This Red is not a good start.
6
Carla
The trauma bay doors stay closed for hours.
I lose track of how long. I work through every task on my list and then work hard at staying awake.
It doesn’t work because when the doors finally swing open, they wake me. I sit up and rub my eyes.
Sheesh, I’m pooped.
Then I stand, pulling on my jacket, as Robyn walks out. Her scrubs are spotted with blood, and her mask hangs at her throat. She pulls off her cap and her hair tumbles loose around her shoulders. She yawns; her eyes are bloodshot.
I’m at her side before she’s two steps clear of the doors. “How is he?”
She gives me a tired smile. “Alive,” she says. “For now.”
Magma joins us. “That’s good news.” His voice is deep, like maybe he was sleeping too.
I fall in on her other side. We head toward the small office Robyn has been using as a recovery base. She drops into thechair behind the desk and rubs the back of her neck. Magma stays standing. I do too.
“He’s stable,” she says. “I won’t lie to you, it was close. We nearly lost him. He’s in recovery now with Dr. Jenkins watching him.”
“What are we looking at?” Magma asks.
“The next six to twelve hours are going to tell us if he will make it. If we get through tonight without complications, I’ll feel a lot better. But I’m not promising anything.” She looks up at him. “I will say this, though. He’s been through hell before. Some of those injuries we found weren’t from today. There were old breaks in three places. Two of them set badly, which means they were never seen by a doctor. He had scars I wouldn’t expect to see on a shifter, considering your accelerated, superior healing. He’s been through the wringer and more than once.”
Magma’s mouth pulls into a line. “That’s saying something, since our healing burns off most surface damage.”
“Exactly. For scars to stick on a shifter, the wounds had to be bad. Repeated. Or maybe both. Whoever this male is, he gets into a lot of fights.”
“Do you think he’s a feral?”
“Looks like it to me, but who knows?” She shrugs.
“What do you need from me?” Magma asks.
“We need to keep the perimeter in place until he’s well enough to move.”
“I’m hoping that’ll be as soon as twenty-four hours from now.” Magma lifts his brows, looking hopeful.
Robyn shrugs. “That might be pushing it, but you never know.”
“I may or may not have started a rumor that the shifter you are treating is someone high-profile. That it might even be a Councilor,” Magma says.
Robyn smiles. “That’s a good one.”
“Do you think they’ll buy it?” I ask.
Magma nods. “I think so.”
“Dr. Jenkins is calling Councilor Reed to give her feedback on the health of the Red. I’m going to stay here tonight. I want to be on the floor if anything changes. Ridge should be here any minute with my things. I’m going to get a few hours of sleep.”
“I’m sure you’re finished. Do you need anything else, Doc?” I ask.
“No, thanks. I just need my toothbrush and a warm gurney.” Robyn yawns into her hand. “Can I ask you to keep vigil? You can get a few hours when I’m up.”
