Editing Getting the Band Together (section)

==='''Call a Friend'''===

Gadget sat in the squat for a bit, treating Cali. The blankets under her were threadbare and dirty. "I called a friend for some help. She’s a doctor. She doesn’t hate my parents as much as I do, but it’s close."

"You gave her where we are?" Jax asked, looking wildly.

"I told her to hit the pipe. Leave her car a ways away. Bring some supplies."

Eddie said, with a look of fear in his eyes, "Gadget.... You really shouldn’t do stuff like that without asking us. We vote as a group."

Tiffy held the cat close. "You say she’s a doctor? Can she help Cali?"

"That’s why I called her. She treated me after one of my father’s parties. She was kind to me. After that, she was there when I needed her."

A couple of hours later, the silence was broken by the banging on the pipe. Holden stood and looked to Eddie, who nodded. He followed Gadget out to the pipe.

Colette was there with three shopping carts filled with supplies. Gadget caught the sense of Wrecker and Reggy a ways away. She hugged Colette.

"Holden, this is Colette. Let’s get off the street." They pushed the carts into the corridors and turned through the labyrinth. Holden said, "What is all this.. There’s food in here." He looked at the basket in front of him with naked longing.

Getting to the tight squat, Gadget started unloading the carts as Colette knelt over Cali.

"Guys, this is Colette, a friend of mine. She’s a doctor. She treated me years ago for....family stuff. We’ve been friends ever since."

"Hiya, glad to see Gladys has made friends." Gadget growled, "Gadget!!" Colette nodded. Eddie looked at Gadget and silently mouthed "Gladys?"

Eddie then came over to look over the carts. "What’s all this?"

Colette looked over the devices she set out next to Cali. "Gadget told me you guys were living tight. This won’t solve everything, but it can’t hurt. I figured I owe her this. Gadget, get me a couple of those chicken broths. Bring some of the chicken chunks. Get a pot on that burner going. There’s a pot in there somewhere. Heat the broth. There is a cot on there too. Set it up there. Get a sleeping bag open."

"You, m’lady," looking to Tiffy, "ah, come here. We have to undress her and clean her. She has no broken bones. But there are cuts.. and.. she’s been doped up."

Holden and Eddie set up the cot and spread a sleeping bag out open, laying a towel down in the bag. Colette directed them to put Cali in the cot.

After a few minutes, Colette stood, "Ok, I need the room. Gadget, why don’t you sort out the stuff I brought."

The guys and Gadget went and looked over the supplies. While they were concerned about Cali, the sudden riches gave them all wide eyes. Gadget took a loaf of bread, slathered mayonnaise and mustard on them, with meat and cheese, slipping each sandwich into a zip-lock bag. Despite their hunger, Holden and Eddie helped while Jax stood by the makeshift curtain for Colette and Cali.

Eddie asked, "No ketchup?" Gadget chuckled. "Colette knows I hate ketchup!"

Colette looked out at Jax as he hovered, "You are?" He said, "Jax. How is she?" "She’s asking for you. You can help me."

She looked to Gadget and whispered mentally to her, "She has a lot of bruises. Signs of repeated rapes. A lot of scratches and cuts. Can you get them to play some while I use the Total Warrior Medical stuff?"

Gadget, Eddie, and Holden fixed 20 sandwiches and tucked them into the ice chest. They set up chairs and sat, and Tiffy, Eddie, Holden, and Gadget sat after Gadget slipped a sandwich to Jax. They ate in silence.

Gadget got her guitar out and started strumming. After a few moments, Eddie and Holden picked up theirs. Tiffy picked up her violin and leaned it against her chair as the cat resettled in her lap. She opened the bag of cat food and brought a handful of kibble for the cat to eat.

Behind the curtain, Cali was cleaned and settled in the sleeping bag. Colette gave her an injection from a Total Warrior device with a broad-range antibiotic as well as pain medication. Secretly, she cast her High Order Healing Spell and the Clean cantrips. Jax brought over broth and spoon-fed her. Colette told him to cover her up when he was done and to eat his sandwich. He smiled at her gratefully. She then left to join the others.

She opened a chair and sat, listening to the jam session.

Eddie finally asked, "How is she?"

Colette said, "She’ll heal. She mostly had bruises and a few cuts. It’s pretty clear she was beaten with a belt, but probably as part of the rapes. She was starved for several days to be sure. Dehydrated. The physical stuff will heal. She will have psychological damage to be sure. That will take a long time to get over, and she’ll need help. Did you call the police?"

Eddie lowered his head. Holden said, "Wouldn’t do any good. They always get away with shit. Police connections."

Gadget signaled to Colette to change the topic by using the hand sign language. "How long can you stay, Colette?"

"I’ll leave in a few days. I want to watch her."

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