Decisions, Decisions

A Short E! Story

By Captain Jack

"Hey, Roy?," John Gage asked as he looked up from his coffee cup. He and his partner, Roy DeSoto, had been working together several years and were now seated at the table in the Day Room waiting for the rest of the crew to arrive.

"Yeah?"

"What are ‘you’ going to do Saturday night?"

This was the first time Station 51's A-shift had Halloween off in a number of years. All of the men were excited about it and busy making plans.

"Me? Johnny, what do you think I'm going to do? Joanne is going to pass out the candy and I am taking the kids door to door. Same as last time."

"Oh, yeah. Sorry," he smiled sheepishly.

"What about you, Johnny? I'm sure ‘you’ have some interesting plans." Sometimes he was a bit jealous of his partner. Johnny was still single and carefree.

"I dunno, Roy. I was invited to a party in my apartment building but I'm not sure I want to go. I don't have a costume or anything and I don't have a date."

"Go by yourself. You just might meet someone there."

"Maybe. I'm still thinking about it."

"You should go. Enjoy it while you can," he grinned. Although he couldn't imagine his partner settling down any time soon, he knew that one day it would happen.

"I guess I will. I ‘did’ hear that one of the girls on the third floor is supposed to go as Lady Godiva," he said waggling his eyebrows and grinning. "Could be interesting if you know what I mean."

Roy laughed at his friend. "I can't imagine you'd want to miss ‘that’!" The two men were still laughing when Chet Kelly entered the room.

"What's so funny, guys?"

"Just talking about this Halloween party Johnny is going to on Saturday night."

"Can't believe someone invited you to a party, Gage. Must be desperate."

"Har har, Chet. It's in my apartment complex."

"Oh, so what are you going to dress as?"

"I haven't decided yet."

"C'mon, Gage. That's only two days away! All the good costumes have got to be gone by now."

"I'm still thinking about it, Chet."

"Don't think too hard. You might strain something," he said laughing.

"You’re quite the comedian, Chet. What are ‘you’ doing Halloween night? Besides scaring every child within a thirty mile radius."

"Now who's the comedian? You are so not funny, Gage. It just so happens I have a date for Saturday night. We are going to the haunted stadium party at UCLA. Mildred is a student there and got us tickets."

"You? Dating a student?" Johnny said in amazement.

"Yeah, Gage. She's studying psychology or something like that."

"Oh, I see. She’s dating you to have a subject for her thesis, eh?" he chuckled.

"Her what?"

"Never mind, Chet," said Roy rolling his eyes.

Chet snapped his fingers and pointed at the younger paramedic. "I know! You could go as Tonto from the Lone Ranger. What d'ya think?"

"I think you have lost it, Chet. No way."

"Why not? It fits you. Indian...sidekick..."

"NO way," Johnny repeated angrily. He didn't appreciate Chet's suggestion at all.

"It's not that bad a suggestion, Johnny. Although he could have used his head a little more before opening his mouth. Why not go as the Lone Ranger instead?"

Johnny snorted. "No, I'll think of something."

Marco Lopez entered the kitchen humming and poured a cup of coffee before joining the men at the table. "Good morning, guys. What's going on?" It wasn’t hard to notice that Johnny didn't look happy.

"Nothing, just talking about Halloween," said Roy. "What are ‘you’ doing Saturday night?"

"Me? Oh, I am going with my sister Rosa and her kids trick-or-treating. We have our route already planned then back to Mama's for a huge supper. Then we are going to watch the horror movies on tv until midnight."

"Sounds like fun."

"Yeah, it should be. My nieces and nephews are old enough to really enjoy it this year."

"Gage needs ideas for a Halloween costume. Got any suggestions, Marco?" Chet asked as he twirled his spoon in his coffee cup.

"No ideas, Johnny? How about a doctor or a vampire?"

Johnny nodded thoughtfully. "Those are good ideas, Marco, thanks."

"Hey! My idea was good too!" said Chet huffily.

Marco looked at Roy. "What did he suggest?" he asked quietly.

Roy whispered, "Tonto." Marco shook his head and muttered under his breath about Chet never learning what not to say to Johnny.

"Yeah right, Chet," said Gage.

Mike Stoker and Hank Stanley soon came into the day room and sat down with their coffee. There were still fifteen minutes left until roll call. At Johnny's last statement Hank looked at Roy. "Do I even want to know?"

"Just talking about Halloween, Cap."

"Oh, okay. Sounds safe enough."

Mike said, "I'm staying home this year. Jenna is too small to go out, Kathy and I will give out candy and watch tv."

"Yeah, we're doing the same. The girls are all going to be at friends houses this year so it will be a quiet night at home for us too," said Cap.

"Gage here needs a costume," Chet stated to the last two to join the conversation.

"Oh, hmmm...," said Hank.

"Why not go as a firefighter," suggested the engineer.

"How about a cowboy or a space alien?" suggested Captain Stanley.

"Those are good ideas. Thanks, guys. I think I’ll take Marco up on his idea though."

"Oh, you going to be a vampire?" asked Marco.

"Nope, a doctor! Maybe I can assist Miss Godiva if she shows up," he grinned causing Roy to start laughing.

Hank shook his head and looked at his watch. "Okay, time for line-up. I trust no one will be late this morning?"

The rest of the crew laughed. Then they got up, one by one, to put their coffee cups in the sink before heading into the Apparatus Bay.