Sinners and Saints

Sinners and Saints Chapter 6 - Damn Allergies

Jojo leaps over the desk, sending her drink crashing to the worn green carpet below while I simultaneously hit my cell phone and sprint for the portable defibrillator on the wall at the far end of the hall – close to the entrance to the church itself.  Father had it installed a couple of years ago after a woman had passed out during Easter Mass. 

"Jose!" I scream as I run, "Father Jonas collapsed."  Jose tears after me, calling out in rapid Spanish to Lupe who is staring wide-eyed at us from the entrance to the kitchen.  I pause at the end of the hall because I'm connected to 911 now. 

"EMTs needed at Lost Souls Catholic Church," I pant into it, "Father Jonas collapsed in his office."  I know I sound like a lunatic, but the dispatcher must be used to this.  Jose grabs the machine and races back to the office. 

"He was sweating a lot and then his lips turned blue and he passed out," I answer her question, jogging back to the office, Lupe on my heels.  The dispatcher asks me if he's breathing. 

"Uh, hold on," I say and peek over to where Jojo and Jose have dragged him to an open area of the carpet.  Jojo is leaning over him, fingers pressed against his neck. 

"He's still breathing and his heart's still going, but he's getting worse," she tells me and I repeat it to the dispatcher. 

"I'll be outside waiting to show them the correct door," I tell the dispatcher and she hangs up with a promise of ten minutes or less, like we've just ordered a pizza or something.  Lupe and Jose are talking a mile a minute and Jojo is ignoring them, keeping an eye on the Father.  I pick up the bottles and put them back, then the books.  I take our packets and IPads in the crook of my arm and pick up the two abandoned glasses, dropping them off in the kitchen before I step out the side door and wait for the ambulance.  I know it seems like a ridiculous thing to do at a time like this, but I have no doubt that the Bishop will be here soon, and I don't want him knowing Father Jonas was drinking on duty or that he was discussing heresy with us. 

I know – probably a silly thing to think, but people do strange things in crises. 

It doesn't take them long to arrive and I point them down the hall.  By the time they have Father Jonas on the gurney and are loading him and Jose in the back, I already have the Jeep started and our stuff stashed in the console.  Jojo comes out a few seconds later and straps herself in, "Lupe is waiting for Armando to pick her up," she says, "You ok to drive?" 

"Yeah," I tell her, even though my hands are shaking, "Saint Mary's?" 

"That's what they said," she nods, "Just take it easy and let them get there first, ok?" 

"How is he?" Jojo asks, making me lift my head from the file I'm working on as we wait for news.  Like I said, as long as I have an internet connection, I can work anywhere, and it's better than reading the three-year-old magazines in the waiting room. 

Jose collapses into a chair next to us, "He's stable," he says, "But still out of it.  They're running some more tests.  They haven't ruled anything out yet." 

"Claire," Jojo sighs, "I need to get to work.  I told them half a day and it's nearly one."  

I nod and look at Jose.  "Go," he tells me, "I'm staying for a while still.  Armando and Lupe will take me back later.  I'll call you if anything changes."  We both hug him and promise we'll be by later. 

Darius is standing by the Jeep as we approach it, and Jojo and I look at each other in surprise. 

"Ladies," Darius nods at us, "How is he?" 

"Stable," I tell him, unlocking the vehicle, "How did you find out?" 

"Jill called me," he replies.  Jill is my neighbor.  She's also a trauma-physician and an imp.  And works for Darius.