Best EMT in the land, Sphinx Extraordinaire. Utter sweetie, Utter badass.
“I came to say goodbye.”
“Goodbye?” Her voice was soft, like dove’s wings, and it ripped through him like they were edged in razors.
“Yes. I, ah, I heard you were returning to Egypt. Now that you’ve determined that Marcus is dead and you’re free from his control.”
Alex swallowed so hard he was sure he had eaten a golf ball. He wasn’t looking at her really, just staring at the lumps that were her legs under the white blanket.
“Oh, yes. That is what I said,” She paused and the silence hurt, “It would be safer. Away from Roger, away from his mercenaries. I’d be far less likely to be injured again. Something I’m not all to fond of at the moment.”
Roger had certainly made his point. The attack he’d launched had nearly killed them all and Alex froze at the thought of something else happening to Suma when he’d vowed to protect her. And failed quite miserably.
She was really better off leaving and her safety was all that mattered.
“You would be safer. You wouldn’t be attacked on a near constant basis like you would be if you stayed in this house.”
Alex’s eyes dropped further down to the ground.
“Yes,” Suma released a breath, “Well, thank you Alexander Gallo. I… I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. Truly.”
He should say something but Alex was too focused on not breaking down and sobbing, screaming out until his lungs bled. She’d said his full name and he’d never hated a sound so much in his life.
84. “Oh, this isn’t a costume. This is my natural state of being.”
“Suma! You coming?! We’re supposed to leave in like five minutes!”
Alex shouted from the back hall, trying to find wherever she’d gone to get ready. As he got closer to the bathroom, he finally found her.
“I’m not sure about this. It seems strange. To go out like this.” Suma was looking at herself in the mirror and twisting her shoulders left and right.
“It’ll be great babe. Don’t worry.”
After a few minutes more of prodding, Alex finally got Suma to come out with the rest of the gang. They were laughing and walking to the outdoor movie showing, Nightmare on Elm Street- a Halloween Classic, and it all felt so normal. It was wonderful.
“See? I told you it would be fine.” Alex smiled over at Suma and squeezed her hand.
“You did. Thank you. Can you tell me something though?” Suma gestured with her head at Bindy, “Why is she wearing that?”
Alex looked over at Belynda, who was sporting a long black cape, shock white makeup, and an elaborate, ruffled shirt with enormous bell sleeves. She smiled over at him and waved.
“it’s the traditional vampire get up. Like from the movies. You’ve seen that right?”
Suma nodded. “Well, yes, but why doesn’t she just shift?”
“Well, I think she’s a little worried that might cause a few too many stares.” Alex shrugged.
“I though that was the point?”
“To a degree, babe. Only to a degree.”
As they reached the spot on the lawn where they were all going to lay out a blanket and watch the movie, Suma bumped into a small child.
They eyed her up and down, taking in her lion legs and back attached to her still human-looking upper torso.
“Whoa! Sweet costume! Like that lion lady from Egypt!” The kid smiled at her as they gawked.
“Oh, this isn’t a costume. This is my natural state of being.” Suma looked down at herself and back up at the child.
There was utter silence and then the little kid just shrugged and walked away.
“Did I say something wrong?” Suma looked over at Alex.
Fact Friday: Gallo, the EMT, hates guns. Hates them. And yet, he’s proficient because he knows he’d be an idiot if he didn’t know how to protect himself.
So, we want angst this morning alright. 32: “ I came to say goodbye. ”
The emergency suite was quiet. Alex hadn’t been down in a while and it felt strange to walk into a room that was essentially his work space and feel like a stranger. But after this last time. He couldn’t just walk in on Suma and demand that she change her mind it wouldn’t work, and it wasn’t right.
He knocked softly, almost wishing she was asleep and wouldn’t answer.
“Yes?”
Ah, so no such luck then.
Alex opened the door slowly and walked in like he was going in to have his spleen removed, or maybe his heart.
“Hi,” Alex felt the door close behind him and could barely look over to Suma, “I came to say goodbye.”
“Goodbye?” Her voice was soft, like dove’s wings, and it ripped through him like they were edged in razors.
“Yes. I, ah, I heard you were returning to Egypt. Now that you’ve determined that Marcus is dead and you’re free from his control.”
Alex swallowed so hard he was sure he had eaten a golf ball. He wasn’t looking at her really, just staring at the lumps that were her legs under the white blanket.
“Oh, yes. That is what I said,” She paused and the silence hurt, “It would be safer. Away from Roger, away from his mercenaries. I’d be far less likely to be injured again. Something I’m not all to fond of at the moment.”
Roger had certainly made his point. The attack he’d launched had nearly killed them all and Alex froze at the thought of something else happening to Suma when he’d vowed to protect her. And failed quite miserably.
She was really better of leaving and her safety was all that mattered.
“You would be safer. You wouldn’t be attacked on a near constant basis like you would be if you stayed in this house.”
Alex’s eyes dropped further down to the ground.
“Yes,” Suma released a breath, “Well, thank you Alexander Gallo. I… I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. Truly.”
He should say something but Alex was too focused on not breaking down and sobbing, screaming out until his lungs bled. She’d said his full name and he’d never hated a sound so much in his life.
“Thanks for letting me know we had an audience.” Hope nodded at the corner and pulled the blanket up higher to cover the vast expanse of skin that the Johnnie left exposed.
“Trust me, wasn’t looking. I was preoccupied with the massive hole in your femoral artery.” The man’s voice sounded different. He certainly wasn’t from America originally and he was a demon. Hope couldn’t tell which clan, but he too had an ancient smell, but his scent was clean and fresh like the air in a great field.
“Thanks, I guess. And you are?”
“At ease, Hope. This is Alexander Gallo. He’s an EMT.”
“Felt more like a field surgeon, today. I would like to check your sutures if you don’t mind.” Alexander walked over to her bed and pulled a rolling metal tray up to the edge.
“This is in your house?” Hope was remarking on the fact that Ciaran seemed to have every type of room possible in his giant mansion. Torture chamber, hospital, training room, and bedrooms aplenty, what was next?
“Independent security, remember? I get hurt a lot. Usually, it’s no necessary, but ye needed more than stitches.”
Gloves snapped at her side, and Hope jumped.
“Yeah, that was really loud. I apologize. I’m going to roll this down, alright?” Alexander’s gloves were purple and smelled terrible.
“Sure, of course. Sorry to be so grumpy. Not a fan of being shot.”
“It’s fine. I don’t think anyone enjoys it. I’ll try to be as gentle as I can.” He rolled down the thin hospital blanket and folded it across her feet with precision. He was so smooth and confident with his movements. It was strange, but she could picture him running with deer through the forest, majestic and gentle.
Hope laid back and let him examine her wound. Alexander pulled back the dressing in one swift motion, she prepared for the sting as the adhesive separated from her skin, but Hope didn’t feel anything. Gallo’s fingers were too sure to just be an EMT. Hope looked down at the sutures in her thigh, she was thoroughly impressed. They were tiny, perfect x’s that closed the gaping hole in her leg, like it was nothing.
“You sure you’re just an EMT? These look better than most surgeons in Newborn.”
“I’m trained as a surgeon in the ER, but I like being out in the thick of it.”
There was a small bottle of red liquid on the metal tray, and Alexander dipped a long wooden Q-tip inside. The liquid felt cold, at first, but as it sunk into her wound, her whole body felt warm and strong. The ache eased everywhere, and she simply felt better.
He swabbed a few more times and Hope liked the strong sensation it gave her. She thought she saw some of her skin knit itself back together, but she was probably just tired.
“What is that stuff?” Hope’s voice came easier, and her eyes didn’t feel as heavy.
“Magic,” Alexander smiled, “It’s a secret serum I made. Don’t tell anyone.” Through that smile, he was completely serious. Whatever it was that he made, it was definitely not public information, and he wanted to keep it that way. What is it with demons and secrets?
“Well, thank you. You don’t even know me. You didn’t have to do this.”
“I like to help people, it’s in my nature. Besides, Ciaran and I have gotten pretty close, after all the scrapes he’s gotten in, and I’ve never seen him so worried about anyone. If you would have seen his face, you would have done the same. He looked like someone had shot his puppy.”
“Alex! Arsehole! I was nowhere near that pathetic…was I?” Ciaran’s crooked grin was positively dashing, and for whatever reason, Hope liked that he worried about her.
“Ha! Oh, calm down. There’s no use denying it. Anyone with working eyes could see how much she means to you,” Alex turned to Hope, “He was very protective of you. You’re in good hands. Now, rest. I’m going to leave you some of the serum. Just apply a few drops every couple of hours. At the end of the night, Ciaran is going to remove your stitches.”
“Already?”
“Yes, you’ll be all healed. Like I said, magic. Speaking of stitches, I am going to check on Dimitri.”
Hope’s mind flashed to an image of Dimitri in the driver seat with his side drenched in blood.
“Oh shit, his stab wound. Is he okay?” Hope felt horrible for forgetting, which was fucking weird. This whole physical pain trick seemed to come with a host of new, not necessarily pleasant, emotions.
“He’ll be okay. He thinks on his feet and used the seatbelt and an old shirt to stop the bleeding. Very clever.” Alex started to pack up his kit.
“I love to help people. It’s part of who I am. I was a surgeon originally, and I did that for a while till… I’m not going to go there but yeah. I love to help and being a surgeon, while rewarding, didn’t really put me in the thick of it, where the people really needed me. I love being in the action. I am also sort of Ciaran’s unofficial doctor and trust me, this gang keeps me plenty busy. I wouldn’t change it though. Helping my fellow demons, and coincidentally meeting the love of my life, is the best.
