Surviving December

By
Audrey W.

December 7 th

Roy DeSoto took a quick glance at his partner John Gage as they hurried to a rescue in their squad. It was a week after Thanksgiving, and the two paramedics from Station 51's A-shift were on duty after having a much needed two-day break.

“Well, it's not even the biggest shopping day of the year and we're already being called to an incident at a store at nine o'clock in the morning,” Johnny commented. “That's not a good sign.”

“People get more aggressive every year.”

“And for what? To save a few dollars? Or buy the latest and greatest toy on the market before the next guy does? You know, on the way in this morning, I saw a lady make a left turn around the car that was in front of her. . .as soon as the light turned green she just zipped right around it. Probably so she could get to a sale a minute or two sooner. She's lucky the other driver hit the brakes right away.”

Roy nodded as he brought the truck to a stop in front of ‘ Wiley's Wonder World of Toys' , where a man in a big foam rubber Christmas tree costume had waved them over. “Well, no one can say he's a few branches short of a full tree.”

Johnny groaned at the remark as he opened the passenger side door and climbed out. The two men hurried to retrieve their equipment from the side compartments of the squad, while the Christmas tree filled them in.

“It's one of my employees. We had people waiting outside for us to open for a special sale. . .a real long line. . .and so we opened a few minutes early and all of a sudden the line turned to a crowd; one massive crowd pushing their way in. One of my girls went down and got stepped on.”

Johnny shook his head in disbelief and the two paramedics followed the man into the toy store.

~*~*~

When they got inside, there was a young man dressed in a foam rubber gingerbread suit trying to keep a group of shoppers under control as they grabbed for various marked-down toys that were on displays placed in a front section of the store. Further back were aisles filled with more shoppers searching for additional bargains on the shelves.

Just to the right of the entrance was an older lady, an empty foam rubber Christmas package costume beside her. She was leaning over the injured employee, a young woman in a candy cane made of the same substance as the other costumes. Across the room were two additional employees, but only in standard holiday dresses. They were working the cash registers as eager consumers began to gather to pay for toys already selected.

Johnny and Roy knelt down beside the human candy cane. The woman next to her stood up and stepped back.

“She got the wind knocked out of her,” she explained.

Roy nodded in acknowledgement. He checked the victim's respirations and then her pulse.

“What's her name?” Johnny asked.

The woman opened her mouth to answer, but the victim on the floor beat her to it. “Al. . .Alli. . .son.”

“Allison?”

This time the older lady spoke first. “Yes, Allison. And I'm Brenda.”

Johnny kept his attention on the injured ‘candy cane'. “Okay, Allison, can you tell us where you hurt?”

She nodded. “M. . .my left. . .side. Right. . .leg.”

“I think the costume kind of helped protect her,” Brenda put in. “Most of the people had sense to go around her because of the size of the suit.”

“Any back pain?” Roy wondered.

Allison shook her head ‘no', though the foam rubber framing her face made it difficult.

“Okay. Let's see if we can get this costume off of you so we can check you out here.”

“Where does it open at?” Gage asked, scanning the suit for a zipper.

“In the back,” Brenda quickly supplied.

The two paramedics exchanged a glance. Johnny then looked up at the man in the tree suit. “We're gonna have to cut it. Until we know what's going on with her left side, we don't want to jostle her around.”

“Go ahead.”

“Okay.”

Johnny took out his scissors and carefully cut down the right side of the costume, then he and Roy slowly slid Allison out. She was still dressed in white tights and a long sleeved white shirt. Roy lifted the shirt part way to examine her left side while Johnny cut open the right leg of the tights to examine that injury.

Before long, they had Allison loaded onto a stretcher, and ready to take out to the ambulance. Roy led the way, as Johnny followed behind.

“Look out!”

Gage and the others turned at the sudden outburst, the younger paramedic looking just in time to avoid getting hit in the head by a small plastic rocket.

“What in the heck was that?”

Roy pointed over at the toy that had crash landed on the floor a few feet away.

“I'm so sorry,” a mother said, coming forward, her little six-year-old boy peeking out from behind her. “He got the toy out of the box and ready to launch before I even knew what he was doing. He didn't mean to hit anyone with it.”

“Maybe not, but it nearly did,” Johnny stated, looking at the rocket again. He looked at the store owner nearby. “You might wanna consider taking that toy off the shelves. Someone could lose an eye with that thing.”

“Well, it's supposed to be used under parental supervision.”

“In the ideal world, maybe. In the real world. . .not always.”

The Christmas tree clad man stood speechless a moment as Johnny went on to follow behind Roy and the others. But just when the paramedic reached the exit, the man hurried over and grabbed his arm, stopping him.

“Do you have any kids?”

Johnny shook his head.

“Nieces, nephews?”

“No, why?” What's this about. . .?

“I was going to offer you some free toys to make up for what almost happened.”

“Hey, forget it. Like I said before, the best thing you can do is take that thing off the shelves. Other than that. . .well. . .don't worry about it.”

Relieved that the close call incident wasn't going to go beyond his store, the ‘Christmas tree' escorted Johnny out to the squad. As the dark-haired paramedic climbed into the truck, the costumed man spoke. “Thanks for all your help. I'll call the hospital later to get an update on Allison.”

“No problem.” Johnny forced a smile as he nodded and drove away, lights and siren in use. He just hoped the store owner would heed his words.

~*~*~

Dixie came out of Treatment Room Four and stopped when she saw John Gage approaching.

“I heard you nearly got taken out by a plastic rocket.”

“Yeah,” he said with a frown. “If I hadn'ta been quick to react. I tell ya, they're making kids' toys more dangerous all the time.”

“How did it end up being fired off in a store?”

“The mother wasn't paying attention to her son and I guess he got into the toy, set it up and the rest is history.”

Dixie shook her head. “Makes you wonder what the manufacturer was thinking when they made it.”

“You got that right.”

The two ended the conversation as Roy met into them, having come out of Treatment Room two.

“How's Allison?” Johnny wondered.

“She's doing okay. The costume did kind of save her from a more serious injury.”

“Good. Looks like both of us avoided a little extra grief at that place. You know, you'd think this would be the safest time of the year. . .that people would be more thoughtful right now.”

“Maybe they'll be better about it as Christmas gets closer.” Roy really didn't believe it himself, but there was always hope.

~*~*~

Gage and DeSoto had no sooner gotten back to the station, when the tones sounded, sending them off on another run. This time it was for a man down. Not even having had a chance to open the squad doors to get out, Roy put the truck back into ‘drive' and pulled into the street after the other traffic stopped to give them the right-of-way.

~*~*~

The paramedics arrived at the address, a one-story house in a sub division located on the edge of Carson . The roof was trimmed in Christmas lights that were sure to be a beautiful display when illuminated after sundown.

The men quickly climbed out of the squad and gathered their basic equipment together before heading for the front door. After two knocks, the door was opened by a gray haired woman in her mid-fifties.

“Oh, I'm so glad you boys are here!”

Johnny couldn't help but smile at the idea of being called ‘boys'.

“We had a call for a man down. . .?” Roy pressed.

“Yes. . .yes! Of course.” She stepped back and motioned for them to come in. “It's my husband Bernard. He was changing a bulb in a ceiling light and fell off the ladder.” She glanced over her shoulder as she led them toward another room. “I hope he'll be okay.”

“Has he complained about any pain in particular?”

“Oh he's been complaining about everything .”

“Ma'am?”

“Call me Gloria,” she offered as they entered the room. She held out her hands, as if to say ‘he is all yours'.

The room was a den with a couch and a recliner it, a console television at the opposite end. A man was lying in the middle of the green carpeted floor at the base of a three-step ladder. Beside him was a glass cover to a ceiling light. Overhead a bulb was in an exposed socket.

Johnny and Roy quickly made their way over to Bernard and set their equipment down on either side of him.

“How're you doing?” Johnny asked. “Can you tell us if you hurt anywhere?”

“My back. I fell flat . . .on my back.”

“Any numbness in your arms or legs?”

“No. . .just my back . . .hurts.”

Johnny looked at his partner. “I'll get the board.”

“Okay.” Roy got out the bp cuff and worked on getting Bernard's vitals.

“You married?”

The paramedic nodded. “Happily, for that matter.”

“Take my advice. If you're ever on a ladder. . .changing a light bulb, make sure. . . your wife . . .is standing far away from. . .the light switch.”

Roy glanced from the patient to Gloria, who was nervously biting her lower lip. “I didn't think about the bright light coming on in his face before he expected it,” she shrugged.

He returned his gaze to Bernard. “I'll remember that.”

~*~*~

Twenty minutes later, Bernard was ready to be transported. After placing him into the ambulance on a backboard and stretcher, Roy climbed up inside. “See you at Rampart.”

“Yep.” Johnny closed the doors and gave two slaps to indicate they were secure.

As he headed for the squad, the paramedic saw two teenage girls running toward him. He glanced at the ambulance pulling away, Gloria driving from the scene also. As he returned his attention to the teens, they were nearly beside him. He noticed both were wearing too much make-up, going especially heavy on the light blue eye shadow. Why do kids wanna grow up so fast?

“Can you help us?” one asked, slightly out of breath.

“What's wrong?”

“It's a friend of ours. Betsy. She. . .uh. . .” the one looked to the other.

“Go ahead, Shelly, tell ‘um.”

She took a deep breath then continued, “Nancy and I were hangin' out with her because her parents went Christmas shopping today. But she had a fight with her boyfriend over the phone this morning. . .she really got upset.”

Oh brother. . .they've gotta be kidding . “Look, our job is to save lives, not relation--”

“But she took an overdose of her mom's sleeping pills!” Nancy blurted out.

“She's what ?”

Growing more anxious, tears welling up, Shelly explained. “She hung up the phone and was cryin' and we were all kinda talkin' about how crummy guys are. . .”

Johnny noticed she immediately seemed to regret her words. “It's okay,” he interjected.

“Well, she said she was gonna go to the bathroom. . .she felt sick. But she came out and said she took the pills. She didn't wanna live anymore.”

“Are you sure she took some?”

Both girls nodded.

He looked at the house they'd come from. “How long ago did this happen?”

Nancy shrugged. “Awhile ago. She didn't want us get help, so we had to wait till she fell asleep. . .”

The paramedic rushed over to the squad and opened the passenger door, immediately picking up the mic and keying it.

“LA Dispatch, Squad 51.”

“Go ahead, 51.”

“I've got a report of a teenager who OD'd on barbiturates. Request a second squad to. . .” He eyed the girls. “Two houses down, so thirty-one twenty-three's the address?” The two nodded. His mouth close to the mic he continued. “To thirty-one twenty-three North Palm Street . Also a police officer and an ambulance. ”

“10-4, 51.”

Johnny quickly placed the mic back in its holder. “Let's go,” he said as he closed the door and grabbed the trauma box and oxygen.

As the three hurried to help Betsy, Gage questioned the girls more. “Is there a way to get a hold of her parents?”

Shelly shook her head.

“We don't know when they'll be back,” Nancy added.

“I can't do anything without their permission. But once the officer gets here, he can place her in his custody and then either I or the other paramedics can treat ‘er.”

He followed them into the house and the livingroom where Betsy was lying on the couch in a fetal position.

Johnny stepped over and moved the coffee table away from the sofa. He then squatted down in front of the girl and checked her vital signs. Her pulse was faint, respirations slow and shallow.

“Betsy!” Johnny stated loud and firm as he tried to arouse the girl. With no reaction, he positioned her on her back and tried a sternal rub; still nothing. He noticed the telephone on a stand near a rocking chair.

“Can one of you bring me the phone? And I'm gonna need the name of the pills she took.”

Nancy complied on one item as Shelly ran to get the bottle from the bathroom.

Johnny immediately put the receiver to his ear as he placed the base of the phone on the floor. He contacted Rampart, filling them in on the situation, including what the girl had taken.

Listening to Doctor Early's equal frustration at not being able to do anything for Betsy yet, Johnny sighed. At least she's holding her own for now .

Several seconds later, he could hear the faint sound of sirens approaching. The fact that it was more than one was a good sign.

“Is she gonna. . . be okay?” Shelly asked, holding back a sob.

“I hope so.” He looked up as the paramedics from Squad 8 entered the house, Officer Vince Howard behind them.

“How is she?” one of the medics asked.

“Pulse is weak, respirations slow and shallow.” He looked to Vince while the others set their equipment down by Betsy and did another check on her vitals. “Her parents can't be located, so she'll have to placed in your custody for these guys to treat her.”

“You got it.”

He didn't want to leave right away, but Johnny knew Roy would be waiting on him, and there could be someone else in need their services at any time. He gave Nancy and Shelly a reassuring smile and excused himself from the others. With the oxygen and trauma box once again in his hands, the dark-haired paramedic returned to the squad and headed for Rampart.

Man, I never expected a situation like that to just pop up. I hope the kid makes it . . .

Gage knew all too well that these kind of incidents were hard to let go of, especially if the outcome was grim.

~*~*~

Roy was aware of the entire situation with his partner. Having been waiting at the base station, he'd gotten a complete report from Joe Early. Thus when Johnny arrived, the senior paramedic was the first to speak, saving the other from having to start things off.

“You okay?”

“Yeah. Man, I can't believe the way this day's started out. Between drivers cutting off others, rockets flying through the air and kids wanting to take their own lives over a stupid fight. . .I don't know, Roy . If the rest of the season goes like this, it's gonna be tough just makin' it to Christmas.”

“I know.”

“This girl is only fourteen years old and she tried to kill herself over a boyfriend. Someone she probably wouldn't even care about a few months from now.”

“Maybe she'll come through it alright.”

“I hope so.”

“Ready to head back to the station?”

Johnny nodded. “Sure. Just a minute.” He walked over to where Early had just finished his transmission with Squad 8. “Doc, can you let me know how things go?”

“Of course. I'll have Dixie give you a call.”

“Thanks.”

He and Roy headed for the exit.

~*~*~

After Roy backed the squad into an empty apparatus bay, the paramedics slowly climbed out of the vehicle and headed for the dayroom. Johnny grumbled along with his stomach.

“I don't really feel like eating, but I'm starvin'.”

“Me too. Maybe Chet had time to fix something before they got toned out.”

The younger paramedic frowned at the empty table. “Or maybe not. . .” He glanced at Roy , then looked to the oven. Another frown came when he found the cooking appliance empty as well.

Roy shrugged. “No law says we can't go back out and find something to eat.”

Johnny was about to respond when the telephone rang. He picked up the receiver before the second ring was complete, anxious to find out if it was Dixie on the other end of the line. Much to his delight, it was. After a brief conversation, he hung up and smiled at his partner.

“Betsy's gonna make it. They're still waiting to hear from the lab. But Early figures based on her condition, it isn't as bad as we thought. She's been improving since she got an IV and oxygen.”

“That's great. I take it you can eat now?”

Roy got his answer when Johnny was out of the room in a flash, already sitting in the squad by the time he opened the driver's side door to get in.

“You really are hungry.”

“Are you kiddin'? My abdomen is practically touching my spine.”

“Where do you wanna go?”

“Pick a place. . .any place. . .as long as it has food.”

Roy nodded and turned the key in the ignition. Once the squad was in gear, he pulled onto the street in front of the station. Johnny picked up the mic and called in their change of location to dispatch.

“10-4, 51.”

~*~*~

Not far from the station, the two paramedics found a fast food place that served both hot dogs and hamburgers at a very cheap price. Roy opted for the wiener with sauerkraut on it, and Johnny went with a burger and fries.

Gage led the way to a booth near a window with a view of the parking lot, where just their squad and a few other cars were parked.

“How come we've never tried this place before?” He wondered.

Roy shrugged. “I guess it's so close, by the time we get here we figure the station is right down the street. No need to eat out.”

“Maybe.” Johnny took a bite of his burger, then shoved the food to his inner right cheek. “This is pretty good. Maybe we should come here every time it's Chet's turn to cook.”

“Just as long as we don't when it's Mike's turn. His fried chicken and spaghetti meals are probably the best in the fire department.”

The younger man nodded as he swallowed and took another bite.

~*~*~

Having made it back to the station after their meal, the paramedics sat in the captain's office and entered the first two runs of the day in the log book. As Roy wrote out the final word, the klaxons sounded.

“Squad 51, unknown type rescue, 2162 West Filmore Street , two one six two West Fillmore Street , time out 13:04 .”

“Unknown rescues around the holidays scare me,” Johnny commented as they trotted toward the squad.

“As long as it's not someone stuck in a chimney, I think we'll be alright.”

“Just wait. We'll get one like that sometime this month.”

~*~*~

Roy put the squad in gear and drove into the street. He and Johnny could see the engine finally making its' way toward the station.

“Maybe we should've brought somethin' back for them to eat,” Gage commented.

“Don't worry. I'm sure they'll figure something out. Chet can be creative.”

“Yeah, like cherries in stew.”

Both men made disgusting faces as they recalled the recipe the fireman had left for his fill-in during a time he was out due to illness.

~*~*~

When they pulled up to the scene, Johnny and Roy were met by a frantic woman in her late twenties.

“Oh, please hurry! I think he's gonna die if he doesn't get help soon! Please hurry!”

Gage glanced at the woman while quickly gathering some of the medical equipment. “What happened?”

“Our dog got a hold of him and tried to tear his neck open! Now he's gone to hide in the crawl space under the deck and I can't get him out!”

Ready with their rescue gear, the men looked toward the house.

“Can you take us to him?” Roy asked with a sense of urgency, hoping she'd pull together enough to be of some help.

“This way.”

“How old is he?” Johnny wondered as they hurried along. He figured to be hiding up under a deck with a crawl space, it had to be a young kid.

“I don't know. Please just save him anyway. . .”

Gage nodded, and exchanged a puzzled glance with his partner. “Of course. That's what we're here for.” He shrugged and shook his head as Roy continued to look baffled about the comment from her also.

~*~*~

At the back of the house was a large twenty foot long and twelve foot wide deck ten inches off the ground. A very low crawl space was visible through lattice trim along the edge of the deck on one end. The longest side was open six feet back, the then a beam going all the way across for support divided the underneath section in half, with just a couple of holes large enough for a small animal to get through to the other side. The other end was open, but a flagstone patio made it impossible for any person, no matter what their size, to get in underneath.

Johnny got down on his hands and knees to peer into the crawlspace through the lattice. “What's his name?” he asked as he searched for an injured person.

“He doesn't have one. I was just calling him ‘Duck'.”

“Duck?”

She nodded. “Uh huh. He's a Mallard duck. I don't know how he got in my yard, but my German Shepherd got a hold of him and by the time I was able to catch him and take it away, the duck was hurt. I got the dog in the house, but in the meantime, the bird went up under the deck and won't come out.”

“Uh. . .” Johnny was now sitting on his heels. Once again he glanced at Roy .

The senior paramedic nodded knowingly. “Ma'am, we're a service for rescuing people, not birds. You'd need to call--”

“Can't you just try?” she begged, a hopeful expression on her face. “Please?”

Roy sighed. “Okay. But we'll have to make ourselves available. We'll have to leave if a call comes in for us. . .”

“I understand.”

Johnny was looking at his partner, wondering what he'd gotten them into. More importantly, him into, being that he was already near the ground and likely to be the one going under the deck.

“Can we remove this lattice? I think I can get to him easier.”

“Oh, I just had it put up. Can't you go in from the open side?”

“But he's up against the house. I need to get in this section to reach ‘im.”

“Are you sure?”

Seeing the exasperation on his partner's face, Roy made a suggestion. “Look, how about you go inside and try calling someone who does this on a regular basis. In the meantime, we'll try to coax the duck out.”

“Okay, but promise me you won't take down the lattice.”

“We won't.”

She looked at Johnny, hoping for the same reassurance. “It won't get touched.”

As they watched her disappear around the corner of the house, the door leading to the patio being locked, it was the younger man's turn to sigh. “So what do you suggest we do to ‘coax' this duck out? Quack and flap our arms? Waddle around the yard?”

“Just talk to it.”

“ Talk to it?”

“Sure.”

“ Roy , I can't talk to a duck! What am I supposed to say?”

“Anything you can think of.”

Frowning and shaking his head in doubt, Johnny was just about to give in and crawl up under the open side of the deck when the woman returned; this time with a six-year-old boy in tow. He was a short skinny blond child with ears that stuck out a little farther than average.

“I was about to go into my house when Joey came over to return a dish his mother had borrowed. He thinks he can get up underneath and shoo the duck out.”

“You sure your mom won't mind?” Roy asked.

The little boy nodded and smiled. “I get dirty all the time! She says she'd be disappointed if I ever ended a day clean,” he said with pride.

Better him than me , Johnny thought to himself. “Hey, you don't wanna deny the kid his bragging rights.”

Roy stood near the open side of the deck while Johnny went over to the less accessible end by the flagstone patio. The two men waited as Joey crawled underneath.

“I can't reach him,” he said in a tiny muffled voice.

“Maybe if he had a pole of some kind,” Roy surmised. “Ma'am, do you have a leaf rake or a broom handy?”

“A broom, yes.” She hurried away, returning shortly with the item in hand.

Roy took it from her, then knelt down and slid it up under near Joey, the bristle end pointing outward. “Son, try to guide the handle underneath and nudge the duck. Maybe you can get him to move.”

The boy complied and soon Johnny could see the bird's feet near the edge of the patio. He slowly got to his knees, then quickly reached under and grabbed the duck. By luck he had a good hold on the body. But what to do next? If he let go, it would retreat again. However his position didn't allow for pulling the feathered rescue-ee out, as he had a short vertical wooden slat in between his arms as well.

“ Roy ! I'm gonna need some help here!” Johnny could feel the duck nip at his hands as it tried to get away. “Ow! Ow-ow! Roy !”

“You got ‘im!” declared the other paramedic coming around the corner with the woman following behind him.

“He's scared and mad about it though,” Gage commented as he tried to turn his head slightly to reply. “Can you get ‘im from the right of me?”

“I'll try.”

Roy knelt down beside his partner and leaned onto his elbows to get a better look. Getting onto his stomach, he grabbed the bird from behind, allowing Johnny to let go, and slowly brought it out. Gage was sitting on the flagstones, examining the red marks on his hands from where he got bit.

When he saw the raw and exposed back part of the duck's neck, all else was forgotten. Both paramedics winced at the wound.

“We'll get him to a vet,” Roy assured. “Do you have a towel or something you could spare? It'd probably be easier of we could kind of wrap him up.”

The woman nodded. “Yes.” She started to head for the front again, but after a few steps, stopped and glanced over her shoulder. “If you hear anything from the vet after you drop him off, will you call me and let me know how he's doing?”

“When and if they let us know, sure.”

His front all covered in dirt, Joey raced around to see the results of their efforts. The little boy rushed over to the firemen. “Is he gonna be okay?”

Johnny patted the boy on the head. “I think so. Thanks to your help. You did a good job.”

~*~*~

After getting the duck somewhat situated in a bath towel made of thin terry cloth material, and the woman's phone number to contact her as requested, Johnny led the way to the front yard. Roy followed with the bird in his hands.

The senior paramedic looked around as they approached their squad. “You know what I still can't figure out.”

“What?”

“What he's doing here in the middle of a subdivision, no bodies of water around, and just him alone. . .in December.”

“Thanks.”

“For what?”

“Now that's gonna drive me nuts.”

“I think I've got a solution for that.”

“And that would be. . .?”

“Well, you get to figure out a way to keep this duck calm and in your lap while I drive us to the vet.”

Johnny glanced at the red marks on his hands. “Yep, that did it.”

~*~*~

The remainder of the afternoon and early evening went much better for the crew. First the paramedics received good news about the duck. He was expected to be okay. And other than being sent on responses to a couple of minor accidents, they found themselves hanging around the station. Marco's mother had donated an artificial tree to the station, so they filled some of their free time putting it up, and decorating it with glass balls, blinking lights and tinsel.

Since Chet ended up making lunch for the engine crew earlier, Mike volunteered to do a dinner of fried chicken, biscuits and potatoes. He and Marco were busy at the stove while the remainder of the men sat at the table looking through various sections of the newspaper.

“Hey, here's a good article on Christmas tree safety,” Chet remarked, his finger pointing to the column. “I hope people who have real trees in their houses see this.”

Roy glanced over, but Johnny didn't pay attention to what was said. He was busy scanning a sale ad from a sporting goods store.

“How many house fires caused by Christmas trees did we respond to last year?” Chet went on.

Mike turned around and shrugged. “Maybe three. One was because of an overloaded socket though.”

“Well, this talks about that too. They should put this article up every where they sell trees.”

Johnny finally jumped in on the conversation, his eyes still on the ad. “Well, why don't you go buy a few hundred newspapers or and take care of that, Chet?”

“Oh c'mon. Be serious. You've gotta admit it's a great idea.”

“Yeah. . .so was my suggestion,” Gage added with a smile as he got up from the table.

“Where're you off to?” Roy wondered.

“To the parkin' lot. I wanna see if this is the same sleeping bag I got a coupla years ago or if it's a better one,” he said as he pointed to a picture. “I can't remember the exact weight on mine.”

Chet shook his head. “He never can admit when I have a good idea. Besides, someone could Xerox the article and hand it out.”

~*~*~

After returning from one more response that followed dinner, the men from Station 51's A-shift were ready to try for a night of sleep. Roy and Johnny were the last to settle in, the others having made it back to the station before them.

Johnny no sooner fell asleep when he was awakened by a severe cramping in his stomach. He turned onto his side, hoping the change in position would help, but the pain didn't ease at all. He slowly sat up, hoping it wouldn't start anything else in motion. It did.

Gage suddenly felt an intense wave of nausea come over him. With no time to waste, he unsteadily got to his feet and hurried through the darkened dorm in his red boxer shorts, all the while hoping he could make it to the toilet in time.

~*~*~

The ill paramedic burst into the stall in the locker room and immediately leaned over the commode, expelling the contents of his stomach. Just as he started to pull back, another bout came and he once again vomited.

Oh man. . .I feel like. . .

It was then he realized he wasn't just going to be leaning over the porcelain toilet, but sitting on it as well. He flushed down the other, then pulled down his boxers and took a quick seat.

All he could do now was hope he didn't have to throw up while he was taking care of the other end.

~*~*~

Hank Stanley rolled over in bed and was partially awake when he heard one of his men throwing up in the other room. Pushing back the covers, he sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed, then pulled on his turnout pants and boots. Running a hand through his already unruly hair, he made his way into the locker room.

As he entered, he saw Johnny leaning over the sink, splashing water on his face. He noticed the younger man's hands were shaking.

“You okay, pal?”

“I don'. . .think so.”

“What's wrong?”

“I don' know. I woke up. . .with stomach cramps. . .and then. . .” Johnny suddenly got a queasy expression on his face and made another dash for the toilet stall.

“Say no more. I'll get Roy .”

The only reply was another heave as Johnny expelled more contents of his stomach.

~*~*~

Roy contacted Rampart on the biophone while Johnny sat on the locker room bench, now with a white t-shirt on along with his red boxers. He was resting his forehead on the heels of his hands, elbows on knees, and the trash can between his feet. Johnny's face was set in a grimace. “Oh man. . .” he groaned. Mike, Marco and Chet stood nearby in case they were needed to help.

After reading off the vital signs, DeSoto continued, “Patient is experiencing severe stomach cramps, vomiting and occasional bouts of diarrhea.”

“51, did he happen to eat at a place called ‘Martin's Burgers and Dogs'?” Brackett wondered.

Roy glanced at his miserable partner. “Yes, as a matter of fact he did. We both did. Why?”

Johnny lifted his head, curious as to what was going on. The other men were equally puzzled.

“Did he have a hamburger?”

“Yes. . .and I had a hot dog.”

“ Roy , we've had several patients here tonight that are experiencing the same symptoms. So far they've all concurred that they ate at that place around noon . We haven't confirmed it yet, but it looks as though it's Staphylococcus aureus. Most were able to return home and are waiting it out there. But a few have required treatment and further observation.”

“What about Johnny?” Roy once again looked at his partner.

“Transport him non-code R just as a precaution. If he seems to be doing okay over all, we'll release him to go home.”

“10-4, Rampart.”

Roy hung up the biophone receiver and sighed. “I guess we should be glad we never ate there before.”

Johnny started to nod, but found himself heaving into the trashcan again.

“Bill Larson from Station 8 is on his way in to replace John,” Hank stated as he joined his men in the locker room. He looked at the younger paramedic. “No change, huh?”

Roy shook his head. “Not much. Brackett said they've had a number of people in with the same symptoms. And they ate lunch at the same place we did. He thinks its Staphylococcus aureus, which is a kind of food poisoning that can be caused by poor sanitary practices in handling it. We're lucky it was just the hamburger. . .and so far just the stuff served around noon .”

“Gage may never complain about my cooking again,” Chet commented.

“As long as it's not a hamburger,” Mike added.

The groan they got from their ill shiftmate told them they were right on the money.

~*~*~

Soon Johnny was placed on a stretcher and loaded into the ambulance. Roy climbed up inside.

“I'll have Larson pick you up in the squad at Rampart,” Captain Stanley said as he prepared to close the doors.

Roy nodded. “Okay.”

“Hope you feel better soon, John. Just try to get some rest.”

“Thanks. . .,Cap.”

With the doors secured, the ambulance was on its way.

Johnny looked up at Roy . “I can't . . .believe this.”

“Hey, at least this way you'll be out of the mainstream for a day or so. You can just lay low while the rest of us take our chances.” He forced a reassuring smile.

“ Roy , I think I'd rather. . .be takin. . .my chances.”

“I didn't think you'd buy that line,” he sighed. The month had to end on a better note than it started on.

~*~*~

December 10 th

The following shift, Johnny was back at work, fully recovered from what was confirmed as a moderate case of food poisoning. As he changed into uniform, he talked with the other members of A-shift.

“Man, that was an experience I coulda' done without. And it sure wasn't my idea of fun spendin' the rest of the night at Rampart.”

“It only got worse here about an hour after you left,” Marco began. “We had a call to a house fire that kept us up half of the night.”

Chet nodded. “Then we no sooner got back and some drunk caused a three car accident on the 405. There wasn't even much traffic and he managed to hit someone and push them into someone else. It was a mess.”

“We ended up with about two hours of sleep at the most,” Mike finished.

“I told you we'd be out taking our chances.”

Johnny nodded as he recalled Roy 's words in the ambulance. “I wonder how it went for C-shift. . .”

“The paramedics had nineteen responses.”

Gage looked at Roy in surprise, his mouth hanging open. “ Nineteen ?”

“Uh huh. That's what Dwyer said.”

“Oh man.”

“Better hope for another case of food poisoning,” Mike commented.

Gage shook his head. “Oooh nooo. I wouldn't go through that again even if it got me out of a hundred rescues. No way, man.”

With everyone changed into uniform, the men closed their lockers and filed out of the room, each hoping that nineteen rescues in one shift was a fluke.

~*~*~

Five hours later, Johnny and Roy found themselves returning to the station for the fourth time. The engine was out on its second response of the day.

As they walked into the dayroom, Gage glanced over his shoulder at his partner.

“Ya know, it wouldn't be so bad if people would just take time to think about what they're doin'.”

“I know. I--”

“I mean, falling off a flat roof putting up Christmas lights? Sure, he tripped over the wires, but if he'd just taken it more slow.”

“I--”

“And what about the man who had the can turned wrong and sprayed himself in the face with the artificial snow? He's lucky it wasn't any worse.”

“I'd say something but you keep cutting me off.”

“Huh?” Johnny turned around as he reached in the cupboard for a cup.

“I was just gonna agree, but you kept interrupting me.”

“Oh.” The younger man poured a cup of coffee, which Roy took from him. Furrowing his brow at the ‘theft', he retrieved another cup and poured some of the still warm brew for himself. “If we keep up at this rate, we'll have nineteen runs like C-shift.”

“Don't say that.”

“Hey, it's not my faul--”

Johnny stopped in mid-sentence when the klaxons interrupted the conversation.

“Squad 51, difficult breathing, 1862 North Cambridge Avenue , one eight six two North Cambridge Avenue , time out 13:12 .”

The two men were soon on their way in the squad.

“Why do I get the feeling this is another girdle incident, like that one a few years ago.”

Roy smiled. “You know, you handled it well when you cut that thing free and it came flying at your face.”

“Well, just the same, if this is another one of those, it's your turn.”

“I think we're already even. So it'd be your turn again.”

“How do you figure that?”

“I seem to recall being left alone to get a very naked young lady's toe out of a tub faucet.”

“But she was covered in bubbles!” Johnny protested. He could tell by his partner's expression that his quick departure from the awkward situation hadn't been forgotten.

“Okay . . . okay.”

“Don't worry. I don't think this address is in a residential area anyway.”

~*~*~

Several minutes later, Roy brought the squad to a stop at a large lot on the side of the street where dozens of live pine trees were set up inside a fenced area. A sign over a gated entry way read ‘Christmas Trees'.

The paramedics got out of the squad and gathered their gear. They were met at the gate by an older man in jeans and a long-sleeved red flannel shirt.

“I'm Dean Gibbons, the owner of this place. I've got a customer over there,” he pointed to a rear corner of the enclosure, “who can't seem to get his breath. He looks like he's about to pass out.”

Johnny followed behind Roy , the oxygen and biophone in his hands. DeSoto was carrying the drug box. When they made it through a small group of onlookers and reached the victim, they saw it was a man in his mid-thirties who was hyperventilating.

Roy turned to the owner as his partner set down the equipment and tended the man on the ground.

“Do you have a small bag of some sort? Something we can put over his nose and mouth for him to breathe into?”

Mr. Gibbons glanced around, then nodded. “We have some small paper sacks of candy for kids that come with their parents. I can empty one of those.”

Roy nodded his approval and the owner was quickly on his way to retrieve one of the bags.

~*~*~

Once they had the victim's breathing under control, Johnny stood up, his hands on his hips. “Any idea what caused you to hyperventilate, Mr. Wyatt?”

“I'm a Dendrophobiac.”

“A what ?”

“I've got a phobia of trees. I came here on the advice of my therapist to confront my fears.” He shrugged. “I guess it backfired.” He looked at the two paramedics. “Can I get out of here now? I feel like the Christmas trees are closing in around me.”

“You sure you're okay?” Roy asked.

“Yes. . .yes, I'm fine. Just want to get away from here. Do you think you guys could. . . um. . . walk on either side of me?”

Johnny and Roy looked at him in puzzlement.

“I. . .uh. . .I can't walk past this many trees. . . alone.”

“Oh. . .sure,” Gage nodded. “Sure, we'll help ya out.” He looked at Roy and smiled slightly. The senior paramedic returned the expression.

“We've got to leave too anyway. Let's go.”

The three men headed toward the exit. They didn't notice the photocopied tree safety article posted near the cash register.

~*~*~

Johnny turned slightly in his seat as Roy drove the squad back to the station.

“You know, that's kind of an interesting concept.”

“What?”

“Deliberately going to a place to confront a phobia. But maybe it oughta be with the therapist tagging along, in case the patient has a reaction. . .like Jay did.”

“Yeah, I'm surprised he went alone.”

Johnny stared out the windshield as he chewed his lower lip in thought. He then glanced at his partner. “You got any phobias?”

“Not really. But if I had to say anything got a reaction in me, it'd have to be heights.”

“ Heights? ” Gage asked in disbelief.

“Yeah, what's wrong with that?”

“Nothin' , ‘cept you're a fireman and we deal with heights all the time.”

“Well, I guess I've been at this new type of therapy before it was even invented then.”

“Huh. . . a fireman that's afraid of heights.”

“I didn't say I was afraid ,” Roy defended. “I just kind of get an uneasy feeling in my stomach at first.”

“ Roy , that's fear.”

The senior paramedic brought the squad to a stop at a red light. He then looked over at the inquisitive younger man. “What about you? Any phobias?”

”Needles. I don't like needles.”

“That's right, I forgot.” The light turned green and Roy stepped on the gas pedal. “You know, a paramedic who doesn't like needles is as crazy as a fireman who doesn't like heights.”

Johnny snickered. “I guess we're even again.”

Suddenly the tones sounded over the radio and the paramedics were on their way to a call concerning a child bitten. Johnny picked up the mic. “Squad 51, 10-4.” He placed it back in its holder as Roy made a left turn at the next intersection and headed away from their previous destination.

~*~*~

Once at the scene, the paramedics were led inside a house to a livingroom where a ten-year-old boy sat on a couch, the outside edge of his left hand bleeding. As he examined the bite, Johnny looked up at the boy's mother.

“What bit him?”

“His sister's pet monkey.”

“Monkey?” An uneasy feeling came over him. Maybe *that's* like a phobia now. . .He glanced at Roy, wondering if he'd have the same thoughts about another monkey they'd come across during a rescue a few years before. And after what he'd just been through with the food poisoning, Johnny had no desire to face a strange flu-like virus again.

The woman nodded. “She and Mark were pretending to have a wrestling match and apparently Nanners got protective of her. He was up on an open door and I guess just leaped off and right onto Mark. Grabbed a hold of his hand and bit down.”

“You know animal control is going to need to make sure he's okay to stay as a pet,” Roy explained.

“Where is he anyway?” Johnny asked.

“Right here!” the little girl shouted as she came into the room, the primate sitting on her shoulder. It was a spider monkey, not very big at all.

Mark saw the little animal and got to his feet, completely surprising the paramedics.

“Son, you need to let us finish,” Roy commented.

But the boy pushed past DeSoto and raced toward his sister, sending the monkey off in another direction. It ran around, chattering as Mark chased after it. Johnny and Roy watched in surprised silence while the mother and daughter took chase as well.

The monkey quickly climbed up the Christmas tree where he hung near the top for a few seconds before his weight and swinging action brought it over and onto the carpeted floor. Glass ornaments shattered, most of the pieces trapped under the branches.

“I know one thing,” Johnny mumbled to his partner. “After catching the virus from Cokee and seeing this, having a monkey for a pet is a lot more trouble than it's worth.”

“You'll never see one at my house,” Roy agreed. He stepped over to get Mark so that they could continue on with their job.

~*~*~

Within twenty minutes, Mark was on his way in an ambulance non-code R with Roy riding in with him. Though it was a small bite and didn't seem to be a serious one, Doctor Mike Morton had insisted the paramedics bring the boy in since it was an exotic pet that did the biting.

Johnny followed behind in the squad, thinking back on how a police officer and animal control employee had worked together to capture Nanners so that he could be kept at the pound for a few days. Gage hoped for the little girl's sake that the monkey would prove to be still acceptable as a pet.

His mind on the rescue, it took him a few seconds to register in his thoughts that a car was coming through the intersection from the left. Tires screeched as the driver of the vehicle tried to avoid a collision. In a flash Johnny glanced up to see that he indeed had the right of way with a green light, at the same time swerving to the right. The two automobiles ended up stopped within inches of each other at the far right corner of the intersection, the squad's front right tire up on the sidewalk.

Johnny sat a moment as he took a deep breath. His hands were shaking, his heart beating rapidly. Oh man, that was close.

The other car was beside the squad, its front end angled toward the driver's side just behind the door. The woman inside climbed out and hurried around to make sure Johnny was okay. She tapped on the window. “Hey! Are you hurt? Did you get whiplash?”

The paramedic rolled down his window with a still unsteady hand and shook his head. “I'm alright. Are you okay?”

The woman nodded. “Yes, I'm fine. Just shaken up a little.”

“Good.” He paused a few seconds, trying to keep his paramedic demeanor intact, but the nearly injured driver in him found its way out. “Didn't you see that you had a red light?”

“I was trying to find a station on the radio that was playing Christmas carols. I guess I wasn't paying attention until I saw you entering the intersection. I'm so sorry.”

A couple of other cars had stopped near the scene to see if all was okay. When it was apparent no harm was done, they promptly continued on their way.

Johnny sighed, once again glancing at his trembling hands before addressing the upset young woman. “If you're driving a car, you need to have your attention to just that. Driving . We see way too many bad results from people not payin' attention on the road.”

“I said I was sorry.”

“That's fine. Just make sure ya mean it.”

The woman pulled back, taken by surprise at his frankness. “Look, it was an accident.”

“It nearly was . Just promise me you'll keep your eyes on the road from now on; for your sake as well as others'.”

“Okay, I will.”

Johnny watched as she got into her car and left the area, freeing up his space to get back onto the main road.

~*~*~

Soon on his way again, Gage swore under his breath. “Dammit. If I make it to Christmas without anymore mishaps, it'll be a miracle.”

He glanced at his watch as he turned onto the street leading to Rampart's parking lot. Roy 's gotta be wonderin' what's taking me so long. . .

~*~*~

Once inside at Rampart, Johnny met up with his partner. Roy had just come out of the men's bathroom and was headed toward the desk to get supplies refilled.

“It's about time you got here. What happened?”

“I nearly got in an accident at Blevins and 17 th Avenue . Some lady who was payin' more attention to her radio controls than where she was goin' just about took the squad out. . . with me in it.”

“Drivers get crazy this time of year.”

“I'll say,” Johnny agreed. “It's downright dangerous at times.”

The two men stopped at the desk where Dixie McCall was talking to a nurse who appeared to be in her late fifties. The ladies looked over, Dixie smiling at both paramedics, the other just at Johnny.

“Well, I see you found your partner.”

Roy glanced at Gage, then looked to Miss McCall. “Yep. Turns out he was trying to do donuts or something in the squad while I was busy doing our job here.”

Dixie raised an eyebrow and the younger man rolled his eyes before clarifying the situation. “What he means is that I was out risking my life in pre-holiday traffic while he was safely off the streets.”

“Did you have an accident?”

Johnny glanced at the older nurse who was still staring and smiling at him. He then quickly directed his attention back to Dixie and her question. “Almost. . .well, kinda. A lady ran a red light fiddling with her radio. . .” Distracted, he couldn't help but take a look at the other nurse again.

Man, what is she staring at?

“I. . .uh. . .I. . .she just missed me. . .in the intersection.”

Not noticing his partner's annoyance, Roy carried on with the business of getting supplies. Johnny forced himself to watch Dixie gather the stuff together. Once it was ready, they bid the ladies farewell and headed for the exit.

“Man, did you see how that old nurse was looking at me?”

Roy glanced over his shoulder and shook his head. “No. Was it with bedroom eyes?”

“ Roy ! Man, I don't believe you. No. No,” he emphasized with a disgusted grimace. “She just kept smilin' at me.”

“Maybe she likes you. Or maybe your fly is open.”

Johnny immediately stopped, a sudden horrified expression on his face as looked down while his partner continued on with a smile. Seeing that his trousers were very much closed, he trotted to catch up with Roy .

“Very funny. You know, maybe you ought to become a host for a candid camera show.”

They exited the building and walked toward the squad, Gage still in disbelief of Roy 's little joke.

~*~*~

Roy backed the squad into the apparatus bay and stopped, hoping that his partner would quit going on about the older nurse's unwanted attention as well. But as he opened his door to get out, Johnny placed a hand on his right shoulder, stopping him. Roy sat back and waited for more.

“You know three times I've asked you a question. . . Three times ! And you've yet to answer it.”

“The one about the grandmother syndrome?”

“Yes. What do you think?”

“Well, although she's older than most of the other nurses, I'd say she's a little young to be looking at you like a grandson.”

“So. ..?”

“So-o.” Roy chewed his bottom lip. Did he really want to drop the next line on the already ranting man? Why not? The result would kill some time if nothing else. “So, I think she just likes younger men.”

With that the senior paramedic climbed from the squad cab, leaving an open mouthed Gage behind. After Roy was well out of earshot, Johnny was able to get his jaw to work again. “But you're a younger man! Why wasn't she lookin' at you?” he called out. Man, this is gonna put a damper on my day. . .

~*~*~

Later in the evening, the station was called out to a house fire. When they arrived on the scene, one end of the home was burning fairly rapidly. A woman, her husband and their two small children stood with two police officers and several neighbors that had gathered across the street.

Hank Stanley trotted over to the group as his men rolled out the hoses and connected them to a hydrant. “Did everyone get out?”

“Our kittens didn't. They're still inside.”

The captain noticed the little boy and girl were sobbing. He looked at the house and saw that part of it was still free of flames. It was going to have to be done quick, but. . .

“I can have my men search one section of your place, but that's it. If they don't see the kittens there, they'll have to come right out.”

The man nodded in agreement. “Thank you.”

Having already directed Chet and Marco upon arrival, Hank watched as they attacked the flames from outside. It was going to take another engine to get this fire out. He called in a second alarm as he hurried over to his paramedics.

“John, Roy ! We've got two missing kittens in the house. I told the family you can search in the one end of the house, but if you don't spot ‘em within a few minutes, give it up.”

Johnny looked at Roy as the older man responded. “Right, Cap.”

~*~*~

Their masks in place within seconds, Gage and DeSoto climbed inside the structure through a bedroom window and began their rapid search. With a flashlight in hand they each looked around the room; under the bed and a dresser, then in a closet. Unfortunately, they came up empty handed. It was tough to see in the smoky interior, but the paramedics made their way out of the room and into the hallway. The flames from the other end of the house could be seen licking at the ceiling and walls as the fire spread.

“You take the room on the left, I'll take this one,” Roy directed, his voice muffled.

Johnny nodded. “Okay!”

They split up, each still with a flashlight, and began a quick search.

~*~*~

Johnny was only in the next room a few seconds when he'd kneeled down and crawled over to peer under a twin bed. Shining his light as he lifted the edge of a blanket that hung to the floor, he saw two tiny furry figures huddled together. He expected them to dart away even though he was moving slowly. However the little kittens remained where they were.

That's not a good sign.

He reached under and pulled them out as one. They were limp as rag dolls, obviously having taken in too much smoke despite the blanket providing some protection from it filtering in. They remained still as the paramedic held them against his chest while he got to his feet.

Johnny took off his helmet with one hand, letting it hang around his neck. He went on to remove his air mask and held it over the kittens'. He stood in place watching for any sign of improvement. With none evident right away, Johnny ran for the doorway.

“ Roy !” He paused as he coughed, then tried again. “ Roy !” Gage headed out of the room and met into his partner in the hallway.

“What--”

“I found ‘em.”

Being right beside each other, the senior paramedic could see that Johnny had his hands full and grabbed a hold of his right upper arm to guide him to an exit. The two hurried into the room Roy had just come from. With the black smoke still increasing, it was the closest and easiest way out.

Roy used a vanity chair to break the window, bringing everyone's attention to their new location. He quickly cleared the remaining shards of glass with his helmet.

Hank Stanley took the kittens from Johnny; Roy made sure his partner got out next.

As the paramedics checked over the animals, two additional fire engines showed up on the scene to help in fighting the stubborn flames.

Roy glanced worriedly Johnny. The younger man was still coughing. “You'd better have someone check you out at Rampart.”

He nodded as he waited for the calico kitten to show some sign of life. DeSoto was tending to the black one. A circle of onlookers had gathered around to watch the rescue efforts.

Soon both kittens were breathing and moving their heads, though they were still unsteady on their feet. Roy handed his to the boy; Johnny gave his to the little girl. The two men sat back on their heels in satisfaction and relief at the outcome. Both animals would still need additional care by a vet, but their chances for survival were better.

Hank Stanley trotted over, concern on his face. “John, you and Roy go on to Rampart. We've got it under control here and I want you to get checked out for smoke inhalation.”

“Right, Cap. “

The paramedics gathered their equipment and placed it in the squad compartments. Within a few minutes they were on their way, Johnny finally with oxygen handy to aid with his breathing.

~*~*~

Mike Morton listened to Johnny's lungs as he had the paramedic take several deep breaths.

“Well?”

The doctor shook his head at the slight hoarseness in Gage's voice. “I can't believe you took off your mask to give two kittens the air you needed.”

“I had to! They were in distress. I didn't think we'd be able to save ‘em if they didn't get clean air soon enough.”

“But they're expendable. Just pets.” He folded his arms across his chest and looked thoughtfully at Roy, then Johnny. “I don't mean to sound cold about it. I wouldn't want to see an animal die in a fire either. But kittens can be replaced with one trip to a pet store and the kids'd be happy again. You guys , however, can't be.”

Johnny exchanged a disbelieving expression with Roy . “I'm not so sure about that. Those kittens meant more to that family than that,” he argued, a lingering cough at the end of his words. “Besides, don't forget sometimes we only have split seconds to make a life or death decision. . . some of our choices aren't gonna be what others would expect.”

“Well, that ‘split second decision' just landed you an overnight stay in the hospital.”

“Now wait a minute,” came a protest with another cough added. “I didn't take in that much smoke!”

“Look,” Morton said with annoyance in his voice. “I'm the doctor here, you're my patient, and I'll make that determination. And I say you should stay under observation until tomorrow morning. You know as well as I do how fast hypoxia can develop as much as a day later.”

“But, Doc!” Johnny looked helplessly at Roy, who just shrugged. Both knew Mike Morton could be very stubborn. As stubborn as Gage himself at times. They also knew he was right. The younger paramedic sighed in resignation. “Ah man. . .here I go again. . .”

~*~*~

Dixie smiled sympathetically as she came into Johnny's room to see how he was doing. She looked at the window not far from his bed.

“Well, at least we gave you a room with a good view this time.”

Sitting up straighter on the inclined bed, the paramedic frowned. “Dix, a hospital room's a hospital room, no matter how you look at it; view or not.”

“Just try to make the best of it. Remember, it's only for one night.”

“Yeah. . .one looong night.”

“How are your breathing exercises going? Has the respiratory therapist given you any specifics?”

“She said I should only need another treatment or two, then my lungs should be clear.” He shook his head. “Man, I could sure do without seein' her . She may be a cute chick, but I hate breathing in the medicated oxygen during the treatment.”

The head nurse sighed. She patted his feet that were covered by the sheet and blanket. “It'll all be over before you know it. Look, I'll try to stop in now and then when I get a chance, and before I leave, okay?”

He smiled and nodded. “Thanks.”

“Sure. And in the meantime,” she added, “just keep those two adorable kittens you described in mind. . .and the faces of the kids they belonged to. It'll remind you that it was all worth it.”

“Yeah. . .I know. Good thing cats have nine lives. I have a feeling they used up at least six ta'day.”

“Just don't you go using up your one.”

He didn't respond verbally, but rather looked at Dixie and once again nodded.

~*~*~

December 15th

With no major complications coming about from his smoke inhalation, Johnny had been released from Rampart late the following morning. Though he'd seen the ‘grandmotherly nurse' in the hallway on his way out, he was relieved that it was only in passing, which didn't give her much of a chance to look at him. He was still bugged by such an older lady paying him any attention.

Having already pulled another shift with his crewmates since his release, the paramedic headed for the dayroom to meet up with the others before roll call for the next one.

“Good mornin',” he said with a smile as he entered the room.

The men from C-shift were talking with the others and joined in on returning the greeting. Charlie Dwyer pushed back his chair from the table and stood up.

“I guess since you're here, I can be officially off now.”

“Don't tell me you're that anxious to leave,” Gage stated as he looked over a few donuts that were left in a box on the table.

“Let me put it this way. . .yeah, I am. There haven't been as many calls this time, but they got stranger.”

“Like what?” Gage selected a glazed donut and took a bite.

Roy smiled as he listened to Dwyer repeat a couple of things he'd said earlier.

“A lady had been sitting on her couch and her foot went to sleep. She stood up and her ankle broke. Just like that.”

“You're kidding. . .”

The C-shift paramedic shook his head. “Nope. And that's not even the strangest. A man sneezed while driving and caused a twelve car pile-up on the 405.”

Johnny looked at the others. Having already heard the stories, none were surprised at the incidents anymore. They just hoped not to have any stories from the upcoming shift that would top them.

~*~*~

Just one hour into their time on duty, the paramedics got a call for a possible heart attack. When they arrived at the scene, they were greeted by a woman in her early thirties.

“It's my dad. He's having chest pains and trouble catching his breath.”

“How long ago did it start?” Roy wondered as he and Johnny gathered the necessary equipment from the squad.

“About fifteen minutes ago. I called for you guys right away.”

“What's his name?” Johnny asked as they followed her into the two-story house.

“Jim. I'm Marcia.”

When they got into the home, the paramedics hurried over to a couch in the livingroom where the man was lying down clutching his chest. His face was moist with sweat.

“Hi, Jim. I'm John Gage and this is my partner Roy DeSoto. We're gonna check you out here and see what's goin' on.”

“Any history of heart trouble?” Roy asked as his partner unbuttoned Jim's shirt so that they could apply the pads to connect the leads to the data scope.

He shook his head. “First. . .time. . .”

Within a minute, they had him hooked up and Roy was preparing to send an EKG strip to Doctor Early. Johnny went on to place an oxygen mask over Jim's nose and mouth.

“Rampart, this'll be lead two.”

A brief pause followed while the information was evaluated on the other end.

“51, I read tachycardia. Start an IV D5W and continue to administer oxygen. Monitor closely and transport as soon as possible.”

“10-4, Rampart.”

The paramedics did as directed and soon had Jim on his way to the hospital.

~*~*~

Johnny followed behind in the squad. As he approached the intersection where he'd nearly had an accident five days earlier, he found himself tensing up.

C'mon.Relax,” he thought to himself . It can't happen again. Besides, this time we've got our lights and sirens in use.

Still he found himself breathing a sigh of relief once they'd gotten past the location.

~*~*~

Johnny headed for the base station desk to refill supplies while Roy went into the treatment room to give any necessary information regarding Jim to Doctor Early.

As the younger paramedic reached his destination, he felt the urge to turn around and walk swiftly away. Unfortunately, the older nurse that had him on edge turned around and saw him before he had a chance. Johnny forced an uneasy grin.

“Uh. . .hi. . .um. . .I need to get. . .uh. . .” He fidgeted nervously with the handie talkie in his hands as she smiled at him, waiting for him to continue. All that would come to mind were Roy 's words from their discussion. ‘ So, I think she just likes younger men.'

After a few seconds he blurted it out. “Supplies. I need to get supplies.” Again he forced a grin.

“Oh certainly. What would you like, John?”

“Uh. . .here. Here,” he repeated as he handed over the list he'd made out.

The nurse turned around to get a few of the items. As she set them on the counter, she once again smiled at Johnny. He kept his grin frozen in place all the while feeling uncomfortable.

“Here you are,” she said as she finished.

“Thank you.”

“You're welcome, John. And my name is Shirley,” she added pointing to her name tag.

He picked up the supplies, keeping his smile in place. “Thanks again. . .uh. . .Shirley.”

As he was about to turn away, he was stopped by the words he heard next.

“You look so much like my nephew Troy , it's uncanny. I couldn't make it to Virginia to visit him and his family this Christmas, but it sure has made it nice to at least see his ‘twin'. It's almost like having him stop by.”

“Yeah?”

She nodded. “The first time I saw you, it threw me. I don't usually work where we have contact with you boys. But when I mentioned the similarity to Dixie , she explained who you were and what you do. I think Troy 'll be proud to hear his look-a-like is such a fine example of a citizen.”

Johnny felt his face and ears heat up as he blushed. “Well, I'm not the only one doing it. There're quite a few of us now.”

“I hear you're one of the best.”

Roy had stepped out of the treatment room and was within earshot just in time to hear Shirley's comment. He raised his eyebrows in surprise. Johnny saw the reaction and quickly tried to explain.

“Uh. . .she means as a paramedic. As a paramedic I'm one of the best. I mean, I don't think I'm one of the best. She just heard. . .” When he saw Roy crack a smile, he gave it up. “Never mind. How's Jim?”

“He should be okay. His biggest worry is missing the holidays at home. But hopefully things'll improve and he'll be there.”

“You know, I'm starting to wish I was there myself.”

Roy smiled. He wasn't sure if that was a sentimental statement in reference to being with relatives or a desire to be away from the mainstream after all.

~*~*~

Later in the day, the squad and engine were sent out on a response to another house fire. This one was caused by an overloaded electrical socket.

Like with most of the other fires the station had gone to recently, neighbors were gathered across the street to watch the men in action and the owners were in tears as their treasured possessions went up in flames.

Hank Stanley met up with the captain from Station 16 after giving his men directions on where to assist.

“Did everyone get out okay?” The words were beginning to sound like a recording to him; he'd had to say them so many times lately.

“Yeah, but the father's arms and hands got burned when the fire first started. He said some wires sparked and their tree went up in flames. The guy tried to grab some of the gifts near it but the heat was too intense. He's over there with my paramedics. They should have him on his way in soon.”

“Okay. I'll have Gage and DeSoto help with the fire.”

He trotted over to the two men. “Looks like just one injury and squad 16 has it under control. You two grab another inch and a half and help on the structure.”

“Right, Cap,” Johnny said as he and Roy hurried to comply.

~*~*~

Soon the paramedics were helping to fight the flames. The smoke was growing whiter, meaning that the men were gaining on the fire.

Johnny spoke to his partner, voicing his concern. “Whata'ya wanna make a bet this was Christmas related too. We need to find a way to get more word out to people about safety during the holidays.”

“I know.” Roy responded as he glanced over his shoulder. “But the department's done all it can.”

Johnny nodded. “If ya ask me, January can't get here soon enough!” He was sure most of the firemen would agree with him.

~*~*~

December 16 th

The following morning, six exhausted men left Station 51 for two needed days off. B-shift took over for the next twenty-four hours and were wondering if they'd be ready for the pre-holiday mishaps that seemed to be occurring more so as Christmas drew closer.

Johnny climbed into his Land Rover while his shiftmates got into their cars. After waving to Roy as the senior paramedic left the lot first, Gage put his vehicle into reverse and soon followed, Chet and Marco right behind him. Unknown to any of them, Hank stayed behind to help Mike when the engineer suddenly noticed one of his tires was flat. The two soon discovered a nail stuck in it that he'd probably run over the day before.

~*~*~

December 17 th

John Gage made his way through the crowded mall, wishing he'd gotten a gift for his aunt and the DeSotos sooner. But being a typical bachelor, he put off the shopping errand for as long as possible. Now Christmas seemed to be just around the corner.

The paramedic let out a gasp and frowned when he felt the heel of a lady's shoe land on his toes. Tennis shoes didn't provide adequate protection against such things, and Johnny breathed a sigh of relief that nothing felt like it was broken afterward. He could still wiggle his toes and the pain was already subsiding.

Limping on his way in hopes the offender would notice and perhaps get the hint to watch where she was stepping, Johnny looked for a store that would have nice things at a budget price. He was just about to enter into what appeared to be a promising prospect when two young kids came running through the area.

“Hey. . .!”

But the boys ignored the warning and plowed on, causing Gage to jump back in an effort to keep his toes from getting stepped on again. As he watched the boys continue on, zipping around the other shoppers, he once again frowned.

“ Next year I'm gonna take care of this stuff in October , when it's still somewhat safe. . .whether I feel like it or not.”

He then glanced at an elderly lady who was looking at him oddly, having heard him talking to himself. Johnny shook his head and went into the store. Thirty minutes later, the mission was complete and the paramedic was on his way to his car. As he passed a couple in the parking lot heading toward the mall, he couldn't help but say one thing to them.

“Good luck.”

~*~*~

December 23rd

With another busy shift behind them on the nineteenth and twentieth of the month, it was once again time for A-shift to pull duty. But the men were just glad for the moment that they had the actual holiday off. In the end, it would be worth it.

Johnny was ahead of schedule in his drive to work and decided to stop for a cup of coffee and donuts on his way in.

“At least this way I'll get what I want and won't hafta settle for what's left.”

He parked his Land Rover and trotted inside the little shop that had just opened for business for the day. The young lady behind the counter smiled as Johnny approached.

“Good morning,” she said in a too chipper voice for such an early hour.

“Mornin'.”

“What can I do for you?”

If he wasn't on his way to work, Gage figured he might've flirted a little, maybe even gotten her phone number. But at the moment, he was more concerned with getting his goods and pressing on.

“Let's see. . .” he said as he looked over the sign behind her where items were listed and priced. “I'll have a large coffee. . .black. . .and uh. . .” The paramedic eyed the pastries in the glass display case. “A jelly filled donut. No, make that two jelly filled donuts.”

“Okay, coming right up.” She gathered his order together placing the donuts in a white paper bag and filling a Styrofoam cup with the brew, then rang up the purchase on the cash register. “That'll be fifty-five cents.”

He handed her a dollar. “Keep the change,” he said as he picked up a small cardboard carryout tray with the white paper bag and cup on it.

~*~*~

Johnny set the tray on the passenger seat, and drove out of the lot. Once on the road again and right on schedule, the paramedic used his right hand to pop out a small section of plastic from the lid that was on his coffee. He picked up the cup and took a quick swig of the hot brew. It wasn't till it was in his mouth that he realized just how hot it was.

He spit it out, his steering wheel, dash and lap getting sprayed in the process.

“Oh man. . .” He groaned at both the mess and the burned sensation in his mouth. “Shit.” He rolled down the window and dumped the rest of the coffee out at the next stop light, then tossed the cup on the passenger side floor. All I want now is a glass of milk.

“Dammit.” Now he was bound to get ribbed for being the one who wasn't careful.

~*~*~

Gage peeked his head into the locker room and smiled when he saw that only Mike was inside. The engineer wasn't one to talk a lot, so maybe a brief and undetailed explanation as to why there were coffee stains on the paramedic's shirt and jeans would do.

Johnny opened the door and casually walked in, going straight to his locker and setting the bag of donuts down inside. “Mornin'.”

“Hey.”

“I saw everyone's cars were here. I guess they're already changed, huh?”

“Yep.”

Gage grinned. Mike wasn't even paying attention to his appearance. No one would have to know he screwed up. He watched as his shiftmate headed for the exit.

“See ya in a bit.”

“Sure, Mike.”

Once alone in the room, Johnny went over to the mirror and tried to look at the roof of his mouth. It felt like there might be a small blister, but he wasn't sure. Unfortunately, he couldn't see anything from his angle at the mirror and gave up.

It can't be *too* bad. . .

~*~*~

After roll call the men went about their chores assigned for the day. Mike and Marco were sent out to hang hose, Chet had the dorm room, Roy the dayroom and Johnny the apparatus bay. Captain Stanley had promised that the latrine would be a joint effort on everyone's part later in the shift.

Johnny had just gotten a mop and bucket out of the supply closet when the klaxons sounded, sending the station out on yet another house fire call.

“I don't believe it,” Johnny stated as his partner joined him in the squad.

Roy handed him the slip of paper with the address on it. “I know. It's starting early.”

“Somethin' tells me this is gonna be another busy shift.”

~*~*~

The house at the scene was already a complete loss by the time the men arrived on scene. It had been a very small structure and didn't take long for the flames to consume. As the engine crew and another worked on extinguishing the fire, Johnny and Roy checked over the distressed elderly woman who was now homeless.

“My house. . . my house,” she cried, holding an empty shoebox on her lap. The paramedics had escorted her over to the squad and directed her to sit on the bumper.

“And my dear kitty, Clarabelle; she jumped out of her little box as soon as she heard the sirens. I haven't seen her anywhere since. . .”

Johnny glanced at Roy , a worried expression on his face. He then returned his attention to her. “We'll get word to our captain about Clarabelle. Maybe one of our guys'll spot ‘er. Let's take care of you in the meantime.”

The paramedics knew it was possible, though unlikely, that the cat could have run back into the burning house to get away from the noise and chaos around her.

Roy got out the bp cuff. “Let me see your right arm, Mary and I'll make sure your blood pressure reading is where it should be.”

She complied while Johnny gently held her other wrist and checked her pulse. After he was done, he took his notepad out and jotted down the numbers. He then set up the biophone and contacted Rampart.

Roy supplied his partner with the blood pressure reading and went on to check Mary's respirations.

“There's my Clarabelle!” Mary tried to get up, but Roy gently stopped her.

“Looks like someone is bringing her to you .”

A neighbor woman had picked up the scared feline and was softly stroking her as she approached. In the meantime Johnny gave the two sets of vitals to Brackett and waited for the other from Roy . Once he had the information he passed it on.

“51, bring her in as a precaution, non code R.”

“10-4, Rampart.” Johnny hung up the receiver and looked at Mary. She'd placed the cat in the shoebox and was reassuring the animal. “He wants you to come in. You're okay, but your blood pressure is a bit high and your pulse is a little too fast. Really it's understandable with the stress from what happened, but he just wants to be sure.”

“Oh no. . .no, you call that doctor back and tell him I can't leave my Clarabelle.”

“But Ma'am--”

“I'll be fine unless you make me leave her all alone.”

Johnny looked at his partner, then the neighbor.

“I don't suppose you could take care of the cat?”

“I would, but my son's allergic to them.”

He nodded and sighed. “How about she rides in the squad with me? We're going non-code R, so there won't be any sirens to scare ‘er.”

Mary smiled. “Yes. Then I can have my daughter pick her up there. We'll probably have to live with Gayle until we get a new place to live.” She shook her head as she continued on. “And I'm going to get an earful from her when she finds out about this. I can hear her now. . . ‘I told you not to have a real tree. I told you you'd forget to water it.' We try to take care of our kids while they're growing up, then somewhere it changes and they're the ones who are taking care of us.”

Captain Stanley approached the group at the squad. “How's she doing?”

“She's okay, Cap,” Roy explained. “But we're gonna take her and . . .uh. . .Clarabelle to Rampart.” He noticed the captain raise his eyebrows in question. “We'll find a safe place for her outside the hospital till. . .um. . .Gayle, Mary's daughter, can pick her up.”

“Okay.”

~*~*~

Soon on their way, Johnny followed the ambulance in the squad. He glanced periodically at Clarabelle, amazed that the cat was staying in the shoebox.

“I think she oughtta rename ya The Shoebox Kitty.”

The only thing he got in response was an uncomprehending stare.

~*~*~

When he arrived at Rampart a few minutes after the ambulance, Johnny backed the squad into a parking space and turned off the motor. He turned and looked at Clarabelle, who was still in her box, though wide-eyed with apprehension.

“Wait here. I'll be right back.”

He hurried into the emergency entrance in search of the one person he hoped would have a solution as to where to put the cat. As he headed for the base station, he ran into Dixie McCall.

“Dix, I was just looking for you. . .”

“Say no more. You're partner already told me.” She grabbed a hold of his upper arm and started for the exit.

“He did? How'd he do it so fast?” he asked, continuing in step with her.

“Easy. . . ‘Johnny's got her cat with him, any idea where it can stay till her daughter gets here?' And then he went in with her.”

“Oh. Well, any ideas?”

“It can stay in my car. I'll crack a couple of windows open.”

Johnny smiled as they went out the doors. “I knew we could count on you, Dix. Thanks.”

“No problem. I love cats.”

Both had to shake their heads in wonder that Clarabelle stayed in her box during the transfer from the squad to the head nurse's car.

~*~*~

As they were returning to the station, the paramedics got a call to assist Engine 8 with a possible suicide attempt.

“Another suicide attempt?” Johnny voiced aloud as he strapped on his helmet. “Man, that's the third one this month.”

“Some people get really down around the holidays.”

“I know. But what about the people they leave behind?”

Roy shrugged. “I guess at the time, it's hard to keep them in the picture.”

~*~*~

As he climbed out of the squad, Roy looked up at a man who was perched on the beam of the building that was still under construction. Johnny came around and joined his partner.

“Man, he's really up high.” He looked over at the senior paramedic. “Guess this is when that ‘uneasy feelin' in your stomach kicks in, huh?”

Roy nodded. “You could say that.”

The captain on duty at Station 8 hurried over to the paramedics. “So far he hasn't moved. I don't know if he still wants to jump or not. It could be he's just too scared to move.”

Johnny and Roy exchanged a glance. “We've seen that happen before,” Gage commented to their superior. “And it was almost me who went down when we were getting the guy rescued. He slipped and was hangin'. . .nearly took me with ‘im.”

“Well, let's hope this one goes a little smoother.”

The three men trotted over to the rest of the crew to decide who would do what to get the potential jumper down safely.

~*~*~

Johnny and Roy were able to take a lift up to a certain level of the building frame before they had to go the remaining level by climbing. The two slowly and methodically made their way up as the captain spoke to the victim using a bullhorn. Though they hadn't been able to get a verbal response from the man yet, it appeared he wasn't in any hurry to jump.

Finally making their way to the beam, Johnny and Roy carefully got onto it, both making sure they were tied off and secure before continuing on. The younger paramedic led the way, inching his way across as he talked to the despondent individual.

“Hey there. I'm John Gage and this is my partner Roy DeSoto. We're here to help you get down from here safely.”

I hope that's what he wants. . .

The man spoke, being careful not to move anything other than his mouth. “I thought I wanted to die. . .I was all set to jump. . .and,” he let out a snort of laughter, surprising the paramedics. “Damn if I didn't just find out I'm afraid of heights. I've got a phobia and I didn't even know it. Now I can't move.”

Johnny glanced over his shoulder at Roy and shrugged. “Looks like you're not alone. . .” He then brought his attention back to the man. “We'll take it real slow and easy. You'll be okay, uh. . .”

“Brad. My name's Brad Farley.”

“Okay, Brad. We've got a safety belt we're going to put on you and then we'll tie off a line for ya. That way you can't fall to the ground.”

“Okay. I guess I shoulda' just stuck my head in a gas oven, huh?”

“Is there anything you wanna talk about?” Roy offered as he was tying Brad's line off on the beam. “We're pretty good at listening.”

“Nah.” He shook his head slightly before he suddenly had a change of heart and opened up. “I lost my job and I don't know how I'm gonna tell my wife. We've got newborn twins. . .her mother just moved in with us. . .I don't know how we're gonna make it and it's all my fault.”

Johnny saw the chance to bring into the picture what many suicidal people seemed to forget. “Hey, things'll work out. There's all sorts of options, like taking on two lesser jobs, asking for help from some organizations. . .with babies in the picture, they're bound to help a little. But what'll your wife and the twins do if you take your own life? What if they eventually blame themselves? And how'll the kids be growing up without their dad?”

What happened next was totally unexpected. Brad stood in place on the beam and wept openly. Johnny and Roy gave a thumbs up to the captain below and waited in somber silence as their rescuee regained control of his emotions. Soon he gave a nod as he sniffed and wiped at his eyes. “Let's go.”

The three made it down to safety, again using the lift available one level below.

When they got back into the squad, Roy turned to face his partner. “We lucked out on this one.”

“I know. I'm glad. I don't think I could've even celebrated Christmas if he'da' jumped, ya know? It just wouldn't feel right.”

“I know what you mean. I don't think any Christmas would've come and gone without thinking about it.”

“Makes you really feel bad for the families of the ones who succeed, huh?”

Roy nodded.

Johnny looked out the passenger window. He hoped that Brad would be their last suicide attempt call for a long time to come.

~*~*~

With all of A-shift back at Station 51, it was time for lunch. Marco fixed chili for the crew and had just dished it out as each man took a seat at the table.

“Smells great!” Johnny remarked, a smile on his face. He took a spoon full and eagerly placed it in his mouth. The look on his face said it all as he tried to desperately swallow the food before it did any damage. At the same time, Marco's warning came too late.

“Be careful, it's hot.”

Johnny grabbed for a glass of milk that he'd poured a few moments before and gulped it down. But it couldn't take the sting away.

“Oh man!”

“Are you okay?” Captain Stanley and Roy asked in unison.

“I burned my mouth again. . .”

“Again ?” Chet wondered.

Johnny nodded. “This morning on the way to work. . .with coffee. Now this.”

“I'm sorry, Johnny. I didn't think anyone was going to start eating before we all sat down.”

Gage waved him off. “It's okay, Marco. It's not your fault. Man. . .”

Knowing the chili needed to cool some, the others waited to eat theirs. When they did start in, the majority broke up crackers in theirs and enjoyed the meal. Johnny's mouth was too sore to eat anything at the moment and his burned tongue wouldn't allow for any taste yet anyway. He opted to wait till later.

~*~*~

Just after dinner, where Johnny still found it a challenge to eat any firm foods, he and Roy were sent out on a response involving a woman stuck. As they got out of the squad at the scene, Gage did a double take.

“ Roy , she's got her hand in a book drop.”

“What?”

“Our ‘stuck' lady. Her hand and arm are in the library book drop.”

Roy turned around to look. Sure enough, a woman in a red velvet dress and black platform shoes was standing next to a library book drop slot, her right arm inside up to her elbow. Another woman with her was stepping over to greet the paramedics.

“Boy, we sure are glad to see you!” She glanced over her shoulder at her stuck friend. “Or I am anyway. Jenny was debating what was worse. Spending the night here or calling for help.”

“Why'd she stick her hand inside?” Johnny wondered.

The woman sighed. “Well, you know how thefts tend to go up around the holidays. . .”

Both men nodded, then slowly shook their heads ‘no'. They weren't up on the statistics of Christmas thefts.

“Well, they do,” she explained as they grabbed their equipment from the squad. “And when Jenny tried to drop her books inside, one wouldn't go all the way in. One corner of it would have to be sticking out. So she peeked inside the slot and saw that enough other books had been returned, that the last few in there were kind of angled, keeping hers out. She decided to rearrange the books so that they'd lie more flat and she could get hers in better.”

Johnny glanced at his partner and shrugged. “Sounds to me like a way someone would get their hand and arm stuck in a book drop.”

“Yeah. Question is, how are we gonna get it out?”

They trotted over to where Jenny was waiting, her face red with embarrassment.

“I feel so stupid,” she said, wishing she was anywhere but there. “And I'm supposed to be at a Christmas party right now.”

“Don't worry, Jenny. It'll be okay.”

“That's easy for you to say, Virginia . You're not the one up to your elbow in a book slot!”

Johnny tried to wiggle her arm slightly while attempting to gently pull it free. “Just try to relax. We'll get ya out of here one way or another.” He bit on his lower lip as he continued the effort. When it didn't budge, he glanced at Roy and shook his head. “It's not gonna wiggle out. It's really stuck .”

“Well, of course it's stuck,” Jenny blurted out. “I'm standing here with my arm inside of this thing, aren't I?”

The younger man shot her a sour expression, then stepped over to his partner. “We can put some KY Gel on her arm. That might do it.”

“Sounds good to me. I'll get it out.”

Roy handed Johnny the tube of gel, and stood beside Virginia while it was smeared on Jenny's arm near and just inside the slot.

“Oh, this is gross,” the stuck girl whined. “It feels so slimey.”

“It's supposed to. You want your arm free, don't ya?” Gage wondered.

“Well of course. I just didn't think it was going to be so. . .messy! Try not to get any on my dress. It'll ruin the velvet.”

Johnny glanced at Roy and rolled his eyes. If it wasn't his job to take care of people like Jenny, he'd be tempted to let her sit there longer, just like she was.

“Okay, I'm gonna slowly pull your arm out, so just let it relax.”

“I'm trying.”

Although it wasn't a quick release, her arm was free before very long and she held it out away from her body in order to keep the gel from her dress. Gage handed her something to wipe it off with.

“Oh you did it!” Her friend exclaimed. “You got it out! How wonderful!”

Roy was already placing things back into the squad. As Johnny went to join him, he remarked to the young woman, “See, Virginia , there is a Santa Claus.”

DeSoto heard the phrase and gave his partner a look like the younger man had lost his mind. Johnny just smirked at his own little joke.

~*~*~

The following morning found the men more than ready to go home for the holiday. As they waited for B-shift to relieve them, they enjoyed a breakfast of coffee and donuts, the latter being given to them by Hanks' wife. Only Johnny wasn't having a good time with the meal. His mouth still sore, he gave up eating after the first bite. And the hot brew was definitely out of the question.

“Maybe you need to have it looked at,” Marco suggested.

“It's just a little sore,” Gage responded. “It'll be okay. It's not the first time I've burned the roof of my mouth.”

“I've done it before,” Mike added. “It's usually okay by the third day at the latest.”

“ Exactly . I'll be fine,” Johnny shrugged.

~*~*~

December 25th

Mid-Christmas morning found John Gage on his way to his aunt's house with a stop at the DeSotos on the way out of town. He pulled into his partner's driveway behind Roy 's sports car and parked. After trotting up to the door and ringing the buzzer, Johnny rocked on his feet as he waited, gift in hand.

Soon the door opened, revealing a very tired appearing Joanne, Roy 's wife.

“Good mornin'” Gage said with a smile.

“Is it still morning? We've been up so long, I could've sworn it was noon already.”

“Ah. . .the kids were kinda excited, huh?”

“That's an understatement,” she sighed. “Oh, I'm sorry, Johnny. Where are my manners? Come on in,” she said as she stepped back. “Please.”

He did as asked, and smiled at the two children playing with toys near the tree.

“Johnny, Johnny!” Five-year-old Jennifer DeSoto exclaimed, her new doll clutched in one hand. She ran over to him where he scooped her up in his left arm, tucking the present he'd brought in his right, and gave her a hug. “Hi, sweetheart. Was Santa good to you?”

“Oh yes! Yes! Looky!” She held up the baby doll.

“She's cute.”

“I got a toy train!” Chris DeSoto informed him from across the room. The boy was two years older than his sister and at a stage where hugs were taboo.

“Good deal!”

Roy came into the room, a cup of coffee in hand. “Hey, glad you could come by.”

“Thanks,” Johnny smiled, setting Jennifer back down. “I've gotta hit the road if I wanna get to Aunt Ruth's house around one o'clock . But I wanted to drop this off.” He held out an eight inch square box wrapped in gold foil paper.

“We've got one for you too,” Joanne put in.

Roy opened the gift from Johnny, revealing a pretty snow globe with a scene of Santa at the chimney inside.

“I figured it'd be somethin' the whole family could enjoy. It plays the tune ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas'.”

“It's nice. Thanks.”

“Shake it up, Daddy! Shake it up an' make it snow!”

Roy smiled at his excited daughter and tipped the globe upside down, until most of the flakes were gathered at the top. He wound the music box inside, then flipped the globe back over. Squatting down, he held it so she could watch the snow fall.

“That's beautiful, Johnny,” Joanne said as she handed him a gift. “I love snow globes.”

“I'd rather have a dart board,” Chris stated. “But it's okay.”

“Christopher DeSoto!”

“I said it's okay, Mom.”

She looked at Gage, an apologetic expression on her face.

“Hey, don't worry about it. I'da' rather had a dart board at his age too.” The younger man eyed the big box in his hands. “I think I'm gonna need to sit down to open this one.”

He took a seat on the couch and carefully removed the paper. “Oh man! You got it?”

“Do ya like it?” Jenny wondered.

Chris looked up from his train set. “Dad let us vote and we wanted to get ya that.”

“This is great! Better than the one I have now.” He looked up at Roy . “How'd you know which one ta get?”

“When you came back in with the ad, you left it on the table with it open to that. Plus don't forget, I've had to listen off and on to you debate about replacing your sleeping bag ever since,” he teased.

“Good point. Well, alright. . .this is. . .uh, Roy , you sure the snow globe's okay? I mean, it's not exactly a guy kinda present.”

“It's fine,” he assured. “It's a family thing.”

Johnny felt kind of awkward at having been given a gift that cost three times as much as what he gave them. But then his parents had always told him it was the thought that counted. And he had put a lot of consideration into their gift. Besides , he reasoned with himself, I can always go a little higher next year .

~*~*~

Soon Gage was on his way to his Aunt Ruth's for an early dinner and to deliver her present. He'd gotten her a turquoise set of clip on earrings, with a pin to match. No matter when he saw her as he was growing up, she always seemed to have a pin of some sort on her blouse.

He was halfway to his destination when a car to his left cut in front of him as the driver made a sudden lane change.

“Hey!” Johnny quickly tapped the brakes, causing the car behind him to screech its tires as it too had to suddenly slow down, narrowly missing the Land Rover's rear bumper. The paramedic beeped the horn, making the guy ahead of him aware of what he'd almost caused. But the man only flipped Johnny off.

“Merry Christmas to you too, jerk.” Gage sighed. Some people were still just in too much of a hurry and being careless during the holiday.

~*~*~

December 27th

The next shift on duty proved to be another busy one, even being post-holiday. Two more house fires due to dry trees with lights on them, a three-car collision in an effort for each driver to beat the other to an after-Christmas sale, and multiple little mishaps with hazardous new toys, both for kids and adults, one involving a familiar plastic toy rocket.

The men of A-shift were waiting for the next crew to relieve them when the klaxons went off.

“Station 51, Engine 16, Engine 8, structure fire, 3122 University Boulevard, three one two two University Boulevard, time out 7:32.”

“Ah man,” Johnny groaned as the men all rushed out of the dayroom. “We were almost outta here.”

“They're probably saying the same thing over at 8's and 16's right now,” Roy commented.

~*~*~

With their crew being first on the scene, Roy brought the squad to a stop a safe distance from the fire. He and Johnny then quickly got out and hurried behind the now slowly moving engine, where they grabbed one of the hoses and ran with it as Mike Stoker continued to drive forward. Soon Stoker brought the engine to a stop and Captain Stanley directed his men. He then trotted over to a small crowd of people that had been in the novelty shop that was burning.

Once again he found himself saying the all too familiar words he'd had to say too many times in the past few weeks. “Did everyone get out okay?”

“Yes,” a man in a business suit answered. “We weren't open yet, so I just had to get my employees out. I yelled to make sure no one was still inside and there wasn't any reply.”

“Good.”

But as the captain turned to instruct his paramedics to assist with the fire, a lady stepped forward, a worried expression on her face.

“Mr. Cahill, I can't find Trudy.”

“What?”

“Trudy. I can't find her anywhere out here. No one's seen her.”

The man looked at the flames coming from his store. “Oh my God. . .”

Hank's reaction was immediate. He looked from the woman to the owner in the suit. “Is it possible she got out and left?”

“I don't think so,” he answered. “I forgot I sent Trudy into the storage room to put the box of Christmas decorations away after we took them down.”

“But she didn't answer when you called out. . .”

“She's deaf. She wouldn't have heard me.” The expression on the man's face was a cross between disbelief and nausea. “I forgot about her.”

“John! Roy !” As his paramedics approached, the other two engines arrived on the scene. In the meantime, Captain Stanley gathered more information. “You said she was in a storage room. Where is it located?”

“In the rear right corner of the building.”

“Got it.” Gage and DeSoto were almost over to the captain when he gave them instructions. “John, Roy , we've got a woman still inside. She should be in a storage room in the right rear corner of the place.”

“Right, Cap,” Johnny said as they turned to hurry back and get their SCBA on.

“You're gonna have to find her without calling out,” Hank added. “She's deaf.”

The other captains now on the scene had their men get the hoses ready while they coordinated a quick game plan with Stanley .

~*~*~

Roy led the way in, a lifeline tied to him as Johnny followed. The paramedics had a hard time seeing in the smoke filled building. They could feel the heat from the fire, causing even further discomfort in their turnouts.

They soon found the room with the ‘storage' sign on it. Opening the door, they went inside, each once again with a flashlight in hand to aid in the search.

The senior paramedic hurried over to search behind a row of boxes stacked nearly to the ceiling while his partner looked around shelving units along another wall, where a person could easily lay underneath on the floor.

As the smoke thickened, Gage was met with success. “ Roy ! I found ‘er!” He lay down on his stomach and checked for a sign of life in the still woman. “Pulse is weak,” he said, not sure of Roy was in earshot yet or not. “Breathing. . .” She needs air *now*! Johnny quickly got to his knees and removed his helmet and mask. Roy was already sliding Trudy out from under the shelves.

“Johnny. . .”

“I'm okay. She needs it more than I do right now. Help me get her up.”

It was decided Roy would carry the girl while Johnny stayed on his heels with the air mask up to her face. That way Trudy would get the clean air her lungs needed and Roy would know exactly where his partner was.

Hurrying out of the storage room, the paramedics moved quickly toward an exit at the rear of the building. Just as they reached a back door where two firemen from Station 8 were keeping flames from advancing, a part the ceiling behind them collapsed. By instinct the two stepped up the pace even more so to get out before anything else could happen.

Roy carried the still unconscious Trudy around the building, unaware that his partner was lagging behind a bit. When he reached a clear area near the squad, he was surprised to see Johnny a distance away, his left hand on his side. He was coughing now and then from breathing in the smoke.

As the younger man approached, Roy was getting oxygen on Trudy, who was laid out on a yellow blanket Captain Stanley had put down.

“What happened?”

Johnny coughed again, then kneeled down to help. “I hit my side on something just inside that doorway as we were running out. I'm okay. It's probably just bruised.”

“Morton's gonna flip if he finds out you took in more smoke.”

“Who says he has to know? I'm okay.”

Roy shook his head. He knew that if Gage wasn't coughing by the time they reached Rampart, he'd be expected to keep it between them. But if the subject came up while the doctor was looking at his side. . .

~*~*~

Before long, Trudy and Roy were on their way to Rampart. The young woman had regained consciousness and was improving little by little.

As he'd done on many of their runs, Johnny followed behind in the squad. One thing was on his mind as he kept a watch for any cars that may ignore the lights and sirens in use; how anyone could completely forget someone, deaf or not, in a burning building. He figured Trudy knew soon enough about the fire on her own. But fear of what may be on the other side of the storage room door likely kept her where she was.

I hope those people learned a lesson from this .

~*~*~

After getting his side checked out and getting the ‘yes, it's just bruised' from Early, Johnny put his under and outer shirt back on and jumped off the exam table, smiling in victory at his partner.

“See? I told ya I was okay.”

Roy opened his mouth to make a comment when Dixie opened the door and came inside. “You're presence is being requested in Room Four.”

“Ours?” Gage wondered, pointing to his chest.

“That's right. One special young lady wants to give you two a message.”

They followed her into the room where Trudy was lying on the exam table. She was intubated due to the excessive smoke inhalation, but made a weak motion with one hand near her chin.

Both men recognized it as the sign language for ‘thank you'. Each spoke separately, being sure to enunciate so lip reading would be easy for her.

“You're welcome. Take it easy, okay?”

“Take care of yourself.”

The call may have extended their shift a lot longer than they'd expected, but neither man minded now.

~*~*~

Johnny and the rest of A-shift left the station for another two days off. They all were worn out after the last response of the shift. None could believe what started the blaze in the first place. An employee who had been smoking on the job had knocked her lit cigarette on the carpeted floor and didn't realize it until it was too late.

Johnny shook his head as he recalled Chet's comment of ‘I'll bet she never gets employee of the year'. “No kiddin', Chet.”

Now on the road, he watched as a car weaved in and out of traffic before it was gone from his sight.

Probably in a hurry to get to one of the after Christmas sales.

~*~*~

When he arrived home, Gage showered and laid down in his room.

“Man, it feels so good to be in bed. I'm beat.”

He closed his eyes, relishing the fact that he had two days off where he'd be able to choose staying away from crowds or braving the post-holiday crazy traffic.

~*~*~

Two hours later, Johnny woke up from his unintentional nap. Refreshed, he sat up and ran a hand through his hair before getting off the bed and going to the kitchen for a bite to eat. It was then he saw the check his aunt had given him for Christmas that he hadn't been able to cash yet.

I guess I can drop it off at the bank. Everyone should pretty much be outta money by now. . .maybe there won't be any lines.

But much to his dismay, there were lines at every window when he arrived. He got into the shortest one, behind a young woman who he hoped might make conversation while they waited. Unfortunately, she kept her back to him.

Johnny looked at his watch and frowned. For a relatively short line, it was taking a lot longer to move than the longer ones. The cause was obvious. An elderly man was trying to make a withdrawal and the teller was running into a problem with his account.

Suddenly two men barged in wearing nylon netting over their heads. They each waved a hand gun in the air and carried a cloth sack in their other hand.

“Everyone on the floor. . .now!” one shouted.

Not one person hesitated, Johnny included. He wasn't about to chance it. He just hoped no one else would later either.

“Okay, hands behind your heads!!” one of the men continued.

As everyone cooperated, one of the men tossed his bag to the other. That one then hurried to the counter and leaned forwar. “You. . .” he said to a teller. “Get up and fill these bags with money.”

With shaky hands she complied and then returned to her position on the floor. Within minutes, the whole ordeal was over and everyone was stunned at the swiftness of what had just taken place.

Johnny rolled onto his back and sighed while sirens could be heard approaching. The one good thing about this latest experience was, it made his decision on what to do on his days off much easier.

I'm stayin' home .

~*~*~

January 1 st

December was finally over and the New Year had arrived. The crew of A-shift was the unfortunate one to pull duty over New Years Eve, but by two o'clock in the morning, the majority of calls had been to minor fender-bender automobile accidents, making it an easier night than expected and time was going by fast.

The men had been able to get in some free time to make their toasts at midnight , the traditional Champagne being replaced by white grape juice. Johnny's toast was to the end of a month that seemed like it wouldn't come to a conclusion; at least not before it did them all in from exhaustion first.

The guys had only been in bed for an hour after returning from one response at 3:00 in the morning when the klaxons once again sounded, this time for the squad to assist Engine 8 at a structure fire. The paramedics quickly put on their turnout pants and blue jackets before trotting out to the apparatus bay. Roy acknowledged the call and jotted down the information on a slip of paper while Johnny got in on the passenger side of the squad.

As Roy climbed in, the younger man took the paper from him and looked at the address.

“That's pretty far from here, but at least the traffic can't be bad since most people should be in bed by now.”

“Except for any lingering drunks maybe.”

Johnny just stared at him a moment. He hoped they wouldn't meet into any behind the steering wheel of a car, but it was certainly a possibility. It wouldn't come as a surprise.

~*~*~

Having made it to the scene of the fire without incident, the two paramedics checked in with the captain in charge who'd arrived with his crew minutes before them.

“We've got an elderly man trapped inside on the lower floor.”

“Any idea where abouts?” Roy wondered.

“According to his wife, he was going to get some of their belongings out. . .like photo albums. . .she thinks he may be in the den, which is on the east end. His name's Rodney.”

Both Johnny and Roy nodded and went to put on the SCBA gear. In less than a minute, they were on their way inside the home, two firemen from Engine 8 to follow along with a hose to keep the flames at bay.

“Hello!” Roy called out, his voice muffled from the air mask. “Rodney!”

“Rodney!” Johnny repeated.

They made their way through the smoke filled house, peeking into other rooms on the way to the den. The other firemen had to stop before they reached the destination as the hose wouldn't extend that far. Gage and DeSoto searched the room, looking under a desk and in a closet.

“He's not here!” Johnny shouted.

They both looked up. They'd have to search the other rooms above them.

“Let's go!”

Johnny nodded and notified the captain on the HT.

~*~*~

The paramedics quickly made their way up the stairs, and split up so as to cover more territory in a shorter time period. Johnny took the two rooms on the left, Roy the two on the right and one at the end of the hallway.

They hastily searched while calling out for the missing man.

“Rodney!”/ “Is anyone in here?”

As Johnny came out of one room, he heard his partner's muffled yell.

“I found ‘im! Johnny, I found ‘im!”

The younger man carefully made his way across the hall. When he got into the room, he saw Roy taking his mask off to provide Rodney with needed air.

Johnny hurried to the window across the smoky room and grabbed the nearest thing he could to break out the glass. He felt a twinge and then a pinching pain in his right shoulder as he came upward with a heavy stool.

Oh man !

Right away Gage realized that he'd made a mistake in the way he picked the furniture up. Sometimes twisting during the task could cause worse injury than the weight of an item itself. But at the moment, he shoved the pain out of his mind as he shattered the glass.

A ladder was up to the window by the time Johnny had the extra shards cleared away with his helmet and another fireman was soon at the top to take Rodney from Roy . The paramedics followed him down, then immediately went to work on their victim.

Johnny made an attempt to shrug off the SCBA while they took care of Rodney, but the pain in his shoulder stopped him. The grimace on his face wasn't lost on Roy .

“Are you okay? What's wrong?”

“Oh, I did something to my shoulder when I picked up that stool. I'll be ok--” He stopped, realizing he wasn't really. He was going to be seeing a doctor at Rampart once again. Johnny sighed. “Let's just worry about him,” he said indicating Rodney.

Roy made a mental note to make sure his partner got his shoulder looked at.

At least I didn't take in too much smoke or we'd both be getting checked out .

~*~*~

As they came out of Treatment Room Four, Johnny with a sling on his injured shoulder, the two paramedics stopped Dixie in the corridor to ask about their latest patient.

“Have you heard anything on Rodney?” Roy asked.

“He's going to be intubated for awhile. But Kel says he should be okay thanks to you guys.”

“Great,” Gage smiled.

“What about you, Johnny? How are you doing?”

“Oh, I'll be fine. A few days off while I hafta wear this thing.” He moved his arm in the sling slightly, but Roy reached out and placed a hand on his arm to stop him. Johnny rolled his eyes.

Dixie grinned at the two. “Well, just take care of yourself. Remember, we enjoy seeing you around here healthy, not as a patient.”

“Right.”

They watched as she walked toward the base station.

“You know,” Johnny said as they headed for the exit. “When ya think about it. . .as busy as the past month has been for us. . .we really lucked out.”

“How do you figure that?” Surely Johnny hadn't forgotten he'd been hospitalized twice in the past few weeks.

“Not one person we rescued died. We made it through with minimal damage,” he said as he started to move his slinged arm again, then thought better of it in his partner's company. “Ánd we didn't lose a single victim.”

“I guess you could say we all survived December, huh?”

“Yeah. . .we all did.”

“Now you've just gotta hope today isn't an indication as to how your January is gonna go.”

Johnny stopped and glanced at the sling. Roy had a point. It was a new month and though Rodney was going to survive his ordeal, the paramedic had once again needed a doctor. Then another horrible thought came to mind. . . what if this is a trend for me for the whole year?

He shoved that unpleasant thought from his head and hurried to catch up to his partner. There was no sense in worrying about what he couldn't control. He'd just have to take things a day at a time and once again relish in the fact that December was a success. They'd made it through another holiday season.

My thanks to Ross and Becca for answering a couple of medical and firefighter related questions for me. Any errors on either in this story are mine and mine alone.