It's All Relative

It had been a long, hard shift and Johnny was exhausted. Slowly he climbed out of his Rover and hauling his duffle bag from the seat, shut the door and trudged onto the porch to unlock his front door. It was then that he noticed a package the postman had left leaning against the door. He pushed open the door letting the package drop to the floor.

Johnny stepped over the brown paper wrapped box and deposited his duffle bag on the sofa. Returning to pick up the parcel he smiled as he read the return address. It was from his Aunt Rose, but the address was her son's. She was visiting his ranch near Jackson, Wyoming. Plopping down in the recliner he opened the package. Inside the box were a large manila envelope and a smaller white one. He recognized his aunt's handwriting and opened the smaller one first. He unfolded the paper inside and read:

Dear John,

Hope this finds you well. Are you getting enough sleep? You know how I worry about you with your demanding schedule.

I am having an absolutely wonderful time with Edward and his family. He really has done an amazing job in getting this ranch ready for the summer tourist season. Johnny, you would absolutely love the beautiful horses he has here – some of the best I've seen since the ones your father raised. Maybe you could talk your friend Roy and his family to come with you here on vacation. I'm sure they would absolutely love it!

Anyway, the main reason I'm writing this is to explain the pictures in the other envelope. Edward found an old trunk stuck way in the back corner of the barn loft. He was just going to throw it away but decided to look in it first. Would you believe it belonged to your great-great grandfather? That's right J. Rodney Gage, MD! It had all his papers, diplomas, some pictures, and clothes and even his diary. Your grandfather Frederick was a great one for keeping things dealing with the family's history. That trunk must have traveled from the East Coast all the way to California and back to Wyoming again. I thought you might like to have it.

When I return to LA in about a month I'll bring it with me, but in the mean time I thought you would enjoy a few of the pictures and the diary.

Well, better run. Have to help Arlene in the kitchen. Enjoy!

Love always,

Aunt Rose

Johnny smiled as he set the letter aside and carefully slid the contents of the manila envelope onto his coffee table. His aunt had included about a half-dozen pictures that had been carefully matted along with an old leather bound diary tied with leather laces. The pictures showed his great-great grandfather graduating from medical school, with a friend in London, in an army hospital, and several with various different gentlemen and ladies and cavalry officers in different locations across the West. He turned the pictures over and noticed that all of them were inscribed with the place, date, names and occasion. For being around 100 years old the photos were in remarkably good condition.

As Johnny glanced over the photos again, one of them caught his eye. It was a picture of four men, an older woman and a young boy standing on the steps of a schoolhouse in a small western town. His eyes widened in surprise as he realized two of the men looked quite familiar. Checking the names on the back he smiled and set the photo aside silently reminding himself to take it with him to work next shift.

Johnny's stomach suddenly reminded him with a loud rumble that he had not had anything to eat since dinner the night before. Getting up from the chair he made his way into the kitchen and fixed himself a plate of scrambled eggs, toast, bacon and a tall glass of milk. Bringing his meal back to the living room he set his dished on the coffee table. He gathered up the photos and carefully put them back in the envelope and slid his duffle bag to the floor. Sitting on the sofa he picked up the diary and began reading as he ate. He propped his feet on the table and became totally engrossed in the events he was reading about. After about a half an hour he fell asleep, the diary lying across his chest.

The next morning Johnny was feeling rested but a little stiff from sleeping on the sofa all night. He had several chores to do around the house which kept him busy most of the morning. Deciding to stop for lunch he sat down at the kitchen table with a plate of sandwiches and continued reading the diary. Suddenly realizing he had been sitting there reading for over an hour he reluctantly set the diary aside and left to run some errands. That evening he sat down again to continue reading about the life of his great-great grandfather. Before turning in he took the one photo, slipped in into the diary and put it in his duffle bag to take to work the next morning.

E!E!E!E!E!

When Roy pulled into the parking lot behind the station he was surprised to see Johnny's Rover already there. He checked his watch to make sure he wasn't late. 'Wonder what's up with Junior that got him to work so early?' He grabbed his things and walked into the locker room, his curiosity growing with each step. He found Johnny dressed and sitting in his locker reading what looked like an old book.

"Morning, Junior," Roy greeted his partner.

"Hey, Pally," Johnny replied without looking up at his partner.

Roy began getting ready for the day. "What's that you're reading?"

Johnny looked up from the diary and smiled. "This is my great-great grandfather's diary."

"Your great-great grandfather's diary?" Roy asked with just a tinge of doubt in his voice. "Where'd you get that?"

"Aunt Rose sent it to me along with some pictures. She's visiting her son and his family in Wyoming who live on the ranch once owned by my grandfather, my father's father. Well, they found a trunk stashed away in the old barn that belonged to my great-great grandfather J. Rodney Gage, MD."

Roy stopped getting ready and just stared at Johnny in surprise. "He was a doctor?"

"Yeah, and boy did he have an interesting life. As far as I've read, he went to medical school in Maryland and then traveled to London to study for another year. He returned to the States in 1864 and work at the Army hospital near Washington, DC till the end of the Civil War. He then applied for a position in a hospital in St. Louis and worked there for almost 5 years. Then he moved to the town of Laramie, WY as a favor for a friend. The doctor there wanted to study at the hospital in St. Louis for six months and needed someone to cover his practice. That's about as far as I've gotten."

"He sounds like he led quite a life."

"My grandfather used to tell stories about him, but I kinda had doubts about some of the things he told me. Now, I think all the stories he told about him were absouluely true."

"True about who?" Chet asked as he poked his head into the locker room.

"None of your business, Chet. We're having a private conversation here," groused Johnny as he put the diary back in his duffel bag. He didn't want to give Chet any ammunition to tease him about.

"Chet," Roy added, "Johnny was just telling me about his great-great grandfather who happened to be a doctor."

Johnny glared at Roy. Roy just shrugged his shoulders as an apology.

"A doctor huh…" Chet mused. "Well that just proves that old saying."

"What old saying?" Johnny wasn't sure he really wanted to hear the answer.

"You know. The one about the nut not falling far from the tree," he replied hastily as he ducked out the door laughing.

Johnny shoulders sagged in resignation. "Thanks heaps, Roy."

"Sorry, Junior."

Chet poked his head in again. "Oh, by the way, roll call in 2 minutes. You know Cap's not a … 'patient patient', Doc." They could hear Chet's laughter echoing in the bay.

'It's going to be a long shift' Johnny thought with a sigh.

Roy and Johnny quickly finished getting ready and were in line ready for inspection before Cap came out of his office.

E!E!E!E!E!

Around 10 AM the tones sounded and sounded and sounded. Several stations were being called out to a fire in a lumber yard. Everyone dropped what they were doing and quickly found their places on the rigs. Cap replied to the call and handing a copy of the address to Roy, joined his crew on the engine. The squad led out followed by Big Red. They arrived at the site of the fire in less than 10 minutes. Station 110 was already there so Hank checked in with their captain. All employees were accounted for so everyone was needed to fight the beast that had a good start on the building and was threatening to spread to the piles of lumber outside.

"Roy, you and John grab a two-and-a-half and head for the east entrance. Chet, Marco, the same. 36's is working from the north side and 110's has the west."

The four crewmembers nodded in response and donning their tanks and masks grabbed hoses from the rear of the engine and hurried to their assigned places. Mike watched them get set and at their signals charges their hoses.

With Johnny and Chet on the nozzles, the two teams slowly worked their way in the large east entrance to the building. Suddenly something inside the building exploded spewing pieces of lumber and metal racks out the doorway. The four were caught in the maelstrom of flying debris and blown off their feet.

Mike and Cap instinctively ducked covering their heads as pieces of wood fell around them. When they turned back to the building they saw all four crewmembers on the ground. Mike shut down the hoses and Hank called to 110's captain.

"Stoney," Hank shouted! "We need some help here! And paramedics!"

Hank and Mike ran to their fallen brothers. Marco was trying to sit up but his left arm wasn't working well. Chet had landed on his tank and was having trouble rolling off it. Roy was up on his hands and knees shaking his head trying to clear it. Johnny was lying on his back not moving and had several large pieces of lumber crisscrossed over his chest.

Hank immediately began removing the lumber that was on Johnny. Roy started to help him but suddenly turned away and threw up.

"Roy, take it easy." Hank put a steadying hand on his shoulder. "I've got this. Help is on the way."

Mike was moving debris and trying to get Chet to lie still till the paramedics could check him out. He had a gash on the side of his head that was bleeding freely. Marco was sitting up finally, rocking back and forth, and muttering in Spanish. Mike could see he was in pain as he held his left arm close to his body. Johnny still had not regained consciousness.

Just then the paramedics from 36's arrived along with several firefighters who helped move the injured to a safer location. Sirens were heard as two more engine companies arrived along with another squad. Men came to take the place of 51's crew. Cap and Mike assisted Brice and Bellingham as best they could until the other paramedic team arrived. Standing and backing away from the downed firefighters, Hank and Mike continued to watch as doctors were contacted and orders followed. Ambulances arrived and whisked all four away to Rampart.

Cap stood for a moment following the ambulances with his eyes. Mike put a hand on his shoulder bringing him out of his reverie. Hank looked at Mike and sighed, shaking his head. No words could express the emotions they both were feeling. Slowly they returned to the engine. Chief McConnike met them there, his concern plainly visible on his face.

"Hank, Mike, take care of your gear and return your vehicles to the station. I'll call in a replacement crew; you're both off duty. I know how difficult it is when you see your whole crew go down. Go to the hospital. Be there for them." He patted Hank's back, nodded to Mike and returned to his duties.

Hank and Mike arrived at Rampart about half an hour later. Dixie met them with an update.

"Hi fellas. Why don't you come with me to the lounge and I fill you in. I've called all their families except for Johnny's aunt. Roy told me she was out of town."

When they reached the lounge Dixie made them sit down and she got them each a cup of coffee.

"Miss McCall, how are my men doing?" Hank voice trembled slightly.

"It's Dixie, Hank," she corrected with a smile. "They all have plenty of bumps and bruises and will be sore for awhile. Marco has a broken wrist and is getting it set as we speak. He also sprained his knee so we'll keep him at least overnight to make sure he stays off it. It took 10 stitches to close the cut on Chet's head and he has a mild concussion, some cracked ribs, and some very sore back muscles, so he will be spending the night with us, too. Roy also has a concussion and a severely bruised shoulder. He, too, will be with us overnight, at least."

Mike interrupted. "What about John? You said Roy told you about his aunt being unavailable."

"Johnny hasn't regained consciousness, yet," Dixie replied with a sigh. He has a moderate concussion and two broken ribs. Kel expects he'll wake up some time in the next 24 hours….

I know all this sounds bad, but it could have been so much worse. Hank, your men will be fine and able to return to work. Nothing is life threatening."

Dixie paused to sip her coffee and to gage the effects her words had on the two men before her. There faces were still etched with concern but she could see that their bodies were beginning to relax as the tension from the events was slowly ebbing.

"Now, you two finish your coffee and wait here. I'll come get you when the guys are all settled in their rooms and you can visit for a little while. I'll give you some time with them before their families arrive." Dixie smiled as she rose from her chair and headed toward the door.

Hank and Mike slowly relaxed and sat back to wait.

TBC