A Firefighter in Her Stocking

But he wasn’t causing that excruciating rise and fall.

A machine breathed for him.

Somewhere in the fog he knew that should alarm him, but instead his attention went to the group huddled around him. His work family. Each and every one of them.

And Sarah.

Then they were all gone and a loud noise spun around him, sounding as if it was closing in on him.

Above that, Nina’s voice came to him, calling him again.

“Sarah.” He tried to answer, but couldn’t. He went to reach for his throat to find out why he couldn’t speak, but couldn’t move his hands.

Nina’s voice grew louder, beckoning him.

* * *

The radiology crew got the computerized tomography scans and X-rays and had Jude back in an emergency room bay in record time. Sarah stayed at his side except for the few minutes he was in the CT machine and then she waited next to the tech, ready to act if anything changed on Jude’s vitals.

She’d consulted Pulmonology to assess his lungs. Neurology to assess his lack of consciousness. And wished she had a dozen more specialists to check him over in case she’d missed something. Logically, she’d gone over everything she knew to go over, was trying to look for any unknowns, and now it was a waiting game. If he stayed stable, she’d eventually have to transfer his care to the intensive care unit, but until she had to, she planned to keep him as close as possible.

The imaging tests showed no internal bleeding but lots of swelling and contusions. His chest images also showed that he’d fractured two ribs when the debris had fallen on him. Fortunately, they weren’t displaced and hadn’t punctured a lung or caused any significant soft-tissue damage.

“Thank you for what you’re doing for him, Sarah.”

She glanced over at where Roger stood, looking dirty, exhausted, ready to drop. Actually, all the fire crew did. No wonder. They’d gone from fighting fires and rescuing people to rushing one of their own to the emergency room.

“Roger, I’m going to take you guys to a private waiting area. It’s actually where Jude waited the night we met when he’d brought in a little girl he rescued.”

“I remember,” Roger said. “But if it’s all the same to you, we’d like to stay here with him.”

“I understand. At least let me see if I can rustle up some chairs and some drinks, then.”

“That would be great.”

Sarah turned to go in search of vacant chairs and bottled drinks, but when she let go of Jude’s hand, he grabbed her hand back.

“Oh,” she gasped, shocked at the movement. Thrilled at the movement. “Did you see that?” she asked of no one in particular. “He moved.”

“That he did, Doc. I think he wants you to stay right where you are. I tell you what,” Roger said. “If you’ll send us in the right direction we’ll take you up on that drink and maybe a bathroom where we could wash up a little.”

“Of course. Get the nurse who was in here earlier. Shelley. She’ll take care of everything.”

Roger nodded, then touched Jude’s upper arm. “Wake up, my brother. I had a hot date tonight and I’m late, thanks to that fire and your nap.”

Jude’s hand jerked against hers and a noise came from somewhere deep in his chest as the crew each said something to Jude before leaving the room.

Sarah’s eyes watered at the bond between them.

When she was alone with him, Sarah laced her fingers with Jude’s. “Jude? Do you hear me? It’s Sarah.”

His hand jerked against hers again. For a moment she wondered if his movement was reflexive rather than intentional. However, when he squeezed her hand in a few rhythmic pulses her heart soared.

Intentional. Thank you, God, intentional.

“Jude,” she said, fighting to keep her voice clear as tears almost choked her. “This is Sarah. You’re in the emergency room. If you hear me, open your eyes.”

Nothing.