by Rye Hart
“Oh yes!” Jason said, imitating Trish’s voice. “Fuck me, Caleb! Fuck me!”
“We left the bunks empty for you all night,” Tyler said. “Didn’t want to interrupt round two.”
“Well you wasted a good nights’ sleep then,” I said. “She bounced about two seconds after I was done.”
“Why?” Tyler asked. “You do it wrong?”
“Well, you heard her,” I said, grinning. “What do you think?”
“You’re one cocky son of a bitch,” Jason said, shaking his head.
“It’s not cockiness,” I said. “It’s well-deserved confidence.”
Both Jason and Tyler erupted in laughter. I shot them both a devious grin and proceeded to focus my attention on my coffee. My next shift started this morning, and one night off was not enough to re-energize me. I clung to my coffee mug while the guys continued to make jokes about Trish.
“Don’t break my balls guys,” I said. “Just because none of you can get any.”
Just as Jason was about to open his mouth, the bell chimed overhead. We froze for a split second before we all flew into action. We ran from the kitchen, grabbing our gear and sliding down to the truck as we moved. I was fully dressed and on the truck in seconds, the others following behind.
Tyler hit the siren and pulled out of the station, speeding down the road toward our call. Like always, we were silent on the truck. All shit talking forgotten. This wasn’t another game, this was our job, and every single one of us took it seriously. While we sped through town, we prepared ourselves for what we would see.
We saw the smoke first, spiraling up from an apartment building. Tyler turned the corner, and we saw it, flames shooting out of every window. Our bodies tensed, ready to fight the blaze.
Before Tyler could stop, we were off the truck, uncoiling the hose and preparing for a fight.
“Over here!” someone screamed. I whipped my head around to see a man running toward us. He was panicked, and his face was covered in ash. “My wife! She’s in there with our daughter! They’re trapped!”
“Where?” I demanded.
“Third floor,” he said, his voice shaky.
I glanced behind me where Jason was standing. He nodded, and we took off running, throwing on our masks and hurtling through the flames. Once inside, we slowly climbed the crumbling staircase. The place was barely holding on. We knew we only had seconds to get in and out.
We hit the third-floor landing and started yelling, listening intently for an answer. When it came, it was muffled and terrified, coming from a door to our right. Jason kicked it in, and we rushed inside to see a young woman curled around a toddler, holding her tightly and shaking with fear.
We ran to them and wrapped them in a fire-retardant blanket. Jason led the way back to the stairs but when we stepped onto the landing, it creaked, and pieces of wood began to splinter, falling inward and making the woman scream with terror. Her daughter was sliding toward the disintegrating floor and something had to be done.
There are moments in the life of a firefighter where a split second decision can alter the course of their career or even their lives. I jumped forward, grabbed the little girl and shoved her back to the rest of my crew. Heavy smoke filled the air, nearly blinding me, but I caught a glimpse of Jason catching her before the floor gave way beneath me.
I fell downward, hurtling through the air toward the second floor. Sharp pain rushed through my body as I hit the landing and then kept falling. The wood splintered and gave way beneath me, propelling me hard toward the bottom floor. I hit with a thud, my legs giving way beneath me. I looked up just in time to see pieces of wood flying toward my face. I threw my arms up and the last thing I thought about was a pair of ocean-blue eyes flashing through my mind.
Everything went black.
CHAPTER TWO - TARA
“You’re doing great, Olivia!” I said, my voice light and full of encouragement.
Olivia struggled through the next rep of arm lifts, pain etched on her face. She was only eight-years-old, and already, she possessed more strength and determination than most people four times her age.
“Are you sure she can handle it?” her mom asked, but I shot her a smile, and she relaxed.
“One more, sweetheart,” I said softly. “Just one more and you’re done for the day.”
“I can do more,” Olivia said.
“I know you can.” I took the small weight from her hand and laid it on the floor. “But we can’t push you, okay? Your arm has to heal the right way, remember?”
Olivia nodded and turned to her mom, who hugged her tightly and looked relieved that it was over. These physical therapy sessions were never easy, especially for the loved ones of my patients. It was hard to watch, but it was necessary. Sometimes, even I had a hard time making it through, but this was just the beginning of my clinical rotation, so I knew things would get easier with time.
“Same time next week?” I asked, looking from Olivia to her mom.
“I have a couple questions,” her mother said.
“Sure.” I forced a smile to my face, but my head was beginning to ache again. Olivia was my last patient of the day, and I just wanted to be alone to finish my paperwork.
“Well, I was reading about this new treatment plan online. Something called controlled hyper-extension. The article said it could be helpful.”
“I don’t recommend that for Olivia,” I said firmly. “She’s very young, and her arm is healing properly for now. We don’t want to change anything and risk reversing her recovery and possibly doing her more damage.”
“But I really think it might be worth trying,” her mother said. “The article said the amount of pain associated with this new treatment is way less than traditional physical therapy.”
“That’s not yet proven,” I said. “These tests are still very new. Olivia is not an ideal candidate for something like that.”
“Are you sure?” her mother asked. “I really think we should.”
My patience waning, but I was trying not to show it. I had to remind myself why I wanted this job so much. Growing up seeing my father care for his patients with so much care and love always left me so excited to be a part of the same world.
“I know how worried you are. But I can assure you that Olivia is doing quite well. Her treatment is rough, but it will get easier. Now, if you would like a second opinion, I’m happy to give you a few numbers to call. My colleagues can review her file and tell you what they think.”
I tried to keep my voice light and calm, but it wasn’t easy. People who believed the internet as the end all be all thought they knew more than licensed professionals, and it was often not the best for the patients in vulnerable states like Olivia. This was my job. I was new to it, but I was also damn good.
“No,” she finally said, sighing deeply. “You’re right. I’m just nervous.”
“I understand,” I said, smiling kindly.
“We’ll see you next week.”
“Bye, Tara!” Olivia said, grinning widely as her mother led her through the door. I smiled and waved until they disappeared.
With a groan, I walked behind my desk and fell into my chair. My physical therapy clinic was located just off the main hospital, giving me just enough privacy to help my patients but not enough for a single second of true alone time.
My head was throbbing at this point. These headaches were nothing new. I’d been getting them for over a month now. I knew I needed to get myself checked out, but I simply didn’t have the time. My patients and my job were more important. This was my last rotation, and if I did well, I would graduate Physical Therapy school with honors and finally get my hard-earned license.
I laid my head on my desk, breathing deeply and rubbing my temples with my fingers. I drank water and tried desperately to relax. The day was almost over. Soon, I would be able to go home and get some rest. For now, I just had to tough it out, push through the pain until I could get to bed and let it overwhelm me. It was har
d, but after a few minutes, I managed to pull myself together.
My clinical instructor, Abi, peeked in the room. “You okay?” she asked. “You’re looking a little tired.”
I smiled weakly and nodded. “Yeah, my lunch just didn’t agree with me. Remind me not to eat sushi from the cafeteria again,” I said, trying to ease her obvious concern.
Finally, she nodded and smiled. “Well, yeah, that’s kind of a given,” she said before turning around and heading out into the main corridor to catch a doctor she needed to speak to.
With a groan, I got to my feet and walked around my desk to clean up the room. Olivia’s weights were still on the ground, and I hadn’t yet wiped down the surfaces for the day. I put the weights back on the rack and grabbed a bottle of sanitizer and a towel. Just as I wiped down the last bar, a chime echoed through the room. I turned toward my computer with a sigh and hurried over, sitting down to read the e-mail that had just come through.
It was from Anne, one of the E.R. nurses I knew well. I’d only been working at the hospital for a short time but my father worked here my entire life, so I knew almost everyone on staff. Anne was a kind, older nurse, who always made sure to e-mail me when a potential PT patient came through.
Her e-mail was short and to the point:
“T—New patient came in today. Multiple injuries to his leg and a possible back fracture. Pretty rough shape. Definite PT patient. Thanks—A”
I groaned and leaned my head back against my chair. Part of me wanted to rush out of the office and get to bed, but I knew no other PT would be available to see the patient tonight. I scolded myself for doing it, but I typed out a response to Anne’s e-mail:
“I’ll be down shortly to check on the patient. —Tara.”
Just as I was about to hit send, Abi peaked through the door.
“Hey Tara. Don’t worry about the new PT patient. I was downstairs when they wheeled him in and I began his report already. I know you’ve had a long day and your shift is almost over anyway.”
“Are you sure, I don’t mind staying.”
“Yes for sure. Head on home and I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow.”
“Thank you.” I began to grab my belongings and thanked my lucky stars that I had such an awesome team to work with.
“And just thought I’d mention this about that patient. The poor guy got the injuries on the job while working as a fire fighter. He saved a little girl’s life.”
“Wow, that’s impressive.”
“Yes, and please don’t think me insensitive for mentioning this last part, but boy is it true. He’s a complete knock out. You might find yourself needing to fan yourself when you’re around him. Just a word of caution.”
I chuckled. “Duly noted Madam.”
I grabbed my belongings and headed over to the employee garage. I reached my car and settled gingerly behind the wheel, tossing my bag on the passenger seat. I cranked the engine and let the cold air help me relax and center my thoughts. The first thing that came to my mind was the apparent hot fire fighter who was now my newest patient. It sounded like something out of a movie.
Tomorrow should be an interesting day.
CHAPTER THREE - CALEB
My head felt heavy as I slowly opened my eyes. Sunlight was streaming in through blinds I didn’t recognize. I squinted against the bright light and turned my head, trying to figure out where the hell I was. As I glanced around, I saw my mom’s face smiling down at me. She was standing right by my bed, her husband Darren just behind her. They both smiled at me nervously.
“What the fuck happened?” I asked, trying to sit up. A sharp pain shot through my back and I winced, falling back against the pillows. “Shit. What happened to me? Where am I?”
“You’re in the hospital,” Mom said. “You had an accident on the job.”
“The little girl!” I cried out, suddenly remembering what happened in the apartment building. “Is she okay? Did they get her out?”
“I think so,” Mom said nervously, glancing at Darren.
“Tyler said no one else was hurt,” Darren said, taking a step forward.
“Good,” I said, sighing with relief. “Shit, this fucking hurts.”
“Language,” Mom said, a warning in her voice.
“Sorry,” I mumbled. “But my back is killing me.”
“Your back?” Mom asked. “How’s your leg feel?”
“My leg?” I frowned and looked down. My lower half was covered by a hospital blanket so I couldn’t see my legs. I lifted my left leg and didn’t feel any pain, but when I tried to do the same with my right, I screamed and threw my head back against the pillow.
“Don’t move it!” Darren said, rushing around to steady me. “I’ll go get your doctor, okay? Just be still.”
Darren glanced at my mom before he disappeared into the hall. I watched him go with a frown on my face. It wasn’t a surprise to see my mom here but Darren? I never expected him to flock to my bedside, no matter how badly injured I was.
“He’s worried about you,” Mom said, reading my mind.
“Right,” I snorted. “Worried I’m going to take your attention away from him.”
“Caleb!” she snapped. “Don’t talk like that.”
“I’m sorry,” I said quickly. “I’m just out of it right now. My back hurts like hell, Mom.”
“I’ll tell the doctor when he arrives,” Mom said. “For now, let’s just try to relax, okay? You’ve been through a lot, and your body needs to heal.”
I nodded, knowing that arguing would be futile. My mother had been a nurse for most of my life. She knew this hospital inside and out. There wasn’t anything I could experience as a patient she hadn’t seen a thousand times before. I could tell from the way she kept her hand clamped firmly on my shoulder that she was worried I would move too much and hurt myself even more.
She wasn’t wrong. I longed to get out of this bed, to find my buddies and hear the real story of what happened out there. They, unlike Mom and Darren, wouldn’t sugarcoat things. They would tell me straight up what the hell happened to me, brutal details included. I needed that, but I knew my mom would never let it happen. She wouldn’t leave my side unless she had to.
“Your doctor said he’d be here in a few minutes,” Darren said, stepping back into the room. “He has two patients to check up on first.”
“What?” Mom asked, her eyes narrowing with rage. “Caleb is in pain. He can’t take two seconds to stop in and assess him?”
“No,” Darren said. “You know how this works, Cathy. There are priorities.”
“That’s unacceptable,” Mom snapped. “Who is it?”
“Dr. McGee,” Darren said.
“That child?” Mom scoffed. “I’ll be right back.”
She stormed out of the room, leaving me alone with Darren, who was also a doctor at the hospital. I laughed to myself, imagining the things my mother would say to this Dr. McGee. She was a badass nurse but an even more badass mom. Despite the hell I put her through when I was young, she stood by me through everything. She defended me. I knew she would rip Dr. McGee in half if he dared to contradict her.
“I’m sorry you got hurt,” Darren said.
“Thanks.”
That was more than I could ask from Darren. He’d been my step-father since high school, but that didn’t make us close. We weren’t father and son. We tolerated each other for my mother’s sake.
Just when the silence stretched a little too long, my mother walked back through the door. I expected to see this Dr. McGee person behind her, but instead, a familiar face appeared over her shoulder.
For a split second, I stopped breathing.
A pair of pale ocean blue eyes pierced me, and my mouth fell open in shock. All my pain disappeared as I took in the sight of Tara Jones walking toward me. Her long blonde hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail. It caught the sunlight and shimmered. I swallowed hard and tried to speak, but no words came out. What was she doing here?
My eyes trailed over her body, taking in the sight of her gorgeous curves, long legs, and full, round breasts hidden beneath a pair of black stretch pants and a gray top. The top hugged her breasts, making my heart pound inside my chest. She stared at me for a few seconds before tearing her eyes away and walking toward Darren.
He smiled at her and kissed her cheek. She smiled back before turning to face me.
“Tara,” I said, finally finding my voice. “What are you doing here?”
“Well,” Tara began. She shifted her feet beneath her and realization suddenly dawned on me. Her pants were scrubs, and her top sported a name tag. She wore black tennis shoes and had a chart in her hand. I’d been so preoccupied with her presence that I hadn’t realized what she must be doing here.
“Wait,” I said slowly. “Are you my physical therapist?”
Tara nodded and moved around to the side of my bed.
“You knew Tara moved back to town,” Mom said softly. “Remember?”
“Yeah,” I said. “Sure.”
“I’m doing my last clinical rotation here,” Tara explained.
“How is that possible?” I asked.
I felt hot and confused. My face was still flushed, and every word that poured from my mouth felt wrong and awkward. I knew I had to pull myself together.
“Well, I went to school,” Tara said, a snarky tone in her voice. “Now I’m here. Not exactly complicated.”
“No, I know. I just meant…” I trailed off, clearing my throat and starting over. Tara did always have a way of throwing me off my game. “It’s good to see you, Tara.”
“You too,” Tara said, though her eyes betrayed the truth. “All right, let’s talk about your injuries.”
“Sure,” I nodded and tried to sit up, but Tara put one hand on my shoulder and held me back. I looked at her fingers, just inches from my face and felt myself burn even hotter. Her touch was more than I could take. She cleared her throat and moved her hand quickly.
“You shouldn’t move,” she said. “Your injuries are quite substantial.”
“I can tell,” I said, wincing at the pain.
