Gage got dressed. He left the hospital in shock. "There has to be some sort of explanation Johnny" De Soto was just as shocked.
"I don't know Roy. I have this nagging feeling that I was supposed to remember something really important...you know? I...I...I just can't remember what it was. This is killing me Roy. I've never been so embarrassed. You know I think Brackett thinks I'm guilty. He doesn't believe me, huh...that's for sure" Gage turned and gazed out the passenger window.
"He's just doing his job Johnny."
"Well I hope he does his job and checks out Healy like he checked me" snorted Gage.
Meanwhile back at Rampart, in Brackett's office, Dr Early and Dr Brackett decided to go over the tape for the OD victim. "I don't know Kel, this is Johnny we're talking about. I just can't see it" stated Dr Early.
"Me either, Joe that's why I want to listen to the tape. Maybe it will help..." said Brackett as he placed the tape in the player.
They listened intently, "Stop it there Kel" asked Early. "Go back a few seconds and turn it up"
They listened, "10-4 Rampart 10 megs diazepam...Rampart pupils are still dilated and unresponsive...is it all in..yeah..Rampart we have administered the diazepam, victim is becoming less agitated."
"Did you hear it, in the middle, Johnny was asking if the diazepam had been injected" said Dr Early. "Plus Kel he had been clearly checking the patients pupils, Healy has to be the one who did the injection."
"Why lie about it? I don't understand what's going on here." Dr Brackett was perplexed.
"I don't know Kel, but you better be sure of everything, Johnny's career depends on it" Dr Early stated sincerely.
"You're right Joe; Johnny was clearly shocked when we found that needle mark..." Dr Brackett's mouth twitched "and I treated him so...clinically...How could I have treated him that way?" Dr Brackett shook his head.
"It's one of your traits Kel, you jump right in and sometimes you forget who you're dealing with" simply stated Dr Early.
"Kel, Patrick Healy is here for those tests" Dixie stated firmly, she was still reeling after being told by Dr Early that a needle mark had been found on Gage and that he would probably be suspended pending an investigation.
When the squad backed into the bay area, all was quiet at the station. Gage went to his locker and grabbed some aspirin. He dry swallowed two tablets. "I just don't get it Roy. How can I have a needle mark and not know anything about it. This is crazy" Gage sat in his locker and put his head in his hands.
"Your shoulder and underarm must have been sore. When did you first notice it?" asked De Soto sitting on the bench facing Gage.
Gage thought "It was just after I hit my head...when I...you know had that minor accident"
"Tell me what exactly happened?"
"That's the trouble...I just can't remember what happened. I remember backing the squad into the station. I think I spoke to Healy about something and the next thing I remember is looking at Cap and Healy...he was taking my BP" Gage rubbed his head.
"What did you talk to Healy about?"
"That's just it Roy, I can't remember and I know it was something important...I have this feeling that I was supposed to do something important...but I just can't remember" he looked at his partner "I could lose my job over this."
De Soto sighed, he was worried for his partner and searched his mind for the right words "You're a good Paramedic Johnny, your record is excellent and you've never been in trouble. They won't fire you without investigating thoroughly. They found one needle mark...one...now that says to me that something is wrong here."
"Roy's right John"
"Chet!" Gage couldn't believe the linesman had listened in on their conversation once again.
"I couldn't help but hear you two talking. Listen to Roy. He's right there's more to this. You were fine up until when you had that accident." Kelly shrugged his shoulders waiting for Gage to agree.
"That's right...so there must have been something I needed to do or say or something...to...to...to do with that run."
"Right. Do you remember the run?" asked Kelly.
"A little, some of it seems vague" Gage stood and started to pace.
"Let's check the log book... Maybe that will jog your memory" Kelly looked at Gage with concern. "You do remember writing up the log?"
"No...No I didn't write it up. Healy did. In fact he insisted on writing it up before we had lunch. Which I thought was strange cause I thought 'What's your hurry?'...but then I guessed he must have wanted to write it up while it was fresh in his mind" Gage shrugged.
"Well there's a place to start, let's check the log book. You better let Cap know what's happening." De Soto stood and pushed Gage towards the Captain's office. Kelly headed for the phone to do some investigating himself.
Gage knocked on his Captain's doorframe "Aarhh Cap...I need to talk to you and we" he pointed over his shoulder to his partner "need to check the log book"
Captain Stanley studied his Paramedic. "Close the door John."
Gage swallowed, his hands started to shake and his mouth went suddenly dry.
"Take a seat" Stanley pointed to a chair. "I just had a call from Dr Brackett"
Gage sighed "I was about to tell you...I swear Cap...I don't know how that needle mark got there" he stood and started pacing "there's something wrong about last shift...something I should remember...I've had this feeling ever since I fell from the squad...that's right I was getting out of the squad" Gage stopped pacing but he couldn't remember anything else, he placed his hand around his back.
"Sit John" Gage looked at his Captain having forgotten where he was.
"Nothing is going to happen till they get the results of the blood test. I also got a call from Vince. He was following up on the complaint about being late on the scene you and Healy mentioned."
"Late?" questioned Gage.
"Yes remember, you said something about twenty minutes late and Healy said you were going to talk to me about the police being late on the scene." Gage looked at his Cap and shook his head.
"I honestly don't remember much about that run, that's why we want to look at the log book. I'm hoping I'll remember whatever it is I've been trying to remember" Gage said absentmindedly.
"It says here the victim was found at the bottom of the stairs, went into respiratory arrest so you had to insert an oesophageal airway. He read on, splinted both legs and left arm and immobilised left shoulder for possible dislocation. Victim required backboard. There's no mention of the police" De Soto looked up.
Gage was deep in thought "It has something to do with the backboard...what was it?"
"Well, which one of you went to get the backboard?" asked De Soto
Gage looked at De Soto "It was Healy cause I remember thinking..." Gage looked at his hands, he was so close but he just couldn't quite reach the memory.
"Vince is coming by to talk to you so maybe he can fill in the blanks" injected Stanley.
Gage sighed and looked at his Captain "Could I lose my job over this?" he asked his Captain with a hitch in his voice.
Captain Stanley straightened in his chair "If they decide to investigate, you will more than likely face suspension. If, and this is only if, they find you guilty, you will lose your Paramedic certification and more than likely be suspended for a month without pay then reassigned back to an engine as a linesman."
Gage felt like screaming, how had everything gone so wrong, he thought to himself. He nodded "Thanks for being honest with me Cap. What happens now?"
"We wait for the blood test results" the Captain stated feeling for his Paramedic but he had to remain impartial.
Gage rose and turned towards the door "Thanks Cap" he said dejectedly. Deep down he thought his life as a Paramedic was over. He knew something had been injected into him so it would more than likely show up in the test results. Why and how, etched on his mind.