Chapter 15: Midnight Shift Surprise
The city was quiet under the blanket of midnight, the roads mostly empty, save for the occasional car passing by. Loraine sat in the back of the ambulance, resting against the cool metal wall, her mind still buzzing from the adrenaline of their last call. Her body was tired, but her thoughts were restless. She checked her phone—just past midnight. Another long shift.
Her eyes drifted to the window as she gazed at the quiet streets. It was her birthday, but in the chaos of the past few days, she hadn’t told anyone. There was too much going on, and besides, she figured it didn’t matter much. Another day, another year.
The back door of the ambulance opened, and Conrad popped his head in. His eyes sparkled mischievously, which immediately put Loraine on alert.
"Hey, everything okay?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, yeah, everything’s fine," Conrad said, stepping inside.
"Just, uh, stay put for a second."
Loraine narrowed her eyes.
"What are you up to?"
Conrad didn’t answer, instead quickly turning away and shutting the door behind him. She could hear him rummaging around in the front of the ambulance, but he was keeping quiet, too quiet. Loraine couldn’t help but smile to herself. He was always up to something, but this was different. There was a hint of secrecy in the air tonight.
After a few minutes of rustling sounds, Conrad reappeared, this time carrying a small box in his hands. Before Loraine could ask what was going on, the lights inside the ambulance suddenly dimmed, and to her astonishment, tiny twinkle lights began to flicker on around the ceiling of the ambulance, casting a soft, warm glow over everything.
Loraine’s mouth fell open.
"Conrad... what is this?"
He grinned sheepishly, stepping closer.
"It’s not much, but... happy birthday, Loraine."
Her heart skipped a beat. She had no idea how he found out, but the fact that he had gone through the trouble of decorating the ambulance with lights made her chest swell with warmth.
"You did all this... for me?"
"Of course," Conrad said, his voice softening.
"I couldn’t let your birthday go by without doing something, even if we’re stuck on the midnight shift."
Before Loraine could respond, he handed her the small box he had been holding. She opened it to find a single cupcake, carefully placed inside. On top of it was a tiny candle, unlit but ready to be blown out.
Loraine felt a lump form in her throat as she looked at the cupcake, then back at Conrad.
"You... you didn’t have to do this."
"I know," Conrad said with a shrug, "but I wanted to. You deserve something special, even if it’s just a small moment."
Loraine smiled, her eyes glistening in the soft light.
"I can’t believe you went through all this trouble."
"It wasn’t any trouble at all," Conrad said, pulling out a lighter. He flicked it on and lit the candle atop the cupcake. The tiny flame flickered, casting a warm glow on Loraine’s face.
"Make a wish," Conrad said softly.
Loraine stared at the candle for a moment, her mind racing with thoughts of the past few months. The craziness of their jobs, the close calls, the dangerous missions they had taken on together. But in this small moment, everything felt perfect. She closed her eyes, made a silent wish, and blew out the candle.
As the smoke curled up into the air, she opened her eyes and found Conrad looking at her, his gaze soft and affectionate.
"So," Conrad said, leaning against the wall next to her. "What did you wish for?"
Loraine chuckled, shaking her head. "You know I can’t tell you that. It won’t come true."
Conrad smirked. "Fair enough."
For a moment, the two of them sat in comfortable silence, the only sound being the soft hum of the ambulance. The twinkle lights cast a warm glow around them, making the back of the ambulance feel like a little cozy hideaway, just for them.
"You really surprised me, Conrad," Loraine said after a while, her voice quiet. "I didn’t expect... any of this."
Conrad turned his head to look at her, his expression serious now. "You’ve been through so much, Loraine. I see how hard you work, how much you care about the people we help. You deserve a little happiness, you know?"
Loraine felt her chest tighten with emotion. She had always admired Conrad’s dedication and strength, but hearing him say those words made her heart flutter in a way she hadn’t expected. She glanced down at the cupcake in her hands, then back up at him.
"You’re the one who makes this job easier," she admitted softly. "I couldn’t do half of what I do without you."
Conrad smiled, but there was something deeper in his eyes, something that made Loraine’s breath catch. He hesitated for a moment, as if weighing his words carefully.
"You know," he began, his voice quieter now, "I’ve been wanting to tell you something for a while."
Loraine’s pulse quickened, her eyes meeting his. "What is it?"
Conrad took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving hers. "Ever since that day in the ambulance... when I took you hostage... I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. I know that sounds crazy, but you’ve been in my head ever since."
Loraine’s heart pounded in her chest. She had never imagined he felt the same way. The memory of that chaotic, terrifying day had haunted both of them, but somewhere along the way, it had also connected them in a strange, unbreakable way.
"I thought about you too," Loraine admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn’t understand why, but... I couldn’t stop thinking about you either."
Conrad’s expression softened, his eyes searching hers. "I don’t know where this is going, or if it’s even the right time to say this, but... I care about you, Loraine. More than I probably should."
Loraine’s breath hitched. "Conrad..."
He reached out, gently taking her hand in his. "I know we’re in a crazy line of work, and maybe it doesn’t make sense right now, but... I’ve fallen for you."
The words hung in the air between them, heavy with meaning. Loraine felt a rush of emotions flood through her—fear, excitement, and something she hadn’t felt in a long time: hope.
"I care about you too," she finally said, her voice trembling slightly. "I didn’t want to admit it to myself, but... I do."
For a moment, they just looked at each other, the weight of their confessions sinking in. Then, slowly, Conrad leaned closer, his eyes flicking to her lips before meeting her gaze again.
"Can I kiss you?" he asked softly.
Loraine’s heart raced, but she nodded, her voice lost in the swirl of emotions. "Yes."
Conrad closed the distance between them, his lips brushing hers in a soft, tentative kiss. It was gentle at first, almost hesitant, but as soon as their lips met, it felt like something clicked into place. The world outside faded away, leaving only the two of them in the soft glow of the twinkle lights.
Loraine kissed him back, her hand sliding up to rest against his cheek. The warmth of his touch sent shivers down her spine, and for the first time in a long time, she felt truly at peace.
When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads resting against each other, both of them were breathless, their hearts pounding in sync.
"Happy birthday," Conrad whispered against her lips.
Loraine smiled, her heart full. "This is the best birthday I’ve ever had."
They stayed like that for a while, wrapped in each other’s warmth, knowing that no matter what dangers lay ahead, they would face them together. In that quiet moment, beneath the soft glow of twinkle lights, everything felt right.