THE PHANTOM'S PAYBACK
Chapter Four
By GCS and Hotshow
DISCLAIMER: "Emergency!" and its characters © Mark VII Productions, Inc. and Universal Studios. All rights reserved. No infringement of any copyrights or trademarks is intended or should be inferred. This is a work of fiction, and any similarity to actual persons or events is purely coincidental. This story is only written for entertainment. No financial gain is being realized from it. The story, itself, is the property of the author.
Johnny was practically giddy during the ride to the call. He squirmed in his seat looking out the passenger side window and then back to the front. A brilliant crooked smile seemed ingrained for good on his face and glee danced in his eyes. He didn't speak, but Roy could hear soft chuckles coming from his partner every time he turned back to the front. The feeling was infectious, and Roy too had a seemingly permanent smile on his face.
In the engine Chet continued his unhappy grumble. "He'd better watch his back, because this will not go without repercussion." He shifted uncomfortably in his jump seat. Flour clung to his skin and made him itch.
Marco watched his friend with concern etched on his face. If Chet retaliated against Johnny then the efforts to turn the tide would have been useless.
Mike's smile turned into a grimace as he heard snippets of Chet's rant over the roar of the engine.
"Kelly!" Captain Stanley had heard enough. "We have a job to do. Get your head together and stop whining about the prank."
Chet straightened up in his seat, "Yes sir."
The station arrived at the house fire as the second alarm. As the men disembarked from the engine, a puff of white followed Chet. A passing lineman stopped and slapped him on the shoulder. Through his laughter he was able to speak to Chet, "What happened Kelly? Did the Phantom get confused and set up his own bunk?" The lineman turned to one of his crew mates and continued to mock Chet. "Hey Samuels! Get a load of this! Kelly here is the ghost of the mighty Phantom!" He slapped Chet's shoulder one more time and walked off laughing.
Chet's anger welled up again.
"Kelly!" Captain Stanley called the inattentive fireman.
Chet was jarred back to the moment by his Captain's call. He turned and jogged over to his superior. "Yes sir?"
"Your partner is waiting." Stanley said harshly.
Chet looked over at Marco who stood ready with the hose nozzle in his hand waiting. He moved quickly to pull his SCBA mask on sending more puffs of white into the night sky as he removed his helmet to secure his mask in place. Chuckles could be heard from the other firemen on the scene.
Johnny and Roy had geared up, and as the paramedics from the first responding station were already checking the home, were on another two and a half a few feet away. With the crooked grin still plastered on his face, Johnny squeezed Roy's shoulder from behind and pointed at Chet. Roy smiled and nodded toward the burning structure. They had a job to do. Johnny sobered and moved in to support his partner on the hose; his worries about transferring temporarily forgotten.
Both Johnny and Roy had started with the department as linemen and knew their way around handling a hose, but for the most part their time was spent in search and rescue. Johnny felt the pressure mounting in the hose as it neared the nozzle Roy held snugly in his grip. With the mounting pressure he felt the mounting anticipation from his past experience manning the hose. He gripped the hose tighter and let one foot slide back a little to brace for the recoil when the nozzle first opened the release of high pressure water.
Roy felt Johnny's grip on his shoulder tighten He knew that meant his partner felt the water rushing through the hose and he too braced for it to force its way out of the nozzle. It was truly a sobering effect to have that much power running between your fingers and took practiced skill to maintain a firm hold on the hose while controlling the spray.
Johnny and Roy though exceptionally good at their jobs in rescue, they were equally skilled in manning a hose.
Johnny had abilities in reading a fire that no one could exactly explain. He had been that way since before he reported for his first shift at 10's. Some of his closest friends who knew his past thought perhaps it stemmed from his childhood learning the ways of his Native American heritage; honing his tracking skills and learning to pay attention to the slightest change in his environment. They didn't actually care where he had learned it they were just glad he was on their team; that sixth sense had saved countless lives.
Chet and Marco had a reputation in the department as two of the best linemen in the county and an even better one as a team. Marco had his attention on their forward attack while as back up Chet needed to keep his eyes on their surroundings as well as supporting Marco. Chet noticed Johnny's stature tense; his gaze moved from surveying the scene to the structure and up to the roof. Out of experienced learned from years working together on the same shift, Chet knew Johnny sensed some imminent danger. His eyes also tracked the direction of Johnny's. He tugged Marco's shoulder and cocked his head toward Johnny. Marco understood, and they slowed their forward approach.
Roy knew something was wrong as soon as he felt a change in the grip Johnny had on his shoulder. Johnny looked up to the roof where men from another station were venting. He couldn't really make out much of what was going on up there. The smoke was thick and dark. He could mostly see shadows, but he heard the distinctive crackle of the weakening lumber. The crew from 51's knew something was about to happen. Before anyone could react the roof gave way beneath one of the men.
Roy shut off his nozzle and pulled the HT from his pocket. "HT 51 to Engine 51, we have a possible code I on the roof."
Other reports of the fallen man came across from the other stations onsite. Captain Stanley came over beside his crew. "Johnny, Roy they need you inside. Chet, Marco back them up." The crew immediately followed Cap's orders and disappeared into the burning structure.
Years of working together as a team allowed the four men to quickly navigate the falling debris, still burning wall joists and smoldering remains of the living room furniture to the base of the stairs. Roy led the way up the stairs with Johnny close at his heels while Chet and Marco continually sprayed the area to prevent further weakening of the structure from the hungry flames. At the top of the stairs Johnny nudged Roy in the direction he'd seen the man disappear from the roof.
They moved quickly down the smoke filled hallway, hunkered low to avoid the thickest smoke and keeping one hand trailing along the wall in search of openings into the rooms they couldn't make out through the dense black curtain. With each gap in the wall Johnny pushed them on until he felt certain they were in the area where they would find the Code I.
Marco and Chet had made it to the top of the stairs and held their post to provide an exit.
Roy found the man first. He appeared to be relatively unhurt except for a possible broken ankle. Together the three firemen quickly exited back into the hall and tracked down the same hallway. Next the five men navigated the stairs and out of the structure leaving behind the burnt out shell that was left of the home.
Captain Stanley hurried over to the squad and laid out a yellow blanket. The paramedics helped their compatriot over and down onto the blanket to splint the ankle and send him off to Rampart.
Chet and Marco resumed their position manning the hose at their original assignment until Captain Stanley said otherwise.
Mike remained at his post monitoring the engine pumps and keeping a keen eye on the scene while his Captain assisted the paramedics.
The A-shift crew from Station 51 moved through the required actions like the intricate workings of a delicate wrist watch, each small part working in conjunction with the others, and for that Captain Stanley could not be prouder. That is why he felt that he somehow had to fix the situation with his youngest paramedic and the A-shift Phantom.
Somehow he had to reel Chet in while allowing him the occasional ice breaker, because without that they might all crack under the pressures of their jobs.
Chet looked over at Johnny and Roy and smiled to himself. He knew they were the best paramedics in the department. He was glad to be working with them, but there was no way he would let Johnny get away with flouring his bunk. No way. Now all he had to do was come up with a good plan to get him back before their shift ended.