A Firefighter in need is a Friend Indeed
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN 9-1-1 Lone Star or the 911 Show.
Author's Note: after watching the latest episode of Lone Star and the medical emergency that Paul had, it immediately got me thinking about the medical emergency that Buck had. So I can see Paul feeling alone with the looming thoughts of extremely limited on being on desk duty and not full active duty like he was before.
At the Firehouse, Marjan returns as she is upset and hurt as she was trying to get Paul to see what she did was a good thing. The others are stunned as they also learn the news about Paul as they had no idea about the cardiac emergency. TK went to the hosptial to visit with Paul as he sees his friend and colleague in a hospital bed. "Paul", TK said to Paul as he notice the pace maker in him.
Paul looks at TK as he is glad that it is not Marjan. "I take it that everyone at the firehouse knows". Paul said to TK as he is not in a good mood.
TK looks at Paul as Marajan did tell them what happened. "Yeah, are you ok though"? TK asks Paul as he is being supportive for him.
Paul looks at TK as he shakes his head to him. "No, I am not ok TK. I told Marjan that I didn't want the surgery. I don't want to be forced into a desk job or even forced into an early retirement. She didn't even stop the doctors to follow my wishes. I rather die as a firefighter than not being one. Without it, I don't have a life at all". Paul said to TK as he is deeply hurt that she didn't do what he asked to do.
TK looks at Paul as he sighs as this a uncomfortable postition. He thinks about an idea as he knows one person that he can call. "I do have an idea on someone that you can talk to about dealing with it especially with a medical issue". TK said to Paul as he has an idea.
Paul looks at TK as he is a bit confused. "Who do you have in mind? It is not like you can call up my old Cap in Chicago". Paul said to TK as he is skeptical about it.
TK looks at Paul as it is not the person he has in mind. "No, besides who I have in mind is from LA". TK said to Paul as he grabs out his phone to find a number in his contacts as he is making a FaceTime call with him.
Paul looks at TK as he is thinking about a possible person. "You mean the guy who survived his head from a rebar or something that Judd was talking about". Paul said to TK as he is thinking of one guy.
TK looks at Paul as he shakes his head to him. "No, that's not the guy that I am thinking about calling. The guy that I am going with is Buck". TK said to Paul as he is scrolling to find his number.
Paul looks at TK as he is kind of confused and surprised by the choice. "Buck, has he ever been in a situation where he may have to give up on being a firefighter all because of a medical issue"? Paul said to TK as he is kind of skeptical about the person.
TK looks at Paul as he nods as it is something that Buck can relate to him. "Actually he has Paul. Buck got his leg crushed by a ladder truck while on the job. He suffered from a pulmonary embolism when he was off duty while trying to get back to active duty". TK said to Paul as he explains to him about the situation.
Paul looks at TK as he had no idea that Buck had to deal with it. "I had no idea about him. I wouldn't know it by looking at him in his face". Paul said to TK as he didn't realize that.
TK looks at Paul as it is true about him. "Yeah, that's why I am calling him". TK said to Paul as he is making the call to Buck. Paul nods as he understands now.
TK is making a face time call to Buck as it is not long that the LA fire fighter is on. "TK, what is going on"? Buck asks TK as he is at the LA fire house.
TK looks at Buck as he needs to explain it to him. "Listen, I have a friend that had a medical emergency off duty, and he needs someone to talk to and you are the first person that came into my mind". TK said to Buck as he gives him the situation.
Buck looks at TK as he understands the situation. "Ok put him on", Buck said to TK as he is wondering who it is.
TK hands the phone to Paul as Buck is shocked and surprised by it. "Hey Buck, it has been awhile". Paul said to Buck as he has a solemn expression on his face.
Buck looks at Paul as this is unexpected as he sits down. "Yes it has been a long while. What happened"? Buck asks Paul as he is wondering about it.
Paul looks at Buck as it is hard to talk about. "It turns out that I have a rare heart condition called Brugada Syndrome. It is also genetic. The doctor said that I needed to have a pace maker placed in, but I didn't want it. Marjan was with me with the doctor. She heard what I said about what I wanted. Being a firefighter is a part of who I am and a part of my identity. Even though I had that medical emergency at home, Marjan was the one that found me. When I came to in the hospital, I learned that I got the pace maker that I didn't want. Marjan didn't stop the doctors from putting it in even though she was the one that found me in my apartment". Paul said to Buck as he explains things to Buck.
Buck looks at Paul as that is really heavy stuff. "I completely get it. Bring a firefighter is a part of your identity and who you are. I had pulmonary embolism from the surgery to repair my leg. There was that possibility that I couldn't return active duty because of the medical condition. I didn't handle it well, and that lead to more drama within the firehouse. Plus I am still on blood thinners as well. Plus I can understand what it is like to be betrayed by a friend or a family member. It turns out that I was born to save my older brother who died when he was a kid". Buck said to Paul as he explains things in a deeper level.
Paul looks at Buck as he can understand that deeply. "That must have been difficult to deal with". Paul said to Buck as he can deeply relate to him on that level.
Buck nods as he looks at Paul as it brought back memories. "Yes it was very difficult. I even done work with the fire marshal for a while too. My point is that there are other ways to be a part of the firehouse besides being a firefighter and have that opportunity to grow and advance in the career as well". Buck said to Paul as he gives him some advice.
Paul looks at Buck as he can see his point on it. "Thanks, I deeply appreciate that Buck. It feel like my own body has betrayed me in the worst possible way. I felt like no one has ever told me about the condition before prior to the doctors appointment. My dad died when I was a kid. He died of a heart attack. I never thought his heart issues comes back as a genetic warning sign to me". Paul said to Buck as he thinks back to he learns that his dad died.
Buck looks at Paul as he can get that very deeply. "I can understand where you are coming from. Getting betrayed by other people that you know and your own body, I get it. I learned the awful family secret that I was born to save my older brother who was sick with Leukemia and yet he died when I was a baby after I got back from Texas this past year. Yet my sister knew about it and forced to kept her mouth shut about it by our parents that whole time". Buck said to Paul as he explains to him about it.
Paul looks at Buck as that is a bitter pill to swallow. "Ouch, that would explain why you are a lot like TK doing reckless things". Paul said to Buck as TK sighs as it is true.
Buck looks at Paul as it is true in that respect. "Yeah, I have learned to put my past behind me and moving forward". Buck said to Paul as he explains about it.
Paul looks at Buck as he gets that deeply. "I get it man. Back when I was growing up there were a lot of people that wanted to hurt me. I moved forward in life and became who I was meant to be". Paul said to Buck as the two are sharing more in common with each other.
Buck looks at Paul as he agrees as he thinks about it. "Exactly plus I didn't find out about my older brother until I got back from Texas, and my sister knew all about it and forced to kept it from me by our parents. Whether it is getting hurt by people in town or your own family members, it did hurt in various ways. Yet we always have our crew being there for us regardless if it was a work emergency or a medical emergency, the crew will back you up. For me, it was Bobby. For you, it was Marjan wasn't it". Buck said to Paul as he is getting the feeling that she was the one that was there for him when it mattered most.
Paul looks at Buck as he nods to him as it was the very person that was there for him. "Yes it was Buck. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Marjan. She made sure that I got to the hospital and I treated her like crap". Paul said to Buck as he admits that he treated her like crap.
Buck looks at Paul as he understands that. "You should apologize when you are ready. When I treated to apologize to my crew about how I was trying to get back to the firehouse, they didn't want to hear it at first. They came around eventually, but my point is that you shouldn't push back on her". Buck said to Paul as he gives him some advice.
Paul looks at Buck as he gets it. "I will keep that in mind Buck, thank you". Paul said to Buck as the two of them continues to talk.
As the call ends, Paul hands the phone back to TK. He is slowly starting to feel better. "Thanks TK, that talk with Buck really helped me in ways that I didn't realize". Paul said to TK as the talk with Buck went really well.
TK looks at Paul as he nods as he puts his phone away. "Your welcome Paul get some rest ok". TK said to Paul as he wants him to rest.
Paul nods as he looks at TK as he has been thinking about things. "TK, when are we going to help Mateo on getting a new place to live? I mean I don't think we even helped him when it mattered most to him. I mean even in the months that he was with the 129, and him returning to the 126, I have never heard him complain about not having his own place again. It is like he has put aside his own problems to help someone else". Paul said to TK as he has noticed that about Mateo.
TK looks at Paul as his stomach drops as he realizes that no one has really pitched in to help him besides his dad on it by being a roommate at his place. "I never heard Mateo complain about it either. There were other things going on at the time. It should have been a priority but it never gotten around to it even months after the fact". TK said to Paul as they need to make things right.
Paul nods as he is thinking of the same thing. "That's the kind of guy Mateo is. He helps others even when he has problems in his personal life and willing to put aside it to help others". Paul said to TK as he knows who Mateo is as a person and the strong character he has.
TK looks at Paul as he deeply agrees with him. "I will talk to my dad about it and actually make things right with him". TK said to Paul as they need to do that for Mateo. As both men agree, they realize that things needs to be done.
End Story
