It has been a couple of days since then and I am waiting for something to happen. Why? Well, today has been quiet. A little too quiet. The only major call we got was helping someone with anaphylaxis. Those kinds of calls are easy. Right now I am scrolling through Instagram. To my surprise, aside from some posts from Marjan, not much has changed. As soon as the thought crosses my mind the signal bell finally goes. With that we all spring into action. After seven minutes we caught up to a truck. Wedged in the back is the mangled wreck of a car.

"What the...," Tim trails off as the fire trucks skilfully pull along the truck. It is then that we catch a better glimpse as to what is really going on.

"We are going to expect crush injuries," I guess out loud.

"Yep. Specifically leg and maybe spinal injuries," Michelle confirms. After a couple of minutes, the truck comes to a stop. It doesn't take long for us to follow suit. After gathering the appropriate supplies. After a few seconds of waiting we are joined by the first victim.

"Tim check her vitals. Piper, you're with me," Michelle orders. We are soon joined by Judd.

"Do you have any ideas when you can extract the driver?" Michelle asks.

"No, I don't because the front half of the car is stuck under there. It's crushed," After a few seconds we join the firefighters at the car. I soon get the victim hooked up to the lifepack. It is not looking good.

Ma'am? Ma'am, can you hear me?" Michelle asks as she conducts a visual check.

"Am I...," The woman trails off. At least she is talking. For how long is the golden question..

"Can you see me? Just focus on me ok? Look at my eyes," Michelle instructs before turning her attention to me.

"How are her vitals?" Michelle asks.

"BP's eighty-one over forty-two and dropping fast," I confirm. Her pulse isn't looking too good either. My dad's crew is going to have to work faster if we are to save this woman. After filling in my dad, disaster strikes. It is going to take too long for Paul to get her out.

"Her heartbeat is one forty and thready," I announce.

"She needs blood now. Piper call West Park Memorial and see how fast they can get a trauma surgeon down here and some whole blood," Michelle confirms.

"Copy that," I acknowledge before radioing it in. As soon as I get the response my face scrunches in a scowl. It seems like this rescue will turn into a recovery.

"They don't have any trauma surgeons and they are going to take an hour for the blood," I fill Michelle in with what is going on. We are going to need a miracle. The miracle soon comes. The either victim approaches.

"I'm type O, O negative. That means I'm a universal donor. I can donate to anyone right?" The other victim speaks up. It is risky without prior screening but it is the only option we have.

"What's your name?" Michelle turns her attention to the other victim.

"Taylor," She replies as she approaches the car.

"Taylor a field transfusion's risky for both of you. Do you understand," Michelle asks. She is making sure that Taylor understands the risk of what is going on.

"I'm just trying to help my friend," Taylor counters. After glancing at Tim and I Michelle makes up her mind.

"Get the transfusion kit," Michelle is stern with her orders. With that, I leave. I quickly grab what we need. I make it just in time to hear Tim complaining.

"Cap, You're not seriously thinking of doing a person-to-person transfusion. I mean protocol is-,"

"If we follow protocol. She is going to be dead before she gets out of this car. Just watch her vitals," Michelle cuts Tim off. After glancing at each other I get everything ready. After getting confirmation from Michelle I carefully insert the needle as Michelle does the same. It is tense. Things are not looking good.

"Wait I got an uptick," Tim announces before letting out a cheer. At least our miracle pulled through. As soon as she regains consciousness I disconnect the transfusion so that it is easier for the firefighters to rescue her. After a tense minute, she is out of the car.

It is the day after and I am getting ready to go out. Why? Well, Tim decided that he wanted to take me out. He said it wasn't a date but I am calling it a date. I just hope that nothing happens. Don't get me wrong it would be nice to fall for someone however I am aware of the risks that are involved with the job.

"Something's got you in a good mood," Tyler remarks as he joins me in the kitchen.

"Well, to put it simply I'm going out with someone and no I am not telling you who it is," I respond. To put it simply I don't want anyone to know that I am going out with Tim because I don't know if it is going to go anywhere. Tyler's face scrunches into a pout

"Hey, we don't even know if we will be a thing. There is no point in being protective just yet," I add for good measure. A part of me is glad that he is being protective but I know for a fact that Tim wouldn't hurt me.

"I'm your brother. It's my job to protect you," Tyler replies as I grab the last of my stuff. After some back and forth I excuse myself as I am going to be late if I am delayed any longer. After what feels like an eternity I made it to the meeting spot. Tim chose our favourite cafe for the meeting spot. To my horror, he is already there.

"Hey, Tim. Sorry, I'm late. TK decided to interrogate me as I was leaving," I catch myself apologising even though I know for a fact that I am on time.

"Don't worry. I was early and because of that I ordered drinks for the both of us," Tim says as the waitress comes with two drinks. To my surprise, the waitress passes me a cup of hot chocolate. I am impressed that he remembered that I don't drink coffee. After twenty minutes of socialising our drinks are finally finished. After a few minutes of walking, we made it to a nice park.

"Umm before we go in I'd like to get a selfie just as a memento," Tim remarks as he pauses.

"Sure," I reply. After taking one of the most awkward photos Tim sends it to me. It looks stupid but it will serve as a nice memory. The thought makes me giggle.

"What?" Tim asks as we begin our walk.

"We look awkward," I say as I find myself grabbing onto his hand. After what feels like an eternity the thing that isn't supposed to be a date comes to an end.

"Thank you, Tim. It was nice to get some time to actually relax. Since coming to Austin it has been crazy till now," I thank him.

"I'm glad that I can help," Tim responds before a smile breaks out on his face.

It is the day after and I am currently making sure the ambulance is prepped and ready to go for the day but I am soon stopped.

"Piper, I need you to do me a favour," Marjan remarks as she offers me the AFD first aid manual. I look at the book then I look at her. Unlike civilian manuals, it is a lot more detailed.

"Before you can ask, your dad has asked me to help Mateo as he is severely dyslexic. I thought since you are a paramedic it would be easier for you or Tim to record an audiobook version," Marjan clarifies.

"Sure I will see what I can do," I say as I take the book. After thanking me Marjan leaves. I get to work on recording the first aid manual for Marjan while I finalise the inventory. It will be interesting to see what will happen when Mateo takes the test. After an hour of recording, I am finally finished. As soon as I end the recording the signal bell goes. After what feels like an eternity we make it to what appears to be a small farm. Of course, the fire crew has beaten us there.

"EMS 126, what's your 20?" Judd asks via the radio.

"We are walking up now," Michelle confirms. After a minute of walking, we made it. The man is going on about how his wife used to tell him off. Luckily for him, his dog came to the rescue. After confirming with Michelle Owen gets to work.

"On my count, Judd is going to raise the header. I want TK, Marjan and Paul to pull him out. Once he is out we are going to hand him over to medical. Everybody good?"Dad asks before a ripple of affirmation flows through the small group. After making sure everyone is in position Dad counts us in. As soon as Dad hits one Judd follows through with Dad's orders. I find myself wincing at how pained the man's screams are. After a few seconds, Dad's team has the man on the gurney.

"Piper start an IV. Fast flow. Let's get him into a shock position," Michelle orders while Tim and I get to work. Disaster soon strikes.

"Cap-,"

"Can you get a distal pulse?" Michelle jumps in.

"Skin's cold to the touch," Tim confirms our worst fear. Michelle gets to work on confirming her diagnosis.

"Sir, can you feel this? I'm touching your shin," She says as she presses on the area.

"No ma'am but the rest of my leg hurts like hell," The man whines. Weirdly I feel sorry for him.

"Ok, it's not spinal. I think it's compartment syndrome. Get me some saline, alcohol and a scalpel fasciotomy," Michelle orders. After explaining what is going to happen the man makes an interesting request.

"If anything happens to me can one of y'all call my son? And ask him to look after Peanut?" The man asks.

"We promise," Michelle confirms. After Michelle warns the man she makes the incision. To my surprise, it is not bleeding as much as I thought it would. As soon as Michelle is done I dress the wound.

"Am I gonna keep my leg?" The man tentatively asks.

"I think so," Michelle responds. The man loosens with relief. I find myself giggling as we are joined by the man's dog. The dog soon gets to work on licking his face. It is not ideal but I am going to let it slip as without the dog the man would have lost his life. The giggling is only made worse by the fact that Tim has to ruin the moment by complaining. At least this call had a happy ending. After what feels like an eternity we are back at the house.

It has been a couple of days since then. Because it is quiet we are helping Mateo study. As the day goes by Mateo seems to be more confident. I just hope that it is enough. It is the next day and even though it is my day off both Marjan and my Dad convinced me that it would be a good idea for the 126 to support Mateo through the test. After fifteen minutes of driving, we made it to the academy. After a tense wait Mateo Joins us. He is a little confused.

"You guys came on your day off?" Mateo asks.

"We may not be on a shift but we never take a day off from being the 126," My dad confirms.

"Yeah so if it is good news we will get some beers and if it is bad news we will go drink some whiskey," Judd adds.

"Or mineral water. I will be drinking mineral water either way," Tyler jokingly reassures Dad. I just hope that it will be a celebratory glass, not a cheer-up glass. After explaining what happened Mateo is ready to give us his score.

"I got ninety-two per cent," Mateo brags. A cheer flows through the group. At least Mateo has nothing to worry about now. As we leave I notice my Dad's phone ring. I will have to ask him about it later. Right now I am going to enjoy Mateo's win with the others.