Episode #312

Part Five of Five

In the examining room, Helm's head came up in alarm. Tessa? God, what awful timing!

"What was that, Doctor?" asked Vera.

Helm glanced briefly at Vera. "I don't know." Damnation! Why now? "Stay here while I take a look." Instinctively grabbing his bag, Helm went over to his bedroom and opened the door. Tessa sat on his bed clutching her left shoulder. He turned back toward the others. "Vera, stay here, please."

"Of course, but…"

He ignored her. "Call me if anything changes." Without giving Vera a chance to respond, he went into the bedroom and shut the door. Tessa looked up at him. There was much blood on her blouse and her pain was obvious. "What the hell happened?" He tossed his bag on the bed and touched the wound.

"Alonso," Tessa said between clenched teeth. "He pulled a gun on me. It is a good thing that he is not a very good shot."

Helm swore. "Bloody hell! Let me look at this shoulder." He plucked at the blouse and Tessa winced.

"I killed him," she said quietly.

Helm's heart fell. Not again; was there no end to it? "I thought you said you were going to let him live."

Her head came up in defiance. "He didn't leave me much choice when he pulled that gun."

He plucked at the blouse again and stopped. "May I?" Tessa nodded and allowed him to remove shirt and corset. He did it as gently as he could but it was not possible to avoid all pain. He breathed a sigh of relief when he found the exit wound. Somehow the ball appeared even to have missed smashing the shoulder blade.

"Thank God," he whispered. He opened his bag and took out what he needed, pads to soak up the blood, bandages. It needed cleaning, but he had no time for that now. Stopping the bleeding would have to suffice. "And how do you suppose Alonso got that gun in the first place?"

It took a moment for her to reply. "Me," she said, looking down at the ground to avoid Helm's gaze. "He stole it from me."

He looked up from what he was doing, shocked. "Tessa, what the bloody hell were you doing with a gun?"

"I was afraid!" And it showed on her face. She ran her free hand through her hair. "I knew I could beat Alonso in a fair fight, but I also knew that he wasn't the type to fight fair. I just wanted to be prepared…"

He felt anger rising in his chest. It seemed to him that she brought so much of it on herself, took too many chances. "And instead, you provided him with a means to kill you, and he nearly did!" He saw the hurt look in her face as the full weight of what he said hit her and he immediately regretted saying it. "I'm sorry. I worry about you. All those risks you take…I can't bear the thought of losing you."

"I know. I've learned my lesson."

"Good," he said, chuckling softly. "And just how do you plan to explain this to Marta?"

"At the moment…I'm just hoping she and Roman have a nice, long honeymoon."

"Come on, is it really that bad?"

"Let's just say that I'd rather hand myself over to Montoya than face her after she finds out that I was hurt because I was careless. The lecture alone would finish me."

He chuckled. "I suppose it is that bad. You're going to be laid up for a little while, so even if you avoid Marta, we still have to come up with an explanation the rest of the town would believe."

"I'm sure we can come up with something…"

"Dr. Helm!" Vera shouted from the other room.

"That would be for me." He took a large piece of cloth and made it into a sling for the arm. He made her lie back and drew a blanket over her. It would be necessary to stay warm to avoid the shock that often killed when the bullet had not. After making sure she was comfortable, he turned towards the door.

"Do you need me to help?" Tessa called after him.

He smiled at her. Just for once she needed to think of herself. "No. I haven't had time to take a good look but there doesn't appear to be any blood. She has obviously been ignoring my orders for rest. If she is not going to do what I tell her, I can't vouch for her safety or that of the baby. Maybe you can talk some sense into her."

It actually got a smile out of her. "I can only try."

"Good."

He gave her a brief kiss. "I know you want to be there for Elena, my sweet, but you're still wearing half your Queen costume and I don't exactly have any skirts handy. And with Vera and Juan Pablo in the room… I promise to come and get you as soon as it's safe to come out. Till then, please try to get some rest." She winced; he had been so busy worrying about the occupants of the next room that he had forgotten something. "I will give you a little laudanum for the pain.

"Dr. Helm!" came Vera's voice again, more insistent this time.

Exasperated, he yelled, "Coming!" He turned back to Tessa. "I'll get it." He went to his work table, poured some liquid from a bottle into a spoon and gave it to her to drink. "Not much, but it will also help you sleep. And I must go."

She touched his face gently and nodded. "Yes. Go. You are needed."

He gave her one last kiss and almost ran to where his other patient waited. Juan Pablo had arrived. Vera was in a fine state of near panic. When she saw him, she rushed to him.

"Doctor, she is in so much pain! I am sure there is something wrong."

He ignored her. Pushing her gently aside, he went to where Elena was holding her stomach and groaning. Juan gripped her other hand.

"Please, Doctor. Can you do something?"

Helm nodded and reached for Elena's forehead. Her skin was dry but her face was a little reddened. "Temperature's normal," he said, not looking up. He lifted her wrist and felt her pulse. "Heartbeat is normal. When did this begin?"

"A little after lunch."

"I see. Juan, with your permission, I'm going to feel her tummy."

"Of course, Doctor."

Helm turned the sheet back below the mound of Elena's belly. "Has there been any blood?" he asked before touching the shift.

"No."

Juan gasped. "Blood?"

Helm smiled. First time fathers were sometimes more problem than their pregnant wives. "It happens sometimes. I must ask."

"Oh, of course."

Helm pressed his hands carefully into the warm, cotton-covered flesh, feeling the muscles, feeling for motion, for rigidity… Satisfied, he pulled the sheet back up. "Elena, what have you been eating?"

"Eating?"

"Yes. Eating."

"Why?"

"Please answer me."

"I had lunch at the Cantina. We just ate some tortillas and beans…"

"With jalapeños?"

"Sí. I love them."

Helm smirked his amusement. Juan looked puzzled.

"Doctor, what's the matter?"

"Juan, your wife has a bad case of gas."

Elena gasped. "What?!"

Vera began to laugh and Juan looked indignant. Helm nodded at Juan. "She has ignored my instructions and it serves her right." He looked at Elena. "Now do you see why I told you there were some things you must not eat? Did you think I was playing games? Vera will help you get dressed again and your husband will take you home." And he looked at Juan. "And you will come outside. I wish to speak to you."

Juan nodded. "Of course."

And Helm walked straight out of the consulting room into the outer office, with Juan following him.

"Doctor, why do you wish to speak to me?"

"Because your wife refuses to listen to me. I gave her instructions for diet, exercise and rest and I expect those instructions to be obeyed. At the wedding party, she had severe cramps. That's not abnormal but it isn't good either. We still have a long way to go and it is time she thought about the baby and not about pleasing herself. Do I make myself clear?"

"But my wife is willful…"

Helm hardened his face. "Then, as her husband, it is your duty to make sure that willfulness gives way to consideration for her baby's health and her own. This is very serious business, Juan. I have buried too many dead babies and too many dead young mothers to want to do it again."

Juan hesitated. Helm could see by the look on his face that he'd managed to frighten the young husband. Good. It was what he had intended to do. Childbirth was not a game. The sooner they both got that through their heads, the more likely that it would end well. "Yes, Doctor. I see."

Helm placed a hand on Juan's shoulder. "Courage, my friend."

Epilogue

When Juan had taken Elena home and Vera had gone on her way, Helm went into his bedroom. Tessa still lay where he had left her, sleeping peacefully, her chest rising and falling in gentle motion. When it was dark and safe, he would waken her and send her home. If it were up to him, she would stay here until she was well, but it was not possible. For a woman, any woman, to be seen leaving his office in the morning would bring ruin on them both. They had already pushed the limits.

He sat down on the bed and brushed Tessa's face with the backs of his fingers. There had been so little love in his life; he would not risk losing it now. He bent down and kissed her cheek. She did not stir.

Watch for the next exciting adventure Thunderbird- Episode #313, starting on February 16, 2003.