by Tangee Taylor
"Roy, if you'd just leave me alone for five minutes I'll be fine," Chet complained as he rubbed his temples. He sighed deeply then lay his head back on the couch, the station dog, lazy ole Henry lay his head in Chet's lap.
It was obvious to all the guys that Chet was in pain.
"Chet, I still think...." Roy started, then saw Chet squeeze his eyes shut, his forehead wrinkled with frustration or pain, Roy couldn't tell which.
"Okay, okay... I'll leave you alone," Roy said then looked over at his partner and nodded toward the squad. "Let's go check our supplies, Johnny," he said as he headed out the door.
"Right behind ya, Roy," Johnny said, then leaned down and whispered in Marco's ear, "Keep and eye on him will ya?"
"You got it," Marco replied.
Mike Stoker just looked over at Chet then back at Marco and shrugged.
"I don't like it, Johnny. I don't like it one bit. I wish the Cap would get out of that meeting . Just how long is he gonna be in there with the door closed? He'd order Chet to get looked at," Roy claimed with concern and a hint anger in his voice.
"He's an adult, Roy, I know he's probably got himself a nice concussion, but there is nothing we can do. We'll just keep an eye on him," John replied as he prepared test the biophone.
"Rampart, this is Squad 51, how do you read?" John called into the headset.
"Squad 51, we read you loud and clear," a voice replied.
"Rampart, prepare for synchronization," John said as he fiddled with the biophone and defibrillator.
"10-4, 51, standing by," the voice called back.
"Test 51," John called as he pushed a few buttons
"51, you are clear," the voice answered
"10-4, Rampart," Johnny said before wrapping everything up. He looked at Roy who was leaning against the Squad, deep in thought.
Johnny stood up and took a deep breath. "Roy?"
"Yeah, Johnny?" Roy broke his gaze and looked at his partner.
"We were both there, he didn't lose consciousness, he stumbled and then said everything was fine. I'll admit, the part of the ceiling that came down on him looked like it would have knocked the likes of you and I out cold, but Chet had it together enough to get us out. He stayed and fought the fire until it was under control. He stayed for clean up. Not once did he falter. Yes, he's got a headache, but stop being so concerned. He'll be okay," Johnny didn't know if he was trying to convince himself or Roy.
Roy wasn't listening anymore. He started walking toward the Captain's office, his shoulders squared.
"Forget it, Johnny, I'm telling Cap now."
Johnny started after Roy and reached him just as Roy opened the Captain's office door.
Captain Stanley and Chief Helmick stood up at once, they both looked toward the door in surprise. There stood Roy Desoto and John Gage looking concerned.
"Roy? What's on your mind?" Captain Stanley asked, knowing it had to be serious for Roy to interrupt his meeting with a superior.
"Sorry to interrupt, Cap. Something is not right with Chet Kelly," Roy started. "The ceiling collapsed on the 2nd floor of that fire we had over on Martin this morning. It fell right on top of him. Cap... I thought he was a goner. Instead, he shook his head, picked up his hose and backed out of the room. He led Gage and I out then went back in." Roy was talking fast and had to stop to catch his breath.
Johnny picked up where Roy stopped. "He won't let us near him Cap, he's relaxing on the couch and is complaining of a minor headache. Roy and I are really concerned. We saw him get hit by that ceiling and both of us are afraid he's got a head injury."
Roy nodded in agreement and shoved his hands in his pockets, looking at Chief Helmick, then at Captain Stanley. No matter how many times he's seen Ron Helmick, he couldn't believe how tall he was. The man should have been a basketball player.
"Excuse me just a moment, Chief," Captain Hank Stanley said in Helmicks' direction.
"That's okay, Hank, I've got to run to 8s and 10s this afternoon and pass the news. You go take care of your man, you and I will continue this another time," Chief Helmick said then added, "Crispins is looking for overtime if you need to send your man home. Call 8s for his number."
"Yes, Sir," Captain Stanley replied as he headed for the kitchen.
"Desoto - Gage - get your equipment," Captain Stanley ordered, looking none too happy.
***
Captain Stanley walked into the kitchen and looked over at Stoker and Lopez. The first thing the men noticed about their Captain was the tension etched in his forehead they weren't sure if he was angry, or upset about something, but they sensed right away that something was amiss. "Marco, call in a still alarm, medical - time out 30 minutes," he said as he walked toward the couch.
"You got it, Cap," Marco Lopez said as he quickly stood up and headed for the phone.
"Awwwee, Cap, for crying out loud!" Chet started "It's a headache, just a damn headache"
"Kelly, you will be checked out by Desoto and Gage and you will not say another word about it. In the future I suggest you get ANY injury checked out immediately. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?" Captain Stanley was very angry - he rarely if ever yelled as his men. He considered them his family and would take a fall for any one of them.
Captain Stanley spun on his heal and looked at Roy and Johnny who were behind him waiting to check out Chet. Johnny backed up not sure if the Captain was going to pounce on them next. Hank looked over at Mike then Marco who had just hung up the phone with headquarters.
"THAT GOES FOR ANY OF YOU! I don't care if you scrape your elbow - I want it looked at. Am I making myself clear?" he shouted.
"Yes, Sir," "Yea, Cap," "Sure, Cap," all the men uttered at once. Marco then slipped out of the kitchen, Mike suddenly found something to look at on his right hand and the paramedics went over to Chet's side. Captain Stanley stomped out of the kitchen and back to his office.
Roy and Johnny exchanged glances then looked at Chet. "Okay, Chet - gimme your arm," Johnny said as Roy went toward Chet to check his eyes.
"I don't know what all the fuss is about I'm fine!" Chet said.
"Shut up, Chet," Roy said, "Follow my finger." He slowly moved his finger back and forth, up and down as Johnny started taking Chet's vitals.
"What's up with the Cap? I've never seen him so angry," Mike whispered from behind the paper.
Roy shrugged as he looked at Chet's head and neck closely. Not a mark could be found. His eyes checked out fine, no signs of concussion. Roy rocked back on his heels and looked at Johnny. "Vitals?" he asked.
"Normal," Johnny responded. "Everything checks out fine."
"I would still like you to see someone at Rampart, Chet" Roy stated as he helped Johnny put the med box back together.
"Forget it, boys, I said it was just a headache and that's what I meant. I just took a few aspirin, I'll be fine. Thanks for the concern but I'm okay," Chet said as he got up and walked to the counter to get some coffee.
Chet was the cut up, the funny guy, the sarcastic, quick witted one. With the exception of a broken shoulder, he had never 'needed' his second family before, and he wasn't about to start now. Sure, he had a headache, hell - it was the worst he'd ever had. He didn't know what prevented him from passing out when that ceiling came down on him like a ton of bricks. He did know that he never wanted to fail in the eyes of his friends, and admitting how bad it hurt would be failing them in his eyes. He'd worked with these men for years, they were in fact his brothers and he sincerely believed that he was going to be just fine. If he thought otherwise, he'd pull Gage to the side and tell him. Right now, he was staying.
"YEOOOOOOW!" Chet yelled. "Damn!"
Everyone looked over at Chet as he shoved his hand under cold water.
"What did you do Chet?" Johnny Gage asked from across the room. He wasn't about to go to Chet's side with the bad mood he'd been in half the day.
"Just some coffee on my hand, Gage. Mind your own business," Chet snarled.
"Chet you are becoming a real pain in the.........." Johnny stopped when he saw Chet's face. "Fine, Fine, have it your way. I don't care if you burned your hand or not," Johnny mumbled as he walked over and flipped on the TV Set.
***
Captain Hank Stanley was leaning over his desk. Trying to rub the dull ache out of his temples when a knock came on his door. He quickly wiped his eyes and cleared his throat then called out, "Come on in."
"Cap?" Roy asked cautiously.
"Yeah, Roy, come on in, Pally. How is Kelly?" Hank asked.
"He appears fine, Cap, everything checks out normal, no signs of injury. He took some aspirin and wants to stay. I'd prefer he get checked out but he won't hear of it," Roy said as he sat down.
"Yeah, okay, okay, Roy, thanks," Captain Stanley said. His eyes cast downward, he appeared deep in thought but Roy bet that it didn't have anything to do with Chet.
"Cap?" Roy leaned over and touched the Captain's shoulder then repeated himself, "Cap?"
"Yeah, Roy?" he said without looking up.
Roy stood up and quietly closed the door, knowing that his friend had something serious on his mind. The Captain was the strong silent type. Always concerned for others, a great leader who supervised his men with a firm but kind hand. He was greatly respected throughout the department. He made each man a valuable team player and together, the six of them made up the A-Shift at Station 51 in Los Angeles County.
"Is there something I can help you with?" he asked as he studied Hank Stanley.
"Uh... no...... well... yeah, Roy I...... no...... no...... I'm okay," the Captain stammered.
"No, you aren't, Cap. I'd like to help," Roy pressed gently.
Captain Stanley cleared his throat and looked at Roy. It was a very long few seconds before he spoke. "I'm afraid Chief Helmick brought some bad news with him today."
Roy waited patiently.
"It seems that Chief Anders had a fatal heart attack this morning. He was having coffee with the boys over at 47 and one of them mentioned the Chief wasn't looking well. Anders shrugged it off and said he was fine. They tried to talk him into calling the Squad from 18 over, but he wouldn't hear of it." Captain Stanley's shoulders slumped. His chin quivered with emotion as he struggled to finish.
Roy squeezed his shoulder and stood quietly beside him. Suddenly Roy understood why the Cap was so upset over Chet refusing treatment earlier.
"He taught me everything I knew, Roy, he was like family. The bastard got in his car and drove off! Chief Helmick says the guys at 47 are so upset that three of them had to be replaced this morning," Hank went on, "He apparently hit the side of a Big Rig when he went through a red light. The paramedics who responded said he was probably dead before he hit the truck."
Captain Stanley's chin started to tremble, he dropped his head down and cried quietly. All Roy could do was be there for him. When he gained control of his emotions, Roy looked him in the eye.
"Cap, I'm calling Chief Helmick to get a replacement in here for you the rest of the shift. You need to go home and get yourself together, tell your wife and deal with your pain. We are here for you and every one of us cares about your health and well being. You are no good to yourself, or us right now and we don't want to have to rescue you from whatever dispatch sends us today," Roy said in a commanding but gentle tone.
Captain Stanley nodded, thanked Roy and excused himself. He disappeared into his bathroom as Roy picked up the phone.
***
Roy was filling in the rest of the guys. All of them sympathized with their Captain, but none of the men really knew Captain Anders. They did know that it was a great loss, both for the department and their leader. As they stood around in silence, lost in their own thoughts, a voice boomed through the Rec Room.
"Good Afternoon, Gentleman!" Captain Hernandez said cheerfully.
All the men smiled and circled around Juan Hernandez, patting him on the back and shaking his hand.
"Hey Cap! Nice to see you!" they called out cheerfully.
If they had to have a replacement for Stanley, then this is who each one would have hand picked. Captain Hernandez insisted on being called Juan. He was highly respected and liked throughout the department. He led his firefighters by example and he was great fun to be around. He could pull off pranks better then Chet, and Chet was famous throughout the county for his antics.
Captain Stanley stood at the door and cleared his throat. All eyes turned to him. He looked like a man who lost his best friend. Roy was the first to approach him, the others followed quickly.
"Cap? Why don't you let Johnny and I drive you home. We have to go to Rampart and pick up some supplies and it's on the way. Johnny can follow in your car," Roy asked.
"No no... that won't be necessary, boys, thank you though" Hank said as he reached out and laid a hand on Roy's shoulder.
Roy gave his friend a look that said, "Let us do this for you. We're your friends and we are concerned."
"Okay, if Captain Hernandez and Johnny don't mind, I could use the ride," Hank looked in Johnny's direction.
"Heck no! I've been wanting to drive that new Ford of yours for weeks!" Johnny smiled at him.
"Hank? Take care of yourself, buddy, and call us if there is anything we can do for you. If you need your next shift covered, just say the word," Juan said as he shook Captain Stanley's hand.
"Don't make me regret this, Gage" Hank said as he handed Johnny the keys to his new truck. Johnny's smile turned to a frown in the blink of an eye.
"Cap, I wouldn't....." John started.
"Save it, Gage, let's go," Stanley interrupted as they headed out to the back of the station.
Oddly enough, during this whole conversation, Chet hadn't said a word. Juan was one of Chet's most favorite people, it was odd that he didn't jump up to clap him on the back or crack a joke.
Juan turned and looked at Chet, his face broke into a grin as he pulled a rubber band from his pocket. Chet seemed to be lost in thought and didn't notice as the Captain pulled back on the rubber band and let it zing through the air, catching Chet right on the side of his face. Juan burst into laughter and then suddenly his laughter died in his throat.
"Chet?" he asked as he walked toward him. Slowly, not knowing if Chet was up to his tricks or not.
"Uh, Cap?" Mike said, "There's something you should probably know."
Juan turned to Stoker the smile gone from his face.
Just as Mike opened his mouth Chet's yelled ,"GOTCHA!" grabbed Juan and playfully punched him on the arm.
Juan turned white as a sheet then advanced toward Chet backing him into a corner. "If you EVER do that to me again, I will kick your butt, boy," Juan said as the color came back into his face. He was breathing hard and apparently very startled."Kelly – when you least expect it Pal........... expect it! I will get you!" Juan warned. He turned and looked at the others.
"How did you boys pull this one off?" Juan was not the least bit amused.
Mike and Marco looked quiet surprised as Chet laughed. "We didn't pull anything off, Juan," Marco explained. "Chet's been acting strange all.........."
"Marco – shut your trap and help me get some grub ready for dinner would you?" Chet asked trying to change the subject.
"Chet? You okay, buddy?" Stoker asked with concern in his voice.
"Yeah yeah, I was just teasing ole Captain Juan Hernandez. I knew I'd get him someday," Chet replied.
Both Marco and Mike started clearing off the table. Both looked at Chet in confusion, convinced it wasn't that simple. Mike was actually scared when the band hit Chet in the face and he didn't even flinch. He made a mental note to bring this up to Roy and Johnny when they got back.
Juan tried to shrug it off, sensing something was wrong. "What can I do to help guys?" he said as he poked through the fridge.
***
"Squad 51 ,are you available?" asked the dispatcher as the squad was in route back to the station.
"10-4," Johnny practically groaned into the mike then looked at Roy. "There goes my afternoon snack."
Roy smiled as he reached behind him for his helmet.
"Station 51, man down, 255 11th street, 255 11th street, cross street Redwood. Timeout 1614."
"Isn't Redwood your next left, Roy?" Johnny asked as he squinted his eyes to read the next crossroad.
"Sure is, Junior, I think you need an eye test, you are getting old!" Roy chided as he made a quick left onto Redwood.
"Very funny.... there it is, hang a right here," Johnny pointed.
A child was swinging in a tire swing on the front lawn of 255 11th street, she stopped and hopped down, then walked to the gate and opened it. "My dad is stuck under the house, mom is back there with him," she pointed to the back.
The house was one level, ranch style. They walked through a second gate and around to the back. They could see a 3 to 4 foot crawl space and a woman bent over yelling into the opening "Honey? The medical boys are here, can you hear me? Collin?" She was trying to keep her emotion in check for her children's sake. "Honey" she called out again.
"Ma'am? Could I get in there please?" Roy asked as he gently led her away.
"My husband... he's trying to run wires under there, for a new phone you see...." the woman was looking around for her children then back to Roy. "He said it was hot and stuffy, then he just stopped moving. I don't understand."
"How long has he been under there, Miss?" Johnny asked.
"About 20 minutes.... well he's been under there for 40 minutes but 20 of them he wasn't moving," she said.
"Is he on any medication?"
"No, just an occasional aspirin," She replied.
"Has he been ill?"
"No... not so much as the flu!, why are you asking me all this? HELP HIM!" She practically screamed at Roy.
"Ma'am, we have to know these things to help him. Has he had any recent injuries or accidents," Roy pried gently.
"NO, he's never been sick, he hasn't had an accident," she cried out.
"I'm sorry, Ma'am, this will help us, Does he have diabetes or heart trouble?" Roy asked.
"No, no...... I told you he's never been sick a day in his life! Please, please help him!" cried the woman.
Roy nodded and looked at Johnny who was listening in. Just then the engine had pulled to a stop in front of the house. Captain Hernandez walked in the back followed by another girl. "What have we got boys?"
Roy turned around from talking to the distraught wife. "We're going to need some flashlights, Cap, and turnout gear."
The Captain yelled out to the rest of the crew for the supplies John and Roy would be needing. He knelt down beside Johnny who was peering in the opening. They could see the form of a man. The sun was not shining on this corner of the house which made seeing into the crawlspace difficult.
"Sir? Can you hear me? Sir?" Johnny called out. He couldn't reach the man from the opening and didn't want to crawl into the space without his coat and helmet.
Roy in the meantime had hooked up the biophone. He noticed the two little girls quietly watching from several feet away. They looked scared, their mother had gone to their side and was holding them close to her. The family was young, the children and mother were well taken care of and it was apparent that they dearly loved the man under the house.
"Rampart, this is Squad 51, how do you read?" Roy asked.
"51, this is Rampart, we read you loud and clear," a female voice responded instantly.
"Rampart, we have a male, approximately 32 years of age. He is in a crawlspace under his home. He has been unresponsive for the last twenty to twentyfive minutes. We have not gained access to him yet. There appears to be no injury that we can tell, no history of injury or illness. The victim's family states that he appeared to have passed out. Please stand by for more information."
"10-4, 51. We are standing by," the voice called out.
Johnny was slipping into his gear. Marco handed him a flashlight and asked "Do you think you need some rope, Gage?"
"Not yet, Marco – let me see what I've got first." Johnny bent down and started through the hole. His flashlight lit up the space enough for him to see the man, about twenty feet away, lying still. It was musty under the house, spider webs all over. Johnny hated creepy crawling things. He'd be happy to get out of this predicament.
"Sir, can you hear me?" Johnny asked as he crawled up beside the man. He immediately noticed that the man's face was bright red. His skin was wet and clammy to the touch. The man appeared to be in good shape physically.
He was wearing a long sleeve shirt and jeans, Johnny thought he was a bit overdressed for this job but then thought again that it was a good idea to have yourself covered up when you crawled around under a house. He found a weak pulse on the man and found the man's breathing to be shallow and low. Very very low.
"Roy?" Johnny called through the opening. "He's got to get out of here now. His breathing is shallow and slow, his skin went and clammy, and his cheeks are very red. His pulse is weak. I'm suspecting heat stroke so let's get him out of here now. Can you reach in and grab his feet – pull him straight back? I'll watch his head."
Roy crawled into the opening about 10 feet and was able to grab the man by his boots. Carefully he backed out of the opening. Chet and Marco were there to assist as Roy emerged from under the house.
"Hold up, Johnny. Can we roll him over? I'd rather bring him out face up then face down," Roy said as he slowly moved the man topside.
"All set, Roy, bring him out," Johnny called as Roy backed the rest of the way out. He just cleared the opening when suddenly Roy slapped his neck.
"Roy? You okay?" Marco asked.
"Yeah, I think something bit me though," Roy said as he rubbed his neck.
"Go ahead, Roy, we got him," Chet said.
Roy stood up and rubbed his neck, Juan stepped up next to him and took a look. "Just a red mark, Roy"
"Yeah, just took me by surprise is all, I can't imagine the things crawling under a house, it's so dark and musty under there," Roy shuttered.
Just then Johnny emerged from under the house, together with Chet he laid the man on the soft grass and dropped beside him. Roy reached for the med kit then looked up at Chet, "Wanna hand me that med box, Kelly?" then turned back to the patient, loosening his clothing.
"He is really hot, Johnny" Roy claimed.
"Yeah, I think he's got, heat stroke," John said as he reached out to take the med box from Chet. Chet wasn't letting go of the box. Johnny looked up at Chet. He wasn't looking so good.
"Chet? You okay?" Johnny asked.
Chet didn't reply, suddenly his eyes closed and he started to sway. The Med box fell from his hand landing on the grass beside the patient.
"Watch it!!" Johnny yelled as Chet's legs collapsed beneath him and he fell right into the paramedics and their victim. Marco grabbed Chet's shirt from behind and Juan from the side. The three men together were able to keep Chet from falling on top of the patient.
Chet's collapse surprised Johnny. He instinctively reached out to help, taking most of Chet's weight onto his hand before Juan and Marco pulled him backward. They laid him beside the patient and Johnny went right to work on him while Roy worked on the first victim.
"Chet? Chet?" Johnny shook him gently "Can you hear me?, Come on, Chet."
Johnny urged his friend to wake up. Chet didn't even stir. He set about checking his vitals and reached blindly for the biophone. John Gage was clearly upset but remained focused.
Meanwhile Roy was examining his patient. He glanced over at Johnny and Chet while cutting the man's pant legs. He found two small puncture wounds on the man's left leg, just below the knee. "Cap?" Roy called out.
"Take a look at this... spider?" Roy asked Juan Hernandez.
"Looks like it to me, Roy, check his pant leg and make sure it's not still hiding in there." Juan advised.
"Rampart, this is 51, how do you read?" Johnny said.
"51, go ahead, what is the patient's condition?"
"Rampart, Roy is working on victim #1, we now have a second victim. Male, age 30. He has collapsed. Pulse is 102, BP is 100 over 65, respirations are 22. Rampart, be advised, second victim is a Firefighter that sustained a mild head injury this morning and refused treatment. He is not responding to pain and has a negative babinski, his pupils are not responsive."
"51 – start an IV with D5W TKO, monitor patient's breathing. Fully immobilize his spine and transport."
"10-4, Rampart." Johnny knew that Rampart wanted Chet's spine and neck to be stable. The injury could be in his spine instead of his head as they originally thought. He handed the Biophone over to Roy and set about stabilizing Chet.
"Rampart, Patient #1 is diaphoretic and cyanotic. His BP is 90 over 56, pulse weak and thready, respirations are 14 and shallow. There are small puncture holes on his leg indicative of a spider bite. We could not locate the spider," Roy stated. Patient looks like he's headed for anaphylactic shock Rampart.
"51, on patient 1, start an IV with Ringers TKO, splint that leg, hook up the Electrocardiogram, administer 15 liters of O2 and transport immediately.Will advise on epinephrine if condition worsens."
Roy had already started to monitor the man's heart and was starting the IV when the 2nd ambulance arrived. Johnny had loaded Chet onto the first one and they were pulling out. Thankfully for both patients, Rampart was close.
***
Johnny ran his hand through his hair and sighed. He looked down at the pale figure of his friend. He loved teasing Chet, always trying to one up him.He hated to admit it, especially now, but he even liked getting in arguments with Chet. Chet was an annoyance, but a comfortable welcome annoyance. He didn't want to see his friend down like this. Johnny was deep in thought but not so unattached that he couldn't hear the steady beat of the heart monitor. Hopefully what ever was happening with Chet wouldn't be serious. Johnny said a silent prayer that Chet's heart was strong and consistent. He was ready when the Ambulance backed up to the hospital. The doors swung open and there stood Dixie and Doctor Early. Johnny grabbed the back of the stretcher and started to lift it out.
"OWWWWWWWWWWWEEE," Johnny cried out as a pain shot up his right arm. He looked down wondering what could have caused this and saw that his wrist was a blue/purple color and quite swollen. "What the..." then he remembered...he took the full weight of Chet's body into his hand and wrist when he fell.
"Johnny? You okay?" Doctor Early said as he grabbed Johnny's end of the stretcher.
"Yeah, Doc, take care of Chet. I'm fine!" Johnny exclaimed as he grabbed his equipment.
Dixie looked at Johnny as they started in the doors with Chet, "Don't go anywhere John Gage!"
Johnny nodded as he followed her in the door. He followed the stretcher into the examination room all the while telling Joe Early and Dixie McCall about Chet's incident earlier at the fire. As they scurried around the table to examine Chet, Doctor Early called out orders for scull series and tests Dixie noticed a pained look on Johnny's face. She walked to the door and motioned for Johnny to follow her.
Outside the room she gingerly picked up his hand. "Are you okay, John?"
Johnny could only nod.
"It doesn't look broken, quite sprained though. Let me get a doctor to look at that for you." She looked up and down the hallway.
"Dix? I'm okay, please, go help Chet," Johnny pleaded with her.
"Everything is going to be okay, Johnny, get some ice, I'll be back soon" She walked back in the door.
Johnny looked up and down the hallway, he saw Roy hurry into another Exam room with their first patient. He took a deep breath, then leaned his back against the wall. He was looking at the ceiling, a lump in his throat that he just couldn't swallow. He slowly slid down the wall until he was sitting on the floor. He glanced at his watch and wished there was something he could do.
"Gage?" a voice called out.
Johnny looked up and was surprised to find Hank Stanley there with his wife. He stood up suddenly.
"Cap! What are you doing here?" Johnny asked.
"We stopped by to pick up Chief Anders belongings. His family is much too upset," Hank said.
Johnny looked at Hank's wife and smiled a hello, then looked back at Capt. Stanley.
"Roy? Is it Roy in there? What's happened Gage?" Stanley asked.
"It's not me, Cap. It's Chet," Roy said as he came up behind the couple. He nodded a hello to Mrs. Stanley.
"Any news?" Roy asked.
"Nothing, nothing...." Johnny trailed off.
Roy filled in the Stanleys on what happened on the last call with Chet. Captain Stanley was quite upset by this and asked a lot of questions, none of which the boys could answer. They looked down the hallway when they heard voices to find the rest of Station 51 coming toward them.
They filled everyone in the best they could. L.A. County had sent another unit from 18 to cover 51's territory until they could go back in service.
"Excuse me, Mister." Roy felt a hand tugging at his leg and looked down to find the small girl that was on their last rescue.
"Thank you for saving my daddy. There was a nice doctor that told us he was going to be fine but has to spend the night here," The little girl told Roy.
Roy smiled at her, "I'm glad to hear that, Honey."
"I'd like to thank all of you boys, and I hope that your friend is okay," the girl's mother said as she squeezed into the crowd to get her daughter.
"Thank you, Ma'am," Johnny said, the rest of the guys smiled at her and wished her well.
"I hate to go. One of my men needs me, but I have to..." Captain Stanley started talking but was interrupted when Doctor Early came out of Chet's room.
He looked at the small crowd that gathered. He took a deep breath then started to speak, "I'm afraid it's not good news men. We found a small shadow at the top of Chet's spine which we believe may be a tumor. We have to do a biopsy. He doesn't have a head injury from his accident earlier.The best we can tell is that this shadow showing in his scans is pressing against a nerve. It's all I can tell you at this time. They are preparing a room for him upstairs right now for surgery. We'll need blood donated so if any of you can help out, please see Becky Dorn in Room 118 down the hall."
Doctor Early placed his hand on Captain Stanleys shoulder and squeezed.
"If you gentleman will excuse me, I will let you know something the second he comes out of surgery," Doc Early said, then hurried toward the elevator.
The men of Station 51, along with Mrs. Stanley and Juan Hernandez stood around quietly after Doctor Early left. At first, none of the men said a word.
"I can't leave yet, Honey. I have to donate blood," Captain Stanley said in a daze to his wife.
"Of Course, let's go," she replied.
"Right behind ya, Cap" Roy said, then one by one voices muttered "me too" as all of them filed around the corner and searched for Nurse Dorn.
***
Mike Stoker was fiddling with the tape across his arm from giving blood.Marco was gazing out the window. Johnny was having his wrist wrapped up by Dixie, and Roy was watching but not really paying attention. Captain Stanley returned to the Ander's house and Captain Hernandez returned to the station with promises that someone would call them the minute they knew something.
It had been several hours with no word.
Johnny looked up at Dixie. "Thanks, Dix," he smiled faintly then started to pace slowly back and forth. Roy looked up and watched his partner for a few minutes.
"Johnny. It's not your fault. It's no one's fault. We couldn't have known," Roy said.
Johnny didn't reply, he just kept pacing. Roy went back to his thoughts.
Dixie slipped out unnoticed.
Marco couldn't stand Johnny's pacing. Maybe it was his worry over Chet's condition, or his own guilt but he went to Johnny took him firmly by his shoulders.
Johnny looked at him in surprise but didn't say anything.
"It's not your fault, it's not Roy's fault, it's not Mike's fault, or my fault – Johnny, it's a tumor!" Marco raised his voice with the last words he uttered.
"I KNOW! Don't you think I know that, Marco?" Johnny shouted. Mike and Roy stepped up immediately and separated the two of them.
"Calm down. I know we are all worried about Chet but this is not doing him or us any good at all, just come down before we all go nuts," Roy was saying as Doctors Early and Brackett walked in. All heads turned to the door,everyone was afraid to say anything or try to read the doctor's faces.
"He's out of danger," Dr. Brackett said matter of factly. "He's going to be in recovery the rest of the night, then move to a private room in the morning. He's come through the surgery fine. The shadow was indeed a tumor and we removed it right away. It is benign. He's going to be with us at least 2 weeks and will be sporting a headache for at least that long. He's going to need support and a lot of it."
All four guys broke into smiles and clapped the doctors on the back. Dixie walked in and saw the happy smiles, she smiled back, not knowing the outcome of the surgery, but guessing it from the mood of the room.
***
Two weeks later Chet Kelly was being released from the hospital and his friends were there to celebrate with him.
"Never thought I'd say this, Kelly, but the station isn't the same without you," Captain Stanley said. Marco and Mike nodded in agreement.
"I dunno about that, Cap, I've had peace and quiet for the last couple of weeks," Johnny said.
"Give me a break, Johnny. You've been moping around since Chet's been gone," Roy looked at Chet and winked.
"Gage? You missed me? Aweee Buddy, I love you too!" Chet teased.
Johnny just looked at Chet and smiled, "You wish Chet... You wish."
"YEOW!" Chet cried then brought his hand up to his cheek.
Johnny, Roy, Captain Stanley, Mike and Marco looked at Chet wondering what was going on.
"Gotcha!" Juan Hernandez laughed as he stepped out from behind the door. "I told you Kelly, when you least expect it, expect it" He then held up his hands to reveal a fist full of rubber bands. Everyone laughed.
"Yeah, you got me, Hernandez" Chet grinned. Then his face grew serious.
"All of you got me. Thanks for the support and concern the last two weeks. I 'll be back to torment you all in another 8 days.. when you least expect it..."
"EXPECT IT!" everyone cried in unison.
Author's Note: Thanks to Kent for his medical expertise – without him my patient's would have all gone into shock, died or been treated for ailments they didn't have!
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