Chapter 26 Religion Changes The Game #2
“Forget the ambulance, it’s not fast enough.
Get Tilde and I’ll grab our go kits. Meet me at the exit; we’re going in my car.
” Erica spun and sprinted out of the office with Steven on her heels.
A few minutes later she was pulling her car up in front of the exit where Steven and Tilde were waiting.
“Get in,” she called through the lowered passenger window.
Steven jumped in front while Tilde jumped in back next to the go bags.
“Hang on!” Erica called and burned rubber, peeling out from Stamson Medical Center.
“Ashley wake up.” There was a soft beeping.
“Ashley, I need all green lights between here and The General Clinic. I’m flying low! ”
“Madam,” came the prim and proper female English voice. “Why are you as you say, flying low? And why do you need all green lights?” Ashley asked.
“You’re supposed to be the most advanced AI in any car in the world, and you can’t see an emergency when it’s right in front of your face? ASHLEY, I need those green lights NOW! Greg’s life might hang in the balance!” Erica demanded.
“Oh,” Ashley calmly replied. “I understand now. Why didn’t madam state this in the first place?”
“Because I don’t have time for your stupid games, Ashley,” Erica started to elevate her voice.
“Calm down, Miss Erica. I’m accessing the Stamson database now. Determining the fastest route,” Ashley was replying when Steven cut in.
“SHUT THE HELL UP ASHLEY AND GIVE US THOSE FREAKING GREEN LIGHTS ALREADY!” he screamed in frustration.
“Green lights are activated along our route, as well as police advisement and request for an escort. Doctor Sanderson, please do not yell at me while I am working,” Ashley calmly replied.
“Maybe if you did your job I wouldn’t have to yell at your sorry excuse for an AI,,,” Steven was saying when Erica placed her hand over his mouth.
“Thank you, Ashley. Please stay alert as we may have to deviate along the route. I’m accelerating to as fast as I can navigate these roads,” Erica advised as she started to grit her teeth.
“Madam, you are exceeding eighty miles per hour in a neighborhood,” Ashley stated firmly.
“Noted. Is there any way to warn people that I’m coming?” Erica asked.
“Would you like me to engage the lights and siren?” Ashley asked.
“Do we have those?” Erica asked.
“Yes, madam. Master Michael had them installed with my upgrade.”
“Then turn them on and let everyone know we’re coming through. Blast a text!”
The lights flashed off the windows while the siren echoed off the building as the ambulances came roaring in toward The General Clinic.
Greta looked over at her sister Frieda who was with her when the call came in.
They were bracing for the worst as the ambulances pulled up near the emergency entrance.
Mary came running out from inside the building to meet them as they stopped, which made Darren move with her, followed by Greta and Frieda.
The back doors were opening when they heard the screeching of tires as the black BMW spun around the corner and barreled straight toward them with siren blaring and lights flashing.
The smell of burned rubber carried forward as Erica locked up the brakes, skidding to a stop mere feet from the ambulances.
“That was really fast,” Darren said.
“You called for the cavalry, but got the alert fighter jet scrambled,” Steven said as he jumped out of the car. “What do we have?” he asked as he ran toward the ambulances.
“They literally just got here,” Darren said as he was climbing up into the first ambulance while Mary was already making her assessment in the second ambulance. “Let’s find out,” he said sliding in where the EMT was releasing the lockdowns for the gurney.
“Male in early thirties, multiple gunshot wounds to chest, ribs and shoulder,” the EMT said. “He’s had this I.V. of plasma since we left the site,” he added.
“Greta, we’ve got Greg here. Have Frieda help Mary,” Darren directed. He turned back and started assessing Greg. “This is why I needed you, Steven.” He shook his head. “This man’s a magnet for bullets to the ribcage.”
“Don’t worry, Darren. We patched him up before, and this doesn’t look as bad. None of the hits are in critical areas, but I can see he’s lost a lot of blood.”
“I’ve got his blood right here,” Greta said handing up a pack to Darren. “I’d suggest adding it with the plasma until we’re ready to get in and start working on him.”
“Very astute, Greta. Thanks for having his blood available,” Steven said calmly. “I think he’s stable enough to move. Let’s get him inside.”
“I concur. Tilde, please check on Veronica in the other ambulance?” Darren asked.
“Right away, doctor,” Tilde said and moved to the other ambulance quickly taking the blood pack that Greta thrust at her.
“That’s Veronica’s blood,” she said. “I wasn’t sure what we’d need, so I just came out with one each.”
“Thanks sis. I’ll get it from here. Did you have more inside?” Tilde called.
“Six bags for each of them,” Greta confirmed.
“Erica, please open the doors as we roll him in,” Darren said as he dropped down to help the gurney out of the back.”
“I’m on it,” Erica replied with both go kits slung over her shoulders. “Which way inside?”
“We’ll be on the left, and Mary’s taking the room on the right,” Darren said as Steven started pushing the gurney toward the door with Darren guiding it.
“Let’s go,” Steven called. “I’m going to need x-rays and anything else we can use to see where these bullets are.”
“Veronica appears to be stable. It looks like she got hit twice,” Tilde called. “We’re rolling her in.”
“We’ve got work, people.” Steven called. “Darren, why don’t you let Erica and I take Greg with Tilde and Frieda. You and Mary can handle Veronica with Greta.”
“That sounds like a fine plan to me. Just call if you need any help,” Darren said.
“You know it, my friend. We’ve got lives to save,” he encouraged as they spun the gurney to the left, pushing Greg into the medical treatment room while Erica held the door open. “Erica! You’re with me! Scrub up!”
“Yes, Doctor!” Erica replied as Tilde came rushing in past Darren as he turned to leave to assist Mary.
“I’ll get the instruments,” Frieda called as she entered the room.
“Do you even know where they are?” Erica asked.
“I designed this room with Darren years ago. I know this place like the back of my hands,” Frieda beamed as she moved over to retrieve the instruments from the right.
Carry, Cassie and Katie were sitting in the lounge at The General Clinic awaiting any news when David and Tessa arrived. David could see the worry on Carry’s face. He called in from the doorway, “Any news on our people?”
“None yet. They were already inside when we made it here,” Carry said.
“Don’t worry, Carry,” Tessa encouraged. “Greg’s been through this before, and so has Veronica.”
“WE know,” Cassie nearly snapped. David walked over to her and immediately gave her a tight hug.
“It’s alright to feel scared when you don’t know anything,” he assured her. “But this is my best friend in there and he always finds a way through.”
“What about Veronica,” Katie asked with deeper concern than anyone expected.
“She’s a strong and vibrant woman,” Tessa replied. “If I’ve learned anything about that girl is that you never count her out.” She looked at Carry who just nodded.
“Sorry for the tardiness,” David said. “Brick and the police had several questions for us.”
“And for me too,” Billy said as he arrived. “News?”
“Nothing, Billy,” Carry replied as she sprinted over to him. Billy caught her and held her tight. “I’m scared Billy. I can’t handle this again.”
“Relax,” he assured her. “I’ve already started praying and I’m sure that Yahweh Ropheka will heal them both.”
“How can you have such faith at a time like this?” she asked through her soft sobs.
“Because it’s what I know and understand. God is all powerful. He created man, so healing him is no biggie for Him,” Billy replied. “Besides that’s what Yahweh Ropheka means,” he added.
“It means it’s no biggie?” Carry said as she stopped sobbing.
“No, Carry. It means the Eternal who heals you,” Billy said in a calming voice. “You just need to have faith, and believe that He will do it.”
“Can you give me some of that faith? I’m going to need it,” Carry said softly.
“Greg, how are you this morning?” Frieda said as she entered his room with his breakfast.
“I’m sore as can be, and I just want to go home,” he complained.
“Oh shut up and stop your whining,” Erica said from behind Frieda. “You were hurt far worse at Club Euchre.
“Which time?” Greg fired back.
“Honestly, Greg. Do you really want to go there?” Erica retorted.
“Why not?” he fired back, still slightly ornery.
“Okay, then. The second time when the poison Lance Marsden slipped you nearly claimed your life,” Erica said matter of fact like. She moved over and kissed Greg on the forehead. “You have to stop scaring me like this.”
“And me too,” Carry said from the doorway. “Can we come in.”
“Sure,” Frieda answered. “He’s as ornery today as he was yesterday.”
“Greg,” she said softly as she moved over to the bed. “You really had us all worried.”
“Tessa said the same thing last night,” he said slowly. He looked up at her. “You are a sight for these sore eyes.”
“I am?” she shyly replied.
“Carry, you are absolutely gorgeous.” He ran his hand through his hair.
“And that right there, Carry, is why I know he’s going to be alright. That’s the Greg Garrelson move.” The girls all laughed together.
“What’s so funny?” he demanded.
“You running your hand through your hair,” Carry confirmed. “It means that you are starting to feel like yourself again.”
“Well, that’s because I’ve had excellent care by both nurses and doctors,” he said with a slight bow toward Frieda and Erica.
“Alright, Greg. You have breakfast, and I’ll check back in later,” Erica said softly.
“Thanks, Erica.” Greg paused as she looked down at him. “For everything. Even the pain from our years together.”