June 15th
Walsh and Taylor's alarm clock was beeping. Billy rolled over and looked at it.
"It's 8 o'clock!" He panicked as he jumped out of bed
"We're supposed to be in court at 9!" Taylor exclaimed as she quickly rushed into the bathroom
Walsh grabbed their dress uniforms and began to get dressed.
"Alex, your uniform is on the bed." He said as he buttoned his shirt
"I am a balloon!" Taylor complained as she looked at herself in the mirror
"I think you look cute." Walsh smiled
Taylor glared at him.
"Get Carly ready." Taylor said
"On it!" Walsh said
Carly was already awake and sitting on the bed. She was brushing out her hair.
"Well at least one of us got up on time this morning." Walsh cracked
He quickly picked out a dress for Carly to wear and helped her finish brushing out her hair. They went downstairs where he poured her a bowl of Fruity Pebbles and made coffee waiting for Taylor to get downstairs. Soon enough she was down, grabbed a donut and they were out the door.
They walked down the hallway of the courthouse. Mrs. Thomas was waiting impatiently for them.
"I was worried you weren't going to get here on time." She said
"So were we." Taylor quipped
"The judge is Judge Swope, she is very fair." Mrs. Thomas said
"We don't need fair, we just need someone to sign the paperwork so that we can complete this adoption." Walsh said
"I understand that Mr. Walsh. You have done a wonderful job with her and the State has no concerns with the arrangement." Mrs. Thomas said
The door to the courtroom opened.
"Will the parties in the Carly Anderson adoption case please enter the courtroom; Judge Swope is ready for you." The Court Officer said
Walsh and Taylor each adjusted their dress uniforms and then they walked in with Carly and Mrs. Thomas. Their lawyer Mr. Mitchell joined them.
"We're here for the adoption of Carly Anderson by Mr. and Mrs. Walsh. Introductions?" Judge Swope asked
"Anthony Mitchell for the Walsh's." Their lawyer said
"Mrs. Thomas for the State." She introduced herself
"Does the State have any objections to this arrangement?" Judge Swope asked
"No Your Honor, the State is very much in favor of the arrangement. We just wish we could find more foster parents like Mr. and Mrs. Walsh." Mrs. Thomas said
"Mr. Mitchell?" Judge Swope asked
"The Walsh's are extremely encouraged to have the opportunity to give this bright young girl a happy and loving home." Mr. Mitchell
"Mr. and Mrs. Walsh." Judge Swope began, "I see that you both work for the FDNY."
"Yes Your Honor." They said
"You work in the same firehouse?" She asked
"Yes Your Honor." They again replied a little disheartened
"On the same shift?" She asked
Again they replied "Yes Your Honor."
"While you work, who watches Carly?" She asked
"My mother, Your Honor." Taylor said
"And she is okay with the arrangement?" She asked
"Yes Your Honor, she enjoys having another child to watch over for a few hours." Taylor replied
"And I also see that you are expecting." Judge Swope noticed
"Yes Your Honor. We are expecting in August." Taylor replied
"And you are sure that you can handle raising a newborn and caring for a 6 year old?" Judge Swope asked
"Yes Your Honor." Walsh and Taylor replied in unison
"Mrs. Thomas has given me the documents to show that you two are exemplarily parents to a foster child. I only wonder how much better you can be to your adopted child." The Judge smiles. "I see no reason why you two should not be granted permanent custody of Carly. Reading the documents of your Christmas surprise for her, I think you will be a good, caring, and loving home for her. So I am granting you permanent custody of Carly Anderson. I'm sure you will take good care of her."
Taylor and Walsh each hugged Carly and then each other.
"We're a family now." Walsh smiled
The Judge looked over and smiled.
"Thank you." Carly said
"You're very welcome." Judge Swope replied
They walked out of the courtroom together as a family. They paused in the hallway.
"Well, I think that this calls for a special lunch." Walsh smiled
Carly was excited. "Can we have pizza?" She asked
Taylor laughed, "Can we Daddy?" She mocked
Walsh gave Taylor a look and replied, "Of course we can."
That night as Carly was getting ready for bed she knelt down on the floor to say her prayers.
"Thank you God for my new Mommy and Daddy, Amen." She said then she crawled into bed and Walsh tucked her in.
"Night kiddo." He kissed her forehead and then turned out the light
June 16th
Taylor walked out of the bathroom. Walsh rolled over and looked at the alarm clock.
"You feeling okay honey?" He asked
"I have a baby pushing down on my bladder, but yes I'm okay." She replied
"Are you sure you want to go to work?" He asked
"Kim needs me to be there today." She said
"She can call downtown and get a replacement." He responded
"I'll be fine." She insisted, "Holly is off today, so I think I can manage to waddle my way through one medic shift. It will get me out of the house."
"Okay, but you be careful okay?" He asked
"I will be honey." She replied
Walsh was worried that Taylor wouldn't be okay. But she had agreed to work today, even though she should have been on maternity leave. He got dressed and then got Carly ready to go to Taylor's mom's.
After they dropped Carly off they headed into work. Taylor sat down at the kitchen table while she waited for Carlos to change. Jimmy walked over to her.
"You sure that you're okay to work today?" He asked as he got a cup of coffee
"I'm fine, I swear." She replied, "Billy's just worried."
"Taylor, to be honest with you. I don't think you should be out on the street." Jimmy said
"Thanks for your concern, Lieu, but I'm going to go nuts if I go on maternity." Taylor said
"Transfer temporarily to the academy as an instructor. It's a lot safer." He pointed out, "I just don't want to see anything happen to you Taylor, you're one of my best friends- you know that."
"I know Jimmy." Taylor replied
"At least think about it, please?" He asked
"Okay." Taylor replied as the alarm went off.
"Squad 55 respond for an alarm box pull at 1822 Riverside." It called
Taylor was glad that she wasn't on the Squad for that one.
"Probably another false alarm." She thought to herself since that box was known for its share of false calls.
The guys all headed out and the kitchen was peacefully quiet. Taylor decided to head down to the unit and begin the check off while Carlos was still upstairs changing. She made her way down the stairs and suddenly she didn't feel so good. She stopped because she got a sudden, sharp, abdominal pain. She felt sick and weak. She felt a warm sensation on her leg; she looked down and saw blood. Now she felt nauseous. There were only a couple more stairs before she was down in the engine bay, then she could sit down and wait for Carlos, or Kim, or Grace to come out. She started down the last few stairs when she got lightheaded.
Kim and Grace heard a noise in the bay while they were checking their unit.
"Did you hear that?" Grace asked
"Yeah." Kim said
"What was it?" Grace asked
"Well since I don't hear Carlos screaming, he obviously didn't fall off the pole again." Kim cracked as they walked into the bay to see what the sound was
"Oh my God!" Grace exclaimed
"Alex?" Kim said worried
Taylor was lying on her side; her feet were on the second stair, her head on the floor of the bay.
"Alex, talk to me. Alex!" Kim said
"I'll get the bag." Grace rushed back to the bus to grab a medic bag.
Kim looked up the stairs. "Carlos get down here!" She yelled
Kim looked around and saw the blood. She took a pulse and then got worried. Carlos was halfway down the stairs when he stopped.
"Oh God!" He said as he rushed the rest of the way down
Grace returned with the medic bags.
"What happened?" Carlos asked
"I don't know, but I don't like it either." Kim said as she attempted to get a blood pressure. "We gotta get moving."
Carlos grabbed the backboard as Grace finished establishing the IV. They quickly put an oxygen mask on her and then got her back boarded. They loaded Taylor into the ambulance. Grace and Kim hopped in the back.
"Carlos, you drive." Kim said as she shut the door
Carlos ran to the driver's seat and jumped in. He quickly turned the bus around. An RMP was slowly making its way out into the street.
"Move!" Carlos yelled as he hit the sirens
Davis and Sully looked on.
"Wonder what's going on there." Sully said
"Knowing Carlos, it could be anything." Davis quipped
Carlos leaned out the window and yelled again.
"Get out of the way!" He yelled
The RMP finally pulled out of the way and Carlos moved passed
"He's in a hurry." Sully noted
"Yeah." Davis replied
Carlos weaved his way through the streets, checking the rearview mirror every once and a while to see how Kim and Grace were doing.
"She's bradying down." Grace noted
"How far out are we?" Kim asked
"8 minutes." Carlos replied
"Make it 2!" Kim said as she continued her assessment
"Respirations are down to 8." Grace noted
"I'll tube her." Kim said
As Kim was getting the intubation kit out the alarms on the monitor starting going off.
"She's crashing!" Grace yelled
Kim looked at the monitor.
"Carlos step on it!" Kim yelled
"Vfib!" Grace announced as the monitor gave a steady alarm
"Tube's in!" Kim announced as she started bagging
"Charging to 200." Grace said as she grabbed the paddles. "Clear!"
Kim released the bag and Grace delivered a shock.
"Still Vfib." Kim said as she resumed bagging
"Charging to 300. Clear." Grace said
Kim again stopped bagging as Grace delivered the shock. The monitor began to give a steady beep. Kim and Grace were both somewhat relieved and Kim resumed bagging as Grace put the paddles away. Grace looked out the back windows and saw the Ambulance entrance of Mercy getting closer.
The ambulance stopped and Carlos quickly opened the back doors. The back of the unit was a mess. Carlos quickly pulled the stretcher out of the back and into the hospital they went. Kim continued bagging as Grace gave the rundown.
"29 year old female, 6 months pregnant. Found at the base of the stairs, BP was 80 by palp. Arrested in the bus but came back to us." Grace rattled off
Mary Proctor, Dana, and Dr. Fields quickly got ready in the trauma room.
"On my count, 1…2…3…" Doctor fields said
The medics backed out of the room and watched as the doctors and nurses took over. Carlos looked at the worried look on Kim's face.
"She'll be okay." He said
Kim turned to him with tears in her eyes, "I need to get a hold of Billy." She said as she walked away.
Grace looked at Carlos who had a puzzled look on his face.
"Let's go to the lounge." Grace said not wanting Kim to be alone