Disclaimer: I don't own the guys from Emergency so please don't sue me. I promise to put them back in one piece when I'm done with them.

AN: Any and all feedback is welcomed, good, bad or indifferent.

The Coin

By Erin James

Chapter 1-The coin makes its first appearance

AN Coins are used as tokens of different squadrons, events and ranks in the Air Force. There was a tradition with my father's coin which is what led to this story.

The tradition

Holder will carry a military coin at all times. Exception Challenges will not be made while performing duties on the flight line or onboard an aircraft. When a coin check is demanded, the holder will produce their coin from their person within 10 seconds on a hard surface.

If checked and unable to produce the coin within 10 seconds, the holder agrees to buy, for all coin holders present, a beverage of their choice

Non-alcoholic beverages only during normal duty hours

If the coin holder calls for a coin check and all coin holders present are able to produce their coin within 10 seconds, the caller agrees to buy the round

If a debate occurs, the junior ranking person in attendance will determine the outcome

It was the end of yet another long and weary shift for Station 51s A shift. Twelve calls for the squad, one near miss and four calls for the engine made for a very cranky bunch of men. Paramedic Roy Desoto had an idea to play a trick on some of the guys to get them to relax.

The guys were in the dayroom trying to shake off their rough shift when Roy decided to spring his idea on the group. "Boys, before we go home I think we all need to go relax after a shift like this."

Heads nodded around the room, even the normally quiet engineer Mike Stoker decided to take Roy's bait. Captain Hank Stanley was curious as to what the normally mellow paramedic had up his sleeve. "What do you have in mind Roy?"

"Getting changed and heading out for a quick drink with the boys."

Ever the schemer and prankster Chet Kelly piped in, "Well somebody's got to buy. Since it was your idea Roy maybe you should buy."

Roy laughed evilly, "We'll see about that one, Chet."

With everybody being so tired, nobody picked up on the trap that Roy set.

Roy had given Mike and Johnny squadron coins from his time in the Air Force. Chet had done the same with Hank and Marco.

Hank spoke up, "You know that sounds like a good idea. I'm not sure we would be very good company even to our families right now after this shift."

With their off shift adventure planned the boys headed for the locker room. Not wanting to make things obvious Roy casually walked over towards the squad like he forgot something. Even his young partner Johnny Gage fell for it. Johnny thought nothing of it since the squad had returned to quarters not long before.

After a few minutes Roy headed for the locker room, with his squadron coin in hand. As the guys changed nobody paid attention when Roy opened his hand and the coin clinks to the ground.

Chet groaned, "You're kidding?"

Roy smiled, "You wish Kelly."

Realizing what Roy dropped Mike, Hank and Johnny quickly dropped their coins too. Marco was lucky to find he had carried his that day in his pants as it hit the floor.

Chet groaned again, "The one day I don't bring it."

Roy chuckled, "You know as well as I do Chester B. you can get coin checked anywhere in the world."

Johnny laughed, "Nice one Roy."

Roy laughed, "Hey it's not always the pigeon and phantom that strike."

The guys laughed as they left the locker room. They headed for a local watering hole where Chet bought the one and only round.

The coin showed up at work and will stay in the lives of 51's A shift depending on how this story goes. It can show up in various other locations and believe me some are strange.