[Kaliko]

Blaze's leg had been grazed, but nothing vital. She was going to be fine. As Kale got farther behind, she slowed a little to turn around.

[Rinrou]

Relief filled Kale's eyes as he confirmed she was fine. "S..." he coughed, "Sorry... I can't..." he coughed again, stumbling forward as some blood dripped from his mouth.

[Kaliko]

Blaze immediately turned around and ran back to Kale. Without a word she bent over and grabbed Kale's legs, slinging him over her shoulder. "Stay conscious," she told him through her pants as she continued jogging toward the Juttle.

[Rinrou]

Kale cried out a bit has Blaze threw him over her shoulders, "I suppose..." Kale whispered as he continued to cough, "I... should say... something... sappy..." he stifled a groan, "now..."

[Kaliko]

"Shut up," Blaze instructed as she tried to pick up the pace. "Think of... sugar... or something."

[Rinrou]

Kale chuckled but it quickly turned into coughing as he struggled to breathe. As soon as Blaze reached the Juttle, Kale was taken from her and the Juttle took off as soon as the outer door was closed. It was now apparent Kale had been shot at least once in the back. He was losing consciousness fast.

[Kaliko]

Blaze let the medics take Kale, but she shoved her way to his side. She was panting badly and looked like she might actually loose consciousness herself, but she didn't seem to notice.

When she saw him loosing consciousness she reached out and slapped him hard on the face to bring him back.

[Rinrou]

Kale's eyes flicked open for a moment at the slap, glossy eyes fixing on Blaze. The medics were swarming, trying to stabilize his breathing with tubes as they turned him on his side to get a good look at his back. "One... tw-no three bullets." a doctor called out as they cut away the back of his shirt to reveal his bulletproof jacket underneath. The bullets had had enough power to puncture the vest but they hadn't come out the other side. He'd already be dead if they had. Quickly they removed his jacket, got him into the operating room on the medical Juttle. Kale was still in and out of consciousness as they brought him inside.

[Kaliko]

Blaze didn't let anyone tell her no as she went with them. She held Kale's head in her hands, trying to keep eye contact with him. When the doctor said there were three bullets in his back, a tear rolled down Blaze's face. But she wiped it away quickly before leaning forward and kissing Kale's forehead lightly.

[Rinrou]

Kale seemed to realize she was there at least partially. By the time they got situated in the operation room, Kale's heart had stopped twice already. Each time they restarted it and proceeded to get him stable enough to remove the bullets. Quickly they drugged him and turned him over. One nurse suggested Blaze leave or at least not look as they started to operate on his back. The sooner they got the bullets out the better.

[Kaliko]

Blaze quickly complied and gave the doctor's space. But she didn't leave, and she didn't look away. The operation didn't seem to bother her. But leaving him now seemed to be too much for her. So she squatted quietly in the corner, twisting Kale's hat in her hands.

[Rinrou]

No one bothered Blaze as the operation continued. Time passed slowly as an hour slipped away before the head doctor went over to Blaze. Kale was wrapped in bandages but the operation was over. They were now landing since the fear of jostling him during surgery was over.

"We've removed the bullets." he told her gently, "But I don't want to give you false hopes. He's still critical... but stable at the moment. His vitals are stabilized. We'll do our best but he still might not make it. Do you understand?"

[Kaliko]

Blaze nodded slowly and solemnly. She was tired, but she had stayed there the entire time. The injury on her leg was taken care of; she had accepted the supplies from one of the nurses after the first hour or so and taken care of her leg herself. "... Thank you, doctor," she told him quietly. "for doing your best."

[Rinrou]

The doctor nodded and left as the Juttle landed and was swarmed by neon haired people. The doctor took them aside as Kale was transported out of the Juttle and into a more stable setting in the main hovercraft. The nurses allowed Blaze to stay by his side as the moved him carefully.

[Kaliko]

So Blaze didn't let Kale out of her sight. She had a slight limp because she didn't have her injury treated right away. But it didn't seem to bother her as she kept up with everyone else.

[Rinrou]

About twenty minutes after Kale had been settled into a room and hooked up to everything there was a knock on the door. No nurses had stayed, telling Blaze to push the alert button is there were any changes with Kale. For know, he needed to rest.