Short Stories

Part 1

I swung my fist at her attackers face, connecting with a nose. Bringing my gun out, I shot twice. He went tumbling down at the impact, and I ran to my sister, helping her up and we both ran for the car.

I hit the accelerator before they could get to us, and we sped away down the street. I looked over at Sidney.

"Stay with me. Stay awake." I shouted, trying to get her to hear me. Her head slumped and I pushed the gas harder.

If it was another time, another life, I would have had time to prepare, to face him again. But this was different and I was desperate.

I banged on his door and it was a few seconds before he came to door.

"Paige?" His husky voice pierced the night and despite the stress of the night, my stomach flipped. He always could do that.

"I need your help." He must have seen my fear because he nodded and I ran to my car and he followed.

He sucked in a breath when he saw her, beaten to the pulp.

"What the..." I shushed him and he just reached for her and carried her into his house.

He rushed into the house and yelled, "Mason! Get in here." A loud crash sounded and there was some thumping before a sleepy Mason ran into the living room, bat in hand.

He took one look at me, and then at Sidney. He dropped the bat and ran to her side.

"What happened?" He growled.

Justin ran into his bathroom and returned with a medical kit.

"She was at the wrong place at the wrong time." That is all I said before tearing her shirt. Her shoulder was covered in blood and ripped flesh.

Morgan hit the wall and started swearing. "Who did this?! I'm going to kill..."

Justin shouted, "Shut up Mas, and get some hot water going."

As Mason rushed to the kitchen, Justin appeared next to me. "Did it go through?" Of course he had seen a bullet hole before. He didn't ask questions when I replied with, "It's clean through."

He nodded and grabbed towels, wrapping her shoulder to stop the bleeding.

"There are some needles in that bag." He pointed to a sealed bag and I knew it all too well. I've used that bag for field surgeries and saved lives.

Morgan returned with steaming towels and a bucket.

"Do you need morphine?" He asked, bringing along a syringe.

I nodded and he handed the syringe to Justin, letting him do what he was trained to do.

I concentrated on cleaning the wound, not the memories flooding back.

-TWO HOURS LATER-

I ran my split knuckles under the cold water, numb against the stinging.

I stared at the flowing water, mixing with Sidney's blood.

"She is going to be alright." Justin said, turning off the water.

I stood still, not willing to risk looking at him. He reached for my hands and started drying them off gently.

"You did everything you could." I knew he didn't speak of patching her up.

"She could have died."

"But she didn't." Justin pulled me into a hug. I tried fighting him, but he just held on tighter. He knew exactly what I needed, and that is what drove me crazy. But I didn't have the strength to fight with him this time. I held on to him, closing my eyes. The years of working next to each other came back to me. He always was there for me, and now he stood by me again.

"Why are you helping me?"

He sighed, "I told you once...I'll always be here for you."