Mac yawned. Now that she had a full stomach after one of Martha’s lunches, the morning was catching up with her. She had only taken a very light dose of pain medication at breakfast so she wouldn’t be too bombed out for work, but the edge of discomfort was starting to creep in and she knew when she had the next lot, it would probably leave her feeling a bit washed out for the rest of the afternoon.
Martha stuck her head around the office door before Mac could stifle her yawn. “You nearly finished up here?”
“Mm, just have to print and file this report, and I think I’m all done.”
“All right, you do that and I’ll ask one of the boys to drop you home.”
“Thanks, Martha. And thanks for the beautiful lunch.”
“My pleasure.”
Mac signed her finished reports just as John knocked on the door. “Hey, Betts. You my ride?”
John tipped a pretend cap. “Yes, ma’am. I am your humble driver.”
Mac slapped him playfully with a report folder. “You clown. You couldn’t be humble if you tried.”
John laughed. “C’mon, Mouse. You’ve done enough for one day. Time to get you home before you turn into a pumpkin.”
They drove in a comfortable silence. John was smiling. “Missed this.”
Mac smiled wistfully too. “Me too. Only a couple of weeks left. God, listen to us, like an old married couple.”
“Ha, you’re right—’cept there’d be no point asking you what’s for dinner, hey?” John knew well Mac’s lack of cooking talent.
“Nope, not unless you like pizza or a toasted cheese sandwich.” They pulled up outside Sarah’s complex. “Want to come inside for a coffee?”
John shrugged. “Sure, why not. Lead on.”
They made their way up to Sarah’s unit. Mac opened the door and John whistled. “Nice, Mouse, nice.”
Mac led the way to the kitchen, where she put the kettle on, scrabbling around for a biscuit to go with it. As soon as it was done, they headed to the lounge room. John sank into the leather couch with a groan of pleasure. “Roll me over if I go to sleep on this.”
“Nice, huh?”
“Mm.”
“Thanks for this morning. It meant a lot.”
“You’re welcome. You mean a lot to us. We’re family. You know that, right?”
“I know. And I love you guys for it. Thanks for making Sarah feel welcome too—that was nice.”
“Well, looks to me like she might be joining the family. Is that right?”
“Could be, Betts. You okay with that?”
John nodded. “Yep, always good to have a doctor in the house. Sure is pretty too. She make you happy?”
“Yeah, she does.”
“Then I’m definitely okay with that.”
“Thanks, Betts.”
“Anything for my best mate. Hey, I’ve got something I’d like to run past you, if that’s okay.”
“Sure, shoot.”
“Sarah’s sister, Jean. Is she married, or seeing anyone?”
“No, not to my knowledge. Why’s that?”
“She seemed like a really nice lady, when I met her the other day, at your house. We hit it off pretty well. I wondered if she and the little fella might like to go on a picnic somewhere, maybe, if she wasn’t involved with anyone.”
“I think that sounds like a nice idea. Why don’t you ask her?”
“Yeah, yeah, I might do that. You wouldn’t happen to have her number, would you?”
“I would. I don’t think she’d mind if I gave it to you, though.”
“Is there a problem?”
Mac told him about Richard. John’s face set grim with the news. “What an arsehole.”
“I know. I’m just telling you, though, so you’re aware if she’s a bit gun-shy.”
“Yep, I hear you. Hey, can you teach me sign language?”
Mac laughed. “Sure. It takes a while to learn, but I can get you started on some basics if you like. You can try it out on Thursday at the school.”
*
Lying in bed, Sarah traced the letters on Mac’s T-shirt. “So, your day in the office was okay?”
Mac was lying with her eyes shut, just enjoying the peace. “Uh-huh. Got the paperwork all done, sorted stuff out for the next two weeks, and had lunch with Martha. And showed off the station to a really cute piece of—”
“Ahem! Not too cute I hope.”
“Oh, a stunning piece. You know, the sort that makes your mouth water just standing next to her.”
“Oh, really?”
“Mm-hmm. Seriously thought of ditching my girlfriend, ’til I remembered she was my girlfriend, and well, after that, you know how it goes.”
Sarah was laughing. “No, do tell.”
“Ah, well, I take her back to my office”—Mac paused for effect—“and she spoils me with beautiful flowers.” Mac wriggled her eyebrows up and down suggestively. “And we share”—Mac dropped her voice for dramatic effect—“ a hot cup of coffee.”
Sarah rested her head on Mac’s chest, chuckling.
Mac stroked Sarah’s hair. “Tell me about your day.”
Sarah sighed. “Same old, really. A faculty meeting early on, followed up by a steady stream of patients coming in after that. Oh, and I grabbed lunch with Colleen. I think you met her the night of the MVA—she’s in charge of obstetrics.”
Mac nodded.
“Anyway, we managed to catch up for lunch, which was nice. Colleen and I have been friends since med school, but often our shifts don’t match up, so we don’t run into each other much or for very long. Speaking of which, she and her husband, Brian, are having a barbecue soon—they want to know if we’d like to come.”
“Sure, that sounds nice.”
“She also asked me how you were, and how we were going.”
“What did you say?”
“I said you were stubborn and pig-headed, but the sex was great, so I’d hang on to you for a bit longer.”
Mac nodded. “Sounds sensible.”
Sarah leaned up and kissed her. “Actually, I said I thought what we had was pretty special, and that I think you may have cured me.”
“Cured you? Of what?”
“Commitment phobia.”
Mac raised her eyebrows in question.
“Let’s just say that I have a track record of loving and leaving. Loving someone scares the hell out of me. So my way of dealing with it was not to deal with it. I got hurt badly early on in the piece, when I first came out. So I resolved not to let anyone do that to me again. I got pretty good at it too. But then one night, I met you. Everything changed.” Sarah rested her chin on Mac’s chest. “I’m going to be honest with you here, I don’t really know what I’m doing. This is territory I’ve never been in before. All I know is that you mean the world to me. I can’t imagine my life without you in it. I love waking up next to you. I love it when we talk at breakfast or dinner, or drive into town.”
Sarah laid her head on Mac’s chest. “I can only begin to imagine what it must’ve been like for you to lose Tina. I know that she has a big place in your life, and in your heart. I just hope that maybe…” Sarah’s voice thickened with emotion. “I hope that maybe you and I could build a future together.”
Mac was quiet for a while as she absorbed how Sarah had opened herself to her. She lifted Sarah’s face until their eyes were even. “You’re too late. I think we’ve already started.” She frowned, trying to gather her thoughts, to find the words that, up until now, she had been too afraid to say out loud. “I never thought that I would love again.” Mac shrugged a shoulder. “I thought that, when I lost Tina, that was it. I’d had my chance, y’know? But you and I”—Mac shook her head—“we’re on another path, our path. I’ll be honest with you. I’m thrilled to bits, but I’m a little bit terrified too.” A nervous laugh escaped from Mac’s lips. “It’s amazing and freaky all at the same time.”
Sarah sobbed in what Mac hoped was relief. Mac drew her in and held her close
. “Speaking of relationships, I think John wants to ask Jean and Thomas on a picnic date. I gave John Jean’s number. I hope that’s all right.”
Sarah leaned up and kissed Mac tenderly on the lips. “I think that sounds wonderful. John seems like a nice man. It would be nice to see Jean go out again. It would be ironic, don’t you think, if she and John got together?”
“What do you mean?”
“Two sisters, dating a fire crew?”
Mac chuckled. “Guess we should be grateful you don’t have eleven more brothers and sisters, huh?”
Chapter Twenty-four
Smoothing the collar down over her tie, Sarah’s hands continued lovingly down Mac’s chest and ribs, coming to rest at and encircle her waist. “How much time have we got before we have to head in to work?”
Mac looked at her watch. “About ten minutes. Why?”
Sarah shook her head and blew out a frustrated breath. “Not enough time.”
“Time for what?”
Sarah’s face broke into a lecherous grin. “To ravish you and get you dressed again.”
“To ravish me?”
“I can’t help it. I think it’s the uniform. It’s positively distracting.”
“I’ll have to remember that.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll remind you. Come on, let’s get going before I change my mind and have my way with you anyway. I’ll go get the keys.”
Mac checked herself in the mirror one last time. She put her jacket on and adjusted the sleeves; satisfied, she nodded to her reflection in the mirror. She was ready. As she closed the door behind her, the bandage on her left hand snagged and caught on the handle. Her momentum forward was stopped suddenly as the caught bandages snapped tight. Mac hissed in pain. “Shit.” She bent over double, clenching her hand between her thighs, her eyes shut tight as she desperately tried to breathe through the waves of pain.
That was how Sarah found her, bent over, leaning on the wall in the hallway. Sarah knelt in front of Mac. “Hey, honey, what happened?”
Through clenched teeth, Mac explained, “Stupid…caught my hand on the handle. I just need a minute.”
“Come and sit in the lounge room for a minute, ’til you catch your breath.”
“Okay.” Sarah put her arms around Mac and walked her through to the couch.
Mac sat with her head back and eyes closed, cradling her hand.
“Let me take a look, love.”
Mac held out her hand, her eyes still closed.
Sarah patted her on the lap. “Sit tight, I’ll be back in a minute.” Mac nodded.
Two minutes later, Sarah returned. “I know you don’t like taking these, love, but I think this morning we might make an exception, what do you think?”
Mac opened her eyes and saw some pills in the palm of Sarah’s hand. She also saw new dressings and bandages ready. She looked at her hand and saw the red stain seeping through. She’d obviously opened something up and the pain was pretty intense, the nerve endings screaming. Getting it redressed again was only going to make it worse. Painkillers were a sensible option, but if she took them all, she’s be too doped to think straight in the classes.
“Can I try half?” Sarah didn’t look convinced that half would cut it. “I’ll take the rest with me and take it if I need it.”
“All right. If you’re sure?” Mac nodded. “Okay, swallow this, then I’ll take a closer look.”
Mac did and then lay back with her head on the back of the couch and closed her eyes again. Sarah set to work cutting off the old bandage and gently peeling off the dressing. Sarah gently cleaned up the wound, redressed it, and bandaged it. “How are you going?”
“Okay. Thanks for that.” Mac blew out a breath. “Sorry.”
“Sorry for what, love?”
“Rushing and not being careful. Now we’re going to be late.”
“We’ll be okay, it’s only a few minutes. Do you want to stay home?”
Mac shook her head. “No. I’m good to go.”
“Sure?”
“Yes, thanks.”
They stood up together. Mac took a deep breath and nodded. “Okay.”
It was a quiet trip in to the hospital. They pulled up in the car park and Sarah turned in her seat. “You’re sure you’re okay?”
Mac smiled gently and waved her hand slightly. “Yep. I just gave myself a reminder to go steady and let Tony help today.”
“And you’ll take the other tablet if you need it?”
Mac patted her pocket. “Yes, I will.”
“Okay, then. I guess I’ll see you for the morning break.”
“I’m looking forward to it already.”
They leaned over and kissed before heading off out their respective doors and into the day ahead.
Mac had another half an hour before the class started, so she headed over to find Tony and to make sure that everything was all set for the practical part later in the morning.
John had dropped off the extinguishers fully charged for the next round of safety classes. As part of her assistant’s role, Tony would help Mac recharge the extinguishers in the afternoon, ready for the following day.
Mac walked around the corner of the building to see Tony lining up the extinguishers. He was in his own personally issued turnout gear, shining with newness, minus the helmet, which he’d laid on the ground nearby. When he’d come to the station to be sized for the gear, he’d signed up to join as a volunteer. He was so excited, and Mac was proud that what she was doing at the hospital had convinced him to join up.
“Well look at you, Mr. Felucio! Don’t you look awesome.”
Tony spun around and blushed “Hey, Mac. Cool, huh?”
“You bet. You look great. How does it feel?”
“Awesome. I want to thank you—you inspired me. I can’t wait for training to start. Will you be doing any of the training?”
Mac laughed. “Probably. We share it around. I can assure you, you’ll be sick of me soon enough. Seriously though, I’m really glad you decided to join up. I think you’ll make a great firefighter.”
“Hey, did you see? They put my name on the coat. How cool is that? Can’t wait ’til the other fellas see it.”
“You never know, maybe you might inspire some of them to join up too.”
“Hey, yeah, wouldn’t that be great?”
“It sure would.” Mac nodded at the equipment set out. “I see you’ve got it all set up, ready to go.”
“Uh-huh. I’ve got the pan, fuel, drip torch, and the extinguishers ready. What else do you need?”
“How about a fire blanket?”
“Okay, there’s one in the truck. I’ll bring it over.”
Mac touched him briefly on the shoulder. “Thanks, Tony, and thanks for helping out this week. I really appreciate it.”
Tony looked at the dirt and blushed and kicked a few pebbles with his new boots. “You were amazing the other week. When you pulled those guys out? I couldn’t believe it. And I was such a prick when I first joined the classes. But then I saw how cool it was, and you picked me to help out, even though I gave you a hard time. I figured helping you out was the least I could do, to say thanks for giving me a chance.”
“Well, looks like we’ve helped each other then, so let’s call it even, hey?”
“Even it is.” He gestured towards Mac’s hands. “Are they sore?”
Mac leaned in in a confidential whisper. “Hurts like a bitch, but don’t tell anyone I said that.”
Tony winked at her and tapped his nose. “Gotcha.”
Mac looked at her watch. It was time to head inside and get the formal part of the safety sessions started. “Okay, Tony. See you in a bit.”
“I’ll be here.”
Mac made her way inside to the conference room. Her hand was still sore, but it was settling down into a dull throbbing pain, which was manageable. She set the machine up for the presentation and opened her notes. People started to slowly wander in and take a seat. A few who had come to kn
ow Mac gave her a wave when they saw her.
Very quickly, the room was full, with a few latecomers having to stand at the edges. It was Mac’s biggest class yet. She noticed a lot of the maintenance and laundry staff had turned up and thought she might even have caught a glimpse of Tony up the back. Mac decided to turn the lights down and make a start before the butterflies kicked into gear at the thought of facing such a large group. She smoothed down her jacket, straightened her shoulders, and took a deep breath. She looked up and favoured the audience with a smile.
“I’d like to thank you all for taking time out of your day to attend the annual fire safety education classes. This morning’s session will be in two parts. The first part will be here, and we’ll go through some of the principles of fire, fire behaviour, and fire safety, and then we’ll make our way outside to the front of the facilities buildings for the practical component, to wrap it all up. I know and appreciate that a lot of you are fitting this in with shifts, so I will do my utmost to keep to time. If you have any questions, or if there’s something that doesn’t make sense, please let me know and I’ll do my best to answer. I will also make myself available at the end if anyone wants to come over and have a chat about what we’ll go through here today.” Mac scanned the audience. “Are there any questions before we get started?”
A hand went up from the east wing doorway. “Excuse me, Lieutenant James?”
Mac shaded her eyes in an attempt to look past the bright overhead stage lights to see who wanted her attention, only to discover that it was the hospital’s chief of staff asking the question.
“Yes, Chief?”
The chief started to walk down the aisle towards the front of the room. “If you could humour me for just a minute, I have a brief announcement I’d like to make, if that’s okay?”
Mac nodded and waved for him to take the floor. She moved to stand off to the side.
“Actually, this involves you too, Lieutenant.”
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