A/N: Dedicated to America’s people in service occupation. Whether they are our sailors and soldiers abroad, the local police and fire departments, the doctors and nurses at all hospitals, and ambulance personnel but especially those who receive little to no pay for the services they render: America’s volunteer firefighter and emergency medical services. When even after their main job ends they still choose to go out and wear a uniform to help save lives. This work is dedicated to you – God bless the volunteers.

Prologue

“I remember the first wound I had to treat. We were caught in an ambush and I was in the process of returning fire when I heard the call. “Corpsman! I’m hit!” Then it’s you thinking, Oh, shit. Here we go…” --- Second Class Petty Officer Christopher L. Siddall (“Doc”), Heart of War: Soldier’s Voices from the Front Lines of Iraq written by Damon DiMarco

Oct 2007

“How can you listen to this shit?”

“Easy Mike,” Corporal Stoppable said to his partner Lance Corporal Mike Stevens, “it’s called music.”

Mike grinned and turned the knob cranking up the small stereo filling the humvee turned ambulance with the soothing notes of Jimi Hendrix.

As the two settled back Ron took another look out his driver side window, watching the dunes as the convoy made its way south of Tikrit to camps: Dakota, Enterprise, and Python.

“Gotta tell you,” Mike began, “love these convoy runs. Well I mean compared to what’s happening in Baghdad right now?”

Ron nodded in agreement. Though the convoy runs were almost always attacked – it’s a rare day when they weren’t – it was a better place than manning checkpoints or patrolling the streets of Baghdad at the moment. It was early October and the month of Ramadan was in full swing all over Iraq. So even though the runs were dangerous, especially now, it was better than patrolling with Echo Company right now.

“All along the watch tower!” Mike yelled over the stereo making Ron break out into a large grin.

“Eyes on the dunes Mickey,” Ron said reminding Mike to keep a lookout for any particularly dangerous ambush points. Officially the two were part of 2nd Marines 1st Battalion Echo Company, an infantry unit, but for the past week they had been temporarily attached to the 347th Ground Ambulance Company in the 2nd Marines. The ambulance company was currently going through rotation and so needed a few extra hands until the new soldiers could get shipped in.

This all suited Ron and Mike just fine because convoy runs sure beat the hell out of foot patrol.

“I know man I know,” Mike said.

“Hey we’ve never been down this road before so-”

“It’s a convoy run man, we’re the caboose, if something’s gonna happen it’ll probably happen a little further up the chain.”

Ron sighed, “True but then…”

“Yea,” Mike nodded, “fuckers are always trying something new.”

“I just want to get this shit done with so we can hit the PX when we get back.”

“You’re going down you know.”

“Hey, don’t count yours truly out yet, the Ron-man still has a few tricks up his sleeve.”

“Look, I have Forsberg, Briere, and Miller in net I’m telling you it’s over!”

“Never underestimate the sport of hockey my friend,” Ron smiled boyishly, “anything can happen.”

“Don’t you mean the-”

And then the shockwave hit, sending the 18-wheeler ahead of them into a wild spin.

“Shit!” Ron yelled as he swerved the humvee to the left trying to avoid the crashing tractor-trailer.

“Ron!” Mike screamed as the trucks collided.

“Fuck!” Ron sat up in bed; the sheets wet from his sweat, and tried to calm his beating heart.

“Fuck…”

“Dreams again?” a voice said from the doorway.

Ron fell back and let his head rest against the wall and nodded.

“Yea.”

“Made you some tea.”

Ron glanced to the door where Beth was standing, cup in hand, and giving him a sympathetic smile.

Ron let out a deep breath and turned his eyes to look out the window in front of him, “Can you set it on the table?”

“Sure.”

“Thanks.”

Beth stood there a moment afterward unsure as to what to do.

“You know, these dreams have been going on for a while Ron. Maybe you should-”

“No,” Ron interrupted sharply. “No…”

Beth sighed but nodded, “Okay. But hey if ever you need to just, you know talk-”

“Middleton ambulance.”

Ron closed his eyes and groaned as when he heard the radio come over the loud PA.

“Middleton ambulance, 42 year old male with chief complaint of difficulty breathing, cardiac history, 203 Truman Street, Charlie Priority over”

“I’ll get it,” Beth said as she left the bedroom and made her way to the squad station’s radio but not before the alarm went off causing Ron to flinch a bit.

Ron looked at the bedside alarm clock.

3:03 AM

“Here we go.”

To Be Continued…

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A/N: School’s almost over, hooray, which means I’m gonna try picking up writing again only this time it’s not going to be Kim Possible-verse per say. Think of it more as normal daily life i.e. Ron’s the class clown and Kim’s the bright head cheerleader we all know and love. The two have still been best friends since pre-k and all that jazz. Just no Drakken, or Shego, or any world villain type stuff. Same goes with Felix’s flying chair – sorry Felix! If you read my A/N at the beginning, as well as the prologue, then I think you got the gist about what this story is going to be about and to get the record straight right off the bat NO I am not a member of the armed services. Have I done my research on Iraq? To a point yes but I am no way an expert so if I make a mistake point it out in a review and I’ll correct. Based on the reviews I get for this and the next few chapters I’ll decide whether or not to go the distance with this story.

Disclaimer: Don’t own anything except the story and my own experiences in the EMS system which I may draw upon from time to time. Kim Possible, Ron Stoppable, and all other of the show’s characters and places belong to Disney. It’s possible that the designated units used in this story are the names of real units right now operating in Iraq. If this is true please understand I mean no infringement but rather am only trying to make this story as real and accurate as possible. If there is a problem with any of these disclaimers don’t hesitate to inform me so that I can make adjustments.