Page 133 of Colt

Atlas appeared with Hendrix slung over his shoulder and headed toward the corridor leading to the medical rooms, Ice and Pyro walking behind him.

Atlas’s eyes began to search the packed bar before falling on me and jerking his head toward the corridor.

Without a thought, I began to follow, walking fast to catch up. By the time I got to the room, Atlas had already laid Hendrix on the bed. “He threw up outside but didn’t wake up. I remember Stitch tellin’ me it could be a sign of concussion.”

I nodded, moving toward Hendrix who was still asleep. “It could be.”

“Should I get Stitch?” the SAA asked.

I shook my head. “I dealt with this a lot in the ER back in Denver. If I get stuck, you can fetch her but I’m sure I’ll be okay.”

Atlas nodded.

“Will he be okay?” Iceman asked.

I smiled up at him. “Yeah. I’ll try and reset his nose while he’s passed out. I don’t really want to give him pain relief in case he is concussed. But I’ll know more once I’ve examined him.”

Over the next thirty minutes, I carefully cleaned the blood from Hendrix’s face and set his nose as best I could. His right eye was swollen shut because he bumped it as he fell, his orbital bone likely having a blowout fracture.

I checked his pupils—the left dilated normally to the light I shone into it, but the right—which had the suspected fracture—seemed slow to respond, which indicated a concussion.

After checking Drix’s vitals and blood pressure, I felt around for internal fractures and bleeding. His breathing was normal, and his blood pressure wasn’t elevated at all.

Ice looked up from the chair where he’d been watching. “Is he okay?”

“He’ll live,” I said softly, checking his pulse again before I started packing his nose a little to try and set the shape before it started healing. I was just taping across the top when Atlas appeared in the doorway. “How’s he doin’?”

“He’s got a broken nose and a concussion, but he’ll be okay,” I advised him.

“You did a good job with his hooter,” Atlas grinned. “You may have made it prettier than before.”

I laughed. “He won’t look pretty for a good week. His eye will swell shut and it’ll turn an interesting color along with his nose.”

Atlas walked over to the bed, looking down at Drix and shaking his head. “Stupid bastard,” he muttered softly. “Should’a known this would happen.” He walked toward Iceman and took the seat next to him.

“He’s been spiraling ever since Coyote fucked us over,” Ice muttered. “This morning he went to see Anna to try and talk things out and she told him to fuck off. I think it was the catalyst.”

Atlas gave Iceman a look.

“It’s okay. I can’t do anything more for him. Stay with him, check his breathing every half hour. There’s a blood pressure machine there. If it’s elevated, or you’re in anyway concerned come and get me immediately.” I busied myself throwing away all the blood-soaked bandages and anti-bac wipes I’d discarded.

“Somebody has to stay here and monitor him at all times,” I told Atlas.

“I’ll stay,” he rumbled.

“Me too,” Ice muttered.

“Goodnight,” I murmured, throwing them both a smile over my shoulder as I made my way through the door and into the corridor.

The party was still going strong when I hit the bar. Throngs of people were dancing and having a good time. My eyes rested on Donovan who was making out with some girl as they slow-danced to the funky tune blaring through the speakers.

I grinned, shaking my head thinking how quickly he’d gotten over me as I made my way toward the corridor where Colt had disappeared earlier, I assumed to his office.

We’d had a silly argument, and I didn’t want to stress about it all night when we could simply talk things through. I did get where Colt was coming from. We didn’t get to spend time together publicly so I could understand his frustration at me. But he also had to know this was me. In future if we went out and there was an emergency, I wouldn’t think twice about helping. Medicine was my calling and although I loved him more than anything, I had a duty to help too.

Lights blazed from Colt’s office as I headed toward it. Usually, it was a hubbub of activity down here but with it being so late and the party raging, it was deserted.

That was why I heard the woman’s giggle so clearly.

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