April, 1978
The lights flashed on and the tones sounded. "Station 51. Unknown type rescue. 815 Carson. Eight-one-five Carson. Cross street Bonita. Time out 2:35."
Three police cars were already on the scene when the engine and the squad rolled up. Two people lay facedown on the ground in cuffs. Several people milled around and some were yelling at each other as the officers tried to restrain them. A woman came running up to the window on Johnny's side of the squad. "You need to come help my friend! She's been hurt!"
"Okay, ma'am. We're coming. What seems to be the problem?"
"Billy hurt her! She won't talk to me. She's over here by the entrance." The woman dashed ahead to where her friend huddled on the ground, sobbing.
Johnny got there first. "What's her name?" he asked, opening the trauma kit. Roy set up the biophone and made contact with Rampart.
"Cynthia."
"Okay. Cynthia? Cynthia? We're here to help you." He sat down on his heels next to the hysterical woman. "Cynthia? My name is Johnny. I'm a paramedic. You're okay now. We're here to help you. Try to calm down now." He reached out a hand, but didn't make contact. "Cynthia? Will you let us help you?"
The woman gasped her consent through her sobs.
"Cynthia, I need you to take your hands off your face so I can see what's going on." He reached over to place his hands atop the woman's and gently pulled them away. "Okay, you've got a cut over your eyebrow. I'm just going to stop the bleeding, and see if you're hurt anywhere else. Then we're going to take you to Rampart Emergency, okay?" He grabbed a 4x4 out of the trauma kit and applied it to her head. "This is going to sting a little bit."
The police walked one of their arrests past where Johnny and Roy were working with the victim. When Cynthia saw him, she screamed, "Keep him away from me!" and grabbed onto Johnny's arms in a panic. He put his arms around her and rocked her gently, knowing exactly what she was feeling. "It's okay now. He's not going to hurt you anymore. You're safe now."
"He raped me!" she sobbed into his neck.
"I'm so sorry this happened to you. I'm so sorry. It's okay. You're safe now." He spoke quietly and comfortingly to her as he softly patted her back.
"Did you get any vitals, Johnny?"
He shook his head in negation as he continued talking to and holding the woman. Roy approached and asked the woman if he could take her pulse and blood pressure. "Any other injuries?" he asked as he worked.
"Cynthia? Do you hurt anywhere else?"
She pushed herself out of Johnny's arms and wrapped her arms around herself. "No. Sorry."
"That's okay." Johnny glanced up at the ambulance, which had just arrived. "We're going to transport you to Rampart Emergency now, okay?" He helped her get on to the gurney and stepped back as the attendants affixed the blankets and the straps.
Cynthia held out her hand plaintively. "Are you coming with me?"
"Yes. I'll come with you. I just need to pick up this stuff." He bent down to pick up the biophone from Roy. "Did you tell Rampart to contact a rape counselor?" he quietly asked.
"Yeah. They'll have one meet her there. You okay?"
"Yeah."
Chet moved next to Roy as the paramedic was packing up the trauma kit. "What happened?"
"She was raped."
"Man, that is so sick. I don't know how you guys handle it. I would have freaked if some chick were crying all over me like that."
"Yeah, well, Johnny is good at what he does."
"Yes, he is."
"Can't he stay with me?"
Johnny looked to the doctor for permission. The doctor nodded. "He can stay if you want him to."
"Don't leave me."
"I'll be right here. But, these are good people. They'll take real good care of you."
Cynthia started shivering as she sat upon the examination table. Johnny wrapped another blanket around her shoulders as they waited for the rape counselor to arrive. She started to cry again, leaning into Johnny for support. He gently stroked her hair and spoke soothingly, "Shh. It's okay now. You're safe now. It's not your fault. You didn't do anything wrong."
A middle-aged brunette opened the door to the examination room and asked, "May I come in?"
Upon receiving permission, she walked to the examination table and introduced herself. "Hi, my name is Andrea. I'm a counselor with Mercy General Rape Crisis Center. I'm here to help you."
"Okay."
The nurse came forward with a gown and a drape sheet. "We're going to need you to put this on now, Cynthia," she said kindly.
"Cynthia, I have to leave now. These people will help you…"
"Can't he come back?" Cynthia asked the counselor with distress. Then to Johnny, "You said you wouldn't leave me!"
Glancing at Johnny, who nodded, Andrea responded, "You want him to stay with you through the examination?"
Cynthia nodded.
"Okay. We'll both be back after you get changed."
Andrea and Johnny left the room. Once in the hall, Andrea asked, "Do you know this woman?" Johnny shook his head in negation. "Have you ever done anything like this before?"
"No."
She then proceeded to brief Johnny on what to expect. The nurse poked her head out the door and motioned the two into the room.
Afterwards, Andrea stopped Johnny before he got too far down the hall. "Wait a minute!"
He turned around, with a question on his face.
"You were really good with Cynthia. We're always looking for volunteers." She handed him a card. "Can I persuade you to stop by and see what we do? And, maybe think about volunteering?" She flashed a winsome smile.
Johnny took the card and looked at it. "I'll think about it and give you a call, okay?"
"Okay!" Andrea smiled again before returning to the examination room.