LOC 21
Roy had been unlucky with the two other stations he had traded shifts with. Johnny's name had not come up and he was quickly becoming discouraged. He had two other stations to work in St. Francis's purview and then knew he was done; he would have to run into Gage at some conference or another. Worse, it had been a slow shift; he was working as a lineman and had fought two trash can fires. For once in his life he was praying for a large structure fire which would entail all the stations getting called out.
##########
At two a.m. Roy got his wish. Tones sounded and the shift went into action. Quickly slipping on his turnout gear he went into automatic and made his way to the apparatus bay, hoping to to run into Gage somewhere along the way.
"STATION 56, STATION 43, STATION 115, BATTLION 20. STRUCTURE FIRE AT 1308 WILSHIRE WAY, CROSS STREET COMPTON. TIME OUT 2:20"
Climbing on the engine Roy's heart raced, wondering if his luck would change and he would finally find Johnny and be able to talk to him for a few scant minutes. As the engine drove up to the fire, he could see it a good half a mile away. He had gotten his wish. DeSoto jumped off the engine and waited for his orders, licking his lips he could see it was a large abandoned warehouse. Flames were already shooting up from the roof and it was couple of stories high. His heart quickened as he watched other firefighters attack the building.
"All right DeSoto take two and a half and go to the north side," his captain ordered.
With so many engine companies the large structure fire was quickly put down; however with the toxic fumes SCBA gear was still required. DeSoto was taking care of a pillar still filled with embers, concentrating on his work.
Gage was pulling up cardboard when he noticed a familiar name on a turnout, DeSoto. He blinked again not sure of what he was seeing, knowing even Chet didn't know what station he worked at. Roy was intent on knocking out the embers in the pillar and the fire was mostly out. Still, toxic fumes filled the air and the masks were both a help and hindrance. With his prod, Johnny moved some wet cardboard checking for hidden embers. Then he heard the noise.
What the hell? Then he noticed the slight groan and creak of the ceiling and where his former paramedic partner was.
"ROY!" Johnny yelled through the SCBA gear. His breath fogging up the unit. "Roy!"
Roy stopped what he was doing and listened. All he could hear were men talking and the sound of fires still burning.
Johnny heard the ceiling groan louder "DESOTO!"
Roy again stopped what he was doing for an instant, shrugged and continued his work.
"Oh, hell," Johnny mumbled and ran as fast as he could to DeSoto; he knocked him down just as the ceiling came crashing down on both of them.
##########
Roy opened his eyes and looked up at stars in his field of vision. He smelled smoke and heard a voice.
"St. Francis, patient is now conscious," the voice said.
"10-4, 115. Give us another set of vitals," another voice responded.
"10-4"
A piercing white light was thrust in his eyes. His left shoulder was on fire and he was having hard time breathing.
"Okay, now that you're awake want to tell me your name and what day it is?"
"Roy DeSoto, Wednesday. I was working station 56 as a lineman," he answered. Then he coughed and almost fainted.
"Hey that's DeSoto," Carl looked at the injured man.
"You know him?" the other paramedic asked.
"Yeah, he used to be Johnny's partner," Carl could see Roy was in distress.
"Johnny? Where's Johnny?" Roy eyes showed feared and confusion.
"He saved your ass, DeSoto," Carl spat, "They're digging him out now."
"Oh god. Oh god," Roy mumbled. "My fault. All my fault."
The ambulance sirens stopped and the attendants got out with a gurney and headed towards Roy and the paramedic from 115.
"St. Francis, ambulance has arrived on scene."
"10-4 115 transport as soon as possible."
"No," Roy looked at the man. "Not until Gage is out."
"DeSoto!" The other paramedic chastised him.
"Please, damn it. He saved my life," Roy begged.
"115, is patient ready to transport," the biophone squawked.
The paramedic looked at Roy and the biophone then picked it up.
"Negative St. Francis. Patient is refusing transport until second patient is extricated."
There was silence on the other end of the phone and all three men waited impatiently.
"115 is patient stable?"
"Affirmative St. Francis and coherent. Request permission to transport both patients at once."
"Affirmative 115. Please send vital signs of patient one every five minutes."
"10-4 St. Francis" and then the paramedic gasped as Gage was laid next to DeSoto.
Turning his head, Roy saw cuts and lacerations on Johnny's face, then noticed he was on a backboard and had a c collar on. Then Gage's turnout coat was removed to show blood everywhere. At that point the world turned black for DeSoto.
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Roy opened his eyes once again, the harsh examination room lighting forced him to close his eyes immediately.
"I need you to open your eyes please," a soothing voice ordered.
His eyes opened and the injured paramedic looked at the man with glasses, green eyes, and brown hair.
"I'm Doctor Joel Silverstien, head of the ER at St. Francis. Can you tell me your name?" Joel crossed his arms.
"Roy DeSoto. It's Wednesday, and I was working at station 56. I think I'm going to be sick," Roy turned his head to find an emesis bowl and a friendly face.
"Hullo luv. I'm Millie," she smiled and he blushed.
"Well Roy we'll get some x-rays and see if we can't alleviate some of your pain."
"Johnny," Roy whispered, "what about Johnny?" and looked into the doctor's eyes.
"Millie can you help Roy here," Silverstien watched as the x ray machine and technician came in.
Nodding solemnly she looked at the injured man who had tears in his eyes. "They rushed him up to the OR, Roy. He'll be okay," Millie patted his arm.
"Thank you," Roy whispered. "I thought he was . . ."
"Not Johnny, luv, he's a tough one, isn't he doctor?" Millie looked to the doctor.
"Yes, I heard he has nine lives. Well, let's get those x-ray's Roy," Silverstien and Millie made their way out of the room and DeSoto closed his eyes and prayed.
##########
Johnny felt like he was floating, the rush of waves filled his ears and he was speechless. He thought he heard Roy's voice. He was thankful he had saved his former friend; he wasn't going to all the trouble to save Joanne and then leave the children fatherless, something he knew about intimately.
The cooing of Millie meant he was at St. Francis and he gave into the darkness.
##########
When Roy opened his eyes, he found himself in a hospital room and heard a woman's soft crying.
"Oh Roy," Joanne wiped the tears from her eyes and hugged him.
The paramedic knew his ribs had been wrapped, along with his shoulder; he was on a nasal cannula and clearly could see an IV on his uninjured arm. His wife crying meant only one thing: Gage was dead and it was his fault, since if he had never pushed his friend away the ceiling wouldn't have collapsed on him.
"Oh my god," Roy whispered. "Johnny's dead isn't he?" He was forcing himself to face the truth.
"No Roy, honey, he's not dead. He's in a coma in ICU. I'm so sorry Roy. I shouldn't have pushed you to find him. It's all my fault," Joanne cried harder.
"Babe, how is it your fault?" the injured man blinked back the tears when he knew he had been the cause of all of it.
Joanne sat on the edge of the bed. "Roy, it well . . . since things were back to normal," she held tighter onto her handkerchief. "I realized how much we both needed Johnny."
Roy nodded. "Joanne, I understand. I didn't realize how much he'd become a part of our family, hell even the station's family." Roy smiled.
"Yes he is," Joanne held tight to Roy's good hand.
The door to the room opened and Millie came in.
"I see you found Roy," Millie came to them.
"Yes and thank you for everything," Joanne gave a quick smile.
"Millie? Millie I need to see Johnny," Roy stated, needing the reassurance his friend was still alive.
"In case you haven't noticed Roy, you have an IV and really shouldn't be moved," Millie crossed her arms but could see pain in the paramedic's eyes.
"You don't understand Millie, Johnny; well he's saved my life, more times than I can count and especially tonight. I really need to see him, please," Roy whispered.
Millie could see the fear and pain in Roy's eyes and remembered all the times Johnny had talked fondly of his former partner. Dixie had called her from what she found out and could see how Roy had tried to find Gage again. Sighing she knew Johnny's condition was grave and didn't want the paramedic to have any regrets.
"I'll see what I can do luv," she turned and left the frightened couple still holding tightly onto one another.