Chapter 36
Chapter Thirty-Six
LYLA
After a handful of sessions with the therapist over the week following my breakdown, I was cleared to come back to work.
I still had to continue seeing her for at least the next six weeks, but I planned to keep maintenance appointments with her even after the six weeks were up.
Understanding what caused my anxiety, talking through it and what I needed to do to keep myself calm, I felt confident in my ability again.
The sessions ended up being eye-opening on many levels.
We didn’t just start with the accident, instead we revisited things from my childhood and early adult years.
Things I had unconsciously pushed down and never really dealt with.
Like the girl from my biology class sophomore year of high school who died in a car accident.
I’d declined the counseling the school offered because I didn’t know her that well and thought it was silly to grieve someone I hardly knew.
But the minute we touched on it, I could feel the way my body tensed and my heart rate accelerated.
Overall, the sessions made me realize I had to start actually processing things, not just tamping them down or brushing them aside.
Now, armed with medication, mindfulness and breathing techniques, and finally some exposure therapy to work through the visceral reactions, I had all the tools needed to conquer my demons.
The Mayday alert came through my radio, and I froze, staring up at the house fully engulfed in fire.
I glanced over at Adam, who was riding with me again.
After the incident, we moved back to Adam’s apartment and disclosed our relationship to the chief.
Of course he wasn’t surprised, nor were any of the guys.
However, we were pleasantly surprised when we were paired together for a few shifts in the next week.
The chief explained that with one EMT on bereavement leave and another one on vacation, he was short-staffed and didn’t really have a choice.
But he also trusted us to be able to do our jobs, be professional.
That meant a lot to both of us, and there was no way we would betray that trust either.
Adam stood with crossed arms and a look of pure rage on his face as he stared at the house.
He was so pissed that we were here because of the arsonist once again.
Jay’s voice came through the radio, explaining that Seth had fallen through the floor while they were doing their primary search.
The color drained from Adam’s face as Jay relayed back that he was not sure of Seth’s status.
Owen screamed out commands to the crew and the set of volunteers who had just shown up, sending in two teams of two to assist. He also radioed dispatch requesting a paramedic unit, just in case Seth needed to be intubated or needed other advanced life support Adam and I couldn’t provide as EMTs.
We worked quickly to pull the stretcher out and get it as close to the front entrance as we could, ready to take over when they brought him out. My stomach turned. There was always that possibility that one day someone wouldn’t make it out.
No. Not today. We were not losing one of our own. I felt sick just thinking about his girlfriend, Violet, receiving that kind of news.
The minute Logan and Jay appeared, carrying Seth, Adam rushed forward. A couple of volunteers followed, and I breathed a sigh of relief that everyone was out.
As soon as we had Seth settled on the stretcher, Adam and I began our assessment.
“Is he breathing?” Jay choked out, his voice strained, followed by a cough with a slight wheezing sound accompanying it.
“Yeah,” I answered, meeting Adam’s gaze, a silent conversation happening between us. Jay needed to be checked out too.
“You good?” Adam asked me.
I nodded, getting the oxygen mask secured in place on Seth’s face.
Adam turned toward Jay. “Need to take a listen, man.”
Jay pulled his shoulders back and scowled at Adam. “I’m fine. Focus on Seth.”
“Mitchell,” Owen yelled.
Jay’s head snapped in that direction. Owen’s stern no-nonsense stare said all he needed to.
“Fucking hell.” Jay pulled off his gloves with a huff and brushed past Adam. “Let’s get this over with.”
I sighed. These men were the most stubborn group of guys I’d ever met.
Less than five minutes later, Jay stomped away—seemingly getting a clean bill of health—and Adam appeared next to me, bumping my shoulder and sending me a comforting smile.
I glanced over at him. Tensing up, he squinted into the distance. Following his gaze, I stiffened as I saw a figure wearing a green hoodie lingering at the tree line. Fear mixed with anger buzzed through my body.
Before I could even mutter a word, Adam took off running that way.
“Wait,” I yelled. What the hell was he thinking? I knew he was pissed and sick of dealing with this guy, but he couldn’t just leave a scene to chase after a possibly dangerous criminal.
And what was I supposed to do? I couldn’t leave Seth and go after him. I glanced around, wishing the second ambulance would show up already.
Shock infiltrated my thoughts, my emotions heightening my distress.
Adam was always so levelheaded. He was the last one of these guys I’d expect to do that.
Just like the rest of us, he was angry and beyond frustrated that we were still dealing with the arsonist. But his impulsive decision was reckless.
What if he got hurt? Or worse. My heart beat faster at that thought.
Zack jogged over, brows pulling together as he stared after Adam. “Where’s he going?”
“Adam took off after someone in a green hoodie.” The words tumbled quickly from my mouth.
Zack’s eyes widened. “Jesus Christ. We don’t have time for this. I need to put out a fire, not save his ass from being stupid.” And then he was gone too, sprinting after Adam.
Pinching my eyes closed, I used one of the breathing techniques my therapist taught me to calm my mind and body and help stop myself from spiraling.
After a moment, I opened my eyes and looked around.
Everyone else was busy, still working the fire.
But someone needed to update Dylan. I pulled out my phone and shot off a quick text, updating him not only about the arsonist and the two knuckleheads who gave chase, but also about Seth.
That way he could let Violet know and fill in any details she hadn't already heard.
Focusing back on Seth, I checked his vitals again. The sound of sirens approaching registered, and I whispered, “Thank God.”
The paramedic unit pulled up a moment later, and after I updated the pair, they loaded Seth into the back and drove off to the hospital.
I turned just in time to see Zack trudging back toward me. His lips formed a tight line. “Lost him.”
I stood there, staring blankly at the tree line, praying Adam would appear.
Dylan pulled up, and I didn’t even have a chance to fully update him before gunshots rang out in the distance. They were coming from the woods.
No. This was not happening. My heart plummeted, and if I didn’t already have adrenaline coursing heavily through my body, I probably would have collapsed to the ground.
Please don’t let him be shot. I wrapped my arms around my middle, a knot forming in the pit of my stomach. I couldn’t lose him.
Not after we'd just found our way to each other and what we both truly wanted.