Title: Making a foundation
Name: Julia Fitzgerald
Email: rubyjewels_13@yahoo.ca
Disclosure: The only people I own are Julia Fitzgerald. I had to make up a few names for the firefighters but that's because we really don't learn their names in the show. Please forgive me, I'm just having some fun here. Chapter One: The First DayJulia Fitzgerald could hear the laughter and shouting even before she turned her jeep onto the road. It was a warm summer evening and Julia had the top down. Once she made the turn she could see a bunch of guys playing around with water. The big red fire engine sat in the middle of them, not seeing a lot of the water.
Julia found the parking spots for people that worked in the fire department, EMS & police, and pulled into a free spot. She shut down the engine. Before climbing out she looked in the mirror to check her appearance. She then looked at her clothes and made sure everything looked fine. She was only wearing a pair of jeans and a tight fitting shirt with spaghetti straps, but she still wanted to make a good impression. She then opened the door and climbed out. She walked around to the back of the jeep and got her bag out.
Julia then walked around the cars to the entrance. She was just going to enter the building when one of the guys yelled, "Hey Miss?"
Julia turned around to see that the guy was talking to her. He was tall and good-looking. And by the way he was looking at her, with a smile on his face, Julia could tell he thought he was god's gift to women.
"Yes?" Julia replied.
"I'm afraid you can't park there. It's only for the people that work here at the five-five. Visitor's have to park down the street," he said.
"Thanks for bringing to my attention," Julia replied and continued into the building.
The man turned around and said to his friends "Can't say we didn't help. Will be her fault if that jeep of hers gets towed."
Julia having heard the comment continued into the building and headed for the stairs. At the top of the stairs, Julia stopped and looked around. She noticed that there was a couple of people sitting in the TV lounge and headed that way. As she approached the room, she saw that the two people were females. She smiled when she realized one was her life long best friend Alexander Taylor.
"So this is what you do around here, the guys out washing the trucks and the girls sitting and talking?" Julia said.
The two girls turned around, and instantly Alex recognized Julia.
"Jules! Is that you?" Alex Taylor asked.
"No, Al, it's someone else," Julia replied.
Alex got up off the couch and rushed to hug Julia.
"It's been forever! What are you doing here?" Alex asked.
"I'm assigned here" Julia replied. "And it's great to see you too."
"Alex?" the other women asked.
"Oh my god, where are my manners. Julia Fitzgerald, this is Kim Zambrano. Kim is paramedic here at the five-five. Kim this is my best friend from child hood, Julia Fitzgerald. She's also a paramedic," Alex introduced.
"It's nice to meet you," Kim said, extending her hand.
"It's nice to meet you too," Julia replied.
"Why didn't you tell me you were assigned here?" Alex asked.
"And miss the look on your face when I reported in, no way," Julia said, "I knew you were assigned here and to what shift. And when I learned this was where I was being transferred to, I knew I had to surprise you. But believe me I picked up the phone so many times, and wanted to email you badly."
"Well we'll have to get together and catch up. God it's been at least a month since I heard from you," Alex said.
"Boy five-five David, 911 call from 1138 East lakeside road, reports of a heart attack, respond" came the voice over the speakers.
"This is boy five-five David, responding 10-4 to call," Kim said into her radio attached to her shoulder "Come on Alex"
"I guess I'll see you when I get back" Alex said as she followed Kim out. But just before heading down the stairs, she turned and said, "Lieutenant's office is at the bottom of those stairs" and pointed over Julia's shoulder
"Thanks" Julia said, as Alex disappeared down the stairs.
Julia turned around and walked over to the office, that Alex had pointed her to. She raised her hand and knocked on the semi-closed door.
"Come in," a voice said.
Julia opened the door and walked in.
"Julia Fitzgerald?" said the man sitting at the desk.
"That's me," Julia replied.
"Welcome to the Five-five, I'm Lieutenant Mitchell and this man is Monte Parker, head of the EMS division here," the man said as he stood up and shook Julia's hand.
"Welcome to the Five-five," the man introduced as Monte Parker said as he shook Julia's hand.
"Thank you," Julia replied.
"You'll be riding with me," Monte Parker said as he stood up from leaning against the window. He then continued, "I've got a locker and uniforms ready for you upstairs. There are also some forms that I would like you to fill out – they're standard forms for health and payment things. Nothing you haven't already filled out. This folder here contains everything, including the parking tag for your car, so that you can park in the parking instead of visitors."
"Thanks Monte" Julia replied.
"Please call me Doc," he replied. "If you have any questions, or something's bothering you, don't hesitate to bring it up with either me or the Lieutenant. Now if you follow me, I will take you upstairsand you can change into your uniform."
"Thanks" Julia said and followed him.
Julia had just finished changing into her uniform, when a call came out over the radio saying, "Five-five ladder five-five, Boy five-five Charlie, reports of fire coming from house at 13 Winslow, Neighbours report the family is home. One adult female, one adult male and one male child in the fire. Five-five David and five-five Charlie already responding."
Julia
finished stuffing her change of clothes in her locker and put on her running
shoes.
Doc showed up at the top of
the stairs and said, "boy five-five Charlie is us, come on we got to go"
Julia grabbed her bottle of water and car tag and closed the locker. She raced down the stairs. She followed Doc down the stairs and out of the building. The fire truck was already pulling out.
"Get the rig going, I have to put the tag on my car, or it's bound to be towed," Julia said as she ran to her car.
Julia placed the tag on the car and then ran to the rig as it pulled up behind her car. She opened the door and hopped in. Doc started going right away, turning on the lights, and leaving Julia to do nothing but put on her seat belt.
Within minutes, they were at the scene. They pulled up behind the fire truck and the two police car. Julia jumped and grabbed the bags from the side and rushed around to the back of the bus.
"Doc!" Shouted one of the fire fighters as he and a buddy came out of the building carrying a small child.
"Over here," Doc replied as he pulled the bed out of the back of the bus.
The guy brought the kid over and placed him on the bed, and said, "We still haven't found the other person yet. We found him in the bathroom in a tub of water" and then left again.
The instantly went to work on the little child.
"Pulse is rapid, but steady – probably just from being scared," Julia reported. "He looks fine, except that he's a little dirty."
"Breath sounds a little constructed, lungs are probably filled with smoke. We should get him to Mercy Hospital to be looked at," Doc said, and then looked up at the police officer standing there "Heard anything about the parents?"
"Nothing yet, but they can't get into the back bedroom," the women said.
Doc grabbed his radio and called "Boy Five-five Charlie to Boy Five-five David, come in."
"Read you clear" came the reply
"What's your status?"
"False alarm, just finishing up the paper work, why?"
"Need you at this location to help with causalities, can you get here?" Doc asked.
"We are headed out now, ETA is two minutes" was the reply.
Doc looked back up at the office and asked, "You think you could take the kid in. I'll stay here and wait for Kim and Alex to arrive. We know that there are two people still inside."
"Sure Doc," she replied.
" Julia, I want you to go with the kid," Doc said and then turned back to the officer "Faith Yokas, meet Julia Fitzgerald. She's the new paramedic"
"Nice to meet you," Faith said.
"Likewise, where's your car?" Julia asked, looking around.
"Right over here," Faith replied, "Do you want me to leave Bosco here to help?"
"Yeap," Doc replied.
"Hey sweetheart, we're going to go for a ride, okay?" Julia said to the young boy, but she received no answer.
Julia picked up the boy and carried him over to the police car. Doc followed with her bag.
"I'll call for you if I need you back here to help, otherwise stay with the kid, until he's been seen by social services," Doc said.
"Are you sure you will be alright here alone?" Julia asked.
"I'll be fine, Kim and Alex are on their way. I'll join you at the hospital" Doc said.
"Alright," Julia replied and crawled into the back of the police cruiser.
Faith opened the driver's side door, when a young guy came up and asked, "What's going on?"
"Got to take this kid to Mercy. Stay here and help doc" Faith said and got in the car. As soon as the engine was going, the sirens were on and Faith took off.
A couple hours later, Julia was sitting in the room they had given the little boy, finishing the paper work, when there was a knock on the door. Julia looked up to see Faith Yokas standing at the door. Julia stood up and walked over to the door.
"What's going on?" Julia asked.
"They found the two adults in the master bedroom. That's where the fire originated. They didn't make it. However, all the information about the kid was in a fire safe box in the bathroom. Name, birth certificate, Doc's bring all the information in. As well as a note. Seems the couple, who are the boy's aunt and uncle, committed suicide but didn't want to kill the boy so they placed him in a place that they knew he couldn't get out of, and most likely wouldn't be injured. Tox screen has yet to come back but it most likely will show that the couple didn't feel anything when the fire got to them," said Faith "We've contacted the parents and they are on their way in. The parents couldn't believe this, all they wanted was a weekend alone. How's the boy?"
"He'll be alright, it was lucky that the neighbours reported the fire as soon as they saw it, or else that little boy would be seriously injured. The doctors gave him something to sleep." Julia said, looking at the little kid. "God what a first ride, this was"
"It's always the hardest when it's a child" Faith said.
"You have kids?"
"Yeah, two. 15 and 10. You?" Faith asked.
"One. He's seven. Lives with his father most of the time," Julia said by way of explanation.
"Welcome to the five-five, by the way," Faith said.
"Thanks, and I'm sorry about earlier. It is really nice to meet you," Julia said.
"I understand, a call isn't really the place to meet people," Faith said.
"Thanks for hanging around" Julia said.
"No problem. Bosco, my partner, and Doc will be here shortly," said Faith. "I'm heading down to the cafeteria, do you need anything?"
"Water would be great," Julia replied. "I left the my other water in the rig."
"I'll be back in a few minutes?" Faith said and walked away.
Julia turned around and went back to the bed, taking the seat at the end of the bed. She watched the child sleep. He couldn't have been more than three years old and Julia cursed the people that left him in the tub while they full-filled a suicide pact.
Faith came back a few minutes later with a bottle of water, and was followed by Doc and the young man Julia had seen talking to Faith at the scene.
Instead of telling Doc about the patient, she just handed over the clipboard and let him read it for himself. Taking out a pen, Doc filled in the information that he brought with him from the scene.
"The little guy going to be alright?" the young man asked.
"He's sleeping, but he should be fine, not a lot of damage was done," Julia replied.
The young man looked at her. "And you would be?"
"Don't be an idiot Bosco, Maurice Boscorelli this is Julia Fitzgerald, the new paramedic" Faith introduced.
"Nice to meet you," he said as he looked her up and down.
"Put your tongue back in your mouth Boscorelli, I'm not worth your time," Julia said.
"Yeah, I know but I can still look, can't I. And it's Bosco," he replied.
Just then a man and a women ran into the room, followed by the doctor.
Doc and Julia returned to the firehouse about an hour after that. Walking inside, Julia was greeted by the smell of pizza. Walking up the stairs, she found the whole group of people in the kitchen area grabbing food.
"Alright every one settle down," said a loud voice that Julia recognized was the Lieutenant's voice. "We have a new paramedic in the house. I would like everyone to welcome Julia Fitzgerald. Julia this is the five-five third watch. Starting on your write is Alex Taylor, Kim Zambrano, Jimmy Doherty, Joseph Lambardie, David Nicholson, Doc, Jack Michaels, Maurice Boscorelli, Faith Yokas, Ty Davis, John Sullivan, Trey Johnston, and Jordan Lucas"
"Hey" Julia said.
And the group mutter hellos back.
After grabbing her food and a soda, Julia walked over to where Alex and Kim were sitting along with Jimmy Doherty.
"Hey Fitzgerald, about earlier …" he said
"Forget it, and the names Julia" she replied.
"God I still can't believe you're here," Alex said, "this is going to be a blast, Jules"
"We always have a blast, Al," Julia replied.
"Julia and Alex are childhood best friends," Kim said to Jimmy.
"And Jimmy and Kim use to be married," Alex said. Turning back to Julia, Alex said, "You have a place to stay?"
"I'm staying at Mom and Dad's. I wasn't going to but they insisted. They are living down in Florida and said if I don't take it then they would have to rent it out to some stranger that was willing to take the job of super for the block. And I have to admit, being super isn't all that bad when it comes to it, all I have to do is make sure that the rent is paid. Mom and Dad said they have some guy from across the street looking out for physical needs."
"You're Max and Tella's Daughter?" Jimmy asked.
"Yeah why?" Julia replied
"I live across the street and do the super jobs for them," Jimmy said.
"Wow," Julia said, "Imagine that, we're neighbours. Well at least I will know someone on the street. It's been forever since I've lived there myself. I accepted living there because it's better than paying rent for some place that wouldn't be as big for Michael and I."
"How is he doing?" Alex asked.
"He's fine, it the asshole of the father that I am having a hard time with," Julia said. "One of the reasons I asked for a transfer here. Jason was recruited by a law firm and took it without any consideration to Michael. So I transferred because I don't want Michael flying by himself from city to city, and I didn't want Jason to file for full custody."
"You're ex always was egotistical. God I don't know why you married him" Alex said.
"Neither do I" Julia replied.
"Boy five-five Charlie, respond to call at 81 Michaels street," came the radio call.
"See you later," Julia said as she stood up and headed out with Doc.
After she disappeared, Kim turned to Jimmy and said, "Her relationship sounds worse than our relationship last year."
"Believe me it is" said Alex, and smiled as Ty Davis sat down beside her.
It was 3 a.m. when Julia walked into her apartment. Her first day had been long. It was one call after another, never stopping. She didn't even change out of her uniform before leaving the firehouse. As soon as she was inside the door, she hit the play button on her answering machine only for it to play "Hey Julia, this is Jason. I need to talk to you. It's very important. Give me a call"
"Not tonight" was all Julia had to say to the message. She walked into the kitchen and pulled a beer out of the fridge, and then she headed up to her bedroom. She changed into a t-shirt and pair of pyjama pants and crawled into bed. And fell asleep leaving a half empty beer on the nightstand.