It had been six months since Clarice decided to move ago New York and away from Leslie Shay. Things were getting easier day by day. In emergency services, memories tend to be short. Another call. Another run. Your mind is constantly moving forward. You cannot dwell on the past. She was back to her old self.
Things were almost "normal" again.
Leslie Shay stocked the side wall of Ambulance 61 with more 4x4 gauze. Her partner Gabrielle Dawson was talking to her as she cleaned trash from under the front seat.
"I have three birthday parties this week alone. I swear my family has to stop reproducing." Gabby grumbled.
"See another bonus of being gay. No unplanned reproductions.". Shay grinned at her.
"Ugh, Shay. Really girl. Sometimes you are such a dude."
They both laughed.
"Hey Shay I heard from Casey that Mark from Engine 10 had his transfer papers in."
"Yeah. He mentioned it last week."
Shay had known Mark Davis since she was in middle school. He had been friends with her father and a fireman for longer than she remembered. He was the closest thing to an Uncle in her life, and when she officially came out at 18 he hugged her, kissed her forehead and told her he'd still come to her house and clean shotguns when a girl arrived to take her on a date.
When Mark's sister died of breast cancer he asked her to officially become his son Trevor's godmother. Eight years later, Trevor was finishing his first deployment in Afghanistan, Shay had been on the CFD for longer than she thought she'd survive and Mark was closer to retirement daily.
Mark had worked the Engine near O'Hare airport for nearly seven years and the commute was wearing him down. He told her over the phone that when Trevor returned home he wanted to transfer closer to home. More time with his son he said. He missed the soldier terribly during his deployment and every moment counted.
She smiled.
"Shay please come with me to my cousin's party." Gabriela begged. "It's gonna be all four year olds, and new moms, and khaki wearing investment bankers, I'll die alone."
Shay scoffed. "Take Mills. Why do I have to suffer?"
"Mills does a body good, but I can't talk to him! Come one Shay.". She lowered her voice and batted her eyes. "You're the only one who can...stimulate my brain.". She then wiggled her eyebrows and smiled.
"I'm not sure, but I might be offended.". Shay joked.
"Come on girl. You go with me and I'll go with you to Trevor's welcome home bash. I'll pretend to be your girlfriend so you won't have to talk to rowdy 19 year old boys all night."
Shay narrowed her eyes. "You run a good hustle Dawson. I'm in."
"Yes!" her partner whooped from the front seat.
Their laughs were interrupted by two high pitched wails and a horn. The female voice across the speakers alerted them to a unconscious fall patient just blocks from their station.
Shay slammed the cabinet doors shut as Dawson gunned the engine and fired up the lights and sirens.
As they pulled out of the station Shay sat back against her seat and sighed. Yes things we're back to normal.