The day was chilly, but the sun was warm on the grassy bank by the creek, where it managed to penetrate the overhead canopy some, which was good because we were going to need the extra light. I started making a fire out of only especially dry wood, as it would make less smoke. What little smoke was made would be dispersed by the overhead canopy of tree branches. Trent got the pot out of his pack and started water boiling over the fire on a makeshift trifold.
"Can you rig up the scaffold for the IV fluid?" I asked.
He nodded and did so ingeniously, as I laid out the considerable amount of medical supplies that we had brought with us. We both sterilized our hands and then glanced down at our patient. Her bruised face was all we could see. Her lips were dry, in a sure indicator of how dehydrated she was. We had to get fluid into her!
I unzipped the travel case all the way to her feet and together we pulled it back from her. There's something about the sight of a woman who's been abused. Some men willingly do the abuse and gain pleasure from it in a sick fashion. Other men like me and Trent view a woman, as something to be cared for and nurtured, never abused. The site of an abused woman or child is a call to arms against whoever perpetrated the offense. The desire to make, whoever did the offense, pay in blood is overwhelming.
I glanced upward to Trent across from me. He was literally shaking with rage, which is how I felt inside, but this wasn't the time or place for such emotions. I reached across and shook his shoulder. He looked up his eyes molten with anger.
"I know! But now isn't the time for anger! I need your help Trent! Find a quiet place and store your anger, until the time comes, when it's okay to express it."
He nodded jerkily and like a veil his features became stoically shielded and the pulsing intensity of his demeanor calmed down. Any man, who had such mastery over himself, was a man to be reckoned with.
"I imagine your medical training is a lot more advanced than mine so you take point."
He nodded easily accepting the responsibility of the situation. "First off we need to start getting fluid into her."
He had a spot sterilized and an IV hooked up at a fast drip within moments, as adeptly, as any experienced nurse could have done. The IV started his fingers reached out and felt through her hair at her skull.