a proper... investigation."

"I'll call her. Make sure she's ready. He looks like shit. Clean him up best you can, I don't want him staining the seats."

"You have kids, Jack? Close family?"

"Hell no. Who's Charlotte?"

"Oh, no one, Bud. Do you feel any tingling in your limbs?"

"Uh-huh, all the way up my right side. Am I dying, Doc?"

"Of course not, now let's try this again, where were you trying to go?"

"Somewhere safe. I can't breathe, I-"

"Jack? Damn it. He passed out, Mia, help me lay him flat and keep the pressure on his head."

"Charlotte's ready. Says we should at least keep him from seizing in the meantime."

"I'll try, but that's not entirely up to me. Any news from headquarters?"

"They are looking, he could not have possibly moved it that far. If we could give them an idea on where it is-"

"I'm working on it. Hey, Jack? Jack? You back, bud? There you are. Just a few more questions."

"Doc, I really cant breathe, I can't-"

"You can breathe just fine, please stop moving, your ribs are broken and I don't want you puncturing a lung. You have a ticket to fly to Berlin, why do you want to go to Berlin?"

"It's safe in Berlin."

"Why is Berlin safe?"

"You got a gun? In your pocket there?"

"You were running fast, Jack, took a horrible fall off the side of an escalator and fell a solid twenty-five feet to the ground. You're lucky to be alive and I do not have a gun. Now, you had a bag when you fell, where did you put it?"

"How do you know I have a bag?"

"Everyones got a bag in an airport. Where did you put yours?"

"Shit, I can't remember."

"This isn't working, Charley, he's too messed up. For God's sake, he left a dent in the handrail with his skull. We need to hurry."

"Shut up and help Chris keep the crowd back, let me do my job."

"Doc, whatcha doin with that needle?"

"Nothing. Stop trying to get up. Where did you put it?"

"Hey, whatcha doin with that needle?"

"Charley. Two minutes."

"You had a bag, where did you fucking put it, Jack?"

"Please, I- I don't know!"

"Keep your mother fucking voice down. Help me hold him, Mia."

"Whatcha doin with that needle? Please, I don't know, I don't know where it is. Honest. I'll stay on the ground but no needle, no-"

"Shut up. Last chance, Jack, where did you put it? I'm gonna take my hand away real slow, stop squirming, and if you scream, I swear to god I will shoot you. Do you understand? Good."

"Charley, we gotta go."

"Shut up and get the stretcher ready. I'm your fucking superior, Diego, I decide when we leave. And tell Chris to get the crowd out of the way."

"Please, I can't remember, goddamn it. No needle please, I hate needles, please I-"

"Mia, grab his arms, he's gonna knock the damn syringe out of my hands. You're alright Jack. It's not that bad, see? Diego, wheres the body bag? Put it right over here. Hurry."

"Please..."

"Grab a leg and help me get him inside. You're gonna be alright, good night, Jack."