Alone ✧ KATE BISHOP

10 - Loved & Lost

ONCE THEY WERE A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY, THEY STOPPED TO CHECK ON JASPER. Her whole left leg was throbbing, and it hurt to put any sort of weight on it, which meant that the damage most likely wasn't minor. However, Jasper knew she couldn't freak out about it. She could already tell Kate was worried, and she didn't want to add to it.

"Okay, let me see," Kate said as Jasper slid to the ground in an alleyway.

Jasper winced and removed her hands from her leg, and Kate used her phone to shine a light on it. There was a deep, nasty gash in Jasper's thigh, the blood from it staining her pants, and the skin around it was singed. Just like Jasper had thought, it wasn't very good.

Kate turned to Clint. "This is bad," Kate told him. "We need to get her to a hospital."

"No," both Clint and Jasper said at the same time.

Clint gave Jasper a look before addressing Kate. "The hospital is the first place they'd look," he said. "For now, we just need to dress the wound and make sure she doesn't die."

"Real reassuring, hot shot," Jasper muttered with a grimace.

"Well, we don't have a first aid kit," Kate said. "And we can't let her walk too far to get one, but we can't just leave her here, either."

Jasper huffed. "Guys-"

"Well, we can't stay here, either," Clint retorted. "The Tracksuits will come looking for us."

"Guys, can we just-"

"Well, what do you suggest we do, then?"

"Kate-"

"Why don't you think of something? She's your friend."

"Yeah, but you're the Avenger!"

"GUYS!" Jasper shouted. Both of them fell silent, and Jasper sighed before saying, "I know what to do that will help, but you have to listen to my instructions exactly, alright?"

Kate glanced at Clint with a frown, then faced Jasper. "Okay. But what's your plan? You can barely walk."

Jasper shook her head. "Do either of you have a strip of cloth? Of any kind?"

Kate shook her head in reply, but Clint slid his bag off his shoulder before reaching into it and pulling out a roll of gauze.

Jasper nodded. "That'll work." He handed it to Jasper, who then said, "Now, I need a small stick or rod. Nothing too big, but it can't be super tiny, either."

Once again, Clint pulled a small metal rod out of his bag and handed it to Jasper. Jasper took it, then said, "Finally, I need something to cut the legs off these pants."

Kate responded this time, pulling out a small knife from her pocket and using it to cut off both legs of the pants Jasper was wearing. Once she was finished, Jasper put the gauze and rod into Kate's hands.

"You have to do this for me, alright?" Jasper said when Kate frowned in confusion. "I can't do it myself in this state."

"Wait, what am I doing?" Kate asked.

"You're making a tourniquet," Jasper said.

Kate's eyes went wide. "I'm doing what?!"

Jasper shook her head. "Don't worry, I'll walk you through it. But you have to do exactly as I tell you, even if it looks like it's hurting me. Alright?" Kate bit her lip, hesitating, but Jasper smiled before assuring her, "I'll be alright. Trust me."

Kate sighed before nodding her head. "Alright," she said. "What do I do first?"

"Wrap the gauze right here, two inches above the injury," Jasper said, touching the spot where the gauze would go. "You'll want to position the tourniquet at the part of the limb that's closest to the heart, and never directly on a joint." Kate did as she asked, and Jasper went on, "Use a common square knot to tie the tourniquet around the limb." Kate frowned, so Jasper explained, "Like tying your shoelaces, but without the bow."