It was a quiet morning in the clinic. The streets, on the other hand, were busy. With all of the mills being searched, the workers didn't return home. After the each mill was deemed safe, the workers were allowed in. It worried Alexandria, truthfully. Who knows what one of the workers could do while there or carrying something in.
Yet, it the quietness of her day did gave her time to work in the lab and Annabelle made up the kits for different treatments. One thing Alex could honestly say, she missed music while she did busy work. Pausing what she was doing, Alex washed up in order to make a cup of tea.
"Annabelle?"
"Yes ma'am?"
"I'm taking a break, would you like some tea?"
"No, but thank you for the offer."
The two women chatted amicably for a little while when something loud shook the small clinic. Running outside, the plume of smoke was easily seen.
"Oh god." Running back in, Alex grabbed the large traveling bag that she used to make house calls. Propriety be damned, she ran towards the smoke. It seemed to take forever to get to where the smoke was coming from. Hugh Gentry was a new mill master. He had purchased the mill just a couple of years ago from a distant cousin. While new to Milton, Gentry wasn't new to the cotton mill. His father owned two in Manchester, he had grown up working alongside his father. The smoke was coming from the Gentry mill.
Having to push through the crowd, Alex grew angry. She was losing precious time. The building was in flames. Six men had gone into the building earlier, two came staggering out. There was no way anyone could have survived if they were still in there.
"DOCTOR ALEX!"
Turning, she ran to the area the voice came from. The man was unrecognizable. There was no chance of survival. Even in her own time there wouldn't have been, he was just too far gone. Another man lay prone several yards away. She ran there next.
The fact there was blood surprised her. Feeling around his neck and throat, Alex made sure the best she could that there wasn't an obvious break in his neck. Turning him over, she felt ill. It was John Thornton.
She felt for a pulse and found none. Alexandria, with shaking hands, began to give him CPR.
Muttering to herself, tears formed in her eyes. "Not now John Thornton. You are not leaving me now. I can out stubborn you!"
Something hit her in the chest, knocking the wind out of her. It was one of the other mill masters.
"You won't desecrate him like such!"
Teeth bared, she looked like a wild animal. "I'm trying to save his life you fool!!" The man backed off immediately. Which was probably a good thing. She might have killed him. Her own chest aching, Alex went back to work. Finally, she found a pulse.
Calling out to some of the men to grab a door, she needed to get him back to the clinic. Two of the larger men in the crowd helped her.
"He gunna live Doc?"
"He bloody well better."
In the clinic, they lifted John onto a bed in one of the private rooms she used as a trauma room. She cut the clothing off of him quickly. A few first degree burns and contusions were the majority of the injuries on his torso. The cause of the blood loss was much more minor than she thought, it was a simple cut to the head. While it bled quite a bit, it didn't even require stitching. Positive that a couple of ribs were broken, she ignored all of that for the time being.
"Annabelle, go to Marlborough Mills and get Mr. Thornton's mother. Do not let her come back in here until I come out. Send people to Dr. Shanks if they need help. If he wants payment tell him I will pay for it if need be."
John groaned as he began to awaken further.
"John. John, I'm here. Stop struggling. You are going to be fine. I've got you."
His voice was strained, rough from the smoke inhalation. He gave her some semblance of a smile."Best doctor I will ever meet."
"You know it. I am going to give you some medication." Pain medication and an antibiotic were injected into him. Waiting for the pain medication to begin to work, Alex began to organize what needed be done in her head.
The worst of the burns were to his face and neck. Most of his hair was singed on the right side. The burns were third degree and spread forward about a half an inch from his natural hairline. The thin band of burns would scar but as long as they didn't get infected he has a good chance of survival. Thinking he must have covered his eyes with his arm, there was a gap where the flesh was barely touched. The burn continued down from his face down his neck and onto his chest.
She debrided the burn painstakingly slow. This was her specialty and Alex knew exactly what she was doing. She wished that she had all the technology she was used to, but the treatment of burns wasn't too different in the long run.
She head the cry of anguish from Hannah Thornton as Annabelle took her into the waiting room. Alexandria's heart ached for Hannah, but right now John was more important. She did however permit Annabelle to peek in for updates. While time seemed to be at a standstill, three hours had actually passed. An IV was going, a fire started in the fireplace. A large kettle of water was set in the fireplace to keep a warm humid environment. It was only when everything was done to her satisfaction did Alex exit the room.
"Dr. Copeland?" Hannah Thornton was a sickly shade of white, even while sitting. When she began to stand, Alex put a hand on the older woman's shoulder to keep her sitting and sat next to her. Unbeknownst to Hannah, the way Alex touched her wrist was to keep an eye on the older woman's pulse rate.
"I'm sorry I couldn't come out to you sooner, but John was my priority."
"I understand. Is he?....." The strong and stoic Dragon of Marlborough Mills sat there with tears on her face.
"He's resting now. When I arrived at the mill, John wasn't breathing." Alex slid her hand to Hannah's. "It's okay. I was able to remedy that. He has woken and spoke to me but only for a moment. I wanted to keep him free of pain for as long as I can. He has broken ribs and a pretty severe burn on one side of his face."
"Will he be scarred?"
"Yes. I think I can make it lessen but there will be some scarring. Mrs. Thornton, this is my specialty. This is what I know and do best. As long as nothing gets worse John will be fine. It will take a while to heal, but he will heal."
"Thank you. May I see him?"
Alex nodded. "Let me gown you up and we will go in. He looks a lot worse than he is. You cannot get too close but you will be able to see him."
Helping Hannah Thornton put two gowns on over her dress and then putting a mask on, Alex walked her into the room. She was only permitted to go as far as the end of the bed. Alex was now worried about infection. The less people the better. Leading her back out, Alex sat with her again.
"I'm not going to reopen the clinic until John has healed enough that I won't worry about things getting worse. I am paying for the others to go to Dr. Shanks. I will take the best care possible of John."
"Do you love him Dr. Copeland?"
While she looked surprised, Alexandria answered truthfully. "Yes. Yes, I do. I would give my own life to save his."
It was then that Hannah Thornton did the unexpected, she kissed Alexandria's cheek. "Thank you."
"You are most welcome. I do need to get back in there with him."
For over 24 hours Alexandria kept John under constant surveillance. She did not eat or sleep, nor did she want to. She read to him, spoke with him, and simply held his hand. Hannah Thornton stayed at the clinic as well for the first 24 hours. Finally, Alex sent her home.
It was early the next morning when Mrs. Thornton returned to the clinic. She was bearing a basket of food. Not finding Alex nor Annabelle, she peeked into John's private room.
Sitting in a chair was Alexandria. Her head on the mattress at John's hip. An arm stretched over his stomach, John had laced his fingers through hers. Awake, he gently ran his fingers through Alex's hair. Just as Alex cared for him, John was taking care of the exhausted Alexandria.
"John?" Hannah spoke softly.
Turning his head to the noise, he gave a trembling smile. "Good morning Mother." He mouthed. From the smoke and the burn, it was painful to speak.
Jumping awake, Alexandria was startled, having felt another person in the room. When she started to pull away, John Thornton squeezed her hand gently.
"Am I permitted in?"
Nodding, Alex gave an embarrassed smile. "Of course. I will give you some private time." Starting to rise, John squeezed her hand again and shook his head. "No."
"Yes. I need to make up another treatment for you. Please Mrs. Thornton, take my seat."
John scowled as best he could at her, although it no longer touched his eyes. Half of his head and face were bandaged. There were others on his hands and torso, but not nearly as thick. Tucking more pillows behind his back, Alex helped him sit up.
"I shall return shortly. If either of you need me, I am just down the hall." She closed the door behind her.
"You really love her don't you my son?"
Nodding, he smiled as best as he could. It was too painful to talk. Tapping his mother's hand, he motioned to her ring finger.
"Do you need something?"
Nodding, he motioned to the ring finger again.
"You wish to marry her?"
Again, he nodded but tapped the finger again.
"Ring!" Hannah's eyes widened in surprise. "You need a ring."
He nodded and smiled.
"The purple sapphire that was your great-grandmother's would look beautiful on Dr. Copeland. It's a rarity not to be backed in gold. She did have a love for platinum and silver pieces."
"Please mother that is the perfect one." He rasped.
"Do you wish to have it today?"
John nodded. "Please."
Tapping on the door first, to announce her return, Alex came back in. "Mrs. Thornton, I hate to do this but I need to ask you to leave. I need to debride the burn again. That requires me medicating Mr. Thornton. It will take a few minutes to set up so once I give him an oral medication he should be able to talk for a few minutes."
"Open your mouth please Mr. Thornton. Swish the liquid around a few times before you swallow." She squirted the medication in. Pausing, she waited. "Better?"
His voice was still raspy, but it did help. "Thank you."
"May I stay here at the clinic until John wakes up again Dr. Copeland?"
"Of course." She smiled gently.
When Hannah Thornton stepped out of the room, Alex was ready to start. "Ready?"
"Not yet. Alexandria?"
"Yes?"
"Do you still love me?"
"John Thornton!" She scolded him gently. "Of course I do. You cannot change that."
"Sit with me please?" He slid over as well as he could on the bed.
Doing as asked, she took the hand that hadn't been burned or hurt. Leaning, she kissed his lips lightly. "Why do you ask such things?"
"I will be disfigured."
"There will be scarring, yes. This right here is my specialty. You will not be disfigured. Even if you were, that doesn't stop you from being you. While I do find you to be a very handsome man my dearest John, it is more than your looks that I fell in love with."
"I do not want you unhappy."
"I shall not be unhappy. John, I love you so."
"Good." He smiled.
"Are you ready now?"
"Yes."