"You are going to 75 High Street, shop called Carters Jewellers." The voice came over the radio. Mark scribbled it down and acknowledged it.
"Yeah, roger control, 75 High Street," he confirmed.
"You have an elderly female, collapsed," the voice continued.
"All received control, we're mobile." Mark put the radio back on its hook and turned to his crewmate.
"Ok, let's go and see what the lady has given us."
He flicked the switch and the lights came on, closely followed by the wailers as his crewmate swung the vehicle out, cursing at the traffic. He fastened his seatbelt and leant forward to grab a pair of gloves from the box on the dashboard, pulling them over his long fingers as he flexed them.
They pulled up outside the jeweller's and booked themselves on scene. Moving through the ambulance they picked up their responder bags and opened the back doors. The manager of the shop hovered nervously as they walked down the steps and Mark slipped easily into work mode as he reassured him. Mark enjoyed his job, there were good days and bad days but on the whole, most were good.
They dealt with their patient and loaded her into the vehicle. Mark climbed in and spoke to her gently and confidently as they drove to the hospital. Once they handed her into the care of the ER staff, he phoned his dispatch desk to deal with the paperwork and gave them everything they needed to complete the job.
"Hello, dispatch," the voice said.
"Hello, its Mark on Hotel 4, I've got all your times for you," he replied.
"Hallo luvvie, Its Sue. Wotcha got for me then?"
"Well," he replied laughing, "I have a number of things for you, but that would be telling. You can have these times if you want?"
"Oh go on then, although I am more interested in what else you have now." Sue laughed and took the times from Mark.
Mark's day continued and he spoke to Sue a number of times, both on the phone and the radio, both of them flirting outrageously with each other but never going too far.
When Mark finally got back to the station for a break, he went into the office and phoned control. Making an excuse he was put through to the desk, only to find that Sue was also on a break and someone else took his call.
"Oh, I was looking for Sue," he said.
"She's on a break, can I help?" said the voice on the other end.
"No its ok, not to worry, when's she due back?"
"Oh about 10 minutes," the voice replied.
"Do me a favour please, get her to ring Mark at Carsec station," he said.
"Ok no problem, will do, bye." The voice hurried on.
"Ok seeya," said Mark.
Mark didn't get a phone call for the rest of the day and if he did, he was not on station to take the call. It turned out to be a busy day and he finished late again, just missing Sue on the phone for the last job of the day. Their paths crossed often because of their shift patterns so he was not worried about catching up with her.
When Mark went into work the next day he was pleased to find that once again, it was Sue's voice on the radio as he booked on duty.
"Hotel 4, good morning to you, King and Quinn on this vehicle again, Para and Tech, requesting a radio check." Mark gave dispatch a cheery good morning and awaited the reply.
"Yeah, roger Hotel 4, a VERY good morning to you both, radio strength five." Sues voice came floating back over the air.
Mark smiled and went back into the station, picking up his mug of coffee before going back out to his vehicle to finish the daily checks.
Ten minutes later, the station phone rang. "Carsec Station. Good Morning," Mark answered.
"G'morning," came the voice, "I hear you wanted to talk to me?"
Mark smiled, "Well good morning, if it isn't my favourite dispatcher, how are ya?"
Sue laughed. "Didn't think there was such a thing, I am well thanks love, just happy to be here, you know how it is."
"Oh you lie so beautifully," Mark laughed, "of course there is such a thing as favourites, otherwise you wouldn't be mine."
"Flatterer, hang on a mo, radio," Sue said suddenly and put Mark on hold, leaving him in limbo. He drank his coffee while he listened to her on the station base set next to him. Waiting for her to continue what she was doing and come back to him, he looked through some paperwork, people wanting answers to impossible questions. The phone clicked.
"Allo?" Sue was back on the line.
"I'm still here, you haven't sent me out yet," Mark laughed.
"No, that's true. Best see what I can do in the next five minutes then," Sue replied.
"Spoilsport," came the answer.
"So, what did you want me for the other day then?" Sue asked.
"Do you know? Now I have heard your lovely voice again, I can't remember, but I am sure I can think of something agreeable." They both laughed as he finished the sentence. "Ah well," he said.
"So what did you do on your days off then?" asked Sue, trying to keep the conversation going.
"Oh this and that, trying to decorate my new flat. I hate painting, drives me nuts," Mark replied.
"Did mine a while back, if I had known you hate it so much I would have enlisted you to come and help me, we could have hated it together." Sue laughed.
"Ugh, no thanks," came the reply, "but you can always come and help me."
Sue laughed but didn't say no, something Mark picked up on immediately.
"Right I had better get on or I am going to get told off," said Sue reluctantly. "Gimmie a ring on your break if you want."
"I may just do that, be gentle with me, I ache all over," Mark replied.
Sue laughed, "OK I'll do my best, if not I will have to find some way to make it up to you."
"You're right, you will. Talk to you later," Mark replied.
"Seeya," said Sue and hung up.
