For Eleanor. Honest, you don't need to beg! And drink lots of water! Can't have you getting heat prostration. (uh, unless you want to meet a couple of really handsome paramedics – then have at it!)
Chapter 31
Sunday's shift was something of a blessing for Roy and Hank. Back at the 16s with Frank Itora and his team. It was especially good for Desoto as he could finally vent about his problem with Joanne. He took advantage of friendly male ears as he described their disagreement.
Matt and Chen were very sympathetic; they'd experienced the same undertones while in California. Of course, they had since solved their problems and were happy to give their expertise. Mostly they counseled patience, that as soon as they were back home everything would get back to normal.
Roy was pretty sure that would happen. Back in LA there were family, friends, and neighbors that would watch the kids so they could have some alone time. Add to the the kids slept better at home as a rule and didn't wander into their bedroom at odd hours of the night was a plus.
Hank was not so sure about the advice. He glanced over at his counterpart, their eyes met as they held unspoken dialogue. Then they glanced over at the younger men offering advice. Younger being the key. Frank cleared his throat.
"Actually, Desoto, I wouldn't leave this for home," he said carefully. "It could backfire. What sparked the disagreement?" He watched as the man blushed.
"Uh, we got kind of interrupted twice," he hedged, hoping the older man would understand.
"No alone time," Hank picked up. "I understand that! And if Mike were here he would, too."
"I still say it'll be fine once they're back home," Chen restated.
"Yes, but remember, Roy's here for another week," Stanley pointed out. "He needs to solve this now so it doesn't ferment!"
"Wishful thinkin'" Desoto mumbled. Before the conversation resumed the tones sounded.
"Station 16, man down, Hawaiian Hilton," the voice called out giving address and contact. They were soon blaring down the road.
^••^
John started his day at the 14s watching Paramedic Pete Shipton catch a face full of water. The ensuing tongue lashing sounded very, very familiar. The Phantom, of course, wasn't there but a very close shadow was.
He eyed Miho Tanaka and started to wonder how long she'd been pulling those pranks. He made his way out to line up, joining the dry members of the crew. Shipton had his shirt changed extremely fast.
"So, how long has this been going on?" Gage asked as they waited for the captain and his engineer.
"Since your linesman, Chet Kelly, stayed," he said sourly. "A week. Every shift is new and exciting."
"She's nailed all of us!" Ben Koga, linesman, added. "Between water and flour; she tried expanding out to ketchup yesterday."
"Awue! I never saw da Cap soo mad!" Kenta Mattingsly added. "Especially since he's da one who caught it face first."
"She sounds like she needs some pointers on refinement," Gage said. "Lucky for you Chet isn't returning! I'll see if I can explain the inner workings of practical jokes."
"Hey, got any pointers for us?" Ben asked hopefully.
"No, all my experience is from the pigeon's point of view," he shrugged sheepishly. "I'm the target, it's pretty rare he hits anyone else. And if he hits Stanley, my Cap, it's latrines for a month."
"Tell that to Cap Lopez!" Kenta begged.
"I ran out of shirts the last shift!" Ben added.
"We all ran out of shirts," Randy Levine, the other linesman, pointed out. "Remember? Cap borrowed one from Pete?" Johnny sighed and rubbed his forehead.
"Yeah, better talk to her," he groaned.
"You have a headache, Gage?" Cap. Lopez asked as he followed a smiling Tanaka out of his office.
"Not yet, but I'm considering it," Johnny answered in sincerity.
"He was expressing commiseration on our lack of enough dry uniforms," Ben supplied. Lopez rolled his eyes and then glared at his engineer.
"Fine," he grumbled. "Ok, today's assignments are as follows, Tanaka, latrines, Koga and Shipton, hoses, Mattingsly, cooking, Levine, dorms and engine bay. Oh, and Tanaka? You're kitchen clean-up as well. Gage, help as you see fit."
"I hear he makes good coffee," Miho suggested and received five nearly identical glares.
"Let me guess, salt in the sugar container?" he grimaced.
"Yep," Kenta said with a reinforced glare at the engineer. Gage sighed heavily.
"Ok," he said. "Coffee first, then I'll supervise the latrines cleanup."
"Fair enough," Cap said. "Ok, people, let's get to work."
Johnny slipped into the kitchen with both paramedics. They helped him locate the supplies he'd need and quickly discussed a game plan.
"Desoto was great," Pete said. "We learned a lot from him and he took care of our biggest problem: Dr. Hu."
"Yeah, heard about that," Gage nodded. "I think Dr. Hoyle is a much better choice as head of your program."
"We do too! He's going to come and talk with us tonight if we're not out on a run," Kenta said. "The B shift, Sammy and Aleka, are going to come over, too."
"Great! Let's hope for a quiet evening!" Johnny said. "Now, do we need to check supplies?"
"No, we're current," Kenta said. "We stocked up around five this morning after a run. We'll go do a quick check in and get to our duties."
"Ok, but no poke for dinner!" Gage grimaced. "Yuck!"
"Ai yah!" Mattingsly dramatically slapped his forehead. "I bought some ono ahi just for our malihini! Gonna slap it on da grill maybe minute a side and serve it with ginger-papaya salsa!" Johnny's face caused the two men to laugh out loud.
"Don't sweat it bro, everyting gunna be cooked," the teasing man patted the trainer on the shoulder.
"We wouldn't waste the good stuff on Levine or Tanaka anyway!" Pete added in. "They like McDonalds!"
"Oh, man, I got to tell you about when the guys were collecting beanie babies for their wives and girlfriends!" Gage's face lit up. Soon they were giggling as the coffee finished brewing.
^••^
Station 16 pulled up in the turn around in front of the Hilton Hotel. Two panicked staff were waving at them as the pulled to a stop. The paramedics quickly grabbed their equipment as Lopez went to assess the situation.
They were hustled through the lobby back to the pool area where a small crowd of people were and their captain was establishing a free space around the victim. The lifeguard was applying cpr while a second person was breathing for him.
"Full respiratory arrest," the guard huffed as he continued compressions. "He was sunbathing and he complained of chest pains. Went down fast." Roy surveyed the ground. It was dry.
"Ok, get out the monitor and let's get on the line to Castle," he directed. Matt and Stephan were right on top of it, already setting up the defibrillator and taking vitals. Roy took over compressions and allowed the guard to catch his own breath.
Quickly the hospital was contacted and a strip sent. Orders came over for epi and immediate shock. The two new paramedics squared up their shoulders and got to it, their first defib in the Hawaiian field.
Fortunately the down man's heart happily leapt back to work and the paramedics loaded him on the gurney and sent him off to the hospital. Roy and Matt cleaned up as Stephan disappeared in the ambulance.
"Man, that was pupule!" the Hawaiian man said. A side glance caused him to laugh.
"Crazy, wild," he hastily inserted as Roy's confusion faded.
"Pupule is a good word for my partner!" he decided as he finished up packing the boxes. They headed back to the squad.
A quick trip to the ER and soon the paramedics were back at the barn looking for a quick snack. They found the two captains sitting at the table going over paperwork.
"You have those self-replicating forms, too?" DeSoto teased Itora. He received twin glares.
"Like darned rabbits," Hank rumbled as he spread out another triplicate. Matt snagged the pot and topped off the captains' cups before pouring one out for himself. He waggled the pot at Roy and Stephan.
"Naw, I'm going for ice tea," his partner responded. Roy agreed and two glasses of ice were readied. They settled at the table with a bag of veggie crisps. Both Los Angelenos looked askance at the offering but allowed themselves to be convinced to try them.
"New thing out," Lewis said. "Deep fried bean pods."
"These are edamame, soy beans," Itora said as he popped a couple into his mouth. "Lots of protein and enough salt to satisfy the potato chip cravings." Roy and Hank gingerly selected a couple pods and crunched down. Eyebrows rose.
"Huh, not bad," Stanley decided. "I'll have to get some for my date tomorrow."
"You have a date? What about your wife?" Stephan asked. Hank smirked.
"I have a date with Emily," he said proudly. "John said he'd watch the kids and give us some privacy." Roy looked wistful
"Why didn't I think of that?" he said.
"I didn't think of it," Hank explained. "Johnny did. Said Kel was going out and didn't have any plans himself." They sat there crunching and sipping.
"I wonder, you know, if Johnny wouldn't mind taking Chris and Jenny as well," Roy toyed with a couple edamame.
"I'm sure that Ruth and Jake would help," Cap mused. "There's plenty of stuff to do at the hotel." The five men sat for a long moment of silence. Then Roy surged up.
"Think I'll give my pally a call," he said as he headed for the phone while dragging out his wallet for the phone number.
poke: raw fish; think cerviche
ai yah: Oh no!
ono: scrumptious, tasty
ahi: tuna generally used in sashimi; best served rare
malihini: visitor, stranger
pupule: crazy, wild
