What happens in Vegans Definitely didn't stay there

Chapter 19: Rebounds and Touchdowns

51 works Super Bowl night, Sylvie is terrified by her roommate's heroics, and she celebrates one friend's promotion while saying goodbye to another.

The three had settled into a routine since moving in together, and Sylvie was delighted with how it worked out. They carpooled to work together, did their shift and then carpooled home again. Matt would go for a construction job, she and Kelly would relax, and that evening they ended up in Molly's. The following day would involve getting the household chores done, and making sure everything was ready for their next shift. It was easy and straightforward, and things felt calm for them.

The only thing that changed in their three day cycles was if Kelly came home after Molly's or not. He was spending half his nights with Stella, and Sylvie was delighted for them. Stella hadn't talked about much of what was going on with her, but she knew they were having fun. She'd decided to remain hands off after the stunt she and Matt had pulled, and he agreed to do the same.

They ended up working the Super Bowl night, and when the actual game was on was quiet. They'd ordered takeout for everyone for the event, pizza and wings on the common room tables. Sylvie didn't care about the outcome of the game, but when the Ambo got a callout at the start of the third quarter she sighed, quickly wiping buffalo sauce off her fingers and cleaning her hands before they went out.

The call was to a frat party at Northwestern, drunken frat boys having their own Superbowl party and not realising that drinking could kill you. Sylvie and Emily intubated the teen, whisking him away to Med to get his stomach pumped and try to save his life. Sylvie sighed as they left, getting back to the house as Overtime began. She walked in, staring at the score between the teams, in shock that the Patriots were actually winning.

Once the game ended everyone got cleaned up and ready to go, preparing for the inevitable calls. It would have been worse if the Bears had been playing, but their woeful season had put paid to that. She and Foster had the ambo stocked and to nobody's surprise they were called out about twenty minutes after the game ended. She'd asked Kelly and Matt to make sure their extra supplies were kept by the parking spot so they could quickly restock if and when they got back.

Sylvie kept a list of injuries they dealt with, and they were mostly alcohol related. She dealt with alcohol poisoning, broken bones, and someone who thought he could open a beer bottle with a lighter, but instead gave himself a second degree burn on his hand. It took till 4am before they got back to the house, and she set Emily on restock duty while she filled out the paperwork. The house was silent, everyone except the paramedics in their bunk. Sylvie took advantage of the peace, making a pot of coffee and spreading out her paperwork on the table, filling it all out.

She didn't notice as people started to appear in the common room, lost in work, until Kelly refilled her coffee mug for her. She jolted alert, staring up at him. "What?"

"You were in the zone, Brett. Wanted to make sure you had enough caffeine to get you home." She nodded, taking a drink of the hot liquid, enjoying the taste.

"Thanks. One of those nights, how was it for you?"

"We got called out to a car accident around midnight, two pickups. Everyone got out safely before the fire took hold, honestly they could have managed without Squad. What about you?"

Sylvie gave a hoarse laugh. "Seven callouts between nine thirty and four. Three intubations, several broken bones and at least one case of alcohol poisoning. It's been a day. So close to the end though." She drank some more coffee, putting her mug down as the bells went.

Squad 3, Ambulance 61, Truck 81. Child in distress, 4786 Wolcott

Sylvie gathered up her paperwork, neatening it and bringing it back to the ambo with her as they raced to the scene. They pulled up, and Sylvie watched as a child was hanging from a balcony, his parents desperately holding him from falling to certain death. Her heart was in her throat as she watched Mouch raise the aerial ladder, and Squad performed a practiced routine to stabilise him. Capp and Cruz took over holding him up as Matt went up the ladder, managing to pick up the child and get him on the ladder. A gust of wind blew as Matt was leaning over the edge while stabilising the child, and Sylvie watched in horror as it caught him just right and he slid over the side, holding onto the ladder with his right arm and leg.