THE PARTY

By Katy Sundberg and Irene Markoja

John Gage and Roy DeSoto were singing to an old song they heard on the radio on their way back to Station 51 from a run. "Was it the whisky? Might have been the gin," they sang, with big smiles beaming from their faces. "Might have been the three-four-six-packs. I don't know, but look at the mess I'm in."

"You can’t get Canada out of you mind, can you, Pally?" John asked, nudging Roy's arm. Roy was driving the squad into the industrial area that housed their station house. "So, did that kidnapping make you a hoser?" Roy turned towards his partner and told him,

"Maybe it did. I'm gonna take Joanne and the kids up to Toronto this summer."

"Roy! Don't tell me you've fallen in love with Blonde’s cooking. I’ve heard it said, the best way to get into a man's heart is through his stomach." He punched Roy lightly on the side of his stomach. "And it shows!" Roy pulled away from Johnny’s poking finger.

"Johnny! I’m tender there. We were doing Tae-Bo this morning! Joanne considered calling C-shift to deal with my possible heart attack!" He grinned at his partner, as he stopped the squad, watched for oncoming traffic, and backed onto the driveway leading into Station 51.

"Tae-Bo, yeah, right." Johnny gave his partner a sidelong glance.

"Don’t believe me. Joanne’s on this exercise kick. Cardio-vascular, get your heart pumping kind of thing." His blue eyes twinkled with mischief, and then the slightest hint of a wink.

"Okay," Johnny grinned, knowingly. "Mind if I use that excuse next time?"

"I don’t care." Roy grinned back, as they exited the squad.

They entered the kitchen, headed towards the stove, for a cup of the 'ever present' coffee. Captain Stanley came in behind them. They turned cups in hand, and leaned against the countertop. Captain Stanley crossed his arms and looked intensely at his paramedics.

"What did you guys do over the weekend?" He asked them.

"Nothing, Cap. Why?" Johnny was too quick with the answer.

"I think you have some serious problems." Both men put their cups on the counter.

"Why, Cap?" they both asked, stepping forward as one.

"Well, for starters the Canadian Ambassador is on his way over with," everyone gasped, "two Canadian Mounties."

"Well, Gage," Chet started in, "You know what this means don't you?

"What Chet?" he asked, annoyed.

"Canadian Mounties ALWAYS get their MAN!" the other two firefighters at the table started to giggle but stopped when Cap gave them a look.

"I want to be prepared for anything, when they get here. Now what did you two do?"

"Nothing, Cap, honest!" Roy pleaded in his defense. Johnny looked down at his feet.

"GAGE." Captain Stanley demanded. Johnny looked his Captain in the eye.

"Well, sir," he took a deep breath, "we had to go up and rescue," he dropped his head again, "Brice."

"You had to what?" Captain Stanley asked. Just then the visitor announcement bell sounded. Cap just shook his head. "This had better be good!" As he went to answer the door. The five men held their breath as they listened. They heard nothing, no talking, no walking, and no explosion. That was a good sign, maybe. It could be the lull before the storm, too.

Roy and Johnny stood like statues, stock still, waiting for the hammer to fall. Chet started to giggle, and elbowed Marco and Mike on either side of him. He nodded in the direction of the two paramedics, which caused the two of them to start to giggle.

"Hey, Johnny!" Johnny glanced down at Chet. "Don't forget to breathe!" the three at the table started to laugh. Johnny gave him a dirty look and pulled his hand back like he was going to strike him.

His head snapped up when he heard voices in the apparatus bay. The two paramedics looked at each other and their mouths dropped open. Chet had seen them scramble before, but not like this. They couldn't get to the side door quick enough, which caused the three at the table to almost fall off of their chairs laughing.

Even Henry sat up to watch. They made it just in time.

Captain Stanley came into the kitchen and saw the three firefighters holding their sides and laughing so hard that he thought they were going to need those new adult diapers.

"Where did the twin twits go?" he whispered to Mike.

"Um" Mike struggled to regain control in front of their visitors, wiping his eyes. "They just stepped out for a moment, sir." The three at the table tried very hard to stop laughing but to no avail. The three visitors began giggling with them.

"Those two love spreading laughter." The redhead told them. "We just wanted to come by and tell them thank you for the wonderful weekend!" The laughter stopped abruptly.

"What did you say?" Chet asked.

"We wanted to come by and thank them personally for the wonderful weekend that we had with them, and Craig Brice."

"I can't believe this!" Roy commented as they rounded the back of the station.

"You can't believe this, how do we explain to the Cap what we did?"

"It was just a party."

"One that we had been kidnapped to."

"Yes, it was against our will. We didn't go willingly."

"Ah, but, we could have left anytime that we wanted. Katy would have done anything for me I know she would. You know I really liked her. She has some really pretty blue eyes."

"Will you cut it out already! We are in so much trouble!"

"Why are we in trouble, Roy? We didn't do anything but show Brice a good time, and have a little bit of fun!"

"A little bit?"

"All right A LOT of fun. What's wrong with that? We're allowed to have fun once and a while, aren't we? I mean we are firefighters, but that doesn't mean that we're dead!" The two paramedics walked over to their cars.

"No, but that's not an excuse."

"Roy, come on, it was our time off! It's not like we were on department time or anything!"

"But we should have known better. We are grown adults."

"You maybe, but I'm still a kid at heart!" He leaned against his Rover and crossed his arms.

Inside the station, the four firefighters were getting acquainted with their visitors. They were actually very nice ladies. Katy and Irene were Canadian Mounties, and Karen, the Canadian ambassador, or so they said. They told the men what had happened on Friday night at the Roxbury. They had made up different identities so that they could get aquatinted with the local nightlife.

When the three paramedics came in to the Roxbury, they were the perfect ones for their party. They didn't really do anything dastardly to them just a little knock out drug to get them over to the party. Once there the fellas would enjoy good food and plenty of good Canadian Hospitality! They were expecting the three men to up and leave, but were surprised when Johnny had talked the other two into staying for a while.

"Brice even joined in."

"What did Brice do?"

"Did you know that he is an accomplished magician?" Karen told them. All four mouths dropped open.

"He could pull things out of places you wouldn't believe! He even did a table dance for us."

"That hunky Roy is something else." Irene told them with stars in her eyes. "To bad he's married. Hey, how's Joanne's health?"

"What?" Captain Stanley asked.

"Irene!" Katy gave her a stern look. "I warned you, but you wouldn't listen. You've given your heart to a married man. You'll have to suffer now."

Outside the station house, the two paramedics leaned against their cars contemplating their next move.

"I personally think we should move to Texas. It's a really big state and no one will be able to find us there." Johnny told Roy.

"Well," Roy stood up, "I guess we should go and face the music, junior." Johnny's mouth dropped open.

"Roy, do you really think we should do that?" He stood, placing his hand in the middle of Roy's chest, and blocked his progress to the apparatus bay. "I mean after all, what if Joanne finds out?"

"What's she gonna find out that I haven't all ready told her?"

"You told her?"

"Sure, over the phone last night when we got back."

"Oh man, and she wasn't mad?"

"No. She figured you'd get me into something."

"Oh man, I knew she knew me to well. I can't do anything!" Roy took Johnny's hand off of his chest and put it down to his side.

"Look, what can they do to us, hum?" Roy looked at his dark haired partner. "They can't deport us! Hey, they may even make us honorary Canadians."

"They've already done that," Johnny told him, distractedly. "Don't you remember?" When Roy didn't answer, he tried to jog his memory. "The big ceremony?"

"There was a ceremony?" That stopped Roy in his tracks.

"You don't remember the big ceremony, with all the women and champagne?"

"No." Roy turned around and went to the retaining wall. He placed his two hands against the wall and lowered his head. "Why don't I remember?"

"I remember. Boy, you and Brice were sure having a good time!" Roy turned to look at him.

"What did we do?"

"Katy really tried to stop you but you wouldn't be stopped. Man, you surprise me sometimes!"

"What did I do?" Roy stepped towards him.

"You had a good time, that's all!" Johnny took a couple of steps back. "Do you remember the wedding?"

"Yeah, the phony wedding?"

"Yes," Johnny nodded, encouraging him to continue.

"You and Katy performed the wedding proper. I believe I was best man, and Irene was bridesmaid."

"And boy was she happy. It’s a good thing that Katy was your protector. That girl would have eaten you for lunch and then some."

"How do you know? She seemed real nice to me."

"I know these things. I hang around in discos remember? I see that look in girls’ eyes all the time. I have to watch for those kinds. They’re dangerous. They’re out for one thing and one thing only, and that’s the object of their affection. If you happen to be that object then anything, and everything that is in their way will be moved, come hell or high water!"

"Oh, Irene isn’t like that," Roy told him, "is she?" He looked into his friends brown eyes, hoping for an honest answer.

"Look, Roy, if you were single, I’d tell you go for it, she’s a super girl, but man, you’re married, and I don’t think the two mix."

"You still haven’t told me what I did."

"You did a…" Johnny hesitated, looking into his best friends eyes and grinned, "table dance."

"I did what?" Roy’s voice rose over the sound of the traffic behind him. "You let me do this?"

"I didn’t let you do anything, you just did it!" Johnny started snickering at the thought of Roy on top of the table dancing to the beat of the music. "Has Joanne ever seen you do that?" His grin spread across his face, and caused his eyes to twinkle. "If she hasn’t maybe you should show her!" He winked. Roy leaned against Johnny’s land rover, putting his hands on either side of him. Johnny sat beside him and crossed his arms. "You don’t remember Brice’s magic act?" Roy shook his head distractedly. "Who knew he’d be so good with his hands," Johnny shook his head, "after his little magic act he got up and out did your table dance."

"Was I…?" Roy asked, not really wanting to know.

"Was you, what?"

"You know…," Roy finally looked at his partner.

"You know, what?"

"Johnny…"

"What?" Johnny knew what he was asking, but he wanted to hear him say it. Roy rolled his eyes skyward, then down at his feet. When his eyes finally rolled back to look skeptically at his partner, Johnny thought they would tunnel a hole through his head. He saw Roy take a deep breath and actually say what was on his mind.

"Was I…" he closed his eyes and spoke, "naked?" Johnny grinned at his embarrassment.

"Think, Roy, would Katy have let you get naked?"

"Apparently, if I table danced. I don’t remember."

"Not to say you didn’t try though. Irene was really pushing you. Katy let you remove your shirt, and tee shirt, but that was as far as you got. Katy and Dixie protected you from embarrassment. Good ol’ Dix. Good thing she was there, Katy wouldn’t have been able to fight Irene off by herself. I guess Dixie’s military training came in handy." The two paramedics heard the apparatus bay door start up. They stood up and faced their firing squad.

"It’s been good working with you, Junior," Roy commented sadly.

"Same here, Pally," Johnny replied. The door slid slowly up revealing seven sets of legs. Both men held their breath as it climbed higher. They both swallowed, and finally took a deep breath, together. They recognized the three people standing beside their captain, and their faces fell.
]

"Katy?" Johnny smiled. Katy smiled back. Irene squealed Roy’s name, and ran with her arms open, wrapping them around his neck. Totally caught off guard by her leaping into his arms, he looked at his partner for help. The six others followed slowly, with Chet, Marco, and Mike trying to keep control.

"Irene," Katy raised her voice sternly, " you promised you wouldn’t do that." Irene leaned back and looked into Roy’s blue eyes. She stepped back.

"Sorry. I see those beautiful eyes and I loose all control."

"That’s what his wife says, too. Behave, Irene." Katy commanded. As they met in front of the vehicles, Katy reached out, and took Johnny’s hand. They leaned together and kissed each other’s cheek in greeting. "Good to see you again, Mr. Gage. Did you get that chocolate that I left on your pillow?" She smiled even wider.

"Why yes, I certainly did. Thank you," he leaned down to her ear, "it’s Johnny." His breath tickled her ear. She tipped her head to his and closed her eyes. She took a sharp breath.

"You are just too much, John Gage," she whispered to him.

"Thank you," he whispered back. "Would you like to go to dinner on Wednesday?" He leaned back and looked into her eyes.

"Sure,"

"What are you ladies doing here?" Roy asked.

"We wanted to see you, sweetheart," Irene winked at Roy. Chet made a pht noise that was cut short when the Captain gave him a stern look.

"Why weren’t we invited to Brice’s wedding?" Chet asked.

"Didn’t think you’d be interested, Chet." Johnny commented. Johnny looked down into Katy’s eyes. "What are you really doing here?"

"We wanted to come by and apologize for our behavior on Friday night. We did something wrong and I’ve really felt badly about it. I think that you guys would have come with us if we would have asked, but we were afraid that you would turn us down, hence the knock out drugs. We lied to you and we’re sorry." Katy explained. "Next time I won’t listen to Irene when she has a ‘sure fire plan’," she looked over at Irene.

"It would have worked, too if you hadn’t felt so guilty." Captain Stanley cleared his throat and everyone looked at him, expectantly.

"So, are you ladies really who you say you are?"

"That was Irene’s idea again. She wanted to see if we could get away with it. She didn’t think you would let us into the station if you knew we were regular people. Not to mention, she wanted to see if she could freak Roy out."

"Um, do you know how to dance," she looked Roy over like a piece of meat.

"Yeah, lucky Joanne," Karen giggled. Irene shot her a dirty look. Chet stepped over to Karen and smiled at her.

"So, what are you doing on Wednesday evening?" he asked her.

"Brice is going to be taking me out to dinner. After all, we are married." Johnny grinned at Katy.

"Hey, Chet, Irene’s available, how would you like to double date with Katy and I?" Katy’s mouth dropped open, and Johnny saw her head move imperceptibly in a no gesture. Chet looked over at Irene, and she smiled. Roy took a deep calming breath.

"You’re cute," she stepped over to him and touched his mustache. "I like the mustache, does it tickle?"

"Wanna find out?" Chet wiggled his eyebrows. The klaxon sounded as Chet leaned over to give her a kiss. "Damn," he swore.

"Damn," she swore. The six men ran for their trucks.

"You ladies will have to let yourselves out," Captain Stanley told them.
"Call the station later, and we can set up a time for dinner on Wednesday."

"Okay," the three ladies waved as the trucks pulled out into traffic with lights and sirens going. The apparatus bay doors slowly closed and the girls walked over to their car.

"So, what do you think of Chet?" Irene asked.

"I think he’s cute," Katy told her. "At least, from what I understand, he’s not married."

"I think he’s cute, too." Karen replied. "I think the two of you will be good together." Karen got in behind the wheel and started the car. Irene got in on the passenger side and Katy got into the back.

"Hey, Irene," Katy touched her shoulder.

"Yeah, Katy?" she turned to look at her.

"You think we can behave this time around?"

"Emergency!" and its characters © Mark VII Productions, Inc. All rights reserved. No infringement of any copyrights or trademarks is intended or should be inferred. This is a work of fiction, and any similarity to actual persons or events is purely coincidental.