Page 33 of Hearts on Fire

“What was Naomi thinking,” Scotti wondered. She soon came to the conclusion that Naomi must not have been thinking at all in that moment.

No thinking person would put a loved one through that.

But as Scotti said that to herself, she realized that Naomi had never really called her a loved one.

In fact, Naomi had asked that they have no strings attached.

She might have said she loved her, but love was surely not enough.

And it was because of this same uncrossable hurdle that they remained where they were in their relationship or situationship. Scotti did not know which it was exactly.

Nonetheless, whichever it was, it did nothing to wane the anger she felt at that moment.

Why wouldn't Naomi just stay and talk this out with her?

How had Naomi been able to leave her to her wounds and injuries to deal with alone?

Why didn't Naomi just realize that they were part of the job?

Scotti felt hurt to the core. Everything seemed to annoy her. She knew she was barely thinking straight but she couldn't help it.

She couldn't think up an excuse for Naomi; why Naomi hadn't even asked how she felt. Her captain had said he was proud of her, and though those words had been impactful, more than anyone else, it was Naomi Scotti wanted those words to come from.

But Naomi didn't care. All Naomi could see through her opinionated view of Scotti's profession was that Scotti had done a stupid thing in an attempt to save just one life.

Scotti signed and stretched against her bed. She was beginning to have an even worse headache and she needed to get some rest. But her mind was too chaotic.

When she fell asleep finally, she didn't know. She slept lost in fitful dreams.

The next morning, Scotti couldn't say she woke up feeling any better. She was sore all over, had a horrible headache, her hands really hurt and she was too tired to deal with anything. She couldn’t even wash herself properly with her bandaged hands so Jeanette had had to help her. Jeanette thought it better that Scotti stayed at home.

“I'll go crazy if I stay in these four walls with all I feel right now. I'll get ready for work, Jean. My injury is minor and I’m off rotation anyway. I'm just supposed to be in charge of the dispatch team today. Nothing dangerous!”

Jeanette nodded. Her own house was on the next street from Scotti's, so she left to get ready for work.

“Um… thanks… you know… for helping me.”

“You are welcome, Scotti,” Jeanette said. “Please try and take it easy.” She smiled weakly as she left.

Scotti picked up her phone. To anyone else, it might have just looked like an action taken out of habit. But she couldn’t deny she was hoping to find a text from Naomi. But, of course, there was nothing.

Taking a shower took longer than usual due to her thoughts and her wounds. She wondered when next she would see Naomi. Presumably sooner or later because their professional lives crossed paths with some regularity. But Scotti hoped it was later.

But her hopes were dashed later in the day when the hospital's dispatch team to the fire department arrived and Naomi was one of them.

From Scotti's office upstairs, she had a good view of the parking lot below. She knew and could see when Naomi got out of the vehicle.

Naomi was as beautiful as ever. Dark hair pulled up into a high pony, skin clear and eyes focussed, Scotti couldn’t take her eyes off her.

Scotti knew exactly where to go if she really did not want to see Naomi. But Scotti realized she desperately wanted to see Naomi. Despite all she'd said and thought in her anger, she wanted to see and be seen by Naomi. If she let herself stretch her hopes, she even wanted Naomi to speak to her.

Naomi looked striking in blue scrubs that clung to her waist and curves. When she moved, it was as always purposeful, yet graceful. There was always more to the way Naomi moved that made her aura of power obvious.

Scotti was so lost in her thoughts of Naomi that she nearly jumped when a knock came on her door.

“It's open,” she replied, taking out a file from her drawer. She was behind on a report she had to submit today. Luckily her fingers were able to type. It was just her palms that were sore and bandaged.

But she stopped when the person behind the door stepped into the room.

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