Back To "Normal" Life - A Drew and Rick Story (The Night Shift)

Chapter 21 - Combat Medical Training Part 1

Drew's POV

There was a break between training sessions, so I grabbed a bag of dried blueberries out of the jeep and sat in the trunk. "What are those?" TC asks. "Blueberries or as Ryler likes to call them, Booberries," I say, as TC laughs. "How's dad life treating you?" I ask. "It's great, you know, Braxton is getting tall," He says. "Yeah I know, Jordan sends me pictures every week," I say. "Isn't Ryler turning two soon?" "Yeah, next month, and Bri's turning 20 in 2 weeks," I say, as I see Rick motion to throw him a water bottle. I grab one out of the cooler and throw it at him. "Catch," I say. "Thanks,"

A few hours later at the hospital

"Attention everyone, there has been a mass shooting at San Antonio Southern University, there are multiple casualties, and are asking for all hands on deck. Swat is on their way to take you in right now," Molly says. "All right, everybody gear up, Reagan, Boone, you're coming with us. Drew, Jordan let's go," TC says.

Swat arrived and we went to the college. "Where are you going?" I ask Rick, when we arrive and get out of the Swat truck. "Hunting, we got reports of multiple shooters still active, and we're placing IEDs, so don't touch anything, okay?" he says. "Just be careful," I say. "You be careful," Rick says and goes to meet with his team.

We went through the college finding casualties, and found Wyatt, and took him into a building to take cover. He had a few injuries, as well as a bloody nose.

A few hours later at the hospital again

Wyatt was in surgery, and Reagan and I were watching. "I bet when he woke up this morning, he didn't think he'd end up here," I say "Yeah, well, that makes two of us. Is that a drive-on tab?" Reagan asks, noticing Rick's ranger tab I had in my hand. "My husband kept it in his patrol cap during Ranger School for good luck. Took him straight through. Supposed to do the same thing for me," I say. "Supposed to? What's your story? Why didn't you ever go?" She asks. "Medical school, residency, Air Force deployments, life... I've got two kids now so it's given me a new perspective, from when I was supposed to go before I had kids starting 5 years ago, but my replacement fell through." "That sucks. May I?'' She asked, wanting to see it, and I gave it to her. "You know what I gave up for this?" she says. "Buck fifty at the PX?" I say. "That's what I paid, I missed important events in my life, like my niece being born. How can you and your husband become Rangers if you're in the Air Force?" "The Air Force Ranger Assessment Course, that is how. That's where I would have been next week since I signed up to do it again, but my replacement fell through again, so I got stuck here, training your sorry ass," I say.

"How old are your kids?" "Brianna, my eldest, will be 20 in 2 weeks, and Ryler, my youngest will be two next month," "They both adopted?" "Bri was adopted at fourteen, and Ry was adopted at birth, 2 weeks before Rick got back from deployment. Were you adopted?" I ask. "Yes, that's why I was asking," "Ah, lucky for you, I like talking about my kids," I say smiling. "Is that why you have their names tattooed?" "Yeah, I've got 2 with their names, one on my chest and the other on my forearm," "Can I ask about your others?" "Sure," "What's that one say?" she asks, pointing to the PJ script I have. "It says, 'These Things We Do That Others May Live' no greater man to lay on his life than his friend. It's the Air Force Pararescue creed/motto" I say. "What does that mean to you?" "To me, it means that I have no problem with sacrificing myself for someone else in a time of need," "So you'd let yourself be killed to save someone?" "Yeah, my husband has the same tattoo and would do the same thing," "Takes some guts to do that," "Yeah, that it does, it's why I do it," as I say this, I hear a little boy's voice.

I turn around and poke my head out of the suite, and see Jordan and Ryler in the hallway. "Daddy!" Ryler says running to me. "Hey, buddy. Thanks Jord,"

A few minutes later after walking out of the OR suite watch area.

"Thanks for a hell of a day, Sir," Reagan says. "Oh, don't thank me yet Lieutenant. You're cleaning all the blood out of all the ambulances." I say, picking Ryler up. "Really?" She questions. "That'd be "really sir" and I want them gleaming," I say, smiling and then walking to the elevator to go downstairs.

A few hours later

"Hey," "Hey," "Nice surprise, thought you'd be stuck at the station doing paperwork," I say, as I see Rick leaning against the nurse's desk. "Yeah. Well, I decided to do my paperwork here. Plus the internet is way better, takes forever for one page to load at the station, that's why I always do paperwork at home," Rick says.