Chapter Eight
I ran across the street into the Lodging House, careful not to disturb her wounds. Snipeshooter told me that Dr. Harries was on his way and hurrying as fast as he could from his office.
"My bunk!" Blink cried. I set her on the bunk Blink had pointed to. I kissed her forehead and Mush brought me two towels. One for my hands and the other to try to stop the bleeding. I told Checkers to press the towel on her stomach.
After a minute or two of silence, Harries rushed in.
"Get out of his way!" I shouted at the boys who were just gawking at Arch on the bed, getting paler and paler by the minute from blood loss. She was bleeding out way too fast for a normal knife wound. I should know, I've suffered and inflicted them.
After a little while of Harries examining Arch's wound, he sat up and said, "The wound is deep. It doesn't seem to be infected, though. I'll wrap her up and we'll see how she does in a while."
"Thanks you, sir. Who knows what would've happened?" I looked at Arch. She groaned as Harries wrapped her wound.
About a half hour of watching her, she started moving. I was pacing back and forth when Mush cried, "Spot! She's wakin' up!"
I rushed to the bunk and about a minute later, her eyes opened. I held her hand and she looked up at me. I leaned down and kissed her lightly. She kinda kissed back, but she was really weak. Completely understandable.
Dr. Harries said, "She's awake, this means she's on the mend. In a few days she'll be alright. I'll come back tomorrow to check on her."
"Thanks, Doc." Race said. I stood up and shook the good doctor's hand.
"Take good care of them." He told Archer. She smiled and nodded. "And you take care of her, young man." I then smiled and nodded.
ARCHER'S POV
Harries exited and Dave entered with Les.
"Arch! Ya alright?" Les exclaimed.
"Yeah, I'm good kid. What's new?" I smiled weakly.
"What happened to ya?" he asked.
"Nothing that can't be fixed."
"Ya gonna be ok?"
"I'll be fine. In a day or two, I'll be back to chasin' all of ya around." I gestured to Les to come really close. I whispered something in his ear and gave him something. He ran out of the Lodging House at full speed.
"What'd you tell him?" Dave asked.
"To go get us some licorice." I smiled.
"Explains it." Jack said.
"Yeah. Hey guys!" I tried to sound completely fine, even though I wasn't. I tried to sit up, but couldn't.
"Easy, easy." Spot told me. I obeyed and laid back down.
"I hope that old bastard's dead." I said.
"That's good, cause he is." Checkers smirked.
"Thank God! Did he hurt ya too bad?"
"Nah, I'm fine. Let's just get you healed up." Spot replied.
"Don't worry 'bout me! I'm fine. I could run a race!"
"When?" Mush asked.
"I said could, not would. You think I'm ever gonna run anywhere? You guys know I don't run." I laughed.
"So tell us what happened from the beginning." Jack said.
"Well, it was the day after the strike ended when he came to town. He paid the Delanceys to snatch me. They had a plan to hit the window nearest Spot's bunk to get my attention and to get me outside. I stupidly had Spot come with me to check it out."
"It's fine, Arch. Glad to be your kidnappin' partner." He sat down on the bed and grabbed my hand. He squeezed it and I squeezed back. Les came back and gave me a piece of licorice. I started eating it and offered the guys a bite, but Les was already on it. He probably went to Medda and told her about it and she gave him more than my coin could buy. Everyone had a licorice whip. Kloppmann came in and he even had one.
"How you doin, hon?" He asked. He grabbed my other hand and squeezed. He let go. Kloppmann was like the sweet grandpa everyone loved.
"I've felt better, but I'm doin' OK," I replied.
"OK, darlin'. If you need anything, let me know."
"Thanks, Kloppmann." I said. He left the room again and something came to mind. "Checks, did you leave anyone in charge back in Brooklyn?"
"Damn... I never thought about it. Too worried 'bout you two." Checkers replied.
"Knowin' them, they've prolly already rebelled." Spot said.
"Can we go back to Brooklyn yet?" Brick asked.
"If ya want to, go!" Checkers exclaimed.
"By meself?"
"Why, you scared?" I asked.
"No! I wanna talk to somebody on the way!" Brick defended.
"Then take Asher, Ace, Prentiss and Sherlock wiv ya!" Spot said.
"OK! OK! Let's go, guys!" Brick motioned for the door. The five Brooklynites left the Lodginghouse and once outside, ran in the direction of Brooklyn.
"Sorry, he's an asshat sometimes." Checkers apologized to my "brothers".
"Don't worry 'bout it. We got the same stuff here." Jack replied.
"Jack, who's your second now?" I asked.
"Dave."
"Speakin' of, why haven't you said anything, Davey?" I asked.
"Hey, Arch! Just listenin', I guess." He replied.
"How's your pa?" I asked.
"Doin' good. His arm's out of the sling. He goes back to the factory next week to see if he can get his job back."
"Good, good. Hope he does." I smiled.
"You better get rest, Arch. We'll be here if ya need anything." Spot said. I nodded and closed by eyes. I heard everyone leave the room, but I never felt Spot stand up or let my hand go. I felt the safest I had in a long time.
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Sorry it's been another long while, guys!!!!!
-magrettagirl
