"Get the resuscitator!" Captain Stanley reacted quickly and directed Chet to the back-up resuscitator stored in the engine. He kept one hand on Johnny's shoulder to keep the injured paramedic from trying to move, while keeping in contact with the hospital. "Rampart, victim two has stopped breathing. Attempting to resuscitate now."

'10-4, 51.'

Mike pulled away the oxygen mask from Roy's bloody face and bent down trying to hear or feel Roy's breathing. There was nothing. He pressed his hand on Roy's abdomen and felt no movement.

Chet returned with the resuscitator and placed the mask over Roy's face. He pressed the button which forced the oxygen into Roy's body while Mike kept count on Chet's behalf.

Marco opened Roy's shirt fully, cut away the white t-shirt beneath and attached the E.K.G. leads to Roy's bruised chest.

The sirens from the distance came closer and silenced. The police car came a stop behind the engine. Officer Vince Howard stepped out and surveyed the scene. He spotted both Johnny and Roy laying injured on the ground with the engine crew working to keep them alive. Struggling to get Roy breathing again.

Turning on the E.K.G. Captain Stanley and Johnny looked at the heart rate being displayed. Johnny informed his Captain on Roy's current heart rate. "Sinus rhythm, bradycardic: heart rate 54."

"Rampart," Captain Stanley relayed the information. "victim two is still not breathing without assistance, he's bradycardic with a rate of 54."

'51, send a strip.'

"10-4 Rampart, this will be lead two."

Dr. Brackett carefully studied the transmitted strip. Dixie was still standing at his side.

"No sign of fibrillation. He must have punctured a lung." He resumed contact with engine 51. "51, is the second squad at the scene?"

Vince overheard the question. "They were maybe two minutes behind me."

As if on cue sirens from the approaching squad filled the air.

Captain Stanley let out a sigh. "Rampart, squad E.T.A. less than two minutes."

'10-4, 51. Continue resuscitation.'

"10-4." He released his tense grip from Johnny's shoulder. "John, don't think like that."

Johnny was staring helplessly as Chet, Mike and Marco tended to Roy on his behalf. "I can't help it Cap."

"Right now, you have to. At least for a little while longer, then you can needlessly blame yourself and beat yourself up at Rampart and have Miss McCall set you straight so I don't have to anymore."

Vince kneeled down next to Captain Stanley. "The driver of the 'Caddy', do you know who he is?"

"No. Do you?"

"Yeah, unfortunately."

The second squad finally arrived at the scene of the accident. The responding ambulance had followed the squad to the scene.

Johnny watched at the arriving paramedic crew stepped out of the squad and gathered their equipment. "Oh no, not Brice!"

Captain Stanley's hand returned to Johnny's shoulder in a playfully sympathetic manner. "Be strong John, at least you don't have to work the shift with him."

"Thanks Cap..."

Brice, along with 'the Animal' Bob Bellingham, took over Roy's care. Chet, Marco and Mike slowly backed away and watched silently from a comfortable distance. Using the already established link to Rampart Brice updated the hospital on Roy's condition. Bellingham tended to Johnny while Brice focused on Roy.

Time seemed to slow down for the crew. It was one thing to tend to their downed colleagues, it was another to stand by and watch while others took over.

Bellingham had started an I.V. and was now checking Johnny's eyes with the penlight. "Johnny, how are you feeling?"

"Like I was hit by a car. Again."

"Does your head hurt?"

"In a way I didn't even know was possible..."

"Sorry, but I can't give you anything for the pain. It looks like you have a concussion."

"I don't want anything anyway."

Bellingham sighed a little. "Yeah, well, I need to check your arm now."

Johnny took in a deep breath. The intense pain was a vivid memory he dreaded revisiting. "Do what you have to do."

"Right."

As soon as Bellingham touched the severely broken limb the burning pain shot through Johnny's arm and caused him to stifle a groan of pain.

"Sorry, pal."

Johnny didn't hear the apology. Just as before his ears began to ring and his vision tunneled into blackness. He passed out again.

"Brice, Johnny's passed out."

Brice nodded to acknowledge his partner as he continued to relay information to Rampart. Brice had successfully inserted an esophageal airway down Roy's throat and attached the manual air bag. Mike had been breathing for Roy while Brice expertly acted on Dr. Brackett's orders.

"Bob, Rampart wants them transported A.S.A.P."

"Right." He motioned for the two ambulance attendants to wheel over the gurneys.

Johnny's unconscious form was lifted up from the ground by Captain Stanley, Chet, Marco and Bellingham, and placed onto the gurney. The attendants applied the safety straps and rolled Johnny toward the ambulance with Bellingham following, carrying the I.V. bag in his hand.

Next Roy was lifted onto his own gurney. Mike pumping the ambu-bag leading from his mouth, the dried smudged blood on his face with a thick white bandage over his eye, severe bruising that marred his chest and the attached portable heart monitor turned everyone's stomach. Brice followed the gurney as it was rolled to the back of the ambulance and lifted inside, next to Johnny.

Mike stepped out of the ambulance, Bellingham taking his position at the ambu-bag. As soon as the heavy ambulance doors shut Mike smacked the back of the ambulance signaling the driver to take off.

The crew watched with a mixed sense of relief and worry as the ambulance disappeared from sight.

"Vince." Captain Stanley returned his attention to the officer. "You said you knew the driver?"

"Yeah. Chuck Westmoor. A regular drunk and frequent patron of the 'drunk tank' down at the station."

"Did he have a family?"

"Not anymore. His wife wised up about four years ago after her third trip the emergency room. She took the kids and left town, permanently."

"He didn't take it well, did he?"

"No. He was a drunk before but after his favorite 'punching bag' left him he became a full time alcoholic. He never even tried to get help."

"What a damn waste."

...to be continued...