Part 2
Chet stood in the back lot of the station while Marco and Mike worked on hanging a hose on the rack.
“I believe Cap’s plan was for the three of us to hang hose.”
Kelly looked up at Stoker, who was beside Lopez on the rack. “Hey, I’m doing my share! I’m just taking a quick break!”
Marco rolled his eyes and glanced at Mike. “A break until the rest of the work is done.”
“I heard that!” Chet hollered. He shook his head. “I’ll help in a minute, I swear! I’m just thinkin’.”
“About Miss Va-vavoom?”
“Mike! Cut it out!” He sighed and went over to help with the hose again. “I was just thinkin’ about Gage.”
“How long do you think it’ll be before Lorraine’s planning their wedding?” the engineer wondered.
“At the rate she’s goin’? I’ll give her two weeks.”
“If she does, Johnny will run so fast, he’ll be a blur.”
“I don’t know, Marco. Look at how ready he was to marry that Valerie chick.”
“Yeah, but he wanted out of that deal as soon as he met her kids,” Mike reminded.
Chet peered into the apparatus bay, his eyes on the squad. “I just can’t see John with an obsessive wife and a bunch of kids who’d need therapy by the time they were five-years-old. . .well, maybe his kids would need therapy by then anyway. And maybe having an obsessive wife would give him more to obsess about. . .”
Mike and Marco climbed down from the hose rack. Chet turned to face them, a puzzled expression on his face.
“What’re you guys doin’ down here already?”
Marco folded his arms across his chest. “We’re done.”
Chet gave a hint of an apologetic smile and shrugged.
~*~*~
Johnny peeked into the captain’s office and was surprised to see Hank Stanley slouched in his chair with his head resting against the back; his eyes were closed and a big grin was on his face. Not wanting to startle the man, Gage lightly tapped on the door frame. Hank opened his eyes and sat up straight.
“Oh. . .uh. . .c’mon in, John.”
“You must’ve been havin’ a good dream, huh, Cap?”
“A dream?” When he realized he’d had his eyes closed, the captain corrected, “Oh, I wasn’t asleep. I was just enjoying the new desk smell.”
“New desk smell?”
Stanley nodded as he put his hands on the desk in front of him and took a whiff of the odor around the object. “They just brought it in while C-Shift was on duty.” He smiled again. “Yep, I have to admit I’ve always loved the smell of a new desk.” Hank leaned back in his chair. “Hey, never mind the desk. Did you want to see me about something?”
Johnny gave a wary look at his captain and took a step back. “Uh. . .no. . .that’s okay, Cap.” Him too?
“You sure?”
“Yeah. . .yeah, I am. I--” The paramedic was cut off by the klaxons, which were followed by dispatch sending the squad out on a call for a woman stuck. I *knew* it. I try to explain something and here we go again.
Gage turned around and ran to the passenger side of the squad, as Roy climbed in on the driver’s side. Mike handed him a slip of paper with the information on it.
Johnny watched out the windshield lost in thought as they pulled onto the street. New car smells, vacuum seminars, a list of names for kids I don’t even have. . .now Cap is hung up on new desk smell. What’s next?
~*~*~
As they drove along, Johnny took his thoughts to what happened earlier in the dayroom. At the same time, the paramedic kept his eyes on the road ahead . “You know, the list has boy names on it too.”
“What?”
A look from his partner had Roy quickly recalling.
“Oh. . . the list. Yeah, I noticed.”
“Too bad Chet didn’t. I guess he didn’t bother to read very many names before he jumped to conclusions.”
“Or he just wanted to get you riled up. It’s like we said the other day--”
“It’s just Chet being Chet,” Johnny finished, interrupting. “He does it a lot, huh?”
“Often enough.”
“Well, why don’t you ever remind me that’s all it is while he’s doin’ it?”
“You think it would make a difference?”
Johnny was quiet a moment as he looked at the information provided by dispatch, and then the nearest street sign. “Probably not.” He pointed to a gas station at a corner near the end of the street block. “Make a right just before the station.”
~*~*~
Roy brought the squad to a stop in front of a house where a seven-year-old boy was bouncing a basketball. There didn’t appear to be anything out of the ordinary going on.
Johnny read off the numbers on the house near the front door and once again looked at the slip of paper Mike had written the information down on.
“This is the right place.”
Roy opened his door as he continued to watch the boy. “Let’s find out what’s up.”
Gage got out as well and the two paramedics grabbed the basic equipment out of the squad compartments. They then approached the young boy on the sidewalk near the front porch.
“Did. . .uh. . .someone here call the fire department?” Roy asked.
“Uh huh. I did,” the boy said with pride in his voice, his chin up.
“Do you live here, son?”
“Uh huh. My name’s Danny Beltor an’ my parents’ names are Mr. and Mrs. Beltor.”
Somewhat amused at the answer to his partner’s question, Johnny looked around. There was no one else outside. “Well, Danny, what happened? We got a call about a lady being stuck.”
“My mom is.”
“What’s she stuck in? Can you take us to her?” Gage couldn’t help but show a hint of impatience in his voice.
“Sure I can, mister. She’s stuck in the sewing machine.”
The paramedics exchanged puzzled glances with one another before Roy took another turn in questioning the boy for more information.
“The sewing machine?”
“Yup. I’ll show ya.”
Since the youth demonstrated no sense of urgency, the men were anticipating having to cut some material out of the woman’s clothes to free her from the machine. Each wondered to himself why she couldn’t have done it herself.
As the three entered the house and then the kitchen, the paramedics saw that it wasn’t Mrs. Beltor’s clothing that was stuck after all.
“The firemen are here, Mom.”
Johnny squatted down beside where she sat in the chair at the table, while Roy leaned in across from her. Neither could believe what they were looking at. The sewing machine needle had gone through the woman’s right index finger just above the middle knuckle and now held it firmly in place, the tip of the needle no longer visible as it was down inside the machine plate that covered the bobbin.
Johnny reached out and came forward to examine the pinned finger closer. Ouch! That had to hurt.
Surprisingly, the woman seemed very calm for having just run a needle through her skin and bone.
“How long ago did this happen, Mrs. Beltor?”
“You can call me Karen. I’m not sure when. It took me by surprise, so I didn’t think about anything but getting Danny to telephone for help.”
“Can you get my mom free?” The boy asked.
Roy looked at Johnny. “We can remove the needle from the machine, then she can lift her finger so the point down inside clears the lower plate. After that I can pull it out of her finger with the pliers.” Roy looked across to Karen. “It might hurt a little while I work on loosening the needle.”
“As long as I don’t have to watch. It didn’t hurt going in, it happened so fast. But I figured it would be worse coming out. My finger’s just throbbing a little now.”
The paramedics suddenly understood why Danny had seemed so relaxed about his mother’s predicament. She was staying in control, no panic evident at all.
“It won’t hurt coming out,” Johnny assured. “We’ll be quick when we do it”
“Okay. I feel so stupid. I was just sewing up a hem on a dress and guiding the material, when I left my hand in place too long and before I knew it, the needle was in. I didn’t let off the pedal on the floor till after it was how it is now.”
Roy reached for a pair of pliers that Karen had directed him to and was about to pull the plug on the appliance when Johnny half jokingly commented to Karen, “Too bad you didn’t stay on the pedal a little longer. You may have gotten it out before you even knew it was in.”
“You mean like this?” Danny asked, as he stuck his foot under the table and stomped on the control to the sewing machine.
Both paramedics’ mouths dropped open in shocked surprise as they watched the needle suddenly come up and out of Karen’s finger. It came close to going back in again, except the sight of the offending object being removed caused the mother to pass out and fall from her chair, thus her finger moved safely away. Johnny quickly caught the woman and eased her down, preventing her from a hard landing on the linoleum floor.
Gage and DeSoto looked at Danny, who appeared to be tempted to run and hide.
Roy reached for the drug box. “I’ll get the smelling salts.”
~*~*~
Once Karen had regained consciousness, Roy and Johnny encouraged her to see her regular doctor if she had any problems with her finger. The wound was a tiny hole that was visible on both sides, but didn’t bleed much at all. Roy wiped the injury with antiseptic and put a bandage around it while Johnny spent a few extra seconds trying to reassure Danny that overall he’d done a great job in helping his mother.
“You‘ve just gotta remember to leave the actual rescue up to the fire department.”
“Yes sir.”
“Good deal then.” Johnny picked up the biophone and drug box, and started out of the kitchen.
Roy patted the boy on the head as they left the house and walked down the sidewalk toward the squad.
~*~*~
As Roy drove the truck back toward the station, Johnny called them in as available. He returned the mic to its holder, then took Lorraine’s list of names out of his pocket.
DeSoto noticed his partner make a mark on the page before folding it up again and putting it away.
“What was that all about?”
“Hmmm? Oh. . .I just put a star by the name ‘Daniel’.”
“Why?”
“Because if Danny Beltor is any indication of how someone with his first name would turn out, I think that would be a good one to go with.”
Roy quickly looked at Gage in surprise before returning his eyes to the traffic ahead. “You’re really getting serious about this, but I think you’ve forgotten one important detail.”
“You mean the fact that Lorraine and I aren’t married?”
“Yeah, that one. It’s a pretty big detail when you’re talking kids.”
“I haven’t forgotten. And before you ask, no, I don’t wanna get married yet. But it doesn’t hurt to be prepared when the time for marriage and kids does come along. Hey!”
“What?”
“We’ve had a full conversation and we haven’t had another call ye--”
Johnny was interrupted by the tones as they came over the radio followed by dispatch sending them on another response.
“You were saying?”
“I know, I know.” Gage picked up the mic to acknowledge the call. “Squad 51, 10-4.”
~*~*~
The call turned out to be a rescue of a worker who’d fallen off a high beam of a building frame under construction. The man was fortunate not to have plummeted several floors to the ground, but rather landed on a platform, making it a one-story fall. Johnny and Roy, with the help of Engine 18, had gotten the victim down and transported to Rampart within twenty-five minutes.
After taking the injured construction worker into Treatment Room Three, Roy briefed doctors Brackett and Morton on the victim’s condition while Johnny got their supplies refilled with the help of Dixie McCall.
The dark-haired paramedic rested his elbows on the desk as he leaned forward, his chin on his palms. “Do you wanna have kids someday, Dix?”
The nurse turned from the supply cabinet, a surprised look on her face. “I suppose, maybe. Why? Are you offering?” She teased.
Johnny suddenly found himself blushing as he quickly stood up straight, somewhat flustered. “No. . .no. I. . .I was just wonderin’. . .if you ever. . .uhm. . . thought about it. I mean. . .well. . .Lorraine. . .my girlfriend. . .kinda does.”
Dixie grinned. “Once in awhile I do. But it’s not something I worry about; it’s not like I sit down and list names I’d use. More like just in passing.” She went back to getting the supplies out of the cabinet.
“Oh. . .” Johnny nodded. “Yeah, I guess there’s no sense in thinkin’ about names for something you don’t even have.”
“So I take it you and Lorraine are getting kind of serious if she’s got children on her mind.”
“No, she just kinda mentioned it. . .in passing.” He shoved the list deeper into his pocket.
Roy came out of the treatment room and joined his partner at the counter. Johnny was just gathering up the supplies in a small box.
“Hi, Dix.”
“Well hi, Roy. How’s your patient doing?”
“He’s got a couple of fractures, but it looks like over all he’ll be okay. He’s lucky.”
“He sure is,” Johnny agreed. Lucky he didn’t land with his foot in his mouth like I just did.
“Got everything we need?”
“Yep, I’m ready.”
The paramedics stepped away from the desk. “See ya later, Dix,” they said simultaneously. The two men took a quick glance at one another as they started down the corridor.
“See you guys later. And, Johnny,” Dixie called out, once again teasing, “let me know when you and Lorraine set a wedding date!”
Roy looked at his partner, his eyebrows raised. “Dropped the list again?”
Johnny merely grumbled as the two headed for the exit.
~*~*~
When the paramedics got back to the station, the engine was still out on a call. Johnny breathed a sigh of relief, not sure he was ready for what might come up next with the crew.
Roy got out of the squad and looked across at Gage opening the passenger door. “Logbook?”
“Sure, why not?”
Johnny followed the older man into Captain Stanley’s office and glanced at the new desk.
Wait till Roy says something about it and I tell ‘im what I saw earlier. He’s gonna fall over when he finds out Cap is hooked on the smell.
DeSoto was oblivious to the change. He grabbed the book on his way across the room and sat at the captain’s desk, carrying on with routine. He opened the logbook up to the current page, then looked expectantly at Gage.
“Do you have the call slips?”
Johnny was still waiting for a comment about the new furniture. “Huh?”
“The call slips. . . .so I can write down the information.”
“Oh. . .” He stepped over and handed the small papers to Roy. “Don’t you notice anything different?”
“Different?”
“Well yeah. . .the de—never mind.” Johnny leaned over the desk and sniffed a couple of times.
“Something wrong?”
“No. . .no.” He took a seat across from Roy and rubbed a hand over the smooth edge. DeSoto stopped writing when he noticed his partner’s somewhat odd behavior. He shook his head and began to write the next rescue in the book.
Johnny couldn’t stand it any longer. “Roy, doncha’ even notice that Cap got a new desk?”
The senior paramedic sat back and looked at the furniture piece. “Hey, you’re right. He sure did. Looks nice.”
“What about the smell?”
“The smell?”
“Yeah, the new desk smell. . .”
Roy slapped the log book closed and stood up, putting his pen in his shirt pocket. He set the book on top of a cabinet and headed for the doorway. “You know, I’m starting to worry about you.”
Johnny sat with his mouth open, a helpless expression on his face. “Me? Cap’s the one who--” When Roy was out of sight, he sat back and frowned, his arms folded across his chest. Johnny leaned toward the desk and took another sniff. It *does*smell kinda good.
~*~*~
The engine crew returned to their station forty minutes after the paramedics. Three of the men went toward the dayroom, Captain Stanley to his office.
“Don’t you wanta eat lunch, Cap?” Mike wondered as the others continued on.
“No, I’ve got some paperwork I need to finish first.”
The engineer shrugged. “Okay.”
~*~*~
When the men got into the room, Johnny and Roy looked over from their seats at the table, tuna sandwiches on plates in front of them. A small stack of sandwiches for the others was on a platter in the center of the table, along with more dishes for them as well.
“Where’s Cap?”
Marco and Chet shrugged as Mike walked in behind them and explained. “He said he’s still got some paperwork to do.”
Johnny furrowed his brow. “Doesn’t it seem strange to you guys that he would pass up lunch for work?” Maybe *now* I can prove I’m not the one anybody needs to worry about.
The men all gave it thought, then shook their heads. “No,” Kelly said. “So, any luck locating some of your kids while we were gone?” He asked as Marco and Mike sat at the table.
“Chet. . .”
The fireman held up his hands. “Relax, John. I know they don’t exist. . .yet.”
“And they won’t for a long time.”
“Whatever you say.” Chet took a seat and reached for a sandwich.
“How many kids do you wanta have, Johnny?” Mike asked.
Roy took a drink of milk, then answered for the other. “Just a boy named Danny so far.” He ignored the incredulous look from his partner.
Gage put his face in his hands and groaned. Man, and I thought it was rough when Lorraine just liked re-arranging stuff.
~*~*~
Having finally joined his men for lunch, Hank Stanley took a last bite of his sandwich and frowned. “I just wanna know one thing. Whose idea was it to serve tuna?”
All eyes fell on Roy; Johnny pointed to his partner beside him. The senior paramedic gave a wan smile.
“Sorry, Cap. At least you didn’t have eyes staring up at you from your plate, though.”
“That’s true. But if you ask me, fish is fish. Just promise me it’ll be a long time before we have tuna aga--.”
“Hey, Cap,” Chet interrupted, as he tried to get the captain off of Roy’s back and on to Johnny’s. “Have you seen John’s list of kids?”
“Kids for what?”
Johnny gave a stern look at the fireman. “Chet, not now.”
Roy stared at the younger paramedic in surprise. “I thought you told him.”
“Told me what? What kids? What’re you guys talking about?” Hank looked from one man to the next, a puzzled expression on his face.
“Lorraine gave Johnny a list of names for their children,” Marco explained.
Now it was Hank’s turn to stare at Johnny in surprise. “You and Lorraine? Kids? Are you two getting married soon? I mean. . .well, you don’t have to. . .do you?”
“No, no.” Gage gave Kelly a disgusted look before addressing the captain’s questions. “We aren’t gettin’ married and there’s not a baby on the way. I just happened to mention the runs we’ve had lately that involved kids after I nearly hit one at her place. Lorraine got to thinkin’ about if we had any and wrote down names she. . .ah. . .well, you know how she is.”
“Obsessive,” Mike filled in.
“She’s not obsessive all the time. We have normal conversations. We go out on regular dates.”
“How come you didn’t tell Cap about the list?” Roy wondered again.
Gage turned to his partner. “I couldn’t. . .we got toned out.”
The telephone rang and Marco got up to answer it as the conversation continued. After a brief hello, the fireman turned to face the others and looked at Johnny. “It’s for you.”
The dark-haired paramedic scooted his chair back and stood, taking a few quick steps to the phone. “John Gage speaking.” A grin spread across his face as he listened to the person on the other end of the line.
“Yeah, I have.
“Uh huh.
“Okay.
“Alright.
“Sure.”
He glanced over at the others and then turned his back to them as he gave a quick smooch into the receiver. “Bye, sweetie.”
“I hope you’re going to wash that,” Chet said.
Johnny startled and turned around, surprised to see Kelly directly behind him. “Huh?”
“The phone. I hope you’re gonna clean it off.”
“Chet. . .”
“And sweetie?”
“What am I supposed to call her?”
“Oh I don’t know. . .Lorraine, maybe?”
“Whata’ you call Vanessa Vavoom?”
Chet quickly turned a light shade of red. “Hey, did I say anything was wrong with calling her sweetie? I was just curious.”
Johnny rolled his eyes, then pulled the list of names out of his pocket. He added a name to the paper.
“Is that why she called? To give you another name?”
“Couldn’t it wait?” Marco wondered.
Gage shook his head and took his seat at the table again. “She said she wanted to hear my voice. She misses me.” A smug grin returned to his face.
“Oh brother.”
Roy smiled at Chet’s response, or lack there of. “So what’s the new name?” He peered over at the paper.
“Ronald.”
“Ronald?” Hank Stanley sat back and rubbed his chin in thought. “I don’t think I’d name a boy Ronald. The other kids might call him ‘Ronald McDonald’. I mean, I love the food and the clown is fine. . .but for a kid to be teased. . .”
Johnny stared at the captain a few seconds, then looked down at the list. He picked up his pen and drew a line through the name. “I’ll explain it to Lorraine.”
“What other names are there?”
“Richard’s another one.”
Hank shook his head.
“No?”
“He’ll get the nickname ‘Dick’.”
“Yeah, but we know a few Dicks in the . . .fire. . .depart. ..” Without anymore hesitation, Johnny scribbled out the name.
“I’d like to hear you explain that one to Lorraine.”
The younger paramedic scowled at Mike as Roy reached over and pointed to another name. Before he could say anything, Johnny pushed his hand away. “Alright, so some of the names could be a problem for the kid.”
“This from a guy whose middle name is Roderick.” Chet shook his head. “As long as you don’t name your son that, he should be okay.”
“Nice.” Johnny glanced around. “Look, I don’t even have a son right now, and Lorraine and I aren’t gettin’ married, so--”
The conversation ended as the klaxons sounded. Station 51was sent out with two engines and a squad from other stations on a response involving a structure fire.
~*~*~
When the men from Station 51 arrived at the scene, Engine 8 was already there. A small beauty shop in a strip mall was nearly engulfed in flames, the grocery store attached to it starting to burn as well.
“Oh man,” Johnny groaned as Roy brought the squad to a stop. “We’ve got our work cut out for us here.”
The two paramedics quickly got out of the truck, and grabbed their turnout coats and SCBA.
Hank and the engine crew exited their vehicle as well, Chet and Marco immediately rolling out the hoses at the captain’s command. Within seconds, the hoses were set and ready to charge, all while Captain Stanley was getting a quick brief rundown from the captain from Station 8.
“Did everyone get out okay?”
“Yes, the store employees acted fast and got everyone out of their place. The owner of the beauty shop said that was cleared as soon as the flames started.”
“Okay, I’ll have my paramedics on the hoses then.” When Hank turned to face his men, he saw that they had just finished setting up and were ready. “John, Roy – take an inch and a half to the east front side of the building. Marco and Chet, we’ll need to try to knock down some of these flames from the inside.”
The men nodded and went to work, Chet and Marco putting on their masks, then helmets. As soon as the men were in place, Engine 127 arrived on the scene. The extension ladder on the truck was raised above the flaming structure, water spraying down on the fire from above. The paramedics from Station 110 drove into the rear of the lot near the ladder truck.
Chet and Marco sprayed water on the flames inside on the east end of the building, while two firemen from Engine 8 wet down another section inside with the hope of keeping the fire from spreading.
~*~*~
After close to forty minutes, and a new air tank for each man actively fighting the fire, the flames were nearly out. Except for a distraught beauty shop owner who collapsed under stress, there had been no injuries at the scene. The paramedics from 110 treated the ill woman and transported her to Rampart.
Still inside the store, Chet Kelly held firm to the hose he and Marco were still manning, the blaze in front of them gone and replaced with nothing but white smoldering smoke. But the fire fighter was starting to feel weak and hot. His vision blurred slightly, then focused as he blinked several times to clear it.
Chet turned his head toward Lopez. “I. . .I think. . .I’m . . .gonna be. . .sick.”
Next thing Marco knew, he was increasing his grip on the hose as Chet Kelly dropped to the ground in a heap. One of the other firemen inside saw, and quickly shut off the hose he and his partner were using.
“I’ll get him,” he said, indicating Chet. “You help Lopez.” The fireman picked up the unconscious man and carried him out draped over his shoulder. Johnny and Roy immediately noticed the two exiting the building. They shut off their hose and ran over to help. Captain Stanley arrived at the downed man and his rescuer the same time they did.
“John, Roy, take Chet over near the squad! Daniels, Captain Stone is sending Bryant over to assist you on a hose.” He watched the paramedics carry Chet away as he continued. “How are things inside?”
“About out. Some hot spots.”
Hank nodded. “You and Bryant take over for Gage and DeSoto.”
“Yes, sir.”
As soon as the two firemen were set, the captain went over to see what Chet’s condition was. They already had his SCBA and turnout coat off of him; Roy was setting up the oxygen as Chet lay on a yellow blanket. Johnny was opening the biophone to contact Rampart.
“How is he?”
“I’d say he’s gonna need an overnight stay at the hospital,” Roy supplied as he stood to get the drug and trauma boxes. “Looks like heat exhaustion.”
Kelly opened his eyes and peered up at Stanley with droopy lids. He lifted his right hand slightly, giving a quick thumbs up. Johnny put down the biophone receiver and started to get Chet’s vitals while Roy got out the expected IV they’d need.
Gage grinned and looked at Hank. “He’ll be okay, Cap.”
“Good. I called for an ambulance, so it should be here before long.”
“Okay.” Roy reached for the biophone receiver and relayed information provided by Johnny.
~*~*~
Captain Stanley was standing by the engine near Mike Stoker when he noticed two middle-aged ladies trotting toward the squad from down the street. He tapped the engineer on the shoulder and pointed. “I wonder what they’re up to?”
“Maybe it’s some of Johnny’s old girlfriends,” Stoker snickered. When Hank didn’t laugh, he added, “Old. . .get it? Not in their twenties like him?”
“Oh. . .right. . .,” the captain said, preoccupied as he hurried over to the paramedics. The women were very animated as they talked to his men. Both kept pointing in the direction they’d just come from.
Mike shook his head. “I guess I’m not exactly Bob Hope.” He snickered again. “But I liked it.”
~*~*~
“What’s up?” the captain asked as he approached.
Johnny was on his feet slipping off his air tank and turnout coat. “Cap, they’ve got a friend at that dry cleaners in the next block that’s not feeling very well. Chet’s about ready to be transported and Roy’s ridin’ in; how ‘bout I go check on ‘er?”
“Well, why didn’t you ladies call the fire department?” Stanley wondered. Their glances at the squad answered his question. Why call when they were right down the street . . . “Okay, go see what’s up. But take the HT with you. And I’ll call for another squad to respond. If she’s that sick, she’ll need ‘em.”
“Okay, Cap.”
~*~*~
Johnny questioned the women as the three quickly made their way to the dry cleaners in the squad. He hoped to have a better idea as to what was wrong with their friend by the time they got to her.
“Did she lose consciousness at anytime?”
“No, not while we were there. But we just stepped in to pick up our clothes we had dry cleaned and she didn’t look well. So we came to find help right away.”
“So you don’t know if she had any nausea, light headedness, fever?”
One of the women nodded. “She said she felt kind of dizzy. But her eyes just didn’t look right. . .you know how you can tell a person just isn’t themselves through their eyes.”
Gage parked the squad in front of the building and the three got out. Having grabbed the oxygen equipment off the engine, he carried it with him in the event it was needed. As the ladies led the way into the building, Johnny asked, “What’s her name?”
“Janice.”
Once inside, he could smell a sweet odor similar to ether. Looking around, all he could see were the rows of clothing hanging on the racks. There was no sign of Janice.
“One of you wait outside for the fire department and ambulance.”
The ladies did as directed, one going out to the sidewalk, the other following slightly behind Johnny in case he needed anymore help.
“Janice?” Gage called out as he started past the machines. He didn’t get a response, which concerned the paramedic. What if she’s passed out somewhere in here? Johnny looked down at fluid on the floor. One of the machines had a leak from a filter and the chemical perchloroethylene was in his path. Johnny brought the HT up to his mouth and pressed the transmit button. “Engine 51, Squad 51.”
“Go ahead, Squad 51.”
“Cap, they’ve got a leaky machine here. There’s Perc all over the floor.”
“Okay, I’ll report it and get things in motion. How’s the victim?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t found her yet.”
“Make it a quick search. You don’t want to be breathing in too many fumes.”
“10-4.”
He held the HT down by his side and turned to the other lady. “Go outside with your friend. You don’t need to be breathin’ this stuff in.” When she immediately did as he requested, Johnny set the oxygen down on a counter and gingerly walked through the chemical, taking an unexpected slide in the substance. Looking down, he could see that the soles of his shoes were starting to melt from it. “Ah man. . .” Janice still top priority, he ignored his own peril and continued on to make sure she wasn’t in an area behind the machines.
“Janice?”
Johnny could feel his eyes and throat start to get a burning sensation. He wiped at his eyes and coughed. Looking around, there was still no sign of the victim. As he turned to go back toward the front of the building, another middle aged woman came in through the front doors.
“Are you looking for me?” She called out.
Johnny stared at the lady a moment, forgetting he was still standing in the chemical. “Are you Janice?” He asked as he coughed more.
“Yes. I’m sorry, but when I saw that the machine was leaking, I knew I had to get out and I’d feel better. So I was outside behind the building when you came in.”
Starting to feel lightheaded, the paramedic stepped forward, being careful as he once again slid a little in the chemical. Walking on melted soles was proving to be awkward and his socks were now wet from perc that had gotten inside his shoes. He ignored the discomfort the solvent was causing as he questioned Janice while taking her by the arm and escorting her out to clean air.
“So you just left the cleaners unattended? Can you *do* that?”
“Hey, I needed a cigarette and we’re not allowed to smoke in front of the building. I figured the place would be okay. It hasn’t been busy at all, and I couldn’t do much with the leak anyway. I called Mr. Hayes. . .he’s the owner. Look, I’m really sorry. I’ll even pay for your shoes if you want me to.”
Johnny shook his head. Now outside and away from the fumes, he brought the HT up to his mouth again. “Engine 51, Squad 51.”
“Go ahead, John.”
“What’s the ETA on the squad and ambulance?”
“Two minutes for the squad, five for the ambulance. How’s the victim?”
“She’s fine. She was. . .uh. . .out behind the building smoking a cigarette.”
“You want me to cancel the others?”
Gage looked down and sighed. As he spoke into the HT, he tried to lift one foot slightly, but what was left of the mangled bottom of his shoe was sticking to the sidewalk as it became more solid again. “Only if Marco can give me a lift to Rampart in the squad. My shoes and feet didn’t fair too well. I don’t think I can drive right now.” He winced as he felt the perchloroethylene irritating his feet.
“10-4.”
~*~*~
Roy walked into Treatment Room Two and shook his head at the patient sitting on the examination table barefoot, a red rash evident his skin. “I can’t leave you for five minutes, can I?” He kidded.
John Gage smiled. “Sometimes.”
“Brackett said he may keep you overnight. . .”
“Yeah. . . when the perc melted the bottoms of my shoes, enough got through to get my socks wet and caused a rash. He wants to make sure nothing else comes from absorbing the stuff. ”
“Good thing you have another pair of shoes at the station. I’ll bring ‘em over as soon as I get a chance.”
“Roy, if it’s one thing I’ve got plenty of, it’s shoes.”
The senior paramedic gave a questioning look.
“Never mind. Just trust me.”
“Sure.”
“I heard Chet’s doin’ okay.”
“Yeah, he was looking a lot better by the time I got him here. But he’s staying the night too.”
“Oh man, are we gonna be roomin’ toge--”
The two men turned their attention to the door when Dixie and Kel Brackett entered the room. The head nurse was pushing an empty wheel chair.
“How’s our star patient doing?” She asked.
Roy shrugged. “He hasn’t lost his sparkle. . . yet. . .but he is short a pair of shoes.”
“Well, he won’t need those while he’s here.”
“At least this way he can’t run away,” Brackett teased.
“I knew it. I’m being put in a room with Chet.”
Dixie shook her head. “Actually Chet Kelly already has a roommate. A paramedic from another station beat you to it. You get a whole room to yourself.”
“Oh. . .well, good.”
Roy eyed his partner carefully. The others may not have picked up on it, but he got the feeling Johnny was actually disappointed. He helped the head nurse get Gage into the wheel chair, then headed toward the exit when Johnny was on his way up to a room.
Roy glanced over his shoulder as the elevator doors down the hall closed, his partner onboard.
I wonder just how many pairs of shoes he has? And why?
~*~*~
The following morning, Roy stopped by Rampart to check on his partner. He’d called earlier and offered to give the younger man a ride to the station to get his Land Rover when he was released, but Johnny declined since Lorraine was already anxious to do what she could to help. Both men were just relieved that aside from a bout with dry skin on his feet, no other side effects had cropped up for Gage.
DeSoto shook his head. “You know, I can’t figure you out.”
“Whataya’ mean? All I said was I know I’m never gonna name a kid Janice.”
“Not that. If you don’t do something soon, you’re gonna let a beautiful, sincere and caring girl like Lorraine get away. I realize she’s quirky, but you’ve been known to be. . .well. . .let’s just say she’s probably the perfect girl for you to settle down with.”
“Yeah? You really think so?”
“Sure. I mean, even Chet said Miss Vavoom doesn’t begin to measure up to Lorraine. I guess there’s more to life than having an interesting place to put a beer can when he’s on a date.”
Johnny snickered. “The so called ‘triple D’. She didn’t check to see if he was okay, huh?”
“No.”
“Well they’ve only been on the one date. . .sort of date.”
“One spectacular date according to Chet. But enough about him and Vanessa Vavoom. Let’s get back to you and your girlfriend. I just have a feeling Lorraine’ll be there for you through thick and thin.”
“Maybe. . .”
“And hey,” Roy continued, “as far as quirks go, at least every day’ll hold a mystery for you as to what’s coming next. It’ll keep both of you from getting in too much of a routine. Plus you’ll be so busy trying to figure out her obsessions, you’re likely to forget about your own. It could be the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”
Johnny frowned at the mention of him having obsessions, but nodded in agreement. “Could be. . .”
“So, you going to ask her?”
The younger man grinned. “I already did. Last night when she came by at dinner time. She sat on the edge of the bed and when I looked into those beautiful green eyes of hers, I knew it was hopeless to keep denying I’m hooked. Luckily she is too and said yes.”
Roy was shocked. “You mean you let me go on and on when you’d already proposed?”
“Payback for when you were thinkin’ of quitting the paramedic program and let me go on and on, talkin’ you into staying when you’d already decided to.”
“Oh yeah. . .the two cents. So when’s the big day?”
“We don’ know. Neither one of us was ready to set a date yet. Just one thing.”
“What?”
“No one better ever give her the nickname Raine.”
Roy gave a familiar puzzled look.
“You know, as in ‘Raine Gage’.”
“Better not let Chet hear that. It’s about the only name he’ll call her if he finds out. And the other guys, if word gets around.”
“No kiddin’. Hey, speakin’ of word getting around, you notice yesterday we could all finally have a conversation without gettin’ a run before the first sentence was out?”
“As a matter of fact I did. And it got even better later.”
Johnny leaned back against his pillow and frowned. “Figures. Things go back to normal, and where do I end up? Here, where it doesn’t matter anymore. ‘Course that’s probably why it got better,” he snorted. “Just watch, when I get back next shift, it’ll start all over again. I’ll walk in, say hi, and. . .”
The senior paramedic listened as Gage rambled on. Yep, it’ll be a big help if having a wife like Lorraine can keep him from thinking about his own obsessions. . .
Thanks go to Carol Orndorff for the beta read! Any errors, medical or otherwise, are mine. Although it isn’t recommended these days that a person be monitored for symptoms after exposure to Perc, I implemented it in the story as to how I thought they may have done things 30 years ago. It’s all fictional for entertainment purposes and is not intended to be fact.
My thanks to my sister in her technical help with the dry cleaners. I found out if Perc spills directly, it can be lethal. But if it leaks out of a filter on the machine, it isn't. She also told me how it can melt the soles of shoes. If you want to know more, go to :
http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ohb/HESIS/perc.htm
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