“Save it sweet pea. We have started a world of shit and will need every round,” Bruce told her. Danny just broadened her grin and found a place to kneel down.
“I want a dick,” Bruce heard Debbie say from the back of the boat. Several of the hostages looked toward her with shocked expressions.
“Baby, we are a little busy and have a lot of company,” Bruce told Debbie. Bruce could care less about the hostages but his kids were here.
“I didn’t say I wanted yours Bruce,” Debbie shot back.
“Whose dick do you want?” Bruce shouted back with malice in his voice.
“I don’t want anyone’s. I want my own. When you pissed in that bikers face that was freaking awesome. A woman can’t do that,” Debbie said.
“Sugar mama you can pee on my face whenever you want to,” Bruce assured her.
“See, that’s what I mean. A woman squatting over a man’s face pissing on it, is viewed as sexual. When a man does its totally different,” Debbie told Bruce.
Danny spoke up, “She’s right Dad. If we pee on someone’s face, it’s not like when a guy does it.”
Bruce spun around looking at Danny. “Young lady, if I see you squatting over someone’s face I will blister your bareass on the spot,” Bruce snapped at Danny pointing his finger at her. Several of the hostages were laughing at the discussion.
“See,” Debbie yelled. “Even you see it totally different baby. I want my own,” Debbie told him.
“Baby, you grow a dick. We will get a divorce. It’s that simple,” Bruce told her.
“That’s not even fair,” Debbie shot back.
“If you want to piss on someone tell me. I will let you hold it and aim it at ‘em. Now quit talking about growing your own,” Bruce told her and turned to Matt steering the boat. “If you let Danny piss on someone’s face, I will break one of your arms,” Bruce told Matt. Matt just looked at Bruce with shock. “I’m not kidding Matt, after I blister her ass I’ll break your arm,” Bruce warned him. Almost all of the hostages were laughing now. Bruce called over the radio, “Stop the boats.”
They were in the middle of the lake as Bruce called Mike. “Talk to me brother,” Bruce said over the radio taking off his vest dropping it to the deck. His shoulder was screaming in pain and threating to go on strike, because it was tired of being ignored. Bruce waited on Mike’s reply.
“Wondering when you were going to call. The west side of the lake looks like a European soccer rally. If there isn’t over five thousand at that camp right now I’ll kiss your ass. It looks like there’ll be around ten thousand in an hour. On this side it is not as bad but we have a lot of movement. A group of thirty or more is right where y’all left the SUV,” Mike finished.
“Great, I hate this lake and we’re stuck in the middle of it,” Bruce said taking off his ACU top and t-shirt.
“What are you doing?” Debbie asked Bruce as he struggled out of his t-shirt. Then Debbie saw his shoulder, “What is that and how did that happen?” Debbie yelled running to Bruce.
“Shrapnel from the hall I suspect,” Bruce said looking at his shoulder as Danny came over to check on him.
“Bruce, there is four inches of wood in your left shoulder and you didn’t tell me!” Debbie screamed looking at the wound.
“Well, there was six inches sticking out that Steve was finally able to break off,” Bruce told her.
“Good boy for not pulling it out Steve,” Debbie told him.
“Oh, he wanted to,” Bruce told her.
“Steve,” Debbie said, looking at him disappointed. Steve just looked away.
“Well, what’s going on?” Mike called over the radio.
“Shut up Mike, Bruce is hurt, talk to you in a minute. Jake, bring me the first aid kit Mary is carrying,” Debbie said over the radio.
“You need me to come-,” Mike started to say as Debbie cut him off.
“Mike in a minute. A woman can only listen to one man at a time. Men usually say stuff to piss us off and we need to know who to be mad at,” Debbie said over the radio as Jake brought the other barge alongside.
Danny grabbed the pack as Jake, Steve and Matt tied the barges together. “I need a flashlight, these monocular NVG’s suck for first aid. Everyone, turn them off,” Debbie warned as she turned on her flashlight blinding everyone.
“Damn,” Bruce heard Danny say. Bruce turned to look at his shoulder. The shard was about half inch diameter and the skin around the edges of the shard was purple.
“It’s not that bad,” Bruce lied looking at the wound.
Debbie slowly looked up at Bruce, “Say another word and I’ll cut your arm off and throw it in the water.” Debbie told him. Bruce didn’t think Debbie would do it, but he wasn’t sure with that look on her face, so he shut up. Debbie examined the wound, pushing on the edges sending pain shooting through Bruce’s body but he didn’t move. “Does that hurt?” Debbie asked pushing the wound.
“Fuck yeah that hurts!!” Bruce yelled out.
“Well, you didn’t move or say anything,” Debbie shot back. Bruce raised his right arm holding his hand up.
Debbie just looked at Bruce holding his hand up till she realized what he was doing. “What do you want to say?” Debbie asked him.
Bruce lowered his hand, “You want me to tell you how to fix it?” Bruce asked Debbie.
“I’m a nurse too Bruce,” Debbie snapped at him.
“You birth babies,” Bruce told her. Debbie just looked at him.
“Sometimes I could just slap the shit out of you but it would only hurt my hand. Ok, tell me what you would do,” Debbie told Bruce.
“Get the hemostats, grab the shard, pull it out the front. Get the twenty cc syringe, and irrigate the wound with saline. Then wet some gauze and pack the wound. Then lay a gauze dressing and wrap the shoulder tight with an ACE wrap. Mike will have to irrigate it when we get home and we can’t let it close,” Bruce told her.
“Baby, that’s really going to hurt,” Debbie told him in a concerned voice.
“Well, you won’t have to slap me,” Bruce told her.
“Baby, I was only picking,” Debbie told him her voice breaking up as she fought tears thinking Bruce took her seriously.
“I know you were playing baby, just hurry and do it. This really hurts,” Bruce told her trying to ignore the pain and losing big time.
“You can hold my hand Daddy,” Danny offered.
“No baby, I might break it. Help your mama,” Bruce told Danny as Debbie gathered the supplies.
When Debbie pulled out the shard Bruce almost passed out as the pain flooded his system. But Bruce barley moved as Debbie pulled it out, blood flowing down his arm. Then Debbie started irrigating the wound. Every time she shot saline into the wound Bruce wanted to throw up. Several of the hostages did but Debbie continued the irrigation. When Debbie started packing the wound Bruce was sweating despite the cool night air. Debbie put the dressing on and stepped back.
“Thank you baby,” Bruce said as he reached down grabbing his ACU top and t-shirt throwing them to two naked teens sitting across from him. “They are a little bloody but put these on,” Bruce told them fighting the nausea from the pain.
Debbie watched the teens put on the bloody clothes, “Everyone, take off your tops and t-shirts and give them to the youngest ladies first. If anyone has spares pass them out. Danny, Mary and Buffy keep your sports bras on,” Debbie told the teams as they started stripping. Bruce reached toward his pack to get extra t-shirts out as Debbie slapped his hand.
“Sit back and don’t make me tell you again,” Debbie said as she reached in his pack grabbing the clothes.
When they were finished, only eleven were still naked. Jake started digging in the storage area on his boat pulling out shirts and shorts. Steve seeing Jake pull out clothes on his boat started looking on their boat. When they were finished again, everyone at least had a shirt on.
It was 0350 when Bruce radioed Mike, “Well, has our situation improved any?”
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“Are you alright brother?” Mike asked concerned.
“I’m good brother,” Bruce told Mike lying.
Debbie keyed her radio, “He’s lying Mike, wake every mother fucker up and roll a convoy to get us.”
Bruce looked at Debbie with hard eyes. “Debbie quit it,” Bruce told her, then keyed his radio, “Mike, she’s exaggerating what’s going on?”
“There are several really large groups passing the SUV but they are circling the lake. When I say really large, I mean thousand plus. If you can hold on, by dawn the area should be clear enough to get you without starting a war and some following us back,” Mike told him.
“That’s good Mike, we’ll wait,” Bruce told Mike as he laid down on the deck. The night air was starting to get him cold.
“See you at dawn brother,” Mike replied.
Bruce looked up as the teenage girl he had given his ACU top to wear stood up taking it off. She kneeled down. “Put this under your head sir,” she told Bruce.
“That’s ok little one. I’m just going to lay here looking at the stars until we can go home. You put that on so you don’t get cold,” Bruce told her as she just stared at him, not used to kindness anymore. The teen kissed Bruce on his head stood up and put the top on sitting back down. Bruce closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 23
Bruce opened his eyes as Debbie called his name. What Bruce did not understand was how Debbie was calling his name through a tunnel. It was early in the morning which morning Bruce did not know but he knew it was early, some morning. Blinking his eyes, he saw Debbie leaning over him.
“Marcus has a team at the bank and Nancy is on the way. The group of blues wouldn’t leave where we left the SUV. Marcus brought a team down to take them out before Nancy got here. They’re going to ride back with us. Are you ok to move?” Debbie asked.
“Hell yeah I can move. I’m not some invalid,” Bruce told her as he sat up. Pain shot through is shoulder almost sending him back down.
“Bruce, you’re running a fever. I changed the dressing and packing an hour ago after Mike told me to. You never moved and the wound is infected,” Debbie told him.
“I’m fine,” Bruce told her as he stood up to prove his point. “What time is it?” Bruce asked not wanting to lift his left arm up. It was being a total asshole, trying to go numb on him.
“0610 baby,” Debbie answered noticing Bruce was not moving his left arm.
Bruce looked toward the bank and could make out several people there, forming a corridor with two rows to the road in the early morning light. Getting closer he saw standing in the middle of the two rows was Marcus and Carroll. Reaching down to get his vest a wave of nausea hit him making him stagger. Debbie ran to him as Danny grabbed his vest and weapon. Bruce held out his arm and Danny put his vest on him. Debbie helped guide his left arm in because Bruce was not moving it. Danny zipped and buckled the vest and put his weapon across his vest. Bruce moved for his pack but Danny stopped him.
“I’ll get it daddy,” Danny told him grabbing his pack.
“Give it to me Danny,” Bruce told her.
“I’ll carry it daddy,” Danny insisted looking at him with determination.
“Danny, if we get hit I need your hands on your weapon, not my pack. I can’t shoot worth a shit now and Daddies little girl can throw out a wall of lead,” Bruce told her grabbing the pack sliding his right arm through the strap. He was not even going to try for the other arm, it was being an asshole and not listening to him.
When the boat hit the shallow bank, Marcus walked to the front of the boat. Steve helped the women and girls down as Marcus and Carroll helped them to the bank. When the hostages were off Bruce went to the front to get off. Marcus looked up at him, “Give me your pack.” Marcus told Bruce holding out his hand.
“I have it Marcus,” Bruce told him. Bruce’s pack weighed over seventy pounds.
“Boy, don’t make me come up there,” Marcus told Bruce. Bruce sighed and handed him the pack.
Marcus grabbed the pack sliding it on not showing any sign of the weight. “Aren’t you and Carroll a little long in the tooth to be out on a patrol?” Bruce asked jumping down almost passing out when he landed, falling back on the boat.
Carroll came walking up to him wearing jeans and flannel shirt with an M-4 across her chest. “I told ya, I know my age and I don’t need ya remindin’ me. I’ve a good mind to find’a switch right now,” Carroll told him.
“Beat the shit out of him Carroll,” Debbie told Carroll as she grabbed Bruce’s face and turning it side to side then laid her hand on his head then put it on his chest.
“Yep, you gots the blood poisoning,” Carroll told him. Bruce just looked at her wanting someone to shoot him.
Mike came over the radio, “Nancy is almost there, save the chit chat.”
“Mike says Nancy is almost here,” Debbie said because none of Marcus’s team had radios.
Bruce started to the road as Debbie put his right arm over her shoulder. Bruce was going to say something but admitted to himself he liked the support. Reaching the road Marcus pointed to eight people telling them to get in Nancy’s SUV and follow them once the rescued hostages were safe.
“How did you get here?” Bruce asked Marcus.
“Walked,” Marcus told him. “You had thirty hidin’ around your truck. They was waitin’ to ambush ya, so we snuck up on them and wiped’em out,” Marcus said as the convoy stopped in front of them. The women and kids were directed into vehicles.
Bruce was led to the back seat of Debbie’s SUV, as he tried to climb in Steve was in the back seat pulling him in and Conner was lifting him in. “I can move,” Bruce told them trying to help but now his right arm didn’t want to listen.
“Sure dad,” Steve said pulling him in.
“Bruce, shut up or I will find that lady a switch,” Conner said trying to straighten Bruce out as Debbie climbed in beside him.
“I’m not a baby,” Bruce slurred looking around with eyes that wouldn’t focus then passed out falling over on Debbie.
“Drive!!!” Debbie screamed.
Nancy stomped the gas spinning the tires pulling a one eighty in the road. Everyone jumped in vehicles and followed.
“Mike, he passed out,” Debbie called over the radio.
“Debbie, I’m already set up in the kitchen. I have a stretcher team ready,” Mike told her.
“Nancy, kick this piece of shit in the ass!” Debbie screamed out. Nancy punched the pedal down to the floor. The SUV lunged forward, the engine roaring down the road leaving the rest of the convoy behind.
Debbie rubbed Bruce’s face. His skin was so hot under her fingers. “Baby, it’s ok. We’re almost home, fight for me baby. You always do what I ask, so please fight for me,” Debbie begged, tears rolling off her face hitting Bruce on the face.
Nancy yelled ‘hold on’ as she stomped the brake power sliding the huge SUV onto their road and stomped the gas again as the front pointed down their road. Barreling down the road then turning into the farm she headed toward the front door where Mike and several others were waiting.
Mike ran to the back door and grabbed Bruce by the legs pulling him out. Mike and several others laid Bruce on the stretcher and carried him to the kitchen table. The kitchen had been turned into a mini trauma room.
When Bruce was on the table, Debbie grabbed an IV and started one in Bruce’s right arm and Mike told Debbie to put in another one. Danny turned on the cardiac monitor grabbing the leads and blood pressure cuff on the monitor and put them on Bruce like she had seen him do at work.
“He’s dehydrated and lost a lot of blood. Nancy, Steve is his blood type, get a unit from him. Debbie get two liters of saline into him,” Mike yelled out then shook Bruce. “Bruce, open your eyes. We are not at the hospital, you have to wake up,” Mike yelled at Bruce slapping his face. Then Mike grabbed Bruce’s shoulder and squeezed it, that woke Bruce up.
“Fuck! That hurts,” Bruce yelled ou
t slurring the words.
Mike slapped Bruce in the face, “Bruce, its Mike, stay awake I can only breathe for you so long so stay awake. I can’t give you anything for pain, your pressure is to low and it will depress your breathing,” Mike told Bruce.
“Mike, how did you get here, be careful Carroll is around here,” Bruce told Mike in a lucid voice. “I think she is looking for a switch. Don’t tell her Mike but that woman scares the shit out of me,” Bruce said closing his eyes. Marcus and Carroll laughed from the den along with several others.
Mike was undoing the dressing, “Bruce, Carroll said if you did not stay awake you were in trouble.”
“Just let me rest for a minute Mike,” Bruce replied softly.
Carroll came up to the table. “Bruce, open your eyes right now,” Carroll snapped at him.
Bruce’s eyes shot open, “Yes ma-am,” Bruce answered feeling light headed.
“I already havea switch here Bruce. Marcus is holdin’ it fur-me,” Carroll informed Bruce.
“I thought Marcus liked me,” Bruce cried out to no one.
“He does like ya, I already used it on him ta make ‘im hold it,” Carroll told Bruce.
“I told you Mike, she’s going to beat the shit out of me,” Bruce said looking at Mike.
“I’m going to hold you down so she can, if you don’t listen to her,” Mike told Bruce as he pulled out the packing from Bruce’s wound.
“You too, what the hell did I do? Debbie!” Bruce yelled as pain shot through him.
“I’m right here baby,” Debbie said holding his right hand as Danny changed the empty IV bags out.
“They’re going to let Carroll switch me,” Bruce told her
“Baby, if you don’t listen. I’m pulling your pants down,” Debbie threatened as Mike started digging out small pieces of wood making Bruce yell.
“Hey fucker, that hurts!” Bruce told Mike as Carroll grabbed his face turning it to her.
“Say tha ABC’s Bruce,” Carroll told him. Bruce looked at her like she was insane. “Marcus,” Carroll yelled over her shoulder.
Blue Plague Survival Page 39