Baker considered it, and then shook his head. “No. You’re down three officers. Hudgens will field calls meant for me after I leave. I’ll pack up now, stop at MetroGen to see Rodriguez and Williams, and head to HQ.”
“Sir, that isn’t protocol,” Erin broke in. He startled. “Sir, in this type of crisis, you are required to travel with an aide. Two in-two out.”
“Then you are coming with me?”
“Carver is the better choice. He has contacts at MetroGen… and as a doctor, you’llappreciate his input and observations,” Erin said without admitting there was no way she could hide her familiarity with him at HQ. Besides, it was about time Carver put his MetroGen money where his mouth was.
“Yes, he did an excellent job as triage coordinator,” Vanessa seconded.
“Carver, come with me. Dismissed.”
Erin stayed with Vanessa and Theo to clean up Engine 15 while Kevin went upstairs to check on Aiden.
Kevin’s bellow carried downstairs. “HELP! Get up here!”
Erin and Vanessa charged the stairs together with Theo hot on their heels. They skidded to a stop at the cafe where Kevin and Aiden were rolling on the floor, battling for possession of a knife. The expression on Aiden’s face was feral, and his left wrist was bleeding.
Theo and Vanessa ran to assist Kevin. Erin grabbed a clean dish towel and put pressure on the wrist.
Successfully disarmed by the others, Aiden lost his fight. He folded over and started to cry. “I’m sorry. I can’t… I don’t know… I can’t.” His eyes were haunted.
Erin tore off the edge of the towel and used it to increase the pressure. Aiden must have used his right hand to aim for his radial artery on his left. Kevin had caught him before he could cut upward.
Kevin wrapped one large arm around his best friend. “It’s all right, buddy. We’ve got you. We know you’re hurting, man.”
Vanessa curled herself around his other side and folded him into a hug. Erin and Theo dropped down to join the big group hug, letting Aiden sob.
There was the scrape of feet on the top of the landing. Baker and Carver had arrived with the emergency med kit.
Erin swore she saw Noah peeking out from the Chief’s eyes. The façade wavered before he clamped back down his emotions. Back to cool, collected Chief Baker.
They released Aiden slowly, stood, and faced the Chief. Carver began to check the wound.
“Carver, initiate chemical restraints,” Baker ordered.
“Sir—” Kevin started to say.
Baker repeated, “Chemical restraints.”
“Yes, sir.” Carver removed the emergency sedation kit. “Haldol 5 mg standard dose, okay?”
Baker nodded. “It will have to be.”
The jump bag carried emergency sedation for agitated patients. The Chief was instructing them to use it on Aiden. He’d be sedated for a solid eighteen to twenty-four hours.
“Shouldn’t we—”
Erin stopped Vanessa. “Everything is snowed in. MetroGen closed psych. There’s no other choice.”
“Do it, please.” Aiden’s voice was shaky. Kevin and Theo gripped his arms, and he didn’t twitch when Carver injected the syringe through his uniform pants into his left thigh.
“The ER wouldn’t do anything different with no staff in a snowstorm. We’d sedate him and let psych sort it out tomorrow,” Carver told them. Aiden sagged a little in their supporting arms. Haldol usually took a few minutes to take effect.
“I trust you will keep him safe,” Baker was speaking to Kevin. “We will deal with his psych placement tomorrow when things reopen.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Keep him safe,” Baker said and left with Carver.
