"It was prettyclose but I think we can glue the two smaller ones together. Unfortunately Ihave to stitch the bigger one, Rooney. Can I have some local please,Nurse?"
Rooney watched his facewhile he cleaned the wounds, wincing when it got too painful for her."Sorry, but you know better than most we need to do this first." Hethrew the swabs onto the trolley and waited for Lizzie to return with the localanaesthetic.
"Is thather?" She looked at Russ.
"Yes."
"She's very prettybut she looks sad."
The curtain opened andLizzie walked back in with a small glass bottle and handed it to Russ. He checkedit and took a syringe, filling it before turning back to Rooney. "Going tosting for a bit. Hold her hand, Stevie."
He leant over hissister and injected the anaesthetic along the biggest cut, apologising when shecursed at him. "Sorry. If you only needed one stitch I wouldn't bother butyou need quite a few. If you don't want a scar, stitching is the bestway."
"I know, justbeing silly. Take no notice of me." She wiped a tear from the corner ofher eye before it fell.
"Rooney, I don'thave to tell you about shock. You might want to think about staying inovernight."
"No, I have Tam tothink about. She would be worried if I didn't come home." She glanced atStevie. "I've never hidden anything from her and I don't want to startnow. We don't have to tell her everything, not all the details."
"I can stay withRooney if that will make you feel any easier, Russ." Stevie looked up athim, his look daring Russ to object.
"That would easemy mind. I might not be back til late tonight and it would be better if therewas someone close to you for a while—just in case." He picked up thesyringe again and poked at the area around the biggest cut. "Can you feelthat?"
"No." Sheshook her head.
"Great, let's getstarted then. Sutures please, Nurse."
When he was finished,Russ took off his blood-stained gloves and threw them in the waste. He reachedup and took a fresh pair from the box on the wall and took a small tube of gluefrom the trolley. "This won't hurt a bit. Can you give me a hand hereplease, Nurse?" He waited for Lizzie to help hold the skin together beforehe glued the two smaller cuts together.
"There you are.They will heal nicely. Don't worry about the glue, it will come away with thescar. Any questions, either of you?" He stood, threw away the gloves andput his hands in the pockets of his white coat.
"No. Can I go homenow?" Rooney tried to sit up but Stevie placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Sure, I need tosee to some paperwork, so if you wouldn't mind hanging back here for a fewminutes, Nurse Stanley can get you a cup of tea. I want to make sure you don'tpass 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 thecurtain aside and walked out.
He remained calm untilhe reached his office. Slamming the door, he groaned. His own sister. Thathurt, seeing her brought in because some crazed bastard had attacked her with aknife. 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 threatenedhis family like that.
For a minute he wastaken back. Him, Russ the peacemaker thinking of hurting someone. What washappening to him? Violence had never been his thing. Even when he was angry, hewas the one who soothed everyone else. No wonder his ex-wife had walked allover him. It was time for him to stand up and tell her what he thought.
Tory could contact hersolicitor, at least it would be more professional that way but he was going tovisit her on the way home and tell her some home truths. Some he should havetold her years ago.
Once he was calmenough, Russ walked back to emergency and took the paperwork waiting on thecounter. He sat down and filled in his sister’s chart, happy now he’d made uphis mind. Then he went in to see how she was doing.
Lizzie had raised thehead 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 inher face, but she would be alright. Stevie would keep her safe from thenightmares that would no doubt plague her sleep when she closed her eyestonight and probably for weeks to come.
"How are youfeeling?" He stood at the end of the bed and gave her a professional once over.
"A bit weirdactually. Not sure how I'm going to go, but I think I will definitely be betterat home."
"Don't go intomorrow, Rooney, and that’s my medical opinion, not my personal one. If youwere asking me as your brother, I would tell you to shut the place down and notgo back at all."
"She won't be ableto anyway. The place is locked off."
"I have a patientin there. I was going to operate this afternoon." She looked dismayed.
"What is it andwho does it belong to? I'll get one of the boys to take it home."
"The Bells, theylive in Lorn. You know the older couple who used to own the bakery?"
"Yeah, not aworry. I'll get them to reschedule or go elsewhere." He stood and took hercup. "Ready?"
Stevie held her arm asshe put her feet over the side of the bed. When she swayed, he put his armaround her shoulders. "Sit for a bit, there's no hurry. I have to wait forDennis to bring my car over anyway."
"You can stay hereas long as you like." Russ gripped the end of the bed, watching his sisterstruggle.
"No, it's okay. Iwant to go outside. This place is making me feel closed in." She stood andheld onto the edge of the bed until she seemed stable. Then she walked over tohim, Stevie holding onto one arm to support her. "Thanks, Russ."Rooney reached up and kissed him. "See you later tonight."
"Take care
