Critical condition.
Possible internal bleeding.
The drive to the hospital had been a blur of red lights, wet pavement, and silent prayers I hadn’t said since my last deployment overseas.
But I hadn’t come alone.
Atlas walked beside me now, close enough that I could feel the warmth of his body through my jeans. He was a massive Belgian Malinois mix, nearly ninety pounds of muscle and focus, his golden-brown coat darkened by the rain. His tactical vest carried patches from my Army unit, along with the words Medical Service Dog – Do Not Distract printed clearly across both sides.
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