Above All Else

Chapter 5: Because they are their girlfriends

Jonnie looks at me nervously. I didn't know what to say to that. Jonnie come up with something! 

"They are our girlfriends!" Jonnie finally says.  That's it?! That's ur excuse?!
"Please we need to take them and Beth someplace safe." The cops sighs.

"Fine but get home now. Don't want you guys getting hurt."

"Thank you so much." Jonnie says as we drive off. We all sigh in relief.

"Seriously? Girlfriends?" I say.

Jonnie shrugs. "You come up with a better excuse!"

We finally get home and I take Beth inside and give her to my mother to take care of. Jonnie helps Reggie in and places her on the couch. I run to get a washcloth with cold water to put on her eyes. She starts panicking. 

"Why won't it stop burning!" She begs. 

"We need to neutralize the gas." Sam says in panic. "She needs new clothes too. All of it is coated with the gas."  I give Sam the cloth to put on her face. 

"Ill see if my mom has some clothes." I say as i run upstairs. I find some sweatpants and t shirt that she can change into and run down stairs. Sam is caressing Reggie's face to calm her down. 

"It's going to be okay Reggie." She assure her. Reggie's breathing slows down. Sam gets up and ushers me over. I walk over to her. 

"I need you to calm Reggie down while I look at her other injuries." I sit on the couch and put her head on my lap. I guess i should pat her head. 

"She was grazed by a bullet and have a couple of burns." Sam deduces. "She is going to stitches for the bullet wound." She pulls out stitching equipment from her bag along with some rubber gloves.

"How do you know this?" Jonnie asks curiously. 

"My mother taught me. She used to be a nurse before she lost her job. We got a lot of injured people in Riverside. I wanted to help so I learned." She put some alcohol on her wound. Immediately she twists in pain crying out. I grab her hand and squeeze it tight. 

"Reggie listen to my voice." She starts breathing harder. I let go of her hands and out my hands on the back of her neck going up to her jaw and down the her shoulders. "You are doing so great right now." Sam goes in with the needle. Reggie whimpers again I take the cloth off her face and see her tears fall down her cheek. I wipe them away with my thumbs. After 10 minutes she was done. They bandaged her up and she was taken to the bathroom to change into my mom's clothes. She comes back with slightly baggie clothes her hair wet and up in a bun with a completely washed face. 

Reggie

I walk my way over to the kitchen to grab a cup of water. I listen as I hear the distant booming and gun shots. Sam walks into the kitchen with Jonnie and Bailey.

"What the hell happened?" Sam asks. I don't say anything. Sam is nearly at her breaking point. She grabs my collar and pulls me to her. I place my hands on hers to try to get her off.

"WHY IS THE CENTER BURNED!?" She pleads. Jonnie pulls Sam away from me. "She is in shock right now.. Lets give her space." Jonnie says as he looks at Bailey. Jonnie takes Sam into a different room so she can calm down and Bailey stayed in the kitchen as I fiddle with my cup of water.