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“I’m almost finished,” Don said.
Nola moaned. Tate grabbed her other hand and squeezed it lightly to let her know he was there.
“You’re okay. Lie still.”
She blinked and then opened her eyes.
“Where am I?”
“At the police station,” he said. “Dad is sewing up your arm.”
She moaned. “It hurts.”
Don frowned. “I gave her all the Novocaine I had—sorry. Just two more stitches and we’re through.”
Nola moaned as the needle went into her flesh.
Tate frowned. “Dad. Stop!”
“No…just finish it,” Nola begged.
Don didn’t hesitate. Moments later he clipped the surgical thread, then wiped the surface again with antiseptic swabs.
“It’s the best I can do under less than sterile conditions,” he said, and then began bandaging up the wound.
“I can do a decent field dressing,” Tate said. “Do you have something you can give her for pain?”
“I don’t have a regular doctor bag, you know. I just gathered up what I could find. Nola, are you allergic to anything?” Don asked.
She groaned again as another wave of pain wracked her body. “No, not allergic.”
He peeled off the surgical gloves, then dug around in his bag until he found something that would work, filled a syringe and gave her a shot.
“This should knock her out.”
“Write the prescriptions for whatever you think she needs. We’ll get them filled,” Tate said.
Don frowned. “Happy to oblige if I can find a prescription pad. I keep repeating myself, this is not what I do for a living.” He dug around in the bag again, then shook his head. “I’ll go see if there’s one down in the morgue. I’ll be right back.” He hurried out of the room.
A few minutes later, he was back. He handed Tate one for an antibiotic to combat infection and one for pain, then gathered up his things. He paused, adding as an afterthought, “You have my number,” and walked out.
“That was weird,” Cameron said. “Nice of him to help out, but weird.”
Tate didn’t care. Nola had gotten what she needed. The braid in her hair was coming down and there was blood all over her, but she was alive. He leaned down and brushed the hair from her forehead.
“Hey, honey, is that shot kicking in yet?”
“I feel like I’m floating.”
“That’s good. Just hang in there with us while we figure out what to do with you.”
Cameron shoved his hands in his pockets, remembering the chaos they’d left Laura in the middle of when they’d driven away.
“We can’t go back to the gym, it’s too dangerous for the families,” he said.
“That goes without saying,” Tate said. “But we need to put her someplace safe.”
“I have four empty cells,” Beaudry said.