noirsealed part 5

Vaguely, hazily, conversation reached her ears.

"... can you help her, Elizan?"

"T-the bullet hit a p-p-pretty major artery, but I t-think I can fix t-this."

"What, what are the risks?"

"S-she m-m-might not wake up, with the s-sort of tools I have to use here. E-even if she does, s-she'll be aching."

"Put her under. Please. I don't want her waking up in the middle of this."

She felt a pricking sensation, and then she heard no more.


When Cucali came to, she was lying in a bed, her shoulder properly bandaged. It burned like a motherfucker, burned like Hell itself, and Cucali swore from the pain.

"Fuck!"

Paloma ran into the guest room, holding a glass of water and a sheet of pills. "Hold, hold on! I have something for you!"

"The fuck'd you DO to me, you bitch?!"

"I'm sorry! The bullet was lodged in your shoulder, it had to come out--"

Paloma cut herself off and put one of the pills into the glass of water. She handed it to Cucali, making sure to keep the glass steady until Cucali had a grip on it.

"Just, just drink this, okay? It'll make you feel better."

 Cucali tilted her head up and drank from the glass, trying to ignore the bitter taste of medicine. She didn't cry out again, despite the agonising pain - she was, after all, a made woman. There was no call to be weak.

Paloma pulled up a chair and sat beside her bed, folding her hands in her lap. Cucali glared at her.

"You want somethin'?"

"I, I was told to keep an eye on you if you woke up - um - once you woke up," Paloma corrected herself quickly, but the thought of /if/ still made Cucali's stomach churn. (Oh, wait. That was just the foul medicine this bird gave her.)

"Well would you lookie here, I'm fine. And now I'll be goin'," Cucali pushed herself upwards with her good arm, ignoring the pain. Paloma reached over, and very gently put an arm on her good shoulder.

"No, please. Stay here a while. My home is open to you."

"An' I'm closed to you," Cucali growled. "So mitts off, girlie, I'm outta here."

But the medicine was beginning to take effect. Cucali felt sedated, the pain diminishing. She shook her head to try and clear it, to no avail.

"... now lemme put something on the table, doll. Looks like you just drugged me. You know what happened to the last son of a bitch who drugged me? He put on some concrete slippers and went swimming one night. So I got one question for you."

"Y, yes?"

"You lookin' to die?!"

"No," Paloma bit at her lip, fearful. "I, I just want to help you! I know the drugs are sedatives, but they really will take the pain away..."

"Leave 'em here. I'll take 'em with me."

"Please, you shouldn't move too much yet..."

"I go where I like."

"... please. You saved me. Please let me help you."

Cucali huffed, frustrated. "What's with you, girl?"

"I, I like to repay my debts. That's all."

"Like hell it is." Cucali groaned and eased herself back down. "But if it'll shut your damn mouth, I'll rest here a while."

Paloma breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you."

"Yeah, whatever. Get outta here, I ain't in a talkin' mood."

"I'll be back with dinner later."

"Whatever!"

Paloma left, and Cucali wondered why she'd even said she'd stay.