Singing the Blues

FF/Paramedic John Gage blew out a breath through his mouth, and tried not to breath. Their current victim stank, considering he was a civil servant just like him, but a sewer worker nonetheless. His so called partner was a good feet away as he felt he was shouting to him.

"Hey Roy, you going help me here or are you goin to stay out of spitting distance," Gage's nose crinkled at the mere whiff of his patient.

"You're doing just fine," Roy smiled and even his nose crinkled. "Besides I'm senior partner."

Johnny nodded and knew Roy would eventually get his due, or at least he hoped he would.

A main sewer line had broken, spewing its content over the man and then he had a heart attack. The overweight man, whom they still hadn't gotten a name on, clothes were soaked with god knows what.

"Okay Roy I got the IV started," Johnny looked around for the familiar Mayfair ambulance or even the familiar siren. "Where's the ambulance?" Gage shouted to Vince.

"It's on it way Johnny you just hold tight," Vince smiled, glad he was a good ten feet away.

"You're all heart Vince, besides I think I'm going to need at least ten showers to take care of this," the stinky paramedic pointed to his wet pants, shirt and hair. He had been the lucky one to drag their victim away from the broken pipe as his so called friend and partner pulled out their equipment from the squad.

Finally hearing the familiar sighing, Gage tried not to sigh to heavily because their might be a chance he would toss his cookies and that would be embarrassing.

"You're ride's here partner," Roy stood up.

"Yah, partner," Johnny groused, "you're all heart. Oh better get some towels for the squad unless Dixie can get me some scrubs to change into."

"Oh I've all ready notified Rampart of our predicament," Roy watched as the ambulance attendants turned shades of green loading up their patient.

"Well thanks a lot pally," Johnny jumped into the ambulance. "See ya later."

"Won't be too soon," Roy grinned and waved as the ambulance pulled away.

"So he goin to be okay," Vince asked about the sewer worker.

"Let me put to you this way, he's going to be a lot better than the street. See ya Vince," Roy climbed into the squad, glad their patient didn't have a more severe heart attack. They had gotten to the man way before the golden hour and now he was stabilized.

Roy pulled up to Rampart and hurried in. As usual Johnny was no where to be found. He headed to the nurse's station.

"Hey Dixie, where's Johnny?" Roy looked at the busy ER.

"Well we had him freshen up Roy. You didn't say how bad they both smelled. We should have brought in a HazMat team," Dixie smiled.

"Oh and how was he, our patient and Johnny?" Curious how things went.

"Well after we got your patient cleaned up, he's in CCU as to Johnny I don't think there's a cure," Dixie sighed.

"Oh?" Roy knew once Johnny latched on to something he was a dog with a bone.

"That bad?" Roy gulped.

"Yes and I'd be careful what you say too," Dixie pointed to Johnny as he came down the hall, holding a soggy paper bag and dressed in scrubs.

"Well I see you're all cleaned up," Roy looked over his partner.

Johnny rolled his eyes, "Sure and I'm starved."

Even a few feet away Roy could still smell Johnny's clothes.

"How can you be hungry with that...that smell?" Roy shook his head.

"Can we get going partner. Stoker's making his fried chicken," Johnny had a voice of annoyance.

"All right, see ya later Dixie," Roy waved

Johnny put the bag on the squad floor and settled in. Roy slid in, started the squad and they headed towards the station.

"Squad 51 to quarters," Johnny said in the mic and hung it back up. "Hey Roy can you imagine ever working a job like that."

"What like the sewer job?" Roy knew exactly what his friend was thinking."I dunno Johnny we get into some pretty messy stuff too. Just look at this last rescue."

"Well Roy we have a choice," Johnny grinned.

"A choice?" Roy scratched his nose at the stop light.

"Yeah that guy in there chose to work in shit and we rescue people out of shit," Johnny laughed, closed his eyes and then settle in for the drive back to the station.

Roy laughed and continued to drive.