Storm Front

by Thomas A. Watson

  “I only have Ronald left and I’m heading there now,” Wilma said, leaving Ashley.

  As Nikki finished sewing a cut on Sean’s leg, she looked up at Michelle. “Next?” she asked.

  “I need you to teach Dianna how to take a set of vital signs, and give her the parameters for when she needs to get one of us,” Michelle said, pulling off her surgical gloves. “Matt’s going to take me awhile, so move to Ronald next.”

  “Um, not to question you, but Nelson is much worse,” Nikki said.

  Michelle smiled, pulling a light mounted on an arm over and aiming the surgical light at the wound on Matt’s leg. “Well, that just shows how good you are. Yes, Nelson is worse but he’s an ass for a patient, so I’ll handle him last. He’s going to get on my nerves.”

  “Completely understand,” Nikki nodded.

  Moving over to Matt, he turned and smiled at her. “Come on, you fixed me up real good under gunfire,” he chuckled.

  “Yes, but Matt, that bullet hit the femur. It’s not broken, but I have to really clean out the wound or you will lose your leg,” she said with a straight face.

  The smile fell off Matt’s face. “Then you do what you have to,” he said.

  “I’m going to give you something for the pain but I can’t put you to sleep, so please try to stay still,” she said, bringing a monitor over.

  “You can save the pain meds, I’ll stay still,” he said, laying back.

  Hooking the monitor up to Matt, Michelle shook her head. “I swear, if I wasn’t so tired, I’d beat your ass,” she huffed, turning the monitor on.

  “You have any more lidocaine?” Nikki asked.

  “Red box, second row,” Michelle said, pulling on a surgical gown.

  Opening the box up Nikki gasped, looking at the medications. “How did you get all this?” she asked.

  “Internet and trips to Mexico,” Michelle said, grabbing a surgical tray. Watching Nikki walk over to Ronald, Michelle set the tray up. “Matt, I’m going to start on the top, then roll you over and finish the back.”

  Closing his eyes, “Keep your medication. I know I can hold still without it but if you don’t mind, I’ll take it when you’re done,” he said.

  She patted his chest, “Okay, Matt,” she said and then pulled on her gloves, going to work. Scott and Sean’s son Blake walked in carrying the recliner and Blake looked at his dad. Blinking tears away, Blake helped carry the recliner up the stairs.

  When they came down Michelle stopped them, but didn’t look up as she worked on Matt’s leg. “Scott, I need Sean upstairs in that recliner. His head has to stay upright, so you choose wisely on your help because Sean’s out cold,” she said, grabbing a sixty cc syringe and shoving the tip into the wound and squirted saline, washing the wound out.

  “I’ll get Grant,” Scott said, patting Blake on the back.

  After they left, Nellie came over, wiping her hands. “Michelle, the only one that didn’t lose blood is Grant’s wife, Erica, but she sprained her left ankle really bad,” Nellie said.

  Filling her syringe again, Michelle squirted it into the wound. “How bad are they?” she asked, moving the light and grabbing instruments.

  “I can handle all but Dallas and Curtis. They both need stitches,” Nellie answered.

  “Okay, Nellie, get some people cooking. I want everyone on that attack to drink four glasses of water and eat at least one plate before they go to sleep,” Michelle said as she worked in the wound.

  “Anything else before I start?”

  “Yes, they are moving Sean upstairs. Get someone to clean the exam table off and get Nelson’s ass on it,” Michelle said as Matt sucked in a breath. “I know, Matt,” Michelle said, pulling a long clamp out. “Told you it nicked the bone. That’s part of the copper jacket,” she said, holding up the clamp.

  “Didn’t doubt you,” Matt panted. Nellie moved over and patted his chest.

  “You let me know if you need something,” she smiled at him.

  “Give Zeus a treat. He ripped the guy’s throat out that shot me in the leg,” Matt said, slamming his eyes shut as Michelle irrigated the wound.

  “I bet that dog killed ten people,” Michelle said, digging into the wound.

  Wincing but staying still, “More like fifteen,” Matt grunted and Nellie patted his chest.

  “Matt, I want to come over there, but Kathleen said she would body slam me on the couch if I tried!” Ashley shouted.

  “No, baby, you stay there,” Matt told her, gritting his teeth. “How are the kids?”

  “Asleep. Nancy has all of them and I’m not going to tempt Kathleen by going to check,” Ashley said, cutting her eyes to Kathleen. “I’m just sitting up,” Ashley cried out as Kathleen left Gerald and Ashley laid back down on the couch.

  Grabbing a pillow, Kathleen put it under Ashley’s head. “Babies can’t see mommas hurt, it shatters their world. So let us get you fixed up,” Kathleen said and Ashley nodded at the giant woman.

  Turning her head, Ashley watched Michelle work on Matt as tears ran down her cheeks. “Gerald, thank you for calming us down,” she said.

  Giving a groan as Wilma cleaned one of his many cuts and gashes, “You did good, short stuff,” he grunted.

  Watching Michelle, Ashley saw Grant and Scott move over to Sean. Scott moved up to Sean’s head and wrapped his arms around Sean’s chest as Grant grabbed Sean’s legs. With Scott backing up the stairs, they carried him up with Dianna following.

  Ashley looked up at her IV bag and it was almost empty. Turning to call someone, Judy handed her a plate of food. “I’m not hungry,” Ashley said, pushing it away.

  “Ashley, you will eat every bite on that plate!” Nellie shouted from the front porch.

  Kathleen stepped over, taking the plate from Judy. “I’ll feed her,” Kathleen said, pulling a stool over. Afraid to tell Kathleen no, Ashley opened her mouth as Kathleen held out a spoonful.

  Older kids came in and cleaned the exam table off as Scott and Grant came back down. “Scott, Grant, Nellie said come to the front porch, so she can fix you up,” Kathleen said, feeding Ashley another bite.

  “Mom,” they both moaned.

  “Boys, don’t make me get up,” Kathleen said very sternly, but smiled as Ashley ate another bite. Ashley watched the two giants run out the front door which only reinforced her fear of Kathleen. When Kathleen shoveled the last spoonful in her mouth, Ashley thought she was going to blow up.

  “I have to pee,” Ashley said, feeling tired.

  “Nikki, get a urine hat from the box and check Ashley’s urine!” Michelle shouted out and Ashley blushed wanting to crawl under the couch.

  “Michelle, do you want Ashley walking?” Kathleen asked, getting up.

  “No!” Michelle said very adamantly. “I don’t know what she did to her right knee and until I can get the ultrasound on it and find out, I don’t want her using it.”

  “Michelle!” Ashley whined.

  With the front of her gown covered in Matt’s blood, Michelle looked up across the room at Ashley. “I can have someone bring in a bucket and you can use it right there,” Michelle said, narrowing her eyes.

  Putting the plate down, Kathleen looked down at Ashley’s right knee and winced. It was three times the size of the left. It looked deformed on Ashley’s tiny body. “I can carry her, Nanna,” Kim said, walking in from the porch. “I carried her in from the outside.”

  Ashley crossed her arms, pouting that now everyone knew Sean’s fifteen-year-old daughter had carried her in. Which wasn’t a surprise to anyone. Kim was seven inches taller and fifty pounds heavier than Ashley’s five-foot tiny frame.

  “You want me, Kim, or the bucket?” Kathleen asked, trying not to giggle at the pouty face Ashley had.

  Giving a sigh, “You can do it, Kathleen. I don’t want Kim to hurt her back,” Ashley moaned.

  “Kim, will you take that plate to the kitchen?” Kathleen said as Nikki moved over, disconnecting Ashley’s IV. Being careful of Ashley�
�s knee, Kathleen picked her up. It was on the tip of Kathleen’s tongue to comment how light Ashley was but she stopped, since it seemed Ashley didn’t like to be reminded.

  Bernard walked in with a bandage on his right arm. Walking in without a shirt behind Bernard, Jacob had a dressing on the side of his head and across his chest. They moved through the living room to the den beside Nelson who was just looking around.

  “What happened to you?” Nelson asked, looking at Bernard.

  “Son, don’t start,” Bernard snapped. “It’s a cut I got diving to the ground and I tried to tell Nellie I was fine. She slapped the back of my head and told me I was sleeping in the barn till she tended it.”

  “Whoa,” Nelson said as they moved to him. “Wait, what are you doing?”

  “Moving you there,” Bernard pointed at the cleaned exam table.

  “I can walk,” Nelson said, moving and Bernard was about to put a hand on his chest but stopped, seeing the massive bruises covering Nelson’s entire chest. Looking at the right shoulder, Bernard saw it was covered by a dressing. Not seeing a wound on Nelson's forehead, Bernard put his hand on Nelson’s head.

  “I told you, I’m not in the mood,” Bernard said as Jacob snorted, walking to the other side of the table.

  “Bernard, don’t hit his chest, abdomen, or legs. You can break his fingers,” Michelle called out and Nelson’s jaw fell open. He looked across the room to see Michelle still working on Matt’s leg.

  Not waiting, Bernard and Jacob picked Nelson up in a two-man carry. When they lifted Nelson up, Bernard saw Nelson wince and felt his body stiffen. As they put him on the exam table gently, Nikki walked up.

  “Bernard, do you have another light like that?” she asked, pointing at the light Michelle was using on Matt.

  “Yeah, it’s down in the basement,” Bernard said, patting Nelson’s cheek.

  “Where at? I’ll get it,” Nikki said smiling.

  “No, sweetie. Where do you want it? I’ll get it,” Bernard chuckled.

  “By Ronald. It’s hard cleaning out wounds and sewing them up without bright light,” Nikki said.

  As they walked away, Nelson concentrated on breathing, wanting the pain to subside back to a tolerable level. Looking around the room, Nelson couldn’t help but smile as everyone moved with a purpose. Watching Kathleen carry Ashley back to the couch, Nelson bit his bottom lip trying not to laugh because he knew that would hurt.

  “Baby, you need some medicine?” Michelle asked. Rolling his head, Nelson saw her still working and then heard Matt grunt. He looked at Matt’s face and saw sweat dripping off.

  “You can let Matt have it,” Nelson said.

  Opening his eyes, Matt winced. “Not till she’s done. I know I can hold still if I’m not drugged,” he grunted.

  “What the hell did you get shot with?” Nelson asked.

  “AK,” Matt grunted, closing his eyes. “Can’t talk, breaks my concentration.”

  “Almost done, Matt,” Michelle said.

  “Michelle, you take your sweet time. I’ll lay here for a week, if that’s how long it takes to clean out the wound. I’m partial to having two legs,” Matt panted.

  “I’m done cleaning, I’m closing you up,” Michelle said and Nelson rolled his head, looking the other way so he wouldn’t talk to Matt.

  He grinned, seeing Gerald on the table he had just left and Wilma working on him. Not able to help it, Nelson turned back to Matt. “Hey, Matt. You’re not going to believe this, but Wilma is sweet on Gerald,” Nelson whispered and Michelle was glad he’d said it in a whisper.

  Matt’s eyes shot open. “Are you kidding?” Matt grinned and then winced as Michelle worked.

  “No, she’s doting all over him,” Nelson whispered. “And Matt, I think Gerald likes it.”

  “Whoa,” Matt gasped as Michelle shook her head, grabbing more thread.

  “Nelson, why do you think she’s been coming over here so much?” Michelle asked, going back to work. “And why do you think Gerald clears part of the day to work with her?”

  “Um, he’s helping her?” Nelson said.

  “We’ll talk later, babe,” Michelle said and Matt grunted. Taking his cue, Nelson turned back to watch the room. Nikki was working on Ronald with Cara helping.

  “Wonder if Cara’s still mad that she didn’t get to go?” Nelson mumbled, closing his eyes.

  When she was finished, Michelle stood up and bent backwards, stretching her back. “Roll back, Matt,” she said and grabbed another suture, closing the gash on his shoulder. Because Michelle was tired she forgot to use lidocaine, but Matt never moved. Compared to his leg, it was nothing.

  It wasn’t until she was done that Michelle realized her mistake. “Oh God, Matt! I’m sorry, I forgot to numb it,” she said, feeling bad.

  “Please,” Matt scoffed. “I almost fell asleep,” he said truthfully.

  Seeing Michelle pull off her gloves, Scott came walking over. “Where do you want us to put him?” Scott asked.

  “Can one of you stay at his house?” she asked and Scott nodded. “Then, his bed,” Michelle said and then looked down at Matt hard. “You call out to have someone help you up. I’m not in the mood to do that again. You rip those stitches out and I’ll cut your leg off, understand?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Matt said nodding.

  “Hey, Tony, come help me carry Matt home,” Scott called out.

  Tony came over as Michelle moved to Nelson and found him asleep, breathing fast and shallow. Holding his wrist, she felt his pulse. Seeing his IV bag was empty, she put another one on as Scott and Tony carried Matt out.

  Matt was no sooner out the door, then kids came over and started cleaning. “Thank you,” Michelle said, smiling at them.

  “Just let us know what to do,” Ryan said smiling as he helped his cousins clean up.

  “Don’t worry, Ryan. If your dad does what I told your mom, he’ll do fine,” Michelle said.

  Cleaning the exam table off, Ryan nodded. “Momma said if he doesn’t, she’s going to ask you to cast his legs after she breaks them,” he said grinning.

  Chuckling, Michelle saw it was getting bright outside. She leaned over and kissed Nelson’s forehead. “I’ll be back, baby,” she whispered.

  Walking in the kitchen, she gave a sigh at seeing a full pot of coffee. Pouring a cup, she walked out on the front porch and saw Nellie looking at Erica’s ankle. “Damn, that is bad,” Michelle said, moving over and lightly touching the back of Erica’s foot. Feeling a good pulse, “Can you move your toes?” Michelle asked, taking a sip.

  “I just sprained it,” Erica sighed. Nellie reached up and lightly popped her arm.

  “Want me to find Kathleen?” Nellie threatened.

  Erica’s eyes grew wide as she shook her head and the screen door opened and Kathleen poked her head out. “Someone call me?” Kathleen asked and Erica looked at Nellie with pleading eyes.

  Nellie smiled at her. “Nope,” she said.

  “Kathleen,” Michelle said, turning. “If the other exam table is done, can you get someone to put Ashley on it, so I can start on her when I’m done with Nelson?”

  Waving her hand at Michelle, “Honey, I delivered babies bigger than that little thing,” Kathleen chuckled, going back inside.

  Thinking about the size of Kathleen’s kids, Michelle wasn’t going to question it. “Michelle, you think I should just wrap it?” Nellie asked.

  Nodding, “Wrap it for now and if she doesn’t stay off of it, I’ll cast it and have Kathleen take care of her for a week,” Michelle said and Erica almost started hyperventilating.

  “I’ll stay off of it,” she said quickly.

  Nellie grabbed an ace wrap and went to work. “How much longer do you have?” Nellie asked.

  Giving a sigh, “Nellie, I don’t know. If it wasn’t for you, Wilma, and Nikki, I would be working till tonight,” Michelle said.

  “You just tell us what you need,” Nellie said, wrapping Erica’s ankle.

  Taki
ng a sip of coffee, Michelle looked off. “I’m worried what I’m going to find on Nelson,” she admitted in a low voice. “That’s why I had to take a break before starting on him.”

  When she was finished, Nellie lifted Erica’s foot off her lap. Standing up, she put Erica’s foot on the stool. “Before you go back, I want you to see if these need stitches,” Nellie said and Michelle just noticed Dallas and Curtis sitting in rocking chairs. Curtis was passed out and Dallas was looking straight ahead with a scowl.

  “Lift your arm, Dallas,” Nellie said, grabbing his arm.

  “You let her go work on Nelson. I’m fine,” Dallas snapped.

  “Dallas Holmes, I will take you out in this yard with Kathleen and whoop your tail,” Nellie barked. Reluctantly, Dallas lifted his left arm up and Nellie pulled back a bandage as Michelle walked over.

  “How in the hell did that happen?” Michelle gasped, setting her coffee down and walking over, getting on her knees.

  “It was my fault. I wasn’t paying attention,” Dallas said, looking straight ahead with a scowl.

  “That is a knife cut. I’ve seen plenty,” Michelle said, examining the wound. It was over ten inches long and pretty deep.

  “I wasn’t paying attention,” Dallas repeated.

  Sitting back on her heels, Michelle turned to Nellie. “Will you get me a suture tray and ask Nikki if she’s done with the lidocaine,” Michelle said and Nellie headed for the door.

  When Nellie was gone, Michelle looked at the side of Dallas’s face. “I have a good idea how it happened, you were checking bodies to see if they were dead and you found one that wasn’t,” she said and saw his face twitch. “I know because it happened to me and Nelson on our first tour.”

  “I wasn’t paying attention,” Dallas droned.

  Getting up, Michelle moved in front of him. “Dallas, that wasn’t a mistake. It was a lesson learned, but you have to let me know. If this got infected and you died, your family would fall apart,” she told him and the scowl left his face. “Dallas, I’m saying this because I have to catch stuff early. I don’t have a hospital of supplies to work with when something gets out of hand. Dallas, not only does your family need you, but I need you. My husband respects you and let me tell you, that’s a short list right there. Together we can beat this but please, help me by making everyone understand; don’t hide stuff like this. Let me work on it and stop it from becoming a problem.”