The Boot
Chapter Sixteen
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 wove through traffic without really thinking about the cars he passed. He breezed by a city bus like it was standing still, skirted around a Chevelle and slid right back in front of it before zipping through a yellow light. His mind was only on the events of the past few days. Starting his first assignment at a fire station should have been filled with excitement and pride in his accomplishments. Instead, because of the luck of the draw, he had been assigned to the same station with John Gage. Now his first few days as a new fireman were marred with memories of how Gage had shown him up in his abilities again and again; this time right in front of his brother. A horn blew at him as he flew around a corner nearly clipping an oncoming car. 'Oh stow it! I'm not gonna hit ya.' He swerved, never slowing down.
Before he even realized it he found himself turning into the parking lot at Rampart. Knowing Captain Jones had told him Dr. Early wanted to see him again and that Dr. Early worked in the Emergency room, Cody parked in the visitor lot just outside the automatic doors that the ambulance had taken him through the other day when he nearly drowned. 'So what if Gage had been the one to pull me out, if he had just worked with me that day we could have earned the Cap's respect when we helped put the fire out. But oh no, not Gage, he had to follow instructions to the letter. How was I supposed to know the place would explode?' Cody grumbled in his own mind.
He pushed the car door open with a little more force than necessary and stopped. He stared at his hand gripping the door handle. 'What am I doing? Why did I even come here? Everyone wants to blame me for Gage being sick now?' He rubbed his chest and swallowed feeling the rawness in his throat. 'I don't really feel well, but isn't that from drinking too much alone this afternoon?Cody still couldn't get over the fact that no one had come to watch the game with him. 'If Gage hadn't been such a stickler for Cap's orders maybe neither one of us would be here right now and maybe I wouldn't have had to drink alone.' Sighing Cody slid out from behind the wheel and slammed the car door. 'May as well get this over with.' He walked across the parking lot and into the automatic doors.
Jim Graves pulled his car into the parking lot to McGill's Bar and Grill. Usually he came here with anticipation of a good time with his buddies, but not today. Today he felt like a man about to face a firing line. The thought of facing his crew mates and having to defend his kid brother made the hairs stand up on the back of his neck, and defend his brother he would. He had to. No one else would stand up for him even if he hadn't been the one to sink that nail into Johnny's tire.
He reached out and grasped the door handle. Staring at his hand as it gripped the release he couldn't help but remember the events of the past few days, the excitement and pride he felt when Cody finished at the academy and got assigned to his station. He knew he wouldn't always be able to protect his brother, but at least for now he could keep an eye on him. 'You didn't do such a good job at that though did you Jim? Your brother had not been at the station for an entire shift before he nearly drowned.' He closed his eyes and his head leaned down until his chin rested against his chest. 'Why didn't you listen to Cap's orders Cody? Your disregard for instructions only makes people believe you would do something crazy like that to Gage's tire. Not to mention the fact that you nearly died. I should have asked Cap to put you on my hose. I should have talked to you more about what to do, how to follow Cap's instructions completely. I should have explained to you more about the things that are acceptable pranks on a boot, but no I egged you on with your vendetta against Gage. I encouraged the Indian jokes. I laughed along with you when you put that stuff in his locker. I'm just as guilty as you are.'
He pushed the door open and slid out from behind the wheel. Walking across the parking lot toward the door, Jim decided that if Cody was suspended or washed out, he too would leave the department. After all he was just as much to blame for the events of the last few days as Cody. His shoulders slumped and a deep sadness at that thought coursed through him. Firefighting was all he knew. It was all he'd ever wanted to do, ever since he was old enough to understand what it meant to run into buildings and snuff out the flames that devoured everything in its path; ever since his dad and grandfather had started telling Cody and he stories about the many fires they fought. 'May as well get this over with.' He walked across the parking lot and into the heavy wooden door.
Inside McGill's, Scotty leaned against the pool table chatting with a friend who was in the process of stomping another friend at Eight Ball. "I gotta tell ya Hank, this kid is good, real good. I haven't seen anyone this good come out of the academy in a long time."
Engineer Hank Stanley lined up his next shot. He was a tall man of around 6'4" so he had to bend pretty low to get into position. "Well Scotty, sounds to me like you'll have to take him under your wing and show him the ropes including how to let the stupid firehouse pranks roll off his shoulders. I think a few good pranks keep the tension down. As long as they aren't against me that is." Hank chuckled.
"Yeah, I agree with ya, man. Keep me outta the line of fire and I can enjoy a good prank. You want another beer?"
"Sure, sounds good." Hank sunk another ball, stood up tall and smirked at his opponent.
Scotty ambled over to the bar and placed his order. After the bartender poured two mugs, Scotty tossed him the money and moved back to the spot where he had been leaning against the pool table. He passed Hank his beer.
"Thanks Scotty." Hank smiled as he took a long drink. "Winning at pool can sure make a guy thirsty."
"I hear ya." Scotty replied. "So, I heard a rumor."
"What's that?" Hank raised an eyebrow in question.
"I heard you were thinking about taking the Captain's exam. Is that true?"
"Me?" Hank tilted his head and eyed Scotty. "Who ever gave you that idea? I love driving my rig. Why would a guy like me want all that additional responsibility anyway? I'd never make it as a paper pusher. I hate helping Cap fill out the logs now. I can't imagine doing all that other paperwork. Not to mention dealing with all the problems from the men. Nope not me, I'm not like your friend Ben Jones, waxing my baby is plenty of responsibility for me. What about you?"
"No way man, I'm a lifer. I think I'll just drive that rig until I retire." Scotty slapped Hank on the back. The two friends raised their mugs and finished their drinks. "I heard the results came in for the last exam. Some lineman named Stoker got number one. You know him?"
"Never heard of him. Well I hate to break up a good time, but I promised Emily I would swing by her apartment and help her move her sofa. She's redecorating again." Hank unscrewed his Meucci pool cue and carefully slid the two halves into the carrying case.
"When are you going to make an honest woman out of her?" Scotty teased.
"Soon as I get the ring out of layaway." Hank smiled.
"You're kidding…right?"
"Nope, she's the best thing that ever happened to me besides passing the Engineer's exam." He beamed.
"Congratulations." Scotty extended his hand. Hank grasped it and they shook. "I hope she says yes."
"Oh she will, she will." Hank chuckled again as he headed toward the door. "See ya round."
"See ya." Scotty went to re-join his shift mates.
Hank sidestepped and passed Jim as he came into the dimly lit bar. Jim stopped just inside and looked around for his friends. The drastic change in lighting caused him to squint. It took a few seconds before his eyes adjusted.
Dixie McCall checked the IV one last time, adjusted the oxygen mask and tucked the blanket snuggly around Johnny. His glassy brown eyes blinked open and watched her move around the bed making adjustments. "I have to get back downstairs, but I'll check on you again before I get off shift." He closed his eyes and drifted. She turned the bright overhead light off and flipped the switch to turn on the softer light on top of the fixture that hung from the wall over the bed. It projected a soft glow up toward the ceiling. "You rest easy now." Pausing at the door way to take one last look she pulled the door closed and walked over to the floor nurse. "Call me if there is any significant change."
"Yes Ms. McCall."
Dixie waved and hurried to the elevator. She needed to get back downstairs before her Emergency room fell apart, because everyone at Rampart knew that Dixie McCall kept the ER running smoothly. Sure Dr. Kelly Brackett was the head of the department, but Nurse McCall was the glue that kept everything together. She started to take the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator, but the ding announcing the arrival of the car sounded so she rode down in it. As soon as the elevator door opened Dr. Brackett called out to her. "Dixie, I need you with me in five." He disappeared into the treatment room before she could respond. Joe Early grinned at her from the nurse's desk where he was in the process of handing a chart over to the duty nurse. Dixie winked at him in response.
"Sure Kel, I'll just skip my coffee break and help you." She mumbled to herself, shrugged and hurried down the corridor and slipped into treatment room five to see what kind of trauma needed her expert care.
Dr. Joe Early saw the young man he'd asked to see as he walked across the lobby to stand beside his Captain. 'I think I have just enough time for a quick cup of coffee.' He ducked behind the nurse's desk and grabbed the half full pot. 'Just give me a minute…one minute to get at least three sips.' He chuckled to himself. 'That's all I ever get anyway.'
Cody dodged a stretcher and spotted his Captain in the waiting area. "Cap, I didn't expect you to still be here." He said as he stretched out a hand to his superior.
"Hello Cody, I wanted to stick around and see how you are." Captain Jones stood up and shook hands with his crew man.
Cody chose that moment to cough rather harshly. He cleared his throat and tried to speak. "I…ahem….I'm okay Cap."
"You don't sound very okay, son."
"It' just a cough. I don't even know where it came from. I didn't have it earlier today." Cody rubbed his chest. "Must be getting a cold or something."
"Or something." Cap repeated. "Let me tell the receptionist that you're here to see Dr. Early." He turned and walked over to the pretty young nurse behind the check in desk.
Cody turned and looked around the lobby. There were several people waiting. Suddenly feeling very tired he sat in one of the hard plastic chairs. Captain Jones joined him and slid into the next chair. "They said it would be a few minutes while they locate him."
Dr. Early peered around the corner, down the long corridor. He met the gaze of the nurse at the desk. She smiled to him and nodded toward Cody. He raised his cup in answer to her look. She smiled and nodded her understanding. Dr. Early disappeared from view to get one more sip of hot coffee before abandoning his cup on the counter. 'Maybe it will still be warm when I get back.'
"Uh…Cap, I…could I talk to you about something?" Cody shifted nervously in his chair.
"Sure Cody, what's going on?"
"I know I've been…" Cody started.
"Well if it isn't another of our new dedicated public servants." Joe Early walked up behind the two men. Captain Jones stood to greet the doctor. Cody's shoulders sagged and he slid a little further down in the chair. "Let's get you into a room and see how things are." Dr. Early coaxed the young man. Cody stood slowly. He hesitated for a few seconds as he made eye contact with Captain Jones. Then he turned and followed Dr. Early down the hall.