Somehow, despite the slapdash setup and unorthodox nature of the situation, Lita and Rodeo fell into an easy rhythm as procedure wore on. He was a quick learner and a surprisingly good listener, despite her initial impression of him. After bossing him around for awhile and gesturing to instruments she needed, Rodeo began to anticipate her needs with unexpected accuracy. He had very little difficulty picking out what she asked for, even during moments of intense concentration when she more of less barked out orders. All joking aside, he probably would make an excellent nurse if he should ever quit being the cover model for romance novels, which was quickly becoming her pet theory on his actual occupation.
Just because the "Fabio" was her favorite hypothesis didn't mean she wasn't aware of Rodeo's probably dangerous and unlawful nature. Taking into account all the extra supplies he had at his immediate disposal, the guy with a slug in his shoulder, and his insistence that he would 'do what needed to be done', Lita could only guess the unsavory alternative.
On the other hand, would knowing the truth about Rodeo change that fact that she already broke about hundred rules, medical and ethical? That she'd do it again, because it was the right thing to do even if she went about it the wrong way? Would it make the supplies she got from this deal any less needed? No, no, and definitely no. So she didn't ask, and he didn't say, and for now that was working for them.
Lita was in the zone; with Rodeo's efficient assistance, she was making good headway on the bullet extraction. She was concentrating so hard that when the patient suddenly lurched, cocked a fist back, and aimed it straight at her face, Lita had no time to react. She waited for the impact, her eyes squeezed tight against in inevitable pain.
Only it never came. Lita's eyes blinked open to see Rodeo had the man's wrist in his vice-like grip, wrestling it still. Lita took advantage of the moment by bracing her hand against the victim's chest, bearing down, and yanking and hard and as quick as she could. The largest bullet fragment came loose from the man's shoulder, releasing a splurt of blood in the effort to extract it. Lita quickly put pressure on the wound with her other hand, but not before she caught a spray of crimson right across her chest.
Despite the shock and of what transpired, Lita held up the gnarled silver fragment in her forceps like a first place trophy. Smeared with a modicum of blood and grinning broadly to herself, she probably was the farthest thing from the 'pretty' comment Rodeo had dropped, but Lita hardly cared. She felt victorious, but she wouldn't celebrate too much quite yet.
"Just like a cork out of a bottle," Lita said, turning her perfect grin on Rodeo. She tossed the splintered slug into a nearby bowl she had set up earlier and continued to hold pressure, lest he unleash another shower of blood. There were still more pieces of the bullet to remove, but not before he stopped oozing like a fire hydrant.
"Thanks for that," Lita said after a moment, glancing up at Rodeo. A beat passes and then two before she lessens the pressure on the gauze and checks the wound. After a few sucks from the suction bulb, she is able to start picking out the smaller pieces of metal from the wound.
"Would've had a hell of a time explaining a busted nose and a black eye when I went back to the hospital," Lita said, digging back into the wound with her forceps. "Although the blood is probably a bit conspicuous. Still, could have been worse."