Chapter Six
Chase invited Georgia inside, and she sat down nervously on his couch.
'Would you like a glass of water? Juice?' He offered.
'Just water thanks.' He poured her a glass, and brought it over to the lounge. She took the glass gratefully and took a sip.
'Chase, are you sure you're okay?' He nodded. She glanced at him again, and found him staring at her.
'What?' She asked, smiling.
'I was just thinking about how I missed you. It's been boring here at home, and I was remembering how you used to come and see me in the hospital, keep me company.' She dropped her head, blushing.
'Yeah. Well, I'm back at work now, so I'm not as free as I was before. In fact, my lunch break is almost over.' She stood up, and kissed Chase on the cheek.
'I'll come back later, okay?' He nodded numbly, and then she was gone. He felt his heart deflate, the light go out of his day. After several hours of sitting, staring blankly at the wall, he heard the patrol pull up out the front of the house, and he shook himself out of his reverie, and returned to his bedroom. He lay down on his bed, and pretended to be asleep. He heard his door open, and Dean stuck his head in. Chase squeezed his eyes closed tighter, hoping Dean would leave. He did, closing the door quietly. Chase rolled over. Thank god Dean never checked properly.
One Week Later –
'Michelle wants you back in this week Chase. Get up!' Said Dean, pounding on Chase's door. This was it. The inevitable. He had to return to work now, deal with paperwork, deal with Vince, Michelle, deal with the rest of the team. He didn't want to do this, but pulled on his uniform slowly. Lachie bashed on Chase's door again.
'Come on Chasie, speed it up, we're going to be late!' Chase sighed, and zipped up his jacket. He followed Dean and Lachie out to the patrol, and sat in the back. He stared out the window, watching as the houses blurred past.
'You're back on light duties for this week. Vince's orders.' Chase nodded, and Dean caught the movement in his rear view mirror.
'You right back there Chase?' Asked Lachie.
'Yeah. I'm fine.' Dean pulled up out the front of headquarters, and pulled on the handbrake. Chase got out, and began the weary trip up the stairs. He sat at his desk, and Vince dropped a pile of paperwork on his desk.
'You've got reports to finish, and then I want to update these files.' Chase nodded, and started his work. Vince's phone rang, and he picked it up. Two seconds later, he dropped it.
'We've got a callout!' Yelled Vince. Dean, Lachie, Lara, Heidi and Jordan disappeared down the stairs, and Vince sat at his desk, logging the details. Michelle stuck her head out of her office.
'Everything okay?' She asked. Vince nodded.
'Yeah, just sent the team out to a callout. Chase here is finishing his paperwork, and then updating some of the employee files for you.' Michelle nodded, and went back inside her office again as her phone rang. Chase stared at the computer screen, ignoring what he was supposed to be doing, and just sat there. Vince walked past him.
'Chase, better get on to that paperwork,' Vince said, walking past Chase's desk. He sighed, and tried to focus. An hour and a half later, the team returned, talking excitedly about the rescue they'd just performed. Jordan slapped Chase on the back.
'Kebab run mate?' Chase had a flashback to two months ago.
'Chase, kebab run?' 'Sounds good to me'
'Not to me it doesn't, just got a callout, MVA, I'll send you the details'
'Always another time mate'
'Yeah after finishing this rescue and ANOTHER incident report'
He returned to the present. No, he couldn't do that. It just didn't seem right, especially after losing a patient. It reminded him forcefully of the day he had lost Olivia. He couldn't slip up again.
'Nah, sorry Jordan. I've got this pile of paperwork to finish. Maybe another time.' Jordan was taken aback. Usually Chase was up for kebabs, or anything, and would gladly ditch paperwork to go out. Now he was withdrawn, quiet. Jordan returned to his own desk, and started his own paperwork. Dean and Lachie came up the stairs, tussling with each other.
'Chasie, we're heading out for beer and a pizza before we head home. Do you wanna come?' Asked Dean, hitting away Lachie's hand. Chase shook his head.
'Can you guys just drop me home?' Dean and Lachie exchanged glances.
'Yeah, I suppose we can. We'll miss you there,' commented Lachie. Chase said nothing, just packed up his desk and logged off his computer. Dean and Lachie headed down the stairs, Chase trailing them. They travelled wordlessly back to the Gallagher household, where Chase got out. Lachie and Dean watched him walk up to the door, making sure he made it inside. Chase was aware his brothers were watching him, and he opened the door quickly, making his way inside. He heard them drive away, and breathed a sigh of relief. Today had been one of the hardest days; to be able to keep focussed, to not scream at everyone. He felt so out of control. I have to be going crazy, he thought. He stood under the cold shower spray, trying to get the images of Olivia and the accident out of his head. It's been almost two months. Surely it has to get easier now. He wished he could stop thinking about Olivia. He'd hated losing a patient, and for some reason, she'd hit him particularly hard. The others don't seem to understand the pain, thought Chase. He noticed that it eased when Georgia was around, like she was a soothing hug. Chase wished she was here at night, to hold him when he woke up from his recurring nightmares, tangled in his sheets. He turned off the water, and stepped out of the shower, hair dripping. He walked straight into his bedroom, locked his door, and fell onto the bed. He was exhausted, and all he could hope was that he wouldn't dream of her again…
'She's crashing!'
'CLEAR!'
'Try again'
'Shocking'
'Nothing'
'Time of death, 1:18pm' Chase gasped and tried to sit up in his bed, sheets wrapped tightly around him. Not again…