Work Text:
Hope County, Montana
-04:30-
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
Ryan groaned and grabbed at his phone lazily before fumbling to turn off his alarm. He suddenly regretted agreeing to work for his friend who begged him to take her shift so she could go camping with her friends. After turning off his alarm he just smooshed his face back into his pillow and enjoyed the silence.
-Unknown amount of time later-
VVVVRRR VRRRRR
Ryan opened his eyes and blearily looked around for his phone again. He squinted at the bright screen before accepting the phone call.
“Hey, Ryan. Are you doing ok? Are you coming in?”
“Wha? I’m fine.” Ryan cleared his voice in an attempt to sound awake. “What’s up?”
“Oh, well you’re late for work and that’s not normally like you,” Ryan jolted up at the realization he was in fact about an hour late for work.
“Plus yesterday you told Tim on a recorded line that you were ready to drive your car off a cliff so uhhh we got a bit concerned when you didn’t show up.” Dan laughed nervously.
“Errr yeah, uhhh well I’m coming. It will probably be another 40 minutes,” Ryan slapped his forehead. “I live like 30 minutes away.”
Cradling his phone to his ear he quickly rushed around his room and pulled together his uniform and started cramming items into his bag for work.
“Hahaha no worries, man! We were just checking in. We almost sent someone to come check on you!”
“Alright, I’ll be there.” Ryan hung up and tossed his phone onto the bed.
Fuck. What a shitty morning.
-07:42-
“Holy shit, Erkhart. We thought you finally kicked the bucket. Didn’t know if we were gonna have to come pick you up.”
An older woman was sitting in a chair in the corner and grinning like the Cheshire Cat when Ryan finally stumbled in the door.
Ryan rolled his eyes, “I thought you kicked the bucket a while ago and then I found out that you always look and smell and like a walking corpse.”
Ryan walked over the computer and punched in. Angry red letters telling he was late glared back at him.
Donna laughed, “your partner is in the bathroom. Kinda newbie. He’s a cutie so I expect you’ll be in his pants by the end of the day.”
Ryan tsked, “and yet no one wants to be in your pants.”
Donna scoffed, “don’t worry I get fucked over by dispatch plenty.”
“Lisa bent me over and gave me the strap last night. I got like 3 hours of sleep.” Ryan rubbed his face. “She sent us on a cold response for someone with chest pain requiring a heart monitor being transferred from urgent care to the hospital.”
“Why didn’t you refuse? You can refuse if it isn’t an emergency. If they try to send you on a transfer 30 minutes before your shift ends then you can refuse and go home.”
Ryan pulled his head up from his hands and looked at the new voice. He guessed it was his partner. Ryan cringed. By the question he just asked he seemed very new. Working with paramedics usually meant that basic EMTs did higher level calls because they worked under the paramedic. He was not sure that this newbie was quite ready to be thrown into it full force yet.
“Cold responses mean that it’s an emergency… technically… so we can not refuse. We just don’t respond lights and sirens to the scene.” Ryan waggled his finger. “However, sometimes it turns out to be much less urgent. For example, I had a cold response where the patient had been complaining of abdominal pain for the past week and the nursing home decided to call us at 11:30 pm.”
“There is the other side where they will send it as a cold response and you will get there and nana noodle will be bleeding out on the floor. Nursing homes get their asses beat if they have too many 911 emergency calls so they try to save face by calling it in cold.” Donna added.
The newbie's face contorted but he nodded, “ah ok.”
Ryan sighed and opened the lockbox to get the keys for the drug box. Paramedics had access to a lot of highly restricted drugs so they had to be tightly regulated and controlled. All ALS truck keys were locked away and before every shift the medic on the truck goes through the drug box and makes sure that everything is accounted for.
“Hey, I think you’re my partner.” Ryan opened the door to the garage and motioned for the new kid to follow. “I’m Ryan.”
“I’m Jack.” Jack rushed to keep up with Ryan.
“How long have you been here?” Ryan asked.
“Errr, about 3 months now?” Jack tapped his leg.
“Ok, is this your first time PB?” Ryan unlocked the truck and motioned for Jack to get in the back.
“Yeah, I’m actually not your permanent partner. I’ll just be here for a few hours until someone else comes in.”
Jack quickly started checking out the truck to make sure they had all the supplies. He seemed more at ease with the familiarity of truck checks. Ryan pulled out the large orange box and unlocked the drugs.
“So when are they coming in?”
“In a couple hours. I think her name was Leslie?”
Ryan nodded. He liked Leslie. She was definitely more experienced. He sighed. Today was gonna be a long day.
“Ahhaha I hope nothing happens before she gets here! I would hate for my first heart attack to be today, I don’t think I’m ready.” Jack chuckled.
Ryan closed his eyes and sighed. And he jinxed it. And now today was gonna be even longer.
-09:13-
BEEEEEEP
“PB-5? Medic-5?”
Ryan groaned and grabbed his radio, “P-5.”
“P-5 please respond to 82 Walnut St. 8. 2. Walnut street for the unresponsive woman in a car. Be looking for a silver sedan. P-5?”
“P-5 we have 82 Walnut st.” Ryan said as he motioned for Jack to follow him to the truck.
“You have it.”
“Go save some lives, boys!” Donna called.
Ryan flipped his middle finger at her on the way out. Ryan jumped in the passenger seat and waited for Jack to catch up.
“Have you driven a response before?” Ryan asked.
“Uhhh yeah.” Jack said a little nervously as he hit the garage door opener.
They pulled out of the garage and flicked on their lights and sirens. Ryan grabbed the radio as Jack started flooring it down the street. Ryan held on for dear life as Jack recklessly raced around corners and turns.
“Ok buddy, slow down there. If you don’t slow down you’re gonna cause your own emergency and I don’t want that old hag Donna laughing at my grave.” Ryan gripped the handle tighter. “Remember the lights and sirens don’t give you the right of way. They are just asking for it. You have to take a pause at red lights and stop signs. Not everyone yields to our lights and sirens.”
“Ok.” Jack still seemed pale and sweaty.
Ryan sighed.
“Engine 2 on scene, investigating.”
“Engine 2 you are on scene. 09:28.”
Ryan held his breath. The fire department usually is on scene before them and they will update on the condition of the patient prior to their arrival. With any luck the person will wake right up and not need an ambulance at all. Usually fire will cancel them prior to their arrival on scene. Or they will update it as completely unresponsive and start CPR.
“Patient is conscious now.”
Ryan let out a sigh of relief. He glanced over at Jack who also visibly relaxed. Ryan saw the fire truck right in front of them and motioned Jack to park right behind them.
“P-5 we are on scene.” Ryan said quickly before getting out, not bothering to wait for a response.
Jack hopped out of the ambulance and started pulling out the supplies in the back. Ryan pulled on gloves and walked directly over to the patient. She was still sitting in the driver seat of the car. An older firefighter walked up to him.
“We got here and she woke up with the first shake. Her front tire is completely blown out and the whole front of the car is smashed up. We think it might be a hit and run. There are empty bottles of beer and her pupils are pinpoint.”
Ryan felt a twinge of anxiety in the pit of his stomach. He flexed his fingers nervously. He remembered his last hit and run. It didn’t turn out well. The bloody images still echo in his head.
Ryan nodded and kneeled next to the woman, “hi there, what is going on?”
“Can you tell these people that I didn’t hit anything! My ex husband smashed up my car! It was like this before today!” The woman seemed adamant.
“You were driving with a flat tire?” One of the fire fighters piped up.
“Yes!” She exclaimed.
“Ok, well can you get out of the car for us so we can examine you?” Ryan asked.
“Why! I’m fine! I didn’t hit anything! I feel fine!” The woman didn’t move from her seat. “I have to call my mom.”
Ryan felt his hands get sweaty in the gloves. This woman was testing his patience already. Jack wandered over with the bag and looked at him questioningly.
“Are you sure you are ok? They said you were passed out-“
“I wasn’t! I’m fine!” The woman tapped away at her phone furiously.
Ryan blinked.
Two children.
One obnoxious inebriated driver.
No skid marks.
He hated intoxicated drivers. All of them were the same. No matter what their background they all made the same choice to put others at risk. Ryan bit back a scathing remark
“Ma’am, we are not the cops, we are just trying to help. Did you drink anything today? Take any drugs?” Ryan tried a different angle.
“No!” She threw her hands up and started talking to her mother on the phone.
“Then what is all that?” Ryan raised his eyebrow and pointed at the empty bottles.
“That’s my ex husband! I got my car back looking like this. I’m in the middle of a custody battle. I’m just-“
“We can smell the alcohol on your breath!” Another firefighter interjected.
“This is ridiculous. I didn’t hit anything! I’m ok!” The woman turned her focus back to her phone. “Mom, they are saying I hit something.”
Ryan clenched his hands into tight balls. He was getting tired of running in circles with this woman. Whether her story is true or not she was obviously intoxicated and driving in a damaged car.
Ryan growled, “ok. Get out of the car. Let’s go.”
“I’m fine!” She said sharply.
“Well the police are gonna get here and then you are gonna have to deal with them.” Ryan stood up from kneeling. The irritation of speaking to this woman who was driving so recklessly and carelessly was starting to bubble over. “You know, I hope they come and arrest you.”
As he said that the police cruiser pulled up on scene. Deputy Hudson and a very tall newbie in a cowboy hat walked over. Cowboy looked at the car and let out a sharp whistle. Joey elbowed him.
“What do we got?” Joey asked.
“Intoxicated driver. Front is all smashed up. Front right tire is popped. Unconscious when we got here but she woke right up. She’s been uncooperative.” One of the firefighters behind him rattled off.
“Hmmm, McCoy! What do you think?” Joey asked the tall newbie.
“Uh, looks like- oh! License and registration!” McCoy walked up to the woman.
She paused her talking on the phone and started scrambling around for the papers. She handed him a cluttered stack of papers. The newbie cowboy looked at it and raised an eyebrow. Ryan almost giggled. He watched as he walked off with the stack of papers.
Joey sighed and walked up to the woman, “listen here-“
She paused and grabbed the phone from the woman’s hand and tossed it on top of the car.
“Hey! Don’t touch me!”
“Listen here! You have two options. You either go to jail or get in the ambulance and go to the hospital.”
“Are you for real?!” Woman looked offended.
“Yes. Now either get out or I’ll drag you out.” Joey looked tired of this woman already.
“Alright!” The woman finally stood up and started walking towards the ambulance.
“I can’t believe this shit. I didn’t do anything wrong! I didn’t hit anything! I’m fine!” She grumbled to herself.
“My god! Look at your fucking car! No one drives on a flat tire! So even if that didn’t happen today then you made the dumbass choice to drive a seriously damaged car!” Ryan snapped. “You’re the reason why I have to come scrap kids off the road!”
“Don’t swear at me!” She stopped walking and turned to face Ryan. “I don’t appreciate that! I want to be treated with respect! I am trying to be honest and tell the truth!”
“Just get in the fucking ambulance.” Ryan growled lowly.
She glared at him but slowly continued walking. They climbed into the back of the truck and sat her down in the stretcher before adding the seatbelts. Jack looked at Ryan with concern. Ryan was glaring at the woman but kept his mouth shut.
“What is your name?” Jack spoke up for the first time.
“Clarissa Edwards.”
“Why were you unconscious in your car?” Jack cleared his throat.
“I didn’t sleep the night before. I called my mom to come pick me up because I can’t drive that car anymore!” She crossed her arms. “My ex husband smashed my car up. I’m in the middle of a custody battle. I’m a victim of domestic violence! I’m trying to get away!”
Ryan rubbed his face tiredly, “do you have diabetes?”
“No.”
“We are gonna check your blood sugar anyways, ok?”
“Whatever.”
Ryan pricked her finger and quickly tested the drop of blood before wrapping the bleeding finger in a bandaid. He glanced at the glucometer. 112. Normal.
“Do you know what day it is?” Jack asked.
Ryan lips quirked up. Seemed like the newbie had some brains in him after all. Patients need to be able to answer 4 basic questions correctly to be deemed competent enough to deny medical treatment and make choices on their own.
“Wednesday… no wait. Thursday.”
Jack nodded. “And who is the president?”
“Trump.” She made a face.
“Do you know where you are right now?”
“Yeah I’m in the ambulance! We are on walnut st! I just called my mom to come pick me up!”
“Last one. How many quarters in a dollar fifty?”
“Six.”
“Do you want to go to the hospital? Ryan asked.
“No! I wanna go home! I have stuff to do! I am very busy!” She started shouting again.
Ryan sighed and got out of the ambulance and walked over to the two deputies, “she’s refusing to go to the hospital so she’s all yours.”
Joey pinched the bridge of her nose, “fucking dumbass. She should have just gone with you. Cooper, go arrest her.”
“Yes sir!” Cooper followed Ryan back to the ambulance where she was still shouting. “Hello ma’am! I heard you aren’t going to the hospital.”
“No! I need to go home!”
“Well you either can go to the hospital or go to jail.” Cooper shrugged.
“What! They medically cleared me! I don’t need to go!”
“Ok well since you aren’t going to the hospital you are under arrest. Come with me.” Cooper climbed inside and quickly grabbed her arms and started pulling her out.
“YOU’RE CRAZY! THIS IS CRAZY! I DIDN’T DO ANYTHING!” Clarissa started flailing.
“Hey! Don’t make this harder!” Cooper warned as he clicked the handcuffs on.
“STOP YOU’RE HURTING ME! LET ME GO!”
Ryan motioned for Jack to follow him out of the ambulance to give them space. Jack watched wide eyed as Cooper pulled her out of the ambulance and into the police cruiser instead. Joey walked over and looked at both of them.
“So. She was fine? Answered all your questions?”
“Yeah. She’s all good. She refused to go.” Ryan nodded in confirmation. “I did warn her.”
“Alright thanks you guys. We are all set with you. You guys can leave.” Joey waved.
Ryan and Jack walked back to their ambulance and Ryan plopped into the passenger seat with a huge groan. This was going to be a long messy day.
“I didn’t mean to get mad. She just reminded me of another person. I had to pick up two young children off the pavement because one stupid choice someone made. The arrogance of some people.” Ryan said hollowly.
Jack hummed. Ryan pulled up the computer and started writing up the report. He just was happy that no one was hurt this time around. Usually they didn’t end up this lucky.
-11:25-
BEEEEEEEEEP
“Paramedic 5? P-5?” The dispatcher announced.
Ryan sighed. He was hoping to get lunch. He didn’t move from his seat.
“No, no don’t get up.” Leslie rolled her eyes playfully as she picked up the radio. “P-5.”
“P-5 please respond to 154 Oxford Rd for the difficulty breathing.”
“We have Oxford Rd.”
Ryan swung his legs up and hopped off the couch. Ryan got into the passenger seat and prepared for another call. They pulled out of the ambulance bay and started heading down the streets with lights and sirens.
“Oh my god! Get out of the way fuckwad,” Ryan shouted at the car in front of them which seemed to have panicked and slammed on the brakes in the middle of the street.
“What’s got you in a mood?” Leslie asked.
“Ughhhhhhhhh. I know who this is. It’s Ethan. He calls almost weekly. It’s the same thing every time. Chest pain and difficulty breathing.” Ryan leaned back and groaned. “Sometimes I think he just has us on speed dial.”
“Oh so he’s your good friend then, maybe he misses you.” Leslie smirked.
“Oh yeah sure thing, lots and lots of fun and friendship together.” Ryan sighed deeply as they pulled up on scene.
“P-5 we are on scene.” Ryan called on the radio.
He didn’t wait for an answer before jumping out of the truck and waved to Ethan who was walking out of his house. Ryan smiled at him even though he was thinking about lunch instead.
“Hello, Ethan.” Ryan helped him into the ambulance as he walked over.
“Oh hello! I’m not feeling good right now. My chest hurts and I’m having trouble breathing.” Ethan sat in the stretcher.
Ryan turned to Leslie, “just start driving to the hospital.”
Leslie almost giggled at the unamused dead look on his face. Ryan sighed and turned back into the ambulance. His face instantly brightened again looking at Ethan.
“So Ethan, you know the drill.” Ryan gave a strained smile.
“Oh yes, I remember you. The hospital released me yesterday and I just don’t feel good. I’ve just been having these chest pains and that makes it hard to breathe, you know? I have COPD you know. It’s probably from all that smoking I did as a youngling. I was a wild one in those days,” Ethan rattled on.
“Uh huh, so why did you call today?” Ryan raised his eyebrow.
He moved around the ambulance slowly picking up supplies. He really didn’t want to waste all the supplies and time putting the 12 lead on his chest but because the man always complained of chest pain he was obligated to monitor the man's heart. What a pain.
“Well you see I was trying to wash dishes and I just got sooo tired. It was like I was heaving and huffing and puffing,” Ethan started gasping. “It was like breathing with a ton of bricks on my chest! I kept trying to breath but it’s just so hard sometimes. I think I could be DYING! This pain is definitely 10/10 bad. I know you guys like to ask me that.”
“Oh, I see.” Ryan nodded.
Ryan looked at the monitor and watched as the waves filled the screen. Normal. Of course they were. Ethan was fine. Ryan had to stop himself from letting out a big sigh. He opted for overly cheerful at the good news instead.
“Well my friend, your heart looks good to me. No need to worry about your heart right now.” Ryan patted him on the back.
“Oh thank goodness, you know I always get so worried! I had a heart attack almost 10 years ago! Ever since then I just don’t ever want to mess around with my heart.” Ethan said seriously.
Ryan nodded, “I see. Gotta be serious with your health. Especially your heart.”
Ryan internally prayed for the ride to the hospital to come to an end. He understood that the man might be lonely and concerned about his heart, but abusing the 911 system just takes away resources from someone else who might need help. Not to mention that the hospital just discharged him yesterday. He was sure to get an earful at the hospital. Normally it was protocol to call the hospital to let them know that they were coming prior to arrival, but luckily at this hospital they only required a call if it was a major trauma or some other special alert.
“We are pulling in now,” Leslie called from the front.
Ryan couldn’t have sat up any quicker, “Ok, Ethan. It looks like our time here has come to an end.”
Leslie appeared in the back and opened the rear doors. Ryan hopped out and mouthed ‘thank god’ at her before turning around and helping her pull out the stretcher. Together they wheeled Ethan into the ER. They rolled up to the triage nurse and paused. Triage is where every single patient who comes into the ER either by themselves or by ambulance are categorized based on severity of their condition and put in line. This is why the misconception about patients being seen faster if they take an ambulance is wrong. All patients are triaged no matter how they come in the doors.
“Name?”
“Ethan Refus. 09/10/1937.” Ryan said.
“Oh, our good friend Ethan is back.” She glanced over Ryan’s shoulder. “Goodie.”
“Ah yeah, he’s complaining of the usual. Nothing is wrong with him. Vitals are all stable.” Ryan shrugged.
“Ah hah. Well. We are kinda full right now. He can go into the waiting room.” She rolled her eyes.
Ryan grimaced slightly. He would hate to be the one to explain to Ethan that he was getting pushed to the waiting room. Although. He did kind of deserve it. After all. There isn’t a reason for him to be here. Ryan nodded and turned back to Ethan. With a motion he gestured Leslie to follow his lead and wheel Ethan into the waiting room.
“Whaaaat! No way, I have to be seen now! I can’t be in the waiting room! I could die!” Ethan grumbled. “These nurses. I swear sometimes they are just bitches.”
“Hey, you are stable for now. Be nice. These nurses are very busy, and I have already taken a look at your heart. You are ok for now. If anything changes you are in a hospital. Help is not far away.” Ryan scolded him.
Ethan just grumbled as they let him off and into the chair at the waiting room. Ryan turned to the nurse to get a signature. It was always important to complete the transition of care. Care must always be transferred to someone who is of equal or higher level of care. In this case it was the nurse.
“God Ryan, did you really have to bring him back here?” The nurse half smiled.
“Yeah, yeah. It’s not like I have a choice. I can’t refuse care to a patient- well… there are a few times I can, but in general: I can’t just say no and then leave them there. Even if I reallllllyyyyy wanted to. And boy did I want to.” Ryan whistled.
“Fair enough, but you could have brought him to a different hospital.” Nurse leaned forwards.
“Oh c’mon, I’m not a fool. I know Ethan. This is his favorite hospital. It’s also the closest so protocol states I have to bring him here.” Ryan rubbed his face.
“Yeah, yeah,” She smirked. “You got my signature. I don’t need your technicalities.”
“See you later, Kat.” Ryan waved as he walked off.
He walked back to the truck to find Leslie already cleaning. Sometimes he enjoyed having competent partners. He opened the front cab of the truck and pulled out the computer to start writing his report. Maybe then they will be able to eat some lunch after they are done.
-14:04-
“Ryan. Dear god man. What are you eating?”
“Uh… lunch?” Ryan looked at Leslie who looked scared and amused.
“Oh boy,” Donna walked over and sat down at the table next to him. “Alright, Ginger. What toxic concoction did you bring today?”
“Oh fuck off, Donna. I haven’t seen you do anything all day. You are hardly earning the scraps we have to toss you.” Ryan shot back. “For your information it’s just ramen in a sandwich with cheese, lettuce, mayo, ham, and bread. I thought about adding tomato, but decided against it.”
“Because tomato is the thing that didn’t belong there…” Leslie muttered under her breath.
“Eh, you’re right. That’s not the worst thing you’ve brought in before.” Donna waved him off.
“Seriously? Don’t you have normal food in your house?” Leslie cocked her head.
“Sure I do.” Ryan tilted his head. “I just make my own recipes that people don’t like.”
Leslie shook her head. Ryan smirked and continued to eat his sandwich. He glanced down at his phone. He hadn’t really looked at it all day. There were a bunch of messages from John on it. He opened it up to see a barrage of messages with the final one just saying, ‘call me.’ Ryan sighed. He supposed he had some time. He dialed up the number.
“Hello?”
“John, what did you need? I am at work, you know.” Ryan cradled the phone in his neck as he continued to eat.
“Well, now isn’t the best time for me either you know. Joseph is trying to have a meeting.” John whispered back.
Ryan raised an eyebrow. John normally never split his attention for anyone when Joseph was involved. A warm feeling rushed to his cheeks. He smiled lightly.
“I see. So don’t let me interrupt your meeting,” Ryan went to hang up.
“No wait! You already interrupted. I need to talk to you.” John called out.
Ryan paused and brought the phone back up to his ear, “ok, go on.”
“There are some of our faithful who are asking questions about you. I think that you should consider coming around more and introducing yourself properly. My siblings have also been interested in you more. You are causing quite a stir moving here from the city and then becoming town hero, you know.” John said plainly.
“Not interested.” Ryan said flatly.
He didn’t want to get too involved with the project. They seemed like an unstable group at best and he wanted to be closer to an impartial observer. He only agreed to get close to the cult because a lot of the population in Hope County was actually a part of the project. That and John Seed was one pretty man. Damn his hormones getting him into trouble again.
“You should seriously reconsider. My siblings might decide to reach out on their own.” John warned.
“And walking right up to them is a better idea?” Ryan scoffed. “John, how many times do I have to say-“
“Ryan?” Leslie cut him off. “We got a call.”
“Oh I’ve got to go, John. We can talk more later.” Ryan let a smirk play on his lips. “Or do more than talk… bye, John!”
Ryan hung on him abruptly and started cackling.
Leslie shook her head, “Who is your boyfriend there?”
“Not my boyfriend.” Ryan opened his arms dramatically, “he is my spiritual guide and teacher.”
Leslie laughed, “well he’s not doing too well.”
“Hey! I’m not thaaaaat bad!” Ryan paused, “am I?”
“ANYWAYS,” Leslie announced loudly. “We have a transfer. 9 month old baby with a vent and IV. They are going to a different hospital down in the city.”
“Ok. But we are having a long conversation about you ignoring my question.” Ryan put his hand on his chest in mock offense. “I’m sensitive.”
“Oh joy.”
Ryan stretched his limbs. Long distance transfers were fun. The city hospital was about an hour and a half away. They would pick up the baby and bring it to the city hospital before returning back.
Maybe he could nap on the way back…
-18:54-
BEEEEEP
“P-05 you are being dispatched for the ETOH on the corner of Pine and Ellis st. The corner of Pine and Ellis.”
“P-05 we are responding.” Ryan looked around for Leslie to find her already on the way out to the truck.
“What does ETOH stand for again? I’m too tired to think.” Leslie rubbed her eyes.
“It’s just the chemical label for alcohol but indicates a drunk person.” Ryan hopped in the passenger seat.
“I knew that part. I just wondered if it stood for anything.”
They pulled out of the bay and headed off. Ryan could see the place being lit up by police cars before they even arrived. Ryan sighed.
“P-5 we are on scene.” Ryan slid out of the ambulance and sauntered over to the group standing around. “Hey fellas, what’s going on here?”
“Pablo here was just taking a nap outside and someone got concerned.” The officer walked up to him. “He’s actually kinda fun, but he does need to go to the hospital. He can’t stay here.”
“No problem!” Ryan smiled as the man stumbled over.
“Ah! A ginger! What fun!” Pablo clapped drunkenly.
Ryan chuckled, “hey pal, you ready to go?”
“Oh yes, sir!”
Ryan watched as the man wobbled into the ambulance and plopped himself down. Leslie patted him on the shoulder. She would be taking this one. No need for ALS. Ryan saluted them with two fingers before closing the door. He climbed into the passenger seat.
He shut off the lights and headed towards the hospital at a normal rate.
“P-5 we are transporting one to the hospital.”
“P-5, one to the hospital.”
There were only a couple hospitals in the area. With the nearest major trauma center being almost a half an hour away. It was a far cry from being in the middle of New York City. There the hospital was only a couple blocks away.
An aching homesick pang rang through him. Ryan thought about everyone back in New York. He would have to send a little package home soon. They arrived at the hospital and Ryan could hear Pablo laughing loudly in the back. At least he was a happy drunk.
“P-5 we are on arrival at the hospital.” Ryan announced on the radio.
“P-5 you’re on arrival.”
Ryan parked in the ambulance bay before hoping out and opening the back. Leslie popped out smiling.
“Ahhh Mr. Ginger!” Pablo greeted happily. “You drove fabulously. I would hire you as my chauffeur any time!”
Ryan laughed, “my pleasure good sir!”
They pair wheeled him into the hospital with Leslie pulling in the front and Ryan pushing the back. Leslie walked up to the triage area when a loud voice came calling from across the hospital.
“STOP HIM!”
Leslie looked up alarmed to see a patient from the psychiatric area running full speed. Unsure of which way to move she moved to the left of the hallway while Ryan shuffled to the right. Unfortunately that left the patient in the stretcher pulled diagonally across the hallway.
Ryan could only watch wide eyed as the psych patient smashed into the stretcher with Pablo on it almost tipping the thing over. Pablo on the other hand decided to drunkenly grab at the psych patient and attempted to hold on to him as security caught up to him.
Ryan stumbled backwards as the psych patient eventually was able to break free of Pablo’s grasp and head straight for the automatic doors going outside. He smashed into the glass as they failed to open quickly enough. The patient was quickly tackled by five security guards.
Ryan blinked. His brain hadn’t finished processing what just happened.
“Someone call the police. Oh and you guys can come with me and have him sit in bed 7.” The nurse sighed.
Ryan glanced behind him to see the pile of struggling bodies in the doorway. They let off Pablo and Ryan gave him a high five.
“Nice one, man. He definitely would have gotten away if it wasn’t for you. Nice job, although I was nervous you were gonna tip over there for a moment!” Ryan laughed.
“Ah no problem! I really tried to hold him down for you!” Pablo waved his arms and re-enacted the scene.
“You did more than enough, Pablo. I don’t think they would have caught him if you hadn’t slowed him down.”
“I do my best for you guys! You’re great!”
Ryan shook his head and turned to leave and clean the stretcher. He could NOT believe that just happened. Never a dull moment. That’s for sure.
-21:34-
Ryan dozed quietly on the couch. Leslie walked in and rolled her eyes. Donna sat on the opposite side in her chair.
A delicate hand with slender fingers wrapped around his neck. Not enough to choke him, but gripped tightly in a possessive manner.
Ryan woke with a startled gasp. His hands flew to his neck. His eyes darkened when he realized it was just a dream or a memory he supposed. He stood without a word and walked into the bathroom.
The silence in the base was heavy. Everyone had nightmares. Everyone had doubts. Leslie couldn’t even imagine what it must be like in the city. In rural areas the severe calls were more spread out, but in the city there were more of them. A lot more.
“Sooo, Donna. Why do you and Ryan do that whole go at each other’s throat type thing?” Leslie broke the silence.
“I dunno. I’ve always played the roll of an old hag. I just like ragging on the new kids. I’ve been here for almost two decades. I’ve seen it all and done it all.” Donna said thoughtfully. “I guess Ryan just picked up the mouthy youngster in return. I have to say I like getting in those verbal matches sometimes. He always likes to keep me on my toes.”
The silence returned to the base. Leslie sat down on the couch where Ryan was before. She thought for a moment. Even though they were just co workers who had worked together a few times before her and Ryan did spend a lot of time together. She wondered if she should be more concerned about his well-being. Not that he ever actually opened up about any of his personal life. She didn’t even know who that man, John, he was talking to earlier was.
She glanced at Donna. There were so few career EMS. Many stay only in the field for a couple of years before moving on to bigger and better things. Even herself was looking to go into a public health career.
“Should we be concerned about him?” Leslie looked back at the closed bathroom door where Ryan had disappeared into.
Donna was silent for a moment, “no. He will come around.”
Ryan listened to them carefully from behind the closed door. He twisted his sleeve anxiously. He needed to remain calm. He was safe. It was fine. He would just play it off as him swallowing and choking on his spit during his sleep. He unfurled his tight grip on his sleeve and straightened it out before opening the door again.
“Hehe sorry about that you guys. Choked on my spit a little in my sleep. #attractive I know.” Ryan winked.
“That’s disgusting.” Leslie made a face. “Also get your ass into gear we have another transfer. She is going from urgent care to the emergency room.”
“Ugh, ok but I want to get this done before we have to go home for the night.” Ryan groaned.
“If you keep moving that slow then we won’t even be done by morning. Quit complaining and let’s get this done.” Leslie grabbed the keys on the way out.
-23:50-
Ryan finally made it home after the transfer took them into overtime. The urgent care wasn’t prepared for them to arrive so quickly so none of the paperwork was done. The patient themselves was so weak they could barely move by the time they went to move her onto their stretcher.
The receiving facility was overwhelmed and seemed to have failed to receive the report from the first place about the patient being transferred. One thing led to another and eventually Ryan and Leslie ended up leaving work almost an hour late.
He considered just passing out and ignoring dinner and shower but he knew that he had another shift tomorrow. He couldn’t arrive dirty and starving. He was already late once this week.
“Fuck, I have to talk to John still.” Ryan sighed as he glanced down at his phone which still read new messages from John.
That was a problem for tomorrow.
Tomorrow.
It all started all over again - tomorrow.