𝓕𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓴𝔂 Luis Serra

"Quit squirming," Stebbins demanded from where he was leaned over Collie's body.

"You try not squirm while someone digs a bullet out of you," He argued back, but to his credit, he did seem to be trying to hold still.

It didn't help that Stebbins was shaking. His "allergies" had spiraled quickly and it was taking its toll on him. Escaping from the road had only been a temporary reprieve if one at all. He knew the others were grateful to be free, but for the most part, nothing had changed for him.

"Why the fuck are you the one doing it anyway?" Collie asked, unwilling to let silence fall over them now. Go figure. As soon as Stebbins wanted needed quiet, he was going out of his way to talk. "You somehow look worse than I do."

"Because I'm the only one of them that knows what I'm doing" He said. "You really want one of them to fish a bullet out of you? You're lucky this isn't worse. You really would have been fucked if it tore through something important. You still might be if infection sets in."

A sharp laugh was cut off by a groan when Stebbins forced the piece of metal that he was using as makeshift forceps down deeper. Ideally, he needed something he could grab the bullet with. But ideally, Collie wouldn't be shot either. So, he did the best with what he had and tried to hook it beneath the bullet.

He pulled up slowly, trying not to lose his grip on it or risk losing any parts that might have come loose. He could remove a whole bullet a lot easier than the pieces of one. His other hand flattened on Collie's belly, keeping him in place the best he could.

Collie's arms were holding onto each other tightly, short nails digging into his own skin. They were clasped over his chest and Stebbins knew he was trying to keep himself still. The sting of his nails didn't seem to offer much distraction because tears still welled in his eyes and a curse still escaped him again.

Luckily, it didn't seem like there was much further that Stebbins had to go. He could see the end of the bullet starting to protrude from the bloody opening. He was even more careful now that he was almost done.

He worked it out slowly, going as gently as he could, and hoping it would be in one piece when he retrieved it. As brash as he was with the group, he didn't want to see anyone die. Not Collie at least. Out of all of them, he was easily the most tolerable.

"There," Stebbins told him once the bullet finally pulled free, releasing a breath he didn't know he was holding in. "It looks like I got it all out."

"It took you long enough," Collie's voice shook, keeping his head laid back against the dirt and his eyes fixed upward.

Stebbins barely glanced at the bullet, covered in blood and flesh, tossing it aside. Any relief either of them had was short-lived. He reached for the small box containing the rest of the "medical supplies." Though, that term was certainly being generous.

It was clear none of the others knew what they were looking for when they went out to hunt for supplies. Still, they couldn't be picky now. And Collie's stomach was still bleeding.

"Now for the really fun part," Stebbins sighed. "You really have to stay still now or I'll fuck up the stitches."

As it was, he doubted they would be very good. All the knowledge in the world didn't amount to experience. And none of it made up for the unsteadiness that was taking over his body.

"It can't be worse than you digging the bullet out," Collie told him and Stebbins wasn't so sure about that.

He chose not to argue. Instead, he decided to get it over with and begin the next task. That was all he had to do now, just focus on the next thing to be done. One lap around the track was done, he just needed to get through the next.

****

"Stebbins," A voice roused him eventually, a whisper of his name in the darkness.

Once his eyes adjusted, he saw the shape of Collie through the moonlit night. He couldn't make out his expression exactly, but he looked pissed. Stebbins turned his head, coughing so hard it hurt. He could feel phlegm clinging in his airways and his throat, unable to get it fully up.

"What the fuck do you want?' He asked him, unsure of why he was being disturbed after it had been hard enough to fall asleep.

"Fuck you," Collie spat back as if he wasn't the one bothering him. "You're wheezing and rattling over here. I wanted to make sure you were okay."

"No," Stebbins said immediately. "I'm not okay, in case you can't tell."

He expected Collie to leave him alone then, to let him get back to sleep. To his surprise, Collie was easing his own back down onto the ground next to him.

"Lift your head and put it on my shoulder," Collie told him.

"What?" He asked and he was certain he would sound more upset if it wasn't for the scratchy croak to his voice.

"It'll help you breathe," Collie explained and yeah, Stebbins already knew that. "You've got to keep your head elevated. This isn't ideal, but it's probably better than the other options."

And it was true enough. It was better than lying flat on his back like he had been. He was taken aback by Collie offering this, though. He considered asking if he was sure or telling him to fuck off again. But he knew Collie wouldn't offer if he wasn't and truthfully, the offer was tempting.

Instead of doing either of those things, he moved until his body was pressed close to Collie. His head found his shoulder and Collie's arm curled around him. It took him a minute to get comfortable and the feeling was awkward even once he did.

There was a strange comfort in it, though. It made him think of being home again and he pushed away the question of if he would ever return there. One lap then the next, he reminded himself.