Wet and Wild Wednesday
Author's notes: Here is the next story in my Days of the Week Series, following Miserable Monday and Freaky Friday. I hope you enjoy it.
Enveloped by a rather unusual occurrence in Southern California, the city of Los Angeles was under siege by a massive deluge of rain. It wasn't just raining the proverbial cats and dogs, but rather lions, tigers, and bears.
Running inside the station from what the engineer considered a monsoon, Mike Stoker shook off the excess wetness from his body, like a shaggy dog returning inside from a jaunt in the back yard during a rain storm. Walking into the locker room he voiced his opinion of that morning's weather, rather loudly, but to no one in particular. "This rain sucks."
Looking back at his friend and sharing the same frustration, Chet replied. "You got THAT right, Mike. You know what kind of runs we're gonna be called on this shift…crazy stuff…stupid stuff."
Agreeing with his friend, Mike nodded his head, his own annoyance still showing. "Yeah, people in Southern California just can't drive in the rain…it's unnatural to them. We're the ones who are always left to bail them out."
"And be miserable for it." Chet replied with a sigh.
Walking into the locker room together, an equally damp Roy and Johnny were having a similar conversation as the one which Mike and Chet were having.
"Idiots, Roy…I'm tellin' ya it's gonna be crazy out there today."
Entering the same room, smiling and whistling "Singin' in the Rain", Marco was soaking wet, but in a much different mood than the rest of his friends…a happy one.
Chet observed his friend's exceptionally happy demeanor, but couldn't help but to wonder why his buddy wasn't miserable like the rest of them. "Uh, Marco…what has you so happy? In case you hadn't noticed…it's a monsoon out there."
"Yeah, I know Chet. What's your point? Just because it's raining out, I have to be unhappy?" Marco asked still smiling.
Poking his head into the room, Hank smiled at the sight of his crew…wet and jawing back and forth. Except for the wet part, it was a typical beginning of the shift scene.
"Good, I see you guys all made it in, in one piece. Roll call in ten minutes."
After Hank left, Marco continued to smile, acknowledging their captain's seemingly upbeat demeanor.
"See, I'm not the only one who's actually happy today…look at Captain Stanley."
"He's probably happy because he got some last night…or this morning."
Everyone turned around and looked almost shockingly at Mike after he said that. He was not usually quite so blunt, and this was not something that the normally laid back engineer would say.
"What?" Mike nearly snapped at his friends. "Don't tell me that if you were in the same boat as Cap, that you wouldn't be smiling, too?"
Finishing up with buttoning his shirt, the engineer closed his locker with a bit more force than needed, and left the room.
"Jeez…what's Stoker's problem?" Johnny asked as his gaze followed the retreating man.
"The rain, I guess. He was miserable ever since he set foot in here this morning." Chet replied.
The others all quickly got changed for work and went out to the squad room to join Mike and Captain Stanley for roll call.
As they were entering the room to start their shift, C-shift headed in the opposite direction to go home.
"Enjoy your days off." Chet said to them with a smirk, as they passed behind him.
Turning around, Charlie Dwyer smiled evilly. "Well…at least WE didn't have to work in it. You have a good shift, boys."
As the rest of the men made their way towards the table, Hank observed everyone's long faces, that is everyone's but Marco's…he was wearing his typical "happy face". He realized that his crew had their share of quirks and eccentricities, but it was an unusual display of frustration, even for them.
"Okay, I know a shift during a major rain isn't fun…but why do you guys all look like it's the end of the world?"
Letting Hank's question linger for a few moments, it was Chet who answered the captain. "Cap, you tell us. Have you ever worked a shift during this kind of weather in which bad things DIDN'T happen?"
"Chet, I never thought you were so superstitious…or pessimistic for that matter. Guys, have a seat…let's get this show on the road. And if you behave yourselves, I'll even treat you to some of my famous clam chowder…it'll be sure to warm you up, and put a smile on even the most down man's face."
Studying his captain's seemingly relaxed face for a few moments, Johnny couldn't help but wonder if what Mike had said about their captain was true…that he was only happy because his wife had given him a nice send-off that morning.
"Cap, why are YOU so happy this morning?"
"It's personal, John…I…I got some good news this morning." Hank replied, almost choking out his answer.
Hearing Hank say that made Johnny and the others chuckle a bit. After turning to look at Mike, Johnny was met by a wink from the engineer…the first non-frustrated behavior that the engineer had displayed all morning.
"Okay, are we all ready for roll call?"
Being met by various yes's and nods, Hank continued.
"Alright, I see everyone's here, that's good. The assignments are as follows…"
When Marco received the latrines as his morning assignment, he smiled…it would give him plenty of time to think about the lovely lady that he had met on the way to work that morning.
"Listen, I know it's raining pretty heavily out there today, so let's all be careful. Okay, carry on fellas."
Before embarking on their chores, Roy and Johnny went to the vehicle bay to start on their daily supply and equipment check.
"I guess Mike was right about Cap…about why he's so happy today while the rest of us, minus Marco are so miserable."
"Maybe, Johnny," came Roy's nonchalant reply.
"Say Roy, not to be nosey or anything…but you're married…how come you're not happy like Captain Stanley is this morning?"
Without missing a beat, Roy responded.
"Because he doesn't have two young children walking into his bedroom every chance they get…that's why."
"I suppose." Johnny answered as he seemed to contemplate his partner's response.
"So, tell me again…why are you so depressed?"
Shooting Roy an exasperated look, Johnny then added a groan to it.
"The rain, Roy…the rain. I mean haven't you ever noticed how crazy these Southern Californians get in the rain?"
"That's because it doesn't happen very often…and they panic."
"That's my point, Roy…they panic…and all kinds of freaky things happen…most of them not very good."
Though not exactly thrilled with the weather himself, the senior paramedic decided that he had had enough talk about it, especially since there was absolutely nothing that he could do about it. He desperately wanted to get his partner off of the subject, and onto something else, like the supply check.
"Well…how about instead of focusing on the rain…you focus on IV's?"
While the two paramedics continued to check their supplies, Marco was cleaning the latrines.
Whistling "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" while cleaning, he was so engrossed in what he was doing that he failed to hear Chet calling his name.
"Marco…Marco…"
Grabbing the handle of the mop from Marco's hands, Chet finally got his buddy's attention.
"What?" Marco asked, baffled by the sudden interruption.
"I've been calling your name for the last minute. What's goin' on with ya, buddy? This rain's got everyone down, but you and Captain Stanley…and we all know why HE'S so happy. However, the question remains…why in God's good earth are YOU so darn happy?"
Taking the mop handle out of his friend's hand, Marco looked around the room, and then motioned for Chet to join him on the wooden bench in front of the first bank of lockers.
"Okay, Chet…I'll tell ya. I met a girl on the way to work this morning…a beautiful…sweet…smart girl."
"Oh yeah? What's her name?" a somewhat skeptical Kelly asked.
"Why should I tell you?" Marco was intent on making Chet work for the information.
"Because we're buddies? Besides, we're all bummed out about this heavy rain, the least you can do is to share a bit of good cheer with one of your favorite crewmates."
"Okay…I'll go tell Mike. He seems to be the one who could use the most cheering up." Marco commented with a grin, as he pretended to get up and head out to the squad room.
"No, not Mike…I was talking about ME, Marco."
The good natured firefighter laughed softly.
"Okay. Well…her name is Nikki. She's absolutely amazing…and we have a date when I get off in the morning."
"Details, buddy…I want details. What does she look like? How did you two meet?"
"If you must know, she's about 5"5, with brown hair, and has these amazing green eyes. I think that's what I was drawn to first. They say you can see through to a person's soul if you look into their eyes. Well, her eyes told me that she was someone whom I wanted to get to know better. As for how we met…she was pulled over on the side of the road…a flat tire. I stopped to help her. I mean there she was, standing in the pouring rain, and I had a sense that she was not only frustrated at her situation, but perhaps a bit scared as well. Standing in the rain on the side of a busy highway isn't exactly what one would call safe. And I also know that if it had been my mother or sister or an aunt, I'd want someone to stop and help them, too. Anyway, I changed her tire…and then she asked me out…I said yes."
"Of course you said yes. If you had said no…you would have been an idiot. So where are you going on this date of yours?"
"We're meeting for breakfast first…if all goes well…who knows after that." Marco said with a wink.
"Breakfast, huh?"
"What's wrong with breakfast, Chet? If things don't work out for some reason, then at least I'll still have the rest of the day." Marco replied with his ever present grin.
And in his office, Hank sat whistling the Disney song "Zippity Doo Dah," while doing some paperwork.
From his vantage point out in the bay, while working on the engine, Mike could hear the whistling coming from his captain's office. Strangely, hearing the whistling irritated the heck out of him.
It wasn't long before the alarms sounded and the station was called out on its first run of the day.
"Station 51…overturned vehicle…Easton Avenue…mile marker 42…Time out 0845…"
Being the one closest to the radio, Johnny got on and responded.
"Ten-four, LA…Station 51 responding, KMG-365..."
Quickly pulling on their turnout coats, all the men entered their vehicles, Johnny handing Captain Stanley the other call slip.
As they pulled out on to the street in front of the station, Johnny observed the pouring rain, which was coming down harder than any rain that he'd ever remember seeing or experiencing in all his years in Los Angeles.
His eyes glued to the windshield, Johnny was simply in awe at the magnitude of the rain. "Would you look at that, Roy. I sure hope people try to stay off the road, or at least until this heavy rain stops."
"I highly doubt they will, Johnny." replied Roy, his own eyes glued to the road.
Following the squad, Mike was focusing mightily on maneuvering the big rig safely to their destination. In this kind of rain, Southern Californians usually tended to panic, from not being used to it. He only hoped that the other drivers wouldn't be too foolish and try to cut the engine or squad off, and cause a serious accident.
Finally arriving at the scene, the men noted the single car that was overturned in a big ditch at the side of the road.
As the firefighters got out of their vehicles, they were met by Officer Murphy Greenbush…LAPD, and a good friend of Johnny's.
"What happened, Murphy?" Hank asked the officer.
"I was tailing him. I noticed that the tail lights were both out. When I turned on my lights to pull him over, he took off. He must have been going at least 80 in a 35 MPH zone. I tried to get the doors open…they wouldn't budge. The guy doesn't seem to be injured too badly, though."
As the men started to make their way over to the overturned car, Murphy greeted Johnny.
"Lovely weather, eh, Johnny?"
"Oh yeah…my favorite, Murph. Why was this moron going so fast?"
"It turns out that there's a warrant out for his arrest."
"A warrant?" Johnny asked, his brown eyes getting big.
"Yeah…he's wanted for armed robbery," the officer stated matter-of-factly.
Hearing his buddy's reply, Johnny shuddered a bit under his wet turnout coat, but continued on down to where his help was needed.
Using a crowbar, Marco got the stuck driver's side door open.
Once the door was open, the two paramedics looked inside to see what kind of condition their victim was in.
Remembering what Murphy had just told him about their victim Johnny was a little nervous about taking care of him, thinking that at any moment, the man could take out his gun and begin to use them all for target practice, as if he was out on the shooting range.
"Hey there. We're here to help you. What's your name?" Roy asked the man.
"It's Jason." The young man replied calmly. "You think you can get me out of here quick…it's kinda hard being upside down?"
"Yeah, I'm sure it is. Just try to relax. We'll get you out of here just as soon as we can. Does anything hurt?"
"My neck and my right shoulder…and I got a mean headache."
Roy nodded his head in understanding. "Okay…relax, and don't try to move."
"Believe me…I won't." answered Jason, no trace of hostility or even annoyance in his voice.
Getting the cervical collar around Jason's neck, the two paramedics, with an assist from the engine crew, smoothly got their victim out of the overturned vehicle.
"The ambulance is here, fellas."
Nodding his head, Johnny acknowledged their captain.
"Thanks, Cap."
"I'm riding in with this guy…there's a warrant for his arrest." Murphy alerted the paramedics.
As the ambulance attendants approached the place where Jason was on the backboard, the men started to lift him to put him on the stretcher.
As the stretcher was wheeled back to the ambulance, Roy grinned at his partner.
"He's all yours, Johnny."
Frowning at the senior medic, Johnny sighed softly.
"Meet you at Rampart." Roy added.
As Johnny and Murphy got into the ambulance behind the stretcher, the engine crew set about putting away the rest of their equipment.
Whistling happily, was Hank who also wore a big grin on his face…a fact that continued to irritate the normally calm and laid back engineer.
"Cap…will you put a lid on it," grumbled Mike.
"Huh?" replied a slightly bewildered Hank, at hearing the other man's request.
"The whistling…enough…please."
Hank was taken aback by Mike's request, not to mention his tone, but stopped his whistling.
After the ambulance and squad had left the scene, and the rest of the equipment had been put away, the engine crew boarded their vehicle, leaving another police officer to take care of Murphy's patrol car.
While Hank made them available, he observed his friend behind the wheel, and wondered what was getting him so down…surely it couldn't be the rain…or could it?
As Mike focused on getting the engine safely back onto the road and back to the station, Hank looked behind him at the other two men in the engine. Marco was sitting there with a rather big smile on his face, while Chet was frowning as he looked out the window at the pouring rain.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE E
At the hospital, another police officer had come in to relieve Murphy in handling the custody of the victim/suspect.
Johnny and Murphy had been sitting in the lounge relaxing, drying off, and enjoying a hot cup of coffee, when Roy finally arrived.
"Where've you been, Roy?" Johnny asked his friend, a typical Gage grin on his face.
"Where have I been? Let's see…there's something called rain outside. To take a page out of your book, Johnny…people are idiots…especially in this weather."
Hearing his partner's response, Johnny continued to grin.
"Well…you could have been here drinking coffee right now, but you insisted on making ME go with the guy."
Hearing his partner's last comment made Roy smirk.
"Anyway, we need to get back to the station…we have some work to do."
Glancing over at Murphy, Johnny smiled.
"NOW, who's in a bad mood?" Johnny directed at his best friend.
"Johnny…" Roy groaned.
"I'm coming."
Getting up from the couch, Johnny dumped out the rest of his coffee, and put the mug in the sink.
"Bye, Murph…catch you later."
Leaving the comfort of the lounge, the two paramedics slowly made their way back out into the pouring rain, and into their squad.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEE
Back at the station, Hank started to whistle happily again.
Hearing the whistling filtering through the station, Mike groaned loudly, and walked to his captain's office.
Looking up at the sound of footsteps at his door, Hank wasn't quite sure what to make of the figure standing there. Catching the irritated expression on the engineer's face, he asked about it.
"Michael…what's wrong?"
"Cap, don't take this the wrong way…but I asked you once already…knock off the whistling. I find it incredibly annoying. So please…just stop."
Hearing his engineer say that to him really surprised Hank.
"What exactly is going on here? Except for Marco, everyone else is in an awful mood…you being the worst."
Sighing loudly, Mike thought about his response carefully.
"I don't know, Cap…this rain…it's just got me down. Bad things happen in Southern California during bad rain storms…I just…I can't shake this feeling. And frankly, right or wrong…your whistling is just getting on my nerves."
Exhaling loudly, Hank wasn't quite sure what to make of his engineer, but to keep the peace he agreed to stop the whistling.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEE
On the way back to the station, after accidentally running over a pothole, the paramedics felt the telltale signs of a flat tire.
"I don't believe it, Roy. How could you have done that?"
Roy was momentarily dumbstruck. "What do you mean by how could I have done that?"
"Well, you were the one who was driving…I sure wasn't." Johnny replied with a slight chuckle.
"How about this…you get out and check out the tire, see if it's even flat, maybe…"
"Come on, Roy…we both know it's a flat tire."
"Fine. If you're so sure it's a flat…then you can go out and deal with it."
Johnny sat still, his arms crossed on his chest.
While the two of them sat in the squad arguing about the potential flat tire, there was a knock on Johnny's window.
Looking up, Johnny recognized Murphy standing there, and rolled his window down a bit.
"Hi fellas. Is there a problem here?"
Exchanging glances, the two paramedics then nodded their heads.
"Yes, Murph…we have a flat tire. The problem is…"
Cutting his partner off, before Johnny could say anything else, Roy decided that they BOTH needed to go out and check the tire.
"We have a flat tire, Murphy. We were about to go out and check it out…weren't we, partner?"
Grinning at Roy, Johnny nodded his head.
"Yep…we were."
Backing up a few steps to let Johnny out of his door, Murphy stood behind the two paramedics as they examined the tire.
"Flat as a pancake, Roy…I told you it was flat." Johnny said with a smirk.
"We better call it in. Charlie's gonna love this."
"I'll do it."
Getting back into the squad, Johnny got on the radio, and called dispatch to let them know about their flat tire, that they'd be out of service for a bit, and to please send assistance. He also asked that they call the station to let Captain Stanley know what their situation was.
Roy got back into the squad, joining his partner.
"Well, I guess you guys got things well in hand here. I'll see you later."
"Bye Murph…thanks for the help."
After Murphy left, Johnny grinned slyly at his best friend.
"Gee, Roy…I didn't think the rain bothered you so much."
"In this case, Johnny…it's not the rain that is bothering me…it's YOU."
In the middle of their exchange, a motorcycle came blowing past their squad, and skidded, throwing the rider off the bike.
"I'll call it in, Roy." Picking up the radio, Johnny called dispatch to report the accident.
After calling it in, they got out their equipment, and the two paramedics ran the 25 or so yards up the road to where the rider had gone over his bike.
"Looks bad, Roy."
"Yeah…he didn't have a helmet on…and this rain certainly didn't help him any."
Talking to their victim, Roy tried to gauge his level of consciousness.
"Hey there…can you hear me?"
The paramedics were only met by several moans, but his eyes had never opened.
Johnny looked up at the rain, squinting at the drops that were falling.
"Roy, I'm going to get the backboard and stokes…we should try to move him at least to beside the squad, for some kind of protection from the rain."
"Good idea. I'll see what possible injuries we have."
While Johnny ran to get the additional equipment, Roy set about checking the victim's injuries.
Having heard about the accident on his radio, and knowing that he had only just left the two paramedics a few minutes earlier, Murphy turned around to rejoin the two men.
"Johnny, I heard about the accident. What can I do to help?"
"Grab the oxygen tank…I got the rest."
By the time Johnny and Murphy had returned to Roy, the senior medic had finished cataloguing all of the victim's injuries.
"We have to be careful, Johnny…possible spinal injury, not to mention other broken bones. Any sign of the ambulance or Charlie?"
"Nope. I'll get Rampart on the line." Opening the bio-phone up, Johnny contacted the hospital. "Rampart, this is Squad 51, how do you read?"
"Go ahead 51," replied Dr. Early.
"We have a male, approximately 25 years of age. Victim of a motorcycle accident…he skidded and was thrown off the bike. Head, neck, and spinal injuries suspected…stand by for additional injuries and vitals."
"Standing by, 51."
A few short moments later, Johnny called in the rest of their information, and received their treatment orders.
"Ten-four, Rampart."
As they were about to start splinting and getting him on the backboard, the ambulance pulled up.
"Glad you guys are here. Mind giving us a hand?" Johnny called up to the attendants. "Be careful coming down…it's slippery."
Carefully making their way down the steep incline to where the paramedics and Murphy were with their victim, the two attendants helped put the victim into the stokes, and then helped to bring him topside.
The five of them carefully got him into the back of the ambulance.
"I'll go with him, Johnny…you can wait here for Charlie." Roy said with a grin.
"Gee thanks, Roy. Remind me to repay you the favor." groaned Johnny.
Watching as the ambulance pulled away, Johnny trotted back to where the squad was, to wait for Charlie to arrive to help with the flat tire.
"Want me to stay with you, Johnny?"
"That's okay, Murph…thanks for the offer, but I think it would be best for me to handle Charlie on my own. I don't think you want to be here when he comes."
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEE
Having returned to the station, the engine crew was in the kitchen trying to dry off and warm up with a cup of coffee.
This time it was Marco who started to whistle.
Hearing the other man whistling, Hank turned to observe his engineer's face. He could see the annoyance begin to register on Mike's face, and decided to nip things in the bud.
"Marco pal, you mind cutting the whistling?"
"Why? Is it bothering you, Cap?" Marco asked innocently.
Cutting in, Mike blurted out. "No, Marco…it's not bothering Captain Stanley…it's bothering ME! Just please knock it off."
Marco shrugged his shoulders. "Sure. I didn't know that you didn't like hearing whistling, Mike."
Hank winced at hearing Marco's question.
Sitting quietly on the couch with Henry, Chet couldn't hold back.
"I know this rain sucks, Mike…but what exactly is your problem? You've been a complete grouch ever since you came on this morning."
Mike looked up at Chet. More than anything he wanted to give his friend the finger, but he was more mature than that.
"It's personal, Chet…let's leave it at that." Not saying anything else, Mike walked out of the room, leaving some confused and worried crewmates in his wake.
Hank sighed loudly.
Marco looked at his captain with a slightly confused look.
"What's going on, Cap? If I'd honestly known that my whistling would bother him, I wouldn't have done it."
"I know, pal. It's not your fault. I just think this weather has him down more than usual. "
"Maybe I should talk to him…or at least apologize."
"I don't think that would be a good idea, Marco…and it wasn't your fault anyway…besides, he'll be fine."