“What was that?” Vanessa asked as they heard the Chief Car pull out.
Kevin was staring at Aiden who was now visibly drowsy. “I don’t know.”
No one needed to say it. The Chief was fully aware of what Aiden had done and had the power to end his career over this. However, he implied that his short term goal was Aiden’s safety and then he’d get Aiden the help he needed..
Erin kept her mouth shut, even though her heart was full. Back in August, she’d have never expected the Fire Chief to have mercy.
Chapter 32
The four-block drive to MetroGen was tense. Noah was reeling from the events of the day, but he had to stay focused.
He parked a block from the ER, leaving his flashers on. Dodging staff frantically running from patient to patient in the overcrowded ER, Noah went directly to the front desk. The desk clerk recognized him by his uniform, not his face. “You want Trauma 1 and Curtain 17 in the Trauma Pod.”
“Thank you,” Noah said. “I’ll take Trauma 1. Carver, check Curtain 17.”
Noah unerringly headed to the correct pod. He’d been to the ER often enough to know his way around. Trauma 1 held Williams, wrapped in heated blankets, his right leg splinted. He was still in his cervical collar with his arms and legs tied down to prevent disrupting the numerous fractures Noah assumed Jacen had.
Dr. Ryan Yates and a younger Filipino doctor were at the bedside. “Hello, Chief. Figured I’d see you,” Yates greeted him. Unlike the desk clerk, Yates knew him on sight; he was married to Kyra after all.
“Tell me the situation. I’m his emergency contact,” Noah said. When Williams reentered CCFD, the system had reactivated his old account. Alexandria had been the first emergency contact, and Noah was the secondary. According to a memo from HR, Williams never changed it, despite time and opportunity.
“He has hypothermia; we’ve got his temp up to 91 degrees. He has a fractured pelvis, smashed ribs, but his right tib-fib is shattered. No internal bleeding, but he needs to go to the OR.”
“Compartment syndrome?”
“None.” The other doctor stuck out his hand. “Jon Navarro, ortho resident. I’ll be taking him up to surgery. We’re consulting neuro to monitor for nerve damage. Could you sign this consent?”
“What happened?” Noah took the form and scribbled his name on it.
“Shelf of ice fell off a bridge and buried them. His side didn’t have an air bag. The driver has a broken arm and a temp of ninety-four degrees,” Yates said.
“How bad is the leg?” Noah asked the surgeon.
“We’ve seen worse. At his age and health, we should be able to put Humpty Dumpty back together again. A few months in rehab, I’d say ninety to ninety-five percent of full function. Past surgeries, medical allergies?”
“No allergies. His appendix was taken out in third grade. Some old burns and scars. This will be his first hardware. Has four tattoos. History of depression. I don’t think he’s taking anything for that.” Williams hadn’t updated Noah on his medical history, but he’d had a full physical prior to taking the Captaincy.
“Thank you. Are you staying?” Navarro asked.
“I can’t,” Noah said, hoping they didn’t judge him. With the snow emergency, he didn’t have the luxury of feelings right now. He couldn’t think about Jacen or Aiden Clarke when he had a job to do with two million people looking to him for leadership.
Williams opened his eyes. “Dre, are you there?”
Yep, exactly what Noah needed, twist the knife further. “Wills, it’s me, Noah.”
“Where is Dre? Let me go in, Noah. Please. I can save her,” Williams begged. “Please.”
“I can’t. She’s gone,” Noah said, feeling the pierce of Williams’s words through his chiefly armor.
“Why didn’t you let me go? You should have left me!” Williams tried to sit up, struggling against the blankets and medical equipment holding him in place.
“2 milligrams of morphine, please,” Yates addressed the nurse by the IV.
Navarro was unbothered by the entire situation, “He’s been asking for ‘Dre’ a lot. Who is she?”
“His wife. She died five years ago.” Noah scribbled on a piece of paper. “Here’s the phone numbers of his parents and sisters. They live out of state, and I give you permission to give them updates if you can’t reach me. I have to get back to HQ. Kyra’s safe, by the way.”
I know,” Dr. Yates said. “She’s been by twice. Not everyone’s wife gives them a whole nursing home for a Veteran’s Day present.”
