Cast the Cards

“Jesus Christ.” His stomach churned in agreement to the comment. They point rounded the corner.

“I see blood spatter and two men down.”

His muscles tensed as he waited for the signal.

“We’re clear.”

Two of his officers knelt beside the men, checking for a pulse. He rushed to Savannah who lay sprawled on her back, blood pooling beneath her. Not again, please.

Placing his fingers on her neck, he breathed a sigh of relief. Faint and much too fast, the rhythm scared him, but it was there. The crackle of radio reached him through his emotional haze. An officer gave the okay for the medics to come in.

Bending down, he whispered in her ear. “Don’t you leave me Savannah Marie! I just got you back. You said no more running, remember?”

Feet pounded over concrete.

“Sir, we’ll need to look at her now.”

Unable to speak he scooted back, giving the medics access. The rip of her shirt rent the air. The others moved back to allow her privacy as the medics worked.

“Carr? What’s going on?” an officer asked.

He shook his head. “I’m going to get some air.” Rushing out of the dank building, he let out a roar. Is it my destiny to always be too late or make the wrong choice? It was Clark all over again. He didn’t go that night and look where it landed him. Now he took a left instead of a right, got separated, and she clung to her life by a thread.

“This isn’t your fault.” The sound of his brother’s voice to his left didn’t surprise him. “If you’d been with her you’d probably be dead.”

“If you’re trying to make me feel better, you’re failing miserably.”

“What I’m trying to do is end your pity party for one. She’s in there fighting for her life. She’s going to need you to keep her grounded to the Earth and later for recovery.”

He narrowed his eyes. “You know something, don’t you?”

“Just give her a reason to stay. You understand me?”

“How?” Clark disappeared and he found himself talking to empty air. “Okay, I’m starting to hate that.”

The medics emerged with Vannah hooked up to an I.V., her body limp and unresponsive. Tilting the gurney, they loaded her into the back. Being separated is not an option. He turned to the officers lined up outside, dug his keys out of his pocket.

“I’m going with her. Can someone take care of my car?”

“Of course.” Carlson extended his hand and Carey tossed the keys.

“Thanks. I’ll keep everyone posted and call her family.”

“You coming, sir?” the blonde medic asked.

“Yeah.” He climbed into the back and slid out of the way as they attached Vannah to more machines. The erratic beat of her heart filled the cab.

“We’re good, let’s get her out of here.” the burly paramedic with dark hair cropped close to his head said.

They pulled off and the paramedic began to give her shots, rattling off medical jargon to his partner in the back.

Beep Beep.

The flat line ripped his heart out of his chest and kicked him in the nuts at the same time. He gasped.

“She’s flat-lining.” His blond partner grabbed the paddles. Carey’s vision narrowed to Vannah’s face, contorted in pain as her body ceased. Bile formed and he gagged, dry heaving.

This is the woman I want to marry, form children, and grow old with. The fact sucker-punched him. He gripped his heart and forced a deep breath out from his aching chest. As the ambulance rocketed toward the nearest hospital he found himself sucked in the midst of a come-to-Jesus meeting. When life and death were on the line lies had no place.