Stronger Together: A Story of Love, Strength, and Family - A Drew and Rick Story

Chapter 9- Rick In The ER After Swat School Course

A month later       Drew's POV

It was a crazy night in the ER and I very much would have liked to call in sick because I did not get much sleep because of Azrah , but instead, I am at work.

I came around the corner and yawned for probably the 10th time tonight. "You and Rick out late? " Kenny asks. "Ha yeah, good one, I wish. I've barely slept in 2 weeks . Brianna's homework is like 3 hours a night, plus her and Rick's physical therapy, and Bri's extracurricular activities . I'm not getting any sleep. And on top of that Azrah is going through the phase of not sleeping so I was dealing with that last night every hour, Rick and I would take turns getting up, until we finally just decided to put him in our bed with us." I say. "Not good man," Kenny says. "Don't get me wrong, I love being a parent, but it is kicking my ass," " Man needs his sleep ," "Uh-huh," I say, yawning again. "Now if I can quit yawning that would be great," I say, getting handed a chart.

An hour later

I was walking down the hall with Krista and Paul, showing them a video of Rick's swat training on my phone. "Yeah, my man is a badass, huh?" I say. "That's Rick?" Krista asks. "Yeah, training to be a SWAT Captain. He runs the course tonight to see if he makes the cut, " "Wow," Paul says.

A little later

"Hello," I say into my phone, "Hey," "What's up? "Nothing, I'm about to run the course for the test," "Really," "Yeah," "I send you luck and my love," "Thank you, I love you too. I gotta go," "Good luck, don't get hurt," "I'll try not to," "Bye," I say, leaning against the nurse's desk, as I get a call from Bri now. "Hello to you too," " Did Dad run the course yet?" "No, he just called and said he's running it right now," "Ok," "I'll call you if I hear anything, okay," "Okay,"

I see Molly with Azrah . "Thank you very much for watching him while I saw a patient," "You're very welcome, though I think he may be attached to you for the rest of the night," "Most likely," I say.

4 hours later

"Where's Krista?" I say. I see her walk out of a room. "Krista . Where were you?" " I was with Rick, he just broke his blade, " "Ok, but what about before Rick, I just saved your patient's life," "I'm sorry," "Where is he?" "Room 3," "Thanks,"

"Thanks for the heads up," I say, opening the curtain. "I didn't get hurt, I just busted my blade in the race, Krista already called Ortho to get a new one, and I didn't want to bother the Chief Resident, " Rick says. "You busted it, huh? How'd you do?" I ask, handing him Azrah . "Well, I finished the course. Rolled around in the dirt , rope, tire, belly crawl. Left it all in the field, including my leg that is still fairly new" Rick says.

"That's great, I'm very proud of you. But Rick, just remember that the program only takes the top 10%. I just don't want you to set yourself up for heartbreak," I tell Rick. "You know what's funny, I don't even care if I don't make the team. I felt like a ranger again, I think that's worth more than anything," Rick says. "So all this has nothing to do with me making Chief Resident? Cause I just... I was worried whether I should tell yo-" "Drew, you need to stop walking on eggshells around me," He says, grabbing my hand. "I'm thrilled and proud of you as well. Your wins are my wins and vice versa. We're a team," "I know, and I feel the same way. I just.. I'm sorry for hovering, old habits die hard," "Dude, you still don't let your youngest sister drive, and she's 37," "She's a terrible driver, somebody's going to get hurt," "Keep telling yourself that," Rick says, causing both of us to laugh.

"I gotta run, but you can crash in my office, which I feel like I am never in, till your prosthetic is ready," I say. "Your office, look at you," Rick says. " Perks of being Chief Resident, " I say, smiling and walking out and closing the curtain.

At the end of shift

I rounded the corner after getting off the elevator and saw Rick sitting behind the nurse's desk. He was facing away from me talking with Jordan, so I motioned to her to not tell Rick that I was behind him. "I know you're behind me, plus Az is in my lap," Rick says. "Dang it," I say, putting my hand on Rick's shoulders. "Nice try," "It's the thought that counts, right?" "Sure," "How's paramedic school and swat school going Rick?" "It's good, I just finished swat school and I'm hoping to find out soon if I made it, and Paramedic School is still going. And I just got an email," Rick says. "What does it say?" I ask. "It says, I made the top 1%, I'm now a Swat Captain," "Ayyy!" "Congrats," "Thank you,"