Mary Beth called the police while the other two girls walked Jenny into a spare bedroom and got her to lie down. Dawn pulled her shirt up and pulled off the shirt that Johnny had given her as a compress.
“Shit,” she said when she saw the blood and the cut. “I don’t think Buddy’s tape job will do the trick. You need stiches.”
“I’ll be the judge of that,” said Buddy Magellas from behind her. “I brought all my best stuff.” He walked over to the bed and surveyed the scene. “Can you remove your shirt, please?”
Jenny stared at him. “I’m not wearing a bra,” she said.
“He’s a trained combat medic,” Jen Magellas said from behind him. “I think he can handle it.”
“Tell you what,” Buddy said. “I’ll go into the hall, you take off your shirt, use it to cover up your boobies, then yell when you’re ready.” He walked away.
… And Johnny Rand walked in, just in time for the big reveal.
“Dammit, I’m sorry,” he said as he turned to face the door.
“It’s okay,” Jenny said. “I trust you now.”
Johnny continued facing the door until Dawn yelled, “All covered up now.” Buddy came back in. He looked at the knife wound. It didn’t take long.
“I’m afraid Dawn was right. I’ll disinfect and tape it up, but I think you’re going to need stitches. We need to get you to a hospital.”
“I don’t have medical insurance,” Jenny said.
“Don’t worry about it. For what you did, it’s on me,” Johnny said.
“What did she do?” Buddy said. “What is this all about?”
“She saved my ass. I’ll tell the longer version later.”
“I did not save your ass,” Jenny said. “You were doing just fine by yourself. But there were three of them, which seemed a little unfair.”
“This story we all need to hear, Johnny,” Dawn said. “But right now, the cops are on their way here and you really, really need a shower. Your face is covered in blood.”
“Okay,” Rand said. “I’ll make it quick. Meanwhile, can you find something for Jenny to wear? If you want, it can be one of my t-shirts.” He left the room.
“Combat medic,” Jenny said. “Lemme guess: Rangers?”
“Hooah,” Buddy said. “Right the first time. Johnny and I served together. You?”
“Marines.”
“Oorah, Marine. What was your MOS?”
She looked away. “Supply,” she said softly.
“Hey, Marine, eyes on me right now!” She looked back up at Buddy.
“Where do you think us grunts would have been without Supply? Nowhere fast, that’s where. It’s an honorable MOS. You’re a fucking Marine, and that’s what counts.” He paused. “Pardon my French.”
Jenny laughed, then winced. “Ooh, that hurt.”
That was as Rand walked in with two Pacific Division cops. Between Johnny and Jenny, they quickly told their story to the cops, the girls, and Buddy and Jen.
“Remind me not to piss you off, Jenny,” Buddy said.
The cops asked Rand if he wanted to arrange transport for Jenny.
“No, I’m going to drive her to Reagan. Thanks for coming out and taking our story. It would be a bonus if you could find those three guys, but the odds are slim. Look for one guy who took a hard joint lock to his knife elbow.”
The officers shook hands all around and left.
“Ready?” Johnny asked Jenny.
“Ready,” she said. She slid over, stood up, and fainted. Her tattered blouse fell away from her breasts.
“Somebody get some water,” Johnny said. “Somebody else get a t-shirt. Please. I’m pretty sure this woman saved my life tonight.”
Mary Beth and Jay moved into action. Johnny covered Jenny back up.
“Dawn, can you come to the hospital with us?”
“Only if you get your head looked at, too.”
“Deal.”
——
Dawn held Jenny in the back seat while Johnny drove as quickly as was safe to the hospital. He parked in the no parking zone which was reserved for ambulances, put his LAPD placard on the dash, got out of the car, and helped the ladies out. They walked into the emergency room which was surprisingly uncrowded.
“May I help you?” The woman behind the counter said.
Rand badged her, then said “Knife wound to the abdomen, and a fainting spell. Please expedite if you can.”
“Yessir.” She pressed a button.
Two nurses, or a nurse and an orderly, or two orderlies — he couldn’t tell; they were both in scrubs — quickly came through the door with a gurney. They helped Jenny onto it and whisked her away. Dawn followed.
Meanwhile, Johnny went back to the counter to attend to the paperwork.
“Thank you,” he said, and handed the nice lady a credit card. “Please put all charges onto this.”
She stared at him. “No insurance?”
“Not a bit,” he said. “But my card can handle it.” He started to walk to the chairs to sit and wait.
“Sir, I’m going to need some information about the patient.”
“I’ll bet you are. Unfortunately, I don’t have any. At all. I can go out to my car and get her purse; maybe it’ll have what you need.”
Turned out that it had the basics, her name and where she lived and stuff. No info like blood type, or allergies, or medications. That would have to wait.
Johnny arranged to keep Jenny’s room private, then trudged around the waiting room, then sat, then got up again and walked outside, then walked back inside, and sat again. It was taking a long time, but for this lady he would wait all night. He really hoped that she would have no scars. She was pretty, and from what he’d seen of her body she was also pretty fine. And athletic.
Dawn came through the doors and sat down next to him. “She’s going to be fine. Buddy was right, she’ll need stiches. The nurse didn’t want to do it so they’re waiting on a doctor.”
Rand jumped up and went back to the counter. And the nice lady.
“Do you have a plastic surgeon on call?”
“Yes.”
“Please call him or her in. And don’t let a regular doctor stich Jenny up until he or she gets here.”
“Sir, it’s the middle of the night.”
“It is. And I brought my biggest credit card. Please call.”