Disclaimer: I don't own Sons of Anarchy or anything else associated with the franchise. All that beautiful goodness comes from its creators. Thank you
Note: Should have put this in the first chapter that this story spans from season 1 up to the beginning of season 4. Please pay close attention to the dates as they will jump around in time, I made them in bold in hopes they will be easier to notice. Story is rated M for mature themes, language and sexual content.
Note 2: I know that the time line doesn't add up well in the show, so I adhere to my own timeframe to make it work…hopefully
November 20th, 2008
Josie ran ahead to the front door of the small ranch house and began banging on it before Clary could even make it to the landing. The door opened just as she stepped up behind Josie and she was greeted by a smiling girl with bright red shoulder length hair, "Hi Clary!"
"Hey Sam! Love the new hair color!"
"Thanks," the girl smiled before crouching down, "Hey Munchkin!"
The little girl threw herself into the woman's arms for a tight hug, "Hi Sammie!"
"We're going to have such a fun night little lady." Sam said as she rose back up. Josie just smiled before walking pass her legs and into the house leaving them behind.
Clary smiled at the other girl who had been her first friend in this town other than Donna. Samantha Rogers was the same age as her and had moved to Charming just a few weeks prior to Clary. They had met at the elementary school when Clary had been volunteering as the school nurse for the day and Sam was substituting for a third-grade teacher. The two women had become fast friends and it was thanks to Clary that Sam had become friends of the SONS.
Sam's made passion in life was painting, and to fund that career she worked part time as a tattoo artist and substitute teacher. She was the go-to tattoo artist for SAMCRO when Happy was unavailable and had made friends with several of the guys. One of those friendships had led to an on and off relationship with the blonde-haired biker Kozik from the Tacoma Charter. Also, several of her paintings donned the walls of both the clubhouse and Clary's home.
"I really appreciate you watching Josie tonight!" Clary handed the overnight baby bag to her.
"It's no problem. We're just going to work on some paintings." Sam smiled taking the bag, "So, I bet Jax is over the moon about today."
"We all are, little man gets out of the incubator today. It gives us something to be thankful for Thanksgiving next week."
Sam stared at her before giggling, "Try not to crush him with those bear hugs of yours."
"No promises, that little bundle is too adorable not to snuggle." Clary grinned as she slid her sunglasses back onto her face, "I'll be back in the morning to pick her up."
"See you then! Tell everyone I said hi!"
"Will do, thanks again Sam!" Clary strode back to her jeep as she waved goodbye. Sam remained in the doorway waving back as the Jeep backed out of the driveway and departed down the street in the direction of St. Thomas.
Clary walked off the elevator onto the hospital's fourth floor. She smiled and waved at the nurses hanging around the nurse's station before turning to head down the hallway to Abel's NICU room. She had barely made it halfway door the hallway when Luann came barging through the door at the end of the hall with an angry scowl.
"Hey Luann, everything alright?" she asked stopping.
Luann didn't answer, just shoved the teddy bear she had been carrying into Clary's arms and continued passed her without saying a word. Clary blinked in surprised, turning to watch the woman disappeared into the elevator. Squeezing the teddy bear, she looked down at it confused before walking forward again towards the doors Luann had just come through. She passed through, crossing the next small hallway and quietly slipping into Abel's room.
Gemma looked up as she entered and Clary held the bear up by its foot, "What's up with Luann?"
"Nothing," Gemma grimaced, "She just realized no one likes a greedy whore."
"Oh, right." Clary nodded with an amused expression while dropping into an empty chair. She grasped the chair handles to lean forward to look at Abel. He was napping, his pudgy little cheeks appeared larger thanks to the blanket wrapped up around his face. A delighted little sigh escaped her lips as her right hand slipped down to rest on her stomach.
Gemma eyed her, "You're going to start showing soon."
"I know! Josie really only started showing at four months, they say the next one starts showing a bit earlier."
Gemma looked over at Abel with a smile, "They will be close in age. I hope it's a boy, that way Abel can have a friend like Jax had Opie."
"Brothers from different mothers." Clary chuckled leaning back in her chair.
"Then again, if it's another girl I guess Abel will have his choice. Rather if he likes a lady older than him or younger than him." Gemma's smile turned into a sly grin.
Clary's eyebrow rose, "Already playing matchmaker?"
"Just ensuring the next generation sweetheart."
"Well we will just have to see what happens when the time comes, right?"
Gemma continued to grin like the Cheshire cat as Clary stared at her before continuing, "So where is Jax?"
"Dr. Namid is in surgery for the next few hours so Jax went to go take care of a little financial problem that they're having with the Irish." she sighed.
Clary's head titled to the side, "What financial problem with the Irish?"
"The club needs seventy grand by the end of the day, I don't know exactly what for but it has something to do with the Irish. I managed Luann to cover fifty-five…."
"I'm guessing Luann wasn't very excited about donating."
Gemma's grimace returned, "No, she wasn't. She'll get over it, but Jax can't just sit around while there is work to be done."
"As long as he is back in time for when they remove Abel."
"He better," Gemma nearly growled before composing herself, "Besides all of that did you get everything you needed for Josie for Christmas?"
"I have!" Clary's smile doubled.
It was Gemma's turn to raise an eyebrow at her excitement, "Well? What did you get her?"
"She is getting upgraded to a toddler bed, some toys of course and a puppy."
"A puppy?" Gemma questioned lending forward.
Clary almost laughed at the SAMCRO Queen's facial expression, "Yeah, I wanted her to have something that could shower her with affection so she wouldn't feel unloved with the new baby around."
"Are you going to be able to take care of a toddler, an infant and a puppy?"
Her response was a shrug of her shoulders, "It won't be any trouble. Juice will bring the puppy over Christmas morning before Josie wakes up."
"That's cute. A nice family Christmas together." Gemma smirked. Clary rolled her eyes before turning back to look at the napping Abel. Gemma turned her head in the same direction to look at her grandson, "You know if this new baby is also Juice's he is gonna be real determined for you to be his old lady."
Clary's lips thinned out, "That's not going to happen. Juice knows the rules and if he tries to change anything than that will be the end of it."
"If you plan on ending that little arrangement you have going on it has to be with both of them not just one. The club can't have two brothers fighting over pussy, that's why they have the rules about their old ladies in the first place." Gemma's face was serious as she looked over at the younger woman.
"Don't worry Gemma, I'm the last person that will cause problems for the club."
Gemma smirked at that, "I know baby girl. I'm just reminding you what affects one brother affects them all."
It was just nearing nine in the evening when Tara had swung by Abel's room to let them know that Dr. Namid would be ready to take Abel out of the incubator within the hour. Gemma immediately began trying to get ahold of Jax and after several attempts with no answer she was getting pissed.
"Where the hell is he?" she growled.
Clary could practically see the steam coming out of Gemma's ears as she paced the room a few times before grabbing her purse. She stomped over to the door grabbing the handle and yanking it open, "I'm going to go find him. Don't let them do anything until we get back."
"Okie dokie," Clary called out as Gemma stormed away before leaning down to pick up a book from the basket next to her and turning back to look at Abel, "Alright sweet boy we're in the power hour! Why we wait let's see what shenanigans Curious George is getting into."
She spent the next several minutes reading the book only going quiet when Tara came walking back into the room. The doctor looked around, "Where is everyone else?"
"They're on their way, should be here soon." Clary smiled slipping the book back into the basket.
Tara nodded in understanding while walking over to the incubator and smiling down at the baby, "Dr. Namid is on his way. I'm going to take you to the visiting room just two doors down."
Clary climbed to her feet following the other woman out the room and a few doors to a larger room with a rocking chair, changing table and shelving unit with various newborn supplies. There was a large window you could see out into the hallway just like in Abel's room. The room turned at the end to another door that led into a doctor's exam room. Both women stopped in the doorway and Clary leaned back against the frame, "I'll wait here to keep an eye for them."
"It shouldn't be too much longer." Tara smiled walking back down the hall.
"Thanks Tara!" Clary called to the retreating doctor.
She let her purse slip from her shoulder to rummage through the bag to pull her phone out to check for messages from Gemma. There was none from her, but there was a picture text from Sam. She clicked on the file letting it download and seconds later there was an image of Josie's smiling face holding up a painting of what appeared to be a fat grey cat. A chuckle escaped her just as the doors to hallway leading to the elevator swung open.
"Over here!" Clary spoke drawing the attention of Jax and Gemma.
The pair stopped spinning around to face her with surprise. Clary raised both of her hands pointing at the room and repeating, "Over here!"
"Why are you over there?" Gemma asked walking towards her looking around for the doctors or Abel.
Jax followed his mother to the room Clary disappeared into as she spoke, "Tara said this is the room they will bring him after the exam."
"Thanks for waiting with Mom all day Clary." Jax whispered into her ear after grabbing her for a hug.
Clary returned the hug and her own whisper of, "Anything for family you know that Jax."
"Sorry baby girl, Jax lost track of time." Gemma huffed giving her son an evil glare.
Clary glanced from Gemma to Jax, "Did everything get handled?"
Jax's eyebrow rose in surprise before returning his own evil glare to his mother, "Yeah we're all good."
"Good you made it." Tara's voice spoke from behind them.
All three turned to see the Doctor standing at the end of the room holding a little bundle in her arms. Gemma grasped Jax's arm her eyes lighting up in a way that neither of the women had ever seen. Tara smiled walking up to Jax to hold the baby out to him. He looked up at her with wide eyes as he holding out his arms. Gemma and Clary watched as Tara carefully placed the baby into his embrace.
"Hey little guy," all three women heard Jax whisper.
Clary grabbed both of them by the elbows to direct them to the door to give Jackson's some time alone with his son. They followed her direction leaving the room without any fight or complaint, but that didn't stop any of them from taking turns peeking through the window to watch the precious moment. After a few minutes Jax called out, "All of you can stop spying and come back in."
Gemma pushed through the door in a second and Clary went to follow stopping in the doorway when Tara didn't move, "You coming?"
"It's a time for family." she smiled softly watching as Clary opened her mouth to say something but stop and only nodded. She disappeared into the room leaving Tara behind alone in the hallway.
Clary smiled when she entered to see Gemma holding the baby smiling like the proudest grandmother in the world. She walked forward to stand flushed against the Queen biker and smile down at the little boy. He gurgled staring up at them with wide eyes making Clary's smile double, "Hey beautiful boy."
"You want to see Aunt Clary?" Gemma cooed turning the baby towards her.
Clary held her arms out as Gemma placed little Abel against her. She cuddled the infant in her arms smiling all the while as she lifted the baby up to lips to whisper in his ear the same thing she had said to both Kenny and Josie when she first held them, "Fear nothing for I will always be watching over you."
Abel gurgled again in response as Clary lowered him back down so she could cuddle him against her chest. She held him tightly as the room's peaceful ambience was suddenly interrupted by Jax's cell phone. Jax looked at them sheepishly pulling the device from his pocket and answering, "Yeah."
He mumbled a few words his voice growing agitated by the end of the conservation as he slammed the phone shut, "I have to go."
"Everything alright?" Gemma asked her suspicion voice in full force as she took the baby back.
"Yeah everything's fine." Jax answered bending down to kiss Abel's forehead before disappearing out the door. The two women watched him leave, and once he was out of view, they turned to looked at each other in worry.
"That can't be good." Clary whispered.
Gemma shoved the door open barging into the garage from the office looking around wide eyed at all the men, "What the hell happened?"
"Ask him!" Tig responded pointing towards the back of the ambulance where Clay stepped into view.
He held up his hands towards his wife, "I'm fine. I'm fine."
"God damn it, I knew it!" Gemma growled grabbing her husband and hugging him, "I knew something bad was going to happen."
A grown of pain coming from the ambulance caught her attention and she pulled away from Clay to glance into the vehicle to see some stranger covered in blood, "Holy Shit!"
She looked back and forth from the bloody man to Clay, "Where'd we get an ambulance?"
"Numb-nuts stole it." he answered making Gemma sigh in disbelief before he continued, "We're going to patch up the Irishman."
"Anything I can do?" she asked resting her hands on her hips.
Jax walked up to her at that point looking around, "Where's Clary? Chibs is probably going to need some help patching this guy up."
"She had a food craving, she has to go Lodi to get food this time of night." her response made Jax glance over to Clay in a panic.
Clay frowned, "Now isn't the time to be out alone. Call her and tell her to get her ass here asap."
Gemma turned back to the office pulling her phone from her pocket to call Clary. She answered the phone on the second ring almost like she had been expecting a call. Gemma didn't go into detail just told her to get back to TM as quickly as she could and not stop anywhere else.
It was an hour later, just after two in the morning when Clary arrived at TM. Gemma had been pacing the clubhouse in a fury, pissed that Jax hadn't returned from Tara's yet or that Clary hadn't arrived the second after she had called her. So, when Clary finally walked through the clubhouse door carrying a sack of food and munching on French fries Gemma charged her, "Where the hell you been?"
"Woe…. calm down," she spoke raising her free hand in the air to stop Gemma from getting to close, "the drive thru at In & Out took forever. You told me to come here and I wasn't going to show up with just food for me, so I got a few extra burgers in case someone was hungry."
Gemma's hands rested on her hips as she glared at the other woman, "I'm already worried that Jax hasn't gotten back yet, I didn't want to have to worry about you too."
"Why would you be worrying about me? And where did Jax go?" Clary asked glancing at Gemma before looking around the room her eyes settling on the open door to church. When she noticed the body laying still on a table, she immediately pushed past Gemma walking towards the room after dropping the bag of food on a table without a second thought. She moved forward entering the room looking at the body, her eyes filled with concern. When she caught sight of the back of an unfamiliar head, she visibility relaxed. Chibs and Juice were both in the room with the stranger and Clary stared between the three, "What the hell is going on?"
"He is our new Irish liaison, Cameron Hayes. Took two slugs, one to the arse and one to the leg." Chibs spoke gesturing with his head to the man lying on the table.
Clary stepped forward to inspect the injured man, "What happened?
"They were having a meeting at the Irish bar when two Mayans shot up the place." Juice answered.
She looked up at them, "How did you get him back here?"
"In an ambulance the prospect stole."
"Of course he did," she replied with a roll of her eyes, "Why haven't you tried removing the slugs?"
Chibs rubbed his face, "I don't 'ave the right tools. Jackie boy went to the docs to get what we need."
"Did you check the jump bag in the ambulance?"
"Aye, nothin' we can use."
Clary sighed, "I have a backup bag stashed in Jax's dorm. Should have the basic things we need to pull them."
With that said she walked out of the room turning down the hallway to the dorms. She pushed Jax's door open crossing the room to the small wall of cabinets. Crouching down she opened the lowest left cabinet door to pull out a black medical bag she kept there for emergencies. As she removed it from its place, she noticed the bag was open and with a frown she glanced into it see the bags of sterile tools were open.
"Son of a bitch." she growled realizing that someone most likely Kohn had opened all the bags out of spite during the raid a few weeks ago. However, lucky for all of them she still had some unused pouches so she could sterilize them again using the clubhouse oven. She grabbed the bag heading out of the room to the kitchen to wash all the medical instruments. Before she started washing, she set the open to preheat to three fifty and by the time she was done washing the tools and placing them in new pouches the oven was ready. She grabbed a metal tray lining the pouches in a row and slid the tray into the oven.
Once she was done, she headed back to check on the Irish man, "We have about two hours before the tools are sterilize. How is he doing?"
"Still passed out." Juice replied.
Clary walked back over to inspect Cameron's wounds with a frown. She didn't touch him since she wasn't wearing gloves but she eyed the wounds, "The one on the leg isn't bad, but the one in the ass might be a problem."
"Aye that's my thoughts too." Chibs remarked coming up to stand next to her.
She turned to face him, "I'm going to go lay down for a minute, make sure someone pulls the medical gear out of the oven in an hour to cool."
"Alright lass," the Scot smiled.
Clary left the room heading towards the dorms slipping into the cleanest room she could find. She yawned as she climbed into the bed catching the familiar scent of the Scotsman when she laid her head on the pillow. Turning she buried deeper into the bed quickly drifting off to sleep.
An hour later after removing the medical instruments from the oven Chibs when wandering down the hall to the dorms in search of Clary. He checked each of the rooms finally stopping in the doorway of the one he usually crashed in; to see her sleeping on the bed, snuggling up against a pillow her arms wrapped around it. His lips curled up into a smile leaning against the doorway watching her sleep when a voice suddenly spoke next to him, "What are you doing?"
"Jesus," Chibs whispered jumping slightly in surprise while turning his head to see Tig standing next to him grinning like an idiot.
Tig peered around the door to see Clary sleeping before looking back at Chibs with a raised eyebrow, "Watching her sleep? Kind of a creepy thing to do man."
"I wasn't watching 'er sleep," he quietly snapped, "I was looking for 'er and just found 'er."
"Hey man its cool. I don't blame you she's nice to stare at no matter what she's doing." Tig's shit eating grin returning to his face.
Chibs rolled his eyes, "Keep it down or you'll wake 'er."
"I thought you were waking her up anyways to patch up the Irish man." Tig noted as he followed Chibs who had started walking back to the main room.
The Scot glanced over to him, "He can wait another hour. His chances are better if she's rested."
It was the sound of someone knocking on a door that woke her from her slumber. Clary set up in the bed looking around groggily as she reached up to rub the sleep from her eyes. She glanced around the room noticing that there were a few rays of early sunlight slipping through the blinds.
"Shit," she whispered slipping out of the bed heading for the door already hearing voices from the main room. She turned down the hallway coming into the bar area where she could see Clay talking to Unser, Gemma hovering around them with an annoyed look as they moved forward in her direction.
"What's going on?" Clary asked as they approached.
Unser nodded at her in greeting as Clay answered, "I have to go down to the station to answer so questions. Apparently, the Mayans went after Darby last night. Make sure Gemma stays here for me."
"Alright." she said as Clay kissed her cheek before following Unser out the door.
As the pair left Chibs came out of church a look of relief on his face when he saw her, "Good your awake. We need to get the slugs out of this guy. Infection is spreadin' and 'e might even 'ave sepsis."
She quickly followed him into the room, walking up to table to take a hold of Cameron's limp wrist. She took his pulse frowning in the process as she looked around at the bags of medical instruments Chibs had set next to the table. Looking over everything she glanced at both Juice and Chibs, "We're going to need more gauze before we attempt to remove the bullets. Is the ambulance still here?"
"Should still be in the garage." Juice answered.
Clary nodded, "I'm going to go grab what we need I'll be right back."
She disappeared out the door passing a watching Gemma and Tig leaving the clubhouse to head for the garage. Crossing the yard, she quickly entered the garage and climbed into the ambulance. Pulling all the drawers open she grabbed every package of gauze she should find and even gave a small little cheer of yes when she found some iv bags. Grabbing everything she could in one arm load she quickly made her way back to the clubhouse.
As she entered the building, she could hear Chibs suddenly shouting, "Shit shit shit! Jesus, come 'ere!"
She rushed forward at the same time as Gemma and Tig, all three of them entering the room together. They noticed Chibs standing next to Cameron's head with a defeated look. While Juice…. all three stared at him tilting their heads in unison trying to understand exactly where his hand was.
"What the hell happened?" Clary questioned stepping forward to inspect where Juice's finger was placed.
"Oh, we got one slug out." Chibs sighed.
Clary blinked at him, "You waited all night to remove them. You couldn't wait two more minutes?"
Chibs didn't say anything else as she leaned forward looking, "Removing the bullet opened an artery."
"This is insane." Gemma huffed leaving the room.
"Wait where are you going?" Tig shouted following after her.
Clary could hear Gemma shout that she was going to go find Jax. Grabbing a pair of gloves from the table she stepped up to the door way as she pulled them on, "Gemma?"
The other woman stopped glancing over her shoulder as she was heading for the clubhouse exit after having pushed Tig out of the way, "Yeah?"
"When you find Jax tell him to just to go ahead and bring Tara back with him. We're going to need her for this."
Gemma nodded disappearing out the door with Tig on her heels. Clary watched them go before stepping up to the table, "Juice move down as far as you can without shifting you finger at all. I'll need some room to work."
She grabbed her surgical magnify glasses from her bag and slipped them on to her face before inspecting the wound on the Irish man's leg. Without even having to look, her hand moved to the instrument tray next to her to grab a pair of forceps. Keeping her eyes focused on her work, Juice and Chibs watched as she removed the bullet in the man's leg with an expertise of a seasoned doctor.
"Luckily no artery was hit. Chibs can you hand me the sterilizing solution?"
Chibs grabbed the bottle from the tray and handing it to her. She took the bottle without glancing at him, "Thank you. I found a saline bag in the ambulance if you could hook it up please."
"Sure love." the Scot replied grabbing the iv bag from next to the pile of gauze sitting on the table. He walked over slipping the needle into Cameron's arm before holding the bag out to Juice, "Hold that up Juicy."
Juice sighed taking the bag and holding it up so the bag would drain without any problem. Chibs patted him on the back stepping forward to stand behind Clary again to watch her work. She paid neither of the men any attention as she spent some time cleaning out the wound and using the gauze to apply pressure when it bled randomly. Eventually the small amount of blood that was flowing out stopped and Clary grabbed a suction blub to start draining the excess liquid.
Once the wound was drained, she set to work suturing it closed, her nimble fingers working quickly. Chibs remained behind her, leaning over her to watch her work. His body pressed ever so slightly against her back, "That's some beautiful work lass."
Clary slipped her glasses off before glancing over her shoulder making eye contact with him as she smirked, "I'm just good with my hands."
Juice glared at them, a grimace on his face at the pair's flirtatious words. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could get one word out the sound of the clubhouse door opening caught all of their attentions.
"We're back." Gemma's voiced called from the main room.
She entered the room seconds later followed by Tara who was carrying her medical bag around her shoulder. Tara at the sight of the man on the table immediately went into doctor mode, "What can you tell me?"
"He took two slugs one to the left buttock that must have hit an artery. When it was pulled it began gushing. Juice here was able to plug up the hole to stop him from bleeding out." Clary informed her as she watched Tara inspect her new patient, "The other slug went into his left thigh. I was able to pull it, clean it and stitch it with no problems."
"Well, that's good. I have some vancomycin, give him two now and then four every hour." Tara spoke handing the pills to Gemma.
"Hey wake up," Gemma announced tapping Cameron in the face.
The Irish man raised his head looking around groggily, "What's going on?"
"Doc's here. She's going to patch you up, but you need to take these." she shoved the pills into his mouth before tipping a water bottle against his lips.
After Gemma was able to give him the medicine Tara pulled some tools from her bag, "Thank you Gemma we will take care of it from here."
Gemma's eyebrow raised as she opened her mouth to say something, but was cut off my Chibs holding out his hand to her, "Come on Mom, let's grab some coffee."
The SAMCRO matriarch continued to glare at the doctor as she followed the Scot out the door. Tara ignored the look as she walked up next to Juice and nodded her head in the direction of the gauze. Clary took the cue grabbing some gauze and moving to the other side of the table.
"You probably know that I want you to stuff the gauze into the wound." Tara smiled at her but didn't wait for an answer before directing her smile at Juice, "Okay Juice…. right?"
"Yeah." he nodded.
"I want you to pull your finger out so I can close the bleed off with this clamp."
Juice continued nodding as he removed his finger and Tara quickly reached forward with the medical clamp. She dug into the wound with the metal instrument stopping the bleed before he could lose too much blood. Juice watched wide eyed, "Wow way to go doc…. Can I go wash my hand now?"
"Yeah, go ahead. And great job Juice, you saved his life."
The biker smiled at both women before disappearing through the door, pulling it shut behind him leaving them alone. Once they were alone Tara sighed her shoulders slumping as she continued working on getting the Irish man's bleed to stop.
Clary watched her for a few seconds and noticed a worried gleam in the other woman's eye, "Are you alright?"
She remained silent working on the bleed, her eyes shifting up to randomly glance at Clary. Tara sighed before moisturizing her lips with her tongue and whispering, "Jax killed Kohn last night."
"What?"
"Kohn… he ugh… showed up last night in my home and attacked me."
Clary leaned forward with wide eyes, "Oh my god! Are you alright?"
"I don't know. I had to pretend that I was interested in reconciling with him to get him to let his guard down." Tara whispered and Clary who see she was trying to keep herself from falling apart, "I managed to get his gun away from him, and I shot him. I panicked and called Jax for help. When Jax got back to the house he said that we go could call the police for help and Kohn would just go to jail for a few years, but be out in a few years to do it again."
Tara removed the clamp once she stopped the bleeding and began to clean the wound, "I freaked out, told Jax I couldn't go through that again. Kohn started to taunt us and Jax shot him in the head."
"Jesus, I'm sorry." Clary frowned looking at her.
"Thanks…" Tara whispered.
Clary walked around the table and stopped next to Tara. She reached up to place her hand on her shoulder, "You need to relax and breath."
"Okay," Tara whispered nodding.
"And you know…." Clary started making Tara turned her head to look at her, "This topic needs to end here. You can't mention again."
Tara's nodding quickened, "Yeah I know."
"Hey, but remember now you don't have to worry about that crazy agent anymore." Clary whispered squeezing her shoulder.
She let out a breath of relief at that her body visibly relaxing as she continued her work. Draining the sterilizing solution, she reached over to grab her suture kit while eyeing Clary's work she had done on the man's leg. She looked up at Clary in surprise, "This is nice work."
"Thanks." she smiled.
Tara continued to admire her stitching, "I mean it. This is really nice work. Where did you learn?"
"From a friend." Clary answered looking at her with an expression that Tara just couldn't place.
January 1997
"Apply pressure to the wound."
Clary did as directed, pressing the gauze to the wound on the man's abdomen. He groaned when she pressed down and she looked up at the dark-skinned man in concern, "Are you alright Mukisa?"
"Oh, just peachy." he chuckled little beads of sweat sliding down his face.
"A gunshot wound to the gut, that's a perfect description of something peachy." came the response from the man next to them, his German accent making his humor sound rough.
Clary rolled her eyes, "What do we do next Ferdi?"
"Next, you're going to watch how I pull the bullet and clean the wound." the German spoke as he pulled on some gloves his tall lanky form crouching down next to her. Clary leaned forward watching the man as he worked on their comrade. Ferdi grabbed his forceps, then proceed to dig for the bullet lodged in the man's stomach. Mukisa hissed making the doctor look up at him with a grin, "Perhaps next time you will leave the gun slinging to the American boy, since he loves it so much."
Mukisa started to chuckle but it was drowned out by the hearty laugh of another man approaching them. The light brown-haired man stepped up next to Ferdi, holding out a rolled joint to the injured man. He grinned before speaking his Russian accent difficult to understand if you weren't use to it, "You did good. Kicking open door and shooting everybody."
"Thanks," Mukisa spoke grabbing the joint and taking a hit. As he exhaled, he watched the Russian cross over to sit on the other side of the aircraft, "You roll a shitty joint Petya."
The Russian laughed, making Mukisa grin as he took another hit to combat the pain from Ferdi digging around in his stomach. Clary glanced up from watching the German work to eye her hurt team mate, "It doesn't hurt?"
"I've had worse pain Mel." the man answered and she nodded in understanding, especially since she had seen the claw marks on his back. He also had a scar of teeth marks on his right shoulder, remnants of a leopard attack as a child. Mukisa had grown up in Uganda before the bush war, all the bubbling unrest had thrown off many of the hunting territories for the large wild predators. He had been out with father for a day of fishing and unfortunately wandered off. Luckily for him his father hadn't been too far away and was able to save him from the giant cat, but not before he was left permanently scared.
"Now that we have the bullet removed and cleaned, I'll let you stitch him up." Ferdi's voice spoke bringing her attention back to the task at hand. Clary turned, scooting forward so she could suture the wound closed. She set to work, recalling her training and the lessons that the German had taught her since she had joined the team.
Ferdi remained behind her, watching her with a smile as she worked, "Very good Mel."
"Thanks," she replied as she finished her task.
"Are we done?" Mukisa asked looking down at the now closed wound.
Clary stepped back as Ferdi stepped forward with fresh gauze to cover the wound, "You're going to be on light duty for a few weeks. We will continue to change the bandage out, but in a few days, we can take it off and let it breathe so it can heal."
Mukisa chuckled, resting his head against the wall of the aircraft before saying something in his native tongue of Swahili. When the words left his mouth, Clary busted out laughing as Ferdi glared at them, "What did he say?"
"Oh…" Clary blushed as Mukisa grinned. She turned her head, "He was curious if that's what doctors suggested your mother to do with her umm…. legs."
Petya roared with laughter from behind them as Ferdi looked at Mukisa with annoyance, "How colorful."
Clary snorted, as Mukisa joined in Petya's laughter. Ferdi looked around at all them in annoyance.
"Assholes." he cursed with an eye roll, turning and heading to join the others at the front of the plane.
Note: When it comes to the new characters mentioned at the of end of the chapter, I picture them looking as followed:
Mukisa – Morris Chestnut
Ferdi – James Frain
Petya – Pavel Lychnikoff