FIRST NIGHT
Roy DeSoto yawned as he made his way back to his bunk. Next time Chet Kelly decided to experiment with a new dish for dinner he was going to order a pizza. The way his gut was rolling it was all too likely that this would not be his last trip for the night.
Reaching his sleeping area Roy noticed with amusement that the bunk next to his was empty. Another of Gage’s midnight snack runs. Or, more accurately, a 2:00am snack run. Despite grumbling as much as any of them about Kelly’s culinary endeavors Johnny had put away enough food at dinner that Roy would have thought him satiated for the next week if not for the night at least.
Pushing thoughts of John Gage from his mind DeSoto pulled the covers up to his chin and promptly went back to sleep.
NEXT MORNING
Roy groaned as the wake-up klaxons sounded throughout the dorm. They were followed almost immediately by an alarm calling the engine to a dumpster fire. As he feared he had been up and down most of the night, his digestive system in rebellion against Chet’s culinary disasterpiece. And of all the nights… Their only run had been a minor incident prior to midnight making for what, otherwise, would have been a peaceful night.
Sitting up slowly Roy glanced at his partner’s empty bunk feeling a stab of envy. With the exception of the early morning munchie attack Gage had slept like a baby. Giving in to the inevitable he rose, pulled on his turnout pants and made his way to the kitchen. He found Johnny at the stove, fully dressed, cooking something that, surprisingly, smelled quite good. Taking note of his partner’s presence Johnny turned and smiled a too annoyingly bright and cheery smile. "’Mornin’ Roy. Want some breakfast?"
"Not just yet." DeSoto answered pouring himself a large mug of coffee.
Johnny noticed his still weary demeanor and frowned. "You feelin’ alright?"
"I didn’t sleep well last night." Roy offered in explanation. "Chet’s Surprise."
"I know what you mean." Gage sympathized. "We’re probably lucky we didn’t all end up with food poisoning or something."
"I don’t know what you’re complaining about." the other man grumped. "Except for your little snack attack you didn’t budge the entire night. It’s probably a good thing we didn’t get any calls because I’m not sure you would’ve woke up enough to respond."
"Oh come on Roy. I don’t sleep that soundly." Johnny turned back to his creation then, just as quickly, spun around to face his friend. "And what ‘snack attack’ are you talking about? I didn’t have any snack attacks last night."
Cradling his mug of coffee Roy sat at the table facing his partner. "Then whatever had you up at 2:00am. I just figured you were in here getting something more to eat."
Gage stared at him as if he had suddenly sprouted another head. "I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t get up last night. I slept right through."
Now it was the older Paramedic’s chance to look skeptical. "Then who was it that wasn’t in your bunk at 2:00 this morning?"
Johnny shook his head. "You must have been imagining it becau-" The sound of the engine returning interrupted the conversation. Johnny turned back to the stove, still shaking his head and muttering something about ‘seeing things’ under his breath. Roy, already in a less than cheerful mood, contemplated continuing the discussion but decided against that action as the rest of crew slowly filed into the kitchen.
SECOND SHIFT
It had been a busy shift so far, numerous runs of all degrees of difficulty. Falling into his bunk after returning from a midnight run Roy silently prayed that they would actually get some sleep before the night was over. The weary sigh emanating from the bunk next to his indicated his partner was thinking the same way. Sleep blessedly returned quickly, only to be interrupted almost as soon as it had begun. Reflexes caused Roy to jump out of the bunk and half way into his turnout pants before he realized the call was for the engine only. Slipping out of his pants and turning to get back under the covers Roy realized for the first time that Johnny wasn’t there. In fact, he had not seen him getting up with the alarm at all. Another 2:00am snack run he would deny making later?
As Roy settled his head back on the pillow Johnny returned, climbing silently into his own bunk. "Glad that wasn’t for us." the senior Paramedic commented as he pulled the covers over his shoulder. There was no response. "Johnny?" Again, nothing. Roy listened a moment and heard the soft, rhythmic sound of the other man’s breathing. That fast and his partner was sound asleep. "I don’t know how you do it." Roy sighed, closing his eyes and allowing himself to drift off.
SECOND MORNING
Mercifully, after the engine crew returned from the 2:00AM run Station 51 had received no further calls that night. It was still much too soon when the wake-up klaxons sounded through the dorms to be answered by a chorus of groans. Roy was surprised to find that, for the second time in as many shifts, Johnny was up before the alarms. Not that there was a problem with this. Still, it was strange and strange and John Gage together set off warning bells in his mind.
With the other men of A-shift DeSoto made his way to the station kitchen for his first cup of coffee of the day. Johnny sat at the table, again already dressed, reading the morning paper. "I just made a fresh pot." he told his station mates as he took a sip from his own cup.
"Is it drinkable?" Kelly asked sniffing the pot cautiously.
"Only your cup is poisoned." Johnny answered never looking up from the paper. That brought a snicker from all but the intended.
"Oh ha ha." came Chet’s reply. He knew Gage was joking but swapped cups with Marco just the same. Lopez gave him a dirty look and walked away.
Roy avoided the wordplay, filling his cup and sitting across from his partner. He didn’t even realize he was staring until Johnny put down the paper. "What?"
"What what?" Roy wanted to know.
"Why are you staring at me? Is something wrong with the coffee?"
Roy shook his head. "No, the coffee’s fine."
"Then what are you staring at?" Johnny pressed.
Chet could not resist a barb. "When you figure it out you can tell us all what he is Roy."
"Chet." Cap warned. Johnny glared at the firefighter before turning back to DeSoto. The senior Paramedic shifted uneasily in his seat. It sounded so stupid when he tried to put it into words. "You’re up awfully early, again." he said finally.
Johnny stared back a moment. "That’s it? You’re staring at me because I got up early? Roy, are you sure you’re feeling alright?"
"I’m feeling fine." DeSoto defended. "I’m just… It’s just a bit unusual, that’s all."
"Well…" Johnny tried to think of a suitable reply. It would have been easier if he had any idea what initiated his partner’s interest it when he woke up. "Guess I just slept well."
"Except when you got up for our run." Marco added to the conversation.
Johnny turned giving Lopez a confused look. "Got up for your run? What are you talking about Marco?"
"The call we got about 2:00 this morning. I nearly ran over you trying to get to the engine." Marco could see the confusion in Gage’s expression. "Don’t you remember?" he asked a bit confused himself.
"I didn’t get up." Johnny insisted with a touch of uncertainty. He caught the nod of Roy’s head. "Yes you did." collaborated his partner. "About 2:00am, just like last shift. I said something to you when you got back into bed but you never answered."
By now both Mike and Captain Stanley were listening with interest. It was obvious Gage remembered nothing of what Marco and Roy said. Chet considered this a Godsend of ammunition for teasing his best pigeon. "Sleepwalking, huh John? You know what they say about that don’t you?"
"I wasn’t sleepwal-"
The klaxons sounded, interrupting Johnny’s protestations and sending the squad on a run. By the time they returned the rest of A-shift had gone. Johnny left quickly before Roy thought to bring the subject up again.
THIRD SHIFT
Chet Kelly was at his annoying best. Last shift’s revelation concerning Gage’s nocturnal wanderings had given him ample fuel with which to harass the unfortunate Paramedic the entire day. Only when Captain Stanley threatened him with latrine duty for the rest of his career did he cease and desist – for the time being. It was obvious to the other men that the possibility he was really sleepwalking bothered Johnny though he said little about it. In fact, he said little about anything, a sure sign that he was troubled.
Roy had half-heartedly attempted to discuss the situation with his partner during the day with little success. As much as he would have believed he would enjoy a break from the normal nonstop chatter he found Johnny’s almost complete silence somewhat unnerving. Returning from an after dinner run Roy decided it was time to get things out into the open. "It won’t go away by not talking about it." he suggested.
"I just…I mean, I don’t…" Johnny sighed. How could he talk logically about something he didn’t understand? Of course Kelly would probably remark he didn’t talk logically at any other time so what difference did it make? "I just don’t understand what’s going on." he finally finished.
"And it scares you?" Roy added making a guess.
For several moments there was no answer. Roy wondered if he had pushed too, hard too fast. "Yeah, I guess it does." Johnny admitted. "I’ve been rackin’ my brain all day trying to figure out why. What could be causing it? I can’t come up with anything."
"Nothing at work has been bothering you?" Roy asked trying to come up with something.
"No. Except Chet, but that’s normal."
"Nothing off-duty? Maybe something personal."
"No. As a matter of fact I was thinking just the other day how good things have been going lately." Johnny sighed again. "It just doesn’t make any sense."
Roy started to say something, hesitated, then plunged ahead. "Have you thought about talking to someone about it? Maybe Brackett or Early?"
"I thought about it" came the reply surprising Roy somewhat. His partner must really be unnerved to consider that course of action. Further discussion was halted by an incoming call. It was quite late when both the engine and the squad returned to the station.
THIRD NIGHT
Roy was in the middle of an interesting dream when someone shook his shoulder. He grumbled something incoherently, turning to try and go back to the dream, when the shaking came again. This time he reluctantly opened his eyes to find himself looking up at Mike Stoker’s concerned face. "Roy, I think you better get up. He’s doing it again."
DeSoto sighed knowing who he was and what he was doing again. A glance at Johnny’s bunk as he pulled up his turnout pants confirmed his suspicions. "I got up to get a drink." Mike was explaining. I was coming back when Johnny walked past me. I said something to him but he didn’t answer. He just walked past like I wasn’t even there."
By this time they had reached the kitchen which was lit only by the dim light coming through the windows from the streetlights outside. Still, it was enough to see Gage where he stood in the middle of the kitchen staring at… Whatever he was seeing was not in this room. The look in Johnny’s eyes as Roy got closer was as if he was staring right through the walls into another world. It was unnerving to both DeSoto and Stoker. Mike was just about to say something else when suddenly Johnny looked up toward the ceiling, cocking his head slightly as if listening for something. After a moment he turned and walked back toward the dorm. Roy followed, Mike right behind him, arriving just in time to watch the object of their interest get back in his bunk and close his eyes. Mike turned to Roy. "Is he alright?" he whispered. The Paramedic answered with a shrug. "I really don’t know."
THIRD MORNING
Johnny was not the first one up this morning. He walked into the kitchen to find Roy there and knew by his expression it had happened again. He slumped in the chair across from his partner. "There’s got to be an explanation." Roy offered.
"Like what? Johnny asked. "That I’m losing my mind?"
"Sleepwalking is NOT an indication you’re losing your mind. There are any number of other reasons."
"Yeah?" Gage challenged. "Name one."
"Maybe something happened that’s bothering you that you don’t even realize." Roy offered. "Something that seemed so minor at the time you wouldn’t even think of it."
Johnny seemed to consider his words. It certainly beat the possibility that he WAS losing his mind. "I’ve never had anything like this happen to me before. Why now?"
"I don’t know Junior. But, if it’s really worrying you, why don’t you talk to Brackett about it? Or Early? Heck, maybe it will just go away on its own."
The engine crew walked into the kitchen in time to catch the end of Roy’s remark. "It happened again?" Chet asked clearly disappointed. "Man, and I missed it."
Johnny and Roy both glared at Kelly. "This isn’t a joke Chet." Roy warned. He knew how upset his partner was by what was happening and did not intend to let Kelly make it worse.
"But Roy," Chet protested. "How many times does one get such an opportunity handed to him on a silver platter? The Phantom just can’t sit back and – "
"The Phantom better take a nice, long vacation." Captain Stanley stated in a tone that invited no argument. As usual Chet did not take the hint. Mike and Marco poured their coffee and stood by the sink listening to Chet whining how it wasn’t fair. Each soon found their eyes wandering over to Johnny who now sat leaning on the table, his head in his hands. They exchanged glances. Both felt sorry for and a bit concerned about what Gage was going through. How any reasonable individual could get pleasure from teasing someone who was obviously already quite upset was beyond the pair. Of course, when it came to Johnny, Chet was rarely reasonable. Any further discussion on the matter was interrupted by the arrival of the C-shift paramedics along with some of their engine crew. Johnny quickly made his escape, Roy following almost protectively, leaving Chet to plot his next move.
FOURTH SHIFT
It was apparent to everyone quite early that Chet was planning something. It wasn’t so much anything he said or did, it was in his general demeanor, and the way the gleam lit his eyes whenever he looked at the dark-haired Paramedic. He studiously avoided Roy, who made it his job to keep Kelly away from his friend, and faithful promised Cap that he had no intentions of hurting Gage. But Lady Luck favored Johnny that day keeping the runs of the squad and engine far apart and timed so that the Paramedics got to see very little of the rest of the crew. It was only when lights out approached that Roy had time to worry about what Chet had up his sleeve.
FOURTH NIGHT
Roy found it difficult to sleep. He was waiting on pins and needles hoping to catch Chet before anything was pulled on Johnny. Whether good luck or bad the entire station was called out just before midnight to a huge apartment fire that required three alarms and six hours to extinguish. By some fortunate twist of fate only minor injuries were suffered among the tenants and firefighters both. The squad and engine returned to the station just in time for the start of the next shift. Dirty and exhausted no one, even Chet, felt like doing anything but going straight home.
FIFTH SHIFT
Little of Chet’s eagerness to pull off his stunt against Gage had faded over his days off. If anything it had given him more time to perfect the plan. He was less suspicious in his waiting causing DeSoto and the captain to ease their vigilance in watching him. Now, if only they didn’t get another all-night run…
FIFTH NIGHT
It was turning out to be a peaceful night though none of the men of 51 seemed to be enjoying that fact. Johnny, afraid of another incident and Kelly’s plans, found it difficult to relax. Roy was still worried about what Chet might try and determined to be awake to prevent it. Chet was anxious for another episode so he could pull off his plan while Cap, Mike and Marco were simply caught up in the expectant air that seemed to permeate the station. It was well after midnight before anyone finally managed to fall asleep.
Roy was uncertain at first what woke him. Voices. Marco arguing with Chet in whispers. He glanced across at Johnny’s bunk…Roy sat up quickly. Johnny was not in his bunk and the voices were fading as Marco followed Chet out of the dorm. Quickly pulling on his turnout pants Roy followed. The captain and Mike, having also heard the arguing, were close behind. They could hear Chet’s whine as they approached the kitchen. "C’mon Marco. I’m not gonna hurt him, just have a little fun."
"No Chet. You might wake him up and you’re not ever supposed to wake up somebody while they’re sleepwalking."
"That’s just an old wives tale Marco. You can’t believe that."
Captain Stanley decided this was a good time to enter into the discussion. "Wives tale or not Kelly you’re not going to do anything to Gage. And that’s not a request."
As Chet tried to talk his way out of things Roy and Mike made their way over to Johnny. He was standing in the same spot with the same distant stare as the previous time. "It’s just like the other night." Mike commented. Again Johnny cocked his head as if listening. The rest of the men grew quiet as the sound slowly registered on their ears. Each recognized it as the sputtering of an engine a split second before a thundering crash shook the structure knocking them all off their feet.
"What the hell was that?" asked Mike in a shaky voice.
Cap was the first to recover, immediately going into command mode. Quickly assessing the situation in the kitchen he scrambled to his feet. "Mike, Marco, Chet, you guys come with me. Roy, you’d better look after Johnny."
As the others rushed from the room Roy turned to his partner. Johnny was sitting up slowly, dazed and more than a bit confused as to why he was sitting in the middle of the kitchen floor. "What happened?"
"I’m not really sure." Roy admitted. "How are you feeling?"
"I’m, uh, I’m not really sure. I mean, I’m not hurt I just… I just don’t know man."
"Well, why don’t we go see what’s going on out there?" Roy stood, giving Johnny a hand up. They entered the apparatus bay and a scene of controlled chaos. Mike was working the dials on the side of the engine, preparing to charge the reel line that Chet and Marco were pulling into the dorm. Captain Stanley rushed over to the Paramedics having just called in the still alarm. "What happened Cap?" asked Roy.
Stanley shook his head. "You wouldn’t believe me." He motioned them ahead. "The guy didn’t make it so there really isn’t anything for you two to do."
Roy and Johnny stopped just inside the door to the dorm. All they could do was stare wide-eyed and disbelieving at the scene before them. A light plane had crashed through the roof and side of the building. Debris lay scattered throughout the room. Looking more carefully at the wreckage Roy blanched. The main point of impact seemed to be the middle of his bunk.
LATER THAT MORNING
The men of Station 51 sat around the kitchen table more staring at than actually drinking their coffee. All were still in a mild state of shock at the events that had unfolded on their shift. Chief McConnikee walked in after finishing with the investigators. He looked at the group before him, relieved but curious as to how all managed to escape the accident without injury. "It appears the plane had run out of fuel." he told them relating the findings of the investigators. He must have thought he could reach the airport anyway."
"He thought wrong." Roy said quietly.
McConnikee nodded. "Hank, there’s one thing I don’t understand."
"What?" Stanley asked, fairly sure of the question but very unsure of the answer.
"Don’t get me wrong." McConnikee continued. "I’m very grateful that you and your men weren’t hurt during any of this but, I really don’t understand how that happened. It was 2:00 in the morning. The dorm was practically destroyed. Anybody in any of those bunks would have been killed or critically injured. There hadn’t been any calls for 51 all night so, why weren’t you and your men in bed?"
Five men at the table looked up at the sixth. He returned their questioning stares with a look of uncertainty. Gage had no better idea what had happened or why than any of them. "We just couldn’t sleep." was the only answer the captain would give.
TEN DAYS LATER
A-shift was the first to return to the newly renovated Station 51. Through some unspoken agreement the men all made their way to the dorm. Gathering inside the door they inspected the work of the contractors.
"They finished quickly." stated Cap.
"And did a nice job." Roy added inspecting the caulking around one of the new windows.
"It doesn’t really look any different than before." Marco noted. Mike simply nodded his agreement.
"Guess they figured if it worked before it’d work again." suggested Johnny.
All waited for a remark from Chet. Finally Cap could stand it no longer. "Don’t you have anything to say Kelly?"
Chet turned to face them, looking at each before settling his eyes on Gage. In an uncharacteristic display of comradery he reached out and gently clasped the Paramedic’s shoulder. "Johnny, pal, the Phantom said you can sleepwalk anytime you want!"
THAT NIGHT
Roy couldn’t sleep. No matter what he tried, how he turned, sleep continued to elude him. Finally, with a sigh, he gave up trying. Sitting up he swung his feet over the edge and to the floor. Looking across the way he was somehow not surprised to see both Marco and Chet also sitting up. Without even looking he knew Cap and Mike were awake. Holding his watch up to the light filtering through the window Roy checked the time – 1:55am.
They waited in silence as the minutes slowly ticked by – 1:58, 2:02, 2:06, 2:11. At 2:25 Roy gave up the vigile and climbed back into his bunk. He could hear the sounds of the others as they too settled in. Just before drifting off Roy turned his head and smiled. Partially curled on his left side and almost hidden by blankets John Gage had slept peacefully the entire time.
"In The Middle of the Night" ©1999 Kathleen Corrigan. "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.
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