Falling in Love : I love you, Today and Forever

Chapter 642: Ian's pain - Part 2

"Deputy," Ian almost cried when he saw the long gash on her back with all the blood around it. It ran all the way from her shoulder to her mid-waist and it was shockingly ghastly. Ian picked up the cotton swab and started to clean her wound as he kept making sure that Valerie's vitals were fine every few minutes.          

    

It was only when he was done cleaning her back that he saw how horrendous the wound looked on her tanned skin. He felt his heart ripping apart and he had no idea the why. Although Valerie would heal, that is if she passed the critical period, the scar on her back would not vanish ever, unless she went for plastic surgery.     

Ian felt bad for the woman. No woman would bear to have a scar anywhere on her body and to think that Valerie would have to bear with such a long ad ugly scar, he felt utterly exasperated. Nevertheless, he still continued with his work and stitched her wound.     

Ian made sure that all the wounds on her body were treated, not caring if he had to tear open her clothes to do so. There were no feelings involved other than mutual respect for each other. And he was her doctor. So, he had to make sure that she was fine and well, lest she suffered problems later on.     

More than two hours had passed since he had started treating Valerie and Ian was beyond exhausted. With no one to help him, he was finding it difficult to keep up and make sure that he did not hurt her in the process. Fortunately for him, Valerie had high willpower and was not losing out on him. Though weak, her vitals were still present and that was an encouragement for him to keep going.      

"Doctor Davis, do you need any help?" He heard one of his men speak and Ian stiffened immediately. He was almost done by now and there was no need for anyone's assistance. Moreover, the state she was in was not presentable. Although some of the men in his team had medical expertise, they had not treated women. And he was unwilling to allow them to treat Valerie either.     

"No required. I am done here."     

Ian could not help but wonder about his complicated feelings. But before he could start dwelling more upon it, he heard people shout outside and his thoughts scattered immediately. He looked at Valerie, who now lay calmly on the make-do bed. She seemed alright and they were nothing more he could do about her. The only thing he could felicitate was to make sure her wounds did not get infected.      

With great care and gentleness, he helped her to wear a gown and made sure that the cloth did not press on her wounds before he opened the tent again.     

Just as he had expected, Ian saw his men treating the wounded and he took a breath. His entire hands and shoulders had gone sour after operating on her. Even his legs were aching and only he knew how he made it out of the tent without collapsing. But he had no time to even rest although his muscles were begging him to lie down somewhere.     

Taking a deep breath, he joined his men to help the victims of the blast. Fortunately for him, the others were not that gravely injured. So, even his men who knew medicine could handle them.     

Ian did not find Maggie anywhere around him.  The woman seemed to have just vanished. At one instant, he wondered if she had gone to Ryder. However, the next instant, he shook his head. Although Maggie was worried about her lover, she would not abandon her other teammates and go to him. She had to be somewhere here.  Again, he tried to find her. But in vain.      

Ian's attention was caught by the loud sounds of the sirens. The police and the medical help were here. People rushed inside the port and Ian felt like crying tears of joy on seeing them. For the first time, he felt joy in seeing strangers and he finally felt his exhaustion settling in. Since the medical assistance was here, he could rest for a while. His legs were killing him.     

His duty here was done and he could now step aside and allow the others to take over. He badly needed to recharge himself with energy. Seeing him stand silently, one of his men handed him a small bottle of orange juice and a bar of chocolate.     

Ian took them with a grateful smile. He was famished and thirsty and he did not hold back as he drink the juice without stopping. It was only when he felt the cool liquid pass through his throat that he felt better and he sighed in satisfaction.     

Ian almost choked on his juice when he saw Maggie suddenly as she supported someone to the nearest tent. Picking up a bottle of water, he followed her and waited until she helped the man to the bed before he handed her the bottle.     

"You can rest now, Maggie. I am sure the others can take over now. You must be exhausted." Ian did not miss the way some of her hair strands stuck to her face. She was sweating and panting profusely.     

Maggie did not reject him. Instead, she leaned against the bed. She was now utterly drained and all she wanted was to sleep.     

"You did a great job, Maggie. Don't worry. Everything will be alright."     

"How's Deputy?"     

"She is still critical. She is fighting it. I am sure she will wake up soon." Although Ian assured her, he himself was not assertive about it. Yet, he did not show it on his face lest Maggie should start worrying again. Moreover, he trusted Valerie to keep his words. She still had a criminal to catch.     

"Doctor Davis..." Ian heard one of the men speak from behind and he turned around. The stranger smiled at him and Ian had no choice but to return the courtesy.     

"I am Doctor Salim. I am the leading the medical emergency here." He introduced and Ian nodded at him.     

"Yes, Doctor. Let me hand over the cases to you. Some of them need to be shifted to the hospital immediately." He explained and led the man after nodding at Maggie.     

Maggie stayed behind and looked around the place, running her eyes around each and every corner of the port. It sure was a mess and now with so many people running around, it became all the more chaotic.      

'How did things turn out this way?' She sighed and emptied the bottle, glad that her thirst was at least quenched.         

    

Since the rescue team was here, she decided to return to Ryder. The man was waiting for her and the moment he saw her arrive, he sat up straight, his eyes sparkling in expectation.     

"I was waiting for you." He mumbled and held out his hand which Maggie took with a smile.     

"How's Deputy? Did you find her?"      

"Yes, we did. She is seriously injured. Ian has treated her wounds. We need to keep her observation for now." Although Ian had assured her about her Deputy, Maggie knew how dire the situation was. How could Valerie be fine after suffering such a huge explosion? She could tell that Ian was trying hard to stop her from worrying.      

Ryder nodded, his expression turning serious. They could do nothing but wait for his Deputy to wake up now.     

"How about Preston? How is he?" Ryder queried immediately after and Maggie frowned at him right away.     

She gave him a confused look and Ryder raised his brows at her.      

"What?"      

"I don't think we...we..." Maggie tried to remember all the victims they had rescued. "I don't think we have rescued Preston. No one has found him yet."     

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