I know these have been short chapters. Thank you to everyone who has kept up with my story. Please read and review!
Cap pulled into his own driveway, almost unable to conceal his excitement. Mike was having the same problem. Cap put the car in park and he and Mike got out. Chet, who had been assigned as lookout, disappeared into the backyard without being spotted by Karen.
"Well, let's get you out of the car and get you in the house so we can get you settled," Cap said as he and Mike lifted Karen out of the car and into the wheelchair. Mike grabbed the bags this time as Cap wheeled her over to the front porch. He and Mike lifted the wheelchair onto the front porch.
"Cap, I'll leave the bags in the living room, if that's okay."
"That's fine Mike. Karen, Emily was planning on lying out in the sun this afternoon. Want to join her?"
"Sounds good to me. I need to get a tan."
Mike followed behind Cap, smothering a smile at the surprise that Karen was about to receive.
Cap opened the screen door and wheeled Karen out onto the Stanley's spacious deck.
"Surprise!"
Karen's face registered shock as about 25 people came out of hiding and surrounded the surprised trainee.
"Oh my God," was all she could say as a few stray tears fell down her face. Cap and Mike lowered her wheelchair to the grass.
"We wanted to throw you a welcome home bash," Emily Stanley said, hugging the young woman.
"Thank you," she whispered, as Joanne DeSoto, Beth Stoker and Rosita Lopez began putting the food out on the porch.
Emily, Cap and Mike went over to help as Johnny and Roy kneeled next to her wheelchair.
"Are you okay?" Johnny asked one hand on Karen's back.
"Yeah, just overwhelmed I guess," she said, looking at her temporary partners.
"Good, 'cause it's been awfully lonely without you," Roy said smiling.
"Well, I'm glad someone missed me," she said smiling.
"Chow's on!" Joanne yelled, as everyone headed for the deck. Roy and Johnny lifted Karen's wheelchair back onto the deck so she could get something to eat.
Everyone got plates full of food and found somewhere comfortable to enjoy the meal. Just as everyone sat down, Cap stood and clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.
"Can you hold it down for a moment? Thank you. Now, to officially welcome our trainee home, please give your attention to Battalion Chief McKonikee." Cap walked over to Karen and sat down beside her at the table.
"Thank you Captain Stanley. First of all, I just want to say Karen, how happy I am that you survived that accident. The drunk driver has been convicted and will be serving a 20 year sentence." A round applause went up.
"Now, on the real reason I'm here. Karen Summers, front and center."
Karen looked at Cap, who gave her an encouraging smile, then wheeled herself over to the Chief.
"Karen Summers, it is with great pleasure that I am here today to inform you that you are no longer a paramedic trainee at Station 51."
For a brief moment, Karen's face fell. The chief noticed this, but continued.
"Karen Summers you are now permantly assigned to Station 51's A-shift as a Firefighter/Paramedic."
The chief extended his hand to Karen, who promptly shook it before she was surrounded by her shift mates. Everyone else was clapping with excitement.
"I'm so glad you're assigned with us now," Marco said, shaking Karen's hand.
Mike just patted her on the shoulder and softly said, "I'm glad you're staying."
"Now the Phantom has a second pigeon," Chet said as Roy and Johnny hugged her.
"I'm glad you're staying sweetie," Cap said, hugging the young girl as a tear escaped from his eyes.
"Me too Cap. Thank you. I know you were the one who talked to the Chief." Karen's eyes were also filed with tears.
"We all wanted you to stay. I'm glad they decided to assign you to us."
"Me too," was all Karen could say.
"Okay, now, let's eat!" Cap said out loud as everyone laughed.