“Sorry,” Tiny said, having not meant to cause further pain.“Some people hate needles.”
“I’m some people,” Leah said through gritted teeth.
“Let me know when you can’t feel anything,” Tiny said.
“Heat is spreading like warm water,” Leah said.
“Good.”Tiny offered her a gamine smile.“Shouldn’t be too long now.”
A minute later, she stroked Leah’s hand from her wrist to the forefinger and grimaced.“Feel that?”she asked when the heel of her palm nudged a bone that wasn’t supposed to be there.
“No,” Leah said.
Tiny got to work, gently nudging the bones into place, using the sensors in her fingertips to guide her.In ancient times, surgery would’ve been needed.But these days, as long as the med-tool was updated, it would align the bones more neatly than a scalpel could.And to imagine, she’d studied for years to be able to use either.She splinted the index and middle finger together, then the ring finger and pinky.Once done, she ran the med-tool over the hand just to make sure.It encouraged the body to heal itself and quickly, too.
“Done,” she said.“Come see me if you continue to feel pain.”
“Thanks.”Leah slumped off.
“Trent?Who else?”Tiny waved the med-tool.
“I got kicked in the chest.Nikko got punched.The only person not injured is Grunt.”
She faced Trent.“Want me to scan you?”
“Nope.I deserved this.Little thing like that… I didn’t expect her to wallop me that hard.”He chuckled.“Damn impressive.”
“Farg no,” Nikko said from the doorway.
Tiny jerked back, having not heard him approach.“How’s your face?”
“Scan away.”He neared her, caught her left hand, and held it to his face.
She smiled, thankful for the consideration.Where she cupped his jaw helped her run the tool over him.“Need pain meds?”
“What I need is a shot of brandy,” he snapped.“That wasn’t pleasant.”
“What happened?”she asked.
“Some woman thought we were bullying Webb and intervened.She had skills way beyond the norm.”Trent sucked on something then rolled it along his teeth, making a clicking sound.“She did solve the problem, though, when she realized she’d messed up.”
“I don’t give a farg about that,” Nikko growled.“She hurt Leah bad.That’s not right in my book.”
“Nikko, Captain wants to see you,” Computer said.
The man huffed and stormed off.
“It was epic.I wish you could’ve seen it, Tiny.She moved with speed, her attacks were precise, and she didn’t even generate a sweat like kicking three people’s asses was commonplace for her.”Trent bounced from side to side, excitement in his rushed words.
“Nikko and Leah are livid, though,” Tiny said, packing away the med-tool.
“Yup, which means pizza and drinks tonight,” Trent called when he left.
“He’s not wrong,” Grunt said, drawing a squeak from Tiny.“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.”
She splayed her fingers across her chest, her heartbeat thundering against her rib cage.
“She’s smart, too—knew I was recording her.Had me delete it, but I kept the backup.There’s something familiar about her, Tiny,” Grunt said, his tone distant.“I’m going to do a little digging.”
