Page 48 of The MC's Surprise
“I, uh– Yeah. I’m fine. How are you?”
He was acting strange, and I couldn’t figure out why. “Is it the cops? They haven’t come over or said anything, if that’s what you’re worried about. And we’ve only got an hour left. If they were going to start something, they probably would’ve done it already.”
He nodded quickly, but otherwise didn’t reply, his gaze moving to the bloodmobile and skittering away again. It worried me how upset he seemed and I didn't know what to do to help him.
“Is something wrong?”
“He’s afraid of needles,” a feminine voice answered with a hint of teasing. When I looked over my shoulder, Mel in brightblue scrubs was headed our way, a teasing grin on her face. “He’s always been a big baby about getting the flu shot.”
“Shut up, Mel,” he growled, his arms crossed tightly over his chest in what I recognized now as a defensive gesture. He was scared.
“Oh, that’s too cute,” I commented before I could think better of it. Vegas’s gaze whipped around, and he scowled at me. He obviously didn’t appreciate being the focus of this conversation, but it was cute. He was an adult and still afraid of needles. It made me want to hug him to ease his fears a little.
Mel ignored him, turning to me instead. “I wanted to say thanks for setting this up. We always need more blood, but it's so hard to get people in here to donate. I donate several times a year and it's still not enough. And no matter how much I beg, I’ve never gotten Vegas to donate. He’s O neg, we need his blood.”
“You sound like a vampire,” Vegas complained.
“And you sound like a toddler. It’s just one needle. Think of all the people you could be helping.”
Mocking him wasn’t helping. He didn’t seem any more inclined to donate when she tormented him. If I’d known, I would’ve asked Prez to do it with him so he wouldn’t have to do it all alone. Prez had been the most collected of the bunch all day. I glanced around the parking lot, taking note of who had a bandage already on their arm and who didn’t. There was only one crew member left who didn’t. I patted Vegas’s arm lightly.
“Wait here a second.”
Vegas
I watched as Sierra dashed over to where Rooster was hanging out by the bikes. Like me, he was about as far as he could get from the bloodmobile without crossing the street. She grabbed his hand, dragging him away from the bikes and over to where I still stood by our nagging Little Sister.
“Wha– Sierra–” Rooster stammered, stumbling over his feet as he tried to keep up with her. She was shorter, but much more enthusiastic, while Rooster was practically digging his heels in to keep her from moving him closer to the donation bus.
She stopped next to me, putting Rooster and me shoulder to shoulder, then gestured to the bus. “You’ll go in together. Melissa and I will be right there with you.”
Rooster and I shared a panicked look, and I was going to refuse until Melissa added, “Whoever doesn’t go through with it will look like a chicken.”
I groaned internally. She wasn’t wrong. The guys were starting to stare, and I didn’t want to look like a chicken shit over a damn needle in front of them. They’d mock me for the rest of my life. Rooster seemed to think the same thing. We both reluctantly headed toward the bus, and when Melissa told the donation staff Rooster and I were donating together, they sat us side by side across the aisle from each other.
Rooster’s face was pale as they did the intake, his eyes so wide you could see the whites of them. I hated needles, but I didn't think I was as bad off as him. At least, not until they brought out the massive needle to do the donation. Then the panic officially kicked in.
“Is that– Does it have to be that big?”
The nurse smiled reassuringly. “It’s not as bad as it looks. I’ve been doing this for years, and most of my patients don't even feel it.”
“I don’t like the word most. Why most? What happens to the rest of them?” Rooster babbled, scrunching himself down in his seat as another nurse approached with her own needle.
“Close your eyes,” Sierra demanded. I followed her instructions without question, mostly because I was worried I’d throw up if I didn’t. Rooster took a little more convincing, but Sierra’s voice was soothing as she reassured him it would be over before he knew it.
The nurse hadn’t been lying. I felt a slight pinch, and the needle wasn’t comfortable, but it didn’t hurt and as long as I didn’t open my eyes, I felt okay. After a few minutes, I even let myself relax a little.
“Hey, V?”
“Yeah, Rooster.”
“I, uh– If I pass out, don’t tell the guys. Alright?”
My brow furrowed, and I glanced over at him right in time to watch his eyes roll into his head and his body go slack.
“Oh shit! Rooster!”
Before I could leap out of my seat, Melissa pressed her hand against my chest to stall me. “Relax. It happens. He’ll be okay.”
