Garrison watched the horizon for the boat that was to pick them up. A wind had come up and the sea was choppy on the Channel. It was not going to be an easy ride across. He stifled a shiver as the icy wind cut through the white collarless shirt he was wearing. The wool tunic was covering his second. Craig was still feeling guilty about that.
The German soldier had come around the corner with no warning. He had immediately raised his rifle and fired at Garrison. Actor had shoved the younger man out of the way and caught the bullet in his left shoulder. Casino had fired a split second behind the soldier and took him down, too late. Craig had never had one of the men blatantly take a bullet for him.
They had propelled the injured con man into the car and made their escape. The time frame for pick up was too close. They had been unable to stop to remove the bullet that was still lodged in the con man's shoulder. Casino had done the best he could with the aid kit and they tried to keep Actor as comfortable as possible. Upon reaching the rendezvous point, they had ditched the car and had Actor propped against a tree, Craig's jacket giving him a tiny bit of extra warmth.
The boat came into view. It would be another five minutes before it arrived. Garrison walked over and squatted down beside Actor. The con man observed him calmly. Craig checked the dressing under the man's shirt relieved to see the bleeding seemed to have slowed down.
"It's going to be too rough to cut that out on the boat," warned Garrison, apologetically.
Actor shrugged his good shoulder. "It can wait until we get back to the Mansion. More supplies there anyway."
Craig looked at the older man and quietly said, "Thank you."
Actor gave a crooked grin. "You have the information in your head. That makes you the information. It was just a matter of keeping the information safe."
Garrison reached out and gave the man's uninjured shoulder a squeeze and got up to meet the boat.
Terry answered her ringing telephone. It was late morning and she had just arisen after a night of bartending.
"Terry, it's Craig," said her brother. "I could use your help. One of the guys was injured. We can't use a hospital."
"Sure, I'll come help. But why can't Actor take care of it?"
There was a pause. "It is Actor."
"Will he let me touch him?" asked Terry cynically.
"Yes."
"I'm on my way."
Terry let herself in the front door. Three grins greeted her from the common room. She grinned back. "Hi, Guys." There were greetings back. Terry pointed up the stairs questioningly.
"Yeah," replied Casino.
Terry bounded up the stairs. She gave a short knock and let herself in Actor's bedroom. Craig was standing next to the bed with a bloody cloth in his hand. There was a basin of bloody water on the chair next to him. Terry walked up and Craig backed away. She glanced at the dark eyes watching her silently from the bed and looked at the hole in Actor's shoulder.
"Exit wound?"
"It's still in there," replied Craig. "I haven't had a chance to dig it out yet."
Terry turned astonished eyes on her brother. "It's still in there? How long has it been there?"
"About 8 hours. I didn't have time to do it on land and the boat trip was too rough to dig it out with Chief's blade."
Terry straightened and gave her brother a look of disbelief. "Chief's blade? You were going to cut that out with a switchblade?"
"We do it frequently," said Actor quietly.
Terry looked between the two men. "You're both nuts! Craig Garrison, you are not using a knife to remove that bullet." She swore under her breath at idiotic men and strode to the door.
"Where are you going?" demanded Craig.
"Telephone."
Jake Bradford exchanged a hostile look with Craig Garrison. "The only reason I'm doing this is because Terry asked me to. You got a problem with that I'll leave."
"No problem," said Craig, swallowing bitterness.
Terry remained silent. Jake examined the wound.
He nodded to Actor. "Numbness or tingling in the fingers?"
"No," said Actor.
Shiv turned to Terry. "You ever learn how to use chloroform?"
"Are you kidding? We had anesthesiologists, remember?"
"This ain't New York, Sweetheart. And this ain't a hospital."
"I can do it," said Craig.
Terry looked at her brother in surprise. Chloroform and switchblades?
As if reading her mind, Craig said. "This is a war. You learn to use and do what you have to."
"We aren't at St. Anthony's anymore, Babe," added Jake. He had been taking supplies from his bag. Picking up the basin of water, he took it to the bathroom. "Terry, set up for me."
Craig and Actor both watched as Terry set up the instruments on a sterile towel on the chair. She moved efficiently and quickly. Pushing Craig out of the way, she brought the bedside light closer to shine on the shoulder. Garrison took the chloroform and a towel around to the other side of the bed.
"You have done this part before," said Actor, recognizing her ability.
"Best damn OR nurse I ever had," said Shiv.
"Yeah," said Terry. "That was another lifetime."
Craig watched Shiv surgically remove the slug from Actor's shoulder. Terry assisted quietly and competently. Garrison could see her keeping one eye on Actor's face and chest watching for any problems.
Shiv finished putting the instruments back in his bag. He handed Terry a vial of Penicillin, a couple vials of Morphine, and a case with a syringe. "Pen every eight hours if it looks like it's starting to infect. Mainline the first dose of Morphine and IM after that."
Terry looked at the vials and back as Jake. "Do I want to know where you got these?"
"Black-market," said Craig. "We don't like doing it, but sometimes we have to."
"You want him to suffer?" asked Jake, knowing how to push the girl's buttons.
As if on cue, Actor moaned and mumbled, coming out of the drugged fog. He started gagging.
"I give him ten seconds," said Jake. He put the bag down.
"I give him five," said Terry, urgently. "Get him over!"
The two men turned Actor onto his right side. Terry kicked the wastebasket next to the bed. She supported the con man's head as he started retching. When he was done, they lay him back flat. Terry got up and went into the bathroom.
Craig took the trash out to put it in the burn barrel. Actor's eyes were closed. Terry came back into the room with a wet washcloth. Jake put a restraining hand on her arm. She stopped and looked at him questioningly. He reached to pull her head over for a kiss. Terry jabbed him hard in the stomach with her elbow.
"Knock it off, Jake," she said wearily. "It's over."
""Come on, Terry," said Shiv.
"It's over, Jake." Terry looked at him narrowly. "I will never forgive Craig for his methods, but I understand and agree with his motives. You're with Kit now. Leave it at that."
Shiv sighed and nodded. There was regret in his eyes as he turned, picked up his bag, and left.
Terry pulled herself together and turned to Actor. He was watching her silently. Terry sat down next him on the bed. She began to gently wipe his face with the damp cloth. "I guess you heard that."
"Yes," said Actor. "It's none of my business."
"It's not Craig's either," said Terry with quiet firmness.
Actor nodded. He lay there, surprised at the gentleness Terry was showing him. He had not expected her to come when Garrison said he was going to call her. Despite what he had just heard her say, she seemed to have a forgiving nature. And that made him feel guiltier for the way he had treated her on the two missions. He fought the sleep that was threatening him from the anesthesia. Terry laid the cloth on his forehead.
"Grazie," said Actor.
"Prego," she smiled back at him. "Go to sleep. I'll be here if you need anything."
His eyes blinked a couple times and then closed. Terry watched as his breathing slowed to a sleeping rhythm. Maybe Casino was right. Maybe she should give him another chance.
Craig came back with the empty washed out trash can. He set it next to the bed and paused to look down at his con man. The Italian was sleeping. Craig turned to his sister, sitting on a chair beside the bed.
"You staying?" he asked in some surprise.
"I'll stay with him until he wakes up more," she said. "I figure his stomach is good for one more heave before it settles down."
"Can you manage him," Craig was dubious.
"Sure," smiled Terry. "He's too out of it for us to fight."
"That wasn't what I meant. He is a tad bigger than you."
Terry grinned at her brother, "Craig, I can still toss a three strand bale of hay. I think I can flip him on his side."
"Okay," conceded Garrison. "If you need help, yell loud. I'm leaving the guys with you then. I have to go debrief."
Terry settled back in the chair with her legs stretched out and her ankles crossed. Garrison shook his head and left the room.
About five minutes later, Actor's eyes opened and he frowned. He tried to fight his wayward stomach to no avail. Terry was up and helping him roll to his side. He was a little too close to the edge of the bed, so she braced her leg against it for him to lean on. She held his head while he emptied his stomach into the waste basket again. This time his stomach kept heaving after there was nothing left to come up. Out of reflex he wrapped his arm around her leg for support. When he was done, Terry helped him ease back. She checked the shoulder dressing, which was still dry. The Italian looked up at her apologetically.
"I'm sorry I grabbed you," he said.
"Not a problem," assured Terry. "Stomach better now?"
He nodded. Terry picked up the damp cloth that had fallen from his forehead. With that and the wastebasket she went into the bathroom. Actor heard her cleaning out the can and emptying it in the toilet. She ran water in the sink and returned with the can and the cloth. Actor had scooted a little farther from the edge of the bed, which gave Terry room to sit beside him. She put the can within easy reach, just in case, and went back to wiping his face.
"I don't know which is worse," muttered the con man, "this or letting the Warden cut it out without anesthetic. I hate to vomit."
Terry smiled, "I'd worry about you if you liked it."
He cocked an eyebrow at her. Automatically, her hand reached up to brush a stray lock of hair back that had fallen over his forehead and placed the cool cloth in its place. The con man couldn't remember the last time anyone had treated him so kindly.
"I'll give your stomach a minute to settle down, then I'll get you some morphine," she said.
"No morphine," said Actor. "As long as I lay still, the pain is not bad."
Terry shook her head with a smile, "You and Craig. You both have to tough things out." She resumed her seat and watched him. He fought to stay awake. Contrary to what he had just said, the shoulder pained him a great deal.
A few hours later, Garrison returned. He went upstairs to check on Actor. The Italian was asleep. Terry was sitting on the chair reading a book. She looked up at her brother as he came to stand beside her.
"He okay?" whispered Craig.
Terry nodded. "He didn't like it, but I made him take a shot of morphine a little bit ago so he'd rest better." She frowned. "You would have had a hard time getting that out with a switchblade the way it was lodged. We have to find a way to get you guys access to a hospital. I may not always be able to get Shiv."
"Want to pull some strings?" asked Craig.
Terry smiled. "I'll pull them while I've got them. Somebody's bound to start reeling them in pretty soon."
Craig frowned. "Can you come talk to me for a minute?"
"Sure," said Terry.
She got up and followed her brother from the room. He went to her room and shut the door behind them. sitting on the end of her bed, forearms on knees and a frown on his face.
"What's the matter?" she asked.
Craig shook his head. "I just needed to talk. You know how he got shot?"
"I rather assumed it was an enemy soldier," said Terry moving to stand in front of him.
Craig reiterated the story and the conversation with Actor. When he was done, Terry blew out a long silent breath.
"I would say, Big Brother, that you have somehow gained their loyalty. I thought Actor was only out for Actor."
"He used to be," said Craig. "He still mostly is. We do talk sometimes, he and I. He stays mainly to himself. And Casino gives him grief."
"Yeah," agreed Terry. "Calling him 'Beautiful' doesn't sit too good."
"I feel guilty," admitted Craig.
"I can see where you might," said Terry. "Well, now you know at least one of them is watching your back. I know you. You're watching theirs. They know that."
Craig nodded. Terry rubbed his shoulder in empathy.