Bunker pants that firefighters wore on duty.
Above that was a pair of suspenders and a T-shirt that she'd been dying to steal and make her own.
"Lexie."
The warmth in his voice was enough to make her heat kick against her ribs, but when she saw the little girl in his arms turn and lock watery blue eyes onto her, Lexie completely melted.
Instead of reaching out to take the little girl into her arms, she put her hand on Kaleo's arm. "Let's get her inside, okay?"
He smiled at her and when she looked down at the little girl, her blue eyes were locked on Kaleo's face, reading his expression.
His smile was enough to reassure the toddler, and she relaxed in his arms.
Her fingers were still wrapped up in his T-shirt, but Lexie could see that the little girl's arms weren't as tense.
The automatic doors opened and they stepped inside.
The lights must have been a little too bright for the little girl. She turned her head into Kaleo's chest.
Lexie's steps slowed and she tilted her head a little, trying to catch the little girl's eyes. "Are the light bothering you, Sweetie?"
The little girl didn't answer, but Kaleo shrugged. "I don't think so. The lights inside the ambo are about the same brightness."
Lexie nodded, thinking.
"Was it the wind, maybe?" She looked back at Kaleo. "Maybe it dried out her eyes when you stepped out of the ambo and came inside?"
A brow lifted at that. "Maybe... I'm not sure."
Lexie jotted down a note. "I'll have Doctor Ashley check her eyes."
She reached out and opened the curtain a little wider. "Do we have a name?"
Kaleo shook his head. "Not yet."
Lifting his hand, he stoked her back. "Do you want to tell us your name?"
Instead of looking up, the little girl burrowed into his embrace.
"Sorry..." He shook his head but gave Lexie a smile. "She was in the back of the second car. We didn't see any injuries on scene. I covered her with my jacket before we pried open the door. The glass remaining in the window splintered even more, but she was covered."
"Mmmhmm." Lexie added the notes down on her clipboard. She leaned in and saw a few stickers on her dress. "Oh... looks like she has signs of sticker-itis."
The little girl turned her head toward Lexie, her eyes wider than before.
Lexie nodded. "Is that right? Do you have a case of sticker-itis?"
The little girl narrowed her eyes, a question plainly written in her expression.
"Have you heard of that before?"
A little head shake was her answer.
"Well," Lexie reached into the pocket of her scrubs on her left side and brought out the first sticker she touched, "it's when a little girl or boy is soooo good and helps us, they get a sticker every time they help. Do you think you have sticker-itis?"
There was a moment of thought where Lexie held her breath.
This could be a make it or break it moment.
