The five minutes went quickly. Emma’s breaths were coming with more difficulty. Harper was readying the medications and the equipment.
“He’s here, Emma,” Sam said.
A man rushed in wearing a Marine captain’s uniform. He was joined by Tobey, whom she also met at the health center. When the man made it to his wife’s side, Thom explained the situation. He leaned down and placed a soft kiss to her lips. “Sweetie, I’ll see you when you wake up.”
“They’re all dead. I couldn’t help them,” she cried.
“Emma, you’re safe. Rest now,” Tobey instructed.
“I’m heading back,” Sam said. “See you soon, Emma.”
Emma’s husband held her hand while the sedatives took over and Thom intubated her. A respiratory therapist attached a transport ventilator.
Thom wrapped the tiny burn in the wet dressings. “Don’t let this dry out.”
Harper nodded and stayed at Emma’s bedside while she waited for a team to transport her to the burn unit, where there was appropriate equipment to care for her. With discretion, she inserted a foley catheter to measure her urine and continuously monitored her vitals.
While she worked, she listened to the captain and Tobey talking. “Shit, this was supposed to be an observe and report assignment. She’s a nurse, damn it,” Emma’s husband cursed.
“We will figure it out. Someone will be with her around the clock from medical. We will also put security there.”
“Tobey, I know it’s not your or Kip’s fault. Hell, he’s responsible for the field hospital. Where is he?”
Tobey opened his palms and whispered, “He’s on the fire scene. We have two more of our people missing.”
The captain turned to Harper. “Em and I got married two years ago. We found this perfect home—at least on the outside. The previous owners loved New Orleans.” He laughed telling her and Tobey about painting the walls more neutral shades to cover those painted fluorescent green, gold and purple. But one statement slapped her.
“I served four tours overseas in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. I was supposed to be the one to get hurt, maybe die. She almost didn’t marry me because she was afraid she’d lose me. Here I am praying I don’t lose her because she went to work in a nursing home. Makes you realize anything can be dangerous.”
A team from a critical care ambulance arrived to transport her. She watched as the tent doors closed behind her and squeezed her eyes tightly to prevent tears from falling.
As soon as the patient was removed from the tent, Thom stood on a chair. “Can I have everyone’s attention? Be careful with your burn patients. Please look before you touch. If you see a necrotic area with a yellow tinge that may smell of garlic, assume it’s a white phosphorus burn. Cover it with wet saline-soaked gauze. Do not touch it, and do not let the gauze dry. The burn doctors will take care of it.” Thom climbed down from the chair.
“One of the patients said the flames looked like phosphorus. How did you know?” Harper asked.
“A tour in Syria.” He left it like that.
* * *
Kip,Mia and Josh made their way to the visitor parking lot on foot. Bruce’s phone was pinging from somewhere there. “Maybe he listened to me?” Kip said to no one in particular.
He spotted Bruce’s Tahoe, its tailgate open. Getting closer, he found Bruce lying crumpled, unconscious, between his truck and a car parked beside his.
“Bean.” Kip slid to his knees beside him, listened to his chest and felt for a pulse. “He’s breathing.” Relief floated around him.
Mia Donnelly called for help while Josh grabbed the medical bag from the truck. He dropped it beside Kip and moved to hold Bruce’s neck steady. A few minutes later, they rolled Bruce into the tent hospital.
Kip spotted Harper, who was wrapping a deceased patient. When she turned and met his eyes, her expression made him want to take her in his arms and comfort her. She said something to a man, then made her way toward the patient Kip was bringing in. “Tell me about the patient.”
“This is Bruce Steele, age forty-one, no medical history, allergic to sulfa, found unconscious in the parking lot. He has a two-inch cut to the area behind his right ear. It looks like someone hit him from behind,” Kip said.
Harper called for a doctor, and Thom joined her. He checked Bruce’s pupils, ears, and nose. “I’ve got a red transport here. He needs a STAT CT-scan.”
The next arriving transport packaged him and readied to move him. Mia said, “Boss, I won’t leave him. I’ll notify DC and his folks.”
“Thanks, Mia. Call his sister first. His folks are both hard of hearing. Notify the duty. Ask them to arrange an escort once we know the plan for him.” He leaned down and whispered to Bruce, “Asshat, I can’t do this alone.” He tapped his heart and placed his hand on Bruce’s.
Harper sniffled and helped move Bruce out.
