The Times, They Are A Changin’

By Terri

The men of Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Station 51 A Shift slowly started filtering in for duty. Captain Stanley, as usual, was the first to arrive. He sat in his office contemplating the day ahead and listened to the sounds of his men as they went about preparing for duty. As the commanding officer on A Shift, he felt it his responsibility to arrive before the rest of his men and he went to great lengths to do so. It wasn’t long after he was stationed at 51’s that he realized that his Engineer, Mike Stoker, was an early riser and very often arrived to work by 7:15 for an 8:00 am shift. For Hank, this meant arriving at the station by 7:00, but he didn’t mind because it gave him a chance to talk shop with his C shift counterpart if he was available or catch up on some much needed paperwork. Paperwork was his least favorite aspect of the job, but Hank saw it for the necessity that it was and he diligently made sure that it was completed. His favorite aspect of the job was his men. He took great pride in the fact that 51’s A shift had been together for so long. People come and go through transfers and promotions and such, but his “family” had stayed together. But Hank knew that, as the song went, the times they are a changing. A chain of events had been set into motion and there was no turning back.

Everyone knew that Mike was waiting for an opening for Captain to become available, and Hank knew without a doubt that Mike would be an outstanding Captain. The man was intelligent, level headed, fair and most importantly, trustworthy. The group had almost lost their senior paramedic to an Engineer’s position a few years ago, and although Roy Desoto would have made a hell of an engineer, Hank was just as happy that he’d decided to stay a paramedic at 51’s. Everyone in the department knew that 51’s had one of the best paramedic teams in the county. Roy Desoto had been instrumental in getting the paramedic program off the ground and his partner, John Gage, had also been involved in the program since it’s early days. Hank marveled at how well they worked together. The two men were as different as night and day, but they complimented each other so well in the field. And it had been no surprise to Hank to find that they were not only partners, but close friends as well. Marco Lopez and Chet Kelly, his two firefighters, rounded out his team. They were two of the best in the business and Hank never ceased to be amazed at their dedication to job. Sure, Chet was the prankster of the group calling himself “The Phantom” and constantly pulling gags on them, well mostly on Gage, but when duty called, you could always count on Chet. Marco was his unlikely, and sometimes unwilling, sidekick but like his paramedic team, these two men had forged a bond that transcended the job. Marco had passed the Engineer’s exam and he was waiting for his name to come up on the list.

Hank Stanley was married with two daughters in college, but he considered his men a part of his family. The camaraderie of his men made going to work very enjoyable for Hank. This was one of the reasons why he’d put off taking the Chief’s exam as long as he had. Well, that and McConnikee. McConnikee was Hank’s Battalion Chief, but back when Hank had been an Engineer, McConnikee had been his Captain. They hadn’t always seen eye to eye in those days and when Hank found out who his new Battalion Chief was he could have died. He’d had half a mind to transfer immediately, but the working relationship with his men hadn’t allowed him to really consider it. Instead, he drove them crazy with his worries over inspections and drills and other mundane activities that involved the Chief. Somehow they had found out that Hank had burned McConnikee’s cap and they had questioned him relentlessly about it, but that was an incident that Hank intended to take to the grave with him. Only two people knew what really happened and McConnikee wasn’t about to tell anyone either. Of that, Hank was certain. But he also knew that the Chief liked to amuse himself by holding it over Hank’s head.

He could hear the men in the dayroom discussing their days off and when the voice of John Gage was added to that mix, Hank knew it was time for roll call. Gage was almost certain to be the last man to arrive. Hank stood and rubbed his hands together.

“May as well get this over with now,” he said to himself. He casually strolled to the dayroom and announced roll call. The men quickly assembled in the bay and Hank took in the group standing before him.

Mike, so serious looking but always with a gleam in his eye so that you’d never really know if he were being serious or not. Chet, the short stocky Irishman with his penchant for practical jokes but fierce in his loyalty. Marco, the chef extraordinaire and aider and abettor to the Phantom. Roy, with his ever sensible calming influence. And lastly, John, who wore his heart on his sleeve and drove the nurses at Rampart crazy. Yes, Hank thought to himself, the times they are a changing, but life must move on. This group would never again be assembled together for roll call and Hank felt his eyes tear ever so slightly. He cleared his throat.

“Listen up, fellas. I’ve got some announcements to make. As you know, Chief Reynolds has retired,” he paused ever so slightly before continuing., “and I have been offered a position as Battalion Chief for his division.”

A chorus of “Congratulations” and “That’s great, Cap” interrupted his speech. He smiled and acknowledged his men’s remarks.

“Thanks, guys. Thanks a lot.”

“So, Cap, when do you start your new position?” Mike Stoker asked.

Chet interrupted Hank’s response with his own question. “The more important question here, Mike, is who is going to be our new Captain?”

“Well, that would be Bill Anderson,” Hank calmly stated knowing that it would bring another round of questions.

Johnny piped in first, “Isn’t he the Captain over at 16’s?”

“Yes,” Marco added quickly, “I worked overtime there about two months ago. He’s a good guy.”

“He’s one of the best,” Hank supplied and waited knowing the question would come.

“Well, if Anderson is coming here, then who is gonna take over at 16’s?” Chet asked with much curiosity.

Hank looked to Mike and raised his eyebrows to which Mike nodded and smiled.

“Oh yeah, I almost forgot that part. The new captain at 16’s will be our very own Mike Stoker.”

Another round of congratulations erupted as the guys shook Mike’s hand or slapped him on the back.

“Okay,” Hank began again, “obviously that leaves Station 51’s A shift with an Engineer opening. I would love to be able to tell you Marco had gotten the job but I can’t.”

Chet cut him off quickly protesting, “Aww, come on, Cap, we all know that Marco was next on that list. That isn’t fair.”

Hank held up a hand to stop Chet’s tirade. He knew how protective Chet was of his friends. “Marco hasn’t gotten it because they are assigning him as an Engineer to B shift. We’ll be getting Jackson off of their shift.” Hank looked at Marco who was smirking. Marco had told him to phrase it that way just to get a reaction out of Chet and it worked.

“I can’t believe you knew this and didn’t tell me, Marco,” Chet whined to his friend.

“I wanted to, Chet, really I did, but I just found out yesterday and besides if I had, I wouldn’t have gotten to hear you take up for me so valiantly.” Marco smiled at his friend and Chet gave him a big grin.

“That’s okay, because I didn’t tell you that I took the Engineer’s exam a couple of weeks ago. But I haven’t gotten my results yet.”

“Actually, Chet, you did, they were waiting here this morning. You can open them later in private if you like,” Hank said handing him the envelope which Chet immediately tore into.

“13^th,” he exclaimed. “I placed 13^th.”

“Hey, Chet, congratulations,” Mike told him. “It won’t take them long to get to you.”

Chet beamed proudly. “We all have to go out and celebrate,” he announced but then his brows furrowed together. “Hey, you never said when the changes would be taking effect?”

“Next shift,” Captain Stanley told them with just a hint of sadness.

Chet looked shell shocked. “Wow, that soon, huh?”

“Afraid so, Pal. You know how the department works,” Hank said looking at the men that he had served with for so long. “This will be our last shift together.”

The mood sobered, as the men seemed to digest that information. They all knew how lucky they were to have been together as long as they had. And although each of them knew that they would still see their friends, they also knew that their lives would be forever changed.

“Well then,” Roy chimed in, “we’ll have to make it a good one then, won’t we?”

“Yeah,” Johnny added, “it’s not like it’s a bad thing, you know. All of you guys getting promoted, that’s a good thing. And Chet on the list, well, I guess that’s good, too,” he smirked at his nemesis. “So, Roy’s right, let’s make this a good shift.”

Hank rubbed his hands together. “I agree. Now for the duty roster. Lopez, you’re cooking today. Stoker, you’ve got the bay, Desoto, the dayroom. Gage, the dorm and finally Kelly,”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. . .the latrines,” he muttered dejectedly.

“Hey, Kelly, look at like this. This is the last time that I’ll be giving you latrine duty,” Cap remarked. “Oh, yes and, Marco and Chet, you’ve got some hose to hang as well. Mike, not that you don’t already but let’s wipe down the engine and have her sparkling.” He looked at Gage and Desoto and added that the squad could use a good cleaning too.

“Okay, men, dismissed.” Hank stood rooted to his spot as his men went their various ways and began their assignments. He reveled in the sounds that reverberated through the station as the men went about their chores and daily rituals. The voices were excited now, but Hank knew that come tomorrow morning it would be a slightly different story. Instead of rushing out of the station to begin their two-day rest, the guys would linger around. No one would want to be the first one to walk out that door. Although, Gage, Desoto and Kelly would be remaining on 51’s A shift, it wouldn’t be long before that changed as well. It was only a matter of time before Kelly made Engineer and although they had been trying to keep things quiet, Hank knew that both of his paramedics had been studying for the Captain’s exam, and he didn’t doubt that either of them would make it. And if he didn’t miss his guess, he figured that somehow it would work out that they’d both make it at the same time. That’s just the way things were with those two.

Yes, Hank thought to himself, the times they are a changing. But he knew, without a doubt, that the lives of the six men that comprised the A shift of Station 51, would be forever linked. And it was with that knowledge that Hank had been able to make the decision to become a Battalion Chief. He would miss seeing his family on a regular basis, but he had no regrets. As he turned to make his way back to his office, the klaxons sounded causing the all too familiar adrenaline rush. Some things would never change.

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