Background Music: Drowning In The Darkness by David Paul Zimmer
The call was a house fire. Several Engines and Ladders were there, including Fifty-Five.
Hose lines were running throughout the place, the sky was darkened with it becoming nighttime. Michelle was on incident command.
Back at the station, Donovan was still unconscious near the treadmill.
Michelle motioned over several firefighters as they strapped on their airpacks.
Gibson stayed behind at the station. He picked up Donovan's coat thinking he was off-duty since he hadn't seen him yet.
Back at the fire, three members were holding up a ladder to the roof for ventilation.
A basketball hoop was set up in the engine room for Gibson and Gerald to mainly distract themselves. They practiced their jumpshots and layups.
Arnold and several others were going up for ventilation, carrying tools to the roof.
Scott soon entered the kitchen since he was feeling hungry. Gerald would follow behind. Donovan was seen still laying on the ground.
Luiz and Travis ran a hose behind the house. Theo had to shake it loose to keep it moving. Everyone's chest and helmet flashlights were on.
Scott was making a simple sandwich with lettuce. He pulled out a knife and it soon transitioned back to ventilation on the house roof.
Arnold was cutting through the roof, making a vertical rectangle.
Smoke poured from the house. Warren had the pike pole ready.
Gibson and Gerald were in a room with the tv on and eating chips and sandwiches.
The incision was made, and Warren started hitting the spot. The vertical piece soon fell through, where fire attack units awaited inside.
Spinelli switched on the hose where it transitioned back to the station.
Scott was rinsing off the plate he ate with.
Firefighter Larson soon came back to Michelle telling her the fire was contained. She nodded as they fist-bumped.
Gerald and Scott were walking along, and soon passed by the gym. Gerald looked over as they kept walking. After a couple of seconds, he immediately looked back. Scott also looked.
Gerald opened the door to the gym to find Donovan unconscious and sweaty, and also pale.
Gibson turned Donovan onto his back, he still had a pulse. Threading, but a pulse nonetheless.
Later
The team was back at the station. Dean and Travis were cleaning out the Aid Car.
"Michelle mentioned spaghetti once and now that's all I'm thinking about." Dean said as he grabbed a jump bag. "And all I'm thinking about is bed." Travis replied as he grabbed the bag.
"Any sign of Don?" Pep asked as she carried an extinguisher. "He must've left recently. The treadmill is still on." Michelle replied while texting.
The station alarm went off again. "Aid Car requested to 2492 South West Maple." The dispatcher said.
"Long ass shift, sheesh." Michelle groaned.
Sirens were heard blaring along with the red lights flashing. Bright headlights illuminated the road. It was a red Battalion Ford arriving at the emergency room at MedStar.
Scott hopped out of the driver's seat and immediately opened the rear door.
Doctors and nurses came out with a gurney.
"What the hell happened?" Phoebe came out. Donovan was pulled out of the truck and onto the stretcher.
"Found him unconscious near a treadmill. No idea what happened though!" Gerald replied as Donovan was laid on the stretcher.
"Pulse is slow but breathing, we couldn't wait on an Aid Car so we got him here."
"Get an ultrasound for a fast exam!" Phoebe started. "His pulse is threading, start two more large IVs!" She placed an oxygen mask on his face.
"Starting fluids!" One doctor said as his shirt was cut open. "Run trauma labs, push calcium and bicarb insulin!" Phoebe told them and grabbed a glucometer.
"This is one of our firefighters, Donovan Alexander. Former partner of Dr. Shepherd." One doctor said, "I think he has arrhythmia!"
"Blood sugar 102, push 150!"
"Take this to the lab, now!" Phoebe told one of her interns.
Later…
"I need to find Shepherd." Scott said. "Page Dr. Shepherd down to the E.R." Phoebe replied while listening through a stethoscope.
"How's he doin'?" Gerald asked. "Well… His QRS is narrowing, vitals are getting better, head and neck CT are negative, but his urinal function is abnormal." Phoebe held up a bag with red-orangish fluids. "And his CK is elevated…" Phoebe finished.
"Has Alexander had any crush injuries or trauma?" Teddy asked as she grabbed a clipboard.
"I- I haven't been at the station much so I don't really know." Gerald replied. "As far as I can remember, I don't think so." Scott replied as Teddy hung the IV bag and inserted a nasal cannula into Donovan's nose.
"Ok…" She replied. "Excessive alcohol use?"
"No."
An intern came in. "Dr. Shepherd is still in emergency C-section." He walked out.
Donovan soon woke up, dazed.
"Hey, hey, hey. You're alright." Scott reassured. "Welcome back, Donnie…" Phoebe gave a comforting smile. "Gibson and Johannsen found you collapsed near the treadmill and brought you here. How are you feeling?" Phoebe asked. "Why the hell did you bring me here?…"
"I'm sorry?" Teddy raised an eyebrow.
"I don't want Catherine to see me like this, and I don't even want to see her!…" Donovan replied, rather agitated.
Meanwhile
A giggle was heard, "Arnold, stop! Come on, stop it!" Spinelli was the one giggling. She was on Arnold's lap, who was slowly kissing her neck.
"Feeling better now?" He asked. Spinelli could only nod with a smile. She was about to get up, but Arnold held her back from her waist. "Come on, Arnold! Let me go before anyone sees us!" She blushed.
Arnold smiled, "Nah. I think I need a little company." He hugged her. Spinelli hit his face with a folder. "Duty calls, Captain." She smirked as Arnold was forced to let go since he remembered about the paperwork.
He only shook his head. Spinelli held his hand. "Hey, if you want, I can stay." She shrugged. Arnold smiled. "Thanks, sweetheart." Spinelli leaned over for a quick kiss.
Catherine Shepherd was Donovan's former girlfriend, they were about to be engaged but they suddenly broke up. She was a beautiful Italian, black-haired young woman with a promising future.
She soon approached her two friends.
"You paged? They said to come to the E.R. but-" She started, but Gerald interrupted. "Look, we're fine but-"
"But what?" She gave a confused look. "Promise you won't get mad…"
Catherine gulped. "What?" Her voice was shakey.
"We had to bring in Donovan-"
"Oh my God…" She walked away from them and found Donovan's room.
"Donnie! Oh my God! Are you alright?" She held his hand. "I- I'm fine… It's just dehydration!" He gave a nervous smile.
She looked at Phoebe. "Actually, it's more than dehydration. Donovan has rhabdomyolysis, when he came in, his CK was severely elevated."
"CK?" Donovan looked at Dr. Shepherd. "Marker for muscle inflammation." She started to stroke his hair. Teddy took over. "It's caused by crush injuries or medications, and overexertion."
"So you ruled out any trauma?" She asked. "Yeah. He's not having a heart attack so that's ruled out as well. So we're trying to figure out what he did to himself to cause this." Phoebe looked at the computer.
Catherine sighed, "He's been working out a lot. I mean, like a LOT." She said. "Excessive exercise could've done this." Teddy nodded.
"I'm a former football player, I'm used to it, ok? Cathy, I'm fine. I just overdid it, ok?" Donovan looked at Catherine.
"Alright, so, we'll put you on continuous fluids and keep an eye on your CK markers. And please, get some rest." Phoebe told him as Teddy walked out. She followed behind.
"Thank you." Catherine nodded. Donovan sighed. "This is stupid, I'm wasting a patient's bed, could you just get me discharged? The least you can do for me since you decided to abandon me." He rolled his eyes. "Look, I'm just dehydrated, ok?" Donovan said. "No, you've been doing too much-"
"Too much with you suddenly dumping me." He said. "Donnie, I'm sorry but-"
"Instead of helping my team, I'm sitting here cooped up in this bed with all these wires! And they're a man down! Plus, not the first time you left me cooped up with so much stress! Now please get me out!" Donovan pleaded. "Sweetie, please-"
"DON'T CALL ME THAT!" He shouted. Shepherd flinched. "YOU ALREADY ABANDONED ME ONCE WITH PROBLEMS, you can do it again! I did everything for you, yet you still broke up with me! Now let me go, or I'm taking off all these damn wires MYSELF!"
"Don, it's best for you to stay admitted here for a few days until your numbers are under control." Shepherd said as Phoebe walked in.
"Welp, I'm not staying so forget about that and go on with your day. Now let me out." He replied. "If you're not going to stay, we'll have you for a 72-hour hold."
"Donovan, you have to listen to protect your heart! If you walk out this door and do anything remotely strenuous, you could die." Phoebe said. "I'm fine! Just let me out! Catherine can help me at home!"
"I tried, but you never listened so this is me helping you now!"
"No! NO!"
"Don't make this harder than it has to be!" Catherine threatened.
"Wow…" Donovan gave a shocked look. "This isn't help… Or support. When your dad died, I gave you all the space in the world, all my support, and yet here you are restraining me like a damn animal!"
The cardiac monitor's heart rate started rising.
"I supported you when you needed it! I never called a psychiatrist to talk to your ass!" Donovan wanted to get up, but Phoebe held him back. "Just calm down, Alexander…"
"I just can't believe you could DO THIS TO ME…" Donovan started to tear up as his voice was shaking. "Dr. Hyerdhal will take over-"
"The ways you'll go to get your way…" He let out a laugh. "Walk out that goddamn door, and we're officially through. Forget of ever knowing me. Do it." He gave a serious look. "You hear me? Do you hear me?" He mocked.
Catherine was at the doorway, with her back turned. She looked back. "I lost you anyhow. I'd rather lose you and have you be alive…" She walked out.
"CATHERINE! CATHERINE…!" Donovan's eyes had tears streaming down his face as his voice was shaking. "CATHERINE! NO- HOW COULD YOU DAMMIT… HOW COULD YOU!"
Phoebe had to hold him back as Shepherd started crying. She covered her ears to block out the screams of sadness and heartbreak…
"HOW COULD YOU… CATHERINE, WH- HOW COULD YOU… " Donovan kept yelling, not in anger, but in heartbreak. He soon broke down in tears.
Hours Later
The scene transitioned over to the nighttime sky of Hillwood. The hours flew by, with the sky changing into early next morning.
At the Station, everyone was lined up. Stella was also there.
Arnold cleared his throat, with Scott and Gerald. "Okay… Um… So, Johanssen and Gibson updated me last night, about an incident regarding one of our own. They found Firefighter Alexander collapsed and took him to the hospital. He's doing okay now, but he's on leave until further notice." He pursed his lips for a moment.
Everyone started asking questions and talking over each other.
"He's alright, for all of you asking. He excessively exercised and got dehydrated, he'll need to rest. Alright?" He then took a deep breath. "I'll be needing someone to fill in for him. I'll be bringing up someone from B-shift. And Johanssen? You ready to put the turnouts back on?" Arnold looked back at him.
He nodded with a small smile. "I'm ready."
"Glad to hear. Welcome back, man. You're all dismissed." Stella then came up to him. "Captain. A word with you, please?" He only nodded as they walked away.
Gerald and Scott started walking along. "You're finally back. How you feelin'?" Gibson asked. "Well, I can't say I'm too excited but ready to do so again." Gerald nodded. "Even though it's been a couple of months or so, I- I feel confident to return to the job."
Background Music: Please Don't by Imie Taala
In The Captain's Office
"Come on, you're scaring me here, Chief…" Arnold gave a confused look. Stella took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, sweetie…"
Arnold was about to say something, but Stella continued, "Arnold, I know we haven't spoken ever since that barbershop fire, but… But I just want to speak to you again! Not formally, not as Chief to Captain, as Mother and Son. I miss seeing my precious son…" She hung her head.
She opened her arms for a hug. "I'm sorry, Arnold. I really am. What do you say, sweetheart?" She asked, hopingly. Arnold smiled and hugged her tightly.
"… I love you, Mom…" He kissed her cheek and just let his emotions run through him. "Oh, I love you eternally, hun, and I'm sincerely sorry that I treated you that way. I love you so much, sweetheart!" Stella had a couple of tears fall from her face.
Soon, they looked one another in the eye as their faces were near each other, their noses just touching. Stella slowly moved over and started to kiss Arnold on his cheek passionately.
Over at Donovan's place, Catherine was there, mostly upset. She went toward her closet to get a suitcase and pack up.
She grabbed her clothes from the closet and started to put them in the suitcase.
Over at MedStar, Donovan had a very saddened blank look on his face as he was lying on his right side.
Michelle soon walked into his room and saw how upset he was. She only took a deep breath and soon sat on his right side.
Michelle reached for his hand and started rubbing it. He didn't even react as he kept staring at the wall, practically...
I know I previously used the song "Please Don't" earlier in this story, but I honestly felt like it could fit the ending for this chapter... Anyhow, it'll be the only time I reuse a song and I hoped you've enjoyed this chapter! See you in the next!