The Academy: Discovery

Nurse Cutie Pie

"You said small injury!" I screech running to Mr. Blackbourne's side. "Thats not a small injury amount of blood!"

"No it isn't." Silas says looking faint.

"Go Si. I didn't call you for a reason buddy. We'll be fine. We've just got to work fast."

My eyes widen "We?"

"You heard me nurse Cutie Pie. I need your help. I think I've managed to stop the bleeding but I've got to make sure."

I swallow hard trying to force my own fear down. Sean's tone and shaky rushed movements tell me he's scared but managed to put it aside. I need to do the same and help Mr. Blackbourne. "What do I do?"

"Gather several blankets and towels. Also an arm full of bottled water. Probably half from the fridge and half from the pantry. He won't want cold water if I need it as a saline substitute. I'm not sure I have enough to properly flush the wound."

"Towels, blankets, and water. Got it." I say before dashing off to complete my task. I run around gathering all the supplies in one trip so I get back to Sean and Mr. Blackbourne quickly. Without Sean's instruction I start to place a blanket under Mr Blackbourne. Sean is too busy removing the belt and the shirt from Mr. Blackbournes arm then assessing the now visible bullet wounds to pay me any attention. Until I clear my throat and gesture for him to roll Mr. Blackbourne on his side so I can roll the other side of the blanket out. He helps watching me curiously but he doesn't say anything. I unfold the second blanket to cover Mr. Blackbournes lower half and the good side of his torso all the way to his neck. "Is that good, Mr. Blackbourne? Are you cold anywhere else?"

"I'm fine Miss Cathcart."

"Here drink this." I use the pocket knife I've been carrying around with me to pock a small hole in the lid of a water bottle then tilt it to his lips to drink. "Sorry I couldn't find a straw." He drinks from the bottle looking a little less flushed with each swallow. I can only assume that I'm actually helping. I continue using the materials Sean sent me for and hope I 'm guessing their proper use. Next I grab the towels and unfold one to slip it under the arm Sean is working on. I try not to look at what he's actually doing. "What now?"

"You've done this before?" Sean ask not looking at me.

"yes" I tell him giving him no more explanation.

He does look up at me then. "I'm nearly out of the saline. Pock a hole in the bottom of the water bottle and grab a bowl from the kitchen. Maybe a couple of larger ones if we have them." I run to do as he ask and then wait by his side again. "Hold the bowl just to the side of the table here. I don't want to get him any more wet than I already have." When I've got the bowl in place he gently moves Mr. Blackbournes arm to the side and begins flushing it with the bottled water. Looking at the wound is inevitable now but I'm glad to see its not particularly large and it looks clean already.

"Does this not hurt?" I ask Mr. Blackbourne surprised he isn't hissing or moaning in pain.

"I haven't been able to feel my arm for about 20 minutes. While you were out Sean numbed me."

"Oh. Good." We're all quiet after that for a while as Sean finishes flushing the wound. When he's finished he ask me to help wrap the arm and tape it. I can tell he's full of questions when I don't need any more instruction than that. I know not to make the bandage too tight and to keep from touching any more of the gauze than necessary.

He doesn't ask me the questions he wants to. Instead he says "Nurse Cutie Pie why don't you tell out patient how to care for his wound now?" He's testing me to see how much I know about gun wounds. I know more than I should.

I look at my hands in my lap and tell Mr. Blackbourne. "You'll want to keep it elevated whenever possible. Keep it dry and clean. Replace your gauze wrap at least once a day. If Sean gives you antibiotics take them even if you feel better for as long as he says. Try to rest."

"Do you know signs that would show he needs to seek medical attention after this point?" I nod. "Nurse Cutie Pie indeed." he mumbles. To me he says "Then I'll let you be the one to change his bandages daily. Once each day should be enough and I'm sure he would prefer you do it."

"Sure." I agree to help. "Now can you please tell me whats happened? Where are the others? How did you get shot? Who were those guys?" Sean looks at Mr. Blackbourne warily. "Are the others okay?" I stand from my seat ready to dash off and find them if any one of them are hurt too.

Sean pulls off the glove he wore and tugs my arm so I'm sitting back down. "Relax no one else was hurt. The others are taking the two men we caught to a nearby academy team. The Toma team. They'll further question them and keep them contained until we can figure out what we need to do with them beyond that."

"Who were they?" I repeat.

Sean starts gathering trash and cleaning up. "I'll let Owen tell you the rest."

I watch him gather his supplies silently and walk out of the room. "They were there for me weren't they?" I only ask for him to confirm it. Sean's worried expression even after he doctored Mr. Blackbourne and his reluctance to talk to me gives me enough clues to piece the theory together.

Mr. Blackbourne confirms it by pulling two pictures from his pocket. "The guys kept us all updated on their location as they pursued the two men. I ran to cut off the one and then planned to assist with the other if needed. Unfortunately I chose the wrong cut off point and he saw me sooner than I had hoped. It wasn't much but it was long enough for him to get the shot off. Mr. Taylor was mid tackle and forced the man to miss his target. At least the portion of me he was aiming for." I bite my lip and make note to thank North for being good at tackling. Mr. Blackbourne continues. "They were each carrying one of these when we caught them." As I look at the two identical pictures of myself sitting on my bed reading my book, my stomach rolls. I had no idea someone was ever watching me.

"Was one of them Tom?"

"I don't believe so. I've yet to see a picture of Mr. Richards but In his office we found several things suggesting he's older. Both the men we caught today were younger. Not much older than I am if at all."

"He's maybe late 40's or early 50's I'd guess." He nods at my confirmation. I'm silent for a little while working at wiping the sweat off his forehead. The sweat tells me despite what he said he's in some pain but it doesn't seem to be extreme so I let it go. I can't imagine anyone being completely pain free an hour after being shot. I'm also working at putting the pieces of todays events together and come up with one explanation. "They planned to take me to him?"

"Yes Miss Cathcart. I believe so."