Page 34 of See You Soon
I inject him with the numbing solution, the needle pierces through, and to my surprise, he doesn't flinch, doesn't jerk his body, not a grunt from the pain, nothing. Definitely not something I'm used to from my experiences with other soldiers, sailors, airmen, etc.
I begin stitching him up. The numbing injections are strong so he can't feel any pain. I'm focusing really hard to not mess this up. This isn't my first time doing stitches but I'm not fully confident in myself yet and I still feel new to these kinds of procedures. Sweat begins to break out on my forehead and I rub it away with my wrist.
"Ari, what are you doing here?" I'm quickly taken aback by Danny's question. He sounds annoyed and condescending. I stop stitching him when I hear his voice, then I continue.
"What are you talking about?" I ask, trying to keep my composure. Trying to hide the sharpness in my voice, I keep my voice low and unbothered. What did I do to deserve his hostility toward me?
"What are you doing here? It'sdangeroushere. You're not back home in our country. We're in a warzone right now that doesn't get talked about and you're here… getting a front-seat view of the horror that lives hidden. The things you're going to see, the evil that... " He stops, shaking his head, "you shouldn't be here, have them transfer you to another military hospital, stateside," he snaps at the end. Just when I think he's concerned about my safety, he closes his sentence with rage.
Who the heck does he think he is?
I'm quiet as I try my best to focus on stitching and I don't respond right away. I shake my head and scoff. I digest his words. About a minute passes by and I take a break from stitching his wound. I let my hands rest in the air, ensuring everything stays sterile.
"Danny. Stop it. You don't get to order me around like that. You don't have a say so in my life," A sarcastic laugh exits my mouth and I suck in a breath before continuing. I shake my head, "I'm not yours to command." I blush with instant regret.
Danny licks his lips.
“For now.” Danny looks to the side so he can get a peripheral view of me. I'm still behind him, on a stool. And I see him grin devilishly, flashing his straight white teeth.
My eyes widen and I feel like they're bulging out of my skull. I instantly blush, in complete utter shock. My mouth hangs open just a little as my heart quickens and tightens with heat. Before I can say something smart back and scold him, the glass doors open.
"Rider, good and bad news." Doctor Diaz walks in. A Navy Hispanic veteran, he's on the shorter side and yet he's fit for someone in his fifties. He looks around his late thirties with short black peppered hair.
My teeth close shut, my lips press together tight against each other and I return to work. I'm already almost done and the wound’s closing perfectly.
"Good news is I'm discharging you. The bad news is, you're going to have to take it slow and rest for at least one week. I cannot release you back to your team because of the concussion you sustained and I want to make sure that you're one hundred percent before I send you back out. So one week of bed rest and we'll continue to monitor you over the next couple of weeks. Depending on how your check-ups go then I will re-evaluate your case and clear you when I see fit. You could be here on post for up to a month so prepare for that." Doctor Diaz orders, looking at Danny's reaction, already preparing for an argument to unfold.
"A week of bed rest? Possibly a month out of work? Sir, respectfully, that's too long. I'm fine. Really." Danny's deep voice pleads and at the same time, it feels like he's ordering Doctor Diaz.
"Trust me. I'm being generous. I would like to send you back home with the TBI you sustained. But I want to get you back to your team sooner. It's just one week of bed rest and then we’ll see how you’re healing." Doctor Diaz studies Danny's face.
"One week is too long. I'm on an important mission right now. My team needs me,now. Not later." Danny argues.
"You SEALS really don't like being told no, huh?" Doctor Diaz jokes before continuing but Danny cuts him off.
"Nope. We'll keep fighting until we get what we want..." Danny tells him, his voice lowers, and I swear he looks at me when he finishes his sentence. I can't get a good look to confirm it since I'm on the last stitch and I can't get distracted now.
"Still. One week on post. Rest up. No working out. No training. Just rest." Doctor Diaz says as he crosses his legs while standing, leaning against the wall.
"I truly respect that about you SEALS. Always pushing your bodies until your body has to tell you no, even then y'all will push even farther... anyways, Ari here will discharge you. If there's anything you need, just come back, we're always here." Doctor Diaz says with tired eyes.
The glass doors open and I peak a glance before focusing my attention back on stitching.
“Admiral Ravenmore, to what do I owe the pleasure?” Doctor Diaz says with respect laced in his tone as he stands up straight efficiently fast.
An Admiral? What’s an admiral doing here? They’re high ranking officers.
“To check up on one the Navy’s most important assets. With all due respect Doctor, I need him to be cleared.”
He heard all of that?
Doctor Diaz clears his throat nervously.
“I’m sorry, Admiral Ravenmore, I really am, but I have a job to do too. I would be doing Danny a disservice if I cleared him right now, most importantly I’d be doinghis team a disservice.”
Admiral Ravenmore’s eyebrows rise in defeat, the crinkles under his green eyes crease even more with disappointment.
“I’m fine.” Danny growls.
