#whumptober day fourteen
No. 14 - UNDER PRESSURE
crush injuries | beaten | force
Part 1//Part 2
Aside from the Daniels, Harrison had never properly fit in anywhere. His squad was something else, though. Another family and a home from home. Sure, he’d had Fao for a few months, only when their schedules matched up, but mainly, it was just him.
He’d fallen in love, too, a charming man with smooth words and a even more charming smile. They’d spent tours together, and when they were back in the UK, they were always together, basically inseparable. He’d even spoken to Fred about proposing to Marcus; his adoptive father helping him with his speech and organising the rings for when they got back to England. Sheila wasn’t trusted to keep the secret, having already almost spilled the news to the pair on their last video chat.
The morning was the same as most, Harrison and Marcus messing around as they ate their breakfast, and then the rest of the early hours checking their packs. They all had a long walk into the next town, an aid mission rather than recon. It was always fun when they were allowed out together, Harrison not required to stay at their base for medical support.
Even though he’d spent months out there, Harrison still struggled with the heat. As midday loomed, he grew more grumpy, only making Marcus laugh harder at him. His complaints were quickly cut short as he turned to grumble once more, and tripped over his own feet. He ended up sprawled on his arse, looking up at the rest of the lads. Of course, they all laughed at him,and he couldn’t help but join in, stretching his hand out for Marcus to help him up. Bad mood averted, they carried on, making good time.
Harrison turned to talk to Marcus, and his whole world shattered. He was unconscious by the time he hit the sand again, thrown far from the blast. He came to slowly, the pain slowing his reflexes and dumbing his thoughts. His back was on fire, as was his shoulder and jaw. His ears were still ringing, and he kept drifting in and out of consciousness. He struggled to stay awake, trying to take stock of the situation. It took him too long to realise he couldn’t feel his legs, somehow numb and burning at the same time. By the time he struggled to look, he already knew the answer. His right leg was a mess, his ankle completely gone and the rest of his lower leg shattered. Even with his head spinning, he knew he had to do something, or he’d die. Being dead wouldn’t help anyone else. Marcus. His heart dropped. He’d been right next to him when the IED had gone off, but through the dust and sand, he couldn’t see him. He tried calling out for him, but his voice caught in his throat and blood pooled in his mouth. The taste only added to the nausea, and he barely made it to his side before he threw up. Pain flared through his body again, and his head hit the sand, unconscious once more.
When he came to again, he struggled to place where he was. The pain was blinding, and he knew he was dying. He managed to make it upright, threw up with the pain again, and struggled to reach for his leg. There was too much blood around him, even with his brain not working, he knew it wasn’t good. He fought with his tourniquet, trying to wrap it around his leg with both hands obviously broken. He was sure his shoulder was broken too, and his elbow was definitely not meant to be facing that way, he was sure. As he tightened the tourniquet, he cried out, the pain growing infinitely worse. The darkness called to him, a much better, easier option than the pain of living. He fought against it, Marcus once again in his thoughts. He had to find him.
When the team got to them, it was worse than they could have expected. A walking patrol meant that they’d taken the full force of the IED, not like the vehicles that often protected their inhabitants.
Harrison was the most obviously alive, his cries carrying across to them, and they rushed over to him, their hands replacing his on the tourniquet.
“Harrison.” Matt greeted, voice breathless. “We’ve got you now, Tomcat. We’re gonna look after you. You’re gonna be alright.”
His relief was quickly overshadowed by the increased pain as they tightened the tourniquet. He whined, his hand grabbing at Matt’s before it all overwhelmed him and he slipped under.
“It’s alright. We’ve got you.” He soothed, though he was somewhat relieved as Harrison slipped unconscious. It would make things easier, at least. He wasn’t in a good way, that was plain to see. As he started his assessment things just got worse and worse. The whole of his right side was a state, more blood than anything else. It made it virtually impossible to really see any other injuries. Really they had no choice but to get him as is and back to base where they had scans and could fully assess the state of his injuries.
They didn’t mess about, prepared for things to go south quickly. It would be just their luck.
“Where’s Marcus?” Harrison slurred as he came round again. “Please, I need him.”
“We’re looking for him.” It wasn’t a lie, but they weren’t necessarily expecting to find him alive.
They’d obviously given him something for the pain, and it was getting harder to focus. He fought against them as they tried to help. He screamed as they set his leg, his back arching. He slipped once more, calling for Marcus.
They apologised as he screamed, topping up his pain relief as they continued to stabilise him. The state of his chest worried them, but if he was screaming, he was breathing. They just needed to get him back.
