“Yeah. What happened?”
“You fainted. But your vitals are fine. If you hadn’t woken
up in the next minute or two the EMTs were going to take you in. I asked them to wait. But they’re right outside if you want to go.”
“Go where?”
“The hospital.”
She shook her head. It felt fine. And so she sat up. “I’m
not sick. Am I?”
“No…” He drew the word out.
Lucy saw the cranberry juice spattered on the floor and
the cupboard behind which she’d stood. She looked up slowly. Through the squad window she recognized curious, though comfortingly concerned, faces. Two EMTs. Bill Mendholson. Kim Pershing. Captain Winston, Ramsey’s boss.
And she shuddered.
Ramsey scooted closer, wrapped one of his big strong arms around her shoulders. “It’s okay, sweetie.” His chin touched the top of her head.
“No, Ramsey,” she said, feeling dizzy again. “I don’t think it is.”
“We’ve called the department psychologist,” he said. “She’s on her way up.”
“I don’t want to see a shrink right now, Ramsey.” She had this huge wall in front of her. And behind her. She was trapped between the two of them. All that existed was this room. Her. And Ramsey.
“Okay. You’re the boss.”
She nodded. Yes. She was the boss. She liked that.
They sat there. Ramsey holding her. People watching. And she started to cry, hiding her face in his chest. “I don’t know what to do,” she said through her sobs. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do right now.”
“Just sit here a minute, sweetie. We’ll get you some juice and then see how you feel. One step at a time, okay? For now, let’s just sit a minute.”
She could do that. She could sit. As long as Ramsey was holding her. But…
She made herself stop crying.
She felt weak when she cried.
Sniffling, she said, “You keep calling me ‘sweetie.’” And started to cry again. “It’s because you don’t know what to call me, isn’t it? I’m not Lucy to you anymore.”
He didn’t say anything and the part of Lucy’s mind that was working guessed that he hadn’t been coached that far in the brief time he’d had with whoever was telling him how to handle her.
Beyond that, she couldn’t think. Couldn’t comprehend what Ramsey thought. What he’d said.
“I’m here for you.” The emotion in his voice touched her. She didn’t want to feel. And she couldn’t stop the feeling from coming, either.
“I’m scared.”
“I know, sweetie. But you aren’t alone. I’ll be here with you every step of the way.”
Pulling back, she looked at him. “Will you, Ramsey? Will you really? You’ll stick this out?”
He hesitated and then, looking her straight in the eye, said, “Yes. I give you my word.”