Sudden Response (EMS #1)(26)

"Sweetheart?" Alice called, ruining all Joe's hopes that Eric had lied. "I made Jello!"

"I hate you," she mumbled into the phone before hanging up, but not before she heard Eric laugh. The rat bastard.

Chapter 12

"Did they arrest him?" Greg asked Teddy as the two of them leaned against one of the box ambulances.

Teddy shrugged as he pulled out a cigarette. "They probably will."

Eric shifted the empty oxygen tank to his left hand so he could reach out and flick the cigarette out of Teddy's mouth. "No smoking in the garage, dickhead," he said, gesturing to the oxygen refill station to their right.

With a sigh, Teddy put his pack away, but made no move to help Eric as he prepared truck fifteen for service. That didn't surprise him since the prick was lazy. He only exerted himself when he had to, and he made damn sure that he didn't have to most days. Normally that was bad enough, but today they had Greg third riding with them because the damn kid still needed to complete his training time. He really wished Bill had managed to get someone else to fill in for Joe today. He hated having this jerk influencing any of the newbies. The last thing any of them needed was another Teddy.

"Has anyone showed you how to fill the tanks?" he asked Greg.

"Yeah, I learned that a few days ago," Greg said in a bored tone.

"Good," Eric said, thrusting the empty tank in his arms. "Then go fill this up."

Greg looked like he was going to argue, but thankfully kept his mouth shut. He was not in the mood to deal with any bullshit today.

"What will happen to him?" Greg asked, picking the conversation back up as he did what he was asked.

"He'll probably be sent for an evaluation and have his medication tweaked until they find a dosage that works. Then he'll probably be sent to a new residential program," Eric said, walking over to the supply shelves to grab a box of synthetic gloves, size extra large. He was just about to grab a box of mediums out of habit when he remembered that Joe wasn't working with him.

"He won't get arrested for hurting Joe?"

"No," Eric said. "He's a mental patient. He's pretty much covered while he's receiving help."

"That's f**ked up," Greg said.

"That's the job," Eric said, grabbing a box of pens and a fresh pack of run sheets.

"What about the residential home? Will they get into trouble?"

Eric chuckled without humor. "A slap on the hand."

"Joe could sue the program," Teddy suggested, mostly to start shit.

"She can sue?" Greg asked, sounding too damn eager for Eric's peace of mind.

"She could, but she won't," Eric said firmly. That was too much drama, time, and bullshit for Joe.

He finished checking out the ambulance and gestured for Teddy to get his ass in the truck when the other man headed for the door, no doubt he thought he was planting his lazy ass on the couch and staying there until they had a call. Normally he wouldn't care so much, but he had a lot of shit to do today

"Let's go," Eric said, grabbing the oxygen tank from Greg and secured the tank into its hold and attached the valves.

"We don't have a call," Teddy pointed out when Eric jumped out of the back of the ambulance. "Until then I'm sitting down," he said, absently running his fingers over his taped nose.

"I want to go check on Joe," Eric said, gesturing for Greg to climb in the back. After a short hesitation he grabbed his backpack and climbed inside.

Eric walked around to the driver's side.

"Check on her?" Teddy repeated, sounding confused. "Oh, come on!" he said seconds later. "You just talked to her!"

"Are you done with your hissy fit, cupcake?" Eric said, pausing by the driver's side door. "Cause if you are I'd like to go check up on Joe before we get a call."

Teddy waved him off. "Then go. Afterwards come and pick me up," Teddy said, heading for the door.

"Get in the truck," Eric snapped, tired of this bullshit. He wasn't about to receive a write up because he left his crew member behind. If they received an emergency call it would be his ass in the sling for not having his partner. He'd have to refuse the call and that's a game he wouldn't play.

"Or what? You'll write me up?" Teddy snorted.

"In a heartbeat," Eric said with absolutely no hesitation as he climbed into the driver's side. He pulled on his seatbelt and started the vehicle, ignoring the little rant the prick was having. He wasn't too surprised when a minute later Teddy climbed into the passenger seat and slammed the door shut.

"You're a f**king ass**le, Eric," Teddy bit out angrily.

"Uh huh," Eric said absently as he reached for the mike. "Echo seventeen to dispatch," he said.

"Go ahead Echo seventeen," dispatch said.

"We're on the air," he said, ignoring Teddy's murderous glare.

"One minute, Echo seventeen."

Eric slowly drove out of the garage as he waited for dispatch to tell them they were clear. Even though he'd left her less than two hours ago he was anxious to get back to her and make sure that she was okay. Thankfully his mother had a free day, not that she wouldn't have dropped everything to take care of Joe otherwise he would have banged out of his shift to take care of her.