Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4
J ACK
Helping Fitz pull the stretcher out of the back of the ambulance bay at First City ER, it strikes me that this is one hell of a patient to start with for my first medical run on my very first day over at fire Station Three. I send up a silent prayer that this isn’t some omen showing what my time here will be like moving forward.
When I arrived at the firehouse this morning, I was assigned to be on the ambulance squad with Charlie Fitzgerald—better known as simply Fitz.
I don’t know him well, but I’ve encountered him a few times over the last few years and can confirm that he has earned his reputation as an all-around good guy and a badass paramedic and firefighter.
My nerves were working a bit overtime this morning when I got to work, not knowing if the other firefighter paramedics would be accepting of a transfer in from another station. Especially given the reason for my transfer. I’m grateful as shit, though, that it’s gone so smoothly today and that it’s Fitz by my side. Even more so with this patient we are unloading from the rig.
We rush into the ER and head right into the trauma bay where the ER staff waits for us. I nod at Teddy when I see he’s among them. I give a quick report as we move our patient over to their cot. “We have a fifty-four-year-old male with pulmonary fibrosis. He sustained burns to his face and neck when his oxygen caught fire as he was smoking with it on. Significant smoke inhalation. We got the breathing tube in to secure his airway, but then he coded when we were about four minutes out from you guys. We’ve shocked him twice and have been doing CPR but?—”
I look up as I’m talking and see her . She’s walking into the room with her head down, putting on gloves, and I can’t take my damn eyes off her. Nor can I speak, apparently. I’m literally stunned silent mid-sentence—not something that happens to me normally.
It’s the girl from the bar last week, the one with the auburn curls and those gorgeous green eyes. The one who I couldn’t stop watching as she owned the dance floor when she joined her friend out there.
Fitz looks up and sees what has rendered me speechless, smirks, and finishes for me. “He hasn’t responded to anything we’ve done. We’ve got two large bore IVs in and we’re running fluids.”
Just then Teddy looks up and sees my mystery woman, too. As if we aren’t all standing over a dying man, he casually says, “Hey, Jack, meet Annie, my work wife. Annie, Jack is the soon-to-be new B shift captain down at Station Three.”
She throws a glare in his direction, not even sparing me a glance, while hip checking him out of the way to work on her patient.
“Nice to meet you and I’m not his work wife,” she says flatly, without even looking up. She’s examining the burns on her patient’s face and listening to his lungs as Teddy takes over CPR. She calls out assignments to each member of the ER staff, so everyone is clear on their role.
I can’t stop watching her. God, she’s beautiful. And clearly smart. What is wrong with me? I’m not this guy. I’m twenty-nine years old and I’m acting like a teenage boy first discovering that girls don’t really have cooties.
“When was the last dose of epinephrine given?” she asks.
Thank God Fitz answers, because I feel like I can’t even remember my damn name right now. I’m staring at her as she looks up and makes eye contact with me, that beautiful face quickly turning red as recognition appears to dawn on her. She holds my gaze for a split second, then jerks her head away and gets back to work. I watch from the end of the cot for about a minute before stepping out, impressed as hell at how together she is coordinating the team as they try to save this poor guy.
Unfortunately, Fitz got cut on the patient’s screen door when we were trying to get him out of the house, and we’re going to have to wait around here for him to get some stitches and a tetanus shot. We get him registered and I hang with him in his room on the non-critical side of the ER while he waits to be seen.
“Hey, man,” I say, “I’m sorry about in there. I… I don’t know what came over me. I swear I usually have my shit together.”
Fitz just watches me with a smirk for several long seconds. “Oh, I know exactly what came over you, Donley. You’re not the first to be rendered speechless by Annie Brooks and you won’t be the last.” He laughs. “Seriously, though, no worries, man. You may have been over at Station One for most of your career, but your reputation precedes you and I’m happy to be riding alongside you. ”
“Thanks, Fitz. Right back at ya. I’m sure I could learn a thing or two from you.”
We sit quietly for the next fifteen minutes, then I stand and walk to the door of his room to see if it looks like he’ll be seen soon.
“Oh hell, isn’t this great… Fitz? Do you mind if I wait outside? Joel Reid is the PA on today and he’s not my biggest fan. I’m thinking he’ll jab you extra hard when he stitches you up just because I’m with you.”
Fitz chuckles at that. “No problem, Jack. Go ahead. I’ll text you when I’m heading out.”
ANNIE
Thirty minutes after our patient arrived in our ER, Dr. Evans pronounces him dead. As the primary nurse assigned to that room, I go with him to notify the patient’s wife and twenty-two-year-old son.
The poor woman is hysterical, and the son is struggling to console her. His grief is etched on his boyish face, but he’s holding his head up and breathing deep, clearly trying to hold it in so that his mom won’t get more upset.
I sit with them for a few minutes, then get them some tissues and some water before giving them privacy in our family conference room.
I head outside and rush around the corner to the little hidden alcove a few feet away from our main ER doors. My “safe spot.” I stomp my feet to release some of my frustrated energy.
“Shit! Fuck! Shit!” I whisper-yell up at the sky while kicking the wall with the sole of my foot. I’m upset that we lost our patient. Frustrated that our interventions couldn’t save him .
A deep voice startles me.
“Hey, just so you know, I’m here…”
I whip around the other way and yell, “Oh, shit!” as I come face to face with the guy from the bar, who is also, apparently, a smoking hot firefighter.
Jack is sitting on the ground in the corner with a front-row seat to my one woman shit show of a meltdown. Well, isn’t this perfect, Annie, just perfect…
“Oh God, I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize anyone was here… I’m just upset he died. The guy you and Fitz brought in, I mean. Obviously, it was the likely outcome with how bad he looked when he got here, but it’s still upsetting. And he has a wife and a kid…” Oh hell, I’m totally stress rambling, I realize. Embarrassed, I back up.
“Hey, no… it’s okay. Don’t leave,” he says as he rises and puts his hands up like I’m a cornered animal. “I’m guessing maybe this is your space. I didn’t mean to intrude or startle you. I’m just waiting out here getting some air while Fitz finishes getting his stitches—he got cut on the scene.”
He makes to walk away and, damn it, why can I not focus on anything except how hot he looks in his turnout gear and boots? Something is seriously wrong with me. I mean, really? Loose yellow Kevlar pants held up with suspenders and wearing fire boots… Why is that so hot? Maybe it’s the navy blue Elladine Fire T-shirt that hugs his arms and chest, which I can’t help but notice are nicely chiseled with muscle. He’s got to be at least six-feet two-inches, based on how much taller he is than my five-foot seven-inch frame. Classy, Annie, real classy. Your patient just died and you’re out here lusting over a firefighter like a horn dog.
I quickly gain my composure. “No, stay. Please. There’s enough space out here for us both to sit. And I promise I’ll control my foul mouth for the next few minutes. I apologize. It’s… it’s a flaw of mine. ”
I slide down the brick wall and sit on the ground. He looks down at me with the most gorgeous light gray eyes I’ve ever seen, the right side of his mouth curving up slightly, bringing out that dimple, and then he sits across from me.
We sit quietly for three or four minutes. When I can’t stand it any longer, I glance up at him. He’s staring down at his boots like he’s lost in thought.
“If you’re a lieutenant at Three, why haven’t I seen you on runs before?” I ask, curiosity getting the better of me.
Lifting those gorgeous gray eyes to meet mine, he answers quietly, “I transferred over from Station One about two weeks ago.”
“Did you get kicked out of Station One for something?” That was rude, Annie. “Shit, I’m sorry. You don’t have to answer that. When I’m upset, I lose my filter and say stupid things,” I try to explain.
Smirking at me, he chuckles, then answers, “Nope, not kicked out, fortunately.” Breaking eye contact, he looks down at his hands. “I’m… I’m up for promotion to captain and the opening will be at Three. Our Chief wanted me to transfer early, make sure we’re all a good fit. That kind of stuff.” His cheeks are actually a little pink and, if I didn’t know that most men in this field are testosterone-fueled braggarts, I’d think he was actually humble.
We make small talk for a few more minutes and then I stand to head back in, just as Fitz comes walking out of the ER. Jack stands as well.
“Well, it was nice to meet you, Jack. Again, sorry for my mouth and that you had to see my… tantrum. Also, for maybe insulting you.” I say goodbye to Fitz, who I’ve known since I started here at First City, and I turn to head back into the ER, smiling to myself as that damn sexy laugh floats in the air, trailing after me.