Christmas Aftermath

Christmas had started early for me...Crimson had been stuck in Paragon City, due to the freak snowstorm that hit Queen City on Saturday night. I had been running like crazy all day Friday, spending some precious time with Virgil, then hurrying back and arriving home just ahead of the blizzard. Saturday had been filled with aid to families with no heat--I dropped off blankets from the shelters, assisted in three fire rescues, and one birth.

Crime wasn't at a standstill either...Both the Glow Worm and Frosty Fred had made appearances. But I led both of them on to where they took each other out; making my job a little easier.

Christmas Eve mass was said late, and after church, I managed to assist Father Timothy with a small problem; but even still it was almost 4 am Christmas morning when I found my bed. The buzzing of the alarm at 7 informed me it was time to spend Christmas morning with Alex, Beth and my nephews. Fortunately, my Jeep had little trouble navigating the snows and hills of Queen City and I was there for breakfast by 8. It was a lot of fun watching the boys tear into their presents; then off to mass we went--a family for Christmas.

I said my goodbyes after a long, filling lunch, then came home to prepare for a Christmas party of a different sort. At 6 pm, White Owl (in a stylish Christmas outfit, thanks to Mr Wickersham) slipped onto the rooftop of Children's Hospital. The party was only supposed to be a couple hours, but I was there late into the night, meeting and talking to all the children individually (much to dismay of the nurses) I finally left about midnight and was flying home when I saw a minivan swerve into a snowbank. I landed close and saw the driver, a young man, slumped over the steering wheel. In the passenger's seat a young woman groaned.

I called the accident into dispatch and administered First Aid. The woman began talking to me. "John was eager to get back to the base," she said. "His three day pass ended six am, and he didn't want to be AWOL. So he may have been going a bit too fast."

"Had he been drinking?" I asked.

"No--he doesn't like alcohol. Not even a beer!"

The paramedics loaded John onto the gurney and offered his wife a ride to the hospital. I assured her I would be in touch with the fort, and also that her car would be ready when they could leave. I called a friend of mine with a 24 hour towing service and a garage, then waited until the van was safely on the hoist. I finally flew into the apartment about 3 am. Daisy greeted me with a soft meow, and I gave her some food, then drooped onto the sofa, exhausted...