Chapter Four
Thursday Evening - 1945 C Shift
"Gage!" someone hollered from outside the tent. Johnny sat up and ran out, expecting to see an injured person. To his surprise, it was Chief Rable, the new Brush Fire Chief himself. "You're going out for a rescue." Gage nodded and opened his mouth to ask a question, but Rable cut him off. "Get your gear."
"Yes sir." Gage said, jogging back into the empty first aid tent. The two rookies there earlier had been cleared by Rampart and were back out with a different crew. Johnny grabbed his duffel he shoved in a corner and flung it over his shoulder. Stepping back outside, he was surprised to see Chief Rable still waiting. "Someone taking over here?" Johnny asked. The Chief nodded, pointing Johnny towards the left and walking with him.
"You're meeting Chopper 6 at the refilling point. 19's squad is down a medic. You're gonna get him to the hospital, then replace him." Rable ordered.
"What shift is 19's crew right now?" Johnny asked.
"B." came the simple answer. Johnny grimaced, it was the middle of C shift. He really didn't want to be the one to put both of 19's medics out of service, they were going on 36 hours of work. He kept his thoughts to himself, he didn't think Rable would appreciate them.
At the refilling point, Johnny's mouth opened, then quickly closed. Chopper 2 was taking off, and in the helicopter's receding light, Johnny could read the engineer's turnout gear. The engineer in question was facing the pump panel, protecting his face from the debris the chopper blades kicked up. Stenciled on the back of the coat was 'DeSoto'. Rable waited until the helicopter took off, then turned the car around. "They'll be here shortly." he said, in a clear dismissal.
"Yessir." Gage said, getting out of the Chief's car and grabbing his duffel bag from the back. "Thank you." he said, closing the door. The red sedan drove away, leaving John at the top of the hill. "Roy?" he said, jogging over to the engine.
Roy turned around, he'd recognize that voice anywhere. "Johnny!"
"Man am I glad to see you." Johnny said, dispelling his momentary fear at seeing Roy at a pump panel instead of a squad. Reaching Roy, John hugged his partner, not caring if anyone saw.
"What are you doing up here?" Roy asked.
"I could ask you the same." Johnny said, "Specialist DeSoto." he added, before explaining his orders.
"I think I hate reporting to brush fires when we're not working." Roy said, voicing Johnny's earlier thoughts.
Johnny nodded, "I saw Chet and Marco earlier. They're beat."
"Yep, I hate it." Roy repeated. Johnny solemnly nodded again.
"Chopper 6, we're five minutes from the refilling point." Roy picked up his radio and replied.
"I have no idea why I'm here. You'd think I'd be more useful as a medic." Roy said, trailing off.
"They need engineers, Chet and Marco and have been in utility trucks all day." Johnny said. From his sitting at Brush Command, he had made observations.
"Have they made any progress with the fire?" Roy asked, hungry for information. "I have my own channel and can't listen to anything else." Roy lamented. "I don't even know anyone's call signs."
Johnny shrugged, "All I know is I don't like Rable. People from B shift are still on with no relief in sight, our guys are getting beat up." he sighed, "And I'm pretty sure Rable doesn't think medics are important, I'm the only one at command."
"Don't hold back." Roy quipped, surprised at the venom coming from Johnny.
"At least he listens when I Rampart an' I stand people down." Johnny said, rubbing the back of his neck. Chopper 6 gave another update and Johnny bent over and unzipped his duffel. Sliding into his turnout gear, he clipped his mask to his coat, not knowing if he'd need it later
"What do you think will happen when it's A shift?" Roy asked, watching his partner dress.
"I don't think shifts matter anymore." Johnny honestly replied, tightening his helmet strap. "Like I said, B shift is still working 'cause all of C shift was called in." Johnny slung the empty bag over his shoulder. "All I'm saying is, if Rable doesn't call for help outside the County soon, things'll go south real quick." Roy sighed. Their conversation ended with the sound of helicopter blades. Johnny pulled on his safety goggles and kneeled down by the engine next to Roy.
"John!" Roy hollered over the helicopter's sound, "Be safe out there!" Roy said, clasping his hand on Johnny's shoulder. Johnny nodded and gave a thumbs up to Roy, his signature smile on his face. Roy frowned.
Thursday Night - 2010 C Shift
Chopper 6 took Johnny to another hill where an engine was waiting. "It's bad Gage." Captain Deke Harver of 36's A shift said, recognizing John and explaining 19's dilemma. "Jay, 19's medic, was searching a burnt structure, thought he heard something." Harver started. "We never found out because the structure shifted. A beam landed on his chest."
"Shit." Gage cursed under his breath, hoping the Captain couldn't hear. "Rable didn't tell me it was this bad."
"I'm sure he didn't." Harver said, the dislike clear in his tone. "Troy, Jay's partner, is pretty shook up, they've been on since yesterday morning." Deke hollered over the wind from the front seat. John was wedged in the back between a linemen and the center console.
"I'll bet." Johnny said, mentally preparing himself. "Has he been moved?" Deke shook his head. "Do we have an idea on how to get 'im out?" Gage asked next. Harver shook his head again. "That's our first priority." Johnny said. Deke nodded, not having any problems taking suggestions from the highly experienced Rescue Man.
Captain Harver wasn't kidding, it was bad. Between the pitch black night, the wooden beam currently resting on Jay's chest, and the damp and sooty air conditions, it was miserable. Johnny sighed in relief when he spotted an IV hooked up in a flashlight's beam. "Are we the only ones?" Johnny asked in surprise as he hopped off the stopped engine. Only the squad's dim headlights were lighting up the collapsed house. Harver nodded curtly and Johnny grimaced. The engine had to leave 19's medics on scene, alone, in the dark. He couldn't imagine it. Troy, a young medic, was sitting on his haunches, staring at the IV's drip chamber. His eyes were glazed and unfocused, Johnny wasn't sure if Troy was completely with it for a moment. "Troy?" Johnny said hesitantly, resting a hand on the young man's shoulder.
Troy jumped, then, "I think, if we use, use the porta power, we could get the beam off safely." Troy shakily suggested, blinking as the engine set up the bright scene lights again.
"That's a good idea." Johnny said, looking up at Captain Harver. "Can you make that happen?" Harver nodded and sent his two linemen off. "My name's Johnny," he said kindly in his 'paramedic' voice. He decided Troy needed a calming tone, he would have too if that was Roy under the beam. "What's your report?" Troy robotically rattled off last vitals, recent loss of consciousness, and Rampart's last orders. "That's good Troy, why don't you sit and take a breather, I've got 'im from here." Troy nodded and stood back. He knew who John Gage was. Johnny turned his attention to his patient, completing his own assessment and vitals. He pulled the biophone closer, updating Rampart. "Rampart, this is Squad 5-" Johnny stopped and tried again. "Correction, this is Squad 19 with an update."
Thursday Evening - 2140 C Shift
At Rampart, Johnny sat on the nurses desk, nursing a cup of coffee, eating a sandwich he found in the patient refrigerator, and frowning. Early was in another room looking at Troy, who had promptly passed out the minute he walked through Rampart's doors. Brackett hadn't left the room Jay had gone in, and Johnny wasn't confident in the man's outcome. Both he and Troy had flown in on Copter 6, who was parked outside Rampart, waiting. He knew Rable expected 'Squad 19' to report straight back, the helicopter was needed for water drops, but Johnny however, didn't care at the moment. The exam room door swung open and Brackett walked out with a frown. Johnny raised his eyebrows, not wasting time with words.
"He's hanging on." Brackett said, his face twitching. "It's gonna be close, he's going up to surgery now." He leaned against the desk. "I haven't talked to Early yet, but I'm standing Troy down, there's no way he can keep working, mentally or physically." Johnny nodded but remained silent, ruminating on the dark scene Troy was left at. Kel's face twitched again, he knew a quiet Johnny was not good. "What's going on up there?"
"It's bad Doc." Johnny said, not sugarcoating it. "I have a feeling you'll be seeing a lot of firefighters in the next couple hours."
"Squad 51 to Rampart." the other end of the biophone squawked. Johnny blinked, weirded out.
"That's not something you hear everyday." Johnny muttered. He recognized the B shift medic and frowned, it was late, late C shift. He had a feeling he'd be seeing them later. He hoped he was wrong.
"We have a 32 year old man. He passed on scene here at the Klondike fire. Be advised, he is a Code-I." Kel exchanged looks with Johnny. "There are no signs of injury, vitals at this time are as follows." Johnny swallowed.
"He's not gonna be the last of 'em Doc." Johnny muttered, putting his coffee cup down and picking up 19's equipment. He walked out the hall, making his way back to the helicopter, alone.