by J. M. Madden
The woman circled the bed. “They’re in a bag underneath, but I don’t think the doctor is ready to release you .”
“Have I been seen ?”
The nurse scowled. “Yes, but …”
“You need to get the doctor in here to tell me if I’m dying or not. If I’m not dying, I’m walking out of here .”
Her jaw clamped shut and she disappeared through the hanging divider curtain .
Gingerly, he felt his head. It was wrapped in gauze and felt a little numb. Maybe that little cut had required stitches. Everything else seemed normal. Still a little out of balance from the deafness in his right ear, and achy through his back. There was a hard twinge in his right side. All normal. The head was the only thing new. And the color he’d seen when they’d been loading him up .
Had that fireman actually been a woman? He distinctly remembered her pulling off her black helmet, and the intense purple color of her hair. Had that been right ?
Maybe it was something to do with the concussion. Fuck, he had no idea. He did know he wanted to get out of here .
Sam clenched his jaw and slid off the bed. He worried that his legs wouldn’t hold him for a moment, but he clenched his jaw and stood firm. This wasn’t going to take him down again. He was a fucking Marine, as Gunny Palmer would say .
Blinking, he looked beneath the bed. There was a white plastic bag bulging with his clothes. Quickly he shucked the blanket that had been covering him and dumped the bag. They’d left his underwear on at least. The smell of smoke and fire and dirt turned his stomach, but he forced himself to drag them on, then his singed black coat. His cell phone was nowhere to be seen. Had he left it in the truck after he’d called 911? No, he’d been out when he called. It may have fallen into the crumpled car when he’d been on his back fighting to get the baby out .
A young man in a white lab coat entered the cubicle and frowned when he saw that Sam was about to walk out. “Hold on, sir. You can’t leave yet .”
“I have no broken bones and I’m not bleeding anymore. Why can’t I leave ?”
“Because you have a concussion. Severe enough that you lost consciousness .”
Sam shrugged, looking for his boots. “I’m solid enough now. If you don’t release me I’m walking out, so if you have aftercare you better get your ducks in a row quickly. I’m not staying here a second longer than I have to .”
The young doctor looked at the nurse, who shrugged .
“Fine,” he said eventually, “but you can’t drive. You need a ride .”
Sam snorted. “Obviously. My truck just burned up in that crash. Is that baby I pulled out okay ?”
The doctor scowled. “I can’t tell you that. My patients have a right to their privacy .”
Sam sighed. “Fine. I’m gone .”
He was tired of all the bullshit .
A woman waved him down as he stomped through the rest of the cubicles. Sam recognized her immediately. “Chandra. Is your baby doing okay ?”
She nodded, crying. “He only had a few scratches and he’s been released already. My mother-in-law took him home with her. I had been following my husband home, though. He was in the car in front of mine, and he’s in X-ray now. They think he has a broken leg. They think mine are too.” She gave him a sad smile .
“I’m sorry,” he started, but she shook her head .
“No, I’m so glad I saw you because I wanted to thank you for coming to our rescue. I wouldn’t have been able to get Austin out on my own, and the firemen hadn’t gotten there yet. I’m so thankful that we all made it out in one piece. It would have been a terrible Christmas if any of us hadn’t made it home .”
“Yes,” he agreed. “It would have been. I’m so glad you all are okay. A broken leg might sideline you and your hubby a bit, but it could be worse .”
She nodded her head, tears flowing from her eyes. If there was ever a woman in need of a hug right then, it was her. He leaned over the bed, squeezed her tight and released her .
“Hey,” he asked her conversationally. “did you see a woman with purple hair there? A fireman ?”
The distraught mother shook her head. “I don’t think so .”
“Okay. Thanks, Chandra. Have a Merry Christmas, okay? Give your Austin a hug from me .”
She nodded and waved as he walked away .
Well, at least that had turned out for the best .
Chapter Three
S am stopped at the reception desk and begged the use of a phone to call a ride. The only number that came readily to mind was Dominoes carryout, which told him he’d been alone and eating out way too much. The elderly woman at the desk looked up Lost and Found and dialed the number, then handed him the handset .
“Lost and Found Investigative Services,” a voice answered .
“Hey, Parker ?”
“Yeah.”
“This is Willet. Dude, I was kind of in a crash and my truck burned. Can you get me a ride from the hospital ?”
“No way! Are you sure you’re all right ?”
“I’m fine. I just want out of this damn place .”
“Yeah, I get you,” Parker said, and Willet knew that he did. Parker Quinn had been in the hospital more than he had for his injuries. “I’ll call you a cab. You want to come here ?”
Sam wasn’t sure if he wanted to go home or not. Being with someone right now might be a good idea. “Yeah, that’s fine .”
“Then I can pay them when you get here .”
“Sounds good. Thanks, bud .”
Sam smiled at the receptionist and walked out into light evening flurries to wait for the cab .
That was when his world spun again. The woman with the purple hair was just loading an empty gurney up into an ambulance. She was a fireman! And apparently a paramedic or EMT. She still wore most of her turnout gear, though the coat and helmet were off. They must be inside the truck. The heavy fire-resistant fabric pants gapped around her lean waist, and he realized how tiny she was. She wore a tight black t-shirt with the FD over the left chest and back. Broad black suspenders kept the pants from falling off her narrow hips .
Sam worried that she was cold, but she moved deliberately and didn’t seem to miss the coat. She didn’t even seem to notice the snow flurries .
His feet carried him forward as she climbed into the back, and he stared up at her dumbly. Again, the only color in his world right now was her hair, a startling shade of violet purple. Everything else appeared in the gray tones he’d become used to over the years, since the IED attack and the traumatic brain injury. Had the concussion today knocked something back into alignment in his head ?
He needed to talk to her .
“Hello,” he called .
The woman’s head jerked up, and he got the second shock of the night. He was close enough to see that her eyes were a shade of blue that almost looked purple. And he could see them .
“Oh, hey! It’s the hero. How are you?” Her unique eyes flicked to the bandage around his head, and the ones on his hands. “Looks like they took care of you .”
Sam nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. “They did. Then I left .”
She frowned, cocking her head a little. The long wing of hair swept down to brush against her jawline. Sam thought it as one of the cutest things he’d ever seen, edgy and unique .
“Did they let you out or did you leave, leave ?”
He gave her a slight smile, his eyes flicking toward the parking lot. “They didn’t give me a good enough reason to stay .”
“I’m pretty sure you had a concussion. They usually keep concussed patients overnight .”
He shrugged, glancing down at his messy boots. “I wasn’t willing to stay. I’ve been in hospitals a lot and they always err on the side of caution .”
Her pale brows—were they blond, he wondered—lifted and she gave him a sardonic look. “Um, yeah. For a reason .”
Shifting, she clamped the gurney in place and moved toward him. Sam shifted back so that she could
climb out of the truck .
A thrill shot through him as she turned to look at him. Damn, she was a cute little thing. Yes, everything she wore was a shade of gray or black, but she still seemed more vibrant to him than anything else he’d ever seen. More alive .
Daring to reach out, he fingered her hair like he had before. “Is this really purple ?”
The woman watched his face, and nodded. “I color it every few weeks. It is a true purple right now .”
His gaze scanned her face, settling on her eyes. “And are your eyes purple too? Or am I going crazy ?”
She grinned and shook her head slight. “Not going crazy. Technically they’re blue, but in certain light they do look purplish. Close to a lilac color. Comes from my many times removes Scandinavian grandmother .”
Sam could have stood there all night looking at the color, but he had to be coming off as weird to the woman. “I’m sorry. I haven’t seen color for several years. Your hair is the first thing I’ve actually seen in years .”
Her brows disappeared beneath the hair. “Really? Oh, wow! I understand why you’d be so fascinated then .”
“But I don’t think it’s just the hair,” he said slowly .
A smiled tilted up the corners of her mouth and her eyes narrowed with humor. “Oh, really? It’s been a while since I was hit on by a patient .”
Frowning, he finally looked around the emergency room entrance, and her ambulance. “I’m pretty sure I wasn’t your patient, although you did save my life. I think that makes you responsible for me in some way, doesn’t it ?”
Her heart-shaped face lifted into a smile. “Maybe. I’d feel better about taking on a dependent if I knew his name .”
Sam’s mouth dropped open. Talking to her was so easy. How had they not introduced themselves yet? “My name is Sam Willet. I’m sorry, I thought you knew .”
The woman shook her head and held out her hand again. “Sparrow Holmes. It’s a pleasure to meet you Sam .”
That’s right, she had told him her name at the crash site. Sparrow. Light and ephemeral, just like her .
If he could have wrapped her into a hug he would have, his heart told him to, but that seemed inappropriate. He shook her tiny hand a couple of times then forced himself to let go of it. He shoved his own into the pockets of his filthy jeans .
This was such a bad scene. Sam was a competent man, but something about her made him feel off kilter and out of step. And it wasn’t the concussion, either .
Feeling lame and a little embarrassed, his mind raced for something to talk about. “Are you off duty ?”
Sparrow glanced at the rig behind her and nodded. “Yes. Have to take it back to the station as soon as my partner gets back from filling out paperwork.” She motioned toward the sliding glass doors of the emergency entrance .
She stood there waiting for some kind of response, and Sam floundered. It had been years since he’d been even mildly interested in a woman. How did he even proceed ?
Before he could, a white four by four truck pulled up to the entrance and Parker Quinn stepped out. Sam waved to acknowledge that he’d seen him, then turned back to Sparrow. “I know this is very forward, but can I get your number? I would really like to see you again .”
He reached for the phone in his pocket, then realized there was no phone. “Shit,” he cursed. “I think my phone burned up in that woman’s car .”
Sparrow laughed, then curbed it. “Sorry. I know I shouldn’t laugh. What happened to you tonight was terrible .”
Sam shook his head. “No, it wasn’t. I’ve been in terrible and this was only a little bad .”
Narrowing her eyes in consideration, Sparrow reached inside her turnout pants and fished around for a moment, retrieving a small notepad and stubby pencil. She scribbled onto the paper for a moment before ripping it from the book and handing it over. “Um,” she chewed on her lip for a moment, “I know you’ve had a crazy day, but my station is meeting up in a while for our annual Christmas party. We’re allowed to bring a guest. You’re more than welcome to come. It’s not …”
“I’ll be there,” her interrupted smoothly. “Just give me a chance to clean up .”
Grinning, she glanced at the clunky black watch on her wrist. “You have a few hours. Take your time .”
Sam knew that Parker was waiting for him, but he didn’t want to look away from her. For the first time in four years, his world had come to life. She smiled at him, as if she knew how hard it was for him to turn away. But as they left the lot he had to look back at the rig. She still stood there, watching him drive away .
Chapter Four
P arker didn’t say much as headed toward the Lost and Found offices, and Sam appreciated the quiet .
“She was cute,” the former SEAL told him .
Sam grimaced, knowing he couldn’t stay quiet the entire way back to the office. Parker was a reserved guy, but not that reserved. “Yeah, she was .”
Parker was waiting for more, but Sam propped his aching head on his hand against the window and closed his eyes. Parker apparently took the hint and stayed quiet as they drove .
The Lost and Found offices were cavernously quiet. It was after five-thirty on the Friday before Christmas and everyone else had gone home. Parker, being one of the low guys on the totem pole, got to work the odd office hours, filling holes wherever needed. He was a good sort, for a SEAL. Sam knew that he’d been held prisoner by the Taliban for the better part of two days before his team had rescued him, barely hanging on to life. Scuttlebutt in the office said that every limb had had some type of trauma, his legs broken in multiple places. He’d been beaten so bad that his eye socket had caved in, giving him vision issues on the right side. It wasn’t completely destroyed, but Sam knew he wore glasses to conceal the imperfections. There was no hiding the limp, though. It reminded him of Duncan Wilde before he’d had his hip replaced .
Duncan, his boss, came out of the office like he’d heard his name spoken aloud. Sam was surprised to see him. Parker hadn’t said anything .
Not like you gave the man a chance to .
“Willet, are you all right?” his boss asked. “Parker let me know when you called for a ride .”
Ah, ok. He understood now. That was why Parker had given him the ride and not a taxi. “Yes, sir. I’m fine. Just a little banged up .”
He related what had happened, but left out the bit about the baby. No need to come off as cocky or showboating .
Duncan looked him up and down. “You’d better go take a shower. I don’t blame you for getting out of the hospital, but you need to be safe about it. No drinking tonight. And I wouldn’t go to sleep for several hours .”
Sam nodded. “Yes, sir. I’ve had concussions before. I know what to do and what not to do .”
Duncan gave him a nod. “I’ll leave you to it then. And Willet, I’m not kicking you out but you need to think about going home to chill for a couple of days. I think you know as well as I do that the day after a crash is usually the most painful .”
“Yes, sir,” he said truthfully. “I’ll send you a message to let you know for sure tomorrow .”
Duncan’s eyes were kind as he nodded. “Just let me know .”
Sam headed to the massive exercise-slash-crash room they had at the back of the office. It was kind of an everything room. You could play video games, exercise on the dozen machines available or shower in the adjoining locker room. There were a couple of bunks in one corner. Sam had never seen any other room like it other than when he’d been in the Marines. It was almost a communal living type space .
He headed through the back door and into the locker room, stripping off his clothes as he went, which he pitched into the trashcan. Nothing was salvageable. Even his heavy-duty jeans were ripped and had blood on them. There were clothes in his locker, he knew that. He just hoped there was something a little more dressy there than a t-shirt .
Heading into the first shower stall, he cranked the hot water to full blast, wait
ed a moment for it to warm, then stepped under. Oh, damn that felt good. Then it hit the multitude of abrasions he had on his body and he realized how beat up he really was. There were small shaving mirrors mounted on the walls in the stalls. Checking his mirror he gingerly peeled off the bandage on his forehead. There was still a lot of blood in his hair and down his neck that needed scrubbed off. He tried not to wet the stitches, but it was hard not to .
Once he got the chunks off he just basked in the heat, cooking his skin. It was almost as good as taking a power nap to him. It gave him a moment to remember the stunning feeling of seeing color for the first time again .
After he’d gotten the TBI, he’d thought that losing a chunk of his ear was the worst part because it was so visible and people would talk, but it actually wasn’t. His entire world had faded, literally. That was the worst part of his injury. The gray-hued landscape was so depressing. Doctors couldn’t tell him exactly why he’d lost the ability to see color. The part of his brain injured in the IED attack was not the same part of the brain that allowed him to see color. It affected some vision perceptions, but not color itself, so the doctors had no explanation for why he couldn’t see anything other than the washed out landscape .
Was there some emotional explanation for the miracle ?
He paused, mid-scrub. This really was a miracle .
Sparrow was a miracle .
Swallowing away the lump in his throat, he shook his head at himself. Damn, that sounded ridiculous. And stalker-ish from her perspective, probably. He’d have to mind his words when he was with her. Not freak her out .
His heart began to race when he thought about seeing her again. Literally, it had been less than an hour since he’d left her, but there was a desperation in his gut that was a little shocking. It had been a while since he’d been with a woman, but it didn’t feel like that was exactly it. Sparrow. It was just Sparrow .
Some part of his brain didn’t believe that the color would stay. He glanced around the shower room, but this wasn’t a good place to test to see if he could see other purple things .
