The Boot
Chapter Nine
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.
Scotty walked over to Johnny's bike and looked at the nail sticking out of the tire. 'Pranks are one thing, but this was downright cruel.' He turned and walked quickly back inside and through the bay to the front of the building. 'I'll offer him a ride to get the tire fixed.' He went all the way to the curb and looked down the street in both directions. The misty rain continued to fall against his face. He squinted through the haze it created and saw Johnny just as the bus pulled up to the stop sloshing water over Johnny's feet. 'It just isn't your day is it Boot?' He watched as Johnny climbed on the bus and it pulled away from the curb. He yelled to Johnny as it passed the station, but he couldn't hear him over the rumble of the worn out diesel engine of the dilapidated bus.
He turned and reentered the station going directly to the Captain's office. "Cap, have you got a minute?"
Captain Jones could tell by his Engineer's tense body language that something was bothering him. "Sure Scotty. What's up?"
"I have something I would like to show you." He turned and Captain Jones followed him through the bay, out into the back lot and up beside Johnny's bike. Scotty pointed to the nail. "I don't remember that being there when he came in the other day. Do you?"
Captain Jones whistled softly. "No, I don't believe I remember that either. Where is Gage?"
Scotty pointed toward the street. "Just got on the bus."
"Why didn't he do anything about the tire?"
"I'm not sure Cap, but my guess is that he was just too angry right now." Scotty scratched his head. "Unless…"
"Unless?" Cap looked at his friend. "Unless what?"
"I don't know Cap. I just remember how broke I was when I finished the academy. Do you think he might not have the money?"
"Well Scotty, there is only one way to find out and that's to ask him." Captain Jones turned to go back inside. "Any idea of who might have done this?"
"I have an idea, but let me do some checking first." Scotty followed his Captain back inside. "Uh Cap could you give me Gage's address?"
"Now Scotty, you know that is privileged information unless he shares it."
"I know Cap, but if I don't know where he lives how will I get his bike back to him after I get the tire fixed?" He smiled broadly.
"Hm…." Captain Jones reached for his wallet and pulled out some cash. "I guess you have a point. This should cover about half of that repair. He handed the money to his friend. "Thanks Scotty. I'll get that address. See if you can get some of the guys to help you load the bike in your truck."
"Yes sir." Scotty turned and disappeared into the locker room looking for volunteers.
Captain Jones came back out of the office and handed Scotty a slip of paper with the address on it. "Geesh Cap this is over off of S. Figueroa St. almost in West Compton. Do you think the bus goes that far?"
"Well I doubt it, but he's a big boy Scotty." Captain Jones chuckled at the protectiveness his Engineer had for his new Boot. "Give me a call later and let me know how it goes."
"Okay Cap." Scotty trotted over to his truck, checked the straps holding the bike upright in the bed, and climbed inside smiling broadly.
Johnny had to struggle to stay awake on the hot rocky bus ride. Every little bit the bus would hit a pothole, the bus driver would grunt, say a few swear words, struggle with the big steering wheel to keep the bus in his lane, and jar Johnny awake again.
The woman with the children had been replaced with an elderly woman. She had struggled up the steps of the bus with her rickety two wheel shopping cart. Johnny couldn't help staring at her as she boarded the bus. Each step she took up brought more of her blue hair into view. Johnny had gotten up and lifted the cart the final few steps for her. She smiled an almost toothless grin at him. The remaining few teeth she had were yellowed, and she thanked him with a voice made raspy from years of smoking.
The maids still chattered in the back of the bus and the creepy man beside the emergency exit still watched everyone making Johnny even more uncomfortable. He settled back in his seat for the long ride. He knew that his ride was coming to an end when they passed W120th Street. The bus would turn off in another direction. He could get another bus if he had enough money, but he didn't so he would have to walk from there.
The bus slowed to a stop. Johnny stood and exited the bus. He stopped on the sidewalk, pulled his collar up against the still misting rain, stretched his neck, ducked his head and started walking. He didn't realize the creepy man had exited the bus as well and followed behind him. Johnny's legs were longer. He made much better time than the man, but he was able to follow a little behind. When Johnny had to stop to cross at the next intersection he would catch up to him.
When Johnny stopped and waited for the light to change he felt someone sidle up beside him. He glanced over and saw the creepy guy from the bus. Then he saw the flash of a knife blade partially hidden behind the oversized coat he wore. Johnny sidestepped and held up his hands. "Whoa there buddy. I don't have anything you want."
"I want your money." The man hissed through gritted teeth.
"Well ya see that's the funny thing. I don't have any money. If I did I would have gotten on another bus out of this rain." He stepped back again and pulled his wallet out showing the bum that it was empty.
"Okay then smart guy. Give me that watch then." He pointed with the blade.
"This watch? Okay, sure you can have this watch. I got it at the corner drugstore for five bucks. I don't think it will get you much. Are you hungry? I do know a guy that has a little diner up the street that will let me do some odd jobs for him like trash detail and dish washing for a meal. I could get you something to eat." Johnny kept talking trying to keep the guy calm. The light changed and he immediately stepped off the curb. "Come on."
The disheveled man followed the tall lanky man down the wet sidewalk.
Johnny kept talking as he walked. "Man I gotta tell ya, I've had one heck of a bad few days." He coughed a few times. "I started my new job. I'm a fireman. I've had buildings explode tossing me around, slammed in the back with a water blast, had to pull another guy out of the water, crawled into a wrecked…" He couldn't bring himself to finish that part of his story. He looked over at the man walking with him and wondered. 'What is your story? Why are you such a mess and living on the streets? And what happened to you to make you so nervous?' He shuddered at the chilled mist blowing against his face. "I even got a nail in my tire. That's why I'm walking here with you now. Oh that diner is just another couple of blocks."
The man stopped in his tracks, nodded his head and started walking again.
"What's your story?" Johnny asked him.
"No story." The man rasped out.
"Everybody has a story." Johnny pressed on.
"I said I ain't got no story." He yelled and leered at Johnny.
"Okay, okay." Johnny held his hands up in surrender and they walked in silence for the last two blocks. When they got to the diner Johnny opened the door to let the guy in. "Hey Jimbo!" He called into the nearly empty diner.
A burly man peeked out from a small slit of a window behind the serving counter. "Hey Johnny! Be out in a sec."
Johnny walked over to the stools that lined the front of the counter and sat down. "Come on over. Take a load off." He motioned to the stool next to his. "Jimbo won't mind. I'll tell him you'll help me with the trash." The man moved cautiously over and sat never taking his eyes off of Johnny.
"I see you brought a friend." Jimbo said as he came out of the kitchen.
Johnny smiled broadly and shrugged. "Well he actually brought me." He shot his eyes over toward the man's hands tucked inside the coat. "I think he could use something warm to eat. Any chance a couple of guys could get some grub in trade for some work?"
"Well I do have a little project for you Johnny-boy. The ice maker is on the fritz again. Do you think you could look at it? I don't know what you did the last time, but whatever it was worked."
"Sure how 'bout I do that now while you take care of my friend here." He slid off the stool and motioned with his hand toward the strange man.
Jimbo was a retired policeman, he could see that Johnny wanted nothing more than to get away from the guy…far away, and he knew exactly how to "take care" of the man if he tried to cause any trouble. "What'll ya have?"
"Whatever he's having." He shifted on the stool and shot his eyes around the room checking out the few customers in the booths that lined the windows.
"Listen buddy, I don't do this for just anyone, but Johnny's a nice kid. He's been down on his luck and needs a helping hand from time to time. I'm gonna feed you, but you better leave that boy alone. You get my drift?" Jimbo leaned over the counter and got directly in the man's face.
"I get ya."
"Okay then, Johnny usually has a triple burger, large fries and a large vanilla shake. That sound okay to you?"
"Sure, whatever."
"Then you can haul the trash and mop the kitchen, deal?" Jimbo held out his hand to shake on it.
"Yeah, deal." The shifty man turned away from Jimbo without returning the handshake.
Jimbo retreated to the kitchen to get some information from Johnny. "Hey kid, is that guy causing you trouble?"
"Nah, he wanted to take my money, but I don't have any." Johnny chuckled. "He looked hungry."
"Well you finish up that machine. I'll make yours to go and you can slip out the back. I'll take care of him. He can haul trash and mop if he doesn't take off first." Jimbo patted Johnny on the back. "But you my friend need to stop picking up strays. I still can't get that cat you brought with you the last time to leave. She's made herself a home in my office." He laughed as he walked over to the grill and threw a few burger patties on. "I tell ya boy you can talk your way through anything."
"Aw Jimbo, I just thought he needed to eat. That's all. Just to eat. I'll do some extra work for ya to make up for it. Okay?" Johnny continued tinkering on the motor to the icemaker. After a few minutes the motor hummed to life, and Johnny stepped back grinning. He had a grease smudge across his cheek and his hands were nearly black. He closed the side panel on the machine and returned the tools to the tool box. "I'm gonna wash up."
"Use the employee bathroom. I don't want you out there with that guy. I've just about got this ready for you anyway. Where's your bike?"
"Got a flat at the station. I'll have to fix it when I get paid." Johnny answered from the washroom.
"You need a lift?"
"Nah it's just a few more blocks anyway. I'll just walk." He came back wiping his hands on some paper towels.
"You missed that smudge on your cheek." Jimbo smiled as he pointed to the grease smear.
Johnny turned back to the washroom and looked in the mirror. "You know Jimbo, if you had a better light in here I might could see myself."
"Yeah well maybe you can fix that next time you're broke and hungry. You're too skinny anyway. Here." He handed Johnny his bag of food. "Now get out of here before that creep notices you're gone."
"Thanks Jimbo." He took the proffered bag and ducked out into the back alley. He took off at a jog to get a good way down the road before the other guy could follow him. Just in case.
By the time he got to his apartment he was out of breath and coughing harshly. He fumbled in his pocket for his keys and made his way inside plopping down on his threadbare sofa without even locking the door back when he came inside. He opened the bag of food and smiled when he saw that he not only had one burger but two, and two orders of fries. 'Well thank you Jimbo! At least now I can eat tomorrow too.' He pulled out one of each and his shake, refolded the bag and took it into the small kitchenette. He opened the apartment sized refrigerator and sat the bag on the empty top shelf, closed it back and returned to the sofa to eat pulling off his jacket and toeing off his wet shoes as he walked across the room.
He reached for the novel that he had been reading, Rich Man, Poor Man by Irwin Shaw about children who tried to break away from the kind of life their parents lived, the social and political aspects of capitalism and the pain of relationships. He flipped it open to the page he had dog eared and started reading as he enjoyed his lunch. He loved to read and since he didn't have a television set that is what he often did to pass the time when he couldn't go up to the mountains.
Scotty pulled up to the dingy old apartment building, parked his truck in the only empty spot he could find and went in search of Johnny's apartment. He climbed the two flights of stairs and knocked on the door. 'Man I sure hope he's home. I don't hear a TV or stereo.' He knocked again. Then he heard the deep raspy coughing from inside. He tried the door knob and it turned. It was unlocked.
He pushed open the door and stepped into the dimly lit room. There was only a sofa, coffee table and old recliner in the room. It had no pictures. He found Johnny on the sofa curled up beneath an afghan, coughing in his sleep. He pushed the door to and went into the kitchen to see if he could find a thermometer and a glass of water or juice and some aspirin. He scooped up the trash from Johnny's lunch as he passed the coffee table and noticed the book. In the kitchen he tossed the trash in the can and went for the refrigerator. Pulling it open he was a little shocked at how empty it was. 'No wonder you're such a skinny drink of water.' He grabbed a carton of pulp free orange juice and poured a glass. Then he fumbled through the cabinets until he found some Bayer aspirin, but no thermometer. He took the juice and aspirin over to the sofa and carefully shook Johnny to wake him.
Johnny woke with a start. Having almost been mugged earlier today he naturally assumed the creepy street urchin had followed him home. He bolted upright and crouched back against the far end of the sofa. "Whoa Johnny," Scotty spoke softly to the frightened man. "I didn't mean to scare ya."
Johnny squinted at the man standing over him. He coughed harshly and tried to speak. He cleared his throat and croaked out a response. "Scotty what are you doing here? How did you get in?"
"I drove here and you left the door open." He stood with his hands on his hips. "What's got you so worked up anyway?"
Johnny rubbed his palms over his eyes trying to clear away the cobwebs of sleep. "I uh…I ran in to a little trouble on the way home. That's all."
"Trouble like a nail in your tire?" Scotty picked up the juice and bottle of Bayer and passed them to Johnny. "I couldn't find a thermometer, but my guess is you have a fever."
"Oh that." Johnny looked at Scotty and took the glass and bottle.
"Yeah that. I have your bike downstairs. Tire's fixed."
Johnny looked up at him with his mouth open. "What? How?"
"Don't worry about it. We need you at work. You can't very well get there with a flat tire and your bike at the station, now can you?" He smiled.
"I'll pay ya back." Johnny ducked his head.
"You'll do no such of a thing. What you will do is take some of that aspirin, get a hot shower and try to get some rest. I expect you to be better when you come back on shift." He turned to leave. "Oh and don't forget to thank Captain Jones. He paid half."
Johnny looked up and once again his mouth was open in shock. "You're kiddin' me right?"
"Nope, so you gonna just sit there or are you gonna come help me get it off my truck?"
"Oh yeah…yeah sure" Johnny got up and followed Scotty out the door and down the stairs to unload his motorcycle. Once they had the bike unloaded and Johnny had it locked up, they returned to his apartment. "Listen Scotty I really appreciate what you guys did and bringing me the bike, but…uh, I have to ask why…why would Cap do that? Why did you?"
"Listen kid when I first started with the department I had a guy that helped me out. I was just as hard up as it looks like you are. He took me under his wing and taught me how to be a good fireman and then engineer. He loaned me money when I needed it, and then wouldn't let me pay him back. You are a part of a brotherhood my friend, a brotherhood that will have your back whenever you need them too."
"Yeah well I guess it's a brotherhood for most guys. So far I feel kind of like the odd man out."
"That'll pass. Besides when Cap finds out who put that nail in your tire heads will roll."
Johnny looked wide eyed at Scotty. "No, I don't want that. It…I probably picked it up on the way to work." He looked down at his hands and picked at his cuticle.
"No you did not. Stationhouse pranks are one thing, but that was not cool. Whoever did that needs to be reprimanded and maybe even washed out of the program."
Johnny stood up. "No, not washed out because of me. If they can't do the job then okay, but I don't want anyone washed out for picking on me."
"Johnny, that man who helped me out when I was a Boot was Captain Jones. He was engineer at the time. He's my boss, but he's my best friend too. He will not stand by and let someone do damage to someone else's personal things. You shouldn't have to put up with that, and I will not stand by and let it happen. Okay?"
"Can I ask you something?" Johnny waited until he saw Scotty's approval. "How did you find me?"
"Uh…I can't reveal my sources." Scotty nodded at Johnny. "Just know that I had to have the address to return your bike. He did what he had to do."
Johnny's eyebrows raised in understanding. "Oh. Well I guess you'll have to tell him thanks for that too."
Scotty chuckled. "I'll tell him. Do you need anything else Johnny? You look a little pale."
"I'm good. Just a cold. I get them all the time. I just need to get some sleep." He yawned.
"Well don't let me stop you, but you really should get a hot shower first and try the bed. It's probably a lot more comfortable." Scotty opened the door.
"Hey Scotty, I mean it man, thanks a lot. I don't think I want to take the bus again. I almost got mugged today." Scotty looked up at his new friend with alarm on his face. "I said almost. I talked my way out of it somehow, but I don't want to run into that guy anytime soon."
"Johnny firefighting is a very physically demanding job." Scotty reached in his pocket and pulled out a slip of paper. "Here's my number. Call me tomorrow if you need to get checked out at Rampart. You don't need to get pneumonia."
"Thanks."
"No problem kid. I'm just looking out for my new trainee." He waved as he left.
Johnny got up and pushed the door closed and locked the deadbolt. One unexpected visitor was enough for one day. He trudged down the short hall to the one bedroom and bath. Stripped out of his clothes and got into a hot shower. After his shower he climbed in the bed and fell fast asleep.
When he awoke the next morning he felt stiff and achy. His cough was worse, and he could barely speak. He didn't want to call Scotty, so he decided to take himself to the hospital and see if the nice lady that he met before was working. He knew she would take care of him.