Electra Chapter 12 #2
“It was, but not because they didn’t want to do it sooner.
All MCs that I know of require that you be able to ride a bike or trike to be a member, among other things.
The Horsemen were unaware of the modifications that had been made over the years, which would allow Swerve to ride, until I read an article in one of my nursing journals and told them.
As soon as they knew, they contacted a specialist who performed such modifications and had him get to work on a bike.
And we found another place that trains assistance dogs like Dozer.
We lucked out and they had him, and there was no need to wait.
He was fully trained. We snapped him up. ”
“Wow, that was all incredible timing and makes me think it was meant to be, fate. They’re so lucky to have met you. I can’t believe Dozer wasn’t spoken for.”
“Dozer wasn’t because of his size. People on the waitlist turned him down because they were afraid of him. They thought he’d be uncontrollable. You see him. He’s a sweetheart. The only way he’ll get aggressive is if Swerve or someone else he knows is threatened.”
Paige paused and seemed to be debating something. I kept eating and let her think. I had no idea what it was. Finally, she spoke.
“Did Swerve say anything about how we met?”
“He said you were his nurse when he was in the hospital.”
She shook her head. “He’s so damn sweet.
He doesn’t like to make people look at me funny or have a bad opinion of me.
It angers him and Scorpion. The truth is that it wasn’t our first encounter.
It was thirteen years prior when he was hit by a car while on his bike, a week before being patched into the club.
That was what left him a paraplegic. The accident changed both our lives.
I still can’t believe how it’s changed since the first time I connected to the Horsemen, Scorpion, and Swerve. ”
“I don’t understand. Did you know each other or something? Date?”
“No, they were older than me. I was sixteen to their twenty-two. See, the whole town and the Horsemen disliked me since I was publicly known to be the one who hit Swerve. I was the cause of his life going in a completely different direction. He and I both lived a life of hell after that day. What no one knew, except my family and me, was that it was a lie. I didn’t hit Swerve.
It was my older, drunk brother, who was home from college, who did.
My parents forced me to take the blame so my brother wouldn’t get into trouble and lose his college scholarship.
Their golden boy could do no wrong. When I met Swerve, he didn’t recognize me, and I kept my identity from him.
However, Scorpion did know who I was and exploded.
Things got ugly, and he cost me my job.”
She smiled at me. “I can see that outrages you. Please don’t feel bad for me.
It was the best thing that ever happened to me.
It made Scorpion and me talk, and ultimately exposed the truth.
He was so remorseful. As for Swerve, he said he’d forgiven me long ago and that I was just a kid back then.
It could happen to anyone. We ended up becoming friends.
That’s what led to Scorpion claiming me, Swerve getting Dozer and his bike, and being patched in thirteen years later. ”
It was an incredible story, and I bet there were many details she left out, but I held back.
If I were meant to know more, Paige or Swerve would tell me.
On the heels of that thought, a sinking sensation hit my stomach.
No, they wouldn’t, because I wouldn’t be around to hear it.
While the club was having us stay with them tonight, I had no doubt we’d be moving on, either due to Rhodes insisting or the club getting tired of having us.
My quietness got her attention. She assumed for the wrong reason. “I’ve worn you out enough. I wanted to help you get clean and to eat, not talk your ear off. You’re drooping with fatigue. If you’re done eating, I’ll take that tray. Is there anything I can get you? How about that medicine?”
I took the out. “I’m full, and thank you, Paige, for everything. It was delicious, and will you thank whoever made it for me? The wash-up was just what I needed. I do think I’ll take another pain pill and try to sleep.”
Paige took the tray and hustled around, getting me a pill from the bottle on my nightstand and a glass of water. After taking it, I snuggled down into the covers as she shut off the lights. She did leave a nightlight on in the bathroom.
“If you need anything, just call out. Someone will be outside in the hall to help you. If you find you’re not feeling well, have them call me or Wolverine. Try to get some rest, and I’ll see you tomorrow. Goodnight.”
She carried the tray to the door. I called after her. “Goodnight, Paige, and I can see why Swerve calls you a best friend, and why Scorpion fell for you. You’re wonderful.”
She blushed and smiled. “You’re too sweet. I like you, Electra. I hope you stay.”
Without another word, she opened the door and disappeared.
As I lay there waiting for the medicine to kick in, I was filled with regret.
My thoughts all surrounded Swerve and his fabulous Horsemen family.
How I wish we could get to know each other better, not just as friends.
The regret that I’d likely never see him again was heavy. It took me a long time to drift off.
???
Why didn’t someone turn off the damn heat?
It was almost summer. There was no reason to have the heat on.
I kicked the sheet and blankets to the foot of the bed, but it failed to help.
I was sweating, and my nightgown was sticking to me.
Wiggling around groggily, I got my gown out from underneath my ass and over my head, though I muffled a curse when I twisted my bad arm and pain shot through it. I forgot to be careful with it.
Flopping back down, I waited to cool off.
When I didn’t, I got up and went to the bathroom, running cool water into the sink.
I found a clean cloth and wet it. I ran it all over my arms, chest, and belly.
The cooling effect felt good, so I kept it up.
When I was done, I took the cool, wet cloth back to bed and placed it on my forehead. I slipped back into a light doze.
Surfacing, I had no idea how much later it was, but I was sweating even worse. I groaned and rolled over to find a cooler spot on the bed. I barely floated under the surface of consciousness. When I heard a faint knock, I thought it was my imagination until a voice followed it.
“Electra, are you awake? It’s Wolverine. I’m coming in to check on you,” the voice whispered.
I snagged the top sheet and yanked it over me a second before the door opened, spilling light from the hallway into the room. A dark figure entered, closing the door swiftly. As he came closer to the bed, I thought I should warn him I was awake.
“You can turn on a light if you want. I’m not asleep,” I told him.
“Damn, did I wake you?” he asked as he got to the bed. A moment later, my bedside lamp snapped on, giving the room a soft glow.
“No, I was awake. I appreciate you checking on me, but I’m fine. You should get some sleep.”
I saw him frown and lean closer. “Electra, are you feeling alright?”
“My arm hurts and I’m hot, but other than that, I’m fine.”
“I need to touch you. I’ll make it quick.”
I expected him to touch my arm. Instead, the back of his hand went to my forehead. His cool hand felt good. I covered his with mine to hold it there. He swore.
“Damn it, that was what I was afraid of. Electra, you’re running a fever.
The wound must be infected. Here, I need to check your temperature, then I’ll examine the wound.
I tried to clean it out as thoroughly as possible, but that doesn’t always do the trick.
God knows what the bullet was covered in.
Hang on and let me see what we’re dealing with. ”
That was when I noted he carried a bag with him. It was similar to a backpack. He set it on the bed and rummaged inside. In no time, he had a thermometer in my mouth, was checking my blood pressure, and listening to my heart. When he was done, he checked the thermometer,
“Shit, it’s almost a hundred and two. I need more light. Shade your eyes. I need to assess that wound.”
I placed my good hand over my eyes as he went to the wall.
The overhead light flared to life, and Wolverine was back in a flash.
He cut the gauze he’d wrapped around my arm to hold a bandage in place.
He peeled it away, changed to clean gloves, then probed around the edges. I hissed at the pain it caused.
“I’m sorry, I promise I won’t be long.”
“It’s alright. I know you’re not doing it on purpose. I don’t mean to be a baby.”
“You’re not a baby. I’ve seen grown men twice your size cry like a baby. Believe me, you’re hanging in there more than fine.”
He finished up and then sat on the edge of the mattress. He wasn’t smiling.
“Electra, I want to ask Paige to come in and look at this. She’s a wound expert and can advise us on what to do. Bear with me. We’ll get you fixed up. If we feel it’s not working, we have a doctor we can consult. He’ll run cultures if we need and prescribe the appropriate antibiotic.”
“What time is it?” I asked.
“Four in the morning. Why?”
“Can we wait until later to ask Paige? I hate to wake her up. She’s pregnant with twins. She needs her rest.”
“Electra, the longer we wait, the worse the infection can get. Hours can sometimes mean the difference between severe complications and minor inconveniences. I need her to consult with me.”
“Okay, I understand. Let’s do it, and I hope she can get back to sleep. Does she work today?”
“She helps out at Recovery when I need help, though she hasn’t been there in a while due to the pregnancy.
She helps watch Chasin and Jaycee when she can and works on a PRN basis at a women’s clinic.
I don’t know if she’s working at the clinic today.
Let me call Scorpion, and he can get her here.
You need to relax. When was the last time you took anything for pain? ”
Calculating in my head, I told him, “Last night, around ten, Paige gave me a dose for the night. She helped me clean up and brought me some food.”
“It’s time. Here, take this, and then I’ll call.”
He took a pill from the bottle and then handed it, along with the glass on the stand, to me.
I swallowed it as he took out his phone.
I heard him softly speaking into it. I was too miserable to pay attention to what he said.
The sheet was smothering me, and I had to resist kicking it off and letting Wolverine see me naked.
I wasn’t exactly shy, but having a strange man see me that way was unusual for me.
As we waited, I wondered what Paige would do to my wound.
An infection wasn’t a good thing to have at the moment. Rhodes wouldn’t be happy.
In a shorter amount of time than I expected, there was another knock at the door.
Wolverine opened it to admit Paige. He swung it open far enough that I saw Scorpion in the hallway.
He was leaning against the wall across from my door.
Seeing me, he gave me a chin lift. I nodded back.
The door closing cut off further acknowledgment.
“Paige, I’m so sorry that we woke you. I tried to get Wolverine to wait, but he said even a few hours can matter.”
“He’s right, and I’m glad he didn’t wait. I’m a nurse, remember. I’m accustomed to working long hours and getting little sleep. If he hadn’t called me, when I found out, I would’ve been pissed, and he’d be meeting the Dragon Lady.” She cast a mocking scowl at him.
“That’s why I did it. I know all about the dragon, and I don’t want to be on her shit list,” he said, grinning.
“Okay, you need to explain Dragon Lady to me. You mentioned it last night.”
“It’s my not-sweet side. It comes out when people do things they shouldn’t, especially if it can hurt someone.
I’ve used it at work whenever it’s become necessary to get people to do what they should or to back down those who need it.
Not everyone is nice and polite. Dragon Lady was what made Swerve comply with a turning schedule and receive his wound care when needed.
He’s not a cooperative guy when it comes to offloading pressure. ”
As she spoke, she approached, slipped on a pair of gloves, and examined me.
She was gentle, but it still made me hiss.
When she was done, she began rattling off a bunch of things that I had no idea what they were, but the way Wolverine nodded, he did.
When they were done, she went to the door and popped her head out.
When Paige returned, she had a large bag in her hand.
“Uh, oh, better watch it, Electra. She’s brought the kit. It contains all her secret, magical wound treatments. You never know what she’ll bring out of it,” Wolverine teased her.
“You’re just jealous that I’m so awesome and magical,” she shot back at him.
“Damn right I am. Scorpion is a lucky bastard snagging you. He’s fortunate none of us fought him for you.” He winked.
Paige laughed. I wondered if there was some truth to it. Had Wolverine or any of the others wanted Paige? Had Swerve? She was a terrific woman and so lovely. Were they friends because she was taken by his best friend?
I kept letting that thought rattle around in my head as she washed out the wound with a mixture that made me see stars and hiss loudly at the burn.
When she was finished, she pushed some kind of gauze permeated with something into it.
Again, not pleasant. The final step in the wound care was covering it.
Once that was done, the two of them conferred on which antibiotic to use.
She told Wolverine to let her handle it.
Since I spiked a fever, they were playing it safe and going to give me an IV for a few days first. Then, if I responded well to it, we’d change to pills.
Days. That meant we couldn’t leave. Relief flooded me at the thought.