A Chronometric Defect

I stare out at the emergency lane. It's well-lit by the hospital's clean lighting, but the rest of the lot is dark. I have no idea why they don't give a crap about late night patients' safety. I keep complaining but nobody does a damn thing.

"This one's a bit unique."

I look over at my buddy, who's currently on break.

"It's just a hallucination. So what?"

"The EMTs all confirm."

"What, that the guy's a total nutjob?"

"No, they claim the dragon's in the ambulance."

"Are... Are you serious?"

"Haaaaaah. Yep."

"They checked for noxious gasses?"

"I think they stopped after mox. But it doesn't matter. The driver didn't go in, and he's the one who reported it. Well, I say 'reported,' but he asked dispatch what the protocol was for dragons. We obviously don't have one."

"Drugs?"

He looks at me with incredulity.

"Do you think they had a party in nine minutes?"

"Nah. Let's get everyone to come see this."

"Yeah, sure. It's quiet tonight anyway."

"Hey, you know that's a jinx, right?"

"'Tis why I do it. To remind myself jinxes aren't real."

"Does it work?"

"No."

I see the ambulance.

"Ah, never mind. They've arrived."

*vrrrrmm*

*klam*

...

*thun*

*rrrrrrrk*

I visually check the EMTs as they exit from the ambulance.

...

They look okay at first blush.

"You guys alright?"

"Yeah. We got a female with moderate alcohol poisoning, could involve cirrhosis of the liver—"

A glass sculpture steps out the back of the ambulance.

"— oh, and that thing."

"Why do you keep calling me 'thing?'"

The guy I'm talking to turns around. I'm too stunned to remember who he is right now.

"Because I'm not going to call you a dragon."

"Why? I am."

The... Uh, EMT. He turns to face me.

"See what I have to deal with?"

My brain isn't working, so.

Wait a moment?

Hmm.

Nope, got nothin'.

I try to talk with it.

"You're a dragon, you say?"

"Yep."

"Why'd you come to the hospital? We don't treat dragons."

"I don't imagine you would. That woman, Alessica, owns the rock I'd like to take. I'm here to ensure she doesn't die."

Oh, of course it won't know about hospitals.

"She's here to be treated. Not die."

"I'll be the judge of that."

Ugh. Sounds like one of 'those.' They always argue.

*kr-chik*

*kr**kr*

*kr-chik*

I gesture at the patient.

"Alright, bring her to intake."

The EMTs move the gurney up the ramp.

*krrrrr*

*thok*

*thok*

*krrrrr*

I watch the self-declared dragon walk past, following along like a family member.

My mind is so confused.

What is this?

"Hey, so. You see that too, right?"

Oh, my buddy from earlier.

"Eeeeyep."

"Now what?"

"Go back to our job?"

"Why not call the news?"

I look at him with severity.

"Tell them there's a dragon at the hospital? They'll think you escaped the psych wing."

"Fair point. I'm gonna get my phone."

"Oh, good idea. Me too."

I walk back inside and grab my camera phone.

...

Hm, darn. There's a new scuff on the screen protector.

This tech stagnated in the 2030s; we haven't gotten anything new recently. Kinda nice, since they last longer now.

After a few minutes, I quickly walk over to my assigned room to examine my patient.

"Did you see that?"

"Yeah. Wild."

They're talking about the dragon. Everyone sees it. It's possible we're all crazy, but mass hallucinations are rare.

*shufnnt*

Oh, medical curtain. I hate those things.

I have no idea why.

I continue down the hall toward my destination.

There's a bunch of staff crowded around. I glance at the door tag. Alessica. I'd intended to get her name at intake.

Oops.

"Make way."

I ease past the throng to find Alessica and— yep, the dragon.

"So, are you her guardian spirit or something?"

"I guess you could say that."

I just realized how weird his voice sounds. It's like I hear it with my whole body.

"Alright, we— wait, didn't her husband call?"

"He checked himself into psych."

"Did he tell you he would?"

"I'm a deity dragon."

"Fair enough."

"Don't let him stay in psych. He's fine."

"I'll need to convince myself, first."

"Isn't that why you brought your phone?"

"How d— oh, right. Deity."

"You catch on fast."

"I'm a doctor."

I raise my phone and snap a photo. I then thumb back and forth between an image of my golden retriever and a dragon deity standing in my hospital.

I look at him. He tilts his head slightly.

I look back at my phone.

"Satisfied?"

"Sure. We're going to give her fluids, plus oxygen. It's not severe enough to merit pumping her stom—"

*BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP*

I swiftly look up at the monitor. HR through the roof— low BP, dropping. SHIT!

*BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP*

I rush to her bedside and press a button. The hospital speakers blare with a mechanical voice.

"Code red. Code red. Room one-zero-one-seven."

*BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP*

The gawkers quickly clear the doorway.

I review the vital signs monitor.

*BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP*

Agh, what the hell is this?

"Ready the defib, now."

*BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP*

I whip around expecting a nurse, but instead I see the dragon walking over to Alessica's bed.

He glances at me, and I remember telling him 'she's not going to die.'

He isn't going to attack me, right? I step away.

*BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP*

He puts his hand on her leg.

They both vanish.

*EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE*

...

Guess he really was a deity.

...

*EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE*