[LoboDiabloLoneWolf]

Cutting It Close

Bailey’s eyes flew open as the shock of cold water loosened it’s grip on her and consciousness returned. At first she panicked and began to flail, then she kicked her legs and propelled herself towards the light of sun on the water. She broke the surface and sucked in a great gasp of air. Treading water she looked up at the ridge.

The Outlaws must have given up, she couldn’t see or hear them anymore and they’d made enough noise to wake the dead…well, okay, maybe not that much…

Bailey splashed over to the bank of the pool and dragged herself out, shedding her poncho, hat and equipment as well as practically a bucket’s worth of water.

“I feel like a sponge…” she groaned to herself and squeezed water from her hair. Bailey suddenly felt a nagging sensation in her stomach, she looked around. Where was Stranger? Bailey began looking around more frantically. Stranger wasn’t there. “Oh no.” Bailey moaned, she quickly waded into the water, took a deep breath and plunged beneath the surface.

The water was dark, Bailey couldn’t see. The flotsam and jetsam in the water swirled around her and the lungs burned but she refused to resurface to take in air.

Finally, after what seemed an eternity Bailey saw a shadow, darker then the water. A shadow that was slowly sinking and leaving a vaguely red trail. Bailey pushed her failing body to swim deeper and she managed to grabbed hold of Stranger. Using every last vestige of willpower she had left Bailey resurfaced and dragged Stranger’s limp (and let’s face it, very heavy) body onto the bank, taking off his hat and poncho.

Bailey dropped to her knees next to him and pressed an ear to his chest, listening. She almost cried in relief when she heard a faint heartbeat. Bailey mentally shuffled all she knew about resuscitation into order like a pack of cards.

She checked Stranger’s airways and nearly succumbed to panic when she realised that Stranger wasn’t breathing.

“Oh don’t you dare do this to me Stranger, don’t you dare die on me. Breathe damn you.” Bailey pressed on Stranger’s chest, trying to force the water out, and the oxygen into his lungs. “Please, please don’t do this to me Stranger.” She whispered and pressed harder. Nothing. “You will not do this to me!” Bailey growled, “I won’t let you.” Bailey sat back on her heels, as she tried to remember CPR. She let out a groan when she realised her only option. “Oh you better appreciate this.” She muttered and proceeded to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on Stranger.

She almost gagged.

She pulled away after a minute, coughing.

“First thing I’m gonna do when we find civilisation,” she muttered as she returned to pressing down on Stranger’s lungs, “Is find you a toothbrush and even if I have to sit on you and do it myself, I’m gonna get you to clean yer teeth. Your oral hygiene stinks, and I mean literally…” Bailey pressed on his chest again. “Stranger please, I need you to wake up. You promised you wouldn’t die. You promised. Stranger…you’re the only friend I’ve got…you’re my family… I need you…”

A trickle of water dribbled from Stranger’s mouth, and then he heaved a great breath and began coughing.

“AH HA!” yelled Bailey, “YOU’RE ALIVE!” she threw her arms around Stranger’s neck and promptly burst into tears.

Stranger’s breathing steadily became easier and he closed his eyes to recover his strength. He felt Bailey’s hot tears on his fur. Slowly he pushed himself up into a sitting position and put his arms around the girl sobbing on his shoulder. Holding her close.

“Shh Bailey, it’s alright, I’m here.” He finally managed to croak. Bailey tightened her grip on Stranger and sobbed harder. Stranger made a soothing, purring sound and stroked Bailey’s back. “Bailey…I’m alright. I’m fine…”

“You-” Bailey choked, “You almost…” Bailey was the one shaking now. Stranger pulled her closer to his chest.

“But I didn’t. I’m fine.” Bailey took deep breaths and pressed her forehead to Stranger’s cheek, her eyes closed.

For a long time the two just sat in silence, eyes closed, mustering all their willpower and energy to move. Silently reassuring and being reassured that each of them were alive and well.

After a while Stranger took a deep breath and fire seared across his stomach. Bailey felt Stranger’s muscles tense and he let out a hiss of pain. She pulled away quickly.

“Stranger what-” and it was only then that she saw the red staining Stranger’s shirt. “Damn.” She muttered and ignoring his weak protests, forced Stranger to lie back. “Hold still, this might sting.” She peeled Stranger’s shirt from his stomach and winced. “Ow.” She muttered. A long, bloody cut went right across his stomach.

Bailey had to think fast.

“Don’t move. I’ll be right back.” Stranger groaned. Bailey rummaged around her equipment and finally located her scarf. She went back to Stranger and used the scarf as a makeshift bandage, wrapping it around his abdomen and tying it firmly.

When she was satisfied Bailey donned her poncho, hat and strapped on her pack, then helped Stranger with his poncho and hat and hauled him to his feet. Stranger sagged against her.

“Stranger, you have to help me out. I can’t walk for you.” He did make the effort, he really did try but blood loss was finally catching up with him. He drifted in and out of consciousness, worrying Bailey, the only way she could think of to keep him awake was talk to him. Which is exactly what she did. “Stranger,” she had to keep saying his name to get him to pay attention in the first place, “How d’you know the Doc? Well, I assume you know ‘im, he seemed to know you…” Stranger’s eyes were closed as if he was sleepwalking but he managed to answer.

“He…can help me…only one who can help me…” By his tone Bailey suspected that he wasn’t fully aware what was happening and almost delirious, he wouldn’t normally answer a question like that. Bailey therefore used the situation to find out more about Stranger. There was a lot about him she didn’t know, she realised.

“Help? Help you with what?”

“My…condition…it’s why I do the bounties…to fund it…” he was almost done in and still Stranger wasn’t about to give away important information. Bailey gave a futile sigh. Even when he was almost on his last legs he hadn’t let his guard down…

Bailey only hoped that they could get back to Birdington and to the Doc before (1) Outlaws found them, (2) Stranger dropped from his injury and blood loss and possible infection and (3) anyone realised that she was a wanted felon.

She didn’t have Stranger to protect her right now. It was the other way around now, Bailey smirked at the irony. Instead of needing Stranger to protect her, Stranger now needed the protection.

And Bailey’d be damned if she didn’t look after him.

“How can he help? The Doc I mean.”

“He can…do tha operation.” Bailey stopped dead.

“What operation?” Stranger sank down to sit on a log, Bailey crouched in front of him, “Stranger, tell me, what operation can the Doc do?”

“It makes me…normal… I’m a freak, an’ I don’t wanna be.”

“What are you talking about!?” asked Bailey, completely stunned by his response, “Take a look around! All that inhabits Oddworld are screw-ups and oddballs. We’re all freaks. What makes you so special?”

“It’s dangerous…fer me…fer what I am…I’d be hunted down…” Bailey frowned,

“Why?”

“Because…that’s tha way it is… Bailey…”

“I’m right here, what is it?”

“It’s dark Bailey…I can’t see yer…I can hardly hear yer…” Stranger was fading fast. Bailey got him on his feet again.

“Stranger, work with me, I need you to stay awake, listen to my voice…c’mon Stranger, you’re stronger then this.”

“I’m…not sure I can go on fer long…”

“You don’t need to,” Bailey panted, Stranger weighed an absolute ton! “We’re gonna get there real soon.”

“Yer promise?” Bailey didn’t answer straight away, such a childish question from someone so much older and sterner then herself put Bailey off balance, but finally;

“Yeh. Yeh I promise. We’ll make it…” Bailey paused but spoke again, “Whatever happens, I’ll always be your friend and I will always be there if you need me. I promise that too.” Stranger smiled sleepily and nodded. Bailey blew air from her cheeks.

Now all she had to do was keep that promise…

¤§¤

It was getting dark by the time Bailey and Stranger stumbled into Birdington. Stranger was practically on his knees. Bailey had to drag him into the town’s gates, straining every muscle, but she made it and let out a relieved breath.

“In tha name o’ Odd!” squawked a voice, “What ‘appened ter you two?” Bailey looked up, the Clakker from the guard tower was clambering down the ladder to get to them.

“Outlaws.” Bailey said heavily, “And Stranger’s not at his best.”

“I can see tha’! Yer need to git ‘im ter tha Doc’s.” Bailey nodded and put one of Stranger’s arms around her neck, and heaved. But she didn’t have anything left and she sank to the floor. She slammed a fist into the dirt and tried again and after a struggle got herself and Stranger up. “Methinks yer need some ‘elp lil’ miss.” Remarked the Clakker as he propped up Stranger’s other arm.

“Thanks…” said Bailey in a tired voice. The Clakker waved away her gratitude,

“Stranger’s ‘elped us a lot, I think I can ‘elp now, after all ‘e’s done fer us. Best bounty hunter in these parts is Stranger.” Bailey nodded, she didn’t have the energy to reply.

And it was still a way to the Vykker’s practice…

Ten minutes later Bailey was pounding on the door of the Doc’s surgery.

“Doc!” she yelled, “Doc! Open up!” a window on the floor above opened and a very irate Vykker looked out, looking ridiculous in monocle and a purple and white pinstriped nightcap and matching shirt.

“H’and what do you want!” he snapped in that nasally voice that made Bailey inwardly cringe and grated on her annoyance. She was not going to put up with his idiocy, she had no time for this. She’d throttled him once, she could do it again. She’d make him obey her.

“You get down here right now and open this door or I’ll break it down!” she roared, the Vykker gave a yelp of fright and dropped his monocle.

“It’s the mad human!” he squealed, “What d’you want!?”

“Stranger needs your…expertise!” Bailey called.

“I’ll be right down…” The Doc whimpered and disappeared from the window. A few seconds later the door opened and the Doc was met with a glaring Bailey. He visibly shrank before her. Cowed, utterly terrified of the human girl that only just stood eye to eye with him. He glanced at Stranger and then back to the fiery eyed Bailey. “Bring him in.” he squeaked. Bailey nodded and turned to the Clakker.

“Thank you for your help-”

“Grissum.” Bailey inclined her head. Grissum left and Bailey got Stranger into the back room of the Doc’s surgery and onto the table. The Vykker who’d been holding the door open entered after her.

Once she was sure Stranger was comfortable Bailey whirled on the Doc with a frightening ferocity and had him by the throat in a second.

“You do anything that will hurt him, and I will rip out your spine and hang you with yer own entrails.” She dragged him closer so he could see the cold seriousness in her eyes. “You get me?” The Vykker nodded vigorously.

“Yes, yes, of course.”

“Good.” Snarled Bailey and dropping the Vykker in disgust Bailey went to the office.

Waiting to see if Stranger lived or died.