And So It Goes (Stevens Book 10)

Chapter 4

The next few weeks were fairly routine. The only change was the news that Elias Emory and The Addiction were coming to perform for the base. The show also meant that soldiers would be attending the show from units that were further afield, so the base was buzzing with activity.

Merrick was his usual annoyed self. However, as the staff received word that the other units would be visiting over the next few days, he got downright grouchy. It took all Agatha had to run interference.

"What are we going to do when you leave in two weeks?" Sherry whispered as they cleaned a bay together. "He's getting worse!"

Agatha only shrugged because there was nothing she could say to make the situation better. Another nurse would have to step up and protect the team from his harsh tongue. Agatha felt her stomach clench at the idea of someone else taking her place with Merrick. She hoped it would be someone she had never met because that might make it a little easier to bear. Why she felt she had to bear it was something about which she didn't worry.

"Thank you for taking the shift so that a few of us could go to the concert tonight," Sherry changed the subject at Agatha's lack of interest in the previous one.

"You're welcome." Agatha smiled. If Eli were there to see her, he would find her, and she had seen him in concert a dozen times.

The day sped by as the staff followed the usual routine with an undertone of excitement due to the upcoming concert. The anticipation in the air made Agatha happy. When they had news that the plane had landed with the band on board, the positive energy grew.

"You appear to be much calmer than the rest of the staff about the arrival of Elias Emory," Merrick said as he joined her at the table that held some supplies that she was checking in.

"I've seen the band in concert a few times before," she admitted as she loaded up the items in their designated bins.

"A few times?" Merrick arched an eyebrow.

"Yes, my father is a bit of an Elias Emory groupie." Agatha grinned as she imagined what her father would say in response to her explanation. The fact that the two men were best friends and had been for almost forty years was something she didn't want to explain, so saying he was a groupie was easier.

"Your father used to take you to rock concerts?" Merrick asked in disbelief.

"My mother too. It was a family bonding experience. We even have a special lighter we take for the slow songs." Agatha was getting into her story. "Generally, one of us gets called on stage for a singalong too."

Merrick gave her a stern look before he turned and walked away. He obviously didn't believe her story, even though most of it was true.

The evening was quiet. Agatha and Merrick did a round, checking on the few patients that had beds. They all had common ailments, food poising from treats sent from home, minor sprains, and other assorted injuries. All of the seriously injured patients were sent to larger hospitals as soon as they could be moved.

Agatha was updating the necessary charts, and Merrick was making a few notes when they heard the gunfire. They froze and looked at each other, both holding their breath as they waited. They heard it again, and Merrick cursed.

"I knew it was too many of us in one place not to be a temptation."

He quickly headed for the exit while Agatha and the other nurse on duty moved the men who could be safely removed from their beds into chairs before stripping the beds they had used. If it were as bad as Agatha feared, they would need every bed they had, and probably the floor.

The gunfire kept coming in spurts, and now she could hear yelling as people were approaching the hospital.

She had a brief thought of worry for Eli before she had no more time to think as the injured started arriving. Merrick returned, helping another person carry in an injured soldier that she quickly assessed before moving on to the next one.  Merrick was keeping an eye on Agatha and noting which ones she signaled to for his attention.