Page 15 of Tasting Fire
Screw it. She wasn’t running this TMT as their friend. She was running it to save lives. And they would’ve lost at least one today.
Emmy set her coffee aside and addressed the group. “Overall, the entire scene should’ve been handled faster and more smoothly. You’re a relatively new team, so some bumps are to be expected.” She held up a hand when Jackson puffed out his chest and opened his mouth as if to object. “But we’re pros out here, not insecure children. Drop your egos the second you’re called out. You should value feedback that can enhance your performance.” With a laser-gaze, she touched on each team member, lingering only a little too long on Cash. “Are we clear?”
Reluctant head nods, but their faces were blank, and a couple of them stood there in a fuck-you stance with their arms crossed.
Cash spoke up. “If we rush the scene, it impacts patient care.”
“I never suggested that you rush the scene,” she said mildly. “But you need to run it like a tightly choreographed dance. And you were leading in there, Kingston. You should’ve kept a better eye on everyone—”
“I was treating my own patient!”
“I get that, but if you’re the lead medic on a call-out, then you don’t get the luxury of concentrating on a single patient. You have to keep the entire scene in mind. Jackson made a big mistake, and I hold you partially responsible for that.”
“That’s complete bullsh—” Jackson started.
Emmy rolled right over him. “You didn’t thoroughly check your patient for other wounds. You missed a gunshot wound in the underarm. Your patient bled out en route to the hospital.”
“But—”
“No buts,” she said, staring him down. “You either listen to my feedback or you’ll be removed from this team.”
Jackson took an aggressive step toward her. “It’s not like you haven’t killed a patient or two, Doc McKay.” On his lips, her name sounded like a slap. “Why don’t we talk aboutyourrecent mistakes?”
Emmy met him head-on even though his words shook her. He couldn’t know about David Hernandez and how his death haunted her. “What matters is I didn’t make any today, Jackson. You did.”
Slowly, the man backed off, but his stormy expression clearly said he thought she was less worthy of this position than his pal Cash Kingston. And from the tightness blanketing Cash’s face, he wasn’t ready to get on board the Emmy train either.
