LEARNING TO FORGIVE YOU

16.

["Alicia..."]

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"Mom, what's happening?" Alicia said, panic in her trembling voice, as she and Madison immediately kneeled down beside the passed-out girl. "Shit," the older woman cursed under her breath as she gently lifted Alex's shirt, revealing the reopened wound.

Madison quickly covered the wound before calling out for Nick and Travis. "Take her into a room. She has reopened her wound and just passed out." she instructed as soon as the two reached the three girls.

"I need sterile water and as much gauze as you can find." she added, directed to anyone listening. So Ofelia, who stood by them with wide eyes, immediately ran off to find those things.

Alicia watched with worried eyes as Travis picked up the slightly older girl from the ground before walking into the yacht and down the stairs with Madison and Alicia right behind them.

Travis walked into the first free room he could find, which held a king-sized bed, where the curly-haired man gently laid Alex down. Luckily, only the front injury had reopened.

"I thought she was healing." Travis murmured, looking at the reopened gunshot wound on her lower abdomen.

"She was, but without the right medicine she might never heal" Madison replied, taking a bottle of sterile water from Ofelia's outstretched hand.

"Good thing we still have those antibiotics from the base." Madison added as she began to address Alex's wound.

Alicia watched the scene unfold, her eyes brimming with tears. Alex remained unconscious on the bed as Madison cleaned the wound with the sterile water, careful to be as gentle and thorough as possible. She then reached into her pocket and pulled out a tube of antibiotic ointment, applying it carefully to the slightly bleeding wound.

Next, Madison took a piece of sterile gauze and placed it over the wound, securing it in place with medical tape. She then moved to check Alex's temperature, feeling her forehead with the back of her hand.

"She's burning up." Madison said before wetting a nearby towel and using it to cover Alex's forehead. "Someone needs to stay with her."

"I will." Alicia immediately offered, keeping her eyes on the unconscious girl. Madison nodded softly before getting up from the bed and standing aside, allowing the brunette to lay down beside Alex.

As everyone began to leave the room, Madison gave her daughter instructions on how to take care of the unconscious girl. Once Alicia nodded, signaling that she understood what to do, Madison left the room as well, closing the door behind her to give the two some privacy.

The younger girl scooted right up next to Alex, though she kept her shoulders propped up against the headboard. She slowly allowed her slender fingers to run through the older girl's thick hair, while the other went to grab Alex's hand. She gently squeezed the light-skinned girl's hand before bringing it to her lips. "I promise that I'll always take care of you, from now on." she mumbled, softly kissing the older girl's hand.

>>>

Three hours had passed, and so had Alicia, who had just woken up from her slumber beside the still-passed-out girl. She yawned, stretching slightly, and just as she did, she heard a low groan escape Alex's lips. The brunette stopped stretching mid-air to look at the girl beside her, seeing Alex's eyes slowly opening.

Alicia sighed in relief, happy that the older girl was finally awake. "Alex." the brunette said gently, cupping the older girl's cheek with one hand, the other moving to remove the cold compress from Alex's forehead. "Hey," she said softly, locking eyes with the older girl who looked up at her.