CHAPTER 2
Gage was standing at the back of the apparatus bay, holding a cup of coffee, when Roy walked up next to him. Johnny was watching Chet Kelly, worried about him. Ever since the Captain's shocking announcement, Kelly hadn't said more than two words to any of them. It was so unlike Kelly, that the others had become concerned.
"How's he doing?" asked Roy.
"He just wants to be left alone for a little while," replied Johnny. "Can't say I blame him, though. This has got to be a huge shock. He just needs some time to think. He'll come around."
Johnny wasn't sure if he was trying to convince Roy, or himself. He and Chet were always giving each other a hard time, but Kelly was hurting now. Johnny wanted to help his friend, but he wasn't sure how. He had tried to approach him, to talk to him, but Kelly had brushed him off, walked away. He would give Chet some space, for now. But eventually he would try again to get him to talk.
The klaxons were sounding. The men jumped on the engine or into the squad and headed out to the call about a house fire. When they pulled up in front of the house, they could see a lady leaning out a window on the second floor. Smoke was billowing out of the window around her. Gage and DeSoto suited up to go inside and get her, while the others began pulling hose from the rear of the engine.
Roy and Johnny headed up the stairs and around to the room they had seen the woman in. As they entered the room, they could see her still at the window. They came up behind her and Roy grabbed her arm, turning her to face him.
She was clearly frightened, trying to pull away from her rescuers. In their heavy coats and face masks, they must have looked like aliens to her coming out of the smoke. Roy began to talk to her, his voice muffled through the mask.
"Are you alone? Is anyone else in the house?" he asked her, but she didn't seem to understand.
Johnny, meanwhile was directing Stanley as he put the ladder up to the window. Roy had removed his mask and placed it over the woman's face, hoping that the oxygen would calm her down. Again, he asked if there was anyone else in the house. She seemed to understand then, and began nodding, remembering that she hadn't been alone.
"Oh, my god, my daughter!" she cried, then began coughing. "My daughter…"
"Where is she, what room?" Roy asked, anxiously, but the woman could only point. "Where? Is she upstairs?" The woman nodded, as Johnny walked over to let Roy know that Cap was ready on the ladder.
"Johnny, her daughter is in here. Somewhere on the 2nd floor."
"How old is she? How big a child we talking about?"
They both looked at the lady, who put two fingers up.
"She's two?" Roy asked, wanting to confirm what the mother was telling them.
She nodded as Roy walked her toward the window.
"Cap, can you help her down?" Roy called. "We've got another victim up here somewhere."
"No problem, Roy, but been careful. Marco says it's starting to go through the ceiling down here."
The woman was on the ladder, being helped to the ground by Stanley. Stoker met them at the bottom of the ladder and led her over to the curb across the street and put an oxygen mask on her face.
Roy turned to see Johnny heading out the door. Gage turned back and signaled to Roy that he would take the left side of the hallway. That left the other end for DeSoto to search.
As they searched the rooms, the fire continued to work it ways through the ceiling of the floor below them. DeSoto entered the last room on his end of the hallway. It was a child's room. Roy could barely see 3 feet in front of him now, the smoke had become so thick. So he got down on all fours in an effort to search the room. As he was moving his hands back and forth in front of him, he heard a whimpering noise. In the smoke, he couldn't quite tell where it was coming from. He closed his eyes and cocked his head from side to side, trying to determine what direction it came from.
He heard it again, closer this time. He began calling out and heard the girl cry out again, louder now. He touched the bed, hearing the noise again. It sounding like it was under the bed. Knowing that children sometimes hide when confronted by fire and smoke, he laid down and looked under the bed. The smoke wasn't so thick here, and he could just make out the small form of the little girl, huddled under the bed. He reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her toward him, all the while talking to her. He wanted to keep her calm so she didn't try to run from him.
He got her out from under the bed and cradled her in his arms. He turned and headed toward the door. As he went toward the stairs, he saw Johnny at the other end of the hall, getting ready to enter another room. He called to him. Johnny craned his neck around at the noise, and saw Roy, holding the girl, his face mask now over the young girl's face. Roy was at the top of the stairs and Johnny waved him own, heading that way himself. Roy started down to the first floor, wanting to get the girl out of the smoke, knowing that Johnny would be right behind him.
Chet and Marco were just inside the door, spraying water on the fire that was licking at the walls, as Roy headed out the door with his tiny victim. Just as Roy got outside, the ceiling started falling in. Kelly and Marco dropped the hose and jumped out the door right behind Roy, not wanting to be underneath the debris as it fell. As soon as the danger was over, however, they were right back in there, picking up the hose. But as they started spraying the room again, the both noticed Johnny laying on the floor on top of the rubble.
He had been walking toward the stairs when the floor gave when underneath him and he fell along with the flooring. He landed hard on top of the debris, and other smaller pieces had fallen on him. The fall had knocked the wind out of him. He was just trying to get to his feet, when he felt himself being lifted. Looking up, he saw Chet and Marco. They hauled him to his feet and out of the house.
Kelly and Lopez helped Johnny over to the curb where Roy was treating the child and her mother. They laid Johnny down next to Roy, and headed back to the fire. DeSoto looked over at Gage, then back at the house.
"Johnny, what happened?" he asked, as Johnny removed his mask and started to unbuckle his air tank.
"Floor gave way," Johnny croaked, still trying to catch his breath. "Don't worry, Roy, I'm alright. Just hit hard, knocked the breath out of me." He lay back, taking a few deep breaths. He glanced over at Roy, then gestured toward the mother and daughter.
"How are they doing?"
Roy was checking the little girl's pulse and blood pressure. "I think they'll be okay. They both took in some smoke. Mostly just scared I think, but we'll take them over to Rampart so the doc can check them out. Maybe we should have them look at you too."
Johnny was shaking his head. "I'll be okay, Roy, I told you I just got the wind knocked out of me."
"All the same, we're gonna be there anyway, so might as well take advantage. And if you argue with me Gage, I'll just have the Cap make it an order."
Johnny looked at him with a smirk, knowing that Roy would do just as he threatened. "Okay, mother, thank you." Then he smiled, knowing that Roy was only looking out for his welfare. Sitting up, he felt a twinge in his arm. Maybe it would be a good idea to get it checked out. Moving his arm around in a circle, he moved over next to Roy to help if he was needed.
/
"Well, Johnny," said Kel Brackett, "nothing's broken, but your shoulder is going to be sore for a few days."
"Doc, will he be able to return to work today?" asked DeSoto.
"I don't think so, Roy. It would be best to keep the shoulder immobile for a couple of days."
"But, doc…" Johnny began.
"No buts, Johnny," Roy told him. "I'll let the Cap know what the doc said, so he can get your replacement in. You can go back to the station with me and get your car."
Gage looked back and forth at them, both of them giving him looks of stone. He knew they wouldn't give in on this one. He grumbled, and muttered to himself, but he wasn't going to change their minds. DeSoto walked out the door, headed for a phone to call the station, while Dr. Brackett turned to the nurse and instructed her to fix up a sling for Johnny's arm.
As Roy backed the squad into the station, Johnny let out a deep sigh. Roy put the vehicle in park and turned off the ignition. He looked over at his partner and smiled. He knew Johnny hated having to take the day off, but with his arm injured, he wouldn't be of any use anyway. He also knew that Johnny was aware of that, but it didn't make it any easier for him to deal with.
Captain Stanley walked out of his office and approached the squad as the guys got out. He looked at Gage, noticing the arm in a sling. "Bellingham is on his way in, Roy," said Cap. "He should be here in about 15 minutes. How is he?" he asked, pointing to Gage.
"He'll be okay, Cap," assured Roy. "Just some deep bruises, but it will hamper his mobility for a couple of days, so Doc Brackett insisted he take some time off."
Gage was watching the two men talk about him like he wasn't there. He cleared his throat, getting their attention. "Are you done talking about me like I don't exist?" he asked, sullenly.
"Did you take grumpy pills this morning, Gage?" asked Stanley.
"Cap, I just think this is a waste of time. I'm really okay."
"Is that so? Lift your arm."
"What?"
"Lift your arm," Cap repeated.
Johnny looked at Stanley, then at Roy. DeSoto just shrugged. Johnny began to lift the arm, only to wince in pain before he had moved it more than three inches.
Stanley nodded, a smug look on his face. "See ya Tuesday, Gage," Stanley said as he headed toward the kitchen.
Roy smiled as he looked back at his partner. "Sorry, Johnny, but you wouldn't be much good in a rescue. The doc was right, you just need a couple of days."
"I know, Roy," answered Gage. "I just feel so stupid, falling through the floor like that."
"Johnny, it wasn't your fault, ya know. It happens, sometimes."
"Yeah, yeah, I know, but why to me, why today?" he said, not expecting an answer. "I'm gonna go change and head home, Roy. See you on Tuesday."
"See ya Johnny. You gonna be okay to drive?"
"Yeah, I shift with the right hand, Roy, I'll be fine."
Johnny headed for the locker room, as Roy headed to the kitchen to wait for Bellingham. DeSoto was thinking, at least it's not Brice this time.
Gage got his street clothes from the locker room and headed out to his car. He was just going to change when he got home. As he tried to unlock the door, he dropped one of his shoes. He opened the door and placed the rest of the clothes on the back seat. As he turned back to pick up the shoe, he came face to face with Chet Kelly, holding out the shoe to him. He took the shoe and set it on the seat.
"Thanks, Chet."
"No problem." Chet looked at Johnny, then down at the ground. He looks like he's lost his last friend, thought Gage.
"Chet, are you okay?" asked Johnny.
Kelly just nodded, not saying anything. "Johnny….do you….ah….oh, never mind. You should get home and get some rest. I'll see ya next shift."
"Chet, hang on, man." Johnny said, reaching out to grab Kelly by the arm. "What is it, Chet? Do I …'what'? C'mon pal, talk to me."
"No, it's not important, Gage. You're supposed to be going home. I don't want to keep you."
"Kelly, you've been moping around all morning. Ever since Stanley told us about that arsonist. I understand how much of a shock that was. But it's not like you not to talk about things that are bothering you. Chet…..everybody here wants to help, if we can. I'm willing to listen if you want to talk."
"Thanks, Johnny, but I don't think I'm ready for that yet. Maybe later, okay? Look, you take it easy. If you need anything, give me a call." And Chet walked back into the station house.
"What I need, Chet Kelly," Johnny said to himself, "is for you to talk about this before it eats you up inside." With that, Gage got in his vehicle and drove home.
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