Chapter 6
Logan, Joel, Jake, and Connor had made their way back to Blackwood Universal Holdings, where they were all directors, and left Micah once again in Xavier”s company while the doctor jotted down a list of things that Micah needed to do or look out for.
”Right now, she needs to be kept warm. The fact that she”s indoors, out of her damp clothes and off that swollen ankle and those frostbitten feet is a good start,” he declared as he propped her injured leg up on a cushion to raise it.
”We”ve got to increase her core temperature, and when she wakes up, you need to get some wet warmth into her frostbitten toes. You mustn”t start too hot, or it will do more harm than good. At this point, anything above tepid is going to feel like it”s scalding, so be aware of that and raise the temperature incrementally.”
It was difficult during times like these to remember that the good doctor was also one of the club”s more extreme sadists. It was one of those mind-boggling contradictions in life.
”She needs to drink plenty of water; she looks to have had a more severe case of dehydration, which she has managed to start counteracting, herself.”
”There was a glass catching rainwater from the drainpipe. It was full when I first noticed it, but I forgot to move it. Then, yesterday, it was empty, even though it was still raining, that”s what made me realise there was something going on,” Micah confided.
”Hmm, well, it”s better than nothing, I suppose, but she could have picked up all manner of contaminants drinking runoff from the roof. I”ll leave you some broad-spectrum antibiotics to be on the safe side, and you need to keep an eye on some of those lacerations and check they”re not getting infected,” Xavi instructed.
”Plus, she needs to have nourishing, but bland, food. Nothing too rich or fatty, or she”ll just vomit it back up again and that won”t do her any good, given the catalogue of complaints she has. Little and often will be best to begin with. She may be tempted to try to pig out if she”s been starved for a long time, but you mustn”t let her.”
Micah nodded his understanding and took the tablets Xavier took out of his medical bag.
”Finally, she needs to be properly bathed. All those cuts and abrasions need soaking and inspecting. The deeper ones could do with dressing. I”ll leave you supplies to deal with that. I know you”re qualified in basic first aid for your job here, so I won”t patronise you by telling you how to do it. But a warm bath or a dip in the club”s hydro pool—which would probably help ease some of the muscle pain she”s bound to have—will have to wait until the frost bite has been dealt with. I”ll warn you now that once she starts getting some feeling back in her toes, the pain is going to be excruciating. Some aloe gel might help soothe it, and normal painkillers can be taken along with those antibiotics.”
There was a groan from behind them, and both men spun around to see the woman moving and whimpering.
Xavier checked on her once again. ”Start on that frostbite straight away, even if she”s not fully lucid, and see if you can find some of those dissolvable glucose tablets to put in her water.” He dug around in his doctor”s bag and came up with a small bottle, which he also handed to Micah. ”Add this to whatever method you use to soak her. It”s a topical antibiotic which will help any infections that might be brewing in those lacerations. And don”t forget to ensure that the bath or hydro pool is properly sterilised both before and after she uses it, to prevent the spread of contaminants.”
Xavier started gathering up his things, then turned to Micah one last time. ”She”s exhausted and depleted, more than anything. Her breathing is already less shallow than it was when I first got here. I”d stay longer if I could, but I already have patients scheduled this afternoon, and it”s too late to cancel, but I”ll call in as soon as I”ve finished work this evening.”
”Thanks, Xavi.” Micah clapped the older man on the back and shook his hand.
”You”ve got the hard job, Micah. Ring me on my personal line if you”re worried or you need anything. I”ll keep it open for you.”
With that, he gave a goodbye salute and showed himself out while Micah took the bowl they”d used and went to refill it with tepid water to start the mystery girl’s frostbite treatment.