Memorial Day

May 28, 2001

9 AM

The squad had just gotten on duty. They were working the unofficial start of summer.

Everyone was out washing the Engine. It was warm and they planned on enjoying it.

"Do we have all the stuff for the barbeque?" Walsh asked

"Yeah, I think." Jimmy said

"You making the burgers?" DK asked Walsh

"Sure thing." Walsh grinned

"The Grill-master!" Lombardo said

"What is being able to use a grill a requirement to be a MACHO MAN?" Taylor joked

The guys all looked at each other and in a collective response, "YEAH."

Taylor laughed, "You've got to be kidding me."

From the outside they could hear the alarm

"Squad 55 Adam 55-3 respond for an MVC corner of Arthur and 109."

"Official start of summer?" Jimmy asks as they all jog in the grab their gear

They arrived on scene to find two cars; one had t-boned the other. They worked to free the driver of the car that had run the red light. Soon they had him freed and on his way to the hospital. The other driver had refused care.

4 PM

They were dispatched to the park to free a couple kids who had been trapped when the jungle gym they were playing on collapsed. It was nothing but a pile of metal, plastic, and mulch when they got there.

"Kid's got his foot caught in some of the twisted metal." Carlos said

"Okay, we got it." Walsh said as he walked over and assessed the situation

The child was screaming and Taylor worked to calm him down.

"What's your name?" She asked

"Jacob." The little boy said

"Well Jacob, I'm Alex, and this is Billy. We're going to get you out of here okay?" She asked

The little boy nodded his head

"Are you hurt anywhere else?" She asked

"No." Jacob said

Walsh watched Taylor's interaction with the little boy. He knew she was giving him the opportunity to work without the boy being scared and fighting him. He finally looked up,

"Done." Walsh said

The little boy's ankle was clearly fractured.

"Get me a board splint." Taylor said

"What's that?" Jacob asked

"It's a piece of board that will help me to keep your foot from moving." Taylor said

The boy let Taylor splint his ankle.

"You've been a real trooper." She said as they lifted him onto the stretcher.

He smiled as Doc and Carlos wheeled him away. Taylor walked over to pick up her turnout coat that was on a bench. She accidentally kicked a can of soda that had been left under the bench.

"Ouch!" Taylor exclaimed as she saw a couple of bees flying around

Then she realized that she was stung again. "Ouch!" She exclaimed again

She took a few steps and felt light headed. She tried to call out for help but she couldn't. Jimmy turned around when he realized that Taylor wasn't back at the squad yet.

"Hey where's Taylor?" Jimmy asked

Everyone else stopped and turned.

"Taylor!" Walsh yelled as he dropped his coat and the saw and rushed over for her

The rest of the Squad wasn't far behind.

"Someone catch Doc before they leave!" Jimmy called out

DK ran after the ambulance as Lt. Johnson called for another medic unit.

Walsh saw a sting on Taylor's arm. Her eyes were open and she was trying to talk but she couldn't. Walsh tried to keep her calm.

Doc and Carlos rushed over with the oxygen and their bag.

"What happened?" Doc asked

Jimmy looked and saw the soda can that was about 10 feet from them. He saw a couple bees flying around it.

"Looks like she got stung." Walsh said as he pointed out the mark on her arm

Doc took a quick look, "She's going into anaphylactic shock." He said

Carlos quickly put an oxygen mask on her.

"Give me the Epi-pen!" Doc said

"Is that going to go through her pants?" Carlos asked

They quickly unhooked the suspenders and pulled her bunker pants down. Doc took the gray cap off of the end of the Epi-pen and pushed the black tip against Taylor's right leg. She flinched. He held it against her leg for 10 seconds before he removed it. They watched the monitor that Carlos had hooked up to her.

Jimmy pulled Taylor's bunker pants out of the way. Walsh held onto her as Carlos started an IV.

"Taylor, hang in there alright?" Doc asked

Taylor nodded her head and tried to pull the oxygen mask away from her face.

"No, Taylor you gotta keep that on." Walsh pulled her hand away from it

The second ambulance arrived and paramedic Grace Foster climbed out.

"What's going on?" She asked

"Well we have two patients, one anaphylactic, the other a pediatric broken ankle." Doc said

"Which one you want me to take?" She asked

"Go ahead and take the broken ankle." Doc said

Carlos walked to the ambulance with Grace.

"Jacob?" He asked

"Yeah?" Jacob looked up

"This nice paramedic lady here is going to take you to the hospital okay?" Carlos asked

"Jacob, my name's Grace." She smiled

"Hi." Jacob smiled back

Soon the medic units were both in route to the hospital.

"How you feeling?" Doc asked

"Like I got hit with a bag of bricks." Taylor replied

"I think you scared the crap out of the guys." Doc said

"Yeah I think so too." Taylor remembered the look that Walsh had given her as he was holding her

They wheeled her into the ER.

"You gave us all a scare." Carlos said

"I thought you hated me." Taylor replied

"Hate's such a strong word… dislike that might be better." He laughed

She playfully punched him.

"Hey Doc, don't go anywhere, I'm going home with you guys." Taylor said

"Well, if you're done when we get our paperwork finished." He said

7 PM

The grill was fired up behind the firehouse. They were preparing for their annual barbeque. Walsh was standing behind the grill

"Alright it's ready." He announced

Soon the hot dogs and hamburgers were brought to him. He threw them on and marinated his burgers.

"You didn't let Carlos make the baked beans again did you Doc?" DK asked

"After last time?" Doc returned

"Yeah they were just a bit sweet." Jimmy cracked

"A bit?" Walsh questioned

"Okay, more of a dessert." Doc replied

Soon enough all the meat was ready to be taken off the grill.

A gentle rain shower started to fall.

"Guess we're eating inside." Lombardo said

"Yep." Walsh carried the plate of burgers and hotdogs upstairs

Taylor was sitting at the table

"You're back." Walsh said

"Yeah, a couple pills, I'll be fine." She said

Lt. Johnson nodded

"Let's eat!" Taylor said, "I'm starved."

"Well at least there's nothing wrong with her appetite." DK cracked

Walsh sat beside her and grabbed a hamburger patty for her and one for him as well.

"Thanks." She said

"Don't mention it." He replied

They all laughed at each other and sat around sharing in their barbeque. It was a family picnic. And they all enjoyed times like these. The radio played an American standard, God Bless The USA as they all sang along.