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"Gentlemen, I am about to upset our quiet little existence."
"Cap, you won't upset us." Chet Kelly looked so confused at the bizarre statement of his captain that Mike and Marco left the dinner preparations in the kitchen and sauntered over to the open door of the bay to hear their captain speak. "What could you do to possibly upset us? Usually we are driving you up a wall with our - yeah, usually we are upsetting you." Chet nodded thoughtfully.
"I know this sounds utterly ridiculous, but you guys are aware that this has always been a very -" the handsome Captain Henry "Hank" Stanley hesitated for a second, his face contorted into an expression that bode his next words were going to be very awkward. "This has always been a very - male - shift, and well, I am going to rock the boat for a few days."
He looked around at the blank faces of the men he considered his brothers (although sometimes he felt like they were his incorrigible sons) and sighed. They all looked confused.
The moment was interrupted by John Gage and Roy Desoto, the paramedics of the shift, returning with a few random groceries that Marco insisted needed to be included in the planning of lunch. The door of the bay closed, followed by the slamming of the squad doors.
"Here ya go, Marco!" John Gage, better known as Johnny, swept in, paper bag held aloft, followed by his older partner, Roy, who shook his head at his younger counterpart's never ending youthful energy.
Johnny froze at the sight of the little group that had gathered in the kitchen, obviously led by his Captain. "Anything wrong, Cap?" Johnny ran his fingers absentmindedly through his longish sable hair, concerned dark eyes focused on his captain. He glanced worriedly at his partner who had come up behind him, looking just as left out.
Cap sighed. He would have to start over again. But before he could speak, Chet took his moment to dig Gage. "Johnny, oh Johnny," He spoke in a tone that carried such intense respect and admiration that Johnny turned his head to look at him, looking bewildered. "Give me just a moment, Cap." He moved quickly to stand before John and saluted him like a soldier.
Johnny raised a questioning eyebrow and moved past Chet to set the grocery bag on the dining table. "Chet, what IS your problem?"
Chet raised his eyes to the ceiling as if in the presence of a deity. "You looked so much like the statue of liberty, standing there with that bag held so high, and tall and straight as an arrow that I just had to-"
Johnny waved a hand at him. "Oh, shut up, Chet. Save the patriotism for the holiday." He shook his head, dark eyes clearly showing how annoyed he was. Roy smiled. His partner and Chet Kelly would come to blows one day. He could just feel it in his bones. Marco and Mike pretended not to notice to spat, although Marco's mustache twitched dangerously. It would not do to laugh when Chet was ganging up on Johnny. But the other men knew retribution would haunt the rest of the day. Johnny would make Chet pay somehow.
"So, what's up, Cap?" Roy asked, sitting down at the dining table, having diverted the crew's attention back to his captain who was gazing at his men with a droll 'what have I gotten myself into' expression. If Marco started laughing, that would have sent Johnny off on a tirade and Cap's expression seemed to indicate that his patience was running a tiny bit thin.
Cap nodded quickly at Roy, a silent thank you, as his men returned their attentions to his earlier statement.
"As I was saying, men, this office has been a predominately male circle. However, I am inviting my youngest sister, Ashley, to stay with us for a few days until our ski trip. We call her Ash. She is nineteen. Quite capable, nice little girl, but very - different. I know Chet has quite all he can handle, putting up with Johnny and all," Here he cast a snide glance at Chet who squirmed and looked hurt.
"Awww, look Cap, I like Johnny as well as anybody else does. But he's just soooo easy to pick on." Chet drawled, turning to waggle his eyebrows at Johnny. Johnny growled at him, and huffed away to stand by Roy's chair.
Cap took a deep breath and blew it out carefully before he continued speaking. "Anyway, I ask that all of you be gentlemanly, no pranks," a pointed look at Chet "and just make her feel welcome. She isn't the easiest person to get along with, but I am sure that you guys will all do your best. She comes from a - troubled home." Here the tall captain paused again and glanced at the floor.
Marco mumbled in Spanish, and Roy and Johnny cast quick glances at each other that said 'oh boy'. Their captain had an expression of pain on his face that no one had ever seen before. They all felt sorry for him. They had never seen him looking - so human. He glanced around at the table of men. "Do I have your complete confidence?" The solemn nods around the table calmed his tense features and he paced back and forth. "Ashley was an adopted child. We took her when she was 8 years old. She was abused by pretty much everyone in her life and by the time we got her, there wasn't much left to repair."
Roy and Johnny glanced cautiously at each other. Roy's face held gentle sympathy, and Johnny's was set in a stubborn Gage frown. Roy knew he was angry and yet sympathetic too.
"She has had a really rough road. For some reason, she is extremely attached to me. Maybe because it was my idea to adopt her. She was the daughter of one of my dad's coworkers, and we took her in when I was in firefighter school. Anyway, she was in such a hard shell that we had a terrible time with her. Eventually she started opening up more and it wasn't so bad. We got along really well. Then I took up a captain position here at 51, and she sort of retreated, because I didn't live close by anymore. She ended up in the hospital recently, after a bullying situation at work. We almost lost her and we didn't even realize it was happening. But it seems she has gotten through a lot of that. I just have to keep an eye on her for a few days and try to get her settled in at home, but my wife is at her mother's for the rest of the week and I can't go over until shift ends." Hank stopped pacing and leaned his forearms on the back of one of the chairs. "Confidentially, men, I either have to move her in with me or put her in an institution. And she's my little sister. I can't do that. I am hoping that some time away from memories will help her - adjust - to normal life. She's really not mean or anything like that. She has studied to be a nursing assistant. She's proven herself to be caring, and gentle. She is really sweet. Just - lonely and - sensitive, and insecure." The captain's voice was gruff with emotion, but a strange haunted look hovered in his eyes. Roy and Johnny shared another glance. This was tough on their captain. He looked exhausted.
Roy stood and stepped forward. "You don't have to feel like you owe us an explanation, Cap. After the many times you've had our backs, I am with you on this one."
Cap looked around at the little group, and all eyes held respect and concern for their captain, and affirmation was on each and every face. They all stood to their feet and nodded.
Exclamations of "Me too!" and "You bet!" rang through the room. Mike Stoker, the ever quiet fireman engineer stepped forward. "We will do everything we can, Cap." He smiled proudly at his comrades.
"Man, I've got such a great team." Hank said softly. He suddenly snapped back into his hard, stoic captain stance and looked toward the kitchen. "Hey there, Marco! What's burning on the stove?"
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The excitement of the next day rivaled that of Christmas. The team of Station 51 prepared for the arrival of the shy girl that Captain Stanley had spoken of. The bay was spotless, as always, and the rec room floor polished. The entire station was prepared as if for review by the battalion chief.
She was dropped off by Dr. Brackett, who stood talking to her and Hank for some time outside. Johnny kept trying to peek out the window, but Chet insisted on hauling him away. They might have come to blows but Roy intervened and separated them. The blonde senior paramedic rolled his eyes. His partner had a thing for women, but Roy had a feeling that Captain Stanley would not take kindly to any advances from his young paramedic upon his little sister. She walked into the bay quietly beside her brother, eyes drifting from a place either on the floor, or on her brother's face. She stood close to him as if his shadow would protect her. Long brown hair hung down her back. She was not too tall, but not really short either. Her head came to the top of Hank's shoulders. She wore a long sleeved jacket and denim skirt that reached below her knees. Not a very typical teen, but then Cap had hinted that she was different after all.
"Guys, I would like you to meet my sister, Ash. She is going to be staying with us for the rest of the shift, and then I am taking her with me when me and Johnny and Roy fly to Colorado this weekend. I would appreciate it if you would all make her feel welcome." Captain Hank introduced her as if no one had even heard about her before. Johnny gave her one of his lopsided Gage grins.
"Hey there, Ash. Welcome to the A shift crew. I sure hope you can cook because man, Marco is really getting to me."
He said this with a wink that the Mexican firefighter didn't see. "Hey, now there, senior! You just make your own chili and see how everyone else likes it. It is my Madre's chili and I do not take well to a - what do you call - criticism?!"
Johnny rolled his eyes and was rewarded for his facetiousness with a small smile from the silent girl. She studied him for a moment. "Thank you, Mr. Gage." She replied finally. "I have asked Hank if I can cook for you all while I stay here today, since I cannot go out on runs with you and I do wish to earn my keep. I know I am not supposed to be here but I do appreciate Chief McConnike letting me stay a little bit. I hope all shall be to your satisfaction, and if not I am always open to suggestions."
The station had grown quiet as she spoke. Hank put a lanky arm around her shoulders and playfully shook her. "Hey now, Ash. You aren't earning your keep. You have joined a military ranking of firemen, intent on aiding the public, rescuing lives, and hopefully keeping ourselves out of trouble." He cast a disparaging glance at Johnny and Marco. "You are not earning your keep. You have been given a task to complete and I am sure you will do well. You always were quite the gourmet chef." He said this last part while smiling down at her, and there was an audible sigh from Chet.
She blushed and quietly spoke again. "Why thank you, Hank. You always were quite the flatterer."
He laughed and hugged her again. "Well, welcome home, Peanut. See if you can get Chet to uproot himself from the floor and give you a tour of the kitchen. Marco, Mike. You guys are on yard duty. The new fencing is being delivered shortly. John, Gage, supply count."
Chet stammered, "Uh, Chief, can we just have Johnny make coffee first? You know he makes the best coffee…"
Ash spoke softly, waving him away. "Don't be afraid, sir. I know how to make coffee."
She opened the cabinet to look for the coffee, and a shower of water rained down upon her head, the plastic container bouncing off of her head and landing in the floor. All of the men froze. Then slowly, all eyes turned to Chet.
"That was for Johnny." Chet managed to squeak out, cowering under the sudden scrutiny. His captain looked as if he would like to kill him. There was going to be a lot of latrine duty in his future.
"Chet!" Johnny howled, relieved that he wasn't the one that got soaked and also taking his chance at playing the hero. "How dare you. You are always on my tail! Now you've gone and soaked Ash, and she hasn't even been here ten minutes!"
Amid the momentary chaos, a strange sound could be heard. Laughter. Still standing where she had been when the calamity happened, Ash was laughing. Her hair was plastered to her hair, and water dripped off of her angled chin. "Hank," She spoke in her gentle voice.
Captain Stanley broke his killer gaze from Chet's face. He grew concerned that his sister had not moved. "Ash, you okay?"
He moved quickly to stand beside her, tilting her chin up to face him. Her eyes were sparkling and her face had lit up. To his relief, she laughed again. "Hank, I think I have just been initiated."
Captain Hank wiped the water off of her face with his big hand and chuckled. "I guess you have, Peanut. Now let's get you dried off. Chet - can make the coffee." He cast another pointed look at his mischievous coworker.
Chet stepped forward, swiping a towel off of the countertop. "A thousand apologies, Ash, I really intended that for Johnny."
Ash accepted the towel he offered and smiled. "You pick on Johnny?"
Chet frowned and winked exaggeratedly. "I will discuss that some other time. There is a - uhm - phantom you need to know about that likes to tease Johnny."
Ash raised her eyebrows but nodded. "Okay, Chet. That sounds like something I should know about."
Johnny snorted. Ash noticed his frustration and laughed again. "Here, Johnny," she chuckled. "Have a cookie. It will go with the coffee Chet is about to make for us."
Johnny desperately began to shake his head. "Uh, no, no, Ash, don't!"
Ash reached into the bag and an audible snap coupled with her short scream, made Roy jump to her aid. Ash withdrew her hand and clamped firmly on it was a mousetrap.
Johnny shifted uncomfortably. "Uh, that was for Chet." He grimaced at the look in his captains eyes. Why did it have to be Ash again? He and Chet were batting 0 today.
Ash looked up at Johnny, definitely not laughing now. Hank reached for her hand, but she jerked it away. She held out her hand to Johnny. "Please take it off." Johnny at any other moment would have had a witty comeback or a smart comment, but he looked so contrite that his partner felt sorry for him.
He carefully removed the trap, and examined the slim fingers.
"Can you bend them?" he asked softly, suddenly slipping into his paramedic mode. Gently, he felt each finger, and satisfied himself that they were not broken. He winced at the red marks the metal had made and the slight bruising and swelling already showing up. She demonstrated that her fingers still worked then smiled up at him. "Thank you, Johnny." He gave her another lopsided grin. She blushed and turned away, calling over her shoulder, "Chet, you owe me one. Hank?"
"Yes?" he asked, hands on his hips, clearly upset with his team.
"Don't be too hard on them, okay?"
He brushed back her soaking wet hair and sighed. "Okay, Peanut." He hugged her, and then motioned to Roy. The senior paramedic cocked his head in question, but followed his captain without a word. "Come along, sweetheart and let's get you settled in. Alright the rest of you, scatter. Chet, make coffee. Johnny. With Roy."