“Smooth and painless, just the way I like it,” John said. I assumed it was for my benefit. “I don’t think Robinson carries a transfusion kit in his medical bag, but I think I’ll have him add one.”
“With a universal donor on the team, it’d be a smart move,” Rogers said as he clamped the IV tube. “Sheppard’s ready,” Rogers said. “Taco, hold the bags.”
“Bags?”
“The other one is a saline solution,” Rogers answered while he prepped my arm, inserted the needle and removed the clamps.
John’s blood filled the line and would eventually give me back some of my lost vitality.
Not that I’d be running a marathon anytime soon, but at least I wouldn’t feel faint.
“That should do it.” Rogers clipped John’s IV line. “You’ve gained some color back.”
How could he tell? My face was black and blue and covered in blood.
After removing the needle from John’s arm, Rogers said, “Apply pressure.”
“What, no band aid?” John joked.
Rogers laughed and used medical tape to secure the gauze in place. “Let someone else drive and take it easy for the rest of the day.”
“Yes, sir,” John said, rolling his sleeve down over the makeshift band aid.
Rogers didn’t have to tell me to take it easy; no doubt the doctors would put me under the minute my ass was in a hospital bed.Or surgery table. The gory mess where my left knee used to be would need a team of surgeons to put it back together.
Gibson stood and moved aside so Rogers’ men could kneel along my side. When they’d prepped the canvas, Rogers said. “Winchester, we’re ready. Let us do the work.”
I nodded.
Rogers counted down from three.
I balled my fists and ground my teeth to hold back my scream. Even with the pain reliever in the inhaler, having my leg manhandled and being moved hurt like hell.
“I could give you morphine,” Rogers offered a second time.
“No.” I wanted, needed, to stay conscious until Nina was safely away from this hellhole. Not that I’d be useful if more threats appeared.
“We won’t let anything happen to either of you.”
“I know.”
“Still a no?”
I nodded and looked for Nina.
“He’s a tough guy for a paper pusher,” one of Rogers’ teammates said.
As they lifted me, I grunted out, “Fuck you.”
Gibson carried Nina while Rogers’ men carried me out to where the SSI team was waiting.
“We’re taking them to the nearest hospital,” John informed his team, sounding like he was talking through a tin can.
“Dude, you look like shit,” Jay said after he opened the back of the SUV and put the back seats down.
If only he could see the mess under the blanket.
“Sheppard, don’t,” G warned him as the Shepherd guys lifted me into the back.
