Lost in the Stormdrain!
Roy carefully
backed the squad into the vehicle bay and parked it in its usual spot, before
Johnny got out he got out the mic and dispatched Sam that they were back in
quarters.
"Squad
51 in quarters" said Johnny.
"Squad
51" Sam answered.
They left the
squad in the vehicle bay and entered the break room to pour themselves a hot
cup of coffee.
"John,
Roy, how did the rescue call go?" asked Hank.
"Pretty
fine Cap, the man had a back injury but he is gonna be alright he's over at
Rampart general where Dr. Early is admitting him for observation." said
Johnny.
"I'm glad
to hear that guys, roll call in five minutes"
"Right
Cap"
Cap stopped
himself mid-step on his way out of the dayroom, and he quickly turned back
toward Johnny and Roy, raising his clipboard. "Oh, yeah... before I forget,
10s is short-staffed for C-shift tomorrow."
Johnny and
Roy both put down their coffee cups and looked at their captain with interest,
as he continued. "They've got one guy on vacation, Winger is out another
two weeks with that broken wrist, and now they've got a guy out with the flu.
They're scrambling... either of you two interested in hauling hose for a day?
The other guys passed, unless 10s gets desperate."
Roy shook his
head, and picked up his coffee for a quick sip. "Can't do it, Cap --I'm
already working C shift here tomorrow for Charlie. His sister's getting married."
Cap rubbed
his chin, remembering. "That's right...I saw you on the roster. How about
you, John?"
Johnny smiled
slightly, nodding his head slowly. "10s, huh? Man, it's been a while.
That was my station before I joined the paramedic program. Thought I'd never
want to do anything else. That could be a nice change of pace for a day -
kinda like déjà vu all over again. I'll do it."
"Good
man. I'll let them know."
Johnny turned
to face Roy as Cap headed toward his office. "Think about that, Roy.
We'll be working out of different stations tomorrow."
Officers Pete
Malloy and Jim Reed were on midday patrol just cruising down the busy streets
of Los Angeles.
"Pete,
what are you thinking about?" asked Jim.
"Oh nothing,
Jim" said Pete.
"I just
want to plan a great barbecue cookout this Sunday with you, Jean, Jimmy, and
the rest of the gang that's all"
"That's
sounds great Pete"
"Yeah,
it sure will be."
Just then their
conversation was cut short by the radio call from the voice of female dispatcher
Shaaron Clairidge.
"1 Adam-12,
1 Adam-12 meet 1 L 120 on tac 2"
"1 Adam-12
Roger" said Jim.
Reed peeked
expectantly at his partner out of the corner of his eye. A "tac 2"
call generally meant they weren't going to have a typical shift. Often the
break in routine was welcome...
But sometimes
it wasn't.
Sgt. MacDonald
had gotten a somewhat panicked phone call from Therese LaPaglia. Therese was
the widow of Officer Arturo LaPaglia who had been killed in the line of duty
7 1/2 months ago leaving her alone to raise their two boys. At 13 and 11,
the rascals were just the right age to frazzle the nerves of a single mother.
Therese had
been stoically trying to handle the kids without burdening the department
with her troubles, partly out of pride and partly, embarassment. Mack was
one of the few who had any inkling of the turmoil in the household, and even
he didn't know the extent of it until half an hour ago when he walked into
the LaPaglia living room for the first time in months.
"She wouldn't
want me to go into it," Mack noted. "Most of it isn't relevant.
But the boys cut their afternoon classes and their bikes are missing."
Malloy frowned
and shook his head slightly in frustration. 'The Job can be Hell on families,'
he thought as his partner inquired as to whether friends and neighbors had
been contacted. 'I hope my godson never gets to understand that firsthand.'
In response
to Reed's question, Mack supplied some additional information.
"Actually,
a couple other kids from the neighborhood are missing too. There's no gang
activity in the area but Therese thinks she overheard David say something
about an 'initiation'. She's afraid they might do something stupid, or dangerous,
or both."
"So you
want us to help canvas the area?" Jim asked, though it was really more
of a statement. "But Mack, I don't understand... why are we going tac
2 with this?"
"Like
I said, she doesn't want the whole department knowing her problems. Well,
really, the kids' problems. And besides, they haven't been gone all that long."
"OK, Mack.
So, where do you want us to start looking?"
"I'm already
checking out the area between the house and the school. I'd like you and Pete
to take Rosemont-north."
Reed acknowledged,
"Rosemont-north, Roger."
The communication
ended on an unexpected and unsettling note when Mack admitted, "You know
guys... this looks for all the world like no big deal... but I've got a bad
feeling about it."
After replacing
the hand mike, Jim looked at his watch and tried to dispell the palpable tension
in the squad car. "It won't be long 'til dinner time," he observed.
"They'll head home when their stomachs start rumbling loud enough."
"Or the
thunder," Pete added, countering Jim's thin smile with a distracted glance
out the side window. The forecast was for early evening thunderstorms and
the clouds were already lining up, thick and grey, on the horizon.
"No kid's
gonna want to be out riding his bike in that."
~~~~~~~~~~
Firefighter-paramedic
Roy DeSoto was a placid individual, and that character trait was certainly
serving him in good stead on his overtime duty with C-shift. He parked the
squad in the bay at the hospital hoping he'd finally get a quiet 15 minutes
to scarf down a late afternoon lunch. It had been non-stop action all day
for Station 51.
Roy rolled
up the squad's windows in case the sky decided to open up. Then he walked
through the entrance to the emergency room, bracing himself for more ribbing
from his comrades and friends.
On his way
to the nurses station, the paramedic passed by Dr. Morton who had his nose
buried in a patient's chart. Suddenly Morton stopped and looked up in puzzlement.
With understanding came a mischieveous grin as the physician quipped, "Mmmmmm...
Sexy..." then with a sigh added, "Why is it the good ones are always
married?"
The next instant
the man was all business again, scanning the chart as he headed down the hallway.
At the nurses
station, Dixie McCall almost seemed to be waiting for the paramedic. She stared
up at him through long, dark lashes, a crooked smile on her face. "Trying
to make JoAnne jealous, Roy? I don't think smelling prettier than she does
is the best way to go about it."
"My partner?"
DeSoto inquired, ignoring the teasing.
"They're
in treatment room 3... Domestic dispute, huh?" Dixie asked and Roy nodded.
"How's the wife?"
"The police
took her in to dry out. What happens next 'll depend on if the guy presses
charges... Guess she didn't appreciate getting the girlfriend's bottle of
perfume for her anniversary present."
"Go figure."
Roy turned
to go looking for his partner but found Red (Robin) Harrison and Dr. Joe Early
were already headed toward him. Harrison had the jolly sense of humour one
might expect out of a fellow named Red, but not the hair colour. The smiling,
sandy-blonde man with the sometimes serious grey eyes would look equally at
home on a rugby field or in an opera house.
"There's
my 'Charlie Girl'," he said with a grin when he spotted DeSoto. He turned
to the silver haired doctor beside him and added, "I think he wants me
to feel more at home working with him. I tried to tell him that's not how
Charlie got his name..."
Dr. Early looked
about to comment but Roy piped in first. "Doc, please," he practically
begged, "not a word, OK?"
"Honestly,
Roy! Do you really think I'd sink so low as to make fun of you over something
like this?" Early asked sounding just a little irritated. "Personally,
I think it's quite admirable the way you're trying to get in touch with your
feminine side."
Dixie chuckled
while Roy just offered up a slightly pained smile. "Thanks, doc."
"Don't
mention it."
~~~~~~~~~~
As Harrison
tooled the squad on toward the station, two oversized raindrops went splat
against the windshield. Two raindrops, then nothing. The sky had grown so
dark, it seemed to be a of couple hours later than it actually was. But for
the moment, the greedy clouds seemed content to keep building up their water
content. When the storm finally let loose, it was gonna be a doozy.
"Hey Princess,"
Red teased. "What say we roll down these windows so we can take in that
smoggy, Los Angeles air? I'm willing to risk it."
Roy shot an
angry glance at the C-shift regular only to wind up melting into an exasperated
but genuine grin. Red had that effect on people. The paramedics began cranking
on the handles in unison and, as they did so, a dispatch came out over the
radio.
"Squad
10. Possible adult electrocution. Fifty-seven, thirty-two Sage Canyon Road.
5-7-3-2 Sage Canyon. Time out..."
"Jeez!
Sage Canyon?!..." Red exclaimed. "That's like, *way* out in the
boonies... even for 10s."
"I wonder
if they've got weather up there?" Roy mused as the thought occurred to
him that the call might be lightning related.
Red hadn't
really heard Roy's question. "Squad 10... Ya know, DeSoto, I hate to
say it. But it looks like your partner got the better deal in this overtime
gig. I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think Engine 10 's had a
run all day."
After washing
down a bite of tuna sandwich with a swig of vending machine soda, Roy sounded
his disagreement. "Nah. If you think Johnny's enjoying this little paid
vacation, I'd bet ya twenty bucks you're wrong. My partner's not exactly the
type to sit around and contemplate the meaning of life."
"Can't
argue with ya there," Red chuckled in agreement.
"Now,
I'll admit, he can get sucked into an hour of television here and there. And
he's spent enough time at Rampart to become A-shift's resident soap opera
expert... You know... Donald and... N-Nelly? on..."
"Nancy!"
the other paramedic corrected then tried to cover his embarrassment by looking
in the side-view mirror.
"Um, yeah,"
said Roy only half suppressing a smile. "Anyway, the thing is, the TV
can only keep Johnny distracted for just so-long... If I know my partner,
he's probably climbing the walls right about now."
Moments later,
when Reed & Malloy arrived at the 1100 block of Rosemont-north there were
still no sign of the two boys so their next stop could be headed on the west
end of Chesterfield lane.
"You want
to try Chesterfield lane, maybe we'll turn up something?" asked Jim.
"Sure
why not." said Pete.
The lighting
flashed across the sky with the crack of thunder right behind it. Johnny and
his partner from 10's Cael Perry arrived on scene of the electrocution.
"Johnny...
Hey Gage," Cael prompted the visiting firefighter who was staring absently
into his half empty coffee mug.
The abrupt
interruption of his daydream caused Johnny to nearly spill his coffee on the
table. "Ya know, we should be out on that run," he complained.
Cael smirked
at his impatient companion then pretended to agree. "You're right, Gage.
They may SAY lightning never strikes twice... But that's all just hype."
The comment
elicited a disapproving grunt with accompanying rolling of eyes. Johnny polished
off the last of his java then began musing, "You know... I almost wish
we..." But he trailed off as Cael's eyes grew wide with trepidation.
For some people,
'beware what you wish for' was just an adage. For firefighters it was a cardinal
rule.
John rose from
the table and carried his mug to the sink. "At least I've got this here
dish to wash." With a half hearted smirk he added, "Ah yes, and
I can see the jealousy in your eyes, my friend. Not a pretty picture."
So far, Gage's
tour of duty at 10s had involved washing dishes, hosing down the vehicle bay,
washing the trucks, and equipment maintenance. God help him he was just about
ready to start dusting the furniture!
From behind
him, Cael commented, "I could go get you the hedge clippers if you promise
not to hurt yourself with 'em."
Gage glanced
over his shoulder, almost wistfully, then back out the window that was over
the sink. The first drops of rain were beginning to fall.
"Wish
you'da made that offer an hour ago," Johnny lamented.
~~~~~~~~~~
Pete and Jim
made their way through the west end of Chesterfield lane hoping to find the
two missing boys, after making a short cut next to the school when suddenly
there was a loud screaming voice coming from that intersection.
"Pete
look over there." Jim replied.
"I see
it Jim, let's pull over and find out what's happening!" said Pete.
Pete pulled
the car closer to the screaming woman.
"Help!!
Please Help!! Yelled Mrs. Hill
“Ma'am you
have to calm down what's the problem?” Malloy asked.
“Two boys opened
this man hole cover and went down and they haven't come back up." Mrs.
Hill explained.
"Are you
sure it was two boys?"
"Yes I'm
sure I was out taking Fifi out for her walk and I saw them open it and go
down just about 30 minutes ago." Mrs. Hill exclaimed.
"Can you
tell what the boys looked like?" Asked Officer Malloy.
"Yes I
sure can" sputtered Mrs. Hill as she hastily offered her description
to
"Thanks
for the information Mrs Hill we will take care of things." Offered Officer
Reed.
"You're
welcome I hope you find them before it starts raining any harder."
"So do
we ma'am." Sighed Officer Malloy.
A few minutes
later, Officers Ed Wells and Jerry Woods from Adam-45 arrived at Adam-12's
incident.
"Hey Malloy,
what happened?" asked Wells.
"Two boys
went inside this man hole Ed, about 25, 30 minutes ago and they haven't come
back up just yet better notify the fire department and a rescue unit right
away." said Pete.
"Right"
said Wells.
"What
are the names by the way?"
"David
and Scott LaPaglia."
~~~~~~~~~~
Johnny couldn't
believe his luck to pull a shift at 10s when Captain Jenkins was cooking.
Sam Jenkins was neck and neck with 51's C-shift Charlie for the honor of 'best
chef in the department'. Knowing this, the temp-worker was practically salivating
as he watched the captain run out into the driveway to grab some special ingredients
from the back of his wife's station wagon, dodging the few but heavy raindrops
as he went.
'I wonder if
he needs a hand?' Gage asked himself, only to be distracted by a radio transmission
from Squad 10. He was shaking his head when Jenkins sprinted back inside.
Paper bag in
hand, the captain headed toward the kitchen but drew to a halt, reading trouble
in the demeanour of his young colleague. "What?"
"Aw, Cap,"
Johnny began, still shaking his head. "You're not gonna believe this."
"Well,
don't keep me in suspense here, Gage."
Before the
paramedic turned hose-hauler could answer, Cael joined the pair.
"Marty
just radioed in. We've already got flash-flooding happening in some of the
northern canyons. Ron and the ambulance made it through just fine but the
squad got swept into a gully." At Jenkins' concerned look Cael added,
"Marty's fine... but the squad's gonna be out of commission for who knows
how long."
After a moment
of relief the captain huffed. "Terrific!" he grumbled sarcastically
then continued toward the kitchen.
Trying to be
helpful, Johnny examined the bright side noting, "Well, at least Horgas
is OK." The others nodded. "And it could be worse. This coulda happened..."
"Johnny..."
Cael tried to interrupt.
"...on
a..."
"Don't
say it," Jenkins warned.
"...busy
day."
BEEMP BOMP,
the klaxon sounded.
"Whatever
happens, Gage..." Cael began mischeivously.
Dispatch began,
"Engine 10. Juveniles lost in a storm drain..."
"It's
your fault!"
Gage smiled
a little sheepishly, but happy to finally be going out on a run.
"You can
thank me later," he said with a cock of his head as he hopped up onto
the firetruck, eager with anticipation.
~~~~~~~~~~
Several minutes
later 10's fire truck arrived on scene. Johnny could see the police were on
there he could see Malloy and Reed talking to their Sargent Macdonald. He
and Cael quickly got off the truck and followed Captain Jenkins over to where
Malloy and Reed were.
"What
have you got, Officers?" asked Captain Jenkins.
"Two boys
ages 13 and 11 who are lost inside this stormdrain over here and they haven't
come back up yet." Pete replied.
"Okay,
I'll call in for some more manpower"
"Right
Captain, thanks"
Captain Jenkins
got out his handie talkie to advise L. A. dispatch to call in for some more
rescue assistance.
"L. A.
Engine 10---"
As Capt Jenkins
calls in for more man power Johnny and Cael start getting the life lines ready
to go. They tied their lines off to the Engine and tugged the ropes to make
sure they would come undone. Cael grabbed 2 flashlights and handed one to
Johnny.
"You wanted
something exciting now you have it. Cael informed Johnny.
"I know
but this wasn't what I wanted - looking for two kids lost in a storm drain
that could fill up pretty fast if those clouds open up and start a down pour."
"If that
happens things may get a tad interesting." Cael observes as he finishes
tying his rope.
"You know
Cael you really have a way with words."
"It's
better to have a way with words then say what I really don't wanna say.
"I know
what you mean." Said Johnny as he looked up to the sky as the clouds
were getting darker and thunder began to boom and lightning started to dance
across the darkening sky.
"It's
going to open up anytime."
"I know
we gotta get down there NOW" Cael began "Capt we're ready go!"
"Alright
take it slow and easy down there the extra man power is being dispatched."
Informed Captain Jenkins.
"That's
the only way Cap, slow and easy." Said Cael as he slowly descended down
the manhole with Johnny closely behind him.
As Johnny made
his way into the rising sewer system he said a small prayer that they would
find the kids and get back out safely.
"Oh man
this is cold." Johnny grumbled to Cael as his feet landed in the cold
water.
Cael wrinkled
his nose in disgust, "And then you have the smell. Oh man this is gross.
What possesed those two kids to play down here to start with?" Cael asked
Johnny, even though he knew he didn't have the answer.
"You've
got me. Come on let's move it out before the..." Johnny's words were
drowned out by a loud clap of thunder and then the rain came pouring in on
them.
Johnny spit
and sputtered for a moment as he got a drenching.
"You were
saying?" Cael's tone of voice was joking but his face was all serious.
"Let's
go." Johnny scowled as he moved inwards, "David, Bobby can you hear
us?" He screamed over the sounds of the know beating rain. (Couldn't
remember kids names)
.........
Twenty minutes
later Cael came to a screeching halt, "Hey hold up I think I hear something
down that way." Hey hollared back at Johnny pointing down a very small
tunnel.
Johnny raised
his eyes at Cael, There was no way the 270 pound Cael was going to fit into
the small tunnel that had been naturally opened up in the side of the system.
"Are you sure?" Johnny asked as he peered into the small tunnel,
taking in the water that was rising rapidly.
"Yeah
it sounded like a cry." Cael knew what was on Johnny's mind as he also
took in the water that had risen to at least waist high inside the side tunnel.
Johnny sucked
in a breath as he stepped forward, "I get the shower first." He
mumbled as he pushed his way into the tunnel. "Oh man there's a rat floating
in this stuff." Johnny complained loudly as he worked his way forward.
Cael chuckled
softly hearing Johnny's complaint. He knew they were in a serious situation
here but the thought of plastic rats showing up in Johnny's locker, if this
happened to get back to the phantom filled his head.
All laughter
died as the sounding of rushing greeted his ears, "Gage you have to back
out of there." He screamed rushing forward.
A few minutes
later, Paramedics Craig Brice and Bob "The Animal" Bellingham from
Squad 16 arrived at 10's incident where Captain Sam Jenkins met them at the
scene.
“What's going
on here, Cap?" asked Brice.
"Two boys
who are trapped under a storm drain and never came back up, Gage and Cael
are down there looking for them you both can go down there if you want."
said Jenkins.
"Geez
what is Gage doing down there in the first place?" Bellingham asked no
one in particular.
"Beats
me Brice."
Pete, Jim,
and Ed are down at the sewer looking for David and Bobby before time all runs
out..
"David,
Bobby!" Yelled Pete.
"David,
Bobby can you hear me?!" shouted Wells.
Oh man!"
Gage moaned, "with all of this water, this is almost too much!"
Gage exclaimed. "We need more help down here now."
The echo inside
the drain system was terrible, noise bounced off every wall and left the men
with a false sense of where they were, and where they were going.
"We need
a good map of this system down here so we don't go in circles" Gage grumbled.
"With the rain to consider now, we have to move fast and without a map,
we are guessing about where we are going."
"You're
right Johnny, I'll get word up to everyone that we need a map and more help,
this place will fill up soon without more hands" said Cael. "Engine
10, this is HT 10, do you read?"
Static greeted
Cael's call. With a fleeting look of panic, Cael tried again "Engine
10, this is HT 10, do you read?!". Static again, greeted the weary firefighter.
"Well
Johnny, we are on our own for now I think. The HT signal is not getting through."
Stated Cael.
"Great
we have no map and now we can't even call for help if we need it." Johnny
observed.
"A perfect
start to a perfect day all we need now is an alligator!" Cael chuckled.
"There
are no alligators down here I sent them all to New York" Johnny's attempt
at humour was not lost on Cael.
"Well
Johnny you never know it's always possible there could be some little kid
out there that found one at a pet store, thinks it's so cute and the next
thing you know mom and dad buy it. And then it swirling in the toilet bowl
watching things spin." Cael laughed.
"Hey did
you hear that?" Johnny asked suddenly.
"Hear
what?"
~~~~~~~~~~
"David,
Bobby!" can you hear me?!" Shouted
officer Wells again.
Pete, Jim,
and Ed continued looking for the two missing boys when suddenly a couple of
voices were heard coming in from the bottom of the sewer.
"Officers?!"
yelled the two Paramedics in unison.
They were relieved
to see Paramedics Brice and Bellingham walking in from the bottom of the stormdrain.
~~~~~~~~~~
The hole that
Cael had sent Johnny to explore occurred where the main conduit they had been
following branched off in a T configuration. Still half facing the wall, the
two firefighters glanced back down the major artery of the stormdrain in time
to see a virtual tidal wave crashing toward them. The frothing and churning
headwater carried with it assorted debris, most of it unidentifiable. However,
the massive, multibranched tree limb at the very crest of the wave was unmistakable.
Cael dove to
his left, Johnny to the right. But neither man was quick enough to escape
the onslaught of Mother Nature. On the bright side, the fabric of Cael's turnout
coat successfully turned back one branch's attempt to skewer the rescuer.
Unfortunately, another of the branches managed to jam itself quite steadfastly
into the hole Gage had vacated and the result left a gasping Cael pinned against
the wall.
For Johnny,
gasping was a luxury he could ill afford. His lifeline had become thoroughly
entangled in the menacing branches and, for all his pulling and straining,
the handsome paramedic could not seem to break the surface of the still forcefull
rush of water.
Johnny struggled
as hard as he could to get his lifeline untangled but the effort was useless.
After the shock of what was happening had worn off he remembered his scissors
he reached down and got them out and sliced through the lifeline.What seamed
as forever he broke threw the surface. He looked around and yelled.
"Cael!!"
~~~~~~~~~~
Pete, Jim,
and Ed were still looking for the two missing boys when the two Paramedics
from Squad 16 met them at the bottom of the stormdrain.
"Officers,
my name is Craig Brice and this is my partner Bob Bellingham we're Paramedics
from the Los Angeles County fire department" He spoke.
"Pleased
to meet you, Brice" said Pete as he shook his hand.
"Have
you seen Gage, by any chance?" asked Brice.
"No, I
haven't Brice not just yet. " replied Pete.
~~~~~~~~~~
Jean and his
son Jimmy were about to head on home from buying some groceries at the market
when suddenly two police units, the Sergeant's car and two fire units were
at the 1100 block of Chesterfield, she was about to make a right turn almost
to her house, SGT Macdonald was there and stopped her from going through their
incident.
"Mack,
where's Jim?" asked Jean.
"You'll
have to turn back and go home the other way, Jean." said Mack.
Officer Reed's
petite wife leaned closer to her half open window as a burst of thunder rumbled
down the avenue. It was raining heavily now. Mack was in a dark rain slicker
that matched the color of the sky. But it was the storm clouds in the man's
eyes that troubled Jean.
"What
is it, Mack? What's happened? Is Jim..."
The sergeant
cut off the worried young wife. "Don't worry, Jean. Jim's fine. We're
just... out on a missing persons case."
Suspicion replaced
panic in Mrs. Reed's lovely face. She could tell Sergeant MacDonald was being
evasive. "Is it safe to go home?" she asked. Jean had no doubt that
it was, of course. Her naive act was part of a fishing expedition.
"Oh, this
isn't a manhunt, Jean," Mack reassured the woman not realizing she needed
no reassurance. "It's just... well... you see, the LaPaglia boys have
gone AWOL and they were last seen entering the stormdrain here.
Involuntarily,
Jean's hand spead across her chest in dismay as she darted a glance to her
rain coated windshield. "Oh Mack, no!" she exclaimed. "Therese
has been through so much already."
"We'll
find them Jeannie. Don't you worry."
Jean turned
her expressive, loving eyes to her sleeping infant son in the back seat. It
wasn't hard to imagine the helpless, desperation Mrs. LaPaglia must be feeling
right now.
"Therese
is home... sitting by the phone, I suppose?"
Mack nodded
grimly.
"I think
I'll drop by there and see if she'd like some company while she waits... Tell
Jim for me, would you."
The police
sergeant gave his officer's wife a half smile of gratitude. "Will do.
And thanks, Jean. I appreciate it."
With that,
Jean Reed rolled up her window and headed for the LaPaglia house.
~~~~~~~~~~
While the officers
and paramedics stood near the open man-hole cover, Brice's radio crackled
into communication mode.
"Engine
10 to HT-10..."
Silence.
"Engine
10 to HT-10. Cael, John... do you copy?"
Brice shook
his head and raised the handi-talkie to transmit. "HT-16 to Engine 10."
Even through
the static and the storm, the restrained agitation of Captain Jenkins was
crystal clear. "Brice! Thank God we've got one unit accounted for.
You guys OK?"
"Roger
that. I presume you haven't heard any transmissions from us or 10?" the
parmedic inquired.
"Affirmative."
Always overly
serious, Brice shook his head again, "We tried to radio out several times.
We got nothing but dead air when we went sub-terranian. I'm sure it's the
same for Perry and Gage.
It was the
best Brice could muster for optimism, but Jenkins wasn't convinced. "Unless
they've unhooked from their life-lines, there's been no forward progress in
6 or 7 minutes."
~~~~~~~~~~
Chris And his
sister Jennifer were about to get ready to watch their favorite tv show "The
New Mickey Mouse Club" when suddenly several special news bulletins and
other news events had interrupted their regularly scheduled programming.
"We interrupt
this program, to bring you this special bulletin from KTLA News!" said
the male announcer on tv. "Here's Channel 6 news correspondent Jacob
Garrison!"
"Chris,
Jennifer, what's going on?!" asked Joanne when she came by to see what
has happening on the news on tv today.
"Mommy,
mommy!" Chris called then pulled on his mother's arm. "Is daddy
there, do ya think?"
JoAnne took
a mental inventory of the police and fire vehicles in attendence while listening
to the announcer. "With flood waters pouring in and expected to rise
still higher, police and firefighters search frantically for two missing boys..."
"I don't
think so, Chris," JoAnne patted her son's head as she sat down on the
couch and put her arm around her duaghter. "It might be outside 51's
territory. I see Squad 16, and there's Engine..."
She paused
but it was too late. The truck had already caught Chris' attention. "Engine
10! Hey, that's Engine 10! Didn't Daddy say Uncle Johnny would be
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back at the
open man-hole cover, search and rescue plans were starting to get better organized.
Captain Jenkins was calling all units back to his location. Brice and Bellingham
would follow the lifelines of the firefighters who were worrisomely incommunicado.
A civil engineer was en route to command-central with the plans for the sewer
and drainage systems which would allow a more thorough and coordinated search.
While Brice
talked on the radio, an impatient Bellingham began climbing down the ladder
to do a quick 'scout and shout' before he and his partner headed over to the
command center. His 'by the book' partner was about to admonish him with some
chapter and verse explaining why he should cease and desist when the big fellow
stopped his descent of his own accord.
"Jesus!"
he exclaimed.
"What is it?" Brice asked the officer peering into the abyss.
Not taking
his eyes off the top of the paramedic's head below him, Malloy shot back,
"We've got a major surge of water down there."
Bellingham
watched for a moment then added, "OK, the water seems to be leveling
off a... Hey, did you hear that?" The officers shook their heads in the
negative.
"Hear
what?" asked Brice.
'The Animal'
climbed up a couple of rungs so he could talk to his partner directly. "Sounded
like Gage." Then he ducked back down again shouting, "Johnny, can
you hear me?"
After what
seemed like minutes but was only a few seconds, Bellingham climbed out and
headed quickly and purposefully toward the squad. "It's Gage all right.
Perry's been pinned by a tree down there...
We've got a
possible Code-I."
~~~~~~~~~~
Nurse McCall
was watching the TV in the nurses' station when Dr. Kelly Bracket walked in.
He headed to the coffee pot, flirting as he went. "Hey good looking,"
he said trying to conceal a grin. It melted into a disappointed frown when
he got no response from the feisty blonde. "Dix?"
"I'm sorry,
Kel. Did you say something?"
It was then
that Bracket noticed the special news report on the TV screen.
"What's
up?" he inquired.
"Oh...
a couple of young boys are lost in a stormdrain..."
Bracket glanced
out the window, then his frown deepened. "In this weather?"
Dixie nodded
adding. "It gets worse. One of the firemen involved in the search may
be injured."
The sometimes
gruff doctor put a hand on the nurse's shoulder as he softly addressed her.
"It's bad enough to get personally involved with patients who are actually
*in* the hospital..."
With a brief,
sheepish smile, Dixie stared down at her feet, head slightly cocked. "You're
right... I know you're right," she admitted.
"Besides,
they're professionals, Dix," Kel tried to reassure the nurse and friend.
"They know what they're doing out there." The corner of the doctor's
mouth twitched giving away his own growing concern. "I'm sure everything
is going to be just fine."
Nurse McCall
smiled her gratitude for her caring colleague. "And, in the meantime,
I suppose we've got "patients who are actually in this hospital"
who need tending to," she noted. She made herself turn away from the
news bullitin and head to the door, giving Kel's arm a little squeeze as she
passed.
~~~~~~~~~~
Back at the
open man hole cover of the stormdrain, Brice and Bellingham along with the
three officers were still trying to locate the two missing boys when Bellingham
began calling out for John Gage suddenly he was able to hear his cry for help.
"Gage,
are you all right in there?!" asked Brice.
"Yeah
I'm okay Brice, I need help Cael is pinned under a tree from this manhole
here!" shouted Johnny.