Max winced with every slight movement and began to shiver.
"Sorry," Hayden said as he finished his exam. "You need some stitches, Max. I can do that. And I can give you something for the pain and for the infection. But you'd be better off in a hospital."
"Can't go," Max mumbled. "Do what you gotta do."
Hayden looked at her as Max's eyes closed. His expression was serious. "You sure you want me to take care of this here?"
"If you can."
He nodded, then opened his medical bag. "It looks like the bullet missed the major arteries, but there's muscle damage, and he's lost a fair amount of blood. But right now, the biggest concern is the fever."
Hayden worked efficiently, numbing the area around both wounds before cleaning and stitching them. Max gritted his teeth but didn't complain, even when Hayden had to probe for fabric fragments that had been driven into the muscle.
"There," Hayden said finally. "Now for the antibiotic."
He prepared a syringe and injected it into Max's good arm, then handed Kara a bottle of pills.
"He should take two every eight hours." He glanced at his watch. "It's almost six. He can take the next dose at midnight. And then again in the morning. The fever should break in the next few hours. If it doesn't, go to the nearest hospital." He pulled out a sample packet of pain pills. "This will get you through today and tomorrow. After that, see another doctor, get a prescription."
"Thank you so much, Hayden. I know you're supposed to report gunshot wounds..."
"You're FBI, and you're my sister. I trust you know what you're doing." He packed up his medical supplies, then added, "Were you close to him when he got shot?"
"He pushed me out of the way," she said.
Hayden stared at her. "Is he the guy you took to Uncle Danny's birthday?"
"Mom told you?"
"Yeah. Said you have a good-looking boyfriend who seems to care about you. Was that real?"
She shrugged. "I don't know what we are. It's complicated."
"It always is with you," he said with a small smile. "But I have to say, you looked scared when I got here. Freaked me out a little. You're always so tough."
"I was feeling out of my depth."
"You did a good job cleaning his wound." He paused. "Do you want me to stay?"
"I don't," she said. "I don't think we're in danger here, but if we are, I don't want you in the middle of it. I know it was a risk to contact you."
"Which is why you had Jess do it."
She nodded. "I knew you'd come if you could."
"I will always come if I can, even if I shouldn't. You're my sister. You need me; I'm there."
"The same goes for you, Hayden. You need me; I'm there." She gave him a hug. "Be careful leaving here. If you see anything out of the ordinary, if anyone is following you…"
"I'll call the police because you don't have your phone on. But you don't have to worry. I may not be law enforcement, but I can take care of myself." He walked to the door, then paused. "I know it's not my business, but?—"
"You're going to say something anyway."
"Mom said you looked happier than she'd seen you in a while. If that guy in there makes you feel that way, then don't second-guess it the way you always do. Get out of your own way and just be happy."
"I can't believe you're giving me relationship advice," she said. "You're single, too."
"Yeah, but I'm younger, and I'm a man. I've got more time."
