I don't own the characters from "Emergency!" I'm just borrowing them. This is part one of a two part story. Any and all feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Firechick51
Part 1
John Roderick Gage was standing in front of the fireplace on his 25th wedding anniversary looking at the wedding photo of him, his beautiful wife Shawna, and the rest of their friends from Station 51 and Rampart Emergency Hospital. He was remembering the days that led up to their wedding. He was sitting at the table looking at the three wedding invitations that his fiancée, Lt. Shawna Williams had dropped off for him. They were getting married in June and she needed to know which invitation that he liked.
“Looks like Shawna left you with a hard decision, Gage.” Chet Kelly replied when he saw his friend sitting at the table looking over three invitations.
“Yeah and I don’t know which one to pick. I told her that whatever she wanted for the wedding would be fine with me. I wouldn’t mind just having a small wedding but I’ve heard that women want a church wedding.”
“They do pal.” Captain Hank Stanley replied as he walked in on the conversation with the rest of the crew of Station 51. “Women like to have the church wedding, the white dress, the flowers, and then the reception.”
“But why do I have to help pick things out?” Johnny grumbled as he looked over the three invitations.
“It’s because she wants your advice. She would like for you to let her know what you want and don’t want in this wedding. So that when you guys have been married for ten years, you won’t complain that you didn’t have a chocolate cake, or shrimp at the reception.” Roy DeSoto, his partner for the last seven years told him.
“I still remember the first time that I saw Shawna.” Johnny replied as he was looking over the invitations.
“The day that we responded to the fire at the orphanage?” Roy asked.
“I thought that she was just there to help out, it wasn’t until about three months later that I found out that she financed all three of the orphanages here in Los Angeles County.”
“I still remember the look on your face when you saw her take off toward the building when she realized that there was still a child inside.” Hank remarked as he poured himself a cup of coffee.
“I don’t know who reached that front entrance first, you or her.” Roy replied.
“I think it was a tie.” Johnny replied with a boyish grin. “I remember telling her that I would go in and she pulled away from me and took off inside.”
“I still remember the two of you getting into an argument when she walked out with the boy in her arms.” Chet chimed in on the conversation.
“She seemed very professional though when she told you that she knew the risk she was taking when she ran back into the building.” Roy replied.
“I guess that I just didn’t like the fact that she took the risk even if I didn’t know her.”
“And what about the day that you found out she was a police officer.” Chet remarked.
“I still remember the day that she walked up to our display at the high school’s career day. One of the kids said ‘Hi Shawna’ and when you saw her in that uniform I thought that you were going to faint.” Roy remarked with a slight laugh.
“It wasn’t funny, Roy. I didn’t even know that she was a police officer until that day. She never said anything about her job.”
“And you never asked.” They all turned when they heard a female voice behind them.
“Hi sweetheart,” Johnny said smiling as he walked over and kissed her, “I didn’t know that you were stopping by today.”
“I was in the neighborhood and thought that I’d stop in and see what you thought of the invitations. How are you guys?” She asked the other five men in the kitchen.
“We’re doing just fine. How have you been? We haven’t seen you around here for over a week.” Hank replied.
“I’m doing fine. I’ve been busy training a new class so I’ve not been on the streets this week. One of the other officers has them on the range for a couple of hours so that gave me some time to get away. I stopped by Chief Hauts office and he has said that he’s going to stand down 51 from 12 to 6, on June 16, 1979, for our wedding day. He said that he might try to get one of the other stations to come here and cover the watch for those six hours.”
“That’s great. How did you talk the chief into doing that?” Hank asked.
“I just asked if he would stand the station down for a few hours so that everyone could come to our wedding. Since Johnny worked all three shifts and I knew all of the guys, I felt like everyone would like to come to the wedding. He said that he thought that would be a great idea. So which invitation have you picked out?” She asked as she poured a cup of coffee and looked over Johnny’s shoulder at the three cards lying on the table.
“I haven’t. I can’t decide which one I like. Have you thought about where we are going to have the ceremony?” Johnny asked as she sat down beside him.
“As a matter of fact, I have. I’ve been thinking about having it at my ranch.”
“Your ranch?” Chet replied. They both just looked at him and Shawna smiled.
“Yes, my ranch. Here’s how I thought we could do it,” she replied as she pulled a small notebook from her shirt pocket, “I have all of this space her that we can use for parking. I can hire a couple of guys to park cars. They can turn them around and have everyone headed back down the driveway.” She replied as she drew out the plans.
“OK.” Johnny replied.
“Then, I have the arch there at the sidewalk entrance, I thought that you and the preacher could stand there, and then I’ll come down and meet you there.”
“Who is going to walk you down the aisle?” Chet asked.
“Chet will you please?” Johnny started but Shawna stopped him.
“He’s OK. I don’t know yet. I have someone in mind that I’m going to ask today and if he says no then I’ll go to my backup plan.” She replied with a smile.
“Sounds good to me.” Chet replied.
“Thanks Chet.” Shawna replied with a laugh.
“What else?” Johnny asked.
“Well, we can have everyone seated right outside the fence. The ground is level so there won’t be a problem there. Then I’ll have tables set up over here on this side of the house and we can have the food either catered or do a cookout. Which one do you all like?” She asked the men.
“Cookout.” They all replied.
“Just like a man.” She laughed. “What about you?” She asked Johnny as he was looking over the small drawing in front of him.
“Cookout sounds good to me.”
“OK, cookout it is. Then I figure that I can get a dance floor set up over here on this side of the house and have a DJ come in to play the music. Then once everyone leaves, we’ll spend the night at the ranch and then leave the next morning for two weeks in Hawaii.” She replied with a smile.
“Sounds like a pretty good plan.” Johnny replied and Shawna noticed the tone in his voice as if he was thinking about the cost.
“Hey, why don’t you walk me out?” She asked and then took his hand. “I’ll talk to you all later.” She told the men as they stood to walk out.
“Don’t be a stranger around here.” Hank told her.
“I won’t.” She replied and then walked out the door. Once outside, she turned towards Johnny. “What’s wrong?”
“What?” He asked as if he were in a daze.
“What’s wrong? I noticed that your tone changed in there when I mentioned having the ceremony at my place.”
“I was just thinking how much this is going to cost.” He replied and couldn’t bear to look her in the eyes.
“Johnny, it’s the bride who pays for the wedding. I’m not worried about the cost, I’m just worried about having everything picked out and ready for the ceremony. The preacher has us booked, I’ve got the cakes ordered, and now I’ll go order the food. I have to get the invitations to the printer and write a wedding announcement. Plus, we haven’t heard from your family yet so, we don’t know whether they are coming or not, but I do have a whole floor reserved at the hotel for them..” She replied as she placed her hand on his cheek and tilted his head upward so she could look into his big brown eyes.
“Johnny. Johnny.” He suddenly snapped out of the daze that he was in.
“What? Did you say something, Roy?”
“Are you OK? You’re missing a great party.”
“I was just thinking about this day twenty-five years ago. Remember the fun that we had at the reception outside?” Johnny asked with a slight laugh.
“How could I forget? That was the day when you accidentally hit Chet with a horseshoe.” Roy recalled with a laugh.
“Oh man, I thought that I had killed him.”
“So did everyone else. He was out cold. When he did come around, Brackett wanted to transport him to Rampart but Chet refused to go. He said that he didn’t want to ruin your reception.”
“Remember what Shawna told him?”
“Told who?” A familiar voice asked.
“Told you the day we got married when I accidentally hit you with a horseshoe.”
“I think I recall her telling me that if I died at her wedding, she would revive me and then kill me herself.” Chet remarked with a laugh. “She was tough back then.”
“She still is.” Johnny replied with a smile.
“It’s hard to believe that you two have been married for twenty-five years and she hasn’t killed you.” Chet told his friend.
“Yet!” Johnny and Roy both replied.
“I still remember that day as if it were yesterday.” Johnny replied as he looked across the house and saw Shawna in the kitchen with Joanne DeSoto and Dixie McCall Brackett.
The original A-shift of Station 51 had moved up the career ladder. Johnny and Roy were both Battalion Chiefs with two different sections of Los Angeles County. Mike, Marco, and Chet were all captains. In addition, their boss, Captain Hank Stanley, had made chief but had died in the line of duty when he was caught in a building explosion five years earlier in 1999. The men had all lived with the fear that 9/11 had brought and the way that it changed the country.
“I can’t believe that the kids planned this gathering.” Shawna told the two women.
“They have been planning this all year.” Joanne replied as she picked up a soda.
“Your grandkids spent the night with our grandkids in the basement just so Katie and Brad could take you two out this morning and allow everyone to come out here.”
“I was a little suspicious when they offered to take us out and then they said that the kids had something planned, but I never dreamed that they had all of this planned.”
“I can’t believe that it’s been 25 years since you and Johnny got married. You still look as young as you did back then.” Dixie told her as they all walked outside.
“I think that you need to have your eyes examined if you think that I look anything like I did back then.” Shawna replied as she watched the guy’s start a game of horseshoes. “Chet you be careful.” She called out and everyone started laughing..
“I will.” He replied as the ladies sat at one of the picnic tables and continued their conversation.
“Is Johnny OK?” Joanne asked as she too had noticed Johnny lost in thought earlier.
“Yes. There are times that I catch him looking at the photo of our wedding and I know that he is thinking of Hank and Joe.”
“It’s hard to believe that they aren’t around anymore.” Dixie replied.
“I still remember the day that each one passed away. There are days that I still see Joe suddenly collapsing here in the yard and there was nothing that six people with medical training could do to save him.” Shawna said softly as she watched her grandchildren playing with the grandchildren of the other firemen.
“I know that Kel almost left Rampart after that day.” Dixie told the others.
“Roy almost left the paramedic program too.”
“Johnny was going to leave too. He talked to me about leaving and I told him that if he did that he would be dishonoring Joe’s memory.”
“That’s what I told Kel.”
“I told Roy that it was his decision but that I didn’t think that’s what Joe would have wanted.” Suddenly everyone around heard ‘Gramma.’
“Oh that’s my cue. Excuse me.” Shawna got up and went over to where the kids were playing. Johnny and the others stopped to watch her.
“Why did Mandi call for Shawna?” Chet asked Johnny.
“They always call for Shawna when they get hurt or don’t feel well..”
“Of course, grandma makes things better.” Roy replied.
“She sure does. Excuse me fellows.” Johnny replied as he walked toward the house.
“What do we have here?” Shawna asked as she bent down to look at her eight-year-old granddaughter’s leg.
“I have an owie.” Mandi replied as she wiped a tear away.
“Well why don’t we go inside and I’ll fix your owie.” Shawna replied as she took her granddaughter’s hand.
“OK.” The two women walked back across the yard and went inside.
“She OK?” Johnny asked about two minutes later as he walked into the bathroom; saw Mandi sitting on the sink, and Shawna applying a band-aid to her leg.
“She OK?” Katie came in behind her dad.
“She’s fine. She just skinned her leg.”
“And Gramma fixed me up.” The little girl with big brown eyes and a missing tooth replied.
“I can see that.” Katie replied to her daughter. “Just be careful.” She told her as she started out the door.
“I will.” They all heard and then laughter from all the other kids.
“She always wants Gramma.” Katie replied as she watched her little girl run back outside to play.
“Just like her mother used to want mommy.” Johnny replied as he gently squeezed his daughter’s shoulder. “I was the paramedic but when any of you were hurt, you wanted mommy.”
“Kids are like that dear. Mommy always makes things better..” Shawna replied with a smile as she wrapped her arms around Johnny’s neck and kissed him. Brad walked into the house, saw his parents kissing each other, and coughed. “Hello Brad.” Shawna replied when she broke the kiss.
“Mom, we have another surprise for you and dad. I need you to go upstairs with Katie and dad I need you to come with me.” Their oldest son Brad told his parents.
“What are you up to Bradley Michael Gage?” Shawna asked as she looked at the two oldest of their eight children.
“It’s a surprise but we think you’ll like it. Now, please go on upstairs with Katie. Everyone is outside getting ready.” He told his mother as he kissed her cheek. Shawna and Johnny went with their kids to get ready for their next surprise. Meanwhile outside, their other six kids were helping prepare for the next step in the anniversary party.
“Allen, let’s get these chairs set up over here.” His sister Kelsey was directing the set up. “Chris, do you and Billy care to help?” She asked Chris DeSoto and Billy Stoker.
“Sure.” They answered in unison. The DeSoto kids and the Stoker kids had grown up together with Katie and her other brothers and sisters that Johnny and Shawna had adopted, but Chris fell for Amy Stoker and his sister, Jennifer, had fallen for Billy Stoker. Eventually they married making both the DeSoto and Stoker families bigger, and thrilled their families once they started bringing grandchildren into the families.
“I can’t believe that these kids decided to do a wedding for a 25th anniversary party.” Kelly Brackett remarked to Mike Stoker.
“I couldn’t either but then you would have to figure that those kids would do something wonderful for their parents. After all, Johnny and Shawna took eight kids from the orphanage, each of them brothers and sisters, and brought them into a family.” Mike replied thinking about each time Johnny had told them that they were going to adopt two more kids.
“The funny thing is, they never adopted infants. They always took in the older children. Made them feel like they were wanted and they never played favorites with any of them. They treated them all the same and gave each one the education that they wanted.” Kelly replied. “I remember the first time that Johnny said Brad was going into the paramedic program.”
“I remember that day too. He came into the station upset and Capt. Stanley asked what was wrong. Johnny told us that Brad had decided to join the paramedic program. He was proud of his son but he preferred that he go into a different line of work.”
“What did Hank tell Johnny?”
“He told Johnny that he knew how he felt but the he should be proud that his son wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps.”
“So what are you two guys talking about?” Johnny asked as he walked up to his two friends, looking all dashing in his black tuxedo.
“The day that Brad told you he wanted to join the paramedic program.” Mike replied.
“I remember that day. I was proud that Brad wanted to follow my footsteps, but I was also worried about him. I knew how dangerous this job is and I just prayed every day when he became a paramedic that he wouldn’t get hurt. Can you believe that these kids have pulled off recreating our wedding day? This is amazing. I can just imagine the tears that Shawna is crying right now. Do either of you know who they have walking her down the aisle this time? I know that she would’ve loved to have had Hank here just like we all would.”
“It’s hard to believe that he has been gone for five years.” Mike replied.
“I know that Shawna blames herself at times because she was there when the building collapsed and she couldn’t get to Hank.”
“I think that you’ll like who is going to walk your wife down the aisle.” Kel replied.
“Mom you look absolutely stunning.” Katie told her mother as she looked into the mirror at her mother. Shawna looked at her reflection in the mirror and the dress that the girls had picked out was simple yet elegant. It was a beautiful cream color sleeveless dress, with a matching jacket and knee length skirt. The jacket was adorned all in sequins and had pearl buttons on the front.
“Katie, I can’t believe that you kids pulled something like this off and we never knew anything about it.” Shawna replied as she gently wiped a tear away.
“We just thought that you and daddy would like to renew your vows in front of your family and friends.”
“Sweetheart, this is the best anniversary present that you kids could give us.” Suddenly there was a knock at the door. “Who is it?” Shawna asked.
“It’s Brad.”
“Come in.” Brad came in and stopped as he looked at his sister and mother standing there in front of him.
“What’s wrong?” Shawna asked worried.
“Nothing mom. You look absolutely amazing. I know that dad is going to fall in love with you all over again.”
“Are you sure that I look OK?”
“You look fine but you are missing just a few things.”
“Such as?”
“I believe it’s customary to have something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.”
“Bradley that’s for new brides.” Shawna replied as she took a Kleenex and dabbed at the tear in her eye.
“That’s for all brides, mom.” Katie replied.
“This is the something old.” Brad told her as he handed her a small square box. Shawna opened the box and inside was the lace handkerchief that she carried at the first wedding.
“Where did you find this?” She asked as she looked at the two kids. Even though her children were all adults, they would still be children to her.
“Morgan found it upstairs one day and she thought that we could use it one day.” Katie replied as she handed her mom the second box. “This is the something new and something blue.” Shawna took the slender box and when she opened it, there was a beautiful tennis bracelet with diamonds and sapphires.
“Guys, this is too much. Why aren’t the other kids up here too?”
“They wanted the two of us to give these to you so they could finish setting up outside.” Brad replied. “And now for the something borrowed.” He handed her another slender box and when she opened it, she saw Joanne DeSoto’s gold bracelet.
“Joanne’s bracelet?”
“Yes. She said that she would be honored for you to wear it. You’ve become a big part of her family and she loved you like a sister.” Shawna wiped the tears away with the Kleenex and looked at Brad and Katie.
“OK, so who do you have walking me down the aisle to Johnny?”
“You’ll find out when you get downstairs. Now what do you say we get this wedding on the road?” Brad asked as he gave his mother a hug.
“I’m ready.” Shawna replied and checked her makeup one last time.
“OK, I’ll go and get dad in place and then you ladies come out. Mom, we’ll have the bridal music ready when you get downstairs.” The two adults left the room and then Shawna opened the door and came down the stairs. Once she reached the bottom, she was greeted with a familiar voice.
“Are you ready, Mrs. Gage?” She turned and there stood Roy in a tuxedo grinning from ear to ear.
“Oh my gosh. Roy, you look so handsome.”
“I know that I’m not Hank but the kids didn’t think that you and Johnny would mind if I walked you down the aisle this time.”
“I would be honored.” Shawna replied as she took his arm and then leaned over and kissed his cheek.
“What was that for?” He asked blushing.
“For being a friend.” They waited and then heard the tunes of the bridal march start. Roy opened the screen door and they both walked outside. You could hear all of the oohs and aah’s as they stepped outside. Shawna saw the smile on Johnny’s face when he saw his best friend walk his wife down the aisle. Then he flashed back to 25 years ago and saw his captain, Hank Stanley, walking his fiancée down the same aisle. Shawna and Johnny were standing so that they faced their family and friends and the preacher had his back toward the crowd.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in the bonds of Holy Matrimony. If anyone has any objections to this union, let them speak now or forever hold your peace.” They all waited and no one spoke. “Who gives this woman away?” He asked.
“We do!” All of their kids and grandkids shouted. Everyone laughed at the outburst.
“Thanks guys.” Shawna replied with a laugh as she and Johnny looked at all eight of their kids: Brad and his sister Katie; Allen and his brother Steve; Kelsey and her sister Morgan; and Rick and his sister Michelle.
“Do you Johnny Roderick Gage take Shawna to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, from this day forward. For better or worse. For richer or poorer. In sickness and in health, ‘til death do you part?”
“I do.” Johnny replied with a smile that always captured Shawna’s heart.
“Do you Shawna Joanne Gage take Johnny to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, from this day forward. For better or worse. For richer or poorer. In sickness and in health, ‘til death do you part?”
“I do.” She replied with a wink.
“May I have the rings please?” The preacher asked and their oldest grandson, Jackson Henry Gage, walked up carrying a small pillow.
“Johnny, if you will take this ring, place it on her left hand, and repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed.”
“With this ring, I thee wed.” Johnny repeated as he slipped the ring on Shawna’s left hand.
“Shawna, if you take this ring, place it on Johnny’s left hand, and repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed.”
“With this ring, I thee wed.” Shawna repeated as she slipped the ring on Johnny’s finger.
“Ladies and gentlemen, what God hath joined together, let no man puteth under. By the powers vested in me, by the state of California, I know pronounce you two man and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Johnny kissed Shawna and it felt just like it did 25 years ago. Everyone began to clap and whistle for the couple.
The anniversary party/wedding went onto for a few more hours. They said goodbye to the guys of Station 51, around 5:30p.m., since they had to get back to work. Everyone else stayed until almost 9p.m. The kids had cleaned up the party and then everyone left and went to their homes or to the hotels where they were staying.
“Can you believe those kids?” Shawna asked as she started to walk into the house.
“Hold it just a minute, Mrs. Gage.” He replied as he stopped her.
“Why?” She asked not thinking that he was going to carry her across the threshold.”
“I believe that it’s customary for the husband to carry his bride across the threshold.”
“Johnny Gage don’t you dare. You’ll throw your back out.” She told him as he picked her up. He carried her across the threshold, set her down, and then kissed her the way he did the first time they were married.
“You’re just as beautiful as you were the first time that we were married.” He told her and he held her close not wanting to let her go. The sounds of Exile’s “Kiss You All Over” could be heard as they slow danced
“And you’re just as handsome. Johnny?”
“Yes.”
“Do you ever regret that we never had kids of our own? I mean kids to carry on the Gage bloodline..” She asked as she looked into his big brown eyes.
“No way. Yes, there were times when I wished that we could’ve had children to carry on my bloodline, but I’ve never regretted the fact that we adopted all of those kids. Just look at the beautiful grandchildren that we have to show for it.” He replied as he kissed her forehead. Little did either one of them know as they stood there dancing, that in seven months both of their lives would be changed.
