Chapter 6

Since the Phantom's plans for discord were thwarted at last week's game, he was concocting a new bag of new tricks for his pigeon. This shift had been busier than some and filled with actual emergencies.

The men were all in the kitchen eating lunch, which was a delight since it was Marco doing the cooking. It was his is favorite to make and theirs to eat, chili. Each of them was just glad that with the responses, they had the lull to eat anything. Too many shifts, eating only came after 8 o'clock the next morning.

"Johnny, how is Wolfie? I guess it was good that she wasn't on shift for two days after wards." Marco could still picture the nasty bruise.

"It's still rather grotesque looking. All the swelling is gone though. She wouldn't have taken the next shift off, either way." Gage had almost undetectable smile on his face, just thinking of her. The only thing that kept him from leaping of the bleachers and over to her that day was the knowledge that she would have reamed him a new one for doing it. Which he really couldn't blame her for, if it were him he would feel the same way.

"I heard it crack when it hit! I thought for sure her leg was going to go out from under her." Roy recalled.

"I have to admit, you two really do look great together." Captain Stanley had been very found of A.J. since her temporary assignment at Station 51.

After everyone was finished eating, Mike Stoker had just started doing the dishes when the tones sounded off once again.

"Squad 51, Laramie and Oak Streets, a person struck by a car."

The rest of them continued their cleaning duties while Gage and DeSoto headed out for the squad. This wasn't usual, 51 was a busy station, however a good portion of those calls were solely medical in nature.

A few minutes later a second dispatch sounded. "Engine 51, Squad 110, respond to Canyon River Road for a MVA (motor vehicle accident), cross street Dry Bed Road." When a cross street is given it doesn't necessarily mean that the location is directly at that intersection. This is almost always the case in rural areas, especially. It could be miles in between the vague address given.

Captain Stanley responded to County and at Station 110 Captain Morgan was doing the same for his squad. Both crews made their way the out of the way location on the outskirts of 51's running area. It was always on the back of any crews mind just how far away any medical help was, other than the initial care of the paramedics.

The engine arrived just a head of the squad. Stanley quickly sized up the seen. Apparently, it must have been a passerby who called in the accident because no one was there to greet them. A car was off the road, partially down the embankment off the road. Luckily for them they 'choose' to drive down on of the less steep locations along the mountainous road.

Stanley assigned each man a task. They had to tie off of the eyelets on the front of the engine, and then take lines down so the paramedics could assess the patients and the engine could figure out how to raise the vehicle back to the road so a tow truck could load it up and take it away.

Brice and Wolfie headed down with basic equipment, which of course included the bio phone. When they reached the car, they were pleasantly surprised to see both people conscious and alert. There were no major injuries that could be seen from outside the car. The man and woman were preoccupied with screaming at each other.

"I know my way out here, dear! I'm not lost!" The woman's voice was dripping with sarcasm and a 'little' rage.

"You wanted me to nail that deer head on instead?" The man seemed to be at his wit's end with her.

If you would have paid attention to the ROAD, you would have seen it a mile away!" The paramedics exchanged rolled eyes between them.

"Maybe, if you would quit channeling your mother, I would be able to pay attention to the ROAD!" The man was no longer pulling any punches.

Interrupting the accusations, A.J. asks, "Are either one of you hurt?"

The couple spun their heads to look at the paramedics. They hadn't even noticed that they were no longer alone. "NO, we just didn't want the car to keep rolling down the slope! Someone said they were calling for help. What took you so long, anyway?" The woman had found someone to rag on.

"We are here now ma'am. So neither one of you is in any pain? Just to be on the safe side, my partner and I are going to ask you some questions." Wolfie would have loved to give them a piece of her mind but of course that wouldn't be the smart option.

Since the couple only suffered some bumps and bruises it was a lot easier to get them to the roadside. They used the ropes to create some harnesses and simply walked them up top. While they were getting the rigging together the man had lit a cigarette. When Brice asked him to put it out, he thought he saw him go to snuff it out on the ground. Instead the idiot threw the burning cigarette out past the vehicle. Anytime of the year this would be a moronic move but at in August, at the height of the wildfire season, it was a potential disaster waiting to happen.

Back on the road the couple both signed waivers saying they were refusing medical treatment and transport to the hospital. By that time one of the sheriff's deputies was on location and was going to give them a ride back.

A.J. and Brice had reloaded their equipment when she asked Stanley, "Do you need us to help you out with anything, Cap?" She loved working with her guys at 51.

"No, we're fine here. Just have wrap up the rope gear. I think the boys can manage that on their own." Stanley gave her warm smile.

Before she was even back at the Squad Brice was already informing County that they were returning and available. She was still the only one he showed his true colors to, no else could really comprehend how much fun he could be to work with. Not that he still couldn't drive her a little nuts now and again.

They were only a short distance down the road, when Stanley was contacting County, "We have a small brush fire started here, Engine 51, time out 45 minutes."

A.J. picked up the mic and asked, "Engine 51 from Squad 110..."

"Go a head Squad 110"

"Do you need us to there, Cap.? We're only a mile away."

"No thanks, it hasn't covered much area. The wind shouldn't be a problem."

"10-4 Engine 51." A.J. had this churning feeling in her stomach. She looked around at the scenery as they continued back to their station. "Why does this seem familiar?"