Life Goes On–Part 5
By Nancy F. Thysell (The Nifty Lady)
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Roy pulled a reluctant paramedic down the hall and steered him into the elevator.
"Come on, Junior. Let’s get back to the station."
"I thought we could respond from here," Johnny stated flatly. Roy rolled his eyes as he punched the elevator button.
"I have to go apologize to Chet," he said simply.
"Why? What did you do to Chet?"
"I yelled at him when I couldn’t yell at you!"
"Me? Yell at me? Why are you mad at me?" Johnny’s left hand automatically went to cover his heart.
"Johnny do you even know what you did this morning?" Roy inquired and seeing the blank look on Johnny’s face answered that question.
"No? What?" Johnny frowned trying to recall.
"Johnny you were so distracted I didn’t know if I could count on you. And you ran out of air way before you should have. Johnny that could have killed you or someone else. I’m angry because it scared me! I don’t like feeling scared on the job, partner!" Roy’s voice raised as he vented.
"I’m sorry, Roy. I guess I have been a bit distracted with that’s happened with Chris and all..."
"Johnny, I know you didn’t do it on purpose! I know you’re worried about Chris, it’s just I didn’t know what was happening with you. Johnny, if you’re not up to working today, you need to tell me."
John shook his head in dismay and rubbed the back of his neck. "I don’t know what to say, Roy. I really didn’t think I wasn’t pulling my weight. I’m sorry. But I’m okay. I can do my job." Johnny looked earnestly into Roy’s eyes. The elevator doors opened on the ER and they stepped out.
"I want to believe that Johnny. I’m sorry I got so angry. I guess that with all that’s been going on with Chris, you have the right to be distracted. Just do me a favor, Junior. Don’t let it interfere with the job. That’s all I’m asking," Roy said sincerely. Johnny gave him his trademark grin.
"Oh Pally! Don’t worry about me. I won’t let it interfere with my job. When Chris just looked at me, a thousand pounds lifted off my shoulders!" he exclaimed. Roy took him at his word and they headed for the squad. He wanted to believe his partner. He really did but his intuition told him to keep an eye on his partner.
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Chris awoke to the smell of food. She opened her eyes as the orderly deposited a dinner tray on her bed table. Awkwardly, she located the button to raise the head of the bed. Slowly the bed raised to a nearly sitting position. She pulled the table toward her. Eagerly she removed the covers. She unwrapped the silverware and scooped a fork-full of the food. It was bland and she thought maybe whipped potatoes. But it was food! She quickly ate everything on the tray before she allowed herself to consider what it was supposed to be. The green gelatin desert was the only thing she didn’t have trouble identifying. Once she was through, she pushed the tray away and eased back on the bed. She looked over at her roses on the bed stand and smiled. The yellow color was so cheerful and each time she gazed at them, she thought of Johnny and how much she missed him. Maybe Doctor Brackett would let her go home in the morning. Johnny would be off the next two days and that would be heaven!
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"Face it Gage," Chet taunted as they ate dinner, "your wife is as much of a disaster magnet as you are!"
Now that the crew had been informed that Chris was improving, Chet figured it was safe to attack his "pigeon."
"Chet!" Gage’s voice was full of warning. Kelly tried to look innocent.
"What? You know I’m right!"
"Leave him alone, Chet," Marco urged.
"Thanks Marco," Johnny responded through a mouthful of food. Roy pushed away from the table to fix a cup of coffee.
"Well, I’m just glad she’s doing better, Pal," Captain Stanley remarked.
"Me, too," Mike added.
"Thanks guys. I hope Brackett’s gonna let me take her home tomorrow." Johnny grabbed a tall glass of milk and started to take a drink when the klaxons sounded. Quickly he gulped down the contents.
"Station 51. Man trapped. Construction site. 1334 Providencia Avenue. One-three-three-four Providencia Avenue. Cross street Glenora. Time out 18:23."
"10-4 LA. Station 51. KMG365," Stanley responded. He passed the address slip to Roy and then hurried to join the engine crew. The two emergency vehicles pulled into the evening dusk with lights and sirens.
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The men from Station 51 pulled into the yard of the construction site. The construction supervisor ran over to meet Captain Stanley as he stepped down from "Big Red."
"Are you in charge here," Stanley asked the man in the white hard hat.
"Yes, I am. Buck Carson," Carson introduced himself. "My men were working on the west side of the building. I thought the ditch was shored up but it gave way taking all the scaffolding with it. I’ve got a couple of men over here that got hurt when they fell but there are three men still missing."
"How bad are their injuries?" Hank inquired of the men that were hurt. Carson shrugged.
"Not too bad. Bumps. Bruises. A couple of broken bones."
"Okay, I’ve got to send my paramedics in after the ones that are missing. I’ll call in another set of paramedics if you think those guys can wait."
"Yeah. They can wait. Look. I’ve got manpower and equipment here. If you need anyone or anything, just ask. Just find my men, please."
"We’ll do our best. Roy! Johnny!" The two paramedics rushed over and Stanley filled them in and instructed them where to enter the building. The captain had Carson move his injured workers to an area near the squad and had Marco and Chet look them over to render basic first aid. Then he got on the mic and requested an additional squad and an ambulance.
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The interior of the construction site was full of chalky dust. Bare light bulbs hung from a cord that was strung throughout. Roy led the way as he and Johnny picked their way through the debris of construction materials that had shifted when the scaffolding had collapsed. They had made their way almost thirty feet into the building when Roy discovered a water leak. The area was filling with cement-like mud. He pulled out his handi-talkie.
"Engine 51. This is HT51. How do you read?" he called as he pushed the button.
"Loud and clear HT51. What do you have?"
"Cap! We’ve got a bad water leak here. All this dust is turning into mud! Can you get the water turned off?" Roy requested.
"I’m on it Roy! Any sign of the men yet?"
"Not yet Cap. We’re going to keep searching."
"10-4. Engine 51 out."
The two paramedics had to reach out with their hands to steady themselves as they stepped through the muck. Reinforcement bars blocked much of the path and they had to gingerly maneuver around them. They both sighed with relief as the sound of the water ceased. They ventured deeper into the building, hoping that they would find the workers quickly. A half hour later, Roy found a boot. His heart sank as he realized that the leg it was attached to was crushed under a slab of cement. He felt for a pulse anyway on the ankle but didn’t find one. Johnny stopped behind him. They were both breathing heavily. Within the confines of the rubble, their progress had been slow and they were sweating inside their turnout gear. Johnny pushed his helmet up to wipe the perspiration off his forehead. Roy notified Stanley of his findings and reported that they were pushing on.
Squad 16 arrived on the scene and paramedics Bruce Taylor and Dennis Johnson began taking care of the other injured workers. These men had been very lucky. They had cuts, contusions, and some broken bones but their injuries weren’t life threatening and they were quickly dispatched by ambulance to the hospital. Now the firemen waited to word from Gage and DeSoto. They knew about the one Code F. They hoped that the other men would be found alive.
Hank pulled his HT out of his turnout and tried to reach Gage and DeSoto.
"HT51 this is Engine 51. Do you read?" he inquired.
"10-4 Engine 51," Roy responded.
"I’m pulling you guys out. You’ve been in there long enough. Taylor and Johnson from 16s are here. I’m going to have them relieve you."
"But Cap," Roy started to protest.
"Both of you outta there as soon as they get there. Understood?"
"Yeah Cap. We’ll keep searching until they get here."
"10-4. Engine 51 out."
Roy put his HT back in his pocket and looked over at Johnny.
"You heard?" Johnny nodded in confirmation. In a way, he was relieved. He was really beginning to feel tired from his lack of sleep. Plus the heat and the dust in the construction were wearing him down.
"Are we going to keep going?" he asked wearily as he leaned against a piece of the broken wall.
"Might as well until our relief gets here. Every minute counts," Roy stated matter-of-factly. Johnny agreed. Though with each passing minute, hope diminished. He pushed himself away from the wall and they both heard a low, deep rumble. Panic crossed both of their faces. In unison they both move back in the direction they had entered this area. Debris began to rain down on them as they ran through the crumbled structure. A large piece of concrete made a direct hit on Roy’s shoulder, sending him to the floor, crying out in pain. Johnny stopped and turned to aid his partner. He pushed the piece of concrete off his partner and then helped him too his feet. Pushing Roy in front of him, they resumed their retreat.
Roy slipped his injured shoulder’s arm inside his turnout and that eased the increasing pain. He was nearly halfway back to the entrance when he ran headlong into Taylor and Johnson.
"Whoa, Roy! Are you okay?" Bruce asked with concern when he got a good look at Roy. Roy’s face was contorted with pain and ashen.
"Shoulder," he mumbled.
"Dennis, you’d better help Roy out. He’s injured his right shoulder," Bruce instructed his partner.
"Sure thing. Come on DeSoto. Follow me," Dennis directed. Roy nodded and allowed him to lead the way. Taylor opened the line on the HT and informed Captain Stanley that he was sending his partner out with an injured DeSoto. He watched as they disappeared toward the opening. He turned expecting to see Johnny emerge from the area where they had found Roy.
"Johnny?" Bruce called out. Silence. He picked up the HT.
"Engine 51 this is HT16. Would you ask DeSoto where Johnny is?" he asked uneasily.
"10-4." Stanley responded. Johnson was easing Roy to the ground beside the squad. Hank jogged over to them.
"Roy. Do you have any idea where Johnny is?" Hank asked a bit winded from the jog. Roy looked up at his superior with obvious concern.
"He was right behind me Cap. He helped me up and then pushed me to the front." Roy tried to stand up but both Johnson and Stanley gently restrained him.
"Don’t worry. We’ll find him. You let Dennis take care of that shoulder," Hank directed. He called over Chet and Marco. "You two go in and help Bruce. Gage is missing and he doesn’t have the HT on him."
"Right Cap," the men responded together and they entered the building. Hank squatted by his paramedic.
"Don’t worry, Pal. They’ll find him," Stanley said confidently, as much for himself as for Roy.
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Johnny staggered forward again. He couldn’t see Roy anymore. He coughed against the dust trying to fill his lungs. His eyes stung from the perspiration seeping into them. He pulled off his glove and wiped his eyes. That only served to make things worse.
"Roy?" he called out and listened. What the hell had happened to Roy? He wondered. He started to move forward and found he couldn’t pull his boot out of the muck on the floor. He tugged at the stuck boot and his foot popped out, throwing him off balance. The only place to put his foot was back into the muck. The sock covered foot slid in the slimy goo. Johnny flailed his arms, reaching out for any kind of a handhold. His fingers wrapped around a rod that projected from the cement wall and that stopped him momentarily. As he tried to right himself, he twisted around and lost his grip. He fell into the muck, face first! He pushed himself up enough to get his face above the mess and coughed. His several attempts to get to his feet and made matters worse. Finally, he rolled over and sat down in the muddy mixture. If he wasn’t so tired, he would have laughed. He leaned against the wall and sighed. Why me? Why now? He closed his eyes.
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Marco and Chet caught up with Dennis in a matter of minutes. He led them in the direction Roy had emerged from and they began searching for Johnny as well as the missing workers. As they searched they called out for Johnny. A variety of noises bounced through the structure. The three men split up and took different directions in the maze.
Chet stumbled into the area where Johnny lay, motionless and encased in the dried but grey colored mixture. He moved slowly toward his coworker and friend.
"Johnny?" he called in a startled voice. Johnny peered at him through a narrow slit of his eyelids.
"Hey Chester B!" Johnny responded through small opening of his mouth.
"What happened to you?" he asked in amazement. The muddy mixture had hardened like cement and had imprisoned Johnny to the floor when he had dozed off. The floor still oozed but the thinner layers on Johnny’s clothes had stiffened as they dried.
"I’m stuck," he mumbled.
"Are you hurt?" Chet continue to examine the situation.
"No." Well, that wasn’t completely true, his pride was hurt and the Phantom would never let him live this down.
"I’ll go get the others," Chet said calmly, trying to keep the smirk off his face. Johnny groaned inwardly. Things just seemed to be going from bad to worse. He had become uncomfortably hot.
Within minutes, the small area was filled with Chet, Marco, Bruce, Dennis and Captain Stanley. By this time the floor had completely dried. Several approaches were suggested. Stanley contacted the foreman, Buck Carson and asked for his input. Finally it was determined that water would soften the mixture and could be washed off. Marco brought in a reel line and they began to hose Johnny down. Gradually they were able to release him from his plaster prison. Between Johnny’s natural exhaustion and the buildup of body heat, he was alarmingly dehydrated by the time he was freed. Captain Stanley insisted that Johnny be carried out in the stokes over the young paramedic’s objections.
Johnny and Roy were transported to the hospital together. The IV that Dr. Early had ordered for Johnny was improving his disposition greatly. Roy was enjoying the trip as the MS in his IV had taken affect and he was no longer feeling any pain.
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The door opened to Chris’ room and she turned toward it. She wondered at first who it could be as it was past visiting hours. The room lights had been lowered so she couldn’t make out who it was. The person entered the room.
"Chris? Are you awake?" JoAnne DeSoto softly inquired.
"JoAnne? What? What’s wrong?" she asked, suddenly very alert. JoAnne hurried to her bedside.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you!" she said quickly. Chris looked up at her expectantly.
"What happened? Is...is..."
"They’ll be all right. Roy injured his shoulder. He’s lucky. It was only badly bruised. At least he didn’t break it," JoAnne informed her. "I guess he’ll be on the disabled list for a while, though."
"And Johnny? What about Johnny?" Chris asked fearfully.
"He’s fine. He became dehydrated and they’re treating him down in the ER for that. He’s okay. Honest," JoAnne quickly assured her. Chris visibly relaxed.
"Thanks for letting me know. Are they keeping them overnight?" Chris wondered.
"No. I’ll be taking Roy home in a few minutes. Dr. Brackett said Johnny should be able to return to work once they get fluids back in him. He wanted me to let you know that he was okay and he’ll be by as soon as his shift is over."
"That is if Brackett lets me go home," Chris groused. JoAnne placed a comforting hand on Chris’ arm.
"I’m sure he will. You get some rest now. Call me if you need anything," JoAnne implored her before she left. A short time later, she was allowed to collect her husband from the ER and take him home. Johnny’s rehydration took about an hour. By then, his temporary partner had arrived at the station. It was Van Kessler so that was good news to Johnny. Van drove the squad over to the hospital to pick Johnny up when he was released back to duty. It was past visiting hours so Dr. Early instructed Johnny not to try to visit Chris. He knew both of them needed to rest. Johnny was disappointed but understood. He and Van returned to the station and quickly found their bunks. As soon as Johnny’s head hit the pillow, he fell promptly asleep. Finally, he allowed himself the luxury of sleep and rest. Chris was recovering. Roy wasn’t seriously injured. Taylor and Johnson had finally located the other workers, alive. Their extrication took several more hours but their injuries had been minor. It had been a small miracle that there had been only one fatality.
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END PART 5--TO BE CONTINUED IN PART 6
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