54

Nolan was surprised at the intensity that possessed Dr. Wu while she was operating. She was slicing with such precision that Nolan couldn't help but stare. The way she carefully wiped the blood that issued from the incision was done with a steady hand.

The blood on her hand was strangely making him feel woozy so he looked away. But he couldn't help but what her hands. They were strangely entrancing.

The operation seemed to go on and on as Wu stuck in various instruments and poked around. Nolan was sure she was about to give up when she gave a deep hiss. He squashed his face against the glass to make sure he could see. There in her blue gloved hands was the smallest piece of metal that Nolan had ever seen. He couldn't believe that something so small had been sucking the life away of his dear sister.

Michael held out a silver dish and Wu dropped it. Michael peered over it with fascination.

"Will that be about it?" The old man grumbled as he began to take off his gloves.

"Oh go on ahead and clean up. You can take a break. I just want to make sure there is anything else in here."

Michael handed her the stitching threaded through the needle and she began to knit the flesh closed. She tied it with a flourish before taking her gloves and mask off. Wu turned off the overhead light and leaned against the operation table in a huff. She looked exhausted.

Now that it was over, Nolan tried to ascertain Ellie. Little puffs of breath were visible from the oxygen mask. She hadn't moved or moaned or done anything noteworthy during the entire operation.

Michael handed Wu some gauze and she paused when Nolan expected to put it over the incision. "What about the dressing?" Wu asked blankly.

"Oh," Michael handed her a jar and Nolan almost threw up.

The contents had a vomit green color to them and had the consistency of a vegetable casserole. This she put on his sister with a plastic spoon before taping on the huge piece of gauze that Michael had cut specially for Ellie.

"She'll need help showering." Wu said thinly. "Will you be up for that task?"

Michael shook his head, "We have nurses for that type of thing. Today was just a rare day when only I was around. But usually she has more help than me."

"You should get the men you brought in earlier to return her to her bed. She deserves a nice long rest after that. And figure out where the little scamp has gone off to. He's bound to get into some trouble around here."

Scamp? Nolan wanted to shout through the glass. Instead he remained calm and slipped out. He slumped on a wooden bench in the hallway until Michael found him. The exertion on the older gentleman was palpable.

"The surgery was successful," Michael said brightly. "You're intuition I trust oddly, even though I don't trust you."

Nolan smirked. "I'm glad. Ellie deserved a lot better than Henry. I hope she realizes that too. He wasn't here."

Michael patted Nolan's shoulder. "You'll understand when you have someone too. It's not that simple."