It was 12:10 pm when Linda arrived. She always struggled with being on time everywhere she went. During the ride, Linda told Jennifer about the ladies, recalling their stations and shifts. Jennifer just looked out the window during the drive, wishing she could just be back at her apartment enjoying the solitude.
The two pulled up to a Benny's Diner. It was a small diner that had seen better days. The sign was faded and it was difficult to tell that it was open. "What made you guys choose this place?" Jennifer asked.
"They have a bar and Jane works here. Jane quit the department but is still friends with some of the girls. Her uncle owns the place, and she lets us have the room in the back so we can bitch in private." Linda parked her car, and the two got out. There were only a handful of cars in the parking lot, the few women from the department, and a couple of the restaurant workers.
"New recruit?" a young blonde quietly greeted the two as they walked in. Jane was about 5'3" with her auburn hair put into a low ponytail that reached her mid-back.
"Yeah, something like that. She graduated the academy with me, but she doesn't get her kicks off fire like I do," Linda answered.
"Ah, a paramedic? Bout time they find a girl smart and tough enough to take on the paramedic program." She took a moment, thinking about what she had been lost. "Hopefully you'll do better than what I did. It was good sometimes, helping the injured, but I had to get out of it though. For my own sanity!" She forced out a chuckle.
"You were a paramedic?" Jennifer asked incredulously. Jane looked like she would struggle to carry a tray full of food, something that Jenn thought didn't happen too often at the restaurant.
"Just last year. Funny how it was only a year ago but seems like forever. But that was a different life. Not a good one. My uncle is great and needed the help. Plus any guys make a move, they aren't welcomed back. It's nice that there're some consequences for bad behavior from the guys. You all go on back. Can I grab you something to drink?" Linda ordered the two rum and diet cokes, but Jen quickly amended the order to just a Diet Coke.
Sitting at the table was Barbie, she was forty years old with gray that streaked her brown hair that was styled as a pixie cut. Barbie was the oldest woman in the department and had been around for eight years. She was the only woman for three years before Samantha, who goes by Sam, joined the department. Sam was still in the department and now sitting across from Barbie. Linda sat next to Sam as Jen slide in next to Barbie. "We're down a lady who works on B shift. You'll have to meet Caitlin at the usual C shift get together," Barbie explained. The women exchanged greetings and spoke of what station they were assigned.
"So, Jennifer, how's the training going so far?" asked Barbie.
She waited a moment, trying to think about it. It had its ups and a lot of downs. "It's going," she sighed. "Does it get any easier? Because it's tougher, then I thought." Sam let out a chuckle.
"It all depends on how you handle things. I've been around a while and busted my fair share of balls. I do my job and I've been with the same crew for a few years. It took awhile but I think my crew respects me." Barbie nodded her head in agreement. If a person didn't take shit from the guys, a woman could work on gaining respect in most stations. "Just be prepared, there's a few assholes that like to play grab-ass. And the department won't support you if you try to file a complaint."
Jane walked up to the table, slipping the drinks to Linda and Jennifer. "You talking about Captain Engle?" Jennifer asked. Samantha confirmed it with a small nod. "He's the reason I left."
Jennifer's eyes widened. "You?" It was barely a whisper. Jane pulled up a chair from another table and slide it to the end of the table.
"Walked in on me while I showered about a week in. He was friendly that first week. It just got worse from there. I had to leave." Jane lowered her eyes, trying to hide from the judgemental looks. She always felt like a quitter for leaving the department. Little did she know, that each one of the women understood and still wanted to support her.
"I would've thought he would've learned not to mess with women after Caitlin got to him," Samantha said with a laugh. Jennifer looked puzzled. Jane got back up and left for the kitchen. She still felt the guilt of not fighting back and was envious of Caitlin's reaction. Not punching him may have been her biggest regret while in the department. "He tried to corner Caitlin in the locker room. Feel her up. He ended up with a black eye." Jennifer's eyes widened in surprise. She wished she had done that to him, but she froze. It was something that she struggled with accepting. "Bastard still got off. Caitlin got transferred to a Brushfire station out in the middle of nowhere."
Samantha explained that the department used the brushfire stations as punishment or for guys quietly waiting for retirement. It was a two-man station that lacked action.
"Seems like he ain't getting any at home, the way he makes a move on any woman that comes into the station," Linda piped up. She glanced over to Jennifer. It was a slight gesture with large implications that did not go unnoticed by the other women. The cat was out of the bag. There were three women that Captain Engle assaulted.
Barbie attempted to change the conversation to ways in which a woman can survive the department. Barbie spoke about how she had to speak up for herself but kept things in house. She stressed the physical aspect and staying in shape to keep up with the men. It also helped that she was a physical education teacher and girls' field hockey coach before joining the department. She spoke highly of her crew and had no major complaints once the guys got used to having a woman in the station. She was contemplating taking the Engineer's exam next month at the suggestion of her Captain.
Samantha had similar stories about "dishing it back out" to the guys and being prepared. She acknowledged that she got the usual harassment from the crew early on, but that the crew had taken her in. She continued about how the guys on other shifts aren't too friendly at shift change, but that she tried not to let it bother her. She suggested joining in on the pranks against other guys to deflect some attention.
Jane returned from checking in on the group and to refill their drinks. Barbie asked her if she had advice for the newest member. "Know when it's time to get out." The crew was quiet.
Jennifer hoped she could remember everything. If she was going to keep going, she knew she'd have to try to find ways to survive. The hardest part was hearing how the women had dished it out. She always struggled with comebacks to her brother and would usually just punch him in the arm and glare at him. Then, about twenty minutes later, she'd come up with something that would have been perfect for the situation. The more she thought about, the more she felt that it would be too hard. Maybe it was good that she could finish up her last week in the fire department.
The group chatted for another hour before saying their goodbyes and scheduling another C shift get-together. The women all gave Jennifer their phone numbers to keep in touch and offered any help or guidance they could. Jennifer was thankful for one thing; she finally found a part of the fire department where she felt like she belonged.
When Jennifer arrived home, she seemed as if she was in a better mood, but still had things on her mind. Linda asked about Jennifer's decision to quit the department. Jennifer stated that she still had to work through something but hope to decide on Tuesday once she learned what her upcoming shadowing shifts were. Linda was relieved that it wasn't a definite "I quit."
The next morning, Christopher made it a point to get over to the hospital at 7:00 AM to talk with Dr. Morton. It would give him enough time to get breakfast and coffee at the hospital before going to the medical school building next door. It was where all the first and second-year medical courses were held before the start of clinical rotations and residency.
When Chris walked into the Emergency Room, the senior nurse quickly stopped him at the nurse's station. She was insistent the Chris complete the necessary forms as she handed him the clipboard. Chris set the clipboard on the counter while the nurse returned her attention to completing her paperwork. He cleared his throat several times. It was on the fourth and loudest time that she gave him an annoyed look. He explained that he worked the weekends there and had to see Dr. Morton. He shouldn't have been surprised that the nurse had not known who he was. By being one of the most senior nurses on staff, she had the pick of her shift and weekday daylight was the most preferred. She had never seen him before. He looked at his watch while trying to keep his irritation in check. "Listen, can you just call him and tell him that Chris DeSoto needs to see him?"
"Any relation to Roy DeSoto?" A flash of a smile waved over her face and there was his in.
"He's my father. I work here on the weekends shuttling people and things around while going to med school. I know that you must be really busy, but I was hoping to speak with him before my 8:00 am classes." She made the phone call to Dr. Morton's office to see if he was available. Once Dr. Morton knew who wanted to see him, he had him come right to the office.
The door was open as Dr. Morton was already expecting Chris's arrival. Chris still knocked on the door before entering. "Come on in, Chris. I didn't expect to see you here. Everything okay?"
Chris entered the office and shut the door behind him. Dr. Morton motioned to a chair, and Chris took a seat. Dr. Morton sat at his desk. "what seems to be on your mind, son?"
"I was hoping you could help me out. Well actually, kind of help out my sister, I guess. She doesn't know I'm talking to you about this." He was quiet. He knew that as soon as he would spill the beans and make the request, there would be no taking it back. His sister would want to kill him if she ever found out.
"Go on," Dr. Morton said with slight irritation. He hated to waste time. He wanted Chris to get straight to the point. He was a busy man.
Chris rustled around in his pocket for the list with two stations on it. Once it was found, he slid it to Dr. Morton. Dr. Morton read it out loud, still not understanding what was being asked of him. "Those are the only two stations and shifts that treated Jenny alright. Well, not 51B initially, but changes have been made, so it should be a good station now''
Dr. Morton had wondered what had happened to Randy, who was now working as a floater, filling in for those on vacation or had called out sick. He wasn't one to ask about personal details, as he wasn't one to engage in gossip. But it was starting to make sense.
"There are only three weeks remaining. I may make weekly placements, but I don't have any say in the final placements. It's highly unlikely that she's going to get into one of these two stations. If something is going on that LA County needs to know, Jennifer is going to have to speak up. I can't give her any special privileges. She only has six more shadowing days before her permanent placement is given."
"I hope she lasts that long," he whispered. But it was still loud enough for Dr. Morton to hear it. "You're right. Sorry for wasting your time." Chris got up and left without a proper goodbye. His disappointment was etched on his face.
Dr. Morton sat there looking at the paper. He knew that Jennifer would make a good paramedic in time. He would see glimpses of Roy's work in her. If it meant a slight schedule change to keep her around, he would do it. He opened up his desk drawer and pulled out his placement list for this week. He took a red pen from the holder and crossed out 110 B on Wednesday for Jennifer and put 51 B in its place. He left 36A on the schedule for Friday. There was no good A shift according to the list. Dr. Morton wasn't quite sure what was going on, but he hoped that if changes needed to be made in the department, they'd be made.
When Jennifer was working at the hospital later in the day, Dr. Morton could pick up on Jennifer's changes. She appeared to be going through the motions. At times, she was in her own world. When he pulled her to the side to ask about what was going on, all she said was "everything was fine." When he encouraged her to reach out for help if it was needed, he could've sworn he saw a flash of anger. She insisted once again that she was "fine." She rushed through the shortlist of people who may have tipped off Dr. Morton because it was obvious that Dr. Morton knew something had happened. It had to be Chris.
At lunch, Dr. Morton made his placement call to the LA County Fire Headquarters. Jennifer would know about the weekly placement tomorrow. She was safe for at least another shadowing shift with 51 B, but who knew about 36A. It hasn't been an assignment she had before.