Page 61 of Senseless
He took one look at the state of Mari’s leg and gulped, running a bloodied hand over his goatee. “It’s been about five years since I pulled a bullet out of someone, but Ihavedone it before.”
“My kit’s in a duffel bag in my room,” Mari gasped. “I’ll walk you through it.”
Doc nodded sharply and went to retrieve what she needed. The others were helping Jen inside, leaving us momentarily alone.
“Should I move you?” My hands went to Mari’s waist, ready to lift her up if needed.
“Ugh, maybe,” she grunted out. “A sanitized surface would be much safer.”
“Okay, I got you.” I’d only lifted her a few inches off the ground when her howls of pain nearly pierced my eardrums, and I set her right back down. “We’re not going anywhere,” I decided right then.
“Fuck! Oh fuck!” She shook like a leaf in my arms, forehead rolling across my chest as she writhed from the pain.
“It’s okay.” I wrapped around her, squeezing tight. Before I knew it, I was rocking her in my arms and kissing her forehead. “I’m right here. Doc’s going to fix you.”
“Ugh, ithurts…” Mari was hunched over and small, her brows drawn tight over her delicate features. “And he’s gonna dig in there and I know it’s gonna be worse.”
“I’m sorry, love.” The word slipped out, the same term of endearment she used for me. “I’m so sorry. I wish I could feel it instead of you.” I stroked her hair back, holding her face against my chest. “But Doc’s going to make it better. Just hold on with me.”
He returned moments later and set to work efficiently with Mari’s instructions. First, he cut away her pant leg without issue. When he started to clean around her wound with alcohol, that’s when things got difficult.
She screamed and thrashed hard, nails digging into my arm as I tried to restrain her against my chest.
“Mari.” I touched my lips to her ear. “You didn’t bring any local anesthesia with you?”
Her head shook back and forth, her face in a grimace of pain that I couldn’t even fathom, and it broke my heart.
“I can’t get it out if she keeps kicking,” Doc said with a worried frown. “I hate to even suggest it but…should we knock her out?”
“No,” I bit out, holding her with one arm while the other worked to pull apart my belt buckle. “The pain could wake her up, anyway.”
Doc watched with a puzzled expression as I pulled my belt through my belt loops and folded it in half with my free hand. “What the hell are you…”
He got his answer when I held the folded strip of leather in front of Mari’s mouth. “Bite down on this for me.”
She understood, taking the belt eagerly between her teeth.
I returned to holding her with both arms, petting her hair and stroking down her back. “Listen to my voice and breathe deeply for me.”
Her breaths came out harsh and ragged, but I felt her body calm slightly. I continued the same pattern of stroking her hair, rocking her upper body gently as I continued to talk to her.
“You’re safe with us. You’ll get through this, Mari.” I pressed my lips to her forehead again. “You’re so brave. You know what to do. Let Doc get the bullet out, okay?”
I felt her head nod against my chest, the rest of her body still except for her tremors. Taking a deep breath for myself, I nodded at Doc for him to proceed.
Mari whimpered and bit down on my belt as he finished cleaning her wound, but otherwise remained still enough for him to work.
“Might not wanna look, sweetheart,” he said, quickly sanitizing her forceps with more alcohol.
Mari pressed her forehead into my chest, aided by my hand on the back of her head. “You’re doing great,” I told her, dropping another kiss to her hair. Doc finished cleaning the instrument and started poking around the entry wound, prompting more whimpers and sobs from Mari. “Shh, you’re okay, love.” I lowered one hand to her ankle, trying to be comforting as well as helping keep her leg still. “You’re okay, I’m here. I’m not leaving you.”
It felt like hours dragged by. I hated every minute of Mari’s sounds of pain, the sweat and shivers erupting on her skin. She burrowed in my chest, blunt nails clawing at my skin and teeth grinding down on my belt. But I’d hold on and keep her steady for as long as she needed me.
After what seemed like an eternity, Doc victoriously held up a metal slug in his forceps. “Got it!”
I stroked Mari’s cheek, but didn’t loosen my hold on her. “Bullet’s out. We’re so close to done. Just let Doc close you up, okay?”
She nodded slowly, cheek dragging on my chest. The pulse on her neck beat steadily under my hand, though I was worried it might have been weaker than normal.
