Morale

Roy arrived at the hospital around mid afternoon to carry out his last assigned duty but also to visit with the guys. As soon as he walked into the 'skunk ward' he could tell that all was not hunky dory. First of all Mike, Marco and Chet were blindfolded but he also noticed the extra monitors on Chet and Marco and that they were still on Oxygen. He also noticed the lack of flowers, the fresh hair cuts and the absence of two prized mustaches.

"Hello, how's every body doing?" Roy greeted in an extra loud voice to make sure Mike, Marco and Chet heard him.

"We'll we're not deaf just wearing blinders." Marco grumbled and Roy could tell instantly what his mood was.

"It's nice to know you didn't forget about us," Mike commented.

Hank decided he had better let his blind folded men know something they couldn't see, "You're in uniform have they got you back to work already?"

"Yeah, I started back this morning." Roy answered, somewhat surprised Cap didn't know.

"So, who's your lucky partner?" Johnny asked with a combination stunned and pitying look on his face.

"I'm not back on a squad yet," Roy explained, "They've made me incident commander for the rest of the clean up at Station 51"

The room filled with moans of sympathy for their comrade then Cap asked, "How bad is it?"

"It's about the same as it is in this room only add the strong odors of every kind of cleaner known to man all mixed together."

"You've got to be kidding," Cap exclaimed, leaning back against his pillow wide eyed.

"I only wish I were." Roy explained, "I guess they had to send the cleaning crew home early yesterday because they were all getting headaches. That's when they decided they needed some one to be in charge of the whole clean up so things would be better organized."

"So you're not doing everything yourself?" Cap asked with some relief in his voice.

"No, No, I've spent the day cleaning out lockers and cataloging everything that was in them but I've had the services of two deserving boots to do all the mopping, window washing and grunt work," Roy informed.

"And just what did the two boots do, to be so deserving?" Chet piped up from the back of the room. Roy noticed the smiles on everyone's face and knew that meant they were glad to hear something from the overly quiet man.

Roy proceeded to repeat the story he had been told and as soon as he got to the point where the intended target had stayed back to allow the Chief to lead the CEO and his wife and Grandchildren in, the room filled with laughter and moans of joy at the mental picture that was brought to their minds.

Noticing the weight of the box he had tucked under his arm, Roy proceeded to change the subject. "Before I forget I'm here on official business. I am to deliver all of your personal belongings that were with your uniforms before they destroyed them." Roy then walked over to John and gave him his envelope which he opened and verified it was his stuff before signing the official form saying he had received his belongings. Roy then went to Cap and after looking up to see that his partner was still looking at the contents of his envelope Roy quickly pulled out the contents of one pants pocket.

"I didn't think you would want me to send these to the cleaners' sir."

In total confusion Hank took the object from Roy's hand and held it up, when he instantly recognized it his face turned just as red as the bright red lacy piece of ladies lingerie that he was holding.

"Whoooooa!" Johnny would pick that moment to look up. "Whew who Cap!" Johnny then followed up with a loud cat calling whistle.

Cap quickly but way to late, stuffed the panties under his blankets. "Gage, get your eyes back in that head of yours it's not what you think."

"Sure Cap, does your wife know? I mean I wouldn't want to say anything that would let the cat out of the bag." John continued to tease his Captain a, fellow patient.

The three blind men sat up straight in their beds with great anticipation on their faces. "What is it Gage?" Kelly asked.

Now John likely would have answered anyway but he was glad to see some movement from his pal that had been far to quiet for his liking and he knew this was just the sort of thing to help perk up the sprits of those who were bored, worried and blindfolded. "A pair of ladies panties," he blurted out half in laughter. "Fire engine red silk with lots of lace. Just what every fireman needs in his locker, a great morale booster if I do say so myself."

"If you must know they belong to my wife." Cap started to explain but his face was growing redder with each moment.

The laughter in the room was causing Chet and Marco to start coughing and gasping for air. Johnny was quickly out of his bed and over to Chet putting an oxygen mask on his face and helping him to set up a little straighter as he coached him to take slow deep breaths and concentrate on relaxing. Mean while the nurse in the room was at Marco's side doing the same for him.

As Johnny and the nurse worked to calm Chet and Marco down Roy went about handing out the rest of the crew's personal effects with the help of Cap who co-signed since none of them could see. As much as he was embarrassed he could see that it was a needed diversion for his blindfolded men and decided he could take the razzing.

Cap had just climbed back in bed and the door to the room had just opened when Chet pulled his mask down to ask a question. "Cap, I got 'a know, why do you keep ladies underwear in your locker?"

Because he was blindfolded Chet had no idea that standing in the newly opened doorway was Captain Stanley's wife.

Now Cap was really turning red.

"What's this I hear about women's underwear in you locker," Emily chided her husband.

"They're yours I swear," Hank produced the panties from under his covers to show her, "I found them after I got to work; they were clinging to the inside of one of my flannel shirts because of static. I hid them in the bottom of my locker and I kept forgetting to bring them home again."

Emily smiled and took the panties from her husband's hands. "So that's where these have been, I've looked all over the house for these."

She then sauntered over to where the dividing drapes were gathered and took hold of the drapery. "Pardon me boys, but we need a little privacy," She said as she pulled the drapery around her husband's bed.

From the shadows seen through the curtains they could tell that Emily Stanley sat down on her husband's bed and the two bodies came together in an embrace and as the other men in the room held their breath they heard, "I'm glad someone figured out a way to get some color back in your face," followed by giggling from behind the curtain and the rest of the guys joined in.