Chapter 3
"OK, everyone gather round please," Charlie Fairhead requested in the E.D. "I'm sure you know we've got a major incident on our hands but there's too many people in here and not enough out there, so we need some of you lot to go with Jeff and Dixie."
"I'll go Charlie" said Toby trying to be helpful.
"Actually, I think you should go Ruth, you could do with some more hands on experience," said Charlie smiling at a blank Ruth.
Ruth nodded and went to get a yellow jacket. She wished they'd just let Toby go, she really couldn't care less about "hands on experience". She didn't want to be here and she definitely didn't want to be at some block of flats telling people who had no chance that they were going to make it. Convincing people that everything would be fine wasn't one of Ruth's specialities. The one time she did, the patient died and she was left with nothing but guilt.
"Come on treacle, give us a smile!" joked Jeff as he patted Ruth on the back gesturing her to follow him and Dixie.
Ruth scowled but quickly picked up her pace to keep up with the light hearted paramedics. She sat awkwardly in the back in the back of the ambulance listening to Jeff and Dixie's debate on who was the most drunk a few nights ago. This was why she didn't socialise, why on earth would she want to get off her face and then discuss it the next day, how unprofessional, she thought.
As the journey continued, Ruth hoped the ambulance might break down or it would be revealed that the major incident was a hoax or even a drill, anything just to get out of it. But before she knew it they had arrived.
As she stepped out of the back of the ambulance she looked over to see two doctors with Curtis and Snezana who she didn't recognise.
These two doctors were Jac and Joseph. Jac looked around the scene, taking in the atmosphere. It was complete chaos but here she was ready to save the day.
"I hope you're not going to try any extreme heroics," whispered Joseph to Jac so the paramedics couldn't hear him. "Just remember these are people's lives you're toying with."
Jac frowned at Joseph, "I'm just here to do my job."
"Yes, you always are, aren't you? 'Just doing your job'," Joseph smirked as he spoke before walking off to join Ruth and the other paramedics.
Jac sighed and followed him. She had so many regrets now. Even if she did do something heroic today, it would only be overshadowed by her past. Why couldn't the past be left in the past? It had to be dragged up with her everywhere.
"I'm Dixie, this is Jeff and this our F2, Ruth Winters. I understand you and your friend are going to be helping us today?" Dixie began discussing the situation with Joseph.
Joseph raised an eyebrow and said slightly sarcastically, "I'm Joseph Byrne and this is my 'friend' Jac Naylor."
Ruth tilted her head slightly and looked at Jac. "You're Jac Naylor?" Everyone turned at looked at her as this was the first thing she'd said for about twenty minutes.
"Oh, we've heard all about you..." said Dixie looking at Jeff and smirking.
Jac frowned and looked at Joseph who was grinning contently to himself.
