2

Rampart general, emergency room,

Having your own office on the floor, a blessing or a boon? Right there right now, director of Emergency Medicine Services at Rampart general hospital doctor John Mallory didn't know the answer to that thought. The only thing he was currently glad for was the chance to put his feet up, and think about the coming weekend and the chance to get his boat out on the ocean for a little fishing or maybe even a trip out to Catalina island. Now if only...

Mallory hadn't closed the door to his office completely. Yet, there still was a short knock before the door opened. Mallory knew only two people that worked like that. "Got a minute. John?" and here was one of them. Doctor Eva Hunter, also in scrubs hers were purple instead of green, was a rather tall woman of 6 foot. Naturally she had her auburn hair tied up so she could keep it out of the way if and when she was working. Mallory knew she was an army brat who liked karate and that there was a brother who was out deployed somewhere. They also had a mutual connection, the annual Army-Navy game. He remembered she had been right about that game about three times. He only had two wins to his name.

"I've got a minute." Mallory answered.

"Its about this weekend. I'm afraid I can't make it."

"Dare I ask why?" He was more then a little surprised and a little disappointed as well. Since the weather had been holding, Mallory had been looking forward to a weekend in the sun with Eva Hunter. And maybe if he played his cards right...

"Jonas is back."

Mallory let a sincere smile decorate his lips "I understand. You'd rather spend some quality time with your brother, then basking out in the sun somewhere." The supreme poker player in the universe had stacked the deck against him.

"Sorry." it almost sounded believable to Hunter "Hey! Maybe Angie would like to join you."

Angie, or Angela Lamprecht, was the head nurse for the ER. The reason for her nickname was a certain song from a certain band. Mallory remembered hearing that nurse Lamprecht had been involved in a band for a while. He wasn't sure how she felt about boats though. "I suppose I can ask her..." Mallory's thoughts wandered off. "So, what brings you to Brackett's haunt?"

Brackett's haunt was the popular nickname in the hospital for the office of the director of Emergency Medicine which was in room 127. Named after one of the more modern directors of emergency medicine at the hospital who had been convinced to help set up a paramedic program in the '70s. It was also from here that the paramedics that worked in some of the fire stations in the greater Los Angeles County area were trained, received medical feedback on their calls and supplies, and in some very rare cases direct medical assistance as well.

"I need a hand with something in room 3."

His own scrubs began to rustle as Mallory began to move. His curiosity had already gotten the better of him. "Lead the way."

Hunter managed to resist rolling her eyes at him before heading out of the office.

The two doctors headed out of the office with the door number 127. They passed by the small waiting area where the number of waiting patients was relatively small. From experience both knew that this would change. From the small hall, they walked into a long corridor, past a small unobtrusive plaque.

The plaque read Doctor Joe Early corridor. Dedicated to doctor Joe Early and a short narration of his duties at the hospital both his date of birth and date of passing away were mentioned. Both doctors passed by without even looking at the plaque. Then, they entered the second room on their right.

In the meantime,

The next few shifts at 51s were quiet for A-Shift and its new captain. Maybe even too quiet. Jennifer had put that time to good use in familiarizing herself with her shift, the district and both the engine and the squad. Next up were the drills. Here, the work with the two paramedics that rode the squad proved to be more then a little intense. Most of the work consisted of checking a mannequin doll that had been specially 'prepared' for the occasion and passing the vitals on to the two, who would then tell the other 5 firefighters what measures to take and thus prevent greater harm from happening.

That was hard work and after that kind of hard work there was a little room for a break, along with coffee. Since Jennifer was the newcomer on the shift it wasn't technically her turn to make coffee, yet. This time, the lineman on the engine, a man by the name of Flint had made a pot. As Jennifer took her first sip she was pleasantly surprised by the taste. "This is good stuff, Flint."

" Aarrrrr! The fairest maiden of the station is endowed with taste!" Nearly everybody at the table, Jennifer included, burst out laughing at Flint's attempt at talking like a pirate.

"Hey cap, I got a question for you." Jennifer had wanted to get back to reading a small manual detailing a procedure but that would have to wait. The question came from Tom Banner, one of the two linemen on the quint. "How do you feel about working in this station?"

Banner 's eyes were one of the two sets that had blinked when she told the others who she was.

She could think of only one answer "I'm humbled. The chances of something like this happening are pretty damn rare. I guess I have some mighty big boots to fill." There was utter silence for a few moments.

"By the way, "Jennifer continued "those two old guys that were here on my first day, that was my dad and his old partner." The reward was exactly what she anticipated. Bulging eyes, shortness of breath and a slightly higher voice timbre that indicated one thing.

"Shit! missed him! I'm really hoping I can interview him one day." Banner was more then disappointed that he had missed the chance to talk with one of the historical figures of the department.

The tones interrupted any further thoughts. "Station 51, unknown type rescue." As she heard their destination Jennifer, who along with the others was about to start running for the engine already knew that weren't going all that far in their district.