Second Chances (25 page)

“Come on,” she urged, voice rising in fear. “Just a little farther,” she said.

“Can't,” he said. “Dizzy. Blood loss or poison. You need to get out of here,” he said. He gingerly set the ax down and then handed her his revolver. “Go.”

“You should have used this earlier,” she said.

“Yeah, I know,” he said then snorted. “That's what I was laughing about,” he said then coughed. She eyed him, eyes worried. “Sorry, dry throat,” he said. “Kinda parched. I left my canteen somewhere back there,” he said, waving a hand.

She realized he was losing it, either going into shock from the injuries or poison or blood loss. She frowned, feeling torn. She didn't want to leave him. He rested against a tree.

“Go,” He said, putting the ax across his lap. “I'll stay here. Get help. Bert's not around here but Eric or one of the others should be. Move. Watch out for the bushes.”

“I...” She looked around.

“Lost?” he asked then snorted. He pointed. “Moss grows on the north side normally, but don't use that as the only guide,” he said. She looked at him. “See the sky?” he asked. She shook her head. “Then get a compass like I've got,” he said. He pulled his compass out of his shirt and then up over his head. He handed the string necklace to her. “Here. Head south by southwest. You'll find the others or the clearing that will lead you to the base.”

“But...”

“Go. Get a move on. I'm going to follow the first rule of survival, stay put,” he said. He tightened the cinch on his leg a bit, then loosened it. “Damn that hurts,” he said.

“I'll be back. With help,” she said doubtfully.

“Don't bother if it gets close to dark,” he said firmly. “I mean it. Don't risk it. If you are out after dark, climb a tree. A good solid one,” he said. She nodded. “You're good at that,” he teased. She snorted. “How's the ankle?” he asked, looking at her leg.

“It's...” she looked down. “Better.”

“Don't take the boot off, it's probably acting as a wrap to keep the swelling down so you can walk on it at all,” he warned. She nodded. “Go. Get,” he said.

She nodded, dashed tears, then moved. She looked back once, but he wasn't looking her way. Finally she picked up her pace and kept going, fighting the tears and the sobs that tore at her throat.

~~~~~~(@)~~~~~~

They found him near dark. She was the first to spot his form by the familiar tree. She'd gotten turned around once, but Cliff and the others had been patient with her, drawing out details and landmarks to backtrack her course.

Alarm surged through her when she saw the centipede near him. Cliff grabbed her, forcing her back, then he moved forward cautiously. He froze when the thing moved, but then John's exposed leg moved as well, kicking the thing aside. He snorted, then came forward, rounding the tree.

He found John sitting there, looking up at him with the ax embedded in another centipede. “What kept you?” John asked, looking at him blearily.

“Right,” Eric drawled. “Just had to take five,” he said, helping John up. He tucked his shoulder under the bigger man's shoulder and then waved to the others.

Loni saw John up and felt a wave of almost orgasmic relief surge through her. Then she rushed with the others to rescue the rescuer.

“Time to get you home,” Cliff grunted. “And put you on a diet,” he said. John chuckled.

~~~~~~(@)~~~~~~

John's right radius was fractured, he had some torn flesh on his arm, deep tissue punctures as well as punctures to his right thigh. Fortunately, there was no major blood vessels cut though he had bled a couple of liters and was very pale. Doc cleaned the wounds with distilled water, then again with polyp antiseptic. Then she checked the wounds for signs of poison.

The flesh around the injuries was a bit puffy, but she judged that normal. The puncture wounds couldn't be stitched though; they were deep and too much time had passed. So they had to be left open to drain, but bandaged. His arm was splinted though to keep it immobile so the bones could set. That meant John had to be immobile until he healed, which was an issue.

John survived the night, but he was instantly chafing at being an invalid the next morning. Doc finally got fed up with his grumbling to allow him to retire to his own cabin.

He didn't get his own way entirely; a selection of nurses followed. Each took turns making certain he didn't leave his bedroll by the stove for anything. He joked occasionally about being waited on hand and foot, which usually got him a dirty look from one of the ladies.

Loni took her turn as a nurse as well, surprising him. “I'm handling Hanuk and the animals, so don't worry about it,” she said, pushing him back onto his rear when he tried to get up. “I bet that's what you've been worried about?” she asked, turning to check the bowl on the table. It had fresh bandages near it with a pair of pitchers nearby. One held water, the other polyp juice.

“That and my gear. And my rump is numb,” he grumbled.

She snorted. He tried to get comfortable. She got some pillows and propped him up. “Where'd these come from?” he asked, recognizing his own work.

“They were borrowed,” she said. He scowled. “Don't give me that; people want to take care of you just like you've taken care of all of us,” she said. He snorted. “Seriously. Behave,” she growled.

“Or you'll what, spank me?” he asked wickedly.

She blushed. “Don't tempt me,” she growled. That got a laugh. She busied herself with the water, pouring it in the bowl. She knelt, then went to work cleaning his wound and re-bandaging it. He watched her. She snuck glances his way, then blushed and busied herself with the job at hand. When she was finished she got up.

“What, no sponge bath?” he demanded. She turned and yanked a pillow out from behind him. “Hey!” he said just as she smacked him in the face with it. That got him to guffaw. He pulled the pillow out of her hands as she walked off.

He watched her go, not sure what to make of it all. Wendy and Yung Lin had been nice, but he'd been out of it for the first bit. Wendy really wasn't his type nor was Yung Lin. Both were nice women, but he didn't want the quiet soft spoken type. He wanted someone ready to stand up to him. That thought, that he really was looking made him pause. He sat back tucking his good arm behind the back of his head to stare at the ceiling.

When Gwen relieved her just before dark, she felt something run through her, for the first time a genuine reluctance to go. That and jealousy, she could see how Gwen looked at him, positively eager to get in his pants she thought acidly. He'd let her she thought with a pang. He was single, probably hadn't had any...she was just all wrong for him, she thought. She was curt with the girl then stormed out.

“What's her problem?” Gwen asked, turning to John.

John shrugged. “No idea,” he said. He thought for a moment, then shrugged. He'd gotten along well with Loni; they'd fallen into their old winter routine rather naturally. Now he wasn't sure.

“I'm only going to be here a couple hours; I already babysat one brat today,” Gwen said. He snorted. She wiggled. “Besides, Nel and I came to an agreement about Gerald and well...” She wiggled, grinning.

“A threesome?” he asked, arching an eyebrow. “You mean to tell me, he's getting both of you beautiful ladies?” he demanded.

“Well, to be fair, I mean, I like Gerald and all,” Gwen said, then blushed. “I'm sort of not really into guys?” She said, voice rising a bit. He nodded. “I mean, you are okay and all, but I've come to realize I really like Nel. A lot I mean. Well, her and Gerald, since we three are a packaged set. But Nel for the most part,” she said.

He chuckled at her blush. Her rosy cheeks stood out brightly. “You're secret's safe with me lady. Though I bet a few of the other guys will be a bit put out over that news when you finally do go public,” he said.

She shrugged. “Their problem,” she said. He glanced at her again, then nodded. She'd matured a bit, grown more...assertive. He had to admit he liked that. He watched as she played with the cat, then went and sat Indian style before his TV to watch a DVD.

He had to admit; he liked an assertive woman. Pity, he thought.

~~~~~~(@)~~~~~~

Loni ate a quick meal, pemmican she'd made, then had some water to wash it down. She sat, munching an apple as the rains began. She smiled a bit. Gwen hadn't gone to his place prepared for the wet she thought. Good.

She wrestled with her feelings. “God, I hope I'm not falling for him,” she said, shaking her head. She plucked the seeds out of the apple, then tossed the core in the compost heap. She knew the answer to what she'd said; she just didn't want to admit it, even to herself she thought.

That double thought made her shake her head in annoyance. She really was getting tired she thought as she put the seeds away, washed up, then bedded down for the night. She sat up to look out at his cabin briefly, then sighed and flopped down with a flounce.

“It's official. I'm hopeless,” she growled, thoroughly disgusted with herself and unsure what to do.

~~~~~~(@)~~~~~~

“Problem?” John asked when Gwen came over.

“Yeah,” she said softly, shaking her head.

“What'd you do?” he asked.

“Nothing,” she drawled, hands in her pockets, head down.

He cocked his head. He knew that attitude. “Uh huh,” he said. “Out with it gal,” he said.

“Well, did you know that dish soap doesn't work in a
dishwasher
?” she finally asked, toeing the pavers in front of his porch.

“Um...” He closed his eyes. “Please tell me you didn't,” he said.

“I thought it wouldn't be a big deal!” she said plaintively.

“You totally did!” he crowed, then chuckled.

“Well, I mean soap is soap...”

“Sudsy,” he teased. She nodded. “Yeah. At least the floor is clean now. Slippery too,” she admitted. He chuckled. She blew out a raspberry, then stuck her tongue out at him. He snorted.

“I'm guessing you ran out of dishwasher soap?”

“Yeah,” she drawled. “Victor's got some, but he wants a fortune for it,” she said in disgust.

“I kind of figured,” John sighed. Now that he was on his feet more he'd noticed a few things missing around the cabin. No doubt a few of his nurses were helping themselves to some of his supplies. He hated that.

“Come on, let's go get you inside before you catch a cold,” Gwen said. He snorted and got out of the chair carefully. He used the crutch Doc had wrestled out of Victor's paws to get back into the house. “I'll make dinner then I'll give you a massage. I need the practice Nel said.” She held up a booklet. “I've even got homework,” she said.

“Oookay, color me guinea pig I guess,” John said, making a wry face. She swatted him on the flank playfully. He snorted.

~~~~~~(@)~~~~~~

Loni found them there on the floor, with John on his tummy, arms at his sides, back bare, and Gwen trying different massage techniques. She frowned ferociously. “Does this hurt?”

“Um, no,” John said, eyes closed.

Loni looked at him, scowling blackly. Just like a man, she thought, feeling what had to be but better not be jealousy. He seemed in a good mood. She cleared her throat.

“Oh, hi,” Gwen said, looking up briefly. She frowned and went back to the booklet. “Okay, shoulders, um...”

“What are you two doing?”

“Homework,” John said.

“Doc told me to get him to relax. Nel told me I needed to improve my massage techniques. I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone,” Gwen said, suddenly guilty. “I thought he'd be putty, that's what Nel said, but it's harder than I thought,” she said. She flexed her hands. “I don't have the strength for this,” she said, shaking her head.

“Well, I'll take over from here,” Loni said, nose in the air. Gwen blinked at her. “Go on, shoo. I think Pat needs a break. She was practically tearing her hair out with all the babies,” she said, dropping a broad hint.

“Well, if you think it's okay...”

“I do. He'll be fine,” Loni said. She brushed her hair out with a hand, then flexed her hands.

“I'll, um, leave the booklet if you don't mind,” Gwen said. “I'll practice next time,” she said, headed to the door. “Besides, I don't want the brat pack finding it and shredding it.” She wrinkled her nose. “Or worse,” she said in disgust.

“Whatever,” Loni said, waving her out. She practically pushed the girl out the door. Once she was gone, she turned on John.

“Um...that was sort of rude,” John said. “Not that I'm complaining,” he said, rolling his shoulder. “I think I'm stiffer now than before,” he said.

She came over and knelt next to him. She looked at the booklet, then around to the candle lit room. “Massage my ass,” she grumbled.

“And such a nice one it is,” he said absently. “Kissable and all,” he said. His eyes flared wide as he gasped. “OW!” he said, half laughing, half protesting as she slapped his own ass. She hit hard, hard enough to really sting both cheeks. “What was that for?” he demanded, turning over to look at her.

“You know very well what that was for,” she said. She shook her hair out, then climbed onto his back, straddling his waist. “Now, hold still. I'll finish what she started,” she said in a no nonsense tone.