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“Chemo on the weekends instead of soccer practice.” He’ll never forget saying that to Hen, part of accepting the team as a family. No one’s talked to him about it since, she’s sent him glances if they’re in a hospital for a bit too long but she knows he’s okay.
Eventually everything goes back to normal, Hen seems to have almost forgotten about his story and he’s never been seen as fragile. He likes it, it’s new compared to when others find out. He loved the nurses but they always tried to make him feel better like he wasn’t on the verge of dying everyday, until he wasn’t. When he got out of his last appointment it’s like his life had been changed. A weight off his back and a new one out right on to his shoulders, one telling him how good those nurses must feel being able to save lives. A welcomed weight telling him how much he wants to do that as well.
Now in the engine with the 118 he feels like that was a good choice.
“Wait so, they thought that you guys, some of the most unorganized people I know,” Buck looks like he’s going to interrupt but Ravi doesn’t stop talking, “planned and went through with a bank robbery?”
“Well actually, they original thought we just robbed the armored truck.” Buck corrects.
“For some reason.” Hen adds on very helpfully, “Even though I was in the bank vault with the man who then stole the diamonds.”
“…which he ate?” They all nod in response to Ravi’s question. Ravi just nods along as well.
“I was just as confused as you probie.”
“I’m just not a probie anymore Buck.”
“You still are to me.” Ravi shakes his head in response as the engine comes to a stop.
Bobby gets out first starting to grab supplies from the side of the engine, “Interesting retelling of the story Buck, you just didn’t mention the part where the story confused you the most.”
“That didn’t feel worth mentioning.” Buck responds as he closes the compartment on the side of the engine.
They all begin walking into the house where their call is, unconscious woman most likely with a head injury. Her son called it in. “Ravi grab a backboard from the ambulance, we’ll head inside.”
Ravi nods, “Yes cap.” he walks to the back of the ambulance opening it to grab the backboard. When he walks in seeing Hen and Chim on either side of a woman that seems to be in her early 50s most likely the mom. He sets it down by them as Buck and Eddie life the woman from the floor onto the Gurney. Ravi notices Bobby by the kid at their dining room table so he decides to approach.
There’s something familiar, not in his appearance but in his- look. Like a type of mood transferred only via his eyes. “She was meant to take me to my appointment, we were about to be late so she was stressed and she- she just tripped.” Then it clicks like a puzzle piece. Appointments. Ravi honestly hopes he’s wrong.
“Appointment?” Bobby asks as if he’s reading Ravi’s mind. He sends a glance at Ravi, who’s lingering slightly behind him.
“Chemo.” Bobby looks at Ravi over his shoulder this time, he’s his captain. Of course he knows. “I really have to get there.”
“We could give you a ride.” Ravi doesn’t really think before he says it but Bobby doesn’t seem to disagree.
“Do you want to ride in the fire engine with us or in the ambulance with your mom? We’re taking her to midtown united hospital.” Bobby talks this time, showing he’s okay with it.
The kid looks between them before nodding, “Can I ride in the engine? I don’t want to see her like that.” Bobby nods and then heads to the door expecting Ravi to follow him. Ravi makes sure the kid follows first before following behind him.
Bobby settles into the passenger seat of the engine while Ravi settles into the back across from the kid, “So, what’s your name?”
“Eli.” His responses seem short as he looks out the window. Probably more focused on how his moms doing and not very psyched for his appointment, those nurses do become your family but that doesn’t make being sick entirely better.
“I’m Ravi.” Ravi glances to Bobby who seems to have decided to just leave him and Eli to their own devices. “I’ve- been where you are.”
Eli raises an eyebrow, “In a fire engine being driven to the hospital while your mom is also going to the hospital?”
“No uh-“ he lets out an awkward laugh, “getting chemo every other day while all the other kids you’ve seen are going out and having fun.”
Eli seems to actually want to give him the time of day now surprisingly. “Did you get used to it?”
Ravi pauses, considering. “I survived.” He shrugs. “and I got to be able to pay it forward.”
Eli stares at him before looking back out the window. Ravi lightly knocks his knee against Eli, “I know it may feel weird for now, being helped and- sick. Having to watch people act like you need to be saved at all times, they’re just trying to help.”
“I know that.”
“I know you do.” Ravi checks out the window himself this time to see if they’re close to the hospital. “You feel guilty letting family help. That’s basically what the nurses are, especially with how much you’re around them.”
Eli nods slowly, “I wish I could repay them.”
Ravi smiles slightly, “Then don’t be stubborn when letting them help.”
Eli rolls his eyes, “Seriously?”
“Seriously.” They come to a stop in front of the hospital and Ravi opens the door to the engine letting Eli step out first before following behind him. The ambulance stopped in front of them and they can catch Hen and Eddie rolling Eli’s mom into the hospital while Chim goes to talk to Bobby.
Ravi heads to the hospital doors behind Eli, “Hope this is the right hospital.”
Eli sends him a look and Ravi smiles slightly, “Of course it is.” Eli walks in with Ravi following behind him. A nurse walks into the lobby at the same time with a smile on her face that manages to brighten even more when she sees Eli.
“Eli! You’re here for your appointment today?” He nods, “Well you’re just on time.”
Eli furrows his eyebrows, “We’re like- 10 minutes late.”
“Well y’know the saying, 10 minutes late is on time and 10 minutes early is late.” Eli looks like he’s going to protest but the nurse just keeps talking, “Who’s your friend?”
Eli looks at Ravi and puts a hand to his mouth while pretending to clear his throat to his a smile. “This is Ravi, he’s a life-saver.”
The nurse looks at Ravi and smiles holding her hand out, “It’s a pleasure to meet you Ravi the life-saver.”
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As everyone heads back into the engine Buck holds Ravi back for a second.
“So- I see you’ve made your first kids day.” Buck says leaning on the side of the engine.
“My first?”
“There are many more to come Ravi!” He says getting into the engine.
“Really? That’s when I earn being called my name? Seriously?” He shakes his head climbing in behind Buck.