Chapter 3 Back to Life
"Ryan I'm fine." Dana grumbled as she pulled on her jacket.
"Dana, you've been through allot, you shouldn't do too much." He said but she just rolled her eyes. She'd been stuck in the stupid hospital for only one night and by now was very ready to go home. She wanted to be a doctor but still didn't like being in hospitals. She hadn't since Ryan had spent over a year in one. She'd been little but she still remembered every minute. That's why she'd fought them every minute since she'd come around.
"I'm not a little girl Ryan I'm fine a little water in my lungs I'm not dead." She said and turned to see the pain on his face. She'd been so busy thinking of herself lately that she'd not even thought about what he must have gone through. She'd heard how he'd made one of the other people on the scene carry him to the bank. Dana could only imagine what he must have been thinking when she didn't surface. Moving to him she put her arms around him and gave him a big hug.
"I'm sorry Ryan; I know this has been rough for you. I'm just not a very good patient." She said and he let out a little laugh as he hugged her back.
"You're telling me." His laugh was a little raspy but it was real and she was glad, she loved her big brother sooo much…
"Hey you weren't much better." She chided him laughing.
"Are we ready to go?" A voice asked and Dana pulled back at the sound of the nurse's voice.
"We are now." She replied and knowing procedure got into the wheelchair.
"Hey we can race now." Ryan joked and Dana stuck out her tongue and began wheeling herself out into the hall. ---
***
Carter turned away from the nurses not just as the 2 wheelchairs came racing down the hall. He had to do a double take. The blonde girl was not only fine but beating the pants off her brother as they barreled along. A huge weight lifted from his shoulders and he wondered if her brother would catch up. Carter was glad they were so close when families drifted it was hard. His had drifted as they'd all left home.
"I win!" She laughed as she reached the desk first.
"I let you!" Ryan shot back and she made a face.
"Sure you did." She turned to address the nurse behind the desk and froze. "Oh…" She blushed and Carter had to fight back a smile. She was so cute when her face matched the color of her blouse. It was a definite improvement over
The bloodless paler she'd been the previous night.
"Good to see your feeling better." He said casually.
"Yes thanks again."
"I heard the kids were released." Carter said and Dana nodded and began to remove the foot rests. She'd not be stuck in that stupid chair, not now. For some reason she didn't want this guy to think her helpless. There was something so strong, not just masculine, and he was that, but there was something…
"Yes their parents are taking them home." She nodded as she got to her feet.
"I'm glad, I was afraid that woman was their mother, I can just imagine what that would do to a child, to see a person die."
"I know, It can be hard just being in an accident." Carter didn't miss how her voice went distant on those last words. He wondered if that's what had happened to her brother. The feeling that had brought him there to the hospital washed over him again, the one that said he had to know more, to know them.
***
Dana felt the world falling away and forced herself back to the present. There was an incredibly hot guy standing in front of her and she was going al wishy-washy.
"You came to look in on the kids. I think that's really sweet." She said and it was, it really told a lot about the kind of guy he was.
"Yeah, I'm not family so they wouldn't tell me over the phone." And I wanted to know how you were doing, but he didn't add that last bit aloud. She'd think he was a total nut.
"Yeah they can be pretty strict about that." She nodded. They lapsed into silence and Dana glanced at her hands, what to say…
***
Ryan was quiet taking in the way his sister was fumbling for something to say. He had the feeling that Carter had actually come to see her but didn't want to embarrass him. Instead he took another tact.
"We were just on our way to grab some lunch."
"You can come with us if you want." Dana snatched on that and Carter had a feeling that he'd been very right about just how close they were. He realized then what they'd asked and he was glad he had no classes and that it was his day off from the fire house.
"I'd like that."
"Ok then lets blow this Popsicle stand." Dana said rubbing her hands together as she moved to sign one last release.
*****
Twenty minutes later they were seated in a booth at the local coffee shop.
"Bet your glad for real food." Ryan teased his little sister.
"No, I like eating mud." She muttered and Carter did smile then, Dana had the cutest way of scrunching up her nose.
"Speaking of mud, I called the barn and you're off for the next two days."
"Oh brother, Noah will kill me."
"Noah?"
"My boss." She said and he waited as they ordered before asking.
"You're a medic?"
"How'd you know?"
"I'm a fire fighter." He said simply.
"Cobalt." She breathed and the memory that had come in and out of her mind every time she went to the scene of a fire hit her once more.
Dana saw the firefighter, he looked kind of sick; his face soot covered his eyes slightly glazed.
"Are you ok?" She asked and for the first time the guy noticed her. With a shock she realized he couldn't be more than a year older than her. He looked at her a minute as if confused. So she reached out and touched his shoulder. "What happened?"
"So do you have a name?" She asked realizing she'd not heard him tell her partner. Looking into his eyes she wondered if he'd not reply but then he spoke.
"Carter, My names. Carter." She nodded.
"How old are you?" He asked and she blushed.
"I'm um," Just then they rounded a sharp corner and she felt herself falling.
"Dana are you alright?" Carter asked.
"Excuse me?" Carter was asking frowning at her and Dana came back to the present with a rush.
"It's nothing," she smiled and it was a secretive one that neither man understood. 'Do you like being a fire fighter?" She asked and once more they were talking about this and that, there common acquaintances and just life in general.
Through out the meal Ryan was aware of a current flowing between the other two at the table. He didn't know if either of them really knew what was going to happen but he did and for the first time the elder Mitchell didn't worry that the guy would be a creep something just told him it was right.
All of a sudden a beeping began and Carter muttered something and pulling out his pager sighed.
"I've got to run." He said and neither required an explanation, Dana knowing the call to duty all too well.
"Ok, thanks for coming." Dana said as if he'd come just to see her and he smiled.
"We'll have to do this again." Ryan said surprising his sister and Carter wondered why. Didn't they have lunch with people? He didn't have more time to ponder that though when he was beeped again.
"Catch you later." He said and was off.
"What?" Dana asked when she caught him studying her.
"You like him." He said after another minute of thought.
"What? Ryan I just met him." She sputtered and he nodded as if in confirmation of his suspicions. Dana felt her face heat. Why was it he always had to play the big brother? He could be sooo annoying.
"So what if I do? It's my life." She asked defensively.
"Nothing." He extended his hands in a placating gesture. "I think he's ok."
"You? Mr. I don't like anyone?" She asked a golden brow raised in disbelief.
"Look, face it sis you don't have the best taste." Ryan said choosing his words very carefully. He wasn't about to fight with her, not after nearly loosing her last night.
"Well, I do now." She grinned and he nodded. She smiled recognizing the fact that fighting would just give both of them headaches.
"Good thing you're essentially in the same field." He said then after a few more minutes.
"I guess." She smiled again that secretive smile; she'd met him once at a fire maybe…
TBC
***
Ok, I know I had Dana realize who Carter was pretty fast but he doesn't remember her so that's going to be a plus. I also know the memories might be a little confusing but I want' sure how to put them together. Also I know that the story seemes sto focus on Dana and Carter but soon, the others will make their debuts.
Anyway what do you think? PLZ R&R.