A few swear words and innuendo. Just to warn you. Thanks for reviewing!
Chapter Fourteen – Need Some Help, Old Man
Dawn helped him into the bedroom and then went to fetch the basin of water.
"That bathroom you so unceremoniously used doesn't have a tub. Someone ripped it out. Just as easy to clean off right here. If you fall over, then the bed's here to catch you." Dawn was much too cheerful. "Would you like some help?"
"Gracious offer, but I'll have to decline."
"You sure?"
"Yes. I'm quite all right to do it myself."
He wasn't, but he didn't tell Dawn that. Her confidence in him was not very high at that time.
"Yell if you need help."
Wesley gingerly sat down on the bed. His head hurt still, along with his ribs. The knife wound stung, but he'd manage. It wasn't deep, thank goodness. He'd have to clean it out again so it wouldn't get infected.
Stripping down to his boxers proved a chore. Part of one leg was spotted in dried blood. He suspected that some of it was Faith's. The basin sat on the ground, too far away for him to reach. He grimaced in pain as he tried to scoot it over closer.
"Need some help, old man?" Faith stood in the doorway. He hadn't even heard her open the door and approach.
"I can do it myself."
"Yeah. Looks like you've made a lot of progress."
"Faith, is there something you wanted?"
"Yeah. A million dollars, a vacation in Tahiti, and for you to not be such a prick and ask for help."
Wesley dropped his head. "Sorry. I don't seem to have that amount of cash on my person and probably never will at any rate. The vacation will have to wait. Living in a hellhole, God knows where. And for me being a prick as you say, well I have every right to be."
"Yes, you do." She dropped to the bed with him. "All I'm askin' is to help a little."
Wesley looked into her eyes. "Sorry. I just don't like feeling this way."
"Neither do I, watcher 'o mine. So how 'bout a sponge bath from Nurse Betty here. Fix you right up."
Faith always did have the most crass jokes.
"It's free this time. But next time, look out. My rates are steep. Let's just get this blood off you so you look semi-normal again. You look like an axe-murderer who just went on a spree."
He felt a little crazed at the moment. Lots of things flew through his mind. On the top of the list was what to do next.
Faith rinsed most of the blood off his chest and leg. All that was left was his wound and under his boxers. "Hey, I'll do the injury, but you have to do the rest because the implications of that are not lost on me."
Wesley raised his eyebrows and grinned. Was Faith actually blushing?
"The Nurse Betty imagery?"
"Either you've watched way too much porn or have a dirty mind, or probably both. So I'll leave you to it after I take a look at your side."
Faith removed the bandage and leaned down to get a better look. He sucked in a breath and held it. She prodded around until he gasped.
"The kids did a good job cleaning it. Could use a couple stitches though. Luckily the knife was sharp. The jagged ones do more damage. I need to fix this." The way she said it, Wesley didn't know whether she was offering or demanding.
"Have to be careful. You might leave a scar."
"You are such a baby. I wouldn't mar this beautiful skin."
Jokes aside, Faith looked at him, much too close for comfort. Maybe he didn't want to be comfortable right then.
"I'll let you do it if you do one thing for me?"
Now Faith's eyebrows shot up. She placed one hand on one side of him and one on the other. Efficiently trapped on the bed, he had only his thin boxers between them.
"Anything, Watcherman."
The implications were not lost on him either. "There's a flask in my bag. I want to be prepared."
"As I said, big baby." She backed off to find the flask in the outer pocket.
Faith opened the top and smelled.
"For medicinal purposes only, of course."
"Yeah, right." Faith pushed him back on the bed. Placing a ratty rag beneath his side, she looked down at him. "You ready?"
"You're supposed to give me some of that."
"Nope. The way you've been heaving, not a good idea. Now, me? I have to do the job. So I get a taste."
Faith took a swig, and then poured a little on the wound. It burned like she had stuck a hot poker inside it. He swore he could hear it sizzle.
"You little bint. You could have warned me."
"What? And not have you swear at me in British. Hell no. Besides, needed to get it over with."
Faith set about her cleaning and sewed him up without too much more discomfort.
"All done. And I tied a nice little bow on it."
"Ha, ha. Very funny." He lay there, tired and not wanting to get up.
"Sure you don't want my help on the rest?"
"You couldn't handle the pressure."
Faith smoothed his brow and got up to leave.
"You're tempting me. Besides, if I wanted to you'd be flat on your back. Oh, sorry. Already are. Get some rest. I want to check on the brats."
She placed the thin cover over him, exiting the room. The rest of the cleaning would have to wait. Sleep was the priority.
TBC