The Boot

Chapter Twelve

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.

Cody sat on the couch in the apartment he shared with his older brother until he got through with his probationary period with the fire department. He had his feet propped up on the solid oak coffee table. An empty pizza box lay open beside him on the leather couch. Several beer cans were toppled on the floor nearby. He stared at the ball game on the color TV screen with little interest in the outcome.

He had called several of the guys from the station to come over and watch the game, have a few drinks, and pizza, but no one had accepted; he didn't know why. The guys always came over when he or Jim invited them. Even Jim had made excuses about having to go grocery shopping.

Now half way to intoxication, he sat alone sulking.

Jim reached for the door handle and found it locked. He shifted the grocery bags in his arms to one side and dug in his pocket for the keys. "Cody!" He called through the locked door. "Hey man, I could use a hand here." He fumbled with the keys trying to find the right one without dropping one of the two over stuffed bags. Finally able to get the key in the lock he turned the knob and pushed the door open with his shoulder to find his brother sitting alone inside. He angrily walked past his brother kicking the door closed. "Didn't you hear me?"

Cody didn't respond. He just sat there and stared at the TV screen.

"CODY!" Jim yelled at him. "Snap out of it man, and pick up that trash. This is my place. I worked hard to get in this complex, and furnish it with nice things, and I won't have you messin' things up." He put the grocery bags on the kitchen counter and went back into the living room. He stopped in the doorway and looked over at his brother. "What's with you anyway?"

"Nothing." He said followed by a deep sigh.

Jim was not happy with what he suspected Cody had done. He'd talked to his buddy Dale about it. He hadn't told him that Cody had actually put the nail in Gage's tire, but he had agreed that it was a strong possibility.

Cody had it in for Gage ever since the academy. The thing was Jim couldn't figure out why. He seemed to be an okay guy, a little quiet maybe, but okay.

Gage seemed to handle the job with skill. He'd done well at the academy even graduating at the head of his class. He'd proved his ability on several training drills. The man could handle a hose and was willing to help out with whatever duties Cap assigned him. He'd even saved Cody's life when they were blown into the water, and he'd crawled into that car not knowing what he would find. So why did Cody have such a problem with him?

Jim was loyal to his brother. Cody was family, but he was loyal to his brothers in the fire department too.

He couldn't help the worry he now felt for his brother's career.

If Captain Jones found out that Cody had put that nail in Gage's tire, it could end his firefighting career.

If Gage found out Cody had done it he could press vandalism charges giving his brother a criminal record.

Either of the two scenarios wasn't good, and both would ruin his future for years to come, maybe even send him down a destructive path that would only lead to more trouble. Jim couldn't let that happen. He wouldn't stand by and watch his brother self destruct.

"Cody, can I ask you a question?" Jim sat down in the chair beside the couch and leaned his elbows on his knees and crossed his arms. He didn't look at his brother. Instead he stared at his shoes. He hated the thoughts that had been running through his mind since yesterday.

"What?" Cody snapped in response. "What do you want, Jim?"

Jim took a slow deep breath and blew it out before asking. "That nail in Gage's tire…did you…" He couldn't bring himself to finish asking the question.

Cody just turned to his brother and glared at him. "So is that what all this is about?" He waved his hand at the empty room. "Does everyone think I had something to do with that?"

Jim couldn't meet his brother's eyes. He looked away and leaned back in the chair. "I don't know." He answered in all honesty. He had been upset with his suspicions. He knew that was why he hadn't wanted to watch the game with Cody, but is that why no one else accepted?

Cody stood up and glared at Jim some more. "I'm your brother. Whose side are you on anyway, that Indian?"

"That Indian saved my brother's life." Jim finally looked at Cody. His brother's words had stung, but he found himself defending Johnny Gage anyway.

"That Indian cheated me out of the top spot in our class at the academy."

"Cody, you weren't anywhere near the top of your class. Besides, now you're in the department. Things are different. We stick together; watch out for each other's backs. We have to trust our fire department brothers every shift with our lives, and they trust us with theirs. This is not a game. We don't attack our own."

"I never said it was a game." Cody put his hands on his hips and swayed from too many beers. "Firemen have been playing pranks on each other for years. It keeps things from getting too serious around the station. Grandpa did it, Dad did it, and now I'm just having some fun doing it myself."

"If you did put the nail in the tire, you had better be prepared to wash out. Captain Jones will not put up with that kind of attack on another member of his crew. I don't think the department will either; not to mention the crew. If you did it, Cody you may have just wasted your training." Jim looked away from his brother again. "And on top of that you had better hope that Gage doesn't press charges."

"There's no proof I had anything to do with it." Cody turned and grabbed the empty pizza box and scooped up the empty beer cans. "Besides, who said I did it anyway."

"Did you?" Jim asked sincerely.

"I hate that guy!" Cody blasted out. "I really hate him."

"Why?"

Cody just stood there with the empty box and arm full of cans staring at his brother with his eyes wide and his mouth open. Then in a sudden move, he dropped the trash and moved over toward the door. "You don't have to worry about me brother. I'll get out of your hair. Maybe Johnny Gage wants to move in." He reached for the door knob.

Jim jumped up from his seat and grabbed his brother's arm. "Don't. You're in no condition to drive."

Cody tensed at his brother's touch. "Get your hand off me." He said through gritted teeth. He tried pulling his arm away from Jim and nearly stumbled into the wall. "I'm getting' outta here." He slurred.

"Sorry brother, I can't let you go out driving after all that beer. If they don't wash you out of the department over this stunt, a driving while intoxicated charge will." He tightened his grip. "Come on, Cody, why don't you take a shower and try to take a nap? I'll have dinner ready when you wake up."

Cody's tension eased a little and he pulled his arm from his brother's firm grip. "Okay, but if you don't stick by me, I'm out of here."

Jim nodded his understanding. He would agree to anything at that moment just to keep his brother out of any more trouble.

Cody staggered down the hall to his bedroom for that shower and nap.

Jim picked up the discarded pizza box and cans and took them into the kitchen. He decided that he would try to talk to Johnny before their next shift. He still was not completely certain that Cody had anything to do with the nail, but the idea that he may have brought out a very protective nature in Jim. After all, Cody was his little brother. Maybe he could talk Johnny out of turning Cody in. Maybe if he offered to pay for the repairs or replace the tire, he wouldn't press charges.

When he heard the shower turn on he picked up the phone to make a few calls. Surely someone had a contact phone number for John Gage. He tried Jeff first, since he had graduated the academy along with Johnny and Cody. He tried calling Cooper and Gotchalk, but either they didn't answer or didn't have his number. He even called Bill, he rode engine one with Johnny, but he didn't answer either. Deciding he didn't have many other options, he tried calling Dale Scott. Scotty's number just rang and rang. He replaced the receiver on the phone jack and started unpacking the groceries.

Johnny drifted back to sleep while he, Dale and Captain Jones waited to speak with the doctor. He couldn't help it. He fought it, but his eyelids just grew heavier and heavier until they slid closed and stayed that way. His breathing became deeper. His hand fell limp to his side.

"Man he's really out of it." Scotty shot a concerned look at his Captain. "Maybe they should keep him here."

"We'll see what the doctor says." Captain Jones had returned to the spot on the far wall and leaned his back against the wall. He had been a fire captain long enough to spend countless hours waiting for word from doctors at hospitals only to find out that his men were either injured more seriously than he had thought or were released to go home when he least expected it. He gave up trying to figure out the doctor's decisions long ago.

Dixie came back into the room with a cup of orange juice. She smiled and placed it on the counter just below the supply cabinet. She turned to Johnny and reached for his wrist checking his heart rate. He didn't even stir. She noticed the concerned look on Scotty's face. "Sleep is the best thing for him right now."

Dale nodded his understanding and moved to the wall beside his Captain.

Dixie adjusted the blanket and slid Johnny's arm beneath it tucking him in. She brushed the hair from his forehead and then she turned and left the room again.

Captain Jones chuckled. "I knew there was something about that boy."

"What do you mean, Cap?"

"Open your eyes Scotty. Don't you see how Ms. McCall dotes on him? She doesn't even know him. The other day when he dove in after Cody was the first time she ever laid eyes on him, and look at the way she gives him that extra care."

"She's a nurse, Cap. It's her job." Scotty scratched his head. He didn't really see that the nurse had done anything more than normal, but then he hadn't spent much time in the hospital either.

Before Captain Jones could respond the door opened once again, this time Dr. Early came in and smiled at the two men. "Well hello Captain Jones, Dale. It's nice to see our young friend won't be leaving here alone."

"Hi Doc. So you are letting him out of here?" Scotty spoke before Captain Jones could.

Captain Jones cleared his throat, pushed off the wall and assumed his leadership role. "Dr. Early." He extended his hand to Joe. "Nice to see you again. I wish it had been on a more casual basis, but good no less."

Dr. Early returned the hand shake and smiled. "Well let's see if we can get Johnny up and ready to go." He gently shook Johnny's shoulder. "John…Johnny can you wake up for me?"

Johnny's eyes blinked a few times before he actually was able to completely open them. Then he closed them again trying to clear the fog left behind by sleep mixed with the medications he'd been given. When he once again opened them he found himself peering up into Dr. Joe Early's kind eyes, and he yawned. "Sorry Doc." He was relieved that it was Dr. Early instead of that dark haired doctor, he made Johnny very uncomfortable.

"Don't worry about it Johnny. Rest is what I want you to do." Joe looked at Captain Jones. "I think he'll miss his next shift. Then we'll check his lungs again."

"No problem Doc. I suspected that already."

Johnny groaned. He couldn't afford to miss a shift. "I'm not that sick, am I? I can work." He sat up taller and pushed the blankets down to his lap trying to look healthier than he felt.

"Well John, I think Dr. Early knows better than we do about that. Besides, I want to talk to the crew about what happened the other day, and I would prefer that you not be there since it was your tire the nail was in. I will give you the shift off with pay, so don't worry about missing one shift."

Johnny sat quietly for a minute considering what Captain Jones said. "Cap, I don't know how that nail got in my tire. I probably just picked it up on the way in to the station."

Captain Jones nodded his head. "Dale and I were at the door when you rode in. We would have noticed the nail." He knew what Johnny was trying to do. Firemen always looked out for their brothers. No good fireman would ever point the finger at one of his brothers unless their actions might cause harm to another man. Johnny was shaping up to be a fine addition to that brotherhood of firemen.

Johnny sighed and tried again. "It had to be an accident. I must have backed over it by the dumpster. Really Cap, I'm sure no one would put it there like that."

Captain Jones resolved himself to let it go for the moment. He would still meet with the crew even if Johnny didn't want to admit that someone had put the nail in his tire. Someone had and he would not stand by and watch that kind of behavior among his crew. "Okay, just don't worry about it right now. You're off next shift, and that's an order."

"Yes Sir."

Dixie came back in the room, walked over to the counter and picked up the juice. "Here you go sweetie. Drink this."

Johnny took the juice and enjoyed the coolness on his throat. "Thanks."

"Dixie, I think that IV is ready to come out now. Did you get the new antibiotic prescription filled?"

"Yes Doctor." She smiled. "And the cough suppressant."

"Good. Well gentlemen, I have other patients to see. Johnny I'll see you in a couple of days, Okay?" He patted Johnny's shoulder.

"Okay."

The sports announcer rattled on about the player's stats and the crowd cheered, but the men sitting around the television didn't seem interested in the game at all.

"Look, we don't have any proof that the nail was put there intentionally." Tony got up from his easy chair and paced around his living room. A half empty bottle of beer hung from between his two fingers making sloshing noises as he walked. "I mean yeah, Cody has been setting up those ridiculous pranks with the bow and arrow and all, but I don't think he would do something like ruin a guy's tire. He's been around firemen all his life. Surely he understands where to draw the line."

"He's had it in for Gage from the beginning of our training." Jeff piped in. He had been immediately accepted among his new crewmates. He too had been around firemen his entire life. He knew most of these guys before ever joining the department. "He had a lot of the guys at the academy joining in on the stuff he did to Johnny."

"Well it isn't unusual for the top of the class to get picked on." Gotchalk smiled. "I mean I got a water bomb in the face at least once a day during training." He had been the top of his class at the academy.

"I remember, you griped about it all the time." Bill chuckled.

"You would have too. I swear I never had to actually get in the shower back then. I was always getting sprayed off."

"Gross! No wonder you always smelled so bad." Bill joked with his long time friend. "Hey Tony, does your wife have any more of that dip. It was really good." He snagged the last potato chip and scooped up the rest of the red tangy dip careful not to drop the green pepper and tomato chunk back into the bowl. He leaned over and put the whole chip into his mouth at once, dripping red liquid down his chin which he wiped on the back of his hand…which he wiped on his jeans.

"Talk about gross!" Tony laughed. "I'll go check."

"Johnny never complained." Jeff said quietly. Tony stopped in his tracks. The chips would have to wait. "He just took it and kept on going. He was kind of a loner, never seemed to have anyone to talk to. He's a nice guy. I went bowling with him once. We talked. He's funny and really good at bowling. He should be on the station's bowling team."

"He's that good? I'll talk to him about that. It's high time we won a few games against 36's." Tony smiled. "But seriously guys, I think something needs to be done about Cody. I think Johnny could make a great addition to the rescue squad, if Cap allows it. Joe's leaving soon, and I think I could work well with Johnny."

"You know when we graduated the academy everyone's family and friends were there." Jeff continued.

"Yeah, you should have been there when we graduated. One of the guys, Marco Lopez, had so much family we had to add folding chairs so everyone else could sit down too." Gotchalk nodded his amazement. "Guy must have the biggest family in California."

"I remember him. He's a good lineman. He has a buddy on the engine with him that really enjoys playing pranks on people. I think his name is Chet, but people call him the Phantom. He's a funny sort of guy, kind of mischievous. But man those two fighting a fire together is magical. If I was fire and saw them coming I think I would just give up and blow myself out." Everyone laughed.

Jeff picked up where he left off. "Johnny didn't have anyone there."

"You're kidding, right?" Tony spoke what they were all thinking.

"Nope, no one." Jeff sighed. "I told you he was a kind of a loner."

Bill stood up and walked over to the telephone. "I'll give Jim a call. Maybe he can talk to Cody before things go too far with Captain Jones. If he really did put that nail in Gage's tire, and he confesses, maybe he'll just get a slap on the wrist and a lot of latrine duty. If he didn't then he needs to make sure the Cap knows that."

"Ms. McCall, there's a…" The pretty young nurse said as she poked her head in the treatment room door. She stopped mid sentence when her eyes fell on the deep sensuous brown eyes that looked up at her from the treatment bed. The fever flushed high cheek bones accented the man's gorgeous face and that dark hair, that made her want to run her fingers through it, framed it perfectly. Her heart melted instantly when a crooked smile appeared on his face. A smile spread across her tanned complexion and a sparkle shown in her eyes.

"Yes Cindy." Dixie saw the instant attraction her nurse had for her patient. Not to mention the smile he had for her in return.

Captain Jones snickered into his hand, and Scotty looked at him wondering what was so funny.

"Oh sorry, there is a man out here flashing a badge and asking questions about a patient." She continued looking at Johnny as she spoke very slowly...almost breathlessly.

Dixie grew exasperated with her nurse. She had to pry the information from the young woman who was obviously greatly distracted by the young man on the table. "Who is he looking for Cindy?"

Cindy could hear the impatience in her boss' tone and snapped back to her job. "Oh sorry, he's asking about someone named John Gage."

A gasp could be heard from the patient. Both Captain Jones and Scotty pushed off the wall and stood stunned at the name of the patient. Dixie looked back to Johnny for some sign of why a police officer would be looking for him.

Johnny's shocked expression told her that he didn't know.