“Gotcha.”Keeping my touch light and my actions professional, I slid my fingers under the sleeve at her shoulder and guided it down her arm.She tensed as I dragged the fabric over her upper arm, but didn’t complain.
When it reached her elbow, I braced it with my other hand and, as gently as I could, scooted the sleeve over the joint.Still holding her elbow, I grabbed the fabric at her wrist and guided it over her forearm, until only her hand was still covered.
Keeping tension on the empty sleeve close to her wrist, I shifted her elbow back slightly.
A pained sound in the back of her throat was her only outward sign of discomfort.I was impressed, because I’d seen marines cry with the same injury.
“And done,” I said as I guided the last of the sleeve over her hand.Grabbing the two empty sleeves, I double-knotted them around her waist.
“You okay?”
“Just peachy.”
“Perfect.Now on to the fun part.Lay back,” I directed.
Her brows furrowed and she studied me uncertainly.
“It’s the easiest way to do it.I promise.”
“What about the autodoc?”
I shook my head.“If we were on one of the big hospital ships or a troop carrier, they might have the med tech to take care of it.We’re kind of limited in a med bay this small.”
Her lips pursed.“Right.I forgot.”
Wondering what exactly it was that she’d forgotten, I only said, “Do you need help?”
Though she winced, she shook her head.Shifting her weight, she swung her legs up onto one end of the bed.Right hand hooked behind her right knee, she lowered her upper body down to the exam table slowly.
“Ready.”Her voice was steady.
Not wanting her to be surprised, I talked her through the next steps.“I’m going to hold your wrist and slowly bring your arm out to shoulder height.”I raised my arm to demonstrate.“Then I’m going to bring it closer to your head.At about this point,” I held my arm out at about a third of the way between my shoulder and head, “your shoulder should pop back into place.Any questions?”
Lacy stared at me with wide green eyes.“No,” she whispered.
“Great.After we’ve popped it back in place, I’ll put it in a sling for you, then get you some pain pills and some nanos.Any allergies?”
She shook her head.
“Great.Let’s get started.”
When her arm was in a resting position at her side, I wrapped both hands around her wrist and started to shift her arm, all the while moving it in small circles.
Her breath hitched, but I didn’t let up.I couldn’t, not until we’d taken care of her shoulder.After a minute or two, her arm was up to shoulder level.I glanced at her to see how she was doing.
Her eyes were glassy with unshed tears, but she hadn’t said a word.
“You’re doing great,” I said.“This part is going to hurt, so we’re going to go on three, okay?”
“Okay.”Her voice was as tense as the rest of her.
“One.”I kept my movements slow and steady, continuing the circles as I brought her arm up further.
“Two.”Rather than wait for three, I shifted her arm the last bit.I barely heard the soft pop as the shoulder settled back into place because Lacy screamed.
“Fuuuuck!
“You okay there?”I gently settled her arm over her chest.
