Title: Helpless – Pt. 1
By: FanofRandy
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. Emergency! is owned by Universal and Mark VII Productions. I make no profit from my imagination—only a personal joy and peace.
Summary: John Gage finds himself feeling "helpless" since the rescue of two boys from a storm drain. Tag to "Helpful" Episode 2.2; Orig. Air Date December 16, 1972. A/N – references to my story "Without Reservation" throughout—but, this is a stand-alone.
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It was just after midnight and John Gage found himself in the dayroom of Station 51. They had a grueling rescue that evening and all had been wet and tired upon returning to the station. After showers and a quick dinner, most of the men went right to bed, including John. However, there was something that was eating away at him and he could not find rest. Even when he did find sleep, it was chased away by an unsettling feeling and dreams he could not remember. He finally got up from his bunk and left the dorm, fearing he would wake his crewmates with his restless activities of tossing and turning, and hitting his pillow.
Roy had hit is pillow like that a few nights back. Roy had gotten into an argument with his wife, JoAnne and, with some nagging from Johnny, he finally let it slip that the argument was a result of Roy mentioning to JoAnne that Mike Stoker's spaghetti was better than hers. But, Johnny knew that Roy had forgiven him for nosing in his business earlier that night. So, he could not figure out what this troublesome feeling was.
The coffee that John put on when he had come into the dayroom was finally done and he poured himself a cup. As he did, he noticed that he had awakened another crewmember—the station's dog, Boot, who had returned after deserting them for a snorkel crew a few months prior. Boot was at John's feet. "You don't like me, remember?" John said to the dog. For some reason, Boot had not been very kind to him and he could not figure it out.
John walked over and sat on the sofa and Boot jumped up next to him. John carefully reached out his hand to pet the dog, and the dog allowed him to without barking or shying away like usual. "Well, I guess at midnight, when no one is around, that's when you like me, huh?" John teased the dog. Boot sidled up next to the tired fireman as if to console him. "Thanks, Boot." John said, "That makes me feel better."
John tried to pinpoint why he was so "out of sorts". They had rescued two small boys from certain death after they ventured down a storm drain into the sewer system. The rains had flooded the sewer and gas threatened to overtake them as well. When they were found, one boy had already succumbed to the gas fumes. John and Roy had found them just in time. The report from Rampart was that the boys would suffer no ill effects and they would be fine. "So, why can't I sleep?" John wondered. The dog next to him moved a bit, reminding John of his presence and need for attention.
"Ah, Boot." John said as he patted the dog's head. "You're a smart dog, ya know? Not like that dog we had to get off the roof the other day! Twice, I might add. You wouldn't go up on the roof would ya, boy?" John asked as he nuzzled the dog's fur. The dog whined a bit, but otherwise just relished the attention.
After another two cups of coffee, John thought he might try to go back to his bunk and get some rest. He stopped in the latrine first and then walked through the locker room to the dorms. He caught the smell of the still damp uniforms of his and Roy's drying over the shower door. The smell had permeated every fiber of his clothing and person when they had returned from Rampart.
"Man." John thought. "I nearly bought it back there." John remembered how he had fallen into the heavily-flowing waters with the child Roy had just handed him only moments before. He had trouble regaining his footing and went under a few times, trying to keep his young charge above water level, before Roy finally came to take the boy from him. When John got his bearings, he walked over to the ladder where Roy was heading up with the boy he had taken from him. The other boy started up the ladder behind Roy as John pushed him along by the seat of his pants.
John had become disoriented by the rain falling from the open manhole above and the strong current of water caught him unawares. He quickly went under and was nearly swept away. He fought to upright himself yet again, as an overwhelming sense of helplessness came over him, and took in some water before finally grabbing the ladder. He made his way slowly up and Roy was there to grab an arm to help him finish the climb. Once out, John just sat there at the manhole for a moment staring down at the rushing water below. He felt as though he was drowning and it took a minute to catch his breath. He shook off the feeling as Marco, Chet, and Roy gathered the children together.
As he walked into the dorm now, the feeling of drowning and being helpless hit him again and he took a few deep breaths to calm himself. He had swallowed some water, but it was nothing serious and he didn't even mention it to Roy or the others. As he lay his head down on his pillow, he felt so tired that he thought he would fall asleep right away. He tried to put the events of the evening to the back of his mind and listened to the rain that was still falling outside.
But, he continued to lay awake, wondering what it was about that rescue that would continue to chase sleep from him. The tossing and turning persisted until the morning tones sounded and the men all got up from their bunks to begin their day.
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"Watcha you doin' today, Gage." Kelly asked as the men changed from their uniforms to their civies at the end of their shift.
John was tired and not in the mood for any of Chet's pranks or jokes. "Why do YOU want to know?" He asked.
"Well, Marco and Mike and I were going out tonight to a new club. Thought you might want to join us." Chet extended the invitation. Marco, Chet, Mike and Johnny were the single men of the crew.
"Well, Chet, I happen to have a date tonight. So, thanks, but no thanks." John chided. He turned to Roy and gave a grin. As he closed his locker, the stale-water smell from the night before caught him again. He shuddered and grew a bit pale.
"Hey, you okay, Johnny." Roy worried as he sat down next to his Partner on the bench.
"Yeah," John answered. "I'm fine. Just kinda tired is all. I didn't get much rest last night."
"Is Roy still mad at ya' for stickin' your nose in his business." Chet joked from the other side of the lockers.
"No, I'm not mad at him. JoAnne and I are fine now and everything is okay." Roy announced. He had told John the night before as they left Rampart, but the rest of the guys had not known the argument had been settled. "You sure you're okay. You look pale, Partner." Roy returned his attention to John.
"Really. I'm okay. I just need to go home and get a nap before my date tonight, is all. I will see you next shift, if not before." John got up, waved his good-bye and left the station.
TBC
A/N: much of the background of this story is from the episode entitled "Helpful"—rescue of boys from storm drain, Roy's fight with JoAnne, Boot's return as mascot of 51's.