The Other Side of the Microphone
By
"Station 51, Engine 18, Engine 26: Report of structure fire at abandoned warehouse, 20196 Market Street , cross street Russell, 20196 Market Street , cross street Russell, time out 1452."
The dispatch coming across the radio made all the men of the closely knit "A" shift of Station 51 stop for just a split second while making their way to their respective engine and squad. While there was nothing unusual about the run they were being dispatched to, there was definitely a difference in the voice coming through the speakers.
"What in the world was that?" asked Johnny Gage, the young, dark haired paramedic of Station 51, as he slid into the passenger side of the squad.
"Sounds as if we have a new dispatcher sitting in today," Roy Desoto, the fair-haired senior paramedic stated matter-of-factly, from his position behind the wheel.
"Gee you think so?" Johnny questioned with a smirk. "You know, Roy , you are definitely a master of understatement."
As he pulled the squad out of the station, leading the engine to the fire, Roy looked over at his younger partner and chuckled. "Really, Johnny, what more should I say? I mean a woman dispatcher is not that big of a deal and what did you think, we only have ONE dispatcher for the whole department?"
"Well no, but, well, I don't know, I guess I just never thought about it before, that's all!" Johnny stammered.
Before they had time to ponder the new dispatcher situation any further, the squad was pulling up to the structure fire. "Well, junior, looks as if we're in for a long, hot afternoon", observed Roy as he studied the warehouse fire looming in front of the squad. "Let's go…"
For the rest of the afternoon and well into the evening hours, the firefighters of Station 51 were kept busy trying to contain the warehouse fire and keeping damage to a minimum. Thankfully, injuries were few and limited to some minor cases of smoke inhalation for a couple of the firemen.
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"So, I wonder what kind of woman she is?" Johnny mused as Roy expertly backed the squad into the station after returning from the fire.
"Junior, what are you talking about now?" sighed Roy as he exited the squad.
"The dispatcher, Roy. I wonder what's she's like? If she looks anything like her voice sounds, I bet she's a knock-out!"
"Johnny, don't you ever stop thinking about girls? All I want is a hot shower, a good meal and my bed!" Roy exclaimed as he headed towards the dormitory and the showers.
Overhearing Johnny's comments as he jumped off the engine, firefighter Chet Kelly couldn't help but put in his two cents worth; "Yeah, Johnny. Does it really matter what she's like? I mean, to you, she's just another opportunity to be turned down!"
"Oh, shut up Chet! No one asked your opinion anyway!" Johnny quickly retorted back to his chief nemesis at the station.
"All right you twits, let's save this conversation for later and get some grub. Who's turn is it to fix dinner?" Captain Hank Stanley interjected on his way to his office to fill out the reports for the run they had just completed. "On second thought, I don't care whose turn it is, Chet and Johnny, get on it! I want something edible on the table in 30 minutes or less! It's been a long day and we're all tired and hungry."
"See what you did Gage? Now you got Cap mad at us and got us put on kitchen duty while everyone else gets to clean up!" goaded Kelly as he followed his favorite "pigeon" into the kitchen.
As he watched Chet and Johnny make their way into the firehouse kitchen, mumbling and griping the whole way, Captain Stanley just shook his head and thought with a grin, "those two are worse than my kids….." He wasn't worried, however, for he knew that, just like real siblings, Chet and Johnny could always count on each other in any type of situation, even if they refused to admit it out loud. That was what made the "A" shift of Station 51 so special; they were more of a family than co-workers.
As supper was served, showers taken and equipment inspected and cleaned up, all thoughts of the new dispatcher were forgotten by the firefighters. All of them, that is, except Johnny Gage.
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The rest of the shift proved to be quiet for the men, and they were scheduled to have the following 48 hours off.
"So, Junior, what do you have planned for your time off?" inquired Roy the next morning as the two paramedics made their way out to their personal vehicles in the parking lot.
"Well, I was thinking about going to see my friend, Dirk. We haven't had a chance to see each other in a while, and it would be nice to catch up on things with him."
Roy stopped in his tracks and just looked at his young friend in disbelief. "Y'know something Partner, sometimes you even amaze me. "Isn't Dirk your friend from 36 that is on light duty while recovering from some injuries he received in that train yard fire a few weeks ago? And isn't he working over at the county dispatch until released back to regular duty?"
"Yeah, so what about it?" Johnny asked, trying unsuccessfully to keep an innocent look on his face.
"Never mind, Junior. You're just going to do it anyways, so there's no use trying to stop you. Just try not to make too big a fool of yourself, all right?" Roy shook his head and started back towards his car happy he was going home to his beautiful wife, Joanne and his two kids. "Boy, am I glad I don't have to deal with the whole dating scene anymore, it's trouble enough dealing with Johnny's dating dilemmas! " Roy thought to himself.
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Sure enough, just a few hours later, Johnny was in his Land Rover and headed towards the Los Angeles County Emergency Dispatch Center. He had actually made a phone call to his friend Dirk earlier in the morning to "just talk to an old friend", but as with most anyone who knew Johnny very well at all, Dirk was well aware of the underlying reason Johnny had really called him. Not that Dirk didn't believe that Johnny wasn't genuinely concerned with his recovery, Johnny was a great and loyal friend but his appetite for the ladies seemed insatiable; no matter how many times he got rejected. It actually added to that infamous "Gage Charm" that he just kept on trying.
"Look, Johnny, do you have any idea how many guys have called me this morning asking about Megan? I'm beginning to feel like a dating service!" protested Dirk when Johnny had called.
"But, Dirk, this is your old buddy Johnny! Just tell me a little about her and if she's single and sounds like she's worth pursuing, I'll take it from there." pleaded Johnny as he thought to himself, "Megan, hmmm, that's a really nice name".
At first, Dirk was going to tell his "old buddy" to just bug off like he had the rest of the firemen who had called trying desperately to find out something about the new, smoky-voiced dispatcher. But the more he thought about Megan, the more fun he thought it would be to let Johnny have a go at her.
Megan was a petite girl, 5' 3" tall, with a well-proportioned curvy figure, short auburn hair cut in a wedge style like that Olympic skater, soft green eyes and, of course, that great smoky voice. She was definitely all girl but, as anyone who had tried to mess with her would soon find out, she undeniably knew how to take care of herself. Lord knows, Dirk had, himself, been on the receiving end of one of Megan's fiery comebacks to his unwanted advances earlier in the week.
"I could have a lot of fun watching her chew up Johnny and spit him out in one bite!" contemplated Dirk as he spoke to his friend on the phone. "You know what Johnny, maybe you're right, why don't you come over and meet her. I have a feeling you and Megan might just hit it off, after all. She gets off shift at 3:00, why not come over then?" prodded Dirk. He was thankful that this conversation was happening over the phone so that Johnny couldn't see the huge smirk on his face.
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After getting off the phone with Dirk, Johnny had spent the rest of the morning trying to think of just exactly the right thing to say to Megan when he met her. By the time he had to leave for the dispatch center, there were plenty of tooth marks in that green pen of his, where he had thoughtlessly chewed on it while desperately trying to come up with his best pick up line ever.
At exactly 2:55 pm, Johnny Gage, who was NEVER early for anything, walked into L.A. County Dispatch, where he was greeted at the door by Dirk. "Ok, pal. I wouldn't do this for just anyone, you know that don't you?" Dirk said to Johnny as he walked him toward the dispatchers' lounge.
"Hey, you're a true friend, Dirk. Anytime you need anything, you just let me know", Johnny stated happily as he patted his friend on the back.
"Yeah, well um, that's not necessary, Johnny. Just let me give you a few tips before you meet with Megan. First of all, she's kind of shy, so you will definitely have to make the first move. And no matter what she says, don't give up. I heard her telling one of the secretaries here that she just loves a guy that's persistent!" Dirk could barely keep from bursting out with laughter as he thought about the reaction Johnny was going to receive from Megan. "I almost feel guilty about this…almost", Dirk gleefully thought to himself.
"Great, thanks for the advice, man. I'll definitely keep it in mind. Now, just point me in the right direction and I'll take it from here", Johnny declared.
As much as Dirk wanted to stay and watch the "fireworks", he didn't want to be too obvious. "I'll probably be able to hear Megan blow a gasket, no matter where I am in the building when she gets a load of Johnny", Dirk thought with amusement. He gave Johnny directions to the lounge and a description of Megan and left to go back to work and to anxiously await the inevitable fall-out from the rejection that was sure to happen.
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Johnny stood in the doorway of the lounge, looking around for a girl that matched the enticing description that Dirk had given him. In the far corner of the room, bent over tying her shoes with her back turned slightly towards him, Johnny caught his first glimpse of Megan O'Malley. It almost took his breath away. Only a few feet away from him was one the most attractive women he had ever seen. Even though he couldn't see her head on, he knew that this girl was different. She had a "girl-next-door" look about her while still being stunningly beautiful. All of the practiced introductions and clichéd lines that Johnny had thought about using on her instantly flew out of his head as he approached her with what must have been an awe-struck look on his face. All he knew, was that he had to meet this girl, the exact words he would use weren't important.
Sensing that someone was approaching from behind, Megan turned, sat up and looked Johnny directly in the eye as he came nearer to her. At first thought, Megan readied herself for another two-bit come on by another ridiculously pitiful firefighter that had heard her on the radio, and had come to make a new conquest. "Sheesh", are all of these L.A. guys the same? Desperate and on the make?" she thought as she readied herself for another stern response to another drooling idiot.
But as the young man with the long dark hair approached her, she began to sense something different. He had the most caring eyes and while he was definitely headed her way with a purpose in mind, she couldn't help but notice the sweet, little boy nervousness that seemed to project from him. Something about him kept her from making her usual immediate, harsh rebuttal.
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Over two hours had passed, and Dirk was surprised he hadn't heard anything from either Megan or Johnny. He figured at least one, if not both of them, would have come to hunt him down after the set up he had devised. "I would have thought that I would have at least heard someone gossiping about the scene that must have taken place when Megan went off on Johnny", pondered Dirk as he set off to see what had happened.
As he walked into the dispatchers' lounge, Dirk could barely believe his eyes. There sat Johnny and Megan on the couch next to each other, laughing and having what appeared to be a very friendly conversation.
"Dirk, old buddy, there you are! We've been wondering when we would see you so we could thank you properly for all of your help and advice in setting us up", Johnny promptly exclaimed as he stood up from the sofa.
"Why, yes Dirk, a proper showing of gratitude is exactly what you need", smirked Megan as she and Johnny quickly approached the surprised firefighter.
Sensing he was going to be in a world of hurt if he didn't make a quick getaway, Dirk briskly turned tail and headed out the door telling the couple that no thanks were needed. He could hear the raucous laughter behind him as he headed down the hallway.
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"Johnny it's been six weeks and I still can't believe how well everything with you and Megan has worked out. You're like a new man," Roy said with admiration as he and Johnny changed into their uniforms in the locker room of the station. "I'm really happy for you partner".
"Thanks, Roy. I feel like a new man, too. Megan is the most amazing woman I have ever met. She was definitely worth the wait." Johnny almost gushed as he thought about his ever-blossoming relationship with the beautiful fire dispatcher.
From the moment they had met, Johnny and Megan had what seemed to be an instant connection. At first, they were amazed at how two people from such completely different backgrounds could relate so perfectly with each other. Megan came from a long-line of public servants, both firemen and policemen, and had wanted to be a part of the fire service for as long as she could remember. Unfortunately, as a teen growing up in the industrial environment of Cleveland, Ohio she had developed asthma and firefighting was out of the question for her. So she did the next best thing and decided to assist the fireman she admired so much by becoming the best dispatcher she knew how. After several years of dispatching for the Cleveland Fire Department, and after her older brother's death in a firefighting accident, she heard of an opening for a dispatcher at the L.A. County department. She felt it was time for a change, she applied, and 3 months ago was hired and moved across country to start a new adventure.
How she had come to feel so strongly for a man who had had such an opposite upbringing from her own had been a mystery to Megan. Johnny's childhood on the reservation in Montana seemed to be such a foreign way of life to her, she almost couldn't comprehend it at times. And although they had questioned it at first, Johnny and Megan soon came to realize that it was their differences that actually brought them together. They complimented and completed each other so amazingly well, and soon just came to accept the relationship for what it was. Johnny often made the comment that their relationship worked so well for the same reasons that he and Roy made such a good team. What one doesn't do well, the other does and vice versa.
"Hey Gage, Earth to Loverboy….you better get your head out of the clouds and your butt to roll call before Cap has you on latrine duty for a month," laughed Chet Kelly as he headed out the door to the apparatus bay to receive the morning duty roster. With Chet's voice in his ear, Johnny was jerked away from his reflections and headed out to begin the shift with the rest of the crew of Station 51.
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One month later:
Station 51, Ladder 16, report of a child trapped on a ledge, 14045 West Elmhurst Street, cross street Main; 14045 West Elmhurst Street, cross street Main; time out 11:31"
As the tones died down and Megan's voice purposefully dispatched the call, the men of Station 51 swiftly headed for their apparatus. Captain Stanley stopped long enough at the radio podium to jot down the address and call in the acknowledgement; Station 51 10-4; KMG-365. As Captain Stanley passed the driver's window of the squad he handed Roy the address and gave a quick pat on the driver's door. Soon the squad left the station, capably and quickly leading "Big Red", the engine driven by Engineer Mike Stoker, to the scene of the incident.
After their many weeks of dating, Johnny was finally becoming accustomed to hearing Megan's reassuring voice leading him out to calls every day. Megan too, always felt a special pride, and perhaps a twinge of nervousness whenever she knew she would be sending "her Johnny" out to a call. With every dispatch for Squad 51, Megan always said a quick prayer to whatever spirits were listening to keep a watch over the man she loved.
Within 10 minutes of leaving their quarters, Station 51's crew pulled up to the scene. Vince Howard, a police officer the station often worked with on incidents, greeted Captain Stanley as he disembarked the engine. "What do we got Vince?", asked the Captain.
"7th floor ledge, Hank. We've got a young man, about 9 years old out on the ledge. Apparently he and some friends were playing in the apartment and his buddies dared him to go out there. Now he's too far out for us to reach from the window and he's too scared to climb back in. His parents aren't home either. His father is out of town and we're trying to reach his mother. She supposedly left to go to the grocery."
After hearing all of the information, Captain Stanley quickly assessed the scene and got everyone into motion; "Ok, Vince. We'll see what we can do. Let us know when you locate the mother. Stoker, call in and see where that Ladder truck is. Johnny, Roy, get up to that apartment and see if you can talk to the boy…keep him calm". Lopez, Kelly, get the medical equipment ready and assist the Ladder team when they arrive." The well-oiled machine of Station 51 quickly sprang into action as the orders were given.
As they entered the apartment Johnny and Roy were met by another police officer and 3 other young boys. The paramedics quickly surmised these must have been the other kids who had dared their friend out onto the ledge. "Mister, is our friend going to be ok? We didn't mean any harm…we really didn't think Chris would do it…we're really sorry!" exclaimed one of the youngsters as Roy was headed towards the window.
Roy knelt down in front of the little boy and told him: "my partner and I are going to do everything we can to make sure nothing happens to him. Did you say his name was Chris?"
"Uh-huh" the little boy nodded back at Roy as tears began to fall down his cheek. "You just gotta get him back in Mister!"
"We'll do our best, I promise, " Roy stated with more reassurance than he felt. "Now go stay with the officer and let us do our work, ok?" As he left the little boy and went to assist Johnny at the window, Roy couldn't help but think of his own young son named Chris. Man, how he hated child calls!
"What do we have Johnny?" asked Roy as he came up behind his partner.
"Man, Roy. He's really out there", Johnny informed his senior partner. "He won't speak at all, doesn't even seem to be responding when I try to talk to him. He almost seems catatonic. Paralyzed with fear, maybe?"
"Yeah. I see what you mean", Roy commented as he leaned out over the open window ledge. Turning back to Johnny, Roy informed him, "I found out his name is Chris. Think he would respond to his name?"
"I don't know Roy, I'm afraid if he comes out of this state he's in, he's just going to panic and then we are going to lose him off this ledge", pondered Johnny. "I think one of us is going to have to just go out there and get him secured off before we worry about anything else. Where the hell is that Ladder truck anyways?"
"I was wondering the same thing myself junior. Give me the handie-talkie, I'll check with Cap." Johnny handed Roy the H-T and listened anxiously as Roy asked the captain about the status of Ladder 16.
"Hang on Roy, I'll get dispatch on the line and check." After a few seconds, Hank informed his paramedics that the Ladder truck had been involved in a minor accident on the way to the scene and another was being sent but it would be a delay of about 20 minutes.
"Damn, Roy, we can't wait that long. We've got to get out to this kid, now!!!" exclaimed Johnny as the he processed what the Captain had told them.
"Yeah, I think you're right Johnny", agreed Roy. "I'll get Cap to have Marco and Chet bring up the harnesses and ropes. You want me to go out?"
"No, that's all right pally, I got this one. I don't need you out there thinking about your Chris. Whoever heads out will need all of their focus on this one", stated Johnny as he looked compassionately at his partner.
"It never ceases to amaze me that this man always knows what I'm thinking!" contemplated Roy as he gave his partner back a thankful look.
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Back at the L.A. County Dispatch Center, Megan had kept a tab on how Station 51's call had been progressing. She knew once the Ladder truck had been delayed, that Johnny would most likely be heading out on the ledge himself to rescue that child. Johnny was never one to hesitate to volunteer for the dangerous duty. Not that Roy wasn't capable or willing to do the jobs, Johnny just always felt it was his place to take them first. "Roy has a family at home, I need to make sure he gets back to them," Johnny would always insist. And as much as Megan wanted to refute that argument, his caring for his partner and the rest of the "A" shift crew was so much a part of what she was beginning to love about Johnny.
"Be safe sweetheart", Megan silently prayed to herself as she turned her attention back to other calls coming into dispatch.
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"Slack, give me more slack!!!" shouted Johnny as Chet and Marco worked the ropes to lower him from the roof. Johnny was working his way down from the top of the 10-story building as Roy was gently speaking with Chris from the apartment window, attempting to keep the child calm and still.
"Ok, just a little lower, lower…that's it…I got him!" exclaimed Johnny as he reached the ledge that Chris was standing on. Johnny had landed about 12 feet to the left of the child and was slowly making his way over towards him. "Ok, Chris…my name's Johnny, and I'm hear to help you ok?", Johnny softly spoke as he neared the boy.
"Now, I'm going to reach out and I'm going to put this belt around you, real gentle like, ok? Don't be afraid, this belt is going to keep you safe and then you and I are going to walk over to my partner there at the window, ok? His name is Roy and he has a boy just about your age and his son's name is Chris, too. OK?" Seeing no response from the frightened boy, Johnny decided to go ahead and try to get the boy attached to the harness.
Johnny had the belt almost all the way around Chris when the boy suddenly jerked and began to scream. Before Johnny could buckle the belt it was knocked out of his hand and the boy began to fall from the ledge. Without thinking, Johnny dropped the belt and grabbed the panic-stricken boy around the waist. From his vantage point at the window, Roy just looked on in horror as the boy thrashed around wildly and Johnny tried desperately to hold on.
With all of the sudden movements and the added weight of the boy, Chet and Marco were having a hard time keeping hold of the lines and they began to slip through their grip. "Cap, Vince, Help!" screamed Marco as he tried to brace himself and to keep hold of the ropes. Captain Stanley and Vince Howard quickly grabbed hold of the lines and attempted to help keep them steady and to bring Johnny back up.
Unfortunately, the firefighters on the roof were unable to steady the lines before Johnny and Chris were banged hard against the wall of the apartment building several times. Johnny was holding onto Chris with all of his might but had hit his head hard against the concrete and was beginning to feel light-headed.
"Johnny, don't let go Johnny!" screamed Roy. "Hold on pal! We're going to haul you up. Just don't let go! Roy couldn't believe the scene going on in front of him. He knew Johnny was injured, he could see the blood flowing from his scalp. He also knew that Johnny's grip was the only thing keeping Chris from falling seven stories to his death.
Roy ran from the apartment up to the roof as quickly as he could to assist in hauling his partner back in. "God, please let him hang on! He couldn't live with himself if Chris fell", Roy desperately prayed as he raced to the roof.
As Roy rushed out onto the roof he could see Chet, Marco, Cap and Vince Howard all straining as they pulled on the ropes to raise Johnny and Chris. "Cap, you've got to hurry! Johnny's hit his head and he's hurt. I don't know how long he can hold onto the boy!" yelled Roy as he ran past the others to get a look over the edge. "Only about 10 feet more, come on guys, you can do it!" Roy encouraged as he leaned over the side of the building to grab onto Johnny as soon as he was close enough.
Within 30 seconds, Roy was able to get a hold of Johnny's harness and haul him over the edge of the roof, onto solid ground. The fact that Johnny had been able to hold onto the boy the whole time was nothing short of a miracle. By the time Roy had both of them safely on the roof, Johnny was only semi-conscious and Chris was nothing short of hysterical.
While Vince Howard grabbed Chris and was attempting to calm him down, Roy took a quick once-over of his partner. "Cap, I'm going to need the trauma box and the stokes and you better get us a second ambulance!"
"You got it, Roy," Captain Stanley stated and quickly spoke into his H-T. "Mike, we need the stokes and trauma box up here now!" "H-T 51 to L.A., we have a paramedic down. We need a second ambulance dispatched to our location!" directed the Captain as he glanced worriedly over at his fallen team member.
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Megan couldn't believe what she was hearing through her headphones. Captain Stanley was on the radio requesting another ambulance to their scene for a downed paramedic! In her heart, she knew it was Johnny. All at once, she realized her worst nightmare was coming true. The man she loved was injured and there was nothing she could do about it! Her only choice was to dispatch the ambulance as quickly as possible and then wait.
Amelia Collins was a friend and fellow dispatcher working with Megan that day. As she heard the call come in from Captain Stanley, she too, recognized the significance of the second ambulance request. She immediately got up and went to Megan's station. "Hey Megan, why don't you let me take over this call?" she gently asked as she guided Megan away from the radio and took her place.
"I can't leave the radio Amelia! I have to know how bad it is!" Megan sobbed.
"I know, honey. You don't have to leave. You can listen, but let me handle it ok? Here, we'll even monitor Rampart channels so you will know exactly what's going on. I bet it's not as bad as you think anyways" soothed Amelia as she silently hoped that she was right and that things weren't as bad as they seemed.
Megan sat and waited anxiously for the next news on the 51's injured paramedic. "Maybe I am over reacting. Maybe it's not even Johnny but Roy that's hurt. Oh no, I can't think that, Johnny would be even more upset if that was the case. Oh, Please, let them both be ok!!
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On the rooftop of the apartment building, Roy was quickly assessing his friend's injuries and vitals. Chris' mother had arrived on the scene and had taken control of her child. Unbelievably there seemed to be no major injuries to the boy. Roy suggested he be taken to Rampart anyways, just to be checked out. Even if there were no physical injuries, he knew the child would have some mental issues to deal with after the trauma he had been through. Captain Stanley had agreed that Chris' mother could ride in the ambulance with him and Roy could stay behind to help Johnny.
"Rampart, this is Squad 51, how do you read?" Roy called in.
Through the bio-phone came the reassuring voice of Dr. Kelly Brackett, "Go ahead 51, we read you loud and clear…"
"Rampart, we have a 30 year old male, suffering from a head wound. He is bleeding profusely from the wound and is semi-conscious at this time. Pupils are reactive but sluggish…." Roy continued on giving the doctors at Rampart all Johnny's vital signs and pertinent information.
After receiving the information, Dr. Brackett instructed Roy to apply a pressure bandage to the wound, start an IV and transport immediately. Roy competently followed all instructions and readied Johnny for transport.
"How is he Roy?" asked Captain Stanley as the ambulance attendants were taking Johnny down to the ambulance.
"Well, it probably looks worse than it is. Head wounds tend to bleed a whole lot. I think he is going to have quite a headache for a while but you know our Johnny, he has a really hard head," chuckled Roy as he explained his condition to the captain.
"No doubt about that pal, no doubt about that" Captain Hank Stanley smiled back. "I just can't believe he was able to hold onto that kid like he did!"
"Me either Cap, but I guess I wouldn't expect anything less from our Johnny!" Roy happily exclaimed as he left to accompany Johnny in the ambulance.
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Unfortunately, Megan had only been able to hear the facts that had been transmitted over the bio-phone frequency and not the conversation between Roy and Captain Stanley. The last she knew was that Johnny was bleeding profusely from a head wound and was semi-conscious.
Without realizing it, Megan had been pacing furiously behind Amelia's chair for the past 10 minutes. Finally, Amelia turned around, stood up and caught Megan by the shoulders, "Megan, you have to stop it! All of this mad pacing is only making me nervous. You have got to calm down. You know that Johnny has the best paramedic in the whole county working on him."
"Oh Amelia, I know Roy is the best but this is Johnny! I don't guess I realized how much I loved him until right now. He just has to be OK!" Megan began to sob as the thought of possibly losing this man whom she had grown to love with all of her heart went through her mind.
"Look, your obviously not going to do us any good here, honey" consoled Amelia. "Why don't I get someone to drive you to Rampart and you can check on that man of yours yourself?"
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"So Dix, how's he doing?" asked Roy as the head nurse entered the doctor's lounge.
"Hard-headed Johnny? He'll be all right, just like always" said Dixie with that sly smile of hers as she headed towards the coffee pot. "I'm beginning to think he gets into these messes just to have an excuse to harass my nurses around here for a few days."
"Well, usually I would agree with you Dixie but with Megan around……Oh my gosh! No one has called Megan and I bet she's worried sick! She probably heard our transmissions and is just beside herself!" exclaimed Roy as he jumped up and headed for the phone.
At the same moment the door to the lounge flew open and Megan rushed in with tears streaming…"Roy, where's Johnny is he ok?" she pleaded desperately. Dixie immediately flew into action and grabbed Megan to steady her. "He's ok, do you hear me? Johnny is ok!" she calmly but sternly told the frightened young woman.
Roy came over to help comfort Megan. "Megan, he just got a bump on the head. Doctor Brackett said he is going to be fine. Johnny's tough, a little bump on the head isn't going to keep him down," reassured the elder paramedic.
"Oh Roy! I was so worried. All I heard was that he was bleeding badly from a head wound and I was just so scared I was going to lose him!" Megan weeped. "Is he really ok? Can I see him?"
"Dix? Are you going to try and keep her from seeing Johnny?" teased Roy as he put his arm around the dispatcher.
"Nope, not me. Any girl who can tame Johnny is too much for me to argue with!" acknowledged Dixie with a smile as she led Megan to Johnny's room.
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"You know, with Johnny, you are probably going to have to get used to this, he does tend to keep us on our toes around here!" Dixie said with a smile as she opened the door to Treatment Room 2.
"I don't think I would ever get used to this" sighed Megan, "but it helps knowing he has good friends like you and Roy watching out for him Dixie."
"Well, we don't mind one bit Megan. Johnny's one of our favorites, just don't tell him that!" Dixie said with just a hint of a twinkle in her eye. "Ok, just a few minutes, then our accident-prone paramedic has got to have some rest, understand?"
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"Johnny, it's me, Megan. Can you hear me?" Megan softly spoke as she stroked Johnny's hair back from his face.
Johnny slowly opened his eyes and tried to focus them towards the voice he was hearing. "I would know that voice anywhere. How's my favorite dispatcher?" he asked.
"Now that I see you, I'm much better, sweetheart!" sighed Megan. "I was so scared for you, Johnny!" I couldn't stand the thought of losing you!" Megan began to weep.
"Please don't cry, Megan. I'm fine. I just got a little headache that's all" Johnny said lovingly as he reached his hand up to wipe a tear off of Megan's face. "And now you're here with me, that makes me feel even better".
Megan leaned down and gave Johnny a soft kiss on the lips. "I'll be here whenever you need me, Johnny. Today made me realize how much I do love you. I guess I'll just have to learn that the man I love has a dangerous job and I'll have to learn to live with that. But one thing, Johnny…"
"What's that darling?"
"Would you mind if I didn't dispatch the Station 51 calls anymore? I think I would just rather have you tell me about your day the old-fashioned way….over dinner!" laughed Megan as she gave another kiss to Johnny.
"You got it babe, " smiled Johnny as he drifted off to sleep with Megan holding his hand as she sat next to the bed watching over her man.
THE END