John
"Hey, Dix." I call out as I approach the base station desk with my empty box.
Dixie lifts her head. "Morning, Johnny. Something you need?"
"Just need to top off some stuff." I answer casually.
Dixie points down the hallway. "Did you forget already? You guys need to go to the supply nurse."
I had forgotten, sort of. It's easy to forget another pointless procedure. "Aw, come on, Dix. I don't have time for that."
Dixie merely shrugs. "I don't make the rules. I just enforce them."
I know there's no point in trying to argue with Dixie. Even if she had any pull, she wouldn't use it. I continue down the hallway until I find the supply room, nodding to one of the other paramedics as I wait my turn. If I play my cards right, maybe the supply nurse will let me off the hook just this one time.
The supply nurse hands off a box of supplies to the other paramedic before turning to me. "Can I help you?"
Stupid me, assuming the nurse would be a girl. I'm going to have to change my tack a little. "Hope so." I reply, setting my box on the half-door. "Need some, uh, supplies."
He glances at the box before glancing back at me. "Yes, I see that. You'll need to fill out a form."
He's proving to be as tough to deal with as Dixie. "I just need a couple bags of saline. Surely we don't need a form for that?"
He smiles tightly before handing me a clipboard and a pen. "Yes, you'll still need a form."
This isn't going the way I hoped it would. I take the outstretched clipboard and take my pen out of my shirt pocket to start filling it out. "Just so you know, you're wasting time here. I could be out saving lives instead of being stuck filling out paperwork."
"I'm sure you're right." He answers patiently. "Still need the form."
I finish filling it out and hand it back, watching as he moves around the supply room pulling what I've requested. "Whose idea was this, anyway?" I ask in an attempt to strike up conversation.
"The board's." He replies. "It's being implemented in a lot of places now to keep track of inventory."
"Is that right?" I'm not all that interested, but what the hell? He's an attractive guy and I kind of want to keep the conversation going.
"Mm-hmm." He brings back my box, tearing off a copy of the form, folding it and tucking it into the box. "Inventory costs money, and everyone wants to know where the money's going. It helps keep track of drugs, too. You wouldn't believe how many drugs go missing every year."
"Yeah, but it's a pain for us." I tell him. "Means more paperwork. We don't have time for that."
He looks amused. "Well, I suggest you guys start making time for it."
I feel a smack on my shoulder. "Come on, Johnny. Got another run." Roy tells me.
I pick up the box and nod to the supply nurse. "Guess I'll see you next time around, uh…"
"Neil." He quickly replies.
"Right. Neil." I nod in response. "I'll be back later."
"I'm sure you will." He replies mildly. "Don't forget to fill out a form before you come see me."
"Johnny." Roy calls out, his tone a little more impatient now. "Let's go."
I nod at Neil before trotting to catch up with Roy. Form or no form, I'll definitely be sure to come see Neil again.
"What took you so long?" Roy demands as we climb into the squad for our next call.
"You know we have to fill out those stupid supply forms now." I tell him.
"Right." Roy nods. "And you couldn't sweet talk the supply nurse into making an exception."
"Wasn't for lack of trying." I answer.
Roy chuckles as we head out on our next run, and we spend most of the day going from call to call, finally landing on one that requires transport to Rampart. It gives me a reason to restock and see Neil again.
Roy rides in with the patient while I take the squad in, backing it into a space next to the ambulance. I give Dixie a quick wave as I pass through on my way to the supply room, reaching over the half-door to grab a clipboard and form before getting Neil's attention. Anything to save a couple minutes of time.
He turns around almost as soon as I reach for the clipboard, fixing me with a glare. "Excuse me, what do you think you're doing?"
Whoops. I try to act casually, pulling back. "Just doing what I'm supposed to do. You know, filling out the form."
Neil huffs in irritation and hands me the clipboard. "Next time, just ask."
"Right." I start filling out the form. "What if you just hung a bunch of these things outside the door? That way we could just start filling them out instead of bothering you for them."
"I'll take your suggestion under advisement." Neil replies.
"It's a good idea though, right?" I press. "Would make things more efficient."
"Possibly." Neil nods. "It's a new program and new ideas are always welcome. Nice to see you've quit fighting it."
"I didn't say that." I hand back the clipboard and wait while Neil fills a box. "Just trying to make things easier, you know?"
"For yourself?"
I have to admit he's caught me off guard. "Well…I mean, yeah, I guess. But not just for myself. For everyone else, too. Who wants to wait around to fill out a form, then wait some more while you stock us up…you know."
Neil seems to consider this before nodding. "There are some inefficiencies in the system. I'll pass it along."
"Great." I answer. The ice seems to be thawing a little. Maybe now's a good time to gauge his interest in me. "So…what do you do when you're not working?"
He laughs a little at that as he returns with a full box, setting it on the half-door. "Why do you ask?"
"Just curious." Maybe I've misread things.
Neil seems to again consider my question before answering. "I just bought a house that I'm busy renovating, so that's taking up a lot of my free time. Other than that…movies, concerts, the occasional museum."
I spot Roy coming out of one of the treatment rooms, so I know my time is limited. I pull my memo pad and my pen out of my pocket and write down my number before setting it on the half-door and picking up the box. "I'm off the next couple of days. Call me if you want."
Just then, Roy walks by, looking a little confused by what he sees. "Ready?"
"Yep." I answer quickly, glancing over my shoulder at Neil. He hasn't picked up the piece of paper yet. "Just, you know, restocking."
"Right." Roy regards me skeptically. "Guess it didn't occur to me that the supply nurse might be a guy."
"Didn't occur to me, either." I answer. "He seems all right though, you know? Just a stickler for rules. It's a pain."
"We'll get used to it." Roy replies mildly. "Probably be a good thing in the end."
I glance over my shoulder one more time. Neil's gone, and so is the piece of paper. Guess we'll see if he calls.
Neil
I wait until the two paramedics are far down the hallway, almost to the base station, before I pick up the piece of paper and open it. Sure enough, John's left me his phone number.
After some internal debate, I slip the piece of paper into my pocket. I haven't been around the emergency room all that long, just long enough to listen to the other nurses talk about the paramedics. Somehow John's name always comes up. The consensus seems to be that he's a nice enough guy, but not terribly serious, more interested in flirting with anyone who crosses his path than settling down with anyone.
That certainly seems to fit with the interactions I've had with him today. I must admit I was surprised that he moved on me so quickly, but sometimes you have to grab those opportunities when you can.
I shouldn't even bother with this. The new house is keeping me plenty busy, and adjusting to my new job is going to take what little energy I have left. Sure, I could have a good time with John, but it seems like a lot of effort for not a lot of reward.
And yet, I can't bring myself to throw his phone number away. He is cute, I'll give him that. It almost makes up for him being such a pain in the neck about our new supply procedures.
Almost.
I leave the supply room, locking it up and placing a sign on the door before making my way toward the break room for a well-deserved cup of coffee. None of the paramedics are happy about the changes in procedures, used to taking whatever they needed, whenever they needed it. All of them felt the need to let me know what they thought of the change, all except for one, what was his name?
Right. Craig Brice. He was the only one who seemed to approve of the whole idea, and the only one who seemed genuinely interested. John seemed curious as well, but only as a means of keeping the conversation going between us.
Although John's idea for the clipboards isn't a bad one and would probably do something to improve efficiency. Especially if it keeps him from grabbing one whenever he feels like it.
I get a cup of coffee and sit down at an outside table. The fresh air is a relief after being stuck in that supply room most of the day. It isn't long before I spot Ms. McCall coming out in search of a table.
She spots me and heads my way. "Do you mind if I join you?"
"Not at all." I gesture to a chair. "Please, sit."
She sits down with a sigh and pulls out a cigarette case, tapping one out before lighting it and taking a deep drag, blowing it out. "Those paramedics aren't giving you too much trouble, are they?"
"No more than I expected." I tell her. "None of them are happy about the change."
"No, they aren't." She laughs. "And they make no bones about letting me know about it. They don't have much love for bureaucracy, that's for sure."
"I don't blame them." I reply after taking a drink of my coffee. "But it's necessary. You know how much inventory we lose, especially with the drugs."
Ms. McCall nods in agreement. "I understand. In the long run, it'll be good. In the short run, well, it's going to cause some friction with the paramedics."
"Well, if they're unhappy now, they're going to be really unhappy once we analyze the data and start examining areas of waste. We might have to start limiting how much we can distribute at any given time."
"Oh, they'll want your head on a pike." Ms. McCall tells me. "And I can tell you right now who will be leading the charge."
"Who?"
Ms. McCall taps ash off the end of her cigarette. "That damn Johnny Gage. He's one of the best paramedics we've got, but he can be a real troublemaker when he sets his mind to it."
I think of that piece of paper with his phone number on it burning a hole in my pocket. "I appreciate the warning. Maybe I can head him off at the pass."
Ms. McCall looks amused as she finishes her cigarette and puts it out. "Good luck. You're going to need it."
I finish my own coffee and walk with Ms. McCall, separating at the base station as I continue back down to the supply room. There are two paramedics waiting, talking to each other as I approach.
"Sorry, guys." I tell them as I unlock the door and go in. "Hope I didn't leave you waiting too long."
"Nah." One of the paramedics who seems to take up the entire space, folds his arms and leans against the wall. "Me and Gary were just shooting the breeze while I'm waiting for Craig."
It clicks. "Bob, right?"
Bob smiles broadly. "That's right."
I hand both men clipboards and listen as they talk among themselves as they fill out the forms. Bob finishes his first and hands it off to me. "Hear some of the guys have been giving you a hard time. You need me to crack some heads?"
I can't help laughing at that. "I assure you that's not necessary. Everyone will get used to the procedures in time."
"Sure, just in time to change them again." Gary chimes in.
"I don't have control over that." I tell them. "No more than you do."
I hand Bob his box and take Gary's form, filling it before returning it to him. No sooner have I done so than John appears again.
"You're having quite a day." I comment casually as I hand him a clipboard.
He shakes his head. "Multi-vehicle collision. Used up damn near everything we had."
His tone is different now, more serious, but he manages a quick smile before handing over the clipboard.
There's a long silence as I start pulling supplies until John suddenly speaks again. "I was serious, you know."
I turn to see John leaning on the half-door. "Serious about what?"
"You calling me." He answers. "I mean, if you have time. Sounds like you're pretty busy."
I finish filling the box and set it on the half-door. "I work tomorrow, but I've got the following day off. I could probably make some time."
John smiles a little then, his hands on either end of the box. "There's this photography exhibit I've been meaning to check out. Wouldn't mind company. You know, if that's your thing."
"I'll call you." I find myself saying.
John practically lights up before picking up the box. "Cool. I'll look forward to it."
I watch him as he catches up with his partner. I know I should forget the whole thing, but something about John intrigues me. We'll see what happens. No harm in that, right?
