Page 90 of Ranger's Rise
“It would be good for you to mention that next time.”
I smile laying down. When you get burnt, I’d think it’s normal to feel it. “I will, Boss.”
He pulls the band down then lifts the leg of my underwear. “You were lucky. So just this patch on your hip and one leg. I’ll need another graft, but use what we have. Since it’s close to two, we’ll get everything done now. Patcher, do you have time?”
“I’m yours, Doc.”
They fix my leg and hip up and Doc calls someone to come do a graft tomorrow. When he pulls all the shit off, I go to the bathroom. I can see pretty good out of my eye without the film thing. When I look in the mirror, I see why that’s just pretty good. My lid is hanging lower. Actually, it looks like Doc said, liquidy. All the skin does, but I can’t say it looks all that bad. My ear is weird, but my hair will cover it. The bandage made me think it was way worse. My neck has that same liquid skin look. I wonder what all this will look like when it’s healed.
When I come out of the bathroom, they’re all watching me. “The covering made me think it would be worse. I’m glad I was wrong. Will my eyelid stay like this?”
Doc smiles. “No, it may be lower than the other, but not like that. We can fix it easily once you’re all healed. They can grow skin for your ear.”
“You can stop. My hair will cover my ear. I hear you out of it so it works. If my eye isn’t interfering in me seeing, it’s fine.”
Cort laughs. “Got it, no plastic surgery.”
Fuck no. I get back on the bed and notice it’s easier. “The burn doesn’t burn on my leg and hip.”
“It’s the herbal in with the ReCell.” Doc pulls the computer over. “It’s already working on your hand. The progress moved just since this morning. If this keeps up, we’ll have you off your IV tomorrow.” That’s good news. I’ve pissed more today than what’s normal.
Cort asks him a bunch of shit while he sprays and covers the rest of me. I’m not happy losing my eye again, but I need this to be done so I can get back to work.
Finally, Patcher helps me dress and puts the holster on with a new IV bag. It’s after three. Fuck, this took forever. “Will it take this long tonight?”
Patcher smiles. “No, Brother. With your leg and hip, the process is new, so that took some time. Reapplying and the new fabric will be about a half-hour next time. You’ll get a new film over your eye tomorrow, but that is a ten-minute process.”
“Thanks, I just want to make sure I schedule around the time that’s needed. Freedom is late tonight. I can make dinner earlier and have it waiting.”
Cort moves into my view. “I’ll send dinner. The last thing you need today is standing in front of the stove. You can cook tomorrow, Brother.”
I’m good with that. “Thanks. I’ll take it. I didn’t take anything out. Since she wasn’t home, she didn’t either.”
He laughs. “I got it.”
“Eight tomorrow will be about an hour. Your eye and the other doc is coming for the graft. He’ll harvest cells and make the next treatments. We used the ReCell on the graft area and it’s working there too, we’ll do it tomorrow and you won’t see that either.”
“Thanks, Doc. So, I’m staying out of the sun, not getting wet and I’ll see you at eight.”
“Make sure you get the IVs changed tonight. The Prospects will stop at seven and pick you back up when you get here in the morning.”
“Got it. Thanks, Brothers.”
I walk out feeling good. The burning sensation doesn’t feel so deep anymore. I didn’t say, but my clothes were fucking killing me. The cream works too.
When I get to the Training Center, I don’t see Freedom. “She’s with Brinks, Boss.”
I have to turn to the side to see him. “Thanks, Nance. It took longer than I thought. She’ll be leaving soon.”
He smiles looking to my right. “She’s on her way over.”
I turn and see her smile. Her smile falls as she looks at my leg. “It’s fine. The hospital didn’t tell Doc about the plate burns. He fixed me up.” She’s still not smiling. “He took all the bandages off and I can see fine. It was blurry before because there’s a film on my eye for moisture or something.”
There’s her smile. “That’s good news. Since no one was talking about it, I was worried. Can you hear ok?”
“Yeah. It looks weird, but everything works.” The outer edge of my ear is missing.
Her smile reaches her eyes. “Very good news. I’m glad I saw you before I left. Cowboy is handling the house and I’ll bring dinner home.”
