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Carwood Lipton knew that if he had been hit a little to the right his arm would have been a casualty. Instead it was a small clip to his bicep that stung like a bitch and looked worse than what he had first thought.
The Doc was concentrating on cleaning it out, beyond the blood was mud and torn skin flapping that needed to be trimmed away and washed out. After the few questions Roe needed to ask Lip they went quiet.
“My middle and ring finger are numb, is that normal?” Lip asked quietly, hoping no one was around to hear.
Roe lifted his thin brows and looked up from his work. “Move your hand into a fist for me? Extend?” They both watched as each finger followed the movement. “Yeah, yeah this is normal. Just nerve trauma it looks like. You- ain’t leaving now Sir, not after all of this.”
Lip swallowed thickly; the truth of his question bare between them. Being taken out of duty, leaving his men, his friends. Worried he couldn’t feel enough to lift his gun, worried he couldn’t hide the numbness, and even worse, worried he’d be discharged and hear later that any more of them were gone.
As if that thought summoned the man, Speirs was through the room’s door of the overtaken house. Lipton’s room being the first bedroom from the stairs. “Lipton.”
“Sir.”
“I see Roe has you in hand. The best hands then.”
Roe looked up once more from where he was now stitching the wound together, pausing in his motions. “Sir.” Was his acknowledgement.
“Something none of us will ever forget I’m afraid.” Lipton murmured softly between them all.
“Can’t feel it?” Speirs questioned awkwardly, the three of them knowing the real question was if he was in pain.
“No Sir, can’t feel anything at the moment. Later maybe but like you said, I’m in good hands. Morphine and having my nerves shot- can’t say I don’t mind not feeling it.”
“Good. That’s good.” Speirs nodded. “I’ll catch up with you once you’re finished here. Doc, there’s a hot mess set up not far down the road, a tray with your name on it.”
Both Lipton and Roe nodded as the door closed with Speirs’ retreating steps.
“He cares.”
“Yes.”
“I won’t say anything Lip, too damn important, both of you.”
“I-.” Lipton starts and just sits for a moment. “Thank you, Eugene.”