Enduring The Aftermath Chapter 2, an emergency fanfic

Enduring the Aftermath Chapter 2:

Just as he'd made a decision to take her himself he heard the doorbell.

"Come In!" he yelled.

"Hey Johnny? It's Mike. I'm just returning the drill I borrowed from Roy. Becky wanted to know if you and Jenny wanted to join us tonight for a . . .oh my God!" The voice got closer as Mike entered the house, trying to find his shiftmate and stopped dead at the kitchen entrance.

"Mike. In the hallway, first door on the left, second shelf. Bring me a blanket. Roy has a kit on the top shelf- bring it too." Johnny's words were clipped and businesslike. Trained by years of responding to the paramedic's orders, Mike dropped the drill and did as requested, returning quickly with the items. He helped Johnny wrap the blanket around Jenny's shivering form and pulled the BP cuff out of the bag, placing it around her uninjured arm all the while staring as if entranced at the bloodied cloth Johnny clutched high. "Johnny?" He questioned.

"Later." Came the terse reply.

Johnny directed Mike to hold the stethoscope on Jenny's elbow while he pumped up the bulb then slowly deflated it.

"Mike, give me the receiver and dial Rampart." Mike noticed Johnny's voice was as calm and as professional as ever. How does he do that? I know I couldn't if it were one of my kids or any other kid I personally know. He handed Johnny the receiver, not watching to see him tuck it between his shoulder and his ear before dialing the number. After four rings, a melodic voice answered. "Rampart Emergency, Nurse McCall speaking."

"Dix, this is Johnny Gage. I'm with Jenny DeSoto and she's severely cut her hand. At least three fingers involved and the thumb nearly severed; I'm holding direct pressure on the wound. Her pulse is 80, respirations 22, BP 109/65. I've got her wrapped and will be bringing her in myself. No ambulance or squad is available for 30 minutes. ETA 15 minutes." Johnny's voice remained as controlled as if he were on any run. Dixie had responded to so many such calls with him that she too responded similarly. "10-4 51 err, I mean Johnny. Bring her in; we'll be waiting." She hung up the phone and snagged Dr. Brackett as he exited a treatment room. He noticed her worried frown and grinned, "What's up Dix? It can't be the dynamic duo. Roy's on leave and Johnny's off duty."

Dixie made a face and instantly Kelly Brackett sobered, his brows now furrowing as Dixie explained. "Kel, that was John Gage. He's on his way in with Jenny DeSoto. Severe injury to her hand." As she spoke, Brackett read over the pad the nurse had taken the information on. He slapped it with his hand and gave rapid-fire instructions. "Damn, no squad. That means no IV. Set up a treatment room, notify X-ray, page Dr. Bentley he's the best hand guy we have. Get him down here stat and let me know the instant they get here." Dixie gave a curt nod to the departing figure, her hand already on the in-house phone.

Back in the DeSoto kitchen, Johnny was pulling Jenny up into his lap, one hand under her knees the other still holding up her hand across her shoulders as her uninjured arm snaked around his neck.

"My Rover, Mike. You drive."

Mike merely nodded, grabbing Johnny's keys from where he nodded their location and proceeding the paramedic out the door.

"Open the back seat."

Mike did and helped Johnny slid in, still holding Jenny securely in his lap. "Prop her feet up with that tackle box." Again Mike followed the directions, again amazed at how calm Johnny seemed. He slid in behind the wheel and glanced back at the paramedic through the review mirror.

Johnny had his head down, talking quietly and soothingly to his patient, "Ok Jenny. We're heading to Rampart. Miss Dixie and the Doctors know we're coming and they'll be able to take good care of you."

Jenny blinked sleepily at her uncle, "Uncle Johnny? It doesn't hurt so much any more. It just feels kinda tingly." She gave a soft moan then added, "My head hurts and my tummy feels funny."

Johnny raised his head and caught Mike's eyes. "Go Mike. Go now and don't worry about speed." Mike swallowed with a suddenly dry throat as he started the engine, jammed it into gear and raced down the street. A cold sweat covered the engineer's brow as he glanced back into the mirror but Johnny's attention was once more on his patient. Mike was glad; he didn't want to see Johnny's eyes again. All this time I thought he was being so calm, so with it. He shook his head as he pushed the gas pedal down further. The look in the paramedic's eyes had severely rattled the engineer. What he'd seen in Johnny's brown depths was pure undiluted terror.

They made it to the hospital in record time, between the engineer's driving skills and the paramedic's knowledge of streets and shortcuts. A mere ten minutes had passed from the time Johnny had spoken to Dixie until the time the blood-splattered paramedic burst through the emergency doors carrying his patient. Dixie met him with a gurney and an orderly which Johnny shoved past, never releasing Jenny's hand as he barked. "Which room?"

"Treatment 2" Dixie replied, barely keeping up with the stone faced paramedic as he charged into the room. Jenny watched in a detached fashion as the lights whizzed by over her head, then closed her eyes and turned her face into her protector's chest. Once in the treatment room, Johnny gently placed Jenny on the table but didn't release her or back away as two doctors- Brackett and another he didn't know moved in. "We've got her now Johnny" Bracket told the paramedic as he placed his own hand over the blood covered one. Johnny didn't move or back off. Brackett glanced up at his paramedic, taking in the glazed look, the thin set lips, and the pale face splattered with red—looking oddly like measles spots. He put his other hand on Johnny's shoulder and squeezed, his voice calm and as soothing as Johnny's had been earlier as he assured the younger man. "We have her now, Johnny. You did well, now let us finish." His eyes caught Dixie's where she hovered near the little girl's head supervising as a nurse quickly started an IV.

Dix gave a curt knowing nod and pulled on Johnny's arm as her fingers pried Johnny's from the blood soaked towel. "Come on Johnny. You know she's in good hands. Dr. Bentley is the best in LA. Besides, you have some calls to make and some paperwork to fill out, correct?" She felt the grip in the young man's hand lessen as he blinked at her then nodded. She led him toward the door but he stopped as a trembling voice called, "Don't go."

Johnny cleared his throat and smiled engagingly at Jenny. "It's ok sweetheart, I'm not leaving. I'll be right on the other side of this door. You know Dr. Brackett and Miss McCall. They'll take really good care of you and I'll be back in as soon as I can." Reluctantly she nodded and Dixie pushed him through the door. Dr. Bentley watched in undisguised interest. He motioned with his head toward the door. "The father knew what to do and did it well." He commented.

"He's not my daddy," came a voice from the bed, "He's my Uncle Johnny and he and my daddy are the best paramedics in all LA, right Dr. Brackett?"

Dr. Bentley looked from his diminutive patient to Dr. Brackett who nodded, his mouth curling up into a smile. "Right, Jenny. Dr. Bentley, you just met FireFighter/Paramedic John Gage. This here little lady is his partner Roy DeSotos' girl."

Dr. Bentley chuckled, a deep pleasant sound, "So! That was the younger half of the dynamic duo! I've been wanting to meet them. Now, let's see what he's brought us, shall we?" He carefully unwrapped the bloody towel and looked at the injured hand, once more all business.