Emergency escape plan

My head was pounding, my vision spinning, the pressure in my ears almost unbearable as I felt the unmistakable sensation of my eardrums tearing. Blood trickled down my face, seeping from my ears. I searched for Tio, but he was nowhere to be found.

The pain was overwhelming, suffocating. My body felt like it was giving out, desperate for rest. If I could just close my eyes for a moment, maybe I could sleep. My husband would find me, just like he always did. Tio would come.

"Lee? Wake up for me, kiddo," Doc's voice reached me, faint and distant. "I know you’re tired, but you can’t sleep right now. Keep your eyes open and talk to me. Stay still, sweetie... we can’t move you yet."

"Tio?" I whispered, struggling to speak. "Where’s my husband?"

"We’re looking for him, Lee," Doc replied, his voice steady even amid the chaos. "We saw him thrown through the air, but we don’t know where he landed. Hey, Joe! Spread out!"

"Got it, boss!" Joe’s sharp voice responded.

The blare of sirens, ambulances, and police cars filled the air, almost unbearable against the pounding in my head, even with the cotton Doc had gently placed in my ears.

"Easy, man," Doc muttered as the paramedics carefully slid a neck brace around my neck and strapped me to a backboard. "I’m Dr. McDoc... get her to my hospital. Or hers... whatever, just get her to the one I work at!"

"Yes, sir," the paramedics replied in unison as they closed the back of the ambulance.

"Tio?" I croaked again, my vision fading.

"Your uncle?" the first paramedic asked, his tone almost mocking.

"No," I rasped. "His name is Tijuana, but he goes by Tio. Do you know where he is?"

"We were just told to get you, ma’am," the second paramedic explained. "There’s another team out looking for him. They'll bring him once they find him."

"No," I said, panic creeping into my voice. "We’re waiting for my husband. Get me off this bus!"

The paramedics exchanged uneasy glances, but I didn’t care. My hands were shaking as I quickly began texting Doc.

"Something’s off," I typed, struggling to keep my phone steady. "They won’t let me go, and they’re acting strange. I don’t trust them or the other team. Get me out of here, and send them away. Call someone you trust to come get me and Tio!"

Seconds later, Doc opened the ambulance doors, sliding the gurney out. With Joe’s help, they gently lowered me to the ground, still strapped to the backboard. Doc stayed calm, but I could feel his tension. He had Joe stay with me while he made a few calls, arranging for a trusted ambulance crew from his hospital.

"Doc?" I croaked, barely conscious. "Has anyone seen Tio?"

"Joe? Is she okay enough for you to help us search for him?" Doc asked, hanging up the phone.

"Yeah, Anna’s on her way, and Anthony’s with the chef in the kitchen," Joe replied, squeezing my hand. "Lee, you’re going to be alright. I know you want to see Ant, but he’s too young to see you like this."

"Find my husband," I said, my eyes heavy with exhaustion.

Joe nodded and went to join the search.

I drifted in and out of consciousness as they looked for Tio. Anna tried to keep me awake, but she was a pediatric nurse, and there was only so much she could do. Doc gently woke me again, telling me they had found him. Tio was unconscious, lying near the tree line, not far from where I had been. They assured me we’d ride in the same ambulance together.

The ride to the hospital was quick, and we were seen immediately. Both of us had concussions, but thankfully, that was the extent of our injuries. Once we were cleared to leave, I turned to Tio, still groggy, and asked what he wanted to do next.

"So, what do you want to do when we get back to my place?" I asked, my voice slow and thick with exhaustion.

"Mind if I’m honest?" he asked, his voice low but serious.

"Go ahead," I said, offering him a tired smile.

"I want Doc and Joe out of our lives for the next three months," he said, his expression more serious than I’d ever seen it. "Just some time for you and me. We haven’t had time alone together in a while."

"I’m on board with that, but can we wait a week or so?" I asked. "I’m sure Doc will want to check in on both of us, and Joe will want to stick around for a few days."

"They have ten days, and then they give us space for ninety days," he said, a mischievous gleam in his eye. "If we need them for medical or security, we can call or text, but we need to discuss it first. Fair?"

"Yeah, that works," I said, my eyelids heavy. "Let’s send them both an email after a nap. Anna’s got some trauma nurse friends waiting for us back at the house. Four of them will be there. Joe and the guys vetted them, even though Anna vouched for them. They’ll stay with us for a few days and split shifts. They’ll check on us a few times a night to make sure we’re still breathing and that..."

"Ugh," Tio groaned. "I just want to be with you, but I get it. You want to make sure we don’t have any issues while we sleep or get hit with headaches."

"I know, babe," I said. "I’m not a great patient, and neither are you. How bad’s your concussion?"

"Grade two," he said, his eyes full of concern. "What about you?"

"Same," I said. "Can’t wait to shower and get some rest."

"Let’s go," he said, squeezing my hand tightly. "I can’t wait to have you to myself. Well, mostly to myself for ten days!"