A/N: Shout outs to my anonymous reviewer and James Birdsong! Glad you liked it. More on our shooting victim now. :) Thanks!
Chapter 27
Elphaba didn't want to leave Candy, but she was also afraid that her magic would be needed again. If she cast a spell to move the brothel worker, then she might not have enough power left to save whoever just screamed. Luckily, Sergeant Schultz came running towards her.
"Miss Elphaba! You must help her!" He looked down and saw that the green woman had already had to save Candy.
"Get her to the horses. Be careful. Where is she?" Elphaba wanted to know. She had no idea who she was, but it didn't matter. There was another person in trouble.
"Back where we came in!" Schultz was very close to losing it and Elphaba's stomach dropped. She left him with all the speed that she could. Coming through the equipment, she found Fiyero attempting to administer first aid to Corporal Kaplan. It looked like she'd taken a bullet to the right shoulder, but it seemed to be bleeding a lot more than it should. Damla's shirt was soaked across her shoulder and down her right side. Knowing that there was an artery in that region, Elphaba knew she had to act fast.
"I'm afraid to let go," the Prince told his fiancé. He'd managed to staunch quite a bit of the visible blood flow by pressing his shirt into the wound. His undershirt had blood on it and his hands were stained. Corporal Kaplan seemed to be struggling to breathe.
"You have to let go so I can get the bullet out," Elphaba said.
"It's not in there. It went through her shoulder and singed my shirt," he said. It was then that the green woman noticed there was an actual graze on Fiyero's right bicep. In an instant, she knew what had happened. Someone had taken a shot at Fiyero and the Corporal had jumped in front of him, effectively rerouting the bullet.
"Damla, this is going to hurt but it will make you better," the green woman told her. The younger woman nodded and Elphaba put her hands over Fiyero's and began to chant. The Prince could feel the power coursing through his hands and into Damla's shoulder. Another scream escaped Damla's lips before she passed out.
"Remove your hands and the shirt," Elphaba told him. Fiyero did as he was told and Elphaba moved closer, kneeling over the Corporal, and began to chant again. He watched as the wound slowly sealed itself up.
"I hope it is enough. I don't have anything left in me," the green woman fell back slightly so that her backside touched her heels.
"You gave her a chance. Without you…" Fiyero didn't bothering finishing that sentence. They both knew that they couldn't bear to give Sergeant Schultz bad news.
"Where is everyone else?" Elphaba immediately grew concerned.
"Those buggers we were chasing scattered. Basheer, Filiz, and Roth went after them. I'm guessing that Chistery and the other Monkeys did as well," he told her.
"We need a cart to transport Damla. I would feel better if we had one for Candy as well," she said before explaining what she'd had to do to help the brothel worker. Before Fiyero could open his mouth, Sergeant Schultz came running into the room. While the two had been working to save the Corporal, Schultz had done what he'd been asked and gotten Candy to the horses. He had been met by Corporal Roth and the others. The men who had brought Candy to the Corn Exchange had been captured. Chistery had flown back to the Palace to get transport for the prisoners and the wounded.
"Is she…" the young man couldn't bring himself to say it.
"She's still with us. Is everyone else, ok?" Elphaba wanted to know.
"A few bumps and bruises but all kidnappers are accounted for and Chistery has gone to the Palace for help," he told them. As much as he wanted to hold Damla in his arms, Schultz moved to Fiyero.
"Your arm Captain," he said.
"A scratch. You go to her and tell her you're here. She is out cold, but she needs the reassurance. Damla did something that not all soldiers are willing to do. She has not only done the Vinkus proud, but she has done herself proud. I will be sure to let her family know and my parents. I am forever in her debt," the Prince told him.
"I just want her to be ok," Schultz admitted. Fiyero put his blood stained, left hand on the Sergeant's arm. Chistery and the backup would arrive shortly after. Once everyone was secure and ready for transport they moved back toward the Palace. There were still a lot of questions left. Hopefully, they would soon have their answers.
To Be Continued…