Monkey Wrench

Chapter 5

At this point, I can hear the ambulance sirens. With all this adrenaline going and ordering people around in addition to the fact that we're in a club, I haven't stopped for a moment to try and listen to see how close the ambulance was. It sounds like they're right outside. As I'm looking down the hallway, I see Devon running our way with the paramedics close behind.

I wave my arm and say, "In here guys!"

One of the paramedics says, "All we were told is that someone was drugged."

I clarify, "Well, possibly. We don't know what it was."

I walk over behind the couch, and I motion for the paramedics to follow to me, "We thought Oliver was drugged, but then I found this injection mark."

And with that, the paramedics both look at each other in a way of understanding what the rush was. I walk back around the couch to face Oliver. I squat so I'm eye level with him. I know he's not going to fully understand me because he's been out of it mostly since we brought him back here, but I hope he still hears me. I talk so softly that it's almost a whisper with how smooth it is, "Ollie. These guys are going to take good care of you. I'll be here with you as much as I can."

Oliver pleads, "Dax. Who are these guys?"

I console him, "Don't worry about that now. They're here to help." I can tell he's scared. But, we have to do this. So, I do what I can. I take his hands and hold them.

The second paramedic asks, "We good?" They apparently already finished assessing the situation.

"Do what you need to do, but you're gonna have to do it like this." I know that I'm going to be in their way but they are professionals. If they want Oliver to stay calm so they can work, it has to be like this.

"Okay. We'll make it work."

I know absolutely nothing about medicine. But, it seems like these guys don't really know what they're dealing with either without proper tests, and you can't do that in a club. You need a hospital with labs to do that. They put something on the injection site before putting a neck brace on. I guess that makes sense if his coordination is off. Who knows what that injection is affecting. But, I can't say anything because he needs to stay calm. Once they get him stable, I'll start asking questions. I just have to hold off a little longer. The whole time the paramedics are working, we just look at each other. I don't let go of his hands, but I do have to let go of one of his hands so the paramedics can have better access to him. Oliver is barely conscious now. They have him on the gurney now and attach oxygen to his face. My eyes are so watery, but Avery pulls me away.

"Dude, you love him. It's okay."

I refute, "I don't know what the hell you're talking about."

Avery contradicts me, "It's written all over you. In your eyes, your body language. The fact that you were about to start crying before I pulled you away."

My eyebrows raise and my face scrunches, "Avery, what are you doing? You're all business. This isn't business."

"The reason I never flirted back with you all this time was because I could tell how much you two meant to each other, and I was not going to get in the way of that. But, you two are so damn oblivious that y'all never recognized it. Y'all need each other whether you realize it or not. You may not call it love but to hell with it. Go be there for your man. And, don't let me catch you crying in front of him again or about to. He needs you strong to get through this. We all do."

Damn. I don't know what to say to that. I'm speechless. Avery knows me better than I know myself, and they may be on to something. All I can do is just stare at them.

The first paramedic interrupts, "So, are y'all gonna meet us at the hospital or is one of y'all coming with?"

Avery responds right away as they're turning me around, "They're going with you."

"I'll keep you updated," I say as we're walking out the room.

"I know you will."

And at that Avery slips back into the main area of the club, and I continue walking with the paramedics to the ambulance. This is gonna be one long journey. Ollie is in and out of consciousness, and he's barely there when he's here. They load Oliver in, and I climb in behind them. I have to figure out what Sky was up to before I contact his mom. This isn't going to end well.

Oliver mumbles "Dax" very weakly while reaching out his hand.

I grab his hand with both of mine and say, "I'm right here Ollie." Then he loses consciousness again.

When we get to the hospital, they rush Oliver inside, and the hospital staff come racing over. They tell me I can't go any further, but they'll come get me as soon as they can. I know they have a job to do. And, they need to do it. They need to save Oliver. This is painful. Even though I'm not experiencing what he is, this whole situation is hurting me like a part of me was torn away, and if he doesn't get better, I won't.