Ramblers In the Wilderness

Stitched Up

Ghost

We screeched to a halt in the airport parking lot. It would be a short walk to the jet, but they had to get there. It was only a matter of time before Mandrik and the Bratva would have people here looking for the shooters.

Ghost grabbed his bag, but it was all he could manage at the moment, partly because of his shoulder and partly because Cade wouldn't allow him to take anything else. She was loaded down with all their gear and Ghost chuckled to himself as he watched her shuffle her way to the jet.

They loaded up and shut the doors. 'Safety' Ghost breathed a sigh of relief.
Once they were off the ground, Cade set to work on his wound.
Ghost shrugged out of his gear, groaning as the fabric of his clothing moved over the gunshot wound.
"Deep breath, this won't feel great." Cade immediately began cleaning the wound and around it. Pouring on disinfectant and sponging away the blood.
Ghost had been shot before, but he would never pretend it wasn't painful. He was grateful to have Cades knowledge and assistance, but he longed for the hospital medications to really take away the pain and allow his body to relax.

"Here." Cade must have been reading his mind as she passed a bottle of whisky. It wasn't hospital grade Fentanyl or morphine, but it would take the edge off. She waited for him to take several pulls from the bottle before starting.

The bullet had entered right between his shoulder blade and spine. He was lucky it wasn't a few inches further or he would have been paralyzed and they both would be in the hands of the Bratva.
Cade examined it, "The bullet is in there. It's going to suck but I have to go in for it." Her voice was apologetic.

Ghost watched as she disinfected the tools in the mini medical kit. She pulled out some forceps and a headlamp.

"You look dumb with the headlamp." Ghost tried joking, taking his mind off the imminent pain.
"Well, it's going to help get that bullet out so get over it and look away." Cadence didn't sound amused. Nor did she sound angry, just concentrated.
She was gentle. It all still hurt but she worked swift, reaching in and finding the bullet almost right away. Carefully she pulled it out and dropped it into Ghosts hand. "A souvenir." It was her turn to joke. Ghost rolled the bullet over in his palm several times before wincing as Cade poured more disinfectant into the wound and began to stitch him up.

"You made quick work. Thank you" Ghost shot her a look of admiration as she cleaned her hands. Cade looked over and smiled. "Sandra helped teach me some things last month and it came in handy. You'll have to thank her."

"Come here." Ghost said, after she finished. Cade raised an eyebrow but followed his order standing before him. Ghost gently pulled her into his lap with his good arm, "You're the one who took care of me, so I'll thank you for that."
He pulled off his mask and looped his hand around Cadences neck, pulling her into a long soft embrace.
Before the kiss got too frantic Cadence pulled away. "Simon, you need to relax and heal a bit before you start getting all worked up."

"I'm already worked up." He protested in a whisper and found her lips again. Cadence didn't pull away or resist. She kissed him back with such passion and fire it left his head spinning.
"I'm going to clean up as best I can." Cadence stood, "I'm an absolute mess right now." Simon watched as she pulled some items out of her bag and vanished into the latrine. 

He admired her. The mental fortitude and emotional strength she had.
Physically strong.
Skilled.
Battle didn't scare her or cause her hesitation. She was a true fighter. He thought back to what she had shared of her childhood. She had been forced to be a fighter from a young age. Forced to grow up young and experience the worst part of humanity. But still she pressed on and had become better for it.
She didn't play the victim or use her past as a crutch. Instead, she let that drive her to pursue a better life and still found happiness.