Leading the Way

By

Becky Jensen

The shrill, ringing alarm brought Johnny fully awake. A wonderful beginning to another beautiful day in Southern California, he thought with more than a little bit of sarcasm. He had spent the last two days camping in the San Gabriel Mountains, unable to return to his apartment until shortly before midnight. Darkness and a vehicle loaded with camping gear had forced him to spend more time than usual to repair a flat tire on the way home. Subsequently, he was finding the usual Gage enthusiasm severely lacking as he stumbled from bed to complete his morning routine before leaving for the station.

Striding rapidly, he quickly made his way to his Land Rover for the twenty-minute drive to work. He unlocked the door and slipped into the seat. His gaze raked across the flat tire in the back of the Rover. I need to remember to get that fixed tomorrow after I get off duty, he thought, making a mental note before starting the engine.

Johnny swung into morning rush-hour traffic. Glancing at his watch, he saw he was about ten minutes ahead of schedule. But, traffic was heavier than usual. The drive to the station took longer than normal using up most of the extra time he had gained. Pulling into the alley behind the station, he noticed that Chief McConnike’s car was parked in front of the building. I’ll bet Cap’s having kittens. Johnny smiled as he wondered what prompted the Chief’s visit.

Roy was getting out of his car when Johnny pulled into a parking space. “Mornin’ Johnny,” he said as he waited for the younger man to lock his vehicle.

“Hey, Roy.” Johnny sighed wearily as he walked with Roy into the station.

“You sound like you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders,” Roy observed, looking more closely at his friend. He noticed that Johnny’s shoulders did indeed sag, and fatigue had etched deep lines around his eyes and mouth.

“Just had a busy two days off.”

“What’d ya do?”

“I was camping in the mountains.”

“What’s so tough about that? You camp out all the time. But, you usually come back to work looking rested.”

“Well, it rained both days. I tried hiking in between showers and had to slog through mud all the way. Then, I got a flat on the way back and spent a couple of hours fighting with all of my gear and the spare in the dark.” Johnny opened the door and held it for Roy. “I think I’ll get more rest at work.”

“Don’t bet on it, Junior,” Roy warned. “You should’ve stayed in Carson. We had a wonderful weekend. It was sunny and beautiful both days.”

“Did you see the Chief’s car out front?” Johnny asked to change the subject as Roy held the door to the locker room open for him.

“Yeah. I wonder what’s up?”

“What ever it is, I’m sure Cap’s enjoying the Chief’s visit.” Johnny and Roy exchanged knowing smiles. They both acknowledged Chet as they walked into the room.

“Hey, Gage, you’re earlier than usual. What’s the occasion?”

“Why can’t I be early for once?”

“That’s what it would be—just once.”

“As usual, Chet, you don’t know what you’re talking about. I get here about the same time every shift.”

“Yeah, just in time for roll call.”

Roy interrupted the bantering. “Speaking of roll call, we’d better get ready. We’ve only got a few minutes.” He attached the scissor holder to his belt and pinned his name badge in place.

Marco stuck his head inside the door. “The Chief’s waiting for everyone to line up. C’mon.” Chet, Johnny, and Roy exchanged concerned glances before following Marco into the apparatus bay where Mike already waited.

A stranger stood next to Chief McConnike. He was just over six feet tall with blond hair in a military style crew cut. Deep-set, hazel eyes bored out of a square face that lacked any sign of warmth. Thin lips were pressed into a straight line. He stood nearly at attention, hands clasped behind a ramrod stiff back. Wide, well-muscled shoulders contrasted with a narrow waist. He met each man’s eyes with a determined look that bordered on a glare.

When the men of Station 51 had lined up for roll call, Chief McConnike addressed the crew. “Captain Stanley had emergency surgery late last night.” The close-knit crew of A-Shift murmured in surprise asking several questions at the same time. McConnike held up his hands to quiet them.

“I called the hospital this morning, and he’s doin’ fine. But, he’ll be hospitalized for at least a week. And, he’ll need another four to six weeks of recuperation before returning to duty. This is Captain Ron Burke. He’ll be filling in until Hank can return to work.” McConnike introduced the men.

Well, I wonder what kinda crew these guys are going to be? Burke glanced at Roy and Johnny as they were introduced. Great--paramedics. What a buncha prima donnas. Those glorified ambulance chasers I worked with in Colorado were next to worthless. All they did was hang around the station or the hospital drinking coffee and goofing off. If they went on a call, they waited for us to bring ‘em the victims. I suppose these guys're gonna be the same way. I saw some really good men die because those pampered medics didn’t want to risk any of their precious hides to help in a risky situation. Burke’s thoughts were interrupted when he noticed that McConnike was finished with introductions.

“I’ve heard you’re a good, steady crew. I’m looking forward to working with you. I’ve had lots of experience in several different fire stations across the country. So, I may have some different ideas on getting the work done. Just follow my lead, and we’ll get along fine.” Burke concluded his introduction and moved on to the duty list for the day. Working in alphabetical order, he assigned the various cleaning and equipment tasks to the group. “That’s all. Dismissed.” Burke turned and walked back toward the office. McConnike nodded a farewell to Burke and the crew as he left the station.

Exchanging glances with each other, the five-man crew slowly dispersed to their assigned duties. Johnny and Roy paused long enough to do medical equipment and supply checks.

“Man, is the new cap unfriendly, or is it just me?” Johnny asked Roy as they worked on the equipment.

“He’s probably just nervous about a new station. We should give him some time before we start judging him.”

“Yeah, right.” Johnny had a bad feeling about his new commander. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but the tiny hairs on the back of his neck stood at attention. He tried to concentrate on the task at hand.

Unseen by the men working beside the squad, Captain Burke was listening to their conversation as he stood just inside the office. They’d better watch what they’re doing. Those paramedics think they’re better’n everyone else. They’re just over-educated hose jockeys. Captain Stanley was entirely too lenient with this group, from what I’ve heard. I’ll get ‘em in shape in no time.

Intermittently throughout the morning, Captain Burke would walk through the station watching the crew complete their assignments. He didn’t say a word unless he found something amiss, acknowledging the men with a nod of his head. When Roy announced that lunch was ready, Burke came to the table, sat and ate in silence, and returned to his office without joining the stilted conversation during the meal.

When the dishes were cleaned and put away, Roy nudged Johnny and nodded toward the squad. “Why don’t we swing by Rampart for a while?”

“Sounds great. I need a break from this cheerful atmosphere.”

Roy took a deep breath and walked to the doorway of the office. “Cap, Johnny and I are going to be available from Rampart for a while. We need to pick up some supplies.”

Burke looked up from the firefighting manual he was reading. “Don’t be long, DeSoto. I have some drills to run this afternoon, and I want everyone present. Be back by 13:30.”

“Right, Cap.” Roy sighed and turned toward the squad where Johnny waited for him.

Chet caught up with Roy before he could get in the squad. “Hey, Roy, tell Cap’n Stanley we all said ‘hi’ and that we’ll stop by to see him tomorrow.”

“Sure thing, Chet.” Roy slid into the truck and started the engine. Roy could feel his shoulder and neck muscles loosen up the farther he and Johnny got from the station, and Captain Burke.

“Geez, Roy. What do you think about Cap’n Burke?”

“I think we need to give him some time to get adjusted to his new role.”

“He looks like a drill sergeant. And, he acts like one, too.”

“Not exactly. He’s not as bad as most of the drill sergeants I had in the Army.”

“Well, he sure seems like it to me.”

Roy backed the squad into an empty slot near the ER entrance. They ambled into the department and headed for the supply room. Supplies gathered; they sought out Dixie to sign the paper work.

“Hey, Dix. How ya doin’?” Johnny asked as he sat his box of supplies on the counter.

“Fine, Johnny. How are you guys doing?”

“Better than Captain Stanley,” Roy replied, handing her the paperwork.

“Yeah, I heard he came through ER last night.”

“Do ya know how he’s doin’, Dix?” Johnny asked.

“No, I don’t. Let me see what room he’s in, and you can go see for yourselves.” Dixie called patient registration and passed Hank Stanley’s room number on to the paramedics.

They waved good-bye after thanking her for her help and headed for the elevators. A few minutes later they were knocking on Hank’s door. “Come in.”

Johnny and Roy pushed through the door. Man, does he look like crap, Johnny thought as he neared the bed. Hank was pale, and his dark hair stood out in stark contrast to his wan face.

“Hey, Cap. How’re ya doin’?” Johnny asked. He winced inwardly at the various tubes sprouting from Stanley’s body. John identified an IV catheter, urinary catheter, bile duct drainage tube, and nasogastric tube.

“A little sore, John.”

“Don’t worry, it’ll get better.”

“What happened?” Roy asked. They still didn’t know what kind of surgery their leader had had.

“I had some stomach pains. It got worse in the evening. My wife drove me here. By nine they had me in surgery, taking out my gallbladder.” Hank looked exhausted after the short conversation. He grimaced as he swallowed around the red rubber tube in his throat.

Johnny and Roy exchanged glances and edged toward the door. “Take it easy, Cap. We’ll stop by tomorrow with the rest of the guys.” Stanley nodded his understanding and gave them a small wave. The two paramedics were quiet as they made their way back to the squad.

“He sure looked tough,” Johnny said after Roy started the engine.

“My mother-in-law had that surgery a couple of years ago. She was miserable. Jo’s sister spent a couple of weeks with her after she got home from the hospital.”

“Well, I remember reading about it during training. They slice across most of the abdomen just to get to the gallbladder.” Johnny shuddered at the thought. The memories of how painful his belly had been after his spleenectomy were still fresh. “It’ll be a while before Cap’s back to work.”

“Yeah. Looks like we’re gonna hafta get along with Cap’n Burke for now.”

“I just hope he gets along with us,” Johnny added splaying a hand across his chest.

“We should give him the benefit of the …”

The squad’s radio interrupted Roy mid sentence. “Squad 51, what’s your status?”

Johnny picked up the microphone, “L.A., Squad 51 available from Rampart Hospital.”

“Squad 51, stand-by for a response.” Tones issued forth from the speaker. “Engine 51, Squad 51, Engine 10. Structure fire. Three, twelve Melrose. Three, one, two Melrose. Cross street Pinyon Drive. Time out 13:21.”

Johnny waited for the engine companies to acknowledge the call and called in the squad’s response. Roy flipped on the lights and sirens as soon as they had cleared the immediate hospital area.

“Isn’t that a residential area?” Johnny asked, as he looked at the map to be sure he knew how to direct Roy to the scene.

“Yeah, Johnny. I hate residential fires because there’s always a chance that kids’re involved.”

“I know what you mean. I don’t like ‘em either.” Both men lapsed into silence as Roy maneuvered the squad around the lunch hour traffic snarling the roads of Carson. Johnny watched for drivers who didn’t hear their sirens or see their lights.

“Squad 51 at scene,” Johnny informed dispatch as Roy pulled up to the curb behind Engine 51. They pulled on their turnouts and grabbed their SCBA’s, shrugging into the harnesses as they trotted over to where Captain Burke was conferring with Captain Richards of Station 10.

“…looks like a surround and drown. I’ll set my men up on the east side of the house,” Johnny and Roy heard Captain Burke say as they got closer.

“Is there anyone inside?” Roy asked.

“Neighbors report the parents work and the kids are at school,” Captain Richards informed them as Captain Burke just glared at the two men for interrupting the discussion between the two captains.

“Why don’t you two make yourselves useful and assist the rest of the crew fighting the fire?” Burke added between clenched teeth, his jaw muscles twitching.

“Sure, Cap,” Roy acknowledged the order and motioned for Johnny to accompany him to where the engine crew was battling the flames. Long tongues of flame reached from the first floor windows and lapped at the gutters edging the roof of the second floor. Intense heat kept the firemen from getting within fifteen yards of the building without singing exposed flesh.

Johnny and Roy pulled another line of hose and hauled it over to the building. Roy held the nozzle ready while Johnny grasped the hose with his left hand. He waved to Mike with his right before using it to brace Roy’s shoulder. He felt vibrations in the hose before the water filled it, making it heavier and harder to hold. Water shot from the nozzle as Roy adjusted the spray and swept it back and forth over the reaching flames.

They were facing the house with the street and fire engines on their right side. Johnny was watching Roy’s progress against the fire, moving with Roy as he directed the spray to cover the fire. A black sedan racing down the street caught Johnny’s eye. It slid to a stop just in front of the rig, nearly clipping the front fender. A large man barreled out of the car and ran toward the house.

Johnny slapped Roy on the shoulder to get his attention and pointed at the newcomer. He stepped away from Roy and ran toward the man who would soon be inside the burning building. Sprinting as fast as he could, Johnny tackled him before he got to the front door.

“Hold on, there. Hold on!” Johnny shouted at the struggling man as he tried to keep him on the ground. Roy shut off the water flow and dropped the hose when he saw that Johnny was having trouble keeping the man down. He ran over to help his partner, who was rapidly losing the fight to keep the crazed man from entering the burning building. With Roy’s help, Johnny was able to pull the man back to the curb and set him on the running boards of the squad.

“You can’t go in there, man. Can’t you see the house is on fire?!?” Johnny tried to reason with the nearly hysterical stranger.

“But, but, my wife’s in there,” the man was able to gasp out as he caught his breath from his frantic actions.

“The neighbors said both you and your wife worked and the kids were in school.”

“No, no, no, Cindy wasn’t feeling well this morning. She had the flu and stayed home. She’s in there. I know she is!” The man was running his hands through his hair in agitation. “Can’t someone try and get her out?”

“Sure, Mr…..?”

“Freyberger, Mike Freyberger. Hurry, please!”

“You’ve got to stay here. My partner and I will go in and find her. But, you have got to stay here!” Johnny repeated himself to emphasize to Mike that he couldn’t follow them into the building.

“Okay, just hurry. I don’t know what I’d do without her.” Silent tears fell to the pavement as he watched the house he had made into a home continue to burn despite the two fire company’s efforts.

Johnny headed for the house while Roy made a side trip to let Captain Burke know they were going into the building for a victim.

“Make it snappy. Anyone left in that building’s probably a crispy critter by now,” was Captain Burke’s callous reply. Damn paramedics, think they can save the world.

Roy shook his head as he quickly made his way back to where his partner waited to enter the front door. Suffocating heat surrounded them as soon as they stepped through the doorway. Johnny indicated to Roy that he was going upstairs. Roy nodded and indicated he was going to stay downstairs and search for Cindy.

Taking the stairs two at a time, Johnny was in the upstairs hallway within seconds. He knew that he and Roy had little time before the structure began falling apart. Fire was licking up the walls, spreading in waves across the striped wallpaper. Sweat dripped into his eyes as he rapidly searched the rooms off the narrow hallway. Smoke filled the hallway and upstairs rooms requiring extra time to thoroughly search for the victim.

Opening a door to what looked like the master bedroom, he ran into a bed as he crossed the room. He swept his arm over the covers, his hand bumping into a body. Great, now let’s get out of here. He pulled off a glove and searched for a pulse on her neck. Rapid and weak. He paused briefly to lay a hand on her abdomen to see if she was breathing. Slow and shallow, but breathing.

Johnny pulled off his mask and put it over her face before gathering her up. She was a small woman. Her long auburn hair hung over his arm as he cradled her in his arms so he could keep an eye on her respiratory status. He turned and headed back toward the hall. But, the fire had reached the door of the room. And, he saw flames dancing in front of the windows from the fire burning on the first floor.

Looking around, he noticed an open door across the room. Rushing with his human burden, he slid into the master bath. Lying Cindy down on the floor, Johnny turned and closed the door. He pulled towels off the rod above the toilet and shoved them under the door. A quick scan of the room revealed no other door and no windows. Light filtered through the smoke from a skylight. John pulled the handie talkie from his pocket. “Engine 51, this is John. I’m cut off by fire in a bathroom in the front of the house. There aren’t any windows, but there’s a skylight.”

Serves the idiot right. Boxing himself into a room without any way out, Burke thought as he brought the handie talkie to his mouth. “Hang on, Gage. We’ll see what we can do.”

‘We’ll see what we can do,’ what does he mean by that? Johnny sure hoped his Captain was going to do more than just ‘see’ if they could get him and Cindy out. He turned his attention back to Cindy. Her face was turning blue. He checked her pulse, again. Still there, but she’s not breathing. Stooping beside her on the floor of the cramped room, he started mouth-to-mouth breathing. In between artificial respirations, he took deep breaths of clean air from his mask.

His movements became mechanical. He slipped into that zone where training took over, and he stopped thinking about what he was doing. Fatigue from fighting the fire and the smoke that corrupted his lungs combined to make his head swim as he forced air into Cindy’s lungs.

~~*E!*~~

Roy didn’t find anyone after searching the first floor. He turned to the stairs to help his partner with the second floor search. Flames covered the stairs forcing him back. He shouted, but the roar of the fire drowned out his voice. Wondering if his partner had found the victim, he left the house to help coordinate Johnny’s exit from the building. He’ll need to climb out a window with the stairs engulfed in flames.

Spotting Chet and Marco manning a hose, Roy hollered at them to get a ladder. Roy looked around for Captain Burke. He was talking with Captain Richardson. As Chet and Marco returned with the ladder, Burke wandered over to the three men.

“Gage radioed that he was stuck in a bathroom at the front of the house. It’s got a skylight but no window. Take some axes and rope up to the roof and get him outta there.” Burke looked disgusted that one of his men needed rescuing. He turned away and headed back to the engine.

“Did he say if he had the victim with him, Cap?” Roy asked as he gathered rope.

“No, he didn’t.” Burke shook his head.

~~*E!*~~

Johnny glanced repeatedly at the small skylight, hoping each time he would see his crewmates working on removing it and dropping in the roof ladder. But, the opening remained maddeningly devoid of firemen. Concentrating on his victim, John saw that Cindy was pinking up. She coughed a couple of times and started breathing on her own. He put his air mask over her face, coughing as the smoke in the room started getting thicker. When his lungs burned, he pulled the mask away from her face and took a couple of deep breaths before replacing it on Cindy.

The room was also getting hotter. He repeatedly wiped sweat from his forehead, and he felt like his body was steaming inside the turnout coat. Johnny knew that if his friends didn’t show up soon, he and Cindy weren’t going to make it. He always knew it was a possibility in his line of work, but his mind veered away from thinking that he wasn’t going to get out of this situation. He took another hit of oxygen from his mask.

The roar of the fire almost covered up the thwack of ax blades biting into the roof over his head. Looking up at the opening, he saw flashes of beige turnout gear. Maybe we’re gonna make it after all. He leaned over Cindy to protect her from any debris raining down from the ceiling. Small pieces of plaster fell on his back, but, thankfully, no large pieces hit him. Suddenly more light filtered through the smoky haze. Looking up, he saw that the skylight had been lifted out of the ceiling.

A narrow ladder dropped into the room, followed by a form blocking the light. Roy clambered down the ladder, landing next to Cindy. “C’mon, we gotta get outta here quick!”

“Let’s go!” Johnny answered.

Johnny helped put Cindy over Roy's shoulder in the classic fireman’s carry. He watched as Roy made his way carefully up the ladder. Then, he followed his partner into the relatively cleaner air on the roof. He saw Roy laying Cindy in the stokes that waited by the opening in the roof.

“How’s she doin’?” Johnny asked as he tried to cough some of the smoke out of his tired lungs.

Roy looked up from Cindy’s still form. “She’s hanging in there. Let’s get her down on the ground, so we can start some oxygen.” He helped attach ropes to the stretcher and lower her to the ground where other firefighters waited to receive it.

“That was a little close for comfort!” Johnny exclaimed to Roy. Roy nodded his agreement.

They headed to the ladder leaning against the roof on the side of the house away from the major part of the fire. Roy reached for the top of the ladder and swung over the edge of the roof onto the top rungs. He backed down the ladder, glancing up frequently to be sure his partner was following him down.

Helping hands from the engine crews had carried Cindy over to the grass in front of the squad. Her husband was already at her side, talking to her as he held her hand and stroked her face. The paramedics made their way to her side, shrugging off their air bottles as they walked. Roy scooted around the vehicle to retrieve oxygen tanks, drug box and bio phone. Johnny began collecting vital signs. He pulled her eyes open and checked her pupils with his penlight.

“How’s she doing? Is she gonna be all right?” Mike asked as he stroked her grit-streaked hair. Dark smudges of soot surrounded her nose and mouth where she had inhaled smoke.

“She’ll be okay. She’s breathing on her own, and her vital signs are good.” Johnny answered the husband as he placed an oxygen mask on her face.

Roy opened the bio phone and contacted Rampart with her condition. Doctor Morton ordered a keep vein open IV in addition to the oxygen and to transport. Stringing up the IV and tubing, Roy quickly had the IV established. The sting of the needle seemed to bring Cindy around. She coughed and opened her eyes, looking around with confusion.

“Oh, Cindy. Are you okay, honey?” Mike asked anxiously.

“Mike? What happened?”

“The house caught fire. But, these guys got you out. You’ll be okay, hon. You’ll be fine.” He grinned and stroked Cindy’s face.

The ambulance attendants appeared beside the group with their stretcher. Johnny and an attendant lifted Cindy onto the stretcher. Johnny and Roy adjusted the IV and oxygen tubing around her.

“Can I go with her?” Mike asked.

Johnny nodded. “Sure, Mr. Freyberger. We’re taking her to Rampart General. But, you’ll need to ride up front.”

“Okay, sure. I’ll be up front, sweetie,” he said, giving her hand a squeeze before stepping aside to allow the men to load her into the back of the ambulance.

Roy picked up the bio phone and drug box and set them in the ambulance. Stepping back, he motioned for Johnny to proceed into the vehicle with the victim. “Why don’t you ride in with her, Johnny?”

“Why me?” Johnny asked as he picked up his hurriedly discarded turnout coat. His face was streaked with soot and darker smudges were visible under his nose and around his mouth. While he wouldn’t admit it to Roy and reveal his not-so-macho-side, Johnny was tired all the way to his bones. He also had a headache that pounded mercilessly at his forehead.

Roy shook his head as he watched Johnny putting his coat into the squad compartment. He could see Johnny squinting his eyes against the headache that generally accompanied eating smoke at a fire. Johnny’s movements were slow and deliberate as if he had to think everything through before he did it. “Why not? You had the hard part this rescue. So, why not ride in a cushy ambulance. It beats driving that clunky squad.”

Johnny didn’t quite buy Roy’s reasoning, but he was just too tired to argue. “I guess I’m not getting much rest at work, am I?” Sending a lopsided grin Roy’s way, Johnny climbed into the back of the ambulance. Roy didn’t bother answering the rhetorical question and shut the ambulance doors. Chuckling to himself, Roy gathered the debris of their rescue and treatment and opened the squad door to follow the ambulance.

“Hey, DeSoto!” Captain Burke called as he approached the squad.

“Yeah, Cap.”

“Are you and Gage done with that victim?”

“Sort of. Johnny’s riding in with her in the ambulance. I was just heading to the hospital to pick ‘im up.”

“I expect you and Gage back here to help with overhaul ASAP. And, we still have those drills to review before supper, too.” Always running off to the hospital. It’s time these paramedics pulled their own weight.

“Aye aye, Cap.” Roy was surprised by Burke’s request. He and Johnny weren’t usually required to help with overhaul since they had to do follow-ups at Rampart. And, Stanley didn’t make them do overhauls very often because they had more runs on average than the engine. Maybe Johnny was right about Burke. He might be trouble.

Roy wondered about Burke’s request to return to help overhaul the house while driving to Rampart. He had hoped they could hang around the hospital for a while. He wanted to be sure Johnny wasn’t going to have any problems from smoke inhalation after the rescue.

“Hi, Dix.” Roy didn’t see his partner as he approached the nurse’s station. “Where’s Johnny?”

Dixie smiled. “Doctor Morton heard him wheezing and coughing when he was updating Mike on the victim’s condition. Mike ordered him into Treatment Room Three until he could be seen.”

“Good. He ate a lot of smoke. But, Captain Burke wants us back ASAP to help mop up after the fire.”

“Really?” Dixie knew that having the paramedics help with clean up was unusual.

“Yeah. I’m not quite sure what’s going on. I guess he’s just got different ways of doing things. It’ll only be a month or so. Then, Captain Stanley’ll be back.”

“I suppose. Well, Johnny should be ready soon. Mike’s in with him now.”

Roy walked over to the coffee pot and got a cup. Watching down the hall, he saw Dr. Morton walk out of Treatment Room Three. He put his stethoscope back into his pocket.

“Gage needs a chest x-ray before he leaves,” Morton instructed Dixie. “That partner of your’s …” Morton gave up and looked at Roy.

“I know.” Roy grinned and took another sip of coffee. “Can I wait with him?”

“Sure. I’m done talking to him. Dix, let me know when you get the films back from x-ray.”

Roy poured a second cup of coffee. He smiled and went to keep Johnny company until the radiology technician arrived with the machine. Pushing the door open with his hip, he entered the treatment room. Johnny was sitting on the edge of the exam table with his elbows locked as his arms braced his upper body against the table. His head hung between his shoulders, and his eyes were closed. When he didn’t hear the rumble of the x-ray machine, he looked up to see who opened the door.

“You look like something the dog dragged in.”

“I feel more like something the dog buried.” Johnny grinned and stretched his tired muscles.

“Here’s some coffee.” Roy offered him the extra cup.

“Great. Thanks, Roy.” Johnny’s voice was a little hoarse from swallowing smoke.

“How’s your headache?”

Johnny looked up in surprise. “I didn’t say I had a headache.”

“But, you’ve got one, don’t ya?”

“Yeah, but how did you know?”

“I can tell by the way you scrunch up your face. Besides, I always get a headache after eating smoke at a fire. Don’t you?”

“Well, yeah. I guess it just feels worse ‘cuz I’m tired.”

“Could be.” They sipped their coffee in silence for a moment. “I hope they get your chest x-ray done soon. Captain Burke wants us back to help with mop up.”

“‘Help with mop up’. Since when do we help overhaul after a fire?”

“Since Cap’n Burke took charge, I guess.”

“I hope radiology’s all backed up. I don’t want to help with overhaul.”

“Burke also said he still wanted to do the drills today, too.”

“Roy, I have a feeling it’s gonna be a long six weeks.”

“So do I, Johnny. So do I.” They lapsed into silence as each man considered the potential consequences of Captain Burke leading their shift until Hank returned.

Roy stepped into the hall while Johnny had his x-ray taken. All too soon Dr. Morton was walking back in the treatment room with the x-ray films. He jammed them into the reading box and took a few minutes to study them.

“Well, Gage. Your lungs look pretty clear.”

“Then I can leave?” Johnny looked at him expectantly.

“Let me have one more listen,” Morton said as he pulled his stethoscope from his pocket and moved behind Johnny. After several moments, he took the instrument from his ears. “Okay, the wheezing is diminishing. Try to stay away from smoke.” He grinned and left the room. Johnny started replacing his shirt.

“He must think he’s a comedian,” Johnny said as he hopped off of the exam table and picked up the drug box. “Let’s go, Roy. Maybe Chet left us something to overhaul.”

The handie talkie that Roy carried crackled to life as they walked to the squad. “LA, Engine 51 returning to quarters.”

Roy looked over at Johnny. “Uh oh.”

“Yeah, I’ll bet Cap’n Burke’s not very happy that we didn’t make it back to help out.”

“You’re probably right, Johnny.”

“I’d just as soon fight fifty more fires than face Captain Burke.”

“I agree with ya, Junior. But, we might as well get it over with. He wanted to do some drills before supper. We better get back, or we’ll never get to eat.”

Nodding his assent, Johnny followed Roy out to the squad. Johnny had been running the fire and rescue over in his head. Did I really hear Burke say he would ‘see’ if he could get some help for Cindy and me?

Johnny called the squad in as available. Replacing the microphone, he turned to Roy. “How long after I went up stairs did Burke send you to the roof to help me and Cindy?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I started up the stairs to help you search, and the stairs were fully involved. So, I went outside to look for any sign of you at a window. Burke made an off-hand remark that you were trapped and that we should look for entry through a skylight. He looked disgusted that we had to get you out.”

“You’d think he’s never been trapped in a fire. I wonder exactly what kind of experience he does have.”

“I don’t know, Johnny. We’re gonna have to see how it goes. It is just his first day.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of. What will the next month or so bring?” Johnny glanced at Roy, and then turned his attention to the passing scenery.

Roy didn’t have an answer for his partner. He had his own doubts about their new leader. Each man was lost in his own thoughts on the way back to the station. All too soon for Johnny’s comfort, they were backing into the apparatus bay.

Captain Burke walked out of his office to intercept the paramedics as they exited their vehicle. “Where have you two been?” he demanded.

“We, ah, had to wait for a doctor to clear Johnny for duty.”

“What’s wrong with you, Gage? You looked just fine to me when you left in the ambulance.”

“Doctor Morton wanted to check out some wheezing, I guess,” Johnny answered, not really understanding what Burke was concerned about.

“I suppose you two are used to disappearing for hours at a time at the hospital every shift. Well, I’m not going to allow it. I want you available for drills when we aren’t out on calls or doing station duties. I also want you to accompany the engine on all runs and remain available at the scene.” He looked expectantly at the two men. “Have I made myself clear?”

“Sure, Cap.” Roy answered first.

“Yeah, Cap.” Johnny couldn’t quite believe what he had just heard, but he understood it.

“Good. Now, I want you in the rec room for a drill before we start supper.”

Roy and Johnny didn’t bother answering but fell in step behind their leader as he preceded them from the apparatus bay. Man, I wish we had time for a shower, Johnny thought as he walked slowly behind Roy.

~~*E!*~~

Somehow the great firefighter in the sky granted them a break and allowed the men of Station 51 adequate time to review the drill Captain Burke had prepared and enjoy an entire meal without being toned out. Johnny and Roy even had a chance to shower once the table had been cleared after supper. Just as in the morning, Burke wandered through the station occasionally watching what the men were doing but not offering any conversation.

“Could you believe him? We have to go to every fire. Doesn’t he know we average more runs than the engine already?” Johnny was in full rant mode as he pulled on a fresh uniform. Roy kept quiet and let him vent for a while. He didn’t have any answers for his partner.

Before Johnny could run out of complaints, Burke had stopped outside the locker room door when he heard voices from inside. Concentrating, he realized it was those damn paramedics. Now what’re they ragging about. Those guys are more trouble than they’re worth.

He listened as Johnny voiced multiple concerns about what Burke had told them earlier. I can’t believe what Stanley let these men get away with. Well, it ain’t gonna happen on my watch. He was more determined than ever to hold the paramedics accountable for their share of fire fighting while he was in charge. Scowling, he returned to his office to prepare drills for the next shift.

The newly clean paramedics joined their shift-mates for some TV viewing before bedtime. A cold wind was blowing around the station as a low front swept in off the ocean. Raindrops pounded on the window. Evidently, the great firefighter in the sky had granted all of the wishes he was going to grant that day. The klaxons announced another rescue situation for the men of Station 51.

“Station 51, traffic accident on the San Diego Freeway, exit one, nineteen, Highway Patrol is at scene. San Diego Freeway, exit one, one, nine. Time out 20:16.”

“Station 51, ten-four. KMG 365.”

“LA copy, KME 896.”

The inky blackness sparkled as the headlights caught raindrops in their beams. Lights along the road from streetlights, oncoming cars, and buildings fractured and smeared as the windshield wipers tried to keep up with the precipitation.

“It never fails. A little rain and people drive like they’re mad. What is it about rain that makes people forget how to drive, Roy?”

“If I knew the answer to that problem, I sure wouldn’t keep it to myself,” Roy assured his friend.

The squad and engine slowed as they maneuvered around traffic that was slowing or stopped. The red and blue lights of the Highway Patrol cars marked the accident site. Driving along the edge of the road, Roy led the way to the scene. He and Johnny heard Captain Burke radio their arrival on the scene. The police had lit the site with the headlights from their vehicles. Mike likewise placed the engine in a location that allowed the headlights to illuminate the scene.

Sergeant Mark Myers of the CHP trotted to the fire department vehicles. Captain Burke and his crew gathered in front of the engine to find out the particulars of the situation. “It looks like the brown Pinto swerved across two or three lanes and sideswiped at least two other cars. There’s two people pinned in the Pinto. The other’s just have bumps and bruises and have already been extricated.”

“Thanks. All right, Marco and Chet get the reel line ready in case we have any leaking gas. Then, pull the battery cables on the Pinto.” Indicating Roy and Johnny, Burke added, “Get your stuff and start with the people in the Pinto.” Gotta lead ‘em around by the nose.

Taking their drug box and bio phone with them, Roy and Johnny quickly made their way to the Pinto. Both sides of the vehicle were caved in from sideswiping other cars. A woman could be seen behind the wheel and was slumped toward the middle of the car, her seatbelt holding her partially upright. In the passenger seat, a man had slid down under the dash.

“We need the jaws, Cap!” Johnny hollered as he and Roy pulled unsuccessfully on the dented driver’s door.

“Marco, get the jaws for ‘em,” Burke directed as he watched the paramedics continued to fumble with the door. They look like amateurs.

Johnny connected the short cord from the jaws to the cord extending to the small generator. Marco pulled the starter rope, and the small engine chugged quietly. Placing the butt of the device against his hip, Johnny held the pincers in the closed position at a crack between the door and the frame. Pushing the power button, Johnny could feel the jaws catch the metal and begin pulling the door from its post-accident position. The mighty metal jaws popped the door open with an ear-piercing shriek.

While Johnny handed the jaws to Marco, Roy reached into the car to begin assessing the woman. “I’ll try and get the other door open. You wanna help me here, Chet?” Johnny waved Kelly over to the passenger side. It wasn’t as deeply dented, and they were able to muscle the door open.

Roy’s victim was still unconscious. He began collecting vital signs and assessing her for trauma. He found a probable femur fracture with a large amount of swelling in her left thigh. She also had a four-inch gash along her hairline. Both pupils reacted sluggishly. Except for moaning when Roy touched her leg, she hadn’t offered any signs of arousal.

Chet waited beside Johnny while the paramedic assessed the man, who was beginning to regain consciousness. “Where…where am I?” he said as he started moving his arms around the small area he was stuffed into.

“Just take it easy, mister. Take it easy.” Johnny tried to stop the man from making his injuries worse by moving. “You’ve been in a car accident. We’re gonna get you outta there in a just a second. But, first I need to know if you hurt anywhere and check you out for any injuries.”

The victim calmed slightly; Johnny’s even tone had a soothing effect on him. Turning away from the man for a minute, John asked Chet to bring him a cervical collar. “Are you having any pain?” John asked returning his attention to the victim.

“Well, my…my legs hurt.”

“I bet they do, the way you’re jammed in there. Any other pain?” Johnny was running his hands over the man’s body looking for trauma.

“No, I …don’t think so. Can I … get outta here now?”

“I’m gonna put this soft collar on your neck to keep your neck straight in case you have any spinal injuries.” Johnny turned back to Chet, again. “Chet can you help me move him out of here. Just grab his legs.”

“Sure, Johnny.” Chet moved closer and watched as Johnny pulled the victim out from under the dash. Chet could hear John grunting slightly as he tugged on the man to get him free of the wreckage.

Roy was ready to move his victim, also. He motioned to Marco, who was standing by to help. “I’ll get her top half. You get her legs, Marco.”

“All right.” Marco slid next to Roy and lifted the woman’s feet and legs after Roy had backed away from the car slightly. They put her down gently.

Johnny and Chet carried their victim over next to Roy’s. The paramedics worked quickly to call Rampart and obtain treatment orders. The ambulance had arrived shortly after they had extricated the couple from the mashed vehicle. The woman, who the man identified as his girlfriend, Brenda, remained unconscious. Steve was doing better and seemed to have come through the incident without any major injuries. But, Rampart ordered IVs for both victims, since they had both been unconscious.

After helping load the couple in the ambulance, Roy hopped in with the drug box and bio phone. Johnny shut the doors and started cleaning up the mess they had made when treating the victims. Captain Burke was directing the engine crew to return to the rig. He stopped next to Johnny.

“Gage, I expect to see you and DeSoto back at the station soon. I don’t want you hanging around the hospital drinking coffee and shooting the bull. You need to be available to respond to fires just like the rest of us.”

“Right, Cap.” Johnny finished policing the area and swung into the driver’s seat. Man, I don’t know if I can handle four to six more days, let alone four to six more weeks, with that man as captain. Maybe I can use some of my vacation time. Johnny grinned as he thought about getting away from the man who was becoming a huge thorn in his side. But, I don’t think Roy would appreciate that.

By the time he had pulled into the ER parking area, Johnny had gotten over his irritation at his new captain. He never could hold a grudge for long; life was just too short for that. He bounced into the Emergency Department in search of his partner.

Finding Roy in the supply room, Johnny helped collect supplies. “How’re the couple doing?” he asked as Roy filled out the supply requisition.

“Brackett said they were doing pretty well. The woman has a concussion and fractured femur. Her B/P came up a little after she got some IV fluids on board. Steve has some bumps and bruises but no severe injuries.”

“That’s good.” They took the supply list to Carol, who was in charge of ER that evening. Johnny continued, “oh, yeah, Burke said to get back to the station, so we could be available for responses. Ya know, Roy, I get the feeling he doesn’t care too much for paramedics.”

“Maybe he hasn’t worked at any stations where they had paramedics before. Hopefully, we’ll bring him around.”

“Could be, Roy, but somehow I really doubt we’re gonna win him over. The next month and a half isn’t looking very promising.”

Roy nodded in agreement as they got back into the squad. They had just turned down the street in front of the station house when response tones blurted from the radio speakers.

“Squad 51, man with chest pain, five eighty-seven East Maple Street, cross street Samson, five-eight-seven East Maple Street, time out 22:54.”

“Squad 51, ten four.” Johnny consulted the map he had picked up when the tones started. “Maple’s four blocks west on Main, Roy.”

“Okay.”

The address was close to the station, and within five minutes they were pulling up in front of a single-story, brick ranch. Grabbing their gear, they rapped on the front door. A heavyset woman with gray streaks in her dark brown hair answered the door.

“You guys got here fast,” she said, motioning for them to proceed into the house. “Bob’s back in the last room on the right. He started having chest pain after he got home from work.”

Roy turned into the room the woman indicated and found a balding, portly man whose face was shiny with perspiration. Seeing the gray pallor of his skin, Roy and Johnny exchanged glances and hurried to the bed to begin their assessment and treatment.

“Hi, Mr. …?”

“Simmons, Bob Simmons,” the man managed to gasp. He was rubbing his chest and breathing rapidly.

“Mr. Simmons, my name’s Roy, and this is my partner, Johnny. We’re gonna get you patched in to the hospital and take your blood pressure.”

Moving like a synchronized dance troupe, the two paramedics rapidly put on heart monitor patches and attached the lead wires, opened the bio phone and initiated the call to the hospital, and obtained vital signs. The vitals and heart rhythm indicated that the victim was beginning to circle the drain.

“Can you describe what the pain in your chest feels like, Mr. Simmons?”

“It’s … ah… like a pressure. I feel like something’s sitting on my chest making it hard for me to get a deep breath.” Johnny put an oxygen mask on their patient.

The heart monitor was showing elevated ST segments, which meant the man was experiencing a lack of oxygen to his heart muscle. He was also having occasional PVCs, and that wasn’t good news. It meant the heart was getting irritable from not getting enough oxygen. Not a good sign, Johnny thought as he began setting up IV fluid and tubing as Roy contacted Rampart with their findings.

“Mr. Simmons, you try and relax and breathe that oxygen. It looks like you need to go to the hospital for more treatment. But, we’re going to start an IV and give you something for the pain. You should be feeling a little better in just a few minutes.” Turning to Bob’s wife, Johnny asked, “Did you ask for an ambulance when you called the fire department?”

“No, I didn’t. But, the man I talked to said he was sending one.” Mrs. Simmons wrung her hands and wore a very worried look on her face. “Is Bob going to be okay?”

“Yes, Ma’am, he’ll be fine. We’re going to get him started on some medications. We’ll be taking him to Rampart Hospital. You can ride in the ambulance, if you would like.”

“Of course, I’ll go with him.”

Within fifteen minutes they were ready to load the patient for transport. The ambulance had made good time, also, and was ready when Johnny and Roy were. Johnny rode with Bob to Rampart.

About half way to the hospital, Bob’s heart rhythm got a little funkier. The PVCs were becoming more frequent. Johnny picked up the bio phone to let Dr. Early know. He had just received orders to begin lidocaine to smooth out the rhythm when Mr. Simmons’ heart began quivering instead of beating. “V fib, pull the rig over!”

Johnny got the defibrillator paddles out. The ambulance attendant squirted gel on the paddles while Johnny hit the charge button. Roy opened the door just as Johnny applied the paddles to Bob’s chest and yelled, “clear!” Mr. Simmons’ body surged upward as the electricity zipped from paddle to paddle through his chest. The heart monitor spiked sharply and then settled into a normal sinus rhythm. Heaving a sigh of relief, Johnny noticed that Roy had joined them in the ambulance.

“Well, I see you have everything under control, Junior.”

Johnny gave Roy a strained smile. He was getting tired after being on the run most of the day and coming into the shift with a sleep deficit. “Thanks, Roy. Let’s get going,” he added to the driver as Roy exited the rig. He let Rampart know what had happened. Dr. Early didn’t have any additional orders for the tired paramedic.

I hope this lidocaine settles his heart rhythm. I could use a nice quiet ride in to the hospital. Johnny’s wishes were granted as the lidocaine worked its magic and soothed Mr. Simmons’ irritated heart. He started grabbing IV bags and shoving them under the patient’s shoulders as the ambulance backed into a slot at the ER doors. The driver opened the door and began pulling the stretcher out. Johnny hopped nimbly to the ground as he followed the gurney into the building.

Roy caught up with them as they rounded the corner into the main hallway in ER. Carol directed them to a treatment room. After hanging the IV bags on a pole, switching oxygen sources for Bob, and updating Dr. Early on the patient’s latest vitals, Johnny walked back to the nurses’ station where Roy was catching a cup of coffee. Johnny helped himself to a cup.

The handie talkie on Roy’s hip squawked with response tones. “Engine 51, rubbish fire, in the alley behind Marly’s Market, thirty-eight ninety-two Sumner Avenue, three, eight, nine, two Sumner Avenue, time out 19:44.” They heard Captain Burke acknowledge the response. “Squad 51, Engine 51,” Burke added.

Roy looked at Johnny as he brought the handie talkie to his mouth. “Squad 51.”

“Squad 51, are you available?”

“Ten-four, Squad 51 available from Rampart Hospital.”

“Squad 51 respond with Engine 51 to rubbish fire on Sumner Avenue.” Captain Burke was true to his word. He was having the squad accompany the engine crew on all fires. “LA, Engine 51, Squad 51 will be available at Engine 51’s fire.”

“Ten-four, Engine 51, KME 896.”

“Let’s go, Johnny. We don’t want to keep the Captain waiting.”

“Yeah, I’d hate to keep him waiting,” Johnny replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

They walked briskly to the squad and were soon pulling up next to the engine at Marly’s Market. The rubbish fire involved two dumpsters that must have been full of combustible fuel. Despite their best efforts, the containers blazed. The firefighters were muttering among themselves about the nature of the refuse within the dumpsters. What would be impervious to the large shower of water they were pouring on the fire? Had someone dumped used oil from an oil change in the trash container? Or, was it some other type of solvent that resisted water when ignited?

Wind fanned the flames. Bits of debris blew out of the large metal trashcan and floated on the currents sweeping down the alley between the market and a restaurant. The flaming debris landed on the roofs of both structures, creating spot fires.

“Captain, we’ve got fire on the roof!” Roy pointed out as he ran a critical eye over the scene and saw the small fires blossom on top of the buildings.

“I see ‘em,” Burke answered. “LA, Engine 51.” Waiting for dispatch to answer his hail, Burke directed his men to begin using light water on the fire. He also motioned for Johnny and Roy to join him.

“Engine 51, LA.”

“LA, Engine 51, I need a second alarm at our location.”

“Ten-four, Engine 51.” Response tones could be heard from the radio as Captain Burke returned it to his pocket.

“Gage, DeSoto, take a line up to the roof. We’ll have some help here soon. I’ll send someone up when they get here.”

“Aye aye, Cap,” Roy replied for the two paramedics.

They watched Mike get the bucket of surfactant from the engine and make preparations to change the properties of the water the men were using on the fire while donning their turnouts. Leaving the air tanks behind, Johnny and Roy headed for the bed of the engine to pull hose.

Laying the hose on the ground next to the supermarket, they returned to the rig for a ladder. Setting it up against the building, Johnny steadied the ladder while Roy climbed, hauling the hose with him. The hose wasn’t filled with water, yet, so it was easier to pack up to the roof. When Roy had reached the roof, Johnny grabbed more hose and hauled another section up the ladder.

Johnny signaled to Mike that he and Roy were ready, bracing for the rush of water that would make the hose difficult to hang on to. The small spots of fire on the market’s roof were quickly dispatched. Turning the water spray toward the restaurant across the narrow alley, they were able to reach the flaming debris that had landed there.

Roy shut down the spray and nodded to Johnny. He started for the ladder. Before stepping on the first rung he handed Johnny the nozzle. “See ya on the ground.”

“Maybe we’ll have this mopped up soon,” Johnny replied.

Captain Burke was watching the action. The light water was making quick work of the container fire, and the paramedics had taken care of the roof fires. He pulled his handie talkie from his pocket. “LA, Engine 51, fire under control, return all other units.”

“Ten-four, Engine 51. All units responding with Engine 51, return.”

Maybe those medics are good for something, Burke thought as he watched them get ready to leave the roof. He turned his attention to where Chet and Marco were pulling sodden, burnt trash from the container to be sure the fire was completely out.

Roy stepped down onto the ladder. About half way down he pulled on the hose to swing it out of his way as he descended. The hose had settled into a couple of loops under the bottom rung of the ladder. When he gave the hose a yank, it caught on the bottom rung and moved the ladder. Roy wasn’t expecting the motion and only had one hand on the ladder. The movement pushed him off balance. His right arm flailed trying to regain his balance. The hose he held pulled him further to the side, and he fell off the ladder.

“Roy!” Johnny shouted as he watched the scene unfold, helpless to save his partner.

Captain Burke heard Johnny’s shout. What’re those two up to now? Great, another injury on my watch. Knowing that a fall from that height would require a look-see at the hospital, he keyed the button on his handie talkie and requested an ambulance. Damn paramedics can’t do anything right.

“I called for an ambulance, Gage!” he shouted at the junior paramedic from his place beside the engine as the rest of the crew headed to the area.

It was only a five or six-foot drop, but Roy wasn’t expecting such a rapid trip to the ground. He landed on his right side, tangled in the hose that he had tried to get out of his way. Stunned, he gasped for air as his lungs refused to cooperate after the shock of hitting the ground.

“Chet, Marco! Reset the ladder. I need to get down to Roy!” Johnny shouted from his position atop the building.

The firefighters on the ground responded rapidly to his instructions. Chet held the ladder, while Marco ran to Roy’s side. Johnny scooted down the ladder, leaping the last few feet to the ground. Slowing as he reached Roy, he assessed his partner’s condition with a practiced eye.

“Roy? Roy, can you hear me?” Johnny was anxious to hear his partner’s voice, running his hands down Roy’s neck, spine, and left side. When he didn’t get an answer to his question, he moved around to where he could see Roy’s face.

Roy’s eyes were scrunched shut, and he was concentrating on his breathing. His lungs were finally operating normally again. Air, moving in and out, was relieving the air hunger Roy had begun to experience.

“Roy, are you okay?” Johnny continued to try and get Roy to speak. “Do you hurt anywhere?”

“I…I’m okay,” Roy managed to say between gasps of air.

“You look a little short of breath,” Johnny observed. Looking up, he directed Chet to get the oxygen off of the squad. Chet slid to a stop next to Johnny with the drug box and bio phone; he turned quickly to retrieve the tanks.

“I didn’t find any broken bones, Roy. So, I’m going to roll you on your back. Let us do all the work.”

“I know… how it… it works,” Roy returned with a sigh between breaths. His breathing was getting easier. He was still trying to complete an internal systems check. The shock of hitting the pavement was wearing off, and a whole host of pains were making themselves known.

With Johnny directing, he, Chet, and Marco rolled Roy onto his back. Johnny quickly ran his hands down Roy’s right arm and leg now that they were exposed. He still didn’t find any injuries. Roy must just be shaken up from the fall. I know I would be.

“Roy, I’m not finding any injuries. How do you feel?”

Roy opened his eyes to see Johnny’s worried face hovering. Looking beyond his partner, he noticed that the rest of the company, except Captain Burke, were waiting and watching, too. “I’m just sore, but I don’t have any sharp pains.”

Johnny breathed a sigh of relief and took the B/P cuff and stethoscope from Marco’s hands. “Let’s get some vital signs just to be sure.” He extracted Roy’s left arm from his turnout coat. “140 over 90.” Watching the second hand on his watch, he counted pulse and respiration. “Pulse 120, respirations 30.”

Opening the bio phone, Johnny contacted the hospital as he heard Roy protest that he didn’t need to go to Rampart. Johnny ignored Roy’s arguments and continued updating Dr. Early on Roy’s condition.

“Take spinal precautions and transport.”

“Johnny, I don’t need to go to Rampart,” Roy repeated as he watched Johnny get out a cervical collar. He tried to sit up, but found several hands holding him to the pavement.

“Roy, how many times have you told me that I had to get checked out after accidents like this?”

Roy ignored the question and let Johnny continue to play paramedic. Johnny placed the cervical collar on Roy’s neck. He held Roy’s head when he was loaded on the stretcher. Roy winced as Johnny’s hands found a sore spot on the right side of his head. Johnny gently palpated the lump forming on Roy’s head.

“I think you’ll be getting some x-rays at Rampart, Roy,” Johnny observed as they loaded Roy into the back of the ambulance.

Roy rolled his eyes knowing that Johnny was probably right. What a lot of bother for a little fall off a ladder, Roy thought. But, he was pretty sore. I guess I don’t bounce as well as I used to.

Captain Burke had stopped Johnny as he gathered the drug box and bio phone for the ride into Rampart. “I’m gonna send Lopez in with the squad. You will call me ASAP when you know if DeSoto will or won’t be returning to work. And, get yourself back to the station, so you’re available.” Johnny heard but didn’t explicitly acknowledge Burke’s orders. “Did you hear me, Gage?”

Johnny nodded. “Yes, Sir.” He was glad when he could close the ambulance doors and get away from the acerbic man. Johnny kept an anxious eye on his quiet partner on the way to the hospital. But, Roy seemed to be fine, just bruised from his untimely departure from the ladder.

Johnny followed the stretcher through the white corridors. As usual for the busy ER of Rampart, the place was crowded with the rush of sick people as well as accident victims that generally congregated in the evening. The overflowing ER promised an extensive wait for a doctor. Great, now Cap’n Burke will have more ammunition against us. Doctor Early strolled into the treatment room after the paramedics had waited about thirty minutes.

“Hey, Doc, our captain wants to know ASAP if Roy can return to duty.”

“Well, why don’t I examine him first?” Doctor Early chuckled at the obvious distress of the dark-haired man. “From what you’ve told me so far, I think he’ll be able to return to work.” Joe examined Roy for the next several minutes. “Carol, let’s get x-rays of his c-spine, a skull series, and some pictures of his right arm and leg since those were the points of impact.” Turning to Roy, he added, “I don’t think you’ve got any serious injuries, but let’s play it safe.” Patting Roy’s shoulder, he nodded to Johnny and left the room.

“I’m gonna go call Burke and let him know what’s going on.”

“Okay, Johnny, I’ll be right here,” Roy answered Johnny from his prone position on the examination table.

Johnny raced to the nurses’ station. He indicated the phone and raised his eyebrows at the student nurse manning the desk. She was more than willing to let the handsome paramedic use the phone. When Johnny reached the stationhouse, he didn’t get an answer. They must not be back from the fire, yet.

Drumming his fingers on the desk, he wondered what he should do. I guess I’ll wait for a while. Maybe I’ll have more information for Captain Burke by then. He walked back to Roy’s treatment room. The portable x-ray machine was just leaving the room as he got back to the door.

Roy waited somewhat patiently until the person entering the room came close enough for him to see whom it was with the cervical collar holding his head still. Finally, Johnny came into view with a worried looking face. Roy became anxious as he looked at his partner. Was Dr. Early hiding something from me? I haven’t seen Johnny looking this concerned since I passed out at that fire a few years ago.

“Johnny, is everything all right?”

“Oh, yeah, Roy, everything’s okay.”

Roy wasn’t convinced. “Do you know something that I don’t?”

Johnny finally realized that he was scaring Roy with his quiet act. “No, no, I was just thinking about Captain Burke. He makes me nervous, Roy.”

“Oh, is that all. I thought maybe Dr. Early didn’t tell me everything.”

“Sorry, Roy. When I called the station, they weren’t back, yet. I was trying to figure out what I should do. I don’t want to bother him, if they’re still working on the fire. But, he explicitly told me to call him ASAP.”

“Well, we don’t really know anything, yet, Johnny. So, just sit down and call when we know what’s going to happen.” Johnny nodded and took Roy’s advice, trying to relax as he took a seat on a stool next to the exam table.

Despite his attempts to calm down, Johnny jumped when Dr. Early pushed the door open. He carried a stack of x-ray films. One by one he popped them into the reading box. “Well, Roy, I don’t see any evidence of fractures.” He moved over to the table and removed the cervical collar. “Why don’t you go back to work, and I’ll try to find some sick people to take care of?”

“Sounds great, Doc,” Johnny answered for Roy.

“Take it easy, and come back if you have any symptoms of a concussion.”

“I will, Doc. Thanks,” Roy added.

“I’m gonna go call Cap’n Burke while you get dressed. Marco should be here with the…” Johnny’s voice trailed off as he left the treatment room. Roy slowly levered himself up off the table and started rearranging the clothing that had been removed or loosened for his examination. I’m gonna get some aspirin as soon as I get back to the station. I’ll be sore for sure tomorrow.

Roy made his way to the nurses’ station. He found Johnny and Marco waiting for him. “Did you get a hold of Burke?”

“Yeah, they had just returned to the station. Marco says Burke wasn’t in a very good mood. Said he kept mumbling about accident-prone paramedics.” Johnny looked even more worried. “Roy, I really don’t think we’re gonna make it for six weeks.”

“We’ll be fine, Johnny. I’m sure Burke will settle in as time goes by.” Roy tried to reassure his partner, but he really didn’t believe what he was saying. “C’mon, let’s get back to the station.” Roy motioned for John and Marco to accompany him.

The ride back to the barn was quiet. Johnny flipped on the lights to warn other vehicles he was going to back into the driveway. He saw Burke waiting just inside the fully lit bay. Muscles in the back of his neck stiffened and his gut clenched as Johnny anticipated a confrontation with Burke.

“DeSoto, are you cleared for duty?” Burke asked without preliminary conversation.

“Yes, Cap’n.” Roy flexed his sore right arm.

“Good.” Burke turned on his heel and returned to the office. He wanted to get the log up-to-date before he hit the sack. “Plan on lights out in fifteen,” he threw over his shoulder before he shut the door.

Stunned at the abrupt handling, the three crewmates filed into the dorm, joining Chet and Mike as everyone got ready for bed.

“How ya doin’, Roy?” Chet asked from the bunk across the aisle from Roy’s.

“Just sore, Chet. Thanks for asking.”

“Of course, he’s fine. He had the best paramedic caring for him,” Johnny boasted, trying to bring some levity into the situation.

“That’s funny. I don’t remember you using a lot of paramedic skills after Roy took his dive.”

“It’s my job to make it look easy, Chet. You probably didn’t even notice the skills I used.”

“Oh, so you call it ‘skill’, huh, Gage?”

“Yeah.”

“I thought you guys ‘practiced’ as paramedics. That must mean you never get it quite right.”

Johnny was tiring of the verbal sparring. He looked over and saw Roy grinning and shaking his head. Knowing he was unlikely to win, Johnny decided to let the conversation drop. “That must be what it means.”

Chet could barely believe his ears. Johnny must be tired; he’s not taking the bait. What do you do when the pigeon refuses to be baited? He decided getting some shuteye would be a good idea.

After arranging his bunker pants and boots at the side of the cot, Johnny climbed in and threw his arm over his face. He hoped against logic that the station would be allowed to spend the night in peaceful slumber. The lack of sleep from the previous night and nearly continuous runs of the day had built fatigue into a nearly palpable weariness. A good night’s sleep is exactly what I need.

Heavy footsteps could be heard from the apparatus bay just before Burke pushed the door open. He silently made his way to his bunk. He was ready for sleep in a matter of minutes. Reaching for the light switch he glanced briefly to be sure that all of the men were accounted for. Satisfied, he shut off the lights and made his way to his bunk.

The groans of men settling in for the night turned into soft snores. Suddenly, the peace was shattered by the loud tones issuing forth from the speakers as well as blinding lights blinking on. “Station 45, Engine 51, fire at the textile factory, eleven nineteen West Broadway, cross street Industrial Park Boulevard. One, one, one, nine West Broadway, cross street Industrial Park Boulevard. Time out 01:14.”

Burke put down the pen he was using to record the address and picked up the microphone next to his bunk. “Engine 51, ten-four. LA, be advised Squad 51 will accompany Engine 51 and be available at scene. KMG 365.”

“Ten-four Station 51, KME 896.”

Hoping that their captain would change his mind, Johnny and Roy had stopped just inside the bunkroom door when they realized the call was for the engine only. When they heard Captain Burke’s reply, they continued through the door. Johnny grabbed the chrome rail on the top of the squad and practically pulled himself along the side to the passenger door. He opened the door and threw himself onto the seat. His mind was still somewhat foggy from the few winks of sleep he had gotten.

“Where’s the factory, Roy?” Johnny asked, hoping his partner had a better grasp of the situation.

“West Broadway by Industrial Park Boulevard.” Roy answered and stifled a yawn.

The wind was still gusting as the vehicles issued forth out of the station house. The rain had blown through leaving the air slightly humid but cool. Blasts of wind rocked the squad, requiring Roy to keep a firm grip on the wheel. He squinted into oncoming headlights as he worked to identify street signs.

“I think that was Power Street. Broadway should be the third street up from Power. Take a left. Industrial Park Boulevard is …” Johnny paused as he tried to read the map he was consulting. “… the second street.”

“Ah, Johnny. I think you can put the map away.”

Johnny looked up at Roy with a confused look on his face. “Why do you say that?”

Roy just pointed out the right front of the windshield. Johnny turned to look where Roy was pointing.

Johnny gave a low whistle. “Will you look at that?” Yellow, orange flames climbed into the night sky from the top of the factory building. The fire appeared to be about three-quarters of a mile away.

“LA, this is Engine 45. Please respond a second alarm. We have a fully involved building that covers half a block.”

“Ten-four, Engine 45”

The rest of the radio transmission was forgotten as the squad neared the chaos surrounding the large fire. Roy pulled the squad over well away from the rest of the vehicles to make room for additional engines.

The paramedics shrugged into their turnout coats and SCBAs. They found Captain Burke and waited for their assignment. Burke turned to his paramedics and gestured for them to follow the engine crew. “Back up Lopez and Kelly. I told both of ‘em to pull a line. Our crew is covering the fire on the main floor of the factory.”

“Right, Cap,” Roy replied as he and Johnny turned to complete his orders. Johnny grabbed the hose behind Chet, and Roy helped Marco. After settling their air masks tightly against their faces, they muscled the heavy hoses into the building.

Heart pounding, breathing rapid, palms sweating—the fight or flight hormonal system, developed over the eons as protection against predation, kicked into high gear helping Johnny break through the haze of fatigue. His heightened senses could pick out distinct odors—rubber from the face mask, metallic traces from the canister in the oxygen that flowed into his mask, the sour smell of sweat, and whiffs of smoke as he neared the fire.

Two sets of firefighters from Engine 45 were already pouring the wet stuff on the red stuff. The crew from Station 51 added their water to the fight. The fire had a pretty good head start and lots of fuel in the form of cloth scraps, bolts of material, and spools of thread. For a while, the hose handlers were merely able to keep it from spreading. But after several minutes everyone could see that the fire was getting smaller, if only by minute degrees.

The hot, heavy work of hauling the large hoses rapidly precipitated heat exhaustion. The second alarm crews waded into the building and tapped the shoulder of the rear firefighter on each hose. That man, in turn, tapped the person closest to the nozzle—and the flames. The lead man peeled off for a break from the heat and adrenaline rush. Outside the building the firefighters exchanged oxygen canisters and drank water during their breaks.

All too soon the break time was up. They walked back to the men still battling the large blaze, and the rotation was repeated. Johnny felt the man behind him tap his shoulder. He gratefully relinquished his place at the front of the hose. He couldn’t tell who the firefighter behind him was because both of their facemasks were steamed up enough to obscure facial features.

He tugged the claustrophobic mask off as soon as he neared the outside doorway. The cool, blustery wind dried some of the sweat from his face. The air carried a faint smell of salt water from the ocean. He saw Roy drinking a large glass of water.

“How long do you think this’ll take to get under control?” Johnny asked as he accepted a glass of water from Roy.

“I think we’re starting to get a good handle on it. But, there’s lots of fuel in there. I’m sure it’ll take some time to overhaul what’s left smoldering.”

Johnny nodded at Roy’s assessment. He knew they were looking at being on scene for quite some time, yet. Roy glanced at his watch and saw that their break time was over.

“Let’s get back to it, Junior.”

“Right, Pally.”

They strapped their masks back in place and returned to the fire. The concentration necessary to handle the hose soon drove all thoughts from their minds except the job at hand. After several minutes Roy and Johnny found themselves at the business end of their respective hoses sweeping the fire with a watery vengeance.

Gradually, the combined efforts of the firefighters were bringing the fire under control. The smothering effects of the water were rapidly obliterating small pockets of flame. Smoke rolled from several piles of soggy fabric. Firefighters on the roof concentrated their efforts on opening the roof further to allow for ventilation of the blinding smoke.

Johnny could feel the heat of the fire diminishing as the majority of the flames were extinguished. The hot work of finding any lingering fire began. Rivers of sweat poured down John’s body inside the heavy turnout gear. He knew that rest breaks were just as important during the overhaul phase of the operation to prevent the ever-present risk of heat exhaustion.

Feeling the first sensations of lightheadedness, Johnny backed away from the pile of cloth he was pulling apart and started for the door to take a break. As soon as he cleared the worst of the smoke, he pulled off his mask. He coughed from inhaling some lingering smoke, but the air rushing by his face made the coughing worth it.

Johnny saw that the sun was just beginning to lighten the gloom of night. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and loosened the chinstrap on his helmet. Spying Roy near the squad with a big glass of water, Johnny walked in that direction. He felt a little less dizzy than he had inside the factory.

Water from the hoses had spilled out of the building and flowed through the parking lot mixing with oil from various vehicles that normally occupied the lot. Stepping onto the asphalt, his left foot slid a little when the wet rubber boot found a patch of oil under the water. He shortened his stride and continued to his destination, shrugging out of his air tank harness. Johnny unbuckled the front of his coat to let some cooler air get next to his overly warm body.

Hoses stretched across the parking lot, snaking in and around the building and emergency vehicles. Concentrating on the buckles, Johnny didn’t notice an errant hose that rolled into the path of his next step as men from Engine 45 pulled it back into the bed of their rig. The heel of his right foot came down on the rolling hose, sending the leg he had just shifted his weight onto flying out in front of him. The air tanks hanging from his left arm pulled him to that side. His right arm windmilled as he tried to regain his balance, but the slippery surface didn’t offer his feet a firm purchase. The ground quickly rose up and slapped Johnny on the back of his head bouncing his helmet off. Stars danced in the inky blackness that descended on the prone paramedic.

From across the parking lot, Roy watched as a firefighter lost his balance and fell to the pavement. That portion of the lot was in shadow, and he couldn’t see who was headed for the ground. Setting his cup on the hood of the squad, he trotted over to help the man back to his feet. As he neared the fallen man, he realized it was Johnny.

“Johnny!” he shouted as he knelt beside his partner. He palpated Johnny’s neck to begin determining how badly John was hurt. A strong pulse indicated John was not in immediate danger. But, head injuries could be dangerous and hard to diagnose.