Dixie McCall was stunned at the sight that greeted her as a bare-chested Johnny Gage and the ambulance attendants barreled through the ambulance bay of Rampart General. Chet Kelly, an oxygen mask covering his pale face was prone on the gurney. He was swathed in sheets and what looked like a t-shirt on his left side. He was also soaked in blood. A lot of blood.

She hadn't heard the desperate rescue call between Dr. Joe Early and Squad 51, as she had just come from assisting Dr. Kel Brackett on a difficult surgical case.

As he was rushed into Treatment 3, it occurred to the injured lineman himself that this could be his last trip ever into Rampart…He scowled as he fought desperately to hold onto some sort of hope as darkness threatened to overwhelm him once again. He pinned his gaze to one of his closest friends…his Pigeon. He smiled fuzzily at the anxious brown eyes above him.

"Hey, Gage…"

"Yeah, Chet?"

"Think m'arm's really shot, huh?"

Johnny took a deep breath and glanced at Dr. Early, who was working feverishly on the young fireman. Joe Early was compassionate, but never believed in giving false hope, especially to another professional. He nodded slightly to Johnny, confirming what they had all known, but dreaded saying aloud.

Johnny scrubbed a hand through his hair and nodded. "Yeah, babe. 'm sorry. Sorry as hell. It's pretty much already gone. They're just gonna be doin' clean up when they take you in for surgery."

Chet seemed to consider this impassively for a few minutes. "Well, shit."

Johnny nodded. That pretty much said it all. "Yeah."

Kelly looked at Dr. Early for the first time. "Doc, don't s'pose you know how much you gotta take yet, do ya?"

Sadness in his blue eyes, Dr. Early replied, "Not at this point. We'll do the very best we can. You know we will. It all depends on what we have to work with. We're giving you blood and plasma right now to stabilize you and get you ready for surgery. You're in excellent condition. You're strong. You should come through this just fine."

Chet snorted bitterly. "Yeah…just fine."`

Dr. Early held up a hand in apology. "I'm sorry, Chet, you know I didn't mean—"

Chet waved him off. "No, I know what you meant, Doc. It's just…" The lineman turned his head away as the shock of all that had happened finally truly began to sink in. Quietly, Dr. Early checked the monitor readings, and requested a slight increase in the pain medication. He would be moved to surgery very soon, and then the real work would begin.

E!

Three Months Later

An embittered and angry Chet Kelly sat morosely on the edge of his hospital bed in the rehab center. He shook the letter in his right hand angrily. His former partner Marco Lopez was gazing at him with sympathy, but wisely remaining silent, letting his friend vent.

"I can't believe this! If I wanted a damned desk job with the department, I woulda took one in the first place! And now they're saying if I want a job in the department, I gotta agree to a prosthetic arm! Why?! What difference does it make? Besides, I don't wanna sit around all day! That's not why I joined the Department!" He paused to take a much needed breath, staring at his left arm; which now ended just above where his elbow had been. It was healing nicely, but still had a bit to go.

Marco looked at his friend and asked a simple question. "Okay, amigo, then what is it you do want to do?" Chet's simple reply cut his friend to the quick.

"I wanna be a lineman, dammit."

Marco closed his eyes for a moment, praying silently for strength, and then answered the broken man in front of him, hoping he wasn't making a mistake.

"Well, they won't let you do that, amigo, and I know you don't want a prosthetic, but why can't you teach other fireman to do what you did?"

Chet stared at Marco, his mouth slightly agape for a moment. "Me? A teacher? Are you loco, amigo?"

Marco decided now was a good time to unveil the idea he'd been hashing over with Mike and Cap for the last couple of shifts. Mike had even done a bunch of research on it, and had come up with some specific plans if Marco could get Chet to go along with the idea.

"No, Chet. I'm not crazy. And I'm not kidding, either. You know they're always short on experienced instructors at the Academy. You were one of the best linemen out there, from one of the top stations in LA County. At the Fireman's Olympics, you always turned in a good time on the Obstacle Course, even if you always did lose a little time suiting up," Marco kidded his friend gently.

Chet even smiled at this last remark. He consistently lost the monthly "Suit Up Drills" at the station, and was consequently always stuck with the dishes as a result. His face fell as he remembered those times. He missed being a lineman and the camaraderie of the station desperately. Seeing this, Marco pressed on with his idea.

"So, you should go for it, amigo! Become a trainer. I have read where all kinds of athletes missing limbs accomplish records without prosthetics. I understand why you don't want one, but don't let that stop you! Go show the department you can do the job just as well as somebody who has two arms! I mean, okay, so you can't be a lineman. So go train them! We need the best linemen out there…not just good ones, amigo—the best!" At this point, Marco poked his work-calloused finger into Chet's chest. "And that, mi amigo, you can do!" His brown eyes were lit with passion.

And that passion lit a fire in his partner that Chet Kelly had though was all but dead. It reached deep inside him…and gave him a reason to fight…a reason to hope. A reason to believe he could be more than just another crippled fireman out on disability. It gave him a tool every bit as important as the hose he used to lay, as important as the halligan or the crowbar he used to wield. It was every bit as important as the Jaws of Life that had damned near killed him a few months ago.* The tool Chet Kelly now had, thanks to his partner and best friend was determination. And he would need it. In spades.

The End…of the Beginning!

A/N * Refer to "Of Phantoms, Pigeons and Promises." (Part 1) This is Part 2 of the Phantom and the Pigeon Series. Mention of Chet in this situation and near retirement is also made in "Give this Child a Home."

Also, NO, there was and is no policy regarding prosthetic limbs, or lack thereof, within the department, then or now. Please do not slam me for this plot device. There is a reason for it, regarding prejudice with a specific individual dealing with Chet's case. I'm getting better at heading off trouble, I hope! ;-) Hugs!