Chapter 2

Joe Early had taken the call from John for advice on treating his Captain, "So you're telling me that he did this how again," he managed to keep from laughing when he was told the man and worn a fist sized blister in the ball of his foot, "dancing" "with his daughter".

Kell Brackett had been standing in the communications cubical finishing up another call when he heard Joe's words and saw the smirk on his face, which he so well kept from his voice.

"Joe let me take that." Kell knew, with out hearing, who it was that was being treated and he knew what kind of dancing he had been involved in.

While others snickered at the balleting Fire Captain, Kell was in awe of the man. He was the Captain had first asked advice on how to try to communicate with his daughter, he had revealed that his efforts that always worked on his other children didn't work with her. It was while he was stitching up a minor laceration that Hank Stanley also asked his opinion on Ballet as a means of increased safety on the job. Although he didn't have an opinion at the time Kell had since watched over the last year as recovery times were cut in half as his men incorporated Ballet in with their physical therapy and was now a major convert to the benefits. It wasn't something he could prescribe to most of his patients with out being laughed out of the room but for a particular crew from fire station 51 he didn't have to hesitate. In fact they would most likely ask if it was something to try.

Most of all, Kell Bracket was in awe of what one man was willing to do to put his daughter at ease with his chosen and often dangerous career. He couldn't say that he knew another, who was man enough to follow the path he had, and now he led. If he were ever to enter into the world of parenthood he considered Hank Stanley an excellent roll model, however watching the man also had him questioning just how willing he would be to be that caliber of father.

As Kell reached for the phone from his smirking colleague he also remembered the night he had five men in his emergency department asking their captain, how on earth he had managed to jump over a sizeable section of collapsed flooring to knock them from the blast cone of a bomb that booby trapped a fire they had been working. Kell had studied that scenario for over a week and was totally and completely amazed that not only were the men still alive, there had only been minor injuries involved. He would gladly offer treatment advice for this man with admiration not humor.

When the paramedics of station 51 arrived to replenish the supplies for their squad Kell was waiting with a paper sack filled with what their admirable Captain would need to not only get through his shift but to get back in his dancing slippers as soon as possible, no smirks or giggles included.

When John and Roy backed into the station with groceries and the little brown bag they found Captain Stanley doing, as he had been told, sitting at his desk doing his mountain of paperwork with his foot resting on the next chair. Since both John and Roy had seen that as they backed in, the groceries were handed to Marco and Chet to put away and the little brown bag was hand delivered.

Fortunately it was a slow day on the call scene with only two trash fires both started by someone throwing lit cigarettes in a dumpster, by mid afternoon Hank was walking around the station with out a limp and following Doctor's recommendations Hank called home and asked his wife to pick up two more pair of ballet slippers.

When Cap did a light routine of stretches and a few moves that night before bed he had his men along side of him, each one realizing how rusty they had become and how fluent their captain still was.

Thanks to a last minute multi-vehicle accident Hank was late getting off shift and home the next morning but the auditions were later that afternoon after school let out, so he was just grateful for time to take a long shower and get a nap before hand. Before heading to the school to meet up with his daughter Hank spent about 30 minutes warming up and breaking in his new slippers. Once in the schools auditorium he watched as the popular head cheerleader sneered at his daughter as she walked past her to be the first to audition. Hank had heard stories of auditions gone by when all of her competition disappeared by the time she was finished but as Hank watched he knew his daughter could out dance her. He watched as the girl did an interesting modern dance rendition of the part that had won her the part last year, and wondered how the rest of the auditions would play out.

When it was her turn, Kristen gave her father a focused smile and moved beyond the curtains to the stage floor. Hank watched from the side as his daughter moved with confidence and grace. Toward the end of her audition he stepped in behind her, his moves meant to do nothing more than to make her look good, and to finish off the audition he lifted her high above his head twirled on the ball of his tender foot then gracefully lowered her to the floor as if she were drifting back to sleep from the dream she had been dancing through, for that was the story of the Nutcracker.

Hank couldn't deny prejudice but he thought his daughter was much better than the competition. Off stage and waiting for the final decision Hank just wrapped his arms around his daughter and smiled, "You did your best, no one can ask any more."

When the auditions were completed the teachers that were teaming up to direct the production gathered in the middle section to compare notes and then began to call out, "The Nutcracker King will be played by Mark Johnson," (a star player on the schools soccer team for the last two years and known steady date for Carol Martin, the head cheerleader and Kristen's competition.) Kristen was positive who the part of Clara was going to. "And the part of Clara will be played by . . . . . . . Kristen Stanley."

The scream of anguish was ignored as Hank took hold of his surprised daughter around her waist and thrust her straight in the air before turning around several times and returning her to the floor, all without getting dizzy. Hank then held her hand as she performed a graceful pirouette and bow before the teachers and gathered students. She then ran off stage and threw her arms around her mother with excited squeals.

Hank smiled at the bounce in the back seat all the way home, "I did it, I really did it, Oh daddy thank you for practicing with me and for helping me," Kristen repeated over and over again all the way home.

Hank could just turn to his wife at the stop lights and they smiled together, "I guess it's a good thing I talked you into trying out." Hank had to admit he had enjoyed helping her with her audition; it wasn't often enough that he could enjoy quality one on one time with each of his children and when he could he loved it. He was also glad that he had only been performing in front of a very small audience.

After a celebratory dinner and a family party the children were finally sent off to bed and Hank and his Wife sat down together on the love seat in the living room to unwind.

"If you ever repeat what I'm about to say I'll deny it, but that was fun today." Hank admitted as he draped his arm around his wife's shoulders and pulled her into his chest. "I'm almost glad Kristen talked me into taking Ballet lessons."

"I've been grateful she talked you into it ever since you told me about that fire where the skills you learned saved your life and the life of some of your men." Emily admitted as she rubbed her husband's chest and stomach, "You two looked good together on stage today."

Before they went to bed Hank talked his wife into cutting the dead skin from the bottom of his foot so that he could start toughening up the new hide, he said.

00000

The following Friday Hank was hard at work trying to drill his men in ladder procedures and keep them proficient in bringing a victim down a ladder, when an unfamiliar car pulled into the parking lot behind the station.

Hank managed to keep his attention focused on his stop watch as his paramedic Roy DeSoto completed the drill of carrying a 200 pound rescue dummy up the stairs of the hose tower, across the deck and then mounting the ladder and carrying the dummy back down to the ground and laying him out in a manner as to not cause any further injuries or wear and tear on the training equipment.

"78 seconds there Roy, not bad, not bad at all," Hank called out before finally turning his attention to the guests who had arrived and recognizing the teachers from the school production his daughter was in.

"Can I help you?" Hank questioned looking seriously at their faces for any sign of trouble.

"Yes, Mr. Stanley, We were hoping that you could spare a few moments to speak with us." The head of the school Drama department requested.

"I'm in the middle of a drill right now could you wait about ten minutes?" Hank proposed, it's not like they made an appointment or anything and his time was just as important as theirs.

"You're welcome to watch while you're waiting."

"That will be just fine, Mr. Stanley." The head of the Dance department spoke up, "We'd love to watch your little firemen games."

Realizing they had no idea what was going on or the importance of such exercises Hank just turned his back to his guests and let out a distressing breath. "Alright Mike you're next."

Everyone gathered watching as Mike and then Marco ran the same drill with times of 86 and 81 seconds respectively. Marco was briefly chastised for being a little rough on the poor dummy before Hank pulled his own turn out coat and breathing apparatus gear on. "All right boys let me show you how it's done."

Mike took over the stop watch and Hank waited for the word "Go!" before pulling the dummy up and then over his shoulders then climbing the stairs. When he gently lay the dummy down on the ground at his men's feet Mike called out. "77 seconds, you beat Roy."

"Yeah but Johnny still has me by 2 seconds," Hank panted, "So if any of you need to be hauled out of a fire, hope it's Gage that does the hauling."

"Just as long as he doesn't try to do mouth to mouth on me when he get's me out," Chet quipped, "I'd much rather he turn that task over to a bystander, preferably a female bystander."

"Don't forget we have company there Kelly, we wouldn't want them to think we're a bunch or crazy teenagers here now would we?" Hank reigned in his man before he had to do damage control.

"If you'd like to join me in my office I can speak with you now," Hank turned to the guests who were waiting patiently.

That was the moment the tones sounded and all six firemen snapped to attention as they listened to the dispatcher detail what was needed.

Squad 51 possible heart attack 2259 Remington. 2259 Remington cross street 32nd.

The guests could feel their heart rates increase as they watched one man jog thru the garage to slap a button at the front of the station causing the garage door to start rising as two of the men raced for the smallest of the two trucks parked in the garage. The focus of their attention hurried to a podium affair and picked up a mic.

"Squad 51 KMG365," Hank scribbled the address on a piece of paper and handed it to the man behind the wheel of the Squad as the light bar on top started flashing and the truck started moving. As soon as the truck reached the street the sirens started and Hank turned to his guests enjoying their awe.

"Things get kind of exciting around here," the Music teacher commented in a winded manor.

"That's why we're here, for when things get exciting." Hank continued to smile, "Okay guys get the ladders mounted and the gear put a way." Hank directed before turning to his guests again, "right this way. Of course you know the rest of us could get called out at any given moment."

Once inside the captain's office Hank moved a couple of chairs around and took a seat on the desk giving his guests his full attention. "Now what can I do for you folks?"

"I must admit you look a lot different now than you did when you helped your daughter audition for the winter production," the male music teacher commented, "What ever possessed you to take up Ballet?"

"My Daughter was worried about me getting hurt on the job and after reading an article in a magazine that claimed Ballet would help me stay safer she persuaded me to give it a try." Hank glossed over the explanation.

"And has it helped?" the dance teacher questioned in surprise.

"Well it hasn't hurt," Hank answered to buy himself some time, "There have been a few instances where I believe the skills I've learned have made a difference yes."

"Well we better get to what we came here to say before your loud speaker goes off again." The music teacher spoke.

"Yes, yes, Mr. Stanley lets get this out before you have to run off somewhere. It was a clear choice to cast your daughter as Clara but I must admit that it has also caused some problems." Hank just folded his arms listening, "See Miss Martin is quite popular and she and Mr. Johnson have been a bit of an item around the school for months now. Well if she can't have the lead then she won't have anything to do with the production and has pulled several others away with her, Including Mr. Johnson who was cast in the roll of the Nutcracker King."

"You're not planning to pull Kristen from the part and give this other girl her way are you?" Hank was preparing to be quite angry if that was their plan.

"No, No that was never our plan, we feel it would do more harm than good in the long run. We would cancel the production before we did that."

"That would be just as bad if not worse," Hank shared his opinion as he thought of his daughter and her feelings.

"We agree with that too," the dance instructor continued, "I'm sure we can find students to fill the parts that have been vacated that is all the parts except the Nutcracker King, but we don't have another student who can or will back your daughter up or ever be able to lift her as gracefully or as safely as you can. It's very uncommon for parents to participate on stage but we were hoping that we could persuade you to do the part?"