Tree Houses are for the Birds
These good fellows don't belong to me but I promise when I'm done to pick um up, dust um off and with a kiss on the cheek return the safely home.
"The bond that links your true family is not one of blood." Richard Bach.
Chapter 6
Everyone looked up when they heard the tree house going. Hank knew he yelled too late and Johnny was moving too slow. With a thunderous rumble they watched the tree house crumble and head straight down to Johnny.
Johnny was hurrying down the steps when he heard Cap yelling his name. Looking up he only saw wood coming down towards him as he contemplated jumping the rest of the distance. But he knew it was too far. He probably wouldn't survive the distance. Instead he tried to move over to the other side of the tree and hugged it with all his might. It would have worked if not for his safety line.
Hank watched as wood pieces began to fall, then as they hit Johnny's line. It was like watching in slow motion as the line jerked and yanked so hard that Johnny was torn from the tree, snapping the line. Below, Mike was struggling to hold Johnny's rope until it became completely slack making him fall backwards onto the ground. Mike looked up as he watched the other end of the line rush to the ground, with Johnny attached to it.
Roy's stomach lurched as he heard the THUD of Johnny's body hitting the ground. Less than a second later the rest of the tree house fell on top of him.
Chet, Mike, Hank and Vince all ran to the pile of rubble. They couldn't see Johnny at all. He was now completely buried by the remnants of what stood above them.
Hank immediately knew he need help and he needed it fast. "LA this is Engine 51."
"51"
"LA We have a collapsed structure and a Code I. I need a second assignment and another ambulance." He struggled to keep the panic out of his voice. It was his job to keep control of this chaotic situation, to save Johnny. Instead his heart went out to his co-worker and friend.
Roy looked at the pile of rubble. Oh God Johnny. His mind was racing. He wanted to run over there and rip boards left and right to get him out. But he knew he had a critical patient right in front of him already. His efforts to stabilize Amy were failing and he was in a full resuscitation. He had to stay with her. All his skills were with his patient but all his heart was with his friend and brother.
"51, you have sinus tachycardia now. Transport as soon as possible." Joe Early knew that she was critical and probably wouldn't make it. It sounded like she had bled out from a lacerated liver and spleen but Roy had worked so hard to save her life, defibulating three times and multiple rounds of medications.
Joe, Kelly and Dixie had been at the base station when they heard Roy call Johnny's name followed by the call for addition help with a fireman down. Dixie had voiced it already, she knew it was Johnny. She had seen him make it through a lot of messes but even a cat only had nine lives. She didn't want to start counting how many he had used so far.
Dixie's voice was soft, "Johnny was right."
"About what Dix," Kelly asked.
"You know where they are right?" She looked at him to see if he recognized the address from the LA dispatcher.
"No, where are they?"
"Kel, they got called to the same house. The couple that has been fighting all day. The ones that have landed Johnny and Roy in here over and over today."
Kelly shook his head, his face etched with worry.
"I heard Johnny say that this couple would…." Her voice trailed off.
"Would what Dix?" Joe asked.
"I heard him mumble that the couple would kill him before the day was over," her voice broke and tears welled up in her eyes.
Joe put his arm around her, "Dix, you know Johnny. He will be fighting and complaining in no time. Let's just wait and see what's going on ok?"
Joe moved back to the radio, "51, are you ready for transport?"
"Affirmative Rampart, squad 86 is bringing her in for me."
They could hear the despair in his voice. They also knew that Roy would stay there with Johnny if at all possible.
"51. Any word on Johnny yet?" Dixie had to ask, she couldn't stand it any longer. They hadn't heard another word since the tree house had collapsed.
Roy's tired voice came on the phone, "Negative Rampart, we are still trying to extricate him at this time."
"10-4, 51 we are on standby."
Roy went back to moving boards. There were two engine crews now working to get Johnny out, to move the hundred small boards. They were most concerned about the large chunks of decking and roof that had not broken completely apart. If they moved anything too fast it could fall like a house of cards on Johnny. Roy sighed; the fall alone could have killed him.
"Cap! I can see his legs." It was Chet. The excitement in his voice was like electricity to the tired crew.
Are we in time partner? Please Johnny, hold on, were coming.
Using the porta power to hold up a couple of larger pieces off of Johnny they created a crawl space for Roy to climb into. He moved cautiously, careful to not bump anything. Johnny was lying on his side, kinda curled up a bit with his back to Roy. There was no movement as he reached over to take his wrist, finding a pulse. Thank God, you're still alive. Should have known you were too hard headed to let this take you out.
"He's alive," he called out to his waiting friends. Chet sat just outside the hole that Roy had crawled into. He had the biophone and boxes next to him so he could hand Roy anything he needed. Roy's hands moved carefully over Johnny's head, there was a large contusion to the left side he was laying on. No outward bleeding could be seen. Damn, fluid in his ears. His neck seemed ok. There were broken ribs on both sides.
Johnny's world was dark but the pain was growing in his body and head. He was trying to figure out where he was, what had happened. Tree. I was leaving the tree. Rope pulled me down. Did I fall? It was too far to jump. Too far to fall. He tried to will his mind to move but body parts weren't working right. Too much pain, God my head is pounding. Roy? His eyes were still closed but he knew he wasn't alone. Roy, help me get out of here. Need to wake up. Did Roy fall too? No, he was already down. Yes. Roy was safe. Johnny relaxed in his mind and opened his eyes. Consciousness brought searing white pain through his skull and chest. Each breath was hard. "Roy?"
"Yea Johnny, I'm right here. Don't move at all. You fell." Roy was in full paramedic mode over his friend.
"Where am I?" Johnny's voice was soft, raspy, and short of breath. Roy realized that Johnny couldn't see him since he was behind him. He placed his hand on his shoulder and squeezed it.
"It's ok Junior. I've got ya." Roy wanted to comfort him, to take away his pain and fear. But Johnny's next words broke Roy's heart.
"I can't feel my legs Roy."
Roy watched him fall back into unconsciousness. He looked out to see if Chet had heard. Chet's face revealed exhaustion, worry and anticipation but no sign that he heard those devastating words. Roy thought of all the crew this would be hardest on Chet. Despite all the harassing they did on each other, the pranks by the phantom and the endless arguing, Chet and Johnny were close. This would be devastating to them all.
"Chet, BP is 90/60, pulse 120, respirations 22." Chet wrote down the vitals for Roy.
"Chet I need a backboard and C-collar." Marco was already on the way to get them before Chet could even turn around. Roy then applied the collar and carefully rolled Johnny onto the backboard and secured him. With Chet's help he guided him out of the rubble.
"Rampart, this is squad 51. Do you read?"
"Go ahead 51." They had been waiting anxiously for any news. Dixie held her breath.
Roy continued, "Doc, we have Johnny extricated. He has a large contusion on the left side of his head; there is fluid in both ears. Pupils are equal but sluggish. He's pale and diaphoretic." He looked up as he continued his report knowing that the A-shift family was hanging on every word. "There are broken ribs bilaterally with a large bruise and tenderness at the right abdomen. Abdomen is tense and suspect internal bleeding. He was initially responsive but is now comatose. Vitals are now 60/40, pulse is 140, and respirations are 14. His breathing is shallow and labored," Roy paused. He dreaded them hearing this.
"Rampart please be advised that he has no feeling in his legs." He didn't turn around at the audible gasps and rustling of feet behind him. "I have taken spinal precautions."
Kelly shook his head at the report. Johnny had multiple serious injuries.
"51, begin IV LR wide open. Keep him restrained in spinal precautions and place him in anti shock trousers. Repeat the vital signs after trousers are on. Send me a strip as soon as you can. Transport him as soon as possible." Kelly knew that time was against them now and he would pace the floor until Johnny reached the ER doors.
Hank watched as Roy started the IV and Mike helped him put on the anti shock suit. Roy called in the repeat vital signs knowing they were still critical. His response to the anti shock suit was not very good. Hank's heart had fallen when Roy said he couldn't feel his legs. He always felt a deep pain and ownership for any injuries his men received while on the job. His mind would spend countless hours trying to figure out what went wrong and what he should have done different.
Johnny regained consciousness briefly on the trip to the hospital.
"Thanks partner," he whispered, very short of breath.
Roy took his hand and whispered back, "That's what partners do." He had to hold back the rising tears.
He watched Johnny give a little smile then he became unconscious again. Watching him he realized how still Johnny had become. Placing his hand on Johnny's chest he felt for breaths. There were none.
"Rampart, this is squad 51. Patient is now in respiratory arrest. Heart rate is down to 50." Roy couldn't believe that he was watching Johnny die right in front of him.
"Insert esophageal airway now and give Atropine 1 vial push stat."
Come on Johnny, hang in there, we're almost there. Don't die on me.
Roy inserted the airway and the ambulance attendant began giving him ventilations. After injecting the medication he watched Johnny's heart rate improve to 90. God he's too pale.
Roy pleaded with him, "Johnny don't you die on me. Please hang on."
