Not a Dream

Chapter 45

Enjolras's face continued to contort, changing from rage to concern and then right back to rage.

Éponine tried to smile weakly and said, her voice barely audible, "Hey".

Enjolras sighed loudly and his expression angered, "You come to the barricade against my wishes, dressed up like a man, got shot, lied to me, and are bleeding out on the table and all you have to say is "hey"?" he yelled angrily.

Éponine felt the pit of guilt in get stomach grow but before she could answer Joly came running in.

He set down his medical supplies on a nearby table before turning getting to work. "Enjolras, if you're staying you have to help" he said without looking up.

Éponine could feel her head spinning and she barely whispered his name before everything went dark.

Enjolras heard Éponine breath his name before she closed her eyes and went limp on the table. His stomach dropped and the air caught in his throat. He turned to Joly and yelled, "Do something she's unconscious".

Joly's eyes shot up and he ran towards the table. He tore Éponine's jacket off and saw the bleeding coming from her shoulder.

Enjolras saw Joly place his hands against her shoulder and breath a sigh of relief, "What? What are you so relieved about?" He asked as he ran his fingers though Éponine's hair.

Joly turned to face Enjolras, "She got shot in the shoulder not the chest, which means I can take the bullet out without damaging anything too much. However, she probably has an infection and I can't cure it because I don't have the proper medicine here, but I will do all I can to sanitize and disinfect her wound" he said removing his hand from Éponine's wound and placing it on Enjolras's shoulder, "she'll be fine".

Enjolras nodded stiffly, he still wasn't sure how to feel about this. Éponine had blatantly lied to him. She said she wasn't going to come, and to make matters worse she concealed herself from him. Why couldn't he have just stayed home like they agreed? He huffed frustration when Joly pulled him out of his trance.

"Enj, I don't have any pain medication so this is going to hurt her a lot, can you call in Courf and Ferre to help hold her down? She can't be flailing around when I try to pull the bullet out".

Enjolras nodded and called in the boys, Ferre held down her shoulders, away from the bullet wound, and Courfeyrac held down her ankles. Enjolras took her hand in his and squeezed it gently, "It'll be ok, Ép, you'll be good as new in no time" he whispered to himself. He held to her hand as Joly nodded to the boys.

As soon as Joly began fishing for the bullet Éponine woke up screaming in pain. She tried to flail her arms and legs but Combeferre and Courfeyrac held fast. Her back arched and she continued to let out pained cries. He felt Éponine's hand squeeze his own tightly. He also saw her eyes fluttering open, then closed, open, then closed multiple times. She continued to scream as Joly maneuvered his tools in her shoulder. Blood poured down her arm onto her and Enjolras's hands, but Enjolras continued to hold her tightly. He could see how much pain she was in through the contortions of her face.

Finally Joly pulled the bullet out and placed his metal tools down. Éponine seemed to relax and her grip eased on Enjolras's hand. Enjolras turned to Joly who was nodding to Courf and Ferre indicating they could leave.

Enjolras waited until they had left the room before asking Joly what would happen.

Joly was wrapping Éponine's shoulder tightly and said "She'll be fine for now, Enj. She just needs to rest, but like I said before, if she doesn't get proper medical treatment she could die from the infection of her wound. Just remember that". He nodded quickly to Enjolras before leaving Enjolras in the room alone.

Enjolras stood alone in the café in the silence letting what Joly said sink in. Éponine was fine for now, but she could die at any minute from infection. She wouldn't leave even if he begged her to. He took a step towards the bed and stared down at Éponine's face. It was peaceful, but heads of sweat brimmed her forehead. He couldn't help but smile at the sight of her. However that smile disappeared quickly when he remembered where they were: the barricade. This was not a safe place for anyone, especially Éponine. Enjolras huffed and sat down in a chair next to Éponine's table, placing his head in his hands. His mind was racing trying to think of a way to help Éponine. She wouldn't want to do anything except stay by his side. She wouldn't hide, and she definitely wouldn't want to leave it all together. He took hold of Éponine's hand and ran his thumb softly along the back of her hand. He leaned foward and held the back of her hand to his mouth. She was here for now and that's all that mattered. Everything else can be sorted out later.