Title: Making a foundation
Name: Julia Fitzgerald
Email: rubyjewels_13@yahoo.ca
Disclosure: The only people I own are Julia Fitzgerald, Jason Matthew, David Blake and Michael Matthews (the child). 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. I Chapter Four: A Hard Day at WorkIt was a little after midnight when Julia drove the ambulance through the police barrier and followed an officer as he directed her to where they wanted the ambulance parked.
Julia climbed out of the ambulance and was immediately greeted by Bosco who had a grim look on his face. But he didn't say anything. He just followed Julia as she walked to the back of the ambulance.
Kim, who had been met by Faith, appeared at the back at the same time as Julia and Bosco. Julia and Kim grabbed their gear and the stretcher.
"Before we take you in, you have to know that he haven't caught the perp yet, so you need to have an officer around you at all times" Bosco said.
"What's going on?" Kim asked, as they entered the building.
Bosco and Faith led Kim and Julia up the stairs.
"We responded to a phone call, from a girl saying she heard shots in an apartment next to her. Upon entering the apartment we found four women approximately 25 years in age – still to be determined by the coroner – with gunshot wounds. They are all dead. However we found a baby in the back room that has a gun shot wound to his foot. We called for back up right away," said Bosco as they reached the fourth floor.
"It looks as though the perp just aimed the gun at the crib and shot, if the baby had been lying the other way the baby would have been dead with a gun shot wound to the head," Faith continued, "From what I saw, it looks like the perp knew which way the baby usually laid because the gun shots are aimed only at that end."
Bosco walked at the front of the group, which Faith was at the back as they walked down the hall towards the apartment. Davis and Sully stood outside the doors, and nodded when the approached.
"So much for a quiet night?" Davis said.
This call had been the second call that Kim and Julia had answered this evening. The first one, which had come as the shift started, had been a women with a major case of hypochondriac, that insisted she be taken to the hospital when nothing was wrong with her.
Since that call, Julia and Kim had been parked at the house. Julia had parked herself on the couch with the latest book. Doc and Carlos decided that they would drive around the zone. In fact they were due back to switch with Julia and Kim. Kim had taken the time to go through the bus and stock everything up. While she was at it she decided to inventory the stock room, just to make sure that they wouldn't run out of anything.
The fire squad had hung around for awhile watching the baseball game that was on television, until one by one, they slowly started disappearing upstairs to the bunks for sleep.
"I'm trying not to hate Al at the moment. It's really not her fault that the fire squad gets bunks to sleep in" Julia said with a smile.
"Where's the baby?" Kim asked as, Bosco pushed through into the apartment.
Luckily, the bodies of the four women had been covered up until the coroner could come and collect them. As Julia and Kim stepped inside they saw the police detectives investigating the crime scene and taking pictures.
Bosco and Faith led Kim and Julia into the bedroom at the back of the apartment.
The minute Julia and Kim entered the room the surveyed the room and went to work.
"Look at her" Kim said, staring.
"I say she's 7 or 8 months old, looks pretty healthy to me. A doctor can make sure," Julia said.
"The gunshot wound is superficial. Looks like you were right Bosco," Kim said looking at the gunshot pattern, "let's put dressing on the wound and get her to mercy. Do we know if any of the women in there was this little one's mother?"
"Yeah, found a picture on the bedside table of the one of the ladies with the baby on her chest. Looks like it was taken just after birth," said Faith.
"The poor thing. She shouldn't have to deal with this so early in her life. Do we know where the father is?" Julia asked.
"Nope," Bosco replied.
After a few more minutes, Julia and Kim had finished up with the baby and were getting ready to leave. When the did leave, Bosco was once again at the end of the group helping to carry the stretcher, Kim held the other end, Julia had the baby in her arms, which Faith, Davis and Sully brought up the back of the group.
The were just about to head down the stairs when a shot was fired. Julia instantly put the baby against her and turned her back to where she though the short was fired. Bosco instantly dropped the stretcher and took out his gun pointing it.
Another shot was fired. Julia moved the baby to the other shoulder as she felt the bullet hit her shoulder. Faith instantly moved in front of her.
"Are you alright?" Faith asked looking around.
"Yeah, just get me out" Julia replied.
"Follow me. We stay against the wall. Sully you take her back," Faith said.
"Done" Sully replied and fell into the line.
Then they started to head down the stairs. Julia made sure the baby was between her and the wall, as she moved. Bosco and Davis stayed at the top of the stairs to make sure that the shooter didn't follow.
Julia, with the baby, made it safely outside and to the back of the rig. That's when she looked around and saw that Kim wasn't with them.
"Where's Kim?" Julia asked.
Just then, Bosco said over the radio "Five Five David, Five Five Charlie requesting EMS support. We have two paramedics injured … repeat we have two paramedics injured"
"Listen," Julia said to Faith and Sully, "I can make it to mercy as I am, and they can look at me there. I want to get the baby there before the sicko can come after me with the baby. Sully you drive the rig, Faith follow in the car. If we don't do this both the baby and I will be in danger."
"Are you sure?" Faith asked.
"Radio your partners and tell them what going on. Both the baby and I are losing blood," Julia said.
Faith picked up her radio and said "Bos, Sully and I are going to take Julia and the baby to the hospital. Wait for the next ambulance and meet us at Mercy. I'm taking our car which leaves you guys with Five-Five Charlie."
"All right Yokas" Bosco came back.
Julia climbed into the rig and settled so that the baby was in her arms and not a strain on her left shoulder injury. Faith closed the doors behind Julia and once Sully was in the drivers seat, tapped the doors to show he was in the clear. With the siren going, Sully took off and Faith climbed into her car and followed.
Reaching Mercy just ten minutes later, the ambulance was met by two stretchers. The doors opened and immediately a nurse was taking the baby from Julia, and Julia was being directed to the other stretcher.
"Sully go with the baby, STAY with the baby. He needs more protection than me" Julia said when Sully appeared.
"Don't worry about the baby, ms. Fitzgerald. We'll take care of him. Just concentrate on yourself," said the doctor.
"Sully promise me?" Julia asked.
"Don't worry, I'll stay with the baby," Sully promised.
Julia and the baby were rolled inside, and Julia saw Faith appear. But she lost sight of her when she was rolled into a different room then the baby. Once inside the room, the doctors went to work to look at her wound.
"I'm so tired" Julia said.
"That's perfect normal" said no of the nurses. "You are doing really well for having been shot"
"Thanks, I think" Julia replied.
"You were really lucky" said the doctor, "It's a clean wound. We'll give you something, sew it up, and then release you. But you are restricted from work for two weeks. I don't want you lifting anything, or exerting yourself until I look at the wound again and give you a clear bill of health" said the doctor.
"Ok" Julia replied.
"Do you have someone that can take you home after this?" the Doctor asked.
"I'll have one of the officer drive me to the station and then get someone to drive my car home" said Julia.
"The pain killers I'm going to give you for the next few days will be heavy and you will probably feel really sleepy," said the doctor.
"Just get it over Doc," said Julia.
"You are definitely part of the five-five" said the doctor "nobody over there likes the hospital."
"Has the other paramedic come in yet?" Julia asked.
"No not yet" said the doctor.
"Can I have the phone please?" Julia asked.
The Doctor looked at the nurse and nodded. The nurse asked "what's the number?"
Julia raddled off the number for the firehouse and then the phone was brought to her.
"Five-Five Fire House" said whoever picked up the phone.
"Jimmy Doherty please?" Julia asked.
"Can I ask who is calling?"
"Julia Fitzgerald" Julia replied.
"Just a minute" said the voice, and then Julia could hear a muffled scream of Jimmy's name, it was a few seconds before Jimmy came to the phone and said "Julia?"
"Yeah Jimmy it's me. Can you get someone to cover the rest of your shift?" Julia asked.
"I think so why?"
"Both Kim and I were shot tonight at the call. I'm fine, they are fixing me up now, but Kim hasn't come in yet and I didn't see her injury," said Julia.
"Okay, I'm on my way," Jimmy said.
"Jimmy my keys are in my locker. Take the jeep. It's better than trying to wait for a taxi, and it's safer than your bike," said Julia.
"Right," Jimmy said, "Jules, thank you for calling me. I'll be there in 15 minutes" and then Jimmy hung up.
"Thank you" said Julia as she handed the phone back to the nurse.
15 minutes later, Jimmy rushed into the hospital. By this time, Julia had been medically released, but was still in the hospital. She sat in the waiting room, with Bosco, Doc, Carlos and Faith waiting to hear on Kim who had been brought in 5 minutes after Julia called Jimmy.
"Hey" Jimmy said as he walked up to them, "what's going on?"
"We brought Kim in, Jimmy. She had a gunshot wound to the left thigh. They've just taken her up to surgery" Doc said.
Jimmy turned to Julia and said, "How are you?"
"I'm not allowed to work for two weeks, and other than I'm dying for a beer at the moment, I'm doing just fine" said Julia.
"You should go home Julia. Get some sleep?" said Doc.
"No I'm fine for now. I want to wait until I hear something about Kim, she's my partner and best friend."
"But the doctor said …"
"I don't care what the doctor said, Faith. I'm going to wait until I hear about Kim before I go home," Julia said, cutting off her friend.
"When you do want to go home, just tell me. I'll give you a drive," said Jimmy as he sat down on the couch.
"Right" Julia said, "Did someone get my bag out of the rig?"
"No, I'll go get it," said Faith as she headed off.
When she came back she handed the bag to Julia who instantly started digging the second she had it, murmuring, "He's going to kill me."
Julia pulled out her cell phone and after opening her digital organizer and turning it on, dialled a number.
"Blake"
"Hey David, it's Julia Fitzgerald" Julia said.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"God I hope everytime I call you it isn't because something is wrong, but Kim was shot tonight and she's in surgery at the minute. I'm so sorry I didn't call you right away" Julia said.
"Doesn't matter, at least you remembered to call me" he said. "I'm on my way now."
"Okay" Julia replied and hung up.
"I should have called him, after you called me. I was just so worried that I got over here as soon as I heard" Jimmy said.
"She is you ex-wife, Jimmy, it's okay that you wanted to rush over here" Julia said.
"Of course, but I was also worried about you," said Jimmy.
Julia turned and looked at him and smiled.
Faith watched the exchange, wondering what was going on between the two.
"Well Julia, you've had you unofficial welcome to the house. Ever member of the house has ended up here. You were lucky to go so long before it was your turn" said Doc.
"Yeah, I'm really lucky. I can't work for two weeks. I'm going to be so bored within a couple of days. Not to mention that I have to watch Michael. How am I going to do that with only one arm," said Julia.
"Don't worry, I'll help out," said Jimmy and then he added quickly, "After all I live right across the street."
"Thanks Jimmy," said Julia.
It was two hours later when the doctor came out to say that Kim had made it through the surgery. David had come to the hospital and now he was headed to sit beside Kim's bedside. Bosco and Faith had headed back to the station, and Sully and Davis were stationed on the infant until their replacements came. Leaving word with David to call and tell Julia when Kim was awake, Julia finally let Jimmy take her home.
As Julia let herself into the house, Melissa met them at the door. Jimmy went and checked on the boys.
"Everything all right Ms. Fitzgerald, Mr. Doherty?" she asked.
"Yeah, I was shot this evening, but I'm fine. I'm off duty for two weeks," said Julia. "Could you continue to come around at the times I given you, I'm on medication and I would like someone else in the house with me?"
"Sure, Ms. Fitzgerald, no problem. What about the rest of the time?" Melissa asked.
"I'll be fine. Jimmy is across the street if I need anything," Julia said.
"Okay" Melissa said.
When Melissa left a few minutes later, Julia turned to Jimmy and said, "Thanks for your help Jimmy."
"If it's okay with you, I'm going to stay on the couch tonight. Just in case something comes up. I've had painkillers before and they sure knock you out. It's better to have someone around, with two little boys then be alone," Jimmy said.
"You don't need to stay Jimmy."
"I know I don't need to, but I want to," he said.
Julia looked into his eyes and saw something in them that she couldn't define.
"Okay, you are probably right," said Julia, "But if you are staying, take the spare bedroom. It is more comfortable than the couch."
Julia turned around and went up the stairs. Jimmy made sure she was in bed and asleep before he walked down the hall and lay down on the bed. He tried to close his eyes, but he just couldn't fall asleep. All he could see when he closed his eyes, was Julia injured.