Absolute Fire-FIGHTER ~ Chapter 3

7:30am

The sun shined into the waiting room, awaking Ruth from the half sleep she was in. Looking around, she saw Walsh sitting on a chair drinking a coffee, and DK on the floor sitting up, with his head in his hand slowly dozing off. Her daughter laid in front of DK, sound asleep under a blanket he had gotten for her from the nurse's station.

"You both can leave if you'd like." Ruth said quietly, "We'll be fine."

"We'd like to stay, if that's alright Ruth." Walsh replied, as DK's eyes opened completely.



DK yawned, and looked at his watch, "Jimmy should be here any minute."

Ruth rubbed her forehead, and nodded, "Who was he helping to move?"

"His aunt and uncle. They bought a place down in Virginia." Walsh replied.

"What time did you finally get a hold of him?" Ruth asked, trying not to yawn.

"I think around 2, and he said he was leaving as soon as he got off the phone." DK replied.

Ruth nodded and rubbed her eyes. She started moving around, to try and get comfortable in some way. It wasn't very long after that point, when Jimmy came bursting through the waiting room door in a huff.

"What did you run the whole way from Virginia?" Walsh asked.

"Funny," Jimmy replied. He walked over and gave Ruth a hug, then sat down next to her, "Anything?"

"Doctor hasn't come out yet, it might still be too early." Ruth replied.

Jimmy sat back into the chair, and regained his breath, "Where's Bridge?"

Walsh motioned to the floor, where she was now burried under the blanket next to where DK sat. Jimmy looked over and then nodded, "She still have those streak things in her hair?"

"They're highlights!" Bridgette yawned, from under the blanket, not even sure who she was talking to. She pulled the blanket from over her head, and looked up, letting the figures around her come into focus, "Jimmy!" she exclaimed.

"Hey squirt." Jimmy replied, while she stretched and sat up.

"When did you get here?" She asked.

"Just now." he replied.

Bridgette nodded then looked to her mother. Before she said, anything Ruth answered the question she knew was coming, "Haven't heard anything yet."

"Ok." Bridgette replied.

Jimmy sighed and pulled out his wallet, opened it and took out two pieces of paper, "One in Virginia, and one in Maryland."

"Huh?" Bridgette asked.

"You got pulled over?!" Walsh exclaimed.

"Twice." Jimmy replied.

DK's jaw dropped, "How fast were you going?"

"Too fast apparently." Bridgette stated.

Jimmy gave Bridgette and unpleased look, "95 in a 55 and 110 in a 65."

"Jimmy you didn't have to drive that fast." Ruth stated.

Bridgette looked at him horrified, "If I ever got caught going that fast, or got pulled over period, I would never see my car again."

Jimmy raised his eyebrow, "You better not even be going that fast, let alone get caught going that fast."

Bridgette opened her mouth to answer, but stopped, when Doctor Hanson emerged into the waiting room.

"Good morning Mrs. Johnson, Bridgette." He said walking up to them.

Ruth and Bridgette nearly knocked each other over, they both jumped up so fast along with DK, Walsh and Jimmy.

"Good morning." Ruth replied. Her eyes were practically begging for good news, while her daughter stood next to her, squeezing her hand.

DK kept his hands on Bridgette's shoulders, as the doctor started to explain, "He made it through the night well. We're going to start some procedures which are painful, so we have to keep him sedated. We're also keeping him intubated at that time as well...."

"How long is that?" Bridgette asked.

"About three weeks." he replied.

"Weeks?!" Bridgette and Ruth exclaimed, at the same time.

Doctor Hanson nodded, "Yes. Meanwhile we're going to start the procedures of debrading, and doing skin grafts. It will have to be done every day, to keep away the infections. It's where we scrub the dead skin from the burns off of his body, and replace it with skin from other parts of his body. For instance we can use skin from the back of his thighs, and put it on his arms, face, and chest."

Bridgette's face fell, at the thought of the procedure that the doctor described, "How long will that have to be done?"

"Until all of the wounds are completely cleaned, and there is no infection." The doctor replied.

Ruth nodded, trying to process all of the information the doctor was giving her. Bridgette quietly spoke up, "So he's going to be ok, right?"

DK gave her shoulders a squeeze, as the doctor answered, "All signs are pointing that way, BUT he is running a high chance of getting an infection. That can delay the recovery process, and become life threatening.

Bridgette nodded, as Ruth spoke, "How long will he have to stay here?"

"With the procedures and then rehabilitation, we're looking at 3-5 months." Dr. Hanson replied.

"Jesus," Bridgette whispered, under her breath.

"That's good though, some people have it a lot worse." Dr. Hanson stated.

"Can we go see him?" Bridgette asked intently.

Dr. Hanson nodded slowly, "Family members only, and you'll have to go back one at a time. The nurses will give you a gown to wear, you have to scrub your hands and put your hair up because he's suseptable to infections."

Ruth nodded and swallowed, "Thank you doctor."

Dr. Hanson replied, "You're welcome. The nurse's station is down the hallway, just go over there when you're ready to go back and see him."

Ruth nodded again, as the doctor turned and left. As soon as she turned away, she practically collapsed back into the chair and began to cry hysterically, in relief that if everything went well and her husband was going to be alright. Walsh leaned in and held her while she cried. Meanwhile Bridgette was still trying to let everything sink in, while she watched her mother cry.

After a few minutes Ruth looked up, "If you want to go back there then go ahead sweetie, but I can't. Not yet."

Bridgette swallowed, "Ok Mom."

"You sure?" DK asked.

"Uh huh." Bridgette replied.

"Ok, I'll walk you over there." DK stated.

"Ok." Bridgette answered quietly. She gave Walsh and Jimmy an uneasy look, while they comforted her mother, as she turned and walked to the door with DK.

The hallway seemed endless, but finally they reached their destination.

"Good morning, how may I help you?" One of the nurses asked them.

Bridgette quietly spoke, "My dad is back there, and Dr. Hanson told me to come here if I want to go back and see him."

The nurse nodded, "What's the name sweetie?"

Bridgette took a deep breath, "Johnson, Francis Johnson."

"One second." The nurse said looking at a chart, "Ok, come over to this side and I'll take you back." she said, pointing to a small door that she buzzed open.

"Thanks." Bridgette replied.

"I'll hang here till you're done, ok?" DK asked.

Bridgette nodded, "Thanks DK."

"No problem." he replied, as she walked through the door that closed automatically behind her.

The nurse met her on the other side of the door, with a reasurring smile, "Right this way sweetheart. My name is Wendie by the way."

"Bridgette." she replied following her. The nurse's station was big, and in the center of all the rooms. The rooms were in a semi circle around the nurse's station, and they all had clear doors. She continued to follow Wendie, to an area right behind the nurse's station that had three sinks.

"Ok, I need you to pull your hair up first." Wendie explained.

Bridgette did so, as Wendie opened up a small packet with a scrub sponge in it, "Roll up your sleeves, and you have to scrub your hands and arms with this for about 3 minutes."

"Alright." Bridgette replied. When she was done she rinsed off her arms and hands, then handed the scrub back to Wendie who discarded it.

Wendie then pulled out a gown which she helped Bridgette into, and gave her a pair of rubber gloves and a mask to put over her face.

"Good gawd, what is this Fort Knox?" Bridgette asked.

"Close enough." Wendie replied.

"Sheesh." Bridgette said, getting the mask on all the way.

"Alright, this way honey." Wendie said, leading her over to the room that was towards the center of the semi circle.

Bridgette stopped at the sliding glass door, "He's in here?"

Wendie nodded, "You don't have to go in right away, if you don't want to."

"I think....I think I'll be ok." Bridgette replied, slowly sliding the door open.

"Ok, I'll be out here if you need anything." Wendie said.

"Thank you." Bridgette replied, stepping into the room

"Not a problem." Wendie replied walking away.

Bridgette stood there for a few minutes not moving. She stared in, at the figure laying in the bed under the heating lights, while the monitors beeped as the oxygen clicked and whooshed. Her brain wasn't understanding that the figure was her father, her brain couldn't process the fact that he was laying there hurt badly, and not moving. Her heart on the other hand, was broken into pieces knowing that it was him, and that he was laying there. Tears fell from her eyes, while she stood there debating if she should walk all the way in or not. After a few more minutes, she started to walk forward. She took a few steps, and then stopped. The closer she got, the more apparent his injuries were to her. Swallowing the tears that were collecting in the back of her throat, she walked forward a few more steps at a time, until she was finally next to the left side of the bed.

"Oh God." she cried, quietly to herself while her eyes glimpsed the true horror of his injuries. The right side of his face including around his eye was intensly swollen, and a miserable shade of white and yellow. His chest resembled the same color, along with his right arm and both hands. A cast took up the bottom half of his right leg as well. There were tubes everywhere. The most visable one going into his mouth, connected to the respirator, the source of the clicking and whooshing sounds. A loud beeping started to go off from one of the montiors, startling Bridgette. A few seconds later Wendie bustled in carrying an IV bag.

"Have to hang another bag." She smiled, hitting a button on the monitor and then changing the IV bag.

Bridgette swallowed hard, "Can he hear me?"

Wendie gave her a grin, "Definately."

Bridgette nodded, then turned back to her father as Wendie left the room. Looking down at his unburned left arm, she carefully placed her gloved hand on top of it and gently squeezed it. Swallowing hard she whispered, "I'm here Daddy. I know you're asleep and you might not hear me, but I'm here. So is Mom, DK, Walsh and Jimmy."

The only response was the continual rise and fall of his chest. Not that she expected any response to begin with. "Love you." she said quietly. She sighed, then lifted up her hand and slowly left the room.

Walking down the hallway, she began to remove some of the garb that covered her clothing and skin. Balling everything up, she tossed the jumble of sterile gear into a nearby trashcan, and then passed the nurse's station.

"All done honey?" Wendie asked.

Bridgette nodded, overtaken by numbness, which wouldn't allow her to speak. Wendie smiled and buzzed the door open, so Bridgette could pass through. Out in the hallway, DK who was sitting on a bench, stood right up seeing the horrified look on her face.

"You ok?" DK asked walking over.

Bridgette shook her head, and covered her mouth with her hands.

"Come on, sit down a minute." DK said, putting his arm around her, and walking her over to the bench he was previously sitting at. Sitting down next to her, he rubbed her back while she tried to regain herself.

Suddenly her eyes widened in a panic, "DK I'm gonna puke."

"Shit." DK said, jumping up and grabbing a nearby trashcan. He managed to get it back over a mere second before she vomited.

Wendie noticed Bridgette with her head dunked into the trash can, and heard her wretching while DK held her hair up. She walked over and grabbed a wet cloth, then brought it out to them, as Bridgette let out the last few coughs.

"Thank you." DK said, taking it from Wendie, and handing it to Bridgette once she brought her head back up. Bridgette wiped her face off and then tossed the cloth into the trash can, letting out a miserable whine.

"Are you ok now honey?" Wendie asked.

Bridgette nodded, while she cleared her throat.

"Ok." Wendie replied, then walked back to the nurse's station.

"I hate puking." Bridgette said, closing her eyes and leaning up against the wall.

"You're better than me," DK said, "I cry when I throw up."

Bridgette raised her eyebrow, almost annoyed, "No you don't."

"Bet me. Ask Walsh." DK replied.

Bridgette closed her eyes again, and sighed, "My mom shouldn't go in there."

DK nodded, "That's probably a good idea."

"At least until he wakes up." she said.

"Yeah, definately." DK replied.

"Half of his face is like gone," Bridgette started, "It's just....I dunno......I mean what the hell happened?"

DK swallowed, "Car accident. One of the cars exploded."

"Where was he?" She asked.

"Standing next to it," DK paused a minute collecting his thoughts, "He was trying to get Taylor off the car and it exploded."

Bridgette's eyes widened, "What the hell was she doing on the car?!"

"Helping an old couple. She wouldn't get down, and then it blew." DK replied.

Bridgette sighed and shook her head, "Why does that sound just like her?"

"Because it is." DK replied.

"I remember like a year or so ago when that resturant blew up. Alex wouldn't leave that little girl alone while my dad and Jimmy were trying to get her out. My dad didn't shut up about it for a week I think." Bridgette explained.

"That was nuts." DK said, "That was really nuts."

"So he was next to the car, and Taylor was on top, and it exploded?" Bridgette asked.

DK nodded, "Yeah."

"And he didn't have his jacket on," Bridgette said sounding angry, "I hope whoever he gave it to appreciated it. He was cold, and now my dad's burned."

"Bridge don't get bitter alright?" DK replied, "What happened, happened and you can't change it, so there's no point in getting pissed off about something you can't change."

She swallowed, "I know."

"Come on, let's go back and talk to your mom." DK suggested.

"Yeah." Bridgette answered quietly. She stood up and began walking down the hallway with him.

"It's too early for you to be pissed off anyway." DK said giving her a grin.

Bridgette rolled her eyes, "Yeah yeah."

When they returned to the waiting room, Ruth was calmed down and sitting next to Walsh and Jimmy. Ruth's eyes asked her daughter a thousand questions, and Bridgette's eyes answered her mother's questions.

"You shouldn't. Not yet." Bridgette said firmly.

Ruth nodded and wiped her eyes, "I didn't think so."

No one said anything for a few minutes. They were all letting the relief that he would be alright set in. They were also letting the reality of what happened the night before set in as well.

Finally Walsh spoke, "How do you want to work this? Do you guys wanna take shifts?"

DK nodded, "Yeah that works."

"You all don't have to stay...." Ruth started.

"It's ok Ruth we want to," Jimmy said, standing up and stretching, "I'll take the first one, since you guys have been here all night."

Walsh and DK nodded.

"Mom you can go home if you want, I'll stay awhile." Bridgette said.

Ruth blinked a few times, "What?"

Bridgette replied, "I'll stay, so you can go home and get some sleep. Besides you should call Ms. Beth and stuff too."

DK saw where Bridgette was going with this. Ruth was a wreck, and by her sitting in the waiting room any longer it wasn't doing her any good, "If anything happens they'll call you, I mean there's not really anything you can do here."

Ruth nodded slowly, "Alright. But you call me if...."

"Mom, it's fine, I will ok?" Bridgette replied, cutting her off.

"You're as stubborn as your father you know that?" Ruth asking, kissing her daughter on the forehead.

"You only tell me all the time." Bridgette replied.

"Jimmy what time do you wanna switch?" Walsh asked.

Jimmy looked at his watch, "Uhh, it's 8:15, wanna say 2?"

Walsh nodded, "Ok, then I'll stay until 8, and DK you wanna come in then?"

"Don't you guys have work?" Bridgette asked.

DK shook his head, "Other shifts are covering for the next few days."

Bridgette nodded, "Ok."

"Bridgette I'll come back at 2 then, alright?" Ruth asked.

"You can wait longer if you want." Bridgette replied.

"2." Ruth said firmly.

"Fine," Bridgette replied, hugging her mom, "Love you."

"Love you too sweetie." Ruth said, hugging her tightly.

With that, DK and Walsh walked Ruth out leaving Jimmy and Bridgette in the waiting room.

"So what are we supposed to do for 6 hours?" Jimmy asked.

Bridgette shrugged, "Beats me."

"How's school going?" Jimmy asked.

Bridgette smirked, "God, he's dropped down to asking me about school."

Jimmy chuckled, "Well?"

"Good. Less than 2 months and I'm done for the Summer." She smiled proudly.

"Straight A's?" Jimmy asked.

"Always." Bridgette glowed.

Their conversation was interupted, when Bridgette's cell phone rang. "Here we go." Bridgette sighed, flipping the phone open, "Hello?"

Jimmy tried not to eaves drop but heard most of the conversation that took place between her and her best friend, Kelsey. After explaining everything to her and keeping herself from crying a few times, the phone call ended and Bridgette closed her phone.

"She's gonna meet me at my house at 2:30. Stay with me and stuff while my mom's here. She said to tell you hi." Bridgette babbled.

Jimmy nodded, "The one with the blonde hair that you taught to slide down the firepole?"

"Yeah that one." Bridgette smirked.

"Ah. I remember her," Jimmy smiled, "What do your friends call your dad? Mr. Johnson or Lt. Johnson?"

"Lt. Johnson," Bridgette replied, "I guess cuz my friend Lexi's dad is a cop, and we all call him Officer Daniels, so the same thing goes for my dad. Who knows."

Jimmy chuckled, "I don't know if I'd want Joey's friends calling me that if I were a cop."

"I don't know if I'd talk to you if you were a cop." Bridgette joked.

"Low blow." Jimmy winked.

The next 5 hours was spent talking about anything and everything they could come up with. Jimmy ended up getting a nurse to bring a TV into the waiting room for them to watch. A good episode of Jerry Springer helped pass the time. Around 1:30 Bridgette made the decision to go back and see her dad again.

"You sure?" Jimmy asked.

"Yeah I'm good. I'll be right back." Bridgette replied walking out of the waiting room. She headed up the hallway to the nurse's station, where Wendie let her in and she did the same routine before walking to the room where her dad layed. Instead of going in this time, she decided to just stand at the door for a few minutes.

"Everything ok?" Jimmy asked as she walked back into the waiting room.

"Yup." Bridgette replied quietly, silently thanking God that she didn't throw up again, "Wendie said they started debrating his burns."

Jimmy nodded, "That's good."

Shortly thereafter, Walsh and Ruth arrived. Although Ruth said that she felt better, she certainly didn't look it.

"Talked to Taylor's mother, the viewing it tomorrow night, funeral is the next day." Walsh explained.

Jimmy nodded, "How's she doing?"

"She's....she's hanging in there." Walsh replied.

Ruth looked to Bridgette, "Are you going to want to go to the viewing or funeral?"

Bridgette shook her head, "No."

Ruth nodded, "Alright."

"You should go, so you can be with Ms. Beth. I'll stay here." Bridgette suggested.

Ruth raised her eyebrow, unsure of whether she was ok with the idea, "I'll think about it."

Bridgette left the hospital and went home, where she was met by her best friend. Kelsey sat with her for the next few hours while she cried hysterically. When she finally calmed down, Kelsey convinced her to take a nap. Meanwhile she got in contact with Bridgette's professors at school to inform them of the situation, and make plans to get her work. Around 8:30 Bridgette found herself in the waiting room, sitting with DK, and Kelsey. She tried keeping herself occupied by doing the homework Kelsey had gone and picked up for her. Every now and then she would zone out of her book thinking about either Taylor or her father, but then came back down, when Kelsey or DK would say something.