Ignoring the tall woman's complaining, the elderly doctor finished removing the gauze and let out a low whistle. "That doesn't look good at all." He mumbled, shaking his head in dismay.

Amanda jumped up from her chair to stand next to him. "What? What's wrong?" she peered around the small man, trying to see what he was looking at.

Running a hand down his face, Dr. Anderson pushed Lex onto her back, then lifted her legs until she was lying flat on the bed. "Might as well get comfortable, girl. We're going to have to open it back up to take care of the infection." He patted her leg. "Let me go get Laura - she's going to have to help me." He left the room to search for his nurse.

The small blonde took a close look at Lex's side. She could see that the area around the wound was very swollen, and the skin had an unhealthy red shine to it. The bruising on her chest was fading, only showing mottled yellow and light purple, and the gash she received in the creek was almost completely healed. The older woman was lying still, her eyes closed. Amanda brushed the dark bangs off of her forehead. "Are you in much pain?"

Blue eyes opened, meeting her concerned gaze. "No…that's what's so strange. It's only a slight ache." She captured the small hand running through her hair and brought it to her lips. "Is this where you tell me, 'I told you so?'" she teased, trying to get a smile from the worried young woman.

"No, Lex…this is where I say, 'I wish I wasn't right', because I hate seeing you go through this…" Amanda looked at the wound again. "That looks really bad…I can't believe it's not hurting you…I hurt just looking at it."

Doctor Anderson came back in the room, followed by a young woman about the same age as Lex. "See? I told you we wouldn't be long." He told the waiting women. "Laura, this is…" he was about to introduce Amanda when the small red-haired nurse spoke up.

"Amanda? How's your grandfather?" she walked over and gave the young blonde a hug, a huge smile on her face.

"He's doing great, thanks." Amanda stepped back, but kept one hand on the nurse's arm. "Talks about you quite a bit…says you're the best nurse he had."

Laura laughed. "That's just because I snuck him a milkshake every now and then." She looked over at the exam table. "Lex…it's been a while, hasn't it?" She gave Amanda's hand a gentle pat, then walked over to the table. "What have you done to yourself this time? Wreck a car? Fall off of a horse?"

Doctor Anderson had put on rubber gloves, and pulled a rolling tray next to Laura. "No, actually something different, this time. Gunshot." He grinned as his nurse paled slightly.

"Gunshot?" She looked at the wound. "Dear Lord, Lex…do you thrive on trouble?" she gave the rancher's shoulder a slight squeeze. Turning to Amanda, "You don't have to watch…we'll come get you as soon as we're done."

The young blonde shook her head. "I'd rather stay, for moral support. If I won't be in the way." She saw the grateful look on the rancher's face.

"No…not at all." Laura pulled on her own gloves, "you can sit right over there." She pointed at a chair by Lex's head. "Maybe with you here, we won't be subjected to your friend's bad language." She almost laughed out loud at the nasty look the woman on the bed was giving her.

"Hey! It wasn't my fault! That needle was huge!" Lex countered, glad that Laura was helping her in the effort to distract the young blonde.

Laura reached over to the rolling cart and grinned. "You think that one was big…?" she took the protective cap off of the syringe that she was holding, "I get to give you three of these!"

The doctor laughed. "Laura, don't tease my patient." He gave Lex a friendly pat on the leg. "Now, we're going to give you a local anesthetic, so try not to kick my nurse, okay?"

Rolling her eyes, Lex nodded. "Okay. But she could at least pretend not to enjoy it so much." This with a mock glare to the redhead. "I don't remember you being this sadistic in school."

"That's just because you didn't know me like you do now." The nurse retorted. "Now sit still, and I'll try to be gentle."