Chapter Two

Roy stepped out of the ambulance after it pulled up to the emergency entrance doors. He guided Hank's stretcher out and then reached in to help Marco down and settled him in a wheelchair.

"Put him in two," Dixie instructed the ambulance attendants who came in with Hank. "Roy, Marco can go into three. Dr. Morton will see him soon."

"Thanks, Dix." Roy pushed Marco's wheelchair into treatment room three.

"Roy, I'm fine. Go check on Cap. Please."

"Are you sure, Marco?"

"Yeah, just go."

"Okay, I'll be back to check on you soon," Roy said as he assisted Marco up onto the exam table. When he stepped out of the room, he looked to see if Johnny had arrived yet. Chet and Johnny came in the doors just then. "You need a wheelchair, Chet?"

"No, Roy. It is feeling much better. Probably just needs some ice."

"Marco is in here. Why don't you go in and wait with him. Dr. Morton can check you both out. Johnny, Cap is in two. I'm going to check on him."

"Okay, Roy. I'll stay with the guys," Johnny said and followed Chet into the treatment room.

Roy slowly entered room two and slipped along the wall to stay out of the way. Drs. Early and Brackett hovered over Hank, clipping off orders to the staff nearby. Blood tests, x-rays, medications. Hank was so pale and lifeless, Roy gulped fearfully. Dixie turned to leave, tubes of blood – Cap's blood – in her hands. She smiled warmly at Roy who simply nodded at her. Once the x-ray tech came in, Roy knew he would need to leave so he went back to treatment room three to see how Marco and Chet were making out.

"How's this feel, Marco?" Morton was saying as he manipulated Marco's left arm.

"It hurts a little," Marco replied through a grimace.

"Well, I don't think there is anything torn or broken but I'll get an x-ray to be sure. Once that's done, we'll see how you feel. I think you should be able to go home tonight, though." Morton turned toward Chet. "You can go back to work as soon as you want, Chet."

Roy's heart went out to Chet as he watched the lineman's face fall. "There's nothing to go back to what with Cap…" Chet's voice died off.

"That's right. I'm sorry about Captain Stanley." Morton turned toward Johnny who was now waiting at the door near Roy. "What happens to you in this situation?"

"I don't know, actually. I need to go call the chief. Oh my gosh, and Cap's wife, Emily."

Johnny put up his hands. "Don't worry about McConikee, Roy. Mike was just here and the whole station has been stood down."

Roy let out a relieved breath, thankful he would be able to stay with Captain Stanley. "I better call his wife then."

Johnny took hold of Roy's arm. "Roy, how is he doing?"

Roy shook his head sadly. "Not sure yet. They are ordering all sorts of tests. He hasn't come to yet."

"Oh man, that's rough," Johnny replied.

"I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Roy, use the phone in the doctor's lounge."

"Thanks, Doc. I appreciate it."

Roy walked down the hall toward the lounge. He had to step out of the way of the portable x-ray machine as the technician pulled it out of Cap's treatment room. He stepped into the doctor's lounge, thankful that no one was there. After bracing himself, he made the call to Hank's house but there was no answer. Looking up at the wall clock, he saw that it was after 9 PM. He wondered why there was no answer. Since he had the time, he called Joanne and filled her in on the day's events. He explained the station had been stood down but he would most likely be staying at the hospital at least for the time being.

Will you need a ride home from there, Honey?

"No, the squad is here and we can just take that back to the station and get our cars. You go to bed and I'll talk to you later."

Okay, Roy. I'll be praying for Hank. I love you.

"I love you too, Jo. Goodnight." Roy hung up the phone and let out a pent-up breath. He sure hoped those prayers would work and that he would have good news for his wife soon.

As Roy came back into the hall, he spotted Mike. "Hey, Mike."

Mike came to meet up with Roy. "Any news about Cap? I just took the engine back to the Station and picked up my car. The station is down."

"I heard. Nothing yet about Cap, though. I tried to call his wife. There was no answer."

"I tried not long ago myself," Mike replied.

Roy scratched the back of his head. "Huh, that's odd. Maybe she's out of town."

"I bet you're right. Oh man, how are we going to let her know about Hank?"

Roy contemplated what to do. "I guess I could drive over there at some point and ask the neighbors. Someone has to know."

"Good idea, Roy."

"Chet was released. I think he's down in the waiting room. Marco was going to have some x-rays but he seems to be okay."

"I'll go find Chet. Let me know what you find out about Marco…and Cap."

"I will. See you in a few minutes." Roy patted Mike on the shoulder before heading back to Marco's treatment room. He stepped inside and saw that Marco was alone, laying back on the table which had the head raised up. "Where's Johnny?"

"He went to see if he could find anything else about Cap. Is Mrs. Stanley on her way?"

Roy came to stand next to Marco. "No, she isn't answering the phone. Mike and I are thinking she must be out of town."

"Oh no, that's bad timing."

Roy nodded solemnly. "It is. We'll try to find out where she is, though. Don't worry."

"Don't worry? How can I not worry? Roy, he is going to be okay, isn't he?"

Roy looked down at his boots. "I don't know, Marco. Head injuries are tough. He could wake up and be fine or he could have a lot of problems."

"Or…he could die?"

Roy looked up quickly. "No. No, he won't die." Roy sighed. "He can't."

Just then, Johnny came back into the room. "Hey guys."

"Johnny. Any word?"

Johnny shook his head slowly. "Not much. So far the x-rays look pretty good – no fracture and no bleed that they can see."

"Well, that's good, right?" Marco asked.

"Well, yes. But he still hasn't woken up. They are sending him for a CAT scan soon. That will show more."

"He has to be all right," Marco stated emphatically.

Dr. Morton came into the room. "Marco, sorry it took so long to get back to you."

"That's okay Dr. Morton. I know you have more important patients."

"Well, you are no longer one of them. Your x-rays look fine. I've prescribed some pain pills and muscle relaxants. Take them if you feel you need to and you will need to skip a shift but your shoulder will be fine."

Marco took the prescriptions. "Thank you, Doctor."

Johnny held out Marco's shirt and helped him get it onto his sore shoulder. "Come on, Marco. Chet and Mike are in the waiting room. Mike has his car here so one of us can give you a ride home."

"Thanks, Johnny. I'd like to stay with all of you, though."

Dr. Morton walked to a cabinet and took out a small pill bottle. "If you are going to stay, at least take these Tylenol. They'll hold you over until you can get some rest and take the other medication."

"Thank you very much." Marco took the bottle and followed Roy and Johnny into the hall.

Marco got to the waiting room and saw Chet slumped in a chair, his feet protruding out in front of him, his head resting on his hand. Mike was sitting with both forearms resting on his thighs. He stared out in front of him at a spot on the floor. Marco sat down across from Mike and leaned slowly back.

Mike looked up. "How are you feeling, Marco."

"Not too bad, thanks Mike." Marco nodded a thank you to Johnny who had brought him a cup of water to wash down the Tylenol. Johnny took the cup, tossed it into a trash can and dropped bonelessly into a chair adjacent to Chet. Roy remained standing, hands in his pockets.

After about twenty minutes, Johnny got up so suddenly, he startled Chet out of his reverie. "I'm going to get some coffee. Who else needs some?"

"I'd love some, Johnny," Roy replied.

"Me too," Marco said quietly.

"Me three," Chet mumbled.

"I'll take one." Mike said.

Johnny's face brightened, as he was glad to have a purpose. "I'll be back in ten minutes."

Johnny walked toward the elevator but something down the hall caught his eye, everyone turned to see Joe Early walking toward them. Since Johnny was already moving, he turned and met Dr. Early in the hall. "How is he?" Johnny asked as he walked along with Dr. Early until they were both standing in the waiting room.

"The tests have come back showing there isn't any intracranial bleeding. He is fairly stable right now."

Roy heard Chet and Marco let out a breath of relief. "But?"

"But, he is still unconscious. He is being moved to the ICU soon."

Chet pushed himself up. "Doc, can I see him? Just for a minute?"

Dr. Early nodded. "Yes, you can all see him. No more than two at a time, though."

Johnny looked over at Chet. "Go ahead in now, Chet. Take Marco with you. That is, if you want to go." Johnny looked down at Marco who looked very uncomfortable and in pain.

"I want to go, yes," Marco answered.

"Then one of us is going to take you home," Roy said firmly.

Marco nodded. "I think that's a good idea."

Chet put his hand on Marco's back. "Come on, Pal. Let's go see Cap."