Disclaimer: These characters are owned by CBS
and the CW network. I mean no infringement of any sort and am only using the
characters for personal enjoyment and for others to enjoy as
well!
DISCLAIMER: THIS FIC IS RATED M FOR LANGUAGE,
CONSENSUAL SEX, AND REFERENCES TO VIOLENCE. IF YOU ARE UNDER 18, SCRAM! IT IS
NOT MY JOB TO POLICE WHAT YOU ARE READING! IF YOU DON'T WANT TO READ IT, SCRAM!
I WON'T TOLERATE BULLYING!
This story is told from Catherine's POV, in the first person. May throw in
Vincent's POV down the line.
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Chapter 11
When I opened my eyes again, the first thing I noticed was that the sun was
low in the sky. I jerked upright, and my eyes swiveled toward Vincent. He was
still unconscious, and I reached out my hand toward his forehead. He was still
burning up, and I began to panic. Scared, I checked his injuries. My heart
stopped when I saw how angry looking they were. The skin around them was red and
irritated and I knew that they had become even more infected.
I sat next to Vincent, and I fought the urge to scream. We needed to get out
of here. I knew absolutely nothing about surviving the outdoors. I knew Vincent
needed medical attention that I couldn't provide. I stared at him, knowing any
chance we both had of making it out of here alive, was gone. Without proper
attention, Vincent's wounds would begin to fester and he would most likely die.
Without Vincent.........I wouldn't live much longer than him........
Damn it!!! Why wasn't there a subject on surviving the great outdoors in
school? Not that I would have taken it.....but still!!!
Wait a minute!!! I did know about surviving in the wilderness. A
ranger had come to school when we were kids. I closed my eyes, willing myself to
remember.......
#------------
"Can you believe we need to sit here and listen to some stupid ranger tell us
how to survive in the wild? It's not like we are ever going to get lost in the
woods," Vincent said, giving my shoulder a nudge. I nudged him back, smirking.
At 13, Vincent thought he was so smart. Puberty had hit him earlier in the year,
and he already stood a few inches taller than me. He even had a little scruff on
his chin. It made him pretty hot looking.
Wait!! Why am I thinking about him like that? He's my best friend. I don't
like him like that.....
Do I?
Again, I began to notice little things about Vincent.....things I never
thought about before. His smile.....how it always traveled to his eyes. His
lips.....plump and kissable.....
I shook myself. Stop it, Catherine!!
"Hey......lets sit here," Vincent said, breaking into my thoughts. He grabbed
my elbow, guiding me toward the two end seats. We sat down, waiting for the
presentation to start.
Vincent nudged me again. I turned my head. "Hey, if I ever do get lost in the
woods, I hope you are the one that finds me," he said with a wink. I felt heat
climbing my neck.
"Me too......" I whispered. Then, I heard applause start. I looked toward the
stage, seeing our Principle, Mrs. Scott, and a man in a ranger outfit. She
introduced him as Ranger Nelson, and for the next hour, he went over basic
survival skills. He told us about plants that could stave off infections, how to
make a poultice, and how to know when something was beyond saving.
Afterwards, as we walked back to class, Vincent looked down at me. "Did that
scare you, Catherine?"
I looked at him, confused. "Why do you ask?"
Vincent chuckled. "Cause your nails have been digging into my arm ever since
he mentioned infections and poultices."
I looked down, realizing he was right. I pulled my hand away. "I'm sorry! I
didn't even realize I was doing that."
"Good to know in a crisis, you will keep a level head," he teased.
"Let's hope you never have to find out..." I smirked at him. He shook his
head, a wide smile on his face. He threw his arm around my shoulder, and we made
our way down the hallway...
#------------
My eyes widened. I knew what to do. I looked down at Vincent. "Hold on a
little longer, Vincent. You aren't going to die today."
I raced into the woods around us, looking for the plants I needed. Finding
them, I raced back to Vincent. I found a large rock, and mashed everything
together. Working as quickly as possible, I made the poultice, and placed it on
Vincent's back.
Throughout the night, and into the next day, I repeated the process, praying it would work......
Night was falling again when I checked Vincent's back. I was surprised to see
that the wound looked less angry than yesterday. It was still inflamed, but
the redness was not as bright as before. I felt Vincent's forehead.
It was noticeable cooler.
I breathed a sigh of relief. I did it! I had tamed the infection. I jumped
when I heard a groan.
Vincent began to stir, his eyes blinking open slowly. He looked at me.
"Catherine....." he whispered.
I smiled, my relief engulfing me. "You're going to be okay, Vincent. You're
gonna be okay."
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