Chapter IX
I can feel the bruises forming as I take a few punches from one of Cato's goons. I land more than a few punches myself but I obviously am the least experienced fighter here. I feel the need to reevaluate my life as each and every punch finds its mark. I'm a doctor…not a fighter. Why am I even here? Why did I leave my comfortable life again? Surely it wasn't as bad as continually being beaten by random goons. Or the torture of emotions running through at the mere thought of the Captain. Yet I know that now that I have met her I could never leave. I cannot imagine a life where she is not a part of it. And I find myself enjoying the life of a smuggler. The excitement is endless and the people have real character. That is why I am here. This life is far more preferable to the privileged life I was leading.
I can hear the grunts of Gale and Finnick as they engage in fights of their own. But oddly enough I hear nothing from Katniss or Cato. I'm not sure as to whether that should worry or comfort me. No doors have opened and shut so I know they have not left. But they must be farther into the room than we are if I cannot hear them.
The unsheathing of a sword draws my attention, it is a quiet sound but I am attuned to it. The tradition of sword fighting, merely for sport, is common where I am from. Rarely does anyone have reason to use it for any other purpose. I cannot turn away to see who has drawn the sword because I need to keep my attention focused on my opponent.
I can sense the swing of the blade, and hear the quiet sound of slicing flesh. It sickens me to think of who may be on the receiving end. A few more swipes sound. Then a short moment of silence. But then a scream erupts through the air. Startling all of us who were previously fighting. If I thought I had ever known torture…it was nothing compared to this. The scream is undeniably female, and there was only one of those here. Katniss!
With all fighting ceased we turn to where Cato looms over the bloodied body off Katniss. His sword is still protruding from her hip. Blood seeps around the wound and her face is contorted in pain. Cato leers with a sickening smirk. His hand still placed on the hilt. I take in the scene; Cato stands above her, nearly pristine except for a growing bruise on his cheek and the blood on his white shirt from where Katniss had pushed her dagger. It was a small cut but bleed enough to leave a nasty stain. Katniss lies at his feet, the worst of her wounds is the sword in her hip, but numerous other cuts decorate her skin and her shirt is nearly in shreds and not protecting much of her dignity. Blood colors her skin in the worst way. She is going to need so many stitches when we get out from here.
Realization dawns on me. I am going to be the one to have to give her those stitches. Images of a shirtless Katniss fill my mind but I squash them quickly since this situation is far too serious for such thoughts. I need to think like a medic, not like a horny teenage boy.
Cato pulls his sword harshly from her torso and she shrieks again before whimpering. Her body curls in on itself, to protect her wounded body.
"Now, I hope you'll think more clearly next time Captain Everdeen. I certainly hope you've learned your lesson and will treat those like myself with the proper respect. Until next time Captain." Cato sneers and bows. He throws a sack of money, our payment, to the ground. Cato sneers. He turns and leaves the room, his men following him, some carrying the crate. Such a pompous ass. He thinks his actions we justified because he intended to defile a woman and she fought for her protection. And he thinks she disrespected him! Yet another reason I am glad I left such a society.
Before he exits the room Katniss summons her strength and yells, "Like hell I'm ever goin' to deal with you again Cato!" He doesn't acknowledge her words and just continues his exit.
"Cap'n!" Finnick calls out as he bolts across the room to her limp, bleeding and whimpering form. He launches to his knees, sliding a little, at her side. His hands flutter above her, clearly trying to figure out what to do.
Gale reaches her next and worry creases his face. He looks down in worry at his Captain and friend but says nothing.
I reach her next, approaching her is harder then it should be. I push myself into doctor mode and pull off my shirt, tearing it into strips quickly. I fold a few strips and push Gale and Finnick aside. I place the folded squares over the worst wounds then secure them with the other strips. She hisses as I tie the strips around her body and cover the wounds. Gently I dab at the one on her check. It isn't bad, merely a scratch. I pick her up, careful not to jostle her terribly. Gale grabs the bag of money Cato had tossed down, and pockets it.
Finnick grabs any other loose things we have dropped and we make out way back to the ship.
…:::…
"Oh my goodness Cap'n!" Annie shouts as we enter the cargo bay. Katniss hangs limp in my arms, weakened from blood loss. I stride purposefully to the infirmary and lay her out on the table. I riffle through the contents of one drawer till I find a container of morphling. I grab a syringe and measure out the proper dosage before tossing the needle to Finnick who stands near Katniss. He catches it and stares for a moment.
"Dope her." I say, my voice commanding. He does and she immediately relaxes, her whole body loosing tenseness.
I grab a pair of scissors, needles and surgical thread, medical tape, gauze, and bandages, as well as sanitizing solution. I place them on the tray near the table where Katniss lies. I grab the scissors first and go to cut off the shredded garment. Finnick places his hand on mine first and I meet his gaze.
"Cap'n ain't gonna be to happy about you doin' that."
"I don't really have a choice. She'll have to deal with it. Or deal with the infections, possibly death. I don't really have time to care about her moods."
I cut the shirt and it falls open. I try not to stare, focusing my mind on the medical instead. I grab the sanitizing solution and a bit of gauze. I fill a small container and place the needles in it. Then I soak the gauze and begin to wipe her wounds, and skin, free of blood. Once she is clean again I can't help but appreciate the beauty of her olive skin as it gleams under the lights. Her skin is smooth, her muscles taught and toned. She is soft in her muscular build. Thankfully her bra is blood soaked so I do not let my mind linger on her breasts; rather the blood pulls me back into a medical mindset. I grab the thread and cut it accordingly. Four of her cuts will need stitches. The cut on her cheek will merely need a bandage. I start with her arm, continue to the cut on her collarbone. Force myself to focus on the one below her breast. Then I work diligently to close her stab wound. It is deep cut, but clean, it should heal just fine.
Finnick appears at my side, holding a towel. "Can I mop your brow?" I look at him quizzically. I'm operating on his Captain and naturally he feels the need to lighten the situation with humor.
"What?"
"I am ready with a fearsome brow mop." He dabs the cloth across my forehead and I just stare at him with a look that says are you serious. He chuckles.
"Sorry. I think I saw that on TV once…I had to try." I roll my eyes at his ridiculousness and concentrate again on the body on the table.
With all the stitches complete I soak a clean piece of gauze in sanitizer and wipe the wounds again.
"Finnick grab my med kit from my room."
He scurries from the room. While he's gone I prepare squares of gauze to cover the wounds. He returns quickly and I instruct him to find the tube of antibiotic gel. He hands it to me and I unscrew the lid. I place a dollop on each of my fingers. Each dollop I rub over one wound. Then I place the squares of gauze over the four with stitches. I take the bandage and place it over the cut on her cheek. I cut strips of medical tape and secure the gauze to her skin. I could have done a much better job had I been back in the hospitals where I once worked. But with such rudimentary supplies I am quite proud of my work.
"Finnick would you fetch me one of her shirts. Possibly ask Annie to grab her a clean bra," I feel an intense blush creep over my skin, "and ask her to change the Captain. I feel as if I have pushed her temper enough for today.
Finnick leaves the room to fetch the requested things. I stare down at Katniss' relaxed form. She looks so beautiful, even though her hair is a mess and she is covered in bandages. She truly is the most magnificent woman I will ever know. If only I could gain her trust and if only it were possible for her to fall for me. I run the pad of my thumb over her skin, I brush back some of her lose hair.
Finnick and Annie return. I leave the room and Finnick follows. She closes the door to the infirmary and we wait while she changes the Captain.
A few minutes later Annie opens the door. "She sure is a heavy little thing!" Annie laughs and gives Finnick a quick kiss. They leave together and I return to the infirmary to clean up my tools.
…:::…
A few hours later Katniss is up and about again. The effects of the morphling have worn off and she immediately noticed her change of clothes and tore me a new one until I was able to explain that we had Annie change her clothes. She apologized, embarrassment clear on her face.
I followed her up the dining room. My hands outstretched to catch her should she need it.
Everyone is gathered around, eating. She and I sit and fill our plates.
"Don't any one of you say I told you so." She growls out when she notices all eyes on her.
Gale speaks up, "No one's saying that Cap'n."
Finnick adds his piece, "Yeah, we're pretty much just giving each other significant glances and laughing incessantly." Annie punches him in the arm and Katniss glares. Laughter soon wins out and the room erupts with joy.
Once dinner is done and cleaned up, Annie and Finnick return to their bunk. Johanna retreats to the engine room. Thresh and Gale decide on a game of basketball in the cargo bay. Rue follows the two hulking boys. Clove prepares a pot of tea, setting aside a cup for Katniss and me before returning to her shuttle. Katniss grabs her cup and begins to walk towards the cargo bay.
"I wish sometimes that we had sugar in more supply. I can't say I'm a real big fan of plain tea." She mutters as we walk.
"I prefer my tea this way. I've never been a fan of sweet and sugary tea. I like to taste the combinations of flavors that mingle together."
She laughs. "You sure are a pampered wonder there doctor."
We seat ourselves on the stairs and watch the game of one on one below. She laughs at their antics, since they do not seem to have any rules therefore they play no holds barred, but winces when she does.
"Are you in pain?" I ask, concern laced through my tone.
"Absolutely!" She exclaims. "I got stabbed, you know." She lifts her shirt and I avert my eyes. "Right here."
"I know, I saw."
"I don't care much for those fancy parties. They're too rough."
"It wasn't exactly a fancy party Katniss. In fact I feel like if that is your idea of a party you need to get out more. But it wasn't entirely a disaster." My tone is humorous and she smiles just slightly.
"I got stabbed! Right here!" She exclaims again a goes to lift her shirt to show the bandage once again but I put my hand on hers and force it still. I retract my hand and she drops the hem of her shirt.
"We got paid though." She nods in agreement.
"Thank you." She nearly whispers. I know she is referring to patching her up.
"You're welcome. Let's not do it again though." She chuckles and I join in this merriment.
Author's Note: Hey everyone! I hope you are all well. I also hope you enjoy this chapter. I love to hear from you so review please!