Aubin laid Fiona out on a relatively clean wooden table in his "office" – a room that had probably once been a bedroom in his tiny but immaculately kept house. The bungalow appeared spontaneously out of the swamp – appearing in perfect white glory against the dark greens, browns and grays.
He swabbed her side with alcohol then grabbed a needle, some tubing and a hemostat.
"One of you keep her right arm up," he said, "whoever's not doing that keep her calm – I don't need her panicking on me."
"You're not using an anesthetic?" Sam asked as Aubin inserted the needle into Fiona's freshly cleaned skin.
"I don't accept pay for my work – and I only have so much money," Aubin replied with a shrug.
"But doesn't getting a chest tube hurt?" Michael asked, though he knew the answer from previous experience.
"She'll pass out if the pain gets too bad."
"Do we really want to take her there?" Michael retorted.
"Do we really have another choice?" Aubin countered, still working.
Fiona bit down hard on her top lip, trying to fight the growing agony of Aubin's ministrations. She knew it would save her life – but actually feeling that pain made her doubt whether she wanted to live. She tried to stay still, tried to stay quiet, tried to focus on Michael's hands where they brushed against her cheek.
It didn't work.
Against her better judgment Fiona heard herself scream, felt her body arch away from the table.
Her mind insisted she pass out – her body was having none of it.
"Almost done," Aubin said gently.
Fiona found the willpower to shake her head – she didn't like the sound of "almost" done. She needed this to be over. Now.
"I know it hurts…" Aubin added, still working.
Fiona just shook her head again.
"But," Aubin finished as he completed his task, "doesn't it feel better now?"
There wasn't enough left in Fiona to register if anything felt better. The pain was bad – worse than any of the bullet wounds or dislocated shoulders or other injuries she'd faced in the past. Breathing was easier – but still agonizing. She decided that must be an improvement and closed her eyes, hoping for unconsciousness.
It didn't come. Before she knew what was happening Aubin was probing around her back trying to get the bullet out of the ricochet wound. And – in perfect timing – after she'd endured the pain of getting a chest tube and moments after he finally got the round free of her flesh – she passed out.