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And how couldn’t she? Her knowledge was extensive, her work ethic inized that and was giving each talent and asset its due

He felt her eyes darting to hi his every nerve ending as she took in that he’d already started fluid replaceaze tothe connection She didn’t look back, turned to the other patient He gritted his teeth, kept on working

Ten minutes later, resuscitation was over and everyone reported the condition of their casualties Then the helicopters were there and Janaan rushed after Malek to organize the airlift

He directed his men’s efforts while she directed their medical team in resuscitation before extrication

It took over three hours of grueling work, and not a few accidents, the worst resulting in one of his et everyone out and resuscitated

With triage sorted out, they loaded casualties on gurneys in preparation for transferring them to the ambulances or OR Rafeeq went to ready the anesthesia station

Janaan stood there taking stock He approached her, needing some contact, some response She still refused it

Suddenly she asked, “Who will you start with?”

He didn’t answer right away Not because he hadn’tthe debilitating spurt of joy and relief at her acknowledgeain under control

“This urney from where she stood “His crush injury is the worst”

Her nod told hi sure his judg to initiate conversation?

No Janaan didn’t resort to things like that That had been a legitiiven a complete answer

He had to add, “I asp, he rushed on, “I won’t know until we have him on the table But I just need you to be ready for the possibility”

She nodded, her color at high level And he couldn’t deny his need He needed her with hi up to hi her relief to be included, her eagerness to be of help To be with hiain?

“Hada abbi”

Both Malek and Janaan jerked around at the adolescent voice, found a boy of notwo feet away from them, covered in the yellowish dust, as if he too had been pulled fro

Malek took a stride towards him, his hand held out to support him, and the boy hiccuped a sob and stumbled back

“Aish beeh? Aish rah t’sa’woh b’abbi?”

Malek closed the gap, took the boy by the shoulders, gently, carefully, talked to hi escalated into all-out weeping

“Malek?”

Janaan’s tre whisper touched hiave him orders, turned the boy over to him then turned to Janaan