Chapter 20

The ride back to the station was a quiet one. Hank watched his engineer carefully as he drove and it was clear that he was in deep thought. What Hank didn't know for sure was if the silence of his Engineer was due to the upcoming presentation that was bound to be emotional or the rescue they had just finished or both.

After the equipment was backed into the bay the doors of the engine were opened and a very unfamiliar sound was heard from the day room, the sound of a crying baby.

Mike paused with one hand on the open engine door and sighed. Turning back to his captain Mike had moist eyes and a warm smile. "Do you think Chief Jenner is here yet, it sounds like someone isn't very happy?"

"I'll go check," Hank answered with his own smile and climbed down from the cab of the engine and headed toward the office.

Every one else made their way toward the new sound in the station and found one tiny boy getting his diaper changed and as soon as that task was completed the young man was much happier. When the high Chief could not be found in the station Captain Stanley joined his men in the day room to meet Mike's other sister and brother-in-law as well as the newest member of the family.

Once the introductions were made everyone turned their attention to the little guy in Mellissa's arms.

"Uncle Mikey here helped deliver this little guy." Marty bragged for his quiet brother-in-law as he put one arm around his wife and offered his infant son a finger of his other hand.

"You did?" Johnny smiled at the engineer, "Hey that's great, it looks like you did a good job."

"All I did was follow the Nurse's instructions." Mike smiled as he put his arm around his mother and watched everyone play with the baby.

"So Laura was the one in charge," Roy commented.

"Yes she was," Mike's Mom added, "We were very lucky that she was there, we could have lost them both."

"Things did get a little scary there for a few minutes," Mike admitted. "But Laura knew just what to do to get this little guy breathing."

"I just heard the back door," Marco spoke with alarm, and everyone in a uniform jumped to attention.

"This is it," Captain Stanley spoke as he started ushering everyone out into the bay with a friendly smile on his face. As Mike walked past he gave him a gentle slap on the shoulder and then filed in behind him.

The six firefighters lined up at attention and again Mike still stood out being the only one in his dress uniform.

Marty quickly took the baby from his wife as she joined her sister at their mother's side. Marty took up a dancing sway with the baby in his arms just a few feet away.

Captain Stanley appropriately greeted Chief Jenner and shook hands before introducing each of his men one at a time.

"And I will let Stoker here introduce our distinguished guests." Hank motioned toward Mike's family.

Mike ceremoniously stepped over to his family and started introductions. "This is My Mother, Elaine Stoker, My sister Sarah Stoker, My other sister Mellissa Stoker Phillips her husband Martin J. Phillips and their son Jaron Martin Phillips.

Chief Jenner respectfully shook hands with everyone but Marty, whose hands were full, oh yea and young Jaron, he was asleep. Mike then took up a position behind his mother and between his two sisters standing at attention as best he could and still reach out and place a supportive hand on his mother's shoulder while his two sisters held tight to her hands, as Chief Jenner squared his shoulders in front of them and began:

"Ma'am, we are here today to posthumously present this award of commendation for the services performed by Michael Jaron Stocker Sr. Structural Engineer, in going above and beyond the duty for which he was recruited and performing services that led to the extrication and life saving measures for thirty-eight victims trapped after an apartment explosion. It is our regret that the injuries he received in performing these services led to his death. I also humbly ask your apology for the untimely manner in which this award is being presented."

With the words said the letter of commendation mounted on a polished black maple plaque with the symbols of the state and fire department carved around its border, was ceremoniously presented and Elaine Stoker let go of her daughter's hands to accept her husband's commendation with trembling hands. After holding it out so that she could look it over herself she showed it to each of her children then pulled it close to her chest and wrapped her arms around it. When one of the Chief's assistants stepped forward with a folded American flag Elaine stepped aside and motioned with tear filled eyes for it to be given to her son and Mike accepted it in the honor it was intended.

All eyes in the room were moist even Chief Jenner was affected by the emotion around him, Mike freed one arm and bent down to give his mother a hug as his two sisters each wrapped their arms around both of them.

When they pulled apart again and were looking at each other with warm smiles in spite of their tears the Chief cleared his throat.

"As long as we are gathered here today I believe it would be as good a time as any to award two more commendations."

Chief Jenner turned to accept a collection of papers from his assistant and then turned back to the Stoker family huddle. "Both of these commendations are awarded to Michael Jaron Stoker Jr. One is to commend him for the efforts he put forth at great personal risk to extricate four victims from a mud slide. According to our records he was off duty at the time and still responded to the call for help. The second commendation is in response to the many letters sent to my attention from twenty three of the students, fireman Stoker removed from an overturned School bus last week. He is to be commended for his gentleness and the professional manner in which he cared for these students who were frightened and some of them severely injured. I will add that there were also numerous comments about his muscular appearance and good looks, and yes most of the letters were written by young ladies." Everyone in the room gave a chuckle and smiled in Mike's direction. Mike was turning quite red faced. "I also pass along one certificate received in the mail that declares Fireman Stoker the 'Ultimate Super Hero'."

Elaine Stoker again stepped aside and placing her hand behind her son pulled him forward as he handed the flag he was still holding to his sister and accepted the congratulatory hand shake and commendations along with the original letters from Chief Jenner.

Mike's mother tearfully wrapped her arms around his waist still holding her husband's plaque and rested her head on his chest as Captain Stanley stepped forward.

"On behalf of Station 51's A shift I also congratulate you on your great work." Mike managed so shift his stack of papers to the hand that was draped around his mother's shoulders and shake hands with his Captain and Friend.

As Mike's sisters moved in to offer their congratulations and get a look at his papers the Captain turned to face the high Chief. "Would you like to inspect the station while you are here?"

"There's no need for an inspection, I have no doubt that you have this place in tip top shape for such an occasion, I would like a cup of coffee if I may."

"Absolutely, right this way," Captain Stanley guided his leader to the common room and the remaining four shift mates converged on Mike to shake his hand and offer their congratulations.

Everyone was moving toward the common room when the alarm sounded joined by the startled cry from young Jaron.

The call was for an unknown type rescue for the squad only and as Roy flipped on the sirens before driving off, the infant in Marty's arms was even more emotionally traumatized.

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Laura's first conscious awareness was of the sound of a heart beat other than her own. Focusing on the sound she could feel the rhythmic thump under her fingers as she moved them across the hairy chest. Startled at the thought that she was sleeping with someone she opened her eyes to take in the Teddy Bear tucked under her hand. Carefully rolling over Laura realized she was still in her hospital bed but she no longer hooked up to the multiple IV's she last remembered.

In a chair next to the bed sat a strange looking doll made by tying up a pillow, the kind her grandmother had made for her when her mother died, the same kind she had made to comfort children and a few rescue workers in Indonesia. Who ever made that doll was very likely someone who had read her latest book and since it wasn't scheduled to be on the book store shelves for another week the list of suspects was short. Since she was sure her publicist hadn't even opened the cover to read her autograph, that left Captain Stanley of Fire Station 51.

"You're awake," the nurse in the room commented in a cheery voice as she moved in to check a pulse, "How are you feeling?"

For the first time since she'd opened her eyes Laura focused on her own body and trying to decide just how she was feeling. The shoulder didn't hurt as much as she last remembered, neither did her back. There was a strange fuzziness to her focus, it only took her a moment to figure out what it was, A drug hangover.

"It feels like somebody got the bright idea to make sure I got some sleep." Laura answered as she sat up in the bed noticing the bed rails in the up position and the magazine laid open on the bed side table, a tell tail sign that the nurse had been assigned to stay with her at all times. "What did I do this time?"

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Back at the station Mike's sister and her husband had their hands full settling down young Jaron and most of the firefighters were clueless as to how to help. Surprisingly it was Captain Stanley's quiet singing of 'Daddy's gona buy you a Mocking bird,' that grew quieter the less the baby cried that seemed to do the trick.

Melissa being a new mother was very rattled and embarrassed about her baby disrupting the station and being unable to calm him herself. She and her husband quickly decided that they better get the baby out of there before another call came in. Grandma realized her daughter's need for a calming presents and left with her but not before placing the folded flag back in her sons arms and placed his hands around it. The two shared teary smiles and a warm hug and then his mom left Sarah right on her heals.

Mike snickered as he watched his youngest sister's quick retreat and only hoped she had learned her lesson about medaling in his love life. He then turned his attention to the flag in his arms and cradled it tighter allowing his tears to fall but keeping his back to his shift mates.

"I think I'll go change into my work uniform now." Mike said before making his exit but everyone noticed how he hid his face from them as he turned to leave.

"Does that young man need some time off?" Chief Jenner questioned.

"I'll give him a minute then go and find out," Captain Stanley responded hoping the Chief would leave it in his hands. "The last six months have been really hard on him but he managed to meet one of the worlds leading authorities on the mental health of rescue workers and she has really helped him."

"That wouldn't by any chance be the same person who smacked my up the side of the head with a coloring book was it." Chief Jenner grimaced.

"A, Yeah," Cap answered feeling somewhat relieved that Laura had no ties with the fire department.

"I must admit what she said that day made a lot of sense, there is no good reason for him to have to wait this long to get the information we had for him; if this sort of thing ever happens again to hell with chain of command and just come straight to me."

"I'll do that sir."

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In the corridor outside Laura's hospital room Kel Bracket was walking slowly and holding his taped up bruised ribs. Pausing outside the door before entering he decided to send Dixie in first to make sure it was safe for him to enter.

"Get in here Bracket," Laura yelled from her bed. Bracket complied.

"No one will tell me what's going on here or what I did," Laura continued after Bracket stepped through the door. "They say you have to be the one to tell me so start talking!"

Bracket winced and offered an attempt of a grin, "What is the last thing you remember?"

"Being woke up in one of the patients rooms, I was checking a pulse, the doctor that was there didn't appreciate my help. He ordered the nurse to take me back to my room and keep me there."

"No he was a little concerned by another patient doing rounds in her sleep while walking her IV pole, He didn't know about your credentials and experience."

"Or my instructions to avoid sedatives," Laura added with a hint of annoyance in her voice.

"No, he had no knowledge of those instructions." Bracket admitted while scrunching the muscles on one side of his face.

"The problem is that when my mental stress levels are at the critical level all sedatives do is let my nightmares and the horrors of the field work take over with all the rational control gone. So what did my nightmares lead me to do this time?"

"You crawled out a window on the eighth floor; we had to call the fire department to pull you in off the ledge."

"Station 51?"

"Yes, we hoped that your friendship with Mike would make it possible for him to talk you in, and I'll add it seemed to work." "How did you know? Do you remember them helping you in?"

"No,," Laura turned away from her doctor and looked at the make sift doll still sitting in the chair then picked up the Teddy Bear and set it on her raised knees. "I just know that whoever was there has at least read my philosophy on teddy bears. It wasn't hard to narrow the list down."

"Mike Stoker?" Dr. Bracket asked with a smile.

"NO, Captain Stanley. He's a student of mine; He could teach you a thing or two."

"He could, could he?"

"He understands the concept and effects of negative Teddy Bears. Mike may have talked me in but I bet he came along. Is that normal for the captain to go out on a ledge like that?"

"I wouldn't know anything about that," Bracket confessed. "Just what is this about negative Teddy Bears?"

"It's a thirty eight page chapter and like I said, Captain Stanley could teach you a thing or two. If I don't need the IV's any more than we should be talking about me getting out of here."

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Mike sat on the running board of the engine with a polishing cloth working on the same hose nozzle for the last thirty minutes before Captain Stanley moved in and sat next to him.

"How's it going there?"

Mike turned and looked at his captain. "It's a whole lot to think about today." He turned away and stared at the squad in front of him. "On that ledge this morning-" Mike paused in frustration, searching for the right words.

"You did all the right things; you got her off the ledge alive and well." Hank tried to put his man at ease.

"I just did what she did for me." "That first day we met she sat where you are right now and asked permission to hold my hand." Mike paused again looking at his own hand. "This morning on that ledge I realized just how close I was to loosing it. It feels like I was a whole other person when I think about it."

"You were," Hank placed his hand on Mike's shoulder.

Mike turned and looked at his captain once again. "That day we were driving around gathering information, I felt like she was reading my mind. I even got a little mean with her but she just kept saying all the right things to put me back together."

"She understands people like us."

"You mean rescue workers?" Mike smiled and leaned forward resting on his knees.

"According to her book we're a special breed of people with warped minds and big hearts that rule over common sense and give us the nerve to believe we can make a difference in the world." Hank quoted from chapter one of 'Keep the Rescuers rescuing'.

"Who's there for Laura? She shouldn't have to go through all this alone. She'd never sit by and let anyone else go it alone."

"We're all there for her." Hank took a stand.

"Cap, phone for you," Marco called from the common room.

Author's note: three children involved in multiple programs made for little to no computer privileges for mom but with one child gone to camp for ten days another off with his friends filming a movie and the third in summer school the next chapter will be much quicker in coming. This story has a life of its own but we're getting close to the end of this story I promise.