Double Agent

Helping Hands

Parking my car up, I looked around at the peaceful street. It was a far cry from the near warzone that we'd just fled from.

"You know Doc could have just patched me up, right?" Dash winced.

"He'd have had to come to you, we don't have that option. It needs treating, and we can't wait."

I grabbed a blanket from the trunk, quickly shielding Daya's body from view whilst Dash closed his door and joined me on the sidewalk. He watched me lock the door, his eyes not leaving the back seat until I gave him a small tug on the elbow to have him follow me.

"Who lives here then?" He asked as we climbed the steps.

"Someone who can help." I murmured, hesitating for only a fraction of a second, before knocking on the door.

After a few seconds, footsteps sounded on the other side of the door, drawing nearer, until it swung open.

"Nikki?"

"Hi Sis." I replied.

Priya looked confused as her eyes flicked between me and Dash, from our messy appearance to the blood, and back to my face.

"What the hell?" She yelped, standing back and waving us inside.

"I'm sorry to do this, but I need your help." I began, walking into the living room of her spacious apartment.

She slipped into a side room, returning with a bundle of medical supplies, and gesturing for us to take a seat.

"Let me see." She said, examining Dash's wound a little closer, and helping him remove his shirt. "This is a bullet wound." Priya burst out.

"Yes, and I need you to patch it up."

"Nikki what is going on? Why would you come here and not go to the hospital?"

"Because it's not an option." I snapped. "I'm not on the job, I'm not an agent anymore."

She was stunned into temporary silence, her hands frozen on Dash's shoulder as she applied gauze to the wound.

"But- then how did-?

"It's too much to explain. I just need your help. You're the only one that I can trust."

With a small wince, she eventually nodded, collecting her medical bag and returning to the sofa, where she continued to treat Dash's wound.

"You're lucky. It's a through and through, just needs some stitches."

"Thanks." He replied with a small smile.

The adrenaline was beginning to leave my system, the acknowledgement of what had happened now setting in, along with the return of the searing pain from the bullet wound, and the fear of what was to come next. I could have happily closed my eyes and succumbed to sleep for days on end, just to escape the reality of what my life was now. But I knew there was still so much to do. I had to make sure that this was worth it, and that it wouldn't end here, that there would be a future for us all. Sinking down onto my sister's sofa, I tuned out, allowing myself a time to regroup, dimly aware that her and Dash were conversing about something.

"Nikki?" Priya's voice interrupted, dragging me from my reverie, and dumping me back into the present with a thud.

"Yeah?"

"Are you in some sort of trouble?"

I nodded, and saw the fear in her eyes at the confirmation.

"What happened?"

"I can't tell you. The more you know, the more trouble you could be in. I don't want you tangled up in this." I explained. "Coming here was bad enough, I won't involve you any further."