The Gig [Finished]

[yamikuronue]

A few minutes later, Bill pulls up in front of the apartment, and Vic scrambles out, leading Tony into the apartment while Bill parks.  Once inside, they find Andrew stretched out on the floor, unconscious, a pillow under his head, his injured hand resting on top of his chest; it's wrapped with bandages, but they look rather brown. Gabe is sitting next to him, chewing his lip as he checks his brother's forehead with his hand; he looks relieved to see them bursting in as he looks up.

[accalia]

Tony looks at the Kid on the floor then tests his temperature with the back of his hand. Air hisses between his teeth. "Right then. I can't fix this alone.... Gabe, get me a clean towel that's soaking wet with cold water. Vic, bandages, clean ones. Bill, get the car ready, we need to take Andrew to a hospital, the one on Fifth and Broadway. GO!"

Tony snaps out the orders with absolute certainty that they will be obeyed.

[yamikuronue]

Gabe moves to the kitchen automatically. Vic stares at him blankly, as do Bill, before they both protest at once:

"We can't pay for a hospital even if they'd go against the Boss"

"What bandages? I can rip up a shirt?"

[accalia]

"We'll figure out the cost later. Get the car." Tony repeats his command to Bill "Vic, yes, use a shirt. a clean white one."

[yamikuronue]

Vic darts for the back, but Bill frowns. "There's no way. Can't we do something here? Dip his finger in bleach? Cauterize it?"

[accalia]

Tony snaps "Bill, you want you brother to live, SO GET THE CAR! NOW!"

[yamikuronue]

Bill darts back out the door, without another word. Vic comes back a moment later, already taking scissors to a cotton undershirt.

[accalia]

"Good. he finally got moving...." Tony mutters as he turns his attention to checking the bandaged hand.

[yamikuronue]

The bandage is relatively clean, but they've left it on too long, rather than changing it regularly.  The amputation site -- the first knuckle -- is bright red, and a yellowish pus oozes from the swollen end. Not a good sign.

[accalia]

Yeah..... that's not good at all... "Vic, you about done with those bandages? Gabe! You found that towel yet?!" Tony snaps out, still in full command mode. Courtesy can come later, right now there's a time limit on Andrew's life.

[yamikuronue]

Gabe shoves a towel into his hands, while Vic shreds the shirt faster. The door slams open and Bill shouts, "Got the car!"

[accalia]

"Great. Gabe, Grab a couple changes of clothes for Andrew. Vic, i'll take what you got. Bill, get ready to help carry Andrew." Tony snaps out the new orders as he wraps the towel around Andrew's head, that should at least slow the fever damage down...  Tony then grabs what Vig's shredded of the shirt and wraps a new bandage around Andrew's hand quickly. This one is a lot thinner than the one that was there before, it's clearly intended to be temporary.

[yamikuronue]

With help from the brothers, Tony is able to get Andrew out to the car, and then they beat a hasty retreat to the emergency room. It's fairly dead in the middle of the night, so it's not long before they take him back to look at his finger; Gabe goes with him, while Bill paces the hall and Vic sits very, very still beside Tony.

[accalia]

Tony's demeanor changed when they reached the Emergency Room, switching back to normal as quickly as the commanding mode had switched on. The doctors had briefly questioned Tony as to the circumstances of the injury, but Tony deflected the questions saying he didn't know, the first time he was aware of the injury was less than half an hour ago when Vic had contacted him in a state of panic.

Now that Andrew was in the expert care of the doctors Tony reverted to sitting patiently, just waiting. When Vic sat next to him Tony placed a hand on Vic's shoulder, an expression of... well it's hard to say, could be comfort, could be encouragement, or knowing Tony it could simply be 'I'm here.'

[yamikuronue]

Vic flinches at the hand, as if expecting a blow. He chews his lower lip, rolling it between his teeth -- it's an oddly disarming gesture, something childish and timid where normally he's trying too hard to be strong and grown-up.