First Responder On Call. Melinda Di Lorenzo

the better alternative to putting the kid in contact with his dad was a dark one. Darkness didn’t mean it wasn’t true. His own life was enough proof of that.

      He blinked, genuinely surprised to find even a hint of his past creeping up on him. Sure, it was only in his own head. It was still an unusual occurrence. Something he deliberately avoided.

      “Remo, did you hear me?”

      He blinked again, this time to focus on Isaac, who was eyeing him with concern.

      “Sorry, man,” he replied. “Missed it.”

      The older man opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again. “Just letting you know that we’re T-minus thirty seconds away from the hospital.”

      On cue, Tyler cut the sirens and the lights, and slowed down as they rounded the bend that led to the hospital entryway. They coasted to a stop, and Isaac prepped the gurney for transport.

      Xavier lifted his head. “Are we there?”

      Remo gave the kid a light squeeze. “Yep.”

      “Are they taking her away?”

      “Only for a short bit, buddy. Doctors have to look her over, remember? Make sure everything’s working right.”

      “But you said these guys were ess-berts.”

      “Experts,” Remo corrected with a smile. “And they are. But their job is to get people to the hospital.”

      “Because of science?”

      “That’s right.”

      “Oh.” Xavier’s little face sank. “I wish we could go.”

      “I know it’s hard,” Remo said gently. “But you’re a brave kid. I can tell.”

      The little boy nodded solemnly, but a moment later, his face brightened. “And you’re staying with me.”

      “You got it, buddy.”

      Tyler and Isaac finished pulling Celia out of the ambulance then, and Remo gestured to the open doors.

      “You wanna go first so you can see them take your mom in?” he asked. “Or you want me to go so I can lift you down?”

      Xavier didn’t hesitate. “You.”

      “All right. Here I go.” Remo shot a conspiratorial wink in the kid’s direction, then hopped up and out.

      Before he could turn and grab the kid, though, a hand landed on his shoulder. Startled, he turned. Isaac stood just behind him, a dour look on his face.

      “Shouldn’t you be with Celia and Tyler?” Remo said in a low voice.

      The other man shook his head. “Handed off the first patient. Now I’m back for the second.”

      At the statement, Remo’s gut flipped uncomfortably. And when Xavier’s worried voice carried out from the ambulance, his stomach downright churned.

      “Are you catching me?” the boy asked.

      “I sure am,” Remo told him. “Just sit tight and give me a minute with Mr. Isaac, okay?”

      “Okay.” The kid slipped back into the ambulance.

      Remo turned back to his coworker. “I’ll take him in.”

      Isaac shook his head. “Not necessary.”

      “I want to.”

      “Riding along with us was one thing. But you’re going to have to wait in the waiting area like everyone else. Tyler and I will see that the patient is taken care of, and the child care worker will—”

      “No.”

      “Pardon me?”

      Remo dropped his voice and gestured toward the ambulance. “That kid’s scared. His mom is unconscious. He has no one else here, and he seems to like me.”

      “You’re not on duty,” the other man reminded him.

      “And?”

      “It’d violate the rules, DeLuca. Once we get behind those sliding doors, though, you’re a lawsuit waiting to happen.”

      “And?” Remo repeated.

      Isaac gave him a puzzled frown. “What’s with you?”

      “What’s with me? Have you ever been that kid?”

      “What?”

      “Have you ever sat there and waited while your mother—” He stopped himself abruptly and shook his head as he realized his coworker had a damned good reason for looking confused; Remo was far from heartless, but he had no problem checking his emotions at the door. Usually. What was with him? He had no idea.

       But I’m not backing down. The kid needs more than a pat on the head and a bandage.

      “I’m going in with him,” he stated firmly, his words a little calmer.

      Isaac wasn’t done being his stubborn, by-the-book self. “I’m running this shift, DeLuca.”

      “And that means what? You’re going to fight me, to stop me from taking the kid in? Block my way into the hospital?”

      “Don’t be ridiculous.”

      “I’m not. But one of us sure is.” Ignoring his coworker’s irritated expression, Remo turned toward the ambulance. “C’mon, kid. I’m ready for you.”

      There was a shuffle, and then Xavier appeared at the doors. He looked uncertainly from Isaac to Remo, and Remo could’ve given the other man a knock straight upside the head for making the kid worry even more.

      “S’alright, Xavier,” he said. “I’ve got you.”

      “Do you promise?” the little guy asked.

      The plaintive question dug straight into Remo’s heart. “I promise.”

      Xavier nodded, then reached out his arms, and Remo scooped him up. When he turned toward the hospital, though, he found Isaac standing there with his arms crossed over his chest. Was the other man actually going to block him out, ridiculous or not? If so, would Remo genuinely push his way through?

      Only a heartbeat went by before he was saved from having to find out. One of the hospital’s administrators—one who favored Remo, thank God, but knew him well—stepped into view.

      She shook her head of tightly curled gray hair and frowned at the three of them. “Are you going to stand out here all night with that kid, DeLuca, or are you going to bring him in?”

      “He’s not on duty, Dr. Hennessey,” Isaac said immediately.

      The woman pursed her well-wrinkled lips, moved closer, and fixed a kindly smile toward Xavier. “What do you think, son? Should we bend the rules so Remo can bring you in?”

      “Yes, please,” the kid replied with barely contained enthusiasm.

      Dr. Hennessey chucked his chin, then lifted her head. “You have a good rest of your night, Isaac. I think your colleague and I have it from here.”

      With entirely more relief than was reasonable, Remo exhaled and followed the wizened doctor—a woman he’d known most of his life—into the building. Sensing something was up, he let her take the lead. She said nothing as she guided him through the halls and up a flight of stairs to a relatively unused part of the hospital. She continued to keep silent until they finally reached one of the small, unoccupied family rooms. There, she gave Xavier a speedy but thorough once-over, and everything she said was related to that. It wasn’t until she’d issued a clean bill of health and set the kid up with a juice box and a colorful book that she finally asked Remo to join her outside for a moment. After making sure it was all right with the kid, Remo complied. The moment they crossed the threshold