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“No, thank you,” I said firmly. “I’d prefer to stand. Actually, I’d prefer you explain what happened while you take me to see him.”
“Fair enough.” Ryan nodded readily. “His room is on the fifth floor.”
We boarded the elevators and Ryan hit the fifth floor. As the elevator started its ascent, I looked towards Ryan, who wasn’t explaining what had happened as fast as I would have liked.
“We were called in for an emergency,” he started. “It was a house fire that had got out of control. Our team was the first responders. By the time we got there, however, the fire had spread through the entire first floor, and it was swiftly traveling up to the second. That was where the children were.”
“Oh my God,” I breathed, starting to feel a little light-headed.
“We had to move fast, otherwise we knew there was a possibility of losing the children,” Ryan explained. “Phil and Mel went in to get them. Everything was going well, but on his way out, a piece of burning wood crumbled down and hit Phil on the leg. It burned through the protective covering on his leg.”
“Oh my God… is he—”
“He’s fine, don’t worry,” Ryan said. “He’s awake, he’s lucid, and he’s already a pain in my ass. He sent me down for ice chips.”
“How’s his leg?”
“Bandaged up nicely,” Ryan replied as we closed in on Phil’s room. “The burns are second degree, so they’ll cause him some pain, but that should fade with time. He’ll have a few blisters and redness, too, but again, that should heal with time. He’s also got a sprained ankle, which means he needs to be on bed rest for about a week, which puts him out of commission as far as work is concerned.”
“I bet he wasn’t happy to hear that.”
“Not even a little bit,” Ryan agreed, with a smile.
Ryan led me to a door and then pushed inside without even bothering to knock. Phil was sitting in the center of the small room on a hospital bed with his leg bandaged up and placed carefully on a pillow. There were two other guys sitting beside him. Both I recognized from the trial, but I remembered their names because of all the stories that Phil had told me about them.
“Look who I brought,” Ryan said, gesturing me inside.
I walked in and went straight for Phil’s bedside, as the men moved out of my way.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Of course.” Phil nodded. “I’ve had worse before. What are you doing here?”
That made me pause. “Uh…the hospital called me.”
Then I saw realization dawn on Phil’s face. “Oh fuck, they asked me about family when they brought me in and… I didn’t have anyone, so I guess I gave them your information. I’m sorry…”
“Don’t apologize,” I said immediately. “I’m glad the hospital called me.”
Someone cleared his throat behind me, and Phil looked up with a start. “Sorry, Megan, these are my partners in crime, Mel, Kendrick, and Ryan.”
“It’s nice to meet you all,” I said, shaking their hands.
“It’s nice to meet you, too, Megan,” Mel said. “We’ll give you two some privacy. Come on, boys.”
When we were alone, I turned to Phil and took his hand, without worrying about what he would say or how he would feel about it. I just wanted to touch him.
“I was so scared when I got the call,” I said. “I think I jumped to worst case scenario.”
“You don’t have to worry… I’m fine, as you can see.”
“Still, this is all part of your job.”
“Always has been.” Phil nodded.
“When are they discharging you?” I asked.
“In a few minutes,” he replied. “The doctor will come in and change my dressing and then I’m free and clear.”
