Chet sat across from the impassive HR representative. He was frustrated, but trying not to show it. "So, what exactly do I need to do to go back to work?"

The sour-faced woman looked askance at him. "You need two intact arms, for one thing."

Chet barely avoided rolling his eyes, thinking, thank you Captain Obvious! He didn't want to get thrown out of the office, after all.

The woman looked at him more closely. "Look, I don't mean to be rude, but the letter you received three months ago was very clear. I have a copy of it right in your file. Would you care to re-read it? You cannot serve in any field capacity at all. You must agree to a prosthetic limb in order to work anywhere else in the department.

"But why?"

"It's policy." The woman looked to Chet as if she would begin to spell out the word if he questioned her again.

"So, what are the requirements for lineman trainer at the Academy?"

She stared at him silently. For a moment, she pursed her lips and seemed to study him as if he were a bug under a microscope. Still saying nothing, she stood and opened a filing cabinet. She removed a sheet of paper and thrust it at him. "Quite impossible, I assure you. Now, I have several interviews scheduled this afternoon. I'm sure you will excuse me?" She picked up a file and proceeded to totally ignore him.

Seething, Chet stood and strode out of her office. He made his way back to the waiting room. Marco Lopez looked up at him as he came back into the lobby.

"So, how did it go?" They stepped out into the bright sunlight. It was a rare clear day in Los Angeles.

"On a scale of 1 to 10, about a zero."

"Sorry, amigo. What is that paper?"

Chet scowled. "The trainer requirements. I was lucky she even gave them to me."

"Not exactly a charmer, eh?"

"Not exactly."

Marco grinned. "Too bad Johnny wasn't doing the asking."

Chet grimaced. "Ain't it just."

Marco's light remark had obviously fallen flat. "Sorry, amigo."

Chet dismissed it as he hauled himself into the passenger seat of Marco's truck. He slammed the door with a bit more force than was necessary, but Marco chose to overlook the action. He understood. And it hurt to see his friend like this. Chet glued his eyes to the paper in his hand.

Marco asked, "So, what's next?"

Chet looked over at him. "Whaddya mean, 'What's next?' She basically told me I don't have a chance!"

Marco nodded slightly and shrugged. "Okay, then I guess that's it. You want a ride back to your apartment?"

Chet glowered at him. "No, I wanna be an instructor!"

Marco gazed at him intently. "Then don't let one woman stop you. Prove to them you can do it."

"These standards are impossible."

Marco took the paper and read it over quickly. "Only if you let them be."

"How the hell am I supposed to run the obstacle course? There's the rope climb plus the burn tower* on it! And I seriously doubt they're gonna want a one-armed guy attempting it."

Marco's dark eyes flashed, and he smiled briefly. "So, don't tell them."

Chet smirked, but he nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, that could work…"

~E!

The obstacle course Chet and Marco decided to use was one very like the one at the academy, and, in fact, it was used mostly by firefighters, although it was open to the public. The biggest differences were that the Burn Tower was reproduced physically, but not actually set on fire, and the Debris Box was also not set on fire. The reason it was so similar was that it was owned and operated by two retired LACoFD linemen, who happened to be good friends with both Chet and Marco. There was a small shed on the edge of the course which contained the props for the course, such as the Rescue Drag mannequin, the fire extinguisher, the dead weight, and an old K-12, which were for use by firefighters. Marco would use a stop-watch to measure Chet's speed, but only after he had done some training first. They both knew that for him to officially pass the course, he would have to run it at the academy during regular academy hours, with one of the instructors keeping score and timing him. He would also have to run it in full turnouts and gear. The goal was to run the course in 10 minutes or less. They had not yet figured out exactly how to gain official academy sanction for this. They would cross that bridge when they came to it.

Chet and Marco stood at the starting line of the course, pondering how Chet could best run it. The biggest issues were the rope climb and the burn tower. Chet had been doing weight training exercises to build his upper body strength, so he wasn't really worried about that. It was more about the mechanics of the various challenges. The course was laid out in a large rectangular field, and consisted of 14 stations where runners had to perform various physical tasks. Timing began the moment the runner started the suit-up process, if applicable, and ended when he lifted his hands after finishing the last station. As with any obstacle course, runners could concentrate on particular tasks, as long they were not impeding another runner.

Marco had a suggestion. "Why don't you just walk through the course and we'll see what you can do, and what you need to work on. I'll time you later."

Chet nodded. He moved to the starting line. He wore sweats for these practice runs. Normally, he would begin by changing into his turnouts and gear, but that would have to wait until he could get permission to borrow some. Marco handed him an air tank rig. "They had a spare in the shed. At least you'll be close to the right size for some of the obstacles."

Chet nodded as he strapped the tank to his back. "Thanks, pal." Nervously, he took a deep breath and blew it out. "Okay, let's do this." He took out the custom-made leather sheath and pulled it over his stump. Johnny, who was an expert leather-worker, had made it for him.

Marco nodded and stepped back. He would stay by Chet throughout the course, acting as his spotter and taking notes. Chet ran for the 2 -1/2" hose at the near end of the course. He pulled the heavy hose over his right shoulder, tucked it under his left arm and dragged it down the length of the course. He then picked up the hydrant wrench lying there. He headed to the hydrant and hooked up the hose. He turned and ran to the spot where the K-12 sat. He picked it up and ran to the 24' ladder lying next to a tall, free-standing barrier.

He set the K-12 down, and then picked up the heavy ladder, a task that was not easy with one arm. He managed to maneuver it into place, but he was awkward and slow. Marco noted the fact, and watched as Chet worked the extension on the fly ladder. He finished that task, then made three consecutive climbs up and down the ladder. He then collapsed the ladder, pulled it away from the wall and carried it to the fifty-pound dead-weight station. He laid the ladder down and picked up the weight. He carried the weight to the next station. He set the weight down and hooked the 1-3/4" hose to the hose tower, and hauled it to the top. Next, he ran for the fire extinguisher. While he did that, Marco moved to the debris box, and Chet used the extinguisher and a debris pole to put out a simulated burn.

Next, he ran for the rescue dummy and picked it up under the shoulders. Again, this was awkward, but he managed it fairly quickly. The one Marco had chosen weighed about 150 pounds. They had heavier ones, but he figured this would be a good start. Chet dragged the dummy 50' and then laid it back down. Next, he picked it up and put it into a fireman's carry and ran it back the other way. He laid it down, and then headed for the Burn Tower. At the academy, part of the tower would be set on fire, and he would climb the outside stairs of the four-story tower and crawl through the burning levels. Instead, he simply climbed the tower and crawled through the levels.

He then ran to the last station, which was the 40' rope climb. Here, he hesitated, realizing this was going to be the most difficult of all the tasks. He wasn't even sure he could do it. Marco stood beside him, encouraging him. Chet had been thinking about this task for quite a while, and trying to figure the best way to tackle it. He had decided to simply use his good arm to make the climb, and his left as an anchor. This is where the leather sheath would prove its worth.

Chet grabbed the rope and pulled himself up onto it. He anchored his legs in the rope, and twisted around to catch the rope under his sheathed arm. Gritting his teeth, he held on and pulled himself up farther. In this manner, he managed to make it up nearly halfway, before he realized he was completely spent. He was not going to make it to the top…this time. He carefully slid back down the rope and nearly collapsed to the ground. However, he stood, turned, and ran the 20' feet to the finish line. He raised his arm above his head. He had made it through!

Marco came up and slapped him lightly on the back. "Congratulations, amigo, you did it." Playfully, Chet toppled to the ground and lay there grinning up at his best friend. He was grinning, but his eyes were serious. "Thanks, man…"

Marco shrugged. "De nada."

~TBC~