Episode 8: Becoming the Enemy’s Nurse (8)
Miller turned the wheel and stepped on the gas, following the military truck carrying the enemy’s corpses as it quickly sped up behind the military jeep.
Ashley, sitting in the back with Agatha in his arms, hurriedly opened her medical bag. She had been shot, and blood was pouring from the wound in her shoulder. Ashley quickly pulled out a roll of bandages and wrapped them tightly around her shoulder, his hands moving quickly but carefully. He finished wrapping the bandage and exhaled deeply.
The bullet that had been meant for him was stopped by Agatha. If she hadn’t shielded him, the bullet would have pierced his heart, and he would have died on the spot.
Ashley silently looked down at the woman in his arms. He gently stroked her face with his bloodstained hand, but she showed no signs of breathing or warmth.
“Go straight down the right path, then take the mountain road,” Ashley calmly ordered.
“Huh?” Miller glanced at the rearview mirror, seeing the military truck following them. If they turned onto the narrow path, the military truck wouldn’t be able to follow. The path was too small for more than one vehicle to pass, and there was the possibility of an ambush. Miller hesitated but couldn’t immediately respond to Ashley’s order.
Not caring about Miller’s hesitation, Ashley’s cold voice came again, urging him to go faster.
“The military truck will find its way to Noelle Hospital. Miller, can’t you go any faster?”
“Yes, understood,” Miller replied, feeling the tension but following orders.
Five hours later, the military vehicle arrived back at the field hospital. The rear door opened, and Ashley stepped out, carrying Agatha in his arms. He looked like an angry lion, roaring as he entered the hospital.
“Where’s the doctor?” he demanded.
“Ashley, you’re back?” Adele, who had been walking around the wards, rushed over in shock.
“Find Hout and bring him to the treatment room,” Ashley ordered, without elaborating. He carried Agatha up the stairs without waiting for a response.
Miller, who followed behind, understood Adele’s confusion and spoke quietly, “Nurse Natalie has been shot. Please prepare for a bullet removal surgery.”
“Was there an enemy attack?” Adele asked, clearly shocked.
“Yes,” Miller replied, his voice steady. “We need to hurry. The captain wants the surgery to begin as soon as possible.”
“Go ahead, I’ll bring Hout right away,” Adele said, heading out to find the doctor. She couldn’t believe that a nurse who had left in good health had returned with a gunshot wound. Her heart raced as she went to find Hout.
Adele and Hout entered the treatment room, where Agatha lay unconscious on the operating table. She had been bandaged around her shoulder, the wound clearly from a bullet.
“The gunshot wound is on her right shoulder. The bullet entered behind the shoulder and should be lodged here,” Ashley explained, pointing to her shoulder as Hout prepared to examine her.
“She’s still alive,” Ashley added sharply. “Start the surgery.”
“Yes, sir,” Hout replied, nodding. The wound was serious, but her pulse was still faintly there. Bullet removal was a common procedure in the field hospital, but there were still things to prepare.
“Adele, hurry up,” Ashley urged.
“Yes, I understand,” Adele responded, quickly gathering what was needed.
“Where’s the anesthesia?” Ashley asked, his voice sharp.
“Anesthesia? We don’t have any,” Adele replied, startled. She had forgotten that the hospital’s anesthesia supply had been exhausted months ago.
“We’ve run out of anesthesia? How are we supposed to do this surgery?” Ashley’s voice was hard with disbelief.
Adele hesitated. “We’re going to have to do the surgery without it. I’m sorry.”
Ashley’s frustration grew. He couldn’t allow Agatha to suffer without anesthesia. He leaned forward and ordered sharply, “I know you have emergency supplies hidden for VIP patients. Bring them, now.”
“What? You know about that?” Adele questioned.
“I know there’s an emergency stock for high-ranking patients. Bring it,” Ashley said, his voice dangerously firm.
“Captain, we can’t just use those supplies without authorization,” Hout said, trying to reason with him.
“If the rules are the problem, then I will take responsibility,” Ashley said, bowing his head slightly, pleading with the medical staff.
“Please, Adele, get the anesthesia.”
Reluctantly, Adele left to retrieve it. A few minutes later, everything was ready.
“Captain, you need to leave,” Hout said, indicating that the surgery could begin.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Ashley replied, firmly refusing to leave Agatha’s side.
Hout shook his head and carefully removed the bandages from Agatha’s shoulder. Ashley, now wearing medical gloves, stood next to her and held her hand. He remembered the warmth of her touch from before, when she had comforted him.
As Hout made the incision, blood flowed from the wound. Ashley didn’t blink, his eyes locked on the procedure. He had seen many bullets removed, but seeing one come from her shoulder felt different.
After what seemed like an eternity, Hout carefully removed the bullet, and Ashley watched intently. The bullet was large and deeply lodged, unlike any he had seen before.
Hout quickly cleaned the wound and began stitching it up.
“How long will it take for her to wake up?” Ashley asked, his voice strained with worry.
“The anesthesia will wear off in an hour, but the shoulder needs to be monitored. The wound was deep, so it will take some time to heal. Worst case, she might have permanent damage,” Hout explained, but he didn’t want to jump to conclusions.
Ashley nodded, silently processing the information.
As Hout finished and left, Adele approached. She hadn’t been able to hear the full details but knew the nurse had been shot during an enemy attack. She sighed in relief, knowing that Ashley had remained unharmed.
“Natalie will be moved to the nurse’s quarters,” Adele suggested.
“No, she can stay in my room,” Ashley replied.
“Your room?” Adele questioned, but Ashley assured her it would be fine.
“I’ll sleep on the sofa. I’m not worried,” he said.
Adele understood the captain’s decision, but she still felt uneasy. He was still recovering, and putting him on a sofa seemed unreasonable. But Ashley was insistent, so she didn’t argue further.
As Agatha was moved to Ashley’s room, the tension in the air was thick. She lay in a mobile bed, surrounded by Miller and Adele as they took her to her new room.
Once they left, it was just Agatha and Ashley. He finally allowed himself to relax, releasing the breath he had been holding. His eyes softened as he gazed at her, his emotions swirling. She was lying in his room, her face tense, but he knew she had done something incredible—she had protected him.
He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to steady his thoughts. As he stared at her, the weight of everything they had been through hung heavily in the air. He didn’t know what would come next, but one thing was clear: he owed her his life.
