All characters and all rights at 'Arrow' belong to CW Network, Berlanti Productions, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television. The following story does not serve any commercial purposes, but was written only for pleasure. An injury of Copyright is not intended. All further persons belong to the authoress.
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Chapter 4
a few months later
Everyone laughed heartily at Julia's story, which she had told with a mischievous grin. In the last time a real friendship had developed between the four very different people. None of them was any more the one, who had arrived on Lian Yu, in whatever way.
Shado showed the least change, as she has always been a rather balanced character. On Lian Yu she became a teacher for everyone. Despite her friendship with Slade and Julia and her relationship with Oliver, she was often surrounded by an aura of sadness.
To the astonishment of Shado and Oliver, Slade showed a soft side that no one had expected at him, and he himself the least. However, mainly Julia came to enjoy this site. After Slade had made it very clear at the beginning that one can rely on Lian Yu only on oneself, he now trusts his fellow castaways.
Oliver had given up his playboy attitudes and taken over his part of the responsibility that all four were able to survive here. He had found the fighter in himself and started to make moral values his own.
The biggest change, however, had proceeded with Julia. When she reached Lian Yu, she was completely helpless and had been very naive in many ways. She never had needed to fight, to hunt or to fish. Therefore, she would probably have been killed in the foreseeable future without the three. Now a very fit Julia sat around the campfire, who had a good deal of self-confidence. The shy, sometimes almost submissive young woman was gone.
Slowly, the fire burned down. Without many words everyone went to his or her place to sleep.
Julia snuggled close to Slade. Irrespective of her now gained strength, just at night she often was raided by fears. Julia suffered from nightmares and had occasional panic attacks. The physical closeness to Slade gave her a sense of safety that she desperately needed. Due to its very pragmatic way, Slade had had problems with that at the beginning of their relationship. After Shado had spoken privately to him about it, he had shown more patience with Julia. Over time, the nightmares had become less frequent and the panic attacks completely disappeared. Meanwhile, Slade had, however, accustomed to this nightly ritual. But he would never admit that he liked it.
…
Julia packed some stuff in the backpack and grabbed a bow and quiver.
"What are you up to?"
Curiously Oliver watched her preparations.
"Looks like a storm front moves on. I want to pre-check the traps and collect a little bit. Could be that we are stuck here for a while."
Oliver cast a critical eye toward the sky. The clouds on the horizon really did not look good.
"Then I'll go with you."
Oliver grabbed his bow.
"Definitely not. I don't make this for the first time and am able to do this very well on my own."
Julia flashed at Oliver. With a sigh he put the bow away.
"Okay, then I'll replenish our supply of firewood. Hopefully Shado and Slade have hunting success." Oliver threw another look at the ominous looking clouds front. "Hurry up and be careful."
"Yeah, sure, as I always am."
Julia was already a little annoyed by Oliver's behavior. He acted like her big brother, though she was older than him. Well, only three years, but still. Julia sighed and ran off. Oliver stayed behind not really reassured.
…
Snorting and the wetness shaking of themselves, Slade and Shado appeared. The downpour was pretty hard and the wind had picked up as well. Searching, Slade looked around.
"Where is Jules?"
"She wanted to control traps before the storm and see if she could still collect something. But that was a while ago."
"And you've let her go? Alone? Why didn't you accompany Jules?"
Seriously angry Slade went menacingly to Oliver. However, he did not let himself intimidate.
"She didn't want my company. Julia has rejected it on the grounds that she won't go alone for the first time. With what she's right, Slade."
This response calmed Slade not at all.
"I'm going to look for her."
"And where? Julia can be anywhere. The rain has washed away her tracks." Shado looked calmly at Slade. "We both have Julia well trained. She'll get along."
Slade stared out into the storm.
"And what if not?"
…
"Bloody idiot! You knew that you needed to hurry! Now you're stuck in this stupid storm!"
Julia scolded with herself. With the traps she had finished quickly. But in the search for edible plants she had lost track of time and has been surprised by the rain. Now she struggled back to the camp. A difficult task, since it had become pitch-dark and was raining cats and dogs. On the wet, muddy ground she slipped constantly.
"I'll definitely get an earful by Oliver and Slade..."
The lecture, which would be in store for Julia, made her more angry than to slip wet, dirty and freezing over the island. A lightning flashed from the sky and hit a tree just a few yards away from Julia. The shock made her inattentive for a moment. Julia stumbled, came into the slides and finally tumbled down the slope. A raging pain shot through her right forearm.
…
"Something happened to Jules."
Slade stared continuously out into the storm. Julia was not the reckless type, high risks were not her thing. Perhaps she had forgotten the time or the storm had raised faster than she had thought. But whatever was the reason that Julia was staying in the storm, she would definitely try to come back to the camp.
"Probably Julia has found a half-way dry place and awaits the worst passing by."
Oliver tried mainly to self-soothe him. Even if Julia had made her way back only at the outbreak of the storm, she now should be back. Shado was the only making no comment. But her worried expression spoke volumes. Restless, she stood beside Slade and tried to make something out.
…
Julia looked shocked at her arm. It was almost completely surrounded by a rusty trap. The teeth had drilled deep into the flesh, blood ran in a steady trickle out of the injuries. Despite the pain, Julia tried to open the trap, but in vain. She slowly got to her feet. Once again, the pain shot through her arm. The trap was anchored to the ground. Groaning Julia grabbed her knife, which she always carried on the belt, and dug. She did not know how long it took to expose the fastening. But finally, Julia could loosen the chain. Holding the chain and her right arm with her left hand, she got up and staggered towards camp.
…
"There!"
Slade had discovered a movement at the edge of the clearing and immediately ran off, Oliver and Shado right on his heels. The figure clearly headed to the plane. She swayed heavily, fell to the ground and lay still. Despite his concern for Julia, Slade did not forget where he was. He pulled out his gun and approached cautiously. In response, Shado and Oliver held their bows ready to fire and secured Slade. A series of lightning lit up the clearing long enough that the figure could be clearly seen on the ground.
"Jules!"
Carefully Slade turned Julia around. She screamed aloud, as he had moved her injured arm. Despite the horror that Slade felt at the sight, he acted calmly and deliberately. He put the arm with the trap in Julia's lap, picked her up and ran as fast as he could to the aircraft. Because of the pain Julia lost consciousness.
"She was lucky. The trap didn't close completely, otherwise the forearm had certainly been partially or completely removed. When opening we have to be extremely careful."
At this moment, Shado wished to have been further with her medical education. For these injuries, she was neither prepared nor was the necessary equipment for treatment in the camp. She looked calm and serious at the two pretty pale men.
"You have to do exactly what I say and when I say it. No hesitation, no reflection. We only have a small chance to save Julia's arm. We have to make use of it."
Oliver nodded slightly.
"Get going!"
Slades already rough voice was much more scratchy than usual.
Tensed the two men followed Shado's instructions. Finally, she had prepared everything and was ready to remove the trap.
"Removing the trap will cause hellish pain for Julia. As well as setting up the broken bones and stitching all the injuries. If we're lucky, Julia remains unconscious. If she comes back to consciousness, she must not move. Once the trap is gone, you have to immobilize Julia. No matter how loud she screams, if she's crying or begging you to stop. You hold her tight until I say to you, that you can release her. Got it?"
"Yes."
The answer came simultaneously by Slade and Oliver. They both stared with clenched teeth on the unconscious and the paler and paler becoming Julia. Shado nodded.
"Now!"
With all their force the men opened the trap and removed it. Shado tried to set the fracture when Julia regained consciousness. She screamed and tried to pull her arm out of Shado's hands.
"Hold on!"
Slade and Oliver struggled to press down on Julia and immobilize her. They were totally surprised by the power of the young woman.
"Jules! Look at me! Come on, look at me! Jules! Look! At! Me!"
Slade tried to draw Julia's attention, but without success. Anxiety, panic and pain were so intense that Julia did not perceive Slade's efforts.
"If you don't immobilize Julia, I can't help her!"
Shado still tried to set the fracture. But Julia's twitching, writhing body prevented that. Slade glanced at the pool of blood that had now formed under her arm and decided for a radical measure.
"I'm sorry, Jules, you leave me no choice."
On the spur of the moment he took Julia in the headlock and squeezed her carotid artery. After a few seconds she was unconscious and Slade rested her head gently.
"Hurry up, Shado, I don't want to have to do that again."
…
Slade kept his eyes glued to Julia. He kept vigil over her the second day without having slept. Julia had a violently temperature. Despite all the efforts of Shado, the arm had become badly infected. Slade rubbed Julia with cold water, made cold compresses and cooled her head. He regularly filled her with water so that Julia did not dehydrated. Slade refused Shado's and Oliver's offers of help. He only admitted that they brought him water and some food. Slade cared just as much to himself that he had enough strength and energy to treat Julia.
…
Shado changed carefully the dressing. The sight of Juliet's right forearm was really worrying.
"What do we do if the infection and the fever don't go back?"
"We can't do anything, Oliver."
"What? How do you mean this?"
"Julia would need a surgery and antibiotics. If these measures shouldn't work one could amputate her arm in order to save her life. Instead of antibiotics we have medicinal herbs. Instead of an OR, we have this here." Shado gestured through the wreckage. "And instead of trained and experienced surgeons, we've me, a pre-med." Shado shook wearily her head. "I won't make any amputation. For this I'm not trained and the problem of infection is still there. That's what I meant by 'We can't do anything'. Apart from what we already do."
Slade threw Oliver a sharp glance. Uneasily Oliver stood up and left the wreck. Shado looked at Slade, shook her head and after a deep sigh she followed Oliver.
"If Julia dies, it's my fault. I can well imagine what Slade then will do with me."
"Oliver, it's not your fault. Julia has rejected your company. She would also have rejected my or Slade's company, if we had been here. That's how she is. It is important to Julia to show us that she'll shift for herself. That she no longer needs a babysitter."
Shado leaned against Oliver, let him take her in his arms.
"And who says that one of us three would have prevented Julia to fall into this trap. We could have been there and it would still have happened. Slade knows this all too. But Julia has woken up the protective instinct in him. That you can't turn off. And to give you the blame is his way of dealing with his own guilt."
Shado looked thoughtfully at Oliver before she spoke on.
"How would you react in the opposite case? If something had happened to me, because I would have gone off without Slade? Ask yourself this, and give yourself an honest answer."
Oliver was silent for a while, let Shado's words sink in. Finally, he sighed.
"Probably no different. But that doesn't make it easier."
"No."
…
No one would probably ever find out whether it was based on Slade's selfless care or Shado's medicinal herbs, but after five days of high fever it decreased. The arm looked bad, maybe it would never be used normally. But this was a small silver lining. Julia had a chance to survive.
…
Day by day Julia made small progress. The fever continued to fall, she woke up again and again and was soon able to eat something. After her first few bites Slade was the first time willing to sleep and leave the care of Julia to Shado. He still did not want Oliver near her. Finally, Shado was sure that Julia was over the worst.
…
"I really can't, Slade. Honestly, I'm stuffed." Julia smiled at him. "Besides, I'm not tired and just have bearable pain in the arm. And if I don't step out of the door soon, I'm freaking out."
"Jules, I almost lost you. This is scarcely a few days ago. I want you to rest. You are still not healthy."
"It's been three weeks, Slade. I have no fever anymore, eat and drink normally and sleep extensively. Shado's pretty sure that the bones heal well. And the rest..." Julia shrugged. "If you want to wait until that's all right, I won't leave this wreck for the rest of my life." Julia became impatient. "I want to see the sun, walk around a bit, because I have to become fit again as soon as possible to survive on Lian Yu. On no account I won't be dependent permanently from you. Either you help me with this or I will ask Oliver and Shado. You decide. And there's something else." Julia leaned over and looked Slade straight in the eye. "You will stop immediately to make Oliver responsible for my mistake. For quite some time I run around alone on the island and do my job. This time I have been careless, because I didn't pay enough attention to the weather. And with the trap that was just bad luck. It happens. I could just as easily step on a contact mine."
On this mental picture Slade became pale. If this would have happened, he certainly had lost Julia. She was now in full flow and took no account of Slade's feelings.
"You and Oliver, you are friends. You're going to apologize to him. Did I make myself clear?"
Faced with this harsh and clear words Slade was dumbfounded. Julia had never been like that before.
"Slade?"
"Who the hell are you? Where is my Jules?"
Julia snorted impatiently.
"I'm the one to which you and this damn island have made me. Do you really think the lessons in fighting techniques, at the bow and firearms, as well as survival techniques don't leave their marks on me? That I'm still the helpless little naive that you picked up on the beach? I didn't assume you that stupid. But you change the subject. I'm waiting for an answer."
Carefully Slade scrutinized Julia. He was in two minds. On the one hand, he was proud of what Julia had been reached. On the other hand, he missed her helplessness, which enabled him to nurture and protect her. Finally he gave in with a sigh. Slade was a wise man and knew when he had lost.
"I work that out with Oliver. My way."
Julia stared at him, but finally nodded.
"You do that. Soon. And as for my walk..."
She looked at him expectantly. Slade sighed.
"All right, Jules, let's go."
…
Julia's recovery made further progress, but it soon became clear that impairments would remain. Simple movements and activities were possible, but the use of the bow or firearm was not. Both Shado and Slade refused resolutely to take up Julia's combat training again.
"I can no longer use that damn bow because I'll never have enough strength to bend it! Firearms are too heavy that I could hold them with my right hand! I need the exercise, so I'm not completely helpless!"
Julia flashed angrily at both of her teachers. They shook negative their heads.
"You don't have the physical abilities to take up the training again. And before your forearm isn't completely healed, the risk of injury is too big." Shado looked openly at Julia. "If you break your bones again, you may still lose the last bit of strength that is left to you."
Shado took Julia's hand and squeezed it. It was not firmly, just like a greeting. But Julia could answer the handshake only weak and gave up after a short time contorted with pain.
"Jules, we'll find a way, how you can defend yourself successfully." Slade looked at her encouragingly. "We need to rethink and train you as a left-hander. But first you let your arm properly heal and build up strength and energy."
"And what do you say?"
Looking for help Julia turned to Oliver. He glanced to Shado and Slade and then also shook his head.
"You know that they are right. Instead of being angry with us, use your energy to become healthy."
Julia muttered something unintelligible to herself, which was acknowledged by the other only with a smile.