Branded

The only thing keeping my pride from withering away and dying right now is that she treated Dax with the same indifference once it was all said and done. She told us to see ourselves out and then locked herself in the bathroom. Maybe that’s why I’m feeling so on edge. I’m the one who gave her all those fucking orgasms. I’m the one who made her fantasy come true. Is a simple thank you too much to ask? Jesus Christ…

“How’s it going being back on the job?” I ask, changing the subject.

Collin raises an eyebrow and stares me down. I’m a little afraid he’s not going to let this shit go, but thankfully he realizes I’m in no mood to hash it out right now.

“Good. Busy as fuck. You did a great job taking over as Captain while I was on medical leave, so at least I don’t have a mess to clean up. You sure you don’t want to come back? I don’t know if the new guy filling in for you has what it takes. He threw up in the bushes yesterday after he carried that kid out of the house with the grease fire,” he explains with a roll of his eyes.

As a paramedic, I responded to the same call and was there when Eric came out of the house with the girl in his arms. I guess I missed the puking excitement while I was busy giving her oxygen and calming her crying mother down.

“Sorry, dude, you’re on your own with that guy. I’m sure he’ll get the hang of things with you training him. At least he didn’t puke in his own fucking helmet like the transfer I had to deal with while you were out,” I tell him with a laugh.

“Jesus, what the fuck is wrong with these newbies? They’re going to give me an ulcer,” Collin complains. “Still, you know your job is always waiting for you when you’re ready.”

I nod, reaching into my bag to grab the first-aid kit I always carry with me. Grabbing some disinfectant wipes from the small box, I head over to the heavy bag and start cleaning up the bloody mess I made while I talk to Collin.

“I know, and thanks for that. I just need to do something different for a while. I can’t always be there to rescue your ass when you’re falling out of a building.”

I smile, trying to lighten the conversation, even though just thinking about it makes me want to throw up like one of the newbies. Whenever I close my eyes, I can still see Collin falling to the ground after I yanked him out of that burning house. Even though pulling him out of that second story window saved his life, I was scared as fuck that he’d never walk again after the way he landed. It’s better for everyone around me right now if I take some time away from the fire station and stick with the county ambulance squad for a while. I still get to hang with Collin and the rest of the guys from my squad since our buildings are connected and we usually go out on the same calls together, depending on their seriousness. I got the best of both worlds without having a panic attack every fucking time I threw on my turnout gear.

The calls I respond to are mainly routine stuff like shortness of breath, back or leg pain, lift assists and seizures. We also get the crazies, like drunks going through withdrawal who think you’ll drive them to a bar or cracked-out drug addicts who think they see a dead baby hidden under their couch cushions. You just can’t make this shit up. Maybe someday I’ll go back to being a fireman, but for right now, this is about all I can handle.

“All right, well I need to get the boys outside for a few training drills. Sure you don’t want to join us?” Collin asks.

Tossing the dirty wipes into the trashcan, I shake my head at him. “No fucking way. I can honestly say that’s one thing I don’t miss about the department. You have fun carrying a hundred and fifty pound test dummy up and down a few flights of stairs. I’m going home and passing out.”

We make our way out into the hallway, Collin heading for the fire truck bay and me heading for the parking lot in the back. My hand is on the door when Collin yells to me.

“Don’t forget, the annual FD versus PD Fight Club is next Saturday night. From the way you were beating the shit out of that heavy bag, I’d say we’re going to kick the PD’s ass this year.”

I shake my head as I open the door. “I told you, I’m not fighting in that thing. Let the newbies get their asses kicked. I’ve done my duty.”

Every year, our department puts on a charity event to raise money for the local children’s hospital. The city’s fire department puts up their best men to go head to head in a few boxing rounds with some of the city’s police department guys. Since Collin and I just moved back to this area a few months ago, it will be our first year attending the event. According to the guys at the station, the police department has kicked the shit out of the fire department every year since they started the event about ten years ago. They are certain we’re going to take the title this year and even set up a little side wager with some of the cops. If we win, they have to wash all of the fire trucks. If they win, we have to do the same with their cruisers. People from the community place bets on the matches and all the money collected at the end of the night goes to the charity. It’s bound to be a good time, and I was looking forward to going as a spectator, not a contender, which I’ve told Collin multiple times.

“Whatever. You’re going to change your mind!” Collin shouts as I exit through the door and head towards my car.

There’s no way I’m changing my mind. The only ass I want to beat right now belongs to Dax. Since he’s some hotshot detective with the department, I’m sure it’s beneath him to get his hands dirty in the boxing ring.