*WARNING* This chapter contains a suicide story line. If this makes you uncomfortable or may be a potential trigger for you, please skip it. I won't be offended! Please remember that you are loved and I care about you! If anyone ever needs to talk, my messages are always open
Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255
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The reindeer is still out and everyone is waiting on the vet. They know time is running out.
"How much longer?" Bobby asks.
"He said he'd be here in 30 minutes, so he should almost be here."
"This animal isn't going to stay down much longer," Hen says, keeping an eye on Daphne.
"I know."
"How are you doing, Daphne?" Buck asks.
"I'm so going to be famous for this."
Eddie laughs. "The morphine's working."
Just then, a pickup truck comes to a screeching halt and the vet gets out and runs to the group.
"I thought you were joking about this."
"I wish I was."
The vet starts getting things out and prepped. He starts an IV to keep the reindeer asleep. Once the anesthesia starts working, the vet starts working to remove the antler. After a few minutes, the antler is free from the reindeer. Buck and Eddie move Daphne to the stretcher and she's taken to a waiting ambulance.
"We're going to need the antler back," the zookeeper says as the crew starts cleaning up.
Everyone looks at him, astonished.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Sarah is running around shoving clothes into a suitcase as her husband, Aaron, is following her around.
"You can't leave me. I'm sorry for whatever I did."
"Aaron, just let me go."
Aaron grabs her wrist. "Tell me what I did."
Sarah pulls her arm away from Aaron's grasp. "I can't be with you anymore."
"Why?"
"Because I don't love you anymore," Sarah blurts out.
Aaron stops in his tracks. Her words cut like a knife. "How long have you felt like this?"
"A while."
He's quiet for a minute.
"I'm taking the kids," Sarah adds.
"No. You can't do that. It's Christmas Eve."
"They need to be with me."
"They're my kids, too!" Aaron shouts.
"I'm sorry, Aaron."
Sarah leaves the room. Aaron stands there for a minute, expressionless.
Sarah's car is pulling out of the driveway when Aaron comes outside. He runs after her car into the street. He stops and watches it drive away. He's so broken that he can't cry.
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Hen and Bobby are standing in the bay when Chimney, Eddie and Buck come in. Chimney has a new watch on, Eddie has new shoes, and Buck has a new leather duffle bag.
"You boys are looking sharp," Hen says with a whistle.
Chimney shows off his watch. "We all exchanged presents with the ladies tonight, since we won't get to do it in the morning."
"What did Karen and the kids get you?" Eddie asks.
"A massage."
Bobby pulls a stack of envelopes out of his pocket and starts passing them out to everyone.
Buck hesitates to take the envelope. "I thought we agreed we weren't going to get each other anything."
"I'm the exception. You all work so hard, and you deserve a little something."
"Thanks, Bobby."
Everyone thanks him, then they all go into the locker rooms to get ready for their shift.
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Aaron is driving down the road quietly. He stops his car on a bridge and gets out. He calmly walks to the edge looking over into the water. There is no trying to decide what to do. He's already made his mind up. He climbs over and hangs onto the ledge. Another car drives over the bridge. She sees Aaron and slams on her brakes. She gets out of the car and walks toward him, but still keeping her distance so she doesn't scare him. She pulls out her phone.
"9-1-1, where is your emergency?"
"I'm on the bridge on north Spring Street. There's a man hanging off the ledge. I think he's going to jump."
"Stay calm, ma'am. We have police and fire on the way."
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Aaron is still hanging off the bridge when the 118 pulls up. They're met by Athena. The woman that was on scene first joins them.
"Are you the person who called?" Athena asks.
"Yea. He's just been hanging there, staring into the water. I didn't want to try to talk to him and scare him."
"We'll take it from here," Bobby says, turning to the crew. "See if we can get a rescue boat down there on stand-by."
"I'll try to talk to him," Athena says.
Athena slowly starts to approach Aaron. As soon as he sees her, he starts to get antsy.
"Don't come any closer. I'm going to jump."
"Why don't you come back over here so you can tell me what's got you so upset tonight?"
"I don't want to live anymore," Aaron replies, emptily.
"Why?"
"Because I don't have anything to live for. My wife left me and took the kids. Who does that on Christmas Eve?"
"I'm sorry. I'm sure in the morning, once you've both calmed down and had some time to think things over, that she'll realize the mistake she's made and she'll come back."
"She's not coming back. She said she didn't love me anymore, and she meant it."
"I know it hurts, but you have so much to live for. You have your kids, even if you and your wife aren't together anymore." Athena stops, thinking of what to say next. "I'm sure you don't want them to associate every Christmas from here on with your death." She takes another step closer. "Don't you want to see them grow up?"
"They're better off without me."
"That's not your decision to make. I know what it's like to have the person you thought you were going to spend the rest of your life with leave you. It happened to me. But I kept going because I knew my kids needed both myself and their dad. Your kids are no different."
"You can't change my mind."
Buck and Eddie come up behind Aaron, planning on grabbing him and pulling him back over to safety. Bobby, Chimney and Hen slowly join Athena.
"I told you to stay back. I mean it."
Eddie and Buck keep walking closer. Before they can grab him, Aaron sees them out of the corner of his eye.
"Get back!"
Aaron turns around and lets go with one hand.
"Easy."
"This isn't a joke."
Aaron looks at the faces of the people desperately trying to save him. "I'm sorry I have to do this to you. Especially tonight. Just know that this isn't any of your all's fault. But I'm going."
With that, he lets go with the other hand and falls over the side into the water before anyone can grab him. They all run to the edge and look over. Aaron isn't moving. They shake their heads, silently cursing. Bobby picks up his radio.
"Dispatch, this is Captain Nash. The patient is 10-45D. 10-55."
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The crew is riding back to the station. The entire truck is quiet. The clock changes to 12:00 A.M. Christmas. The radio breaks the silence.
"And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Merry Christmas, everybody."
Bobby keys up. "Amen."
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