Chapter 13

13

Rhett

Pulling up to the senior high-rise, I climb in the back and throw my medical bag over my shoulder. We unhook the gurney and push it out of the bus. An old man holds the door open for us as we head inside. Getting on the elevator, we ride it up to the sixth floor.

The apartment is luckily right across from the elevator. We leave the gurney in the hall and I step inside. A woman is on her knees next to a man on the floor.

"Please help him." She looks up at us. "He complained of chest pain, so I called you, but then he just collapsed."

After checking for a pulse and not finding one, I grab the defibrillator as Hawk pulls the man's shirt open. Placing the paddles on his chest, I call out "Clear!" and deliver the shock. The man's body jerks but there's no response.

"Starting compressions," Hawk shouts, beginning CPR.

I charge the paddles again. "Clear!" Another shock, still no response.

The paramedics arrive and together we continue working on him for twenty more minutes, trading off on compressions, delivering more shocks, and administering epinephrine. But despite our best efforts, we're unable to revive him.

We get him on the gurney, and I climb on, doing chest compressions as we take him out to the ambulance. His wife sobs the entire time, luckily, she's got someone with her. Once we reach the ambulance, I jump off and check for a pulse one last time and find nothing. I help them get him loaded up and Hawk and I head back to our bus.

"Fuck, that man is gone," I say as we climb inside.

Hawk shakes his head. "Yeah, fuck me, that poor wife." We head back to the station.

Once we get back, I head straight for the showers. I need to wash off the sweat and emotions from that last call. As the hot water pours over me, I can't stop thinking about that poor woman watching her husband die, because honestly, he was gone before we started CPR. It hits differently now that I have Sofia in my life. The thought of losing her...I can't even go there.

Days like this remind me why I've always been hesitant to get seriously involved with someone. The thought of leaving someone behind like that poor woman...it's almost too much to bear.

But then Sofia's face pops into my mind. Her sweet smile, her kind eyes. For the first time, the idea of having someone to come home to after a tough shift sounds...nice.

After my shower, I change into a fresh uniform and head to the kitchen. Some of the guys are gathered around, talking quietly. They all look up when I enter.

"Tough call?" Marchy asks, his eyes full of understanding.

I nod, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge. "Yeah. Older guy, massive heart attack. Couldn't bring him back."

The guys murmur sympathetically. We've all been there, losing people despite our best efforts. It never gets easier.

"That's rough, man," Marchy comforts, clapping me on the shoulder. "You did everything you could." I nod, taking a long drink of water. "Yeah, I know. Just hits different now, you know?"

The guys exchange knowing looks. Most of them are married or in serious relationships. They understand how having somebody waiting at home changes your perspective on the job.

"How's Sofia doing?" Ghost Pepper asks, clearly trying to lighten the mood.

Despite my somber mood, I can't help but smile at the mention of her name. "She's good. Really good, actually."

"Look at that smile," Atta teases. "Our boy has got it bad."

I roll my eyes but don't deny it. They're not wrong—I am completely smitten with Sofia Morgan.

Just then, the alarm goes off, signaling another call. We all jump up and head for our gear. I step into my turnouts. "Duty calls," I announce, pushing thoughts of Sofia aside for now. I need to focus on the job.

We climb into the truck with Jamie behind the wheel and head out, sirens blaring. It's a house fire this time. When we arrive on scene, flames are already visible through the upstairs windows.

"All right boys, let's do this," Captain barks out orders as we jump into action.

Marchy and I grab the hose while Ghost Pepper and Atta head inside to search for any occupants. The heat is intense as we battle the flames. Sweat pours down my face under my helmet, but I've learned over the years to ignore it.

After what feels like hours but is probably only about forty-five minutes, we finally get the fire under control. Ghost Pepper and Atta didn't find anyone inside so they're helping extinguish the fire.

After we finish extinguishing the fire and checking for hot spots, we start the cleanup process. I help roll up the hoses while some of the other guys board up windows. The homeowners, a young couple, stand off to the side looking shell-shocked as they survey the damage to their house.

I approach them cautiously. "Is there someone we can call for you? Family or friends you can stay with?"

The woman nods numbly. "My sister lives nearby. We'll call her."

I nod sympathetically. "I'm sorry this happened. The fire investigator will be here soon to determine the cause, and you should contact your insurance company as soon as possible."

They thank me quietly and I head back to help finish the cleanup. By the time we're done, I'm exhausted and covered in soot. We climb back into the truck and head for the station.

Back at the firehouse, we all work together to get everything cleaned up and prepped in case another call comes in. Once that's all done, we head to the showers. I'm sweaty, dirty, and probably smell.

It doesn't take long before I'm back in a clean uniform and am downstairs making myself a sandwich.

I've been lying in bed for two hours and can't sleep. Trying everything to fall asleep, but I can't find it. Climbing out of bed I head into my bathroom and grab a sleeping pill. I swallow it down and get back in bed.

Opening my eyes, I feel a heaviness on my chest. I look down and see familiar red hair on my chest. How did this happen? Don't get me wrong, I'm happy she's here, I just wish I remembered it. That's why I try not to take them.

I stroke a hand over her hair, and she begins to stir.

Sofia smiles up at me sleepily, her blue eyes still hazy with sleep. "Hi," she says softly.

I hold her close. "Not that I'm complaining, but how did you get here?" I ask, running my fingers through her soft hair.

She looks at me with a raised brow for a moment. "You don't remember? You called me last night. You said you couldn't sleep and asked if I would come over. I got here around two."

Ah, that explains it. The sleeping pill must have really knocked me out. "Sorry, I took a sleeping pill, and it made me pretty out of it. But I'm so glad you're here."

Sofia snuggles back against my chest. "Me too. You seemed pretty restless when I got here, but you settled once I climbed in bed with you."

I wrap my arms around her, pulling her up my body so we're face-to-face. "You're better than any sleeping pill."

I roll us until I'm on top of her and proceed to show her how much I appreciate her.

Marchy opens his front door as I come up the sidewalk. "What's up, brother?" he asks.

"Hey, man." We share the typical half-hug half-handshake. "Thanks for having me over." I follow him inside. I expect to be greeted by Haley and Roman, but the house is unusually quiet. "Where's the family?"

"She's hanging with her cousin today. I told her to leave Roman, but he loves playing with her cousin's kids. I hate the quiet, and I miss that little guy. When I'm home in the morning we snuggle and watch Bluey ." Marchy has always been a family-oriented guy and none of us were surprised he slipped right into it with his girl and baby boy.

"Sounds like you've really embraced fatherhood," I note with a smile as we head into the kitchen.

Marchy grabs a couple beers from the fridge and hands me one. "Man, I never knew I could love someone as much as I love that little boy. And Haley...she's everything to me."

I take a swig of my beer, thinking about how my own outlook has shifted lately. "I get it. Sofia's got me feeling things I never thought I would. You know me, I've always been about easy breezy."

Marchy raises an eyebrow. "Things are getting serious with you two, aren't they?"

I nod, unable to keep the smile off my face. "Yeah, I think they are. She's...different, you know? Special."

"I'm happy for you, brother," Marchy says, clapping me on the shoulder. "You deserve to find someone who makes you happy."

"Thanks, brother," I tell him as we take our beers outside. "What smells good?" Of course, I'm trying to steer the conversation to something else, other than me and Sofia.

He opens the lid to the grill. "I'm making ribs. They're fucking amazing. I've been spraying them with apple juice and Haley made the barbecue sauce."

"I can't wait."

Marchy sits next to me and we enjoy our beers, then in a bit we'll enjoy some ribs.