What I Fight For: A Bad Boy Military Romance (Easy Team Book 1) by Gemma Hart Page B

we were off.
     
    ***
     
                  Within a few hours, we were surrounded by a ragtag group of two dozen kids. We had them separated into stations. Immediately we handed out the protein bars we had on hand. Calorically dense and nutritious, we gave them out to each kid so that they could at least feel full before we did a quick exam on them.
                  The men of Easy Team helped us keep the kids organized by working as our translators. And some of them did double duty as babysitters. For some of the younger kids that showed up, I watched as Tweety play fought with them, making exaggerated groans as he was punched by their little fists.
                  Dozer, who was nearly as big as Bear, crouched down next to two little girls who couldn’t have been more than six and played with their dirty rag dolls, making Margie and Tammy smile behind their hands.
                  And Cooper was everywhere in the tent, it felt like. Whenever someone struggled to lift a box, he was the first one there to help. When a kid started crying in fear from a cold stethoscope, Cooper was the first one to make a silly face or to admonish him with silly words to distract him.
                  And he was an extremely fast learner. I could tell immediately the man was familiar in basic first aid. But what he didn't know, he quickly learned. He picked up medical terminology and tools like a sponge and was there to help refill our supplies when necessary.
                  He didn’t hold back and command from on high, using his position as Captain as excuse. He worked twice as hard as his men, leading by example. It was impossible not to have my heart swell in admiration watching him.
                  “Doctor!” Tammy called out from the other side of the tent where she had a little boy sitting in front of her on one of the hospital beds. “Can you please come take a look at this?”
                  I crossed the tent and smiled at the nervous little boy who clutched his un-opened protein bar tightly in one fist. “ Shallah ,” I said softly, having picked up the Qunari word for ‘hello.’
                  Tammy had unbuttoned the boy’s grimy shirt half way down to his belly. And right in the center of his chest were a sprinkle of pink spots.
                  I swallowed, my throat tightening as I instantly recognized them for what they were.
                  “You don’t think….” Tammy started softly, also fearing the worst.
                  I immediately pulled out my penlight and tilted the boy’s head back, opening his mouth. Pointing the light towards the back of his throat, I saw the confirmation of my fears—little white spot. Koplik spots.
                  I clicked off my penlight.
                  I looked at Tammy, my mind already whirring into action as to how to best take action.
                  “He has it,” I said in a soft voice so as to not alarm the little boy. “It’s measles. We need to immediately check the other children and quarantine the ones who have it.”
                  Tammy nodded, her eyes wide with fear as she realized the scope of the situation.
                  Measles were highly contagious and could spread like wildfire. Without proper quarantining and medication, these kids could become incredibly ill. And in crowded, poor conditions like the city and the refugee camp, this was a medical disaster in the making.
                  “Do you know how much acetaminophen we have?” I asked, keeping my voice calm still. “How much of the immune serum globulin?”
                  Tammy flicked her eyes towards our medicinal storage area. “I can double check,” she said.
                  “Okay,” I said. “Go. Quickly. We need to let everyone know what’s