Heavyweight – Alternative Ending

By

Jane Royce

‘Oh man that hurts’ Johnny thought to himself when he tried to pick up that oxygen tank and put it back on the squad after the victim was en route to Rampart with Roy.  The pain was sharp and intense.

“Gage, you are out of shape, you’re weak man!” Chided Dr. Morton after giving Johnny an examination that Roy insisted upon and Johnny worked to wriggle out of, especially once he learned that Dr. Morton was the only one available to see him.

“I am not out of shape, look at the job I have, I bet I do more during a day then you do doc!” Defended Johnny.

“Care to make a wager on that Gage?” Dr. Morton challenged.

“You’re on!  How do you want to do this?”

“Come on you two, this isn’t necessary” inserted Roy; he didn’t like the way this was going at all.

“Don’t worry Roy, lets keep it simple.  We’ll keep track of what we eat in one day and write down what we did that was physical and the length of time that we did it.  Sound simple?”  Dr. Morton suggested.

“That sounds good doc, and I know I’ll win!”

“Fine Gage, we’ll see at the end of the day, you come back here at the end of your shift and we’ll compare.  You’re off at 11:00 pm, right?”

“That’s right doc, and the day has just begun!” Laughed Johnny as he hopped off the examining table, pausing for a moment as a shot of pain reminded him that this day might be a challenge afterall.

*****

“Do I have to tell you that I think this is a bad idea?” Roy stated calmly as he looked at his partner in the squad beside him.  “Challenges like this will only lead to trouble Johnny, you should know better.”

“Roy, don’t you see that I have to do this?  Morton called me weak!  Can you believe it?  He called me weak!” Johnny defended.

“Johnny, you are not weak, there now do you feel better?  Morton doesn’t know what he’s talking about, this is a ridiculous challenge.”

“Roy, he’s got to understand that I am not weak, and the only way he will respect that is to participate in his dumb challenge.  I am going to show him!”

The remainder of the ride to the station was a quiet one, Roy quietly hoping that both of these men would come to their senses, but knowing that he was dealing with two children at heart.

*****

“I don’t know Cap, Johnny says he is going to follow through with this one.  You know Johnny, once he gets his teeth into something he doesn’t let go too easily.” Explained Roy to the guys as they watched Johnny assemble the largely unused stations barbells in the dayroom.

“John, these things haven’t been used forever you can’t think that to use them once will make a difference to this challenge that you got yourself into.” Cap offered.

“Cap, Morton doesn’t have to know that I don’t do this everyday, he just needs to know that I used them today.”

“It’s hard to argue with that logic pal, but just don’t hurt yourself.” Cap stated flatly.

“Are you kidding, get hurt and let Morton have the satisfaction of treating me and losing this challenge?  Never!”

Roy groaned and walked over to the fridge, this was going to be a long day and he needed something to calm his nerves.  His partner went off on tangents all the time; he didn’t need coaxing by someone like Dr. Morton.

“One, two, three, four, five…six……seven……eight………..nine…………..…….ten.”

Johnny let the barbells go after only ten repetitions.  He let out a disgusted sigh.

“This is embarrassing Roy, I could only do ten!” Johnny gasped.

“Johnny, how can you expect to do more than that with an injured shoulder?  As well, the muscles you are working on right now aren’t the ones you use regularly at work, so you are bound to find some exercises are tough to do.  Look at your job; you do a lot of walking, running, climbing stairs, lifting.  This is more physical activity then you really are aware of.  This is why I think this challenge is silly.  Dr. Morton doesn’t haul hose or carry victims out of buildings.”  Roy explained.

“You know, you’re right Roy, you are really right!  I do do more then he does when you think of it that way!”

“Right, so can you let this challenge rest then?”

“No way Roy, he called me weak!”

Roy groaned and walked away from his partner, ‘sometimes he can be so immature’.

*****

“Mike, this is ridiculous.  You can’t think that you can win this challenge.” Dr. Brackett said, after walking into the doctor’s lounge to find his resident on the floor engaged in push-ups.

“Yes I can Kel, these firemen think they are all in top shape. I am out to prove that’s all wrong.  The only thing that’s in good shape on them is their ego.”

Kel Brackett smiled ruefully at the knowledge that his resident had an ego comparable to any fireman’s.

“How can you compare our job to theirs, physically?” Dr. Brackett questioned.

“Well Kel, I look at it like this.  We do a lot of running around on a shift, look at that last trauma for example.  We didn’t have enough porters to help transport patients, and these people had to get to surgery and x-ray right away!  We all did a lot of running around ourselves, not to mention the adrenaline that keeps us all functioning during the day.  I bet we do expend the same energy the firefighters do, maybe more!  Afterall, the city isn’t all burning down all at once and there are other stations out there to help.”  Dr. Morton defended.

“Yes Mike, there are, but there are other hospitals to share our load as well, and we aren’t pulling victims out of burning structures.” Kel continued.

“So you don’t agree that our level of physical output is the same as the fire service?”  Dr. Morton asked.

“Well, I wouldn’t say that, but I do think the idea of this challenge with John Gage is silly.” Stated Dr. Brackett as he turned and left the doctor’s lounge, leaving a very determined Dr. Morton in his wake.

*****

“Station 51, respond to a structure fire at 1547 Industrial Way, 1 – 5 – 4 – 7 Industrial Way.  Time out 1120h.” Instructed the disembodied voice of the LA County Emergency dispatcher.

“10-4, KMG 365” responded Captain Stanley in acknowledgement.

*****

The scene upon arrival was one of chaos.  People running about the area in shock and the industrial building fully involved in flame.

“LA, this is engine 51, we need a second alarm at this location.” Instructed Captain Stanley as he quickly assessed the needs of this response to his manpower.

As soon he hung up, a large man wearing a security guard uniform approached.

“Sir, are you in charge?” Asked the guard.

“I am captain Stanley, what happened here?” Cap asked.

“I am Marcus Johnson, I am the senior security guard here.  About ten minutes ago I heard what I thought was an explosion.  It came in the direction of the lab.  As I got closer to the lab, the heat was holding me back.  People were running in all directions, screaming and yelling.  The heat was so intense, I had to leave.  I do not know if everyone got out or not.  Since it’s a weekend, the lab is not fully staffed.”

“What does the lab contain?”

“Mostly chemicals for paper products sir, dye’s, bleaching agents, acids – that sort of thing.” Marcus explained.

“Flammables and combustibles then, ok this helps me out a lot.  Please go to the squad over there and get yourself checked out.  Is there anyone in there that you know of?”

“It’s hard to tell sir, sometimes if the men are behind, they just come in on weekends to get caught up.  They are supposed to sign in if they do but I don’t know if they all did today, or if anyone extra did report in.” Marcus explained.

“Right, ok get yourself checked out and I’ll get my men inside to have a look around.”

With that, Marcus made his way to the squad.  He was uninjured but did inhale some smoke while trying to get people to leave the building.  He gratefully accepted an oxygen mask to assist in his breathing.

“John, Roy” called Captain Stanley. “I need you two to go into the building and see if everyone got out.  Mr. Johnson here said that there may be some extra people in today, but he can’t be sure.  The lab is a chemical one, with paper product dyes and bleaches in it.  Highly flammable, be careful.”

“Ok Cap, we’ll get started right away.” Johnny acknowledged.

“Are you ok here Mr. Johnson?  Another squad is en route and should be here any minute now.” Roy instructed.

“I am fine here sir, thank you.  Just please get anyone out who may be in there, this place caught fire pretty quickly after the explosion.”

“Will do” smiled Johnny.

The pair quickly donned their turnout gear and worked their way into the building.  In the distance the sound of more companies approaching could be heard.

*****

“Mike, I need you in Trauma room 2, we’ve got a large MVA coming in, multiple victims no seatbelts.  We are going to need portable x-ray down here on stand-by, the lab and surgery on alert.  Lets get neuro, surgery and orthopaedics down here standing by.  It looks like a big one, and we are getting all the victims.” Dr. Brackett informed his young resident.

“Joe, I need you available for neuro and to assist, it’s going to be a busy afternoon!”

No sooner did Dr. Brackett bring his staff up to speed then the doors flew open at the ambulance bay and paramedics from other stations and ambulance attendants started ushering in the victims.  Some were able to walk, while others were more seriously injured.

“You and you in Trauma one!” Instructed Dixie as she worked quickly to calm the flow of the victims pouring in.

“Trauma two for you.  Dr, Morton is waiting.”

“You all who are walking please sit in the waiting room and let our triage nurse get your details and arrange to have you seen.  We need to see the critical ones first.” Dixie commanded.

With the precision of a finely tuned machine, all parts of the team worked together, professionally and synchronously.

*****

“Johnny, I am going to take the west hallway, you take the east.” Roy shouted through his oxygen mask as he and his partner entered the building.

“Five minutes Roy, meet back here in five minutes.” Johnny acknowledged.

Walking slowly, the pair split up at the entrance of the lab and prepared themselves mentally for whatever lay ahead.

Roy was quick to spot a victim and worked quickly to help get the heavy man out.  He made a cursory examination to check for injuries. There were no injuries apparent, but the man was clearly having difficulty breathing.  With effort, Roy managed to get him to the outside of the building and into the waiting arms of the new squad crew that had arrived just moments before.

“Get this fellow to the squad and administer O2, he did not lose consciousness and seems to have no injuries but the smoke is thick in there.” Roy instructed.

“Any more in there Roy?” Asked Bob Bellingham, the newly arrived paramedic from squad 10.

“I think there might be, but I can’t be sure.  Johnny is in there still; we were to meet here after five minutes.  We are approaching that time now.  I am going back in to check around some more.”

“OK Roy, be careful.  We’ll triage near our squad but I’ll be back here waiting for you two after I help my partner get this fellow organized.

“Thanks Bob, see you in a bit.” Declared Roy as he re-entered the building.

*****

Johnny was having a hard time seeing the hand in front of his face, the smoke was that thick.

“Fire department, anyone in here?” Shouted Johnny as loudly as his facemask would allow.

No one replied.

Johnny looked at his watch and saw that he was nearing the five-minute mark and had to make his way to meet Roy.  Just as he was turning to make one final sweep of the area he was in a huge explosion rocked the building.  Johnny was instantly covered in debris.

Johnny’s last thoughts were that he should have moved faster to get to Roy as he mercifully slipped into the darkness of unconsciousness.

*****

Roy was caught unprepared for the blast that knocked him literally into Bob Bellingham’s arms.  Just as he was going to enter the building the explosion rocked the area and sent him flying backwards.  Bob’s quick thinking saved him from injury, a debt that Roy would forever be grateful to owe.

“Roy, are you alright man?” Bob anxiously asked his friend.

“Yeah, I think so.  God Bob, if you hadn’t been there…oh God Bob, Johnny’s still in there!!!!!”

“Ok Roy lets tell the captain and let me get my gear.  We’ll find him, we’ll find him!” 

*****

 “Dix, I need your help.  We just learned of a major explosion at a paper company.  There are casualties anticipated and an evacuation imminent.  We need a medical team versed in chemical hazardous materials on the scene.  I think two nurses and two doctors can handle it.  These MVA victims are all stable now and are either awaiting surgery or admission to the floor.  I can free up Mike and Joe but need you to step aside two nurses.” Dr. Brackett instructed after learning of the explosion from the Fire Battalion chief.

“Right away Kel, I have two who are ready to go for you.” Dix replied.

“Call Mike and Joe in here for me now if you can please Dix, I have a couple of calls to make to get some supplies ready.”

“Will do Kel.”

*****

“Cap!  Johnny’s inside, we have to get in there and get him!” Roy shouted.

“I’m with you pal, but lets get a team together so we only have to go in once.  Rampart is sending a team over to help with possible victims and to be available in case we have to evacuate the area.” Captain Stanley instructed.

“You think that’s really necessary Cap?” Roy asked, concerned for the turn this fire was taking.

“It might be Roy, it’s Battalion’s decision.  For now, lets get Johnny out of there.”

“Cap, we were to meet at the front door after doing our sweeps.  I had just brought a victim out and was about to go back in to meet Johnny.  He must have been making his way toward the front by then, I hope.”

“OK Roy, that gives us a better idea of where to look.  Are you up to going back in there?  You know the lay of the land a bit better then anyone else at this point.”

“Yes Cap, lets get going, before something else happens!” Shouted Roy as he donned on his facemask again and signalled to Bob, Cap, and Marco to follow him.

The crew was rewarded almost immediately when they entered the building and saw that ten feet away from them lay a pile of debris.  The pile wasn’t too large and all could easily see over the top of it into the caverns of the building, which was still ablaze.  Marco was armed with an inch and a half and needed no coaching from his captain to turn is on and offer a general sweep of the area to tame and hot spots, and to hold back the wall of flames that threatened to approach.

“Johnny!  Johnny, can you hear me?” shouted Roy as he removed his facemask to be better heard over the roar of the fire, the hiss of Marco’s hose and the loud beating of his own heart.

No answer.

“Lets dig guys, I bet he’s under here somewhere.” Cap ordered.  Roy led the fray; he knew that Johnny might have no oxygen where he was if his tank or mask was damaged.  He knew that if he had injuries, he had to be extricated quickly and carefully.  He just needed to see his partner for himself.

“I’ve found him” shouted Bob from around the back of the pile of debris.  “I’ve got his hand, and forearm.  He has a strong pulse, lets get him out of here!”

The dig grew in fervour and soon, the party was greeted by a most welcome, if not frightening sight.  Johnny was face down on the ground; he had been completely buried by debris. 

“Get a stokes in here, lets get him out!” Roy shouted to no one in particular.  He just knew he didn’t want to leave his partner.

“Captain, we have to move quickly, I can’t hold back this fire anymore.  It’s going to blow!” Shouted Marco.

“Come on guys, let’s get him out of here now.” Captain Stanley shouted.

As is my magic, Bob appeared with a stokes in his hands.  He quickly laid it down and waited for Roy to fasten the c-collar he thought to grab as well.  When Johnny was positioned well, the transfer to the stokes was made and quickly, all the men ran out of the building.

*****

“Doctors, I am glad to see you here.  We have to set up a treatment area.  I have one firefighter burning in a building that had an explosion rip through it a few minutes ago.  This structure houses chemicals used in the pulp and paper industry.  We are talking highly flammable dyes, bleaching agents, cleaning solutions.  The whole area for ten miles might have to be evacuated if the air goes bad and we can’t contain this fire.  I need you to be ready to treat our men and anyone in the area who may have inhaled these substances.” Instructed Battalion Chief Smith to the members of the medical team just arrived from Rampart.

“OK Chief, we’ll set up near squad 10.  I see they have a small area set up already.” Dr. Early responded as he scouted the area visually for semblance of order.

The Chief nodded in agreement and let the team make their way to their makeshift medical treatment area.

*****

“Run guys, run, it’s gonna blow again” shouted Captain Stanley as he ran behind his crew and grabbed the handie talkie to alert the other crews.

The men safely made it to the medical treatment area when the loud explosion ripped up the remaining buildings in the compound.  The damage was extensive, but the crews were a safe distance away. The concern for airborne chemical irritation was strong and all members of the service donned air masks or air filtration devices.  The fire crews worked quickly to descend upon the structures and douse them with water.

*****

“Johnny, Johnny some on now, can you hear me?” prodded Roy, anxious to see some sign from his partner that he was all right.  Thankfully his partner was stable, breathing on his own, yet he was unconscious.  An ominous sign.

“Gage, come on now Gage, give me a sign man!” Shouted Dr. Morton, as he balled up his fist and exerted as much pressure as he could on Johnny’s sternum in an attempt to get a reaction to pain.

The reaction he got was rather unexpected, as Johnny came awake with a start and instantly began flailing his arms and legs in a delirious attempt to free himself from the debris he obviously felt he was encumbered with.  It took three men to try to calm Johnny down but it was the poor man at the foot of Johnny who bore the brunt of the delirium as Johnny suddenly kicked out hard and struck Dr. Morton in the centre of the chest and sent him sprawling backward, knocking the wind out of him.

Stunned, Dr. Morton grappled with his inability to breathe and rolled over onto his side.  It took several minutes for him to be able to see anything other than stars and he was slow to return to any ability to help.

“Doc, are you alright?” A stunned Roy asked.  “I’ve never seen him have that kind of reaction before!”

“I’m fine DeSoto, lets get him to Rampart” Mike rasped.

“He’s stable doc, he is stuporus but responsive.  His pupils are equal and reactive.  His BP is 120/80, respirations are 15, pulse 70.” Reported Bob.

“OK, lets get a IV of saline solution started, TKO.  Lets get him on the bus and transported out of here.  I am going to see if anyone else needs my heeeeee….” And with that, Mike Moron slid to the ground unconscious.

“Oh man Roy, get Morton, he’s down” shouted Bob.

Together he and Roy placed Dr. Morton beside Johnny and began to take his vital signs.  Joe Early saw the commotion and approached the scene.

“What happened here Roy?”

“Johnny came to for a moment and kicked out.  Dr. Morton was in a bad place and was kicked hard.  He seemed to just have the wind knocked out of him, but just now he passed out.  His BP is 140/100, respirations are 25 and shallow, pulse is strong and 50.” Bob reported.

“Lets start an IV, saline TKO.  Let me look at his chest.” Instructed Dr. Early as he bent down to look at his friend’s chest.

“Oooh man, that looks painful” responded Roy as the removal of Dr. Morton’s shirt revealed a large red angry boot mark right in the middle of his chest.

“Lets get these two to Rampart now.  There aren’t any other casualties other than the security guard over there, and he is responding well to oxygen for smoke inhalation.  Battalion chief Smith told me that the last explosion has spent the chemicals, much of them have burned off cleanly, so the alert and evacuation is standing down.”  Dr. Early informed the paramedic pair.

“Good news doc, it could have been so much worse all things considered.” Roy replied.

“I agree Roy, but for now, lets get these men all to the hospital.”

*****

“So, are you going to call me weak ever again?” Asked Johnny, as he uncomfortably shifted in his hospital bed.  He was unhappy about having to share a room with Dr. Morton, but knew that this was an opportune time to set him straight on a few things.

“Weak?  No, you are strong alright Gage, or at least your legs are!”

Just in time to receive the famous Johnny Gage non-sensical response, Roy and Bob entered their room.

“Hey you two, you look much better!” Roy enthused.

“Yeah yeah Roy, Dr. Morton over here still thinks I am weak!”

“Johnny, you just survived a building collapse with no other injuries other than a moderate concussion, and this is what occupies your mind?” Roy asked incredulously.

“Yeah, you’re right Roy, I survived a building collapse.  It took a whole building to fall on me to put me out for a while.  Look at you Dr. Morton, all it took was the kick of an unconscious man to make you fall!” Johnny began to laugh.

All eyes were on Dr. Morton, as he realized that this time, Johnny did make sense.  Regardless of how the case had been proven, he was just glad that they all made it safe and sound.  He was in no hurry to label anyone again.

The End