RESTLESS WE WAIT
CHAPTER II
The A-shift crew staggered in after two days of R & R. The station was quiet. Sunlight poured into the day room making it appear light and airy.
Henry lay on the sofa, snoozing in a happy doggie daze, seemingly unaware of the humans that had just entered his domain.
Chet reached out and rubbed the prone dog's belly and flopped down beside him. Henry immediately walked across the couch and plopped himself down in Chet's lap. With a huge sigh he collapsed across the stocky Irishman, pinning him in place.
"Oof! Henry, you're fat!" Chet grinned and rubbed the dog's ears lovingly. "You need to go on a diet!"
"Only if you go on one, too," Johnny ribbed his friend.
"I," Chet paused dramatically, "am NOT fat. Marsha told me I am 'pleasingly plump'. So there!"
"Well, Pal, I tend to agree with Johnny, for once." Captain Stanley walked in to the room and grinned at the blushing fireman. "Men, seems we get a respite. C-shift is still out on the MVA from earlier. So, how about we get in some hose drilling until they get back?"
This pronouncement was met with groans and eye rolling, but each was heading out to the back of the station even as they made the obligatory response.
Twenty minutes later they heard the engine and squad returning. Six tired and dirty men headed for the locker room.
"All yours!" called Dwyer. "You'll need to make a run to Rampart for supplies!"
Roy looked over to his Captain for permission. Hank nodded at the senior paramedic.
"Come on, Junior, let's get there and back."
"Why? So we can practice rolling hoses some more?" Johnny grinned and glanced back over his shoulder at Marco and Chet who were still working on rolling the hoses. "Let's go before Cap changes his mind."
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Dixie McCall was strolling down the hall to the emergency section of the hospital when she paused and rubbed her eyes. She looked again down the hall from where she had just come and stared. With a soft laugh at herself she hurried on to report to her post. Even the head nurse had to answer to a superior if she were late.
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Roy backed into the accustomed place at Emergency. After shutting off the engine he sat and stared ahead.
"What's wrong?" Johnny asked, looking around.
Roy shook his head, "Nothing, I was just thinking about the last couple of days. Kinda nice not having to worry about work."
"Well, yeah, but we never worry about work. What brought this on?"
"I was thinking we might come back to a destroyed fire house. Considering everything that's been going on."
"Yeah," Johnny rubbed his chin. "I thought that myself, but it appears that nothing happened while we were gone."
"Let's get the supplies and head back. Cap had some more drills for us."
Johnny groaned, " I'm glad we have drills, but sometimes I think Cap goes overboard."
"You may be glad of that, one of these days. Come on, those supplies won't load themselves."
Johnny handed his partner the drug box then said, "I gotta go talk to Patsy. I'll meet you at the desk."
"You have a new love?" Roy teased.
"Not really. I'll tell ya about it on the way back to the station."
Roy shook his head and grinned as his partner hurried away. Whatever it was he wanted to talk about would come out eventually.
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Hank Stanley sat in his office frowning at the air in front of him. The last two shifts had nothing to report, which made him think that something, or someone, on his shift was attracting spooks and spirits. Although not a religious man, he did believe in things he could not see or explain.
"Something had to have triggered this," he muttered to himself. "I just need more pieces of the puzzle." With a sigh he picked up his coffee cup and went to sip its contents. When he realized it was empty, he slammed the cup back on his desk. Deciding the cup would not refill itself, he rose and headed for the day room.
Marco and Mike were playing checkers at the table. Chet was on the sofa with Henry, who had his head in his favorite human's lap. Chet had his nose buried in a beat up looking book.
"What's the matter, Chet, can't you find anything new to read?" Captain Stanley said irritably. He walked to the stove and lifted the pot for some coffee. "Who drank all the coffee?"
Chet glanced guiltily across his book, but did not speak. "Want me to make some more?" he asked.
"I'll make it!" Hank said, the realized he was taking his frustrations out on the men. "Sorry, guys. Yeah, Chet, why don't you make some more coffee. Roy and Johnny might want some when they get back."
Hank sank down in a chair and watched the checker game in progress. Neither Mike nor Marco looked up, each studiously watching the board.
Without a word Mike took one of his checkers and did a triple jump of Marco's pieces. Marco graoned and admitted defeat.
"Here, Cap, you play him. He's beat me four games."
"Yep, you owe me three times at dishes and two at dorms."
"Gambling, are we?" Hank grinned to let them know he was not upset.
"Um, well, "Marco started to say when a loud noise from the truck bay interrupted him. No one moved for a split second, then all four rose and went to the door.
Nothing appeared to be out of place. Mike checked the engine while Chet and Marco looked around the vehicle.
A muffled meow came from inside the cabin. Marco opened the door and a gray cat jumped down and rubbed against his leg.
"Now, how did you get back here?" Marco asked in amazement.
"That can't be the same cat, Marco! Animal control came and got her." Chet said, reaching out to scratch her ears.
The cat hissed and swatted at Chet's hand, barely missing him with her claws.
"Hah!" Marco exclaimed, "she doesn't like you." He rubbed the purring cat and looked smugly at his partner. "YOU are not a cat person!"
"I like cats!" Chet cried, pride and feelings hurt. "I just get along better with dogs."
"Yeah, lazy ones." Marco smirked. "Cap, the cat's back." He cuddled the cat to his chest as he spoke, feeling the purr rumbling harder. As he passed the spot where the squad would be parked she growled, then hissed softly. Marco felt the hair on his neck rising.
"Cap, she sees something and she doesn't like it." Marco stood still, feeling the cat tremble and listening to her low rumble of a growl.
"How do you know it's a she?" Marco asked. Mike hid a smile by turning his head away from the two friends.
"No nuts," Marco stated and grinned at Chet's expression.
"You're bad, Partner! Really bad!"
"Okay, you two, let's cut the argument. Marco, are you sure it's the same cat?"
"Yes, Sir. She has the same stripe between her eyes and the same white spot on her foot." Marco pointed out the markings as he spoke.
"Anyone have any idea how she got in the truck?" Hank looked around at the men. All three shook their heads in a negative way. "Okay, Marco, put her outside. Give her some milk or something to keep her occupied. I'll go call animal control again and let them know she's back."
The doors began to roll up and the men hastily moved out of the way as the squad was backed in to place.
"Hey, Marco! Nice cat!" Johnny said as he climbed from the vehicle.
"Yeah, well, it's the same one as before." Marco turned and left the surprised Paramedic standing by the door of the squad. "What's wrong with him?"
"Cap's calling animal control again. She was in the truck this time."
"How'd she get there?" Johnny looked perplexed.
Mike shrugged and went to the day room.
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