"No." She shook her head.
"Great, let's get started then. Sutures please, Nurse."
When he was finished, Russ took off his blood-stained gloves and threw them in the waste. He reached up and took a fresh pair from the box on the wall and took a small tube of glue from the trolley. "This won't hurt a bit. Can you give me a hand here please, Nurse?" He waited for Lizzie to help hold the skin together before he glued the two smaller cuts together.
"There you are. They will heal nicely. Don't worry about the glue, it will come away with the scar. Any questions, either of you?" He stood, threw away the gloves and put his hands in the pockets of his white coat.
"No. Can I go home now?" Rooney tried to sit up but Stevie placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Sure, I need to see to some paperwork, so if you wouldn't mind hanging back here for a few minutes, Nurse Stanley can get you a cup of tea. I want to make sure you don't pass out when you stand up." He smiled at her and nodded to Lizzie. "If you could see to that, I'll do the paperwork." Russ brushed the curtain aside and walked out.
He remained calm until he reached his office. Slamming the door, he groaned. His own sister. That hurt, seeing her brought in because some crazed bastard had attacked her with a knife. Russ paced his office trying to get his temper down to simmering point. If the police hadn't killed the guy already, he would do it. No one threatened his family like that.
For a minute he was taken back. Him, Russ the peacemaker thinking of hurting someone. What was happening to him? Violence had never been his thing. Even when he was angry, he was the one who soothed everyone else. No wonder his ex-wife had walked all over him. It was time for him to stand up and tell her what he thought.
Tory could contact her solicitor, at least it would be more professional that way but he was going to visit her on the way home and tell her some home truths. Some he should have told her years ago.
Once he was calm enough, Russ walked back to emergency and took the paperwork waiting on the counter. He sat down and filled in his sister’s chart, happy now he’d made up his mind. Then he went in to see how she was doing.
Lizzie had raised the head of the bed and propped a couple of pillows behind her head. Rooney sat up, drinking a cup of tea. Her face was still pale and her blue eyes looked huge in her face, but she would be alright. Stevie would keep her safe from the nightmares that would no doubt plague her sleep when she closed her eyes tonight and probably for weeks to come.
"How are you feeling?" He stood at the end of the bed and gave her a professional once over.
"A bit weird actually. Not sure how I'm going to go, but I think I will definitely be better at home."
"Don't go in tomorrow, Rooney, and that’s my medical opinion, not my personal one. If you were asking me as your brother, I would tell you to shut the place down and not go back at all."
"She won't be able to anyway. The place is locked off."
"I have a patient in there. I was going to operate this afternoon." She looked dismayed.
"What is it and who does it belong to? I'll get one of the boys to take it home."
"The Bells, they live in Lorn. You know the older couple who used to own the bakery?"
"Yeah, not a worry. I'll get them to reschedule or go elsewhere." He stood and took her cup. "Ready?"
Stevie held her arm as she put her feet over the side of the bed. When she swayed, he put his arm around her shoulders. "Sit for a bit, there's no hurry. I have to wait for Dennis to bring my car over anyway."
"You can stay here as long as you like." Russ gripped the end of the bed, watching his sister struggle.
"No, it's okay. I want to go outside. This place is making me feel closed in." She stood and held onto the edge of the bed until she seemed stable. Then she walked over to him, Stevie holding onto one arm to support her. "Thanks, Russ." Rooney reached up and kissed him. "See you later tonight."
"Take care of her."
"I've got it, stop worrying." Stevie nodded and helped her out.
Russ looked at his watch. Another couple of hours to go and he could go and deal with Paula.
* * *
"Darling, I was beginning to think you were never coming. You were supposed to come over the other night, remember?" Paula opened the door of the motel room and stood aside to let him in.
Russ walked in, his glance going around the room. Her clothing was strewn over the bed, makeup covered the bathroom counter and a bottle of wine was opened on the small table beside the television.
"Can I offer you a drink before you join me for dinner?" She hovered close to him and he resisted the urge to push her away.
"No, thank you. I won't be staying. A word of advice, Paula. Alcohol isn't good for your baby."
"Our baby, Russ. It's ours." She simpered and tried to link her arm through his.
"It isn't mine and I can prove it. You've been banging your office manager and we have photos, so you can't deny it."
"You bastard, you had me followed?" She gaped at him with shocked eyes and an open mouth.
He looked down at her and wondered what he’d ever seen in her. "I gave you everything, Paula. We had a good life, yet you felt the need to stray. Was I not good enough for you?"
"Not by a long shot. If you’d really cared about me, you wouldn't have left
