The Boot

Chapter Six

By GCS

DISCLAIMER: "Emergency!" and its characters © Mark VII Productions, Inc. and Universal Studios. All rights reserved. No infringement of any copyrights or trademarks is intended or should be inferred. This is a work of fiction. This story is only written for entertainment. No financial gain is being realized from it. The story, itself, is the property of the author.

Dixie returned to the exam room a while later and found Johnny once again sleeping.

He had put on the scrubs as requested. Now he lay on top of the exam table on his back. His long slender legs disappeared into the firefighter's boots and crossed at his ankles. The bulky firefighter's boots seemed overly large when not covered by the turnout pants. One arm rested along side of his body with his hand loosely gripping the side of the table. The other hand lay on the turnout coat resting across his chest.

She stood quietly, looking at the young man before her, watching his chest slowly rising with each breath. He had a striking appearance. He had a long slim nose and high cheekbones that appeared slightly flushed with a possible low-grade fever, a strong jaw line and the longest dark eyelashes she had ever seen on a man. His thick dark hair, now completely dry, framed his pale features. He definitely had the markings of a Native American heritage.

Though right now in sleep he reminded her of a young innocent boy, John Gage was one of the most gorgeous men she remembered ever seeing.

She walked over beside him. 'Too bad you're too young for me.' She smiled as she reached up and stroked his forehead. 'I think we're going to be very good friends.' She continued stroking his hair as his eyes began to flutter and slowly open.

Beautiful brown eyes peered up at her and a crooked grin spread across his face. "Hi," he shyly said. "Time to get up?" He pushed up onto his elbow, turned his long legs around and slid off the table.

"Here are the antibiotics Dr. Early prescribed." She pushed a small brown sack into his hand. "If you have any reactions stop taking them and come back to see us."

He nodded his understanding. "Yes ma'am."

"Oh and be sure you take all of them, even if you feel better." She patted his arm. "It's very good to meet you Johnny."

"Yes ma'am." He looked at his boots. "Um..it…it's good to meet you too. Thank you for helping me." He tried to stifle a cough. He cleared his throat. "I better find Tony."

Dixie watched him as he disappeared out the exam room door. Then she turned to her duties of preparing the room for their next patient. "Take care of yourself Johnny." She whispered to the empty room. Somehow she knew he would get worse before he got better. She sensed that the young man she just met didn't look out for himself like he should. He was too thin.

Out in the hall Johnny looked up and down the long corridor for Tony. He found him leaning over the nurse's desk talking to a pretty, young student nurse. He walked up and stood quietly behind him waiting for a chance to make his presence known. When it didn't seem like either Tony or the blond haired beauty had noticed him he cleared his throat. "Ahem."

Tony abruptly stood and turned to face him. "Oh Gage. You cleared for duty?"

"Yeah, what about Cody?"

"He'll be a guest here at Rampart at least until morning. I…um…Johnny this is April. April this is John Gage."

"Hello Mr. Gage." She smiled up at the handsome man.

Tony looked from April to Johnny and back. "Well let's go." He grabbed Johnny's arm pulling him away from the student nurse. "I better get you out of here before you steal all the nurses away from me." He whispered to Johnny as he ushered him down the hall.

"What?" Johnny glanced back at the pretty nurse.

"Didn't you see the way she looked at you? Man Gage you're ruining my chances for this Saturday night."

"What are you talking about? I didn't say anything. I didn't even ask her out. I don't want to….well maybe, but I don't have any money for dates right now. I wouldn't do that to you. I'm not trying to…" Johnny rambled.

"Relax Johnny, I was just joking man." He continued out the automatic doors where Joe sat on the bumper to the Squad waiting for them. "Let's go partner."

Tony grabbed Johnny's turnout coat and bag of wet clothes and stashed them in one of the side compartments before climbing in behind the wheel. Johnny and Joe walked around to the passenger side and got in.

"What's with the green get up Gage?" Joe snickered as he waited for Johnny to slide to the center of the bench seat in the Squad.

Johnny hit his knee on the radio mounted on the dash. He rubbed the tender spot on his knee and looked at the mike hanging from it's cradle. Reaching up and adjusting it back into place he jumped when it crackled and the dispatcher's voice began calling out instructions to various stations and Squads.

Joe chuckled at Johnny's little boy like awe at the radio. "What's-a-matter Gage. Never seen a radio before?"

"What?" Johnny looked over at him. "No…I mean yes I've seen a radio before. It's just…I've never ridden in a Squad before."

Tony laughed loudly at his last comment. "Well Johnny-Boy it is your first official day on the job. If my hunch is correct you'll get plenty of chances to ride in her."

Johnny looked wide eyed at Tony. "No, I told you before I'm a hose man."

Joe joined his partner in laughter. "Man Gage, if you had seen the wheels turning in Cap's head while you dove for Cody you would know what we're talking about. I'm moving soon and Cap and Scotty are on the lookout for someone to fill my shoes. It will be a hard job, but someone's gotta do it. May as well be you."

"No way." Johnny shook his head, but deep down he thought maybe he would like to ride in this little beauty all the time. Her engine purred as they made their way through traffic. He shook off the thought. He had trained to be a hose man and a hose man he would stay.

Tony turned the Squad and backed slowly into the bay. It was nearly 3 am. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm bushed. I'm gonna grab something to drink and head up to the dorm."

Joe and Johnny followed Tony into the kitchen. Tony and Joe grabbed a soda. Johnny reached for the milk.

"Can I ask you a question Johnny?" Joe looked at Tony and smiled.

"Sure." Johnny felt uneasy. He didn't like answering questions about himself.

"Do you ever drink anything besides milk?"

Johnny's mouth opened then closed. He thought for a minute about his answer. Then a mischievous flicker flashed in his eyes."Milkshakes."

Joe and Tony laughed at that comment.

The three men were just finishing their drinks when Engine One returned from a run. The crew including Jeff Swanson in Johnny's place joined them in the kitchen.

"Hey Johnny I don't think that's department issue?" Scotty said tugging at the front of the green scrub shirt.

Johnny quickly looked down with his mouth open. He'd forgotten he still had on the scrubs. "Uh...I...uh." Everyone laughed at the look on his face.

"You look like the Jolly Green Giant." Jeff poked fun at Johnny.

Before Johnny had time to respond to the comments, Captain Jones came into the kitchen. "So are you clear do work, Gage?"

"Yes sir."

"Well then I suggest you get out of that getup and into proper Fire Department attire. Or at least set up your bunker gear and hit your rack." He walked past Johnny so that he couldn't see the smile on his face. Johnny rushed from the room. Captain Jones joined the others in laughing at his nervousness.

Once everyone finally found their way to their bunks and lights were out Johnny lay in his bunk with his arm over his eyes, but sleep didn't come. His mind kept replaying the explosion that sent Cody into the water. Captain Jones hadn't said anything about it when he came into the kitchen. He must be saving that for morning. Johnny thought about the events of his first shift. First, he got blown off his feet by a water blast, then he abandoned his assignment leaving his assigned partner without proper back up, and finally he watched Cody fly into the water and without thinking about the consequences, he just dove in after him.

Tony and Joe had said he made an impression on Captain Jones, but somehow Johnny didn't think the impression was a good one.

He turned over on his side and tried to find a comfortable position.

All he had managed to do was make a mess of his first shift and probably ended up with pneumonia. He knew he would at least have a bad cold. He could already feel the tightness in his chest. He remembered the way it felt from the times he'd had it growing up. The pediatrician had told his parents that once a person contracts pneumonia they are more susceptible to it. He must have known what he was talking about, because there had not been a year gone by since that he hadn't suffered with it at least once.

Just thinking about it made his throat itch. Burying his face in his pillow, trying not to wake anyone, he coughed harshly. At least the doctor had given him some antibiotics. After today he would be off for two days. Hopefully, since he had already started on the antibiotics he would be well by then. He certainly did not want to add to the list of disappointments Captain Jones most likely already started in his file.

The rest of the night progressed in much the same way. Johnny never did get any more sleep. When the morning tones went off he was the first man out of his bunk.

He hurried down the stairs to the locker room and changed into his uniform. He went out in the back lot and leaned against the brick. Morning was his favorite time of day. He wanted to smell the fresh morning air and needed to feel the air on his face. He was practically asleep on his feet. When he got home this morning he planned on sleeping all day. The door opened and Captain Jones came out, walked over and leaned on the wall next to him sipping coffee. "Sleep well?"

Johnny nodded.

"Didn't sound like it with all that coughing I thought I heard." He sipped more of the hot coffee.

"I'm sorry sir. I didn't mean to keep anyone awake." Johnny said softly ending in another round of coughing.

"Did the doctors at Rampart give you anything for that."

"Yes sir."

"Well I wanted to tell you how impressed I was at your actions yesterday."

"Impressed sir?" Johnny couldn't believe his ears.

"Well from where I stood it appeared that Cody Graves disobeyed my direct orders not to get too close to that fire. I clearly remember telling the two of you to keep the fire from jumping to the other structures, but to keep your distance. He kept moving forward even after you refused to follow him in disobeying that order." He raised his mug to his lips and hesitated. "That took some courage Gage."

"When I saw Cody blown into the water it didn't feel like I had done the right thing. He could have been killed. I let him down." Johnny took a deep breath and continued. "I had to go in after him. It was my fault he didn't have the proper support."

"No John. That's where you're wrong. Cody Graves chose to go against my directions. You chose to try to put a stop to his actions. He got himself thrown into the water, and if it hadn't been for your quick thinking he probably would have drowned and not been revived. You saved his life, and for that I am very proud of you. There will be a notice of commendation in your file and a detailed letter to the Chief."

Johnny couldn't believe his ears, a letter of commendation. "That's not necessary."

"Well John, I disagree. One of my men could have died yesterday if it had not been for you." Captain Jones pushed off the wall and returned to the station. "Oh and Gage, there's hot coffee in here. I know you said you don't drink it, but it was a long night. You might try some before driving that motorcycle home."

When he went back inside Captain Jones nearly ran face to face with Scotty. "Get that kid to drink some coffee or plan on driving him home. He's dead on his feet."

"Yes sir Captain sir." Scotty gave Captain Jones a mock salute. "Right away sir."

Captain Jones laughed at his friend. "Well see that you do." He went to his office to prepare to turn the station over to the next shift.

Scotty turned toward the kitchen. A few minutes later he again headed for the back door with two steaming cups in his hands. "Good mornin', good morning."

Johnny looked up at his new friend and smiled. "Good morning. Uh…what's that?"

"Well Cap'n Jones said either I help you wake up, or I get to drive you home." Scotty came and stood in front of Johnny. "He's worried about you being too sleepy to ride that crotch rocket over there."

Johnny grinned. "Oh?" He waved his hand at the two cups. "So this is your technique?"

"Well, it was his suggestion."

Johnny raised an eyebrow. "His suggestion?"

"Yep, made me salute him and everything." Scotty joked. "Here at least give it a try. You wouldn't want your old buddy to get written up for failure to follow instructions would ya?"

Johnny reached for the cup. "No…wouldn't want that." He sniffed the cup and wrinkled his nose. "Smells strong."

"Let me tell ya Johnny, firehouse coffee has to be strong. Some guys can get it right where it tastes strong but good and some guys can make a decent cup to save their lives. It's all in the measuring. I'll show you someday." Scotty sipped at the hot coffee. "Now this…" He raised his cup. "This is a great cup of coffee."

"It is, huh?" Johnny sniffed again.

"Made by an expert."

"Oh…" Clarity shown on Johnny's face. "So you made it." He smiled and sipped. His eyes lit up and he sipped again.

"I thought you didn't like coffee." Scotty chuckled.

"Never had any tasted like this." The flavor was robust and smooth. He sipped again. "Maybe you could show me sometime. I might could get to liking it."

"Well you could try it with cream and sugar."

"I don't think I would like that, but maybe I'll give it a try." Johnny continued drinking the hot coffee. It warmed him up and made his sore throat feel better.

Scotty joined him leaning against the wall. "So Johnny…you comin' back next shift?"

"Huh?" Johnny looked at Scotty perplexed. "Why wouldn't I?"

"Well you have probably had the worst first shift a boot ever had that I know of. First, you get razzed about your heritage, then you get wham blasted with that high pressure water at the hose drills, then you end up diving into the water to pull out the guy that got you knocked down from an explosion and end up at the hospital…" He paused and bumped shoulders with the younger man, "and it sounds like all that got you was a bad cold. A shift like this would send most new recruits running from the station."

Taking another sip of coffee Johnny thought about the things Scotty had just said.

He pushed off the wall and looked at his mentor. "Well…" His gaze drifted to the station wall and back to look in Scotty's worried face. "You left out the part about the people I've met and the new friendships I hope have started." He finished the coffee. "And the fact that Captain Jones sent someone out for more milk just so I could have some, and that my trainer corrupted me into drinking this stuff." He held up the empty cup and grinned. He yawned.

"Looks to me like you need more of that…stuff." Scotty reached for the empty cup.

Johnny returned to his spot against the wall.

Scotty ducked into the station returning a few minutes later with more coffee for both of them.

Johnny took his cup and sipped. His face scrunched up in a grimace, and he shot a glance at Scotty. "I'll be back. If nothing else so you can teach me to make good coffee. This is terrible."

"Yeah, I'm guessing Cooper made this pot. It is pretty bad." Scotty turned up his cup.

"How do you drink this?" Johnny tried another drink.

"Years of experience my friend…years of experience."

"Well I hope I don't have a lotta years drinking stuff like this." Johnny tried another sip and poured the remaining coffee on the ground. "Cause if this is what I have to look forward to I might have to reconsider my job choice." Both men laughed heartily.

"Come on kid. It's time to finish this shift."

Inside the dayroom everyone gathered around the table for breakfast. Several people patted Johnny on the back as he found his place at the table with a bowl of cereal congratulating him on saving Cody. His face turned red and he ducked his head embarrassed at the attention.

Jim Graves came over and stood beside him until he looked up. "I..uh…I know I said it before." He held out his hand. "But I wanted to tell you how grateful I am you pulled my brother out of the water. You…you probably saved his life."

Johnny stood, looked Jim in the eyes and shook his hand. "I'm glad he's going to be okay."

The shift soon ended. Johnny pulled out of the station parking lot into traffic. About a block away he pulled over and looked back as the vehicles raced out into the morning traffic with sirens blaring. He could feel the burst of air when the parade of vehicles passed him. He shook his head wondering what would happen next in this new adventure and a crooked grin remained on his face until the last engine roared by. He pulled his bike back into traffic.

He would definitely be back next shift.