By
“Listen up, men,” said Captain Stanley, as he started roll call. “I've just been informed that we'll be training one of the new probies.”
The men groaned. “Just what we need,” grumbled Chet Kelly. “Another rookie. The last one we had was an absolute disaster. The guy couldn't even hold a hose correctly.”
Hank cleared his throat, shooting the Irishman a stern look. “You'll be happy to know, Kelly, that Reynolds quit the department after he worked with us. McConikee told me that he's now working for the Department of Motor Vehicles.”
“Now the lines there will be even longer,” groaned Marco. “Face it, Cap. The guy was more than a few sandwiches short of a full picnic.”
Captain Stanley chuckled. “Officially, I can't comment, but off the record, I happen to agree with you 100%.”
“So, did the chief tell the new guy's name yet, Cap?” Roy Desoto asked.
“New girl,” answered Hank, drawing confused looks. “The new probie is a woman,” he elaborated.
Five jaws dropped. “The Department is sending us a chick ?” Chet asked incredulously. “Please tell me you're joking, Cap!”
“I'm not, Kelly,” said Hank. It seems that not one, but eight women were admitted to the Fire Academy last time around. From what the Chief told me, a bunch of women petitioned the Department to be allowed to train as fire personnel.”
“But why do we have to get stuck with one?” persisted Chet, his voice taking on a whining tone. “How can we be sure she can even handle the job?”
The Captain sighed. “We will have to wait and see, fellas. Look, I'm not any happier about this than any of you are, but the Chief selected us to work with the first female trainee.”
“What's her name, Cap?” asked Johnny.
“Hayley Jorgensen,” replied Hank. “I'm supposed to meet with her at Headquarters right after we go off-duty tomorrow morning.” He looked down at the clipboard he held in his hands. “Now that that's out of the way, here are your assignments for the day. Chet and Marco, hang hose. C-shift were out most of the night, so they didn't have time to clean them. Gage and Desoto, dorm and dayroom, respectively. Mike, give Big Red a good bath and sweep and mop the bay. I'm cooking today. Any questions? All right, then; get to it.”
As the men broke up to complete their tasks, Mike Stoker finally spoke up. “I have a feeling this is gonna be a complete mess,” he predicted.
Chet grinned. “Maybe not, Stoker,” he smirked. “It might be fun to have a chick around.”
Johnny snorted. “Don't count on it, Kelly,” he grumbled. “The Department tried training female paramedics, remember? Nah, we're gonna have to baby-sit this probie too, just like we did with Karen.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Next Morning
Hank wiped his hands on his pants and knocked on Chief McConikee's door. “Come in,” came the reply.
“Morning, Chief,” the Captain greeted his superior. “You wanted to see me?”
“Come on in, Hank,” smiled the Chief. “Have a seat. Miss Jorgensen isn't hear yet.”
Hank took the chair in front of McConikee's desk. “I have to be honest with you, sir,” he said. “My men weren't exactly thrilled when I told them about this. They raised some very pertinent questions, too.”
“I can understand that, Hank,” answered the Chief. “I was a little skeptical myself, but after reading Miss Jorgensen's file, I think she might surprise all of us.” He handed a manila folder across the desk. “Read her essay on why she wants to be a fireman, excuse me, fire fighter ,” he instructed.
The Captain read the short essay, chuckling when he read Jorgensen's opinions on the Fire Department. “Male chauvinist pigs, huh,” he grinned. “I have to admit, it fits in some cases.”
McConikee laughed. “One Chester B. Kelly comes to my mind,” he smiled. “Do you think he'll be a problem?”
“Well, you know what a prankster he is,” answered Hank. “But, I think the biggest problem will be John Gage. As you know, he and Desoto worked with the first female paramedic trainee. In a nutshell, they were less than impressed.”
“I know; I read their report,” frowned McConikee. “I even recommended that the Department scrap that program for a while. The question is, will you and your men give this woman a chance to prove herself?”
Hank turned the question over in his mind, considering his answer. Finally, he spoke. “Yes, sir, we will. If any of my men steps out of line or gives her any grief, I'll deal with them personally.”
“Good, good,” enthused the Chief. The intercom on his desk buzzed. “Yes, Gloria? What is it?”
“Miss Jorgensen is here, Chief. Shall I send her in?”
“Yes, please.” He looked at Hank. “Here we go, Captain.”
The office door opened and a tall, solidly-built young woman walked in. She smiled at the men nervously and introduced herself. “I'm Hayley Jorgensen,” she said, her voice soft and hesitant.
“Good morning,” replied McConikee. “I'm Pat McConikee and this is Captain Hank Stanley.”
“Pleased to meet you,” answered Hayley. “So, you're my boss, huh, Captain?” she asked, smiling widely.
“Yes, ma'am,” said Hank, shaking her hand. “You'll be working at Station 51.”
After the woman sat down, McConikee outlined her duties and the Department's expectations. Jorgensen listened closely, her eyes intense and focused. She smiled at Hank, who shifted in his seat, a little uncomfortable by the odd look in the woman's clear green eyes.
“Do you have any questions, Jorgensen?” asked the Chief. “Okay, then. Your first shift is day after tomorrow. I except you to be on time. Dismissed.”
Hayley stood up, reaching out to squeeze Captain Stanley's hand. “I look forward to working with you and your crew, Captain,” she said softly, her eyes sparkling brightly.
“Uh, yes, ma'am,” muttered Hank. “If you'll excuse me, I promised my wife that I would stop at the market before I went home. See you day after tomorrow, Jorgensen.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“How did your meeting with the Chief go, honey?” asked Louisa as Hank came in the front door. She was busy trying to feed her youngest daughter, Hannah, who was more interested in her mother's hair than the food she was offered.
“Fine, sweetheart,” smiled the Captain, gently patting his wife's rounded belly. “How're my girls this morning?”
“I'm doing okay, but Miss Hannah here is being uncooperative,” grinned Louisa. “You wanna give it a try, Daddy?”
“Sure, why not? chuckled Hank, taking the spoon from his wife's hand. “C'mere, pumpkin,” he said, lifting Hannah from her high-chair.
“Come on, Hank! Don't keep me in suspense. What's the new trainee like?”
“She's very nice, from what I could tell, but I'm not sure if she can handle the job, honey,” answered Hank. “And it's not because she's woman,” he added hastily, seeing his wife's sour expression.
“Give her a chance, sweetheart,” answered Louisa. “She might surprise you. A lot of people didn't think I was cut out to be a ranch hand, but I proved them wrong.”
“Still, there's something about her that bothers me. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I'll give her the benefit of the doubt. Convincing the rest of the guy won't be easy, though.”
The young woman laughed. “What? Chet and Johnny afraid she'll show them up or something?” she teased. “Like that would be a bad thing. It might deflate their king-sized egos a little.”
Hank smiled. “Like you did, when you tackled Kelly playing football?” he snorted. “I wish I would have had a camera to capture the look on his face!”
“Tell you what, hose jockey,” grinned Louisa. “I'll stop by and remind Chet not to write her off because she's a woman. Maybe I'll even tell her how to defend herself against the Phantom.”
“Good idea, Lou. I'd like you to meet her anyhow, just so she knows someone is on her side.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Next Shift
Hayley walked into the station, more than a little hesitant about her assignment. “At least my Captain is good-looking,” she said to herself. “That will make things a lot easier.”
She looked up as a tall, thin man with unruly dark hair came in behind her. He smiled, sticking out a welcoming hand. “Hi,” he said, “I'm John Gage. You must be Jorgensen.”
Hayley reached out to shake his hand. “Yes, I am,” she answered, taking a good look at the man standing before her. **”Hmm, not bad,”** she thought. **”This assignment is getting better and better.”**
“Morning, Johnny,” said Roy as he walked in. He saw Hayley and nodded a greeting. “Hello.”
“ Roy , this is Hayley Jorgensen, our new probie,” grinned Johnny. “Roy and I are paramedic partners,” he commented.
“Pleased to meet you,” replied Desoto. “Johnny, is Cap here yet? I need to talk to him about something.”
Gage nodded. “His car is in the lot, so he must be here,” he chuckled. “He's probably in the office.”
Just then, Chet and Marco strolled in, arguing about last night's baseball game. “I still think the Dodgers should have won, Marco,” Kelly was saying. “That stupid umpire needs new glasses or something.”
Lopez started to reply, but closed his mouth with a snap when he saw Hayley. His cheeks flushed as he rushed into the locker room without a backward glance.
Jorgensen laughed. “Is he always that shy?” she asked Johnny.
“Just when somebody takes him by surprise. Kelly, this is Hayley Jorgensen, the new trainee.”
The Irishman's face lit up. “Hi there!” he crowed, his eyes twinkling. “Welcome to Station 51.”
Hank came out of the office, followed by Roy . He looked around the bay. “Where're Stoker and Lopez?” he asked. “Morning, Jorgensen.”
“Marco is changing and Mike isn't here yet,” informed Gage. “Scratch that,” he grinned, seeing Stoker's truck pull into the lot. “He just got here.”
“Glad to see you could make it, Stoker,” joked Hank as the engineer ran into the station.
Mike blushed. “Sorry, Cap. My truck wouldn't start.”
The Captain smiled. “Ask Lou to check it out when she gets here,” he chuckled. “Go on, all of you. Get changed. Jorgensen, you can change in my office until we get things sorted out.”
Once everyone was gathered for roll call, Hank handed out the assignments. “Jorgensen, for today, I'd like you to shadow Kelly and Lopez. Show her the ropes, gentlemen. Any questions, see me. Get to work.”
As Johnny and Roy began their morning equipment check, they talked softly about the new probie. “Do you think she'll work out?” asked Gage, frowning as he inventoried the drug box.
“Hard to say, Johnny,” answered Roy . “From what Cap told me, she did very well at the Academy. Top of her class, too.”
“I'm still not sure about the Department training chicks,” grumbled Johnny. “What if she freaks out at a fire? What then?”
“Then you talk to Hank and ask him to deal with it,” said a voice from the doorway.
The paramedics jumped, startled. They looked up to see Louisa standing there, grinning at them, Hannah balanced on her hip.
Johnny grinned back and stood up, reaching out to take the toddler from the young woman's arms. “Good morning, Mrs. Cap,” he teased. “To what do we owe this visit?”
Louisa rolled her eyes. “I came down to see if you were behaving yourself, Johnny,” she answered, winking at Desoto. “Hey, Roy . Your partner sustained any injuries yet?” she joked.
Desoto chuckled, playing along. “Nah, but it's early in the shift. Come back in a few hours and we'll see what happens.”
Johnny glared at his partner. “I don't get hurt that much,” he muttered. “Well, maybe I do, but there's no reason to rub it in.”
“I was just teasing you, Gage,” snickered Louisa. “Is the new trainee here yet?” she asked, changing the subject.
“Yeah, she's out hanging hose with Chet and Marco,” replied Roy . “It's pretty quiet out there, but I don't know if that's good or bad.”
“Knowing Chet as well as I do, it probably means he's up to something,” said Louisa wryly. “A quiet Phantom is a definite sign of trouble.”
The paramedics laughed. Hannah goggled at them for a moment, then let out a stream of high-pitched giggles. “See?” chuckled Johnny. “Even she knows it's a bad sign.”
“She's probably laughing at you , Gage,” needled Chet as he came in. “Hey, Lou. What's up?”
“Not much, Chester . You being good?” grinned Louisa She saw Hayley standing in the doorway and smiled. “Hello, I'm Mrs. Stanley.”
Jorgensen smiled in return, hiding her disappointment. **”Damn! He's married!”** she thought. “Pleased to meet you, ma'am. Hayley Jorgensen.”
“Hey, little sister,” greeting Marco, giving her a gentle hug. “How you feeling today?”
“The same way I've felt every other time I was pregnant,” joked Louisa. “Fat!”
“That just means there's more of you to love,” put in Hank, coming out of the office. “There's my pumpkin!” he called, snatching Hannah from Johnny. “You being a good girl for your Mommy?”
The toddler cooed and snuggled up against her father's chest. Hayley watched him interact with the child, her anger building. She plastered a slight smile on her face, revealing nothing.
“Honey, why don't you come in and sit down?” asked Hank, sliding an arm around his wife's shoulders. “Would you like something to drink?”
“That depends on if you have some coffee that's actually drinkable,” she teased playfully. “That poison you guys brew is so strong, it almost melts the cups!”
Marco grinned. “You know what they say, Lou,” he joked. “It puts hair on our chests.”
“I definitely don't need that, buster,” giggled Louisa, sitting down on the couch beside Henry. The Basset hound woke up and wagged his tail. He moved over and laid his head in the young woman's lap.
“Make yourself comfortable, old man,” smiled Louisa, stroking the dog's head. “God forbid I interrupt your nap.”
Marco chuckled. “Don't worry about him, Lou,” he joked. “Henry can sleep through anything, including the klaxons.”
“Kind of like his namesake,” shot back Louisa, winking at her husband. “Hank can sleep through our alarm clock, especially at 2 a.m. ”
“Here, honey,” said Hank, handing the young woman a glass of milk as he dropped onto the couch next to her. “Baby fuel.”
“Now you know why I pressed you to buy a cow, Hank,” grinned Louisa, taking a hearty swallow of the cold liquid. “Not only do we have three kids drinking this stuff, I need it to ensure that our baby is healthy.”
“How far along are you, Mrs. Stanley?” asked Hayley from the table.
“Please, call me Louisa. Almost four months. But I'm not the only member of this little ‘family' who is adding another mouth,” she said, smiling at Desoto. “How's Jo doing, Roy ? She still having morning sickness?”
Roy beamed. “A little, but it's getting better,” he answered. “Her mother is coming down next Friday to visit for a couple weeks.”
Louisa laughed. “I can see you're just jumping for joy,” she teased. “At least she doesn't harass you about being a paramedic anymore after Joanne gave her a piece of her mind.”
Johnny snorted gleefully. “I would have loved to be a fly on the wall for that conversation!” he snickered, elbowing his partner in the ribs.
The klaxons went off, calling out the engine crew for a dumpster fire. “Don't forget your doctor's appointment, Lou,” Hank called back as he ran out of the room, having deposited Hannah in Johnny's arms.
Louisa waited until the engine was out of ear-shot before spearing Gage and Desoto with a look. “Okay, now that she's not here to listen in, what do you guys really think of having a female fire fighter around?”
The paramedics looked at each other before answering. “She seems nice enough,” began Johnny, “but there's something about her that bugs me.”
“What do you mean, Johnny?” questioned the young woman.
“It's hard to put into words, but I get the impression she's out to prove something.” Gage sighed heavily. “I'm probably just being paranoid.”
“And what about you, Roy?”
“Hayley is a hard worker, but I have to agree with Johnny. I think she's trying to prove something, too.”
“Has Chet pulled any pranks on her yet?” Louisa wanted to know.
“No, Cap told him to lay off until Jorgensen got settled. But I'm sure he's got a few tricks up his sleeve,” grinned Roy .
“I don't doubt that for a second,” answered the young woman. She glanced at the station's clock and stood up. “Will you tell Hank I'll call him later? I have to get going if I'm gonna make it to my appointment on time. See you around.” She scooped Hannah from Johnny's arms and left.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Doctor Sinclair's Office
“Everything looks good, Mrs. Stanley,” said Dr. Cheryl Sinclair. “How are you feeling?”
“Much better, now that I'm not throwing up every morning,” replied Louisa with a grin. “I thought that would never end.”
The doctor smiled. “Are you taking your pre-natal vitamins and following your diet?” she asked.
“With my husband, two brothers, and my mother around, how could I not?” chuckled the young woman. “ Mami checks up on my at least three times a day to make sure I'm eating properly.”
“And how are your other children adjusting?”
“Emma and Matthew like the idea of another brother or sister, but Hannah doesn't quite understand what's going on yet,” smiled Louisa, bouncing her youngest daughter on her knee. “Just last night, she asked me why my tummy was getting bigger. Hank and I tried to explain that I was having another baby, but I don't think she's grasped the concept yet.”
Dr. Sinclair laughed. “I can understand that. When my mother was pregnant with my brother, I asked her the same question.” She paused, looking down at Louisa's chart. “I can schedule the ultrasound whenever you'd like,” she said. “Also, I'd like you to start coming in once a week to have your blood pressure checked. It was slightly elevated, but not enough to really worry about.”
Louisa frowned, concerned. “If you think it's necessary,” she replied. “Two of my closest friends are paramedics, so couldn't they check it for me?”
“I suppose,” allowed the doctor. “Just keep my office updated on the numbers.”
“All right,” answered the young woman, getting up. “I'll check with the receptionist about setting up the ultrasound.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Next Afternoon
“I'll be back soon, honey,” Louisa said to her husband as she walked out the front door. “You want anything special for dinner?”
“Not for the meal itself, but some of Ralph's coffee cake would be nice for dessert,” grinned Hank.
“Your wish is my command, hose jockey,” teased the young woman as she climbed into her car. “I shouldn't be gone more than a couple hours. See you later.”
The Captain went back into the house and checked on his children. Emma and Matthew were busily coloring at the kitchen table, while Hannah was napping in her playpen. He stopped at the refrigerator to grab a cold can of soda before sitting down beside his son. “What you drawing there, slugger?” he asked.
Matthew grinned and held up his picture. “It's you and Mommy,” he answered, looking at his father for approval.
“Looks just like her, too,” smiled Hank, stroking his son's hair. “And what about you, Miss Emma?”
“I'm drawing Buddy,” she giggled, covering her paper. “Don't look ‘til it's finished, Daddy!”
“Okay, okay, I won't,” chuckled the Captain. He picked up a sheet of the paper and a pencil and began his own picture. The trio worked silently, each caught up in his or her own task, until the phone rang.
“Hello, Stanley residence. Hi, Miss McCall. No, Louisa left about a half hour ago. Sure, I'll tell her. Uh huh, right. Okay. Bye.”
Hank moved to stand in front of the window overlooking the back pasture. He grinned as he watched Samson and Saffron, two of their horses, chase each other across the field. He jumped when a small hand tugged on his pant leg.
“I'm done, Daddy,” said Emma, holding up her drawing. “Can we go outside and play in the sandbox now?”
Before Hank could reply, a loud rumble of thunder boomed across the sky. “Not now, Princess. I think it's going to rain. Maybe tomorrow, okay?”
Emma's little face crumpled in disappointment. “All right, Daddy,” she answered. “Will you play Barbies with me instead?”
“Sure, honey. Why don't you go upstairs and get them while I get us a snack?”
The little girl dashed off to collect her playthings. She returned a few minutes later, carrying her doll case. As Hank knelt down to help his daughter unfasten the clasp, footsteps rang on the porch and Mike Stoker came in.
“Hey, Cap,” he greeted. “You might want to put the horses in the barn before it starts raining.”
“Good idea,” replied Hank. “Can you watch the kids for a few minutes?”
“No problem,” said the engineer, bending down to hug his niece and nephew, who were clamoring for his attention.
The Captain ran out to the pasture, whistling loudly. The horses pricked their ears and followed as he led them to shelter. Just as Hank closed the stall doors, the sky opened and rain poured down.
A few miles up the canyon, Louisa sat in John Gage's kitchen, sharing a cup of coffee with her friend. She looked up when she heard thunder crash and grinned.
“Sounds like the weatherman was right, Johnny,” she commented. “I hope Hank has enough sense to get the horses out of the pasture.”
“I'm sure he does,” answered the paramedic. “But I know you didn't come here to talk about the weather. What's really on your mind?” he asked.
Louisa chuckled. “You're right; I didn't. Johnny, I need your help, but it has to be a secret.”
Gage frowned. “Help with what?” he questioned.
“You remember I had a doctor's appointment yesterday? Well, Dr. Sinclair told me that my blood pressure was a little high. She said it's nothing to be alarmed about, but she wants to keep an eye on it, just in case.”
“Okay, so where do I come in?” asked Johnny.
“I want you to take my pressure without Hank knowing,” answered the young woman. “I don't want him to get all uptight over something that might turn out to be nothing.”
Johnny leaned back in his chair and gazed at his friend. “I guess I could do that,” he said finally. “Just how high are we talking here?”
“The last reading was 144/96,” said Louisa, bracing for the paramedic's reaction.
“That's not so bad,” replied Johnny. “Okay, I'll help you out. But,” he went on, “if it goes any higher, you have to tell Cap about it. Deal?”
“I supposed,” grinned the young woman. “In exchange for you monitoring my blood pressure, how about you join us for dinner tonight? I'm making my brother's spaghetti. Shoot, I need to get to the market and get some garlic bread and a coffee cake. Want to come along and keep me company?”
“On one condition: I drive and you relax,” grinned Gage. “ And , I wash the dishes after we eat.”
Louisa laughed. “A man after my own heart,” she giggled. “Saddle up, hose jockey. Hank's probably wondering where I am, so we better get a move on.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Later That Evening
“Lou, that was incredible,” said Hank, pushing back his plate.
“I agree,” said Johnny. “Too bad the Department won't let us hire you to cook for us, Louisa,” he joked.
“Flattery will get you an extra serving of dessert, Johnny,” teased the young woman, pushing back her chair. “I suppose you both want ice cream, too?”
Gage stood up and followed her into the kitchen. “Can I give you a hand?” he offered, opening a cabinet and taking out a stack of plates.
“Thanks,” replied Louisa, taking a carton of ice cream from the freezer. “I appreciate it. How's the new trainee working out? Hank doesn't really talk about her much.”
“She's getting the hang of things,” answered the paramedic. “She's a fast learner, I gotta give her that. All you have to do is show her something once, and she's good to go.”
The young woman smiled. “Has the Phantom made an appearance yet?” she asked, chuckling softly.
“He tried to, but Jorgensen managed to dodge it,” grinned Johnny. “Chet was the one who ended up getting wet, not Hayley.”
Louisa burst out laughing. “Maybe old Chester B. has met his match,” she commented, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
“Hey, what's holding up dessert?” Hank called from the dining room.
“Hold your horses,” Louisa called back, winking at Johnny. “It's coming; we're just having a discussion.”
Louisa picked up the coffee cake and went back into the dining room, motioning for Gage to follow. As she set the pan on the table, the phone rang. “I'll get it! Hello, Stanley residence.”
“Hi, Mrs. Stanley, this is Hayley Jorgensen. Could I speak to Captain Stanley, please?”
“Hank, it's for you,” said the young woman, handing the receiver to her husband. “Jorgensen.”
“Hello? Yes, Hayley, what can I do for you? Uh huh, I see. Have you called headquarters yet? All right, hope you feel better. Good night.” Hank hung up the phone and came back to the table. “Jorgensen won't be in next shift; she's got that flu bug that's been going around. Bruce Taylor from 110's will be filling for her,” he said, reclaiming his chair.
“I hope it's nothing too serious,” said Louisa. “Maybe I should take over some soup or something.”
The Captain smiled. “That would be really sweet of you, honey,” he said. “She lives on Pico. I'll get the address for you. Now, how about a piece of that cake?”
“ Mami sure was right when she said that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach,” teased Louisa, cutting into the dessert.
Two Days Later
Louisa stood on Hayley Jorgensen's doorstep, carrying a gallon-sized Thermos full of hot chicken soup. She raised her hand to knock, stepping back in surprise as the door swung open before her knuckles hit the wood.
“Yeah?” said Hayley, hiding her annoyance. “Oh, hello, Mrs. Stanley. What are you doing here?”
Louisa smiled and held up the Thermos. “I brought you some soup. How are you feeling?”
“Rotten,” muttered Jorgensen, moving aside. “Please, come in. Can I get you anything?”
“No, thank you; I don't plan on staying long. Where would you like me to put this?”
“I'll take it,” answered the fire fighter, reaching for the container. “I'll get this back to you as soon as possible.”
The young woman smiled. “Take your time,” she said. “I'm sure you're not up for company, so I better get going. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call me.” She walked out the door, missing the sour expression on Jorgensen's face.
“Thanks again,” she said, closing the door. A sneer twisted her full lips. “Oh, don't worry, Mrs. Stanley. If I need anything, I'll call your husband, not you. I got big plans for Captain Stanley, believe me.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Rampart Hospital
Dixie McCall looked up from the chart she was updating when Dr. Brackett approached her desk. “Rough morning, Kel?” she asked, noting the doctor's haggard appearance.
“You can say that again, Dix,” muttered the doctor. “I swear, if people would use a little common sense, they wouldn't have to come down here for treatment.”
The nurse bowed her head to hide her amused grin. “You mean Mr. Cole coming in with an infected finger because he didn't take the time to clean it properly?”
“Exactly,” grumbled Brackett. “Now, because of his ignorance, he's in danger of losing that finger. I don't get it; some antibiotic ointment and a Band-Aid would have prevented the infection.”
“We're not babysitters Kel,” commented Dixie . “Although, sometimes it feels like it.”
“Feels like what, Dix?” questioned Louisa, coming up behind Brackett. “Patients giving you a hard time again, Doc?” she grinned.
“Nah, just the usual stuff,” he replied. “What brings you here? You're not sick, are you?”
The young woman shook her head. “Not even a sniffle,” she answered. “In fact, I feel great!”
Brackett laughed. “That's good to here. Just do me one favor: if you cut yourself, make sure you clean it properly.” The doctor turned and went into his office, closing the door behind him.
Louisa frowned, puzzled. “What was that all about?” she wondered, raising an eyebrow at Dixie .
“A simple case of not using prevention and a little common sense,” replied the nurse. “I met Station 51's new trainee the other day,” she went on. “How's she doing?”
“From what I've heard, Hayley is learning fast. But she's not working today. She's got the flu. I dropped off some soup at her place before I came over here.”
Dixie quirked a well-groomed eyebrow. “Am I hearing things or do I sense that visiting Hayley did thrill you?” she asked.
Louisa blushed. “Your hearing's fine, Dix,” she said. It could be just my imagination, but I get the impression that Jorgensen doesn't like me for some reason. I've made a point of being nice to her, considering what she puts up with at the Station.”
“Chet Kelly's been playing pranks on her, I gather?” asked McCall.
“Well, according to Johnny, he tried, but he was the one who ended up being the victim,” chuckled the young woman.
“You got that right,” grinned Gage himself, coming into the Emergency Department, Roy right behind him. “Look at that, Roy . Two beautiful ladies, standing right here in front of us,” he flirted. “Must be our lucky day.”
The women laughed, enjoying the compliment. “Nah, I think it's our lucky day, fellas,” chuckled Dixie . “Of all the emergency departments in town, you had to come into mine,” she went on, misquoting a famous movie line.
“How could we resist?” answered the paramedic, his eyes twinkling. “Rampart has the prettiest staff and visitors in L.A. ”
Louisa rolled her eyes and giggled. “Johnny, some day medical science will invent a medication to cure shameless flirts,” she teased, patting her friend's cheek playfully. “When that happens, I plan to make sure you don't get any.”
Roy snorted and turned away to hide his grin. “Come on, Johnny. We need to restock. You can flirt with Mrs. Cap and Dixie later.”
“I'm coming; I'm coming,” muttered Johnny. “See you later, ladies.”
“If you two get back to the station before I get there, tell Hank I'm on my way,” Louisa called after them, receiving a raised hand in response. “I promised Hank I would stop by the bakery and bring him and the boys some cannolis today,” she told the nurse. “Martino's has the best in town.”
“They sure do,” said Dr. Mike Morton, dropping a chart on the desk. “Hello, Mrs. Stanley. How are you and the bump doing today?”
“Hi yourself, Doc. We're just fine, thank you for asking.” Louisa paused and stared at him intensely. “You okay? You look a little worse for wear.”
Morton smiled. “Nothing a few hours of uninterrupted sleep won't cure,” he replied. “With Joe out with the flu, I've been pulling double shifts all week.” As if to prove his point, he yawned and rubbed his reddened eyes.
“It's making the rounds in the fire department, too,” commented the young woman. “Hank's new trainee has it.” She glanced at her watch. “If I want to get the fresh cannolis, I better shove off. See you later, Dix, Dr. Morton.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Louisa pulled her car into Station 51's back parking lot and climbed out. Marco hailed her from the top of the hose tower, waving as she passed by. “Hey, little sister! What's in the box?”
“Why don't you come down and find out, Tarzan?” she hollered back. “And don't forget your monkey. Wait a minute; that's no ape, that's Chet. Sorry, Kelly. All the hair fooled me.”
The Irishman laughed and started to imitate a chimpanzee, much to Marco's amusement. “Got any bananas?” he joked. scratching his armpit.
“Not today, King Kong,” grinned Louisa, swatting his hand away from the bakery box she was carrying. “Don't get greedy; you'll get your share.”
Marco walked over to his sister and gently patted her rounded belly. “Hey in there,” he said. “This is your Uncle Marco. Hurry up and grow so you can come out.”
“Oh, he or she doesn't need any encouragement to do that, pal,” chuckled the young woman. “Before long, I won't be able to see my own feet.”
“You can't now anyways,” Chet pointed out. “They're covered with your shoes.”
“Good point,” replied Louisa. “Go make yourself useful and make some coffee, ape man. On second thought, let me make the coffee. Yours is bad enough to gag a maggot.”
Marco burst out laughing, ignoring his friend's sour expression. “It's not even coffee,” he snorted. “More like toxic waste.”
The young woman giggled and walked into the dayroom. Hank looked up from his newspaper and smiled. “Hi, sweetheart,” he said, pushing Henry off his lap and standing up.
“Working hard as usual, I see,” grinned Louisa. “Assemble your crew, hose jockey. I come bearing the gift of sustenance.” She handed him the box and went over to the cupboard for the coffee.
The rest of the crew materialized as soon as the aroma of freshly-brewed coffee filled the air. “Hey, little sister,” grinned Mike Stoker, playfully patting her rounded belly. “How's it going?”
“Get away, Mikey,” chuckled Louisa, moving away from his hands. “You smell like engine wax, or is that your new cologne?”
“Yeah, issued by the Department,” put in Johnny, pouring himself a steaming mug. “Eau de Big Red.”
The young woman rolled her eyes. “Better stand back for the stampede of fireman groupies,” she joked, making the paramedic choke on his coffee. “I seem to remember Marco telling me about a certain young lady who used to send you chocolate chip cookies, my friend”
Gage stared at the Latino fireman in horror. “You told her?!?” he exclaimed.
“He certainly did, Johnny. Not only that, but how she ended up dating Chet instead of you.”
“Aw man! I knew that little fiasco would come back to haunt me some day,” grumbled the paramedic.
“There are great, Louisa,” broke in Roy , trying to distract his partner. “Martino's, right?”
“Only the best for my favorite hose jockeys,” confirmed Louisa. “Hank, that reminds me. Mami asked me to find out what you want for your birthday. Any suggestions?”
The Captain bit his lip thoughtfully, mulling over his wife's question. “How about a day of Gage and Kelly not arguing? Or would that be next to impossible to achieve?” he grinned.
Marco laughed. “Mama is good, but not that good, Cap. That would take a miracle. Maybe if we asked Father Herrera to ask God to give it a shot?”
“Marco, you're terrible!” snickered Louisa. “Johnny and Chet don't argue; they just have very loud discussions.”
“Okay, I think I've got it,” said Hank. “I'd like a day alone with my beautiful wife so we can spend some quality time together. How's that?”
“Sounds good to me, handsome. I'm sure Mami would be happy to watch the kids for us.”
“Then I'll call Headquarters and arrange for some time off. Can you call that little bed-and-breakfast in Malibu and make reservations?”
“Consider it done, honey,” smiled Louisa. “We might even get the chance to leave our room.”
“That was more information than I needed to hear,” said Chet, looking down at the table.
“Where's your sense of romance, Chester ?” teased the young woman. “You think that because Hank and I are an old married couple, we don't, uh, enjoy each other's company anymore?”
“Considering that bump you got, I'm sure you do,” grinned the Irishman. “As for old, nah, not you two.”
“Good answer, pal,” chuckled Hank. “Just for that, I won't assign you latrine duty next shift.”
At that moment, the phone rang. “L.A. County Fire Department, Captain Stanley speaking. Hi, Mom. Yeah, she's right here.” He turned and handed the phone to Louisa. “Your mother,” he informed.
“Thanks, honey. Yes, Mami , I'm still here. Sure, no problem. I'll stop on my way over. What? Okay, I'll tell him. Bye.” She hung up and turned to her brother. “Marco, Mami said to tell you that Lynda called looking for you,” she said with a wink. “She sounded quite anxious to talk to you, too.”
The Latino man colored. “I told her I was on duty today. I guess I better call her back. Excuse me.” He rushed out of the room, followed closely by Chet.
“Who's Lynda?” Roy wanted to know.
Louisa grinned. “Marco's new girlfriend. I don't know her very well, but she's rather attached to him, if you catch my drift.”
“Is she a very, um, curvy redhead by any chance?” asked Johnny.
“That's her. Why? Do you know her, Johnny?”
“She works at Rampart,” answered the paramedic. “She saw Marco that day he picked me up after my appointment and lit up like a Christmas tree.”
“I'm sorry I asked,” chuckled the young woman. “I better get going. See you later, guys.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
One Week Later
“Good morning, men. Good to have you back, Jorgensen,” said Hank as he started roll call. “C-shift had a quiet night, so they already washed the engine, Stoker. McConikee has informed me that a representative from the New York City Fire Department will be visiting us some time today. I'd like everything to be in order when he gets here. As for your assignments, Gage, I want you and Jorgensen to clean the dorm, floor and windows included. Desoto and Lopez, hang what hose there is to be done, Kelly, the dayroom is yours. Michael, you're got the latrine, and I'll be cooking today. That's all; get to work.”
As the crew split up to complete their assigned duties, Hayley reluctantly followed Johnny into the dorm. She only half-listened as the paramedic talked, outlining the procedures.
As he opened the supply closet, Johnny was hit square in the face with a water bomb. “Chet!” he yelled, his hair dripping. “I'm gonna murder you!”
The Irishman popped out of the dayroom, an innocent look on his face. “What are you screaming about, Gage? You forget to shower this morning?” he grinned. “Excuse me for pointing out the obvious, but you're wet.”
“No kidding,” grumbled Johnny, taking a towel from the shelf and rubbing his face with it. “Go ahead and get started, Jorgensen. I'll be back as soon as I change my shirt.” He walked off, muttering under his breath.
Hayley bit back a smile as she took a stack of sheets from the cabinet. By the time the paramedic reappeared, she had finished changing half of the beds. “Does he always do that?” she asked Johnny.
“Yeah,” answered Gage. “But if he gets out of hand, we just call in Cap's wife. She's the only one, other than Cap, of course, that can foil the Phantom.”
“How does she do that?” questioned Hayley, feigning interest.
“Before she married Cap, Lou played the mother of all pranks on Kelly. She convinced him to hold a Halloween party in an old, abandoned mansion and made it look like she's been bitten by a vampire.” He launched into an account of the elaborately planned prank. By the time he was done, Hayley was breathless from laughter.
“Chet actually believed that she was a vampire?” she gasped, still giggling. “I would have loved to see that!”
“Remind me to show you the pictures I took sometime,” chuckled Johnny. “Lou's prank took a lot of planning, but the final effect was well worth it.”
“Did I hear someone mention my name?” said Louisa, coming into the dorm. “Hi, Johnny. Hello, Hayley. What was worth the effect?”
“Your famous vampire trick,” replied the paramedic. “If I hadn't been in on it, I would have believed you were one of the undead.”
The young woman laughed. “Remember the look on Chet's face when I ‘bit' Roy ? I thought he was going to faint right there!”
“I knew it was a trick all along,” protested Chet, coming up behind them. “I was just playing along.”
“Sure you were, Kelly,” answered Louisa. “You screamed just like someone in those cheesy horror movies you're always watching.”
“All right, all right, I'll admit it. You scared the pants off me,” said the Irishman. “Especially when Mike ‘stabbed' you with the stake. I thought for sure you were dead!”
“Just the magic of special effects, my friend. Remember that prank if you ever get the urge to put a dead rat in someone else's glove compartment.”
Hayley's jaw dropped. “He did what ? That's just sick.”
“He's lucky it wasn't Hank's car,” grinned Louisa. “Otherwise, Chet would be on a first-name basis with every single tile in the latrine!”
“Who says he's not ?” needled Johnny. “Wait, I forgot. Stoker drew latrine duty this shift.”
“What did he do?” asked the young woman with a chuckle. “Forget to wax Big Red?”
“Nah, I just decided to give Kelly a break for a change,” answered Hank, coming out of his office. “Hi, sweetheart. What are you doing here?”
“Do I need an excuse to check up on, I mean , visit you guys?” questioned Louisa. “Actually, Johnny asked me to come,” she said, glancing at the paramedic, praying that he would play along. “He told me that Hayley hasn't had the chance to see how blood pressures are taken, and I offered to let him take mine.”
Gage slapped his forehead with the palm of his hand. “That's right, I did,” he commented. “I'll go get my gear. Have a seat in the kitchen, Lou.”
“Why didn't you just ask one of us?” wondered Marco. “We would have let you strangle us with the cuff.”
Louisa shot her brother a look, warning him to keep quiet. She had told him about Dr. Sinclair wanting to keep an eye on her blood pressure, emphasizing the fact that it was to be kept a secret from her husband.
“Okay, here we go,” said Johnny, coming into the dayroom. “Hello, Mrs. Stanley, I'm John Gage, a paramedic with the Los Angeles County Fire Department,” he joked with a crooked grin. “Could you roll up your sleeve for me?”
The young woman laughed. “Are you sure you're qualified, young man? I want to see some identification.”
“Very funny,” chuckled the paramedic. “If you're not going to cooperate, we can always call Vince and put you under protective custody.”
“All right, all right,” said Louisa, pushing up her sleeve.
“Okay, Hayley, come closer so you can see what I'm doing. This is a BP cuff, otherwise known as a sphygmomanometer. It goes around the patient's upper arm like this,” he said, demonstrating. “Then you pump it up and, using your stethoscope, you listen for the sound of the blood going through the artery. The first reading you get is the systolic pressure and the second reading is the diastolic pressure.” He deflated the cuff and removed it from Louisa's arm. “Your BP is fine, Lou. 122 over 74, right where it should be.”
“That's good to know. At least I don't have pre-eclampsia.” Seeing Jorgensen's confused look, she elaborated. “That is when a pregnant woman's blood pressure is too high. It can lead to serious complications for both the mother and baby if it's not treated.”
“Luckily, you never had any trouble with your pregnancies, honey,” said Hank.
“You mean getting pregnant, or staying pregnant, hose jockey?” teased the young woman. “Don't forget the miscarriage I had before Matthew and Emma were born. Dr. Sinclair told me afterwards that if that baby had been born, he most likely wouldn't have lived.”
“Speaking of pregnancies, Jo had her first ultrasound yesterday,” said Roy . “We're having a boy!” he grinned.
“Congratulations, Roy . Now maybe you and Chris won't feel so outnumbered. Have you picked a name yet?”
“Phillip Roy,” answered the senior paramedic. “What about you? Is this one a boy or a girl?”
Hank grinned proudly. “A boy,” he said. “His first name will be Robert, but we haven't chosen a middle name yet.”
“Maybe you haven't, Hank, but I have. Our son's name will be Robert James Stanley,” retorted Louisa.
“Yes, dear,” said the Captain, gently patting his wife's bulging belly. “”Honey, he kicked!”
“You should feel it from where I am, Hank,” grinned Louisa. “I have no idea why, but this baby kicks harder than Emma, Matthew, and Hannah ever did. If I didn't know better, I'd swear I was carrying a soccer champion.”
Haley approached shyly. “May I feel the baby, Mrs. Stanley?” she whispered.
The expectant mother nodded. She took the trainee's hand and placed it on her belly. Jorgensen's eyes lit up when the baby moved. “Wow,” she breathed. “It's amazing!”
“I hope you have the good fortune to feel this first hand someday, Hayley,” said Louisa softly. “It's the most precious gift a woman can give to the man she loves,” she added, smiling at Hank.
Chet snickered. “Then you must really love, Cap, Louisa,” he joked.
“I do, Chester . I'd have to, since labor is no walk in the park. Conceiving is fun, but the chore of pushing one these kids out sucks.”
“I can believe that, sweetheart,” chuckled the Captain. “When Hannah was born, you called me every name in the book, and then some!”
Louisa rolled her eyes. “You try squeezing something the size of a cantaloupe out of an opening the size of a lemon and see how painful it is,” she grinned. “But, in the end, it's worth it.”
“That's what my wife always said, too,” said a voice. The crew turned to see Chief McConikee watching from the doorway.
“Hey, Chief,” greeted Hank. “Come by to check up on us?”
McConikee laughed. “Something like that,” he answered. “How's it going, Jorgensen? You learning anything from this motley crew?”
“Yes, sir,” replied Hayley. “But the most important thing I've picked up is how to dodge a Phantom prank.”
“Maybe you should pass that lesson along to Johnny,” chuckled Louisa, winking at the paramedic.
Johnny grinned. “Why, when I have you to get revenge for me, Lou.” He turned to the Chief. “We were telling Jorgensen how Lou convinced Chet she was a vampire.”
McConikee burst out laughing a second time. “That was one prank I'll never forget, as long as I live,” he snorted gleefully. “I never thought a human being could turn as pale as Kelly did, but I was proven wrong.”
“But it all worked out in the end. To this day, Chet hasn't played one single prank on me since then,” giggled Louisa.
“That's just because I value my life,” replied the Irishman. “I now know better than to tangle with Mrs. Cap.”
“Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?” laughed Stoker, earning a glare from Kelly. “What? Don't get mad at me because you were slow learning not to mess with my baby sister?” he grinned.
The Chief held up his hands, ending the banter. “Enough, guys. Hank, could you and Jorgensen join me in the office so we can go over a few things?” He turned to Louisa. “My wife mentioned that you were going to stop by today. Are you on your way over now?”
“As soon as I corner Marco for a minute,” she replied, winking at the Latino fireman. “Is she feeling any better?”
“A visit from you will perk her up. You know that she considers you part of the family.”
Louisa grinned wickedly. “In that case, don't you owe me about twenty years back allowance, ‘Dad'?” she teased.
The crew laughed. “Careful, lass,” chuckled McConikee. “Keep talking sassy like that and I might have to put you over my knee.”
“That never worked,” put in Marco, his moustache twitching.
His sister rolled her eyes. “Worked on you , though,” she joked. “Come on, you big ape. I need to speak to you before I leave. See you later guys, Hayley.”
“You don't have to pull my arm out of its socket, Lou,” groused Marco as she dragged him into the dorm. “What is this all about?”
“Hank's birthday, what else? Mami and I are planning a surprise party and I didn't want him to hear me tell you about it!” answered Louisa. “ Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to keep him busy away from the house until party time.”
“Just tell me what to do and it'll be done, little sister.”
“Okay, I was thinking, between you, Johnny, and Roy, the three of you could keep him busy running errands. Think you can handle it?”
“What about Chet and Mike?” Marco wanted to know.
“Mike will be helping me set up the picnic tables, and Chet, well, let's just say I have special plans for him.”
“I'm afraid to ask,” grinned the Latino man.
“Just keep your mouth shut until I can get the rest of the guys in on this,” smiled Louisa. “This is going to be one birthday party my husband will never forget!”