Whumptober 2021

#17) My Bleeding Heart- TAG

Prompt #17- Field care 101. Thunderbirds are Go, some time in S3

"It should be a straightforward mission."

John's earlier words haunted Virgil's thoughts. Yeah, right. Like anything ended up straightforward for International Rescue. Now with his hands pressed hard against Scott's torso, growing more slippery by the second, Virgil cursed their luck.

"Two hikers fell into an old coal mine. It's too deep for on the ground rescue. They'll need the Mole."

"V'gil-" Scott struggled to pull himself upright.

"Don't move, Scott." The fact Scott actually complied, laying back and breathing heavily, made Virgil worry more. As if the large shard of glass sticking out of Scott's lower abdomen hadn't been worrying enough.

"I told you playing the damsel in distress would work." Havoc laughed cruelly. The world flashed white.

Virgil didn't know where the Chaos siblings vanished off to, but as long as they were gone he didn't care. With a beep John's form shot out of Virgil's watch.

"Tell me there's medical on the way." Virgil didn't dare look away from his patient to address John.

"Twenty minutes, ETA."

Virgil bit back some words that would make Grandma run after him with a ladle. "That's too long. I don't think an artery's hit but he's losing too much blood from... he's losing too much blood."

He risked a glance at John, who didn't look any happier about the information.

Because one shard of glass would have been too easy. Multiple lacerations covered Scotts arms and legs. Scott's suit helped slow damage but it hadn't been enough. Already the purple splotches darkened the uniform, growing by the second. Scott's face escaped the glass, since for once he'd actually been wearing his helmet, though the fall from the blast probably still induced a concussion. Virgil mentally shook his head. Bleeding out took precedence.

"I've got the kit and med scanner."

Blinking, Virgil looked up to see Gordon holding a white first-aid kit like his life depended on it- or more accurately Scott's.

"Switch me."

Gordon immediately dropped to his knees, setting the items next to Virgil, his hands replacing Virgil's bloodstained ones.

"I don't think it pierced the intestines." Virgil muttered. He grabbed the med scanner, letting it sweep Scott's body. "Laceration's wide, but his suit kept it from going as deep as it could have. Nothing internal is perforated, but we have to staunch the bleeding. His blood pressure is dropping."

Gordon grunted in response.

Forcing his fingers to keep from shaking, Virgil abandoned the scanner and opened the kit. 'Betadine swabs, suture set, nylon sutures.' Years of practice kept his hands moving on autopilot. Anything to avoid thinking that it was his brother who needed his skills.

"This is going to sting." Virgil said out of habit, running the swabs in swift strokes along the edge of the laceration. "Gordon, as soon as the glass is out press the gauze on the site. I need to see what I'm doing."