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The paramedics loaded Evan into the back of the ambulance and Hank sat down next to his brother, still shoeless. "I'll see you at the hospital, do you want me to inform your father?" asked Divya.
"No thank you Divya. I'll wait until Evan is ready to see visitors before I call him, but could you do me a favor and find my tennis shoes, before you leave? I think they are upstairs in my bedroom."
"Sure, no problem, I'll see you soon."
"Thanks Divya," Hank responded, smiling and truly happy he had such a good friend.
The paramedic closed the door and the driver took off with the lights flashing.
Inside the ambulance the paramedic and Hank both took a new set of vitals. The paramedic, feeling slightly useless noticed the deep cuts on both of Hanks knees.
"Dr. Lawson, your brother is doing well, why don't you rest for a second and let me take care of your injuries?
Hank stopped fussing over Evan and glanced at the concerned woman, slightly confused. He quickly examined himself and noticed the blood dripping from his lower extremities. "Oh, I didn't even notice I was hurt. I go by Hank by the way."
"I'm Luna, she responded, smiling. "And that's okay. I had a patient once who was so focused on getting his family out of a burning building, that he didn't notice the three foot beam sticking out of his stomach. I had to explain it to him myself and it still took a while before he felt any pain. The effects of an adrenaline rush are amazing."
"Wow," said Hank. It is hard to focus on yourself when your family is in trouble."
"Yeah, I would do anything for my family," Luna agreed, as she grabbed bandages out of a cupboard and took a seat next to Hank. "Here, I'll scoot over and you can put your leg up on the bench," she suggested.
Hank didn't like being fussed over any more than his brother did, but he could tell that Luna truly cared and only wanted to make him feel better. He cooperated and put his left leg up on the bench.
"Oh," said Luna, looking concerned. Your foot is cut up badly too. You aren't hurt anywhere else, are you Hank?"
Hank thought about it for a second. "No, I don't think so," he responded.
"Well just in case, I'm going to check you over when I'm done here," said Luna.
After studying Luna's expression, Hank could tell it was nonnegotiable so he just sat there watching Luna work and glancing at Evan's monitors now and again. First she wet a piece of gauze and wiped the blood from his knee. Then she applied antiseptic and a large bandage over the area. Next she examined his foot, wiping the blood away again but inspecting it more closely than she had with his knee.
"Hmmm, this cut on your heel is really long and deep. You're going to need quite a few stitches."
Hank chuckled, "Next time I'll be sure to grab a pair of shoes before I walk on top of broken pottery."
"Sounds like a plan," replied Luna, smiling back.
Luna finished cleaning Hank's foot and then wrapped it tightly with gauze to slow the bleeding.
"Okay, next leg please." Hank struggled to lift his right leg onto the bench but was unable. Frowning, he reached down and pulled his leg up with his arms, hissing with pain in the process.
"Oh no, I must have damaged my patellar tendon when I cut my knee," Hank explained.
"Oh, that looks really painful. Who knew broken pottery could be so dangerous," Luna replied compassionately. "I'll have to put a splint on it until it can be x-rayed. You might need surgery."
She carefully studied his knee and followed her previous method of first aid, again wrapping it tightly with gauze. Then, Luna gently placed a splint along his leg to prevent him from bending his knee. His right foot only required a few small bandages.
"Ok," Luna smiled. "Good as new. Well . . . better at least. You and your brother will both need numerous stitches. Maybe you can compare battle wounds," she suggested, trying to make light of the situation.
"Yeah he'll definitely love that," Hank replied as he pictured Evan pulling out a ruler and measuring each scar for bragging rights.
"Okay, now let me take a quick look at you."
"I'm really fine," complained Hank, trying to get out of an exam.
"Hey, I explained the effects of adrenaline before. You might not feel your injuries, so be a good patient and let me have a quick look at you. Okay?"
"Well, it's hard to argue with that. I'm not used to being a patient. This is certainly an interesting perspective."
"You might as well get used to it Hank. You are going to need lots of physical therapy for your knee and a doctor will need to stitch you up at the hospital."
"Okay, said Hank, giving in. "Do what you want."
"Very good Hank. See? Practice makes perfect," Luna said, smiling warmly. "It will just take a second. Can you follow this light with your eyes? I know you probably didn't hit your head but just humor me okay?"
"Okay," said Hank, surprised at how thorough Luna was with her patients.
"Good. Now I'm going to take your blood pressure and pulse," said Luna, as she strapped the cuff around his arm.
"Hmmm, a little high, but that's understandable given the situation with your brother. How bad is your pain?"
"Nothing I can't handle," Hank said, trying to hide the fact that his injured tendon was really starting to hurt.
"Oh hun, I know pain when I see it. You can't fool me. Are you about a seven?" Luna asked.
Hank stared at Luna chuckling again. "Yeah that sounds about right. You're really good at your job," complimented Hank.
"Thank you. I can tell that you are, as well. I'm going to give you a little morphine to help with the pain, if that is okay with you."
"Oh no thanks," Hank responded. I'm not fond of medications. I wouldn't mind a couple of aspirin though."
"No need to be a tough guy, you are in for a rough couple of weeks. You might as well take it while you can, although, you could probably get morphine anytime," she joked.
"Oh no, I wouldn't allow that of myself," Hank replied.
"Well, you are very admirable, Hank, but I insist you take just two milligrams. It will do wonders for your pain. You know the doctors will administer morphine anyway, after your surgery."
Hank thought about it for a moment and knew she was right. He studied the look of concern plastered to Luna's face. "Well just two milligrams can't hurt, and it will put her mind at ease," he thought.
"Okay," said Hank, giving in to Luna's requests once again. "Just two milligrams."
"You know," began Luna, as she prepared his shot. "Most patients with your injury would be begging for this stuff by now."
Hank smiled, "Well I guess I still need practice in patient etiquette."
"That you do," she responded, smiling back at him. "Okay, I need your arm for a quick pinch."
Hank relinquished his arm and stared at her face as she gave him the injection. She looked absolutely stunning and was only a few years younger than him. "How long have you been a paramedic?" he asked.
"About 15 years now," she responded, as she noted Evan's condition on his medical chart. "How long have you been a doctor?"
"Longer than I care to admit," he replied, chuckling. "Wow, I'm really feeling the effects of that morphine. I feel wonderful."
"I'm glad," Luna replied, sincerely.
"I'm so tired though," said Hank yawning. "Maybe if I fall asleep, my ex-girlfriend Jill will come back to me," he blurted out. "Oh my God, I'm sorry. I don't know why I said that."
Luna giggled, "Its ok, you should hear the crazy things people say on morphine. Don't worry about it."
"That's embarrassing," Hank replied groggily. "Besides she is nowhere near as beautiful as you are," Hank blurted out again. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that out loud," Hank explained, frustrated at his lack of control.
"Relax Hank; I know it's just because of the morphine," Luna said, trying to comfort him.
"No, but you are though," he said with a sudden urgency, staring into her eyes. "Not just your looks … it's you. Who you are is beautiful," Hank replied enticingly. He reached up gracefully and brushed his hand across her reddened cheek. "Beautiful," he whispered, as the ambulance came to a stop outside of the hospital.
I hope everyone liked the new twist. Please comment and follow. I will upload the next chapter in about a week. Thanks for reading! :)