[Darcy Vance]

It was clear the young woman was frightened, as everyone in the establishment was. Her husband just collapsed and went into cardiac arrest… for no reason. No reason she could understand at least. Ferris didn’t have any history of heart issues, or any health concerns that might bring this on. He was standing in line paying for breakfast!

Darcy’s eyes found her kids, closer than they were originally and Beck was sobbing against her sister. Even El had tears in her eyes. No. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. They were supposed to watch their kids grow up and make their own lives, he wasn’t supposed to go like this.

“Felicity, you’re doing a great job. Just keep up with me and it’s all going to be okay.” In moments like these, lying was the only way to keep people grounded and able to be useful when they weren’t typically used to being in moments like these. Darcy had no clue if Ferris was going to be okay or not, but she wasn’t going to stop trying her best to get a pulse.

“One… two… three.” She felt a flicker of a pulse, but it halted and she kept compressions going while the machine recharged. She was glad to hear the ambulance was on its way, but there would be no time to take comfort in anything until he had a pulse and was breathing again. “One… two… three.” she released her grip on him as Felicity pushed the button again and Darcy winced at the sight of his body receiving the jolt.

She didn’t envy him at all, he was going to be incredibly sore when he came to, between chest compressions and the AED machine being used. Still no pulse, so she did another set of compressions, trying to keep in mind how long he was out for. Despite everything feeling like it was happening slowly, he had been unconscious for a solid two minutes. Permanent brain damage could occur at 4 minutes if they didn’t get him breathing.

Fuck.

“One… two… three.” She counted out again, pulling her hands away and-

His pulse returned! It was weak, but it was there. And along with his pulse returning, Ferris’ chest began to rise and fall as he breathed. The relief that raced through her body was a feeling she wanted to savor, but was too afraid his heard might stop again. She checked his pupils again, he was still unconscious; but at least he was breathing. And the sound of the approaching ambulance let her tense muscles relax as she shot a look up to the kids and smiled. “It’s okay, we’re going to let the ambulance take him to the hospital to make sure he’s going to be okay.”

[Felicity Everette]

Stressful situations were not anything new for Felicity, but killing a father of three in her bakery; that topped it all. And if he didn’t get his pulse back soon, Felicity wasn’t sure what she’d do with herself. She should have gone home earlier in the day when she thought about it. But she stayed, and now she could very likely be responsible for taking a dad from his three kids.

Shit.

Felicity looked to his kids, feeling the guilt grip her more tightly as she looked back to the woman as she offered some light words of comfort and they continued with the process. Every time, she begged and pleaded a touch more desperately in her mind. Please, please; don’t die.

And then, after about the fifth time; he had a pulse and was breathing again. Felicity could have cried in relief. She began to repack the AED back up and felt like she could breathe again. If only to know that she hadn’t killed him… well, for more than a few minutes. “You guys don’t even pay any mind to the table, I’ll clean everything up. I hope he’s alright.” She said with a dip of her head, picking up the AED and moving back around the counter to start tidying up their table. She also made a point to put a Mable donut in a bag and handed it to Rhys. “For your dad to enjoy when he’s feeling better.”

[Ferris Felwinter]

Ferris blinked, confused by the bright lights above him and not sure where he was for a moment. Even squinting, he knew the silhouette of curls beside him. Could feel the warmth of her hand on his neck. Barely make out her voice saying something about a hospital. He was immediately concerned something had happened to one of the kids, never mind that as he came to, he was pretty sure he was lying on the floor, his shirt pulled up and open. It hurt to breath.

He groaned and tried to push himself up. His left arm didn't support his weight and he was still too uncoordinated and bumped Darcy with his right. "Darcy..." he wanted to ask if the kids were okay, but couldn't quite find more words or the breath for it. He turned to look at her and saw the little huddle over her shoulder, Ellis and Rhys staring back at him, Beckett huddle against her sister's chest. El looked like she'd seen a ghost and Rhys had tears streaking his face. Ferris looked from them to Darcy, oblivious of the woman moving next to him and the machine that had needed to be used to bring him back. He could remember being about to pay and that was it.

Miraculously, the four hot chocolates still sat undisturbed on the counter alongside his credit card.

Rhys wiped a hand over his face. He felt like he might cry harder now. Thankfully the woman handing him a bag distracted him and gave him a task. Rhys nodded slowly, clutching the bag in one hand.

El quickly looked away from Ferris, maintaining her tough act and nudging her sister. "He's okay, Beck, you can stop crying now," she said firmly. The six-year-old managed a breath and to turn around only to almost blindly run to their mom, grabbing Darcy from behind and sobbing again.

[Darcy Vance]

“N'ose plus nous faire peur comme ça.” She said with a shake of her head, gently running her hand along his jaw and finding herself trying hard to fight off tears. That was the longest three minutes of her life, and she couldn’t help but fight a little as her mind tried to slip more into her emotional reaction than her collected steel nerves.

No, she could cry when she knew for sure he was okay. He might be breathing and vaguely conscious, but no one just had a random bout of cardiac arrest for no reason. She’d let herself feel better after he had some tests run. He’d hate it, but Darcy wasn’t about to just let this slide.

“How’s your head?” She asked him gently after he managed to say her name. She followed his gaze to the kids and she watched as El steeled her expression, just like her dad; always trying to act tough and stoic. Darcy let out a soft sigh at the embrace from their youngest and smiled, pulling her around to hugs her more securely.

“You had her worried.” She told Ferris as she stroked Beck’s back, her little body shaking with a delayed sob as she tried to calm down. Finally turning her chocolate and tear streaked face to her dad with a sniffle. “Why d-did you fall d-d-down?” She managed through her sniffles. Darcy nodded to Rhys and El as they slowly approached, El looking outside as traffic seemed to be making way for the ambulance.

[Ferris Felwinter]

Ferris tried to focus on what Darcy said to him. He hadn't meant to scare anyone. Wasn't even sure what happened. But as he got his bearings and recalled the bakery, he located himself in the room, lying just below the front counter. Like he had fallen there, for some reason.

“My…head is fine,” he breathed. She was probably asking because he fell, but maybe that was the problem? Ferris stared at her quizzically. He realized Darcy was still in first responder mode and he tried to help. “My chest hurts…a lot.” Which slowly registered with him why that might be. If she had performed CPR, she might have cracked something. Which meant he had stopped breathing. “I don't…remember falling. Or…passing out,” he said softly, watching Beck run up.

He pushed himself to sit up. Because he needed to reassure both Darcy and the kids (mostly the kids, since he knew his wife, knew she wouldn't relax) he was okay. He got his left hand on the side of the counter and reached for Darcy with his right. “Help me sit up,” he pleaded softly, still struggling a little.

Darcy relaying all of their concern through his youngest daughter made his chest ache. But not so much as seeing Beck shaking and hearing her question. Because he didn't know. He smiled and steadying himself sitting up and held his hand out to her, inviting her into a hug. “I was just tired. I needed a nap,” he explained lamely.

He looked over at the other two pointed above him. “Don't forget the hot chocolate,” he said quietly. “And napkins,” he added. “That would have been some…pretty terrible last words, eh?” He continued with a forced grin. Partly, he wanted them to know he knew most of what was going on. And he was trying to distract them.

Rhys quirked a smile but shook his head as he walked up to Ferris’ other side and hugged his arm. “The baker lady gave you a donut,” he said.

“Thanks, Rhys. You can save it for me.”

He looked up as the lights from the ambulance flashed over the interior of the bakery, the siren blaring and then cutting out as the EMTs arrived.

[Darcy Vance]

“I don’t think you’re concussed, but we’ll let them check more thoroughly at the hospital.” Darcy said with a quick nod, meeting his gaze and sighing softly. His admission about his chest hurting made her feel a bit guilty. She wasn’t trying to hurt him, but fuck; her husband was technically dead for three minutes. “I’m sorry babe, you-your heart stopped… you weren’t breathing…”

She stopped, not wanting Beck to hear these things. She didn’t need to know that her father had been medically ‘dead’, none of the kids needed to know that. But El and Rhys weren’t six and easily persuaded otherwise.

Though she’d prefer if he stayed down, she offered him a hand to help him sit up. If only to help the kids feel a touch more at ease seeing him upright again. Beck accepted his reasoning, gently patting his face with her little hand as she hugged him. El looked at the drinks but made no move to grab them. Her hazel eyes returned to Ferris, watching him intently as the emergency responders made their way inside.

Darcy picked up her sweater as she stood up, recognizing the EMT’s and pulling them to the side (out of the kids’ hearing) to give them the run down of what all occurred. With a soft nod, they moved back to Ferris and Darcy reached for Beck. “Come on sweetie, these nice men need to check on Daddy and take him in the ambulance.” Beck placed an chocolatey kiss on her dad’s cheek before she stepped back to her mom. “He just needed a nap.” She insisted with a slight pout, hugging Darcy’s leg.

[Ferris Felwinter]

Ferris forced a smile. “It's okay,” he said. About her saving his life even if it hurt now. About his heart having stopped because it was working now. About the fact that it might stop again because he didn't want her to worry despite knowing she would. And maybe he meant it for himself too with her mentioning him going to the hospital. Being in a hospital new bed made him nervous. Put him back to that time ten years ago. He worried he'd slip back even further.

He turned and kissed Beck's hand, wrapping one arm around her for a soft squeeze. “It's alright, pup. How was your donut?” He asked softly, pulling her blonde hair out of her face. She was such a mess. His grey eyes lifted to meet El's look amd he let the smile drip a little. He knew that she knew this wasn't going to just blow over. It would be insulting to pretend otherwise. “Thanks, Beck.”

“Ferris, my name is Nate. This is Cal. Can you tell me what happened?” Nate crouched next to his right side, Cal on his left. The later pulled out a blood pressure monitor and stethoscope and proceeded to wrap it around his arm.

“I was paying for breakfast. And then…I felt a pain in my chest. And don't remember much else,” he admitted, looking down as Cal pumped up the arm band. He watched his impassive expression.

“You have any history of heart conditions or others? Or your family?”

“No.”

“Medications?”

“I take Effexor for major depression.” He hated saying it out loud. “Uh…venlafaxine,” he clarified before Nate could ask.

“Allergies?”

“None.”

“You smoke or drink?”

He winced. “One or two drinks weekly. Used to smoke. A lot,” he admitted.

“Last thing you ate?”

“We had chocolate ice cream last night.”

“Take a deep breath for me. Your wife said you were out for three minutes. Had to use the AED five times. How's your chest feel?”

“Hurts,” he said, looking over at Darcy and forcing a smile. “Still feel dizzy.”

“Alright, Ferris. We're gonna get you in truck. Get you an IV and oxygen. Connect the EKG and take you to the ER for them to look you over. Darcy wants to run some tests. You think you can walk or should we get the stretcher?”

Ferris grimaced, still looking at Darcy. “Alright. I’d like to try walking.” Again mostly for the kids. Cal nodded and stood up, reaching down to take Ferris’s hand and then grabbing his elbow to help him up. Both men noticed in that moment how his left arm shook slightly.

[Darcy Vance]

She knew his words were meant to be comforting and soothing, not just for the kids, but for her… and likely even for himself. It wasn’t fair that he was still so focused on giving them peace when he had been the one who was technically dead for three minutes. Even when he was the patient, he was more concerned about them.

Darcy gave her best attempt at a half smile as she grabbed a napkin and began to tend to the mess on Beck’s face as the EMT’s began to talk to Ferris. Darcy waved for Rhys to give the men space with his father, and though he clearly didn’t want to go far; he obliged and joined her with Beck. Beck’s face was no longer chocolate coated, but her little cheeks were rosy and she sniffled softly as she watched.

Darcy tried to make eye contact with El, but the girl’s hazel eyes were glued to Ferris. She wanted desperately to comfort her eldest daughter in some way, but she knew El wouldn’t believe anything until Darcy was going over test results. Even Rhys knew things were more serious than just his dad being tired. And she wasn’t trying to lie to them, she just wanted them not to be worrying so much. Darcy caught Ferris’ eyes return to her as he answered their questions and she tried to offer a reassuring half smile. Half a smile being as she could muster for the moment.

El shoved her hands into the pocket of her hoody, watching Ferris intently as the moved to help him stand. She wished he would have let them get the stretcher, even if just to make sure he didn’t fall again. It was frightening. Seeing the person you view as being the strongest you know; drop to the ground for no apparent reason. She didn’t remember much of the time before, when it had just been her and her mom. Most of her memories involved Ferris.

He’d taught her how to ice skate, introduced her to hockey and even took her to her first live game. She had been so intimidated by the crowds, but he never left her side. Hell, he’d even included her in the conversation about them growing their family. Growing. Not ‘starting’. Because even then; he clearly wasn’t shy about considering her feelings on important matters. Of course she considered him her dad. Even if she gave him a hard time and still seemed too afraid to call him ‘Dad’ to his face. She noted the way his left arm shook and frowned. He really should be letting them get the stretcher.

[Ferris Felwinter]

Ferris was a protector. It was in his genes. Whether it was his sister from their dad, the military, how he met Garret, his kids, his wife, his coworkers...it was simply how he was built. If he wasn't a detective for Gifted or others, he would be a firefighter. If not that, police. Or maybe military still. He would put anyone over himself, but he had some sense of preservation now to try and be there for his kids. He wanted to watch them grow up, find themselves, make their own lives. And maybe take him along for some of it.

So, he put up a good front. That everything was okay like it always was. Even if it never had been. Because ultimately, he always thoughts fathers should be there. No matter what their kids needed.

He appreciated Darcy's attempt at a smile. He felt bad, leaving her with the kids like this. Especially because he didn't want to be alone. But Beck and Rhys didn't need to see him like this. Neither did El, even though he could feel her eyes boring into him. Ferris felt terribly guilty but knew he was supposed to worry about himself. And the ER.

The last time he had been in a hospital (the back of an ambulance didn't count) was ten years ago. After his attempted suicide. After being in a coma for three days. After failing to deal with the loss of his best friend and his family disowning him for going to his funeral. After his ex of five years broke up with him in the bed. It had to be one of his lowest points. All those old thoughts and despair and desire to end it to be with his friend that he had abandoned...they were held at bay by his family and his meds but in the ER...there was no protection there.

Cal helped hold him up while Nate carried their bag and acted as a spotter. They had him stand for a moment just to ensure blood flow normalized. "How's feeling in your arm?"

"Kinda numb," he admitted. Which, even standing, his whole left side felt that way. He knew that sounded like a heart attack or a stroke or both. But even he knew that's not what happened. Darcy said his heart stopped beating. That's not how either of those worked. The EMTs seemed to agree.

They helped him outside and up the back of the truck, settling him in the stretcher. He felt the pain in his chest increase with anxiety and it was a wonder his whole body didn't shake. All he could think about was keeping it together for his kids. Cal had him remove his shirts and then pressed him to lay down, strapping him in and setting up the IV with medication and oxygen mask and leads. Ferris unconsciously kept holding his breath.

Nate stayed to talk to Darcy for a moment, let her know where they were going and to have the desk contact her. "Probably start with an Xray and ECG. I'm sure you have a list," he said knowingly. "Nothing ever happened like this before?"

[Darcy Vance]

Something about the look on his face and the way he was trying to play it off like everything was okay, left El feeling very unsettled. But even worse, the thought of letting him out of her sight made her heart pound so loudly she couldn’t hear. She couldn’t let him be all alone, not when he had always been there for her, let alone anyone else who needed him.

Before she could even process what she was doing, El followed them out of the bakery and watched Ferris get settled on the stretcher. But instead of just watching like she had assumed was why she followed them out, she stepped up into the back of the ambulance and stepped up beside him. “If mom can’t ride with you, I am. You don’t have to be alone.” El managed to say without her voice cracking too obviously. El knew about his depression. And she could recall hearing her mom saying exactly that to him many times when she was younger, always in an encouraging way and usually when he was having a rough day. Plus, the closer she kept to him, the less anxious she felt and the quieter her racing heart seemed to thud in her ears.

Darcy managed to keep hold of Beck as she tried to race after El, Rhys looking up at her with slight confusion. She patted his shoulder, looking to Nate with a nod. “Of course, downside of being in the medical field.” She attempted to defuse her own stress with a slight chuckle, but then shook her head. “Never… I’ve known him a little over ten years and he’s never had even a slight cardiac arrhythmia.” She admitted with a sigh. Darcy was actually thankful for her ‘lizard brain’ taking over. It kept her nerves and emotions in check, and let her think and react in ways that actually helped. She knew it would fade, and her panic and fear would hit, but for now; she’d keep her shit together and get herself and the children to the car and follow the ambulance to the hospital.

That was what she needed to stay focused on for now. She could have an emotional moment after everything was figured out. “Come on kiddos, let’s get you loaded into the car so we can follow daddy to the hospital.” Beck hugged Darcy’s leg more tightly. “I want to ride with daddy and El.” She said in such a pitiful voice that Darcy almost wanted to allow it. But she knew the safest place for her was in the car, and Ferris didn’t need the added stress of Beck’s million questions during the drive. “But I need you with me. Who else is going to sing and help me cheer up Rhys?” This made her look curiously at her brother before seeming to resign herself to riding in her mother’s SUV. Rhys dutifully carried the bag with his dad’s donut, as well as the drink carrier with the hot chocolates, staying writhing arm’s length of his mother as they stepped outside.

[Ferris Felwinter]

Ferris couldn't quite put on a smile either, but he tried. "I'll be alright. I'll see you soon, okay?" He looked from Beck to Rhys and then El as she followed to the truck. He was more than a little surprised when El climbed in. Nate knew Darcy enough to know she was their kid and didn't bat an eye. Cal didn't seem so sure, but he didn't push. Ferris, on the other hand... "El-"

"I need you to lay down, Mr. Felwinter," Cal ordered, pushing him back by his shoulder gently.

But what really stopped Ferris was his daughter's words. She didn't quite pull it off with the same warm conviction that her mother did, but how she knew those words... Darcy always said kids were smarter than people gave them credit for. El was certainly no exception. She paid attention way too much. His gaze flicked to Darcy and then back to his daughter, a sort of sad but much more honest smile flickering over his expression. "Alright," he said softly to both her and the EMT. He couldn't exactly relax, but it was infinitely easier to not be in a car with only strangers.

"I don't need this, I can breathe fine," he pointed out, muffled by the mask the man put on him.

"I know you're married to a doctor, but you aren't one. Humor me," Nate said, taking a moment to find his vein for the IV. Ferris grimaced and glanced over at El, trying out another smile. He was really glad she was here, but that didn't mean he wanted her to see him as anything other than his usual self.

Once he was settled, they headed out, pulling away thankfully without the siren blaring. He wasn't in that much of an emergency, after all. Ferris tried not to look too tired as the moment began to slide away. Three minutes. He couldn't imagine how long that must have felt for Darcy. For the kids. Try as he might to figure it out those, he still was too shaken to focus. He let out a heavy breath, took in a deep one and then tugged the mask off with his hand that wasn't attached to the IV. "For being buried in your phone, you're a surprisingly good listener. I'll remember that," he said seriously.

[Darcy Vance]

Even if he protested, the determined look on her face was a dead give away that she wasn’t about to be talked out of this decision. It wasn’t just about ensuring her wasn’t alone, but making sure she didn’t lose sight of him. Suddenly, she was afraid. But watching your dad drop dead for no reason and your mom fighting to get him back from three minutes…

A shudder ran down her spine and El did her best not to let it be seen. She offered him half a grin to try and help him feel more comfortable with her being there. And then shooting a look to her mom and siblings. “I’ll make sure he listens to the EMTs, you guys take care of mom.” She gave a nod and could have almost swore that her mom looked like she might cry.

Darcy cleared her throat and tried to offer some more smile before guiding Rhys to their SUV, Beck was back in her arms and clinging to her neck with little stifled sobs. “Daddy needs ice-scream… we always get ice-scream after shots.” Beck insisted as Darcy fastened her in her car seat. She was tall enough for a booster seat, but not quite the right weight to make the upgrade just yet. Rhys handed the drink carrier to his mother as he stepped into the backseat and got himself situated, he refused to released his hold on the bag. “It’s a maple donut for dad… the nice bakery lady gave it to me to hold on to until he can have it.” He informed his mother with a firm nod, and Darcy found his determination adorable.

“Of course, and you’re doing a great job bud.” She told him with a soft smile, and he actually rolled his eyes at her. “It’s an easy job mom.” He said flatly and Darcy couldn’t help but shake her head as she shut the door and set the hot chocolates in the carrier, in her cup holders as she slid in the vehicle and followed behind the ambulance, relieved the kids didn’t have to hear the sirens for the whole drive.

El raised a brow at his words then could help but shrug a little. “Hey, just because the phone is out, doesn’t mean my ears are closed.” She said with a slight grin, and then those hazel eyes seemed to be searching his face as she figured out what she needed to say. “Mom was really scared, we all were. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her move so fast.”

[Ferris Felwinter]

He wasn't about to talk her out of it. Rather annoyingly, his children had inherited his and Darcy's earnestness. It wasn't about being stubborn, it was about passion. And when they said they wanted to do something, they did it. Especially El and Rhys. Especially because try as she might to hide it, he knew his daughter. He knew she was rattled, maybe more than he was. That was never a feeling a parent wanted to see in their child.

Ferris snorted. Like he wouldn't listen to the EMTs. He might push back a little but only because he honestly felt fine. Now. Besides the tingling in his fingers and the probable chest fracture. Okay, so he'd listen better just by virtue of El being there because he was slightly less nervous and didn't want to freak out in front of her. He knew Darcy was feeling the same way, could see it even from here in her eyes. He refrained from telling her he loved her and the kids. Because that felt far too 'final.' There wasn't anything he could say to make this better.

El was right, but that didn't make her words any more terrifying. El had a sharp tongue on her just like her mother. And he thought she was bad; he couldn't imagine what Rhys was listening to. And he didn't have a phone yet to distract him even a little. He lifted the mask again as Nate nudged him, frowning. Sure, the oxygen was helpful, but he still insisted he didn't need it. Maybe more because El was there.

Ferris took another deep breath and let it out, lowering the mask. "You remember that time you broke your collarbone when that kid boarded you?" She'd been six, probably only had vague impressions of it. Little kid hockey wasn't a contact sport, but in a unisex league of very serious players, things got heated and out of hand. "She was on the other side of the ice in boots before you even got up and you were more upset about breaking your favorite stick than how much it hurt. I thought she was going to kill me," he added with a chuckle. Which he had to pretend didn't hurt.

[Darcy Vance]

Sure, seeing her dad on a stretcher with an oxygen mask on and an iv for fluids attached to one of his hands wasn’t typically a comforting sight. But it beat the alternative. Plus, she was pretty sure if he happened to have another ‘episode’ then at least they had just about anything they might need to get him back. Of course that was exactly where her mind went. She could probably count on both hands the number of times she’d seen him on the ground, unintentionally, so to say she was a touch shaken was an understatement.

El shoved her hands in her pockets, not quite sure what else to do with them, aside from picking at her cuticles and she didn’t need to do that. She quirked a brow at his question, unable to help but nod as she tried to think back on the moment. “That’s right, mom’s got a knack for speed in moments like that.” She shook her head a little and then looked down toward her shoes as she continued. “Of course I was upset about the stick, it was one you got me after taking me to see my first live game.. I practically took that thing with me everywhere up until it got broken.”

It wasn’t an unpleasant memory by any means, but in typical teenager fashion, she shrugged it off and cleared her throat a little. Her curls were just a touch darker than Darcy’s, and a little more ‘bouncy’ looking. And right now, she had it half up and half down, only looking slightly frazzled from the events of the day so far. As much as she looked like her mother, her attitude and mannerisms tended to be more on par with her dad.

“Don’t do that… I’m not going to suddenly forget why we’re in the back of an ambulance headed to the hospital.” She hadn’t meant to come off so accusatory, but she didn’t want him ‘handling’ her. Like she was some helpless child, or something. She wanted to know what was truly going on… and if she needed to worry more about her dad or not.

[Ferris Felwinter]

Ferris certainly was invincible. He knew that. But he wasn't so sure his kids knew that, even after all the times they had crashed into him skating or that time he and Rhys slid down a muddy hiking trail, or (and probably only El remembered) when he'd first (mostly) quit smoking and the withdrawal had him sick for weeks, or years ago when he had a near break down a d had to change his meds. He didn't do sick days, as if his kids weren't sick, he could work. He didn't like to draw attention to even those times he had been down. He wasn't trying to be invincible, he was just trying to be there the best he knew how.

"It's not the stick, it's the player," he said. He'd told her that a lot. Showed her how many videos of pros breaking sticks on bad snapshots. Or good ones. Or on other players. It happened. He'd been touched she was so upset but it was normal. And he'd broken his collarbone once too, just not at that young.

It was that moment Nate asked him to take his shirts off (since if he wasn't going to wear the mask, he would at least spare him cutting the T-shirt off) and then attached the nodes for the EKG and put a sensor on his finger for blood pressure. Which served mostly to fill the cabin with the annoying beeping of his own heartbeat. Clearly the EMT was used to awkward conversations and didn't care about interrupting to do his job. "Now put the damn mask on," Nate ordered.

Ferris sighed but did as he was told. Though he did remove it to talk, he put it back each time so as not to get yelled at.

El had so much of her mom in her it was intimidating sometimes. And then to be faced with his own direct way of talking was always startling. He forgot how much of an adult El was already. She'd only just be starting high school next year but she was independent and confident and willing to go toe to toe with people because they taught her to be that way.

Ferris studied his daughter for a long moment. "We're in the back of an ambulance headed to the hospital because it makes your mother happy and we're going to have to pay for it anyway so might as well let Cal and Nate here chauffer us. Most expensive Uber of your life," he said, in fact answering her unasked question in his very practical way. But he knew that wasn't what she meant. "As for the rest," he said gesturing at himself. "I don't know, El," he admitted. "You heard what I told the EMTs. I don't know anything else." The part he didn't say was that he was just as scared as her mom was. As she was. Because she didn't need to carry that.