One Life ✓

Chapter 15: The Hog Airlift Shift

A/N: I know it's a long read. Hang in there, it's worth it!!!!

Bridget—Somewhere in the sky, San Antonio, TX

We fly over the city in a Medevac, something I enjoy so much. Just looking out the window and seeing the flashing lights is a dream come true. I love it so much more here than I did in Oklahoma.

As we cruise gently, I sneak a look at Grace Patel, the doctor who asked me to come. She looks really pissed. The other doc, a resident, nods toward me and makes a face that conveys the obvious message, "Don't mess with Texas here."

I decide to skip the warning. "Hey," I begin. "Dr. Patel, you look like you need a day off of work."

She laughs emotionlessly. "More like a month. Or life."

"Why?" I raise an eyebrow, patient. "What's up?"

"Everything," she grumbles, facepalming herself.

"Can you give her a straight answer already, Grace?" the resident says. "She's trying to help you."

"I just rejected this guy's marriage proposal," Grace mumbles. "And I really, really loved him. But now I'm pregnant. I'm pretty damn sure the baby is his. If you tell anyone, I will murder you. Actually. I don't want any attention on me at all right now. This is the worst possible situation to get knocked up in. Why did I just tell you that? Ugh."

My eyes widen like they just can't take in enough. "I...uh..."

"I'm quite the freak show today, huh?" she says quietly.

"No...I think I may or may not be able to assist you in the matter." I take a deep breath. "Why'd you say no?"

"Indian dad. White boy. Dad says I go back to India if I say yes. Wanted to stay. Said no. Ka-boom." Grace gestures to her surroundings. "Here I am."

"Your dad wasn't actually going to take you back, was he?" I tread carefully. I am clearly on dangerous grounds here.

"You don't know what my dad would do to make everything go his way, Dr. Vermont," says Grace, voice shaky. "He changed my residential slot when I was in medical school."

"That's why you and TC ended things," Shannon intones. "Oh, my God. None of this was your fault, was it?"

"My dad knew we were dating. My slot application said Dallas; I wanted to be with Tee for life. We had so many plans. Until he decided to sneak behind my back and change my choice to the San Fernando Valley. California. When I called to change it back, they said there were existing orders locking the residency in place. Which was my father's so-called paternal authority." Grace sighs. "I don't know what TC would think of my family if I told him. I haven't told him. I was raised knowing that a blow dealt to a woman is better than one dealt to a man. If I say it's my fault, it's supposed to lessen the guilt towards my dad. And family? Family means everything to me."

"You're scared of your actions," I start. "You're scared of what you could do to everyone else. But you need to think about what you could do for yourself. And the best thing you could do for yourself is to make things up between you and him. If he really loves you, he won't care. He'll give you a second chance. So, here's the thing: are you willing to take that second chance?"

But before she can say anything, we hear a snort.

To our great dismay, the warthog is awake.

"Let me grab some morphine," I suggest.

"Don't dose it too heavily," Shannon ads.

I reach across the small shelves to the vial marked "Morphine." I tap it, and then check inside. I tip it over, shake it. This cannot be happening.