Page 6 of Hearts on Fire

“Does it hurt when I do this?” She moved Scotti’s arm gently.

“Yes.” Scotti was trying not to be a baby, but it hurt a lot. She didn’t want to look like a wimp in front of Naomi, though, so she did her best to keep her expression neutral.

“How about this?”

“Not as bad, but still sore. Ow! That one’s a stabbing pain.”

“I’m afraid it might be fractured, but you’ll need an X-ray to be sure. I’ll call Megs and have her take you up right away.”

“I don’t need to jump the line. I’m not an urgent case.”

“I don’t want to leave you waiting here for hours after the day you have had. Consider it a thank you favor for saving my life.”

Scotti couldn’t deny that the idea of leaving this place sooner rather than later was a good one. “Fine, but I don’t want to be put above emergencies who really need the X-rays urgently.”

“Of course not—Megs would never do that. You can, however, be put at the top of the waiting list for non-urgent cases.”

“Thank you, I appreciate that.”

“Thank you, Firefighter Saunders. I was so sure I was going to die in there. I don’t remember much—it only comes in flashes—but I remember your face and your voice and how you were so calm and found a way to keep me alive and get us out. You saved me, and I’ll be forever grateful.”

“Call me Scotti. For sure, call me Scotti.”

Scotti felt herself blushing. “Anyway, it’s just my job,” she mumbled.

“Risking your own life to save mine makes you a hero, whether it is your job or not.”

“You save lives as well, though. People tell me you are a hero doctor.”

Now, it was Naomi who was almost blushing. “I do my best. I love what I do.”

“Me too. People think I’m crazy for running into burning buildings, but it’s what I live for. Only my fire colleagues really understand.”

“I get that. I sometimes feel like my fellow doctors are the only ones who really understand me.”

Scotti knew that she should leave Naomi to rest, but she was enjoying talking to Naomi too much to end it just yet. She was drawn to Naomi’s clear intelligence and confident manner. She was even more than Scotti had imagined a top doctor would be, and Scotti felt borderline intoxicated by her presence. Clearly, she was more into intelligent older women than she had realized.

“Dr. Hope said that you didn’t have any family here.”

It wasn’t a question, but Naomi answered it anyway.

“My parents are both dead, and my sister lives in the UK. She’d fly over if I asked her to, but given that this isn’t anything overly serious, I told Megs not to contact her, not yet. I’ll give her a call when I’m not coughing anymore.”

“You’d best text her in the meantime. That fire is all over the news, and she’ll probably be frantic when she finds out.”

“That’s a good point. Did you see my… oh, right. My phone was in the lab with me. It’s probably a charred brick by now.”

Scotti grimaced in sympathy. “Do you know her number by heart? You can borrow my phone.”

“Thanks, Scotti, I’d appreciate that.”

Scott handed over her phone and Naomi sent a quick text.

Megs poked her head through the curtains. “Scotti? They’re ready for you at the X-ray department.”

“Perfect. I’ll check in on you later, Naomi.”

It turned out that Scotti’s shoulder was just bruised, much to her relief. She was dead on her feet, but refused the bed Dr. Hope offered her, insisting that she could take a cab home.

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