The Aftermath

“What a mess!” Captain Hank Stanley declared as he looked down at the scattered debris left behind by his paramedics.

“I know,” Roy Desoto agreed. He sounded depressed and tired.

“You all right, pal?” Cap asked, shooting Roy a sideways glance.

“Yeah, Cap, I’ll be fine,” Roy replied, forcing a smile. Behind him, the first of the ambulances pulled out. “I’d better go.” He picked up the drug box and the biophone and headed over to the other ambulance which was waiting for him. Roy slid the boxes inside.

“I’ll send Chet in with the squad,” he told Roy as he started to close the ambulance doors.

“Thanks, Cap,” Roy acknowledged. He turned his attention to the stretcher, where his partner, John Gage lay. “Just hang in there, Johnny,” he pleaded as the vehicle set off towards Rampart hospital.

***********************

The fire had been a big one, with two alarms called in. 51s had been first on the scene, gazing with undisguised horror at the flames shooting from the building. Stanley was met by the hysterical manager. “There are people in there!” he cried.

Those were all the words that Johnny and Roy needed to hear. They immediately began to shrug on their air tanks and masks while Stanley questioned the manager more closely to find out where the missing people might be.

“There are three people, probably on the top floor,” he told his paramedics. They all looked up at the top floor. The flames were thick at one end. “In and out, as fast as you can!” Stanley ordered.

Nodding, Roy and Johnny headed over to the door, where Marco and Chet were already aiming a steady stream of water at the encroaching flames. They eased into the building and glanced around. Spotting the stairs, they began to climb quickly.

The smoke was thick on the top floor, and the two men moved as quickly as they could through it, searching for the missing men. “Roy!” Johnny knelt by the body of one of the men. He felt for a pulse and found it

“I got one here, too,” Roy called. “We’re gonna need help – he’s pretty big.” Roy grabbed the HT and reported their location to Stanley.

Leaving his victim, Johnny quickly hunted around and found the third man. He was also alive.

Marco and Chet arrived a couple of moments later. They took Johnny’s two victims, leaving Johnny and Roy to deal with the big man between them. The man was tall and easily weighed 300lbs or more. The paramedics were aware of how fast their air would run out as they laboured to carry the man down the stairs, but neither of them voiced their worry. The smoke was growing thicker.

Then there were hands on their arms and Stanley was guiding them out through the front door and over to the area he had laid out ready for triage. “You guys all right?” he asked, as they laid the man down and started to rip off their air tanks and turnout coats.

“Fine,” Johnny panted, dropping to his knees to asses the first two victims, who were already on oxygen. They were coming around already and so he left them to Chet and Marco for the moment while he helped Roy with the big man they had just brought out. “Could you contact Rampart, Cap?”

“Sure,” Stanley agreed and set up the biophone. Johnny came and took the receiver from him, smiling his thanks.

“Rampart, this is squad 51. How do you read me?” Johnny had his pen out, already making notes.

“We read you loud and clear, 51.”

“Rampart, we have three victims here. Victim one…” Johnny started to reel off the statistics.

“Continue first two victims on O₂,” Brackett instructed, “and transport immediately.”

“Johnny!” Roy’s shout brought Johnny’s head up and he saw that the patient had become combative as he roused.

“Hold on, Rampart,” Johnny instructed and leapt to Roy’s aid.

As Johnny reached the man’s side, the victim pushed Roy away and the older paramedic fell back to land on his butt. Johnny grabbed the arm that was flailing in his direction and hung on, but the man was very strong. He knocked Johnny over and pinned him down.

Scrambling to help Johnny, both Roy and Cap were stunned when the victim drew a switchblade and stabbed Johnny in the chest.

Then they were on the man, along with Marco, Chet and some of the other firemen from other stations. The man was wrestled away and the police took charge of him while Roy knelt by Johnny, gasping at the blood that was pooling under his stricken friend. “Hang on, Johnny,” he urged, as he ripped a pressure bandage from its protective film.

***********************

It seemed that Johnny might die at the scene before they could get him stabilised. Roy worked feverishly to get IVs established in both arms. Johnny was drifting in and out of consciousness and wouldn’t keep still, the pain hammering at him, shortening his breath, despite the oxygen mask he wore. When Johnny nearly ripped out an IV, Roy got the ambulance men to bring over the gurney and he reluctantly had Johnny placed in restraints to keep him still.

At last, they were ready for transport.

“What a mess!” Captain Hank Stanley declared as he looked down at the scattered debris left behind by his paramedics.

“I know,” Roy Desoto agreed. He sounded depressed and tired.

“You all right, pal?” Cap asked, shooting Roy a sideways glance.

“I’ll send Chet in with the squad,” he told Roy as he started to close the ambulance doors.

***********************

They were ready and waiting at Rampart. “Treatment four!” Dixie called as the gurney dropped to the ground. The attendants were already moving. Roy followed on numbly. He stood by the door, watching as Bracket, Early and Morton fought to save his best friend’s life.

“Roy, come with me,” Dixie urged, tugging on his arm.

“No, I’ve got to stay,” Roy replied, shrugging her hand off gently. “I can’t go.” His eyes were fixed to the treatment table as Carol cut Johnny’s shirt off and Brackett hooked a unit of blood into the IV.

Relenting, Dixie said no more. She squeezed Roy’s arm in a gesture of support as they both watched the life and death struggle before them.

“Clamp that, Joe!” Brackett snapped as he swabbed away the blood.

“Got it, Kel,” Early replied, calmly. “All right, you can take the knife out now.”

The whole room froze in place as Brackett carefully pulled the knife out of Johnny’s chest. There was a trickle of blood, but it was nothing and easily dealt with. Roy let out the breath he didn’t know he was holding.

“Close,” Brackett ordered and the nurse handed him a suture. “All right, let’s get him into a room.” Brackett went over to Roy as the gurney started to move. “Roy, he’s going to be all right. He’s lost a lot of blood, but he’ll be fine.”

“Thanks, doc,” Roy replied, feeling weak at the knees.

*******************

The other men from Station 51 were clustered outside the treatment room. “Well?” Stanley demanded.

“He’s going to be all right,” Roy replied and found a smile. It was only as they walked towards the exit that the adrenalin rush faded and Roy’s knees buckled. If Stanley hadn’t been there, Roy would have fallen. The next thing he knew, he was lying on the examination table that Johnny had just vacated, being poked and prodded by Morton.

“You’re fine,” Morton finally declared. “But I’d take the rest of this shift off. Go home and rest.”

“I’ll call in for replacements,” Stanley told Roy. “You do as the doc says.”

“I’d like to see Johnny first,” Roy bargained.

“A quick visit only,” Morton agreed. “And drink this juice.” He handed the glass to the weary paramedic and watched as Roy slowly drank it down. Colour quickly returned to his cheeks and Morton was satisfied. “Ok, you can go now,” he smiled.

“Bring the squad back to the station when you’re done here,” Stanley asked. “And we’ll see you next shift.”

“Ok, Cap,” Roy agreed. He headed for the elevator.

Johnny was already settled into his room, but he was awake, despite the pain meds. “Roy?” he whispered.

“Hey, Junior,” Roy replied. He sat down by the bed and assessed his partner visually. “How’re you feelin’?”

“Like I got run over by a truck,” Johnny replied. His voice was weak and his eyes closed for a moment. “You all right?”

“The only person hurt was you,” Roy told him. “Everyone else is fine. And you’re going to be fine, too.”

“Good.” Gage closed his eyes again. “I’m tired.”

“Then sleep,” Roy advised. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Johnny was asleep before Roy had left the room.

***********************

“And in the aftermath of the fire, a firefighter/paramedic was stabbed by one of the people who had just been rescued. We understand that the injured man, Fireman John Gage, is ‘comfortable’ in Rampart General Hospital and is expected to make a full recovery from his injuries. Now onto other news…”

“Fame at last,” Johnny muttered. He flicked off the television. “I’d like to know who said I was comfortable though,” he groused.

“I dunno,” Roy replied. “You in pain?”

“A bit,” Johnny admitted. “The nurse should be here soon with my meds.” He shifted position very carefully. “What happened to the guy who stabbed me?”

“Vince took him into custody,” Roy replied. “I can’t tell you more than that.” He eyed Johnny closely, seeing the signs of pain in his partner’s face. Just as he was about to summon the nurse, she appeared and smoothly injected the painkiller into the IV port.

The lines of strain in Johnny’s face began to smooth out. Roy knew the time had come to take his leave. Johnny would soon be sleeping again. “See you later, Junior.”

“Bye, Pally,” Johnny murmured.

Pausing at the door, Roy gave his sleeping partner one last smile. It was good to know that Johnny was going to be all right.

The End

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July Stories Page Stories by Rona