John Gage sat in his beloved Rover in the parking lot of Station 51, nervously contemplating about the new Captain that would be starting that day. The usually confident paramedic was apprehensive when it came to meeting new people, especially a new superior. His first Captain, when he was a boot, hated so called minority groups. He believed that they had no place in the department, so his Native American heritage was frowned upon. He was treated like an uneducated slave and almost quit several times, but remembered his promise to his mom; that he would no matter what, work hard and achieve his dream to become a fire-fighter.
John Gage grew up on a reservation in North Dakota, surrounded by poverty, and after losing his parents at the age of ten, he suffered from neglect. He left the reservation at age fifteen to live with his Aunt Ruby in Los Angeles, California. When she came looking for her only nephew she found him dog tied to a post in a barn, on his cousin's property. He was starving, neglected and fearful. His Aunt worked hard those first few weeks, trying to convince her nephew that he belonged with her and was loved. She located a community of his Native American people, Seminoles, where he attended classes' weekly learning about his mother's people's ways.
To say his Aunt pushed him is an understatement. Having received very little education on the reservation, John was tutored and attended summer school to catch up. He graduated in the top five of his final year. He promptly enrolled in the Fire Academy in LA and was accepted. John graduated at the top of his class even though he was continually tormented by one particular instructor and almost lost his hand when a door was deliberately closed as he was exiting the academy's engine. It was only through his quick reflexes that he avoided his hand being crushed or severed.
John realised at a very young age that life for him would never be easy. He worked extra hard to achieve his goals and appreciated the few helping hands along the way. Dixie McCall was one of those helping hands who he learned not only to trust, but love. She took care of him when his Aunt brought him to the hospital when he first arrived in LA. Having been literally starved for five years she encouraged him to try different foods and sat with him soothing him through his nightmares. When John's Aunt was diagnosed with dementia it was Dixie he turned to, to help him place her in a care facility. His Aunt died three months after he completed the Paramedic Programme. Again he finished at the top of his class, unfortunately due to the dementia, his Aunt never knew. The funeral was attended by himself and Dixie. He was alone, but unlike when he was ten years old, he had friends.
A tap on the window brought John back to the present. His Paramedic partner Roy DeSoto was standing next to his Rover looking concerned.
"You OK?" He asked frowning.
"Yeah….just a bit anxious with the new Captain and all." John answered as he stepped out of his car. "Do you know who he is?"
"Hank Stanley from station 36 B shift. He was their engineer for six years."
"So this is his first Captain assignment. I hope we get along." John stated more to himself than to his partner.
"You'll be fine….nothing to worry about. Come on let's get some coffee before roll call." Roy placed a reassuring hand on John's shoulder and again noticed his partner's slight flinch with the contact. He knew very little about his partner's life and often wondered why he never talked about his family. Several times, over the past eight months of their partnership, he had wondered what he had interrupted when walking into the doctor's lounge. John would be deep in conversation with Dixie. The conversation would abruptly stop and his partner would have a look of sadness and guilt. Dixie would immediately slap John on the arm and jovially declare your partner's here, time to earn your money.
Captain Hank Stanley walked along the line of his crew looking each one in the eye as he said their names. His youngest crew member was the only one who did not look him in the eye; instead, he kept his eyes downcast. Stanley looked concerned and wondered if the paramedic had heard something about him and did not like him, or if he had something to hide. Quickly recalling his crews' personnel files, John Gages had the least amount of personal detail in it. There were many bravery commendations from his previous station where he was a rescue man and he duly noted his top of the class achievements in both the academy and the Paramedic Program. Nothing came to mind to send off alarm bells.
Stanley cleared his throat. "My name is Captain Hank Stanley. I'm from station 36 and I've been in the Fire Department for sixteen years. This is my first permanent Captains assignment and I hope we can all become good friends." While speaking, he watched out of the corner of his eye for any reaction from his youngest member.
"I have two rules I won't budge on. Rule one: Last to arrive gets Latrine. Rule two: All crew members, including the paramedics, perform daily drills." Aaahh, that got a reaction from him, Stanley noted to himself. He thought that could mean two things; doesn't like drills or, being a Paramedic thinks he doesn't have to do drills.
Little did Stanley know John was thinking back to his boot days where drills became somewhat dangerous. He had been blasted by rogue hoses, fallen countless times from ladders that mysteriously moved while he was on them and when helping with fire inspections found himself left behind, having to walk back to his station. The Captain had singled out the paramedics and that worried him. Did he have it in for them, he wondered?
"OK, let's go into the day room and have some coffee. We can talk and hopefully help me get to know you. Dismissed."
Everyone followed their captain into the day room except John Gage. He had been deep in thought and when he looked up, everyone was gone. Not wanting to join in on the personal conversations, John decided to do the morning calibrations and check supplies in the drug box instead. That is where his partner found him ten minutes later.
"Cap wants us ALL in the day room. We could have done that after coffee." Roy said a little annoyed with his partner.
"I just wanted to get it done. It's supposed to be done first thing not when it's convenient."
"What's wrong with you? Captain Stanley seems a nice guy but you're acting like his the enemy or something. Come and join us in the day room." Roy waited for his partner to put things away and pushed him towards the day room frowning.
"Well thanks for joining us Gage. I distinctly remember saying let's ALL go into the dayroom and have coffee and talk." Stanley stated a little annoyed.
John nodded, keeping his head down and quickly grabbed a cup and filled it with coffee. He seated himself as far away from his Captain as he could. Stanley noted this and again, wondered what he had done for this member to take an instant dislike to him.
"I was just asking about hobbies and things. What kinds of things do you get up to on your days off Gage?" Stanley looked at the paramedic waiting for a reply.
"Um, not that much. Nothing you would be interested in." John replied still not looking up. Roy gave him a sideways glance and wondered what had got into his partner.
Stanley decided to take a different approach with his youngest member. "I'm only enquiring so that I can learn a bit about you….This is a totally friendly discussion…no pressure…as I said before I have two teenage kids. My eldest Jase is a runner and is on the high school track team. I love to read. I would like to encourage get togethers, like barbeques. Hopefully this will help build a trust between us and help us work well together."
"I for one think that's a great idea Cap." Roy stated smiling. Everyone nodded agreement, except again for the youngest crew member, who remained looking down. John listened to his new Captain and hoped that he genuinely meant what he was saying.
"The Fourth of July is coming up Cap and we have it off. You know what the Fourth of July is don't you Gage?" Kelly asked the despondent paramedic.
John looked at Kelly and knew he was being his usual annoying self. 'Why do you hate me so much?' he thought to himself. "I know what it is Kelly." He simply stated.
Stanley noted the hurt look in the paramedic's eyes and wondered if the paramedic had trouble getting along with other crew members. Trying to diffuse the tension building between Kelly and Gage, Marco asked the paramedic if he was still ok for tomorrow to help him with some work on his house.
"Yeah sure Marco, I've got a few ideas to run by you also." John glanced at Marco and smiled.
Now that's more like it Stanley thought to himself and was about to ask Marco about his house when Kelly quickly stated. "What are you going to do build a tepee in the middle of his living room?" Kelly laughed at his wittiness.
John was about to get up when Roy placed his hand on his partner's shoulder, but he shrugged it off. "I don't have to sit and listen to this, I have work to do." The young paramedic got up to rinse his cup.
"Little over sensitive Gage. Can't you take a joke?" Chet Kelly taunted the young over sensitive paramedic. Kelly was a born stirrer and enjoyed teasing John.
John stood by the sink with his back to everyone. He squeezed his eyes shut and sighed, thinking to himself. 'Why do I let him get to me? Because he never stops harassing me, that's why. Great and the new Captain doesn't even care. Well I'm going. I have nothing more to say.' John walked out of the room without looking at anyone. Roy shook his head and then glared at Kelly.
Stanley took note of the confrontation and decided to do some investigating of his own to find out a bit more about his youngest crew member.