Extreme Medical Services: Medical Care On The Fringes Of Humanity by Jamie Davis

started adding some movies to his list. He found the Mummy with Boris Karloff, Bram Stoker’s Dracula by director Francis Ford Coppola and the 1929 silent vampire classic, Nosferatu. He also listed the ones he could check the local library for if he couldn’t find them on Netflix or Amazon. There was An American Werewolf in London, the zombie classic Dawn of the Dead, Bride of Frankenstein and the Spielberg classic, Poltergeist. He checked the list and seemed satisfied. That should get him started.
        He changed into some shorts and his Streetlight Manifesto t-shirt and headed back to his bedroom to get some sleep. He would start digging into his movie research list after he took a nap. Working midnights seemed to sap him more than working days did. Maybe there was something to that medical research he had seen on the effects of shift work on the physiology of humans. As he lay down in bed, he found himself wondering if it affected Unusuals the same way? He fell asleep pondering that question.
        Dean spent the next three days in the routine of sleep, gym, library, and research. It had been fun watching some of the old black and white classic monster movies. The library had quite a collection for loan and he’d taken as many as they’d allow. He also got himself back on a day schedule - sort of - in time to return to day shift.
        He showed up at work about five minutes early, ready to start his day and watched a fancy, silver sports car with dark tinted windows pull up. After a moment or two, Brynne hopped out of the passenger side. She was wearing a turtleneck under her uniform shirt and looked a little flushed. She looked at him and said, “What are you staring at Newbie?”  
        “Aren’t you going to be hot in that?” he asked. “It’s supposed to be in the 80’s today.”
        “I’m always cold and we usually have the AC blasting,” she answered. “Don’t worry about me, worry about the job.”
        “Yes, ma’am!” Dean said holding the door and trying to peer into the darkened windshield of the sports car. “Bye, James,” he waved and then went inside. The sports car revved the engine once and then pulled away.  
        “I’d advise you to leave James alone,” she said as they went inside. “He’s a nice enough guy most of the time, but he can be the jealous type.”
        “I’ll keep that in mind.” Dean responded.  
        Bill and Lynne were grabbing their stuff as the two entered the squad room. “Did I hear ‘lover boy’ speeding off in his fancy car?” Bill asked. “Brynne, I don’t know what you see in that guy.”
        “Leave her alone, Bill. She’s a big girl.” Lynne countered.
        “I know, I’m just saying the whole thing puzzles me,” Bill said. “I just don’t see it. But, to each their own, as they say. Adios, muchachos. I’ve got a bed at home calling my name.”
    “Yeah, me, too,” Lynne said. “See you guys!” She left as Bill held the door for her. Dean and Brynne were alone in the squad room.
        “Look, Brynne, I didn’t mean anything by it saying goodbye to James like that,” Dean said.
        “Forget about it,” Brynne said with a wave of her hand. “I’m grumpy this morning. I didn’t get much sleep the last three days and I’m tired. I don’t want to say the ‘Q’ word and jinx us but I sure hope it’s a below average day shift.”
        “Do you want me to do the vehicle and bag check while you rest up?” Dean asked.
        “No, I’ll help out,” she said. “I’m supposed to make sure you know what you’re doing and you might miss something we need, though usually Bill and Lynne leave things in good order.” The two of them went into the bay and began going over the ambulance, double checking the supplies in the med bag and all the cabinets. As Brynne had said, all was in good shape.
        Dean was considering a cup of coffee but the first tones of the day dropped as they were coming