Chapter 2
After shift the next morning the men of Honolulu Station 16 converged in their Cap's room. Because of the nature of the training, he'd been given a suite with a separate meeting room. The six men helped themselves to coffee and pastries before sitting down at the table.
Matt was animatedly sharing his adventures with his paramedic partner. Stephan Lewis was having a hard time following him, what with the crumbs shooting out towards him and the very real possibility hot coffee would be poured on him soon.
"Matt! Slow down!" he grabbed the coffee mug and set it down on the table taking one danger out of the way. Itora smiled at the two men; even though Matt was the 'senior' partner, he was more easily excited and a lot more boisterous. From the few comments his engineer, Maddie Salva, made he figured their first day experiences were very much as observers; they did not help on any of the runs.
"And I got to start an IV on the second run!" the enthusiastic man continued. "Did you get to meet the doctors? That Brackett is great and Early was really nice and Morton, boy, does he have a sense of humor!" Stephan's face darkened a bit. It was hard enough being separated for training; worse when it appeared his partner got the better end of the deal!
"Pelona! Jus' buckaloose!" Itora invoked captain's privilege, and pidgin, to gain control of the room. Sheepishly the paramedic picked up his coffee and took a sip to clear his mouth.
"Ai yah," he shrugged. He stuffed another bite of pastry in his mouth.
"Let's have a quick recap of our first day," Frank said. "A brief recap!" he clarified looking directly at Pelona. "Maddie?"
"A lot like our own station and runs," the engineer said. "We went out on a dozen calls. Half of those required the paramedic's services. For the most part I saw that the rest of the crew assisted in bringing victims to the triage area and making sure the area was safe from any potential dangers. During one rescue the linesmen had to go in to get the paramedic out because of communication difficulties."
"They worked well together," Stephan added. "Although it was pretty quiet back at the station. I tried to ask questions, but the answers were usually terse. The best response was when I shot the hoop with Dave and Steve. I guess it'll take a couple days to warm up. And, no, I didn't go into ER with the team."
"I saw a lot of action over at the 36's," Chen Hilton remarked. "Hauled a lot of hose, let me tell you! And the paramedics are a bit of an odd pairing. Craig Brice and Ted Bellingham. But they were really good out in the field. I got to play IV pole a couple times so I could watch them work." His smile broadened, "It's sure gonna be nice to be able to actually help people effectively! They saved a couple people that'd been dead without the attention."
"I have to agree with Chen," Samuel Buster chimed in. "I don't think 24s was as busy as yours," he nodded towards his partner, "but the Cap made sure I saw a lot of the paramedics at work. Even helped pull out a couple vics and got 'em over to triage."
"As Pelona was telling Lewis," Itora took the floor, "the 51s made sure we were in the thick of things. We rode and worked alongside the crew. Captain Stanley said that DeSoto and Gage, his paramedics, train a lot of new paramedics and have ride-alongs from the police department and hospital."
"It was cool," Matt grinned. "They had me working pretty quick. And the doctors at Rampart really value them, I could tell by the way they used them to assist in the treatment rooms and even when they just relaxed a bit afterwards. Brackett said he was gonna come over and work with the doctors at our ER and show 'em what an asset we'll be to them."
"It sounds like we all learned some things," Itora stated. "Let's fill out the comment forms..." Groans filled the air.
"What is it about paperwork that makes you bruddahs all pupule?" Chen smirked as he picked up his pen.
"Wait'll you're a captain, brah, then you'll learn the meaning of paperwork!" Itora peered over his reading glasses at his men. Quickly they settled down and documented their shifts.
It was just past 11 am when there was a knock at the door. Stephan had finished his paperwork and got up to see who was there. He opened the door to find a dark-haired man wearing shorts, zoris and a LA fire department t-shirt.
"Hi, I'm John Gage," he introduced himself. "Matt's wife said I'd find him and Cap here?" The Hawaiian looked over the man his partner had been so impressed by. A little on the scrawny side; he wondered just how he managed with the heavy lifting a firefighter had to do.
"Stephan Lewis," he shook hands and let him in.
"Ah, you're Matt's partner!" Gage said with a bright smile. "He said you two made a good pair."
"Well, I sure hope so," Lewis answered a bit flustered. Even though he'd had a lot of training and had assisted the nurses in the field he had a hard time reconciling his job. Not many people took him very seriously when he spoke about his work. Even at the 8s he noted the quiet business-like attitude. They did their jobs and they kept to themselves for the most part.
"Hey, John!" Matt's face lit up. "Is it that late already?"
"Gage, good to see you," Itora shook his hand and introduced him around the table.
"Cap made up some maps out to Roy's place," Johnny said as he pulled some folded paper from his shorts. "Beth's just getting the kids together and I'll drive you over."
"Can Stephan tag along?" Matt asked quickly.
"Sure, I got a Rover," the Californian said amicably. Both men excused themselves to get ready leaving Gage with the rest of their crew.
"So, John, how was your run this morning?" Itora asked.
"Great! Jake and I did about eight miles," he said. "He's gonna do great this season, he's really picked up his pace."
"Captain Stanley's son runs cross-country at his high school," Itora explained. "John works out with him a couple times a week."
"Hey, you mind if I join you guys on your next run?"Samuel asked. "I run at home but I didn't know where would be safe, here."
"Sure! I hear you about knowing safe places!" Gage replied. "There are some pretty tough areas. I'm betting there are in Hawaii, too."
Buster rolled his eyes, "Yups, some places are kapu to malihini." Johnny looked at him strangely.
"Ok, the lips moved and stuff came out, but I don't follow you, pally," he said. The four Hawaiians laughed.
"Sorry, bruddah," Chen stifled his laughter first. "We kind of have our own language back home. Sammy said some places are off limits to tourists."
"Ri-ight," Gage shook his head. "I hope there's no trouble communicating when we go over."
"I hadn't thought about that," Itora said rubbing his jaw. "I mean, in the department and on the job we try to stick to standard English because of all the tourists we meet. But the kamaainas, the locals, don't. We'll have to give the crews you work with a heads up!"
"Or provide a Hawaiian/English dictionary," Maddie smirked. "I bet there's a pidgin dictionary somewhere." The conversation was interrupted by the return of the paramedics and Pelona's family.
"We'll stop at the market for beer, soda and ice," Johnny said. That way it'll be cold when you guys show up!" Maddie and Samuel quickly handed over some money.
"We don't have wives to help in the kitchen," Maddie explained.
"Don't worry, there's always clean up!" Itora teased.
The first thing the paramedics noted was 51s were tight. When John walked up to the DeSoto's house he simply hit the door bell and walked in. Next a rocket launched at him nearly knocking him down.
"Hey Jenny Bean!," Gage said as he hugged his niece.
"Uncle Johnny!" the little girl hugged him back, the smile wreathing her face lit up the room. A second, slightly slower, rocket shot in, but this one waited patiently until Gage shifted his burden and opened a free arm.
"Hey, sport!," he said as he ruffled the boy's hair.
"Hey Uncle," came the reply. Then he was swung up on the other hip and given a hug as well.
"At least you got through the door this time," Joanne said as she sedately walked into the room. "Usually they nail him on the porch," she said in an aside to the others.
"I'm JoAnne DeSoto," she smiled and offered her hand.
"Stephan Lewis."
"Matt Pelona. This is my wife, Beth, and our kids, Cissy and Jeff," greetings were exchanged.
"Roy's out stewing?" Gage asked as he set the kids down to meet the others.
"You know it!" JoAnne said. "You'd better go save him, and my yard."
Leaving the women and children to fend for themselves, The three paramedics walked through the house and into the back yard. Roy was on a ladder trimming a tall hedge. Bits and pieces of clippings littered the ground.
"Left him alone too long," Gage grumbled then called out, "Hey, pally, it's even!"
"You sure? It looks a little lower over here," his partner replied.
"I'm sure!"
"I don't know... omff!" Roy was cut off from his dithering when Johnny literally pulled him off the ladder and manhandled him over his shoulders.
"We got beer in the car that needs to get on ice," he said as he carried his friend to the gate.
"JOHNNY! PUT ME DOWN!" Roy yelled ineffectively.
"Ya want down?" came the sinister drawl.
"YES! PUT ME... argh!" suddenly the senior paramedic found himself plunging down, jerking to a stop just before he connected with the ground.
"You're down," Gage said smugly as he gently placed his friend on the grass.
"I really hate it when you do that," Roy growled.
"And I thought he looked scrawny," Stephan muttered to Matt.
"Yeah," he agreed. They followed a bouncy junior paramedic out to haul in the drinks. In short order they were submerged in large coolers, the ladder and clippers put away and the clippings raked up.
Chairs and folding tables came next. In the middle of it all the four children came out to 'help' finally tormenting Johnny into a game of chase.
"Does he ever stop?" Matt asked as they plopped down watching the wild romp.
"Believe or not, yeah," Roy ran his hand through his hair. "He'll probably take a quick nap later with Jenny."
"Well, I can't stand it," Stephan launched himself into the melee. "It's four to one!" He began picking up giggling children that had swarmed the dark haired paramedic.
"Great, now Gage has gone and infected one of Itora's guys!" Chet harumphed as he came out carrying a huge bowl of chips and a dip.
"Hey, better him than me," Marco commented, also laden down with munchies.
"FOOD!" Johnny yelled as he picked up Jeff and Jenny and raced them over to their dads, dumping them on laps. He grabbed a handful of chips and munched contently.
"You haven't fed him yet, DeSoto?" Hank said as he and his wife Emily set more goodies on the table.
"Hey, he was with you earlier, I thought you'd at least feed him breakfast!" Roy protested.
"Tried, but I had to make sure you didn't remove all the shrubbery in the back yard," Johnny commented as he swallowed a mouthful of chips.
"I wouldn't have cut them down!" Roy insisted.
"Given how lopsided they are," Chet said, "I'd say he got here just in time." Stephan arrived at the table with Cissy on his back. He leaned over so she could grab some Cheetos, accepting one from her grubby hand.
Introductions were made and soon Emily started in to the house.
"Marco, we're going to need your help!" she reminded the firefighter.
"Yes, ma'am," he grinned. "Johnny, Momma sent over a pot of tamales just for you!" With an answering smile the paramedic hustled into the house just behind the linesman.
Soon the rest of the men and families arrived. Teenagers began sizing one another up and Stoker's young one latched on to Jenny and Cissy. The bar b cue was fired up and drinks opened. Itora watched as his men were easily pulled into 51s family. A pick-up game of volleyball started, teams a mixture of young and old.
"Hey, guys," Dixie now walked out, a large macaroni salad in hand.
"Hi Dixie!" Roy and Mike responded. "Where's Doc?"
"He's cornered Johnny," she said. "Give him a few minutes, he's not a happy camper."
"House fell through?" Roy asked sympathetically.
"Yes, again!" she reported. "He figures he's going to be at Johnny's until the end of the century!"
"Wait," Matt said, "you mean Dr. Brackett is living at Johnny's house?" Itora was also curious about the arrangement. A doctor, the head of a prestigious ER, living in a paramedic's home? Both thought there was a respectful partnership between the 51s and the hospital staff, but this was a bit more.
"Kel lost his condo in a fire about 4 months ago," Dixie explained. "And Johnny lost his apartment 2 or so years back."
"He was in a unique position to help the doc," Roy added. "He has a nice house and put him up in the guest room for the duration."
"It just seems like an odd couple," Matt hesitated.
"Hey, Johnny's the odd one in any relationship," Chet remarked as he snagged a cold beer. He received several chuckles.
Hamburgers began sizzling as the rest of the food was brought out. The kids came first, filling plates with their favorite treats. Then the adults started in.
"This is a first," Marco commented to Chet. "Johnny's always ahead of everyone."
"Yeah, that is weird," his friend replied. "Guess Dr. Brackett is pretty upset about the house."
"I think Joe's going to be more upset," Dixie said. "He thought this time someone would win the pool!" They chit chatted and explained Dr. Early's, and Dixie's, foray into betting on the longevity of the Gage/Brackett experiment as they fixed their plates. Suddenly there was a laugh from the house and the two missing men came out, faces wreathed in smiles.
"Oh, good!" the nurse said, "I was hoping Johnny could pull him out of it."
"You doofus! You made me late," Johnny complained. "Now Chet's gone and sucked up all the good stuff." Kel just continued to laugh as he handed his friend a plate.
The next several hours past by pleasantly as old friends and new talked and ate. Johnny did manage to catch a nap, sacking out under one of the trees. Jenny, Cissy and Becky curled around him like puppies.
"You know what's disgusting?" Chet remarked to no one in particular, "he always gets all the chicks!"
"When you see him like that," Emily said affectionately, "he's too cute for words."
"Maybe the Phantom needs to assist in waking up sleeping beauty!" Chet rubbed his hands maliciously, thinking of all the options at his disposal.
"Kelly!" a one word reprimand was issued from Cap.
"Or maybe not," he muttered. "Yes, sir?" He withstood the glare Hank directed at him and then took a sip of beer. Satisfied the message had been received, he turned back to Chen to continue discussing the upcoming football season.
Night brought another round of eating, then marshmallows toasted and stuffed into som'mores. Chet then Maddie regaled the kids with 'scary' stories and Johnny was enticed into telling a coyote tale. Finally, it was Itora's wife, Carole, who finished the story-telling with a Hawaiian legend about Aukele and the living water.
All in all it had been a fine day. The yard was cleaned up quickly and efficiently and families piled into cars. The Pelona's split up and returned to the hotel with their crew mates freeing Johnny to head on to his house, and sleep! The next morning was the beginning of a 48 hour shift and all the men wanted to be rested.