Well as many of you have been waiting for..Roy at least gets sideswiped by the cluebus. Don't worry, there will be a head on collision later!!! Again thanks for the continued feedback. It makes me so happy that this little tale is being read out there!!
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The men of A shift shared a subdued supper with no calls to interrupt. Both Cap and Mike exchanged pleased glances to see Johnny polish off a respectable amount of the spaghetti on his plate. Marco hid a satisfied grin with another bite of garlic bread. Roy and Kent, as was now usual, remained in their own world, talking about upcoming plans between the two families.
After supper, Cap took a cup of coffee and left for his office and the stack of paperwork there, Chet grabbed the TV guide and headed for the TV, Marco began the dishes while Roy and Marc remained in their chairs, still chatting over coffee.
Mike put the last of the dishes in the sink and bent closer to Marco. "You see where Johnny went?" Marco nodded toward the door leading to the outside. Mike nodded his thanks, grabbed two mugs filled with coffee and went out in search of his friend. Once his eyes became adjusted to the dark he could make out a shadowed figure sitting on the hood of the Rover. He walked up and without a word, handed Johnny one of the cups. Johnny gave the engineer a faint grin as he accepted the cup and drank. Mike looked up into the clouded sky and sighed, "I love LA, really, but sometimes I miss seeing the stars at night."
Johnny turned to face the engineer, surprised plain on his face. "Miss seeing . . .? But I thought you were from LA?"
Mike grinned at his friend. "Not originally. My family moved here when I was about 10. My dad's last duty was at the Naval Shipyards at Long Beach. When he retired, my parents bought a house in the area and stayed." He looked back up into the heavens and sighed. "But we were stationed in Hawaii at one point. The skies there are so clear, and the nights . . ."
Johnny nodded wistfully, "I understand completely. I've lived in some pretty remote areas myself." He gave a faint grin, "When there aren't so many lights around, the stars here are rather nice. Come out to my place some evening and you'll see." Relaxed and comfortable, the two finished off their coffee with no further conversation, just companionable silence.
"Light's out in ten" Cap's announcement startled the two and Johnny yawned widely before answering, "'Kay, Cap" He slid off his Rover and gave Mike a faint smile, "Thanks again, Stoker."
Mike grinned back at the younger man and slapped his shoulder as the two walked toward the door. "Any time, Gage, any time."
Before long, the evening routines were completed and seven weary firefighters headed toward their bunks. Johnny shuffled to his bed, yawning widely and tiredly rubbing his eyes. From under his eyelashes, Roy watched him, unsure of the conflicting feeling tumbling through him. At last, with a heavy sigh he rolled over onto his side. ' I hope I can sleep without any dreams tonight,' he thought. The dreams had been increasing in frequency and although he never remembered them fully on waking, each left him with a strange unease. The last two nights, however, bits and pieces had stuck, and he didn't like the disturbing images they left.
The peaceful silence of the night was shattered with the brilliancy of the overhead lights and the tones blaring.
"Station 51, structure fire, 23469 Nicolle Ave. 2-3-4-6-9 Nicolle Ave. Cross street Carriagedale. Time out 1:35"
Cap acknowledged the call, slipped one call sheet to Roy and ran over to hop into the engine. Johnny looked the address over and directed Roy. "Right, Roy. This is in one of those new subdivisions."
"Great." Roy grumbled. He knew many of those newer additions had winding streets and only one or two exit/entrances to main roads, making them difficult to maneuver through. However, Johnny's directions, as usual, were correct and before long they were pulling up to the street where a three story house with black smoke rolling from it sat. The squad slowed on the corner just long enough for Johnny to hop out, then proceeded to the burning structure. As soon as his feet hit the ground, Johnny was running over to the engine as lines were dropped for him.
The engine had barely finished rolling before Hank swung out and trotted over to where Vince stood with several people. "What we got?"
Vince gave a quick smile, "These are the Hansson's and this is their home. They say everyone is out and they believe the fire started in the laundry room on the first floor, possibly with the dryer." Cap nodded and turned back to his crew, noting Johnny had attached the line to the hydrant and was trotting toward where the squad was stopped. Mike was already at the gauges and Chet and Marco had their gear on and where pulling hose, anticipating his orders. Again he felt pride at how well his crew worked. 'A good crew, good men, everyone of them.'
Roy jumped out of the squad, pulling on his gear but his eyes on the fire. "Chet! Marco!" He called, "Grab a . . . ."
"DeSoto!" his own name called in a harsh firm voice stopped Roy and he looked toward where Cap stood, hands on hips. Quickly he trotted forward. "What is it Cap? We gotta hurry, this . . ."
"DeSoto, take off your helmet and look at it." Hank demanded in a voice which brooked no argument. Roy did as told. "Now, your helmet has a 51 on the front in blue correct? And the paramedic patch on the side correct? Now look at mine." Roy did as asked each time, nodding his answer and totally confused. He looked up at his captain's helmet then met the dark eyes beneath the bill. "Mine has a white stripe, signifying I'm the Captain." He stressed these words and Roy's mouth gaped open. "Now enough of this nonsense; we have a job to do. You assist Marco on the two inch on the north side." He looked past the stunned paramedic to where his partner stood a few feet back.
John's face was red with embarrassment for his friend and Cap felt a moment's guilt at causing the younger man more emotional pain. He immediately shook it off; as he'd told DeSoto, he had a job to do. 'Don't look so worried, John. I do know what I'm doing. I just wish I knew more about what was up with your partner'. He thought silently to the nervously shifting man. "John, you help Chet with the other 2 ½ on the south wall, Kent, pull gear in case we need it." He finished his orders and raised his HT to his face. "LA this is Engine 51 on scene. We have a fully involved three-story residence. Request a second alarm."
"10-4 51" came the response right before more tones sounded over the radios.
The two teams of firefighters fought the flames with everything they had as three more trucks rolled in. Immediately, Cap sent one team to work on protecting the neighboring structures while he positioned the others in beating back the fire bent on consuming the house.
Sudden screaming from near where the onlookers stood alerted Cap to a potential problem. He kept one eye on his men and another on Vince who quickly went to see what had happened then just as quickly ran back toward Hank.
"Hank, we have a problem. Seems Shelly, the Hansson's teen age girl might have run back into the house."
Cap stifled the urge to cuss and shouted out, "DeSoto! Gage!" Johnny turned at the sound of his name and saw his captain waving to him. He let Chet know he was leaving the hose and trotted to his captain as another fireman took his place assisting Chet. Roy joined him. "Cap?"
"Gear up. We have a teen age girl who we suspect has gone back into the house." Cap told them, glancing anxiously at the still furiously burning building.
"Any idea where?" Johnny asked as he checked his tank's air level.
Cap looked over to Vince who stepped forward. "The mother said she was worried about her homework. She said she had been working on it in the family room. Lower level, back left corner."
"In and out, boys. That second floor isn't going to take much more." Their captain warned them as both nodded, secured their helmets and trotted off into the flames.
Once inside, Johnny took the lead. This time, Roy let him, instantly remembering the younger fireman's uncanny ability with direction even in no visibility. Soon they were in a short hallway with three doorways. Johnny motioned toward the farthest, making sure he made eye contact with his partner and received acknowledgement before he proceeded. Roy made his way toward the middle one.
Roy felt the door, found it cool and carefully opened it. Inside was a large bathroom. A thorough but quick check proved it was empty. As he came back out into the hallway and glanced down the hall, through the murky smoke-filled air, Roy was surprised to see Johnny coming out of the room he'd checked.
A frown distorted Roy's face as he realized something was wrong with the younger man's posture. In a flash, he moved forward, now hearing Johnny's harsh coughing just as he saw the younger paramedic wasn't wearing his mask any longer. He grabbed the dark haired man's closest arm, and felt resistance as he tried to pull it over his shoulder. He glared at his partner.
"I found her, Roy." Johnny's choked off voice reached him as the other medic continued his hunched over stumble toward their exit. Roy now could see Johnny held something—or someone—in his arms, part of his coat draped around her to protect her from the burning heat and his mask pressed against her face. The senior paramedic gave a nod, moved his hand to one of support on Johnny's arm and together the two left. Johnny leading back the way they had come, Roy supporting him.
Once outside, Roy took the girl from Johnny's arms and ran with her toward Kent who had the O2 out and ready. Johnny made it a few more feet before he bent over, hands on his knees as he coughed harshly. His vision swam dizzily as he desperately tried to draw much needed oxygen into his soot and smoke coated lungs.
Suddenly his arms were grabbed from either side and he was being more dragged then led toward where Roy worked on the girl. A quick grateful glance to each side revealed Cap and Mike had him. 'Relax John, we've got you. Mike get the O2 from the engine." Mike nodded, trotting off to do just that as Cap lowered his still gasping youngest crewmember to the ground. When Johnny tried to move closer to Roy to help, a gentle but firm hand restrained him. "Relax, John. Roy has things well in hand. You did your part; you got her out." A nonrebreather mask was pushed onto his face and sweet oxygen flowed into his system. He took several breaths as deeply as he could, the coughs still shaking his slight body.
Roy glanced up as Cap 'helped' Johnny to the ground near them and placed the O2 on him. He could hear the rough coughs and wheezes even from where he sat. 'He took off his mask, he knows better that that.' Roy grumbled scornfully in his head. 'But we do that all the time when we have a victim that needs air immediately' Another voice reminded. 'Reckless and foolish, it'll serve him right if he has to stay at Rampart for smoke inhalation' he humphed. 'Caring and self-sacrificial' came back the second voice, 'he cares deeply for every victim he treats.' the second voice seemed proud and got louder as it added, 'especially those he loves—right?' Roy tuned out the argument as he concentrated on the girl before him but he couldn't help mostly siding with the second voice.
The girl was very petite, probably under 90 lbs with curly blonde hair. Most of that was frizzed and burnt on the right side and there were burns on her cheek and ear. her face was dark with soot and there was evidence of burns around her mouth and nose. Roy knew it was very likely she'd inhaled the heated air and knew they'd have to be very aware of swelling from burns in her airway. He finished assessing the girl and began breaking out the burn packs as Kent readied the biophone. "Get a BP for me," Roy ordered, "And careful of that arm, looks like she's got some burns there."
"She . . the carpet she . . .(cough, cough) was on was . . .on fire. (cough, cough,) Burning arm, her legs. . . .had to pat them out." Johnny's scratchy voice came. Roy glanced upward once and saw his partner leaning toward them, his gaze intent on the girl. "We have her; you just sit there and breathe." He told the other paramedic but unlike before, his voice was softer, holding some of the affection he used to speak with to the other man.
Too caught up in the adrenaline still pumping through his body and the worry over their young charge, Johnny only heard the reprimand. He moved closer, grabbing the BP cuff dangling from Kent's hand and applied it himself. He pulled the stethoscope from Kent's neck and placed it around his own. Although still wheezing and occasionally coughing, he never-the-less quickly and efficiently got a BP.
Kent backed off, calling Rampart as the two worked. "Rampart this is Rescue 51"
"51 we read you." Dr. Brackett's voice came on the line.
"Rampart, we have a female, unconscious at this time, age approximately 13, victim of a house fire. Hold for more information." Kent began and then handed the receiver to Roy. "Rampart, victim was trapped in a burning room. There are second and third degree burns on distal legs bi-laterally and on distal right arm. There is evidence of burning around the mouth and nose. We have her on high flow O2, respiration's 8 and labored. BP is . . ." He looked up to Kent who shrugged. Before Roy could question, Johnny's smoke lowered voice answered, "BP is 82/50, pulse 56 and rapid (cough, cough) Lung sounds (gasp) wheezing bilaterally, strider on the lower right."
Roy repeated this while staring at his partner as if seeing him for the first time. "Rampart we have placed sterile burns sheets on burns and treated. Be advised parents are on scene and have given permission to treat."
"10-4 51. Start an IV D5W and monitor vitals and respiration carefully. Be prepared to insert an airway if needed. Repeat vitals every 5 minutes and transport immediately."
"10-4, Rampart." Roy dropped the receiver and pointed a finger at Johnny who still knelt by the girl. "You, get back on that O2 or I'll call you in."
Johnny gave a faint nod and backed away, picked the mask back up and pressed it to his face.
Surprisingly Roy accompanied the girl to Rampart and insisted Johnny come with him. A little bewildered at this change of the routine he'd become used too, Kent cleaned up the area and readied to join them with the squad. Meanwhile Marco grinned broadly at Mike as he changed out his oxygen for a fresh bottle. "Maybe things are looking up?" He questioned. Mike nodded, "One can hope." Chet trotted over for a break, a broad smile on his face, "Did I just see Roy shoving Johnny into the back of an ambulance?" he crowed.
Marco grinned, "Yeap. Johnny ate quite a bit of smoke getting that girl out and Roy was actually acting concerned."
Chet sank wearily onto the running board of the engine. "'bout time." He sighed, "I was beginning to think Gage would have to nearly be dead before Roy ever noticed him again."
"Things aren't back to normal yet guys." Mike hated to be the one to put a damper on their happiness but his practical nature couldn't help it. "This could be just another phase of his being in control of everything."
Marco froze, his eyes wide with realization, "Dios! Stoker, you're right! That's exactly what Roy's been doing!"
Mike nodded, "Yeah. I figured it out after the picnic." He turned back to his gauges as he muttered under his breath, "I just wonder when it will be that Roy figures out what is making him so angry."
The engine was still out as the squad pulled into the bay. Before Roy shut off the engine, he glanced over at his partners. Kent, for once was next to the door, his frowning face turned out the window. Johnny sat in the middle, his face now cleaned of the soot, a burn brand showing over one cheek where he'd revealed a piece of flaming wood had struck him. His eyes were closed and though he still wheezed, his breathing was better after the breathing treatments he'd been given. His body was slumped in exhausted sleep, the result of the downside of the adrenaline from the rescue leaving him. A cascade of conflicting emotions tumbled through him as he looked the younger man over.
Kent turned toward the sleeping man and elbowed him hard. "Move it Gage. You're sitting on my jacket edge." Startled out of the deep sleep, Johnny inhaled abruptly and began coughing again, but he moved his body off the other man. Roy pulled himself from the cab with a tired sigh. "I'm off to the shower then bed." he muttered. Kent came around the side and put his arm companionly over Roy's shoulders, "That sounds like a plan, man." He laughed.
Bone-weary and bleary eyed, Johnny watched them go, knowing it would be quite awhile before he'd get his turn. "Hope they leave some hot water," he mumbled as he debated remaining where he was leaning against the squad or trying to make it to the dayroom for the couch or just going to bed. Even as he struggled to make a decision, his head slumped forward and he was once more out.
When Mike carefully began backing in the engine, he suddenly let out an expletive and stopped, pulling the brake and hopping out. Alarm sent a rush of energy through Cap as he quickly left the other side and raced around the front of the engine to see what had alarmed the engineer. To his surprise, Mike supported a groggy Gage who was just struggling to his feet. With a sheepish grin at both the other men, the sleepy paramedic pushed himself away and weaved his way to the latrine.
"Mike?" Cap questioned. Mike faced his captain, amusement warring on his face with concern. "I saw him in the mirror. He was sitting on the floor, leaning against the squad. I didn't want to run over him."
Cap looked toward the lockers then back at his engineer who was headed back toward his seat. "Why was he out here anyway? The squad should have already been back for an hour."
"He said Kent and Roy called dibs on the shower and he guessed he fell asleep trying to decide whether to head to bed or wait for a shower." Mike climbed back up into the engine to finish parking as he heard his captain mutter something about 'twit'.
Before long, all seven men were back in their beds, the quiet only occasionally broken by a snore or a soft cough.
Breakfast over, Cap turned to Roy. "Roy I want you and your partner to take out the garbage before you leave." With that, he left the kitchen, leaving Roy alone. Roy looked around, noticing there was no one else in the kitchen. "Where is he?" he wondered, then another thought occurred to him and he grinned, "Which partner?" As he bundled the garbage in the trashcan near the door, he heard the obvious sound of the dumpster lid striking the side. Figuring whoever was to help him was already outside, Roy headed out. When he got there, he found several bags waiting but nobody around. Shrugging, Roy grabbed each bag up and heaved them in. Just as he tossed the last one in and grabbed the lid he heard a voice call, "Wait DeSoto. There is more."
"Brice!?" He wondered, "What is he doing here?" He turned as he heard the 'rule-book' paramedic's voice. Roy's eyes widened as he watched Brice approach him with what looked like a body dressed in a white t-shirt and red briefs slung in a firefighter's carry over his shoulder. His mouth dropped open in shock as Brice moved so that that same body slid off his shoulder and leaned lifelessly against the dumpster.
"No!" The strangled cry burst from his heart as he knelt quickly, his hand going to the neck of who he now saw was Johnny. The dark haired man's face was grey, his lips blue. Roy's heart skipped several beats as his hand touched too cool skin with no throbbing within. Rigor was already setting into the lanky limbs and the partially open eyes were dull and lifeless. Eerily, they reminded Roy of the look he'd shared with his partner at the picnic.
"Don't bother, DeSoto. He's dead. Cap found him this way about three hours ago in his bunk. It looks like he took more damage than what he told anyone at that fire. My guess is his throat swelled shut and he asphyxiated in his sleep. Not a bad way to go if you consider it, fairly painless." Brice shrugged, "That's why I'm here. Captain Stanley called me in to cover the rest of his shift."
Heartbroken, Roy moved his hand from that cool neck to cup Johnny's cheek, his fingers reaching upward to slide those eyes fully closed. "Oh junior, why didn't you tell me?", he moaned.
"Would you have listened? Besides, we all know Gage is notorious for downplaying his injuries. This is only what he deserves for not informing his superiors, correct?" Brice reached downward, grabbing Johnny's arms and chest, swinging him upward toward the open dumpster. Horrified, Roy grabbed Johnny's legs screaming, "What are you doing!? You can't do that! He's a person, a human being, you can't just throw him away like . . .like some sort of worn out part!"
Emotionless glasses covered eyes meet his as Brice blinked in obvious surprise. "Why not? You did." Brice's words struck Roy with all the subtlety of a Mac truck. He knew they were true. Brice blithely continued without pause. "When Gage failed to perform as you thought he should, you tossed him aside." Brice shrugged his shoulders. "Besides, it's practical. He has no relatives, no family who'd want to visit his grave. So why charge the county for an expensive funeral and grave when he'll not be mourned. Just send him off to the landfill with the other unwanted and disposable articles of our culture." Shock froze Roy stock still, but he kept a tight hand on Johnny's leg. Brice reached over and carefully pulled his hand free. "Besides, isn't he Indian? This way he'll merely be returning to his mother earth and nurturing the land and all that. I'd believe he'd think it rather fitting."
Roy could barely speak for the pain radiating from his heart and the horror of the callousness he was witnessing. "Why are you doing this to me?"
A hint of a smile touched Brice's lips as he shook his head, his voice held reproval as he spoke. "Don't blame me, DeSoto. I'm just the manifestation of reason brought forward by your own subconscious. Perhaps you should ask yourself why you've decided that John Gage's part in your life is no longer welcome. Then you'll have the answer on why you keep killing him in your dreams." With that said and a mighty heave, the perfect paramedic tossed his burden in with the garbage. Roy watched as Johnny's limp body slid downward, disappearing all except one hand which hung lifeless over the edge.
Inhaling sharply with a gasp, his body spasming as his eyes flew up, Roy awoke. He blinked into the darkness and placed his hand over his pounding heart. 'Oh God, a dream; another damn dream'. But this time, he remembered it. With fearful eyes he looked around, noting his watch read 4:45. His gaze immediately went to the bunk opposite his, his eyes adjusted to the dark enough to barely make out a figure there, one hand hanging eerily familiarly over the edge nearly on the floor. Instantly he was on his feet standing over the figure, terrified of what he'd find.
Black hair, not brown, rested on the pillow and a name came unbidden to his lips but remained trapped in his throat. Still needing reassurance from the vivid dream, he rested a shaking hand on the younger man, feeling his chest expand and contract with his soft breaths, feeling it shake as Johnny coughed softly in his sleep. He could see the pulse beating in Johnny's angled neck and found himself suddenly filled with both relief and self doubt.
For just an instant, it appeared he could see the soot covered face struggling to breathe then the one turned grey with death superimposed on Johnny's sleeping face.
Suddenly Johnny inhaled deeper, triggering more coughs. Roy found himself patting his chest and was surprised when sleepy brown eyes opened.
"Roy?" a groggy voice gravelly from smoke asked.
Roy grinned faintly, "You're alright John, just go back to sleep."
"Kay." he muttered as his eyes shifted closed again. For one instant the thought crossed Johnny's mind that Roy had been near him when he coughed and had called him 'John' but then exhaustion pulled him back under.
Roy waited into the breathing under his hand evened out and he knew Johnny was once more asleep. With a bone weary sigh of his own, he collapsed back on his bunk, his mind still trying to process both the dream and the last few minutes. Things were spinning, whirling, out of control. He hated that.
Finally Roy laid back down and closed his eyes, concerned over his twisting thoughts and decided what he needed was to exert more control. 'More control means less chaos, he told himself. Less chaos means safer.' With that thought, he drifted back off.
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