Then The Morning Comes

Robin Weinrich

 

 

“You know, these boys just don’t build ‘em like they used to!  Know what I mean?  They’ve cut corners everywhere, and now look at this!”  the agitated man yelled at Captain Stanley, looking for justification or sympathy.

 

“Okay, okay!”  Stanley yelled back.  The noise of the engines and the other crews unfurling their hose lines made it impossible to have a normal conversation.  He had men to deploy and this call was only looking worse.  “Look, just step back over here and one of the officers will get all the details from you!” 

 

Stanley stepped past the obviously unhappy man and pulled out his handie talkie, watching as Engine 36 pulled in.  “Engine 36, I need you to lay an inch and half on the west side,” he commanded.

 

He glared past the bright reflection of the gravel and sand that surrounded the construction site.  Just fifteen minutes before he was enjoying the newspaper and listening to the latest round of Gage verses Kelly while sipping his coffee.  The late afternoon sun of the early spring always gave Stanley a feeling of melancholy and peace.  But, duty called with the blare of LA Dispatch announcing the collapse and fire of an apartment building under construction.

 

Arriving on the scene first, as dictated by policy, Stanley assumed command and thought about how to contain the fire without further damage to the new construction.  He caught sight of another construction worker running toward him in a panic.

 

“. . .you gotta . . .some of the crew!”  he gasped, trying to catch his breath.  The worker grabbed his middle and looked back at Stanley.

 

“ . . .there’s a few more men . . .I can’t account for!”

 

“John, Roy!”  Stanley yelled at this two paramedics as they began assisting with the lines.  “Over here!”

 

“What’s happening?”  Roy asked.

 

“Please!  I’ve got three more men I can’t find!”  the construction man yelled again.  “Last I saw, they were finishing the framing on the third unit!”  He pointed to what now looked like a blast zone instead of a three-story, new apartment building.

 

“Okay, mister, calm down.  We’ll go look for them,”  Johnny responded.  He placed a hand on the man’s back.  “Are you okay?”  he asked.

 

“Yea, just feeling lightheaded . . .the guys!” 

 

“Okay, okay, just sit here,” Johnny commanded as he directed the worker.  “Cap, he’s gonna need some O2,”  Johnny said.

 

“Gotcha ya.  You go on and be careful.  Let me know what you find.”

 

“Sure thing, Cap!”  yelled Johnny as he trotted to catch up with Roy, swinging his gear over his shoulders.

 

Stanley sighed as he pulled out the O2 and adjusted the flow.  He looked up as the afternoon sun dipped lower in the sky.  It was going to be a long time till dinner, he noted.

 

*******

 

“Man, I don’t know about this.  Doesn’t look good,”  Johnny commented as they picked their way around the debris leading to the still standing part of the apartment complex.

 

Water sprayed around them and the flames from the left side of the now crumbled part of the building kept creeping to the right.  But the attack was in full force now as the firemen surrounded the area, drowning everything in site. 

 

“Over here!”  Roy yelled through his mask.  He had located an entry way that used to hold a door.  Roy and Johnny walked through it hoping to find someone sheltered in the new building.

 

“Anyone in here!”  Johnny called out, moving his mask away to make his voice louder.  “Hello!”

 

The smoke seeped in everywhere and the tall beams of unfinished rooms created a maze of wood and brackets.  The concrete was slick with water and the roar of the flames and crackling lumber created more noise then they needed.  They kept to the edge of the fallen walls of the left side of the building, hoping they would find the men on the inside taking cover from whatever blasted the building.

 

“I don’t see anything!”  yelled Johnny.  “You?”

 

Just as Roy was going to respond he spotted an arm protruding from the rubble.  “Johnny!”

 

Johnny lopped over to Roy, carefully avoiding the pipes sticking up from the concrete.  “Right here!”  Johnny said, as he bent down next to Roy trying to uncover the debris holding the man’s arm outright.

 

He felt Roy’s hand on his shoulder.  “He’s gone.”

 

Johnny stopped digging and threw the crumbled concrete down.  “Damn.”

 

“Let’s keep going.”

 

The two paramedics moved deeper into the shell.  The HT squawked from Roy’s pocket of his turnout coat.

 

“Engine 51 to HT 51,”  Stanley’s voice cracked.

 

“HT 51, uh Cap, we’ve only found one--Code F,”  Roy reported. “We’re continuing our search!”

 

“10-4, HT 51, give it another five minutes and pull out!”

 

“10-4, Engine 51,”  Roy stuffed the HT back in his pocket.

 

“Roy!”  shouted his partner.  “I think I’ve got one of  ‘em!”

 

Johnny was shoving aside some toppled sawhorses and tools that had spilled over the concrete floor.  In the midst of the fallen items was a construction worker struggling to breath, coughing and gasping while trying to move.

 

“Hang on!  Let us move some of this out of the way!”  yelled Johnny to the man.  Roy reached out and gave his mask to the man as Johnny shoved more of the debris.  The man inhaled deeply, shaking, covered with mud and ash.  “Is there anyone else over here?”  Johnny asked.

 

The man kept coughing and inhaled some more.  “ . . .he was over there . . .” the man choked out the words.  Roy was able to grab one of his arms while Johnny got under his other shoulder--they each pulled the man out of the medley of tools, wood and concrete.  He swayed under their support and shook his head.

 

“ . . .he’s got to be over there . . .Mitch!”  he yelled.  Johnny turned towards the darker corner of the building and looked back at Roy. 

 

“Can you get him on out and I’ll finish looking?”  Johnny queried, knowing Roy’s response.

 

“Yea, just hurry up,”  Roy hesitated, knowing that time was of the essence.  He handed Johnny the HT with his free hand.  “Cap want’s us out in the next three minutes!”

 

“I’ll be right behind you!  Lemme just check over here and I’ll be right there!”  Johnny assured, moving quickly, hoping that the other man wasn’t too far away.

 

Roy grabbed his patient and was thankful the man was able to move on his feet with his support.  No apparent breaks, he thought.  He headed back through the maze and watched for the sunlight as it filtered through the haze, directing his way.  He heard more shouts and commands as he got closer to the entry way. Concrete and bricks littered the area.  He sighed thankfully as Chet and Marco’s lines splashed him and then dropped.  They both grabbed the man from Roy.  “Where’s Johnny?”

 

“Checking on the last man--I’m going back and help him!”

 

“Hurry!  We can’t really do much else with this!”  Marco shouted at him, gesturing towards the unstable structure.

 

At that moment, the world exploded around them.  They all dropped to the ground as the blast propelled debris in all directions and the heat of the fire ravaged the air.  The rumble and roar of the stressed shell broke free as what was left standing of the apartment building finally shattered under the explosion.  The building folded in and the crash of the roof smoldered the flames as it slammed into the ground.  And then, there was silence.

 

*******

 

He ripped away his mask hoping to give life back to the fallen man.  He pressed his mouth against the gritty face underneath him and watched the chest.  “Damn, nothing!”  He continued on.  The heat of the fire was creeping closer and he knew he had to go.  But not another one!  This was too much he thought as he watched the man’s chest again.  He felt the carotid and there was still nothing!  Okay, Gage, don’t get involved. You did what you could now move on!  Johnny heard Roy’s words again, “Cap wants us out!”  He sighed and stood, turning to move out, wiping the sweat from his brow and putting his mask back to his own gritty face.  He grabbed the HT and as he thumbed the switch, the world exploded around him . . .

 

*******

 

The men started moving slowly at first.  Then the moment of silence evaporated quickly as they realized what happened.  Now, the entire building was down and very little of the fire remained.  Smoke, haze, dust, ash and soot combined to create a surreal backdrop to the pile of rubble that dwarfed the firefighters.  They picked up their lines and new commands came across the area.

 

“Roy?”  yelled Marco, as he looked back toward the crumbled apartment.  Marco sighed in relief as he watched the senior paramedic struggle to his feet.  He noticed Chet beside him also regain his bearings and they both picked up the injured construction worker.  Marco looked back at Roy.

 

“Roy? You okay?”

 

Roy looked over at Marco, trying to figure out what do to next.  It was then that Marco saw the horrified look that came over Roy.  He shuddered, knowing what was coming.  Johnny didn’t come out of that building and Roy was just now recognizing that fact.  Marco called again.

 

“Roy!  Come on! We’ll get to Cap and get this guy treated!”  He hoped he could reach through to the dazed firefighter encouraging him to remember the right search and rescue protocol.

 

“Johnny?”  Roy rasped, seeking Marco’s eyes for confirmation. 

 

“We’ll come back, Roy!  Come on, man!”  Chet stepped over to him knowing that Roy needed just as much support as the injured man did.  He grabbed Roy by the arm and gently led him toward the Engine, following Marco and his charge. 

 

Roy simply followed, unable to function.  He only saw the haze and smoke drift closer to the devastated building, shrouding the view of where he last saw his partner.  “Johnny?”

 

*******

 

Twilight settled in and the grueling work of search and rescue along with the clean-up continued.  They all knew that one firefighter and two victims were still unaccounted for and no one was leaving until they were finished.  The rest of the injured were already taken to Rampart and the Battalion Chief called in more crews for manpower.

 

As the evening stars began to appear, one man hovered on the perimeter of the rescue effort.  He was exhausted and weary and also frustrated that his Captain made him stand on the sidelines.  We’ll get there and then I want you to be ready, you understand? he had said with that deep, penetrating voice that offered no debate.  Roy knew Cap was right, but he still needed to be ready and as more time trickled away, so did Roy’s assurance that Johnny would be found alive.  Come on, Junior, just hang in there. 

 

Roy kicked at the crumbled pieces of concrete at his feet.  Nearby a large pile of new bricks for the finished apartment complex littered the area.  He picked up one of the bricks that was still intact and watched it dissolve through a tear. . .

 

“Come on, Roy!  It’ll be fun!  We’ll just set up the tents and fish and then eat the fish!  Man, I’m so ready for a vacation!”  Johnny’s enthusiasm made Roy smile.

 

“Yea, you’re right.  You know, sometimes, I just have to get away from the family,”  Roy responded.

 

“You’ve told me that one before, Pally!”

 

“Well, it’s true--and Joann said it would be fine.”

 

“Okay, then, cheer up!  Ah, the stars, the sun, the mountains--I can just see the sunrise!  Each morning, huh? After the week we’ve had . . .man, I’m ready!”

 

It had been one of those weeks when the crew didn’t post as many saves as they wanted to.  The teenager who ran his car off the road and had two friends in the car with him--all three died.  Then, the baby that didn’t make it after a midnight call from his frantic mother--the baby had stopped breathing and nothing they did mattered.

 

Those were the weeks when the two paramedics had to find ways to release their frustration.  Johnny’s favorite thing was to head to the mountains and to put LA county out of his head and heart.  Roy didn’t mind it either and it gave them the chance for solitude and quiet which was rare.

 

“Me, too, Johnny, me too,”  Roy agreed.  He watched as his partner bounded from the kitchen mumbling something about his “backpack” and grinned.  Leave it to Johnny to find a retreat for both of them in the simple things.  Roy wondered how he ever survived all the horrible calls prior to meeting John Gage. . .

 

The sound of hurried voices and the sense of urgency they carried brought Roy out of his reverie.  He rubbed his face and shook his head, clearing the fog of emotions that tugged at him since the collapse.

 

“They’ve just found one of the construction workers.  Roy. . .  he was already gone, right?”  Captain Stanley had moved over toward Roy to let him know the latest.  His voice was quiet.

 

“Um . . yea, the first one . . he didn’t make it,”  Roy said, hanging his head.

 

“Okay, Pal, you just hang in there.  We’re getting closer.”

 

“Sure, Cap.”

 

Stanley clapped his shoulder and moved on toward the center of activity.  The rescuers continued to rotate in and out, staying diligent on their task.  Roy shifted his gaze and looked up toward the bright moon hanging in the silent sky.  The evening breeze carried a fragrant aroma of new spring blossoms and honey, overriding the acrid smoke and haze, just for that moment.  It struck Roy odd that such a wonderful smell would permeate throughout all this destruction.  The fragrance reminded him of his partner’s refreshing gift of reassurance during that bus rescue last month . . .

 

The ravine wasn’t very deep, but the overturned bus was barely recognizable.  Smoke filtered from the front of the vehicle and the pick-up that hit it head-on seemed to be attached to the bus. The driver had already been confirmed a fatality and the three stations responding to the call had just finished evacuating the children from the bus.

 

As Roy continued to crawl toward the front of the bus to reach the driver, he heard Johnny begin the triage of the children. 

 

“Okay, everyone just needs to settle down and we’ll see what we need to for you, okay?”  his partner instructed the ten children who were returning from a mid-day field trip before the crash.

 

“I don’t feel so good--everything is dizzy!”  the small, blonde headed girl cried.  There where several little heads that nodded at her proclamation, and Johnny patted her on the back.

 

“It’s okay, sweetheart, we’re going to help you.  Why don’t you sit and that may help,” he said as he helped her sit down on the grassy patch.  Other paramedics were on the scene and began assessing the injuries.  From what Roy could tell as he helped the children out, there were very few injuries and they all were thankful.  However, the driver was another matter.

 

He finally reached the large woman who was pinned by the steering wheel.  Her eyes were open but there was no life in them.  He sighed heavily and passed his hand over her eyelids, granting her a final dignity.

 

Chet tried to peer into the front of the wreckage, ready to help Roy. 

 

“Roy?  What do you need?”  he yelled.

 

“She didn’t make it, Chet--let’s cut her out from the front here,”  Roy responded.  He shifted back towards the emergency exit of the overturned bus and despite his regret that the driver didn’t make it, he was encouraged by the survival of the children.  He even grinned when he heard his partner.

 

“Well, you each seem in pretty good shape . . .why don’t . . .”  a tug at Johnny’s coat interrupted his next instruction.

 

“Mister Fireman, I’m scared!  I want my mommy and daddy!”  sniffled a boy who sported a bandage on his forehead.  Johnny squatted down to him and smiled.

 

“We’re working on that right now, young man.  You just hold my hand, and you’ll be okay.”

 

“When I’m scared, I like it when my daddy sings,” responded another little girl.  The other children seemed to like that.  The other paramedics just looked at Johnny, knowing that he had already secured the leadership position with this group.

 

“Uh, .  . . well . . “  Johnny was a little lost at that idea, and Roy grinned again as he jumped down from the wreckage.

 

“How about spiders, Junior?”  Roy queried as he walked past the group, intent on helping Chet and the others with the driver.  He caught his partner’s surprised look and smiled back at him.

 

“Oh, I know that one!” said the boy with the bandage.

 

“Come on, Gage--don’t just stand there, we’ve got kids to keep happy until the ambulance gets here,”  said Curtis, one of the paramedics from 36’s. 

 

Johnny looked over the small group of bewildered children and with a little reluctance, began singing . . .”The itsy, bitsy spider climbed up the water spout . . .”

 

As the children joined in, singing off key and beginning to make hand motions, Roy looked back and stopped for a moment.  He took that moment to appreciate the way his partner and friend seemed to just bring out the best in others, no matter how much destruction or chaos was around.  It was truly a gift.

 

Roy looked up the ravine as the sirens of the ambulances wailed in the background . . .

 

Sirens blared louder as another ambulance approached the area.  Roy inhaled the sweet aroma before it went away and he closed his eyes.  You’ve got to be okay, partner; you’ve got so much more to give, he thought, lingering on the image of Johnny’s grin as those children from last month’s rescue began to giggle at the silly song.

 

Another round of excited voices pulled Roy back to the current scene.  He opened his eyes to see Captain Stanley assist in pulling another man out of the rubble.  Roy ran over to the group and groaned softly.  It was the other construction worker, Mitch.  Bellingham and Brice put him on the stretcher and moved him out, both of their faces grim with the knowledge that he didn’t make it either.

 

“Okay, Cap, we’ve got some space in there now--I don’t know how secure it is, though,” said Joe Cassis, one of the crew from Engine 36.  He shook his head trying to get the dust and soot from his helmet and wiped his brow.  “Maybe we can try crawling in,” he continued.

 

“Well, it’s probably our best shot,” replied Cap.  He looked to his left to find Roy standing there, putting on his turnout coat and shouldering his SCBA gear.  “Roy?”

 

“Cap, let me go in.  If he’s injured, I can help him,”  Roy pleaded with a soft voice. 

 

Stanley looked at his senior paramedic and Roy understood his concern.  But, he also hoped that Cap knew how important this was to him.

 

“Okay, pal.  Just be sure to watch it.  Can’t have both of you out of it, now can we?” 

 

“You know it!”  Roy said, tucking the HT in his pocket.  He crouched down at the hole and nodded to Chet and Marco as they helped to move more bricks and wood.  “I’ll be back,” Roy said with his paramedic mode firmly in place.

 

“Tell Gage to quit lying around on the job when you find him, Roy,” Chet remarked.  Roy noticed the gleam in Chet’s eye and was thankful for it. 

 

“I will.”

 

The ground was wet and the crumbled concrete dug into Roy’s knees as he began crawling through the makeshift hole.  As he got further in, the artificial lights from the generators began to fade quickly.  He shifted his left arm and made sure his flashlight was secure and moved forward.  He stayed focused, crawling like he used to during the war in the low brush of a foreign country.  He didn’t feel the rubble scratch and tear his pants.  He didn’t feel the wet and cold water seep into his shirt.  All he felt was the determination and energy of his partner . . . .

 

Roy sneezed.  The dust was everywhere, but especially when Johnny kept kicking it up and throwing it out of the tunnel he had created.  Roy tried to help him dig, but knew that his partner was more suited for it physically.  The little girl who had fallen into the construction hole wasn’t making anymore noises.  That wasn’t good.

 

Roy stuck his head into the tunnel.

 

“You okay?” he asked upon hearing coughing from Johnny.

 

“Yea!  Man, it’s just slow going!”

 

Up top, the engine crew and another pair of paramedics were waiting anxiously.  The mother and Marco were talking in Spanish hoping to keep the little girl calm, however, they too were nervous that the small, whimpering sounds were now gone.

 

Time passed and the urgency of their rescue weighed heavily on both paramedics.  Roy kept shoving the dirt away from the entrance of Johnny’s tunnel.  After missing the girl the first dig, Johnny just kept going and going--his resolve never fading despite the odds. 

 

And then finally Johnny reached her.  She was barely breathing and his immediate delivery of resuscitation revived her and she whimpered.  Roy smiled at Johnny’s larger, lopsided grin.  He knew he had asked for the right partner after the second training class ended.  Sunlight greeted them as they both climbed out of the trench.  Roy shielded his eyes. . .*

 

Roy wiped the sweat from his eyes and kept moving.  The tunnel was more difficult the further he went in due to the rubble and debris shifting after the apartment building finally died.  It had been several hours into the evening and Roy’s frustration just kept getting stronger.  Johnny, where are you?

 

At last, Roy reached a point where the rubble opened up into a pocket of broken beams, sheet rock and re-bar fragments.  He was able to pull into a hunched sitting position, removing his air tank.  He flexed his raw knees and elbows a bit before reaching for the HT.

 

“Engine 51, HT 51.”

 

“HT 51, what have you got, Roy?”  came back Cap’s deep voice.

 

“Nothing yet, Cap, but I’ve found a small pocket where we might be able to work from.  I’m about 20 feet in,”  reported Roy.

 

“10-4, HT 51.  We’ll get the probe right over there.  How’s the shoring look?”

 

“We’re gonna need to work carefully, but if you can get in from the topside, we should be fine.  I’m going on ahead.”

 

“10-4, HT 51.  Be careful!”

 

Roy shrugged looking up at the cracked ceiling frames that were now basically floor level.  He knew that any movement could be an issue, but decided he needed to keep on.  Besides, they’ll be able to use this spot for us to evacuate out of, he thought, keeping positive on recovering Johnny. We’ve got some sunrises to watch Junior.  Can’t be lying around here all night!

 

Another pile of bricks and scattered plaster made up the next obstacle for Roy to pass through.  He grunted with effort as he moved the larger block of wood framing over the pile and gasped as he saw the helmet.  Laying alongside the pile was Johnny’s helmet, covered with dust and grime. 

 

“Johnny!” yelled Roy, full of anticipation and renewed strength.  He fumbled with his gloves and began moving the debris quickly, watching for any sign of his partner in the mess.  He didn’t notice the slick dust turning into paste and the splinters of wood digging into his ankles.  Stopping to take a deep breath, Roy realized that there was nothing more in the pile.  Nothing.  Damn it, Johnny, where are you?

 

Roy moved toward more broken beams and metal from the ceiling brackets.  I could really use some of that nonstop chatter from you now, my friend, he pondered, working on shifting the larger beam away from him.  He heard the echoes . . .

 

“How are you doing?”

 

“Um . . tryin’ to think of somethin’ funny to say, but it hurts too much.”

 

“Just hang on.”*

 

It was the longest ambulance ride he ever took.  Fear clamped firmly in his gut and he shook, careful not to let the ambulance attendant see it.  Roy never thought he’d feel the depth of anguish he was now experiencing.  Stabilizing Johnny at the scene was  almost impossible other than to splint, package and go.  Johnny’s painful moans coursed through Roy’s veins as surely as his blood did.  Only he felt it run cold. . .

 

Roy wondered if Johnny was feeling anything right now.  The echoes of that earlier fear came back in full stereo sound, amplified by Roy’s weariness. 

 

“J O H N N Y !” he yelled out in pure frustration.  He stopped and listened.  He heard faint sounds but wasn’t sure what they were.  He pulled out the HT.

 

“Engine 51, HT 51, do you copy?”

 

“HT 51, we read you.  Anything?”  responded Cap.

 

Roy sighed wearily.  “No.”

 

“We think we’ve found the topside of that first pocket, Roy.  Can you see any light coming through?”

 

Roy looked back behind him into the very black area.  He pointed his flashlight beam and set it on wide.  “No, nothing.  But I’m sure I heard something.  Must be you guys,”  he said.

 

“10-4, HT 51.”

 

Roy shoved the HT back into the pocket and moved again.  He knew that outside this rubble the evening stars twinkled and the breeze was cool.  He thought about how that breeze would cool him off now as he wiped the back of his neck with his gritty hands.  He stretched and let out a long exhale, setting his flashlight forward.  Something sparkled as he moved the beam.  Johnny?  He scrambled over the broken lumber.  It wasn’t the brackets.  It was Johnny’s watch and then it was his arm.

 

“Johnny!!  Johnny?!”  Roy yelled.  He furiously dug away the debris covering his partner, careful not to shift anything significant for fear of further damage to his partner.  Roy noticed that Johnny was only partially buried and that his head was above the debris.  But no response to his name.  Roy felt for the neck and found the pulse.  Yes, Junior!  Weak, but there!  He moved the flashlight over Johnny again, looking closer at the situation.  The pool of blood under Johnny was not a good sign nor was his clammy skin.  Roy pulled out of his air tank again and set the regulator, placing the mask over his partner’s quiet face.  He thumbed the switch on the HT.

 

“Engine 51, this is HT 51--I’ve found him, Cap!”  Roy didn’t even wait for the response.

 

“10-4, HT 51.  Condition?”

 

“Cap, he’s in shock and I’ve got oxygen flowing for him now,”  Roy responded, moving away the rubble surrounding Johnny’s legs.  Roy pulled a pressure bandage from the small backpack around his waist and applied it quickly to the large gash across Johnny’s thigh.  “Looks like he’s lost a lot of blood.  We’ve got to move,” Roy cringed, knowing he had stated the obvious.

 

“Hang tight, Roy--we’re almost there,” Stanley encouraged.

 

“10-4, Engine 51,” Roy sighed.  He tried moving more of the debris away, keeping his one hand firmly on the wound. 

 

“Johnny?  Come on, Junior.  Time to wake up, huh?”  Roy tried to rally his partner to consciousness.  Roy took Johnny’s pulse and respiration again.  Okay, Junior, a little better, but not good enough.  Come on, guys.

 

He pulled out the gauze after checking the wound again.  The bleeding began to slow down and he wrapped another bandage around Johnny’s thigh.  He took a moment to settle back and gaze at the living, breathing man in front of him.  He felt weary to the bone and his earlier fears had turned into a steady progression of frustration as he considered the fact that time was running out for Johnny.  He longed for another sunrise, now . . .

 

The embers glowed under the rusty rack that held the stainless steel coffee pot.  Smoke drifted from the campfire, bringing with it the aroma of fresh coffee.  Roy rolled out of his sleeping bag and yawned, stretching his legs and noticing that Johnny  was already awake.  He slipped on his shoes and shuffled out of the tent, breathing in the sweet air and the fresh coffee.

 

“Mornin’” he garbled as he found his voice.

 

“Hey, Pally!  Just in time!  Look!”  Johnny pointed over the mountain ridge that stood in the distance. 

 

Roy simply stood, cupping his hands around the warm porcelain coffee cup Johnny handed him. He gazed at the wispy clouds that were already full of pink and lavender hues of promised sunlight.  Streaks of muted orange and gray drizzled among the lower clouds.  The transformation from dawn to daylight was heralded in with a multitude of bird choruses.  Roy looked over at his friend and smiled again.  Johnny was in his element.  This was refuge from their intense and risky jobs. 

 

“No one should take this for granted,” whispered Johnny.  The sunrise came . . .

 

He coughed.  Roy jumped.  Johnny began coughing, almost violently, trying to shove the mask from his face.  Roy grabbed his hands and was thankful his partner’s movements were weak at best, so he could control him. 

 

“Shhh, Johnny.  It’s okay.  You’re okay, Junior.  We’re almost out of here.  Can you hear me?”

Roy tried to soothe his friend.

 

Johnny coughed some more and struggled to sit up.  That effort caused him to moan loudly.

 

“Ahhhhh . . .” he croaked, coughing and gagging.

 

Roy tried to ease him up slowly, hoping that he wasn’t aggravating any internal injuries.  “Easy Johnny, easy,”  Roy whispered.

 

Johnny’s eyes were caked with dirt and grime and he moved his hands to his head.

 

“Roy . . .?”  Johnny tried again to speak.

 

“Settle down, Johnny.  You’re okay, now.”

 

“ . . .um . .where?”

 

“You got caught up in a building collapse.  Just take it easy.  Help’s on the way,”  Roy tried again to soothe Johnny’s questioning mind.  “Where does it hurt?”

 

“Um .. my leg, man, my leg is  . . .” he stopped to cough again.  He grabbed his middle, panting and gagging on the dust in his lungs.  Roy adjusted the regulator. 

 

“Try this.”

 

Johnny was too weak to try to hold the mask, his hand shaking. Roy steadied his hand and eased Johnny back down, gently laying his partner on his own dusty turnout coat. 

 

“Try to relax, Johnny, that’ll ease the cough,”  Roy instructed.  He knew that Johnny’s condition was declining and he was helpless to do more for him.  Johnny wheezed through the mask and settled his weary gaze on Roy.

 

“. . time?”

 

“uh, I think it’s almost morning,”  Roy responded, rubbing his hand on Johnny’s shoulder hoping to control his partner’s shivering body. 

 

“morning . . .”  Johnny coughed out the word.  “. . .want to see . . “

 

“You will, Junior.  Relax, okay?”

 

“. . can’t  . .hurts to breathe, . ..Roy?”  Johnny began to panic, beginning his weak attempts at trying to sit up again.

 

“Johnny . . .think about  .. .” Roy moved closer to his partner using his body as a shield against Johnny’s perceptions of his reality through his weakened condition.  “. . .um . . .about when morning comes.  You’ll see another sunrise.  Just keep thinking about that, okay?”  Roy tried to see Johnny’s face, but the mask and Johnny’s own hands covered much of his face at the moment.  He felt Johnny’s shoulders ease downward, his breathing slowing.

 

Johnny tried to move the mask off.  “Roy . . .?”

 

“I’m right here, Johnny, right here.”

 

“. . .kay . . .wait for . . .morning.”

 

Roy leaned into the wall, holding his partner as if this was his only lifeline left.  So close, Junior, we’re so close.  Just don’t give up, he urged frantically in his deepest thoughts. Johnny’s raspy breathing lulled Roy from the dimming twilight into the warm recesses of dawn.  Roy closed his eyes and sighed.

 

*******

“Never take it for granted . . .”  Johnny said as he looked at the glowing orb of fire bursting from the horizon.

 

Roy listened to the wind.

 

 now, lay your fears aside
be still and listen to the silence
lay your trust in my hands
close your eyes and sleep
let me hold you gently
may you find rest in my arms
lay your cares upon my heart
be still and hear the quiet
let me ease your pain
and bear the tears of your suffering
lay your troubles down
let me hold you in peace
be still and let your heart rest
the flames will not touch you, here
may you find healing in my hope, through my love

as the sun rises and moon sets
today, let me be your strength, Junior . . .

 

*******

Roy awoke with a start and noticed that Johnny was barely breathing now.  No, Johnny, don’t do this . . hang on!  He shifted his back and stretched a little, trying not to disturb his partner.  But he knew that now there was little left he could do. 

 

Suddenly, a large rumble rang through Roy’s ears.  He cringed and moved to cover Johnny as debris began to rain down on him. 

 

“Got them!” a strong voice yelled out.

 

The rumble stopped and the sprinkling of natural light easily moved within the newly created spaces that were just created over the pair.  

 

“Roy?”  the familiar voice shouted out.

 

Roy looked up and smiled.  “Cap?  We’re down here--Johnny’s out of time!”

 

“We’re coming now!”

 

The next few minutes were a rush of activity from several firefighters, lifting debris and shoring up the hole, making it large enough for their extraction.  Others came in and peeled Johnny away from Roy, packaging and moving him out.  Roy was weak and battered, but able to move with assistance.  As he was pulled through the rubble, he quickly scanned the horizon. 

 

Morning had come.  Just for you, Johnny, just for you.

 

* * *

 

 

 

 

*Indicates actual dialogue from “The Nuisance” and author’s summary of “Publicity Hound”, both episodes the sole property of Universal and all characters belong to the show and creators from which they are borrowed.  No infringement on any copyrights or trademarks is intended.  For entertainment only.

 

 

 

 

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Guest Dispatchers                Stories by Robin W.