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Dessie had just felt dizzy for a second. That's all it was. It was the heat and the sun and the fact that she stood up too quickly from a bench that she had paused at. It wasn’t the fact that she was feeling sick from the smells wafting on the nearly useless breeze. It wasn’t from the fear and uncertainty racing through her, even as a small part of her brain reminded her of the past. It wasn’t any of that, it was just a stupid reaction to the ungodly heat that was making the city oppressivly hot.

So how exactly did she end up sitting in the lobby of one of the other high-end buildings on this block? Why was there a damp, slightly cool paper towel on the back of her neck as a rather worried looking man fanned her with a clipboard while glancing at the door every few seconds. “What?” She croaked out, absently swallowing when her voice sounded like it was from a frog, only to realize that her mouth was bone dry.

“Shhhh, just rest. I’ve got someone getting you some water while the EMS are on their way,” the guy said in what Dessie assumed was a reassuring tone for him but just struck her as nervous and worried. She just frowned and started to get up only to slump back onto the padded bench she had been sitting on. Her whole body felt like a limp noodle. Like she had just run a marathon or spent several hours working out. The blond just sagged forward, head in hands, as she tried to fully understand what had just happened.



Pat got the call for yet another heat related illness. The third one of the day and it wasn’t anywhere near the end of his shift. “Young female. Responsive but seems a bit incoherent at the time of the call. Location requested both medical and police.” The basic run down of the call was briefed to him as he grabbed his gear and got on the way, his coworker-driver rapidly navigating the city streets with the lights and sirens going. He was double checking to make sure he had everything he would need, and more so since one never quite knew how a call was going to go. That's likely why the caller requested police as well, especially since the location was one of those expensive neighborhoods full of condos that cost his yearly pay for a month’s rent. That is if Pat’s recollection of the half heard address was right.

The ambulance, aka bus, pulled to a stop in front of a huge condo building, lights still flashing but the sirens cut off. A glass and steel building that practically screamed money, hell it even had one of those awning things that covered the sidewalk in front of their front door. It seemed like it would be one of those buildings that had a door holder person as well as a lobby attendant who would shoo any vagrants away with just a snooty sniff of their upturned nose. If their patient was inside the building then this was going to be one sucky call. Money normally made people grade A asswipes, baring a few that he knew personally that is. Even as Pat was taking in the spot, and mentally speculating what kind of hell he was walking into, he was hustling out of the vehicle with his partner hot on his heels.

His coworker was ushered inside by, Pat called it, a doorman and rushed over to a pale young woman in worn jeans and a baggy top. Even with her cropped blond hair hiding her face Pat had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. <********.

Pat was about to say something to warn his coworker when the lobby attendant got his attention, it was a simple message that he relayed, the cop was there and would be in in a second, but it was long enough.

“Don’t touch me!” That sharp statement brought Pat’s attention squarely back to his partner and the young female, it also cemented his previous thought. He wasn’t the only one looking at the scene that was unfolding, the lobby attendant was too, hell Pat figured that if the doorman wasn’t as well then it was because he was standing outside with the officer… who was about to come into a major s**t show if Pat didn’t step in and quick. “Dessie,” he called out as he rapidly approached the duo. A quick shake of the head had his friend back off and a hand up stopped whatever the attendant was doing. “Dessie look at me please,” Pat crouched down within touching distance of the girl but didn’t reach out to her, he knew her quirks and knew how to handle them… at least he did before she went to England for school. “Come on kid, let me see what’s up with you before Xander has my head.”



Dessie despised being touched. She hated it with every fiber of her being when it was a stranger. The years had softened her reaction some but not all, so when the man in the uniform started to reach out she snapped at him not to touch her. She was feeling crappy enough as it was, and she wasn’t entirely sure that she wouldn’t end up swinging on the guy who was only trying to help. Not that she would be able to do much with how weak and strange she felt.

She flinched slightly at her name being called, no one here should know her name, only to have her raise her head slightly to see a familiar face kneeling in front of her. “Pat,” she muttered softly. “Sorry.” The apology was said a bit louder even as she sat back upright and held out her arm. “I just-“ she cut herself off with a shake of her head.



“I know kid, I know.” Pat reassured his young cousin even as he waved his coworker back over. “Is it ok if Nick here, Nick this here is my cousin Dessie… she is Xander’s kid, takes your blood pressure?” He paused for the nod even as he checked her pulse, the introduction of his coworker and the smooth notice that he was related to this particular person made the swing into work that much easier. It also let Nick know why he was reacting the way he was, working on family was one of the hardest things to do. “So what happened Dess?”

Pat barely glanced up when the cop walked over, he was a bit too focused on checking his cousin over. She looked haggard but fine. No open wounds or injuries, just hot and sweaty. “Can I get a -” His request for a bottle of water was cut off when he was handed one. The bottle barely stayed in his hand long enough before he passed it to the young woman with a firm, “Drink.” A cloth and a cold pack replaced the now warm, and pretty dry, paper towel that had been sitting on the back of her neck.

“Give us a minute to fully assess. Make sure she doesn't need more urgent care that is.” Pat politely told the cop. It shouldn’t take more than a moment since Dessie was responding just fine, and as long as she didn’t hit her head or there was some other internal issue they shouldn’t even need to transport her. Not that Pat was just going to let her go on her merry way but that was more a family reaction than a work reaction. “Nick, how's her blood pressure?”

The lobby attendant knew that both himself and the doorman would need to give statements, especially since they called the cops along with the medics, so he approached the officer and quickly gave his information, and his side of the story. A slightly rambly tale about the girl stumbling down the sidewalk, rather shaky, and nearly collapsing right in front of the building if the doorman hadn’t caught her and brought her inside to lay down. She did feel super hot which is why they put the wet paper towel on her. He informed both the cop and the EMTs that she never ‘passed out’ since her eyes never closed but he wasn’t sure how much she was aware of when they brought her in, especially since she was mumbling something but wasn't coherent.

He quietly murmured to the police officer, “we requested the police because it is policy and well… she isn’t exactly dressed for this part of town.” He shrugged apologetically even as he glanced over at the girl’s worn and aged jeans and horridly misshapen shirt, and absently straightened his own pressed shirt cuffs. “It's just a precaution that's all. Better safe than sorry.” The building couldn’t have vagrants just wandering around inside after all. It was just not done!

Pat meanwhile had gotten good news from Nick. While she was still dehydrated her blood pressure was rapidly rising and she was showing no signs of concussion or anything else. “You game to talk to the cop Dessie?” With her nod the redhead waved the cop over, indicating that he was good to go.



Dessie nodded, sighing and finishing off a second bottle of water that was offered to her. The AC, water, and cold pack was doing wonders for her head. Pale blue eyes glanced over at the uniformed officer only to look away. Even though she was an upstanding citizen, had been for several years now, her formative years made her distrust the police but Pat was there and she hadn’t done anything wrong.

“I was heading back to my place, well the condo Lily is letting me stay at, it's like a block over that way.” She absently waved in to the right even as she fished out her id if the cop asked for it. “I took a second to rest on one of the bus benches. I was doing fine, just a little hot,” and nauseous but that she kept to herself. “When I stood up to go I got a little dizzy, you know how you feel when you stand up too fast. No big deal. Next thing I know I’m sitting here and then you show up. Don’t know what else to tell you.” She shrugged and fell silent, absently rubbing the wrapped cold pack up and down the back of her neck.

Pat kept an eye on Dessie even as the cop finished up his report. They had all the paperwork signed, the denial of transport and stuff, and technically his job was done. At least the job of a EMT but the job of a cousin? Not so much. Lily’s old place was more like two blocks up and one over, not one like she thought. In this heat and with her just going down like that, walking that distance wasn’t a good idea. But he couldn’t very well give her a ride there. Nor was he really able to wait for a cab or an uber to show up to get her. He was well and truly stuck between a rock and a hard place.



Dessie nodded absently at the cops summary, cautiously standing up as she did so. Only pausing once to make sure any ill effects of the recent incident were well and truly gone. She felt fine. Still tired. Still a little green around the gills, aka nauseous, but over all fine.

“Miss your bag,” The doorman passed her a plastic shopping bag as well as another water bottle. “It’s really hot out there, miss you’ve got to take care of yourself.” The guy quietly reassured the young woman. The lobby attendant just sniffed and turned away. He had work to do unlike some people and after all this excitement he had even more things to do. Oh, the incident report he now had to write.

Dessie’s eyes widened slightly as she quickly took the bag, she had been walking back from the drugstore… and its contents was definitely not something she wanted her cousin to see. With a weak smile she quickly wrapped up the small little box, the opaque bag rapidly obscuring any definitive details, and shoving it in her pants pocket. She should have done that in the first place!



Pat’s sharp eyes took in the interaction, his purple gaze narrowing as he spotted some lettering showing through the cheap plastic bag. It raised all kinds of questions. Did he see it right? Could it have been for someone else? Who could it be for? If the contents of that bag, now in her pocket, was for Dessie though… that added a whole new dimension to his sticky situation.

“Uh… Officer Bones right?” The redhead called out to the other emergency service personnel as he came up with the only solution he could think of. “I don’t suppose you could do me a favor could you? If you have the space and the time, could you take her back to her place? It really is only like three blocks away. I would if I could but my bosses would have my head if we used the ambulance as a taxi. If not, can you try to stick around long enough for an uber to show up?” He knew that all sections of the Emergency Services were being run off their feet and it was a long shot, but it never hurt to ask. If the officer couldn’t then Pat would do what he could to delay long enough to make sure Dessie got into a cab to finish her trip.

“What? No!” Dessie gapped at Pat and scowled, she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself, but any further grumbling was quickly cut off when the redhead faced off against the blonde. He knew exactly which buttons to push to make her see the sense behind his request.

“First of all, you just passed out so even though you aren't going to the hospital I am not leaving you here without a way of getting you home. Secondly, this officer is kind enough to take time out of his day, and he is busier than I am right now, to get you back safely so no complaining. Thirdly, I am going to be telling Xander about this… just how much will be up to you.” His purple gaze flashed down to her pocket where her earlier purchase was stashed away. “So be nice and text me when you get home, ok?”



Dessie at least had enough of a conscience to look away sheepishly and nod. As much as she wanted to leave the cop eating her dust she still wasn’t feeling all that great so she was stuck with him. “Yeah sure. Whatever.” She shoved one hand in her pocket but kept the other holding the ice pack in place before making her way over towards the cop.

“Miss, here. Best of luck to you.” The doorman passed her another bottle of water and a small little star charm. He had gotten it from one of the kids who lived in the building but the poor girl who was standing in front of him seemed like she would need a little bit more luck then he ever would.

She absently smiled as she took the offered water but shook her head at the charm. She already had one from before. “Nah, give it to one of the others. They need all the luck they can get in this city.” With that Dessie stepped outside, back into the blasting heat, but paused under the awning, in the shade, to wait for her escort. She knew her cousin would totally rat her out to Xander if she didn’t actually do what he said. Besides… he had a point.

Not that she would tell him that.

Ever.

Pat was already talking to Nick about their paperwork when the officer called out to him. “What? Oh, um yeah sure! If we are out on a call by the time you come back just give us a holler when you can.” He quickly passed the guy a business card that had the station number on it, not that the cop couldn’t find out himself using his own means. It was easier this way. “Just ask for Pat O’Ryan, or Nick… he could get you the answers for your report as well.” He totally didn’t realize that the officer might be talking about anything else but actual paperwork.

His mind was already on to the next thing, mostly what he was going to tell Xander regarding this little escapade, and he didn’t really think about it when the doorman passed him the offered charm, along with two bottles of water ‘for the road’. “Thanks,” He said absently as the duo made their way outside after cleaning up. They would try to delay as long as they could but if they got another call in they would have to go. Might as well use this time to make sure their kit was fully stocked and sorted. One never really knew what this city would bring.

And yet, life went on.