Free Pack Balance by Crissy Smith Page B

Julie followed his hand across to two boys the victim’s age.
    The young men backed up before they turned and sprinted off. Julie didn’t have time to worry about them. She could give the cops a description later.
    “I’m going to get the gurney and call this in,” Shawn said, hopping to his feet.
    Julie nodded, busy getting supplies out from her bag. She would prep her patient while Shawn was gone. They’d need to do an IV and get some fluids in him. As she worked, she glanced at the sister. “What’s his name?”
    “Corey,” the girl replied.
    “We’re going to take care of you, Corey,” she said, bending closer to the boy. He couldn’t have been older than twenty. He must have trusted the two punks that he’d gotten the pills from. She heard police sirens coming nearer and hoped they’d catch the drug dealers.
    “Here we go,” Shawn called out.
    They worked together to get Corey loaded up. Shawn started to push the gurney, and Julie looked back at her patient’s sister. “We’re taking him to Medical Center. Get your family and you can meet him there.”
    The younger girl nodded before she ran off. Julie felt horrible for her. There was a chance that Corey wouldn’t make it from what Shawn had said about the other cases. Julie would do everything she could to save him, though.
    She ran to catch up to her partner. As she turned the corner, she almost collided with Cooper.
    “Hey.” He caught her by the shoulders. “You okay?”
    “Yeah fine.” She was happy to see him but she needed to help Corey.
    “You’ll want to talk to one of the witnesses. He pointed out the two that gave our boy the drugs,” she told him.
    “Shawn gave us the description. We have patrol officers looking for them. We’ll wrap up here and try to get to the hospital before you leave.”
    She nodded before sliding past him and into the rig. She went right to Corey’s side and got to work. Julie didn’t even look up when the doors closed. Shawn would get them where they were going and Cooper would find the dealers. She had to believe that. It was so sad to see men and women, young and old, giving up their lives to this horrible craving for drugs. She didn’t blame them, but she wished she could help somehow before they ended up in her ambulance. Maybe she could find somewhere to volunteer when she wasn’t working. She’d discuss it with Cooper.
    She peered down at Corey. She closed her eyes and said a little prayer that the kid would make it.
     
    * * * *
     
    Exhausted, Julie pushed through the doors that separated the emergency entrance from the waiting room. Corey was still being treated, but his chance of a full recovery was good. They’d managed to lower his temperature and get fluids in him quickly enough that the drug hadn’t been fully digested. The doctors had given him something to counteract the poison. Shawn had gone ahead to clear out the rig and get them ready for their next call. God, she just wanted to go home and get off her feet. It sucked to work twelve hour shifts but she only had to work three or four days a week, and she enjoyed that. Knowing that Cooper would be there when she got off gave her something to look forward to as well.
    She spotted Cooper standing against the wall close to the doors and her heart started to beat faster. She slowed down, just taking in his lean body as he spoke into his phone. He looked up and saw her watching. He quickly ended his call before strolling toward her. Julie stopped walking and waited.
    “You look tired,” he said when he reached her.
    “I am.” She glanced at her watch. “And I still have a long night ahead of me.”
    “We found Shawn working restocking and cleaning the ambulance when we arrived and he said the same thing. We all figured a quick break for some food might help. Josiah and Shawn ran to the cafeteria to grab you guys some dinner, so I thought I’d wait on you,” Cooper said.
    She wanted her hands on him, just for a moment. “Come