I pulled up at the hospital a bit later and all but jumped from the car. I needed out of the small space, needed to stretch my legs. Needed away from Dre.
When I returned with the supplies Julia wanted, I found Dre leaning against the car. “Come on, let’s go. We don’t have all day.”
“So, you can stretch but I’m not allowed. Got it,” Dre deadpanned as he climbed into the car.
“You ever notice how high and mighty the damn nurses are?” I asked—because my irritation at the nurse I’d just dealt with outweighed my annoyance at Dre for the time being—as I started the engine.
Dre chuckled. “Kinda like how high and mighty the paramedics are to us lowly EMTs?”
I shot him a look. “No, the nurses are just so…full of themselves? Looking down their noses all the time. I could do CPR in circles around an RN, run a code better than they ever could. Need meds pushed? Who needs a doctor’s order? Not me, oh but the nurse does.”
“You’re talking in generalities, but I get what you’re saying. Why do you think some hospitals hire paramedics for the ER and ICU rather than nurses? You’re cheap and you’re good at what you do.” Dre shook his head. “But I gotta tell you—from my personal experience—what you feel toward the nurses? That’s what EMTs feel toward paramedics.”
I sneered. “I’m not as bad as a nurse.”
Dre scoffed. “Maybe not you personally, but in general, yeah, you are. Just like doctors think they’re better than nurses, nurses think they’re better than paramedics, paramedics think they’re better than EMTs. There are more stops in that hierarchy, but you get my point.” He checked his phone. “Fire station next. We’re good on time.”
I pulled the car to a stop at the neighboring fire station a few minutes later. We were in the same county so under some of the same jurisdiction even though our Remington station ran fairly independently for the most part. But we’d share supplies from time-to-time and often the bigger orders would get sent to the bigger station which left us having to pick up what we needed or wait for them to make a drive to Remington.
By the time Dre came out with the supplies, I was itching to get to our meeting and be done with it. Better to get the bad news and move on.
“Coffee?” Dre asked. “We’ve got time.”
“Nah.” I was already jittery, didn’t need to add to it.
Dre huffed. “Can you please swing through Starbucks so I can get something? I’ll get one for Julia, too.”
I took a deep breath and fought the urge to tell him no, but I realized that would have been extra shitty, even for me. “Suck up,” I mumbled. Remington had very few big chains, so one exit before, I drove him to Starbucks and let him run inside for his coffee.
Without meaning to, I found myself watching as he stood in line. About five foot eleven to my six foot two, Dre was neither skinny nor built. He was very average and carried the look of someone who didn’t go to the gym but still looked good. His long braids—which I’d noticed he sometimes added blond and colorful strands to—hung banded together to the middle of his back, just below his shoulder blades. For someone so into fashion, he did an amazing job looking casual in just joggers and a hoodie.
I shook my head to clear the thoughts as he climbed back into the car with two cups.
“Do you think we should go home and change first?” Dre asked as he gestured to our clothing.
“No, she had us running errands, she can deal with casual. Plus, we can’t change the fact we were gone for the weekend when she popped this meeting on us.”
“Oh, shit.” Dre took a sip of his coffee, his brown eyes staring wildly at me over the cup. “Do you think she’s pissed we both took the weekend off?”
I shrugged. It had crossed my mind. “Maybe? Don’t know. She approved it, but maybe she’s pissy? I only had to take one off because the other shift I was already scheduled off. You had to take both?”
He nodded. “Yeah, but I got someone to cover both of them, so none of the shifts were in a lurch.”
“Guess we’ll find out soon.” I turned the car toward Remington.
Dre silently sipped his coffee as worry emanated from him in waves.
Three
Dre
I handed Julia a coffee and smiled as she sighed and sipped it. “Thank you. I needed that.” She sat behind her desk and shuffled through some papers with one hand while taking another drink. “I appreciate you both coming in. I apologize for pulling you from your weekend off, but it had to be done.” She opened a folder and handed us each a piece of paper. “Starting tomorrow, we’ve got some big changes being put in place. As two of my best, I’m switching your shifts and assignments a bit.”
As my eyes scanned over the assignment sheet, I sensed Khi’s anger boiling beside me.
“You’re putting us on the same shift? Riding together?” Khi cleared his throat.
Julia narrowed her eyes and leaned forward on her elbows. “I am. Is that a problem for you, Mr. Harris?”
“No, ma’am.” Khi shifted in his seat and I knew he was fighting the urge to explode. “With all due respect, may I ask what brought on the change?”
“Some things came down on me from the higher-ups and I had decisions that needed to be made. We’re not the biggest station around, but we stay busy and we need to be consistent with those around us. Switching to these new shifts and new assignments will put us where we need to be. That’s all I’m willing to answer.” She scribbled a note. “I expect you here on time for
