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“Please,” I say, desperate.
“I’ll get the shots,” the second nurse says, pulling off her gloves and walking out.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “It really hurts.”
“No apology necessary, sugar. You’ve been shot. You won’t get an argument out of me.” She stands patiently, waiting for the not-so-nice nurse to return.
“Numbing shots are here,” the second nurse says as she enters the room. She puts on new gloves as she heads back to my bedside.
She hands the first nurse a syringe and takes one for herself.
“These are going to pinch, then you’ll feel a burn from the lidocaine. While I’ve never been shot, I think it’s safe to say it’ll hurt a lot less than that,” the first nurse says with a hint of a smile.
Despite the pain, I smile at her light sense of humor. I’m glad she’s here. I nod, and within seconds, the pinches begin. She wasn’t joking. It isn’t pleasant by a long shot, but it’s much easier to tolerate than the cleaning was. Especially since they apparently clean gunshot wounds with hellfire here.
Jack’s tension eases beside me. I sit as still as I can, holding his hand. I focus on his face instead of the nurses working on me. His eyes dart from mine to my shoulder and back.
“Where is he?” I ask. I need to know he’s locked away. I want to know we’re safe.
“At the precinct. I’ll have to go down and finish paperwork, butnot now,” he says, emphasizingnot now.
“I’m safe? It’s over?” I ask him, hoping the answer is yes.
Squeezing my hand, he leans over to rest his forehead against mine. “Yes, it’s over. You’re safe.” He kisses my forehead gently before standing.
“How’s that feel, Ms. Shaw?” the second nurse asks me.
“Much better,” I say, glancing at her.
“The doctor will be in soon with your x-ray results, and we will need to get you started on some antibiotics,” the less savory nurse says. She’s trying to be nice, but I can see the absolute irritation behind that mask. She doesnothave a good poker face.
“Will I need surgery?” I already feel lightheaded again from the blood.
“Don’t worry about that right now. One thing at a time, hun. The doctor will go over everything with you when he comes in.” She pats my hand, helping me to lie back down. The wooziness subsides some but not entirely.
I feel like I might puke, so I roll to my good side, groaning in pain and discomfort.
“What’s wrong?” Jack asks in a panic.
“I think I’m going to be sick.”
Before I know what’s happening, a basin is shoved in front of my face, and I lose all the contents of my stomach. The retching causes my entire body to tense, causing excruciating pain that starts in my shoulder and radiates out to my chest. I cry from the overwhelming burning sensation.
“Get the fucking doctor right now!” Jack hollers so loud I feel it in my bones.
I want to tell him to calm down, but I can’t get it past the continuous puking. It feels like forever before it finally stops, and when it does, I fall back in the bed. I’m so tired I feel like I could sleep for a week if this nagging pain would just let up.
“Baby, it’s okay. They’re getting something to help you feel better.” Jack’s voice sounds off. His hand trembles against my cheek.
“I’m Doctor Nathaniel Rivers. Joanna catch me up.” The nurse murmurs something before the doctor then says, “Get the IV going. I’ll order something else for the pain and Zofran for nausea.”
“About fucking time.” Jack seethes.
“Detective, I need you to calm down, or we’ll have to ask you to leave. The only reason we let you stay with her at this stage is because you’re law enforcement. It was a professional courtesy, one we can and will revoke at any time.” This doctor is basically Jack but in a lab coat as far as that tone is concerned. He’s very no-nonsense.
“I’m not fucking leaving her. Just please help her,” he pleads.
“I promise you we’re doing everything we can to make her comfortable.”
