A Swift Rescue

Chapter 2

The ambulance tore through the roads with all the speed it could muster as the paramedics buzzed around like a hive of bees.

Taylor gasped as a light flashed in her eyes.  A young woman was hovering over her.

"Taylor?" She said over the noise, yet gently, "honey, can you look at me?"

Taylor's soft lips parted as she whispered, "W... what's..."

"Taylor... sweetie, you're on an IV, it's giving you some blood back.  My name's Alicia... Do you remember what happened?"

"S... Stabbed..." she said weakly.  "She...". She gasped weakly.  "Steak knife..."

"Pulse is dropping... stay with me, Taylor!"

Taylor gasped again as Alicia squeezed her hand.  "Sweetie, can you squeeze my hand?"

Weakly, Taylor managed it.  "Damien..." she said weakly as a paramedic checked her neck for her thready pulse.

"Damien...?  Honey...". Alicia gently shook Taylor's shoulders, patting her cheek.  "Was he the one who saved you?"

"Y... yes..." she whispered.  She tried to sit up, but a gloved hand gently held her down.  "Tell him...". Taylor gasped.  "T... Tell...". She gasped, then groaned weakly.

"Taylor?"  Alicia shook her gently.  "Come on, honey!"

"She's in v-fib," said another paramedic, grabbing a defibrillator.  "Charge to 200!"

"Come on, Taylor... don't do this... charged!"

"Clear!"

Taylor's body gave a weak jerk as the adhesive pads did their work.

"Starting compressions."

"Come on, honey, breathe!"  Alicia  grabbed an ambu bag and tilted Taylor's head back, parting her lips.  She placed the mask over her mouth and squeezed the bag.  "Breathe for me, Taylor!"

"Clear!"

Another shock was delivered, causing Taylor's body to jolt again.

"I'm not giving up, sweetheart..."

During  another round of  compressions, Taylor's head lolled  to the side.  Alicia adjusted Taylor's head gently before using the bag again.

"Clear!"

After a third shock, the ECG beeped again.

"Sinus rhythm," said the paramedic who'd worked Taylor's heart, relieved.  "She's unconscious, but she's back."

Taylor's eyes opened a few minutes later in the hospital.

"You're gonna be fine," said another woman, a doctor.  "Taylor, we're going to save you.  But we have to operate, okay?"  The doctor comfortingly cupped Taylor's cheek as she checked her eyes.  "You're gonna be okay... but you're going to sleep for a while."

Taylor felt a mask being placed over her face.

"Just breath, darling."

As Taylor slowly gave in to the anesthetic, she sighed.  A short time later, she fell asleep, whispering with a weak smile, "Damien..."