Page 53 of Redline Baby

I rest it palm-up on the table between us. Kit looks at it. Just looks. For one second. Then his fingers move. They slide across my palm and curl down. Grip. He's holding on. I close my hand around his. My fingers fold over the back of his hand.

The final injection goes in. Kit's fingers clamp harder around mine.

"Done with the anesthetic," the practitioner says. "Give it a minute."

Kit exhales through his nose. His hand stays where it is. Mine does too. The practitioner cleans the area again, prepares the sterile field, then tests along the edge of the wound.

"Sharp or pressure?" she asks.

"Pressure," he says, and he looks much paler than usual.

"Here?"

"Pressure."

"And here?"

Kit waits.

"Nothing, really."

"Good," she says and opens the suture kit. The curved needle appears. Kit sees it. His grip tightens again anyway.

"Starting the sutures now," she says. "You should feel pulling and pressure. Tell me immediately if anything is sharp."

Kit nods. The first stitch goes in. I don't look at the wound. I keep my eyes on his face. He watches the curtain. His jaw is tight. The thread pulls through. His fingers tense in mine.

"You're doing so well," I say quietly. Only for him. His eyes move to me. Surprise, quick and naked. Then something in his face softens. He doesn't respond. The jokes are gone. His breathing is still too fast, but he is listening. So I keep going. "You're being so brave."

His shoulders lower a fraction.

"Good boy."

There. His entire body seems to hear it. His eyes leave the tray entirely. I move my thumb slowly across the back of his hand.

"Good, brave little boy."

His breathing catches. Then releases. The practitioner continues. Kit's hand stays locked in mine.

"You're being so good," I murmur. "Just a little bit more." Another stitch. He doesn't look at it. "I know you can hang on."

His fingers tighten.

"That's it. Very good." Another pull. Another knot. "So, so good."

Just Kit. Holding my hand. Letting somebody tell him he's doing enough.

The practitioner ties off the final stitch.

"All done."

Kit blinks like he's surprised.

"That's it?"

"That's it."

She cleans around the repair, applies a fresh dressing, and wraps the forearm securely.