16: Whining/Crying

"This is going to hurt a lot," Sergeant Wilson said.

"It already hurts a lot!" Corporal Kielholz wailed. "Put it back!"

Corporal Langenscheidt winced as he listened to Kielholz cry. He had taken a hard fall and dislocated his hip while helping repair one of the watchtowers, and was now lying on a bed in the infirmary, being prepped by the prisoners' medic to have it fixed.

"I can put it back, but you have to keep as still as possible, alright?" Wilson looked at Langenscheidt. "Hold his hand."

Langenscheidt held out his hand, and Kielholz didn't hesitate to grab on. "Just let him do his work, Erich. You'll be alright," Langenscheidt said.

Kielholz's face was red and wet with tears as he looked up at his friend.

Don't give me that face, Erich. You're going to make me cry, too. "Think about something pleasant. Think about your brother. Think about… animals. Yes, think about rabbits and mice and kittens and… anything that isn't a pigeon or goose."

Upon hearing the word "mice," Sergeant Carter said, "I'll be right back."

Wilson gave an annoyed sigh. "Do we want to get this done or not?!"

"I think Felix will help calm Erich down," Langenscheidt said. "That will make your job easier."

"Fine."

Carter returned a couple of minutes easier with a little gray mouse in his hands. "Here you go, Kielholz."

Wilson's expression went from annoyed to concerned in a heartbeat. "I wouldn't advise you let him hold Felix when I put his hip back."

"I'm not going to let him hold Felix." Carter kept Felix in his hands while holding him out to Kielholz. "Just pet him, buddy."

Langenscheidt felt Kielholz's pulse as his friend gently stroked the mouse. He smiled as he whispered, "It's working."

"Alright, Carter, take the mouse away before I do this," Wilson instructed. "One… two… three!"

There was a loud popping and clicking sound from Kielholz's hip as Wilson pushed it back into place. Kielholz howled in pain. Without thinking about it, he bit down hard on Langenscheidt's hand.

Wilson had been counting on Kielholz being the only one screaming. His look of concern was replaced with confusion when he heard Langenscheidt yelling, then saw Kielholz's teeth sunken into Langenscheidt's hand.

Langenscheidt managed to pull away from Kielholz, and his eyes widened upon seeing blood leaking from his hand. He couldn't get any words out as he gestured between Kielholz and Wilson with his bleeding hand.

"I probably should have told you to let go of Kielholz when I was ready to adjust his hip," Wilson said. "Or given him a stick to bite or something." He guided Langenscheidt to a basin to wash out his new wounds. "He got you pretty good," Wilson muttered. "Looks almost like some of the dog bites I've treated here."

"Well, there is a reason the camp dentists don't ever want to see Erich again," Langenscheidt said when Wilson began bandaging his hand.

"That's what we use sedatives for." Wilson taped down the new bandages. "There. Good as new. Come back in a few days so I can make sure that doesn't get infected."

"Thank you, Sergeant." Langenscheidt looked over his bandage, then looked at Kielholz. "Did biting me at least help?"

Kielholz nodded a little, though there was a sense of guilt behind his eyes. "Thank you, Karl."

"Didn't you tell me not that long ago that you didn't want me putting myself in harm's way for you?"

"I did, and I'm sorry for biting you."

Langenscheidt glared at him, but the glare quickly faded. "I honestly find it difficult to be mad at you."

"I appreciate that, Karl."

Wilson gave both of them a look. "Let's see how long that patience lasts when I tell you Kielholz is going to be on crutches for about a month and it's going to be your job to make sure he stays on them."

"I can stay patient," Langenscheidt said.

"Sure," Wilson replied with a grin. "I've seen how active Kielholz is. I'll be praying for you."