Fruits of Our Labor

*~*~*~*~*~*

Lyrics are 40 Hour Week by Alabama (the lyrics are the only words heard)

There are people in this country who work hard every day. Not for fame or fortune do they strive.

The scene is at a fire. You see Jimmy fighting his way through the flames to reach a little boy trapped in his bathroom. Then you see Jimmy at a new fire, this time he is pulling an older gentleman from amid the flames. Then he is on the street silhouetted against a burning building, looking towards the truck with a smile.

But the fruits of their labor are worth more than their pay. And it's time a few of them were recognized.

Faith is maneuvering the RMP down the streets following Bosco who is chasing a suspect. Then you see her running down the street chasing another skel. You watch as she hurdles a fence and runs across a lawn. She brings the skel to the ground and cuffs him. You then see her standing beside an RMP looking up the street.

Hello Detroit autoworkers, let me thank you for your time. You work a forty- hour week for a livin', just to send it on down the line. Hello Pittsburgh steel mill workers, let me thank you for your time. You work a forty-hour week for a livin', just to send it on down the line.

The bus pulls onto the scene of an accident. Doc grabs the bags and runs to a person who is lying on the ground. He immediately works on the man. He puts the blood pressure cuff on the man. Then he listens for breath sounds. The man is put onto a backboard and loaded into the bus. Next you see Doc pulling the gurney into the ER. Finally you see him standing by a bus, highlighted by the Star of Life.

This is for the one who swings the hammer, driving home the nail. Or the one behind the counter, ringing up the sale.

Davis is chasing a suspect up a fire escape. They run across the roof of the building and leap to the next. Davis sticks with the man. He brings him down and cuffs him. You see him putting the man into the back of the squad. Next you se him dive into the river to rescue a small child who was playing on the shore when he fell in. Davis pulls the boy back to the shoreline and gives him to the waiting medics. He climbs from the water and stands looking off towards the numerous emergency vehicles on the scene.

Or the one who fights the fires, the one who brings the mail. For everyone who works behind the scenes.

Taylor springs from the fire truck. She grabs her haligan and heads into a burning building. She ascends a set of stairs and turns back a hallway. There is a flare up that she crouches back away from. She then heads into the flames. She emerges from the building carrying a young child. Then you see her as a medic. She exits the bus and runs up a flight of stairs carrying a medic bag. There is a woman in diabetic shock that Taylor administers insulin too. She and Kim then put the woman in the back of the bus. Taylor closes the doors. She pauses before heading around to the front.

You can see them every morning in the factories and the fields. In the city streets and the quiet country towns. Working together like spokes inside a wheel. They keep this country turning around.

Kim springs from the bus. She grabs her bags to get to a woman trapped inside her car after an accident. The fire crews work to free the woman. Kim listens for breath sounds, then intubates. The woman crashes and Kim opens the crash kit, shocking her back to life. Next you see Kim on the gurney continuing compressions as the woman is wheeled into the ER. Finally you see her standing in front of the firehouse with a bus in the background. She is smiling.

Hello Kansas wheat field farmer, let me thank you for your time. You work a forty-hour week for a livin', just to send it on down the line.

Bosco drives the RMP around a corner. He slams on the breaks and jumps out for a foot pursuit. He chases the skel down a crowed street, and into an abandoned building. He leaps on the man and cuffs him. Next you see Bosco sliding across the hood of the RMP to follow Faith. He passes her and tackles a young dealer. Bosco closes the door to the RMP and looks back.

Hello West Virginia coal miner, let me thank you for your time. You work a forty-hour week for a livin', just to send it on down the line.

Carlos is doing compressions on a man who collapsed in a subway terminal. Then you see him pulling a gurney up the street to assist at a car accident. You see him taking the gurney into the ER. Then you see him opening the backdoors to the bus to grab the bags. He turns around and pauses.

This one is for the one who drives the big rig, up and down the road. Or the one out in the warehouse, bringing in the load. Or the waitress, the mechanic, the policeman on patrol.

Sully takes a suspect down on the hood of the RMP. Then he pushes the suspect into the back of the RMP. Next you see him maneuvering the RMP through traffic as he and Davis respond to a call. You see him chasing a suspect up a busy street. Then you see him ticketing a driver. Finally you see him walking back to his waiting RMP.

For everyone who works behind the scenes. With a spirit you can't replace with no machine.

Walsh is seen driving the fire truck to a call. DK is climbing the ladder to get to a trapped family. Lombardo is exiting a burning building with an injured coworker. Lieutenant Johnson is shown with the radio to his mouth giving instructions. Finally the four are seen in a circle standing by the truck.

Hello America - let me thank you for your time! *~*~*~*~*~*

"Sometimes I am asked, 'Why are you a firefighter? You are a girl, girl's don't fight fires.' Those people are wrong. I fight fires because I want to help people. I can make a small difference in someone's life by reaching them in time to pull them from their burning apartment, or help get them out of their car after an accident. Yes, I am carrying on the family tradition of being a firefighter. The day I graduated from the academy, my dad was so proud. He didn't show it, but I knew. I would often here older firefighters commenting, 'There's another damn Taylor out there fighting fires now.' I laughed. It's what we are good at I guess. It's what I am good at. I love my job. I love fighting fires, and I love being a paramedic to boot. When asked if looking back, would I change my profession? No, I wouldn't miss this for the world." Taylor narrates. *~*~*~*~*~*

"Squad 55, Ladder 100, Adam 55-3, Boyd 55-3. Residential fire 856 Morningside." The alarm bellows.

"Let's get moving!" Lieutenant Johnson yells as the crew scrambles to get their gear and get in the truck.

Walsh pulls it out of the station and starts the sirens. Taylor sits in the back smiling and thinking.

"This is my job. The best damn job in the world." She thinks to herself. *~*~*~*~*~*

"I can't believe that it's almost Labor Day already." Bosco comments

"Yeah, where did the summer go?" Faith asks

"I won't miss the heat." Sully replies.

"Yeah but that means we have snow coming soon." Davis adds

"Yeah, I'm not looking forward to that." Sully replies.

The radio interrupts the conversation. "All Units in the 55 bank robbery in progress, First United 1857 Lexington."

"55 Charlie in route." Sully radios "55 David responding." Faith also radios.

The four jump into the RMPs and head off for the call. *~*~*~*~*~*

The squad pulls onto the scene of the fire. They immediately set to work on putting it out. Jimmy and Taylor head into the building in search of residents. They are greeted by thick smoke. The pair fights their way to the stairs where they are greeted by a wall of flames.

"Jimmy, watch the ceiling." Taylor points out

"I am." He replies. Then he asks, "Can anyone hear me?"

They work their way up the stairs, feeling the wall as they go. They reach a door.

"Jimmy, this one's hot!" *~*~*~*~*~*

The two RMPs pull up to the side of the bank.

"We can't just rush in." Faith mentions.

"We'll move around front. You too take the side. When we're in position, we'll go in." Sully reasons

"Okay. Let's move." Bosco says drawing his gun.

He and Faith take their positions on each side of the door.

"Sully, we're in position." Faith radios.

Sully looks at Davis. Davis nods to say he's ready. "On my count. 1.2.3" Sully announces as the four move into the building. *~*~*~*~*~*

Jimmy moves up to the door and checks for himself. Taylor backs away a bit. Jimmy takes his haligan and knocks open the door exposing a room fully engulfed in flames. They head into the room; Jimmy checks the bathroom that is to the side of the room. The floor in the middle of the room starts to collapse.

"Jimmy, we've gotta get out of here!" Taylor yells. *~*~*~*~*~*

The four cops enter the bank. There are three armed robbers. The men open fire on the cops. "Get down!" Bosco yells over the roar of the semi-automatic weapons.

Davis and Sully dive behind the security desk. Faith dives behind a pillar, and Bosco dives behind a table. Each officer emerges sporadically to exchange fire.

"55 Charlie to Central, we have a 10-13 at this location" Davis radios

Faith looks over to Bosco, she ducks to avoid pieces of the pillar that splinter off with misguided shots by the robbers. The robbers then cease- fire. The cops attempt to take advantage of the situation and fire on the men. The robbers take off for the door. Faith and Bosco jump up and fire, hitting at least one of the fleeing men. The three still make it out the door with Davis and Sully in pursuit.

"Let's get the tellers." Faith yells to Bosco as she heads towards the vault.

Other units arrive on the scene and join Davis and Sully chasing the suspects. Bosco opens the bank vault and helps everyone exit.

"Bosco!" Faith yells as she looks at a box. She grabs her radio, "55 David to all units. There is a bomb in the building. Clear the area!"

The grateful tellers rush for the door.

"Let's go, let's go!" Bosco orders. *~*~*~*~*~*

The floor between Jimmy, Taylor, and the door collapses.

"Well, looks like we aren't going that way." Jimmy quips

Taylor busts out the window. The ladder is raised up. DK greets Taylor and Jimmy.

"Hey guys." He cracks

"Hey DK. Nice of you to finally decide to join us." Jimmy returns. *~*~*~*~*~*

"Faith. Everyone's out, let's go!" Bosco yells.

The pair runs for the door. Faith stumbles. The timer on the bomb flashes '10 seconds' Bosco stops and helps Faith regain her footing.. They hit the doors. *~*~*~*~*~*

Davis and Sully catch up to the men.

"Drops your weapons and get on the ground!" Sully yells at the men. The men stop.

"He said to drop your weapons!" Davis adds

RMPs pull up around the three men. The finally obey Sully's order and put their weapons down and lay on the ground. Officers are all over them within seconds.

"Well, looks like they won't be terrorizing anyone else anytime soon." Davis cracks. *~*~*~*~*~*

Bosco and Faith reach the doors as the timer beeps. A fireball rolls towards them. *~*~*~*~*~*

The squad finishes up on the scene of the fire and begins to head back to the house. The radio breaks in on their conversation.

"Squad 55, explosion 1857 Lexington."

"Well guys, let's go." Lieu comments as Walsh turns the lights and sirens on and heads for the new call.

"Explosion? Sounds like fun." Taylor quips.

They are less than a block away when they see the lights flashing on squad cars.

"Must have been a pretty big event." Jimmy cracks as he starts getting his gear back on. *~*~*~*~*~*

Faith and Bosco are lying amidst shards of broken glass. Bosco stirs, he lifts his head. There are scratches all over his face. He rolls over to see flames billowing from the building. He looks to Faith.

"You okay?" he asks

"Yeah, fine." Faith replies.

Other officers run to assist the pair. The fire trucks arrive on the scene, followed by the buses. Doc, Carlos, Kim, and another medic rush over to the two. Kim takes Faith by the back of the arm.

"Why don't you sit here in the bus and let me take a look at you?" Kim asks

Faith sits and Kim takes a 4 by 4 to dab at some of the cuts on Faith's face.

"How do you feel?" Kim asks.

"Like I was just hit by a bus." Faith says sarcastically

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, you don't look that bad." Kim laughs

Faith just looks at her. *~*~*~*~*~*

Jimmy takes the line and sets to extinguishing the fire.

"You sure there's no one still inside?" Jimmy yells to Bosco.

"Faith and I were the last ones out." Bosco responds. Then he winces as Carlos blots a 4 by 4 on the slice that extends across Bosco's forehead.

"Quit being a baby." Carlos quips

Faith gets up and walks over to Bosco. Carlos puts a couple butterfly bandages on his forehead.

"Looks good." Faith cracks

"How do we always manage to do this?" Bosco asks

"I don't know. I just don't know." Faith replies shaking her head. *~*~*~*~*~*

Sully and Davis are in the locker room changing. Bosco and Faith walk in.

"Looks like we missed quite the party after we left." Sully comments

"Yeah, it was." Bosco replies sarcastically.

"Are you two alright?" Davis asks tying his shoes.

"Yeah, but the squad's seen better days." Faith replies

"Yeah, I bet." Sully replies. "Well guys. I'm out of here. Good night guys."

"Night Sully." Faith responds.

"Yeah, I think that I'm outta here too." Davis says as he shuts his locker.

"Later guys." Bosco says as Davis and Sully walk out of the locker room.

Faith looks at Bosco.

"Hey. Tomorrow's Labor Day. We're having a little picnic type dinner if you want to come over." She invites

"Sounds good. Maybe I'll stop by." He replies.

"Okay. Well, I'm going to head on out." She adds

"Later." He replies. *~*~*~*~*~*

Walsh and Taylor are preparing to leave. Kim and Jimmy walk into the room.

"Hey. Tomorrow's Labor Day. I'm taking flowers to the cemetery to put on Bobby's grave if you want to come." Taylor says

Kim looks at Jimmy. "Well."

"It's a great idea." Jimmy says, "We'll go."

"Great. Well then I guess we can all meet there at around 9. Sound good?" Taylor replies

"Yeah. We'll be there. Good night." Jimmy says as he and Kim head down the stairs.

"Well, are you ready to get out of here my dear?" Walsh asks

"You bet." Taylor says as she tugs his shirt and heads for the stairs *~*~*~*~*~*

It's a misty morning. Taylor and Walsh arrive at the cemetery. Taylor holds a wreath with red, white, and blue flowers.

Some Gave All by Billy Ray Cyrus plays

Kim, Jimmy, and Joey walk up. Kim is carrying a bunch of red flowers.

"Hey." Taylor says

"Hey." Kim replies

"You ready to go in?" Taylor asks.

Kim nods. Jimmy pulls Joey into his side. The 5 walk through the gates and head for the headstone marked "Caffey."

Kim and Taylor kneel down beside it.

"Hey Bobby. It's us. You know that though. I brought Joey along today." Kim says fighting back tears. "We miss you a lot. We love you."

Jimmy watches as Kim wipes a tear from her eye and smiles. She stands up and returns to his side, taking Joey's hand.

The song gets louder

Taylor stands up and returns to Walsh's side.

"We all miss him Kim." Jimmy tells her.

"He gave his life doing what we all do best." Walsh adds. "We all help those who need us."

"Just remember that all give some how or another." Taylor adds.

Joey chimes in, "And some gave all." He says seriously as he looks up at his parents and smiles. They each take his hand and the five of them walk out of the cemetery together. The scene fades out to the American Flag flying high above the front gate. *~*~*~*~*~*

"Yeah. I go into burning buildings, or amid smoking cars. I risk my life everyday for people that I may never meet again. It's true that all of us give a little of ourselves every time we go out. And sometimes, some of us don't come back. But that's not enough to make me want to give up and find a new profession. It's what keeps me going. Knowing that I am out there helping to save lives everyday. It is fulfilling. To the members of our Armed Forces, Police Forces, Fire and Rescue Squads, and everyone out there in America that helps to make a difference. Thank you for your time." Taylor says.