“1..2..3...LIFT!”
Jolts of pain surged through every nerve in my body as four sets of arms lifted me off the gurney and onto the examination table. A rabid pair of scissors chomped at my bloodied shirt and within moments my shrapnelled chest was exposed to the four pairs of probing eyes and the four pairs latexed hands charged with the task of doing everything in their power to make sure that I did not die on that table.
“Sir! Sir!” A face filled my vision. Caramel skin. Strong but sensuous features. One brown eye, one green. I knew that face. I loved that face. That face belonged to-
“SIR! can you tell me what happened?”
I tried to turn my head. Tried to put my hands under me so that I could sit up.
“You need to try and relax.”
Another voice. A man's voice. Two strong hands gently but firmly pushing me back down onto the table.
The face reappeared.
“Sir...we need to know what happened.”
The woman leaned closer. The scent of her perfume filled my nostrils. A scent that I knew all too well...
She spoke again. This time her voice a lot lower.
“Lenny, the police are here. They're going to want to know...let me help you.”
My vision began to swim. I was toeing the edge of a cliff. It couldn't be. She was supposed to be in The Sudan...or something. Doctor's Without Borders. But then how...? When did she get back?
I must have voiced my confusion because Rebeka quickly put a latexed finger to my lips to shush me.
Her voice was even lower.
“I'll explain; but not here. Right now there are 5 slugs in your chest and we need to get them out- NOW.”
“Dr. Johnson,”
Rebeka spun around. Her long curls bouncing along after her.
“Do you know this man?”
There was a pause and then,
“Yes sir.”
Another pause.
“Well?” The male voice demanded, “Who is he?”
Rebeka turned to look down at me and then a moment later she turned back to face who I could only assume was her boss.
“He's my-” Rebeka swallowed, “He's my brother.”
