“Okay, and Jean? Will you think about the offer of moving into the unit? I’d feel a lot happier knowing that you had that extra bit of backup.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Thanks. Well, I’d better get a move on. I’ll get back to you about dinner.”
“For sure. Say hi to Mac for me.”
“Will do. Talk to you soon. Bye.”
“Bye, Sare.”
*
Mac arrived a bit later than she had hoped and was still in her uniform. Sarah had left her name with reception, so she was buzzed through, and Sarah met her at the door.
“Hey gorgeous, come on in.” Mac entered, then stood in the hallway, looking into the elegant lounge room as Sarah came up behind her and wrapped her arms around Mac’s waist. Sarah nuzzled the back of Mac’s neck. “How did the rest of your day end up?”
Mac turned around in Sarah’s arms and gently kissed her lips. “The last class went smoothly and everything is right to go again, ready for tomorrow. I suspect, by the end of the week, I won’t want to see another fire extinguisher for a while.”
Sarah returned the kiss. “Mm, that’s understandable.”
Mac half turned around. “Nice digs, Doc. Very elegant.” The lounge room was decorated in a cream leather couch suite, plush rugs, and some colourful large pieces of art on the walls.
Sarah took Mac’s hand. “Would you like a tour?”
Mac smiled. “I’d love one.”
The rest of the house was equally as nice. They ended up in the kitchen, with Mac sitting at the breakfast bar, while Sarah stirred a pot on the stove. “If you look in the fridge there should be a bottle of white on the door. Can you do the honours? Glasses are in the top cupboard on the right.”
“Love to.” Mac poured two glasses and put the bottle back in the fridge. She walked Sarah’s over to her. She gently ran her fingers to the side of the score marks on Sarah’s neck. “Anyone else get tagged today, or was it just you?”
Sarah took a sip and gently shook her head. “No, just me. I wasn’t quick enough to avoid his hands.” Sarah turned, reaching up to put her arms around Mac’s neck, looking straight into her eyes. “In Emergency, we see people at their worst. They come in frightened, sick, in pain, or in another state of mind. Sometimes they’re not happy to be there. On occasion, when they’re distressed, they need to hit out at someone or something. Sometimes, that’s us. It doesn’t happen very often, but I’m not going to lie to you, sometimes we get pegged. I imagine that you see that too sometimes.”
Mac nodded. “Sometimes.” Mac knew Sarah was right. It was a part of the job. It didn’t mean she had to like it though, but she did have to accept it. After all, who was she to talk? Her job had risky elements to it too. She was a trained professional and took all steps possible to minimize the risks and to stay safe, but even she knew sometimes that things happened on the job. “You’re right. I know you’re right. You’re good at what you do. I just need to pull my head in a bit.”
Sarah’s hand went to the back of Mac’s head and undid the tie holding up her hair, and she smiled as waves, finally freed, cascaded down her shoulders. “Anyone ever tell you you’re cute when you get all protective?” Sarah kissed her cheek tenderly. “Thank you for caring, and thank you for trusting me. I’ve never had anyone worry like that before.” Sarah put her head on Mac’s shoulder and just stayed there in the safety and love of her embrace for a few minutes. Sarah pulled back slightly. “Dinner’s a little way off yet. Did you bring a change of clothes?”
Mac shook her head.
“How about you go and have a shower and I’ll grab you some comfy gear to change into, and we can put your uniform on to wash, ready for tomorrow?”
“Okay. Sounds good.”
Mac padded down the hallway and through Sarah’s room, to the en suite tucked into the back. It wasn’t until the blast of water on her shoulders had started to relax her that Mac realized how tired she was. The near-sleepless night was beginning to catch up with her now that she had stopped. She rested her forehead against the cool tiles as the water worked its soothing magic on her tired shoulders and back.
Mac heard the door open and turned to see Sarah walk into the shower. Wordlessly, Sarah turned Mac back to face the tiles, took a sponge from the shelf, applied some shower gel, and began to wash and massage Mac’s shoulders and back. Mac’s head again went to the tiles, but this time in pleasure, all thoughts of weariness forgotten.
*
Sarah topped up her wine glass, then raised the bottle to Mac, in question. They had retired to the lounge room after dinner, with Sarah sitting on one end of the couch and Mac lying with her head in Sarah’s lap.
Mac put her hand over the top of her glass, which rested on her chest. “No, thanks. If I have any more, I’m going to fall asleep right here on the couch.” Sarah reached over and put Mac’s empty glass on the coffee table.
They had spent the time swapping stories, talking about their growing-up years, Sarah’s years studying medicine, and how Mac discovered sculpting. They talked about music and movies and learned they had some very similar tastes in both. Mac only briefly discussed her family and didn’t once talk about Tina. Sarah had come to understand and respect Mac’s need for privacy, but she hoped that she would feel comfortable enough to talk about it one day with her. Sarah thought the next time she saw Maree or Terri she might ask them a little bit more about Tina. Not to pry, but for a better understanding of who Mac was.
Sarah looked down to see Mac’s eyes close. She smiled. Even dozing, Mac still held a tension around her eyes that caused a little frown crease to gather just above her nose. Sarah smoothed the line with her forefinger. Mac’s eyes fluttered open.
Mac yawned. “Sorry. I think I nodded off for a minute.”
Sarah chuckled. “Yeah, you did, and you were snoring your head off.”
Mac’s eyes opened in alarm. “I was not! Was I?”
Laughing, Sarah shook her head. “No, you weren’t. I was only teasing. How about we go to bed—we’re both beat and we have another big day tomorrow.”
“You won’t have to ask me twice.”
Hand in hand they went to the bedroom. Sarah held the sheet back for Mac. Mac slipped between the sheets and had no sooner lain down before Sarah moved closer, snuggling up beside her, resting her head on Mac’s shoulder. Mac kissed the top of Sarah’s head as Sarah kissed her neck. Within minutes they were both sound asleep.
*
Mac woke first, and the first thought that crossed her mind was that she felt like she had come home. Mac took the time to just watch Sarah as she slept. This is the most peaceful and happiest I have felt for a very long time. I loved Tina dearly, with all my heart. I never thought in a million years that I would ever fall in love again. Is it possible to love like that twice in a lifetime? Silent tears ran freely down Mac’s face as she realized the enormity of the gift she had been given in Sarah. There was no comparing Sarah and Tina. Tina taught Mac so much, but Sarah made it all feel so complete. She was falling in love with Sarah, big time. Mac’s heart felt so full it almost hurt.
Sarah woke to Mac’s tears. “Hey, honey, what’s wrong?”
Mac shook her head and whispered, “Nothing.”
Sarah gently wiped her tears away. “Why are you crying, love?”
Mac caught Sarah’s hand, brought her fingers to her lips, and kissed them. “I woke up and couldn’t believe how lucky I was to have met such a beautiful person.”
“Oh, sweetheart. I think we both got lucky.” Sarah reached up and kissed Mac tenderly. She then lay back down on Mac.
Mac’s stomach grumbled and Sarah giggled into her chest. Sarah patted Mac’s tummy. “I think we had better feed the beast.”
Breakfast was a leisurely affair, but eventually duty called. The drive into town was shorter than Mac was used to, and all too soon they were both pulling into the car park. Sarah got out of her car just as Mac stepped out of her ute. Sarah walked over
and stood in front of Mac, reaching up to smooth her collar and straighten her tie. Mac grimaced. “I can’t wait to get out of the monkey suit and back into ordinary gear.”
Sarah laughed, tweaking her tie playfully. “Don’t be in such a hurry. I like you in your uniform. I love the way it shows off your gorgeous curves, in all the right places.” Sarah pulled on Mac’s tie until her head dipped and Sarah claimed her lips.
Sarah’s pager went off and they parted. Mac closed her eyes, breathless, and leaned back heavily on the ute’s door. When she opened her eyes, she was pleased to see Sarah was just as flustered. “Boy, am I glad I’ve got a bit of time before I give the first class this morning. You sure know how to wind me up, Doc.”
Sarah chuckled and held her hands to her flushed cheeks. “I sure know how to wind me up too. God, you’re intoxicating.” Sarah’s pager went off again. She grabbed it and silenced the alarm. “All right, all right, I’m coming.” She gave Mac a quick kiss on the cheek. “See you later for coffee, maybe?”
“I’ll be looking for you. Have a good morning.”
“You too, babe.”
As Sarah’s pager went off for a third time she broke into a jog across the car park and disappeared through the entrance doors.
Chapter Nineteen
Mac lined up the last of the extinguishers in readiness for the next class when her phone chimed. It was a text from Sarah.
Hey, babe, can’t make coffee. Sorry. Need to finish up here first. See you in class in half an hour. S xxx
Despite feeling like she had made some small progress, Mac had had a trying morning. The difficult man from the day before had picked up where he left off the previous afternoon, making quiet smart-arse comments on and off during the last class’s practical session. Breathing deeply in an attempt to find some patience, Mac had one more trick up her sleeve she wanted to try in the next class, before she’d seriously consider looking for an isolated spot in a forest somewhere to leave him.
The formal part of the class in the conference room began on time, with a few stragglers sneaking in the back. As she turned to lower the lights for the first streaming video clip, Mac noticed that one of those stragglers was Sarah. She grinned, thinking about how she was going to have to give Sarah some homework to make up for her late entrance.
Once that part of the class concluded, the massed group made their way outside to complete the practical component. Sarah filed in beside her. “Sorry I was a bit late, I got tied up.”
Mac pulled a straight—almost stern—face. “Do you have a late note? The classes are compulsory, you know, Dr. Macarthur.”
Sarah laughed. “I was only a few minutes late.”
“You’d best see me after class then, to catch up on what you missed.” Mac couldn’t hold a straight face any longer; she flashed Sarah a smile and a wink. Sarah laughed. Mac walked to the front of the group. There were several different types of extinguishers, a metal tray, and a drip torch. Off to one side lay Mac’s turnout gear and spare fuel. Mac began by introducing each of the different types of extinguishers and how, and on what, they could be best applied. The practical part would involve each of them stepping up and using one of the extinguishers so that they could see how they worked.
“It’s much easier to have a practice run first, rather than the first time you’ve ever used an extinguisher be in an emergency situation. Having a go and learning how to use one now will help give you that extra bit of confidence if a situation should ever arise when you need to use one of these.”
“It’s a fire extinguisher for Christ sakes not a NASA rocket. Any girl can use one.” Mac sighed. The smart-arse, Tony Felucio, had started up again, true to form.
A few heads turned to Tony, subtly indicating their annoyance. Pursing her lips, Mac decided now was the time to try her idea. “Hey, Tony. I’ve noticed you don’t seem thrilled to be doing the class. Mind telling me why?”
Tony spoke up, “Yeah. It’s simple—any moron can use one. I don’t see why we have to be out here, wasting time, learning how to use something that doesn’t need any learning to use it.”
Mac held her arm out to point at Tony. “You know what, folks, a lot of people would agree with what Tony has said. Seriously. How hard can it be to use of one these? Right, Tony?”
Tony looked a bit taken aback, as if this wasn’t the response he was expecting. But confident, he forged ahead “That’s right. It’s got a handle, it’s got a nozzle, you point it and shoot. Voila. It ain’t rocket science.”
Mac was nodding as Tony spoke. “You’re right, Tony. It shouldn’t be that hard. Can you come out the front and show the group how it’s done, please?”
The look on Tony’s face was priceless. He wasn’t expecting Mac to call him on it, but he had gone too far to back out, so he accepted the challenge and walked forward to the front of the group. Mac’s plan had hinged on Tony accepting the challenge, with a small sense of relief she directed him to stand to her left where she had put a number of extinguishers out ready to use. She pointed Tony to a spot nearest the dry chemical powder extinguisher, which was the first in the line. She was banking on him blindly picking the nearest one to him for the plan to work.
Next Mac put on her turnout coat, poured some fuel into the metal tray, pausing briefly to light up the contents of the tray with a drip torch. She then turned to the group. “This morning, we have heard about the different types of fires from when we were in the room earlier, for the sake of this particular exercise, we are going to pretend that this is an oil or fat fire. Tony is going to select an extinguisher and demonstrate how to put it out for us.” Mac turned to Tony, extending her arm towards the line of extinguishers. “Tony, if you would be so kind?”
The pan was starting to heat up, and popping noises could be heard from the fuel and water mix. The group was silent as they watched Tony choose an extinguisher. To Mac’s relief, Tony picked up the dry powder extinguisher which was closest to him, turned to the crowd, and shrugged his shoulders as if to say How hard can it be? He pulled the safety pin, stepped towards the burning pan, aimed the nozzle at the fire, and squeezed. Powder went everywhere. He had a bit of trouble controlling the flow and the direction at first, but he soon managed to work it out, enough to put a light coating over the surface of the pan, and the flames disappeared.
Mac stood to the side of the tray smiling.
Tony turned back to the group, put the extinguisher down, and faced his amassed audience with a triumphant smile on his face. “See? Easy.”
The audience were snickering at him. His victory smile very quickly waned, then turned puzzled.
One of the kitchen orderlies leaned forward and pointed past Tony’s shoulder. “Hey, Einstein, look behind you.”
Tony spun around and discovered that the pan had reignited. What the group hadn’t noticed was that Mac had tapped the pan with her boot, breaking up the thin powder cover, allowing the oxygen to meet with the hot fuel, and reigniting the contents of the pan.
Mac calmly stepped forward and, using one of the extinguishers, successfully suppressed the contents of the pan, snuffing the flames completely. Tony stood in front of the group, completely red faced. It had not been Mac’s intention to embarrass him, so much as to bring him around and get him on her side.
She quickly moved in with part B of the plan. Mac put her hand on Tony’s shoulder. “I want to thank Tony for helping me out this morning. We put on a little show between us to demonstrate what most people think—How hard can it be to use an extinguisher?—and in truth, once you know a little bit about fires, fuel types, and the types of extinguishers to use, then it’s not hard at all. Can you all put your hands together for Tony, for helping me out here this morning?”
Everyone applauded and a few of Tony’s mates cheered. “Nice work, buddy! On ya, Tony.”
No one suspected Mac’s plan. Tony didn’t lose face and Mac felt confident that his comments would stop. Mac turned to Tony and quietly spoke to him. “Hey, Tony. Tha
nks for that. Sorry to spring it on you, but you were great. Can you do me one last favour? It’s hard to talk, and help people, and light the tray. While I talk to the group about the different types of extinguishers here, can you put on the fire gear and help me, by lighting up the pan when I nod?”
Mac had learned a long time ago that most young boys were fascinated by uniforms and action, whether it was playing at being a cowboy, a policeman, a special forces agent, or pretending to be a firefighter. Mac also knew that inside every grown man still lived that little boy. She saw Tony’s eyes light up when he looked at the fire gear and was happy that her plan was working out.
Tony nodded to her. “No worries, Mac, I can do that.”
Mac slapped him on the shoulder. “Thanks, Tony. I owe you one.”
While Mac talked to the group, Tony put Mac’s coat, trousers, helmet, and gloves on and stood with his chest puffed out, looking right at Mac and waiting for her signal to light the pan.
One by one, everyone got to have a turn, even Sarah, who stepped up to the pan and successfully put the flames out. She stood up and gave Mac a triumphant gorgeous smile. Mac smiled and winked at her as Sarah handed the extinguisher off to the next person.
Being highly aware of the staff’s responsibilities, Mac was pleased the class had finished on time. The group had started to disperse, cheerfully talking about the morning amongst themselves. Tony was off the side, still in the turnout gear, surrounded by his mates who were good naturedly slapping him on the shoulder and looking at him in the gear with what appeared to be a little bit of envy.
Sarah wandered over to Mac. “Was Tony the class pain you were talking about?”
Mac had a very satisfied smile on her face. “Uh-huh.”
Sarah looked at Tony and then back at Mac’s face. “You set that up, didn’t you?”
Mac’s grin got bigger. “Uh-huh.”
“You’re feeling quite pleased with yourself, aren’t you?”
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