Somewhere Else
By
John Gage adjusted his air mask and stepped into the burning building. Whenever he entered a situation such as this, there was always an uncertainty that lurked in the back of his mind. Yet, he was trained to be a fireman and at this moment in time he had one specific job to do, finding out if there was anyone trapped within the old abandoned warehouse. He knew his partner, Roy DeSoto, was checking out the adjacent building for victims.
There was something about closed doors. One never knew what was on the other side of the them. Placing his hand on the thick metal, he felt for heat. There was none. He opened the door and stepped inside. The room was empty, except for various containers and bottles scattered about.
Reaching out, he picked up a container that was unmarked and slid his air mask off. He took a careful sniff and jumped back as the odor slammed into him. His senses were overloaded by the pungent smell. The odoriferous liquid sloshed around, spilling down onto his soaking into his turn out coat and inside his protective gloves.
His eyes began watering and his hands started burning and itching. Quickly, Johnny put his mask back on and turned around, stumbling towards the door. A wave of nausea hit him and his head began to pound. He could see the door before him, as it moved in his line of vision. Blindly he reached out to touch the solid surface, the container slipping out of his hands and dropping to the floor. A thunderous roar lead to a display of brilliant stars and the feeling that he was suffocating. A few seconds later, darkness swallowed him.
##########
"Johnny!!" Chet yelled as the explosion propelled flying debris outward. Falling to the ground, he saw Marco and Roy dive for cover as well. The shattering of glass and pieces of metal gave the sound of wind chimes blowing in the wind.
Jumping up, Chet grabbed the hose that he had dropped, and began making his way into the warehouse. Marco was right behind him.
"Johnny is still inside!" Roy yelled to the Cap as he followed Chet and Marco back into the warehouse. His heart was slamming against his rib cage, making the blood roar in his ears.
The inside of the warehouse was blackened with smoke and fire. Pieces of wood and metal were twisted in the chaos of the explosion. Puffs of smoke still could be seen in the remains.
Room by room, they searched for their missing friend. Each room that was found empty made their stomachs turn more. Approaching the last room, Chet pushed the door open and yelled, "He's in here!"
Roy quickly knelt down beside Johnny and took a quick assessment of his condition. John's air mask had been pulled away from his face, revealing a gash above his right eye. Quickly checking for any broken bones, Roy and Chet picked their friend off of the floor. Marco lead the way, watching to make sure they didn't have any obstructions on their way out of the warehouse.
#######
Floating. That's what it feels like. I'm floating on the wind. Awesome!
Huh? Wait...what's that Someone is taking off my coat. Why? I'm not hot. Wonder what the big hurry is. Hey! Not so rough! I didn't glue the thing to my body!
Who's got hold of my arms? Hey...give me back my shirt!. Why in the hell are they stripping me? What is this anyway? See how long it takes to undress John Gage day or something?
########
Roy DeSoto quickly removed John's coat and shirt, while Firefighter Chet Kelly began hosing down the paramedic. Roy watched closely as Johnny began to squirm under the cold water. He hoped they got the pesticide off in time so there would be no more damage to Johnny's hands or to the rest of his skin. Roy was also worried about the gash on his partner's head. He reached for a pressure dressing. Head wounds always bleed like a stuck pig.
"Here's the equipment," Firefighter Marco Lopez said to Roy as he sat down the biophone and drug box. "How's he doing?"
" I think he has a concussion. Can you keep his hands away from his face for me?"
Marco grabbed Johnny's hands. The semi-conscious man was not happy by the gesture on Marco's part and began to struggle.
"Easy, Johnny," Roy soothed. "You're going to be fine."
Johnny seemed unaware of Roy's voice as he continued to fight Marco.
Chet placed a blanket over the wet paramedic to keep him from getting chilled. He was practically naked.
Roy picked up the biophone and said, "Rampart, this is Squad 51. Do you read me?"
"This is Rampart, go ahead 51," Dr. Brackett's voice came over the phone.
"Rampart, we have a male, 28 years of age exposed to a warehouse pesticide during a fire. Stand by for vitals."
Roy wrapped the blood pressure cuff around Johnny's arm with the help of Marco. He quickly checked his vitals and wrote them down. Picking up the phone he relayed Johnny's vitals. "Rampart, patient's vitals are BP 110\80, pulse 90. Respiration is normal. Patient has a laceration above his right eye. Pupils are equal and reactive, but he's drowsy and slightly agitated."
"Squad 51 start IV, 5% Dextrose and Water and transport," Dr. Brackett replied.
"10-4 Rampart," Roy answered and began to get the IV ready.
"Squad 51, have you been able to identify the chemical or get a sample?" Dr. Brackett asked.
Roy looked at Chet and Marco. They shook their heads in response to the doctor's question. "Negative," he responded.
"Does he ever stay still?" Marco asked as Chet helped him restrain John's arm so Roy could start the IV.
"Johnny stay still...and defy the laws of physics?" Chest quipped, grabbing a stray hand. "The books would have to be re-written,"
"As long as it isn't the Phantom who rewrites them," Marco shot back.
#########
Flying! On wings...propelled by the wind. My whole body feels light as a feather. My mind and body free to soar! Hey...but where am I? And where are those voices coming from? I don't think I'm in Kansas anymore. But at the station we have a dog...Toto...yeh...Toto! He is the best!
##########
"How is he doing?" Captain Stanley asked.
"He is stable for now. Where is that ambulance?" Roy asked looking around anxiously.
"It should be here soon. Did you get that pesticide off of him in time?" Stanley asked.
"It's hard to tell," Roy commented. "The way he is acting could be from the head injury or the effects of whatever kinds of chemicals that might have gotten into his system."
"At least he stopped moving around," Marco said, finally letting go of Johnny's arms.
Marco's relief was Roy's concern. He began checking his vitals to make sure things were okay. Looking up to three pairs of worried eyes, Roy replied, "His vital signs are stable."
Firefighter Mike Stoker joined the group on the ground. "Look what I found," he said setting down a box of items. While the others looked through the box, Mike named off the items. "Charcoal, containers of paint removers with methylene chloride and the remains of one heating device. I'd say someone was trying to keep warm and cook at the same time."
"And with no ventilation in that room," Chet said shaking his head.
Instantly, Roy grabbed the O2 and put the mask over Johnny's face.
Stanley caught his worried expression and knew that the Paramedic was thinking the same thing, what kind and how much toxic fumes had Johnny breathed in before they finally were able to locate and evacuate him.
The ambulance pulled up and Roy began getting Johnny ready.
Sometimes he swore that the accidents all had John Gage written on them. But he knew better. Johnny was careful most of the time.
"Chet, take the squad in and we will meet you there," Stanley said.
Dr. Brackett was surprised to see John Gage on the gurney and Roy at his side, with Chet bringing up the rear.
"You didn't tell me it was Johnny," Dr. Brackett said as they wheeled him into examination room 3.
"I didn't think to tell you," Roy said as they transferred him off the stretcher. "Besides, I know how you love surprises."
With a wry grin, Dr. Brackett reached for the box Roy was holding.
"This what we found in that warehouse," Roy said as the Physician began to examine the contents.
#######
Whoa!! Easy!! Talk about being bounced around. Now I know what a basketball feels like. All that bouncing...no wonder my head hurts. Hurt...hell...It feels like someone slammed it in a door. Since when do I put my head into doors? I bet the Phantom has something to do with this!
##########
"I want a skull series and a toxicology screen," Dr. Brackett instructed.
The nurse assisting him nodded and left to carry out her duties.
"Is he going to be okay?" Roy asked with concern.
"It is hard to tell at the moment," Dr. Brackett said. "We will know more after the tests and x-rays."
The door opened and Dixie McCall walked in. "I heard that Johnny was brought in. How is he doing?" Walking over to the prone paramedic, she began checking his vitals. John Gage and Roy DeSoto were her favorite paramedics.
"Well, he'll definately be our guest for awhile," Dr. Brackett said.
Hey?!? Who keeps opening my eyes and shinning a light into them? Don't they know that light is bright? Gee...some people have no compassion. Hey...why is it suddenly cold in here? My feet are freezing. I know I put socks on and it doesn't snow in California. Does it snow in Kansas? Give me back my blanket!! I have some modesty here you know!! Hey....I wonder if the nurse is cute??
##########
Dr. Brackett walked into Johnny's hospital room and was greeted by Station 51. "Some of that pesticide did get into his system, but not enough to cause any major problems. If anything, he is probably going to feel a little buzzed."
"Johnny has always been ....a buzzed paramedic," Chet cracked and winked at Marco, Mike and Stanley.
"Are you sure you will be able to handle him?" Roy questioned.
"Well....with Dixie in charge, we're prepared for anything." Brackett assured him.
Soft laughter filled the room.
########
Voices? Laughter? Roy. Marco. Chet. Mike. Cap. What are they doing in my head? I've heard of multiple personalities, but this is way too much. Am I asleep? This is definitely one strange dream. Guess I won't be eating any more salami sandwiches before going to bed.
I wish I could open my eyes. My mind feels funny, like it got disconnected. Is that possible? Minds that are disconnected? Wonder if I could make some money off this? That would be great!! The mind of John Gage: Open for all to see. Wonder if Roy would be my agent?
It was early evening as Dr. Brackett flipped through Johnny's chart, noting the results of the second blood screening. He sat the chart on the bed stand and checked Johnny's pulse.
"Gage...scores again...two points!....." Johnny mumbled.
"Easy, there," Dr. Brackett said, grinning. "Time Out, sport. You've been up and down that court a hundred times already."
Shaking his head, Dr. Brackett smiled. John Gage was never a dull person, conscious or unconscious.
That was Dr. Brackett!! What is he doing?? I didn't know he played basketball! This is turning out to be one very strange dream. What next? Blue elephants? Pink ghosts? I haven't been drinking, Cap! I swear! Just coffee!! Plain, black coffee. I'm going have to talk to Marco about his coffee making. Wow, hair in places only Chet could imagine!
Actually my head isn't hurting like it was earlier. I wonder what they gave me? I'm at Rampart. How did I end up in the hospital? Again? I think I have a permanent room here. It wouldn't surprise me a whole lot really. Now only if I could get a couple of permanent nurses, I'd be set.
Fire. There was a fire! It was in a warehouse that smelled strange. It kinda reminded me of a wet dog or the way Chet smells after he eats one of his garlic and Limburger sandwiches!
Man, am I beat. I feel like I have run a marathon with Marco's chili and lost. Maybe I'll do like Brackett says and signal for a Time Out... just rest for a little while. Haven't had a good rest in a long time.
#########
Nurse Dixie McCall stepped into the room. She was about to call it a night and decided to make one last check on her favorite patient before going home. She tucked the blanket in around the sleeping figure, then turned to leave. As she reached the door, she heard Johnny's voice calling out softly..."Time Out!"
John's eyes fluttered open against the bright light. "Will somebody turn off that damn spotlight! My head's splitting apart here!"
After focusing on the ceiling, a voice called out to him.
"Well, well....Sleeping Beauty has finally awoken," Chet laughed. "About time ya made it back to the land of the conscious!"
"Easy, Chet," Stanley said. "Don't want to scare him back into unconscious."
"How do you feel?" Roy asked.
"Like I got my head slammed in a door," Johnny said. "Please tell me I didn't get my head slammed in a door."
"Nope, you didn't," Marco responded with a grin. "Your head got slammed against a door. Big difference."
"Not to my head there isn't," Johnny said gently touching the bandage above his right eye.
"We were a little worried about you for a while." Roy said.
Mike Stoker added, with a smile. "Dr. Brackett said that you kept mumbling stuff about Kansas and Toto and winning the NBA play-offs."
"I was?" Johnny asked shocked. "You're kidding?"
"Nope," Chet said with a smirk. "Matter of fact, Brackett took notes."
"What is this? Pick on me day or something?" Johnny grumbled.
"Not at all," Roy replied in order to soothe Johnny's ruffled feathers. "We were just a little worried about the pesticide you got on you. That bump on your head didn't help matters any."
"We are just glad you're going to be okay," Chet said with an honest look. "I would hate to break..."
"We know...," Everyone said at the same time. "....in a new pigeon."
"Now that we have that settled," Chet said with a "that's enough" tone.
"When can I get out of here?"
"When I know that you won't be flapping your arms and flying off in search of Oz," Brackett said with a smile as he entered the room. "I must say, you are one entertaining patient."
"I don't want to know," Johnny groaned. "Spare me...please."
"I will spare you," Brackett said with a grin. "But these guys might be a different story."
"Come on, Gage... tell us all about your time in LaLa land?" Chet pressured..
Johnny waved him away and asked, "Marco, got any of that stuff you call coffee with you?"
"I'm sure I could go whip up a pot," Marco said slapping his hands together.
"Great. Bring the coffee, give me something to eat and I will tell you all about wet dogs and Chet," Johnny said with a grin.
"This should be good." Roy said with an amused smile. "Feel free to stay, Doc,"
"I would...but duty calls." Brackett said, heading for the door.
"Just what do wet dogs have in common with me, Gage?" Chet demanded to know.
When John's crooked grin appeared, Chet got this very strange feeling.....but the Phantom would wait until the ill was well. Even the Phantom didn't strike when a comrade was down.
The End...or is it?
Writer's Note: I would like to thank Sally Cress for her help in the medical jargon and proofing until her eyes fell out. She went beyond duty to make sure Johnny didn't go to Kansas to play basketball. ManyÖmanyÖmany Thanks from Betty. Thanks Sally!!!
Thanks to Marcia for encouraging me not to give up!!
"Somewhere Else" ©1999 Betty Phipps. "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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