Victoria's Challenge by M. K. Eidem Read Free Book Online Page B

one’s this tough.” She doesn’t return his smile as she gives him the injection. “Sit.” Pulling on gloves, she steps in front of him, carefully unwrapping one hand. With one last look into his eyes, knowing that he will never see her the same way again, she turns and lowers his hand into the solution.
    “What the fuck! ” Lucas tenses behind her. It feels like his hand is in boiling water.
    “Relax Major,” she tells him.
    “How am I supposed to do that?” He has to force himself not to pull his hand away. “And stop calling me Major! Fuck! What are you doing?” It feels like she’s driving nails into his hands.
    “I’m manipulating the tendons, loosening them.”
    “Why don’t you just fucking rip them out?”
    Victoria’s heart breaks at the pain she’s causing him.
    “ Talk to me. Tell me about getting back to the fleet after the Challenge. What ship where you assigned to?”
    Gritting his teeth, Lucas talks as she works each tendon, each muscle, asking questions when he falters. Trying to keep his mind occupied. When she feels him start to quiver, she looks up. He’s pale and sweaty, his pupils dilated.
    “Damn it Lucas ! I told you to let me know.”
    “Just finish! ” Reaching for the turpidian, she gives him the pain medication. Watching closely she can tell when it starts to work. Turning back, she finishes working his thumb. Assessing the entire hand, finding she can move everything properly, she carefully dries and bandages it before bracing it onto the board.
    As the sink empties, she stretches her back. Sterilizing it again, she refills it, changing gloves, she unwraps his other arm.
    “Victoria... ” Looking at him, Victoria sees his pain, she can feel it, deep inside and it nearly crushes her because she can’t make it stop, she won’t. This is what needs done if he’s ever going to fly again, for him to have the life he wants, even if it’s one without her. Fighting through the pain, she picks up his other hand.
    “It has to be done. ” With tight lips, he nods. “Tell me this time when you need a shot.” Slipping his hand into the treated water, she hears him groan.
    “So what happened on the Rodham?” When he doesn’t reply she pushes. “Come on Lucas talk to me, I’ll get you through this. I heard rumors it was the party to beat all parties.”
    Slowly he starts to tell her about the Carinian equivalent to Earth’s New Year’s Eve . They’d docked at the Space Station Rodham and rumor had it were not allowed to return. Sometime during the telling, Lucas manages to pull himself closer to her. With his bandaged arm on one side, his other in the solution, he rests his head on her back, seeking her silent comfort and strength.
    “Lucas. ” She’s concerned at his silence.
    “What? ” Turning, his head comes to rest on her breast.
    “Let me help. ” Pain filled eyes pierce hers.
    “I can’t take much more of your help! ” Devastated eyes greet his statement before they go blank. Giving him another shot, she turns back to the sink.
    “Victoria… ” He’s not so far gone that he doesn’t realize he’s hurt her.
    “So Dodge was dancing…” She is not going to cry. She knew this would happen. She’s a doctor for God’s sake. She’s tougher than this. If she’s not, then she needs to rethink her choice of career. It’s a good thing he’d told her his feelings before the accident, otherwise…
    Before long, she feels him leaning against her again. Bracing her legs, she takes more of the weight he doesn’t know he’s putting on her. Finally finishing, she repeats the wrapping and bracing of his hand.
    “ Come on, let’s get you to bed.”
    “What? ” He asks, his voice slurred.
    “We’re done, you need to rest . Come on.” Getting him up, she realizes she should have called for help. If he went down...
    “One step at a time, that’s it, a lmost there. Sit down. There you go. Now lean back. Good.” Once he is situated, she heads back to