Coming Home

It seems that we can't make a successful trip to the hospital and back to quarters without something happening. We're sort of like a black cloud for the police department, because we always end up sending them to check things out.

One night after a particularly lengthy trip out to Clearview Regional, we finally make it back across the water. As we hit the last bump of the bridge, I feel the medic slow a little bit.

"Did you see that," Drew asks me as he looks in his side mirrors frantically.
"Uh...see what?"
"Some guy was beating the shit out of a girl!"
"While they were driving?"
"No, no...the car was pulled over and he was hitting this girl or something!"
"Really?"
"Yeah. Medic 1 to central; be advised..." As he calls it in, I inspect my mirror closely but see nothing.
"10-4, Medic 1, we'll send an officer out there."

We've had a few other times where we see a car behaving strangely and call it in. Tonight, however, was exceptionally odd.

"We've got a drunk one," Eric and I say in unison.
"Really? It's a Wednesday night..." Drew peeks his head up from the back and observes.
"Definitely not right," I chime in as the car nearly hits the median.
"You calling it in?"
"Yeah, I'll get it," Eric says as he picks up the radio.
"Kay!"
"Medic 1 to central; be advised we're westbound on Main, headed into town behind a vehicle that's having a bit of trouble staying in its own lane. Virginia plates. Dark 4-door sedan. We'll stay behind them."
"10-4, Medic 1, we'll have an officer en route."

We follow the car for a while and observe. Driving slowly and often crossing lanes, this seems to be a driver who's under the influence. We listen to the police dispatch as they approach. Moving over, three police cars fly past us. I watch for a moment and see the blue lights come on.

"Unit 218 to central; traffic stop." Drew, Eric and I high five as we head back to quarters.
"Nice," we say as we walk back to the day room.

We find out later in the night that while the driver wasn't drunk, he was driving on a suspended license.

Us-1, Drivers-0.

On the way back from the hospital again that night, Drew and I are chatting sleepily. The car in front of us flashes its lights a few times, and I look up. An old car is smoking from the hood, hazard lights flashing ominously in the haze.

"Medic 1 to central; be advised that there's a possible car fire in the westbound lane of Main and 1st. North Carolina plates."
"10-4, Medic 1; we'll send fire out there."

Drew and I laugh a little, knowing the firefighters are going to be so happy about being awoken at 0400.

We listen to the dispatch all the way home and once we crawl back into bed.

"Central, appears the driver hit a deer and fluids are draining out of her car. Will advise."

Us-2, Drivers-0, Unfortunate Deer of Clearview...well, 0

Turning the radio down, I hear Drew sigh.
"We always bring out the crazies, don't we?"
"Yeah, but we're young; we can still handle it."
"Mmm, here's to that," he murmurs into his pillow as we try to get a few final (futile) minutes of sleep.