Frode's breaths came in shallow puffs.Was it good or bad?Nikolai gently turned him over on his back, lifted the drenched shirt and looked at the seeping wound on his stomach.No protruding organs, which had to be a good sign.Apply pressure, right?
He fitted his hands over the wound and pressed.Frode made a pained sound.
"I'm sorry, honey.The ambulance is on the way."
Frode didn't move, didn't speak, and didn't open his eyes.
It took an eternity before the sound of sirens could be heard in the distance.
"Nikolai."Isaac touched his shoulder, making him believe he might have called his name more than once.
"Yes?"
"The car keys?"
Nikolai looked at his bloody hands pressing down on Frode."Right pocket."He nodded toward his right, and Isaac stuck his hand into his pocket.
"I'll move the car to give them more room."
Nikolai nodded, glad Isaac was thinking ahead."Thank you."
Isaac squeezed his shoulder."We'll get him."
He didn't give a fuck.Or he did.He'd tear him to pieces when he found him, but the important thing right now was to get Frode to a hospital.
A minute later, blue lights reflected against the windowpanes, and Isaac was guiding the ambulance into the yard.Nikolai didn't move until the paramedics told him to, and once they had Frode on a stretcher, he jumped into the ambulance to go with him.
No one argued.
"I'll meet you there."Isaac waved right before the door closed.Nikolai did his best not to be in the way of the paramedic who rode in the back with them, but he held on to Frode's hand the entire way to the hospital.
* * * *
Chapter 27
There was a beeping sound.Frode didn't think it was his alarm, but he couldn't be sure.He couldn't open his eyes; the eyelids were too heavy.He tried a couple of times but allowed the darkness to swallow him again.
The next time the beeping woke him, he grunted.
"Frode."Someone spoke near his ear, and he allowed another grunt.The person moved away and Frode heard him call for someone.Was it Nikolai?He wasn't sure.He believed it was, but he sounded wrecked.
"Hello, Frode."A no-nonsense female voice filled the room."Are you with us?"
Frode forced one eye open.The room was a little distorted, his eyes unable to focus properly, and there were two clocks on the wall, or were there three?The more he stared at them, the more unsure he got.He closed his eyes again.
The woman asked him questions, pierced his eyes with a light, and patted his arm.The motion drew his attention to a cannula taped to the back of his hand.He scrunched his nose.He wasn't a fan of needles and forced his gaze away from it.Nikolai was standing by the foot end of the bed, looking like he hadn't shaved in days.
Frode focused on the woman again."Where am I?"
"Saint Agatha's Hospital.You've been stabbed."The woman held onto his gaze.
"Oh."He looked at Nikolai again."Hjalmar?"
"Home to shower and change.Your parents are on their way.The flight lands later tonight."
Frode groaned, and it had nothing to do with the pain growing sharper by the minute in his belly.Later tonight?What day was it, and how long had he been here?
"When can I go home?"He aimed the question at the woman.He didn't know if she was a doctor or a nurse.She'd most likely told him already, but his brain was fuzzy.
