wheelsy_sheriff | (no subject)

["Have a good day, you two."]

The first five or ten minutes of arriving at the station had been great.

Bill was reinstated, got his badge and his gun back, and received plenty of congratulations and welcome backs from everybody. The excitement and nerves he'd been feeling about this day finally seemed to mellow out, and he just felt great being back where he belonged.

After the initial reception, though, things turned downhill.

Half the day had been consumed by paperwork. Forms he needed to fill out for duty, paperwork Dave didn't (or couldn't) do, requisitions that had been waiting forever, reports, duty roster, messages; all the things that make the job way too tedious for Bill's liking.

After lunch at the diner Bill finally got out of the station with Dave.

Things didn't get much better.

They broke up a shouting match between a couple in the middle of the laundromat; picked up a loose goat and took him back where it belonged, only to find the animal had left something behind on the back seat; and hauled in a disgruntled, and very drunk, old man for public intoxication, which resulted in both Dave and Bill reeking of cheap vodka.

The shift was almost over when the call came in about trouble at Mrs. Freeda's place.

"Great, wonder what it is this time," Bill mutters as he turns the cruiser around and heads for Mrs. Freeda's.

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"Took a pretty hard hit, from the looks of it," Dave says, keeping his voice soft and low. "Confused some, but at least he's awake an' talkin'."

He nods toward Mrs. Freeda.

"I'm gonna escort the ambulance to the hospital, need you to handle Mrs. Freeda."

"Yeah, 'course I can do that," Kelly says, worry in her eyes as she glances at Bill. "Rudy just got back from a call at the lodge, he's holdin' down the station with Nancy."

Dave winces a little.

"I gotta have him get word to Mrs. Pardy an' Kate, let 'em know what's goin' on."

He looks from Kelly to Jay, who's rolling in a stretcher while Chris continues to talk with Bill.

"S'a good answer, sheriff -- it's June, all right," Chris says, feeling along Bill's scalp for any bumps or abrasions. The paramedic doesn't let his expression change when he finds the knot on Bill's head. "How 'bout what day of the week it is? Can you tell me that?"

"It's Monday, they let me back on duty on-- " He flinches back from the touch, and sees the stretcher.

With a stubborn expression, he shakes his head.

"I don't need that."

"Maybe not, but we gotta be sure, sheriff," Chris says, shifting to help Jay position the stretcher flat next to Bill. "We just need to get you checked over in the ER, an' as soon as you're done there, you can head on home to a real bed."

He is feeling pretty damn tired, and laying down is something he'd really like to do, but the thought of the hospital chills his insides.

"Dave!"

Wincing at his own shout, his arm unconsciously wraps around his side and he shakes his head again.

"I'm sure, I don't need it."

Kelly had stepped to the side to talk with Mrs. Freeda, and pauses a moment to look over her shoulder from Bill to Dave.

Dave's jaw tightens; exchanging looks with Chris and Jay, he walks over and crouches next to Bill.

"Bill, we just wanna make sure you ain't hurt before sendin' you home. C'mon -- the sooner we get goin', the faster it's over."

He eyes Chris and Jay, then shifts his unfocused gaze to Dave.

"Dave, I don't wanna-- "

There's fear and worry in his eyes that he just can't hide right now. Reaching out to grip Dave's shoulder, Bill's voice drops low.

"My momma's gonna freak out 'bout this, Dave. Like last time I got hurt in the head on that touchdown... she won't let me play anymore. Shit, I just got back."

Glancing at the stretcher, he shakes his head.

"If I go, y'can't tell her."

Then he turns to Chris and Jay, voice louder.

"An' I'm not stayin' the night."

Dave opens his mouth, then closes it.

A pause.

"All right."

Dave nods toward Jay and Chris, and the two of them ready the stretcher.

Satisfied, Bill lets go of Dave and reaches for the stretcher.

"I'm gonna need some help."

A beat, and then he adds as an excuse, "Think my leg's gone t'sleep."

The three of them help Bill maneuver onto the stretcher, and Dave can't help but think it should be him they're strapping in.

"I'm gonna lead y'all over there," Dave says, giving Bill a direct, reassuring look. "My ugly face'll be the first thing you see."

He nods to Kelly and takes Bill's cap from Mrs. Freeda, who shoots Bill an apologetic look as he's wheeled out the front door.

Dave squints against the lights and heads for the cruiser, pulling out his cell phone to call Rudy from the road.

As the straps go across his chest, Bill shakes his head, mumbling, "Don't-- not my hands. I don't like that."

"We're just makin' sure you aren't gonna fall off the bed, sheriff. It's okay," Chris assures him, giving Bill's wrist a pat when he's done to show they've left Bill's hands alone.

Bill nods to Dave, then lays his head back against the stretcher, thinking he could probably use a nap real soon.