Rock The Boat: IA Coaching

[Steven Hudson]

Steven had finished up the paper work for Thomas at the front desk as he made his way back to the ambulance. This was going to be a nightmare he thought as he debated what he could tell Kelle. In the spirit of fairness he had to explain what she been caught up in given that IA was going to crawl around this like cat nip to a feline. He stared at the paperwork for a moment before he decided that he had to explain from start to finish and figure out if she had ever dealt with IA before.

He knocked on the closed back door to the ambulance wondering if Kelle was still inside or if she had come out. Maybe they could drive and talk or simply sit outside the hospital and work things out or perhaps he would be going back to the chief to ask for another partner. Last one most likely he thought, this is what he got for helping out a cop. In the future never do a cop a favour he thought to himself though he knew he would do the exact same over again if it meant a life saved.

That was all in the future though, right now he needed to make sure that he covered Kelle as best he could and prepared her for what IA might call a friendly chat. It was never friendly and it was never just a chat, that much he had learned the hard way and he hardly wanted her to walk in blind to the situation. He could give her help but in the end she would have to answer the questions as she felt fit, there was making a choice followed by living with it. The two hardly ever went the same way.

Tag: Kelle Lindsay, EMTP

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

Kelle was indeed in the back of the ambulance, having wiped down the gurney then putting on fresh linen after getting to the hospital. She had just put the cardiac monitor and jump bag back onto the cot when she noticed Steven at the back doors and she wondered what he would say to her.

From the start this had been odd...he's 'ordered' her to stay with the ambulance, and she had, although she was naturally suspicious about his motives, and then the explosion had changed everything. There was no doubt that something...clandestine...was going on, but it was up to him to tell her whatever he wanted to. Frankly, nothing as far as patient care had been untoward, so she wasn't too concerned about the details..after all, what she didn't know wouldn't hurt her, right..?

Except what she didn't know was that CPD IA had their sights on everyone involved in the incident, including her!

Opening the back door, she hopped out then sat on the bumper. "Hey! So, um...that was different. I take it there's no love lost between you and Mr. Personality?"

Steven Hudson

[Steven Hudson]

It was a strange day out and out but there was no way he could leave Kelle to figure all this out on her own. IA had their ways and he had his own, mainly it was ask for a lawyer or union rep or whatever he found would annoy IA the most. Still if Kelle had managed to escape this side of work then she was lucky and he hardly wanted her in a room with someone who would make her out to be the criminal or back her into a corner.

Steven laughed as she spoke about Mr Personality, “Different, yeah that’s one word for it.” He said pretty sure that insane, confusing and never again all went together with ‘different’. “Never met the guy before and can’t say I’d want to again.” He said smirking, “Least I didn’t want to cut his clothes off or go to dinner with him.” He teased her, glad that Thomas was out of the ambulance; the man was insufferable on the highest level and as for his offer of dinner to Kelle. He had never wanted to stick a tube down someone’s throat as much to make them shut up.

He debated for a moment yelling at her about not staying with the ambulance but then he was grateful for her help. In fact if she had not been there then Allison would have been a handful and Thomas well... He might have broken every land speed law to get that man out of his rig as fast as he could. “So... Kelle, have you ever done anything like this before?” He asked generally, obviously not about her medic skills which were brilliant but it was more the situation as he sat himself down on the bumper alongside her.

Tag: Kelle Lindsay, EMTP

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

"Honestly, I'm glad I didn't have to cut his clothes off either!"  Kelle laughed, then shook her head.  "Cops are stubborn bastards, right?  But I figure they know what they're doing and can make up their own minds."

She'd been glad that Thomas had finally relented and seen had the good sense to go in with them...well, his boss had had a lot to do with that!

“So... Kelle, have you ever done anything like this before?”

"Yeah, about that..."  Yes, the meat of the call had been pretty routine, but the whole of it..."I guess I wasn't supposed to be there, but, um...you know, that whole 'partner' thing..."  Letting out a breath, she looked at him a moment, unable to shake the feeling that he'd betrayed that partnership by getting her involved in whatever had been going on there.

"Anyway, whatever...you can tell me what that was about or we can just drop it, I'm okay either way..and I won't bring it up again."  That was a partnership...accept what the other person wanted and go with it so long as laws weren't violated or people weren't endangered.

Steven Hudson

[Steven Hudson]

Steven laughed as he shook his head; honestly he was glad that cutting off his clothes was an option they had managed to get around because it would just be another thing the guy would complain about. “Right, stubborn as they come and mostly but they forget we know what we’re doing too most of the time.” He said knowing it was tough to be in a situation where you were not the one in control anymore. Trust went a long way when the emergency services came but then again going from in control of what you were doing to requiring help was scary for anyone.

Steven could tell he had pushed the boundaries this time, the whole ‘partner thing’ said as much as he listened to her. All in all he had not counted on the fact that Kelle would have stuck around so long so he guessed he would be either on his own or with a new start that would have run at the first sign of trouble like this. It was as he listened that he gave her a stunned look, she would drop it if he asked her to and was okay with it? He was used to being yelled at or told he was the worst partner ever not that someone would drop an issue.

“No no, I want to tell you because you did great today and you deserve the truth.” He said still a little thrown off by her words so far. “Before I explain I understand if you want to ask for another partner, I won’t be mad or hold it against you. It’s your choice.” He stated, he had seen enough people sit beside him to at least be confident to give them the option and being mad about a choice it hardly helped anything.

“I was asked to be in the area by a CPD Sergeant called Voight. It was just supposed to be a precaution thing and to me it seemed that things didn’t go exactly as planned.” He explained, “The Sergeant isn’t the most liked so this is your advanced warning IA will be all over this soon.” That was the part Steven hated, the questions upon questions all while trying to trip you up or find a thread to pull on and of course all done by any means.

Tag: Kelle Lindsay, EMTP

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

“No no, I want to tell you because you did great today and you deserve the truth.” He said still a little thrown off by her words so far. “Before I explain I understand if you want to ask for another partner, I won’t be mad or hold it against you. It’s your choice.”

"And bend someone else to my will?"  Kelle offered a quick smile, although honestly, until he explained at least a little she really wasn't sure.  Still, she had settled  in with him for a partner and was learning to deal with him -- when to poke him, when to smack him and when to just shut up and she didn't want to start that process over if she could help it.

“I was asked to be in the area by a CPD Sergeant called Voight. It was just supposed to be a precaution thing and to me it seemed that things didn’t go exactly as planned.” He explained, “The Sergeant isn’t the most liked so this is your advanced warning IA will be all over this soon.”

"IA?"  There was a sharp spike of fear and dismay that coursed through her chest that she knew would remain for some time -- she hated testifying in court, giving depositions, and this would likely be worse.  It seemed as though IA's whole purpose was to convict, and to twist your words into what they wanted to suit their needs.

"What do I say?"  Maybe they wouldn't want to talk to her, after all, she was far removed from the incident.  "Wait.." 

She looked at him, then down at the ground for a moment, gathering her thoughts before muttering, "I can't lie, so maybe...I don't know."  She looked up at him again.  "I won't lie...I can hedge, but not lie."

Steven Hudson

[Steven Hudson]

Steven was hardly sure of her answer as he offered to give her an easy way to get rid of him. Not his first rodeo he thought to himself but he was more surprised by her answer as he chuckled a little. “Who said I was went to your will?” He asked with a raised brow. For Kelle he knew he would do whatever it was she asked, she was the first person to actually put up with him which counted for a lot in his eyes. It was nice to actually feel comfortable around someone without having to watch out for what he said or how it might sound to someone else.

He got to know people and then they were gone, not everyone worked the same way and that meant a lot of learning and a lot of detail. Steven nodded as she said IA, oh they had already had that effect on people as he tried not to feel a little cursed for dragging her into this. Stay by the ambulance had ended with the explosion and so she was involved in what was going on. That he could not change at all even if he wanted to.

“I’ll never ask you to lie and you can tell the truth. Rule one never lie with IA, they can catch that stuff a mile away.” He said having had experience in lying to them and it went less than fine for him. “Hedge if you want to but rule two is always ask for your union rep or a lawyer. I’ll pay for one for you but you got to promise me you’ll ask for one no matter what they promise or tell you? Or just say no comment but still go with a lawyer or rep.” He asked seriously not wanting her to give up her chance to get another set of eyes and ears into the room.

He trusted her and what she would say was the truth it was simply that IA had their ways of backing people into a corner. Making them feel as if the truth was lies and a lawyer put a stop to it and hopefully could put IA on edge enough for Kelle to have a smoother ride of things.

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

"A union rep?"  Oh, god, there was that feeling again, in the pit of her stomach that made her want to throw up!  Not that she minded union reps per sae, but it was the idea that she would need one...it was like going to the Principal's office...it wasn't the person, but the concept!

"You really think it will be that bad?"  Her nose wrinkled up as she looked at him then let out a breath.  While she wasn't thrilled to have been put into this position, it wasn't something that Steven had necessarily done on purpose, so she didn't really hold it against him, so long as she wasn't later ostracized or harassed by the law enforcement people for answering any questions put her way. 

"Might be better we just leave it like it is?  I mean, the less you tell me the less I know, right?"  She grinned then.  "Well, besides that you owe me big time...I need some painting done at home...and the fence is falling down..."

May as well make light of it, that would make it less intimidating...

Steven Hudson

[Steven Hudson]

Steven nodded as he realised how bad that the situation sounded. He might have gone overboard but then letting her hang out to dry was not what partners did at any time. “Yes you ask for one.” He said, IA had been a pain in his behind since he had punched his sister’s fiancé for beating her. That one lapse in judgement and now he had firsthand knowledge on what happened when IA were involved in anything. It hurt, they did their homework and they knew how to twist things to their own advantage.

“I’m sorry Kelle, I really am.” He said knowing that her being put in the position was something he never thought would happen. “Yes it can be bad, trust me. I’ve been on the other end of CPD and IA. They don’t let go once they have something. Even if it’s lying about how many pancakes you had for breakfast.” Steven knew that it would be tough but he had confidence that she could handle it. She had to or they would make her life hell in ways that were unimaginable until it started to happen.

“I’ll say nothing more just watch out please?” He asked feeling guilty for her being involved in the first place. She had hardly asked to be involved yet there they were having a talk about what to do when the questions started coming. Steven laughed as she started her list of what needed doing, “Anything you want done, I’ll do it. Painting, fencing, gardening. You tell me and consider it done; I owe you a lot Kelle.” He said thankful that she was his partner as he could see that most people would never have put up with what was going on. “I should have said this a long time ago but thank you. I really mean that.” He added smiling a little.

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

Kelle felt a blush come to her cheeks as she shrugged. "It's okay, I mean, we were there when we needed to be, right? And someone would have gotten pulled into it, so may as well have been us." She did have to admit that it beat the unending stream of whining people who just needed to take a Tylenol and suck it up...and she was fairly certain that she could obfuscate with IA, although she was really hoping that they just didn't bother her at all.

"I'm just glad it wasn't any worse...oh, and I have a new FBI friend, so how cool is that?"

Steven Hudson

[Steven Hudson]

Steven nodded; he could hardly fault the logic. They were there when they were needed and that was their job. To help no matter what and whoever it was regardless of anything. “Yeah I guess we did good so far.” He said pretty sure that Kelle might rethink getting pulled into something like that. It beat the usual customers they had and it was a little excitement for the day which was a rare thing. The big stuff was only occasional and this well it gave a little break in the headaches and sore feet calls that were the usual for the day.

“It could have been a lot worse, like you say glad it wasn’t.” He said as he rolled his eyes as she spoke about her new friend. “Cool yeah, even offered to take you out... seems a bit too smooth though.” He said deciding that ranting about the man was probably going to annoy him. Even though he shook his head, “If you wanted to go to a fancy restaurant then you should say. It can go with the painting, decorating and anything else. Like I said just ask and i’ll do it.” He offered knowing he had to make it up to her somehow.

He had dragged her into a mess and now clearing it up was going to be complicated. He had done a favour for CPD and dragged Kelle into it. He owed her a lot and he knew without argument or fuss he would do whatever it was that she wanted.

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

As she started replacing fresh EKG electrodes on the monitor cables, Kelle shrugged.  "Honestly, fancy places give me the heebie-jeebies...I mean, you drop your fork and everyone looks at you like you're a Neanderthal!"  She started to coil the cables.  "Really, pizza, burgers, even a picnic is fine.  And I don't really expect you to help out with the house just because of this...I was kidding you."  She looked at him with a grin.  "Doesn't mean I won't bribe ya with a beer or something!"

But as she stowed the cables in their pouch she added seriously, "I don't mind fudging on the rules now and then, but...nothing illegal, all right?"  She really didn't see any harm in helping out with hang-over hydration by starting an IV on someone, or giving a breathing treatment, but when it came to things like narcotics...those, you were messing with the Feds, decertification and prison...she wasn't going to go there, but then, she didn't think Steven would, either.  He was a pretty straight-up guy.

Even now, she knew that there had been nothing illegal or out of protocol on their part, but that there were just things that others didn't necessarily want the 'authorities' to know about, and that wasn't their problem.

Steven Hudson

[Steven Hudson]

Steven listened to her talk about the fancy places; he had to agree with her on it. Getting dressed up on occasion was nice but he always felt like he was an alien in a suit. The thought of sitting in a restaurant and thinking ‘is this the right fork?’ was terrifying to him. “Oh beer... I’m sold.” He teased as he grinned toward her. “I offered to help, there if you need it and the pizza or burgers or picnic is on me. I owe you big time for this so you just think what you want done and I’ll do it. Maybe the beer after though?”

The rules and fudging, usually he liked to colour within the lines and yet there he was doing something strange because he had been asked. “You saying I look like the type to do illegal things?” He asked before he grinned and shook his head. “Not illegal, just right place right time. Keep everyone going home in one piece sort of thing. Odd yes illegal no.” If anything started to get toward the illegal side then he’d make sure that they were as far out of it as possible. Even if he was stuck in something then he’d make real sure that Kelle was left alone or not on shift.

“I know its a little late to say but you know I’d never involve you in anything illegal right? I’m not that sort, I can fudge but nothing more.” He said a little seriously, he knew the cost of doing the wrong thing and he had seen a few people go down that route and it never ended well. Things were hardly by the book and yes there were times when the right thing was not always right but illegal was a whole different set of cards he would never play.

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

"Yeah, I didn't think so."  She knew that there had been some scandals in the department, most of them through downright stupidity and many of them involving things that weren't legal, the ones that didn't involve sex, and that was clearly out.  Not that she minded a tumble here and there, but not with someone who was married, or even attached, and most certainly not on the hose bed of an engine or in a supply closet!

With a smile, she tossed the cardiac monitor onto the gurney, getting ready for the next call.  "So, we're of a similar mind..."  Her face twisted into a frown.  "But...well, somehow I think that should scare me!"  Laughing, she stuck her tongue out at him.  "So, for now, how about we go get something good at Starbucks?  I'd kinda like to just move on...that broad was really a piece of work, wasn't she?"

Of course, she figured that Allison had her reasons, but to be a bitch to people who were only trying to help was uncalled for, not that it was at all unusual.

Steven Hudson

[Steven Hudson]

Steven nodded, no department could ever be scandal free but as long as he kept his nose clean he would do his best to be on the right side of things. Everyone had their moments of doing that thing that they regretted, pushing too hard for a choice or not listening. It was all in the nature of what they did and not giving up even when the odds were stacked up against them. Still he wasn’t the sort that bent the rules to the point of breaking, at least not yet anyhow.

“Wow, I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.” He said trying to figure that out, “Similar minds maybe it’s me who should be scared.” He joked as he stuck his tongue out at her. Well at least they were on the same page about things which always helped. At the mention of Starbucks he nodded, “Ooh coffee and anything chocolate and i’m buying.” He offered figuring he’d start repaying her now since she hadn’t run off into the hills at the trouble that might be heading there way.

“Oh she was something all right, cant imagine having to deal with her again.” He said wanting to avoid any call that she was part of because, there was only so much he could take in a day. “Still she seemed to like you eventually, not as much as the fed but hey I think you got the better patient.” He stated with a grin, all they wanted to do was help and this is what they got in return for it. A headache.