Chapter 22: A Life Saved, A Future Together
The sun was setting over the city, casting a warm orange glow across the streets as Conrad and Loraine sat on the steps outside the hospital, the day’s work finally behind them. The hum of traffic, the distant sound of sirens, and the usual bustle of the city filled the air, but for a moment, everything seemed still—like a quiet pause in their whirlwind of a life.
Conrad leaned back, resting his elbows on the steps, gazing up at the fading sunlight. He hadn’t spoken for a while, lost in his thoughts. Loraine sat beside him, her head leaning on his shoulder, her fingers tracing absent-minded patterns on his arm. She could sense the weight of something on his mind but knew better than to push him to speak before he was ready.
“Do you ever think about how we got here?” Conrad asked finally, breaking the comfortable silence.
Loraine smiled softly, lifting her head to look at him.
“Every day.”
“I mean, I think about everything that’s happened,” Conrad continued, his voice distant as he stared into the horizon.
“All the craziness… my mom, the syndicate, the lives we’ve saved, and the ones we couldn’t. It’s like… how did we end up here?”
Loraine shifted closer, her eyes warm as they searched his face. “I think… we ended up here because this is where we’re supposed to be.”
Conrad turned to look at her, his brow furrowed slightly.
“Do you really believe that?”
“I do,” Loraine said, nodding.
“You’ve come so far, Conrad. From that guy who kidnapped me out of desperation,” she teased lightly, though her tone remained serious, “to this incredible man who saves lives every single day. You’ve made a difference. And not just for me or for your mom, but for everyone you’ve helped along the way.”
Conrad chuckled softly, the memory of their chaotic first meeting bringing a smile to his lips.
“I’m still amazed you forgave me for that.”
“Forgave you?” Loraine smirked.
“I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else. That moment… as crazy as it was, it changed my life too.”
Conrad turned his body toward her, reaching out to gently tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.
“And now, here we are.”
“Here we are,” Loraine echoed, her voice soft.
“A team.”
Conrad took a deep breath, his eyes darkening as he reflected on everything that had led him to this point.
“I think about my mom a lot, especially after everything with the syndicate. She sacrificed so much for me, and… I don’t know if I would’ve made it through all of this without you.”
Loraine’s heart clenched as she watched the vulnerability in his expression. She reached for his hand, squeezing it gently.
“Your mom would be so proud of you, Conrad. You’ve honored her in every way possible. What you’ve done—it’s not just about taking down the people who hurt her. It’s about the lives you’ve saved since then. You’re giving people hope.”
Conrad looked down at their intertwined hands, the warmth of her touch grounding him. “I guess… I just feel like there’s always more I could’ve done. Like, for the people we couldn’t save.”
Loraine shook her head, her voice firm but gentle. “We can’t save everyone. But we do everything we can. That’s what matters. And you—you’ve done more than anyone could ever ask.”
There was a long pause as they sat together, the weight of their shared journey pressing down on them, but in the most comforting way. It was as if they had been forged in the fires of everything they had endured, and now, they were stronger for it—individually and together.
“I never thought I’d find someone like you,” Conrad admitted, his voice quieter now. “Someone who’s been through so much but still chooses to fight for good every single day.”
Loraine smiled, her heart swelling with affection for him. “I never thought I’d find someone like you either. But I’m glad we found each other.”
Conrad leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, his lips lingering for a moment as if he was savoring the calmness of the moment. “I don’t know what the future holds, but… I know I want you in it.”
Loraine pulled back slightly, her eyes locking with his. “Good, because you’re stuck with me.”
He laughed, the sound light and carefree—something she hadn’t heard from him often enough lately. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
As they sat there, watching the sky turn darker, the air cooler, they shared a comfortable silence once more. The past few years had been a whirlwind of chaos, danger, and near-death experiences, but through it all, they had found each other. And in that, they had found something solid, something worth holding onto.
Just as they were about to get up, the familiar sound of a radio call crackled through their ambulance parked nearby. Conrad groaned playfully, running a hand through his hair. “No rest for the wicked.”
Loraine smiled, already reaching for the radio. “This is Loraine and Conrad. Go ahead.”
The dispatcher’s voice came through, calm but urgent. “We have a situation—a young boy, severe allergic reaction. His airway is closing. We need a team immediately.”
Conrad was on his feet in an instant, grabbing the keys to the ambulance as Loraine followed him. “We’ll be there in five,” she confirmed, before looking at Conrad. “Ready?”
He smirked. “Always.”
They jumped into the ambulance, and as they sped through the streets, the adrenaline pumping through them, it was almost second nature now. They were a team—both professionally and personally. They worked in sync, their movements coordinated and precise.
As they pulled up to the scene, Loraine grabbed her kit and rushed out to meet the panicked mother holding her child, while Conrad directed traffic to clear a path for their quick getaway.
“He’s not breathing!” the mother cried, her voice thick with fear.
Loraine knelt down, already working to assess the boy’s condition. His face was swollen, his breathing shallow. “We need to open his airway now,” she said, her voice calm but authoritative.
Conrad was already beside her, setting up the necessary equipment. “I’ll monitor his vitals while you administer the epinephrine.”
With a swift, practiced motion, Loraine injected the boy with the life-saving dose. They worked in tandem, Conrad giving her feedback on his pulse as she carefully monitored his breathing.
“Come on, kid, stay with us,” Conrad muttered under his breath as the boy’s chest began to rise and fall more steadily.
After what felt like an eternity, the boy’s breathing evened out, his eyes fluttering open as he slowly regained consciousness. The relief on his mother’s face was palpable, tears streaming down her cheeks as she clutched her son.
“You saved him,” she whispered, her voice filled with gratitude.
Loraine smiled, her own heart racing from the intensity of the situation. “He’s going to be okay,” she reassured the mother.
Conrad stood back, watching Loraine work, his chest swelling with pride. This was what they did—saving lives, giving people hope. And no matter how many close calls or near-misses they faced, they knew they would keep doing it as long as they could.
Back in the ambulance, as they made their way to the hospital with the young boy stable and safe, Conrad glanced over at Loraine, a smile playing on his lips.
“You know,” he said, his voice soft but full of meaning, “if I didn’t already love you, I think watching you save that kid would’ve done it.”
Loraine chuckled, her heart warm as she reached for his hand. “Good thing you already do.”
Conrad squeezed her hand, his eyes locking with hers in the dim light of the ambulance. “Yeah,” he whispered. “Good thing.”
And in that moment, with the city lights flashing around them and the sound of the sirens fading into the background, they knew—together, they could face anything.
---- The End ----