Ambulance Chaser
Johnny heard the wail of the siren in the distance. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled and he felt queasy. For the fourth time today, he froze as his partner and friend Roy DeSoto asked for something.
"Johnny I need that butterfly now!" Roy looked at the distracted paramedic. "You okay?" They were at the scene of an automobile accident and it seemed Gage had been distracted once they had arrived. He had asked for things a minimum of three times before he got them. Usually his partner anticipated what was needed and had them ready as he called Rampart for direction. Now he felt he was working with a damn boot again.
"I'm fine. Just fine," Gage went into the drug box, pulled out the butterfly and handed it to his annoyed partner.
Roy had been watching Johnny for the past week and knew something was going on. Johnny was quiet and distracted. It had been a month since the accident and he was happy to get his partner back, but something had changed.
"You go ahead Roy. I'll follow in the squad," Gage let his partner take in the victim, again.
DeSoto stood opened mouth, but his dark haired partner had made no moves towards the ambulance.
"All right Johnny I'll meet you at the hospital," Roy climbed in and looked through the window as Gage stood there his arms at his side and a frown on his lips.
Closing his eyes, the dark haired paramedic relieved that horrible day once again as the ambulance pulled away with their latest victim.
Paramedic John Gage could see the large truck coming and could do nothing to stop it. He hunched over his victim, heard the screech of tires, the crunch of metal and then nothing. Almost pure blackness and pain. Horrible retching pain. He closed his eyes.
He had woken up in the hospital his whole body in pain and his memory sketchy. Gage was out for six weeks, only it seemed a lifetime ago. Now back at work, he was finding his heart racing, his pulse and respiration quicken with the sound of ambulance sirens. The emergency room was filled with noxious scents and sounds where he found out he might puke his guts out at any moment. Now Roy was giving him glaring looks as he once again rode in with the patient for the sixth time this shift, not counting all the other shifts DeSoto had ridden in with victims. So far his partner hadn't said a word, but it wouldn't last. John would have to bite the bullet and try to work through his fear, one more time.
Roy was tired, for the past shift he had ridden in with the patients and answered all the doctor's questions, whereas his partner was among the missing. The sandy haired paramedic had found him out in the squad, doing what he wasn't sure. Well after this latest run he was going to have a talk with junior about his unprofessional behavior.
Slamming the squad door got his partner out of his stupor as he slid into the driver's seat and turned sideways and looked at the errant man.
"Okay Johnny we have to talk!" Roy said harshly, his voice vibrating in the cab.
"About what?" Gage answered innocently enough but knew what was on his partner's mind.
"I'm getting tired of riding in the ambulance, that's what. You know we are a team right? I don't like acting like I'm by myself. Whatever is bothering you get your head out of your butt and you'll take the next patient to Rampart. Got that Junior!" Roy ordered.
"Sure Roy. I understand," on the ride back to quarters, John stared out of the window of the squad, willing himself to be strong when they got the next call.
Unfortunately for Johnny it wasn't long after dinner when they got the next call, it wasn't until they were at the scene and he heard the wails of the sirens, his heart leapt to his
throat.
Once their patient was stabilized, Johnny chocked down the bile in his throat and climbed into the back of the ambulance.
So here he was riding in the back of the ambulance, forcing his mind to stay in the present and not the day of the accident. Gage forced himself to breathe normally but was finding it difficult.
"Hey you okay Johnny," Ryan looked over at the paramedic, touching him on the shoulder.
"Just fine," Gage swallowed down the bile in his throat.
"Squad 51 do you read?" The biophone squawked.
"Squad 51," the shaken paramedic pressed down on the receiver.
"Squad 51 this is the second request, please advise of patients vitals," the phone grew quiet.
The dark haired paramedic did a quick recheck of the patient's vitals and called back to Rampart. He was never so glad to see the ER doors once they reached the hospital. However, once through the automated door, the smells, sights and sounds assaulted his senses again.
Once the attendants had put the patient in room three and Johnny saw the doctors had everything under control, Gage split as far away as he could from the ER. His hands were shaking with the biophone, then he saw the squad, he opened the bays and put the equipment back, slamming the doors shut.
Feeling light headed he climbed into the squad, laying his head against the back of the seat. He tried to get his heart from leaping out of his chest and calm his ragged breathing.
Paramedic Roy DeSoto was looking for his errand partner, he had sworn he had helped him into the back of the ambulance, had followed him into the ER but now he was gone. Going to the nurse's station he located Nurse Dixie McCall.
"Hey Dix. You seen Johnny around?" DeSoto's worried eyes looked at the friendly nurse.
'I did see him go into treatment room three, after that I couldn't tell you. Think he's after some nurse?" Dixie asked playfully, smiled and leaned on the counter.
"No, I don't think so," the sandy haired man shook his head, now worried about his missing partner. "I'm going to check the squad, see if we need anything."
"I'll be right here," she leaned on the counter and wondered what had transpired at the scene.
DeSoto was worried since Johnny was never one to just leave, walking around the passenger side of the squad he saw his friend reflected in the rearview mirror. Gage's color was way off and his breathing irregular.
Clearing his throat he watched as Gage sat up and finger combed his hair.
"There you are Johnny," DeSoto leaned on the door. "I've been looking for you."
"Been right here all the time partner," Johnny gave a weak smile, "once the patient was situated of course. All the equipment is back in the squad. Let's go."
"Wait not so fast Johnny I need to see if we need any supplies," Roy opened the bay and took out the drug box.
Gage had all ready did an inventory in the back of the ambulance to keep his mind occupied and knew they were in desperate need of supplies. Trying to smile, DeSoto looked at him.
"You stay with the squad, give me the handy talkie. I'll be right back," Roy slammed the bay door and stalked off.
Looking at his retreating partner in the rearview mirror, the dark haired paramedic wondered if Roy knew of his problem. A deep seated horrible problem which could ruin his career of paramedic. Rubbing his hands over his eyes, Johnny tried to relax and not think of their next call.
*****
The ride back to the station had been quiet, Johnny quickly left the squad and headed out to the basketball court. Taking the ball he bounced it a few times and threw it into the hoop a few times. He could feel eyes staring at him but he refused to turn around.
"So dinner's ready Gage," Chet snickered. "You plan on being here all night."
"NO," Johnny threw the ball squarely into Kelly's stomach as he flinched and went down.
"You don't play fair Gage," Chet gasped.
"Neither does the phantom," Johnny patted Chet on the head and walked to the day room.
****
The sleeping quarters were quiet and Johnny pretended to sleep, but he was praying for a call, any call to get him out of bed. He didn't know if he could trust himself. The nightmares seemed to come at the oddest time. When he was home safe the past few weeks he had gotten little sleep. Waking up sweating, his heart beating and chest heaving, sleep seemed to be useless. Luckily the klaxons sounded and off he went saved by the rescue.
****
Roy was busy mowing his lawn since the honey do list never ever seemed to end. However, his mind wasn't on the grass but his partner. For three weeks he had asked him over for dinner on their days off and he had been turned down politely. But he knew something had been bugging Johnny. He had tried to hide it, but Roy knew it was big.
Since Johnny's accident, DeSoto had noticed a decidedly shift in his partner's demeanor. Gage never to be quiet, had suddenly grown so and hadn't stayed in the dayroom much during shift. Something was definitely bothering his partner and it was time to get to the bottom of it.