Disclaimer: don't own them, never have, never will.
Notes: Sorry that this has taken me ages. However, I have written another chapter.
With this setting- It is the year 4986, and the world is pretty much the same- but everything shall be explained later on in the story, like near the end. So there might be a wait. But never fear, because this is going to be action packed. Hope you like.
Oh, Thank you, LucaLaine for the e-mail, hope you like this chapter.
Enjoy:
O o O
Chapter 3
His heart pounded against his chest as he heard the sounds coming closer and closer.
Chris silently cursed his sticky fingers, which was making it harder for him to get a tight grip on his weapon.
He heard the bushes on his left move, he quickly turned to aim for the unknown.
His heart was pounding, as he applied pressure on the trigger.
"Yo! Camp!" a voice called from the bushed.
Chris released the breath that he had been holding in relief.
"Safe," Chris replied.
Nathan signed in relief as Josiah and Ezra appeared from the bushes.
"Did you find a safe place?" Nathan asked.
"No," Josiah replied.
Ezra looked at Vin, and winced at the sight of blood which covered Nathan's hands.
"How is he?" Ezra asked.
"He's alive, for now," Nathan replied as he turned his attention back to the still figure.
"Right, we have to make camp here. I want you three to keep a lookout," Nathan ordered.
Josiah and Ezra nodded, as they quickly found a spot on the ground where they could still see, but be hidden from the enemy.
Chris lowered his gun back onto the ground, as he took over from Nathan.
"Press down hard, I need to get my knife," Nathan told Chris.
Chris held the blood-socked towel hard against the wound, praying that he could stop the bleeding which showed no signs of stopping.
Nathan's hands shock as he got out the knife, and a little device that looked like forceps.
He took a deep breathe, and prayed that Vin would make it. He cursed the military for the lack of medicine that they were given.
He moved closer to Vin.
Before he could speak everyone jumped when they heard noises coming from the bushed.
Chris released the pressure again as he left the towel to grab his gun.
Josiah and Ezra quickly pointed to the bushes, waiting for any sign of danger.
The atmosphere tensed, no one moved, no one breathed, as they waited.
"Yo...ca..camp," a nervous voice called from the bushed.
"JD, is that you son?" Josiah asked in surprise.
They all heard the Buck curse, and moan at JD, which made everyone smile.
They watched as Buck and JD appeared from the bushes. JD was looking embarrassed, while holding some canteens, with Buck holding some firewood.
Ezra laughed when he saw Buck's frustrated look.
Nathan was glad that everyone was back safely, but he was going to kill the next person who interrupts him.
"SILENCE!" Nathan shouted.
Everyone stopped laughing as they stared at the medic. They suddenly remembered their fallen friend.
"Buck, I need you to start a fire. JD, I need you to boil the water," Nathan ordered.
Buck immediately started with his task, as he knew that it was important, so he bit the comment he was going to make. He started the fire near where Vin lay, giving Nathan extra light, and Vin more heat.
JD quickly searched in the bag to find a container that could be used on the fire.
Josiah and Ezra wanted to help with Vin, but they knew that they had to keep watch.
Chris quickly lowered the gun onto the ground next to him, as he reapplied the pressure. He looked up to see a very dirty glare that Nathan was giving him.
If looks could kill, I'll be six feet under Chris thought to himself.
"If you release the pressure one more time Chris, and I'll make sure that's your last!" Nathan threatened.
Chris nodded, knowing that it was not a good idea to upset Nathan, especially if he was the only one with medical training.
"Sorry," Chris apologized.
Nathan just carried on, making sure he had everything ready.
"Ok, I need someone to help me," Nathan asked.
"What must I do, brother?" Josiah said as he got up.
"Ok, I need you to hold his legs," Nathan instructed.
"What?" Ezra gasped.
"I thought you could knock him out?" Josiah asked.
"The military didn't plan for that. I don't have anything strong enough to knock him out completely and I need to save the rest for later," Nathan explained.
Josiah felt uneasy, while Chris looked paler. Buck winced, and JD looked like he could faint.
Ezra swallowed, hoping that the giant knot in his throat would disappear.
Josiah slowly went on his knees, moving up so that he could hold Vin's knees, at least that way, he could prevent himself from being kicked, or hurt, and so he was still at a distance away from where the cutting would be done.
Nathan looked at Chris.
"I need you to hold his head, and shoulders. Make sure he can't move," Nathan said softly.
With a heavy heart, Chris moved. He knelt by Vin's head, making sure he could hold Vin's shoulders.
Nathan made sure that Vin's wouldn't be able to move too much. He then moved the towel away from the wound.
"Dam," Chris said barely above a whisper.
The wound was huge, the skin around the wound was covered in dark bruises which had begun to redden and swell, taking on the angry look. Blood seeped through the torn skin.
Ezra turned around as the sickly sent of blood filled his nostrils, making him feel sick.
Nathan looked at the torn flesh; he could see the damaged muscle which stuck out.
He looked closer; bring his hands to the wound. He touched the area around the wound.
Chris felt the body stiffen under his grip, he looked down to see the ugly wound that took up most of Vin's stomach.
Nathan picked up his tool, slowly bringing it to the wound. He silently send a pray, praying that Vin would fall unconscious quickly.
"Get ready," He warned everyone.
As the tool touched Vin's wound, they heard him gasp out loud.
Nathan looked down to see two blue pain-filled eyes, he looked so pale and his face glistened with the sweat.
"Just relax, cowboy, everything is going to be alright. Nathan's just fixing you up, ok?" Chris said softly.
"k" Vin whispered.
Nathan wished Vin would fall unconscious, anything, just as long as he didn't have to feel the pain.
Nathan dug the tool in deeper, causing Vin to arch his back as he cried out in pain.
Chris and Josiah held on tightly, forcing the teen to the ground. Ben forgot his post, as he came and helped Chris and Josiah.
"hurts," Vin said as he gasped out in pain.
Nathan felt his heart brake into hundred of tiny pieces, he wished he didn't have to do it, but he knew that if he felt the bullet in, it would cause a slow and painful death.
Nathan started switching himself off, slowly becoming a doctor, where emotions were stored away.
"Can't you give him anything?" JD asked.
"There isn't enough, not to knock him out," Nathan explained.
Ezra turned his attention to the horizon, trying to forget the suffering that was happening behind him. JD, bit his lip, trying to contain the cry that was so desperately trying to escape.
He was a solider, best in his field. But, being here, in this war, things were different and being in this team, they became closer together. Vin was like his older brother, and it pained him to see Vin suffer.
Vin's breathing became fast and shallow, his body tensed, which made the wound bleed faster.
"Vin, you need to relax, I know it hurts, but it has to be done, ok?" Nathan explained.
Vin bit his lip as he nodded.
Nathan smiled a weak smile, as he turned his attention back to the wound. He knew that taking it slow wasn't going to be any easier. He used hid one hand to steady the area near the wound as he dug the tool deep into the wound.
"Agh..no...please....it hurts..." Vin cried as he struggled to escape.
Buck felt his eyes water when he heard his friends weak cry. He felt a tear fall down his check as he felt Vin struggling against him. With a heavy heart he pushed down harder, making it impossible for him to move.
Nathan carried on working, trying not to hear his cries.
He opened the wounded wider, making it easier to see where the bullet was.
"no!," Vin cried.
Chris held Vin more tightly, preventing Vin from escaping his grip. The cries tore at his heart. He looked down at Vin's face which was twisted with pain.
Nathan dug in deeper, stretching the skin as he went. He had to find the bullet.
"no...please...no...more," Vin begged.
He switched off his cries, concentrating hard on finding the bullet. Turning his hand, he found it.
"Found it," He said happily.
He fought to keep a hold of the bullet but the blood made it slippery.
Hoping that his grip was tight enough he began to slowly bring the bullet out. Half way out, the bullet slipped out. He silently cursed herself as he had to push the tool back in to retrieve the bullet.
Vin cried out in pain once last time as he fell unconscious.
"Thank you," Buck said in relief.
Chris felt an overwhelming sense of relief when he felt Vin go limp, knowing that finally he wasn't in pain.
"About time, cowboy," Chris said quietly.
Nathan didn't notice, as he finally pulled out the bullet.
"Got it," he said with proud.
He put everything on the one towel. He quickly used some of the warm water to wash his hands and the wound, before he picked up a needle.
"I think I'm gonna be sick," JD said as he saw the needle.
Josiah got up slowly and patted JD gentle on the back before turning back to scan the area.
Buck moved away as Nathan began to stitch up the hole. He personally couldn't handle seeing needles. He slowly made his way to where JD stood.
Chris kept by Vin's side, he wet a small towel from the warm water, using it to wipe away the sweat and tears from the pale face below him.
Nathan used some water to wash away some dirt that had appeared as he finished with the stitches.
"Chris, I need you to raise his upper body up. I need to bandage the wound," Nathan explained.
Chris nodded as he gently lifted the small figure up. Nathan quickly got the bandage and began to wrap the bandage around Vin's stomach.
"Buck, can you please get a clean blanket and get it ready," Nathan asked.
Buck nodded, while Ezra took over his position. He quickly untied the blanket and spread it out evenly for Vin.
"Ok, Buck I need you and Chris to carefully lift Vin onto the new blanket," Nathan instructed.
Buck got up and walked to where Vin lay. Chris carefully lifted Vin's upper body, while Buck took the feet. They worked slowly, making sure that they didn't cause their young friend any more pain.
They slowly lowered him down onto his new "bed". Nathan took over, making sure Vin was comfortable and made sure there were no problems before placing another blanket over the figure.
"How is he?" Josiah asked.
"Well, he's lost a lot of blood, and this isn't the healthiest place. The wound could get infected, but if we keep an eye out for that, he should make it," Nathan said.
Chris signed out in relief.
Smiles broke out in the small camp, finally they had good news.
Nathan looked around, there was blood everywhere, on the ground, on the towels, on him. He looked at his hands which were covered in blood, Vin's blood.
Chris noticed that Nathan was staring at his hands, he signed and walked over to him.
"You did good," he offered.
"He's just a boy, Chris, who would send a boy to this?" Nathan asked.
Chris didn't know.
He found himself looking at his own hands, where the blood still remained. His mind began to wonder how many lives he took, how much blood he caused to spill, how many families were to grieve because of him.
He had lost his own son and wife due to war, he still remembered the day that he returned from war, just in time to see his wife and child die, as they were trapped in their burning home. He gave his life to the army, they gave him a medal for his loss.
What a cruel trade. A life for a medal, the pain for what? for a better place? A better place for who?
Chris's thoughts were interrupted when he felt someone nudging him.
He turned to see Nathan holding a clean towel.
"Wash your hands," He said with a smile.
Chris nodded.
Night approached quickly, as everyone huddled together, within the fire's reach. Night brought the cold and fear back.
Josiah sat near Vin, he gentle used the towel to wipe the sweat from his face. He frowned when he felt his skin.
"Nathan, You better get here," Josiah called.
Nathan lowered his food, as he quickly made his way to Vin.
He knelt down and picked up Vin's arm, feeling his pulse. His heart skipped a beat, as he quickly felt Vin's face, it was hot and clammy.
"Fever," He said worryingly.
Josiah dunked the towel into some cool water, before wiping Vin's face again.
"Will he be ok?" Chris asked after hearing everything.
"I don't know, it all depends if the fever will lower," Nathan said seriously.
Chris nodded in a sad understanding.
Everyone sat in silence, listing to each breath their friend battled for....
O o O o O o O
Very thing shall be explained in the next chapter. Don't worry, this it will come out next week.
Till then
K