"... Uh, you ok there?"
Ripped from his thoughts, knuckles white, Connor gave a glance- chestnut hues flickering to his friend in the passenger seat before hardening his gaze, setting his sights back on the road.
"Mind your business Edgar."
"Considering you're practically imprinting the steering wheel, I think I have mind to bother."
"Like I said, I'm fine, Edgar."
"Alright, you know I'm not one to push, but you also know I'm always one to listen."
The lieutenant just shook his head as he remained focused on driving, sirens still blazing above them.
"I think you mean you want to know everyone's drama- tea is what you call it?"
Despite the thick tension Connor gave off, Red remained unphased as he threw his head back with an amused holler. Never in a million years would he predict to hear his higher in command pick up the slang he had been using.
"No! No, honestly. Well- usually that's right. But right now I'm actually concerned. Especially with you being off duty for so long. Something is on your mind and if there's any way I can help I'm sitting right next to you."
"It' nothing to concern yourself with. I assure you."
Amusement slowly beginning to trickle away, both parties unsatisfied and unconvinced, Red did nothing more but give a weary smile as he knew all he could do was shake his head in discontent. Connor would come around in his own time.
"Alright..."
Another call, another patient. They seemed back to back today. This time it was a call to a local restaurant, the original complaint being a potential allergic reaction. Of course, the true nature of the calls rarely met what dispatch told them, and this time was no exception. The entire restaurant practically got dinner and a show with how they received the first eye witness to them escorting a poor lady out of the food joint. Unsurprisingly, it ultimately ended up being closer to food poisoning than anything.
The wheels of the gurney squeaked as they rolled the bed through the ER bay. Both Connor and Red were as careful as could be as they turned and placed the older woman in room six, curtains drawn, the pink tub cradled under her arm as her vomiting refused to cease.
Whether it was true or not, Connor was bound to look into it at some point. The place was shady to begin with, and the second he stepped in he was not a fan of the atmosphere. But he could worry about such things later. He had a tendency to forget about the job at hand with all the leads being a paramedic gave him, adamantly trying to shove his mind back into work mode. Despite all the tantalizing potential working in the field gave him, he had to remember he had other duties before him as he began to walk side by side with Red. His colleague was unusually perceptive, oftentimes giving Connor glances that knew he was aware the Mohawk constantly had ulterior motives, always questioning, or rather poking information out of him as there were moments where the lieutenant would allow his mind to drift off into his other line of work. But still, Red never went too far, and it was obvious that in the times he did prod, it was more so out of concern.
With the amount of trauma they faced on a daily basis, there was no surprise how easy a coworker could finally allow it to get to them. Even if his assumptions were wrong, Connor appreciated Red's concern all the same, ensuring to affirm him his fears were misplaced. His coworkers would never get the chance to know how Connor was an exception to such emotional duress, his years of training serving him well and allowing him to overcome the common hurdles the job as a first responder carried. It was through this he would also consistently keep a blanket of mystery ever wrapped around him. Nobody knew of his true line of work. Of his past. And he planned on keeping it that way.
Given they still had to document and wash down the rig, Connor was milliseconds away from opening his mouth to claim the duty of cleaning the back of the ambulance as they made their way to the loading bay.
"This is MUTINY! FUCK OFF!"
Or well, at least that's what he thought.
"Calm down sir we're here to help-!"
"THATS WHAT THEY ALL SAY!"
"Security!"
All Connor had time to do was turn, watching as a lone, petite woman, white coat billowing behind her- literally jump and grapple the tall man trying to make a break for it. That certainly wasn't patient protocol. A curse of disbelief barely acknowledged by his coworker, Connor would not have it. He wasn't about to sit and wait for the hefty security guard bounding his way from across the floor, every second always counting. Already he could see the small brunette struggling, spurring Connor to move faster. He could care less what the situation was- all he saw was a small woman struggling up against a man twice her size, and that was all the reason he needed to get the hell over there and help.
The firefighter nearly growled as dark hues acknowledged the female being shoved off the man roughly, his feet stomping hard against the white tile as he prevented any further retaliation by leaning down and allowing his thick fingers to wrap around the patient's pair of biceps. Before the victim could blink he was picked up with barely any effort and practically slammed onto the nearest gurney. Clearly, Connor wasn't exactly following patient protocol either, but the tables swiftly turned the second any staff member were to be harmed by a patient. Given how the medical team didn't even bother to acknowledge Connor's less than gentle measures it may have been safe to assume the brunette on the ground was not the first to encounter the struggling patient either.
Both security and the rest of the medical staff now flooding around him, the first responder stepped back. Milliseconds went by as he watched the younger looking patient get strapped down, screaming as an IV was shoved in his arm. He probably wasn't going out on a limb in assuming he was a newly admitted psych patient.
Connor's brute strength was obviously not needed anymore. However where he was needed was right beside him, his form swiveling to focus his attention on the doctor just scrambling to her feet.
Nothing short of instinct, his large palms shot out, grasping her wrists to steady her as his massive form guided them off to the side of the hall. At the same time, an odd feeling of nostalgia prickled at him. As if, he vaguely recognized the woman before him? Her features reminded him of someone-? What was it?
"Are you alright?"
His soft voice allowed a glance up. Amber briefly danced against mahogany hues, olive skin- dark chestnut hair,
"Oh, yes! Thank you for helping out back there, uh-"
A double take. And then it clicked. The realization seemed to slap both of them at the same time, Connor's eyes widening as her own doe-eyed gaze snapped back up to match his.
"... uhm. Oh- OH. Oh my god. Wow. You're- you, aren't you-?"
"... The firefighter-?"
"Yes."
Not an ounce of hesitation to her tone, golden irises vibrating as the resolution remained unwavering as she stared at him. Connor blinked. His mouth oddly became dry, tongue incessantly darting out to wet his lips. How long had it been? Two weeks? Less? Maybe more? Oddly his dark hues glanced down to her own plump and glossy lips, rosy pink- he inhaled sharply. It instantly dawned on him how his mind went blank for a moment. That doesn't happen to him. It shouldn't happen to him.
"-Well, good to see you remember."
He still kept his tone light, playful almost, hoping it wasn't obvious how he was just trying to throw out a response as he nodded his head towards her in a friendly manner. At the very least his words spurred a soft smile from her as she was quick to duck her head.
In that same moment, the realization dawned on her that he was still gently holding on to her forearms, Connor absently following her gaze down to his massive hands dwarfing her thin wrists. Clearly, the realization simultaneously dawned on him too, a sudden warmth beginning to burn up his neck as his thick fingers didn't hesitate to release her. He practically jumped back with how quick he reacted, almost wanting to cringe as the ghost of what he just said lingered back into his mind oh god what in the hell-
"Sorry- and I meant that in the sense of your injuries, not-"
A bandaged hand was quick to hold itself up, effectively silencing the man before her, but for more than one reason.
"I know. And of course you, you saved my life."
Where Connor was quick to pull away she was suddenly faster in grasping his hand back, both of her own barely able to cup just one of his wide hands. For once, the Native didn't mind, still too distracted as dark hues remained locked onto the gauze pristinely wrapped around the dainty appendages currently engulfing his own. Perhaps on purpose, perhaps truly distracted by his distress, he waved off her words of praise as he held her hands up higher, concern furrowing his brow as he meticulously inspected them. There was no use in denying the way his chestnut hues flickered between her wrapped wrists and the two steri strips holding the healing cut above her left brow together. Obviously not expecting such a gesture, a hint of pink began to dust across the woman's cheeks- especially when his worried stare flickered from her injuries to directly meet her own.
"Have you been doing alright?"
Never in her life would the doctor expect such a gentle touch from such a behemoth of a man. She chastised herself for thinking such a way. She just- couldn't believe it. The worry he sported was genuine, and it was all for her, and yet he barely knew her. Such a fact did nothing to deter his dark hues from acknowledging the way her bandages trailed up her wrists, under the sleeves of her shirt. She couldn't wrap her head around it. Well, if she truly thought about it, was his concern actually guilt?
"Absolutely, I'm fine. I'm more than fine, actually- I'm, alive and well. All thanks to you."
Touch feather light, she was rather shocked at the pang of sadness she felt when he finally dropped her hand. Her skin prickled under the bandages, now abnormally cold- or unnervingly aware of the lack of heat that momentarily had surrounded her wounded fingers.
"I was just doing my job."
Like the drop of a hat, the disapproval of his words shown as plain as day in the way her stare flattened. The embarrassment still blossoming across her cheeks took a quick back seat to the lackluster that shaped her lips into a thin line.
"Right, just, doing your job... well. My name is Mae, by the way. And I just want you to know how, your actions truly just-"
Oddly, even with the distaste to his statement yet again the doctor found herself beginning to trip over her words as she meekly began to try and give him the thanks he still deserved. He may not want to hear it, but it made her no less adamant on saying it. There was no amount of stubbornness that could save her this time though as Red's voice broke through from down the hall.
"-Hey! Seeing as you're so busy with your girlfriend over there you get to document while I clean the cab."
With a wicked smirk, he turned and carried on towards the exit, leaving his immensely unamused coworker. Connor only tolerated his teasing response given the fact his dark hues flickered over to see how Mae had become an absolute mess, cheeks brightly glowing as she tried to squeak out a response.
"Oh- oh my god, I'm so sorry I didn't mean to-"
Old, ancient really, a warmth he hadn't experienced in a long time spurred within him. There was something, just, cute in the way she had become so flustered. Was it so horrible for him to admit? Just the faintest flutter of it caused the ghost of an amused smile to twitch at his lips. A softness that had been held back for ages seeped into his gaze as he finally decided to end her torture with a wave of his hand.
"No no, do not worry, my partner is just impatient at times. I'm glad to find out you are doing well."
Face burning, the brunette could barely compel her doe eyes to match his dark hues, anxious lines creasing her brow. There was no denying it. He was certainly attractive, still remembering from that fateful night his striking jawline, tan skin, and captivating almond eyes. He truly won the genetic lottery. Of course the woman had faced other attractive men before, but he was just so sweet, on top of the fact that he had saved her life. Both of which she would never expect in a million years. Then again she could only hope whatever attraction she knew was brewing towards him was not solely based on the fact she could say he was her, well, literal hero.
"Oh, right. Well- likewise. But I don't want to get you in trouble, I won't keep you any longer-"
"You're not. But thank you."
Connor didn't even notice how his lips had spread into a genuine smile. It was rare, for him at least, to find someone so innocent and pure, all of her emotions, her worry, her gratitude, a breath of fresh air with how genuine it was. With no ulterior motives attached. Even with that said though his smile could barely be said to stay as what he did notice was the small audience the both of them had garnered. Softness faltered as he nodded his head, finally beginning to step back as he glanced between the pairs of eyes ducking back to their work before allowing his gaze to linger on the short woman before him.
"I will see you around Mae."
Painfully aware of the fact her entire face must have been flushed at this point, her bandaged hands were quick to come up and cup her cheeks in a vain attempt to hide her embarrassment. Her smile was nothing short of bashful as amber hues lingered on the man's form for the last time.
"Right. See you later-"
Knowing all too well how she was mortified by now, Connor couldn't help himself as he indulged in the highly entertained smile that came roaring back as he turned away. He knew exactly what he was doing, knowing Mae's state was his fault. It was absolutely adorable, and there was no harm in some shameless flirting. It had been some time since he even felt compelled to engage in such a thing, and clearly, Mae was all too easy.
The brief haze of happiness their interaction offered suddenly began to ebb as he walked through the exit, the cool air slapping him in the face, along with his sense of reason. It just dawned on him he had never given her his name, or anything really for them to contact each other.
He had no idea why, but his feet suddenly became rooted to the spot as the metal door swung back and clicked shut behind him. He had half a mind to possibly run back to her, to give her his number, but he knew better. It was best this way. Even if the inclination itched at him, there was no sense in indulging his desires.
An uncomfortable hesitation about him, he forced his feet to move, finally spotting Red at their ambulance. The back doors were open as he was already cleaning the rig. Damn, he wasn't kidding earlier. He hoped in vain to silently join his coworker, but of course that would not be the case as Red was quick to glance up as soon as Connor neared the ambulance. The impatience practically radiated off of him, an amused and knowing chuckle barely being stifled as he poked his head out of the back.
"You sure took your sweet time. Enjoy meeting your new girlfriend?"
"Do you enjoy making me question our friendship?"
Another peel of laughter burst from his coworker, Connor's gaze showing disdain but the smile threatening to yet again spread across his lips saying otherwise. Not wanting to encourage any more teasing from his friend, the lieutenant hid his amusement as he opened the passenger door, begrudgingly grabbing the paperwork.
Maeve Milano.
Twenty four years of age.
Hometown: Chicago.
Father: Antonio Milano.
Mother: Charlotte Milano.
Board certified, no criminal record-
With a tired sigh he shut the laptop. He felt like he had been scouring the screen for hours. The silence of his home wrapped around him as he sat, mocking him almost. It irritated him.
He locked his fingers and stretched his arms before him, and with a grunt his taught muscles giving way with a pop, the crack of his bones breaking the silence. Practically defeated, he leaned back into the leather chair with malaise. A complete and thorough background check, which procured him no more than the average amount of details. The most he discovered was a speeding ticket she got sometime last year. Oddly, that somehow didn't surprise him. He was not quick to forget how she launched herself on that patient earlier today.
A hand dragged itself down his face as he wondered why he was even doing this. She was just a new addition to their local hospital. Nothing more, nothing less. Why on earth would the Templars take the trouble to find someone and stick them in such an exposed position? Besides, he found her in that pub fire, he doubted she was the one to cause it.
Her chances of being an insider were slim. That much he at least could conclude. Still, there was a reason why she was here, considering she came all the way from Chicago to here, to New York. His paranoia be damned, background checks never hurt. It was best to be safe than sorry.
That was the reasoning Connor finally settled with as he stood. The only reason the petite brunette was still on his mind. Yes. He was just, doing his job.
Bare feet making their way to his massive bed, he hadn't the first clue. He could deny it for as long as he wanted, but for once, Connor couldn't have been more wrong in his entire life.