I'll See You When the Smoke Clears

The Delirium Threemen

July 2010

Don't own the copyright to any of the characters depicted in Emergency they are the property of Universal Studios/Mark VII Productions. Content from the show is the property of the original creators. No copyright infringement intended.

All original characters and story content is the sole property of The Delirium Threemen and may not be used without permission.

Actual dialog from the episode Brush Fire will be in bold formatting. Character thoughts will be in italic formatting.

Chapter 3

Roy pulled into his normal spot in the parking lot at the back of the Station 51. He recognized the vehicles of Captain Hammer and Mike Stoker, which were also present in the lot. Why didn't I just keep my stupid mouth shut this morning? How do I even begin to tell Jo I'm sorry for saying something so terrible? Roy let out a big huff of exasperation as he slung his duffel bag over his shoulder before grabbing his garment bag and heading into the station.

After changing into his uniform he left the locker room and headed into the kitchen. He poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down at the kitchen table. Station 51 had just opened over a year ago and Roy found he was still in the process of getting to know his other crewmembers. Of course, he had gotten to know his paramedic partner, Johnny Gage better than the others because they were pretty much attached at the hip during their shifts.

He watched the steam rise from the cup and slowly shook his head in shame. What I said to Jo was absolutely cruel. How do I begin to fix things with her? I can't take it back…I was a complete ass…she didn't deserve that. He took a sip of from his cup. How long should I wait to call home? Maybe it's best to call right after the squad is checked. Hopefully, Kelly isn't assigned kitchen duty. Last thing I need is everyone knowing my personal business. What do I say when I call her? Hello Joanne...Hi sweetheart…maybe I should just stick with Hi Jo…now what do I say to let her know how sorry I am…how disgracefully I acted?

Roy continued to muse over his thoughts when he was interrupted by Mike Stoker who had sat down beside him at the table with a cup of coffee of his own. Mike was the only other crewmember who was married, so naturally that meant that they at least had something in common to talk about. Most of their discussions revolved around comparing what their wives had them do around the house on their days off. Sometimes they would also talk about their children.

"Looks like you did a little yard work on your day off," Mike said initiating a little small talk.

"How can you tell?" Roy said as he took a sip from his cup.

"Nose and cheeks are slightly pink."

Roy chuckled. "I'm sure Gayle kept you busy the last two days as well."

After hesitating a moment, Mike let out a big sigh and answered Roy's question. "Gayle decided she wanted to repaint the nursery. She wants to go with a light pink. She's determined that this baby is going to be a girl".

Roy managed a smile, "I had to plant the flower garden along with the rest of the yard work and get an oil change done on Joanne's station wagon." It was normal banter between the two of them to compare the 'chores' their wives made them do on their days off.

Mike gave him the 'expectant father' beam and continued on with their discussion, "I don't care if this baby is another boy or a girl and I just can't wait until it arrives." This was Mike and Gayle's third child; they already had two boys aged 5 and 3. Roy hoped that he and Gayle got their girl this time around.

"Doesn't Gayle have another four months to go yet?"

"She's just past the fifth month."

"Just be glad you're not in my friend Kenny's shoes. His father was telling me they're pretty sure they might be having twins."

"Twins? Bite you're tongue DeSoto. One baby at a time is enough to handle."

"Yeah, I'm inclined to agree with you there. I haven't seen Kenny and his wife in a couple of months but apparently she's gotten huge and still has three months to go," Roy explained to Mike.

"Huge? Huge...? Aaaahhhh you must be talking about Gage's latest girlfriend," quipped Chet Kelly as he walked in the kitchen hearing the tail end of Roy and Mike's conversation.

Chet's remark was followed by the flustered voice of Johnny Gage, "Chet…Chet…why don't you…why don't you…just shut up!" Johnny was right on Chet's heels as he entered the kitchen where he quickly grabbed a cup of coffee before sitting down at the table beside Roy.

Chet sat down across from Johnny at the table. "For your information Chet, I didn't have a date on my days off." Johnny smiled broadly as he raised his mug towards Chet throwing him his 'shows what you know' look.

"That's no surprise Gage, considering how often you strike out." Chet smirked triumphantly back as he watched Johnny's eyes narrow and the smile dissolve from his face. Chet had yet again trumped Johnny in another verbal sparing match.

"Come on guys, it's almost time for roll call," said Marco who was leaning against the doorway.

Slowly they all filed out of the kitchen area one by one and lined up for roll call. Roy stood at one end of the lineup with Johnny standing beside him. Captain Hammer quickly went through his morning announcements and assigning tasks to each of the crewmembers. Roy and Johnny were given the job of cleaning up the bay area.

Roy kind of found Captain Hammer to be a little standoffish at times. He certainly wasn't one to put up with much nonsense from his crew. He wouldn't exactly be what you'd call a 'hard-ass' but there was definitely that invisible line between him and his crew that prohibited any personal camaraderie between them. Roy often wondered if the verbal sparring between Johnny and Chet would have crossed the line by now if they had been under the leadership of another captain.

Roy had worked with Chet's brother Carney when he was stationed at 48's, and he had heard some of the tales of the Kelly brothers. Chet was the youngest of 5 brothers followed by one younger sister. Carney was the closest in age to Chet. Roy had attended Carney's wedding a couple of years ago and saw first hand what a rowdy bunch the Kelly family was.

Carney had described his brother Chet as the prankster out of the five boys. The only thing holding Chet back from pulling his pranks at the station was most likely Captain Hammer. Chet was a bit of a suck-up according to Carney, so he knew one of the reasons Chet didn't play pranks around the station was to stay on Captain Hammer's good side. Roy wondered if the station were to get a new captain if Chet would begin playing pranks around the station. Pranks and tomfoolery were not things Captain Hammer would tolerate.

Chet's humor around the station often took the form of 'off the cuff' remarks, mostly towards Roy's partner Johnny. Sometimes those remarks bordered on being insulting and occasionally crossed the line altogether. Chet tended to target Johnny because he picked up on how easily he could get riled up over some of the littlest things. Often it didn't take much for Chet to get under Johnny's skin. Much to Roy's annoyance, he often was the one who had to put up with a tirade from Johnny over some insult that Chet threw his way. He knew it was fruitless to tell Johnny to ignore Chet's insults because he tended get defensive at times. He often figured telling Johnny that would cause him to think he was siding with Chet.

After they were dismissed from roll call, Roy and Johnny began doing the inventory and equipment checks for the squad. Johnny nattered on about Chet always having some wisecrack to say about everything. Roy managed to let most of it go in one ear and out the other. Junior, are you ever going to learn not to get so worked up over what Chet Kelly has to say? The more you react the more he's going to keep doing it. He knows just which buttons of yours to push to get you to react.


It was around 11:45 am when the crew of Station 51 returned from clearing up a minor traffic accident. A half hour later Roy and Johnny returned from their follow up at Rampart General. Mike was busy heating a casserole while Chet and Marco were busy washing the morning dishes and Captain Hammer was on the phone. The squad had a string of runs that had kept Roy and Johnny busy for most of the morning so he hadn't gotten the chance yet to call Joanne and apologize. I hope he's not much longer…why doesn't he use the phone in his office? Hopefully I can squeeze in a phone call home after lunch.

The men had gathered around the far sink in the kitchen after Chet had cut his hand drying a glass. Johnny and Roy had just finished taking care of the cut when the tones sounded for a brush fire that had just begun in Las Plumas Canyon. They all filed one by one out of the kitchen into the bay and gathered around the map. Mike and Marco pointed to the areas on the map that the dispatcher was indicating.

The tones sounded again and the entire crew made a beeline towards their vehicles as dispatch called Station 51, amongst other stations, to the brush fire. So far only 5 acres were involved but they all knew that would rapidly change because of the drought in the weather conditions lately. Roy jumped into the driver's seat of the squad and started up the engine. Once Johnny had gotten into the passenger side he pulled out of the station ahead of Engine 51. Johnny looked at the plumes of smoke rising from the canyon in amazement. Roy quickly glanced in the direction of the fire with his own face echoing the same sentiment. They turned onto Las Plumas Canyon Road where they had a short distance to go before arriving at the Command Post. Engine 51 had continued upwards on Skyland Drive.

Roy had pulled the squad into the parking lot of the school grounds and was followed by the portable Base Operations Unit being towed in. After parking the squad and getting out, Roy discovered that Johnny had never worked a brush fire before as they went to report in. Well Junior, this is definitely going to be a 'baptism by fire' for you. Roy and Johnny headed towards the Battalion Chief

"You guys about ready to move out?"

"Yes sir," Roy answered.

The Battalion Chief continued, "Good. You'll be getting some business pretty soon I figure."

"Going to be a big one, huh?" inquired Johnny.

The Battalion Chief replied back grimly, "We'll all be a little older."

Both paramedics walked away and headed in the direction of their squad. Roy indicated to Johnny the plane flying overhead as it made it first water drop onto the brush fire. The chemical retardant in the water added a definite red hue to the load the plane overhead released onto the fire below. They continued hovering around in the parking lot observing what was going on around them.


"Okay, Gayle, I'll pick you up Thursday morning," Joanne said into the phone. "Ummm…yeah…okay…Oh, Roy's mother is taking him until about four…No problem at all. Okay…I'll see you Thursday. Bye." Joanne hung up the phone. She had agreed to pick up Gayle to help catalogue items for the Firemen's Relief Association fund raising auction, which was going to be held in two weeks. Gayle…soon enough she'll be having another baby. Great…Geri's having twins, Gayle's on her third baby… me…? Nothing.

Joanne grabbed a dust cloth and began cleaning the end tables. I'm so tired of everyone asking when we're having our next one…somehow it just doesn't feel fair…each month feels more and more like something's broken inside of me…I know I should be thankful that we at least had Chris…but my doctor keeps telling me I should be able to get pregnant…that it might take me a little more time but there's no reason why I can't have another child.

Joanne sat down on the couch with the dust cloth in her hand while Barbara Hale was on the TV screen hocking the Amana Radar Range. A five-pound roast in 35 minutes and I can't manage to become pregnant after trying for over a year! The commercial was suddenly interrupted by a special news bulletin. Joanne stared in shock when she saw what was on the TV screen. Chris, who was on the floor near her feet playing with some blocks, also saw it. Joanne stared at the scenes of the brushfire, which filled the screen while the voice of the newscaster filled the living room with live coverage.

"You're looking at a major wildfire raging through Las Plumas Canyon. It started at approximately 12:25 this afternoon and has already burned over 100 acres. Firefighters believe that children playing with matches may have been the cause."

ROY! Roy's station probably has been called out there. Christopher held up his Little People fireman and pointed at the TV screen, and in his little two-year old voice he said, "Da-dee's going to put out the fire."

Joanne lifted him up and placed him on her lap. "And when Daddy comes home he's going to tell you everything he did to help put out the fire," Joanne said to her son softly, more as a reassurance to herself that he would return safely.

No wonder he wasn't at the station earlier when I called after lunch…damn, damn, damn...and this morning…how I treated him…NEVER will I send him off to work again without saying 'I love you.'


Roy and Johnny heard the beeping signal before the dispatcher's voice informed them of two possibly injured people on a ridge that was behind a two-story house. They both quickly entered the squad. Roy put the squad into drive with its siren's now blaring and headed to the location given to them by the dispatcher over the radio.

They turned off the main road and onto a dirt road and headed towards a large, slightly run down, two-story house. Roy couldn't help but think how much the house reminded him of the house that Norman Bates from the movie, "Psycho" lived in. Roy parked the squad at the side of the house. Both Johnny and he exited the squad and were greeted by a cantankerous old woman who seemed rather put out that they had arrived. Both men were surprised at how ornery she was towards both of them. When Roy pointed out to the elderly woman that the fire just beyond the ridge was headed her way she stubbornly replied that she wasn't leaving her home in a manner reminiscent of a small child stamping their feet because things didn't go their way.

It felt like they were pulling teeth trying to get information from the old crone. Johnny finally managed to get some information after he asked her if she knew anything about someone up on the ridge that might possibly be hurt. The older woman hesitated momentarily before answering. "It might be my sister. I saw her climbing up there to look at the fire. Crazy old woman," she said with a downward wave of her arm. Both men were visibly taken aback by the callousness she displayed over the possibility of her sister being injured.

Roy pointed to the ridge behind him. "Have you been up there?"

"Why? I've seen fires before," the crotchety old woman snapped back.

Johnny tossed Roy his helmet from the squad as a helicopter whirled around in the area. Johnny couldn't help but feel irritated with the woman and turned towards her as he was helping Roy get the equipment out of the squad. "You know, your sister might need some help."

"If you've got nothing better to do, you might go up and help her," she snapped back.

How do two people get to that point where they actually don't care what happens to each other? Her sister could be in BIG trouble and this woman isn't the least bit concerned, Roy pondered. What starts two people down the path where they end up truly despising each other?

Johnny and Roy both stared at the fire beyond the ridge noticing that the dancing flames were moving closer as they lugged their equipment up the hill. They spotted an elderly woman in a blue and white patterned housecoat on the ground and headed towards her. Roy informed her that they were with the fire department as he began to check her pulse. Johnny set up the equipment before checking her right arm and leg for injuries. Aside for the gash on her head, the only other physical injury seemed to be a fractured ankle.

Roy asked her some routine questions and found out the elderly woman's name was Winifred. Roy began taking her blood pressure while Johnny contacted the hospital. When Roy asked her age she replied that she was 79, along with revealing that her sister Emma was 80. Oh yes…Emma the 'overly concerned' sister we had the pleasure of meeting back at the house, Roy thought sarcastically.

Johnny was on the biophone describing the patient's injuries to Dr. Early who was on the other end. Johnny also indicated that the patient appeared to be weak and in mild shock. Johnny provided Dr. Early with the patient's vitals as Roy relayed them to him. Johnny also supplied some additional observations on the patient's ashen skin tone and distended abdomen. Dr. Early ordered another blood pressure reading and a secondary one with the patient in a sitting position. Noting the drop in blood pressure he determined that the patient was suffering from dehydration and ordered an IV to be started.

Roy set up the IV on the patient while Johnny contacted Las Plumas Base to request an ambulance. Johnny began applying a splint to the elderly woman's ankle when the Las Plumas Base contacted them back. Roy exchanged transmissions with the base and was informed that it would take thirty minutes before an ambulance would be available. Winifred became agitated when she heard the word 'ambulance.' There was no way she was going to be taken to the hospital.

"They'll take good care of you there," Roy tried to reassure her.

Winifred replied stubbornly back, "I won't leave my house. It's just what that crazy woman wants!"

"You mean Emma?" Roy asked. Okay so now we've established the fact that both of you are crazy.

"She's been trying to get me out of here ever since Father died. I won't go! I won't go!" she said as she began some whimpering sobs.

Roy tried to calm her down before turning to Johnny. "We've got a problem here."

"Yeah, these two old girls hate one another," Johnny replied back.

They began discussing the matter between themselves. They already knew Emma gave a rat's ass about her sister and most likely would neglect her. They couldn't force a patient to go to the hospital if they were dead set against it. Las Plumas Base contacted them on the radio again before they could decide what to do about Winifred. They were informed that the area was going to be evacuated. Johnny requested a helicopter for transport over the HT but was informed that all helicopters were tied up with water drops, but if the patient was critical they would send one. They were otherwise advised to transport their patient in the squad.

Johnny grabbed some of the equipment and headed back to the squad to get a Stokes while Roy informed Winifred that the area was going to be evacuated. The first thing out of her mouth was "Emma too?"

"Yeah we'll take her along with us," Roy informed her. I would sure hate to separate such a 'cute' pair of sisters". Winifred agreed to go once she knew that Emma wasn't going to have the old two-story house to her self. Well that solves that problem; both of these squabbling sisters are going to be leaving that old house.

Johnny put the equipment away in the squad before going to the back end and pulling out the Stokes. Emma came back out onto the front porch to see what was going on. Johnny informed her that they were going to take her sister to the hospital. The first tentacles of smoke from the fire were now beginning to reach the house. Johnny quickly rushed back up to the ridge as Emma went back inside the house. He could now hear the fire crackling nearby while the helicopter whirling overhead began announcing an immediate evacuation of the area.

Roy and Johnny hoisted Winifred up onto the squad while Emma came back out of the house wearing a red shawl and carrying a red handbag. She climbed into the cab of the squad while Johnny climbed up onto the back of the squad to stay with Winifred. The fire was peaking at the top of the ridge and the smoke had now thickened considerably around old house within the last few minutes. Roy made sure Johnny was ready before backing up the squad to leave.

As he headed towards the hospital, Roy glanced over at the dour old woman sitting in Johnny's spot. She looked none to happy over having to leave the area. She gave him a silent look of disdain. It wasn't long before she carried on over how that monstrosity of a house had been in the Lenover family for several generations… how it rightly belonged to her and hell would freeze over before she shared it with her sister.

A house…you've been fighting over a stupid house for thirty years…that piece of crap house is more important than your sister? She then griped that it was their responsibility to not let that house burn down. Heaven forbid the 'Loving Lenover Sisters' didn't have a house to fight over…you know on second thought the 'Sour Lemon Sisters' is a much more apt description for those two.

Roy pretty much tuned out the old biddy's complaining as he continued driving the squad to the hospital. He hoped he could spare a moment to give Joanne a quick call, regretting that he didn't call her shortly after arriving at the station that morning. Even if I manage to squeeze in a quick apology she'll at least know I'm sorry. Why did I let my temper get the better of me this morning? I should have marched back up those steps this morning and wrapped my arms around both her and Christopher…told them how much I loved them…NEVER will I leave for work again without doing that.