The extraction is slow and painful—for Derek and for everyone listening to his cries of pain. But this time, the equipment holds. Inch by excruciating inch, the rescue team pulls him from the vertical chimney that nearly became his tomb.
When he finally emerges into the main passage and is laid out on a field stretcher, I’m immediately at his side, checkingvitals and preparing him for transport. The rescue team works around me, securing him to a specialized stretcher designed for cave evacuations.
“He’s going to make it,” I tell Noah as we follow the stretcher toward daylight. “If we hadn’t relieved that pleural effusion...”
“He would have died before they got him out,” Noah finishes. “You saved his life, Holly.”
The simple statement fills me with a quiet pride that has nothing to do with designation or pack dynamics or proving myself. This is why I became a doctor—to make a difference when it matters most.
As we emerge from the cave into the bright afternoon light, I squint against the sudden glare. The waiting paramedics take over, transferring Derek to the ambulance while I give a concise report of his condition and treatment.
Captain Reeves approaches as the ambulance doors close. “That was some impressive work in there, Dr. Chang. Not many physicians would have attempted what you did.”
I shrug, suddenly self-conscious under the praise. “Just doing my job.”
“You saved that young man’s life.” He extends a hand. “Heat Mountain’s lucky to have you.”
As I shake his hand, I catch Noah watching me, a mixture of pride and something deeper reflected in his eyes.
I can’t help but think myself that I’m just as lucky to be here.
TWENTY-SIX
KAI
I stare at my reflection,hands braced on the marble countertop of my ridiculously oversized bathroom. Who needs three sinks anyway? Just another brilliant decision from the mind of Kai Trujillo, professional fuckup.
The face looking back at me isn’t terrible, objectively speaking. I’ve been told I’m handsome enough times to believe it. Sun-kissed skin that doesn’t fade even in winter, eyes that crinkle at the corners when I smile, hair that looks artfully tousled even when I’ve just rolled out of bed. The universe’s way of compensating for everything else it took from me, I guess.
“You’re fine,” I tell my reflection. “Totally fine. Absolutely crushing it.”
Even my reflection doesn’t have it in him to look convinced.
The dull throb behind my eyes intensifies, a familiar pressure that’s been building all day. I open the medicine cabinet, pushing aside expensive skin care products I barely use to reach the orange prescription bottle tucked in the back corner. The label’s worn from handling, the name of the medication barely legible anymore.
I shake a small white pill into my palm and stare at it. Dr. Mercer prescribed these after my parents died, when it felt like I would never feel anything but angry ever again. Said they’d help take the edge off. He wasn’t wrong. If he planned for me to eventually wean myself off at some point, he hasn’t said anything about it.
The sound of a car pulling up outside catches my attention. Noah and Holly are back from their wilderness rescue adventure. I quickly toss the pill into my mouth and swallow it dry, wincing at the bitter taste as it scrapes down my throat. No time for water. I shove the bottle back into its hiding spot and slam the cabinet shut.
“Game face,” I mutter, rolling my shoulders back and practicing my signature easy grin. Perfect. No one would ever guess that the inside of my head feels like it’s being slowly crushed in a vice.
I bounce down the stairs just as the front door opens, letting in a blast of cold air along with Noah and Holly. They’re both flushed and animated, Noah’s hand resting casually on Holly’s lower back in a way that makes something in my chest twist with both happiness and a weird emptiness I refuse to examine.
“Well, well, well!” I call out, spreading my arms wide. “Look what the blizzard blew in! Why are you two looking so disgustingly pleased with yourselves? Did you finally christen the clinic break room?”
Holly’s cheeks flush deeper, but she’s smiling too hard to be genuinely embarrassed. Noah just rolls his eyes, but there’s no real annoyance there.
“I saved someone today,” Holly says, practically vibrating with excitement. “Like, actually saved them. In a cave. With a needle.”
“Whoa, slow down there, MacGyver.” I guide them both toward the living room, partly because they look cold andpartly because standing still makes the pounding in my head worse. “I need details. Preferably in dramatized form and with appropriate sound effects.”
Holly laughs, the sound light and free in a way I haven’t heard from her before. It’s nice. Makes the pain recede a little.
“Amateur caver got stuck upside down in a tight passage,” Noah explains, helping Holly out of her coat. “Fluid built up in his lungs from the compression and inverted position. Holly performed an emergency thoracentesis in conditions that would make most doctors nope out without even making the attempt.”
“A thora-what-now?” I ask, flopping onto the couch and propping my feet on the coffee table.
“I used a needle to drain fluid from around his lungs so he could breathe properly,” Holly clarifies.
