Before they could continue the conversation, the day crew walked in and tossed the truck keys onto the table in front of Chris. “We fueled up. You’re welcome.”
“You better have stocked up, too,” Chris mumbled.
They went out and started their truck check. The vehicle was exactly the way Chris expected to find it. A mess. He took inventory as he cleaned up and reorganized. He hated when things weren’t where they belonged. It wasn’t hard to put something back where you found it. He left James still checking things over and went to the stock room to fill a bag with supplies.
“Find anything else missing?” Chris asked as he began refilling the compartments.
“Nope. How were your labs, anyway? Get the all clear?”
Chris was instantly reminded of the woman who drew his blood. She was gorgeous without even trying. Her skin had a bronze glow as if she spent time outside, even though it was only late spring. Her blue eyes were cool beneath her dark lashes. She’d gently chewed her full bottom lip when she was concentrating, making him unable to look away. She was not his type at all.
“Haven’t heard anything yet. I’m sure I’ll hear something by tomorrow. The phlebotomist was hot, though,” Chris answered.
“Did you get her number?”
Chris laughed and finished restocking the last cabinet. “No. You know I’m waiting to make sure I didn’t catch anything from that patient you let bite me.”
James ducked down as he stood, making his way to the side door. “Let’s get you coffee, because clearly, you’re delusional. I didn’t let that lady do shit. That was all you.”
Chris got in the driver’s seat and waited for his partner to get situated before he pulled out of the lot and drove toward the coffee shop. He wasn’t delusional, but James was right; he did need coffee. Even after he had gotten his mom home earlier and made sure her groceries were put away, he had a hard time winding down. His mom, for once, hadn’t hassled him about staying to visit, so he couldn’t blame her. It was Mallory. Mallory and her damn eyes and positive affirmations.
Chris looked at his partner once he put the truck in park in front of the nearest coffee shop. He looked over to find James watching him with the most annoying grin across his face. Ignoring his best judgement, he acknowledged the look with a raised eyebrow and a shrug.
“It’s true love, isn’t it?” James commented.
“Pendejo,” Chris muttered. “Just get out so I can lock the doors.”
Coffee shop was an over statement for the small corner store he chose to go to for coffee. The linoleum floors were worn out, but clean. There were a few aisles of non-perishable foods and necessities like toilet paper and feminine products. The back wall offered a selection of different fresh brewed coffees and a station to add cream and sugar.
As they approached the register to pay for their coffee, Chris felt his pager vibrate followed by the crackling of a voice coming over his radio.“Unit 706, for the assignment, 706.”
“Go ahead,” he answered the radio after placing a five-dollar bill on the counter to cover both large coffees.
“706, respond to 101 North Briar Street. That’s going to be Briar Manor skilled nursing facility. Room 225 for the unresponsive patient.”
“Received and responding,” Chris said over his portable radio as they climbed back into the truck.
Chris was thankful they at least made it for coffee. He took a cautious sip as he flipped on the emergency lights and put the truck in drive. The coffee was hot, but even the small sip seemed to touch his soul as he navigated traffic. He could get to Briar Manor nursing home in his sleep. He couldn’t remember going more than one shift without a call there. They were understaffed, as most skilled nursing facilities seemed to be, and a person never knew what they’d be walking into.
They had responded from the other side of town, but still made it within a few minutes. They pulled up behind the paramedic unit and called on scene. Without speaking, Chris and James exited the cab of the truck and went around back to gather what they needed. Chris pulled out the stretcher which already had the bag on top, and James met him around the back and tossed the AED and suction unit on top. He felt around his neck to make sure he had his stethoscope before closing and locking the doors.
They walked into the building to find a security guard standing in front of the open elevator doors. Inside, Alyssa and Michael stood waiting.
“We saw you pull up as we were walking in the door, so we figured we’d wait,” Alyssa explained.
Chris nodded at his old partner. He’d stopped giving her shit about abandoning him once he started getting close to his new partner. She looked happy. The diamond on her left ring finger caught the light as she absently placed her hand on her slightly rounded abdomen.
“I thought married couples weren’t allowed to work together anymore,” James said.
“We can’t be permanent partners,” Michael spoke up while he placed the monitor and med bag on the stretcher. “If one of us takes an open shift they won’t rearrange everything. The whole thing is stupid. Everyone knows we work well together.”
“Yeah, we can tell,” Chris said through a laugh while looking pointedly at her baby bump.
Alyssa rolled her eyes and shook her head, her eyes gleaming. “You’re such a child. Anyway, I’ll bet you a coffee this ends in a pronouncement.”
“We already have our coffee. But I’ll bet you dinner the patient is wide awake,” Chris countered just as the doors were opening.
The smell of bleach and bodily fluids hit them as soon as they stepped out of the elevator. When Chris was a new EMT, it had been the smells that got to him the most. Now, he was used to it. It wasn’t pleasant, but he was able to ignore it.
