The Right Choices
Chapter 4
By GCS
Emergency is not mine and neither are the characters. I don't make any money from them, but I do borrow them for entertainment.
There was no time between runs on his first morning back at work.
From the MVA where he had to shimmy beneath an overturned pick-up, to the dip in the ocean to assist a stranded boater who thought he was having a heart attack only to find out he was hyperventilating, to a kid at the elementary school who had fallen from the monkey bars, the squad never made it back to the station.
At half past one the entire station was called to a fire at a grocery store.
They were first on the scene.
Cap sent Johnny and Roy in to find a store clerk who was unaccounted for after calling for additional alarms. "Okay guys make it fast. There are a lot of flammable materials in there. Try to stay away from the aerosol hairspray cans," he patted Johnny on the back and chuckled. They could all hear popping sounds as the heat spread through the rows of shelving inside. "The manager says the kid was probably in the store room at the back. Try the back door to gain access. Keep in touch."
The two Paramedics nodded their understanding and ran down the alleyway toward the back of the building. They could hear the additional station's sirens as they approached.
It was no surprise that the door was locked. Roy pried the door open quickly. The two men disappeared into the smoke filled darkness.
Johnny flipped on his flashlight, turned to make eye contact with Roy, and waited until he had his own flashlight on before they moved further into the abyss.
Roy cocked his head to the right at the same time he pointed to the left. Johnny knew that he would take the left side of the room while Roy searched the right. No words were necessary. They understood each other and knew how they would handle this search even before Roy had pointed.
Okay partner let's find this kid and get out of here. I just got you back. I don't want either of us hurt again anytime soon. Roy watched Johnny as he disappeared behind a stack of pallets.
The beam of light from his flashlight trailed across stacks of unboxed groceries. Man, we would get called to a fire at a grocery store after missing lunch. I'm starved. Johnny smiled at himself. If I could find the marsh mellows or hot dogs I would roast me a few right now.
It was Roy who found the clerk collapsed against a forklift at the back of the large storage area. He turned trying to spot his partner before scooping the victim up over his shoulder. The boy was tall and slender reminding him of Johnny. Come on Junior where are you?He turned back the opposite direction with and started making his way to the exit. "Johnny." Roy called through his facemask.
No response.
He momentarily felt a chill run down his back. "Johnny! Come on Junior I've got him."
No response.
Slipping his facemask from his face he yelled again. "Johnny! Let's go!"
He still did not get a response from the darkened smoke filled chasm.
His eyes frantically roamed what little he could see.
Reaching for the HT in his pocket to notify Captain Stanley that he had gotten separated from his partner he nearly jumped out of his skin when Johnny tapped him on the shoulder, "What are we waitin' for?"
"God Johnny why didn't you answer me?"
"I did Roy, you just couldn't hear me through all of your yelling." Johnny shrugged and pushed passed Roy to the exit.
Roy followed his partner to the yellow blanket that Mike Stoker had already spread out for them by the squad. He lowered the young man to the blanket as Johnny slipped the oxygen mask over his face.
Pulling the bio-phone within reach Johnny hailed the hospital, "Rampart this is Squad 51, how do you read me?"
Mike Morton could be heard responding through the radio headset. "We read you 51."
"Rampart we have a victim, approximately 18, 135 pounds, suffering from smoke inhalation. His respirations are 35 and shallow, his pulse is 120, and his BP is….." He looked to Roy.
"120 over 75"
"BP is 120 over 75. We have administered O2. There are no other apparent injuries."
"51 continue the oxygen and start an IV D5W TKO and transport."
"10-4, continue O2, IV D5W TKO, ETA is 15 minutes, ambulance is on the scene." He dropped the headset back into the case, unscrewed the antennae and closed it.
"Okay Junior, your turn to ride with the patient. I'll meet you at Rampart."
"Okay Pally." Johnny climbed in the ambulance with the patient glad to have a short break during the ride. With a little help from the oxygen and IV the young man was already showing signs of waking up. Well at least I'll get to relax for a minute, he thought as he yawned deeply and rubbed his eyes.
"Cap we're on the way to Rampart. We'll see you back at the barn. I hope." He waved as he climbed into the Squad. Maybe we'll get back to the station and get to shower before the engine crew.
A short stop by Rampart to get Johnny, and they were on their way back to the barn for the first time since they started shift. Johnny sat slumped against the passenger side door, his eyes closed, and his breathing slow and even. Roy knew he was probably asleep. I need to get some food into you Junior, and then I hope we have a little down time. You're looking a little rough. This has been a hard shift for me too, and I haven't just gotten back from an injury.
"What?" Johnny stirred thinking Roy had been talking to him.
"I didn't say anything Johnny."
"Are you sure? I thought you said something about getting something to eat." He sat up slowly.
"No."
"Oh I must have been having a really good dream then." He chuckled.
"Mike said he left our lunch in the oven." Roy smiled at his always hungry friend.
"Great." That trademark grin spread across his face. "I'm starved."
Roy barely got the Squad into the bay before Johnny jumped out and headed toward the locker room, "I'll just be a minute Roy. I'm gonna grab a quick shower, and then I'm gonna get that food."
Roy just laughed at his partner. One thing about Johnny everything he did was done fast except a shower. "Leave some hot water for the rest of us." He hoped there would be some hot water for him after Johnny finished.
Walking slowly to the kitchen he decided to get lunch on the table while he waited. Pouring two glasses of milk and pulling the plates containing fried chicken, potatoes and baked beans from the oven, he whistled at the succulent aroma.
To his surprise Johnny was in and out of the shower in less than fifteen minutes and joining him at the table. "Wow that must be a record."
"I told you I was starved." Johnny slid into his chair while grabbing a chicken leg with one hand and his fork with the other.
They ate in silence hoping to finish before they were called out again.
Roy went for his shower while Johnny washed up their dishes and started a fresh pot of coffee.
Feeling the chill that since his accident was now somewhat of the norm for him, Johnny had slipped his jacket on, and then he settled on the sofa to wait for it to the coffee to brew.
That is where Roy found him when he came back to the dayroom.
Johnny was sound asleep lying on the couch, on his side, with his arms folded tightly to his chest.
Roy grabbed a cup of coffee and the newspaper and sat at the table. He could hear the engine backing into the station. The guys filtered into the dayroom and one by one got something to drink and settled into chairs. Captain Stanley stopped by the radio and reported them back at quarters.
"Okay guys," he said as he entered the room and stopped looking at Johnny. "Is he okay Roy?"
"Yeah Cap, just a little over tired."
"Well the station is stood down for one hour to get cleaned up. Marco you're first in the shower." He pointed over his shoulder toward the bay. Marco slid out of his chair depositing his glass in the sink and disappeared from the room without a word. "Kelly you're next." Hank looked over at Johnny, turned and headed for the coffee pot. "Keep it down. Let him sleep."
"Yes sir," could be heard from the three others.
Chet rose from his seat without saying a word and left the room.
A few minutes later he returned with a blanket which he carefully spread across the sleeping man.
Johnny could feel the warmth of a blanket. Even in his sleep he was glad. He circled his fingers around the edge and pulled it against his neck, snuggled deeper into the couch and sleepily sighed.
Neither of the two witnesses said a word.
