In My Life I Love You More

Chapter Fifty Five

Unedited.

   Fiona had just started her shift not even an hour ago and already she was on call for a fire. Normally this was routine and she prepared herself mentally to handle distressed, smoke inhaled individuals, but it was a rarity that she actually dealt with a movie star.

She helped Josephina with her oxygen mask, gently yet firmly instructing her on the proper breathing techniques while two colleagues took care of the children.

"Alright Josephina, we're going to take you three to the hospital, make sure everything's okay." She explained but the dark haired woman shook her head, fingers shaking as she removed the oxygen mask.

   "My husband.......I need......call him." Josephina desperately inhaled the oxygen being pumped into her mask, her eyes swerving from one EMT to the other.

"We'll arrange for someone to all him at the hospital but right now we have to get you and your kids out of here. There's too much smoke in the air and it can be detrimental to all three of you, especially your baby." Fiona went to strap the woman securely to the gurney but a manicured hand grabbed her wrist.

"No you don't understand......he's out he won't know....." Josephina coughed and Fiona frowned, increasing the oxygen pressure.

"I'm sorry, but my main priority is to get you and your kids out of here. Rogers you got the baby right?" Another EMT nodded, holding Emmy while shielding her with a shock blanket from the smoke that still swarmed around them.

"Shit..." Josephina frowned, reluctantly allowing herself to be helped further into the ambulance and as they began to close the doors, a familiar voice could be heard shouting.

"I don't give a flying shite about bloody protocol! I want to see my wife goddamnit!" Ignoring the displeased cries of her caretakers, Josephina I strapped herself, popping her head out the door, eyes searching the crowds before they landed on John, who was glaring venomously at two police officers looking ready to physically fight the two of them.

  "John..." she grimaced at her own raspy voice before calling for him again, waving her arms in an attempt to get his attention, "John!"

  It took a few moments but John finally spotted her and practically shoved the officers out of his way, running to the ambulance that Josephina had climbed out of, meeting her halfway, and pulled her into his chest before pulling away to get a good look at her.

"Jo, you're alright!" The relief on John's face was enough to bring her to tears and she buried her face in his neck, which thankfully didn't smell like smoke, "Christ, I didn't want to think you were......." John's voice trembled in her ear as he held her, not caring about how she herself stunk of smoke.

"I'm here John. I got the kids out in time....." She reluctantly pulled away so she could kiss him. John responded back immediately, only to be pushed away as Josephina let out a series of coughs and his hbd went to support her as her knees buckled.

"Okay, I've seen enough. Josephina I need you in the truck now." Fiona who had been watching the scene a few feet away with a smile, frowned, moving to help John lead his wife to the ambulance.

"You'll come with us right John?" Josephina managed to ask between her coughs as she climbed back onto the gurney.

Taking her hand, he rubbed the back of it, giving it a gentle squeeze of reassurance, "Wild horses couldn't tear me away from you love." She smiled slightly before her eyes rolled to the back of her head and everything went black.

The steady beeping of a heart monitor was the first thing she was aware of. Followed by the scent of roses and antiseptic.

Cracking her eyes open, Josephina waited for her vision to clear before she took in the private hospital room she occupied. Turning her head, her eyes landed on her husband who was sleeping uncomfortably in his chair pushed right against her bed.