My Favorite Explosion

The BLS crew dropped me off at my station, helping me put the bags in the back of the truck as I quickly restocked it. Jake met me at the truck as I placed a new set of pads in the monitor, a horrified look on his face.
“Scarlett what the hell happened?” He asked standing next to me.
“I had to cardiovert him” I said flatly, still in clinician mode.
“Scarlett I would have taken him, you know that right?”
“I know” I nodded, “I don’t doubt your skills Jake. But I didn’t want to hate you if anything happened” I said feeling myself slowly return to a normal human being. “If anything happened I wanted to be the last person he saw. I don’t doubt that you wouldn’t have done everything you needed to, fuck you taught me everything I know Jake. But if that was the last time I saw my brother I wanted to make sure I was there for every second of it” I sighed closing the back of the suburban.
“You need to go be his sister. Take this shit off” He said as he hugged me. “Is anyone there with him?”
“Vic and Mike are. I have to go get my dad. Oh fuck, I have to tell dad” I sighed running my fingers through my hair.
“Do you want me to drive you?”
“No. I’m fine. I promise, I’m okay to drive” I said seeing the look on his face.
“Okay” He nodded knowing not to question me.
I walked inside the station feeling numb and unsure of what had just happened. I logged my PCR into the book and placed it in the filing cabinet for the lieutenant to review at the end of the month and punched out after handing over my narcotics and radio to the overnight guys. I walked over to my couch to see Jake had already folded up my blanket and put it in my bag for me. I gave him a weak smile and grabbed my civilian clothes to change into.
I said good bye to Jake and the night crew, waling out the door with my stuff in my hands. I threw my bags into the trunk and called my dad. I told him I was coming to pick him up so we could go somewhere and he didn’t question it. I wasn’t sure if he already knew but I was afraid of his reaction.
I pulled into my driveway for the second time today and walked into the house finding my dad sitting at the kitchen table.
“Scarlett what’s going on?” He questioned

“Austin’s in the hospital daddy” I said flatly, ready to have to call for him if I needed to.“Let’s go then” He said standing up and walking outside. He got in the passenger seat of my car with a blank stare on his face, staring straight out as I locked the house up. “What happened?” He asked as I pulled out of the driveway.

“He was having chest pain so he called Vic who came over with Mike and one of them called 911. I was working medic 31 which responds to our house which I didn’t know until today. I didn’t even realize we were coming here until we pulled in the driveway. I was sleeping when the call came in. I walked in and Austin looked terrified” I said reliving what had just happened. “He told me it felt like there was an elephant sitting on his chest which made me know it was his heart since he just recently had his heart surgery. His blood pressure was elevated and he had a rapid heart rate but I didn’t tell him any of that. I had no idea what his EKG said, it was something I had never seen before, daddy. Never. So I went and got his previous EKG’s and saw nothing similar so then I ran upstairs and got Mommy’s that I knew you still had.”

“I’ve been meaning to get rid of those” He sighed.

“I’m glad you haven’t” I smiled, “I saw one similar to what I had seen on the monitor with Austin’s so I took it with me to show the doctor. But on the way to the hospital his heart rate increased to about 150 beats per minute. He was in super ventricular tachycardia. SVT for short. I gave him morphine and then had to shock him, what we call cardioverting to break it. Thank god it did. It went back to normal and he was stable”

“Was?” My father questioned, his eyes widening.

“Last I checked on him which was about five minutes before I picked you up. He’s in good hands dad” I said as I pulled into the hospital parking lot. “you ready to go in there?” I asked as he digested everything I had just told him.

“I’m so proud of you for being able to do what you did Scarlett. You’re truly a hero” He said as a tear slid down his cheek.

“I’m not a hero daddy” I chuckled, “I did my job.” I smiled getting out of the car

“You’re my hero Scarlett Olivia.” He smiled kissing my forehead, “Come on, let’s go see your other half” He laughed.

We walked in through the ambulance entrance as I said hi to the security guard and walked into Austin’s room, with no Austin in the room. Vic sat in a chair next to where his bed had been and I was able to prevent the panic that rose in my stomach.

“He’s getting a chest xray done” Vic answered before I could ask. I let out a deep sigh managing to get myself to relax. “He’s okay baby. He’s okay” he assured as he hugged me. I fought the tears that wanted to fall, not wanting to cry in front of my dad. He took a seat in the chair that Vic had vacated, knowing we would be going outside in a few minutes once Austin returned.

The nurse and transportation returned with Austin still in his bed and hooked up to the heart monitor. He smiled when he saw me, but that smile soon dropped when he saw dad.

“How did I know you were going to tell him?” Austin laughed

“You thought she wouldn’t? I thought you were smarter than that son” Dad laughed “Your sister told me everything that happened. I’m glad you’re okay son” He smiled, a single tear rolling down his cheek.

I felt myself about to break down and excused myself from the room, hearing Vic say he would follow me outside. Once I reached the wall we stand by while on shift to smoke after a call I slid down the wall grabbing my cigarettes out of my purse lighting one, inhaling deeply and closing my eyes as I exhaled.

“Scarlett?” I heard Vic say, I had obviously moved too fast for him to keep track of me. He walked around the wall to find me, following the cloud of smoke.

“Yeah?” I answered as he turned the corner to find me crouching against the wall.

“Are you okay?” he asked squatting down in front of me.

“I just had to take my brother to the hospital because his heart is doing God only knows what, just like our mother’s did. I had to shock him with 500 jules of electricity because his heart was racing at over one hundred fifty beats per minute. I had to pray that it didn’t send him into cardiac arrest because I knew it would be my fault. You tell me if I’m fucking okay Victor” I snapped as I felt my mood begin to shift.

“A simple no would have sufficed, Scarlett.”

“Why didn’t you call me? Matter of fact, why didn’t anyone call me? After you called for an ambulance I should have been the next phone call”

“We didn’t want you to leave work. I was going to tell you once you got home. We weren’t expecting you to walk through the door, Scarlett”

“I’m his sister Vic. I know his history better than my own” I said standing up.

“Well, if that’s the case; when were you going to tell me that you were diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder Scarlett?”

“Excuse me?” I asked wondering how he had found out.

“You heard me, don’t pull that shit with me. I thought we were going to be straight up with
each other this time Scar.”

“You think that shit is easy to talk about Vic? It’s not just depression or anxiety, I’m fucking bipolar Vic. Do you think that’s easy for me to tell people? Mike doesn’t even know, only Austin and my dad know.”

“Does Jake know?” He questioned

“You’re kidding me right now, right? That’s a joke”

“Does it look like I’m joking?”

“I’m not doing this right now Vic” I said walking towards the door to go inside.

“Yep, there’s the Scarlett I know. Running away from her problems one at a time, God forbid you answer one fucking question without giving me another question.”

“I’m not doing this right now, because my twin brother is in the fucking emergency room because his heart is doing some funky shit and you want to fight with me about working with Jake? Who was nothing but polite and courteous to you while we were at the house when he knows that you can’t stand him for no fucking reason. You’ve got some fucking nerve Victor.” I turned around to walk back in again when he grabbed my arm.

“Scarlett stop, wait.”

“God you’re so pathetic sometimes. You dig and dig and push me away with the shit you say and then change your mind thirty seconds later and tell me to come back or stop or stay. I’m not doing this shit again Vic. I refuse. Make up your mind, and fucking stick to it this time.” I said yanking my arm back and walking inside. I stopped in the EMS room to make myself coffee and collect myself before I went back to Austin’s room. I took a deep breath as I leaned against the counter sipping on the coffee I had just made myself. I pulled out my phone to see who had tried to contact me while I was sitting outside arguing with Vic, as if he had some type of mind reading abilities Jake had texted me asking if I was okay and wondering how Austin was doing. I sent him an update on Austin, telling him I was fine and slipped my phone into my back pocket. I walked back into the ER to find out he had been moved upstairs while I was outside. The desk clerk gave me his room number and I wandered my way upstairs to the room to sit with Austin and dad who both death glared me as I walked in.

“What’d I do?” I questioned holding my free hand in the air.

“Are you two ever going to be able to not fight?” Austin asked

“I think the safest and most accurate answer to that is going to be a no” I answered him.
“How did you even know we were fighting?”

“I can see right through you. You’re like a giant glass heart” he laughed.

“You’re the giant one, not me buddy” I retorted.

“What could you two possibly have to fight about anyway?” Dad asked.

“Something tells me Vic isn’t a fan of someone she works with. He’s always been like
that” Austin answered.

“Is that true Scarlett?”

“Yeah” I nodded sitting at the edge of Austin’s bed. “Vic’s never liked Jake, and for no reason.”

“Scarlett Olivia” Austin started.

“I didn’t even know Vic at that time don’t even bring that up Austin Robert” I snapped at him. Dad looked confused, unaware of what we were talking about but I’m sure he had an idea.

“You need to be careful” Austin stated.

“And he needs to not be an asshole and not bring up the fact that I’m fucking certifiable.” I
stated getting ready to get up to go outside again.

“What are you talking about Scar?” Austin asked.

“He found my medication I guess. He asked me when I was planning on telling him I was bipolar” I sighed.

“You hadn’t told him yet?” Dad asked.

“Dad how long did it take me to tell you?” I chuckled. He shrugged knowing I was right.

“Scarlett you should go home” Austin said as I turned around.

“Are you kicking me out Austin?”

“Not exactly, but I’m fine. I’m stable. They just want to keep me for observation. See if my heart does that SVT thing you talked about earlier. Go home, take dad. You worked all day. You need the rest.”

“But what if—“ I started.

“If anything happens they’ll call you. Now please, go home. You’re tired, cranky and bitchy.”

“Well fuck you too” I laughed walking over to the side of the bed, “I love you Aussie, call me if anything changes.”

“You know I will” He smiled, “Go get some rest already. You too old man!” He laughed at dad.

“I love you son” Dad said leaning over giving him a kiss on the forehead.

“Love you too pops. See ya tomorrow” Austin smiled.

Dad and I walked outside to the car, I got in the driver side while he slid into the passenger seat. My phone’s Bluetooth automatically connected and funnily enough, “Second & Sebring” began to play.

“I remember when he wrote this song” Dad said reminiscing as I drove out of the parking lot.

“What was he like?” I asked realizing I never fully watched my brother’s creative side.

“He absolutely hated it.” He laughed, “It was originally full of rage for him. I don’t know what happened but one day he came home and he loved it. Said it was the best song he’s ever written. It’s now his favorite song to perform on tour” Dad said with a smile on his face. “I’m so incredibly proud of you two kids. You make an old man smile. Especially you Miss Scarlett. I’m so glad you came home”

“Me too daddy. Me too” I smiled looking at him at a red light.

“You don’t plan on leaving again if things don’t work out with Vic again do you?”

“No” I chuckled knowing he was serious, “I can’t do that to myself again Dad”

“Good. Because I’m not letting you go again”

“I know” I smiled again, “I love you dad” I said as I pulled into the driveway.

“I love you too Scarlett.” He smiled with pride on his face, “Are you going back out?”

“Yea” I nodded, “I’m gonna meet up with some people from work. Is that okay?” I asked making sure he would be okay home on his own.

“Of course baby girl” he smiled kissing my forehead. “Be safe. I love you” He said as he
climbed out of the car.

I smiled as I watched him walk inside to make sure he got in okay, a habit I developed from taking care of a drunken Mikey. I pulled my phone out of my purse and searched through my contacts, finding the number I wanted.

“Scarlett! Wasn’t expecting to hear from you so soon. Everything okay?” He asked.

“So how about those drinks you suggested? I could really use one” I sighed as the day hit me.

“Absolutely! How about our old spot? It’s still there”

“Sounds fantastic. I’ll see you in fifteen minutes”

“Okay sounds good! See you in a bit Scar, bye!”

“Bye Jake!” I said hitting the end call button and pulling out of the driveway. I was known for bad ideas, but after today the only person I wanted to talk to was my partner.

Notes

Hi so I'm back after a month hiatus! So sorry about that guys, nothing I wrote was good enough, I don't even completely love this but I needed to get something out! Enjoy!