This factoid seems to stop his fighting more than anything else. He still flexes his arms and struggles against the guys. He’s never been one to like restraints.
Releasing his head, I move back to his chest where the angry hole mocks me. Vic hands me some gauze before I have to ask.
“Tim. Grab that bag there. Place it on the tube in Theo’s mouth and squeeze it in rhythm with your breaths.” Tim looks at me like he might upchuck his dinner, but he manages to push down his revulsion and gives me a curt nod before getting to work.
I watch him for a second, making sure he is doing it properly. When I see Theo’s chest rise higher, I wink, and tell him to keep it up.
I ask for some antiseptic next, which appears in my hand in seconds.
“This is going to sting, baby,” I tell Theo, right as I douse his chest in the cold liquid.
He bows off the ground, unnatural noises coming from his throat. A sharp pain hits me in the center of my chest, almost like his pain is becoming mine. In times like these, I wish I could have werewolf powers, where they take the pain from each other. I can’t stand that I am inflicting more pain when he is already enduring so much.
The guys push Theo back down and tell him to hang in there. Even Cade.
His chest wound is bubbling frothy liquid. Not a good sign. His lung is collapsing.
“Keep bagging him, Tim.” I jump up, digging through the hampers of medical supplies.
“What do you need, Commander?” I ignore Lawson and continue my search. Finally, I find a needle that will suffice for what needs to be done.
I fall back by Theo’s side. “This is going to hurt, love,” I warn him with a sweet caress to his face.
He groans and scrunches his eyes as a wave of pain courses through him.
With two fingers, I feel along his ribs until I reach my intended mark.
“Deep breath,” I tell him just as I stab the needle in between his ribs.
He thrashes against his captors, moaning. Hayes turns his head, looking a little green. Only Cade holds my eyes, urging me to continue. I tape up the wound and the new chest tube at an efficient pace. He’s going to need a shit-ton of antibiotics after this, but he’s alive and right now, he’s stable. And that’s all that counts.
“All done, baby,” I soothe. Moving to his head, I stroke his forehead and breathe with him. I start talking about random things, something Theo does when the silence becomes too much. “Six thousand, four hundred, and eighty. That’s how many strikeouts you have had in your professional career. Five thousand, eight hundred and eighty is how many innings I have watched you pitch.”
Every game, whether on the bench or in front of the TV.
I. Was. There.
Cheering for him. Coaching him. Loving him.
I begin weaving my hands through his thick waves, allowing the strands to slide between my fingers. I find comfort in the normality of the repetition.
“Three thousand, seven hundred, and seventy-nine. That is how many days I have known I love you.” Sniffling, I bend down, place a salty kiss to the corner of his mouth. He tries to speak around the tube but I shush him sweetly. “Zero is the amount of days I am spending without you. We’re going to get through this. And when we do, I plan on kicking your ass as soon as you’re healed.”
He grunts, attempting to laugh. It’s a pitiful sound and makes me squeeze his hand harder like that alone is going to keep him with me forever.
Minutes pass then, finally, red and blue lights blaze down the gravel driveway, coming to our rescue.
The medics take no time to strap Theo to a gurney. I stay beside him while the medics take over bagging him. Theo’s eyes are closed, making me even more nervous. I just want to get to the hospital as fast as humanly possible.
I pile in behind the two medics, containing myself from barking orders. I am not the one in charge here. I did all I could but time seems to be moving like syrup when Theo puts it in the refrigerator. Tears sting my eyes as the memory of the syrup argument plays in my head. My thoughts are all messed up when I look at Cade standing outside the doors.
“We’ll be right behind you.”
A lone tear falls down my face, melting into my bloodied shirt. The medic slams the door, the impact startling me. My nerves are completely shot. Is this how the guys feel when they hear fireworks on the Fourth of July? If so, we are going to vacation every year in the Caribbean so they will be away from it all.
“Go, go, go!” Someone taps on the side of the van, signaling we’re ready.
The younger medic is at my side as the ambulance lurches forward. He begins inserting a line in Theo’s arm, quizzing me about any allergies, etc. I sound unsure in my answers, my mind racing through all the events that just transpired. I was prepared to die for my boys.
