The United States Flag and the flag for the state of North Carolina flapped in the wind. Ashley listened as the rope used to raise and lower them hit the metal flagpole making a tinging sound. Fire Chief Jack Danbury and Fire Station 29 Captain Charles Haggerty came into the office. The Chief taking a seat behind the desk where Ashley stood at attention, Captain Haggerty took a seat on the couch along the sidewall under the open window.
Ashley stood stick straight never dropping from the stand of attention, she had never been given the "at ease" command. Even if she had, she would never truly be at ease with the men in this room. Chief Danbury opened the file on his desk and began to outline his offer to Ashley James, the first female fire fighter he had ever had under his command. Women had been involved in the fire service in a very small degree for many decades, but this was the first one he had ever directly worked with, and the first one that had not been part of an all-female station, at least in this division. The change had not gone well.
"I think this sounds like a win-win for all the parties involved don't you?" Chief Danbury asked.
She was being given a shot at a portion of her dream, but she knew what this really was and couldn't help saying it, "Better than poor publicity for the department with claims of sexual harassment, retaliation and attempted rape; and an all-expense paid leave for me, is that the win-win of this offer?"
"Why you little…" Captain Haggerty began to rise from the couch where he sat; Ashley met his eyes refusing to flinch.
"Enough," Chief Danbury interrupted before this meeting could result in an even tougher predicament for the Fire Department. "I am giving you six months, with full salary and benefits and all expenses paid to travel to California to learn all about the Los Angeles County Paramedic program. Given the fact you were a nurse in California before you came here to the fire academy, your license is still valid so we have even arranged for you to work with a paramedic unit, in a fire station. This should give you all the information you need to draft a proposal for the North Carolina Legislature to get approval for a paramedic program of our own. Don't you want a paramedic program here?"
"You and I both know you are hoping I never come back," Ashley met the gaze of the Fire Chief. She had really liked him at first, honestly believing he was open-minded enough to accept a female fire fighter, even be an ally in the process. Those hopes were now dashed; crushed by the events of the last two weeks.
"I am hoping you find what you are searching for," The Fire Chief looked at the young female. She was smart, and actually very good; but she was borderline reckless and out to prove something, just what that was he wasn't sure. "Of course, you have the option of moving forward with an investigation into your claims," the Chief opened a second folder on his desk.
A picture of Ashley with a cut lip and bruises on her wrists was the first sheet inside the second folder. She claimed her injuries were the result of an attempted rape at the hands of the firemen in Station 29. The men insisted they were just playing around with her, a simple hazing initiative that was the norm with new "boots", their name for a new recruit. Chief Danbury didn't find any of this normal. He had another year until he retired and he really just wanted the problem to go away.
He looked at the pretty blonde standing at attention in front of him, silently praying she would accept his offer.
"I accept," Ashley stated quietly. She felt like the coward she knew deep down she was. She had spent so many years trying to prove she was brave. The brave thing to do would be fight these men who were so against women entering their sacred club. But, she just didn't have it in her; deep down she was still that scared little girl sitting on the edge of the ravine, afraid to cross the log. She took the paperwork that the Chief handed her outlining the life she would be living the next six months. The Chief handed her a check that would cover six-months of a fire fighters income and what was deemed as an acceptable expense allowance. Obviously, they did not want any reason for her to be in contact with them over the next six months, the allowance was very generous. Ashley left the fire chief's office; hating herself a little more than she had when she entered the building that morning.
The men of Station 51s A-shift stood in front of the engine and squad waiting for Captain Stanley to begin roll call. They watched as the Captain and Fire Chief exited the Captain's office. The men exchanged glances, each one wondering what had happened to necessitate such an early visit from the Fire Chief.
"Have a safe shift men," the Fire Chief stated as he exited the building.
Captain Stanley addressed the routine information of the day, what chores would be assigned to each man and assigned a few fire hydrant checks and safety inspections to the group. He looked down at his clipboard the normal business of the day out of the way. Now it was time to discuss the not so normal business. He looked at his men wondering how they would take the news.
"Uh, let's go into the kitchen, I have one more piece of news I need to discuss with y'all; but think it's best done over coffee." Captain Stanley led the way into the kitchen and started filling up mugs and handing them to his men.
When everyone was seated at the table Captain Stanley looked at each man for just a brief moment, "The Fire Chief informed me that we will be getting a seventh person on our shift for several months," Hank paused not even sure how he felt about the news he was about to share. "This person was certified as a fire fighter in North Carolina, but will not be functioning in that role here. They will actually be working as a paramedic, learning the ins and outs of the paramedic program to help develop a similar program in North Carolina," Captain Stanley used the plural pronoun to delay the part of the news he knew was going to cause a stir just a bit longer.
"That's cool, Cap; I think it is a great program and am excited that other states are lookin' to develop paramedic programs," Roy spoke up.
"Yeh, for sure," Johnny joined in.
"I am glad you fellas think this is a good idea," Captain Stanley paused and pushed his coffee cup around a bit on the table.
"What are ya not tellin' us, Cap?" Mike spoke up from the far end of the table, he knew his Captain well and something about this situation was bothering him.
Captain Stanley raised his eyes to meet the gaze of his Engineer, leave it to Mike to get to the bottom line. His no nonsense personality made him a great asset to the station, and also a person Hank relied on heavily when things got tense.
"The additional person is a woman, her name is Ashley James," Captain Stanley paused as Mike audibly gasped. "You okay, Stoker?"
"Did you say Ashley James?" Mike asked his face pale.
Captain Stanley looked down at the memo double-checking the name, "Yes, Ashley James, why do you know her?"
Mike's mind flashed back to ten years ago, to the young girl with the blonde hair and heart-stopping smile, but then the next memory was her standing in the woods, looking at him with that horrified expression, sickened by what he had done. Mike felt the bile burning his throat and swallowed hard. She had been just a kid then, it could not possibly be the same girl. Mike shook his head, "It can't possibly be the same girl. The Ashley James I knew would absolutely not have become a fire fighter."
"Well, this one did. She's gonna be operating as a full-fledged paramedic, she has her nursing license in California, so the department and Rampart have authorized her to function on runs. She won't be operating as a fire fighter; but she will be working 24 hour shifts with us," Hank paused letting that piece of news settle into the minds of his men.
"Wait a minute, Cap," Chet started to object.
"What?" Johnny said spitting out some coffee as he spoke before he swallowed. He reached for the role of paper towels on the table to clean up the mess.
Roy looked at his Captain stunned by that piece of the announcement, "How is THAT supposed to work?" Roy asked.
Captain Stanley held up his hand, "That is why we were chosen. We're the newest station so our shower is a stall instead of just bein' open. We have extra beds so she can be in an area on her own behind a wall. We will just have to be a little more sensitive to when we walk into the locker room."
Johnny's mouth was hanging open; Mike took in the expressions of the men and felt a headache start behind his eyes. "It isn't really a wall, how is she gonna feel about that Cap?" Mike asked.
"She was already the only woman in a station. From what I've been told, she said that if you saw her on the beach she'd be wearin' less clothes than she is when she's sleeping waitin' for a call so it's no big deal." Captain Stanley looked around at his men; they had all gone quiet with their own individual thoughts about the situation. He figured Roy was wondering what Joanne was gonna say; shoot he was wondering the same thing about his own wife. He figured Chet was already wondering if the phantom could get away with pranking the newest member of the crew now that it was a woman. He wondered briefly if Johnny would try to ask her out and then thought that maybe he should advise the young paramedic not to do it. The department didn't have any set rules on co-workers dating because it had never been an issue in all male stations, but now, things were changing.
He paused when he glanced at Mike. The Engineer was staring into his coffee cup lost in deep thought. Mike was remembering his summer with Madeline and Ashley James. Maddie had been his first serious girlfriend, even though he had only been sixteen at the time, he thought they would be together forever. Maddie had been fifteen, and took her little sister with her everywhere she went. Ashley had been thirteen; the more cautious and serious of the two; she had often been the voice trying to talk Mike and Maddie out of some crazy adventure they had dreamed up. Maddie had been full of energy and reckless abandon. Mike remembered her flowing brown hair, sparkling green eyes and carefree laugh. Could this Ashley James, be the same one he knew ten years ago? Mike shook his head, no, this girl was coming out from North Carolina, she could not be the same girl. But, he felt fear grip his heart, what if it was?
The klaxons sounded interrupting the thoughts that were consuming the men as they pondered this new development, "Squad 51, possible heart attack victim, 5261 Chestnut St, 5-2-6-1 Chestnut; time out 8:26."
"10-4, KMG 365," Captain Stanley said into the microphone, as he pulled the paper from its pad. Mike hit the button raising the doors as the paramedics boarded the squad. Captain Stanley handed the paper to Roy as Johnny was already beginning to give him directions to the scene. Thoughts about the woman joining them were pushed to the back of their minds as they prepared to help those that depended on them.
Captain Stanley approached Mike, as the Squad turned left into the street, "What if this Ashley James, is the one you know? Can you work with her?"
Mike's eyes looked down at the concrete as his mind rushed back to that summer, "It can't be, Cap."
"Mike, I need to know, what if it is?" Captain Stanley pushed the topic.
Mike felt the bile burning his throat again and he wasn't sure he could speak without losing his breakfast. "Uh, I'd be fine, Cap; but I don't know if she would be. Okay working with me, I mean," Mike said keeping his gaze down as he walked away from his Captain toward the locker room.
Captain Stanly watched the retreating back of his Engineer, wondering why anyone would have an issue working with Mike; he was the most responsible man he knew.
Johnny pulled the Squad into a spot at Rampart and went in to find Roy who had ridden in with the patient. He walked over to the nursing station where Dixie was looking at medical charts, making notes on her pad of paper on what follow-up needed to be done.
"Hey, Dix," Johnny leaned against the counter giving his favorite nurse his biggest smile.
"Hi, Johnny. Sounds like your patient is doing well, Joe is in with Roy now." Dixie looked up and smiled at the handsome young paramedic. She had always had a soft spot for John Gage.
"Have you heard the latest," Johnny asked reaching for a cup to get some coffee.
"No, what's the latest?" Dixie leaned against the counter giving Johnny her full attention.
"We are going to have a nurse riding with us again," Johnny took a sip of his coffee watching Dixie's reaction. When her face did not show surprise or confusion he knew his guess had been right, she knew about the woman they were getting at the station. "You knew."
"Kel had to approve the request for her to ride along with the paramedics. It is very unorthodox, and a bit confusing to all of us, but he wanted to be supportive of other states trying to create paramedic programs of their own. Have you met her yet?" Dixie asked.
"No, we just found out today. It is going to be odd, she is working the full 24-hour shifts with us, so will be showering, and sleeping in the room with us," Johnny looked at bit uncomfortable.
"She must be okay with it, if she agreed to the arrangement. Didn't I hear she was a firefighter in North Carolina, will she be working fires too?" Dixie asked impressed by the young woman she hadn't met yet.
"No, no way," Johnny stated emphatically.
"And why so emphatic John Gage, don't you think a woman can do the job?" Dixie crossed her arms and pinned the young paramedic to the floor with her gaze.
"Ah, now c'mon, Dix. This is a dangerous business, women shouldn't be doin' stuff like this," Johnny shifted uncomfortably under Dixie's stare.
"Johnny, women are capable of much more than just being pretty faces that you chase around," Dixie said with a bit of irritation. She thought the world of Johnny, but right now she was a bit irritated by his chauvinistic response.
"Uh-oh," Roy said joining the two of them. "I think we'd better get back to the station before you need medical attention," Roy said to his partner quickly taking in Dixie's crossed arms and how uncomfortable his young partner looked.
"Roy," Dixie turned to the senior paramedic, "how do you feel about the woman joining your station, and the fact that she was a fire fighter in North Carolina, but won't be able to do that part of her job here?"
Roy took a step toward the door, signaling for his partner to start heading in that direction with his hand that was holding the H-T. "Right now, Dix," Roy said continuing to back up toward the exit, "I am just worried about how to tell my wife I am going to be sleeping in my boxers ten feet from another woman."
He heard Dixie's laugh as he turned and headed quickly toward the exit. He had not had enough time to think about the bombshell the Captain dropped on them this morning to know how he felt about it. While he believed women should be treated equally, he certainly wouldn't want his wife or daughter to be firefighters. The job was too dangerous. Besides, could a woman really save a man when it meant having to carry them out of a blazing inferno, or having the strength to pull them to safety?