CF7

One Year Ago

If you asked John what he remembered about his promotion ceremony, he wouldn't be able to tell you what the Chief talked about or anything else. However, he would remember all the guys from 51's A Shift in the back and the hollering they did when he was called up. But the most important thing the newly minted captain remembered was getting his new assignment.

The festivities all done, the Chief called in Gage into his office. Taking a seat, John wasn't sure what to expect.

"So did you enjoy the ceremony?" the man smiled.

"Yeah, sure. Much more than I expected," Gage smiled.

"Good, good. You're really lucky Gage, because you'll be posted within the week," the Chief smiled as he reached into his desk.

"Within the week," John coughed.

"Yes, are you familiar with Captain Hodge?" the chief put a stack of folders on his desk.

"Isn't he out of 36?" John felt his stomach fall and wished he hadn't eaten all that cake.

"Yes, he's C shift. He's officially retiring next week. So he'll help you out your first few shifts. Also I think you know his engineer Roy DeSoto?" the chief stood up.

"Yes I know him," John stood up too. But will he want to know me.

"Yes you were paramedic partners weren't you," the man walked around his desk, five folders in his hands.

"Um, yes…partners," Gage felt the weight of the folders thrust into his arms.

"Good then you'll make a good team. Those are your men and shift. Good luck," the chief guided him out of the office. "Have a good weekend."

Carrying the folders to his car, being a captain sunk into the former paramedic. He didn't think it would happen so fast. Roy didn't leave for a month, now he was a station and a crew within hours. Driving home Roy kept creeping into his thoughts and heart. Where did he stand with his former partner? Roy obviously had moved on but forgot to tell his children. He wondered what Roy had told Joanne. But he was being paranoid; Roy was a stand up guy. Being a captain would cause no problems with his old paramedic partner.

Once he got home, he put the folders on his coffee table, quickly changed and then brewed some much needed coffee. He tried to watch TV but he kept looking at the folders. By now Stanley knew all about his posting and had a new replacement, yet the folders bugged him. Five men now depended on him for their health and safety. It was his actions which could life and death at each incident. Taking another sip of coffee, Johnny took the first folder, Gus Lingstrom, firefighter. Reading it now wondered what was in his personnel folder. He quickly went through the three other men, Henry Waddle, Tim Worth and George McFadden. They were all seasoned firemen and he didn't think he had anything to worry about. Putting them aside he looked at the last folder on his table, he got up, poured himself some coffee and sat back down on the couch.

John looked at the folder, Roy DeSoto; somehow it felt like he was violating his former partner's trust. DeSoto's personnel file, filled with everything he didn't know about him. But he had to read it, in order to know how his team was, but then again, didn't he know everything he needed all ready about his former partner. Hadn't Roy told him his life story the four years they were partners?

Sighing he knew he needed to read it. With his sweaty palms he opened the folder.

****

The party was just getting started at the station. It was Hodge's last shift and the men from all three shifts had thrown a little party. No liquor but that would be for the official party after.

Roy was sorry to see Hodge go, he was a good man and he had learned a lot in his year. His first year as an engineer made his look at fires from a totally different angle and approach to his shift mates, yes seeing Hodge go was a sad day. Finding the day room stuffy, DeSoto went out in the back of the station, his eyes drawing to the tarp covered engine.

"Humm," the cap looked at him.

"Um, Cap. Was getting a little warm in there," Roy smiled.

"A little warm or a little thick," Hodge laughed.

"No matter I wanted to talk to you alone anyway. Seeing I'm old as dirt I got a heads up on whose replacing me. I think you know him John Gage," Hodge stated.

"John Gage?!" Roy choked. "Are you sure Cap. IT can't be!" DeSoto shook his head.

"Yeah it is. Besides you were partners with him weren't you?" Hodge moved closer to the shocked engineer.

"Yeah, but, well…that was a long time ago Cap. But not John Gage, couldn't you get anyone but him?" Roy turned to his captain.

"Sorry Roy, besides it can't be all that bad. Do me proud!" Hodge wrapped his arm around the engineer. Now let's go join the party, shall we?" the Cap laughed dragging DeSoto back into the dayroom.