Stitches

By the time he’d made it back to the cabin the whole camp was abuzz with what had happened. He frowned when he noticed the small group clustered at the cabin door but pushed on knowing he needed to tend to his wounds. “James, oh thank God!” Tiffany started to run towards him but her husband stopped her. “Let the doctors help him baby! We’ve seen he’s alive and it can’t be too bad if he was able to make it back here alone.” Steve felt several different things at once but knew his view of his son had changed. “I’m fine.” He mumbled when he got close enough to hear what his father had said. He stopped for a moment with his free hand on the side of the building as another wave of dizziness washed over him. “You most definitely are not fine baby!” Tiffany felt her heart in her throat at the bloody sight of her son. Two of the adults clustered at the door rushed toward to him and weren’t daunted at his scowl. James fought the darkness as he swayed and managed to stay awake this time but found himself on his knees despite that.

“Ok James, listen to me and focus only on my voice. You’ve lost a lot of blood and you’re feeling the effects. We need to get you checked out but I’m guessing a great number of stitches and pain killers. You can trust us but you need to let us take a look.” A young woman said as she rushed to his side. “No pain killers. No needles!” he groaned softly as she carefully lifted his shirt to take a look. “You’re going to regret that but we need to get this cleaned up to see how bad it is. These gashes are really deep, it’ll take at least 100 stitches and antibiotics.” She shook her head at his stubbornness. They helped him to his feet and guided him away from the cabin towards the medical center. He couldn’t seem to stay focused but knew he needed to stay conscious since he couldn’t trust anyone. They got him inside and onto a bed before going to work on his wounds. “I’m sorry but this is going to hurt a lot. You’ve got several deep lacerations and I’m sure the onset of infection. We need to look you over for additional wounds. I’m afraid your request for no needles isn’t going to work. We need blood work to know what’s going on in your blood and overall health, possible infection, and blood type. You’re going to need a transfusion since you’ve lost so much already. We also need to set up an IV.” She sighed as he hissed from the **** they were cleaning the wounds with.

“No needles, no transfusion, no medications! I’m blood type O negative but that doesn’t matter!” he grunted as he gritted his teeth. “Listen, his parents are out in the waiting room. I’ll fill them in and check on the girl.” The male said before leaving them alone. “James please listen to me. I understand you don’t trust us and I get that you’re worried we’ll give you something other than what we say we are but I need you to trust me to get you better. I know I’m close to your age and it’s hard for you to believe I’m a doctor but I took an oath to do no harm and I take that very seriously. I’m not even a part of this family, just a doctor being paid to work here for the summer. My name is Kimber and I’ll make a note that I’m to be the only one working on you if that’s what will help you trust me.” She sighed hoping he would trust her. “I can’t trust anyone!” he let out a loud breath when she finally set the cloth down to take a better look at the wounds. “You can trust me! I have no reason to do you harm or allow you to be harmed. Yes, they’re paying me to take care of you but I’d never sell you out for money.” She sighed again thinking he was far too stubborn for his own good.

“Fine, I suppose we do this the hard painful way then.” She took the needle out to start the stitches. “You might want to talk to me about something to take your mind off the pain.” She threaded the needle expertly before she turned back around. “Look your tough, I get it but this whole thing is unnecessary.” She shook her head at the way he was acting. “It’s not about being tough.” He grunted as she started sewing him up. “Could have fooled me. Look, I don’t know what’s going on around here but what are you so afraid will happen?” she was honestly curious about his distrust. “I have no idea, that’s the trouble. Everyone seems to think I’m stupid but I can tell there’s something going on. The way everyone stares at me, the way people avoid talking about what’s going on, the fact I’ve never been allowed to have friends, or girlfriends, home schooled, sudden trip here just before my 19th birthday. You tell me, does that sound completely normal with nothing at all going on?” he growled as she kept sewing. “I have to admit that does sound pretty suspicious but why think everyone here is in on it?” she was as stumped at the meaning of it as he was. “If my parents are involved which I know they are by their own admission; I have to believe everyone here is.” He clenched his teeth as another wave of pain flared. “Ok I have an idea, you might not want to but I’ll make you a deal. If you’ll allow me to give you blood, pain meds, and antibiotics I’ll go on a date with you.” She bit her lip as she continued sewing.

He gave her a startled look and tried to focus through the pain. She seemed to be about 23 years old or so but he wasn’t sure about that. She stood 5’ 11”, 119 pounds, dark red hair with the sides shaved and swept over to one side at shoulder length, emerald green eyes, upturned button nose dusted with freckles, full pouty lips, 36c breasts, trim waist, flat stomach, wide hips, long lithe legs, and bubble butt he really liked plus several piercings and tattoos. The one word that came to his mind was voluptuous. “Alright but only what’s absolutely necessary!” he grunted again as the pain intensified. She quickly set the needle on his stomach to get several shots ready. She gave him a reassuring smile as she administered shots of antibiotics and pain killers. She then called through to the nurse to prepare blood for the transfusion and an IV. “Just relax now James, tell me more about you. What kind of music do you like? What about movies?” she smiled again as she picked up the needle again. “I like a lot of different music, some metal, rock, hip hop, and country. My favorite movies are horror movies but I enjoy most other types too. Any idea what there is to do around here for romantic settings?” He sighed as the pain receded but could tell she hadn’t given him enough to put him under. “Sounds like we have similar tastes then. I love horror movies but they scare the crap out of me too.” She giggled softly happy he was opening up.

A female nurse came in with bags of blood, an IV stand, and a very curious expression. Kimber quickly left the needle on his stomach again to set up the IV and blood bags before sticking the IV needle into his vein with ease. “You’ve got great veins, easy enough to find.” She smiled slightly at the proud look on his face. “What do you like to do for fun? I mean do you like dancing, long walks, or maybe bowling?” his voice was slurring slightly but she knew he was fully conscious. “I enjoy all of those things but I’m a romantic at heart, I prefer sunset walks or walks in the rain holding hands.” She smiled when she caught his smile out of the corner of her eye. “How are you doing James? Any real pain?” she wanted to make sure he was comfortable as she finished the stitches on the second slash. “No, I’m feeling alright for now. I really enjoy talking to you.” He sighed softly as his mind drifted some. “I’m enjoying our chat too. James listen, I know you’re having some difficulties here but just remember I’m here if you want to talk. We’ll be seeing each other fairly often for the next few weeks because of these wounds. Just know I’m here if you need me.” She wondered if he would feel differently once he was off the pain medication.

“It would be nice to have someone to talk too. My twin sister turned her back on me and it’s been hard not having someone to talk too.” He looked away before she could see the tears he was fighting to hide. “I’m sorry to hear that but you can talk to me about anything. It doesn’t have to be just what’s going on around here. It could be about video games or music or anything at all.” She hoped he’d understand what she was saying. “Video games rot your mind but I’ll remember that.” He turned back to look her in the eye. “Oh my God, I never thought I’d see the day when someone so young said that about video games.” She giggled but found herself liking this guy more and more. “You’re really pretty. You have the most beautiful eyes.” He chuckled wondering if the pain killers where getting to him. “Thank you James. You’re pretty handsome yourself and I believe we’ll have a great deal to talk about.” She smiled and wondered how much was just the **** talking.

Jaime sat in the waiting room with her parents waiting to find out about how James was doing. She was really worried about her brother and how much blood he’d lost. She knew everyone was now talking about him and many of the girls were making plans on how to claim him but all she cared about at that moment was that he was alright. “Honey, he’s in the best of hands. Everything will be ok just wait and see.” Steve hoped the platitudes would help her settle down. “Honey, did you enjoy your time with Zach? He seems like a really nice young man.” Tiffany hoped to take her mind off James and to find out if she was leaning towards Zach. “He was ok. He thinks he’s getting into my panties but that’s not going to happen. He’s cute but really self-centered and arrogant.” She shook her head knowing she didn’t really like him. Tiffany frowned as she realized Zach wouldn’t be the one. She’d have to keep looking but she’d hoped her daughter would find the one early. “Honey, what exactly happened with your brother?” Steve couldn’t resist any longer. Rumors had been flying for over an hour and he’d heard several different ones already but he knew Jaime had witnessed the whole thing.

“I was following James when he went into the woods until I heard a scream. I saw James running towards it and followed. When I got to the clearing I saw James running straight at a bear that had attacked one of the girls. The bear lunged at him but he never slowed, he just threw his arms around the bear and flung it. He jumped on the bears back and broke its neck. Dad he saved that girl and killed that bear but that’s not what shocked me. What shocked me was the look of rage on his face when he hit it with a haymaker. I’ve never seen such a look on his face before and it scares me because I’m partially responsible for it.” She sobbed as the tears broke again. “Honey we can’t be sure of that. We don’t know what was going through his mind at that moment. Let’s not jump to conclusions until we know more, ok?” Steve figured she was right but wanted to reassure her. “I have to make things right with him.” Jaime was at the point of being inconsolable.