How To Save A Life (Brown County)

by Amber Nation

  I had my medical kit ready and waiting on my lap and my seatbelt unbuckled before Todd skidded the bus to a stop in front of the scene.

  Both of the Sheriff’s Department vehicles were in attendance, which included Charlie’s Camaro since he wouldn’t use the standard issued vehicle that was provided to him.

  The other ambulance came up moments behind us as they followed the entire way, even speeding up when we did.

  Since I was the head paramedic on duty I directed them to the other victim and I ran straight to Sheridan.

  Of course Deputy Bradley was in my way and I didn’t hold my displeasure of him being so close to her.

  “Back up Bradley so I can assess the situation." I tried to keep it professional but really I just wanted him away from her.

  He quickly moved out of my view and I saw Sheridan sitting up on the asphalt with tears streaming down her face, wielding a cloth covering her arm.

  She held her arm close to her body, so when I crouched down to her level and reached out for it the first thing she did was look at me with those piercing green eyes and then the dam broke loose letting the obvious tears she had been holding back run free.

  Before I took a look at her arm, I had to breathe a sigh of relief. She was here, she was breathing. I knew she would be alright.

  I had to hold myself back from enveloping her in my embrace. I needed to remember that she wasn’t mine.

  I gently took the cloth off of the wound and began looking at the injury. My head snapped up to her, “This is a knife wound." I could tell by the depth and the placement of the cut that it was from a knife.

  I wanted to get up to see who the other person was, but I couldn’t be away from Sheridan. Although I had my suspicions, Sheridan confirmed them for me just a few moments later.

  “Mike, I’m alright." The worried expression on her face told me that she wanted to get through to me that she was indeed fine. “It was Pate," she insecurely lowered her head to where she was looking at the ground.

  My blood began to boil and I had to control my urge to go over there and finish off Pate myself. But there was no need to.

  “He’s dead." Those two words were the next to escape through her lips and she almost sounded as relieved as I immediately felt.

  I couldn’t hide the smile that was starting to form on my mouth as I asked her, “Did you..."

  She shook her head, “no," quickly banishing that notion from my thoughts. It didn’t really matter at the time, she was safe and she was right in front of me.

  Deputy Bradley crouched down beside us but was ignoring me as he spoke only to her, “We are going to have to get your statement."

  “Not in my bus you aren’t. She has to get to the hospital for stitches and to make sure that no tendons were injured. You want a statement on the way to the hospital, you get Charlie to do it." Quickly chiming in, whether my opinion was warranted or not. It was my watch, my bus, he followed my rules.

  He let out another sigh of displeasure as he returned to his full height, “Jameson, we need to talk…now!"

  “Later, I’m busy." I was working on wrapping up her arm so it would stop the bleeding so she could take the trip to the hospital, with me.

  “Fine, you don’t want to listen to me Sheridan you can burst his bubble on the way."

  She creased her brow and quickly tried to shake off his request, but it was too late, Ethan had already walked away.

  I didn’t want to try to think of what she would say that would burst my bubble so I tried focusing on getting her arm in transporting condition.

  Getting to my feet, I helped Sheridan up and noticed she was limping, I didn’t even take a look at the rest of her. I tried to stop her on the way to the ambulance, but she refused and climbed in sitting on the stretcher still holding her arm in front of her.

  She wouldn’t even look at me now. But her defiance let me peruse the rest of her body and I saw that she had some cuts and abrasions on her left knee. It even looked to the extent of a few rocks had embedded their way into her skin.

  Whatever happened out there she didn’t go down without a fight. I couldn’t have been more proud of her.

  Right before Todd closed the back doors to the bus, Charlie quickly slipped inside complete with his statement clipboard.

  So it looked as if we were going to get to the bottom of what happened on the way.

  Since Sheridan’s injuries weren’t life threatening we didn’t have to speed or turn on the sirens, so we had plenty of time during our ride.

  “So, Sheridan, I’m going to tell you what I know, then I want you to fill in the gaps." Sheriff Hennings started.

  He was in complete professional mode, but the sadness lurking behind his eyes showed to me that he cared above and beyond his line of duty.

  “I tell you what, I feel like I’ve been on a constant adrenaline rush ever since I received the call from Tessa." He sat back slumping in his seat, trying to relax a bit.

  I didn’t understand what he meant, why would Tessa know anything?

  “Ok, here is what I know. Tessa called me directly stating that she got a call from you on your cellphone and all you said was ‘Help Me.’ She called me right after you hung up the line. I’ll have to commend her for her quick work and she did so without a quirky comment too." He grinned which in turn made Sheridan grin. It was then I noticed the little cut near the crease of her mouth. That bastard.

  “She told me that you were supposed to be at work so that was my first call. When Archie told me that you had left sometime earlier and he thought, you seemed a little strange but just shrugged it off. I’m sure he’ll ream your ass later for not saying anything to him." Then he gave her a little wink. “Anyways, I called my FBI contact and good friend Hunter Severin to see if he could trace your cell phone. Smart thinking for you to keep it on so it could be traced and for not getting caught using it. Your bravery was the key to me finding you." Elation soared deep within my chest, she was so brave for what she went through.

  “But I’m not brave. I thought I was. But in the end I couldn’t kill him. I had changed in a way to where I knew that I wasn’t going to go down without a fight as I had in the past, but I also couldn’t bring myself to his level. I’m not a bad person and I wasn’t going to have that on my conscious. But if you hadn’t shown up when you did Charlie, then I don’t know what would’ve happened. Maybe something in me would’ve snapped and I would’ve went ahead with it, but now I’ll never know. But I’ll also never have to live my life in fear ever again." Sheridan went on to tell us exactly what all happened, from her throwing up in his car because she knew he wouldn’t be able to stand it so he would cut her free. He fucking tied her up using zip ties as if she were an animal. The way I was feeling if he weren’t dead, I would’ve finished the job myself.

  Then she proceeded to tell us that how she had the knife out that she took from The Diner and he ended up turning around so she quickly stabbed him in the back right where his kidney was located.

  He ended up redeeming himself and got her to the ground and the knife out of her grasp, cutting her arm during the scuffle. Evidently he was in the process of getting ready to stab her again when Charlie arrived and shot him then and there on the spot.

  I couldn’t contain myself anymore, I grabbed her cheeks and looked into her eyes and then went in for the kiss. If Ethan wanted to kill me later, then he and I would hash it out then. But for now I wanted to kiss the woman who I was madly in love with because she did an amazing job getting herself out of a terribly horrifying situation.

  I gently pressed my lips to hers, careful of the cut that was in the corner. It didn’t take her long before she relaxed into me and I was able to sweep my tongue into her mouth which was promptly met with hers. We danced that same song and dance, our mouths intertwining like they did every other time before, so perfectly together.

  Although I wouldn’t regret this kiss, ever, I was the first to break free. I rested my forehead against hers as I
muttered. “I’m sorry and I’ll deal with Ethan later, but I had to kiss you. But the thing is you kissed me back…" She actually kissed me back. Hope spread throughout my chest and then I hoped that she wouldn’t end up slapping me for what I had done.

  “Mike has anyone ever told you that you jump to conclusions?"

  “My dad did just a few weeks ago actually, why?" I was still reeling from that kiss that my mind hadn’t really caught up to my mouth.

  “Ethan and I aren’t together. He was there for me when I needed a friend. He’s actually gay."

  I reared my head back, shocked after hearing of this turn of events. I looked over to Charlie, actually having forgotten that he was there, but with a confused expression and he nodded affirming what she just said.

  “Huh, I never knew he was gay."

  “Well, no one around here really ever knew that you were married before now do they?"

  Well except now for Charlie, I thought. I looked over to him and did a small shake of my head urging him to let it go.

  “Not everybody airs out their business. I wouldn’t have ever told you if Ethan hadn’t just told me that it was ok to ‘burst your bubble.’ So, yes, I did kiss you back and I would do it again. But first I need to apologize." She took a second to glance at her wrapped up injured arm before returning her gaze to me. “I need to apologize to you for keeping you in the dark about Benjamin and although I had my reasons I should’ve trusted you with my sons life the way that I trusted you with mine. But in the end I knew the outcome would’ve been the same, I was just prolonging the inevitable. And even though I so desperately tried to not fall in love with you, it didn’t work."

  I opened my mouth and then shut it again trying to comprehend all of what she just said.

  “You love me?" I asked incredulously. She had friend zoned me, then left my bed after we made love, and now she says that she loves me?

  “I’ve loved you all along, Mike. I really tried not to because I knew your views on children and well Ben and I are a package deal. But I couldn’t stop loving you even if I tried."

  A single tear slipped down her cheek and I made quick work to wipe it away with my thumb as I caressed her cheek.

  “I love you too, Sheridan."

  “I know. You said it in your sleep that night. That’s when I knew that I had to start pulling back. I couldn’t crush you again with things you didn’t know about."

  I thought I had been dreaming that but to know that she did indeed love me well, it was a start. I didn’t hesitate in diving in for her lips once again, tenderly kissing her and expressing how much I’ve missed her since she’d been gone.

  “Ahem…" I faintly heard from the other end of the ambulance, but I was too into this kiss with the love of my life to bother stopping now.

  “Mike, Sheridan, we are at the hospital." Charlie said.

  I reluctantly broke apart the same time she did to realize that Charlie and Todd were both standing outside of the ambulance with the doors wide open.

  Charlie rolled his eyes before he started leaving and I could hear him say, “I felt like I was living in a fucking soap opera for the last twenty minutes. My God, do they need to get a room."

  I couldn’t agree with him more but first we had to get Sheridan’s arm and leg checked out.

  Luckily the hospital wasn’t busy at all and they were able to take a look at her arm and stitch her up within a few minutes and clean out the cuts on her leg and within an hour she had been discharged. And I only had to be told to quit hovering over her one time. I consider that a win because I wasn’t going to let her out of my sight for a second.

  Todd and Charlie had long gone with the ambulance leaving me behind without transportation. That was alright though because I was with Sheridan and she was all I needed at the moment.

  After catching a ride back to the Station, I found that Todd had left me to clean the ambulance and get it set up for the next run. I had an incentive to get it done faster, I was just lucky that she decided to stick by me.

  “Let me hurry up and get this cleaned up then I’ll take you to your car, ok?"

  I didn’t really know what was going to happen from here on out, but I knew that I didn’t want Sheridan to slip through my fingers again.

  Once I had restocked the bus and put everything back in place, I sat down beside Sheridan who was resting on the back bumper of the ambulance, swinging her legs like a little kid.

  “What are you thinking about?" I asked as I gently bumped her shoulder with mine.

  She hesitantly shrugged her shoulders then brought her hands in her lap and began picking at her nails. I wasn’t sure if she was trying to avoid my question until she finally spoke up.

  She turned her head to the side to where she could look directly into my eyes, “Where do we go from here Mike?"

  I hopped up from off of the bumper and began walking around aimlessly. Almost to the point where I was pacing back and forth.

  I could tell that she wasn’t going to sugar coat things, especially with having her son around. So if I wanted her I had to be completely all in.

  I already knew that both of our hearts were on the line, but I didn’t know if I had the actual strength within me to father another child.

  Hope was reflected back at me from Sheridan’s expression, she knew what she wanted. For her, her life would be complete with the three of us being together.

  Two different options were staring me in the face and I hoped like hell that the decision I made would be the right one.

  Sheridan

  I felt like I’ve held my breath for so long that I was going to end up passing out waiting for Mike’s answer. Breathing wouldn’t become easy again until he told me what he wanted and even then it may be hard.

  My swinging legs had ceased their movement and I was beginning to lose feeling in my fingers from digging them over the side of the bumper. Not even to mention the constant throbbing in my arm from the knife wound.

  My nightmare was officially over, Ben and I could live our lives in peace. Our family would be absolutely complete once Mike revealed his decision. I didn’t want to feel like he was being faced with an ultimatum but in a way he was and I felt horrible for that.

  But for me it was all or nothing. I was a packaged deal now. I had faith in him that he could become a father again and he would be amazing at it, because he was an amazing man.

  An eternity passed again and I had to resume my breathing but that didn’t mean that my violation of the bumper of the ambulance would stop any time soon. I was really surprised that my nails hadn’t started ripping clean from the nail beds.

  Finally, after I had almost given up hope, Mike stopped his pacing and stood directly in front of me. The way he was placed if he made the wrong decision I could easily swing my leg again and hit him square in the nuts, which would make me feel a teensy bit better if he told me he was done.

  “Don’t think that I can’t tell what you are thinking. And you better get all violent thoughts out of your mind." He said with a smirk.

  “Well, if you wouldn’t take so long and either put me out of my misery or make me the happiest woman. The suspense is killing me." I said in a silly tone then quickly realized that I could’ve used a better choice of words and snapped my mouth shut.

  Hmm… He seemed to mull over his decision once again before he solemnly said, “You and that smart mouth of yours... You’ll have to give me some time for Ben and me to get used to each other. I’m not going to say that it’ll be easy for me to let another child into my heart, but for you, for us…I am one hundred percent absolutely all in. I’ll do whatever it takes to be with you Sheridan."

  I didn’t let him get in another word before I jumped onto him circling my arms and legs behind his back. It took him a moment before he regained his bearings after I forced him a few steps back.

  Our lips met and I was first to slip my tongue into his waiting mouth. I would never get tired of kissing these lips and I would never get ti
red of loving this man.

  Mike began walking forward and then I felt my back hit up against a cold, flat surface. I broke free to find that he had me pushed up against the back of the ambulance.

  “We are far enough out of sight, if you’ll be quiet, I’ll be quick."

  It took me a moment to realize that he was going to take me right here in the bay where the ambulances were parked.

  My eyes grew wide and before I could say a word about it, he had set me down on my feet and bent down to slip my panties down my legs and stuffed them into his pocket.

  He looked back up to me with a smile on his face and gave me a wink. “I’ve always wanted to do that," he said referring to putting my discarded panties into his work pants. Then he proceeded to unbuckle his belt and unfasten those same navy blue work pants pulling them down to free his impressive erection.

  “You’ll have to hold onto me, sweetheart."

  I wrapped my legs around his waist once again as he cradled me under my ass slipping his erection deep within my core until he was completely seated.

  I had never done anything as remotely as spontaneous or even in public for that matter.

  “What if you get a call?"

  “You worry too much, live a little," he whispered in between kissing my collarbone.

  Worrying was my forte, it was what I did. But in this direction and me being in my uniform, I was covered more than he was. I had to start giggling at the first thing someone would see if they caught us.

  “Oh, sweetheart, you’ve gotta stop giggling. That makes you clamp around my dick even more. Don’t get me wrong it feels amazing, but this will be over entirely too soon if you continue." I didn’t know if I would ever get used to him being so forward and so crass. “What was so funny anyways?" he added in.

  “I was just thinking that in this position if someone were to walk in here and see us, the first thing they would see would be your ass." I couldn’t help it, but I giggled again.