Secrets

Chapter Three: Accident

Squad 51 had just returned from an unknown type rescue. There had been two victims; a boy and his father trapped in an abandoned house. It took forever for Rod and Roy to get them out, then the father had enough gall to have a heart attack, forcing Rod and Roy to take him to Rampart.

When they entered the day room of the station they found their caption on the floor, his hands clutching at his leg where a large kitchen knife was sticking out of it.

Kneeling beside him was Marco Lopez who was trying to stop the bleeding.

Rod and Roy took one look at the scene before they sprung in to action.

While Roy went to get the equipment, Rod got a hold of the LA dispatcher and took the station out of service before going over to Hank.

As he was ripping away Hank's pant leg, he asked; "What happened here?"

"It was an accident. I was goofing around with the knife. It just slipped from my hand and hit Cap in his leg." Marco said.

Turning slightly, Rod saw Roy approaching with the drug box in one hand and the biophone in the other.

"I'll contact Rampart." Roy said as he began to set up the biophone, while Rod took the drug box and removed the stethoscope and BP cuff.

Quickly he took Cap's vitals before giving them to Roy who in turn gave them to Rampart.

While Roy was waiting on instructions, Rod took several dry dishcloths from Mike and wrapped them around the knife still imbedded in Cap's leg; helping to support the knife since it would be a bad idea to go ahead and remove it.

Looking back at his partner, Rod watched Roy as he put the biophone down.

"D5W and transport." Roy said.

Nodding his head Rod quickly set up the IV while he heard Roy go out and wait for the ambulance which had been dispatched to their location.

When it arrived they loaded Hank up and took him straight to Rampart.

Roy rode with him while Rod took the squad.

As he was driving Rod was suddenly reminded of his father's leg injury that he had received a long time ago. Of course he had refused medical treatment and wound up with an infection in his leg.

Still refusing treatment, Rod had to watch as his mother came in and literally burned the infection out of the leg. Still even then his father had developed a limp in that leg which Rod guessed he had to this day.

Looking back out, Rod realized that they had arrived at the station.

Smoothly he backed the squad up in to the emergency entrance before going inside; barely seeing the back of his partner's blue coat going in to emergency treatment one.

Sighing Rod headed for the doctor's lounge to get himself a cup of coffee.

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Hearing a door creak; Rod looked up to see his partner's head peeking through.

"How is he?" Rod asked, putting his coffee cup down on the table and rising from the couch.

"He's going to be off of work for a month but he's going to be fine." Roy said, holding the door open for his partner who soon joined him out in the hall.

"Good, good to know." Rod said with a nod of his head.

He was silent for a minute before he decided to change the subject.

"Hey never got to ask you what you were making for dinner tonight." He said.

Roy looked at him for a second as they walked out of the hospital and over to the squad.

"Chicken Parmesan." Roy said simply, getting in to the driver's side and shutting the door.

"Chicken Para…what?" Rod asked, getting in to the passenger side and also shutting the door, watching as Roy fired up the squad and pulled away from the hospital.

"Chicken Parmesan. The chicken's got different seasonings, plus it's covered in tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. It's really good." Roy said.

He glanced over at Rod just in time to catch his 'ew gross' look before it faded.

"Why don't you let me cook tonight?" Rod asked.

"Because Cap asked me too and besides all you know how to fix are hamburgers and hot dogs with the occasional salad or potato salad." Roy said.

"Oh come on; at least they are edible!" Rod shot back.

"Yeah and so's my chicken parmesan! Tell you what, you take one bite and if you don't like it then you don't have to eat any more. Deal?" Roy asked.

Rod was silent for a moment before he nodded his head and replied, "Deal."

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Rod sat on the small picnic table in the 'backyard' of the station watching the sunset.

Inside Rod knew that Roy was in the midst of making his famous chicken para whatever you call it. Mike was in his bunk reading and Chet and Marco were having a conversation about their mothers.

As Rod watched the sunset, it reminded him of a sunset that he would never forget.

It was the sunset that had changed his life for the worst and had forced him in to making a decision that had ultimately forced him to leave home.

Sniffling Rod looked down at his hands; in them was a sturdy piece of oak almost as long as his leg. Resting on the table was a sharp knife and on the ground were wood chips.

Rod had been cutting off the bark; trying to smooth it and shape it in to a cane for Captain Stanley, because he knew with an injury like that; getting around would be hard, and the walkers and crutches that Rampart would give him wouldn't be all that comfortable to use.

Swallowing, Rod reached over, grabbed the knife and continued to work on it until Roy called him in to eat.

Saying he wasn't hungry wouldn't accomplish anything, so Rod put the wood piece down on the table along with the knife before standing up and brushing the wood chips off of his pants, then he turned and headed inside.