"A Family Affair"
Chapter Two
One month later…
Roy DeSoto backed their rescue squad into its spot in Station 51's parking bay and then slowly reached out to turn the truck's idling engine off.
Twenty-three hours and forty-two minutes into an exceptionally hectic twenty-four-hour shift the pair had been dispatched to a 'Man down' call in a rather remote area of their district. Which meant that the two men didn't make it back to their quarters until long after the shift change.
John Gage raised the palms of his hands to his hanging head and attempted to scrub some of the weariness he was feeling from his haggard face. "Man! I'm glad we don't have to survive shifts like this all the time."
"Who says we survived?" his buddy sarcastically came back, sounding equally weary. "I don't know about you, but my body feels pretty dang dead right now."
Gage's still bowed head slowly swung in DeSoto's direction. "Shall I grab the defibrillator?"
The blond paramedic pretended to contemplate his partner's insincere inquiry over for a few moments. "Appreciate the offer. But I believe I'll pass on the 'shock' treatment. I'd much rather have a jolt of caffeine, than a jolt of electricity."
The right corner of his ever-helpful associate's pursed lips arched upwards just a bit. "I wouldn't be so sure about that. I, uh, wasn't all that 'awake' when I made the coffee this morning," he candidly confessed.
His companion couldn't help but smile. "Thanks for the warning. But I'm sticking with the caffeine."
Hopefully, B-Shift had made a fresh pot.
John watched in confusion as Chet Kelly suddenly exited the rec' room—still wearing his uniform. "What are you still doing here?" he asked, as the Irishman stepped up to his partner's open window.
Roy swung his head around to see who his friend was questioning.
"I have an even better question," Kelly cooly came back. "Name five guys who are really steamed at John Gage: Cap, Mike, Marco…and me."
"Who's the fifth guy?" DeSoto wondered.
Chet's eyes locked upon his confused shiftmate's. "You."
Roy looked even more confused. "I'm not really steamed at him." In fact, he wasn't 'steamed' at anybody.
Kelly looked smug. "Yeah? Well, you will be…once you find out what he's done."
Gage thought back through their entire tour of duty. The only thing he could have possibly done that would have affected his fellow crewmates—in any way—was to make the coffee that morning. "What'd I do?" he lightly inquired. "Use too many scoops?"
Chet chose to remain silent.
"Not enough scoops?" John jokingly continued.
Kelly suddenly recalled the mission he'd been sent on. "The Cap wants to see you," he announced and motioned for the pair to follow him back into the rec' room.
'The Ca-ap? What is he still doing here?' Gage exchanged a mystified glance with his partner. Whatever the reason was, he seriously doubted it had anything to do with the morning coffee.
Their curiosity piqued, the two men promptly vacated the parked vehicle and followed the mustached fireman into Station 51's rec' room.
The paramedics took a couple of steps into the room and then halted.
The entire A-Shift engine crew was seated at the kitchen table…along with two Fire Department 'big wigs' and a couple a' strange guys sporting twenty-five dollar haircuts and well-tailored business suits.
"What, exactly, did you do?" DeSoto asked beneath his breath.
"Tell me…and we'll both know," his completely bewildered buddy whispered back.
TBC
Author's note: Again, sorry this is so short. We are currently waiting for 20 acres of rained on hay to dry, so I get to swap my big farm tractor for my little lawn tractor…and mow my 7 acres…all day. (swoon)
Will try to have more to read, soon. (weather permitting)
:) Ross7
