Newly-promoted Captain John R. Gage had been reminiscing fondly with his partner, Captain Roy C. DeSoto over coffee for the last couple of hours. Okay, officially, ex-partners, as they would now both head up their own stations, but, no matter…in their hearts, they would always be partners. They'd worked together for a long time, and were closer than brothers. No promotion was ever going to change that. They'd already decided to get together during the first shift off they could manage as they walked to their cars. It was a long walk, as they had had to park in the lower lot that day…
Johnny's POV
Figures! Promote us, then treat us like boots! I snorted in disgust, and Roy grinned. As usual, he knew exactly what I was thinking. I know, I know. But I can't help it that they scheduled an Academy Instructor's meeting today, too! Ahhhh, man….wish I hadn't gone there. It still hurts so damn bad. I stopped and closed my eyes a minute. The Phantom had never broken a promise before. Of course, Roy stopped automatically, concerned.
Roy's POV
Crap! I forgot about that meeting. I should have known Junior would still be blaming himself. He always does when things go south. Me too, for that matter. But this was different. This was The Phantom. And his Pigeon was losing him. Everything about that call just went wrong from the start. The problem was nobody really knows to this day how the rescue turned so bad. It was an MVA, man trapped.
Chet was using the jaws to get the door open; and then suddenly—he wasn't. He was on his back, the jaws still bucking crazily next to him, and blood everywhere. Mike cut the power, and there was a weird silence as for a split second, nobody moved. And then he screamed. A guttural, primal scream of pain and terror. Johnny got to him first, as he was closer. Marco grabbed the jaws and, muttering prayers, finished with the door.
I had already set up our equipment, so I got on the horn to Rampart and reported the Code I and second vic still trapped. I also let them know it was Chet Kelly, but nobody was prepared for Johnny's report on the injury...Chet's left arm from just below the elbow was completely mangled…just—destroyed. The jaws had literally obliterated it. It would have been so much better if it had just severed it, but it didn't. Johnny was talking fast, as we both knew Kelly could bleed out real fast. Pressure Wraps, Ringers Lactate I.V. s and a helluva fast run to Rampart. That was about the only chance Kelly had. We dispatched a second ambulance to the scene, just as Marco freed the second vic.
Johnny rode in with Chet, and to this day, he will not tell me about that ride. The second vic was conscious and mad as hell about the fact "we" wrecked his door. Like he hadn't wrecked the rest of it! Ah, well. I managed to shut him up most of the ride in by doing some mostly unnecessary stuff on him that required him to keep quiet. It was either that, duct tape, or punch him in the mouth—which I seriously thought about at one point. Kelly got hurt for this clown?!
After being released from my patient by Dr. Morton, I hurried to check on Chet. I found the guys sitting in the lounge. Johnny was still in with Chet. No news yet. Good, or maybe not.
Johnny's POV
Since my partner has always been able to read me like a book, and I have gotten better at it with him, I know he's thinking about that damned accident too. The one that change 51 forever. The ride in with Kelly was a nightmare, the worst. I went through all our pressure bandages and two sheets from the ambulance by the time we made it. Worst thing was the stubborn asshole was awake for most of the ride! They had given permission for morphine, but with the necessity for surgery, the amount couldn't begin to touch the pain. I couldn't help him much, and we both knew it.
He simply lay real quiet, just watching everything going on. When he spoke, it startled me. "Hey pal, you bummed 'cause the Phantom ain't gonna be around to bug ya no more?"
I scowled at him, trying to hide my fear. "You're too damned ornery to die, Kelly!"
"Yeah, probably," he said matter-of-factly. "But we both know I'd make a helluva lousy lineman with one arm. Department's already got one Captain Hook, and I don't want a lousy desk job. Besides, The Phantom doesn't want to have to break in a new Pigeon." He gasped in pain, and I saw more blood seeping through. We were getting close to Rampart but not close enough. I pulled off my blue shirt, then my t-shirt, and wrapped it around his arm. He grunted with the pain, and I saw him losing the battle to stay conscious. Somehow, that scared me more than anything.
Weakly, he grinned, noting my bare chest. "Gee, Gage, didn't know ya cared…" His eyes drifted closed.
I smiled back, but all the signs showed he was starting to fade.
Loudly, I said "Hey, Chet!"
"Yeah, babe?"
"Promise me somethin'."
"Wuzzat?"
"Nope, you gotta look at me, first."
He struggled, but finally, managed to crack his eyes open a bit.
"The Phantom has got to strike his Pigeon one last time. Don't care when or how. But it has to happen, okay? Promise me. Okay?"
"'kay, promise…Pigeon."
Roy's POV
Johnny was right; Chet was too ornery, and too stubborn to die. He lost the arm, up to just above his elbow. Predictably, he refused a prosthetic arm, claiming he could learn to get along without it. And he did, quite well, actually. He also stayed with the Department, as a Trainer at the Academy…training linemen. The first thing he did was learn to run the obstacle course just to prove he could do it. He promptly beat his own original graduation time! What he can't show them, (which isn't much, actually) he has an assistant demonstrate. Captain Marco Lopez and Chief Mike Stoker drop around once in a while, too. Even though he's retired, Chief Stanley comes in about once a quarter. Johnny and I come in sometimes…me more than Johnny, because there is somebody missing from our ranks. Apparently, The Phantom is MIA, and has been since the day Chet lost his arm. He always said he never wanted to break in a new Pigeon, and I guess he really meant it.
As we finally get close to our cars, Johnny clearly distracted by his thoughts, I blink in surprise, then smile, hoping my partner stays zoned out long enough—just a few more steps; key in the door, door open and—SPLOOOOSH! "GAAAAAAHHHH!"
And from atop Johnny's dilapidated old Rover, The Phantom is howling victoriously! The gigantic water balloon has completely soaked every part of Johnny's dress uniform, except for his hat, which he had removed just before he got to the car. He looks like a dressed-up drowned rat. Johnny glowered up at Chet for just a moment, then smiled in relief, as The Phantom grinned merrily, then suddenly turned solemn.
"I told ya, Pigeon. The Phantom never breaks a promise."
~~~The End~~~
A/N: For this story to completely make sense, it would help to watch the final episode of "E!" The title is "Greatest Rescues of Emergency!" and can be found on the dvd "Final Rescues of E!" I'm sure it can be found on other media as well, but you need to realize I am a Premiere Pilot Fan of E!—I'm old! ROFL!
In it, John and Roy, who have just been promoted, discuss, via flashbacks, a number of their cases. They mention, pointedly, Chet Kelly and The Phantom, very much in the past tense, with no further explanation at all. They do not speak of any of the other station mates in this manner. This has led to speculation with many fans and fandoms as to the possible reasons. His death is the most obvious, and often presented. So I decided to take a different, and very plausible, approach. Please let me know what you think. I pulled an all-nighter to write and post this, because the Phantom would not let me sleep until I finished it!
Btw, the balloon The Phantom drops on his Pigeon was modeled after one of the old Jack-in-the-Box balloons they used to give out as prizes (told you I'm old!) back in the 60's; absolutely humongous; absolutely never meant to be used as a water bomb, and of course, they always were! I should know. Thanks—I think—to my older brother for the idea. He was my own private Phantom! Only instead of cupboards, he had a treehouse…yeah. Those suckers held about a gallon of water plus air! EEEEK! :\
