D is for Death

By

Jane Royce

Hank Stanley hated to do it. He hated letting his two little girls down. They meant the world to him and the look of sadness on their faces would prove to be too much.

“I can’t go home right now, I just can’t face it.” Reasoned Hank as he pondered what he could do to prolong the dreaded confrontation.

Hank settled behind the wheel of his station wagon and prepared to just drive. Where did not matter, simply that he was going to drive was all that Hank allowed to occupy his thoughts.

‘I just can’t believe it, they trusted me, they expect me to be their role model, their hero. I let them down. There is no redemption. I am a murderer.’ Hank admonished as he drove slowly, not even paying attention to where he was going.

Hank’s mind wandered back to earlier that day, just after lunch in the station. The men had all returned after a particularly difficult high angle rescue and were exhausted.

“Cap, I am gonna grab a shower and then start in on lunch.” Rasped Johnny, who was more tired then the rest of the crew, while tethered to the ropes during the rescue, he ate a good deal of smoke. His voice told the tale of the day he’d been having.

“You do that John, and don’t worry about lunch, I’ll get the rest of the guys on it after they grab a shower too.” Cap instructed. He too wanted a shower and just to rest for a few moments if possible. He prayed that another call didn’t come through before all the men could have a much-deserved break and shower.

“Thanks Cap” whispered Johnny as he waved and left the dayroom for the showers.

Hank decided to use this time to call his wife at home, he knew that for a fire and rescue of this size, it likely made the news and it was just like Judy to worry. He wandered into his office and sat down heavily into his chair and made the call.

“Hi Judy, it’s me.”

“Yes, I’m fine. All are safe and sound but boy, that was a tough one.”

“Yes, the girls rabbit is safe here in my office, I will be bringing it home with me after shift, the vet said that she is fine and due to deliver the babies at any time now.”

“Ok honey, I want to go and shower and eat lunch, the shift ends at 7:00 and I’ll be home by 8:00, no later. I promise.

“I love you Judy, and give the girls a hug for me when they get home from school!”

Hank took a quick look in the pet carrier to check on his girl’s pregnant pet rabbit when his heart fell to the floor. The hutch was open and empty!

“Guys! Guys!” Shouted Hank at the crew.

All men, including Johnny responded to their Captain’s shouts as quickly as possible. It was unusual for their Captain to shout so loudly.

“Cap, what’s wrong?” Questioned Roy.

“Roy, everyone, I need your help. My daughter’s rabbit escaped from the hutch, she’s pregnant and due at any time now. She was here on our last run and now the cage is open. Check everywhere men!” Shouted Captain Stanley as he quickly checked all of his office.

The crew scattered to scour all areas of the station. Opening every cupboard and closet they could find in hopes of locating the missing rabbit.

“You know Cap, if she’s delivering the rabbits, she may be hiding.” Roy offered as he found himself working alongside his Captain in the hose rack area.

“I thought of that too Roy and I pray that you’re right!”

The search continued for 20 minutes and all were confident that the station had been thoroughly checked. All men wearily dragged themselves into the dayroom where they found their Captain seated with his head buried in his hands.

“Cap, I’m sorry that we didn’t find her, what happened when we left, she was secure in her cage, wasn’t she?” Chet asked.

“She wasn’t. I opened the door to the cage but shut my office door to let her get out for a little bit. I didn’t think she’d be in danger, but when we got back, I left the door open when I called Judy, I wasn’t even thinking.”

“Oh man, she’s got to be around here someplace then.” Whispered Johnny.

“John, you sound terrible, Roy, check him over will ya pal?” Cap suggested to Roy. At this point, he wanted a diversion and time to think for himself where the rabbit could have gone. The good news was that the garage doors were all shut, so she should be in the station, but where?

Roy looked at his weary partner and led him out of the room to the squad running board.

“I’m fine Roy, this isn’t necessary.” Johnny offered.

“I know partner, but I think the Cap needs a break for a minute. Humour me, will you?”

After a cursory check, Roy deemed Johnny healthy and fit, despite being exhausted. Johnny decided to lie down on his bunk until the next run though, he had to admit that the last run was a big one and took a lot out of him. He wandered into the bunks and lay down. He was asleep before his head hit the pillow.

Two hours had passed and not a call came through. The crew quietly enjoyed their lunch and tried to consider where a pregnant rabbit could possibly find herself in a fire station. The men had to consider that their efforts were all good, but the rabbit failed to appear.

A knock on the dayroom door brought all of the men out of their reverie.

“Hank, you all look like you’ve lost your best friend.” Offered Bill Hayward, Captain of the D shift.

“Hey Bill, good to see you. It’s been a long shift and I’m glad it’s over is all.” Mumbled Hank as he made his way to his office to gather his things to go home. He sadly looked at the empty cage and knew that his daughters would be so disappointed.

Roy greeted the relief paramedic crew and filled them in on their supply status. He suddenly remembered his sleeping partner in the bunks.

“Hey Joe, Johnny ate some smoke during the last rescue. He’s fine but tired. He fell asleep in the bunk; let him rest until he wakes up. If I wake him now, he won’t be good to drive.”

“You sure Roy? He’s ok? You know Johnny.” Joe stated.

‘Yeah, he’s fine. He showered and felt better afterwards. I checked him out and his lungs were clear, good pulses and BP, he’s ok. Just tired.” Roy instructed.

“Ok Roy, we’ll let him sleep it off then for a little bit. I am sure when the tones go off for a run, he’ll be awake then!”

“Right, he sure will. I’ll leave him a note and tell him to go home.” Roy offered.

“Great Roy, thanks man!”

With that, the men parted ways. Roy quickly scribbled a note for his partner and left it on his own bunk and then turned to leave to go home himself.

Twenty minutes later, the tones went off, signalling a call. Johnny jumped up and ran for the squad, only to see it pull out from the station. Confused, Johnny wandered into the dayroom and noticed the time.

‘Oh man, it’s 8:00!” I’ve slept for three hours, the next shift is here by now!’

Relieved that he hadn’t missed a run or something, Johnny helped himself to a cup of coffee and prepared to leave the station. He returned to the bunk area to make the bed for the next shift.

“Holy cow, where’d you come from?” Shouted Johnny in disbelief as he glared at the little rabbit struggling to get its little paws beneath him poking out from underneath his bunk.

‘I don’t believe it, we tore the station apart looking for this rabbit, and here she is!’

Johnny dropped to his knees and peeked underneath his bunk. He was relieved and shocked to see the Stanley’s rabbit lying on her side with four little rabbits all huddled close to her. She had managed to somehow wrestle a sheet to create a warm berth for herself and her young ones right underneath Johnny’s bunk.

A telephone ringing broke Johnny’s concentration, he decided to ignore it. He was fascinated by the rabbits and was stunned to know that this had been missed by all of his shift-mates.

The phone rang again and for some reason, Johnny felt compelled to answer, there was something insistent about the ring.

“Station 51, John Gage speaking” Offered Johnny.

“John, oh good, it’s you. It’s Judy Stanley calling, is Hank still there?” A worried Judy Stanley asked.

“Judy, oh hi! No, the guys have all left. I am here alone and was just about to…”

“Oh Johnny, you have to help me. Hank was due home almost an hour ago and he’s not here. We are so worried about him!”

“Ok Judy, calm down. If there was an accident, you would know by now I hope, you live to close to the station. Was Captain Stanley going to go anywhere after work that you know of?” Johnny asked.

“No Johnny, he was going to come right home and bring the girls their rabbit. I know the rabbit is due at any time so I am worried that something happened.” Continued Judy.

“Oh no, OK Judy, something happened today with the rabbit.” Began Johnny as he worked quickly to fill her in on all the details that he knew.

“Oh Johnny, so she’s alright? Is she well, is she moving?” Jody asked, relieved to know that the rabbits were born.

“She seems to be Judy, she’s nested under my bunk here but the babies all look fine. I tell you what, I’ll find something to transport her in and come right over to your house, and I’ll take the route that Cap takes and see if he had car trouble or something along the way.”

“Oh thank you John, that’s so kind of you. Oh wait, here’s Hank now! He’s home! Oh wait till I tell him!” Judy Stanley hung up the phone before Johnny could say another word.

Johnny worked quickly to locate a box large enough to transport all the rabbits in his truck and tucked the bedding that the mother rabbit used in with the new family.

*****

“Honey, oh honey. Something terrible happened at the station today” Began Hank once he saw his wife.

“Oh Hank, I was so worried! I called the station and talked to Johnny. He told me everything!”

“Everything? So you know that I lost the rabbit, you know that she’s dead because of me!”

“The rabbit’s dead? Daddy how could you?” The girls cried in unison as they entered the kitchen to see what the fuss was all about.

“Girls, I am so sorry. I don’t know what happened, she was in her hutch when I left on a call, locked in my office and when we came back I opened the door and she must have escaped. I am so so sorry, I was foolish for not being more careful!”

“Daddy!” The girls wailed, grief overtaking them at the thought of their lost pet.

“Hank” Shouted Judy over the sound of her wailing daughters, but her voice was drowned out by the daughter cries, her husband’s sorrow and the doorbell.

As Judy made her way to the door, she made no attempt to quiet the family. She knew who it was and was confident that the cries would soon cease.

“Oh John, thanks for coming over. Look everyone, it’s John Gage from the station. He’s brought us something!” Judy shouted to be heard.

All eyes turned to look at the new arrival and all gasped in unison at the sight of the box containing the rabbit family.

“John, what’s this? What’s happened?” Cap asked his paramedic.

“Cap, the rabbit must have nested in the bunks to deliver. I found her after you all left.” Johnny rasped.

“She’s fine Cap, and her three babies are all fine too!”

At the realization of what had just happened, Cap leaned against the wall for support while his daughters and wife squealed at the contents of the box. The box was completely alive with new life and this magic erased all of Cap’s feelings of guilt.

“I can’t believe it,” whispered Cap to no one in particular.

Upon seeing the joy on the faces of the girls and the relief in the Cap, Johnny took his leave quietly.

The End