[Book One]
Agatha Miller Nash thought she was finally starting to have the perfect life she always dreamed of while growing up.
She had a job that made her feel proud of herself, the man that she would spend the rest of her life with, and a place s...
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F I F T E E N
"Alright, I got a compound fracture more outside than in," announced Chimney as he examined Arlene, the owner of a bowling alley who we were currently treating after her arm got pinned in the bowling pinsetter.
"Pulse is feeble, and she has lost a lot of blood." Setting my stethoscope around my neck, I started preparing an IV. The fluids would keep her body working by raising her blood pressure until we can get her to the hospital.
"Let's get the fluids going," said Hen as I passed her the needle along with tape and gauzes.
Getting Arlene's arm out of this machine was starting to look impossible. If we move the machine open, she will begin to bleed more, which could be fatal since her pulse was already weak. We have to figure out a way where her arm would stay compressed; the pressure would slow the blood a bit.
"We should take it apart piece by piece," Buck suggested.
"Not sure what that's gonna do for her arm," spoke Eddie as they tried to analyze their options.
"Look whatever you guys decide it needs to be quick. Her blood pressure is dropping and fast," I said, looking at Uncle Bobby.
"I'll get the tourniquet. Tie the arm and move her out."
Hen shook her head at Eddie, "I don't know if that's going to work."
"Right now, this cross brace is the only thing that's holding her arm in place. The minute you move it, she's going to bleed more." I pointed out.
"Agatha is right, and given how broken her bones are, it'll be like tying off a wet back of rocks," Chimney said.
"What if we embrace the cross brace?" In unison, we all looked over at Buck, processing his suggestion. "We cut her from the pinsetter here then we weld these points here, here and here and you've got a—"
"Damn good splint," Uncle Bobby finished a proud look on his face as he looked at Evan.
The guys got the equipment ready and started working. I tried my best to shield Arlene from the welding sparks with Chim's help, while at the same time, I hold her free hand for support as she cried in pain. A few screams later, we managed to get her arm out still in the metal without any more blood loss. She was going to be okay, after all.
"Living tissue under a metal endoskeleton," Buck said, imitating Arnold Schwarzenegger's character from the Terminator movies.
Eddie and Chimney gave him a look trying not to make fun of him. "You know, technically, it would be an exoskeleton, right?"
"Can't just let me enjoy the win," Buck rolled his eyes. I knew the feeling too well; back in Florida, every time I would come up with an idea, the team would not recognize it because it came from me and not one of the guys.
