Page 5 of Hearts on Fire

“Am I allowed to escape my bed, nurse?” Scotti was flirtatious as she always was. She couldn’t help it. Anyone who knew her knew she was just playing.

“Only if you let me put your arm in a sling first.”

Scotti rolled her eyes but nodded. Once Megs had attached the stupid sling, Scotti followed her to one of the many ER beds, this one cordoned off with curtains for privacy.

“Dr. Crane? This is Scotti Saunders, the firefighter who got you out.”

Dr. Naomi Crane was sitting up in bed wearing an oxygen mask. Her hair was a mess and she was as filthy as Scotti, but that did little to detract from her beauty. During everything they went through, Scotti hadn’t really had a chance to see properly or pay attention to how Naomi looked, but she certainly did now.

Naomi’s bright green eyes shone through her soot-covered face and wild dark hair. She had high cheekbones and a perfect nose. She must have been mid to late 40s maybe, Scotti found it hard to be sure, there was a knowing wisdom in her eyes that came with experience of life.

There was little to see of her body through her shapeless hospital gown, but the swell of her breasts was enticing and made Scotti long to see more.

She forced her eyes up to Dr. Crane’s face. She didn’t want to be creepy. Dr. Crane obviously just wanted to thank her, not be ogled at by the lesbian firefighter.

Naomi pulled the mask off as she met Scotti’s gaze, unflinchingly.

“Firefighter Scotti Saunders.” She coughed. “Nice to properly meet you.” She smiled weakly and her smile was dazzling. Scotti felt entranced by her. “And thank you for saving my life. I owe you a great debt of gratitude.”

“Ah, it was nothing.” Scotti smirked and raised her eyebrows. “Dead easy.”

The doctor looked at her slightly perplexed and perhaps intrigued. Her lovely - but filthy- face was hard to read.

“I’m glad to see you sitting up, Dr. Crane. How are you doing?”

“Please. Call me Naomi.”

“Naomi.” Scotti said. “It is a beautiful name,” she grinned at Naomi. “For a beautiful woman.”

Flirting with big time doctors now, Scotti? Nice one.

“Thanks.” Naomi seemed unphased by Scotti’s charm and Scotti found her response- or lack of it- intriguing. Usually women either went to jelly around her, or their walls went up, or they just enjoyed laughing along with her flirting. Naomi had done none of these things.

“Minor smoke inhalation. They want to keep me overnight just in case, but they think I should be good to go tomorrow after some oxygen and observations.”

It was as good as Scotti could have hoped for. “That’s great. Smoke inhalation isn’t fun, but one night isn’t too bad.”

“Not too bad, but I can’t wait to get moved to a ward so I can get a shower. I don’t know how you live like this, I’m filthy and all I can smell is smoke.” Naomi seemed unimpressed.

“Well, I mean I certainly could do a shower too. So, just let me know if you want some company in there!” Scotti could see how dirty Naomi was and knew she would look just as much of a mess. She never usually cared about her post-fire look. It all just added to her own personal brand of firefighter charm.

“I never quite get rid of the smell of smoke from my hair, but usually women kind of grow to like the smell.”

“I’m sure they do.” Naomi again was hard to read and Scotti had no idea what the doctor was actually thinking.

“What about your arm? Broken?”

“No, fortunately not. I think my shoulder is just bruised. Nothing too serious, eh.”

“Let me take a look.” Naomi reached out her hand. Scotti immediately put her hands up in defence.

“Ah, I know you are some kind of big time doctor, but right now you are just a patient- don’t worry about me.”

“I’m always a doctor before anything else. I’m honestly doing fine. It’s the least I can to take a look at your shoulder after you saved my life.”

Scotti supposed it couldn’t hurt to indulge her. She perched on the edge of Naomi’s bed and gingerly removed the sling.

Naomi pulled Scotti’s shirt back to examine her shoulder, which was already sporting a vivid bruise.

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