The tones sounded for Station 51 and a sleepy paramedic quickly jumped from the bed, stepped into his boots and pulled his turnouts up. He ran as did the others to the fire pole and slid down without thought. Once his feet were firmly planted on the ground, it occurred to him that their station didn't have a fire pole. Chet came sliding down the pole knocking into him. "Johnny, come on, man, get out of the way," he shouted as he hit the ground running.

Johnny shook his head and headed toward the squad. He slid into the passenger seat and pulled on his helmet. Roy slid in next him and handed him the call sheet from Captain Stanley. Wasting no time, Roy fired up the squad and pulled out of the station with sirens screaming and the big engine trailing behind.

Johnny cast a sideways glance at his partner. One way or another Roy was going to think he was nuts. "Roy, when did we get a fire pole," he asked.

"A what?"

"A fire pole," the perplexed paramedic repeated.

"We have a one-story fire station, Johnny. What would we need with a fire pole," Roy asked incredulously.

"But we all just used it, Roy. I mean come on, Chet nearly bowled me over coming down behind me."

Roy looked at him concerned. "Are you all right? Did you bump your head when you fell on that last run. Come on, fess up."

Johnny was shaking his head. "No, I did not bump my head," he replied indignantly. "And yes we did all just come down a fire pole back there."

"Maybe you'd better let me take the lead on this call until I can get Cap to let me run you over to Rampart to get checked out."

Johnny splayed his hand across his chest. "I do not need checking out, Roy, I just want to know when they installed a fire pole and why you can't admit you just came down it."

"Johnny, I don't know where your head is, but I did not slide down any fire pole. We have a one-story fire station. There'd be nowhere to slide from," Roy reiterated.

Johnny's voice rose several levels in the cab of the squad. "Stop lying, Roy, we have a fire pole," he shouted. "We have a fire pole"

"Johnny come on now, stop it," Roy said gently. But Johnny was infuriated that Roy wouldn't listen to him and admit that there was a fire pole.

"We have a fire pole, Roy," he shouted again.

Roy and Cap exchanged concerned looks. "Come on now, Johnny. Wake up," Roy said more loudly as he gently shook his sleeping partner.

"WE HAVE A FIRE POLE," Johnny shouted waking himself up at the same time and bolting upright in the bed. He came face to face with his
five shift mates.

"What the hell did you eat before going to bed, Gage," asked the stocky Irish fireman. Chet was already heading towards his own bunk now that the excitement was over.

Johnny looked around and the dorm room looked exactly the same. He pushed back the sheet and jumped out of bed not bothering with any
pants. Mike and Marco watched him go clad only in t-shirt and boxers as he ran into the darkened apparatus bay. There sat the engine and
the squad and there was no fire pole.

Roy came up behind him. "It was so real, Roy, the dream was so real," Johnny said. He rubbed his face with his hand to help clear the sleepiness.

Roy looked at him concerned. "Are you all right? Did you bump your head when you fell on that last run? Maybe you'd better let me run you over to Rampart to get checked out."

Johnny shook his head. "I'm fine. I did not hit my head." He just couldn't get over how real it had been.

Captain Stanly popped his head out the door. "Roy, he okay? Did he hit his head or something?"

Johnny rolled his eyes at the comment. Why was everyone always assuming he'd hurt himself.

"He's all right, Cap, just a dream is all," Roy replied.

"Oh well, in that case, get back to bed," Cap barked as he walked back to the bunk room muttering to himself about twits and dreams.

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