Part 13 (1/2)

”Look, no one is perfect all of the time. You did what you thought was best at the time. The good news is, you will be fine. Tony wasn't really hurt, and the woman is critical but stable. You gave her a fighting chance, Pauli. Tell me the rest of it. I know there's more.”

She flushed but went on, ”Well, yeah, when Tony yelled, I looked up and this big guy was coming at me with a knife. I ducked but he still got my forehead, ten st.i.tches for that one. I grabbed his arm with the knife and managed to disarm him, but when I used a shoulder throw on him, he s.h.i.+fted on me. I got him down but he pulled on my arm enough to dislocate my shoulder. Tony took it from there and kept him down until the cops got there and took over. I went back to the patient and kept pressure on her wound with my good arm until the other crew got there.”

Caity gasped and I turned in time to see her stand up. Quickly, I went to her just in case she started to pa.s.s out again but she pushed me away. She went to Pauli and I wasn't sure if she was going to slap her or praise her. Honestly, I don't know if she was sure until the words started coming.

”Pauline Connor! You mean to tell me that you went charging in to a scene without verifying scene safety? Then you disarm an armed man, getting hurt in the process, and you still took care of your patient while having a dislocated shoulder?”

I had ever seen Caity like this and I wasn't sure what to do. If it had been anyone else, I could have told them to stand down, but this was family and I wasn't getting in the crossfire unless I had no choice. I couldn't believe how quickly Pauli sat up at the use of her full name. That part was at least a little amusing.

”Um, yeah. I'm sorry, Sis, I really didn't think. It all happened so fast and if I hadn't gone in, she would have bled out before the cops got there and dealt with the guy.”

Her eyes bright with unshed tears still, Caity looked at her sister and leaned down to kiss her above the bandage.

”Pauli, I love you. I am so very glad that you will be fine but you scared the h.e.l.l out of me. I am so proud of you too! While I wish you had been more careful, you kept your head, protected yourself, your partner and the patient. Even injured, you took care of that poor woman. You really are something special.” She paused then added, ”But do me a favor? Don't do it again!”

Pauli and I both laughed and she agreed to do her best to avoid future incidents. The truth was, as a dispatcher she knew that the dispatch center had no idea they were sending a team into a dangerous place. Other than waiting for PD, they had done their job. Knowing the politics of the department, someone would spin this into a more heroic tale than it was and the two medics would receive commendations.

I mock glared at Pauli and she quickly sat up and stopped laughing. I let her stew a minute before coming closer to her and leaning in to make sure she understood me very clearly. ”Paramedic Connor, you will stay in the hospital until the medical staff provides you with a proper discharge. At that time, you will stay with your sister and me until you are in better shape. Is that understood?” As I finished, I relaxed my face and gave her a wink.

A look of relief pa.s.sed over her face and she smiled. ”You bet, Donny. Thanks, you had me going there for a minute. But wait, will there be room, isn't Spike staying there too?”

I had forgotten that Pauli didn't know that Spike was in a room just a few floors above our heads. I couldn't tell her that and besides, I had the room either way. ”She's still a resident in the Hotel Connor-Donovan, but there is still room for family.”

Caity gave my hand a squeeze, I suppose in thanks, but either way, Pauli was my family, and I would always try to help family. Pauli looked tired, so we told her that Caity had to get to work soon and took our leave. In truth, we headed upstairs first to check on Kristy before leaving.

In the elevator Caity leaned against me and I gave her a hug. ”You okay, babe?”

She stood up straight again and replied, ”Yes, but thank you for everything you did in there. I was a wreck when I saw her. All I could think was, 'Dear Lord, not her too!' I just flashed on losing our father on the job, you know?”

”I know, that's why I kept an eye on you. I think that's why Pauli looked worried about you too. But this isn't like with your father, she is going to be just fine in a few weeks.”

She sighed as we walked off the elevator a few minutes later. ”I know, but sometimes I hate that the two most important people in my world work for the same department that cost me my father.”

I was silent for a moment. I would give up my job for her if I had to, but the problem was that I loved my job. It was part of my ident.i.ty. Caity was part of my soul though, and it was an easy contest. I pulled her to the side of the hallway to talk a bit more. ”Do you want me to resign? Is that it?”

”I wouldn't ask you to do that, baby! I would never consider asking you to leave the department.”

”I know, but I'm offering, you didn't ask. Would you like me to resign? I can teach, I can go back to school and become a physician's a.s.sistant. I don't care what I end up doing. I just want you to be happy and stay with me.”

She looked at me like I had grown an extra head. ”Chloe, I'm sorry if I gave you the idea that I want you to quit. Would I like to keep you safe? Of course, but being a paramedic is part of who you are. I know that and I knew it long before I fell in love with you. I love you for being willing to give it up, but I can't ask you to give up something that means so much to you. I like everything about who you are as a person, that includes your desire to save lives and help people.”

”Are you sure? I promise to do my best to stay safe but I can't promise anything. I'll never be rich doing this either.”

When I said that, she started chuckling. ”I surely never thought about money when I fell for you, Donovan! My family has been fire service for so long that our blood has soot in it. I know the risks and I know that loving a member of the department means that there is a lot of love and some risk. But loving a member of the department means accepting the good and bad parts of the job, the hours, the risk, the extended family, the constant stories, and the obsession with new toys for your med kits and ambulances.”

I had to grin then, because it was true. We never stopped telling stories and talking about new gear. ”Okay, you've got my number. Thanks, baby, for understanding me so well.”

”No need to thank me, and of course I have your number! It's the same as mine now.” She threw me a wink and headed for the door to Kristy's room before I knew what had happened. All I could do was laugh.

I followed Caity into Kristy's hospital room and was happy to see her sitting up in a chair reading a book. When we entered the room, she smiled at us in greeting. ”Hey guys, thanks for stopping in. What's going on?”

She sounded cheerful, not at all like the confused person from the call the other day. ”We're good. How about you? Any idea when we can spring you from this joint?” I leaned against the wall and motioned to Caity to take the other chair in the room.

She shrugged her shoulders, shook her head, and said, ”Nope, you know doctors never commit to a date of release. We have done some good work while I've been in here. The private room helps with sessions and I've been able to think. The doc has done that hypnosis stuff on me a few times now and we started figuring out some of what happened to me.” Her face grew dark, like storm clouds had just rolled over the whole sky.

Caity spoke up, reaching a hand out to touch Kristy's sleeve. ”You don't have to tell us about anything you don't want to, but if you do want to talk, we're both willing to listen, anytime.”

I nodded in agreement. ”Yeah, buddy, if you need anything, just let me know. I just want to help out and get you back with us at the station.”

Kristy looked at me sadly. ”I might not come back, Donny. I just don't know if I can go back after all of this. I'm sure it has gotten around that I'm in here. Besides, I just don't know if I have it in me anymore.”

Shocked doesn't begin to cover what I felt after hearing the best medic around giving up so easily. ”First off, Tony has grown up a lot since that suspension. He actually offered his help with whatever was going on and has kept his mouth shut about it. No one knows you were the patient on that call or what happened. Pauli has kept her mouth shut too, though she did come to me to ask if you would be willing to let her visit. I told her I'd talk to you about her coming by the house.”

That reminded me of the little problem of both women staying with us, and that Pauli would soon know that Kristy wasn't with us right now. Quickly, I filled her in on that information and asked how she wanted me to handle it.

”I hate to lie to the kid. I know she won't say anything, so go ahead and tell her. She can visit if she wants to see me. I think I'd like that. She's a good medic and a good kid.”

Caity smiled. ”Thanks, Kristy. I'll bring her by when I pick her up from here tomorrow. I've got to get to work, but if you need us to bring anything, or if you want to talk, just call either one of us.”

”Got it, I'm not ready yet. It isn't you guys, I just can't deal with some of the stuff the doc and I are talking through right now. If you could bring a few books over, that would be good. The television sucks and I'm bored.”

I stepped in at that point. ”Look, I'm gonna run Caity home to get her car, then I have some errands to run anyway. Why don't I bring you some books while I'm out? Any requests?”

”Nope, just about anything that isn't medical related. Some history stuff or biographies would be nice.”

”You got it, I just happen to have a few things I think you might like. I'll also bring some of those Soduko books you like, might as well grow your brain while you're in here.” Her addiction to those number games was well known.

”Great, thanks. I'll see you later.”

As we left, I felt Caity take my hand. I wasn't sure which one of us was giving or receiving comfort at that point. Maybe it was a little of each for both of us, but it helped. By the time we got home, Caity had just enough time to change and get to work. I did some ch.o.r.es, grabbed the books I promised Kristy, and headed to the store to get the Soduko books.

As I pulled in to the hospital lot for the second time that day, I decided to go see what was going on with Pauli while I was there. I checked in the ER first but found she had been moved to a room, so I headed upstairs. I knocked on the doorframe of her room and went in to find two investigators from Internal Affairs asking her questions.

”What's going on here?” I asked, feeling my temper rise.

”And you are?” asked the older guy standing closest to me.

”I'm her field supervisor and I don't appreciate you coming in here to bother her while she is recovering from serious injuries.'

”We have a job to do, just as you do. Why don't you let us finish up and we can go on our way,” he suggested.

Pauli looked worn out as well as p.i.s.sed off. I decided to stand my ground with these two pests. ”I don't think so. According to the department guidelines, she is ent.i.tled to have a representative present while being questioned. I'm that rep, right Pauli?”