Safety Net

28

Alex laid Hazel down as Jo paid the delivery man for the takeout. She sat down and waited for him, nervously picking at her nails.

Alex walked out and sat next to her, grabbing a box of noodles "What do you want to know?" He asked, opening the box.

"Why did you kiss her?" She looked up from her lap and met his eyes.

He was caught off guard, and it was clear. He didn't think she would start off this strong, but what else should he expect from Jo? "I don't know. I guess she just said the right words at the right time."

"The right time?" She crossed her arms "What do you mean 'The right time'?"

He sighed "I don't know. I didn't mean it like that."

"Well, how did you mean it?" She snapped.

"I just," He stuttered "There was a lot going on. I was stressed and overwhelmed. It didn't mean anything."

She breathed out, dropping it "Okay. What did she say?"

"I-I don't know. I don't remember," He stammered. Though he did forget some of what she said, he definitely didn't forget all of it.

"Are you sure?" She asked, trying to get something out of him.

"Yes. I said, I don't remember."

She looked at the floor, dreading the next couple of words that needed to be asked. "Do you still love her?"

And just then, horns blared and tires screeched right before a loud crash. Jo and Alex jumped up and ran to the window to see the wet road, dim road lamps- which was a normal seattle night, but there was two cars in the middle of the intersection, totaled. It looked like it had been a t-bone crash.

She gasped "Oh, my god. Call the hospital!"

"I'm already on it." He said before holding the phone to his ear.

Jo watched the people in the car. She grabbed the phone from Alex "Go out there, now. I'll stay with Hazel." She whispered to him before continuing the call.

He grabbed his shoes and jacket, slipping them on before running out to the crash. He looked around for a couple of seconds, trying to see the damage.

He ran to the car that had hit the other car. He looked in the car. There was a dirty blonde woman who looked to be in her mid twenties; pregnant. And a little brunette boy sitting in the back who was around age six or seven.

He checked their pulse. They were both very weak, but still there. He rushed to the other car. There was a dark haired man and woman, both seeming to be in their late thirties. He checked them. Like the other victims, their pulses were weak.

The little boy started to cry loudly. Alex took a deep breath, overwhelmed. He didn't know where to go first. He ran to the boy "Hey, it's okay." He said "I'm Doctor Alex. People are on their way to help. Can you tell me your name?"

"Ollie." He sniffled, crying. He held his arm, in pain.
"Nice to meet you, Ollie. Is that your mommy in the front?"
Ollie nodded
"Can you tell me her name?"
He nodded again "Paige." He croaked.
"I'm going to take good care of you and your mommy, I promise. Do you know your last name?"
"Park."
"Good. Does your arm hurt?"
He nodded his head.
"I'm going to look at it." He gently took it and looked at it for a second "I think it's broken. But, don't worry, you can get a super cool cast for it. What's your favourite colour?" He tried to keep him awake and alert.
"Red."

After a couple more minutes of talking and Alex running between the cars making sure everyone was still holding on, the sound of sirens blared through the streets. That was the best sound to Alex right now.

The parametrics pulled up to them and hopped out. Alex walked to them "A mother and son in that car; Ollie and Paige Park. She's pregnant." He pointed to it "And a woman and a man in that one. I don't know their names. They haven't woken up." The paramedics nodded and got everyone on their gurneys and into the ambulance. Alex hopped in with Ollie and texted Jo he was going to the hospital.

Jo got Hazel into her car seat and into the car. She was going to the hospital. It was late and hardly any of the surgeons were there. She knew they would need help. She got in the car and drove. She was careful. There was no need for another accident tonight.