Chapter 3
Five concerned crew mates were stood down for the remainder of the shift. They hung around the phone waiting.
And waiting.
And waiting.
One day past. Then two. Frantic, they searched with the police the neighborhood where the car had been registered. There was no John Gage anywhere.
Three days. The dogs were brought in. Laundry was sniffed and they were turned loose. The two dogs canvassed the neighborhood where the car's registration showed it came from. Exhausted firemen watched as the animals systematically sniffed up and down the street. As they were giving up hope one dog gave a loud yelp and pulled on his lead. Turning the dogs loose they eagerly scented the curb and sidewalk before starting towards an old, ill-kept, house.
Closely followed the dogs sniffed around the outside of the house then began scratching at a storm cellar door. These were unusual in Southern California, but the dogs didn't care, they only wanted in. Using a pry bar, the hasp was popped and a disgusting, dank stench wafted up.
"Johnny?" Roy tentatively called out as the dogs surged forward.
"Johnny?" Hank added his call.
No sound. Then again, the dogs didn't act upset so their handlers followed them down, guns drawn. Several tense minutes passed. Finally the 'all clear' was sounded and the firemen rushed down the stairs.
Here the smell was more intense. A single bulb shone feebly over the cluttered storeroom. And in the corner, tied and trussed to a post, was an unconscious Johnny Gage. Unmindful of the stench Roy knelt by his best friend and shakily checked for a pulse. Thready, but there.
"He's alive," Roy's voice quavered.
"Let's get him untied," Hank ordered. Mike was at the post, knife in hand cutting through the thick strands reinforced by duct tape. Still no sign of consciousness.
"He needs fresh air," Roy said. "Chet, Marco, get my gear." Rampart had given him biophone, drug box and oxygen to carry while they'd searched. They were all glad they had them!
Mike and Hank gently lifted their friend. In three days he'd grown gaunt, from lack of food but mostly from lack of water. A tarp was thrown down on the grass and the limp man was placed on top. Roy started vitals as Hank set up the biophone.
"Rampart, this is.." hmm, couldn't be the station since it was in service already! "Captain Hank Stanley."
"Captain, this is Rampart," the clear voice of Joe Early came over the speaker.
"Rampart, we have a male, 26, severely dehydrated and unconscious. Vitals to follow," he dutifully reported. As Roy called off the numbers he scribbled them down on the pad.
"Bp, 170/100, pulse, 120 and bounding, respiration shallow and fast," Stanley read. "No sweat. Patient appears to have vomited."
"Start Johnny on two IV's, D5W and normal saline," Early directed. "How long until he will transport be?"
"We're ten minutes out once ambulance arrives," Hank informed Rampart.
"Tell doc I can only get one vein," Roy grumbled. "I'll piggyback the IVs."
"Doc," Stanley threw protocol out as well. "Roy can only get one IV, so he's going to piggyback."
"That's fine, Hank," Early said calmly. "Just get him to me as soon as possible. Have Roy get another set of vitals before the ambulance leaves." As he leaned against the counter, head slightly bowed, he noticed he was no longer alone. Dixie, Kel and Mike had surrounded him for information.
"They found Johnny?" Mike Morton asked in a hushed tone.
"They found him," Early agreed. "Sounds like he's been abandoned somewhere since he's severely dehydrated. We're lucky it's been a cool spring since heat would have killed him."
"Dix, get treatment room 6 set up," Brackett decided. "If he's been left tied up all this time we'll have to clean him asap. I hate to think about what he looks like."
"I'll have warm water and soap ready, Kel," she agreed as she set off for the exam room.
It was another 20 minutes before the ambulance pulled up in the bay with its cargo. Roy had ridden in with his friend, but there was no sign of waking the entire time. Brackett was so worried he kept pacing in the ambulance receiving area. He had to see for himself the younger man was alive and counted his pulse in the doorway.
Then a clipped run to exam 6. Dixie allowed Roy into the room but left the rest of the men outside.
"We're going to have to cut this mess off," Early stated as he grabbed scissors. Dixie started by removing shoes and socks as he sliced up the left hand pant leg to the fly. This was repeated on the opposite side as the nurse deftly unbuckled the belt. Brackett worked on the shirt. It had been torn open, probably the paramedic had tried to escape or fight at some time, but when the doctor tried to look at the torso, he was thwarted by various bodily fluids that had dried there.
"We better do a quick wash off," Kel decided. "I can't really see anything clearly and he needs to hydrate for a while. I'll go and talk with the guys." Early agreed and followed him out.
"I can do this," Dixie said with a tight smile.
"I know, but I'll help," Roy said. "It's not like I haven't helped him before." She handed him a basin of warm water and some sponges and cloths.
"I'll start down here," she said. With a nod Roy started on arms and torso. While they carefully cleaned Johnny did not respond to touch or their soft talking. But the caretakers were feeling much better as they continued.
"Let me wipe down his back," Dixie said and waited while Roy gently rolled him onto his side. The rash looked raw and they noticed their friend slightly jerked as the water cleansed it.
Dixie then rolled the dirty sheets to the middle and slipped a new one on the pad. Then Johnny was rolled against her so that Roy could get rid of the dirty sheeting and tuck the clean in. A final gentle wipe and a warm blanket was spread over him. The nurse picked up a fresh basin of water and shampoo.
"Let Kel know he's ready," she said as she rubbed the gel into the greasy mop. Roy went out and waved the medical crew back in.
Now Brackett could get a good look at his patient while Early drew blood. It was hard to get a vein, but his steady hand neatly threaded the fine needle in and soon four vials were filled. He personally carried them down to the lab.
"We need to get a foley in," Kel remarked as he palpitated his patient's stomach. Roy took over for Dixie, rinsing out his partner's hair, freeing her to get the catheter set.
There were no marks anywhere except for a few deep bruises on his rib cage. Nothing felt broken, but x-rays would be ordered just to be sure. As he moved up the doctor flicked light into Johnny's eyes; pupils were normal and reactive. The light also seemed to cause a reaction because the patient moaned slightly as he stretched on the table. Eyes slit open to view his surroundings.
Johnny was sure he'd open his eyes once more to that dark cellar, the only light leaking in through the cracks on the doorway out. He'd lost all concept of time: a day could have passed, a week, a month, he had no way of telling.
The first thing he noticed was the smell. It smelled like soap and the stench that had filled his nose was gone. Then he realized he could move his arms - that hurt! Which caused the groans. Damn, this was the best hallucination yet!
"Johnny?" a quiet voice called. "Are you awake?" Warm hand on his naked shoulder. Interesting. Where'd his shirt go? He slid his eyes upward, taking in Dixie, Roy and finally Brackett. Wow, he hadn't imagined them before down here!
"I like... this... hallucina... better," he managed to speak, although his mouth was dry. The Dixie apparition fed him ice chips. The cold liquid slowly filled his mouth and trickled down his ravaged throat. He continued to observe them, eyes flicking around the cellar, not fully believing they were there.
"We need those panels stat," the Brackett figment was saying. "I need to know about possible kidney damage."
"You know Joe will make sure they're done immediately," Dixie said quietly. Kel turned his considerable attention to the barely aware man on the table.
"Well, Johnny, you gave us all quite a scare!" Kel the phantasm continued. "I know there are at least four people waiting in the hallway wanting to see you!" He flicked tired eyes in the direction he thought the door was, but he only saw the white-green of a hospital wall.
"Real... good hallucination," he determined. Again, the warm hand on his shoulder.
"We're real, Johnny," Brackett said, leaning over the younger man. "Roy and the guys found you and brought you here. See? Roy is right next to you."
"Hey, Junior," Roy smiled as he gained his partner's limited attention. He picked up the man's hand and squeezed it gently. After observing both paramedic and doctor for a long minute he sighed, discouraged, and shut his eyes once again.
"Yeah, I know," he said with disinterest. "You're real, Roy's real, the phantom's real. I'm real. The ropes and duct tape are real, even if I can't feel 'em anymore." Brackett glanced over at the nurse, then gently pulled his patient up and embraced him. Johnny slowly moved his free arm painfully up to touch the doctor's shirt, feel the warmth of his body coming through. Smelling the odors that made up Kel Brackett.
Suddenly Johnny surged up and clung to Brackett, as though the man and the room would disappear if he let go. Roy ran warm hands over the cool back.
"You're going to be just fine, Johnny, sshh," Kel soothed as the trembling began and the hallucination became reality. He was nearly too dehydrated to cry tears, although a few managed to sneak out. Brackett continued the gentle litany allowing his friend to feel safe once again.
After several minutes they tried to get Johnny to lie back down but the frightened man would have nothing to do with it.
"Come on, John," Brackett said firmly. "Lie back so I can get a good look at you." He looked at Roy.
"Here, Johnny, come over here so the Doc can check you out," he tried.
"No, no, you'll just all go away again and... and..." he swallowed convulsively, "and I'll be alone." In the cellar.
"Do you want something to help calm him?" Dixie suggested, but Kel shook his head no.
"I don't want to give him anything until I get his panels back," he said still attempting to disengage the frantic patient.
"Let me get Cap," Roy suggested. "He might calm him down." The senior paramedic quickly went to the door and called Hank over giving him a quick run down on the problem.
"John? Johnny?" Hank carefully moved opposite of Dr. Brackett and put his hand on his paramedic. The trembling increased then a brown eye slid open to see who was there.
"Cap?" Gage sat up straighter and loosened his grip on the doctor.
"I'm right here, pally," he smiled. "Why don't you lean on me and let the Doc get a good look at you." With a hesitant nod Johnny shifted slightly and soon was burrowing against the captain, a hand clutching his jacket. With Roy's help he was soon leaning against him watching the doctor and nurse check him out once again.
As the ice was staying down a little cool water was offered. He gratefully sipped as Roy held the glass steady.
"Do you know what caused these bruises, Johnny" Kel asked, wanting to know. Gage's eyes dimmed as he thought back, opening a little when the memory was retrieved.
"They got a kinda upset when I didn't want to be tied to the post," Johnny recalled. "And they didn't like it at all when I tried yelling for help." Having brought back the uncomfortable memories, Brackett stroked Johnny's hair in a soothing manner and received a small smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"I'm going to get some x-rays just to be sure they're not broken," Kel explained. "First, we'll put some cream on your rash to heal the skin. It'll make it feel better, too."
Johnny nodded and burrowed against Cap. He didn't care what they did as long as he could hold onto reality. Eyes sagging he allowed himself to feel the medicine soothe his sore skin. The cool wet of the water as it slipped down his throat. The solid warmth of Cap and the gentle pressure of Roy's hand. Not in the cellar. Not in the cellar. Not in the cellar.
The door squeaked open and a heavy cart was wheeled in.
"Do you really need to take x-rays right now?" Hank asked quietly. Brackett looked at Johnny, nearly asleep but his eyes kept snapping open to make sure he wasn't alone.
"I suppose not," Kel considered. "His belly is soft and his lungs are remarkably clear. Sorry, George, let's let it go for awhile." The technician just smiled and pushed his equipment back out the door.
Glancing at Dixie she motioned him around the table. Pointing at the collection bag he could see that some dark fluid was just starting to emerge.
"Hopefully that will clear up as he gets more hydrated," Kel said. "Let's get another bag of D5W up." The nurse went around to the supply cupboard and pulled down the requested IV.
"How about some fruit juice, Doc," Roy suggested.
"Sure, a little watered down cranberry to start," he decided.
"I'll get it," DeSoto said. "I can talk with the guys as well." Brackett nodded and joined him.
"I'll be back once the panels are in," he told Dixie.
Johnny drifted, but each time he started to sleep he'd jerk awake and look around. There was no way he was going to let Cap go. He did not want to wake up and find out it was just another hallucination.
"Hey tiger," Dixie threaded her fingers through his damp hair. "You can relax. Cap and I will be right here." Johnny shook his head slightly and tried to get even closer to his protector's warmth. As his body hydrated it began to get cooler. He remembered being so cold on the floor.
Not in the cellar....
Noting his distress, she lowered the gurney slightly. Then she moved over to Hank.
"Why don't you sit down and let him lean more against you?" she suggested. "He's going to be here awhile and you'll get tired standing in one place."
"I don't mind," Hank said. But he did sit on the tall stool she pulled over and arranged the ill man more comfortably against him. Roy popped his head in.
"Hey, Dix? Can the guys come in for a minute?" he asked.
"Sure, he's just barely awake," she responded. Quietly the remaining crew mates came in.
"Hi, Johnny," Mike spoke first as he reached out to touch his arm. Tired eyes moved up to the engineer's face. A small smile. Then he moved over to Chet and Marco.
"Phantom?" he mouthed.
"Nah, Gage, just me," Chet said.
"Good to see you safe, Johnny," Marco added.
"Me, too," he agreed. Eyes slipped closed.
"He gonna be ok, Dixie?" Chet asked full of concern.
"He should be," she said. "We're still waiting on the blood panels."
"John's just real tired," Hank said. "Right pally?" Eyes snapped open as his body jerked awake, darting left and right.
"I think that he needs some quiet," Dixie said softly. "Why don't you get some coffee and I'll come and let you know when the panels are back."
"I'm going to get home to Momma and let her know about Johnny," Marco said. "I'll call back later. I'm just glad we got him back."
"Me, too," Mike added. "Becky's waiting." Chet agreed. It just didn't seem right to hang around with Gage so out of it. He'd be back in a couple days to see how his pigeon was doing.
Privately, Dixie and Hank were glad the men decided to leave. One less stress to deal with. As it was, all the men were exhausted from the long hunt and wait.
Roy knew he'd be glad for a solid night's sleep. But he wanted to hear the reports and see his friend at least settled in a room. Then he'd talk with his captain to see who'd stay the night. As the crew left, he offered a sip of juice to Johnny.
At first he lipped at the straw until it was finally between his lips. He took a tentative sip. Roy grinned as eyes widened and a longer sip was drawn in. Dixie patted his shoulder and then left the room to see how the ER was running.
An hour slipped by. Johnny managed to go through three cups of the watered-down juice and another IV bag of normal saline. But still he couldn't fall and stay asleep. He'd jerk awake just after his eyes closed, frantically searching the area, holding onto Cap or Roy.
Dixie stopped in a few times to be sure they were all ok. The blood panels hadn't come back and a MVA had come in keeping the ER busy. She assured them Kel or Joe would be in as soon as the results were in.
Dr. Early ventured in and noted Gage was still fighting sleep. He'd gotten back the first reports and knew he needed to start hanging IV antibiotics for the patient. He hung the bag on the pole and began to add it to the drip.
"Dixie is getting a room for Johnny," he said as he adjusted the drip. "Initial tests show an elevated white count so Kel and I figured we'd get the good stuff started. Has he slept at all?"
"He just starts to drift off, then he..." Roy started then Johnny jerked and his eyes flew open. Both Cap and the senior paramedic soothed the frightened man. Joe placed his hand on his patient's shoulder.
"You're fine, Johnny," he said calmly. "Once you've been moved to your room we'll give you something to help you relax." The exhausted man moved weakly under the gentle grip.
"No, when I wake up I'll be in the cellar!" he said unconsolably, "I don't want to go back!" He rolled slightly and hid his face in Cap's jacket, both hands now clutching his jacket.
"He's not doing so hot, doc," Roy said as he rubbed Johnny's back. Before they could calm him, as they had earlier, Early reached into his pocket and pulled out a syringe. This was checked then emptied into the IV port. Within a few minutes the fearful reactions diminished and all three men watched the tense body relax. Finally the clutching hands fell to the side and he was asleep.
Brackett chose that moment to enter the room. He looked down at his patient completely limp in sleep.
"Couldn't hold off, could you, Joe?" his mouth twitched.
"He was frantic, Kel," Early stated. "I gave him 5mg of diazepam. Just to help."
"But if he's not sure where he is," Kel reasoned, "he'll have unsettled sleep."
"Cap or I will stay with him," Roy stated. "He won't be alone when he wakes." Brackett nodded.
"I'd hoped one of you would," he said. "I know you have family to get home to."
"We have family right here, doctor," Hank said firmly as he rested his hand on his younger paramedic's shoulder.