Learning together (Closed for Led Astray)

[Asa]

In the middle of some country with your dad on a photo shoot and inspiration fabric quest with revolution broke out...

She looked around briefly checking the trees around them and seeing signs of life from a few cut trees and paths.

He had been photographer in many a war zone since he was your age or younger and he knew just how to get us through it alive.

 

[Led_Astray]

Adam nodded. "Yes, he never spoke about it but I've seen most of his work from that time. Including the stuff from the Sudan that he never published..."

He shifted the weight of the backpack on his shoulder, trying to find some relief from the bite of the straps.

"That explains why..." but then he too noted the paths.

"We must be getting close...lets hope the villagers are friendly."

 

[Asa]

That would be it...

She was impressed she had mentioned his father without it starting a war. SHe never could imagine what would have caused such trouble at least in his mind about his father.

I think we are close lets keep an ear out for people.

 

[Led_Astray]

"OK..." replied Adam. "I don't speak the local language, so any talking is going to be up to you unless they speak English."

He continued to help her along the path. The feel of her body leaning against his was comforting.

"Do you have any of the local currency? I have a few notes in my wallet...

 

[Asa]

I can talk to them and yeah I have a little money on me.

SHe closed her eyes feeling a wave of just complete weakness briefly wash over her and growled a little trying to push herself harder to get to the village. At the final treeline broke and the little lanes of earthen houses flooded the line of sight she smiled and tried to call out.

INJURED... ASSIST PLEASE... DOCTOR... DOCTOR

 

[Led_Astray]

It was with great relief that Adam laid eyes on the village.

He felt Raveena almost fall as there entered, but slipped his arm around her body, under her arms, and discretely helped her stay upright. In spite of the difficulty of the situation, he enjoyed the feeling her closeness gave him, and was feeling more drawn to her than ever having witnessed this more vulnerable side of her.

He kept hold of her as she shouted something in the local language. There were a few villagers in site, and after a pause, they came running.

The two travelers were suddenly surrounded by villagers, calling out questions in a language incomprehensible to Adam. But they seemed genuinely keen to help, but their expressions and body language.

"We need a doctor..." he said in English, looking around for any sign of understanding on the faces surrounding them - but seeing none.

 

[Asa]

She managed to request a Dr and shelter for the night and the village offered a runner to go to the palace to let them know that they were alright and she would be in the care of a Dr for a couple of days. Shown quickly into a house that double as a hospital the Dr quickly showed a diploma from themain city on the coast with university. She just nodded and told him to get the bullet out and let her eat.

They have everything covered for a couple of days an the palace will be informed where we are.

 

[Led_Astray]

Adam sighed with relief as they were led into what served the village as a hospital. The man who took them inside excitedly showed them a certificate showing his credentials. Not unusually, they were printed in both English and the local script, so Adam was relieved to see that Raveena was in good hands.

He helped his injured companion onto the bed, slipping his jacket from her shoulders as he did so.

The doctor looked at the bandaging and smiled, looking pleased, before addressing Adam with a question.

"I'm sorry, I don't speak you language..."

He looked to Raveena for help.

 

[Asa]

He wants to know if you did this he seems impressed with it.

She explained that her young friend did not speak the native languageand if any around there spoke English. The old Dr nodded sending for a translator

 

[Led_Astray]

"Oh... well, tell him thank you." blushed Adam.

"Oh - you should also tell him you took some of the painkillers, in case they affect what he intends to give you..."

He looked down at Raveena, looking pale and vulnerable. Without thinking, he took one of her hands and clasped it in both of his. Then he realised what he had done and flushed again.

"I... I should go, get out of the way, let him treat you..."he stammered.

But he didn't let go of her hand.

 

[Asa]

Oh yeah

She relayed the painkillers she had taken and then glanced back to Adam

You can stand there if you like Adam

 

[Led_Astray]

Surprised by the fact Raveena had not recoiled from his holding of her hand, Adam didn't let go either.

"I... if you are sure? I mean, he's probably going to, ah..."

He blushed, again, gesturing vaguely at Raveena's bra. One of the straps was pretty close to the wound.

The doctor rattled off another short speech to Raveena, nodding towards the young photographer.

<Tell your boyfriend that if he is staying, I expect him to make himself useful>

 

[Asa]

She quickly corrected the dr that he was not her boyfriend then translated solely to him that the Dr expected him to be helpful to him while he worked. SHe left out to him the part of him being called her boyfriend as she laid there the translator finally showing up and the Dr preparing to remove the bullet finally.

 

[Led_Astray]

<I think perhaps he wants to be> replied the Doctor, indicating subtly the way Adam was still holding Raveena's hand. he shot a quick look at the translator <No need to translate that bit! Tell him to remove her boots then lift her legs up onto the bed.>

The translator, grinning, passed on only the part about the boots and the legs. Reluctantly, Adam released Raveena's hand and knelt at her feet, undoing the tight laces of her expensive combat-style boots, before gently taking her shapely, well-muscled legs and lifting them up onto the bed.

Meanwhile the doctor had raised the back of the bed so that his patient could lie back at an angle.

<I'm afraid the painkillers you have already taken mean I cannot give you a general anesthetic - not with the equipment I have here, at least.> Explained the doctor, speaking quickly. <I can give you a local but it may not be fully effective. You will be conscious, and there may be some pain.>

The translator explained the situation to Adam, who looked guilty.

"I'm sorry... that was my fault..."

 

[Asa]

Nothing to worry about have had bullets dug out of more painful places with less than a local.

She smiled to both the Dr and Adam reassuring them both that it would all be fine. She knew there could have been alot more pain than there would be and was glad for even the edge to be taken off any.

 

[Led_Astray]

Adam took Raveena's hand again, twining his fingers in hers.

"Just squeeze as hard as you like if it helps with the pain" he said.

<please wait outside> The doctor said to the interpreter, who nodding, and having no taste for blood, quietly left the room

He watched carefully as the doctor took a pair of medical shears and cut away the bandage. Then, blushing, he turned his face away as the doctor also cut through the straps of his patients bra, pushing the material right out of the way of his working area.

The doctor then laid a folded cotton sheet over his patient, as high up as he could without interfering with the surgery he was about to perform.

<Tell the young man it is safe to look again>

 

[Asa]

Its safe to look again Adam.

She did her best to keep a straight face. Adam was still young on this field so it was unerstandableand even a little sweet. She still could not believe the Dr thought Adam was boyfriend.

 

[Led_Astray]

"You...ah..." stammered Adam, looking down at Raveena.

"Dad said working with you would be an experience..." he added, through a strained grin. "He wasn't wrong..."

His fingers were still interlaced with hers.

<I'm going to inject you now.. it will sting, like a bee-sting, at first, yes? But it will soon pass> said the doctor, a large syringe in his hand. He leaned over and eased the needle directly into the muscle of Raveena's shoulder, right beside the wound, and pressed the plunger.

 

[Asa]

She just nodded to both of them in turn as she laid back and prepared herself for the pain that was to come. Her eyes closing as she took a deep breath and got comfortable.

 

[Led_Astray]

Adam looked on nervously but determinedly as the doctor dropped the syringe onto a steel tray and picked up a pair of long, scissor-like forceps.

<I shall try to remove the bullet without any further cutting> announced the doctor, pulling the blood-soaked gauze from the wound. <There will be some bleeding>

He wasn't wrong. Rich arterial blood began to seep down Raveena's arm.

The doctor checked to see if the patient still had her fingers entwined with Adam's.

<If this hurts, squeeze his hand, as hard as you can. I assure you he will not mind> he said to Raveena, his smile invisible under his surgical mask but the twinle in his eyes quite clear.

Then he gently but firmly began to probe the wound...

 

[Asa]

Raveena just snarled for him to get it done. Squeezing Adam's hand a little at first she growled biting back the desire to just reach out grab the device and rip the pullet out herself.

 

[Led_Astray]

<Very well...> responded the doctor, pushing the forceps into the wound firmly. By touch alone he located the bullet and Raveena could feel the tip of the instrument grate against bone as he attempted to close the jaws around the distorted lump of lead.

<Almost...> the doctor murmured to himself.

 

[Asa]

She stared intently straight ahead her hand still in Adam's as she laid there. This was not unknown to her but it was not so common place as to not bother her. She just hid it well... she had to there was no fear of anything in her business no risk too great to keep ahead of the game.

 

[Led_Astray]

The doctor grunted in satisfaction as he finally got a good grip on the errant bullet.

<Got it! Almost done...>

He pulled the forceps from the wound, and the pain was the worst yet as the jagged and distorted lump of lead was dragged slowly out through a channel that was too small for it.

Still holding her hand, Adam took a small linen square and tenderly wiped Raveena's forehead.

Then, the searing pain was over, leaving only a dull ache, as the doctor held the metallic foreign body up to the light nodded, and dropped it into a small kidney-shaped metal basin.

 

[Asa]

Closing her eyes she sighed and seemed to drift in and out of sleep or something akin to it smiling softly. Leaving her trust in the Dr and Adam there around her. Muttering something occasionally about other photo shoots and how they need to get back to work.