Disclaimer: I do not own EMERGENCY!, the characters, Mark VII Productions, Inc. or Universal Studios.
I only own this fictional story.
Johnny drove by the fire station. He went around the block and parked across the street. He got out of his Land Rover and leaned against it. Crossing his arms, he smiled and read the words on the front of the station.
"Los Angeles County Fire Station 51"
Station 51
Engine 51
Squad 51
Johnny's grin widened; he liked how those words sounded.
This would be his new home away from home. While he didn't like leaving station 10, excitement built up in him about this new station. A brand new station for his brand new job.
"Hey, did you want to take a tour?" A couple of firemen had come out of the station and called to him.
Johnny's face turned red; he looked around, wondering if they were talking to him.
"Hey, it's okay. Don't worry about it. We're used to giving tours."
Embarrassed by being caught, Johnny jogged across the street.
"Uh, no, I … well, uh yeah, but I, uh …" Johnny faltered. He took a breath to steady his nerves. "That's okay, I don't need a tour. See, I'm gonna be stationed here. I'm one of the new paramedics." Johnny still liked the way that sounded.
"Oh hey, that's cool. The other one was here yesterday with his wife and kids."
So, Roy had been here? That made Johnny feel less weird about getting a tour.
"Uh, yeah, I think I'll take a quick look around, if that's okay?"
Johnny's excitement for the new station quickly over took his disappointment that this was a single level station, no pole. That didn't mean he wasn't nervous. Starting somewhere new always made him nervous. Johnny hoped he wouldn't have to move anytime soon.
In the apparatus bay, only the engine was there. It disappointed Johnny that the squad was out on a run. Oh well, he'd get his chance to see it soon enough.
Johnny looked over at the engine, an open-cab Crown Fire Coach. He smiled. He remembered riding in one like this when he first started, just a few years ago. Everything was so new and exciting for him back then. Just as it was now. As he looked at the gauges on the side of the engine, Johnny smiled. The fact that the engineers knew how to read all of those always amazed him.
"Over here, we have the lockers and dorm room. It's pretty basic, but you can check it out if you want."
"I'll just peak in, if that's okay"
"Sure. Not a problem."
Johnny entered the door near the back of the station. There, the latrine led into the lockers. Three rows of lockers and benches led to the beds. The dorm section was simple. A simple desk was near the doorway. The beds were sectioned off by half-brick walls. It was the same dark red bricks he'd seen so far throughout the station. There were cubbies under the beds for storage.
Johnny wondered how comfortable these beds would be. They probably wouldn't squeak like some of the metal beds over at tens. It didn't really matter if they were comfortable or not; they weren't here to get beauty sleep.
Existing the dorm room, Johnny smiled when he saw the large map on the opposite wall. He didn't know why he hadn't noticed it before, but he hadn't. It was, for some reason, comforting to Johnny that there'd be a map just like the one at tens here. He supposed most stations had a map like this one.
He'd have to learn the best routes from this station. Johnny wondered if he'd get to drive here. Over at tens, Tony never let him.
"The captains' office is there," the fireman said as he pointed to a door. He led Johnny through another door. "And in here we have the kitchen and the TV room. It's not much, since it's a small station, but it works."
They entered a long, rectangular room. Some of the walls were covered with paneling, which made the space feel warm and inviting. On one end of the room, they found the kitchen. The rust-brown refrigerator, two double-stacked ovens, and stove top blended well into the paneling.
In the kitchen area, some men were preparing a meal while the others set the table.
Johnny mentally kicked himself for not realizing the time.
"Oh, hey, sorry. I should've realized you guys would be busy. I should get going and get outta your way."
"It's not a problem. Would you like a cup of coffee?"
"I don't wanna be a bother to you."
"You won't be. This is …I didn't catch your name."
"Gage, John Gage."
"He's gonna be stationed here as one of the new paramedics."
As Johnny accepted a cup of coffee from the others, the others greeted him warmly; the men were pleased to hear he would be stationed there, except for one older man.
"Seems a little strange to me having paramedics here," said the gray-haired man clearing off the table. "I think that stuff should be something the doctors do. But if there are paramedics, shouldn't they be in a more residential area?"
The old thought that 'firemen put out fires, they don't deliver babies' meaning firefighters didn't treat victims, irritated Johnny. But he was now a paramedic and had to represent his profession well.
"With all due respect, sir, I think an industrial area makes just as much sense as anyplace. Industrial accidents tend to be pretty traumatic. And there are paramedics in residential areas."
The older fireman squinted at Johnny. "You're just a kid. What do you know?"
Johnny hoped this "old man" wasn't going to be working his shift. "Sir, I've been a firefighter for three years. I went from a probationary fireman to a rescue man, and now I'm a paramedic in those three years. Wisdom doesn't always come with age. Sometimes, it comes with experience."
The "old man" rolled his eyes and left the room, muttering to himself about kids these days and their new ways.
The fireman closest to Johnny leaned over and whispered, "Don't worry about him. He's retiring soon. And he's been this way ever since his nephew didn't do as well at the fire academy as he thought he should do."
Johnny nodded in understanding. He understood how families put pressure on their loved ones. It was especially true when there was already a firefighter in the family. He'd seen it when he was at the fire academy.
He finished his coffee. "Thanks for the coffee and the tour. I should get going. I've taken enough of your time. I can see myself out."
Johnny left the fire station smiling. His heart raced with excitement. He liked the place. It felt like "home" to him. He couldn't wait until his first shift started.
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Johnny sat in his Land Rover. He'd arrived early to get control of his nerves. He checked his hair in the rear view mirror - again. He'd already checked his hair multiple times. Then he checked to make sure nothing was stuck in his teeth. Of course, there wasn't. He hadn't eaten anything that morning. Besides, he'd brushed his teeth twice. He'd also changed his socks three times. He needed to be as comfortable as he could.
Johnny didn't know why he was so nervous. He'd had other first days at jobs before. This technically wasn't his first day at a new job; he was just going to a new station. He'd done overtime at other stations before, so why did this feel so different?
During roll call, Johnny's stomach growled. Sucking in his stomach, he tried to quiet it. He hoped no one had heard anything. Why hadn't he eaten anything? Was an upset, nervous stomach better than an empty, growling one? Please don't let anyone notice.
By midmorning, Johnny had finished his chores. He decided to check out the squad. Also , having finished his chores, Roy joined him. Johnny was impressed that the squad was equipped with everything they would need. It was like a miniaturized emergency room on wheels. It was 'a rolling arsenal against death.'
They had finished examining the squad when they were called out for a traffic accident. As Roy turned over the engine, Johnny felt the squad come alive. To him, it felt like the squad was as eager as he was. They were a team, the three of them, him, Roy, and the squad. As long as they took care of the squad, Johnny knew it would never let them down.
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Johnny slammed the door to the squad when they got back to the station. "Dammit, all that training just so we can be glorified traffic directors."
"It's frustrating, I know, but …"
"Frustrating? We're useless. Did you see how Dixie looked at us? It was pity."
"it wasn't pity. She was sympathetic to our situation, but she didn't pity us."
"Naw, man, it was pity. And what's with you?"
"What?" Roy understood his partner's frustration. He felt it, too, but he wasn't following him.
"You didn't even trust me to hand Dixie the supplies. You only let me help with the blankets. I didn't even get to finish that before that cop pulled us away to direct traffic."
"Unfortunately, not many people understand or know about the paramedics program. Once the bill is passed and there are more paramedics, people will understand."
"When is that supposed to happen? Until it passes, do I only get to use my special training to hand out blankets?"
"Johnny, that's not fair. It won't always be like this time. You will do more."
"Whatever you say," Johnny rolled his eyes. He walked off to the bunk room.
Roy's eyes followed his partner through the door. Why wouldn't he understand that they're on the same side?
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"Which sounds better, Miami or Seattle?" asked Johnny as he flipped through a book.
"In Miami, you've got girls and beaches."
"Yeah, that's what I thought, but there's also hurricanes, and I've heard it can be very hot and humid. Seattle has girls, but they've got cold winters, and it rains a lot."
"Hey, Johnny, what's up with the list? Planning your vacation already?" asked Chet.
Johnny shrugged and said, "I dunno, guess you could say that."
Roy looked at Johnny. What was he doing? Both Miami and Seattle had paramedic programs that granted paramedics more autonomy and independence. Was Johnny planning on moving to one of those cities?
Johnny looked up as though he'd felt Roy staring at him. He quickly looked down again. How did Roy do that? How did he seem to look into his soul or something? Did he know what he was thinking of doing?
Johnny got up and went to the bunk room. He needed time to think. Maybe if he worked on some chores, he'd clear his mind.
"What are you doing?"
Johnny jumped. He hadn't heard Roy come up behind him. "What do you mean?" he asked. "I'm just making the beds."
"They were already made. I'm talking about this Miami, Seattle thing. What are you doing? Are you moving?"
"Well, I, uh, I," Johnny started out stammering. "Look, Roy, I signed up for this thing so I could do better rescues. I wanna help people, save people.
"Right now, I can rescue a cat from a tree and administer a bandage if anyone is scratched by that cat."
"Johnny …"
"Alright, alright." Johnny held up his hands as of to say calm down. "That wasn't fair. It's not that bad, but to me, it feels almost as bad. Remember, you called us the 'impotent wonders'. Right now, we're helpless, worthless. I feel helpless and worthless. I mean, all that training, for nothing."
"It will change. It has to."
"When? Tomorrow? Next month? Three years from now? When? You keep saying things will change, but when?"
"I don't know, but it will change."
"In the meantime, we're left just sitting around on our a-" The alarm tolled, interrupting Johnny.
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"Did you hear that?" Johnny spun his date, Delores, around as they left Dixie's apparent. "The bill is getting closer to being passed."
She giggled, but her laugh faded, and she frowned. "That's all I hear about from you."
Taken aback, Johnny looked down at Delores. "What do you mean by that?"
"Never mind, just forget I said anything. Tonight's about celebrating your birthday."
"No, you have something to say, say it."
Delores sighed, "It's just that you're always talking about this paramedics program and that bill. I thought tonight would be a break from it."
Johnny crossed his arms. "I'm sorry, that bill concerns my job. If it doesn't pass, I probably have to move."
"You could take a full night off from talking about it." She turned and rolled her eyes. "Like I said, I thought it would be different. Besides, you wouldn't have to move if you found a different job."
He couldn't believe what she was saying; did she really expect him to get a different job? Didn't she understand his situation?
"Delores, becoming a firefighter, then a paramedic is all I've wanted to do. It's all about helping people."
"Well, then, if you're all about helping people, why don't you become a doctor?"
"What? A doctor? That would take years. What would I do while going to school? And where would I get the money to go to medical school? Being a firefighter isn't exactly one of the highest paid professions."
Delores folded her arms across her chest and muttered under her breath, "I should've realized that earlier."
Johnny glowered at her with disbelief. Had she really said what he thought he'd heard? Was she only interested in him because she thought he had money or something?
"It's been a long night. Why don't I drive you home?" Tonight's date was over. Maybe their whirlwind romance had also come to an end.
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Johnny's frustration was turning into anger; it didn't help his mood that he and Delores had broken up.
"I thought I was done with moving; I thought I'd found a home . . . but now, it looks like I'm gonna have to pack up everything and move again."
"Johnny, you don't have to move. The bill will go to the floor, and they will pass it."
"In the meantime, we look like fools. Doing nothing but handing things to Dixie and the other nurses. It might not be so bad if we were helping, but we're not.
"This program of yours is a bust."
"Hey, it's not my program. And it's not my fault things aren't better."
Chet poked his head in the locker room. "Hey guys. Excuse me for interrupting your argument, but Assemblyman Wolski is coming in an hour, and Gage, it's your turn to cook."
Johnny aggressively ran his hands through his hair. "Fantastic. At least there isn't a law against me cooking."
As Johnny went to the kitchen, Roy wondered how this would go. However, much to his surprise, Johnny didn't act out or argue except for his last comment that leaned towards contemptuous.
Their rescue calls continued as they had. Get a nurse from the hospital and assist her when they could, but otherwise, they were just a form of transportation for the nurses and medical supplies.
Things got hairy when Dixie got injured during a run. Johnny and Roy had no choice but to treat the victims, including Dixie.
In turn, Dr. Brackett scolded them for doing so. He argued that by their rogue actions, they could have destroyed the entire program. He did reluctantly compliment them on a job well done.
To Johnny, once again, Dr. Brackett's arguments against what they had done seemed to support their actions. 'The only sure doctor is a fool.' They never claimed to be doctors. In situations like this, doctors did what needed to be done. Wasn't that what they had done? If they hadn't done anything but wait for someone else to come, the victims, including Dixie, could be dead. Wouldn't that have been a nail in the coffin of the paramedic program?
Even though Roy and Johnny were on the same side of this, once they got back to the station, another argument started between them.
"It's just so damn frustrating."
"You have every right to be frustrated. I am, too."
"Oh, thank you for the permission to feel what I feel."
"I didn't mean it that way, and you know it. I only meant …"
"You may have helped train my class, but you are not my boss."
"Johnny, we're on the same side. We both want, need this bill to pass. Why are you always arguing with me?"
"Sorry. Maybe I'm just too stupid …"
"Johnny, I never…"
"Gage!"
Captain Hammer stopped their argument. Johnny held up his hands like he'd dropped everything. "Forget it. Just forget it." He stormed out the back way.
The captain wondered, "What was that all about?"
"It's more of the same. He's angry and frustrated about the program being at a standstill. So am I. This bill needs to pass or else everything will be a waste of time and money.
"You know, he's thinking of quitting or moving to someplace where he can be a functioning paramedic."
"That's not good. What about you?"
"Cap, I can't just uproot my family. If it was just me, if I didn't have Joanne and the kids, yeah, maybe I would move.
Johnny wanted to slam the door to his Land Rover and drive off, but he couldn't. He couldn't even slam the door. He was still on duty and had to be aware of any calls coming in.
Instead, Johnny hit his hands against the steering wheel.
Ugh! How could he be such a coward?
At the first sign of trouble, he wanted to run. When would he ever learn? Every time he ran off in anger, things went wrong. Sometimes, things turned horribly wrong.
Johnny sighed as he covered his face with his hands. When would he ever learn?
"Gage, I would like to see you in my office."
Great. Now he was going to get a lecture from his Captain. Why was everyone against him?
To Captain Hammer, Johnny, with his scowl and crossed arms, looked like a stubborn young boy who got in trouble. Sometimes, Dick Hammer forgot how young Johnny was. The way he charged into fires and rescues was like that of an older, more experienced man. This young man was only a few years older than his own son. However, Captain Hammer had to remind himself not to treat as he would his son
"Well?"
Johnny remained silent. He knew he should say something, but he also knew he was so upset he wouldn't make any sense.
"Johnny, do you want to move or quit?"
"No," Johnny mentally kicked himself. To him, that one word came out as if he were whining. Who was he kidding? He was whining. When would he ever grow up?
"What motivated you to become a paramedic?"
"I don't know."
"I'm sure you do know."
Johnny sighed and shrugged. "I don't know. Guess I got tired of rescuing corpses. When I first heard about the paramedic program, I kind of mocked it. I thought it was just a way to be glorified ambulance attendants. Turns out, I was wrong. But maybe I wasn't. Do you know how frustrating it is to know how to help people but you can't do anything?"
"I know it's not the same thing, but there have been times in the past when I was injured and wanted to help, but couldn't," he said.
"Yeah, it's something like that. I just want to make a difference and help people go home."
"I understand that. What I don't understand is why are you being so aggressive and arguing with your crewmates? You're professional on a run, but almost as soon as you get back here, you seem to be looking for a fight. We're all on the same side."
Johnny remained mute; he silently pleaded for his captain not to pry.
"John, I understand your frustration; however, if you have an anger management issue, we'll need to address it."
Again, Johnny remained silent, but he cringed at how formal the captain sounded by not using his nickname. Had he blown it here? Whether the bill passed or not, should he just move away so he'd get a fresh start?
Thunder rumbled in the distance. That was the only sound in the office, except for the ticking clock.
Captain Hammer saw Johnny's reaction when he used the name 'John' instead of 'Johnny'. He also saw doubt creep into the young man's eyes.
"Alright, Johnny, I won't pry. But if you ever want or need to talk, I'm here."
"Thanks, Cap."
"Alright, you're dismissed."
Feeling some relief, Johnny left the office. He knew he needed to calm down. If he didn't, and kept being this angry, he could get washed out for insubordination or something. Maybe he should go hiking soon. The fresh air always helped him clear his head.
When he entered the kitchen, all heads turned towards him.
"Well?"
"So, what happened?"
Johnny shrugged in his nonchalant way. "Cap just said I need to learn to play well with others."
Captain Hammer entered the kitchen. "I just got word that the rain is coming down in sheets, so it looks like we'll have a busy night."
A flash of lightning immediately followed by a crash of thunder seemed to confirm what was said.
"I want to make sure everything is in order. I have a feeling it's gonna be a hell of a night."
The captain was right. By six o'clock, the squad had been called to two traffic accidents and an overdose.
Johnny and Roy were at the Rampart taking a breather and replenishing supplies when they got the call about a tunnel cave in.
This would test their fortitude. They would need to have the self-discipline to only do what they were allowed to do. If they went "rogue" as Dr. Brackett thought they had before, everything could get scrapped. They'd never get a chance to be real paramedics if they did things on their own.
However, when it came to saving a man's life, they contacted Rampart. Was there anything they could legally do to help him?
Dr. Brackett seemed reluctant to help them at first. But he realized that Johnny and Roy had no other option but to perform life-saving procedures on the dying man.
In the tunnel, Johnny and Roy were hesitant to do anything; if they did the wrong thing and the man died, that would be the end of everything.
But Dr. Brackett convinced them that if they did nothing, the man would definitely die; he was their only chance for survival.
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Driving back to the station after the tunnel cave in, the guys were exhausted but pleased. The bill had passed. They could officially be paramedics.
Johnny looked down at the newspaper on his lap. "You know, either Dr. Brackett had a premonition that the bill would pass, or …"
"Or," Roy continued his partner's thought, "he risked it all for this one case?"
"Hm. Maybe he's not all that different from us, after all."