Free EMS Heat 01 - Running Hot by Stephani Hecht Page A

off all source of fresh air.
“That was fun,” Jack beamed before he took a swig from the can.
James frowned when he noticed the yellowish tinge to the man’s eyes. “When’s the last time you went to the clinic?” James asked as he got out the blood pressure cuff and put his stethoscope earpieces in.
“Bah, I don’t like them.” Jack scowled and tightened his grip on his drink, almost as if he were afraid someone would come and snatch it from him.
“How about the shelter?” James knew his suggestion would fall on deaf ears, but felt compelled to try anyway. While Jack may be a pain in the ass, there was also a softer side to him that brought out James’s protective impulses. Slapping the cuff in place, he took the man’s blood pressure only to find that it was low—too damn low. James’s concern turned to full-blown worry as he reached up and got an IV out of one of the cabinets.
“They’re not nice there.” Jack let out a snort. “Not like you and Matt.”
“If you like us so much, then why do you always run from me?” James spiked the IV and got the rest of the supplies out. He tried to keep the needle hidden as much as possible, knowing how much they terrified Jack.
“It’s so much fun to watch you get mad when you have to chase me. Admit it, your days would be so boring without me around.”
“Here I thought it was so you scam cookies out of me.” James rolled up the man’s sleeve and tried to find a vein. He winced when he saw open sores running up Jack’s arms. Red and inflamed, they were showing signs of serious infection, too. It was hard, but James was finally able to find a viable blood vessel that looked like it may support an IV. As he started to swab the area with an alcohol wipe, Jack jerked away, a look of horror passing through his watery eyes.
“What do you think you’re doing?” his outrage echoed through the closed confines of the ambulance.
“Oh, come on. I thought you were some big Indian Warrior. You shouldn’t be afraid of something as little as a needle.” Somehow James managed to keep a straight face while speaking those ridiculous words.
Jack’s face grew somber and for a brief second, the crazy was gone long enough for James to see the bleak despair on the man’s face.
“We both know I’m not an Indian Warrior. I’m just some bum who’s no good to anybody.”
“Hey, that’s not true.” James gave him a light punch on the shoulder. “Without you, my job would be no fun at all.”
* * * *
    When Calvin Dane had been laboring all those years in medical school, he never dreamed being a doctor would be so fulfilling. He also never imagined it would be this hard. At the end of yet another twelve-hour shift, his body ached like he was fifty instead of thirty-two and his eyes felt so grainy, the mere act of blinking hurt. To add to it, his stomach was starting to revolt against all the hospital cafeteria food he eaten and he’d drank the last of his Pepto around four hours ago.
    He was sitting in the break room, trying to make the best out of his crappy cup of coffee, when one of the nurses, a petite blonde named Janet, came sailing in. As usual, she was all smiles, her teeth almost as bright as the cartoon characters on her pink scrub top. Calvin tired hard not to glower at her, but it was difficult. Damn her for being so chipper all the time .
    “We have one coming in,” she announced as she grabbed the coffee pot and poured herself a cup.
    “I wouldn’t drink that if I were you. It’s deadly.” He took another drink of his swill and shuddered as the lukewarm liquid hit his tongue. He would have tossed it in the garbage where it belonged, but needed the caffeine too bad.
    Janet paused, her pink lips pursed in worry as she studied him. “Can I say something to you? One friend to another?”
    “Please.” He made the bring-it-on gesture. “When have you ever asked my permission to insult me?”
    “You look like crap, honey. When’s the last time you got