Still Here

Chapter 4

Day 3

Another long cold night. Everyone grew cranky with the absence of sleep.

JJ was able to sit up with the help of Rossi. You all made Emily lay down so it would help slow the pressure building inside her head.

Everyone else who sustained injuries were now fearing infection. Spencer's wound on his hip slowly bled and he was worried about it.

"Y/n." He looked at you. You looked back.

"Grab your bobby pin and that floss." You furrowed your eyebrows.

"What- what are you talking about? For what?" You started to get worried.

"The cut in my leg will get infected if we don't close it. You're going to have to suture it." His exhaustion made him take a breathe in between each word. You search his eyes and they were cold and serious. You nod your head.

Slowly turning to face him, you grab the pin and wrap the floss around it. His arm had a tourniquet made from a seatbelt. You were about to go in but pulled away.

"Spence I can't... I've never done this I- I just can't."

He sat back up and reassured you.

"It's only going to get worse. It's gonna hurt like hell but it's helping me in the long run. Look first, you're going to take the pin about a centimeter away from the wound at a 90 degree angle. Don't go too far, just above the fat. Once far enough in, twist your hand clockwise until the floss comes out. Pull it through and wrap the floss around the tip of the pin. Pull the longer piece and that'll be your first knot. Repeat until you get to the end."

You nod your head trying to remember the steps. You didn't want to mess up and cause more harm to your friend.

"And y/n." He said before lying back down. "No matter how loud I scream, you don't stop."

Those words sent a shiver down your spine. How could you not? You didn't want him to suffer. But if it was going to help him... You take a deep breath.

He laid his head on Dereks lap. Spencer grabbed a scarf that he personally brought over for this little procedure and put it in his mouth. He closed his eyes and nodded, signaling you to start. Your eyes tear up and you wipe them clearing your view.

"I'm so sorry." You whisper before sticking the bobby pin through his skin.

The second it entered his wound he screamed. They were muffled by the scarf but you could tell it hurt. You didn't like this one bit.

  His pain was an ocean of unknowable depths, swift currents and lurking beasts. He gripped the ground, grabbing at the dirt as if he could transfer the pain from his body to the dirt. Everyone looked over at him watching you operate on him in horror.

Please pass out. Please Spence.

You got halfway through and his screams stopped. His body went limp. You immediately stopped what you were doing and looked up. Derek felt for a pulse.

"He's still there. Hurry up y/n, while he's passed out."

It was now or never.

You finished up the stitches and tied it off in one final knot. As you pulled away your hands started to tremble. The tears came flowing down.

"Hey princess." Derek put his head low to level with yours.

"He's gonna be okay. You closed it off and he's going to wake up anytime soon." His eyes met yours.

You looked back at your attempt of suturing and you could definitely use some work. It was sloppy but it held.

  Spencer's head was still in Dereks lap. He woke up around 20 minutes later. Although time was something you were never good at predicting.

  He slowly got up and looked at his hip. And then he looked for you. You didn't even want to look at him.

  "You did it y/n." He scooted back over next to you. "Thank you."

  Without looking at him you wrap your arms around his chest and bury your head in his neck.

  "I thought I killed you Spence." You hiccuped. The tears now rolling down your cheeks.

  "I'm here okay. You did it, you saved me." He rested one arm around your body, holding you up and the other went to the back of your head.

  "Please don't make me ever do that again." You begged. You knew that was stupid however. It's not like you planned on getting into another plane crash and having to suture up your best friend anytime soon, but your emotions were all over the place.

  He held you for what seemed like forever. That was the first time you felt safe. All the pain and events that took place these last few days vanished.

  Even though you all knew rations were running low, no one wanted to go out as dusk rolled around. What if you got lost? What if a helicopter looks for you and you're not there? What if a bear stormed through the little camp you set up and ripped you all to pieces? All those possibilities but no real answer.

  No sleep, low food, not enough warmth. Not the ideal way you thought this case would go...

  You lay your head on Spencer's like the previous nights and he did the same. It was hard to stay awake. You tried to distract yourself by looking up at the stars. The stars burned with the brilliant sapphire pallor of electric light. You wished you could take its warmth and bring it down to you.

  Rule 3. If your buddy was falling asleep, it was your job to keep them from doing so. Everyone took turns nudging each other's shoulders and lightly shaking one another.

  Simple. You fall asleep, you never wake up.