by Terry Poole
“Here you go, Doc. Prepared micro screens for transfusion and needles, all the joys of home.”
“Very smooth. You’re like the Boy Scouts, always prepared.”
“Yeah, we kinda have to be. When I’m not blowing things up, I’m a field medic. What do you need next?”
“Seriously? Okay, I’m very impressed now. Blood types. I need to know blood types.”
“Well that’s easy. I’m A+.” Manny pointed at each person as he said their names.” Moose is O-, G is B+, Frodo is O- and Kelly is O-.”
“I’m AB-,” Brendan supplied.
Nathan froze then slowly he lifted his eyes until his gaze met Brendan’s. “You’re what?”
Brendan frowned. “AB-.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. Why?”
“I’m AB-.”
“So? Your point is?”
Manny answered the question for him, “AB- is incredibly rare. It occurs in less than one percent of the population of North America.”
“I still don’t understand the problem. It can’t be that rare. Dad is AB- too. He cut his hand last week when he was putting up a shelf for mom and I heard him tell the doctor that he was AB-.”
Nathan appeared shell-shocked. “Neither of my biological parents were AB-. I thought I was a genetic abnormality and just ignored it.”
Manny put a hand on Nathan’s clenched fist. “Doc, you and I both know that’s not possible. One of your parents must be AB- for you to inherit that blood type.”
Kelly suddenly remembered the wedding picture that he had found back when they were selling the house that had belonged to Nathan’s biological parents. It had struck him at the time how Nathan’s parents didn’t resemble Nathan very much, except for maybe his father—a little bit. And yet, it was interesting just how much Nathan had in common with Matt, his uncle and adoptive father.
Brendan and Nathan locked gazes. The same thing had to be going through both their minds. If Nathan’s parents were not AB- and both Brendan and Nathan were…and Matt was…could it be?
Seeing them together, it was obvious how many physical characteristics they shared. They could have been real biological brothers. They were so similar in appearance. Nathan looked just like Brendan. Kelly let out a long, low breath. He wouldn’t want to be Matt when they got back.
Lucy, you got some ’splainin to do.
“Is it even possible?” Brendan whispered. “Could you really be my brother?”
“I…” Nathan began but Cookie groaned and Nathan’s attention snapped back to where it needed to be. There would be time for questions later.
“We need to get Cookie back onto the ground. Moose since you’re a universal donor, let’s start with you.”
G shook out a blanket and laid it beside the cot close to the medical supplies Manny had laid out. The men carefully moved Cookie onto it.
“Up onto the cot, please, Moose. We’re going to have do a gravity feed transfusion.”
“A what?”
“A gravity feed.” Nathan tore open the sterile wrappers for the needles, screen, and hose and then connected everything in the proper order. “It means that since we don’t have the use of a pump, we will let your heart push the blood into the hose and then let gravity pull the blood down into Cookie’s body.”
“Hold your arm steady please.” Nathan bound Moose’s upper arm with a rubber tie, tapped his elbow for a suitable vein, swiped Moose’s arm with an alcohol pad and smoothly inserted the needle.
“Damn, you’re good. Barely felt it.”
“I’ve been doing this for a long time. Practice makes perfect.” Nathan smiled at Moose before preparing Cookie’s arm and inserting the other needle. “Besides being a heart surgeon, I spend a bit of time in Trauma helping out.”
Kelly snorted. “A bit? They’d steal you permanently away from cardiology if you weren’t so damn good at it.”
Nathan laughed as he directed Manny to tip Cooke up slightly.
“Now to patch the hole so what goes in doesn’t back come out again.” Nathan immediately began stitching up the hole in Cookie’s back.
“The hole in back has to come first because gravity is pulling Cookie’s blood from it. So long as Cookie stays mostly on his back, the one on top can wait till the other one’s done,” Manny explained as he and Nathan worked together. “Plus, it’s the smaller hole, easier to fix.”
Luis and the children stood beside Brendan avidly watching even though Kelly didn’t think they should see this. Still, maybe it was good they got to see their new papa in action, see the brilliant, kind-hearted man that Nathan was.
They quickly finished closing the wound in Cookie’s back and laid him flat. From what Kelly could see, the exit wound was far worse. He knew that the force of the bullet punching through Cookie would tear flesh and fray muscle creating a huge hole as it left his body. Been there, done that.
After a few minutes, Nathan pulled the needle from Moose’s arm and switched out the needles inserting a clean one into the apparatus.
“Frodo, you’re up. Moose sit down and drink something with sugar in it. OJ if we’ve got it.”
“Here.” G handed him a juice pouch with the straw already in it. Moose took it then dropped cross-legged onto the ground.
Stitching the upper wound took longer as the damage was much worse. Nathan placed a bandage across it when he was finished then arched his back in a spine cracking stretch. Kelly winced at the sound of bones popping. Poor baby. That was a hell of a position to work curled over Cookie like he had been, especially considering how tall Nathan was.
Nathan leaned over Cookie again and lifted an eyelid then his lip, looking at Cookie’s gums. He gave a satisfied grunt and sat back onto his heels again.
“What did you just do?” Frodo asked curiously.
“Hmm? Oh, a spot check for anemia. Making sure Cookie’s tank was filling properly as it were.”
Huh. Kelly didn’t know checking for blood loss like that worked for humans as well as dogs and cats. Good to know.
Nathan clapped Manny on the shoulder. “Nice work, Manny. I’m assuming you know what comes next.”
“Thanks, Doc, and yes I do. One antibiotic and one diphenhydramine coming right up,” he replied, prepping a shot which he handed over to Nathan who injected Cookie’s hip with it while Manny prepared another shot.
“Okay, Frodo. You’re done.” Manny reached up and carefully removed the needle from Frodo’s arm while Nathan injected the second shot into Cookie’s other side. “Get some juice and relax.”
Kelly stepped forward. “Is it my turn now?”
“No, not yet. Cookie’s doing a lot better so I’ll hold you in reserve just in case.”
“Okay.”
“I get the antibiotic but what was that second shot for?” Brendan asked.
“That was so Cookie wouldn’t have an adverse allergic reaction to the blood that is being pumped into him,” Luis answered. “There are actually more factors than just blood type to consider but in a trauma situation without proper typing, this is the best that can be done.”
Nathan smiled up at Luis proudly. “Correct. Well done.”
Luis glowed at Nathan’s praise, his lips twitching up into a shy grin.
Slapping Manny on the back, Nathan bent over him to glimpse into the medical bag. “I don’t suppose you have a Ringers IV in that magical bag of yours, do you, Manny?”
“As a matter of fact, Doc, yes I do,” Manny said, hauling out the necessary equipment.
“Perfect. That bag is definitely bigger on the inside.”
“No,” Moose growled, shaking his head. “I will shoot the first person to ask the Doc if his last name is ‘Who’.”
“Awe, but Moosey…” Frodo whined.
“NO!” Moose stalked off.
Nathan looked at Manny in confusion. “What’s his problem with the Doctor?”
“He hasn’t been the same since Ten left.”
“Oh,
well, that makes sense then.”
“Nathan, love, we really need to get to the pick-up point and that’s approximately five clicks, sorry kilometers away. Obviously, Cookie is not going to be able to walk that distance or any distance.”
“No. He’s going to have to be carried and carefully so his stitches don’t reopen.”
“Okay.” Kelly rubbed his chin as he analyzed the cot. “We can strap Cookie in place on the cot, and then we can take turns carrying it to the pick-up point.”
“If possible, can we give him a few more minutes before we start?”
“That shouldn’t be a problem but not too long. We really need to get out of here. The helicopter will take us to the DEA base where the plane is waiting to take us home.” Kelly paused. “Would you mind having a quick look at my shoulder? It got banged up a little bit.”
“Why didn’t you say something sooner?”
Kelly gave him a wry grimace. “Yeah, like you weren’t busy or anything.”
Giving Kelly an exasperated huff, that he knew Nathan didn’t really mean, Nathan opened Kelly’s tac vest and lifted his shirt. Pressing gently, he moved his fingers around Kelly’s scar feeling the muscles and tendons. Kelly hissed when Nathan probed a particularly tender spot.
“It seems all right,” Nathan said sympathetically to Kelly as he pulled the shirt down again. “I saw painkillers and an instant ice pack in Manny’s bag. As much as I would like to ice your shoulder, anti-inflammatory pills will have to do for now.”
“Thanks, love.” Kelly kissed Nathan as he handed him the pills and a bottle of water.
Nathan abruptly looked around, obviously searching for the kids, realizing that they no were longer there. Kelly pointed with a thumb over his shoulder and Nathan peered around him, his expression softening when he spotted them. Brendan, Luis, and Maria were speaking in rapid-fire Spanish while Jesus was curled up in Brendan’s lap, his small body snuggled against Brendan’s, thumb in his mouth, sound asleep again.
Nathan rose to his feet with a groan then slowly made his way over to Kelly. Kelly slipped his arm around Nathan who did the same, leaning into Kelly as they both watched them.
Kelly gave him a little squeeze. “Guess I’ll have to work on my Spanish, huh?”
Nathan tipped his head onto Kelly’s good shoulder. “You goof,” he murmured into Kelly’s neck. “Have I told you lately how much I love you?”
Smiling, Kelly rubbed his cheek into Nathan’s curls. Nathan knew damn well how many languages Kelly was fluent in.
Chapter Eight
“What do you mean we have no rope?” Moose demanded after they had gotten Cookie back onto the cot and covered with the tarp from the tent. “Which idiot’s pack had the damn rope?”
“Ah, that idiot would be me,” Kelly answered him. “My pack contained what I felt was the most nonessential items that could be left behind and is currently sitting on the side of the road in front of the Varga compound. Want to go back for it?”
Moose gave him a droll look. “After you, smart ass.”
“Yeah, no.”
“Then what are we going to do for rope?” Manny asked. “There is no damn way Cookie can make the walk to the medi-bird unless he is tied into place on that cot.”
“I have an idea,” Nathan interrupted them. He gave Kelly an apologetic grimace. “It does mean that you’ll have to use the bracelet I gave you though.”
Kelly held up his arm and stared at the bracelet for a moment before grabbing Nathan and kissing him senseless. “You brilliant man. This is just another reason why I love you so much.”
Nathan’s face flushed a brilliant shade of red and Maria giggled, pointing up at them.
“He kissed Papa and made him a tomato.”
The group burst out in laughter, which only made Nathan blush harder. Damn his fair skin, he felt like he was on fire and not the good kind.
Kelly pressed a kiss to Nathan’s cheek, his lips cool against Nathan’s heated skin. “You don’t mind?”
“No, of course not. It’s what that bracelet was designed for, why I got it for you, to help in the event of an emergency.”
Unsnapping the bracelet, he handed it over to Nathan who picked apart the knot as he was shown by the Boy Scout who had sold it to him. In moments, he had fifteen feet of cord in his hands. Handing it to Kelly, the men efficiently trussed Cookie up in the cot, making sure the cord didn’t come anywhere near the two wound sites. They also made sure that the bands across Cookie’s body were well-insulated so they wouldn’t chaff his skin.
“That cot’s going to be awkward to carry through the jungle,” Kelly muttered. “What if we bent the legs out a bit to make handles?”
“Might work.” Moose nodded. “Two of us will have to carry Cookie and switch off as necessary.”
“Not you. We need your reach to clear the path.”
“Everyone only wants me for my body.” Moose sighed dramatically, the back of his hand to his forehead.
“Yup.” Frodo elbowed him then quickly moved to the other side of the cot. “Moose aren’t known for their smarts.”
“Ass.” Moose reached for the giggling Frodo who smoothly sidestepped Moose’s outstretched hand.
“Not denying it.” Frodo laughed, evading Moose once more and scooting away.
“Moose, when you are quite finished,” Kelly said drolly. “Please radio the medi-bird and let them know we have one wounded. They’ll give the base a heads-up to have the medical bay ready and waiting.”
“Already done,” Moose answered him smugly.
“Then give me a hand.” Kelly held up the cot, Frodo joining him, so that Moose could get to the legs. The large man’s muscles bulged as he bent each set of legs into position.
“That should do it.” Moose surveyed his work before the two men lowered the cot to the ground. He slid his goggles into place and hefted his large machete.
Manny moved to the front of the cot, tightening his goggles. “I’ll take first shift on front. Frodo, you take back. Doc, you follow and monitor.”
The others followed suit, putting their goggles into place over their eyes. Nathan and Luis, who still had their goggles, also put them on their faces before picking up the children.
Brendan stopped Nathan. “If you are going to monitor Cookie then maybe I should carry Maria so that you’ll have your hands free if anything happens with him.”
“I think that’s a good idea, baby,” Kelly added. “Plus, I know your feet hurt and I’m so sorry. Besides the rope, I left the boots I brought for you in my pack, the one I had to leave behind when I let myself get captured. I had to have them on me so the others wouldn’t know or suspect what I was planning and now you’re paying the price.”
Nathan cupped Kelly’s cheek. “Having sore feet is a really small price to be with you again and later, you are going to explain that ‘getting captured’ statement to me.”
“Yes, dear.” Nathan looked from Kelly to Brendan to Cookie then back before reluctantly handing Maria over to Brendan. It wasn’t so much that he minded Brendan carrying his daughter; it was that he already saw Maria as his daughter and wanted to spend time with her even if it was only carrying her through the jungle. Kelly was right though, the less weight on his feet, the better.
Nathan checked Steven, correction Cookie, over one more time then stood back as Manny grasped the front legs of the cot and Frodo grabbed the rear.
“Ready?” Manny asked Frodo.
“Ready…and go.” They lifted the cot at the same time on Frodo’s word ‘go’.
The men adjusted their grips and Manny signaled their readiness. Nathan got into place behind Frodo. Kelly put Luis behind Nathan and then Brendan. The rest all lined up like ducks in a row.
“That direction.” G pointed.
“Then, let’s get this show on the road.” Moose marched up to the jungle and with a mighty swing began hacking at the vegetation.
The only difference between this trek and the first one was the lac
k of extreme vigilance like before. Nathan glanced back over his shoulder. The men in the rear positions had their rifles out and were scanning the jungle in every direction as they went. Okay, maybe the ‘extreme vigilance’ was still there after all.
Every so often Moose would halt and the men carrying the cot would switch out. Nathan did end up carrying Maria for a while, letting Manny monitor Cookie’s condition as they went. Even Luis took a turn at watching over Cookie.
G and Brendan walked hand in hand whenever it was possible. It was apparent that they liked to touch each other as much as Nathan and Kelly did. Something was definitely brewing between them and Nathan was glad. Brendan had been alone for a long time and as far as he could tell G seemed to be a good fit.
Nathan glanced up to check on Maria who was now in Kelly’s arms. He had lifted his goggles and was wiping his forehead on his sleeve while she stared intently at Kelly’s face. Nathan wondered what was going on when she cocked her head to one side.
“Are you really going to be my daddy?”
He looked down at her, his eyes softening. “Yes, Maria. If you let me.”
“Papa?” she called over to Nathan.
“Yes, Maria?”
“Daddy has pretty eyes. Are they real?”
Everyone snickered or giggled at the question.
Nathan smiled at her. She was just too cute for words. “Yes, sweetie. They really are that beautiful green color.”
She turned back to Kelly. “I wish I had eyes that color. They are much prettier than my eyes.”
“Baby, that’s not true,” Kelly said to her solemnly.
“No?”
“No,” he said firmly. “Your large eyes are like the darkest sky, deep and mysterious and when you smile, I can see stars twinkling in them. They are absolutely beautiful.” He tapped her on her nose. “You are beautiful.”
Someone sighed.
“Really?”
“Really. When you grow up, Papa and I will have to chase all the boys away with a stick.”
Maria frowned. “Boys are no esta bien.”
Nathan chuckled as laughter ran up and down the line.