It has been a couple of days and unfortunately, Danny hasn't had any luck catching the guys that did it. The problem is they have not found the gun and the guys had ski masks. Right now I am getting changed into my uniform. As I grab my FDNY-issued undershirt I notice a bulletproof vest. My Dad must be joking. It is too late. People have already been hurt. Anyway, all I can do is play along.
"That was Chief Brannan's idea," Erica remarks as she joins me.
"It was my Dad's actually," I retort as I wrestle the undershirt over my body. Once the shirt is on comfortably I get the bulletproof vest on. After double-checking that the vest was secured I put on the outer layer of my uniform.
"Your Dad's idea?" Erica asks to clarify.
"Yeah. My Dad is Commissioner Reagan. I'm surprised you didn't know that," I fill her in as she gets ready for the day.
"I thought that was a coincidence. It turns out I was wrong. How come you chose the FDNY?" Erica asks.
"It turns out law was not a good way for me to help people nor was I smart enough for medical school," I reply. In fact, a part of me is glad that I am out on the streets as a paramedic rather than a cop. After a few minutes of back and forth, we arrive in the ambulance.
"I'm going to get you to do the inventory today," I announce. This will be a good test to see where Erica is at. Plus it will give me the chance to see if I can change things up. The only downside to working with Alex was the fact that he was obsessive-compulsive about where everything was. It makes sense but it could be a bit too much at times.
"ok," Erica confirms my orders.
"Hey, are you all right?" Erica checks on me.
"Still...grieving I guess," I respond as we get to work. The truth is I don't know how long it will take for me to get better. Of course, there are things available for me to use. I just have to reach out to the right people.
After a few minutes, the signal bell goes. Unfortunately, it is a medical-only call. I take a deep breath as I climb into the ambulance. A part of me is hoping that the call doesn't end in disaster. As soon as we received the address I was a little relieved. We will be visiting one of our regulars. After seven minutes of driving, we made it to a nice apartment.
"Hello Mrs Juarez can you let us in please?" I announce our presence.
"It should be open already dear," Mrs Juarez responds. With that, we let ourselves in.
"Are you feeling dizzy again?" I ask as I look her over. The first thing that I notice is there is a small but deep gash on her leg.\
"Yes. Normally I don't need your help but this time I hit my leg," Mrs Juarez explains what the problem is.
"Erica can you check Mrs Juarez's blood pressure while I clean up the wound on her leg," I order. It doesn't take long for us to get to work.
"It is a pity about what happened to Alex. He was always nice," Mrs Juarez remarks as I glance at the blood pressure.
"Well there will always be bad people but it is up to people like us to fight back. Anyway, your blood pressure is a little too high for us to leave you here on your own. Is there anything we can grab for you before we go to the hospital?" I quickly change the subject. Mrs Juarez shakes her head.
It has been a few minutes since we dropped Mrs juarez off at the hospital and we are finally back at the station. I am about to take a seat in my usual spot but I am stopped. Danny storms in. The look on his face says it all.
"Hay Danny, what's wrong?" I ask.
"I'll tell you once I've talked to Captain Stark," Danny responds as he makes the dash to his office. After a tense few minutes, Danny rejoins me.
"Your partner is gonna want to hear what I have to say," Danny remarks. I quickly gesture for Erica to join us.
"I got some good news and some bad news," Danny announces. Knowing my brother both bits of news are going to be bad however one will be worse than the other.
"let's hear the good news first," Erica beats me to it.
"We caught one of the guys. As for the bad news, the other guy is still at large however we have a chance to catch him," Danny fills us in. I notice the look on his face change. That can only mean one thing.
"Danny if you are thinking of asking me to do what I think you're going to ask, the answer is no. I can't afford to put Erica in danger. She has a life ahead of her," I snap. At least with me, I have had eighteen good years as an FDNY paramedic. If something happening to me might be the excuse I need to retire.
"Look I know. The thing is the guy's made a credible threat against ambulance eighty-eight. Captain Stark has authorised for me to join a ride along so when the SOB tries again I'll catch him," Danny outlines his plan. After some back and forth Danny and Erica manage to convince me that the plan is a good plan. I mean I am still not convinced but if it means we can catch the other guy then I will be happy.
"Ok, Danny since you are riding with us there are some ground rules," I remark.
"What are they?" Danny replies.
"You will listen to both Erica and I. Try not to touch anything and try not to get in the way in general," I respond.
"Ok," Danny replies. He clearly is not happy about taking orders from his younger sister but I have a better idea of what the job entails. After an hour of peace, the signal bell goes. Luckily for Erica and I, we are responding to a structure fire. Even then the guy might be desperate enough to try it. After a few minutes of driving, we made it to the scene. It is utter chaos. Uniformed officers are trying to keep survivors from reentering the building. As soon as our boots hit the ground Captain Stark turns his attention to us.
"OK, we will attack this fire how we attack any other fire but be careful. There is a strong chance that this will turn into a multiple-alarm fire," He gives us a slightly modified version of his standard orders. I am about to help Erica set up the triage area but Captain Stark pulls me aside.
"Avery if this goes south make sure you and Erica are ready to go in," The way he is talking makes it feel like he is convinced that the fire will only get worse.
"Yes sir," I confirm. After relaying the message to Erica we have our turnout gear on. I notice that Danny has moved to help the uniformed officers. Which is a relief as it is one less thing to worry about. As the first wave of victims comes out I am hit by the sudden feeling that someone is watching. I shrug it off as there is nothing I can do. It doesn't take long for Erica and I to get overwhelmed.
"Dispatch this is Paramedic Reagan. We need additional RA units at Third Avenue," I radio in.
"Copy that. Additional ambulances have been dispatched," The 911 operator responds. Another thing that I don't have to worry about. After a minute of waiting we are joined by a couple of other units. It is perfect timing.
"Reagan you are needed in the building. The others need your help," Captain Stark orders. With a few swift movements, I don my turnout gear and my breathing apparatus. After radioing in their location I made it to the pair that needed help. The first thing I noticed is the fact that the victim has third-degree burns.
"Jones help me get the victim to the triage area," I order. The annoying thing is the fact that I can't do anything now because I don't have access to the things that I need. After a few minutes of careful maneuvering Jones and I have the victim in the triage area. After ditching the breathing apparatus and the turnout coat I turn my attention to treating the man's wounds.
"Erica get me as much gauze as you can," I order as I get to work on trying to establish an IV. Unfortunately, it is proving to be a little bit harder than I would have liked. Despite the difficulties I manage. After carefully wrapping the victim's burns I grab Danny's attention.
"Hey we've got a patient to transport," I say as he joins us. Thankfully it doesn't take long for us to reach the hospital. Once everything is complete we are about to leave the hospital when I get the feeling that someone is watching us again.
"Be careful. Someone is watching us," Danny remarks. Before he has a chance to react I shove him out of the way. Shots soon ring out. I feel a sharp pain in my chest. The next thing I know is the fact that I am hunched over trying to catch my breath and Danny is running full pelt after the shooter.
"Avery, are you ok?" Erica jumps into action.
"The vest caught it," I say as Erica helps me up
"Ok. I let Captain Stark know what happened. He told me that you should get checked out," Erica adds. She is not wrong. The bulletproof vest may have stopped the bullet from piercing my body but it still had enough energy to do some damage. With some help from Erica, I made it to the emergency room. After making sure that I am comfortable Erica excuses herself. Thankfully it doesn't take long for me to be seen. After what feels like an eternity I am joined by the doctor.
"You are lucky Avery. If you hadn't been wearing the Kevlar vest you would not be here talking to me but you got away with a cracked sternum," The Doctor announces. Well, I will have to let my dad know that his plan of giving me a bulletproof vest worked. I will also have to let Danny know that I am fine.
It is the day after I was discharged from the hospital and since it is Sunday it means I will be going to church and then relaxing with my family. After double-checking that my Sunday best is actually my Sunday best I leave. I told the others that I would be meeting them at Church. After what feels like an eternity I made it to the building. After a minute of waiting I am joined by Jamie.
"How are you feeling?" Jamie asks.
"Still sore but I have paracetamol in my handbag if I need it," I respond as I scan the small crowd for the rest of my family. Luckily for Jamie and I, they find us. After answering various versions of how I am doing I turn the conversation around.
"So Danny did you catch the last guy?" I ask.
"Yes. The only problem is neither of them will confess," Danny confirms. That means I will have to testify. That also means I will be ripped apart by the defence attorney. That is a problem for later as right now I need to enjoy my time with my family.