Rescue

The police car skidded to a halt, and the officer nearly threw open his door trying to get out fast enough. Nearly sprinting the distance took less than a second as he dropped down next to the fallen officer. The truck driver, still keeping pressure on the injured man's leg, yelled, "Where's rescue?!?!"

"Coming up the ramp now," the trooper retorted. Quickly surveying his comrade, he reached for his radio and hollered, "Dispatch, advise rescue to come around back and get the gurney ready. This is a Priority 1 situation."

"10-4," came the reply back. The officer then looked up at the driver and asked him, "Did you see who did this?"

"Oh yeah, happened right in front of me. Even got camera footage," the driver replied, jerking his thumb towards the truck. "Got cameras going forward and back."

"Good, we're gonna need that footage," the officer retorted. "Also, we're gonna need you to ride in the ambulance with him. Since you got a fair amount of his blood on you and don't have any gloves on, you'll have to get tested for bloodborne pathogens. Sorry, protocol in this situation," he said, noting the look of concern in the driver's eyes. "Don't worry, we'll get you back here afterwards. It's the least we can do, considering you didn't have to help at all."

"Gonna need to get the truck back into a spot," the driver replied.

"Don't bother," said the trooper. "We need it in that position for evidence. Besides, no one else is coming in here today. This is now a crime scene." Turning around, the ambulance rounded the corner, coming to a stop just past the pool of blood. Back doors swinging open, the medic jumped out, took a quick look, then turned back and grabbed the stretcher.

The driver of the ambulance opened his door, and came out, running to the back to help the other medic with the gurney. Freeing it from its locks, the two pulled it out and let it down to the ground. The first medic then ran over to the fallen officer, examining first the leg, then the driver's shirt on the wound. Motioning the other medic to bring the medic bag, he produced a pair of scissors from a leg pocket, cutting the injured officer's pants first down the leg, then up towards his hip. Peeling back the fabric of the uniform, he motioned for the other medic.

"How much dressing and gauze do we have?" he asked the second medic.

"I don't know. The last time this unit ran, the hospital had a shortage of supplies to restock." Tearing open the bag, he examined the contents. "Looks like we may be lucky, but I don't want to push it. We need to get that bleeding stopped pronto."

"I agree. He's already getting pasty," the first one observed, as he grabbed for the nearest dressing. Tearing the package open, he put it on top of the truck driver's shirt. Instinctively, the driver started to take the shirt away, but the medic stopped him before he could lift it.

"Don't do that. Keep pressure on it. Pulling it away will open it back up," he told the driver. Nodding, the driver pushed back down, causing the trooper to moan loudly. The medic then applied the dressing on top, while the ambulance driver produced a big roll of gauze. "This is gonna hurt like hell, but we gotta lift that leg a little bit to get it wrapped up."

"Damn," the driver muttered. Looking down at the officer, he realized that this may be the only way to save him. "Okay, tell me when."

"No, not you. You need to keep pressure." Turning to the trooper, he said, "You can lift his leg."

The trooper let out a quick breath, then said, "Okay Kendall, this is gonna hurt a lot. Do what you need to so we can get this done." With that, he lifted the leg at the ankle, causing Kendall to start screaming in pain. The medic, gauze ready, started wrapping as fast as he could, trying to overlap the gauze to create a pressure dressing. A few seconds later, the gauze roll ran out, leaving the medic to tie it off. Then,taking a small rod, he slid it into the rolled gauze wrap, and said, "Let's get him on the stretcher, we gotta go. Driver, you're coming with."

Nodding, the driver started to get up, then stopped. With a quizzical look on his face, he asked, "Do I let go now?"

"Yeah, but once we get him on the gurney, keep your hands close by and away from your face. We can clean you up at the hospital," the medic replied.

He looked to the state trooper and asked, "Can I fix my logs to show me off duty real quick?"

"No," the trooper replied. "You have to remain on duty, but put in the remarks that you are basically part of this crime scene, and need medical attention. We'll contact your company and let them know what's going on."

"OK," the driver replied. Rushing over to the truck, he climbed up and pulled his computer over to him. Changing his log and adding the remark, he pushed the OK button, then exited the truck, making sure to shut it off, and switching his battery saver switch. Once done, he went over to the ambulance, where the fallen officer was just getting loaded up. "Where do I need to sit?"

"In back with me," the medic replied. "Even though you aren't hurt, I might need some help with him, and he seems to trust you more than me if something starts to go south." He smiled wryly. "Besides, we can't have you bloodying up the front of the ambulance. It'd take forever to get it cleaned."

The truck driver nodded, climbing up into the back of the ambulance. Finding the bench seat, he sat there until the officer was locked in place and the medic climbed up inside, leaving the doors for the ambulance driver to close.

SLAM! SLAM! the doors resounded, causing the truck driver to wince at the unexpectedly loud sound. The medic, passing in front of him, started pulling out tubing and packages from the cabinet. Then, sitting down next to him, He started opening them up, producing the contents of an IV kit. Looking at the truck driver, he asked, "You aren't scared of needles are you?"

"Nope," the driver replied.

"Good," the medic said. "I need to start an IV to try to replenish some fluids in him so he doesn't pass out on me. Also, I can give him something for the pain to calm him down. He's not out of the woods yet, but at least he has a fighting chance." Turning to his patient, he told him what he was doing. Officer Kendall nodded, then turned to the driver, tears rolling down his face. "Thank you."

"No problem, sir. Would do it all over again if I had to," the driver smiled. "Save your strength, sir. It might be a rough road, and I have a feeling you're gonna need it."

Officer Kendall nodded, then winced slightly as the IV needle entered his arm. Seeing the needle go in, almost all the way, there was blood starting to come out. Seeing this, the medic pulled the needle back, but left the tube in his arm, pushing it the rest of the way in. Blood started to trickle down Officer Kendall's arm, and the medic inserted another tube at the end trickling with blood. Looking up, a bag hung over top the officer, full of what looked like water. The medic opened the IV, and fluid started to run down the tube in the officer's arm. The blood disappeared from the tube, and the medic covered the tube in his arm with a sticky tape to hold it in place.

Once done, he then went to a red and white box with a zip tie on the front, and cut the tie off. Opening the latches, he flipped the top open, revealing an assortment of syringes, needles, and small bottles. Selecting one, he also grabbed a syringe and needle, closed the lid, and put the box under the head of the gurney. Taking the syringe, he twisted the needle onto the syringe, making sure it was locked into place.

Turning the bottle upside down, he then opened the plunger on the syringe about halfway, then injected the needle into the bottle. Pushing the plunger, bubbles appeared inside the bottle. Once the plunger was down, the medic started pulling it back, allowing the liquid to fill the syringe. Pulling the needle out, he then pulled the plunger back a little more to put a small bubble of air in it. Once done, he capped the needle, twisted it off, and disposed of it in a square container on the wall.

Turning back to Officer Kendall, he gently squeezed the air pocket out of the syringe until the bubble was gone, then plugged it into a port in the IV tubing. Slowly dispensing it, Officer Kendall's cries turned into whimpers shortly, then soft moans.

"What did you give him?" the truck driver asked.

"Morphine," the medic replied. "He's gonna be out of it for about an hour or so, and I needed him quiet while I call the hospital and give them an ETA." With that, the medic pulled out a cell phone and speed dialed a number. The hospital answered on the third ring, and he stated the unit number, and gave an assessment of the situation. "ETA to your location is 5 minutes out," he finished.

"10-4. Triage 1 on arrival," the hospital replied.

"Roger, out," the medic said.