p class="MsoNormal"emI don't own the boys nor anything recognizable. I am merely playing with them and will return them in good working order when I am done./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"Chapter 1 Camping/p
p class="MsoNormal"The brilliant blue sky that had covered Carson all day long slowly faded into the brilliance of dusk as the men of Station 51's A shift settled in for the evening. It had been a steady yet not an insanely busy day for the crew of six. Engineer Mike Stoker brought in the flag while Captain Hank Stanley was in his office, catching up on the endless stack of paperwork that always made its way to his desk./p
p class="MsoNormal"The station's comic relief team of paramedic Johnny "the Pigeon" Gage and lineman Chet "the Phantom" Kelly were playing a game of basketball. Johnny's partner Roy Desoto was the almost unwilling ref. He had only agreed because it was too nice to stay inside. The lone human occupant of the kitchen was lineman Marco Lopez, the chef for the evening./p
p class="MsoNormal"It was just after 1800 when Marco's culinary creation found the six plates that had been set on the table before the basketball game. Once the meal was plated, the Latino man walked to the doorway and called out "Chow's up!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Much like a group of hungry children, the two-word call sent the other five men running into the room. Mike was the first into the room, having just secured the flag. He was followed by Hank, who was grateful for the reprieve from his paperwork mountain. The rest of the crew was led inside by the always hungry Johnny. By the time the group gathered around the table, Marco had added a cold soda for each man to their place setting./p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank clapped his hands and grinned as he sat down. "Marco, this looks amazing, pal."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Marco smiled broadly, "Thanks, Cap. I figured it was too hot for something heavy, so I went for a lighter version of my mom's fajitas."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Johnny eyed the food nervously. Lighter usually meant diet food, something all too skinny paramedic was not a fan of. "Uh pal, by lighter…you don't mean…" Johnny stammered./p
p class="MsoNormal"Marco chuckled, "No, Johnny, they are not a diet dish. I just mean they are not quite as heavy as her usual ones because, let's face it, it's too hot to eat that heavy today."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Johnny let out a breath and grinned, "Well, alright, then."/p
p class="MsoNormal"After a quick blessing and six silent prayers that the county would behave long enough for them to finish their meal, the men dug in. The sounds of eating mixed with a comfortable silence reigned over the room for a few minutes before Hank started his favorite dinner topic. "So, men, what does everyone have planned when we get off tomorrow?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Roy took a long drink of soda before he replied, "It's…that…that time of year again. Joanne's mother has requested her semi-annual family fun day in San Diego." The senior medic made the face of a cross between biting into a sour lemon and smelling old gym clothes that had not been washed. It made the others grimace in sympathy and yet chuckle at the same time./p
p class="MsoNormal"Johnny knew all too well; Roy's mother-in-law did not think much of him. It didn't matter to her that he was a decorated Vietnam Veteran and one of the county's first paramedics. It didn't matter that he was the father of her two beautiful grandkids. She still didn't think he was good enough for her daughter. The younger medic laid a sympathetic hand on his best friend's shoulder. "If it helps any, Pally, I am going to be in San Diego this weekend too. Yell if you need me, I'll be with Pam and Emily. Emily called the other day and invited me to her swim meet."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Roy smiled at the thought of the young blonde girl that had his partner neatly wrapped around her finger as much as his own kids did. "Stay dry and wish her good luck for all of us."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I will."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Tell Pam; we send our best as well."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Always."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank waited until the paramedics finished before he gazed at his next target, Marco. "Hey Marco, first of all, when you see your mom tell her to thank you. These are amazing!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Marco grinned, "Will do, Cap."/p
p class="MsoNormal""So, what's on taps for you this weekend?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Mom has asked Chet and me to come over and help her with some projects."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The Pigeon couldn't resist getting a dig in at the Phantom. "Just don't let Chet near the kitchen; we don't need anybody getting sick."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Marco laughed as Chet stuck his tongue out. "Oh, don't worry, mom is paying us in her food."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The crew chuckled at Chet's reaction. Hank grinned, "Let me know if you boys need new pants Monday."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Chet and Marco both laughed before Chet answered, "Got ya covered, Cap. I had you go up a half size for a reason the last time I ordered them."/p
p class="MsoNormal"That comment brought about another round of laughter that lasted for several minutes. Once the tabled calmed down again, Hank looked over at his second in command. "Michael, what are your plans?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"The quiet Engineer thought for a moment before he replied, "Actually, I don't have anything planned. I know I want to spend time outside because this weather is supposed to stick around for a while, but I don't know what I want to do yet."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Roy asked, "What about you, Cap?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Actually, I am going to be a bachelor all weekend. Emily left this morning for a weekend up north with her sisters. Apparently, Marge thinks Spencer is going to propose and is already pre-planning the wedding." The last line was said with a touch of sarcasm and an eye roll that earned a chuckle from his crew./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike thought for a moment before he said. "Hey Cap, what if you and I go camping or something this weekend? It's going to be too nice to stay inside. That is if Emily didn't leave you a honey-do-list."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled, "Nope. I knew this trip was coming up, so I've been working on my list all week. Camping sounds great, Mike."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Johnny took a long drink of his soda and finished the last bites of his dinner before he chimed in. "If you want to go tent camping, Timberland has some nice sites. It's only a couple of hours from here."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Sounds good to me," Hank and Mike spoke up at the same time./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"Having hashed out their weekend plans, the crew finished up dinner. Johnny helped clear the table while the others settled in for the night. Hank returned to his office, leaving the door open to finish his paperwork. Mike headed for the locker room. He wanted to get a notebook and make a list for the upcoming trip. The others headed for the couch to find something to watch./p
p class="MsoNormal"By the time Hank called lights out a little over three hours later, the lists were made, and the men were tired. They set up their gear, then got cleaned up and settled down for what they hoped would be a peaceful night./p
p class="MsoNormal"The big fireman in the sky showed mercy on the men of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. It was a rare night where no station got called out overnight./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"A loud groan and a few choice words about dreams being interrupted echoed through the dorm when the morning alarm went off at 0700./p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank chuckled as he headed for the dayroom to make the first pot of coffee. Mike got cleaned up and dressed quickly to do the morning colors. The others were a little slower on the uptake but eventually stumbled into their uniforms and gathered in the dayroom for coffee and the droughts they had picked up after one of their runs the day before./p
p class="MsoNormal"By 0730, B shift had started to filter in, and the six-man family from A shift made their way to the locker room to change and head out. A smattering of goodbye, good luck, and be careful filled the parking lot as everyone left except for Mike and Hank./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike waited in the parking lot for Hank to emerge after going over the notes from the day before with Captain Grant./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"It was 0750 when Hank finally walked into the parking lot. A bright smile filled his face. Mike's smile matched his Captain's. "Ready?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""You know it. I love this place, and I love you guys, but if I see another piece of paperwork again…it'll be too soon."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The duo laughed before Mike asked, "What time do you want me to pick you up? I figure we can take my truck up into the mountains. I just got new all-terrain tires put on her a couple of weeks ago."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled; he was looking forward to getting to know his second-in-command better this weekend. "How about noon? That gives us enough time to go home, get human, pack, and make sure everything is secure for the weekend. I also want to call Emily and let her know about our plans."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Sounds good to me. Do you still have that cooler you brought to the last shift party?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""I sure do; it's in the garage. I can grab that with my gear."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Perfect. I figure we can stop on the way out and get the ice and food."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Sounds like a plan. See you in a couple of hours, Mike."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Looking forward to it."/p
p class="MsoNormal"With that, the two men climbed in their vehicles and headed out./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"For his part, Mike was excited yet nervous. The quiet man had always wanted to get to know his Captain better but never wanted to intrude on family time. Even though he did not have a family of his own (yet) the Engineer knew how much Hank's meant to him. It was going to be a fun time for the two men to relax./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike made his way home; the early traffic seemed to sense his need to relax as the roads were relatively clear for the morning. As soon as he pulled up to the small, ranch-style house that he had recently purchased, he stepped out of the truck and grabbed the previous day's mail. Then he headed inside. He set his mental clock for 1115 and went to work./p
p class="MsoNormal"First thing first, he stepped into his warmly decorated room and headed for the bathroom. He reached over and turned on the shower. As the water warmed up, he slowly stepped out of the jeans and underwear that he had worn into work the day before. Then he slipped out of his shirt and added it to the pile of clothes. By then, the water was the perfect temperature, and he stepped inside./p
p class="MsoNormal"The engineer always savored his first shower after work. It meant he could use all the hot water he wanted, and there was no need to rush. The klaxtons would not interrupt the warm stream of water as it worked its way over his athletic frame. Once he was sufficiently clean, Mike stepped out and wrapped himself in the towel he had set up before work the day before./p
p class="MsoNormal"After drying off, he returned to the bedroom. This time he retrieved his dirty uniforms from his gym bag. They were replaced by two pairs of jeans and a pair of lightweight sweatpants and three pairs of socks, three pairs of underwear, the Dodgers shirt that would serve as his sleep shirt for the next two nights, two other undershirts./p
p class="MsoNormal"He tossed another pair of underwear and socks on the bed. He reached in and grabbed his favorite, comfortable jeans, and then proceeded to the bed. It only took him a few seconds to get dressed. He was used to getting dressed in a hurry, whether he was on duty or not. Once he has his pants and socks on, Mike headed for his closet and retrieved a jacket, a lightweight, long sleeve shirt for hiking, a t-shirt for now, and his favorite hiking boots. Once the t-shirt slipped over his torso, he reached up and grabbed his sleeping bag as well as a mess kit and small first aid kit./p
p class="MsoNormal"Even though he was not a paramedic, the firefighter never went into the woods unprepared. The small first aid kit held basic equipment as well as gloves and extra emergency blankets. He also retrieved a piece of rope that could double as a clothesline and a place to keep the garbage off the ground. He grabbed a small daypack and his tent from the floor of the closet and turned around./p
p class="MsoNormal"The new gear was placed on the bed. It took only minutes for everything to find its place in either his daypack or gym bag. The nearly empty daypack went on his back, and the gym bag with the boots tied to it went his right hand. On his left was the tent as he walked out of the room and shut the light off./p
p class="MsoNormal"Everything but the daypack found its way to the tan chair next to a matching couch in the living room. He carried the daypack into the kitchen. It met the table as he turned and started the coffee maker. While the black gold brewed, he quickly filled his pack with healthy snacks and retrieved his water bottle. A can of bug spray and a bottle of suntan lotion also found their way into the bag./p
p class="MsoNormal"The now full bag joined the rest of the equipment on the chair before Mike went back into his room and retrieved his dirty clothes. Making quick work of starting the laundry, he folded the load of towels that had been in the dryer. Three of the older towels and their matching washcloths went into his gym bag. A pack of baby wipes went into the daypack. While he did not have kids, he kept the wipes on hand for outdoor adventures and quick stain removal./p
p class="MsoNormal"His second breakfast of the morning saw him enjoy two eggs with toast and coffee while watching television. Wide awake from his shower and the rare full night of sleep at the station, the engineer settled in to relax before he had to leave for Hank's house./p
p class="MsoNormal"By 1030, his clothes were clean and put away. His uniforms were hung up and ready to roll for Monday morning. He left the house at exactly 1115 with the gear from inside meeting up with a few tarps, two folding chairs, a shovel, and a small bucket in the bed of his pickup./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank's morning nearly mirrored that of Mike's. His commute home was slightly longer as he stopped at the store to gather a few groceries for his wife. She would be home before he was, and he didn't want her to have to worry about anything./p
p class="MsoNormal"Once the shopping was done, he headed home. As with Mike, Hank's first stop was a hot shower. However, he made a detour to start his coffee maker before the shower. He also enjoyed a long shower, one that worked the knot out of his neck. It had developed from writing as much as he did the day before. Hank groaned as the massaging stream worked; he thought, 'paperwork it needs to go away.'/p
p class="MsoNormal"After enjoying the shower and feeling the knot dissipate under the hot stream, he too climbed out to get dressed. Like Mike, he was able to dress quickly, a force of habit for the former military brat turned fire captain. Hank grabbed his pack from the closet and also emptied his gm bag. It was quickly refilled with the clothes for the weekend. The pack was left empty until he was done./p
p class="MsoNormal"Carrying the empty bag in one hand and his gym bag in the other, Hank headed for the living room. After dropping his clothes off, he headed for the garage. It was a small single car garage that served more for household storage than car storage. He quickly found his tent, cooler, and an old Army footlocker. The footlocker had belonged to his father. It now served as the storage box for the camping gear and other tools that would be used for the trip./p
p class="MsoNormal"He carried the tent and cooler into the living room before returning to the garage for the woodlands box. It was carried into the kitchen. He took two knives, one large, one medium size, out of the locker, and put them in his day pack. They were joined by his mess kit, an outdoor camera, a small first aid kit, and two flashlights. He smiled at the rest of the contents in the box. It had various fire starter forms such as lint from the dryer and old papers, two ground tarps, extra trash bags, and a small hammer that was useful for driving stubborn tent stakes. He also had two pairs of thick gloves and a small ax in the box./p
p class="MsoNormal"Once the box and bag were filled, they were both closed and carried out to the living room. The smell of freshly brewed coffee beckoned him back to the kitchen. However, he made a detour to the bedroom to gather his laundry. It was put in the washer before he settled in for his favorite bachelor breakfast, a warm bagel with cream cheese and coffee./p
p class="MsoNormal"As he enjoyed the food, Hank picked up the phone and dialed his sister-in-law's number. After three rings, he was surprised when his wife answered the phone. "Hello."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled at the sound of Emily's voice. The couple had been together for nearly twenty years, having met in school. "Good morning Sweetheart."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Emily's smile reached her voice. "Good morning honey, how are you?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Doing good. You?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Doing good. We are just having breakfast before we head out for the day."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I am having breakfast too. Then Mike is picking me up, we are going camping for the weekend."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Emily smiled; she knew her husband was happy with his crew and always wanted to get to know them better, especially the quiet man. "Where are you boys camping?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Johnny recommended a new place called Timberlands."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I passed signs for that yesterday. The area looks really nice."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Good to know."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You boys, be careful this weekend."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Always, honey, I hope you do the same."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Of course."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Good."/p
p class="MsoNormal""How was work yesterday?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""The early part of the day was busy, but it settled down after dinner. It was Marco's turn to cook."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh good, at least you won't have to regret Chet's dinner hitting you hard while you're in the woods." A smirk filled Emily's voice with the final words./p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank laughed loudly, "This is very true, honey." He could hear the noise picking up behind his beloved wife. "It sounds like you girls are ready to roll."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Yeah, we are. Sorry baby."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Don't be a sweetheart. You girls have fun this weekend. I'll see you Sunday night."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Sounds good, baby. I love you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I love you too, Darling."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The couple slowly hung up with their good-bye. It was never something they enjoyed, although it was always nicer to do it on their terms rather than having the klaxtons interrupt them./p
p class="MsoNormal"As they hung up, the washer finished. Hank quickly switched out his clothes before writing Emily a lovely note and headed for the living room. It was nearly 10, and he wanted to relax for a bit before a weekend in the woods./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"By the time Mike pulled up to the house at 1155, Hank had folded and put away his clothes and reset his uniforms. The doorbell ringing brought him out of the bedroom. He smiled as he opened the door and saw his blue-eyed engineer staring at him./p
p class="MsoNormal""Hi Mike, come on in."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Hi, Cap," Mike walked in. "Sorry, if I caught you in the middle of something."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh, you didn't. I was just finishing putting the laundry away."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Ugh, I did mine this morning too." Mike noticed Hank's gear pile, "Go finish what you need to, and I'll get your gear outside."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Thanks, pal."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank turned and headed for the bedroom. He quickly finished the clothes and turned down the bed for his wife. Then he headed for the kitchen and unplugged the coffee pot as it would sit unused until he returned. By the time he was done, Mike had carried everything, including the footlocker outside and loaded it in the truck./p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank grabbed his wallet and keys before he put his sunglasses on and went to join his companion for the weekend. He whistled at the sight of the deep red vehicle. "So, this is your new girl, eh."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike grinned. "It sure is. I just picked her up a few weeks back. A buddy of mine sold her to me before he moved out of state."/p
p class="MsoNormal""She's a beaut, Mike. Good color for you too."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The engineer laughed as both men climbed in the truck. "That's what he said too. I mean, I am always partial to Big Red, but when I can't have her, I have Ember."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Ember. I love the name," Hank grinned as Mike backed out of the driveway./p
p class="MsoNormal""I thought we could stop at that small market on the edge of town, if that's okay."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Sounds good to me. They have an excellent meat section."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike pointed the truck in its needed direction. Although they were technically off duty, both men were keenly aware of how stupid some people drove. They each had sharp eyes on the road as they started to plan the weekend./p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank asked, "Mike, have you ever heard of foil meals?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Johnny's told me about them, but I've never made one. Why?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""What'd ya say I cook tonight. I'll make them the way we used when went camping back east in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The ever-curious chef was intrigued. "Sounds good to me, but may I ask what's in them?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled, "Ground beef, seasoning, potatoes, carrots, and celery. You wrap it all together in foil and then throw it directly in the fire for about 45 minutes."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike grinned, "My mouth is already watering. What if we do sandwiches for lunch so we can eat and explore."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank chuckled, "You're reading my mind, Michael."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike grinned as he turned his head to face Hank at a stoplight. "Isn't that part of my job?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank laughed, "Yeah, I guess it is, isn't it."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The two men laughed as Mike turned back to the road to finish the drive to the store. "Did you get a hold of Emily?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Yep, while I was eating breakfast. She was having breakfast before they headed out for the day."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Good."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh, you'll love her comment when I told her that Marco cooked last night."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh?" Curiosity filled the younger man's voice as he found a parking spot in the store lot./p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank chuckled as they climbed from the truck and headed inside. "She said, at least you won't have to worry about Chet's dinner hitting us hard in the woods."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike chuckled, "This is very true, Cap, this is very true."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The two men grabbed a shopping cart and headed for the produce section. As they gathered the carrots, celery, and potatoes, Mike spied the bananas. "Hey Hank, since you are making dinner, what if I do dessert?'/p
p class="MsoNormal"Always a fan of Mike's cooking, Hank smiled, "Sounds good to me. Whatcha got in mind?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Banana boats. They're kind of like a s'more stuffed inside a banana."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank's eyes lit up like a kid at Christmas. "Now there's an idea."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The bananas soon found the basket as the men headed for the dry goods. A couple of six-packs of soda, as well as a few beers, met the basket. The drinks were joined by a half case of water, a small container of mustard, a jar of Italian seasoning, a small salt, a small pepper, as well as the chocolates and marshmallows for dessert. Then they headed for the cold section to grab the ground beef. Mike also picked up some fish for dinner Saturday night. The deli was their final stop for cold meat, cheese, and bread. Mike looked down at the basket. "I think we have everything we need except the ice that's up front. Can you think of anything else?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank looked at their gatherings. "Nope, I think we have everything. I have some long matches to start the fire in the footlocker."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Okay."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe two men headed for the checkout lines. On the way, they grabbed a ten-pound bag of ice. After a few minutes of debate, the bill was split in half before the groceries hit the belt. The last two things added were drinks for the road. All in all, it only took twenty minutes at the store./p
p class="MsoNormal"As they returned to the truck, Mike opened the tailgate. The duo made quick work of filling the cooler with the ice and food. They did not want to risk having anything melt on them./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike grinned, "Shall we."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank grinned as he clapped his hands together, "Let's get to it."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The duo climbed in the truck and headed off on their adventure./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike asked, "Cap…"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled, "Call me, Hank, Mike. We're not at work."/p
p class="MsoNormal"A slight flush of embarrassment filled the quiet man's face. "Sorry, the force of habit."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank clapped him on the shoulder. "Nothing to be sorry about, my friend. I understand. Now, what were you going to ask?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Would you like the radio on?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Sure, I'll play the DJ if you want."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Please, because once we get out of town…"/p
p class="MsoNormal"The engineer let the sentence drop as the radio came on. It was on the local rock station. Hank smiled, "Good music to drive with."/p
p class="MsoNormal""It sure is," Mike, who had been a bit nervous, started to relax./p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled at the younger man's slowly changing demeanor. "Breathe, pal; I'm not going to bite."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike took a quick breath, his eyes never leaving the road. "Sorry Hank is just not used to having many people want to spend time with me. I've been told more than once I am too quiet."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled, "Well, I, for one, have wanted to get to know you better for quite a while. I mean, I know the professional side of you, but in the three years we've worked together, that's about all I know."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike was suddenly embarrassed. He never realized that the crew, including Hank, would want to get to know him better. "Sorry about that. I grew up in a let's just say don't speak unless spoken to environment. It was my three sisters and me before my younger brother was born."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank was stunned to hear Mike open up. He kept quiet as he thought, 'well, that explains why he is so quiet all the time.'/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike continued, "Mom loved us. Dad, well…he wasn't around much and when he was…." Mike took a breath. "It was like having McConnikee around."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank shuddered involuntarily at the mention of his former captain and current Battalion Chief's name. "Now, that's rough."/p
p class="MsoNormal""It was no picnic, that's for sure. As soon as I could get outta there at eighteen, I did. I joined the Navy for a couple of years out of high school."/p
p class="MsoNormal""So, what changed your mind to the fire service?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike chuckled, "I was tired of seeing nothing but ocean all the time. I wanted to work on something that moved faster than a snail through molasses."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank laughed at the mental picture. "That I can certainly understand."/p
p class="MsoNormal""What about you? Why did you join the department?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""I was tired of moving around so many times my eyes would spin. I wanted to live out of more than a suitcase and temporary housing that came with being an Army brat. I also wanted to get off the east coast, so when my dad retired in Virginia, I headed west and landed here."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike smiled at Hank as they reached one of the last traffic lights they would see for a while. "I thought there was something familiar about you when I first met you. Brats stand out to those who can recognize them no matter where they are."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled warmly, "We sure do."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike flipped a switch in the cab of the truck. It engaged the four-wheel-drive system meant for dirt roads. "Can I have my drink?" He asked as he made the turn onto the winding road that would eventually lead them up to their destination./p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled, "Sure." He opened the soda and handed it over before finding another radio station since the first one had faded away. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMike grabbed a drink as Hank fiddled with the radio. He eventually found what he was looking for before he opened his drink./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"The two men settled into a comfortable silence as the trip continued. Thanks to some road work, Mike was forced to drive by an area that neither would ever forget. Both men shuddered the truck rounded the bend in the road where Johnny had been bitten by the rattlesnake the year before./p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank gulped, "You know as long as I live, I will never take this turn without that scene replaying in my head."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike reached over and took a quick drink before he spoke. His voice slightly thickened as the scene played out in his head. "I know exactly what you mean. I mean, we have seen some things that's the nature of the job, but that one…I'm not gonna lie scared a few years off my life."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Mine too. Although I am curious about one thing if I may engineer to engineer."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Sure."/p
p class="MsoNormal""What the heck did you think as you damn near put the peddle through the floor?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike swallowed hard, glad they had finally cleared that section of road. "Honestly, I only had two thoughts going through my head. Please, God, let the streets stay clear, and please Red gimmie everything. I promise I will take care of you, but right now, I need you to get my family to the hospital."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank swallowed hard. The last thought struck a nerve with the former engineer. He had never wanted to put his crew in that situation, yet Mike handled it like a champ. He reached up and wiped his suddenly wet eyes. It was the first time he had heard Mike's thoughts on that call. Hank reached over and gripped the younger man's shoulder. The truck went quiet as the thick blanket of emotions started to dissipate./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"Both men opened their windows and enjoyed the sounds of nature that surrounded them when the radio station faded out. The only other radio in the truck was CB. Hank could have put an eight-track in, but nature's soundtrack was too beautiful. It wasn't long after they left the site of Johnny's snakebite that Mike spotted the first Timberland sign./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike smiled without taking his eyes off the road. "Looks like we're almost home."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Remind me to thank Johnny; this is a beautiful area."/p
p class="MsoNormal""It sure is."/p
p class="MsoNormal"An err of excitement filled the truck as both men anticipated the weekend. Ten minutes later, Mike pulled up the Ranger station that also served as a check-in point for campers. He found a spot in the nearly empty lot, and both men climbed out of the truck./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"A groan echoed from both as they stretched. The duo wore matching smiles as they headed into the small log cabin./p
p class="MsoNormal"They were greeted by a young Ranger who was smiling. "Good morning Gentlemen, welcome to Timberland. My name is JB. I am one of the Rangers here."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled, "Good morning JB, my name is Hank." Hank pointed to Mike. "This is Mike."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The three men shook hands. JB asked, "What can I do for you?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""We were wondering if there is a tent site open for the weekend?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"JB smiled, "Let me check." JB made quick work of checking the camp log. "In fact, we do; we have one left. It's about a mile up the road from here."/p
p class="MsoNormal""We'll take it."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Just the two of you?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Yes, Sir, escaping work for the weekend."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike smiled, "We're both firemen with the county."/p
p class="MsoNormal"JB grinned, "Nough said, another member of your department is a regular up here." JB looked at Mike, "He's about your height but a lot skinnier with dark hair and a darker complexion."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled, "Would you be talking about John Gage by chance?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""I would. Why do you know him?" JB asked with a smile./p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank replied, the smile growing on his face. "I better, I am his captain. Mike is the engineer with our shift. Johnny is actually the one who recommended this place to us."/p
p class="MsoNormal"JB grinned as he put the paperwork together for the campsite. "When you see him again, please tell him JB said hi."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Will do, first thing Monday morning."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Okay. Here is your paperwork. I just need a license plate number and how long you plan to stay."/p
p class="MsoNormal""We'll be leaving Sunday morning," Hank replied as Mike filled out the paperwork./p
p class="MsoNormal""Sounds good," JB took the paperwork from Mike and handed the men a map./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike noticed the CB next to the desk. "Do you monitor that?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Always," JB responded with a smile, "Especially the emergency channel."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Okay."/p
p class="MsoNormal""If you guys need me, use the call sign campsite one."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The trio said goodbye before Hank and Mike headed out./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike and Hank headed back to the truck. It only took a few minutes for the skilled driver to find their home for the weekend./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike grinned as he shut the engine off. "Ah, home sweet, home."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank grinned as they climbed out. "No prettier words have been spoken."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The duo took a few minutes to look around the site. It was a relatively flat area with a fire ring in the middle of it. To the left were two beefy trees that could support a clothesline if needed. To the right was the area that many used for their tents, as evidenced by the flattened area with tents' outlines. There were also arrows pointing to the bathrooms that were not far down the trail./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike asked, "Keeping the usual outline here?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Might as well since everyone seems to use it."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The duo returned to the truck, and Mike popped the tailgate. Together they made quick work of unpacking the gear. The cooler was put over by the fire pit and the bucket, shovels, and fire starter. Mike also deposited two chairs in that area./p
p class="MsoNormal"The footlocker was placed by the trees. Then the duo worked together to put up both of their tents and set up their beds. The work was done quietly as the men enjoyed the birds singing throughout the area./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"It was nearly 1500 by the time camp was built. Hank made the sandwiches as Mike hung the clothesline in case they needed it. He also attached the garbage back to it. Both men then grabbed their meal and daypacks. The duo headed out to explore the area. Small talk filled their travels as they wandered the permitter of the campground. The topics ranged from Hank's time as an Army brat to the potential of catching fish for the weekend./p
p class="MsoNormal"A small stream beckoned, although neither wanted to go fishing. However, the cameras both men brought got a good workout. They waved at a family of four who was enjoying a hike. They scoped out the area closer to the lone road that wound its way above the campsites on their way back. It had a wicked curve in the middle of it that both men made a mental note of./p
p class="MsoNormal"After a few hours away, Hank voiced exactly what Mike thought as they wandered back into their camp. "I really hope that curve doesn't make us work this weekend."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike shook his head, "You and me both, you and me both…"/p
p class="MsoNormal"The sentiment was left hanging as Mike started to work on the fire for the evening. Thankfully, the warm summer day meant they had some extra time before the night bugs would be out. Mike asked, "How big do you need the fire?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Just a good cooking size. We don't need anything special."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Okay." Mike worked on building a fire using some of the starter material Hank had brought and the wood they gathered during their style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhile he worked on that, Hank turned his attention to a few finishing details for the site. The bucket and shovels were moved to a safe style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHank remembered the stream./p
p class="MsoNormal""Hey, Mike."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Yeah?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""I am going to go get some water. I'll be back."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Be careful."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank grinned, "Isn't that my line?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Both men chuckled as Mike replied, "Yes. But…"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled as he patted Mike on the back. "I will." The relaxed captain grabbed the bucket and headed out./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"While Hank was gone, Mike worked the fire. He let it grow but kept it to the cooking size that was requested. As Hank returned, Mike retrieved the long tongs and special fire gloves from the footlocker. Hank smiled at the fire, "That's perfect, Mike."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Thanks, Hank." Mike's voice sounded awkward. It was definitely going to take a bit for him to get used to calling his superior by his first name./p
p class="MsoNormal""You're welcome." Hank set the bucket down next to the shovels. "Did I see baby wipes somewhere?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMike retrieved the requested items and handed them over. "Here, ya go. Would you like a beer as well?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Once I get the food in the fire, yes, please."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You got it."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank used a baby wipe to clean his hands before he opened the cooler. He pulled out the vegetables and set them on top of a small cutting board on top of the cooler. The small cooking pot from Mike's mess kit found its way to his side. Hank smiled, "Thanks, pal."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You're welcome."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike settled in and let his mind wander while Hank prepared the veggies for dinner. Every now and then, the engineer stole a glance at his friend. It was a look of warmth and respect. Hank was one of the first people in the department who didn't complain when he found out Mike had been the first person to get a near-perfect score on his Engineer's exam. Instead of making fun of the younger man, Hank had taken him under his wing./p
p class="MsoNormal"Having risen from the rank of Engineer to Captain just before his appointment at Station 51, Hank felt a bond with his new Engineer. He also knew there was no way he would treat the future Captain the same way he had been treated./p
p class="MsoNormal"The duo shared a mutual love and respect for their equipment and their job. In fact, there had been times Mike would find his leader in the bay, usually late at night, walking the engine. It was not often, usually after a bad call or one that had been a little too close for comfort. The quiet man would watch as Hank circled Red as he ran his hands along with the steel frame, murmuring to her in a one-sided but needed conversation. The length of the conversation depended on the reason for it./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike had been so deep in thought he did not notice Hank staring at him at first. Hank seemed to realize this and waited for a minute before he called out, "Hey Stoker, can you hold the veggies while I take care of the meat?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike shook himself back to reality and was on his feet in a second. "Sure, Cap."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled; he knew his crew used the short version of his title as a term of endearment. "Thanks, pal."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike took the vegetables and then grabbed the roll of foil. He quickly opened the metallic material and cut off two good-sized pieces. They were laid side by side as Hank seasoned and formed the meat into patties. "Thanks, Mike."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You're welcome."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank quickly loaded the foil up with the meat. Then he washed his hands with a few more baby wipes as Mike added the vegetables. After his hands were clean, Hank quickly sealed the packets. He walked over and used the long tongs to place the dinners in the fire./p
p class="MsoNormal"He smiled as he turned around. "Normally, I label them, but since they are the same."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike smiled as the duo sat down. He offered up a can of beer. "Thanks for cooking tonight."/p
p class="MsoNormal""My pleasure." Hank raised his beer. "I propose a toast." Mike raised his beer. Hank continued. "To a weekend with no klaxtons, twits, Phantom or Pigeon."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike added, "To a weekend with friends and nature instead of city life and asphalt."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Here here," both men said at the same time before they took a long drink of their beer./p
p class="MsoNormal"The rhythmic sounds of the fire crackling let the men relax. Hank set the timer on his watch, and the duo sat back. They finished another can of beer, each chased by some of the chips originally bought for their hike./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike stretched his long frame and said, "I'll be back as he collected the empty cans and deposited them in the garbage bag tied to the clothesline."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank nodded, "I'll be here. Be careful."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Always." Mike nodded and headed off in the direction of the bathrooms./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"While Mike was gone, Hank tended the fire and retrieved both mess kits. By the time the younger man returned, Hank had the meals pulled from the fire and had turned the top of the metal footlocker into a makeshift table./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike smiled, "It smells great."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Thanks, pal, you good?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Yeah, the beer caught up to me."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You know that's a good point. Since these have to sit a few minutes…"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Go on; I'll watch them."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank nodded his thanks and headed out. He returned a short while later and found Mike had opened the meals and got them into their plates./p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled, "Thanks, pal."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You're welcome. It's been tempting to start without you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You could have."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Nope, the cook always takes the first bite," Mike said with a smile./p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled, "Fair enough."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The duo settled in for their evening meal. Hank's eyes rolled back slightly as a look of pure joy filled his face. "Just like I remember."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike took a few bites before he came up for air. "Oh man Cap, if these were an indoor food, I'd ask for them as much as I do your clam chowder."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank grinned. He knew his crew truly loved his chowder. It was almost as famous as Mike's chicken or spaghetti or Marco's chili. "Thanks Mike that means a lot."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You're welcome, Cap."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The duo spent the next stretch of time making small talk about baseball and the upcoming department game against the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey also caught up on some news around the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBy the time dinner was done, both were completely relaxed, aided by their meal and pre-meal drinks. The fresh air was also helping./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike looked over at Hank. "I'll do the dishes."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Are you sure?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""It's only fair since you cooked."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Okay."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike stood and collected the dishes. They were piled up next to the cooler that would serve as a drying rack. Then he used the larger pot from his kit to gather some water from the bucket. He used the tongs and fire gloves to heat the water over the open flames before setting it on the ground. Dish duty was not challenging since it was only the two of them./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike was so relaxed that he started humming some of his favorite Beach Boys songs. Hank watched him wash the dishes and found his vision was cut in half. Part of him wanted to watch the fire as it relaxed him. The other wanted to watch the quiet man finally relax. It had been a long month for the engineer. He had been hit several times trying to help Roy and Johnny break up some domestic stuff at a fire a couple of weeks ago. Then he had some overtime fun as a lineman before coming back to the serenity of HIS engine./p
p class="MsoNormal"The older man smiled as he picked up the song Mike was humming and started to sing along. Hearing his Captain, Mike finally decided to sing along in his normal softer tone. Before he knew it, the dishes were done, and the guys were once again next to the fire. They had both put on long sleeve shirts and bug spray as the evening air was settling in, and neither wanted to be an all-night buffet for the mosquitos and other critters./p
p class="MsoNormal"After a few minutes, Mike noticed a small lump in Hank's shirt style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Hey, Cap, what's in your shirt?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled at the eagle-eyed man's observation. He removed the object in question and surprised Mike with a harmonica. "This."/p
p class="MsoNormal""That's a beautiful harmonica, Hank. Where did you get it?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""In one of the many places we lived as a kid. It was hard for me to make friends because we were always moving, so I got this thing and taught myself how to play it."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike was surprised. He never knew Hank had musical talent. "What's your favorite song to play?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""One of the first I learned. When the Saints Go Marching In. I can also play Amazing Grace. I'm still working on learning a new one. I just picked up the music to recently."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh, really, what song?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Blowing in the Wind."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh man, that's one of my favorites. Although I have to admit, I like the Peter, Paul, and Mary version better than Bob Dylan's."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled, "I know what you mean. I know it's his song, but he is just so hard to understand."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Exactly. It's almost like he sings with marbles in his mouth."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank belly laughed at the blunt but true observation. "Michael, you are right again, my friend."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike took a drink from the soda he had grabbed. "Would you play something for me?" The nerves were evident in his voice./p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled, "On one condition…"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike cut him off with a sincere smile, "The Phantom will never know."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank let out a sigh of relief. "In that case, what do you want to hear?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Whatever you feel like playing."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike sat back and got comfortable as Hank took a long drink of water and pursed his lips. Then he started with the fun and upbeat When the Saints Go Marching style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBy the end of it, Mike was on his feet, preparing dessert as he sang along. Although the quiet man was not much of a fan of his own voice, he couldn't help but sing to the catchy tune./p
p class="MsoNormal"After taking a long drink and watching the banana boats get deposited into the fire, Hank started on the second song. This time he chose another one both knew, America the Beautiful./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike smiled at the end of the song. "You have some real talent there, Cap."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled, "Thanks, pal."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Do you wanna try Blowin' in the Wind while the bananas cook?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""As long as you're gentle with me."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Of course."/p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank took another long drink of water as Mike settled back into his chair. Then the nervous older man started on the new song. It only took a few seconds before Mike joined him, singing along with every note. This time he sang in full throat, which made his friend smile in his eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal"By the time the song ended, dessert was ready. Mike smiled at style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"That was really great."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Thanks, pal, and don't kid yourself. You have a great voice."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike blushed as he carefully served up the still steaming dessert packets. "Thanks, Cap, no…nobody's ever said that to me before."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Well, they definitely should have because you do." Hank smiled. He sensed Mike's embarrassment and changed the subject as he looked down at the packet. "So, what do we have here?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike smiled, "I sliced the bananas tip to tip about three-quarters of the way through. Then I opened 'em up and stuffed them full of marshmallows and chocolate. I pulled the skins back closed and wrapped 'em up."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Okay, here and now we make a pact. Never tell the two sugar twits about these."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike laughed, "Oh, believe me, Cap, I'd never do that. I want to sleep at night, not listen to those two bounce of the wall."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Both men laughed as they dug into dessert. Mike waited a minute as Hank took his first couple bites, using the spoon from his mess kit. "Okay, where have these been hiding all my life," the older man asked with a grin./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike smiled, "Glad you like it."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The duo ate in comfortable silence as they listened to the sounds of the campground. Not far from them was the young family they had waved to on their hike. Their site was closer to the water but over by the road that twisted above the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe clear night also meant they could hear a few of the other campsites, although no one was particularly loud. It was almost as if there was an unwritten rule to keep conversations to an indoor tone./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"It wasn't long after dessert that the fresh air caught up to both Mike and Hank. Since they still had a small fire going, they decided to change in their tents. Hank finished first and headed down the trail to the bathroom using his flashlight. By the time he got back, Mike was ready to go./p
p class="MsoNormal"While Mike was gone, Hank tied up the garbage and hung it from the clothesline. He didn't want to take the chance of anything stinking up Mike's new truck. He also knew better than to leave things in reach of the night critters./p
p class="MsoNormal"By the time Mike came back, the site was cleaned up for the night. The dishes were back inside the footlocker, and everything was battened down. Hank looked up into Mike's tired blue eyes. "It's sack time, pal."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike could not stifle the yawn. He had tried to fight off on his way back to camp. He yawned before he said, "Yeah, I think it is. Good night, Cap."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Good night Mike," Hank smiled tiredly. "Feel free to sleep tomorrow."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Planned on it, you too."/p
p class="MsoNormal""That's the plan."/p
p class="MsoNormal"With that, Hank used the water to put out the fire. He was promptly followed by dirt from Mike's shovel. Their work done by the light of Mike's lantern that sat between their tents. Nodding good night to one another, the duo headed for their tents. Both men hoping for a quiet, restful night surrounded only by mother nature's soundtrack./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"Chapter 1 Camping/p
p class="MsoNormal"The brilliant blue sky that had covered Carson all day long slowly faded into the brilliance of dusk as the men of Station 51's A shift settled in for the evening. It had been a steady yet not an insanely busy day for the crew of six. Engineer Mike Stoker brought in the flag while Captain Hank Stanley was in his office, catching up on the endless stack of paperwork that always made its way to his desk./p
p class="MsoNormal"The station's comic relief team of paramedic Johnny "the Pigeon" Gage and lineman Chet "the Phantom" Kelly were playing a game of basketball. Johnny's partner Roy Desoto was the almost unwilling ref. He had only agreed because it was too nice to stay inside. The lone human occupant of the kitchen was lineman Marco Lopez, the chef for the evening./p
p class="MsoNormal"It was just after 1800 when Marco's culinary creation found the six plates that had been set on the table before the basketball game. Once the meal was plated, the Latino man walked to the doorway and called out "Chow's up!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Much like a group of hungry children, the two-word call sent the other five men running into the room. Mike was the first into the room, having just secured the flag. He was followed by Hank, who was grateful for the reprieve from his paperwork mountain. The rest of the crew was led inside by the always hungry Johnny. By the time the group gathered around the table, Marco had added a cold soda for each man to their place setting./p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank clapped his hands and grinned as he sat down. "Marco, this looks amazing, pal."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Marco smiled broadly, "Thanks, Cap. I figured it was too hot for something heavy, so I went for a lighter version of my mom's fajitas."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Johnny eyed the food nervously. Lighter usually meant diet food, something all too skinny paramedic was not a fan of. "Uh pal, by lighter…you don't mean…" Johnny stammered./p
p class="MsoNormal"Marco chuckled, "No, Johnny, they are not a diet dish. I just mean they are not quite as heavy as her usual ones because, let's face it, it's too hot to eat that heavy today."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Johnny let out a breath and grinned, "Well, alright, then."/p
p class="MsoNormal"After a quick blessing and six silent prayers that the county would behave long enough for them to finish their meal, the men dug in. The sounds of eating mixed with a comfortable silence reigned over the room for a few minutes before Hank started his favorite dinner topic. "So, men, what does everyone have planned when we get off tomorrow?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Roy took a long drink of soda before he replied, "It's…that…that time of year again. Joanne's mother has requested her semi-annual family fun day in San Diego." The senior medic made the face of a cross between biting into a sour lemon and smelling old gym clothes that had not been washed. It made the others grimace in sympathy and yet chuckle at the same time./p
p class="MsoNormal"Johnny knew all too well; Roy's mother-in-law did not think much of him. It didn't matter to her that he was a decorated Vietnam Veteran and one of the county's first paramedics. It didn't matter that he was the father of her two beautiful grandkids. She still didn't think he was good enough for her daughter. The younger medic laid a sympathetic hand on his best friend's shoulder. "If it helps any, Pally, I am going to be in San Diego this weekend too. Yell if you need me, I'll be with Pam and Emily. Emily called the other day and invited me to her swim meet."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Roy smiled at the thought of the young blonde girl that had his partner neatly wrapped around her finger as much as his own kids did. "Stay dry and wish her good luck for all of us."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I will."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Tell Pam; we send our best as well."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Always."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank waited until the paramedics finished before he gazed at his next target, Marco. "Hey Marco, first of all, when you see your mom tell her to thank you. These are amazing!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Marco grinned, "Will do, Cap."/p
p class="MsoNormal""So, what's on taps for you this weekend?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Mom has asked Chet and me to come over and help her with some projects."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The Pigeon couldn't resist getting a dig in at the Phantom. "Just don't let Chet near the kitchen; we don't need anybody getting sick."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Marco laughed as Chet stuck his tongue out. "Oh, don't worry, mom is paying us in her food."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The crew chuckled at Chet's reaction. Hank grinned, "Let me know if you boys need new pants Monday."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Chet and Marco both laughed before Chet answered, "Got ya covered, Cap. I had you go up a half size for a reason the last time I ordered them."/p
p class="MsoNormal"That comment brought about another round of laughter that lasted for several minutes. Once the tabled calmed down again, Hank looked over at his second in command. "Michael, what are your plans?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"The quiet Engineer thought for a moment before he replied, "Actually, I don't have anything planned. I know I want to spend time outside because this weather is supposed to stick around for a while, but I don't know what I want to do yet."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Roy asked, "What about you, Cap?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Actually, I am going to be a bachelor all weekend. Emily left this morning for a weekend up north with her sisters. Apparently, Marge thinks Spencer is going to propose and is already pre-planning the wedding." The last line was said with a touch of sarcasm and an eye roll that earned a chuckle from his crew./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike thought for a moment before he said. "Hey Cap, what if you and I go camping or something this weekend? It's going to be too nice to stay inside. That is if Emily didn't leave you a honey-do-list."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled, "Nope. I knew this trip was coming up, so I've been working on my list all week. Camping sounds great, Mike."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Johnny took a long drink of his soda and finished the last bites of his dinner before he chimed in. "If you want to go tent camping, Timberland has some nice sites. It's only a couple of hours from here."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Sounds good to me," Hank and Mike spoke up at the same time./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"Having hashed out their weekend plans, the crew finished up dinner. Johnny helped clear the table while the others settled in for the night. Hank returned to his office, leaving the door open to finish his paperwork. Mike headed for the locker room. He wanted to get a notebook and make a list for the upcoming trip. The others headed for the couch to find something to watch./p
p class="MsoNormal"By the time Hank called lights out a little over three hours later, the lists were made, and the men were tired. They set up their gear, then got cleaned up and settled down for what they hoped would be a peaceful night./p
p class="MsoNormal"The big fireman in the sky showed mercy on the men of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. It was a rare night where no station got called out overnight./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"A loud groan and a few choice words about dreams being interrupted echoed through the dorm when the morning alarm went off at 0700./p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank chuckled as he headed for the dayroom to make the first pot of coffee. Mike got cleaned up and dressed quickly to do the morning colors. The others were a little slower on the uptake but eventually stumbled into their uniforms and gathered in the dayroom for coffee and the droughts they had picked up after one of their runs the day before./p
p class="MsoNormal"By 0730, B shift had started to filter in, and the six-man family from A shift made their way to the locker room to change and head out. A smattering of goodbye, good luck, and be careful filled the parking lot as everyone left except for Mike and Hank./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike waited in the parking lot for Hank to emerge after going over the notes from the day before with Captain Grant./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"It was 0750 when Hank finally walked into the parking lot. A bright smile filled his face. Mike's smile matched his Captain's. "Ready?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""You know it. I love this place, and I love you guys, but if I see another piece of paperwork again…it'll be too soon."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The duo laughed before Mike asked, "What time do you want me to pick you up? I figure we can take my truck up into the mountains. I just got new all-terrain tires put on her a couple of weeks ago."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled; he was looking forward to getting to know his second-in-command better this weekend. "How about noon? That gives us enough time to go home, get human, pack, and make sure everything is secure for the weekend. I also want to call Emily and let her know about our plans."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Sounds good to me. Do you still have that cooler you brought to the last shift party?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""I sure do; it's in the garage. I can grab that with my gear."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Perfect. I figure we can stop on the way out and get the ice and food."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Sounds like a plan. See you in a couple of hours, Mike."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Looking forward to it."/p
p class="MsoNormal"With that, the two men climbed in their vehicles and headed out./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"For his part, Mike was excited yet nervous. The quiet man had always wanted to get to know his Captain better but never wanted to intrude on family time. Even though he did not have a family of his own (yet) the Engineer knew how much Hank's meant to him. It was going to be a fun time for the two men to relax./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike made his way home; the early traffic seemed to sense his need to relax as the roads were relatively clear for the morning. As soon as he pulled up to the small, ranch-style house that he had recently purchased, he stepped out of the truck and grabbed the previous day's mail. Then he headed inside. He set his mental clock for 1115 and went to work./p
p class="MsoNormal"First thing first, he stepped into his warmly decorated room and headed for the bathroom. He reached over and turned on the shower. As the water warmed up, he slowly stepped out of the jeans and underwear that he had worn into work the day before. Then he slipped out of his shirt and added it to the pile of clothes. By then, the water was the perfect temperature, and he stepped inside./p
p class="MsoNormal"The engineer always savored his first shower after work. It meant he could use all the hot water he wanted, and there was no need to rush. The klaxtons would not interrupt the warm stream of water as it worked its way over his athletic frame. Once he was sufficiently clean, Mike stepped out and wrapped himself in the towel he had set up before work the day before./p
p class="MsoNormal"After drying off, he returned to the bedroom. This time he retrieved his dirty uniforms from his gym bag. They were replaced by two pairs of jeans and a pair of lightweight sweatpants and three pairs of socks, three pairs of underwear, the Dodgers shirt that would serve as his sleep shirt for the next two nights, two other undershirts./p
p class="MsoNormal"He tossed another pair of underwear and socks on the bed. He reached in and grabbed his favorite, comfortable jeans, and then proceeded to the bed. It only took him a few seconds to get dressed. He was used to getting dressed in a hurry, whether he was on duty or not. Once he has his pants and socks on, Mike headed for his closet and retrieved a jacket, a lightweight, long sleeve shirt for hiking, a t-shirt for now, and his favorite hiking boots. Once the t-shirt slipped over his torso, he reached up and grabbed his sleeping bag as well as a mess kit and small first aid kit./p
p class="MsoNormal"Even though he was not a paramedic, the firefighter never went into the woods unprepared. The small first aid kit held basic equipment as well as gloves and extra emergency blankets. He also retrieved a piece of rope that could double as a clothesline and a place to keep the garbage off the ground. He grabbed a small daypack and his tent from the floor of the closet and turned around./p
p class="MsoNormal"The new gear was placed on the bed. It took only minutes for everything to find its place in either his daypack or gym bag. The nearly empty daypack went on his back, and the gym bag with the boots tied to it went his right hand. On his left was the tent as he walked out of the room and shut the light off./p
p class="MsoNormal"Everything but the daypack found its way to the tan chair next to a matching couch in the living room. He carried the daypack into the kitchen. It met the table as he turned and started the coffee maker. While the black gold brewed, he quickly filled his pack with healthy snacks and retrieved his water bottle. A can of bug spray and a bottle of suntan lotion also found their way into the bag./p
p class="MsoNormal"The now full bag joined the rest of the equipment on the chair before Mike went back into his room and retrieved his dirty clothes. Making quick work of starting the laundry, he folded the load of towels that had been in the dryer. Three of the older towels and their matching washcloths went into his gym bag. A pack of baby wipes went into the daypack. While he did not have kids, he kept the wipes on hand for outdoor adventures and quick stain removal./p
p class="MsoNormal"His second breakfast of the morning saw him enjoy two eggs with toast and coffee while watching television. Wide awake from his shower and the rare full night of sleep at the station, the engineer settled in to relax before he had to leave for Hank's house./p
p class="MsoNormal"By 1030, his clothes were clean and put away. His uniforms were hung up and ready to roll for Monday morning. He left the house at exactly 1115 with the gear from inside meeting up with a few tarps, two folding chairs, a shovel, and a small bucket in the bed of his pickup./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank's morning nearly mirrored that of Mike's. His commute home was slightly longer as he stopped at the store to gather a few groceries for his wife. She would be home before he was, and he didn't want her to have to worry about anything./p
p class="MsoNormal"Once the shopping was done, he headed home. As with Mike, Hank's first stop was a hot shower. However, he made a detour to start his coffee maker before the shower. He also enjoyed a long shower, one that worked the knot out of his neck. It had developed from writing as much as he did the day before. Hank groaned as the massaging stream worked; he thought, 'paperwork it needs to go away.'/p
p class="MsoNormal"After enjoying the shower and feeling the knot dissipate under the hot stream, he too climbed out to get dressed. Like Mike, he was able to dress quickly, a force of habit for the former military brat turned fire captain. Hank grabbed his pack from the closet and also emptied his gm bag. It was quickly refilled with the clothes for the weekend. The pack was left empty until he was done./p
p class="MsoNormal"Carrying the empty bag in one hand and his gym bag in the other, Hank headed for the living room. After dropping his clothes off, he headed for the garage. It was a small single car garage that served more for household storage than car storage. He quickly found his tent, cooler, and an old Army footlocker. The footlocker had belonged to his father. It now served as the storage box for the camping gear and other tools that would be used for the trip./p
p class="MsoNormal"He carried the tent and cooler into the living room before returning to the garage for the woodlands box. It was carried into the kitchen. He took two knives, one large, one medium size, out of the locker, and put them in his day pack. They were joined by his mess kit, an outdoor camera, a small first aid kit, and two flashlights. He smiled at the rest of the contents in the box. It had various fire starter forms such as lint from the dryer and old papers, two ground tarps, extra trash bags, and a small hammer that was useful for driving stubborn tent stakes. He also had two pairs of thick gloves and a small ax in the box./p
p class="MsoNormal"Once the box and bag were filled, they were both closed and carried out to the living room. The smell of freshly brewed coffee beckoned him back to the kitchen. However, he made a detour to the bedroom to gather his laundry. It was put in the washer before he settled in for his favorite bachelor breakfast, a warm bagel with cream cheese and coffee./p
p class="MsoNormal"As he enjoyed the food, Hank picked up the phone and dialed his sister-in-law's number. After three rings, he was surprised when his wife answered the phone. "Hello."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled at the sound of Emily's voice. The couple had been together for nearly twenty years, having met in school. "Good morning Sweetheart."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Emily's smile reached her voice. "Good morning honey, how are you?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Doing good. You?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Doing good. We are just having breakfast before we head out for the day."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I am having breakfast too. Then Mike is picking me up, we are going camping for the weekend."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Emily smiled; she knew her husband was happy with his crew and always wanted to get to know them better, especially the quiet man. "Where are you boys camping?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Johnny recommended a new place called Timberlands."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I passed signs for that yesterday. The area looks really nice."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Good to know."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You boys, be careful this weekend."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Always, honey, I hope you do the same."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Of course."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Good."/p
p class="MsoNormal""How was work yesterday?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""The early part of the day was busy, but it settled down after dinner. It was Marco's turn to cook."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh good, at least you won't have to regret Chet's dinner hitting you hard while you're in the woods." A smirk filled Emily's voice with the final words./p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank laughed loudly, "This is very true, honey." He could hear the noise picking up behind his beloved wife. "It sounds like you girls are ready to roll."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Yeah, we are. Sorry baby."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Don't be a sweetheart. You girls have fun this weekend. I'll see you Sunday night."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Sounds good, baby. I love you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I love you too, Darling."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The couple slowly hung up with their good-bye. It was never something they enjoyed, although it was always nicer to do it on their terms rather than having the klaxtons interrupt them./p
p class="MsoNormal"As they hung up, the washer finished. Hank quickly switched out his clothes before writing Emily a lovely note and headed for the living room. It was nearly 10, and he wanted to relax for a bit before a weekend in the woods./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"By the time Mike pulled up to the house at 1155, Hank had folded and put away his clothes and reset his uniforms. The doorbell ringing brought him out of the bedroom. He smiled as he opened the door and saw his blue-eyed engineer staring at him./p
p class="MsoNormal""Hi Mike, come on in."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Hi, Cap," Mike walked in. "Sorry, if I caught you in the middle of something."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh, you didn't. I was just finishing putting the laundry away."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Ugh, I did mine this morning too." Mike noticed Hank's gear pile, "Go finish what you need to, and I'll get your gear outside."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Thanks, pal."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank turned and headed for the bedroom. He quickly finished the clothes and turned down the bed for his wife. Then he headed for the kitchen and unplugged the coffee pot as it would sit unused until he returned. By the time he was done, Mike had carried everything, including the footlocker outside and loaded it in the truck./p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank grabbed his wallet and keys before he put his sunglasses on and went to join his companion for the weekend. He whistled at the sight of the deep red vehicle. "So, this is your new girl, eh."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike grinned. "It sure is. I just picked her up a few weeks back. A buddy of mine sold her to me before he moved out of state."/p
p class="MsoNormal""She's a beaut, Mike. Good color for you too."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The engineer laughed as both men climbed in the truck. "That's what he said too. I mean, I am always partial to Big Red, but when I can't have her, I have Ember."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Ember. I love the name," Hank grinned as Mike backed out of the driveway./p
p class="MsoNormal""I thought we could stop at that small market on the edge of town, if that's okay."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Sounds good to me. They have an excellent meat section."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike pointed the truck in its needed direction. Although they were technically off duty, both men were keenly aware of how stupid some people drove. They each had sharp eyes on the road as they started to plan the weekend./p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank asked, "Mike, have you ever heard of foil meals?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Johnny's told me about them, but I've never made one. Why?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""What'd ya say I cook tonight. I'll make them the way we used when went camping back east in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The ever-curious chef was intrigued. "Sounds good to me, but may I ask what's in them?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled, "Ground beef, seasoning, potatoes, carrots, and celery. You wrap it all together in foil and then throw it directly in the fire for about 45 minutes."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike grinned, "My mouth is already watering. What if we do sandwiches for lunch so we can eat and explore."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank chuckled, "You're reading my mind, Michael."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike grinned as he turned his head to face Hank at a stoplight. "Isn't that part of my job?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank laughed, "Yeah, I guess it is, isn't it."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The two men laughed as Mike turned back to the road to finish the drive to the store. "Did you get a hold of Emily?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Yep, while I was eating breakfast. She was having breakfast before they headed out for the day."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Good."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh, you'll love her comment when I told her that Marco cooked last night."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh?" Curiosity filled the younger man's voice as he found a parking spot in the store lot./p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank chuckled as they climbed from the truck and headed inside. "She said, at least you won't have to worry about Chet's dinner hitting us hard in the woods."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike chuckled, "This is very true, Cap, this is very true."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The two men grabbed a shopping cart and headed for the produce section. As they gathered the carrots, celery, and potatoes, Mike spied the bananas. "Hey Hank, since you are making dinner, what if I do dessert?'/p
p class="MsoNormal"Always a fan of Mike's cooking, Hank smiled, "Sounds good to me. Whatcha got in mind?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Banana boats. They're kind of like a s'more stuffed inside a banana."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank's eyes lit up like a kid at Christmas. "Now there's an idea."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The bananas soon found the basket as the men headed for the dry goods. A couple of six-packs of soda, as well as a few beers, met the basket. The drinks were joined by a half case of water, a small container of mustard, a jar of Italian seasoning, a small salt, a small pepper, as well as the chocolates and marshmallows for dessert. Then they headed for the cold section to grab the ground beef. Mike also picked up some fish for dinner Saturday night. The deli was their final stop for cold meat, cheese, and bread. Mike looked down at the basket. "I think we have everything we need except the ice that's up front. Can you think of anything else?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank looked at their gatherings. "Nope, I think we have everything. I have some long matches to start the fire in the footlocker."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Okay."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe two men headed for the checkout lines. On the way, they grabbed a ten-pound bag of ice. After a few minutes of debate, the bill was split in half before the groceries hit the belt. The last two things added were drinks for the road. All in all, it only took twenty minutes at the store./p
p class="MsoNormal"As they returned to the truck, Mike opened the tailgate. The duo made quick work of filling the cooler with the ice and food. They did not want to risk having anything melt on them./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike grinned, "Shall we."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank grinned as he clapped his hands together, "Let's get to it."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The duo climbed in the truck and headed off on their adventure./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike asked, "Cap…"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled, "Call me, Hank, Mike. We're not at work."/p
p class="MsoNormal"A slight flush of embarrassment filled the quiet man's face. "Sorry, the force of habit."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank clapped him on the shoulder. "Nothing to be sorry about, my friend. I understand. Now, what were you going to ask?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Would you like the radio on?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Sure, I'll play the DJ if you want."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Please, because once we get out of town…"/p
p class="MsoNormal"The engineer let the sentence drop as the radio came on. It was on the local rock station. Hank smiled, "Good music to drive with."/p
p class="MsoNormal""It sure is," Mike, who had been a bit nervous, started to relax./p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled at the younger man's slowly changing demeanor. "Breathe, pal; I'm not going to bite."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike took a quick breath, his eyes never leaving the road. "Sorry Hank is just not used to having many people want to spend time with me. I've been told more than once I am too quiet."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled, "Well, I, for one, have wanted to get to know you better for quite a while. I mean, I know the professional side of you, but in the three years we've worked together, that's about all I know."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike was suddenly embarrassed. He never realized that the crew, including Hank, would want to get to know him better. "Sorry about that. I grew up in a let's just say don't speak unless spoken to environment. It was my three sisters and me before my younger brother was born."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank was stunned to hear Mike open up. He kept quiet as he thought, 'well, that explains why he is so quiet all the time.'/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike continued, "Mom loved us. Dad, well…he wasn't around much and when he was…." Mike took a breath. "It was like having McConnikee around."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank shuddered involuntarily at the mention of his former captain and current Battalion Chief's name. "Now, that's rough."/p
p class="MsoNormal""It was no picnic, that's for sure. As soon as I could get outta there at eighteen, I did. I joined the Navy for a couple of years out of high school."/p
p class="MsoNormal""So, what changed your mind to the fire service?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike chuckled, "I was tired of seeing nothing but ocean all the time. I wanted to work on something that moved faster than a snail through molasses."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank laughed at the mental picture. "That I can certainly understand."/p
p class="MsoNormal""What about you? Why did you join the department?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""I was tired of moving around so many times my eyes would spin. I wanted to live out of more than a suitcase and temporary housing that came with being an Army brat. I also wanted to get off the east coast, so when my dad retired in Virginia, I headed west and landed here."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike smiled at Hank as they reached one of the last traffic lights they would see for a while. "I thought there was something familiar about you when I first met you. Brats stand out to those who can recognize them no matter where they are."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled warmly, "We sure do."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike flipped a switch in the cab of the truck. It engaged the four-wheel-drive system meant for dirt roads. "Can I have my drink?" He asked as he made the turn onto the winding road that would eventually lead them up to their destination./p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled, "Sure." He opened the soda and handed it over before finding another radio station since the first one had faded away. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMike grabbed a drink as Hank fiddled with the radio. He eventually found what he was looking for before he opened his drink./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"The two men settled into a comfortable silence as the trip continued. Thanks to some road work, Mike was forced to drive by an area that neither would ever forget. Both men shuddered the truck rounded the bend in the road where Johnny had been bitten by the rattlesnake the year before./p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank gulped, "You know as long as I live, I will never take this turn without that scene replaying in my head."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike reached over and took a quick drink before he spoke. His voice slightly thickened as the scene played out in his head. "I know exactly what you mean. I mean, we have seen some things that's the nature of the job, but that one…I'm not gonna lie scared a few years off my life."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Mine too. Although I am curious about one thing if I may engineer to engineer."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Sure."/p
p class="MsoNormal""What the heck did you think as you damn near put the peddle through the floor?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike swallowed hard, glad they had finally cleared that section of road. "Honestly, I only had two thoughts going through my head. Please, God, let the streets stay clear, and please Red gimmie everything. I promise I will take care of you, but right now, I need you to get my family to the hospital."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank swallowed hard. The last thought struck a nerve with the former engineer. He had never wanted to put his crew in that situation, yet Mike handled it like a champ. He reached up and wiped his suddenly wet eyes. It was the first time he had heard Mike's thoughts on that call. Hank reached over and gripped the younger man's shoulder. The truck went quiet as the thick blanket of emotions started to dissipate./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"Both men opened their windows and enjoyed the sounds of nature that surrounded them when the radio station faded out. The only other radio in the truck was CB. Hank could have put an eight-track in, but nature's soundtrack was too beautiful. It wasn't long after they left the site of Johnny's snakebite that Mike spotted the first Timberland sign./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike smiled without taking his eyes off the road. "Looks like we're almost home."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Remind me to thank Johnny; this is a beautiful area."/p
p class="MsoNormal""It sure is."/p
p class="MsoNormal"An err of excitement filled the truck as both men anticipated the weekend. Ten minutes later, Mike pulled up the Ranger station that also served as a check-in point for campers. He found a spot in the nearly empty lot, and both men climbed out of the truck./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"A groan echoed from both as they stretched. The duo wore matching smiles as they headed into the small log cabin./p
p class="MsoNormal"They were greeted by a young Ranger who was smiling. "Good morning Gentlemen, welcome to Timberland. My name is JB. I am one of the Rangers here."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled, "Good morning JB, my name is Hank." Hank pointed to Mike. "This is Mike."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The three men shook hands. JB asked, "What can I do for you?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""We were wondering if there is a tent site open for the weekend?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"JB smiled, "Let me check." JB made quick work of checking the camp log. "In fact, we do; we have one left. It's about a mile up the road from here."/p
p class="MsoNormal""We'll take it."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Just the two of you?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Yes, Sir, escaping work for the weekend."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike smiled, "We're both firemen with the county."/p
p class="MsoNormal"JB grinned, "Nough said, another member of your department is a regular up here." JB looked at Mike, "He's about your height but a lot skinnier with dark hair and a darker complexion."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled, "Would you be talking about John Gage by chance?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""I would. Why do you know him?" JB asked with a smile./p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank replied, the smile growing on his face. "I better, I am his captain. Mike is the engineer with our shift. Johnny is actually the one who recommended this place to us."/p
p class="MsoNormal"JB grinned as he put the paperwork together for the campsite. "When you see him again, please tell him JB said hi."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Will do, first thing Monday morning."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Okay. Here is your paperwork. I just need a license plate number and how long you plan to stay."/p
p class="MsoNormal""We'll be leaving Sunday morning," Hank replied as Mike filled out the paperwork./p
p class="MsoNormal""Sounds good," JB took the paperwork from Mike and handed the men a map./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike noticed the CB next to the desk. "Do you monitor that?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Always," JB responded with a smile, "Especially the emergency channel."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Okay."/p
p class="MsoNormal""If you guys need me, use the call sign campsite one."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The trio said goodbye before Hank and Mike headed out./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike and Hank headed back to the truck. It only took a few minutes for the skilled driver to find their home for the weekend./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike grinned as he shut the engine off. "Ah, home sweet, home."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank grinned as they climbed out. "No prettier words have been spoken."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The duo took a few minutes to look around the site. It was a relatively flat area with a fire ring in the middle of it. To the left were two beefy trees that could support a clothesline if needed. To the right was the area that many used for their tents, as evidenced by the flattened area with tents' outlines. There were also arrows pointing to the bathrooms that were not far down the trail./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike asked, "Keeping the usual outline here?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Might as well since everyone seems to use it."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The duo returned to the truck, and Mike popped the tailgate. Together they made quick work of unpacking the gear. The cooler was put over by the fire pit and the bucket, shovels, and fire starter. Mike also deposited two chairs in that area./p
p class="MsoNormal"The footlocker was placed by the trees. Then the duo worked together to put up both of their tents and set up their beds. The work was done quietly as the men enjoyed the birds singing throughout the area./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"It was nearly 1500 by the time camp was built. Hank made the sandwiches as Mike hung the clothesline in case they needed it. He also attached the garbage back to it. Both men then grabbed their meal and daypacks. The duo headed out to explore the area. Small talk filled their travels as they wandered the permitter of the campground. The topics ranged from Hank's time as an Army brat to the potential of catching fish for the weekend./p
p class="MsoNormal"A small stream beckoned, although neither wanted to go fishing. However, the cameras both men brought got a good workout. They waved at a family of four who was enjoying a hike. They scoped out the area closer to the lone road that wound its way above the campsites on their way back. It had a wicked curve in the middle of it that both men made a mental note of./p
p class="MsoNormal"After a few hours away, Hank voiced exactly what Mike thought as they wandered back into their camp. "I really hope that curve doesn't make us work this weekend."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike shook his head, "You and me both, you and me both…"/p
p class="MsoNormal"The sentiment was left hanging as Mike started to work on the fire for the evening. Thankfully, the warm summer day meant they had some extra time before the night bugs would be out. Mike asked, "How big do you need the fire?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Just a good cooking size. We don't need anything special."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Okay." Mike worked on building a fire using some of the starter material Hank had brought and the wood they gathered during their style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhile he worked on that, Hank turned his attention to a few finishing details for the site. The bucket and shovels were moved to a safe style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHank remembered the stream./p
p class="MsoNormal""Hey, Mike."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Yeah?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""I am going to go get some water. I'll be back."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Be careful."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank grinned, "Isn't that my line?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Both men chuckled as Mike replied, "Yes. But…"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled as he patted Mike on the back. "I will." The relaxed captain grabbed the bucket and headed out./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"While Hank was gone, Mike worked the fire. He let it grow but kept it to the cooking size that was requested. As Hank returned, Mike retrieved the long tongs and special fire gloves from the footlocker. Hank smiled at the fire, "That's perfect, Mike."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Thanks, Hank." Mike's voice sounded awkward. It was definitely going to take a bit for him to get used to calling his superior by his first name./p
p class="MsoNormal""You're welcome." Hank set the bucket down next to the shovels. "Did I see baby wipes somewhere?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMike retrieved the requested items and handed them over. "Here, ya go. Would you like a beer as well?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Once I get the food in the fire, yes, please."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You got it."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank used a baby wipe to clean his hands before he opened the cooler. He pulled out the vegetables and set them on top of a small cutting board on top of the cooler. The small cooking pot from Mike's mess kit found its way to his side. Hank smiled, "Thanks, pal."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You're welcome."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike settled in and let his mind wander while Hank prepared the veggies for dinner. Every now and then, the engineer stole a glance at his friend. It was a look of warmth and respect. Hank was one of the first people in the department who didn't complain when he found out Mike had been the first person to get a near-perfect score on his Engineer's exam. Instead of making fun of the younger man, Hank had taken him under his wing./p
p class="MsoNormal"Having risen from the rank of Engineer to Captain just before his appointment at Station 51, Hank felt a bond with his new Engineer. He also knew there was no way he would treat the future Captain the same way he had been treated./p
p class="MsoNormal"The duo shared a mutual love and respect for their equipment and their job. In fact, there had been times Mike would find his leader in the bay, usually late at night, walking the engine. It was not often, usually after a bad call or one that had been a little too close for comfort. The quiet man would watch as Hank circled Red as he ran his hands along with the steel frame, murmuring to her in a one-sided but needed conversation. The length of the conversation depended on the reason for it./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike had been so deep in thought he did not notice Hank staring at him at first. Hank seemed to realize this and waited for a minute before he called out, "Hey Stoker, can you hold the veggies while I take care of the meat?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike shook himself back to reality and was on his feet in a second. "Sure, Cap."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled; he knew his crew used the short version of his title as a term of endearment. "Thanks, pal."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike took the vegetables and then grabbed the roll of foil. He quickly opened the metallic material and cut off two good-sized pieces. They were laid side by side as Hank seasoned and formed the meat into patties. "Thanks, Mike."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You're welcome."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank quickly loaded the foil up with the meat. Then he washed his hands with a few more baby wipes as Mike added the vegetables. After his hands were clean, Hank quickly sealed the packets. He walked over and used the long tongs to place the dinners in the fire./p
p class="MsoNormal"He smiled as he turned around. "Normally, I label them, but since they are the same."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike smiled as the duo sat down. He offered up a can of beer. "Thanks for cooking tonight."/p
p class="MsoNormal""My pleasure." Hank raised his beer. "I propose a toast." Mike raised his beer. Hank continued. "To a weekend with no klaxtons, twits, Phantom or Pigeon."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike added, "To a weekend with friends and nature instead of city life and asphalt."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Here here," both men said at the same time before they took a long drink of their beer./p
p class="MsoNormal"The rhythmic sounds of the fire crackling let the men relax. Hank set the timer on his watch, and the duo sat back. They finished another can of beer, each chased by some of the chips originally bought for their hike./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike stretched his long frame and said, "I'll be back as he collected the empty cans and deposited them in the garbage bag tied to the clothesline."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank nodded, "I'll be here. Be careful."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Always." Mike nodded and headed off in the direction of the bathrooms./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"While Mike was gone, Hank tended the fire and retrieved both mess kits. By the time the younger man returned, Hank had the meals pulled from the fire and had turned the top of the metal footlocker into a makeshift table./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike smiled, "It smells great."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Thanks, pal, you good?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Yeah, the beer caught up to me."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You know that's a good point. Since these have to sit a few minutes…"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Go on; I'll watch them."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank nodded his thanks and headed out. He returned a short while later and found Mike had opened the meals and got them into their plates./p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled, "Thanks, pal."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You're welcome. It's been tempting to start without you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You could have."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Nope, the cook always takes the first bite," Mike said with a smile./p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled, "Fair enough."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The duo settled in for their evening meal. Hank's eyes rolled back slightly as a look of pure joy filled his face. "Just like I remember."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike took a few bites before he came up for air. "Oh man Cap, if these were an indoor food, I'd ask for them as much as I do your clam chowder."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank grinned. He knew his crew truly loved his chowder. It was almost as famous as Mike's chicken or spaghetti or Marco's chili. "Thanks Mike that means a lot."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You're welcome, Cap."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The duo spent the next stretch of time making small talk about baseball and the upcoming department game against the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey also caught up on some news around the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBy the time dinner was done, both were completely relaxed, aided by their meal and pre-meal drinks. The fresh air was also helping./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike looked over at Hank. "I'll do the dishes."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Are you sure?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""It's only fair since you cooked."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Okay."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike stood and collected the dishes. They were piled up next to the cooler that would serve as a drying rack. Then he used the larger pot from his kit to gather some water from the bucket. He used the tongs and fire gloves to heat the water over the open flames before setting it on the ground. Dish duty was not challenging since it was only the two of them./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike was so relaxed that he started humming some of his favorite Beach Boys songs. Hank watched him wash the dishes and found his vision was cut in half. Part of him wanted to watch the fire as it relaxed him. The other wanted to watch the quiet man finally relax. It had been a long month for the engineer. He had been hit several times trying to help Roy and Johnny break up some domestic stuff at a fire a couple of weeks ago. Then he had some overtime fun as a lineman before coming back to the serenity of HIS engine./p
p class="MsoNormal"The older man smiled as he picked up the song Mike was humming and started to sing along. Hearing his Captain, Mike finally decided to sing along in his normal softer tone. Before he knew it, the dishes were done, and the guys were once again next to the fire. They had both put on long sleeve shirts and bug spray as the evening air was settling in, and neither wanted to be an all-night buffet for the mosquitos and other critters./p
p class="MsoNormal"After a few minutes, Mike noticed a small lump in Hank's shirt style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Hey, Cap, what's in your shirt?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled at the eagle-eyed man's observation. He removed the object in question and surprised Mike with a harmonica. "This."/p
p class="MsoNormal""That's a beautiful harmonica, Hank. Where did you get it?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""In one of the many places we lived as a kid. It was hard for me to make friends because we were always moving, so I got this thing and taught myself how to play it."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike was surprised. He never knew Hank had musical talent. "What's your favorite song to play?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""One of the first I learned. When the Saints Go Marching In. I can also play Amazing Grace. I'm still working on learning a new one. I just picked up the music to recently."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh, really, what song?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Blowing in the Wind."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh man, that's one of my favorites. Although I have to admit, I like the Peter, Paul, and Mary version better than Bob Dylan's."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled, "I know what you mean. I know it's his song, but he is just so hard to understand."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Exactly. It's almost like he sings with marbles in his mouth."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank belly laughed at the blunt but true observation. "Michael, you are right again, my friend."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike took a drink from the soda he had grabbed. "Would you play something for me?" The nerves were evident in his voice./p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled, "On one condition…"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike cut him off with a sincere smile, "The Phantom will never know."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank let out a sigh of relief. "In that case, what do you want to hear?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Whatever you feel like playing."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike sat back and got comfortable as Hank took a long drink of water and pursed his lips. Then he started with the fun and upbeat When the Saints Go Marching style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBy the end of it, Mike was on his feet, preparing dessert as he sang along. Although the quiet man was not much of a fan of his own voice, he couldn't help but sing to the catchy tune./p
p class="MsoNormal"After taking a long drink and watching the banana boats get deposited into the fire, Hank started on the second song. This time he chose another one both knew, America the Beautiful./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike smiled at the end of the song. "You have some real talent there, Cap."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank smiled, "Thanks, pal."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Do you wanna try Blowin' in the Wind while the bananas cook?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""As long as you're gentle with me."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Of course."/p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"Hank took another long drink of water as Mike settled back into his chair. Then the nervous older man started on the new song. It only took a few seconds before Mike joined him, singing along with every note. This time he sang in full throat, which made his friend smile in his eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal"By the time the song ended, dessert was ready. Mike smiled at style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"That was really great."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Thanks, pal, and don't kid yourself. You have a great voice."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike blushed as he carefully served up the still steaming dessert packets. "Thanks, Cap, no…nobody's ever said that to me before."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Well, they definitely should have because you do." Hank smiled. He sensed Mike's embarrassment and changed the subject as he looked down at the packet. "So, what do we have here?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike smiled, "I sliced the bananas tip to tip about three-quarters of the way through. Then I opened 'em up and stuffed them full of marshmallows and chocolate. I pulled the skins back closed and wrapped 'em up."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Okay, here and now we make a pact. Never tell the two sugar twits about these."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike laughed, "Oh, believe me, Cap, I'd never do that. I want to sleep at night, not listen to those two bounce of the wall."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Both men laughed as they dug into dessert. Mike waited a minute as Hank took his first couple bites, using the spoon from his mess kit. "Okay, where have these been hiding all my life," the older man asked with a grin./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike smiled, "Glad you like it."/p
p class="MsoNormal"The duo ate in comfortable silence as they listened to the sounds of the campground. Not far from them was the young family they had waved to on their hike. Their site was closer to the water but over by the road that twisted above the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe clear night also meant they could hear a few of the other campsites, although no one was particularly loud. It was almost as if there was an unwritten rule to keep conversations to an indoor tone./p
p class="MsoNormal"KMG 365/p
p class="MsoNormal"It wasn't long after dessert that the fresh air caught up to both Mike and Hank. Since they still had a small fire going, they decided to change in their tents. Hank finished first and headed down the trail to the bathroom using his flashlight. By the time he got back, Mike was ready to go./p
p class="MsoNormal"While Mike was gone, Hank tied up the garbage and hung it from the clothesline. He didn't want to take the chance of anything stinking up Mike's new truck. He also knew better than to leave things in reach of the night critters./p
p class="MsoNormal"By the time Mike came back, the site was cleaned up for the night. The dishes were back inside the footlocker, and everything was battened down. Hank looked up into Mike's tired blue eyes. "It's sack time, pal."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mike could not stifle the yawn. He had tried to fight off on his way back to camp. He yawned before he said, "Yeah, I think it is. Good night, Cap."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Good night Mike," Hank smiled tiredly. "Feel free to sleep tomorrow."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Planned on it, you too."/p
p class="MsoNormal""That's the plan."/p
p class="MsoNormal"With that, Hank used the water to put out the fire. He was promptly followed by dirt from Mike's shovel. Their work done by the light of Mike's lantern that sat between their tents. Nodding good night to one another, the duo headed for their tents. Both men hoping for a quiet, restful night surrounded only by mother nature's soundtrack./p