by Mary Griggs
Once everyone had returned from their errands, Martha looked around at the pale faces. "Gang, this going to be hard. If you don't think you'll be able to handle it, you need to leave now. There is no shame in it. Heck, I think I'd head for the hills if I could." There were a few smiles at the comment.
"Let's hope they're right that laughter is the best medicine, cause we are sure short on any other kind." She looked around and saw fierce determination in every face. "Well, let's get to it then."
The extraction was every bit as bad as Martha had imagined. The smell of burnt flesh was nauseating and everyone was close to exhaustion before Jay was breathing on her own again. They wrestled the unconscious woman upstairs and laid her on her bed.
Susan tucked the sheet around on the limp figure and smoothed the bangs on the damp forehead. "I think she's running a fever."
"Some of that could be her body trying to heal but we won't know for sure for another few hours. We need to have nursing shifts. She shouldn't be left alone." Piper flipped to a blank page of Jay's bedside journal. She made three columns and labeled them Pulse, Resp, and Temp. "We should fill this out every few hours to track whether she's actually getting better or not."
Martha continued to dry her already dried hands on a towel. "What for? It's not like we can do much more than we already have."
"Don't say that," Susan's voice was harsh. "Recovery is partially mental. We need to think positive."
"You think you can just will her better?" Martha scoffed.
"If you've got a better plan, I'm willing to listen."
"Easy, both of you." Piper interrupted. "You're both right. Jay's a fighter but this is bad. We don't have much more than hope and good thoughts to give her."
"Sorry."
"Don't sweat it. We're all a little tense from the strain. Why don't you two go and I'll take tonight."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I'm not particularly tired." She pushed a pile of clothes off the chair that was sitting by bed and sat down in it. "Go on and get some rest. Tomorrow might be pretty rough but that operation took a lot out of her. I doubt she'll be any trouble."
It was hours later when Piper was roused from her half sleep by noises from the bed. Jay had kicked off much of the covers and her head was rolling back and forth. She stiffened and opened her eyes when Piper touched her wrist. "Who?"
"It's me, Jay."
"Water?" Jay licked her dry lips.
"Sure. Here you go. Please take small sips." Piper lifted her up a bit and held the mug of cold tea to her mouth. Trickling only a small amount of the liquid at a time, Piper was able to get most of the cup into Jay before she slipped back to sleep.
Jay did not stir again for the rest of the night. The next morning, soon after Martha had started her shift, she had a coughing fit. Things went downhill from there. By lunch, she was breathing in short pants. Anytime she tried to take a deep breath, she would begin coughing.
Martha had the idea of raising her upper body up on a stack of pillows. Once they lifted her up, she didn't seem to struggle as much. As the hours passed, though, her temperature rose.
It was late when Susan jerked awake, wondering what had disturbed her. She looked over at the bed and saw the wet glistening of Jay's open eyes. Jay started when Susan leaned on the bed. "Easy, easy," she whispered as she leaned close. "How are you feeling?"
"Cold," Jay panted. She tried to clear her throat but winced from the pressure in her chest.
"You've got a fever."
Weak fingers plucked at the covers. "Not hot. Cold."
"Okay. Let me get another blanket." Susan opened up the cedar chest at the foot of the bed and pulled out a wool blanket. Laying it down over Jay, she sat down beside her. "Can you try and drink something?"
"Don't want to. Feel sick."
"Would you try?'
Ignoring the weakly shaking head, Susan tried to get her to sip from a glass of water. Jay began coughing deeply after only a couple of swallows. Rolling her over, Susan held her as she coughed and vomited up blood and stomach acid. When the spasm was over, Jays' pulse was very faint.
The next afternoon, Piper held a saturated sponge to Jay's lips. She mumbled something and licked her cracked lips. Once the water touched her tongue, her mouth moved, seeking more. Piper slowly dribbled more into Jay's mouth.
After the last try at drinking had led to a coughing bout, they had been doing everything they could to avoid a repeat. The water dripped slowly and steadily from the sponge into her dry mouth. Jay was able to swallow without coughing.
Her eyes opened briefly, blinked and then opened again to study the concerned face looking down on her. "Piper."
"Yeah." Wetting a cloth, Piper wiped her head and upper chest. The water seemed to dry instantly on the fevered skin.
"Not good."
"No, you're not doing so well."
"Back hurts."
"That may actually be from the fluid in your chest." Piper dampened the sponge. "Do you want more to drink?"
"Ice?"
"To eat?"
"Skin."
"Good idea. Will you be okay while I go get some?"
"Try."
Piper clattered down the spiral staircase. She went into the kitchen and began to crack all of the ice cube trays into a towel. She glanced up when she heard a noise from the living room.
"Who's there?"
Doris came around the corner. "It's only me. What's happening?"
The two of them hadn't been alone together since their kiss. Piper flinched visibly when Doris came closer and held the freezer door open. "Um. I'm collecting ice from the freezer to try and bring her fever down," she replied as she slid the water filled trays inside.
Doris debated for a moment before she asked, "Do you need help?"
"Sure," answered Piper. "Grab the towel and let's go upstairs." She led the way to Jay's bedroom.
Together, they placed several towels on the bed and under Jay. Piper and Doris worked together to place the ice under Jay's neck, around her head and over her feet and hands. Once that was done, they sat in silence and waited to see if their ministrations had any effect.
It wasn't too long before Jay began to fidget and moan. Piper pressed down on her shoulders. Shivering and moaning, Jay fought against the hands that held her down.
"Stop, Jay. We're not trying to hurt you." Piper brushed her hand across the struggling woman's forehead. "Easy, now."
Responding more to the soothing hand than to the words, Jay slowly calmed. She continued to shiver until they removed the ice melt and wet towels.
"I think she'll sleep easier for a while."
"Why don't you head to bed?" asked Doris. "I haven't pulled a night shift yet and I suppose it's time."
"Well, if you think so."
"I'll be fine and Martha will be awake soon."
Jay was struggling for every breath the next morning. Doris had elevated her further during the night, so that she was almost sitting up in bed.
When Martha took over, she decided to change the bandages. The skin was tight around the wound on her chest but swollen where the arrow had entered her back. She manipulated it carefully and was distressed when the blood that oozed out under pressure was watery.
"Jay, wake up. Come on, Jay. I need to talk to you." Martha gently slapped the flushed cheeks until the injured woman responded, albeit weakly.
"Why…you hitting me?"
"I need you to help me."
"Kay." Jay blinked owlishly.
"I think your lung has collapsed. What should I do?"
"Dunno."
"I was hoping for a little more than that." Martha clenched her hands in frustration. "Jay, help me here."
"Know how you can find out." Jay said between gasps.
"How?"
"Medic manual on cd." Jay closed her eyes for a moment. Reopening them, she panted. "Also, bottom of the closet…surgical supplies."
"The wound looks infected. What should we do?"
>
"Poultice. Garlic and onion, hot as…stand it." She lay still and gasped for a moment.
"How do we make it?"
"Boil water, make a paste…put a layer of gauze, then paste, more gauze and wrap in plastic wrap."
"Do I cook the garlic and onion?"
"No. Raw."
"Anything else we can do?"
"Willow bark tea. For the fever."
"Okay, I'll get to work on these. Can you try and stay awake? Susan will talk to you." Martha moved out the way and let her lover take her place on the bed. When she got downstairs, she waved Piper over. "Give me a minute to flip on the breaker and you can turn on the computer."
"What's up?"
"I think her lung collapsed and you need to figure out what to do."
"Why do I have to do the research?"
"Because you're doing the surgery."
"What?"
Martha held out her trembling fingers. "I can't do it. You have no idea what it took out of me the last time. I don't trust myself." Without another word, she went downstairs. After flipping the breaker, she grabbed the surgical pack out of the closet. On her return, she went over to the bookcase and pulled down a field manual on trees.
Calling the teenagers together, she pointed out the willow tree. "I need you guys to find me some of this plant. Bring me back some bark."
The three of them studied the book and headed out of the house. "We're going to try down by the creek," called Carol.
"Be careful. We don't know if whoever did this to Jay is still out there." Martha walked over and opened the closet. "Take a weapon each and stay on guard." She watched them leave with a heavy heart but knew that she couldn't spare the others.
Walking to the dining room table, she sat down with the surgical kit. She opened up the bag and saw a bewildering array of equipment. She could identify a clear tube, clamps, scalpel, forceps, and a retractor. The rest of the items looked more like devices of torture than healing. Seriously worried, she got up to see if Piper had had any success.
Piper was peering intently at the monitor. Occasionally, she would take notes on a pad beside her.
Leaning over her, Martha asked, "What did you find?"
"Lots of stuff after I changed my search."
"What do you mean?"
"Collapsed lung didn't bring up anything. She's actually got a pneumothorax. Also, we should have been making her cough."
"It hurts when she does."
"I know but the manual says that she has to."
"How do we deal with the lung?"
Piper swiveled in her chair to look Martha in the eye. "Oh, it's a snap. We just remove of the air from the pleural cavity by inserting a hollow plastic tube between the ribs, and attach it to a suction device." She sighed. "I basically have to shove a tube into the her chest and hope I hit blood before I hit a vital organ like, say, her heart."
"Just follow the directions."
"Yeah, right. I can't believe we're seriously considering this."
"I don't think we have a choice." Martha took a quick look over her shoulder. "She's dying."
"I know, I know. It's the fear talking." Sending the current document to the printer, Piper added, "I don't even know if we have the stuff to do the procedure."
"We do." At Piper's look of disbelief, she nodded. "You should see what's in the surgical kit. I think it's got everything we could possibly need."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Print out anything else you'll need and let's take a look together." Martha led the way back to the dinning room table.
Doris came over and stood with them. "What's happening?"
"We're trying to learn how to do surgery," answers Piper. "Want to join us?"
She let her hands touch the sterile packs. "I've never done anything like this before."
"Join the club. Neither have we." Piper picked up an armload. "Come on."
The two women carried all the supplies upstairs and heard Jay talking to Susan.
"How's Doris?" Jay asked.
Susan looked down at her. "Why?" she asked. "What's wrong with her?"
"They assaulted her. I couldn't get free. She okay?" Jay tossed her head in distress.
"I don't know, she hasn't said anything to anyone." Susan answered, turning to stare directly at Doris. "Maybe she'll tell us when she's ready."
"I'm fine."
Jay shifted slightly on the bed and looked around until she could see into Doris' eyes. "You were raped."
"You were shot."
"Sucks to be us, eh?" Jay swallowed and turned her eyes to the others. "What's the plan?"
"I'm going to stick this in between your ribs and we're going to siphon out all the air and fluid that is keeping your lung from reinflating." Piper held up the tube.
"Easy peasy." Wincing, Jay looked at the others. "Got to keep me still. This is going to hurt." She smiled at Piper. "Don't want you to miss."
"You and me both." Piper took a couple of deep breaths. "You all realize that I'm flying blind here, right?"
Martha reached over and began rubbing at the tension in the other woman's shoulders. "Actually, you're flying by manual. It makes all the difference in the world." She turned Piper around and gazed deeply into her eyes. "I have faith in you."
Nodding, Susan stepped up behind her and hugged her. "You can do this."
Gritting her teeth, Piper followed the directions from the manual on inserting the chest tube. It took all the strength of the other women to hold Jay down for the operation. After it was over, Jay was unconscious again. Susan stayed with her while the other women went back downstairs.
Sitting at the table, Martha opened up a bottle of wine. Pouring a glass, she drained it and filled it again before offering the bottle to the others. "Okay, we've got to get something for pain at the very next opportunity."
"I still don't know why we couldn't give her wine or tequila."
"Beyond the fact that it would take a lot to get her drunk enough to cut the pain, the alcohol has a sedative effect. It would make it even harder for her to breathe." Piper was still flipping through the pages she had printed out.
"What's next?"
"The text says that the lung will usually return to normal in 48 to 72 hours." She looked at the others. "So, we wait."
Martha nodded. "Maybe while we wait, you can tell us exactly what happened." She looked at her sister. "Why didn't you tell us?"
"Jay needed all your attention. I didn't want there to be any distractions."
"You call sexual assault a distraction?"
"It was only the one and, then, Jay killed him."
"Doris, don't try to minimize it. You were raped."
"She's in worse shape."
"This isn't a hierarchy of wounds." Susan came downstairs and gently squeezed her sister in laws clenched fists. "What can we do to help?"
"I'm fine," Doris insisted.
Martha, Piper and Susan looked at each other helplessly. Finally, Martha cleared her throat. "Okay. But if you're ever not fine and need to talk or anything, please come to one of us. No-one wants to see you hurting."
"Don't worry about me."
"You're my sister. Of course, I'm going to worry." She walked around the table and hugged Doris.
"I'll be all right. Now, we've got to set up shifts to see if what we just did is going to help or hurt the patient."
For three days, they took turns sitting vigil while Jay struggled to heal. They changed the poultice twice a day. Almost imperceptively and only because they could track the change in the journal, did she seem to recover. Eventually, the infection and her fever disappeared and she was able to sleep through the night.
On the seventh morning after the attack, when Susan came up the staircase with a cup of tea, Piper smiled. "It may be my imagination but I think she's breathing easier."
"Has she woken up?"
"She has been muttering this past hour. Should be any time now." Piper stretched and opened the curtains. "You've had breakf
ast?"
"Yep."