Hee Bee Gee Bees

By Wee2E!s

(E51Writer and Julie H.)

“Man oh man, Roy! You should see this chick! She is hot!”

Roy DeSoto looked over at his partner briefly before shaking his head and returning his attentions to driving the squad back to the station. They had just left Rampart after a particularly grueling run, and all he wanted was to get back and grab some lunch before they got called out again.

“Those eyes – I swear she looked right inside me Roy, like she knew me!”

“Who?” Roy finally asked, giving in to what he knew could only be the start of a very long ride back in.

“Suzanne,” Johnny answered with an exasperated tone. “Haven’t you been listening to me?”

“Uh-huh, um, how long have you known her?”

“I just met her on our last trip to Rampart - but that doesn’t matter. Sometimes you just know when you’ve met someone who’s gonna be special in your life, ya know?”

Roy couldn’t help the smile that crept across his face. “So, Junior, does this mean you’re going to want to get out of helping me this weekend? I know plenty of things I’d rather be doing than my ‘honey-do’ list, and if you want to take this girl out instead …”

“Oh no. Nope, I’m not letting that get in the way of helping my friend get his house and yard all straight for the summer. Besides, the next weekend we get off, you’re supposed to come help me, remember?”

Roy couldn’t help but laugh at his friend’s unique logic. Backing into the bay, they both laughed, feeling some relief from their previous run as that anxiety began to dissipate.

~*~*~

Lunch was good, and the conversation was light as the men finished eating their sandwiches without being called out.

Although the squad had endured several runs that morning, the engine had only been out on one, and that had been a small garage fire with no complications. Now restless, having completed the work needing to be done around the barn, Marco and Chet decided to wash up the lunch dishes while Cap, Johnny and Roy caught up their paperwork.

Having nothing really that needed to be worked on, Mike decided to venture out to the back of the station and pull weeds from around its foundation. He’d started the project during his last shift the day before last, but being toned out one too many times kept him from finishing the deed. It was a thankless job, but it would get him outside, where the fresh air would hopefully help re-energize him from his previous night’s restlessness.

“Dammit!” he hissed, swatting at yet another bug biting at his arm. He’d already fought off several flies, and cursed inwardly, figuring that this year was going to be a bad one where the pesky insects were concerned. They were at him just as bad as the last time he worked outside.

When the tones sounded, he was more than ready to leave his voluntary task and get to earning his pay.

The engine and squad had been called out to a carnival on the southern side of town. It was one of those make-shift ones that was up and running in one day and then gone a week later. There were a few rides and a few magic shows, and then there were a few wild animals, caged and confined in an area that the public could visit.

When they arrived on the scene, they discovered that one of the animals, a baby cougar, had escaped its cage. No one had been hurt by the harmless creature, but people had panicked when they saw the animal free, and a small rush from the exiting crowd had resulted in a little girl being knocked down.

Johnny and Roy assessed the young child, and soon realized that she had just been winded – the breath knocked out of her. After thoroughly checking her over, they told her parents that Rampart advised she be taken to their personal physician, and they happily agreed to do so.

Captain Stanley made both the engine and squad available once more, glad to see that this run was not life threatening for anyone involved.

~*~*~

As everyone returned to their vehicles, no one noticed Mike’s slowness to get back into the fire engine. But when the Captain got in, there was nothing to notice. Mike was behind the wheel, feeling a little tired and inwardly blasting himself for not sleeping enough the night before. But, from all appearances, he was fine.

The squad pulled out first, followed by the engine. They had driven about three miles when Captain Stanley began hearing something and leaned forward, trying to determine what the noise was.

“Mike? I think we got a bearing or something going out on this side – you feel anything funny in the steering column?”

Looking at his engineer, he saw the man nod negatively and then returned his focus down in front of him. It was hard to hear much of anything through the diesel engine’s droning noises, but he knew he heard something that was off-kilter with the normal sounds he was used to.

“It sounds weird. I think I’ll call Charlie over when we get back and – Mike! Mike!”

Cap felt the wheel jerk while he was talking and looked up in time to see his driver slump over towards him. He grabbed at the steering wheel with his right hand - correcting their direction, heading right into a bend in the road, while keeping Mike from going head first between the two chairs with his other hand. Luckily, he was able to get them out of immediate danger, even if he did severely twist his back in the process. Marco jumped up from his seat in the back, taking the steering wheel from Captain Stanley as Chet grabbed Mike, helping to get him out of Marco’s way while at the same time relieving the captain of all the engineer’s weight on his left arm. Marco stepped over the semi-conscious engineer, placing himself in the driver’s seat just long enough to pull the big rig over and park it safely on the side of the road.

~*~*~

Roy was driving casually down the road, keeping a constant check on his surroundings as they headed back to the station.

“That little girl sure did scare me good when we got to her – she was so still, man, I thought she was gone,” Johnny said, wiping the hair from across his forehead.

“Yeah – I know what you mean,” Roy answered, “ I was having a hard time not seeing Jennifer laying there. I hate it when we get calls involving kids.”

“At least this one turned out good – ya know, if those parents had just kept an eye on her instead of letting her wander like that, nothing would’ve probably happened to her. I mean, what if it had been one of the bigger animals that got loose, or what if the same people that knocked her over trampled her down or something?”

Roy nodded his agreement, knowing his partner was right, but also knowing this wasn’t the end of the conversation – not by a long shot. Johnny had a tendency to rant when he felt justified. And in this case, he was.

Glancing at his side mirror, Roy happened to see the engine jerking from one side of the lane to the other as it came around the same curve he’d just driven through.

“What the hell?”

The excitability in Roy’s voice made Johnny immediately look at his partner, then out at his own side mirror, catching the engine pulling swiftly towards the median from the side of the road. As Roy slowed down the squad, both men watched as the rig was pulled off the asphalt and onto the gravel. Bringing the squad to a sudden stop, Roy threw it in reverse, backing up quickly in front of 51’s engine.

~*~*~

Parking the squad, Roy and Johnny quickly jumped out, running over to the passenger side of the fire engine to find out what had just happened. They got there as Captain Stanley jumped painfully out of the cab, at the same time telling them that Mike had collapsed while driving.

The two stunned paramedics wasted no time running back to the squad to get their equipment while Marco and Chet worked in unison to carefully extract the engineer from the rig. Cap called in the code I and gave their approximate address so an ambulance could be quickly dispatched to their location.

Johnny and Roy returned to find Mike laying on the ground. His eyes were open but the paramedics could tell that they kept losing their focus. Johnny glanced at Roy with that look – the look that said ‘this is bad, really bad’. None of the other men from the engine noticed the look because they were looking at Cap.

Roy’s attention was briefly diverted from his fallen comrade to his boss.

“Guys, Cap needs help here.” Chet was standing behind Captain Stanley supporting his upper torso. Marco was moving to help Cap to the ground.

Hank Stanley raised his hands and gritted his teeth. “No. No, take care of Mike. I’ll be fine.” The grimace on Cap’s face did not say ‘fine’ to any of the men around him.

“Cap?” Roy started to move towards his superior.

“No, Roy. Take care of Mike.”

As Roy leaned back down towards Mike, Cap screamed in pain. Roy and Johnny turned to see Captain Stanley drop to his knees.

“You okay here, Junior?”

“No, but go.” Johnny was noticing a change in breathing patterns in Mike.

As Roy approached Cap, he got Marco’s attention. “Marco, call in another Code I. Chet…”

“NO! I SAID NO!! Go back to Mike. It’s just my back. I’m not gonna die.” A stunned moment of silence followed Cap’s last statement. The silence was only broken by the sound of Johnny’s voice.

“Damn it all. Hey Roy - I need you.” Johnny reached for the O2 and placed the mask on Mike’s face.

Roy gave Cap a final glance before returning to his partner’s side.

“Junior?”

“ His breathing is becoming more labored and his pulse is slowing – down to 50 now. His eyes,” Johnny looked at Mike’s face and saw that the situation had worsened, “Dammit! His eyes are swollen shut.”

Roy grabbed the biophone as Johnny began ripping the clothes off Mike. “Help me with the turnout coat, Chet. Marco, take his shoes off. Start looking at his feet and legs for anything. Any marks. Any blisters or bites.”

“No, Rampart, we have not determined the cause yet.” Roy looked at Johnny – his eyes questioning his partner, hoping that he would correct Roy’s last statement to Dr. Brackett. Johnny shook his head ‘no’ without looking up.

“He’s out, Roy.” Mike had been semi-conscious since his friends removed him from the engine. As Mike’s head rolled to the side, the situation went from bad to worse.

With the turnout coat off, Mike was laid back down flat. Johnny began searching Mike’s upper body when Roy returned to his side.

“What’s wrong, Mike? C’mon, what’s causing this?” Johnny searched Mike’s right arm for any clues while Roy started an IV in the left arm.

Roy reached into the drug box and pulled out the epinephrine. Measuring the exact amount that Dr. Brackett had ordered, Roy administered the drug that would help regulate Mike’s pulse rate.

Roy reached for the biophone and Johnny grabbed Mike’s left arm. Pushing Mike’s sleeve up, Johnny’s confusion increased. “There’s marks on this arm but they look old.”

“They are.” Everyone looked up to see Cap standing above them. “He got bitten by some bugs out back on our last shift. They raised some welts – some hives…”

“We didn’t…”

“No, Johnny, you were out on a run. He had some over-the-counter allergy medicine so he just took it. Then we got toned out on that big fire and I guess we were so tired by the time that we got back to the station that no one thought about it.” Cap was regretting not mentioning the bites to his paramedics.

Johnny turned his attention back to Mike. He grabbed Mike’s shirt by the collar and ripped it open. “There it is.” A huge welt was raised on Mike’s collarbone. As Johnny pulled the shirt further away, a black bug the size of a nail head fell out.

“Must be a different kind of bug, huh?”

“No, Chet, with anaphylactic shock, sometimes it’s the second reaction that will kill you.” Johnny regretted his comment the second it escaped from his mouth. Deciding that the best thing to do was continue the explanation, he continued. “The first reaction isn’t usually dangerous but it sets up the conditions for the second reaction.”

“Helluva way to get out of weeding, Pal.” Cap knew his engineer couldn’t hear him.

“Roy, he’s dropping again. Roy?” Johnny was getting a new read on all the vitals when Mike’s heart slowed again. “Where the hell is the ambulance?”

“10-4, Rampart.” Roy reached into the drug box again. Preparing another injection, he surprised everyone by bypassing the IV and administering another injection of epinephrine directly into Mike’s chest. Roy quickly followed the epinephrine with a shot of anti-histamine. Roy and Johnny traded that glance again, but this time, Roy’s glance was accompanied by a fretful frown.

“Finally!” The relief in Chet’s voice spoke for everyone as the ambulance pulled up to the scene.

As Johnny jumped into the back of the ambulance with Mike’s stretcher, Roy guided Cap in beside him.

“I’m fine.”

“Yeah, Cap, I know you are”, Roy said rolling his eyes. “But, Dr. Brackett wants to see for himself.”

Captain Stanley was still complaining as Roy closed the doors of the ambulance.

~*~*~

Roy was in the treatment room with Mike while Johnny was standing at the end of the hall talking to Suzanne when the rest of the guys got to the hospital. Marco and Chet had been delayed. They had to wait for an engineer to be dispatched to the scene since no one left at the scene was certified to drive the engine.

“Gage!” Chet yelled down to the paramedic. Getting no response, he yelled louder. “GAGE!!”

Johnny shot a frustrated look at his yelling shift-mate. He turned back to Suzanne and, touching her gently on the arm, bade her good-bye. He stomped towards Chet, shaking his finger as he approached.

“Don’t even start with me, Gage. What the hell are you doing talking to chicks when Mike and Cap …”

“Are fine. When they are FINE, Chet. What kinda guy do you think I am? You think I’d be talking to a woman…albeit a mighty fine woman…if I didn’t know for sure that Cap and Mike were going to be okay?” The quick flash of anger on Johnny’s face was replaced by a pleasant smile. “MIGHTY fine woman.”

Chet rolled his eyes, but not before leaning around the paramedic to take a look at this latest infatuation of Johnny’s.

“So where are Cap and Mike?” Chet asked with exasperation.

“They’re both in treatment room three.”

“They’re really gonna be okay?” Marco asked, still worried.

“We’re fine,” the Captain interrupted as he walked stiffly into the hallway. “Nothing that a good night’s rest won’t take care of for the both of us. Hope you guys don’t mind a couple of replacements until next shift.”

No one minded – all very grateful that their crewmates really were okay.

~*~*~

When their shift arrived for work a couple of days later, the captain and engineer looked well and rested. Questioning eyes followed them both around the apparatus bay as formation was starting for roll call.

“What already?” Captain Stanley barked, slightly annoyed at the eyes that followed him.

“You’re really okay, Cap?” Roy asked, his trained eye watching the limp the Captain thought he was hiding well.

Hank smiled. “I’m fine, Roy. Really.” He looked over at Mike, gladly seeing the engineer’s eyes staring back at him without the swelling. “Looks like we’re all ready to get things back to normal, eh Mike?”

“Yeah Cap, glad to be back.”

“Good. How about we get to the roll call now, if that’s all right with you gentlemen?”

Each man nodded, happy to see the grin on their leader’s face. Just as Cap began addressing his men, the tones sounded.

“Station 51, Engine 36. Structure fire. Goldman’s Furniture Store, 19-25 Dominion Road. 1-9-2-5 Dominion Road, cross street 56^th. Time out – 8:09.”

“10-4, station 51, KMG-365.”

~*~*~

When station 51 arrived on the scene, engine 36 was already there, the store being slightly closer to their location than 51’s. The building was not quite fully involved. But looking at it, the experienced men all knew it wouldn’t be long before the fire strangled the two-story structure.

Getting themselves set up and ready to go, they learned at the same time as 36’s Captain that two people were still inside, trapped upstairs where the office and file rooms were located.

Roy and Johnny immediately pulled on their gear and followed Chet into the building as he hosed down their path. They found the staircase that lead to the only way upstairs, feeling lucky that it was not yet engulfed in the flames that practically surrounded them.

As some of 36’s team continued to douse down the staircase and surrounding areas, the men of 51 began their ascent, hoping that the people still up there would be all right.

The upstairs was dark from the thick smoke that filled it and the crew’s flashlights did little to cut through it.

Hollering through their masks, each man called out, hoping that the missing workers would hear them. Miraculously, they did.

Two choking men staggered towards the firefighters, their oxygen levels diminished as they practically collapsed in Gage and DeSoto’s arms. Quickly giving the choking men their air masks, Johnny and Roy half walked, half carried their charges back towards the stairs, following Chet’s lead. As they were about to head back down the stairs, an explosion rocked the ground beneath them, making them all fall to their knees.

“We’re not going to be able to get back down this way!” Chet yelled, pointing at the now flame-engorged staircase. “We gotta get to the roof!” Dropping his now useless hose, he helped the paramedics stand and carry the victims towards the only stairs now left in the building.

“Engine 51,” Roy coughed into the HT.

“Go ahead squad 51,” Captain Stanley answered quickly.

“Be advised we have found the two victims, but the staircase collapsed after that explosion. We can’t go back out the way we came in, Cap. We’re heading for the roof,” he said, coughing more as he started up the stairway.

“10-4, squad 51,” the Captain answered worriedly.

As they made their way onto the roof, each man seemed to gulp in the fresh air as the masks were discarded. Roy and Johnny laid their patients down simultaneously and began to assess their conditions while Chet ran over to the roof’s edge, hollering down their location from the southern side rooftop.

The ladder was quickly brought around and hefted towards them. First Marco, then Chuck, a fireman from 36 came up, then back down, each carrying a civilian to safety. Roy easliy made his way down the ladder, and John was ready to follow until he noticed Chet wasn’t behind him.

Turning around, he saw the stocky fireman waving his hands in front of his face, knocking his helmet off with one felled swoop.

“Chet! You’re too close to the edge, man! Come here!” John’s voice was alarmed, causing Marco to race back up the ladder in record time.

John ran towards Chet, hoping to get the man’s attention as he continued hollering his name. But Chet seemed to be in a world of his own, suddenly yelling in pain as he lost his balance and began falling backwards – over the west side of the building.

In one very fast leap, John Gage grabbed Chet’s turnout coat, stopping the fireman from surely falling over the edge. Swinging him around, they both fell onto the roof with a thud.

By the time Marco had gotten to them, Johnny was kneeling over Chet, frantically looking the man over in hopes of figuring out why he was in such agony. The only thing both men noticed was that Chet was covering his eyes.

As the smoke crept around them, Captain Stanley made his way up the ladder, seeing his men across from him once he reached the top.

“You men need to get down from here right now. This roof’s about to go! Do you need the stokes?”

“No, Cap,” Marco hollered back to his commander. “I think I can get him down – we’ll be right there!”

“Hurry up!”

“Chet? What’s wrong with your eyes? Can you hear me?” John’s voice was professional, but the worry was still clear.

“Sting!”

“Can you walk, Chet? We need to get outta here. Come on – I know it stings, but I’ll take care of that as soon as we’re on the ground.” With that, Johnny helped Chet to his feet, all the while Chet hissed and groaned, his eyes remaining shut tight and covered with his hands.

They quickly made their way to the south side of the building. Marco was the first on the ladder – he stood ready, waiting for Chet to descend upon the rungs. After another reassurance from Chet that he could handle the trip down, Johnny helped Chet onto the ladder. He was immediately surrounded by Marco’s waiting arms as they made their way down, the two men moving as one.

Johnny quickly followed them down, noting immediately as his feet hit the pavement that his partner had their other two victims well taken care of and calmed. Johnny focused on their third victim.

Chet sat on the sidewalk beside the squad, moaning - his hands still covering his face. Johnny tried prying the ailing man’s hands away, but wasn’t getting very far.

“Come on, Chet. I’ve got to see! Bring your hands down.”

Johnny shot Roy an exasperated look as he pulled once more, to no avail.

“Chet?” Now the fireman heard Roy’s calm voice, though it did little to calm him. “What happened?”

“God-damned hornet!” Chet angrily yelled. “I tried to get him to leave me alone, but the more I swatted, the more he kept coming at me – the stupid thing stung me in my eye!”

Hank Stanley watched closely - his pained expression showing his worry. He called in the code I without delay. Looking over his shoulder, he was relieved to see that the crew of 36 was successfully extinguishing the fire.

Roy called in to Rampart to discuss their third victim, and was immediately given permission to administer 10 milligrams of MS, hoping to calm Chet down enough to be able to at least see the injury.

It worked.

Johnny laid Chet down on the gurney provided by the second ambulance. Roy held the fireman’s arms down, just in case. Prying open Chet’s still squinting eyes, he saw that indeed, the hornet had stung Chet in his left eye, barely missing the cornea. The eye was swelling, and the left side of his face was quickly catching up.

“Anaphylactic shock?” Captain Stanley asked, observing the swelling himself.

“Don’t think so, Cap, his breathing and pulse are fine. But we need to get him to the hospital right away.”

“Go ahead. Marco, how about driving the squad in – we’ll catch up with you as soon as we’re finished here.”

“Sure thing, Cap.”

The Captain watched as Roy hopped into the first ambulance while Johnny headed into the second. He could only hope that things would work out for the best.

~*~*~

When Captain Stanley arrived with Mike, over an hour and a half had already passed since his paramedics had brought in their three victims.

The Captain knew the two workers from the furniture store were fine, less some smoke inhalation, but planned to check on them anyway, just to be sure. But Chet was another story. Though Roy and John had not indicated that he was in any serious danger, what they hadn’t said was what worried him most.

Roy came out of treatment room one in time to see the Hank and Mike approach.

“He’s fine. The stinger’s out and there’s no damage to his eye. He was very lucky.” Roy’s smile eased some of his friends’ tension.

“Thank goodness,” Cap smiled in return. “How are the other two guys from the furniture store?”

“They’re both fine, too. Ate a lot of smoke, but they’re probably both going home in the morning.”

“How about Chet?” Mike asked, wondering if Chet would have to stay the night as well.

“Doctor Early consulted with Doctor Phillips from optometry. Both agreed he’s one lucky guy. He doesn’t have to stay here tonight. But, he does have to go home though. I guess you figured that though, huh? Early wants to keep the eye bandaged overnight – just precautionary. And Chet’s already complaining about it, too,” Roy answered with a grin.

“He’s lucky he didn’t fall off the edge of that building,” Mike stated, his voice sharing his worry with the others, “I heard Johnny yelling at him and looked up in time to see Chet swiping at his face – real close to the edge. If Johnny hadn’t grabbed him when he did …”

Roy and Hank both looked at the engineer with disbelief, unaware of the earlier turn of events.

“Can I go in and see him?” Captain Stanley asked hopefully. “I think I can talk him into a night off tonight so he’ll quit fussing with the doctors.”

“Sounds like a good idea to me, Cap,” Roy chuckled. “Hey Mike, wanna go get a cup of coffee?”

The quiet man smiled. “Yeah, I kind of missed our first one this morning,” he grinned.

“Yeah, I know what you mean.”

Captain Stanley walked into the treatment room while Roy and Mike headed down the hall.

Giving his boss time alone with his stubborn fireman, Johnny walked out into the hallway, and smack into Suzanne, knocking her medicine tray over - nearly knocking the nurse over, as well.

“Whoa! You okay?” Johnny asked, still holding the nurse tightly in his protective grasp.

Suzanne smiled, her eyes roaming from the hands that held her to the dark brown eyes that looked her over.

“I’m okay – really,” she grinned.

Johnny soon realized he was still holding her and released his grip. He bent down to pick up the medicine bottles that had fallen from her tray, unfortunately at the same time she did, making them bump heads as well. Soon both were fully dissolved in a fit of giggles.

As each bottle was retrieved and the laughter died off, Johnny looked at Suzanne thoughtfully.

“Johnny? Is something wrong?” she asked.

“You wanna go out tomorrow night?” he asked. “We could maybe go to dinner and maybe catch a movie and I know it’s sort of short notice and you’ve probably got to work but I thought …”

“I’d love to,” she answered quickly, interrupting his babblings.

Suddenly, Johnny’s face broke out in the widest grin Dixie had ever seen. Spying unintentionally on the two from the nurse’s station, Dixie mirrored the happy smile.

Johnny’s smile quickly faded at the sound of his favorite nemesis. “Gage! Gage!”

Johnny closed his eyes hoping the voice would go away. Suzanne’s smile grew bigger as she recognized the man who was yelling. She’d been informed of Johnny’s relationship with the man after their last hallway encounter was interrupted.

“John Gage! I could be dying here and there you are, talking to the chick again. No respect, Gage, no respect!”

Johnny shrugged his shoulders and offered Suzanne a crooked grin. “Tomorrow night, then.”

“GAGE!”

Finally, the handsome paramedic turned to see Cap doubled over laughing as Chet sat smiling in the wheelchair. Johnny couldn’t help smiling himself as he walked toward his injured friend.

“Couldn’t have gotten you in the tongue instead of the eye, huh Chet?” John Gage clapped his hand on Chet’s back. Only Chet noticed that the ‘love tap’ was a bit too hard.

~*~*~

As always, the crew’s time off passed too quickly. Everyone was glad to see Chet show up for duty when the next shift rolled around. The end of roll call sent everyone off in the direction of their daily chores. Johnny was glad to be out working on the equipment where he could spend some time lost in the memories of his great date with Suzanne. The food had been good, the movie had been great, and the company had been even better. It was Chet who first noticed the bounce in Gage’s step and caught the sound of the paramedic whistling as he grabbed some rags and headed toward the far side of the squad.

Chet stopped to listen, sure that he was going to get something on Gage. He had thought he was too tired and would take a shift off from his friendly harassment but one thought kept bouncing through his mind. Can’t look a gift horse in the mouth!

Chet hung out by the door to the apparatus bay, straining to pick up on the tune Johnny was whistling. Marco approached and was just about to ask Chet what he was doing when Chet raised his hand to silence his friend. Before long, all of Johnny’s shift-mates were standing in the doorway or along the wall just inside the bay. Finally, Chet got what he wanted.

“You can tell by the way I use my walk, I’m a woman’s man, no time to talk.” Johnny’s singing came to an abrupt halt as he heard laughter from the other side of the squad. Throwing the rag to the ground, Gage crept toward the front of the squad and peeked his head up to the window. I’m gonna kill him!

At the sight of Johnny looking at the guys, Chet totally lost it. After trying to catch his breath, Chet pointed to the red-faced paramedic, “Jo…John…Gage…” Chet was roaring with laughter. “Gage…he be…he be…he be Bee Gees!” Chet stopped pointing at Johnny so he could use his arm to grab his side as he doubled over.

“Damn you, Chet!”

“C’mon, Gage, sing it again over here so we can see ‘your walk’”.

“Chester B. Kelly! You better stop while you’re ahead.” Johnny was now red with anger.

“Ooh, Gage, has your girl seen you like this? You know, does she know you have a temper?”

“Chet!”

Cap finally regained his composure enough to take control of the situation that was rapidly developing.

“Okay, men, back to work. One change though, Marco, you go ahead and take kitchen duty. Chet just requested to take latrine duty today.”

“Cap…”

One look at Cap stopped Chet in his tracks. It was now Johnny who was laughing, his good mood instantly back.

Cap clapped his hands, “Let’s move.”

Johnny bent over to pick up the rag and totally forgot about his friends on the other side of the squad. “Ay, ay, ay, ay. Stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive.”

The whole crew smiled as they headed in their separate directions.

~*~*~

“Well, men, I can’t believe we made it through this shift with NO injuries!” Cap had been expecting the worst given the recent history.

“I don’t know about that, Cap. Gage’s pride had to be hurt yesterday morning.”

“No, not really, Chet. You see, you were able to make fun of me because I had had a date. You on the other hand, if we had to wait until you had a date, we’d never get to make fun of you.”

“Cut it out, you twits! Let’s end this shift on a peaceful note.”

“Whatever you say, Cap.” Chet was glad that his superior was placated enough to turn towards the coffeepot. In one quick motion, Chet turned towards Gage, took the stance, and pointed his right hand – index finger extended – into the air, then crossed his body and pointed it down to the floor doing his best John Travolta imitation.

Cap turned in time to catch the performance. Blowing coffee as he broke down in laughter, Cap moved toward the fireman. Putting his hand on Chet’s shoulder, Cap broke into song. “Chet, Chet, Chet, Chet. Latrine duty, again next shift.”

It was a happy group of men – sans Chet – who exited the dayroom and headed toward their lockers as B-Shift arrived.

~*~*~

Johnny greeted Roy as he pulled up to the house. “Thanks for helping me out today, Roy.”

“Glad to do it, Junior. I owe it to you after you helped me out last weekend. Besides, that’s what friends are for.”

“Yeah, but today is a GREAT day, Roy. They don’t get much better than this.”

“More reason to get this work done this morning and enjoy the afternoon. What’s first?”

“Let’s start in the back.”

“Lead the way, Junior.”

After a lot of sweat and a little lemonade, the guys attacked the weeds around the pine trees.

“When’s the last time you did this, Johnny?” Roy asked between his teeth as he crawled on his hands and knees.

“Apparently. Too. Long.” Johnny was losing the tug-of-war with a stubborn clump of weeds. Bending his knees, bracing himself, and wrapping the weeds around his hands, Johnny pulled with all his might.

“Son-of-a-bitch!” Johnny yelled as he stumbled backwards when the he finally won the war. Landing on his butt a few steps backwards later, Johnny began screaming. “Ow! Ow! Ow-Ow-Ow-Ow! Shit! Help me, Roy.”

Scrambling to his feet, Roy stopped just short of his friend. Scanning the yard, he saw the hose a few feet away. As he grabbed it and turned back to his friend, he yelled, “Get on your hands and knees and stay still.”

When the water finally hit, Johnny was able to get his breath. He visibly relaxed as the stinging stopped.

“Okay, get up now. Let’s get away from the wasp nest.”

“What the hell, Roy? Since when do wasps nest in the ground?”

“Since as long as I’ve known, Junior. Of course, not all of them nest in the ground but…”

“Tell me later, Roy, just help me get these stingers out of my…well, shit!”

“What, Johnny?”

“The stingers. Their in my…dammit all anyway.”

Roy couldn’t help but smile.

“I don’t see anything funny about this, Roy. Now stop smiling and help me out here.”

“Um, perhaps we should go inside, Johnny. It might not look so good if I check you out out here in the yard.”

“Got a point there, Pally.”

A few minutes later, Johnny heard the words that he most feared. “Johnny, we need to go to Rampart.”

“No, Roy. No way, uh-uh.”

“Johnny, there must be a dozen stingers still in your…well, in your seat…and it looks like you’re getting hives too. No choice here, Junior.”

“C’mon, Roy. I’ll take a baking soda bath, pop a couple anti-histamines, it will be okay.”

“Nope. Let’s go.”

“Nope.”

“Fine.” Roy headed to the phone.

“Who you calling, Roy?”

“Calling for a squad and an ambulance, Junior. Just want you to have a second opinion.”

“ROY! Put that phone down.”

Roy held the phone in one hand as he pointed to his friend. “So, this means you’re letting me take you in.”

Johnny hung his head in defeat. In a mere whisper, he agreed. “If you think it’s necessary.”

Roy hung up the phone and escorted his partner to the car.

“Um, Roy? I can’t sit.”

Roy laughed.

“Roy! This is not funny!”

“I know it’s not, Johnny. Well, it kinda is. I mean, only you, partner, only you.”

Johnny finally smiled. “Yeah, I know. But, what are we going to do? How ‘bout I lay on the backseat?”

~*~*~

A short time later, Roy pulled up to the ER doors at Rampart. “You stay here, Johnny while I go get some help.”

“Hurry, Roy. My butt is really starting to hurt. I mean, really starting to hurt.” Johnny rested his head back down on the seat. He was half hoping for some relief and half hoping he’d die before he had to face Dixie or Brackett.

“Dix, I need help with Johnny.”

“What’s up, Roy?” Turning to see the concern on Roy’s face, Dixie’s attitude turned serious. “Orderly, get a wheelchair…”

“No, Dix, we need a gurney.”

Not pausing to question Roy, nor hiding her deepening concern, Dixie turned back to the orderly. “You heard him, get a gurney and follow us outside. Carol, get Dr. Brackett.”

“Dix? What do you need me for?” Dr. Brackett had just exited the treatment room behind Dixie.

“It’s Johnny, Doc. We need some help.”

Throwing his clipboard to the desk, Kelly Brackett grabbed Roy by the shoulder and turned him toward the door. “Then let’s go help him, Roy.”

As they exited the hospital, Brackett was still uncertain as to what he’d find.

“Johnny, I’ve got Dr. Brackett here.”

“What’s wrong, Johnny?” Dr. Brackett reached down to feel for a femoral pulse as Johnny lay unmoving.

Dixie opened the other back door and knelt down, feeling Johnny’s forehead. “Johnny?”

Johnny’s body began twitching.

“Johnny?” Brackett’s voice held deep concern.

“John Gage, what do you find so funny?” Dixie didn’t know whether to be relieved that her patient was laying there on his stomach laughing or pissed off because her patient was – well – laying there on his stomach laughing.

“Didn’t you tell them, Roy?”

“No, Junior, thought I’d let you reveal yourself.”

Johnny raised his head and turned back toward his friend. “Oh, really funny, Roy. Reveal myself. How long you been waiting to say that? Huh? Bet you been thinking up that line…OUCH!”

Brackett had had enough. Putting his hands on his hips, his tone became very stern. “One of you is going to tell me what is going on here or I’ll start creating injuries for both of you.”

“Butt.”

“What’d you call me, Johnny?”

“No, Doc, butt. It’s my butt.”

“He fell into a wasp nest, Doc.”

Dr. Brackett smiled at Dix as they both tried not to chuckle out loud. “Well, why didn’t you tell us that, Roy? That would account for Johnny being so sore.”

“Cut the comedy, dammit! Get me out of here and get this over with.”

“Geez, no need to be a pain in the butt about it, Johnny. We’re just trying to help.”

The dark-haired paramedic just rolled his eyes at Dixie before giving up and resting his head on the seat again.

~*~*~

“That looks like the last stinger, Johnny. I’m going to put some medication on your…on your stings and hives…and see if the swelling starts to go down. In the meantime, lay here and try to remain still. You are one lucky guy, Johnny.”

“Oh yeah, Doc. That’s me. One lucky guy.” All that Johnny could picture was his shift-mates hounding the hell out of him if they found out about this.

“John, you could have had a horrible allergic reaction. I mean, you could have died from this many stings.”

Johnny thought about it for a few seconds. “Yeah, I guess you’re right, Doc.”

“Yeah, can you imagine the news report on your death? What a bite in the ass that would have been.” Dr. Brackett left the room before Johnny could find something to throw at him.

Dixie and Roy left Johnny to relax while everyone awaited the results of the initial treatment.

It wasn’t long before Johnny heard the door open again.

“Forget something, Doc? Leave an insult in here or something?”

“Johnny?”

Gage cringed at the female voice.

“Suzanne?”

Suzanne stopped and looked at the paramedic laying on the gurney, bare butt to the ceiling. “Yeah, Johnny, it’s me.” She couldn’t hide the smile from her voice.

After pausing just a bit too long, she made her way to the head of the table.

“Johnny, I know this isn’t the best time, but I really need to talk to you.”

“It can’t wait?” Johnny turned 20 shades of red.

“No, Johnny, I’m sorry.” Suzanne looked at Johnny’s hind end again. “Man, that looks like it hurts.”

“It does, Suzanne. But, I’m sure that’s not what you want to talk about.” Johnny just wanted his new girlfriend out of the room. Man, this isn’t the way that I wanted you to see my rear end for the first time.

“Oh, Johnny, I’m sorry. I just need to tell you…I mean…I had a really good time on our date.”

“But?”

“It is looking better since when I first came in.”

Johnny couldn’t help but laugh. “No, Suzanne, you had a good time HOWEVER…”

“I’ve fallen for a doctor. I mean, I’ve liked him for a while but he didn’t seem to notice me, but now, well, he asked me out and I’d like to see where it might go. I don’t think you and I should see each other anymore. I really want to try to make something of this other relationship.”

“Great day.”

“What?”

“Great day. I told Roy that this was a great day. The whole day has gone from being great to being a pain in the ass.” Johnny closed his eyes as he felt a reassuring hand on his arm. Shortly, he heard Suzanne walking to the door. He was sure she was laughing as the door closed.

~*~*~

“Thanks for bringing me back home, Roy. Now you gotta swear – I mean swear – that the guys won’t find out about this. I’ll never hear the end of it if they find out what happened.”

“How are you going to keep it from them? You only have another day to stop walking funny.”

“I’ll worry about that. You just gotta swear you won’t say anything. I mean it, Roy.”

“Okay, okay.” Roy left after making sure that Johnny would be okay staying by himself.

~*~*~

Roy cast a questioning glance at Johnny as he entered the locker room. Johnny frowned. Roy could see that Johnny still had some discomfort but was working hard not to show it.

Chet entered the locker room looking for his pigeon.

“Gonna sing for us today, Gage?”

“Shut up, Chet. I don’t feel like putting up with your shit today.” Dammit! Why’d I say that? Now I’ll never have any peace.

“What’s wrong, Gage?”

“Nothing, Chet, nothing.” Johnny slammed his locker door a bit harder than intended. Way to go, Gage!

The noise from the locker room drew the attention of the rest of the members of Station 51’s A-Shift.

“C’mon, Gage, spill it. You know we’ll find out sooner or later.”

Johnny shot a look of dread to Roy. Roy shrugged his shoulders and continued to pretend to ignore the increasingly loud conversation going on around him. The rest of the guys just gathered to watch the sparring which had started a bit earlier than usual today.

“Drop it, Chet. There is nothing wrong. Just leave me alone today. Please.”

“Oh, it’s something all right. You’re little nurse from the hospital drop you while we were off?”

Johnny gritted his teeth. “I asked you to drop it.” Johnny’s tone had taken on a hateful sound.

“That’s it, huh Gage? What happened?” Remembering Johnny’s foul mood the last time they had worked and the anger he was exhibiting now, Chet made a guess. “What’d you do? Show her your ass?”

Johnny spun on his heels and looked at Roy. Pointing a finger at his friend his tone made his point. “Not – a – word!” Johnny looked at the others in the room and stomped out. He heard Roy trying to not to laugh as he left. Once outside the room, Johnny broke into laughter. Guess you’re right, Chester B, I did show Suzanne my ass. Of course, I’m surprised that didn’t make her change her mind about the doctor.

~*~*~

By 3:00 that afternoon, the men of station 51 were close to exhausted. The squad had been called out on seven runs and the engine had joined them on four of them, while also responding in between with engine 36 to a small structural fire. And it wasn’t stopping.

Station 51 was called out once more to join engine 110 to a brush fire just minutes after returning from their last run. Worn and hungry, they ignored their feelings and stomach grumblings and headed out once more, hardly uttering a sound as they pulled away from the station.

Once they arrived, they sprang into action. The fire was spreading quickly thanks to near-drought conditions. There was no time to be wasted. The quicker they moved, the sooner they’d have control.

Captain Stanley stood beside Captain Jefferson Granger from station 110, both men conversing while simultaneously giving out orders to their men. So far, there wasn’t a need for an air drop, but if it wasn’t handled precisely right, that option could soon become a necessity.

Keeping their eyes on the men working, the Captains’ eyes met every once in a while, speaking unspoken words as their teams promptly gained control of the blaze.

It wasn’t long before Hank Stanley was calling headquarters on his HT, advising them that this fire was under control. Dropping the HT back into his pocket, he reached out to his fellow Captain, shaking his hand.

“Job well done, Jeff. Your team did a fine job.”

“Thanks, Hank – you know, I think I’m finally getting the hang of this Captain thing here,” Granger slapped at his ankle as if swatting a mosquito, then smiled. He and Hank had served together years ago, and he himself had only made Captain six months ago. He’d been the ‘kid’ of the crew they’d worked together on, but had evolved into a fine Captain in his own right.

“Yeah, Pal,” Hank replied, scratching his leg, “I think you are, too.”

“Damn,” Captain Stanley muttered under his breath, again scratching at his leg – this time at another spot. “What the hell?”

Both Captains looked around themselves while swatting at their legs. “We’re on a friggin’ ant hill I think,” Hank said. It was at the utterance of that last word that the bugs began their attack.

Simultaneously, both Captains felt the stings of what they first thought had been harmless ants. Crawling up both men’s bodies, the fire ants began their assault, attacking the ‘predators’ that threatened their home.

Johnny looked up from the squad and nudged Roy, who was busy putting their equipment away, thankful it hadn’t been needed.

Wiping the soot from his face, Johnny continued to look at the two captains as Roy followed his stare, noting the men almost appearing as if they were dancing.

Both paramedics turned simultaneously, retrieving the equipment they’d just stored away. They knew the men weren’t imitating John Travolta. They knew something had to be terribly wrong for them to be acting the way they were.

As they took off running, Chet and Greg Lamb, a firefighter from 110, both watched, knowing the paramedics had to have a damned good reason to take off like that. When their eyes followed the direction the paramedics took, both men could feel the same sense of dread that Johnny and Roy had felt.

Hank and Jeff moved off the anthill, still slapping at themselves as they met the paramedics halfway.

“What’s wrong?” Roy half questioned, half yelled. He and his partner began helping the men out of their turnout gear.

“Ants! Fire ants!” Jeff hollered. Chet and Greg watched as the paramedics reached their Captains, and heard the stricken voice of Captain Granger as he hollered out what was wrong.

Chet immediately shut down his hose and dropped it, running over to see if there was anything he could do to help. Greg also shut down his hose, but brought the line with him. He’d had a run in with those nasty biters himself before, and remembered all too well the only way he thought possible to get them off. When he was in Texas, he’d jumped in a neighbor’s swimming pool. The little buggers didn’t seem to like the water too much.

“Let me hose ‘em! That’s the only way to get the ants to stop attacking!” Greg hollered, warning the others to get away from Hank and Jeff. Aiming the hose, he turned it back on, hitting his Captain with a strong stream not yet controlled, flowing freely from the line.

Captain Granger was knocked over when the water hit, its aim taking a nasty swipe at his face before throwing him onto his back. As the flow continued, Hank Stanley fell to his knees, letting Greg douse him thoroughly. He immediately felt relief from his burning stings as the water hit him. The fireman continued the water onslaught, making sure the men were completely soaked before finally turning the water away from them and then off.

John and Roy watched as the men were hosed down, not really liking the idea, but seeing no other choice themselves. They, too, had gotten a few stings as they tried to help the men, but neither paid attention to the bites, too concerned over the Captains who had been attacked.

When the waterworks stopped, both paramedics descended upon Hank and Jeff, ready to treat them.

Captain Stanley hovered above Captain Granger, shaking off the mixture of pain and nausea that now seemed ready to overwhelm him at any given moment. “Jeff? Jeff – hey man, you all right?”

The younger Captain didn’t respond. In fact, the only movement he was making was the involuntary twitching of the muscles in his extremities.

Roy gently grabbed Hank on the shoulder, leaning him back into a sitting position so that he could check out his shivering Captain. Johnny began assessing Captain Granger.

Looking the man over, Johnny could see the uncountable amount of bites which covered his body, but there was no sign of trauma – no explanation as to why this man should be unconscious. His breathing was fine and there were no signs of anaphylactic shock. His face had swelling around the left cheek, but Johnny surmised that had been from the strength of the water when it first hit him. Johnny had seen it happen and knew it was harsh. Still, it wasn’t a reason for the Captain to be laying unconscious before him. He began feeling around the back of the prone man’s skull and that’s when he knew the cause. Although unable to discern the wetness of Captain Granger’s blood pooling beneath his head from of the water that was all over the area, he could feel the large knot on the back of his skull - and the rock that lay beneath it. Pulling his hand from behind Granger’s head, he was surprised to see it covered in blood.

“Shit,” was all he managed to mutter, immediately grabbing his pen light as he checked Jeff’s pupils. “Roy – his head hit a rock when he went down. He’s got a large laceration and a helluva lot of swelling on the back of his skull. And his pupils are sluggish,” Johnny said as he quickly pulled out the BP cuff.

Roy continued checking Captain Stanley, the concern on his face evident when he heard the news. He’d just gotten Hank to lay down when Johnny spoke, now he was struggling to keep his Captain from getting up again after hearing Johnny’s words.

The rest of the men watched as best they could, worried over the two Captains that lay a few feet away from them, as they finished extinguishing the blaze that had brought them all there to begin with.

Chet and Greg watched in silence, the ferocity of John’s words striking them like a slap in the face. Greg immediately began berating himself silently, taking the blame for the horrible accident that had stricken his Captain. Chet, sensing Greg’s guilt, simply patted the fireman on his shoulders. “It’ll be okay, Greg. You’ll see. These guys are the best.”

Captain Stanley seemed dazed and slightly incoherent, but looked like he’d faired well considering what he’d just been up against. Captain Granger, on the other hand, lay deathly still.

“Rampart base, this is squad 51,” Roy began …

~*~*~

The trip to the hospital seemed to take longer than Johnny had noticed of any of their runs taken before. He continued taking vitals on Captain Granger, his concern not going unnoticed by Captain Stanley as he sat beside the paramedic. He watched in silence as Johnny retook Jeff’s vitals every couple of minutes. Gage had contacted Rampart twice on the way in with updates, and the tones in the voices Hank heard talking back and forth set alarms off in his head.

Once they’d arrived and Jeff had been wheeled into the emergency room, Roy helped Hank out of the ambulance.

“Roy – it, he … it looks bad Roy, real bad.”

“They’ll take good care of him here, Cap. Now let’s get you looked at, okay?”

“His vital signs kept dropping. I was listening to John while he talked to Dr. Brackett. It sounded bad.”

Roy just nodded, not quite knowing what to say. Truth be known, he felt that Captain Granger wasn’t doing all that good at the scene. If his vitals had been dropping en route to Rampart, he, too, knew that couldn’t be good. Silently, he led Captain Stanley towards Dixie McCall, who stood waiting for them.

~*~*~

After an hour or so, Hank Stanley came out of treatment room three with a tube of ointment in his left hand and his jacket in the right. He saw Roy and Johnny standing at the nurse’s station with Doctor Brackett and Dixie and immediately walked over to them, not even staying to hear the end of Doctor Early’s list of ‘do’s and don’ts’.

Quickly but quietly walking up to them, he looked at the grim faces that soon were looking back at him. “How’s Jeff doing?”

Brackett looked at the Captain. “Honestly Hank, it doesn’t look good. He’s in a coma. So far, he’s not responding to any treatments.”

Hank looked down for a moment, gathering his thoughts and strength before returning his eyes to everyone. “I’ll call the Chief. And I’ll call Mary, uh, that’s his wife. She should know …”

“I’ve already talked to her, Hank – she’s on the way. And the Chief’s in the doctors’ lounge. He’s been updated on both your conditions.”

The silence that followed Brackett’s words seemed to go on for minutes, not the mere seconds that had actually lapsed.

“How’re you doing, Cap?” Johnny asked for lack of something else to say. Truth be known, he and Roy both had been checking up on both Captains since they’d first entered their treatment rooms.

“I’m fine. Just need to use this ointment for a few days and that’s it.” He sighed as he looked around for a moment, then spoke once more. “Come on. Let’s go talk to the Chief for a minute then head back to the station.”

~*~*~

Once the men returned to Station 51, things became routine but a heavy silence prevailed. Everyone tended to things that needed to be done, but no one’s thoughts left their fallen friend at Rampart.

When dinner was served by John, not even Chet commented on the return of hamburgers to the table; the silence still too noticeable. When the phone rang, it was as if time stood still. The men were filled with dread and fear – scared of what the call implied. Hank quickly moved from the table, retrieving the phone on its second ring.

“Yes. Uh huh. Hmm. Yeah, sure … uh, yes, I’ll tell them. Thank you, Dr. Brackett, thanks for everything.” By the time Captain Stanley hung up the phone, he was surrounded by his entire crew.

He looked around at their faces, all filled with worry and tinted by fear. They stood silent, looking at Hank’s face for any signs of what news he’d just received. Finally, their leader spoke. And, smiled.

“Jeff just came out of the coma. Dr. Brackett said the cranial swelling has gone down and he’s reacting well to the meds – in other words, he’s going to be just fine.”

The smiles on the faces of everyone were undaunted by the tones sounding, calling them to the scene of an accident. As the men got into the emergency vehicles, there was a spring to their steps and a new hope that things were finally going to get better.

~*~*~

Arriving at the scene, the men could tell immediately that the wreck was bad. The intersection was crowded with stopped vehicles – their owners standing around, gawking at the mangled mess blocking the roadway. In the center of the intersection sat three very messed up cars. It looked bad.

A station wagon was sitting in the middle of the scene, its front mangled and bent from hitting another car. Steam rose freely from the radiator while a man inside looked about the scene, his face clearly showing his shock. An officer stood beside him, taking notes and talking to him, keeping the man still and calm.

Towards the right of the station wagon sat a green sedan, it’s back left side crumpled slightly from being pushed from its lane by the station wagon; its front indented wickedly by the forced impact it made into a blue Mustang. The woman inside was nodding at an officer who stood beside her taking notes.

The last car was furthest from the accident scene. It had obviously been hit by the sedan. It looked like the driver had lost control, unable to keep the blue Mustang from careening into a telephone pole. Now the pole stood broken in half - the top part of it had fallen on the car, indenting it directly over the driver’s side of the roof.

Bringing the squad to a stop, Roy and John quickly got out. As the engine rolled up behind them, the paramedics began grabbing their equipment from the squad. As soon as the engine stilled, Captain Stanley could be heard calling in for another squad and an additional ambulance.

Vince Howard ran quickly over to the rescue team, his worry tamed as he explained the condition of the passengers awaiting treatment. Captain Stanley ran over towards them as did Marco, both wanting to know exactly what they were dealing with. Chet and Mike remained at the engine – Chet grabbing a hose to douse down any gasoline leakage around the vehicles while Mike readied the tank on the engine.

“The brown station wagon over there was the cause of this,” Vince began as he pointed. “He said he was swatting at a bee that was in the car stinging him when he lost control. He blew through the intersection not knowing the light was red. He’s got a bump on his head and I think he’s dislocated his shoulder.” Vince then turned, pointing towards another car. “The green sedan to the left has a lady with a split lip and a couple of small cuts. The cuts must be from the glass that broke free from her side door, but other than that, she looks okay. My men can handle keeping those two calm while you guys go to the Mustang.”

Vince ran with Roy and John over to the Mustang. They were followed closely by Hank and Marco. As they approached the car, Vince continued talking. “The lady in there hasn’t responded to me calling to her. I didn’t want to touch her or move her, but she looks bad, guys.”

Nodding, Roy looked at Johnny as they set their equipment down. Each man peered into the wreckage, noting a woman laying across the driver’s side into the passenger seat. Her hair was covered in glass and blood and she lay face down and unmoving.

Roy stood at the driver’s side of the crunched vehicle while Johnny ran over to the passenger side, both trying to figure out the best way to extract their victim.

“Marco, we’re going to need the jaws to get her out of here,” Roy stated professionally as he looked first at the firefighter then at John. Johnny reached through the broken glass of the passenger side window, taking the woman’s pulse as best he could despite the awkward position he had to hold to get to her.

Frowning, Johnny looked over at Roy. “Pulse is sixty and erratic. I think I can get a blood pressure – how ‘bout handing me the cuff?”

Roy removed the BP cuff from the case and threw it over the top of the car and broken line pole. The toss of the cuff was quickly followed by a toss of the stethoscope. John caught the instruments easily, then went to his next task as he pulled the stethoscope up to his ears. Reaching her left arm, he gently placed the cuff around it, causing the victim to moan as he raised her arm slightly.

“Shh, shh. It’s okay. You’re going to be all right. We’re here to help you. Can you hear me?” Johnny spoke soothingly to the woman, but she didn’t respond. Taking her blood pressure, he relayed the information to Roy as the elder paramedic set up the biophone and called Rampart.

“BP’s 100 over 60 and she’s real shocky, Roy. We gotta get her out of here now. I can’t tell what all her injuries are from here.”

As squad 36 approached, Captain Stanley briskly walked away from his paramedic team. He needed to direct 36’s team to the other two victims that needed treatment while Roy and John continued to work on their more seriously injured victim. Marco passed Cap at a running pace.

After Roy and John worked to cover their victim with a tarp, Marco began working on the doors. He expertly used the jaws to force the doors open so that the paramedics could gain full access and begin treatment to the injured woman.

Quickly and efficiently, Marco completed his task and gave the paramedics the access they needed. He then dropped the jaws to the ground in order to retrieve the backboard he was sure they’d be needing. Turning, he was surprised to see that Chet had finished watering down the ground beneath the vehicles and had already retrieved the backboard.

Captain Stanley came back over, assessing what was left of this nasty situation. The paramedics from 36’s had quickly taken care of the other slightly injured victims, and both were already en route to Rampart with the first ambulance. Now, as the second ambulance approached, Johnny and Roy were working to assess their own victim’s status.

Feeling over the woman’s limbs, back, and ribs, both paramedics agreed it would be safe to turn her over before loading her onto the backboard. No broken bones were evident. But before moving the woman, Johnny and Roy decided that a bit more assessment needed to be done.

Knowing that any and all working space was at a premium in this small car, Roy made sure to engage the emergency brake before moving the gear shift into first. Putting the car in first gear gave them a few more inches to work with. Johnny was grateful for his partner’s quick thinking – not only for giving them extra space but for braking the car in an effort to not tempt fate and to protect the rescuers from possible injury.

Johnny checked around the woman’s head, making sure she had no wounds or glass imbedded before gently, yet awkwardly, placing a cervical collar around her neck.

Now that they had enough room to maneuver her enough to turn her over, they began the task at hand. They worked in sync with each other, knowing the other’s ways as they moved in unison. Marco and Chet stood ready with the backboard, knowing the paramedics would want the victim on it soon enough.

As Johnny knelt down, he grabbed the woman’s shoulders, letting her head rest on the crooks of his elbows in an effort to keep her upper body as straight as possible. Roy knelt over the woman, grasping her legs just above the knees as they lifted the lifeless form together, rolling her onto her back in one graceful motion.

“Oh my God,” Johnny whispered, “It’s Suzanne.”

Roy looked at his partner, then over his shoulder at Chet and Marco. “You okay, Junior?”

Johnny hesitated in his response. The shock of recognizing the victim was still evident on his face. “Yeah…yeah, Roy. Let’s get her out of here. Marco, where’s the backboard?”

Marco was immediately at Johnny’s side. Marco tried to hide the gasp that slipped out of his mouth.

Johnny smiled. “She’s pretty, isn’t she Marco?”

Marco nodded his head, unable to answer. He was sure that there was beauty beneath all of the blood and swelling. But, at that very moment, only John Gage could see it.

“On 3.” With a quick countdown and a swift motion, Johnny, Roy, Marco, and Chet had Suzanne on the backboard, out of the car, and on the ground.

Chet grabbed the equipment and positioned it close to Suzanne’s head. He and Marco stood by, awaiting instructions on what they could do next.

As Roy was getting another set of vitals, Johnny was bandaging the lacerations on Suzanne’s head and face. Johnny saw her eyes flutter before he heard her moan. A relieved smile crossed his face.

“Shhh. Just relax, Suzanne. We’re going to get you to Rampart and you’ll be just fine.”

Chet and Marco moved a bit closer. The tension in their faces had eased a bit as well. Roy grabbed the bio-phone to update Rampart.

“Johnny?” Her voice was very weak.

“Yeah, I’m right here, Hon. Just relax now.”

“Okay? Ass…”

“10-4, Rampart. IV with lactated Ringers.” Roy looked up at Johnny and smiled. Johnny couldn’t help but chuckle.

Chet elbowed Marco in the side. Marco shot a hateful look at his friend but moved a bit closer so he wouldn’t miss a bit of what was going on in front of him.

Moving to Suzanne’s side to start the IV that Roy had just confirmed with Rampart, Johnny replied to Suzanne’s last remark. “Fine. And you will be, too, while you’re in my capable hands.” Johnny looked down at the woman. His smile was suddenly replaced by concern. “Suzanne! Suzanne!! Stay with me here. Open your eyes. Suzanne?”

Roy moved to the woman’s head. Just as he was about to shine the pen light in her eyes, they fluttered open again.

“John?”

“Right here. You gotta stop scaring us.”

“Ass?”

Chet elbowed Marco again. This time, he couldn’t hide his amusement though and laughed out loud.

Johnny heard his shift-mate but didn’t have the time to respond to him. He kept his attention on the patient. “Fine, Suzanne, fine. You stay with us now. Okay, Hon? We’re ready to move you to the ambulance.” Johnny finally looked up at Chet and Marco. “Help us out here, guys. Let’s get her loaded.”

With little effort, the 4 firemen had Suzanne positioned in the ambulance. Johnny jumped in, Roy headed for the squad, leaving Chet and Marco to close the ambulance doors.

“Okay, guys.”

Just as Chet closed the door on his side, he heard one last comment. “Ass?”

~*~*~

Marco headed toward Cap at a brisk pace.

“Wait up, Marco. Did you hear that? Man, that’s gonna be a long ride.”

Marco kept walking.

“C’mon, Marco. I told you they must have had a bad falling out. You saw how upset Johnny was…”

Marco picked up his pace and left Chet talking to himself. Chet walked up to Cap, Marco, and Vince just in time to hear Cap’s last comment to Vince.

“Man, who would believe that this mess was caused by a bee? I don’t care if I ever see another insect again in my life. I just can’t believe it.”

“You can’t believe that? Well, Cap, you won’t believe what I’m gonna tell you…”

Marco cut Chet off mid-thought…or mid-gossip in this case. “It was Johnny’s ex-girlfriend in the car.”

“Really?” Cap’s face showed concern.

“Yeah, and…”

“And”, Marco cut off Chet again, “it looks like she’s got some cuts and bruises – and probably a concussion – but, it looks like she’s going to be just fine.” Marco turned and looked at Chet with his best ‘drop it’ look.

Cap saw the look and laughed. He knew this wasn’t over. One didn’t stop Chester B. Kelly that easily. Turning back to Vince, he clapped the policeman on the shoulder. “Thanks, Vince.” With that, Cap clicked the HT, cleared the crew with headquarters, and turned back towards the firemen. “C’mon, men, let’s head back to the station.”

~*~*~

Roy handed Johnny a cup of coffee when he approached the base station. “So, Junior?”

“She’s going to be fine, Roy. Nothing broken. Just a nasty blow to the head. And, of course, the facial and head lacerations. Dr. Brackett’s got a plastic surgeon coming in to do the suturing. She’ll be as pretty as ever.”

“Good. I mean, good that she’s going to be okay.” Roy started laughing.

“What?”

“What do you mean - what? You are in for it back at the station, you know.”

Johnny’s puzzled look prompted Roy to continue. “Oh, c’mon Junior. You heard Chet laughing at the scene. He heard Suzanne. You are really in for it.”

“Oh, man. I forgot about that. Why’d you have to go and do that?”

“What?”

“Remind me - why’d you have to remind me? Maybe Dix will let us hang out here for the rest of the shift.”

On cue, Dixie approached the paramedics. “Not a chance. A girl could get a reputation letting you two good-looking guys hang around. Can’t go ruining my good name. Oh, and Johnny, make a point to stop up to see Suzanne when you’re in, okay?”

“I don’t think so, Dix. Don’t think she’d want that. I mean, I wouldn’t want to interfere.”

“Then she didn’t tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“Wow, the bump on her head really did make her out of it. She’s been looking for you for the past 2 days. The doctor is history. Seems he wasn’t as exciting as a paramedic.”

Johnny spun on his heels, snapped his fingers, and popped his left fist with his right palm. “Alright!”

Johnny started to head for the exam room but Roy grabbed him by the sleeve. “Not now, partner. She’s still gotta be stitched up. And, you’ve got Chet Kelly waiting for you.”

~*~*~

“I’m telling you, Cap, she called him an ass. Not just once either. It had to be AT LEAST a dozen times! Didn’t it, Marco?”

Marco looked at Cap and Mike and rolled his eyes.

“C’mon, Marco, you were standing there. You heard her.”

“It sounded more like a question to me. Not like she was calling him…that. You know, more like a question.”

“A question? You’re kidding, right? You were there, Marco. You heard her. Tell Cap and Mike. You heard her.”

~*~*~

Johnny could hear Chet’s voice long before he reached the dayroom. “Can’t you tell them I stayed at the hospital, Roy?”

“Let’s just get this over with, Junior. I don’t want to be up all night listening to Chet.”

“I’m not gonna tell.”

“Yes, you are.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Yes, you are. If it’s the only way we can get any sleep tonight, you ARE going to tell.”

“R-o-y!”

“Nope. Not gonna whine your way out of this. Let’s go.”

~*~*~

Johnny and Roy walked into the dayroom. Roy smiled at the rest of the guys before heading for the coffee.

“There he is, Cap, ask him yourself.” A satisfied smile crossed Chet’s face.

“Ask me what?” Johnny’s mind was spinning. Dammit, Roy, I don’t want to tell them. I’ll never hear the end of it.

The men all stood in silence.

“Aren’t you going to ask him, Cap?” Chet was on the verge of pouting.

“Nope.”

“So, you don’t believe me, Cap? You think I’m lying?”

“No, Chet. I just don’t think it’s any of our business.”

“Chet…”

“Don’t ‘Chet’ me, Marco. You heard it. You stood there and heard it at least 2 dozen times and you won’t back me up.” Chet was in a full pout at this point.

“Heard what, Chet?” Roy couldn’t help himself. His smile faded – but didn’t totally disappear – when he saw the looks on Johnny’s and Cap’s faces. He could tell they both wanted to slap him but he didn’t care. He knew that Chet and Johnny would make all of them crazy until the truth was out in the open.

Chet was grateful for an opportunity to continue. “Suzanne called Gage an ass. I heard it. Marco heard it. You heard it. And, I know that Gage heard it. I mean, c’mon, she did it about 3 dozen times.”

“She didn’t call me an ass, Chet.”

Spinning to look at everyone in the room, Chet was incredulous. “Did you hear Gage lie to us? All of us – okay not Cap or Mike – heard it, Gage. She called you an ass!”

“No, Chet, she asked about my ass.”

“Yeah, right!”

“She did, Chet.”

“Why would she ask about your ass? She called you an ass. That’s what she did.”

“Chet…”

“Don’t lie to me – to us – Gage.”

“He’s not lying.” Roy ducked his head into the refrigerator, not wanting to see the looks Cap and Johnny were giving him now.

“What?” Chet was confused.

Johnny sat down at the table and buried his head in his hands. “She asked about my ass, okay? Can you just let it go, Chet?”

“No.” The rest of the men broke into laughter at Chet’s simple – honest – answer.

“I didn’t think so.” Johnny looked up at the feel of a hand on his back. Roy’s nod of his head told Johnny to just get it over with.

“You were right the other day, Chet, I did show Suzanne my ass.”

“See, I told…”

“But not like you think.” Johnny paused and looked at his partner. “Do I have to?”

“If you want any of us to get any sleep tonight, yes, you have to.”

All of the men of station 51 joined Johnny around the table. Johnny offered an uncomfortable smile to his friends before continuing. “The last weekend we had off…”

“The one when Suzanne dumped you?” Chet interrupted.

Johnny dropped his head back into his hands.

“Chet, Pal, how ‘bout you take latrine duty next shift?”

Johnny looked up at Cap with a grateful smile.

“Yes, Chet, it was that weekend. Roy and I were working in my yard, pulling weeds. I fell backwards and landed on a wasp nest. I got stung. Multiple times. And, Roy had to take me to Rampart.”

“Why didn’t you tell us, you twit?”

“I figured there was no need to, Cap. I was able to work. The swelling was down and aspirin controlled most of the pain. And, it wasn’t exactly one of my better moments. Definitely not one I wanted to share.” Johnny smiled.

“So…”

“Chet!”

“What, Marco? I already have latrine duty. I’m gonna get my money’s worth. Now, tell us the rest, Gage.”

Johnny just shook his head. “Not much to tell. I was laying on the table in the treatment room, my bare butt to the ceiling, and Suzanne came in and told me she wanted to stop seeing me. She had found herself a doctor.”

“Nah. I think she just didn’t like what she saw that day.” Chet suddenly didn’t mind latrine duty. He’d gotten a hundred ways to harass Johnny out of the story he’d just heard. Or, so he thought.

Johnny broke into a wide grin, grabbed the side of the table, and pushed himself up. “You’re wrong, Chet. I think she liked what she saw just fine. She’s broken up with the doctor in favor of a certain paramedic.” Johnny laughed at the disappointed look that crossed Chet’s face. “Gentlemen, I’m going to bed.” Johnny could still hear the laughter as he headed to the dorm.

Rubbing his hands, Cap made an announcement. “I think that John has a good idea. We’ve all had a long day – in case it’s a long night, we should all head to bed.”

~*~*~

Just before getting into his bunk, Cap looked at his crew and laughed. He knew he shouldn’t say it but he couldn’t help himself. “Sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite.”

Groans mixed with laughter as the men drifted off to sleep.

~*~*~

The End

Disclaimer: Emergency! and it’s characters don’t belong to us. Neither do the words to the song we used or anything else Bee Gees. Didn’t make any money but had a lot of fun.

E51Writer Julie

Stories by E51Writer Guest Dispatchers