Open Flame (Alycia Debnam-CareyXyou)

5

I stood outside the back ambulance doors, changing the sheets on the stretcher. I shivered as the wind blew the cool air over my exposed arms, giving me goosebumps. Normally, I have my quarter-zip jacket with me, but I left it at the station, so I just had to suck it up for now.

I listened as the ER ambulance doors open behind me and I turned, expecting to see Joel, but instead, was met with a bald-headed joke of a man and his black and blue nose.

Is this dude following me?

"Guy!"

Alycia came rushing out the doors, trying to catch his attention, but he ignored her, walking toward his truck.

Good.

I tried to ignore the confrontation, and walked over to the trash to throw out the soiled sheets and supplies, but nearly fell over, as a hard shoulder checked into mine. I whipped my head around, Ricketts not even looking back as he made his way to his truck. His actions quickly lit a fuse under me, and there was no stopping it now.

"You got something to say, tough guy?!" I yelled, causing eyes to fall on me. He stomped over toward me, pointing an accusing finger at me. "I think you've done enough, you fucking bitch!" he spat, but I stood taller, challenging his threatening glare.

"I've done enough? How about you buddy? Why don't we get into what you've done, shit bag?"

"ENOUGH!"

I jumped back, snapping my head over to Alycia, who stood at the doors with her arms crossed over her chest. She glared at the two of us and scoffed, before rolling her eyes and walking back into the ER. I turned back to Ricketts, his eyes burning holes into mine. 

"Butt out," he hissed, lifting a finger and jamming it into my chest.

I grabbed his hand and ripped it off me, throwing it aside. "You fuck with Alycia? You fuck with me," I spoke through gritted teeth, shoving him away from me, and walked back to my truck. He didn't approach me after that, and I was thankful, because now really wasn't the time to be getting into anymore fights. Besides, Alycia was already upset with the both of us, and the last thing I needed was for her to be more upset with me than him.

I walked back to the open doors of the the truck to be met with Joel, who stood there, giving me a smirk.

"What?" I laughed, picking up the stretcher and shoving it back in the truck.

"Punched him in the nose, called his ass out, threatened him.." he listed off, holding out a finger for each one before dropping them and acting surprised. "You're gonna steal his bitch, aren't you?"

I shook my head, dropping it and biting my smile. "No comment."

He cackled, throwing his head back and as got into the box with him, shoving my fist into his shoulder. I began to pack away our cardiac monitor when the our radio went off, calling our unit number.

Squad 1 : I responded.

Squad 1, we have an incoming call for a 7 year old male who fell from a bridge into the water. It's going to be just east of the bridge off of Main Street.

Squad 1 copies, show us enroute.

Joel quickly climbed to the drivers seat as I got into the passenger's before kicking the truck into drive and pulling out of the hospital.

"Oh my god! Fucking move, people!" Joel shouted as we coded down the street. I shook my head at it and laughed silently at his road rage. Within a few seconds we reached the bridge, and we drove along side it, looking for our patient.