Training Part 7

Actor looked up at the entrance of the returning group. Christine walked in first, carrying an overnight bag and held the door for the others. Garrison and Casino came in next, carrying the two duffle bags. Casino looked his normal, though slightly tired self. Garrison's face was drawn and unhappy. They were followed by Goniff, arm in a sling and color an unbecoming shade of green, and Terry, with an arm around the pickpocket's waist, wearing a green cocktail dress that had seen better days, but was a more appealing shade than Goniff's complexion. There was a white gauze bandage around the girl's right arm that sported a red stain.

Casino handed Terry's duffle bag to Garrison and turned back to the Englishman. "I got Goniff." He looked at the older girl. "Go have Actor look at that arm, Babe."

Garrison had accepted the duffle bag with a nod and waited for Casino to get hold a Goniff and start for the stairs. Christine set her overnight bag on the floor for now and watched the proceedings.

Actor's eyes followed Terry as she approached him. She looked weary and disheveled, hair dirty and straggly. The girl wore a green cocktail dress he was not familiar with and assumed she had bought it at the dress shop he had recommended in Paris. It would have been beautiful if it wasn't full of dirt and wrinkled badly. As she stopped in front of him, he took note of a few blood stains on the right side of the skirt. The stockings on her legs had rents and holes in them. The white bandage around her upper arm had obviously been applied at the hospital in London, but was bleeding through.

"Like my dress?" asked Terry with a hint of disgust.

"Lovely," said Actor. "However it looks as though you were rolling in the dirt in it."

Terry cocked her head in agreement, "Probably because I was." She picked at the right side of the skirt part. "Has a couple blood spots on it, but I think I can get is clean."

"How is the wound?" Actor asked. He could tell the adrenalin had long ago worn off, leaving the girl exhausted.

"About an inch and a half long and a half inch deep," she reported clinically. It's been cleaned and had sulfa applied." She looked down at him. "I want to take a bath first before you stitch it," she said.

Actor nodded in acceptance. "I will come up after you have bathed and suture it in your room."

Terry nodded and started to turn away, but stopped and looked back at him. "How are you doing? Really?"

"It is healing nicely," said Actor.

"Good," she turned to Chief with a questioning look.

"I'm good," he told her.

Terry nodded and headed for the stairs.

"Terr, how do you want me to fix the rabbits?" asked Christine.

Terry stopped partway up the stairs and looked down at her sister, puzzled. "What rabbits? I didn't have rabbit in the freezer."

"All we have left for meat are two tins of Spam and one of corned beef," said Actor. "Chief went hunting."

"There's three good sized rabbits in the refrigerator," added Chris.

"Good," said Terry with raised eyebrows. "Roast them. We can make gravy for potatoes. Guess I need to go shopping for meat tomorrow." She started back up the stairs.

"Teresa?"

Terry stopped again and looked at the con man questioningly.

"No whale please, Cara."

Both girls stared at him. He looked back at them with a small, satisfied, quirky smile. Neither of them had ever heard the aristocratic man tease Terry before. It was usually her teasing him.

With a small laugh, Terry replied. "I was going to see if I could find some just for you, Caro."

"You are so thoughtful."

Actor was pleased to see the hint of smile on her face. His eyes followed her as she turned and walked up the stairs. She was totally lacking her normal energetic behavior. As she trudged up the stairs, her sister approached the con man. Terry had told her about his injury. She figured he was still probably uncomfortable. He smiled benignly up at her, making her wonder if anybody ever knew what was really going on in his mind.

"Actor, if you tell me what supplies you need, I'll set them up for you," she offered.

"Thank you, Christine," smiled Actor, pleased the younger girl seemed a little more comfortable with him. "One of the medical kits, bandages, a syringe and some Procaine is all that is necessary."

Chris smiled back at him. "I'll get it ready." She turned and bounded up the stairs after her sister.

"Looks like that's another mission that went to hell," said Chief quietly.

"I would say so," replied Actor. "It will be interesting hearing that story." Garrison was subdued, Terry was almost depressed and Goniff was injured. The only one of the group who had gone out and returned acting normal was Casino. Not that he considered Casino to be normal.

Terry carefully removed the green dress and hung it on a hanger off the door of her armoire. She stood and looked at it sadly. It was a pretty dress, or had been at one time. She had hoped to show Actor she had acquired some of his taste in clothing. Now the poor thing hung wrinkled and filthy. Yes, that was showing Actor. Maybe she could salvage it later. She sat on the bed and removed the rest of her clothing, uncharacteristically throwing the pieces in a pile in the corner. Naked, she walked into the bathroom and started a shower.

Picking at the knot of the dressing on her arm did not loosen it. While the water was heating, she went back into the bedroom and pulled open the middle drawer of her desk. Amongst the pencils, pens, paperclips and whatnot was a switchblade. As she opened it, she vaguely realized she was acquiring a collection of the knives like Chief was. Carefully using the sharp blade, she cut the knot loose. With practiced ease, the switchblade was closed one-handedly and returned to the drawer. Returning to the bathroom, she unwound the gauze from her arm. The pad underneath was stuck to the wound. It would just have to soak off.

Terry stepped into the tub and pulled the curtain around before turning the knob to send the warm water cascading over her. She washed her hair first. Somewhere in the process the dressing fell off and blood started trickling down her arm. By the time she had finished washing, it was bleeding at a good clip and was making a mess. She slapped the washcloth over the wound and shut the water off with a slightly bloody hand. After pulling the curtain back, she suddenly felt so very tired. Instead of getting out, she leaned back against the wall and idly watched the blood drops on the far side of the tub slowly work their way down, leaving little trails of red. Damn, couldn't they have a mission where nobody got hurt? It seemed to be getting worse.

Christine entered the bedroom and noted the door was closed to the bathroom, but the water was off. She set the medical supplies on the desk and went to the bathroom door.

"Terry?"

"Yeah?" The voice sounded defeated.

Chris opened the door and stopped short. Her sister was propped against the wall in the tub, washcloth clutched to her right upper arm, blood in small rivulets down her arm, and drops of blood on the tub and the floor.

"Terry!" Chris stepped forward. "Get out of there. I'll help you. You're getting blood everywhere."

Terry straightened and carefully climbed out of the tub, with her sister's hand on her bent elbow. She stood still, clutching the washcloth to her wounded arm while Chris grabbed the bath towel and started drying her off, the younger girl muttering the whole time about the obstinacy in the Garrison family. Christine went and retrieved the sleeveless nightgown from the bed and the two had an awkward time trying to get the gown on without getting more blood everywhere.

Actor tapped lightly on the door to Teresa's bedroom. Concerned when there was no answer, he opened the door and moved inside. The bedroom was empty, the door to the bathroom open and muttering could be heard from inside.

"Teresa?" he asked.

"Actor, you stay right there! Don't you come in here!" Christine's voice was upset.

The Italian heard Terry's chuckle. "Sister, he's seen me in a nightgown more than once. We do live in the same house."

"Oh . . . yeah."

Actor grinned silently and shook his head. Terry padded barefoot into the bedroom to sit cross-legged on the bed with the hem of the gown pulled primly over her knees. Crystal followed and went to stand at the foot of the bed. The con man walked into the bathroom and pulled up short, stepping carefully around blood spots on the floor to get the slightly soiled bath towel. He could have told Teresa before that bathing would set the wound to bleeding, but he knew she would have ignored him. She knew the consequences of mixing movement with water on an open wound from being a nurse. Obstinate.

The Italian carefully left the bathroom with the towel. Chris stood with crossed arms, watching the con man pull a chair up close to the bed and lay out the instruments on the cloth they were wrapped in on the bed in front of the covered knees. He draped the bath towel under Teresa's arm and down her side, patently ignoring the younger woman behind him.

"It's all right, little sister," said Terry in Lakota. "I'm really not his type."

"According to big brother," she returned in the same language, "if it still has a breath left it's his type."

Terry couldn't quite suppress a chuckle.

Actor was drawing up procaine in a syringe at this point. "I trust you are making fun of me again."

"Only a little," admitted Terry. "You do have a reputation you strive to live up to."

Actor shrugged and set the vial of local anesthetic on the night table. He turned to Teresa with exaggerated patience. She cautiously removed the cloth. The wound trickled blood now.

"Chris, I'm perfectly safe. You don't have to stay and stare at him," said Terry. "You could go start dinner," she suggested.

"I guess I'll go start the rabbits," the younger sister said reluctantly. She gave one last sharp look at the back of Actor's head.

"You be good to her," she admonished.

"Christine, I am always good to her," he said casually as Terry grimaced at the needle going into her arm.

"Okay," said Chris, turning and leaving the bedroom.

Actor glanced up at Teresa's face as he waited for the local anesthetic to kick in. Though she was smiling, her eyes did not contain their usual sparkle. Again, he wondered what had gone wrong on this mission, but would wait until the debriefing to find out.

He picked up the forceps and the suture. Terry watched with detached interest as Actor carefully sutured her arm with tiny stitches. "Will you be able to cover the scar with makeup?" she asked. "It's too high to be covered by long gloves."

"I can cover it so it doesn't show," he assured her.

"What about your stitches?" broached Terry. "I assume you'll want to take them out yourself . . . if you haven't already?"

Actor seemed to concentrate on his task. "Two more days before they can be removed." He knew he could remove his own sutures, but it would be awkward and probably painful due to the location. From a physical aspect, he had no secrets from the young woman, and she had approached the cleansing and bandaging of the area professionally, although her cheeks had turned a becoming shade of pink on her first inspection of his 'equipment.' That memory almost brought a smile of amusement to his face, but he was able to contain it. "I am capable of removing them myself," he said. "However, if it does not bother you, it would assuredly be quicker and easier if you did it. If you are uncomfortable with that, I can do it myself."

"I don't have a problem with it," replied Terry with an assurance she didn't feel.

Actor focused on his suturing again. When he had finished, he sprinkled it with sulfa powder and wrapped it. The instruments were folded back up in their cloth covering and set aside with the bloody towel. The towel in a turban around the woman's head had come loose. Not asking permission, Actor took it off and began toweling the wet hair.

Terry opened her mouth to object, then shut it. It was difficult to dry her long hair with one hand. The confidence man seemed to have no problem doing it for her.

"I'm not used to being taken care of," said Terry quietly.

"Payback," said Actor casually. "I am not used to being taken care of either."

Terry gave a small grin. "You do a good job of it."

"As do you."

He finished drying her hair down to dampness and helped her get situated in the bed, pulling the covers over her. "Go to sleep," he said. "You can dream about roast rabbit."

"And mashed potatoes with gravy and chocolate éclairs."

"I don't think the éclairs will be there," he said in amusement.

"It's my dream," she retorted as she snuggled down into the bed.

Actor picked up the towels and the instrument packet, taking them into the bathroom and putting them in the sink. He glanced around at the blood. Christine would have a mess to clean up later. Teresa was already asleep when he emerged from the bathroom. He paused to study her. Why couldn't she stay at the Mansion and keep house and care for them? Why did she have to go on the missions? It wasn't safe. However, if she did confine herself to staying in England, he would lose her as a partner on their cons. And he had to admit he enjoyed working with her. She was becoming very good. Ah, well. He was also learning Teresa would do what Teresa wanted to do. So stubborn, just like her brother. He picked his cane up from the foot of her bed and shut the door silently behind him when he left the bedroom.

Actor stepped down the hall to check on Goniff. The pickpocket was asleep on his back. Actor thought he was even paler than his normal blond English complexion. Watching cautiously, the con man carefully folded the blanket back off the injured shoulder. The dressing was clean and dry. Satisfied, Actor returned the blanket to where it had been and eased back into the hallway.

He passed Terry's door and made his way down the stairs. Chief was sprawled in the big chair by the window, toying with his switchblade. His dark eyes followed the Italian to his chair, watching the tall man set aside his cane and reach for his pipe.

"Terry okay?" asked the younger man.

"She seems to be," replied Actor, resting back in his chair, beginning the ritual of packing his pipe. "Where is the Warden?"

"Well, he's locked himself up in his office again."

Actor shook his head. The man never seemed to learn when to slow down. Sighing, he set his pipe and pouch of tobacco on the side table. With a grimace, he rose from his chair and went to tap a knuckle quietly on the closed door to the office. There was no answer. Cautiously, he opened the door and peered inside. Garrison was at his desk, head on crossed arms, sound asleep. Actor shook his head again and beckoned Chief to come. The Indian rose and came to stand beside him.

"Shall we?" asked Actor.

"Might as well," replied Chief, not wanting to be the one to awaken the Warden.

Actor moved over beside the sleeping man and gently laid a hand on the near shoulder. "Lieutenant?"

Garrison's head came up with a jerk, instantly recognizing it was Actor and not a foe, and dropped his head down in tired relief. He noted Chief was in the doorway.

"You are not helping yourself any, Warden," said Actor kindly. "Let's get you upstairs and to bed. You will do much better with your report after a little sleep."

"Terry okay?" Craig asked, not yet resisting the hand under his arm, helping him to his feet.

"Teresa is fine," assured Actor. "She is sleeping like you should be."

Craig gathered himself, stepped firmly away from the older man and headed for the door. Chief backed out and the two cons flanked the officer from behind, following him to the stairs.

"I can do this myself," said Garrison ruefully aware his men had caught him in a moment of weakness.

"Sure you can, Warden," said Chief with a grin to Actor.

The con man smiled. "We are just here in case you need assistance."

This earned him a glare from his leader. As they started up the stairs, Chris came out of the kitchen and paused, looking up at them. Actor returned her gaze with his usual unreadable expression. Chris looked dubiously at him, turned and went back to the kitchen.

The two cons left Garrison at his room as he firmly shut his door in their faces.

"Guess he don't need any help," grinned Chief.

Actor grinned back at him. "Apparently not."

The two turned and went back downstairs, satisfied they had gotten the Warden to his room where he belonged.