"Cap wants to see you in his office," Chet said, as Roy exited the squad. There was no sense of teasing or even curiosity as to what was going on in Chet's voice. He looked solemn and serious.
Roy and Johnny exchanged glances; this was not good.
They walked together to the Captain's office, Roy knocked on the door, which was partially closed.
"Come in, Roy," Captain Stanley said.
Roy and Johnny walked in and saw Chief McConnike sitting in the office as well.
"John, we won't be needing you for this conversation," Chief McConnike said.
Johnny looked at Roy, hesitated, but ultimately nodded and headed out of the room.
"Have a seat, Roy," Chief McConnike said, as Captain Stanley got up and moved to close the office door.
Roy sat down and looked between the two men.
"Roy, I'm assuming you saw the news this afternoon," Chief McConnike said.
Roy simply nodded, the nauseous feeling he had while watching the program coming back with a vengeance.
"The LA County Fire Department, and the Paramedic program, cannot have this kind of publicity. It's important the public can trust us when we arrive on scene to help them."
Roy nodded, already guessing where this was going.
"We can't allow ourselves to get sidetracked from that priority by emotional connections," Chief McConnike explained.
Roy looked over at Captain Stanley, who was staring at Chief McConnike, a confused look on his face.
"You understand, don't you Roy?" Chief McConnike asked.
Roy looked at him, but didn't move. He could feel the anger starting to rise.
"Roy? You look upset," Chief McConnike observed.
Roy stayed quiet, trying to figure out what he wanted to say without completely losing his cool.
"You do understand, right? We can't sacrifice the good of the department for the good of the one."
"No, no, I do not understand that," Roy said, standing to his feet. "Our job is to help individuals. We are a collection of individuals that make up this department. It's the individuals that make this department great. And, I think I'm one of the individuals that make it great."
Chief McConnike looked at him. "Oh you do, do you?" He arched an eyebrow.
"Yes, yes I do," Roy said, his voice holding the confidence of a man who knew his worth.
Chief McConnike looked at him, his expression stern. Then he looked at Captain Stanley and his lips cracked a small smile.
"That a boy," Chief McConnike said, standing up and slapping Roy on the back.
Captain Stanley shook his head. "I'm confused."
"Me too?" Roy said.
"Sit down, Roy," Chief McConnike said, sitting back down.
Roy sat back down, totally confused by what was going on.
"I needed to make sure you were ready to fight because the LA County Fire Department is about to bring a complaint against Dennis Kramer on your behalf for defamation of character and interfering with a rescue operation. We are also going to ask for a mental health exam given his behavior. We need you ready for the publicity this is going to cause, not just from reporters, but potentially even victims you are trying to help. I needed to make sure you were ready to defend yourself."
Roy snorted and shook his head. "I really thought you were suspending me again."
"I've already spoken to headquarters; we are behind you 100% Roy and we are not going to let this guy badger you while you're trying to save lives."
"Thank you."
"I understand you've retained the services of Barney Olson?"
"Yes, sir," Roy confirmed.
"We will work with him then to bring charges against Dennis Kramer for his actions this morning."
Roy nodded.
"I'm hoping the news crews don't start following all of you immediately, but if they do, simply do your jobs with all the care and dedication I know you give every day and your only comment to them is "no comment."
Roy nodded.
"That goes for all your men, Hank," Chief McConnike said.
"I'll make sure everyone understands," Captain Stanley said.
"Great, then I'm gonna get back downtown and get the bowl rolling on my end of things," Chief McConnike stood up and dropped hand on Roy's shoulder. "Hang in there, Roy. This too will pass."
E
"There you are," Kyle said, coming up to the passenger side of the squad. "I thought you were gonna be in the cafeteria with Johnny."
"They couldn't stay," was all Ashley said, but from one look at her face Kyle knew the story was much more complicated than that. He circled around the front of the squad and got in the driver's seat. He didn't say anything as he drove them back to the station.
Kyle backed into the bay and turned in his seat to face Ashley, who continued to sit in the squad, looking down at her hands folded in her lap.
"Come with me, I wanna show you something," Kyle said opening the door.
"What?"
"C'mon," Kyle urged.
Ashley reluctantly opened the door and followed Kyle into the locker room.
"What?"
Kyle opened his locker and reached inside. He pulled out a small, black velvet box and handed it to her.
Ashley looked at the box and then back up at Kyle. He nodded. Ashley lifted the lid to reveal a small round diamond on a gold band.
"Kyle, it's beautiful," Ashley said, looking back up at him.
"Jane and I spent yesterday with parents. Her dad gave me permission to ask her to marry me," Kyle beamed.
"When are you going to do it?"
Our anniversary is the day after our next shift. Our first date was at a carnival, and we shared our first kiss while stopped at the top of the Ferris Wheel. The carnival is back in town. I'm going to arrange for the guy to stop us at the top of the Ferris Wheel again and I'm going to propose this time."
"Kyle, that is so romantic," Ashley said, handing him back the ring. "She's going to love it."
"I hope so," Kyle said, nervously; putting the ring back into his locker.
"Trust me, I'm a woman."
Kyle smiled.
"So when do I get to meet her?"
"Soon, I promise."
Kyle closed the locker door as the tones sounds. "Let's go."
Ashley followed him out of the locker room and to the squad.
E
"Squad 24, woman needs assistance, 1500 W. Ann St. Police have been notified. Time out 6:37."
"So much for a quiet end to the shift," Kyle said, putting down his coffee cup. Ashley dumped her breakfast into the garbage can. They quickly moved to the squad and headed out toward the address.
Johnny and Roy heard the call come over the radio. They had just dropped a patient at Rampart and were on the way back to the station hoping to hand off to B shift without any more calls. "We're only a couple blocks away; should we stop and see if they need an extra set of hands? Police being notified can't be good," Johnny suggested.
"As long as we don't get a call it doesn't hurt to swing by," Roy agreed.
Kyle rounded the corner and leaned forward a little in his seat. "What the…"
A man appeared to be in a rage on the front lawn of the house, but with cars parked in the street Kyle and Ashley couldn't see much else. Kyle pulled the squad over to the side of the road. Ashley jumped out and Kyle came around the front of the squad.
The man was kicking a young woman who lay on the ground, her arms covering her face and head. She wasn't even crying for help, she was just laying there, letting him kick her.
Ashley moved forward, but Kyle grabbed her arm. "We wait for the police."
"We've got to help her," Ashley said. "I don't even hear sirens; he could kill her before the police arrive." But she stepped back to stand near Kyle, as he instructed.
Kyle open the side compartment of the squad and pulled out the biophone. "I'm gonna call Rampart to get permission to give him a shot to calm him down, once the police subdue him."
"Maybe we can get him on the ground. If I hit him at the knees, it should at least get him down and maybe we can push him to the ground?"
Kyle just looked at her.
"Kyle?"
"We wait!" He ordered, turning his attention to the biophone, as Rampart acknowledged his call.
Ashley turned back to watch the scene in front of her.
Johnny and Roy turned the corner at the other end of the street and were able to see the scene unfolding in front of them.
"What is Kyle doing?" Johnny asked, not understanding why he wasn't trying to help the woman.
At that moment, the man bent down and grabbed the woman by her throat, pinning her to the ground and beginning to choke her.
"He's gonna kill her," Roy said, stepping on the gas to get them to the house quicker.
They both watched in horror as Ashley ran from her spot next to Kevin and jumped on the man's back.
Ashley wrapped her arms around the man's throat and tried to close off his blood supply, hoping she could force him to lose consciousness.
She lasted about 5 seconds before he let go of his victim and reached back, grabbing Ashley and throwing her off of him and to the ground. Ashley landed hard on her back and it felt like the wind got knocked out of her. She couldn't take a normal breath. She tried to roll to her side, but was met with a swift kick to her rib cage by the man now standing over her. Ashley didn't even have time to react before the man had her by the throat and was pulling her off the ground.
Ashley grabbed for his fingers, but she couldn't get them off her neck. Her vision was getting spotty and she could hear the sound of rushing water. She knew she needed to get oxygen soon or she was going to lose consciousness. Her mind registered two flashes of blue and suddenly she felt herself falling back to the ground.
Ashley rolled to the side and tried to force herself to calm down and take deep breaths. She was having trouble breathing from getting the wind knocked out of her originally, not to mention the injury to her throat. The little air she could breathe in caused pain in her chest.
As she began to feel a bit better Ashley looked up and realized Johnny and Roy were trying to pin the man to the ground. She could hear the police sirens in the distance. "Help them," she yelled to Kyle, but her voice was raspy and not carrying very far. Ashley crawled over to the woman who was lying not far from her and tried to assess her injuries for any immediate concerns. The woman was bleeding and badly bruised, but she was conscious and breathing on her own.
Ashley managed to stand up and move toward the squad. Kyle was taking a syringe out of the drug box. "Get over there and help them," Ashley said, before she took the drug box and moved back over to the woman. She knelt down and started trying to address her injuries.
"Get over here with that shot," Johnny called out, as he and Roy struggled to keep the man on the ground. Ashley was aware of Kyle moving toward them. She turned her attention back to the woman.
"You're gonna be okay," Ashley said softly, as she used gauze to wipe the woman's face, trying to figure out the extent of how badly she was beaten. "I need to check your pupils," Ashley explained. "I'm just going to shine a light in your eyes."
Ashley's hand shook as she updated her small notebook with the woman's vitals. She felt a hand on her arm and looked up, into the concerned blue eyes of Roy. "I've got this Ashley," he said. "Go sit in the squad until we can check you out."
Ashley didn't argue, she handed Roy her notebook and used the nearby tree to help herself stand up. She walked slowly to the squad, still feeling a little unsteady. As she sat down she looked back at the scene.
The police were now on sight and had the man in handcuffs. Johnny was struggling to get his vitals. Kyle had moved over to help Roy treat the young woman. Ashley raised a hand to her throat and rubbed it slightly. She had a feeling she was going to have a bruise on her neck. She closed her eyes and concentrated on taking some slow, deep breaths.
"How are you feeling?"
Ashley opened her eyes to look at Roy.
"I'm okay."
Roy took her arm and Ashley knew he was checking her pulse. She let him do what he needed to do to check her vitals.
"Is that an engine coming?" Ashley asked, hearing sirens in the distance.
"Yeah, it appears there was a small fire inside the house; the engine will check it out and then someone will drive your squad to Rampart. I'll ride in with you and the other female victim. Kyle's gonna ride in with the hulk over there," Roy nodded to the guy Johnny was still treating.
"How mad is Kyle?" Ashley asked.
Roy didn't answer.
"I know I screwed up, Roy. But, I couldn't stand there and do nothing," Ashley grabbed his wrist, so he stopped what he was doing and looked at her. "I couldn't."
Roy placed a hand on her shoulder, but didn't say anything.
Ashley saw Kyle talking to her Captain and he looked furious. Her Captain looked over at her, but Ashley couldn't read his expression.
"C'mon, let's get you loaded into the ambulance," Roy took her arm and guided her toward the ambulance.
She climbed in and moved over so Roy could sit next to her. She looked out trying to see if she could see Johnny, but she couldn't.
E
"Ashley, I'm gonna put you in Treatment Room 3; someone will be with you in just a minute," Dixie said, glancing quickly at the female paramedic and deciding she could walk in okay on her own.
Ashley nodded and headed into the treatment room, letting Roy go into room 2 with the original victim. She knew Kyle had arrived a few minutes before them because she'd watched the ambulance pull away before they had closed the doors to her ambulance. She sat down on the exam table and waited her turn.
Ashley looked up as the door to the treatment room swung open. She was expecting Dixie, but it was a furious looking Kyle. "What the hell were you thinking?" Kyle's voice shook, he was so angry.
"I couldn't stand there and let him kill her," Ashley said.
"I gave you a direct order and you blatantly disobeyed me!" Kyle was shouting at her now.
"I had too," was all Ashley said.
"We are done; do you hear me. I will not partner with someone as reckless and untrustworthy as you!"
The door opened again, this time Roy stepped in. "Stop, right now."
"She…,"
Roy held up his hand, stopping whatever Kyle was going to say. "We are not going to do this here. They can hear you shouting all the way down the hall. She's going to be treated by a doctor and what happened today will be discussed with your Captain, not you. Now out," Roy held the door for Kyle to leave.
Ashley watched Kyle walk out of the room, but was afraid to look at Roy. "I had to do it Roy," Ashley whispered, her eyes on the floor.
"Why?"
Ashley looked up at him, her blue eyes meeting his. "Because I've been her. I've been the woman on the ground with someone just hitting you over and over. And you wonder why no one is coming to help you," Ashley's eyes filled with tears. "Then you realize, it's because no one cares if you live or die. I saw it in her eyes, Roy, the belief that no one cared about her. I couldn't stand back and do nothing. I couldn't, Roy."
Roy moved forward to wrap Ashley in a hug. "We care, Ashley. We care a lot about you, which is why we worry about you."
The door swung open and Dixie came in. "I need a minute with our girl," she said to Roy.
Roy gave Ashley a gentle squeeze and stepped out of the room.
"What happened?" Dixie asked.
"I was trying to help the woman in the other room. The guy threw me over his shoulder, kicked me in the ribs on the right, and grabbed me by the throat until Johnny and Roy took him to the ground," Ashley said, giving Dixie the facts she would need to assess her injuries, but trying to avoid any emotions.
Dixie looked at her, but said nothing. She took her cue for Ashley and kept her time completely professional.
"You're gonna need x-rays on your ribs," she handed her a gown. "Get undressed and put this on. Did you hit your head when he threw you to the ground?"
Ashley shook her head.
"I'll be back in with Dr. Brackett in just a few minutes."
"Is the girl okay?" Ashley asked.
"Broken nose, broken cheek bone, several broken ribs, damaged larynx," Dixie ran the list. "She'll be with us awhile. She's lucky you stepped in when you did." Dixie stepped out of the room and started walking to the nursing station to arrange an x-ray for Ashley.
Johnny rushed around the corner, the drive to the hospital had done nothing but increase his anger. What was Ashley thinking pulling a stupid stunt like that? She could have gotten herself killed. He saw Dixie walking down the hallway. "Dixie, where's Ashley?"
"Room 3," Dixie answered, not seeing the look on Johnny's face.
Roy however, instantly recognized the look on Johnny's face and tried to get in front of him.
"Get outta my way Roy," Johnny warned, trying to dodge around him.
"Don't go in there mad, Johnny. Don't do it," Roy continued trying to block him.
"She coulda gotten herself killed," Johnny said, maneuvering to get around Roy.
"You're not angry, you're scared," Roy said. "Calm down before you go in there."
"I'm not scared. I'm furious. What she did was reckless and stupid," Johnny moved again and this time managed to slip past Roy. He shoved open the door and entered the treatment room. He looked at Ashley, sitting on the exam table in a hospital gown; a bruise already forming around her throat.
Ashley looked up as the door abruptly swung open and saw the fury on Johnny's face. She flinched and crossed her arms around her waist like she was trying to protect herself. Johnny saw the fear in her eyes. Seeing how fragile she looked sitting on the exam table and the realization that she was afraid of him caused all the anger to drain out of his body.
Johnny moved forward and wrapped his arms around Ashley, pulling her into his chest.
Ashley felt the tears start to fall as she wrapped her arms around Johnny. He leaned forward and kissed the top of her head, just holding her for several minutes. He leaned back to look at her and found himself pulling her into a gentle kiss. When he finally pulled back, he gently ran a finger across her cheek to wipe away her tears.
"I had to Johnny. I couldn't stand there and let him kill her," Ashley whispered.
"Shhh, it doesn't matter right now," Johnny said, leaning his forehead against hers. "All that matters is that you're okay."
Ashley leaned back and looked up at him. Johnny leaned forward and captured her mouth in a kiss again. He deepened the kiss, running his hand under her hair to hold the back of her head, he slid his other arm around her waist, pulling her tightly against him. Ashley let herself relax into the kiss feeling safe in his arms.
"I didn't think her condition required mouth-to-mouth," Dr. Brackett said, coming into the room with Dixie and Roy right behind him.
Johnny broke their kiss and just smiled. "I made a judgement call, doc."
"I do feel better," Ashley smiled.
"Me too," Johnny said.
"If you're done checking in on this victim, their asking for us," Roy said, holding up the H-T.
"I'll pick you up as soon as I get off shift," Johnny said, looking back at Ashley.
Ashley nodded.
"Take care of my girl," Johnny said to Dixie and Dr. Brackett.
"No worries," Dr. Brackett said.