A rock struck Chet hard on the shoulder just as his foot hit the loose stone Marco had warned about. The timing could not have been more perfect to cause a disaster. The man lost his balance and in trying to correct himself so he wouldn't go over, slipped and completely lost his footing. His flailing arm and some more stone from above struck Molly and knocked her off balance too. Molly could see that Chet was going to go over the edge and grabbed onto and held the arm that had struck her with her left hand. She tried desperately to get her right hand on any part of him to bring him to the ground instead of allowing him to fly off the ledge, but she couldn't get a grip in time. As she felt him sliding off the trail she threw herself on the ground, yelling, "Mike, HELP, grab my legs. Keep me from going over!"
Mike threw himself across her legs in time to keep her from going over just as Chet's body flew off the ledge. Chet in a desperate attempt to save his own life grabbed on to Molly's arm with his free hand and held on for dear life.
Molly grunted from the effort of holding on to the man who outweighed her by at least 60 pounds. The weight of his body wrenched her arm, yanking her left shoulder from its socket and causing a river of pain to shoot through her body. Her ribs were already complaining from the force she had used to root herself to the ground. She reached down with her right hand, gaining a grip on his shirt sleeve. She knew that any moment she was going to lose her hold on Chet.
"Johnny, Marco, help get Chet up!" The voice was right in her ear and belonged to Mike. All Molly could do was to try to hold on as best she could with her good hand. Chet's grip on her bad arm was incredibly painful. She could feel the two men coming up on each side of her and reaching over the cliff for their friend. Chet was gripping her bad arm even tighter and trying to help gain the few inches he needed to reach Johnny's and Marco's hands.
"Please, hurry, I can't hold on," Molly's voice barely gasped out. She was finding it harder and harder to get a good breath. She wondered if anyone even heard her. She gritted her eyes shut. Gritted her teeth together to hold the pain at bay and waited. The last thing she was aware of was Mike's voice in her ear again, this time low and soft, "Just hang in there Molly, they've almost got him, hang on just a second more. You did it Molly, you got him. It's okay now, you can let go."
Johnny and Marco were able to grab Chet's wrists and started the seemingly endless task of bringing him back topside. Chet was able to get his feet against the cliff face and helped walk himself up the cliff. After his feet were once again on solid ground everyone simply lay in the middle of the trail gasping for breath. Johnny was the first to recognize that Molly was not gasping like the rest of them, she hadn't even moved. He realized her left arm and her head were still leaning over the edge of the cliff. Her left arm hung limply and he could tell that the shoulder was dislocated even without palpating it. Putting a hand on her back he could feel her labored breathing and muscle spasms that rolled over her back like waves in the sea. "Molly, can you hear me? Can we move you back from there, I'm not happy with you hanging over the edge like that."
"No. I don't want to move," came Molly's voice, sounding smaller and more timid than he'd ever heard it before. "My eyes are closed. I can't see that there isn't any ground for at least 200 feet, probably more. John? My arm is really killing me. I don't want to move it, it's gonna be a…well, you know."
"Okay, let me and Mike do all the work, you just keep your eyes closed and try to breathe easy if you can."
Together Mike and Johnny worked to release her pack and carefully remove it from her shoulders. Thankfully the smaller day pack was easier to remove and toss to the side than a full camping pack would have been. Johnny reached as far as he dared in order to place her arm against her chest and hold it there while they carefully rolled her away from her injury and then slid her back from the ledge. Johnny noted that her breathing was still labored but steady and that there was no sign of trauma except to her arm. Her eyes stayed steadfastly closed.
"Molly, hey Molly, can you hear me? You can open your eyes now, nothing but blues skies overhead." When she didn't respond he continued, "I know it hurts and you just want to sleep it off, but I need you to open your eyes. Come on."
"I'm here John, I just need a minute. I think the wind got knocked out of me. Just need a minute. 'Kay?"
Letting out a breath he didn't know he was holding John replied, "Take your time, I think we all need to catch our breath after that. When you're ready, I know what I saw, but I'd like you tell me what you remember."
Molly knew she was being paramedic-ed. Johnny was in full paramedic mode and she knew what information he needed the most. He wanted to know how bad things were and she decided to remove some of his worry.
"Well, Johnny, what I remember is that Chet here decided he could fly, but I didn't think it was such a hot idea. Silly me tried to stop him and got knocked down for my efforts. It feels like I dislocated my left shoulder and bruised every rib in my body. I think I've got various bruises here and there from being pummeled by a rock slide. Oh, and that there is Mike and the other one is Marco, it's Thursday, we are off duty and hiking Tahquitz Peak. Good enough for you Mr. Paramedic?"
Johnny just shrugged his shoulder, grinned and said, "Yep."
"Hey, Marco, I know Molly has a first aid kit in her pack, would you please fish it out? Let's get you away from this ledge first, then let's sit you up and check out those ribs and your shoulder. I'm probably going to have to wrap your ribs as a precaution and then immobilize your shoulder before we move you off this mountain.
"Uh, and just how do you think you are going to be checking my ribs?"
"Oh, come on Molly, you know I need to see what's going on with your ribcage. I need to know what we are dealing with so we can work on figuring out how to get you down from here."
"Fine, if I cooperate, if you don't find any broken ribs will you let me walk down from here?"
"Maybe, but I doubt it. I think we should go ask the Ranger what arrangements they have for rescue."
"Please don't, I can do it. It's only a few miles and downhill almost the entire way. I can do it. I'm sure of it."
"Molly, I didn't see anything hit you in the head, but you seemed out of it for a minute and you are injured."
"Chet, are you okay?" Molly tried to twist to see where Chet was, but changed her mind when her ribs and shoulder screamed at her for even thinking such a foolish thing. "Sheesh, maybe I am hurt worse than I thought. I didn't ask before? Johnny, did you check out Chet? Is he okay?"
"I'm fine Molly. Except I feel horrible. I was the one who caused all this, you're hurt and all I've got is some scratches and bruises."
"Chet, I'm glad you're fine. I'd rather have a dislocated shoulder and sore ribs than a flat Chester pancake at the bottom of that cliff."
"Molly, I'm so sorry. I've had a hard time thinking of you as a part of the fire fighter family. The others have all accepted you as a sister and have put their trust in you. I was holding out, I don't know why. I will never doubt your abilities to do the job again. Without you I would be a Chester pancake and I don't like that idea very much. Thanks, Molly."
All Molly could do was look up at Chet and blink. She never imagined she'd hear what she just did. "Johnny, I think maybe you'd better look into that rescue option, I think Chester B. might be seriously injured. Did I just hear what I thought I did?"
"Yep, you heard it. I heard it. We all heard it. Chester B. apologized."
"Thank you Chet. You don't know how much it means to me to know you've got my back. Thanks, brother."
Chet dipped his head and studied his shoes again for a moment. "No problem, sis," was the quiet reply.
"Okay, back to business, let's get your ribs wrapped, your shoulder bandaged, and get you off this mountain somehow. First, maybe we should try getting you into a sitting up position?"
It was going to be a little tricky since they were still perched at one of the narrowest sections of trail, just wide enough for one person at a time to pass. Johnny reached his hands behind Molly's good shoulder and lower back and expertly helped her into a sitting position, gently slid her to the side and leaned her against the steep rock wall, leaving her feet hanging over the edge, but her body safely on the trail. Just that movement alone sent a spasm of pain across Molly's shoulder and down her back. No one missed the look that passed across her face and the way the color in her face faded several shades, especially not Johnny.
"Whoa there, take a breath, slower, slower. You okay? That hurts doesn't it? Molly, I think someone should go talk to the Ranger. Maybe you will still be walking down, but I want to know what they can do. Please?"
A slight nod of the head was all Molly could manage while she tried to get the pain level back down to a manageable level.
"Mike, Marco? Any volunteers?"
"Sure Johnny."
"I'll go."
"I'll do it."
The answers came all together.
"Chet, you are not going anywhere. You just went off a cliff, you were hit by falling rocks and as Molly pointed out, I haven't checked you out yet. You don't go anywhere until I do. Marco, you are on the wrong side of the trail. I don't like the idea of you trying to get past us at this narrow section. Mike how do you feel about doing it on your own? It's only a few minutes away."
Mike was already headed back the way they came as he called over his shoulder, "Be back as soon as possible."
Johnny nodded then turned his attention back to his patient. "Okay, let's look at those ribs first, shall we?"
Molly used her good hand to inch her shirt up Johnny could get a look at her rib cage.
"There's some, wait, make that A LOT of bruising already showing up, looks pretty painful." He palpated her ribs and didn't find anything that seemed broken or out of place. "Looks like you hit them on the rocks pretty hard, but nothing seems broken. Let's wrap them so they have a little support until we get you to a doctor."
Johnny opened up Molly's well stocked first-aid kit and pulled a roll of bandages. "Chet, could you give me a hand and hold the end of this bandage in place while I wrap?" John indicated a spot on Molly immediately below…well, Chet thought that if he moved wrong he and Molly would know each other a lot more personally than he ever intended.
Molly interjected, "Uh-no. I'll do it. Just start over here so I can hold it. Sorry Chet, nothing personal."
"Uh, that's okay. I don't mind, really." Molly, looked at Chet and noticed the distinctly uncomfortable look on his face and almost laughed.
"Relax, Chet. I wouldn't bite you if you had to get closer, you know."
Chet laughed at that and instantly looked more at ease. "You should, I'd more than deserve it."
"I don't like pancakes."
Johnny, Marco and Chet all just looked at her for a moment before they burst out laughing. Molly joined in until her ribs and back reminded her she shouldn't. She winced and shifted trying to relieve the tension across her shoulders. She also wished that the spasm along her lower back would stop, that alone was making her absolutely miserable.
"How's that pain level doing?" Johnny asked.
"Oh, it's doing just fine. It's strong and healthy, doesn't appear to have any intention of giving up anytime soon."
"Wish I could do more."
"I know, but we aren't even in the right county, you couldn't do more than you are if you had the gear anyhow. Wrapping the ribs seems to be helping a little. I'm sure once we immobilize my shoulder it'll feel a bit better too."
"Tell me about the pain you are feeling."
"It hurts."
"Who trained you that you don't recognize a diagnostic question when you hear one?"
"Oh, I recognize it, I just don't feel much like being diagnosed."
"Um, Johnny, I think she might be as bad a patient as you are," Marco chuckled.
Johnny scowled and turned his attention back to Molly. "I think she might be worse. What kind of pain?"
"It's hard to describe. My arm itself feels like it is on fire. My shoulders, across the back, are tight and keep cramping. My lower back keeps spasming and I think that one might be the worst. Level 7 or so during a spasm, not so bad in between."
"Seven? Sure you don't mean 8 or 9? You get pretty pale and diaphoretic when there's a spasm. You sure it's only a seven?"
"No, I'm not sure it's a seven, but that's as big as I want to think it is. If I start thinking it is bigger than that it might start to feel that big."
"Okay, thanks for the honesty. It's about what I expected. I really don't think we are looking at more than the dislocated shoulder, some bruises and it sounds like you wrenched your back pretty good but the sooner we get you treatment the better. The shoulder pain and back pain aren't going to lessen until the dislocation is reduced and the joint is back in place. From experience, I can say it's just going to get worse the longer it is out of place."
"Oh, that's just terrific. Thanks for the good news." Molly wasn't admitting it, but the spasms in her back were nearly constant and the pain was making her feel lightheaded and nauseous. What she really wanted was a nice hot bath followed by a nice long nap.
Johnny made quick work of wrapping the ribs and had moved on to immobilizing her arm and shoulder. Another roll of bandage bound her upper arm to her torso and a triangular bandage created a sling for her lower arm to rest across her chest. Molly was starting to feel like an Egyptian mummy. Mike trotted back into view just as Johnny tied the knot on the sling.
"Hey Mike, what's the word? Love the surprise you brought with you too, that's going to be a big help."
Molly tried to look around John and see what Mike had, but her view was effectively blocked.
"They are sending a helicopter to pick her and Chet up. They'll take them to the hospital down in that town we passed through, Hemet."
"They have a hospital there? That placed looked too small for a hospital."
"That's what I thought too. Ranger says it's a decent hospital though. It's the biggest building in the entire town. We wouldn't have been able to miss it if our route had gone through town instead of around the edges. Gave me his binoculars and I could just make it out. It looks a little like a baby Rampart."
All four of the others just stared at Mike. Molly raised an eyebrow. Chet had his mouth hanging open. Johnny had his head cocked to the side the way he always did when he was processing information that didn't make sense at first. Marco just looked like he was somewhat in awe.
"You know, I really wish you guys would quit looking at me like I grew another head when I say more than one sentence at a time, it's really annoying. I DO talk, you know. I just don't waste time on stuff that doesn't need to be said."
"Well, okay, thanks for the info Mike, where is this helicopter gonna pick us up?" Johnny asked.
"In that big clearing right at the end of this section of trail. There are no trees there to get in the way and it is flat enough for a landing pad."
"Great, that isn't too far." Looking at Molly, Johnny said, "Let's get you loaded up and see about getting you off this mountain. Marco, will you help out? Let's get this on her other side, as flat on the trail as we can get it and then we'll slide her towards you and on to the stretcher. You'll have her head, I'll have her feet. As soon as the trail widens we can each take a bar, but it'll just be you and me for a few yards."
"Wait, a stretcher? What stretcher? Who had that in their pack? I'm fine, I can walk the 100 yards to the end of this section."
Mike laughed at the idea that someone had carried a stretcher in their pack. "The Ranger gave it to me. It's just the canvas and pole style, nothing fancy, but when I told them what happened they thought we could put it to good use."
"No, I'm walking."
"No, you're riding in style, my lady," Johnny teased. When he saw the steely determination enter her green eyes he knelt in front of her, put one hand on her leg and looked her right in her gorgeous eyes. "You are NOT walking out of here. We are in this position because someone lost their footing. Even if we got you standing those spasms are not going to leave you sure footed. Molly, I love you and want you off this mountain in one piece, therefore, you WILL allow us to put you in this contraption and carry you the rest of the way off this trail. If you REALLY want to walk we'll let you when there is no more cliff to fall off. Deal?"
Molly looked into the expressive brown eyes of the man she loved and with tears pooling in her eyes nodded a simple yes.
"Don't cry. It doesn't mean you aren't strong, it means we are being smart. I'm not about to let you become a pancake either." Turning to address everyone John waved for the stretcher to be passed forward, saying "let's do this thing."
Carefully they got Molly situated on the litter. Marco carefully stood at her head and then turned his back, stooping to pick up the poles behind him. John stooped on his side and grasped his poles.
"Okay, Marco, on three. One, two, three. Up we go. Chet lead us out. Mike bring up the rear. Mike you did such a good job as a paper weight earlier would you please be ready to repeat that action if you see us go down? Thanks." Johnny didn't even give Mike a chance to answer. He already knew the answer and wasn't worried about getting the help he might need if any of them stumbled and heaven forbid headed for the ledge.
"Paper weight?" Mike asked.
"Well, yeah, Molly is small enough to just blow away like a piece of paper, but you kept her from doing just that. You were a great paper weight."
Chuckles echoed off the rock formations. "Ow, stop making me laugh, that hurts. I think I've proven I'm sturdier than I look. I'm hardly a scrap of paper. But, thanks Mike for being such a great paper weight. Don't know how that would have worked out if you hadn't been so quick to pin me down."
"S'no problem." The thought that ran through everyone's mind was, 'looks like Mike is back to being a man of few words.'
Gentle grins graced each face as they moved down the trail. Luckily this narrow, dangerous section was not really all that long and they'd already made it about half way before the accident, so they reached the safety of the open, flat area quickly and a collective sigh was sighed as Mike's foot was the last to reach safety.
Johnny looked around, found a nice flat rock that very much resembled a bench and led the group over to the flat area. Laying the stretcher on the ground he helped Molly to sit up. The color she had regained while resting on the trail was gone again and she looked very pale. The motion caused by the stretcher had sent her back into fits. The pinched look of pain was firmly in place around her eyes and lips and she was out of breath after the simple motion of sitting up.
"Molly, you still aren't looking too hot. I need you to take a couple of good breaths for me, okay?" Molly worked hard on getting her breathing under control. "Is your breathing better lying down or sitting up?"
"Lying down," her voice was small and tight, not like he'd ever heard it before.
"Okay, lying down it is. Rest Molly. Let me check on Chet and I'll be right back. Mike, will you keep an eye on her? I'm still sure there isn't anything too seriously wrong, but the pain from the back spasms is bad. She's hurting and there's nothing we can do except keep her comfortable."
"Go see to Chet, I'll keep an eye on her."
"Oh, Chet," Johnny drawled, making Chet's name long and drawn out.
"I'm fine Gage."
"I know, but let me check anyway. Sit," Johnny pointed to a section of rock near Molly. "Shirt off, you don't have any reason to be as shy as Molly. Show us what you've got."
Chet glared at Johnny, but removed the t-shirt he was wearing. Everyone gasped at the lacerations covering Chet's chest and the dark bruises that were starting to form.
"That doesn't look fine to me. Looks like you got a little banged up going over."
"I guess it is a bit worse than I thought."
"Let's just clean those up a bit and it looks like we'll be wrapping those ribs too, just as a precaution." Johnny got to work with some antiseptic wipes from Molly's kit and the last of the gauze.
"Looks like the lacerations really are the worst of it, Chet. You have a particularly deep cut that is probably going to need some stitches and it is bruising up in the most colorful way. It's going to hurt for a while. Looks like that might be where the falling rocks hit you. You were obviously walking just fine. Any pain in your back or arms? Looks like you are favoring that right arm."
"Just from being hauled up by them is all. Really, nothing major."
"Okay, I still want you to come with us for a little helicopter ride. I think the doc should take a look and they can make sure those cuts are clean, stitch that one on your shoulder and bandage them a bit better than I did."
Everyone could tell Chet really wanted to put up a fight and say no, that he could walk off the mountain just fine. They all also knew the feeling you were left with when an adrenaline rush went away. They knew he was probably starting to feel pretty weak and possibly even a little shocky.
Chet took a moment to think it over. He knew Johnny was right, he really wasn't in any shape to walk off the mountain and he really was starting to feel pretty awful.
"'K," was the only answer as a still dejected Chet studied the toes of his boots.
Mike was the first to break the silence, "Hey, Johnny. Give me the keys to the Rover and Marco and I will race down this mountain to the car and then stop and pack up camp. We'll meet you at the hospital as soon as we can."
"Good plan Mike. Thanks." Johnny dug in his pocket and tossed the keys to the Rover over to Mike.
Right then they heard the distinctive sound of rotor blades chopping the air. Looking up they saw a blue and white medical copter drawing near and then landing.
John turned to Mike and Marco, "We'll see you two later. Have a safe trip Mike and Marco, no more injuries today."
"Thanks Johnny, take care of those two and see you soon," Mike replied as he turned down the trail.
Marco waved over his shoulder shouting over the sound of the blades, "Via con Dios, mi amigos."
Johnny waved back and then turned to help Molly and Chet as they headed for the copter.
Johnny ran up to the door "Hey, nice to see you guys, I'm John Gage a fireman/paramedic out of L.A. county, do you have room for three? I've got two patients and I'd like to go along if that's okay?"
"Sure, I'm Joe and this is Brian we'll be your pilots today. Climb aboard, there is plenty of room for three in the back. You'll find headphones with mics for any who want them back there too. Do you need any help or is everyone fairly mobile?"
"I've got one on a stretcher if you could help with her."
Brian jumped out of his door and ran with John to help get Molly.
"Hey, Chet, go ahead and load up, we've got her." John led Brian over to the stretcher on the rock. He hadn't noticed before that now Molly was lying on her right side and was slightly curled into herself.
"Hey, you found a new position. Is it helping?"
"Mike helped me after I asked him to. It is helping just a little. It's taken some of the strain off my back. Do I have to move again?"
"I don't think so, I think we can move you just like that, you are still pretty centered on the stretcher. Hang on, here we go."
Together John and Brian got Molly loaded into the copter without too much jostling and while letting her stay in her more comfortable position.
Finally taking a seat for himself John pointed to the headphones draped over the back of each chair and then put on his own set. Chet followed suit, but Molly was looking at him with a question in her eyes. Reaching up he checked the length of the cord and realized it would just reach Molly so he settled a pair over one ear and placing the mic so she could speak if she wanted. He was rewarded with a soft, but wonderful smile. He figured giving the patient head phones probably wasn't normal, but then he figured not much about today had been normal so why stop there.
"Hello, this is Joe, my co-pilot is Brian and we'll be your pilots today. Your stewardess will be by shortly with snacks and drinks. This will be a short flight today, about 15 minutes to Hemet-Ryan airport. From there your transport will be waiting to take you to beautiful downtown Hemet and your final destination of Hemet Hospital. We hope you enjoy your flight today and that you do NOT fly with us again anytime soon."
Molly was doing her best not to laugh and failing miserably. Johnny could see the pain around her eyes at the same time they were sparkling with laughter. It was an odd sight.
Brian's voice was next over the headphones, "Sorry about that folks, but see, it's not too often that my friend here gets to have a live audience so he takes advantage when he can. The mic on your headphones is active so we'll be able to hear you, if you'd like a chance to tell us the story of how you came to be on this bird, we'd like to hear it."
Johnny spoke up for the group, "Hi guys, you already know my name is Johnny, my pretty friend is Molly, and my not so pretty friend is Chet. We are all firefighters out of L.A. Molly and I are also paramedics."
Joe's shocked voice through the headphones asked, "You have GIRL firefighter/paramedics?!"
"Yep," Johnny replied, "that makes Molly pretty special." He looked at Molly and gave the smallest of winks as his trademark crooked grin spread across his face. Molly smiled back. She loved this guy and was so glad that he was with her to make this feel a little better.
Brian was asking, "How'd you guys end up on this ride? Gotta tell you all that it isn't often that we pick people up off this mountain that are walking and talking."
"It's a long story Brian and Joe, but it goes something like this. Chet thought he could fly. Molly disagreed and landed his butt back on solid ground before he had a really good chance to try. Our girl saved this turkey's life today." Johnny went on to explain the entire situation of the camping trip, checking out the rock for a future rock climb and the accident that banged up Chet and hurt Molly.
"So, you're telling me that this little wisp of a girl behind me, kept this sturdy dude sitting behind my friend, here, from becoming a pancake?" Brian asked.
"That's what I'm telling you. Saw it happen with my own two eyes. Now, it was a real team effort at the end. Her arm was too hurt to haul Chet's chunky butt back up the cliff herself and our friend who headed off when you arrived acted as a great paper weight to keep our wispy girl here from blowing away, but if she hadn't grabbed on when she did and held on as long as she did, there would have been one less person coming off the mountain today."
"Well, I'll be…," Brian whispered into the mic.
"Hey guys, our trip today has just flown by, we are coming in for a landing right now at our little bitty airport. We already have an ambulance waiting for you. We don't have paramedics here, yet, but hopefully soon. Sounds like you guys do good work. Thanks for making this trip a good one. I'm sure you are aware how hard it can be hauling in corpses. Thanks for doing your jobs right and keeping our job happy today. Sorry you guys got hurt. Good luck at the hospital. Hopefully they won't find anything too serious and you'll be on your way home soon. It was nice meeting you guys." Joe waved at them as the ambulance attendant came forward to help load his patients.
"Hey, Joe?"
"Yeah, Brian."
"Did you ever think you'd see a girl firefighter?"
"No, can't say that I did. Sounds like they couldn't have asked for a better one though."
"Yeah, really. Gotta say though, if it happened the way John said it did, we should look into getting some girls on our team."
"You got that right, buddy. You sure got that right." The two copter pilots headed for the small diner located at the airport for a cup of coffee and to further discuss girl rescuers and walking, talking rescuees.
Meanwhile an attendant was helping Chet off the copter. "Hi folks, I'm George and the driver there is Harold. I understand we are taking you to our local docs for a going over. I can see that the young lady is looking like a mummy and is probably the patient most in need of care. Am I right?"
By this point Molly was really starting to look the worse for wear. She was in constant pain at this point it was starting to show.
"You hit the nail on the head, George," Johnny replied. He already liked this guy as much as he had liked the fly guys, Brian and Joe. If he ever left L.A. he wouldn't mind working with people like these guys. "The young lady is Molly, I'm John and the other walking wounded over here is Chet. Molly is looking at a dislocated shoulder and some bruised ribs. She's also experiencing some pretty severe muscle spasms. Chet has minor lacerations covering his torso, possible bruised ribs and possible strained right arm. He's not being forthcoming so it could be shoulder, could be elbow, and could be wrist. Watching him I'm leaning towards sprained shoulder or bicep."
"Okey-dokey then, Lady Molly, your chariot awaits, you get the gurney."
"No, please, I think I can sit now."
"Nope, no can do. The docs will be more impressed if we bring you in on a gurney. Then they'll let us keep our jobs," George winked at Molly and helped her get settled on the gurney.
"You other two can settle in, make yourselves comfy. The hospital is about 15 minutes away. We won't be going in hot so it could take a little longer, but we'll get you there."
"Thanks George," Johnny said "fifteen minutes is kind of a long time. When you aren't hot it takes, what, 20 minutes?"
"It can, and this isn't the furthest reaches of our area so it can take even longer, but it's the only hospital for many, many miles and we are lucky to have it. Nearest hospital is another 45 minutes or so from here."
"Wow, that's rough. Do you guys have paramedics to help?"
"No. The city council has been debating it for a while and we think they are ready to approve the program. Most of our patients are a little closer than this, but the valley covers a lot of area and lots of days we just aren't fast enough. We have a very elderly population, a lot of heart attacks and strokes that don't end well. We just hope they move it along. We're tired of moving bodies that could still be alive if they got medical treatment sooner."
"Hey, man, you're preaching to the choir here. I'm a paramedic in L.A. County and became one for exactly the reason you just mentioned. Molly's a paramedic too, trained in San Diego. She's just helping us out in L.A. for a bit. If you guys need any help just call Rampart Hospital in L.A. and talk to Dr. Brackett or call Station 51 and ask for me, John, or my partner Roy. We'll be happy to do what we can."
"That's great! Hey, did you hear that Harold? This guy is a paramedic and wants to help us get the program running." Harold gave a thumbs up sign while keeping his eyes on the road.
"So your fire department is on board with this plan too, or are you looking more at EMT's than Paramedics?"
"Oh the fire department is pushing hard. We'll still just be delivery guys, but we're okay with that if more of our deliveries are breathing when we drop them off. Right, Harold?" Another thumbs up from the front of the ambulance was the only answer. John thought Harold might be the quietest person he'd ever met and that was saying a lot considering he worked with Mike.
"Well look at that. We must have hit all the lights just right, we're already here."
The passengers waited for the familiar turn and backing up motion they associated with arriving at the hospital. It never came. As Johnny hopped out of the ambulance he could see why. The E.R. receiving doors faced what amounted to a small alley at the back of the hospital. There was no room to back in so the ambulance simply pulled up just past the doors and let the passengers out right in front of the entrance.
"Let's get you guys checked in so I can get back to work. Thanks for talking to us on the way in. It's always nice to have someone to talk to. Really beats the other type of runs." George led the gurney to the admitting window and then kept pushing as the nurse at the window waved him on and gave him signs for 3 and 4. George led them to a large open room and pulled up by a curtained off bed. He helped Molly shift to the other bed, leaving her with the head of the bed raised and in a more sitting up position than she had been. He pointed Chet to the bed next door and then waved his good-bye as he took his gurney back to his ambulance so he and Harold could be ready for their next run. The group slid back the curtain separating the two cubicles so that Chet could sit on his bed and still talk with the others.
"Not like Rampart is it?" Chet was the first to comment. One of the things they took for granted at Rampart was that all the treatment rooms were private. This felt a little odd to the group.
"No, these curtains don't provide much privacy, but everyone we've met so far has been so nice. I'm sorry I have to meet them injured, but they've all been a great bunch of guys." Molly looked to John to back her up, she needed it. This was indeed, feeling a little odd. She wished that the person she saw next would be Dixie or Dr. Early. Even Dr. Morton would be a comfort at this point.
"They sure have been. I'd be happy to work with any one of them. Those fly guys were so funny. Too bad more of their patients can't appreciate the way they are able to put people at ease. I feel bad for the ambulance guys. I've been there, we all have. I hope their city council gets on board and they can get some paramedics here. Sounds like they need it."
Just then a nurse peeked into their curtained "room". Hi, I'm Sally, I'll be your R.N. today. How we doing in here?"
"Doing okay. Molly here is in quite a bit of pain and Chet there would start leaking if you gave him a glass of water, he's been punctured a few times, but other than that we're doing okay."
"Alright then, let's get a little information for the charts and we'll get moving on some treatment and hopefully some pain relief. First, both of you guys need to step out for a minute so I can get Molly into a gown. Who did the bandage work here?"
"That would be me. My name is John Gage and I'm a fireman/paramedic with L.A. County and I administered first aid to both patients. We only had the basics up on the mountain, but I did what I could."
"You did a great job. I don't think I've ever seen such an immobile shoulder," the nurse chuckled, "let me get a pair of scissors and get you unwrapped. The doc is going to need to see what's under there. We've been looking at getting paramedics here, if this is an example of the work they do I think they'd be a real asset to our town. In fact, wait here while I get the scissors and the doc. I think he'd want to see the results of some first class training. He's really been sort of antagonistic about this whole paramedic thing. Be right back."
Sally bustled off in search of the doc and the scissors. John turned to Chet and Molly saying, "Great, another Doc Brackett." Molly hadn't known Doctor Brackett in the early days of the paramedic program, but she'd heard all about his reluctance to get on board. Chet laughed and shook his head, "at least this group won't have to wait for a bill to pass before they can work."
John huffed, "yeah, they'll just get to go to work and start saving lives right away, lucky ducks."
"And, all because of guys like you and Roy. It's because of you that they'll get to do that," Chet offered. The words brought a strange quiet to the room as each one pondered the enormity of what John and Roy had actually accomplished.
"He's right John. Even my training in San Diego and work up here were only possible because of you and Roy and the others in the first classes. You guys trained not knowing if you'd ever put it to use. That changed things for all of us."
The return of Nurse Sally and the doc lightened the suddenly somber feeling in the room.
"Doctor Shulman, I'd like you to meet John Gage, fireman/paramedic from L.A. He did the nifty bandage work you see on Miss Molly."
"So, you're a paramedic, huh? Like to play doctor?"
"Whoa, doc, I think you've got the wrong idea," Chet was yelling.
"It's okay Chet," John waved his hands in a "down boy" sort of action. "No doc. I don't play doctor. I listen to their instructions and carry them out. Without the doctors and nurses at our base hospital all I can do is offer basic first aid. Much like I did today. My training IS more advanced than the basics all firemen learn, but I can't do much without my doctors. I've had a lot of practice immobilizing shoulders due to treating fellow firefighters. It's an injury we come up against a lot."
"Humph, sorry about that. I've had a lot of pressure to get this paramedic thing going, but I'm just not convinced it's the right thing to do."
"Let me give you the contact number for the head doc at our E.R., Doctor Brackett. He'll be happy to tell you all about the pros and cons of the program. He felt just as strongly as you do, maybe more so, about being against the program when it first started. He is now one of its biggest proponents."
"Thank you, Mr. Gage, was it? I'd appreciate being able to talk to someone who has experience with the program. This is an excellent job of immobilization, by the way. You did a beautiful job."
"Well, just so you know, when you get underneath all that you'll find some wrapped ribs too."
"Good to know. Now, let's clear out for a moment while the nurse unwraps our patient and you can give me that number."
When the group of men returned they found Molly unwrapped, but looking very pale again and slightly panting, trying hard to catch her breath against the pain.
"Whoa, what happened? Slow down your breathing Molly, come on."
"I…forgot…how much….s-s-support the…wrap offered. I tried to move…B-b-bad idea….S-so-rr-y. Spasms are back, too. Stupid."
"Hey, not your fault, just try to take slower breaths and a little deeper. It's okay," Johnny put a restful hand on her good shoulder and gave just the slightest, comforting squeeze.
"Okay, Molly, let's see what we've got and see what we can do to ease your pain a little. Let's start with some x-rays and we'll go from there. Nurse Sally already got your history and the story of how we came to this point?"
Molly gave a little nod.
"Okay, I hear the x-ray guy right outside, let's close this curtain and keep Chet next door for now and we'll get started on him while you get x-rayed. Come with us Johnny you can fill me in while we check out our other patient."
Johnny was preparing to once again tell the tale of Chet's attempted flight and Molly's mad grab to keep him grounded. He hadn't started the tale yet when he realized he still had to tell the tale one more time and that it would be the worst time yet. Chet watched as his friend visibly paled.
"Gage, what's wrong?!"
"I have to call Cap…he doesn't know. We took her on a simple camp out and we are bringing her back injured. Oh, man."
"John, go call. We'll be fine here. Tell Cap it's all my fault. He'll understand. If I'd been more aware…"
"Hey, you guys know that there is only a curtain between us, right? I can hear every word."
"Please hold still or we'll get blurry x-rays."
"Oh, sorry. It's nobody's fault. It was an accident. Just get me home and I'll tell Cap myself."
Dr. Shulman stood by watching the interaction and finally asked, "There was an accident and you got hurt, that's just the name of the game, why would your Captain get so mad about this injury?"
In unison the two men answered, "she's his niece."
"Oh…well, we'll have to take extra special care of her then so that you guys don't end up visiting your home hospital." The doctor grinned broadly as he went back to work making sure Chet really was 'just fine'.
The two men grinned at each other. They liked this guy.
"So, Mr. Gage, step out here and let Mr. Kelly have his turn with the x-ray guy, I want a look at that arm he's favoring, and tell me how you came to have a female firefighter/paramedic in the first place and then how you managed to damage her. We keep getting interrupted on this story."
Johnny was getting really good at telling this particular story and gladly filled in the doc while Chet got x-rayed then had his cuts cleaned, bandaged and stitched. The story finished just as the x-ray tech returned with the films and the doc applied the last bandage.
"Okay, let's see what we've got." The doc slid the films into a nearby light box and scanned over them. "Well, looks like your diagnosis was correct Mr. Gage."
"Please, it's Johnny."
"Okay, Johnny. Molly," he pointed to one set of films, "there are no cracks in the ribs and the shoulder joint is fully dislocated but I don't see a single chip. There is no visible damage to the spine. I'm fairly certain the spasms are just a muscular injury caused by the force of the fall and the force of having an adult male attached to her arm. Looks like a reduction of the dislocation, which I think we can do manually and avoid surgery, and then immobilization and rest should fix our girl right up again. Chet," he pointed to the other set of films, "it looks like he's got a really good strained bicep, nothing's showing up here that we need to worry about. He'll get a sling for a week or so, some range of motion exercises to start in a few days and will be feeling 100% in no time. Let's get to work."
Doctor Shulman entered Molly's cubicle, explained the procedure and asked the nurse to administer some morphine. We'll only do the morphine for the reduction and to block the back pain for now. It's too strong to keep it up, but I want Molly nice and relaxed for the reduction and it should help her back start to relax. When the morphine wears off you can start with muscle relaxants, such as Valium, there's newly approved drug, Flexeril, which does a good job too. It'll help until her back heals. For pain ibuprofen will be preferred instead of anything narcotic. The goal is healing not doping. I'll want her to see her physician within the next two days and start physical therapy for both the shoulder and the back as soon as possible.
The nurse had started an IV already since Molly was showing some signs of dehydration. She used the port to inject the powerful drug that would help Molly relax. It did its job quickly and Molly's eyes glazed over as it took hold and the pain that had been plaguing her faded.
It didn't take Doctor Shulman long to get her should back in place, he seemed quite experienced at this type of procedure. "Okay, let's get an immobilizer on her and I think you guys will be ready to go. My admitting nurse informs me that two additional scruffy men, dressed for hiking, have arrived in her waiting room and are asking about you guys. Chet, if you want to join them, here are your walking papers, just hand them to the admitting nurse on your way out after you sign them. You really don't need any follow up, you'll be fine, but I know Doctor Brackett will want to give you his personal once over before your next shift, so make sure you stop by, tomorrow if you can. You can tell your friends it'll be half an hour, forty-five minutes at the most. We have an excellent cafeteria just down the hall if you guys are hungry. They cook up a mean hamburger."
"Thanks doc, I think I'll do just that. You want something Gage?"
"If you can get me a burger in a to-go box and I'll eat when we are in the car. Get Molly something too, but not a burger, maybe a sandwich or something. Something light. I don't think she'll be wanting too much before we can get home and make her a proper meal." John glanced at his watch, realizing he had lost all track of time. Despite the excitement of the day, it was still early and still reasonably within lunch time. They'd be home in plenty of time for dinner, even if there was some traffic.
"Okay, see you out there in a bit."
"Thanks Chet."
"I didn't do anything Gage. I got Molly hurt is what I did."
"Knock it off Chet. You helped all along the way. You helped keep her calm. You helped keep me calm. Not sure I could have kept my cool on this one if you hadn't been here. You helped Chet, and this was nobody's fault. I'm just glad we are all going home and nobody got dead out there today. Molly isn't blaming you so don't blame yourself and just recognize, for once, the good you do for our team. I'll probably never say it again so don't go forgetting it."
Chet had spent a lot of time looking at his toes that day and was doing so now. "Thanks John. You're right, nobody's fault, just an accident and I'm glad I could be a help today, even if I didn't realize it." Chet grinned at John and headed towards the food he knew they all needed.
John sighed. "Molly, it's been quite a trip. Man, who knew when we left yesterday, wow, was it just yesterday, that this trip would be so crazy. We've met some great people today and I think we've grown closer as a team. It's crazy. Roy is never going to believe this one."
"I'll tell J-ann," Molly was slurring her words she was so out of it from the Morphine, "she'll tell Roy. He be..be…be…trusts her. S'nobody fault. S'not Chet's fault. Chet's good guy. Who knew?" And with that Molly's eyes drifted closed and Johnny laughed.
"Yeah, who knew?"
The doctor and nurse team moved to remove Molly's IV line, then the nurse realized they had a small problem.
"I don't think Molly wants to wear the hospital gown home. I can help her put her pants back on, but we cut her top to get it off."
"Oh, I hadn't thought about that. You know, I have a button up shirt in my gear bag out in the car. I'll find my friends and be right back. I think that shirt would fit her just fine. Just in case I'll see if Chet or Marco have anything in their bags." John didn't have to mention that he was thin as a stick and, well, Molly, while petite was curvy in all the right places and his shirt might not cover everything that needed covering.
Johnny walked out to the waiting area and didn't see his friends, but then remembered they were going to go get some food. Johnny was an expert at finding food. Following his nose he quickly tracked them down in the cafeteria.
"Hey guys, you sure got here fast."
Mike swallowed the bite of hamburger he'd been chewing before answering, "Yeah, remember all those switchbacks the trail had on the way up? Well, they didn't exist on the way down." He winked at Marco.
"What do you mean there weren't any switchbacks?"
It was Marco's turn to answer, "Well, see John, we sort of straightened them out by just ignoring them and taking the shortest route down."
"Those switchbacks were there because of how steep the trail was. You guys just ignored that, huh? Well, glad you made it back in one piece. That couldn't have been easy."
"No, but it was kind of fun. Good thing we didn't run into any Rangers they probably wouldn't have liked our off road activities," Mike laughed. "How's Molly by the way?"
After John explained the current problem Marco went with him to show him where they had parked the car and to pull a button up shirt he had in his bag in case Johnny needed it.
When he got back to the E.R. he found Molly more awake than she had been when he left. He smiled at her and then handed the two options to the nurse so that she could help Molly finish getting dressed. While he waited outside the curtain Dr. Shulman returned with Molly's discharge paper work and two bottles of medications with the instructions for taking them.
"I'm sending Molly home with something for pain and a muscle relaxer. Those spasms she was having will decrease now that the dislocation is repaired, but her back took a beating so those lower back spasms could continue for some time, but they will continue with decreasing frequency. The muscle relaxers will help with that. She is likely to feel some pain for several days. That too will decrease over time, but for at least today and tomorrow I want her to take these regularly so that her body has a chance to relax and heal. After that she can take them as needed. Now, normally, I'd probably want to keep her overnight, but I know she is going home to a really good support team. I would feel better if you were able to somehow stay the night with her and keep an eye on her. She's probably not going to feel too steady for a day or two and we don't want her falling and hurting herself further."
"I think that can be arranged Doc. If not myself I know my partner and his wife will take her in and make sure she is taken care of tonight and as long as needed."
"Good, good. I went ahead and called Rampart, Dr. Brackett wants to see her tomorrow. I'm sending a copy of my notes and her chart with you. You can give it to him when you see him. Thanks for your help on the paramedic project. I feel a lot better about it after meeting you and talking about it. Dr. Brackett has agreed to a meeting next week so that we can discuss it even more. Again, thanks for your help and take care. If you ever find yourself back in Hemet, look us up and see how we are doing with our paramedic program."
"I will Doc. Thanks for all your help and taking such great care of my friends. I'm hoping to be back out here before too long. I want to go up the front of that darned rock next time. I'll be sure to stop by."
"Sounds great, just don't be injured when you do." The doc gave Johnny the bottles, papers and a smile. "See you later Johnny."
"Bye Doc."
The nurse had Molly all set in a wheel chair, ready to push her out to the car.
The first thing that Johnny thought was 'wow she looks really good in my shirt', then out loud added, "Let me go pull the car around, get the guys and we can be off."
In just a few moments the Rover was sitting in front of the E.R. entrance with the guys inside and ready to go. Several boxes of food sat in the front seat waiting to be opened and consumed. They decided that Molly should have the front passenger seat so she could lean against the door on her good side and have a bit more space than the crowded back seat.
Soon, they were on the road home and Molly was sound asleep.