Luke was usually the person who could talk his way out of anything. He was always prepared with a witty come back or a quick getaway plan. He stood in silence for what felt like a millennium, taking in the situation. Dana's fury has created a monster and now two people laid still on the hard ground. Luke was certain that neither Evanne nor Patrick would make it...if they weren't dead already. "Luke," his brother slurred his next words, "try to stop the bleeding. Dana, get Risalda." Luke ignored the way his brother delivered his lines and only took in the context of them. He had to try and save Evanne. There was no witty come back or getaway plan under the sun that could get Luke out of this mess. He was now involved and he couldn't go anywhere.
"Fuck me," Luke ran his hands through his hair and tried to think of what to do and how to do it. He was no doctor but he did nurse a few drunk men and women of Dust more times than he'd like to admit. Dana was a wreck. She sat and stared blankly at the wall. Luke knew that look. It was the "holy shit, I just came down from my high what the hell did I just do oh my god I am so screwed to hell and back fuck me sideways look" and Dana did not wear it well. She was not the type of girl to go off and do this. I should have tried harder to stop her, Luke thought, this is just as much my fault as it is hers.
"Don't bother getting Risalda," Luke put a hand on Dana's shoulder as he passed her, "she is drunk off her ass right now. There is nothing she can do to help anyone here. I also don't think, with the new information we've learned about, that Ris would care much for saving the life of the woman who had her ex's child. We are on our own."
Luke ran over to the cabinets and found stuff he saw Ris use to stop bleeding. He quickly made his way back to Evanne and wrapped her arm in a combination of medical tissue and bits and pieces of stuff that looked tough and secured it with medical tape. She was going to need stitches and a blood infusion and Luke knew how to do none of that. Dana was sitting over her dad crying and holding his hand. She was never going to be able to recover from this and on top of that she was probably going to get exiled for killing Evanne.
Attempting to kill. She isn't dead yet, Luke. Try harder.
He looked over towards Dana who was still with Patrick, "does he have a pulse?"
"No...."
"Then get off your ass and help me move Evanne to a bed. Patrick's battle is over but Evanne's is just beginning," Luke spat at Dana. He needed to let his inner Ripley leader gene show a little if anything was going to be accomplished...and even then they still might fail. Life was so much easier when all Luke had to worry about was which Dusty he was going to sleep with that night. He didn't think he'd be able to jump back into that life of his after something this insane. He wasn't sure if wanted to. Dana and Luke picked up the unconscious Evanne and put her in a bed next to Noah's. Luke could feel Noah's eyes following his every move. He turned to face his brother after putting Evanne into the bed, "she is going to die, Noah. There is no way to avoid this."
Dana crossed to Luke's side of the bed, the side that was between Noah and Evanne, and put her hand on his shoulder like he did for her just a few minutes back. She squeezed hard and without words told him all that he needed to know. Dana looked at Noah who was still laid down in his bed, too weak to move. "There is nothing I can say to fix this," Dana spoke quietly, "and honestly...I don't think I want to fix this. I tried for years to get your attention and to be there for when you needed me. I even asked you out a few weeks ago and you didn't even notice. My dad always told me to know when to give up and move on...but I guess I never understood that lesson, not until now." Luke sat in silence, taking in all that Dana was expelling to his brother. Hot tears raced down her face and nearly created tiny puddles of disgrace and disgust on the ground beneath her. She continued, "there is no longer a reason for me to stay here. My father is dead. You are an idiot and I am a killer. I belong in the wilderness with the raiders and the thieves. Maybe one of them would appreciate when a woman throws herself at them." Dana wiped the tears from her face and spoke and for the first time in ever Luke could hear the Diana Clay come out through her, "I know I will be exiled so allow me to leave on my on terms. You owe me that. I will go and retrieve my things from the Mech Hall and will be gone before nightfall. I am done with this town. I am done with you."
Luke could not imagine Dust without the only Clay he still respected. His heart was heavy and a tear made its way out of his face and joined Dana's puddle. Soon his face was littered with tears as well. Dana was the one girl who he saw himself with for real. He always thought that when she gave up on Noah that she would turn to him and he could learn how to finally treat a girl the right way...but now she was leaving for good and his chance was gone. Luke was damned to be a whore for the rest of his life. He chuckled cheaply to himself. There were worst ways to live. Dana turned to him and hugged him tightly. "Maybe one day," Luke smiled, "you'll take me up on my sex offer."
Dana's smile was forced but Luke was glad that she was at least trying. She kissed him on the cheek and whispered to him, "make sure my dad gets a king's funeral." Dana then, as quickly as she entered, left the Med Hut, probably on her way to the Mech to prepare. Luke, with hands on his hips, looked down at his half dead brother and then at the mostly dead Evanne. He would continue to try to help her but only time was going to tell.
Timeskip Ready