Duncan (The Protectors #3)(28)

“Wait!” Jill’s eyes bugged out. “I have to throw my gum away. I might choke on it.”

Slade sighed holding his hand out. Jill leaned her head over spitting her gum into his hand. “Thanks.” She watched him toss it into the garbage can across the room. “Nice shot.”

“Okay, on the count of three I am going to set your shoulder back in place,” Slade told her, then looked at Duncan. “Hold her tight.”

Jill brought her head up nodding. She couldn’t think of anything else to get her out of this so she might as well take it.

“One…”

Squeezing her eyes tight, she waited for three, but three never came.

“Two…” Slade’s hands tightened as he jerked her shoulder back into its socket.

“Son. Of. A. Bitch!” Jill screamed then kicked him hard. “What the hell happened to three?”

Duncan and Slade held her still. Slade ignored the pain in his shin and her cursing as he looked over his handiwork. The shoulder seemed in place. “Move your arm.” He demanded.

Slowly, Jill brought her arm up and down, rolling her shoulder.

“How does it feel?” He and Duncan let her go.

“Sore and stiff, but better.” Jill frowned. “Seriously, what happened to three?”

“I couldn’t have you stiffening up, and I knew once you heard three, you would,” Slade explained with a grin.

“Well, that was a mean trick.” She wrinkled her nose at him.

“But it works every time.” Slade put his scissors back in his bag. “Take it easy for a day or two, then slowly get back to your normal activities. You’re healing time will be a lot faster, and you should be good as new in a few days.”

“When can she start training again?” Duncan asked.

“That depends, training for what?” Slade picked up his bag slinging it over his shoulder.

“Warrior training,” Jill replied walking out the door first.

Slade just shook his head with a laugh passing her. “No sooner than a week.” He glanced at her and laughed again.

“What’s so funny?” Jill frowned.

“You can’t even get your shoulder set without having a panic attack,” Slade replied shaking his head. “And you’re going to train to be a Warrior.”

Once he turned away, Jill flipped him off quickly before he could turn back around to see her. Glancing at Duncan, she shrugged her uninjured shoulder before walking away. She’d show the * she could be a Warrior. She trained harder than any of them and maybe she didn’t like pain, but that just made her train even harder so she didn’t experience pain often. Yeah, she’d show him.

*****

Duncan followed Slade and Jill out to the workout area. It was pretty funny seeing small quiet Jill flipping off the huge Warrior in front of her. Of course, Slade hadn’t seen her. His eyes instantly found Pam sitting while talking with Nicole and Tessa. Sid was leading the half-breeds in training while Sloan, Damon and Jared stood next to the women talking.

“Slade.” Duncan stood next to Pam. “This is Pam Braxton.”

“Nice to meet you, Pam.” Slade set his gear down to shake her hand.

“You’re the doctor?” Pam asked, surprised as she looked him up and down.

“Think I’m feeling a little sick.” Nicole grinned also giving him a once over.

Tessa covered her mouth giving a fake cough. “I haven’t felt very well myself.”

“He’s not a human doctor,” Jared growled. “And you were feeling fine just a few seconds ago.”

“Where’s your office.” Nicole ignored Jared. “And how do I make an appointment?”

Damon growled eyeing Slade as did Jared.

“Ladies, even though I would love to examine each and every one of you…” Slade grinned when the growls got louder. “I think it would be in my best interest if I referred you elsewhere.”

“You better f*cking believe it would be in your best interest, Doc,” Jared sneered putting his arm around Tessa.

Slade gave him a nod, then snuck a wink at Tessa. He turned toward Duncan. “Do you have any problems with me being Pam’s doctor?”

“No, because if you so much as harm one hair on her head or do anything to upset her, I will kill you.” Duncan’s tone was threatening, but calm and to the point.

Slade cocked his eyebrow. “Fair enough.” He tried to step out of the way when Jared walked by with Tessa on the other side, but he wasn’t fast enough and got shoulder checked. Yeah, he got the message loud and clear. The little human was off limits.

Sloan came over at that moment shaking his head at Jared. He handed Slade a set of keys. “Everything you asked for should be in the office. Anything else you might need just let me know.”

Pocketing the keys Slade nodded. “Thanks, but I’m sure it will be fine.”

“Since Jill is down, she can help you get set up.” Sloan volunteered Jill’s services. “Won’t you, Jill?”

The look on her face said she would rather have her shoulder set again, but she nodded. “Yes, sir, what time?”

“How about ten?” Slade replied not really needing the help, but didn’t want to start out on the wrong foot with Sloan.