Page 36 of Fight

“Don’t say the B-word.”

“Fine, fine… But seriously, what’s a girl gotta do to get a patient with a dislocated shoulder or?—”

Tones drop and dispatch cuts through the radio. My face lights up like it’s Christmas morning, and I jump out of my chair.

“Dispatch to Medic twenty-three.” The voice is half static.

Matt points a finger toward me as we head to the rig. “What did I say, huh? What did I say?”

Smiling ear to ear, I wrap my hand around the radio at my shoulder and push the button on the side. “Medic twenty-three. Go ahead.”

I glance over to Matt as we climb into the ambulance cab. “I still don't believe your superstitions.”

“Medic twenty-three, respond to six-four-five Wilson. Six-four-five Wilson. Nineteen-year-old male subject is claiming he was attacked by a…pterodactyl? Thirteen-twenty.”

Matt overrides the radio.

“Dispatch, repeat last transmission.”

I furrow my brow.What the fuck? I mouth to him. Did they saypterodactyl?

“You conjured it. Today is about to suck.”

“Six-four-five Wilson. Nineteen-year-old male subject is complaining of a pterodactyl attack. Suspected drug use. Do you request backup?”

I nod yes. Matt presses his radio and looks me dead in the eye when he says. “Negative. Scottie’s got this one. En route.”

I shake my head. “I don’t do pterodactyls.”

“Today you do.”

I fall to my knees after I walk in my apartment door and kick it shut. I’m exhausted. It started with the teenage patient who ingested approximately 600 milligrams of THC, and ended with a pissed-off Gladys Kravitz with second-degree burns. Apparently, she was so angry her neighbor’s tomato plants were encroaching on her yard that she resorted to M-80s. She’s lucky she didn’t blow her hand clean off. This town is fucking nuts.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I groan. I pull myself up and fish it out with a sigh. Probably Matt giving me shit after the insane day we had.

I see Callahan’s name and flip it open.

Callahan

What are you up to?

Just got home from work.

Callahan

Sorry it’s been busy lately.

No worries. Hope everything’s all right.

Callahan

I think we should talk.

My stomach sinks, but I try to stay positive. I’m picking up a split shift tonight for some extra cash, which means I’ve got roughly six hours left for sleep before I have to be up and get ready for third shift. And I need the sleep.

Sorry, I can’t tonight. Could we meet up for coffee tomorrow morning?

Callahan