Old Ghosts

Chapter 6

Kate looked down at the man in her arms, his blood staining her dress. Her ice blue eyes wide with shock as she took in the injuries. Bandit and a strange dog entered the house with Charli shutting the door with his paws. Shaking out of her stupor, Kate struggled to carry Lee’s deadweight to the couch. Finally collapsing them both onto it, Kate gently smoothed his hair from his sweaty face.

“What happened to you, Lee?” Kate whispered, standing up. The sight of his blood made Kate suddenly glad to have all of her medical supplies. Kicking herself for standing there, she rushed into the kitchen, filling the kettle and placing it on the boil. Opening some of her cupboards, she grabbed bowls, medical equipment and sterilised materials. Quickly moving back into the lounge room, Kate pulled the coffee table next to her, hastily clearing it off for her medical items. The kettle whistled and she rushed back into the kitchen. Pouring the water in one of the large bowls, she carried it back to Lee and put on her surgical gloves.

As gently as she could, Kate cut his shirt before peeling it off his shoulders. The sight of his wound caused her to gasp. A bullet wound gleamed at her wetly and she stared at it, transfixed, her medical training disappearing from her mind as he began to groan.

“Katie?” he stared at her groggily.

“H-how?” she asked, still staring at the wound.

“Katie, I need you to look at me,” Lee winced as he moved his shoulder. Kate’s eyes drifted to his almost black ones. “The shoulder wound is a through and through, but there is a bullet still in my waist.” He started to cough. “I promise to tell you everything after you get it out, okay?” Kate nodded numbly. “You have any spirits?”

“Just the whiskey my dad bought me for Christmas,” She ducked her head before getting up. “I’ll get it for you.” She disappeared for a moment before returning with a crystal decanter. “Drink up, the last thing I need is for you to flinch.” Lee gave a mocking smile.

“Bottoms up then, hey Doc?” Kate watched soberly as he started to swallow the liquid. “You had better get started.”

Kate nodded and released a breath. Deciding to wait on treating the shoulder wound, Kate’s hands drifted to his waistband. Blushing violently, Kate undid the snap and pulled down the zipper. Still red-faced, she began to pull down his pants with Lee lifting his hips to aid her. His toned stomach drew her eyes, making her feel warm. Lee smirked, watching her eyes follow the trail of dark hair down to his underpants. He slowly counted to ten. Openly grinning as she jumped up and grabbed the throw rug and placing it on him. “You’re going to have to take off your underpants.”

Gritting his teeth, Lee slowly pulled off his navy boxers. The pain washed over him, leaving him weak and sweaty. Grabbing the bottle, he took three long swallows. “That okay for you?”

Kate looked at him helplessly. “Sit back and try to relax, Lee. Don’t flinch when I go in to get the bullet, alright?”

“Just focus on getting the bullet out, Kate, not on my reactions,” Lee growled, sweat beading on his forehead. Kate looked at him and nodded. Swallowing, Kate focused on what she remembered from Medical school.

The hours ticked by slowly as Kate painstakingly removed the fragments of the bullet stuck in her friend’s body. Somewhere along the line Lee had passed out from the pain, making Kate’s job much easier. After sewing up the lower wound, Kate focused on his shoulder, going in and checking to see if there was anything she had to remove before sewing it up while trying to avoid giving him an infection. As night gave way to dawn, she leaned back against the chair, exhausted, but finished. Not long after, Kate fell asleep.

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Lee woke up groggy, noticing that his wounds did not feel as bad as the day before. Looking around, he found Kate sleeping against the couch, her hand loosely entwined with his. Smiling softly, he studied her. Thick auburn hair lay mussed out of its braid; subtly smudged makeup adorned her sleeping face, not looking tacky, but still noticeable. A frown flickered on his face when he noticed the state of her dress. Bloodstains decorated the expensive fabric, causing Lee to swear softly when he realised that it was the gown that he had bought her for her birthday present. He brought his hand to her face, wincing at the tightness in his shoulder.

She was still as beautiful as ever, he thought tenderly, and sure knew how to save his ass. He leaned back gently, hating the inventors of the couch. A soft whine caught his attention. At the bottom of the couch lay Bandit and his dog, Sam, a thumping tail tattooed against the rug as the latter raised his head.

“Yeah, buddy, I’m happy to see you too,” Lee said gruffly. A yawn alerted the three to Kate.

“Mornin’ Doc,” Lee smiled. “I’m sorry for your gown.”

Kate smiled and then looked down. A feeling of grief washed over her as she remembered the day that she had received it. “It’s fine, Lee, I’m sure I can wash it out with some cold water,” Kate tried to reassure him. “How are you going?”

“I’ll be fine after a shower, some food and aspirin,” Lee replied, untangling his hand. “Why don’t you get changed and I’ll meet you in the kitchen?”

“You’ll stay right there, Calloway,” Kate returned fiercely, shocking Lee. “I didn’t spend all night treating you so that you can get up and rip out all those stitches.” Lee agreed with her hurriedly, pressing himself into the couch. Sam ducked around the corner and hid in Charli’s sleeping basket. “I’ll get changed, make some breakfast and then you can tell me exactly what the fuck is going on!”

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