Chapter Sixteen
Cody wove through traffic without really thinking about the cars he passed. He breezed by a city bus like it was standing still, skirted around a Chevelle and slid right back in front of it before zipping through a yellow light. His mind was only on the events of the past few days. Starting his first assignment at a fire station should have been filled with excitement and pride in his accomplishments. Instead, because of the luck of the draw, he had been assigned to the same station with John Gage. Now his first few days as a new fireman were marred with memories of how Gage had shown him up in his abilities again and again; this time right in front of his brother. A horn blew at him as he flew around a corner nearly clipping an oncoming car. 'Oh stow it! I'm not gonna hit ya.' He swerved, never slowing down.
Before he even realized it he found himself turning into the parking lot at Rampart. Knowing Captain Jones had told him Dr. Early wanted to see him again and that Dr. Early worked in the Emergency room, Cody parked in the visitor lot just outside the automatic doors that the ambulance had taken him through the other day when he nearly drowned. 'So what if Gage had been the one to pull me out, if he had just worked with me that day we could have earned the Cap's respect when we helped put the fire out. But oh no, not Gage, he had to follow instructions to the letter. How was I supposed to know the place would explode?' Cody grumbled in his own mind.
He pushed the car door open with a little more force than necessary and stopped. He stared at his hand gripping the door handle. 'What am I doing? Why did I even come here? Everyone wants to blame me for Gage being sick now?' He rubbed his chest and swallowed feeling the rawness in his throat. 'I don't really feel well, but isn't that from drinking too much alone this afternoon?Cody still couldn't get over the fact that no one had come to watch the game with him. 'If Gage hadn't been such a stickler for Cap's orders maybe neither one of us would be here right now and maybe I wouldn't have had to drink alone.' Sighing Cody slid out from behind the wheel and slammed the car door. 'May as well get this over with.' He walked across the parking lot and into the automatic doors.
Jim Graves pulled his car into the parking lot to McGill's Bar and Grill. Usually he came here with anticipation of a good time with his buddies, but not today. Today he felt like a man about to face a firing line. The thought of facing his crew mates and having to defend his kid brother made the hairs stand up on the back of his neck, and defend his brother he would. He had to. No one else would stand up for him even if he hadn't been the one to sink that nail into Johnny's tire.
He reached out and grasped the door handle. Staring at his hand as it gripped the release he couldn't help but remember the events of the past few days, the excitement and pride he felt when Cody finished at the academy and got assigned to his station. He knew he wouldn't always be able to protect his brother, but at least for now he could keep an eye on him. 'You didn't do such a good job at that though did you Jim? Your brother had not been at the station for an entire shift before he nearly drowned.' He closed his eyes and his head leaned down until his chin rested against his chest. 'Why didn't you listen to Cap's orders Cody? Your disregard for instructions only makes people believe you would do something crazy like that to Gage's tire. Not to mention the fact that you nearly died. I should have asked Cap to put you on my hose. I should have talked to you more about what to do, how to follow Cap's instructions completely. I should have explained to you more about the things that are acceptable pranks on a boot, but no I egged you on with your vendetta against Gage. I encouraged the Indian jokes. I laughed along with you when you put that stuff in his locker. I'm just as guilty as you are.'
He pushed the door open and slid out from behind the wheel. Walking across the parking lot toward the door, Jim decided that if Cody was suspended or washed out, he too would leave the department. After all he was just as much to blame for the events of the last few days as Cody. His shoulders slumped and a deep sadness at that thought coursed through him. Firefighting was all he knew. It was all he'd ever wanted to do, ever since he was old enough to understand what it meant to run into buildings and snuff out the flames that devoured everything in its path; ever since his dad and grandfather had started telling Cody and he stories about the many fires they fought. 'May as well get this over with.' He walked across the parking lot and into the heavy wooden door.
Inside McGill's, Scotty leaned against the pool table chatting with a friend who was in the process of stomping another friend at Eight Ball. "I gotta tell ya Hank, this kid is good, real good. I haven't seen anyone this good come out of the academy in a long time."
Engineer Hank Stanley lined up his next shot. He was a tall man of around 6'4" so he had to bend pretty low to get into position. "Well Scotty, sounds to me like you'll have to take him under your wing and show him the ropes including how to let the stupid firehouse pranks roll off his shoulders. I think a few good pranks keep the tension down. As long as they aren't against me that is." Hank chuckled.
"Yeah, I agree with ya, man. Keep me outta the line of fire and I can enjoy a good prank. You want another beer?"
"Sure, sounds good." Hank sunk another ball, stood up tall and smirked at his opponent.
Scotty ambled over to the bar and placed his order. After the bartender poured two mugs, Scotty tossed him the money and moved back to the spot where he had been leaning against the pool table. He passed Hank his beer.
"Thanks Scotty." Hank smiled as he took a long drink. "Winning at pool can sure make a guy thirsty."
"I hear ya." Scotty replied. "So, I heard a rumor."
"What's that?" Hank raised an eyebrow in question.
"I heard you were thinking about taking the Captain's exam. Is that true?"
"Me?" Hank tilted his head and eyed Scotty. "Who ever gave you that idea? I love driving my rig. Why would a guy like me want all that additional responsibility anyway? I'd never make it as a paper pusher. I hate helping Cap fill out the logs now. I can't imagine doing all that other paperwork. Not to mention dealing with all the problems from the men. Nope not me, I'm not like your friend Ben Jones, waxing my baby is plenty of responsibility for me. What about you?"
"No way man, I'm a lifer. I think I'll just drive that rig until I retire." Scotty slapped Hank on the back. The two friends raised their mugs and finished their drinks. "I heard the results came in for the last exam. Some lineman named Stoker got number one. You know him?"
"Never heard of him. Well I hate to break up a good time, but I promised Emily I would swing by her apartment and help her move her sofa. She's redecorating again." Hank unscrewed his Meucci pool cue and carefully slid the two halves into the carrying case.
"When are you going to make an honest woman out of her?" Scotty teased.
"Soon as I get the ring out of layaway." Hank smiled.
"You're kidding…right?"
"Nope, she's the best thing that ever happened to me besides passing the Engineer's exam." He beamed.
"Congratulations." Scotty extended his hand. Hank grasped it and they shook. "I hope she says yes."
"Oh she will, she will." Hank chuckled again as he headed toward the door. "See ya round."
"See ya." Scotty went to re-join his shift mates.
Hank sidestepped and passed Jim as he came into the dimly lit bar. Jim stopped just inside and looked around for his friends. The drastic change in lighting caused him to squint. It took a few seconds before his eyes adjusted.
Dixie McCall checked the IV one last time, adjusted the oxygen mask and tucked the blanket snuggly around Johnny. His glassy brown eyes blinked open and watched her move around the bed making adjustments. "I have to get back downstairs, but I'll check on you again before I get off shift." He closed his eyes and drifted. She turned the bright overhead light off and flipped the switch to turn on the softer light on top of the fixture that hung from the wall over the bed. It projected a soft glow up toward the ceiling. "You rest easy now." Pausing at the door way to take one last look she pulled the door closed and walked over to the floor nurse. "Call me if there is any significant change."
"Yes Ms. McCall."
Dixie waved and hurried to the elevator. She needed to get back downstairs before her Emergency room fell apart, because everyone at Rampart knew that Dixie McCall kept the ER running smoothly. Sure Dr. Kelly Brackett was the head of the department, but Nurse McCall was the glue that kept everything together. She started to take the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator, but the ding announcing the arrival of the car sounded so she rode down in it. As soon as the elevator door opened Dr. Brackett called out to her. "Dixie, I need you with me in five." He disappeared into the treatment room before she could respond. Joe Early grinned at her from the nurse's desk where he was in the process of handing a chart over to the duty nurse. Dixie winked at him in response.
"Sure Kel, I'll just skip my coffee break and help you." She mumbled to herself, shrugged and hurried down the corridor and slipped into treatment room five to see what kind of trauma needed her expert care.
Dr. Joe Early saw the young man he'd asked to see as he walked across the lobby to stand beside his Captain. 'I think I have just enough time for a quick cup of coffee.' He ducked behind the nurse's desk and grabbed the half full pot. 'Just give me a minute…one minute to get at least three sips.' He chuckled to himself. 'That's all I ever get anyway.'
Cody dodged a stretcher and spotted his Captain in the waiting area. "Cap, I didn't expect you to still be here." He said as he stretched out a hand to his superior.
"Hello Cody, I wanted to stick around and see how you are." Captain Jones stood up and shook hands with his crew man.
Cody chose that moment to cough rather harshly. He cleared his throat and tried to speak. "I…ahem….I'm okay Cap."
"You don't sound very okay, son."
"It' just a cough. I don't even know where it came from. I didn't have it earlier today." Cody rubbed his chest. "Must be getting a cold or something."
"Or something." Cap repeated. "Let me tell the receptionist that you're here to see Dr. Early." He turned and walked over to the pretty young nurse behind the check in desk.
Cody turned and looked around the lobby. There were several people waiting. Suddenly feeling very tired he sat in one of the hard plastic chairs. Captain Jones joined him and slid into the next chair. "They said it would be a few minutes while they locate him."
Dr. Early peered around the corner, down the long corridor. He met the gaze of the nurse at the desk. She smiled to him and nodded toward Cody. He raised his cup in answer to her look. She smiled and nodded her understanding. Dr. Early disappeared from view to get one more sip of hot coffee before abandoning his cup on the counter. 'Maybe it will still be warm when I get back.'
"Uh…Cap, I…could I talk to you about something?" Cody shifted nervously in his chair.
"Sure Cody, what's going on?"
"I know I've been…" Cody started.
"Well if it isn't another of our new dedicated public servants." Joe Early walked up behind the two men. Captain Jones stood to greet the doctor. Cody's shoulders sagged and he slid a little further down in the chair. "Let's get you into a room and see how things are." Dr. Early coaxed the young man. Cody stood slowly. He hesitated for a few seconds as he made eye contact with Captain Jones. Then he turned and followed Dr. Early down the hall.
Cody wove through traffic without really thinking about the cars he passed. He breezed by a city bus like it was standing still, skirted around a Chevelle and slid right back in front of it before zipping through a yellow light. His mind was only on the events of the past few days. Starting his first assignment at a fire station should have been filled with excitement and pride in his accomplishments. Instead, because of the luck of the draw, he had been assigned to the same station with John Gage. Now his first few days as a new fireman were marred with memories of how Gage had shown him up in his abilities again and again; this time right in front of his brother. A horn blew at him as he flew around a corner nearly clipping an oncoming car. 'Oh stow it! I'm not gonna hit ya.' He swerved, never slowing down.
Before he even realized it he found himself turning into the parking lot at Rampart. Knowing Captain Jones had told him Dr. Early wanted to see him again and that Dr. Early worked in the Emergency room, Cody parked in the visitor lot just outside the automatic doors that the ambulance had taken him through the other day when he nearly drowned. 'So what if Gage had been the one to pull me out, if he had just worked with me that day we could have earned the Cap's respect when we helped put the fire out. But oh no, not Gage, he had to follow instructions to the letter. How was I supposed to know the place would explode?' Cody grumbled in his own mind.
He pushed the car door open with a little more force than necessary and stopped. He stared at his hand gripping the door handle. 'What am I doing? Why did I even come here? Everyone wants to blame me for Gage being sick now?' He rubbed his chest and swallowed feeling the rawness in his throat. 'I don't really feel well, but isn't that from drinking too much alone this afternoon?Cody still couldn't get over the fact that no one had come to watch the game with him. 'If Gage hadn't been such a stickler for Cap's orders maybe neither one of us would be here right now and maybe I wouldn't have had to drink alone.' Sighing Cody slid out from behind the wheel and slammed the car door. 'May as well get this over with.' He walked across the parking lot and into the automatic doors.
Jim Graves pulled his car into the parking lot to McGill's Bar and Grill. Usually he came here with anticipation of a good time with his buddies, but not today. Today he felt like a man about to face a firing line. The thought of facing his crew mates and having to defend his kid brother made the hairs stand up on the back of his neck, and defend his brother he would. He had to. No one else would stand up for him even if he hadn't been the one to sink that nail into Johnny's tire.
He reached out and grasped the door handle. Staring at his hand as it gripped the release he couldn't help but remember the events of the past few days, the excitement and pride he felt when Cody finished at the academy and got assigned to his station. He knew he wouldn't always be able to protect his brother, but at least for now he could keep an eye on him. 'You didn't do such a good job at that though did you Jim? Your brother had not been at the station for an entire shift before he nearly drowned.' He closed his eyes and his head leaned down until his chin rested against his chest. 'Why didn't you listen to Cap's orders Cody? Your disregard for instructions only makes people believe you would do something crazy like that to Gage's tire. Not to mention the fact that you nearly died. I should have asked Cap to put you on my hose. I should have talked to you more about what to do, how to follow Cap's instructions completely. I should have explained to you more about the things that are acceptable pranks on a boot, but no I egged you on with your vendetta against Gage. I encouraged the Indian jokes. I laughed along with you when you put that stuff in his locker. I'm just as guilty as you are.'
He pushed the door open and slid out from behind the wheel. Walking across the parking lot toward the door, Jim decided that if Cody was suspended or washed out, he too would leave the department. After all he was just as much to blame for the events of the last few days as Cody. His shoulders slumped and a deep sadness at that thought coursed through him. Firefighting was all he knew. It was all he'd ever wanted to do, ever since he was old enough to understand what it meant to run into buildings and snuff out the flames that devoured everything in its path; ever since his dad and grandfather had started telling Cody and he stories about the many fires they fought. 'May as well get this over with.' He walked across the parking lot and into the heavy wooden door.
Inside McGill's, Scotty leaned against the pool table chatting with a friend who was in the process of stomping another friend at Eight Ball. "I gotta tell ya Hank, this kid is good, real good. I haven't seen anyone this good come out of the academy in a long time."
Engineer Hank Stanley lined up his next shot. He was a tall man of around 6'4" so he had to bend pretty low to get into position. "Well Scotty, sounds to me like you'll have to take him under your wing and show him the ropes including how to let the stupid firehouse pranks roll off his shoulders. I think a few good pranks keep the tension down. As long as they aren't against me that is." Hank chuckled.
"Yeah, I agree with ya, man. Keep me outta the line of fire and I can enjoy a good prank. You want another beer?"
"Sure, sounds good." Hank sunk another ball, stood up tall and smirked at his opponent.
Scotty ambled over to the bar and placed his order. After the bartender poured two mugs, Scotty tossed him the money and moved back to the spot where he had been leaning against the pool table. He passed Hank his beer.
"Thanks Scotty." Hank smiled as he took a long drink. "Winning at pool can sure make a guy thirsty."
"I hear ya." Scotty replied. "So, I heard a rumor."
"What's that?" Hank raised an eyebrow in question.
"I heard you were thinking about taking the Captain's exam. Is that true?"
"Me?" Hank tilted his head and eyed Scotty. "Who ever gave you that idea? I love driving my rig. Why would a guy like me want all that additional responsibility anyway? I'd never make it as a paper pusher. I hate helping Cap fill out the logs now. I can't imagine doing all that other paperwork. Not to mention dealing with all the problems from the men. Nope not me, I'm not like your friend Ben Jones, waxing my baby is plenty of responsibility for me. What about you?"
"No way man, I'm a lifer. I think I'll just drive that rig until I retire." Scotty slapped Hank on the back. The two friends raised their mugs and finished their drinks. "I heard the results came in for the last exam. Some lineman named Stoker got number one. You know him?"
"Never heard of him. Well I hate to break up a good time, but I promised Emily I would swing by her apartment and help her move her sofa. She's redecorating again." Hank unscrewed his Meucci pool cue and carefully slid the two halves into the carrying case.
"When are you going to make an honest woman out of her?" Scotty teased.
"Soon as I get the ring out of layaway." Hank smiled.
"You're kidding…right?"
"Nope, she's the best thing that ever happened to me besides passing the Engineer's exam." He beamed.
"Congratulations." Scotty extended his hand. Hank grasped it and they shook. "I hope she says yes."
"Oh she will, she will." Hank chuckled again as he headed toward the door. "See ya round."
"See ya." Scotty went to re-join his shift mates.
Hank sidestepped and passed Jim as he came into the dimly lit bar. Jim stopped just inside and looked around for his friends. The drastic change in lighting caused him to squint. It took a few seconds before his eyes adjusted.
Dixie McCall checked the IV one last time, adjusted the oxygen mask and tucked the blanket snuggly around Johnny. His glassy brown eyes blinked open and watched her move around the bed making adjustments. "I have to get back downstairs, but I'll check on you again before I get off shift." He closed his eyes and drifted. She turned the bright overhead light off and flipped the switch to turn on the softer light on top of the fixture that hung from the wall over the bed. It projected a soft glow up toward the ceiling. "You rest easy now." Pausing at the door way to take one last look she pulled the door closed and walked over to the floor nurse. "Call me if there is any significant change."
"Yes Ms. McCall."
Dixie waved and hurried to the elevator. She needed to get back downstairs before her Emergency room fell apart, because everyone at Rampart knew that Dixie McCall kept the ER running smoothly. Sure Dr. Kelly Brackett was the head of the department, but Nurse McCall was the glue that kept everything together. She started to take the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator, but the ding announcing the arrival of the car sounded so she rode down in it. As soon as the elevator door opened Dr. Brackett called out to her. "Dixie, I need you with me in five." He disappeared into the treatment room before she could respond. Joe Early grinned at her from the nurse's desk where he was in the process of handing a chart over to the duty nurse. Dixie winked at him in response.
"Sure Kel, I'll just skip my coffee break and help you." She mumbled to herself, shrugged and hurried down the corridor and slipped into treatment room five to see what kind of trauma needed her expert care.
Dr. Joe Early saw the young man he'd asked to see as he walked across the lobby to stand beside his Captain. 'I think I have just enough time for a quick cup of coffee.' He ducked behind the nurse's desk and grabbed the half full pot. 'Just give me a minute…one minute to get at least three sips.' He chuckled to himself. 'That's all I ever get anyway.'
Cody dodged a stretcher and spotted his Captain in the waiting area. "Cap, I didn't expect you to still be here." He said as he stretched out a hand to his superior.
"Hello Cody, I wanted to stick around and see how you are." Captain Jones stood up and shook hands with his crew man.
Cody chose that moment to cough rather harshly. He cleared his throat and tried to speak. "I…ahem….I'm okay Cap."
"You don't sound very okay, son."
"It' just a cough. I don't even know where it came from. I didn't have it earlier today." Cody rubbed his chest. "Must be getting a cold or something."
"Or something." Cap repeated. "Let me tell the receptionist that you're here to see Dr. Early." He turned and walked over to the pretty young nurse behind the check in desk.
Cody turned and looked around the lobby. There were several people waiting. Suddenly feeling very tired he sat in one of the hard plastic chairs. Captain Jones joined him and slid into the next chair. "They said it would be a few minutes while they locate him."
Dr. Early peered around the corner, down the long corridor. He met the gaze of the nurse at the desk. She smiled to him and nodded toward Cody. He raised his cup in answer to her look. She smiled and nodded her understanding. Dr. Early disappeared from view to get one more sip of hot coffee before abandoning his cup on the counter. 'Maybe it will still be warm when I get back.'
"Uh…Cap, I…could I talk to you about something?" Cody shifted nervously in his chair.
"Sure Cody, what's going on?"
"I know I've been…" Cody started.
"Well if it isn't another of our new dedicated public servants." Joe Early walked up behind the two men. Captain Jones stood to greet the doctor. Cody's shoulders sagged and he slid a little further down in the chair. "Let's get you into a room and see how things are." Dr. Early coaxed the young man. Cody stood slowly. He hesitated for a few seconds as he made eye contact with Captain Jones. Then he turned and followed Dr. Early down the hall.
Chapter Seventeen
Jim sidestepped and passed a very tall thin man as he came into the dimly lit bar. The bright light that filtered into the door with him flashed across the face of the man he passed on the way in. 'Man that guy could pass as Honest Abe Lincoln.' He looked away quickly not wanting to stare. He stopped just inside and looked around for his friends. After his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting he saw the group from Station 10 gathered around a table in the back. He took a deep breath, squared his shoulders and began walking in their direction.
Scotty saw Jim as soon as he stepped past Hank. "Hey Jim! We're over here." He waved Jim over to their table.
Jim noticed the others around the table watching him as he approached. 'I guess they've all made up their minds about Cody. I'll just keep quiet and listen to what they have to say. Then at least I can get a clear picture of what's on each of their minds.'
"Hey Gotchalk, why don't you get Jim a beer?" Scotty requested as he slung his arm around Jim's shoulders.
"That's okay Scotty, I'm not that thirsty." Jim said quietly.
"Not that thirsty? This is a bar Jim old boy. Now grab a seat and relax a little." Scotty could feel the tension in his friend's shoulders. It was true they asked him here to talk about his brother, but he was a part of their team and together they would all get through whatever came of it.
At the hospital Cody followed Dr. Early into a treatment room.
"Have a seat up on the table for me." The white haired doctor motioned toward the exam table. He grabbed a rolling stool and pulled it over close to Cody. "I just want to ask you a couple of questions about the other day."
"Okay." Cody answered quietly.
He hated hospitals. Most of his experiences with hospitals came from spending time with his brother and his mother in the waiting room on the many occasions that his father or grandfather had been injured fighting fires. His father had been a lineman with the fire department. During that time he had been caught in many ceiling collapses and suffered a few minor burns and smoke inhalation. But the last time he'd come to the hospital with his mother and his brother had been the worst. His father and two other men had been trapped in a warehouse fire. They had been cut off from the exit by a back draft and subsequent explosion. His father had been severely burned on his face and chest, so badly burned that he didn't make it. Cody decided that day that he would become a fireman just like his father. Jim had always said he would be a fireman and had already signed up for the academy. Cody decided the day his father died that as soon as he was old enough he would join the academy too, and he would be one of the best lineman LA had ever had.
"Ahem." Dr. Early cleared his throat.
"Oh, sorry Dr. Early, did you say something?" Cody shifted nervously.
"I asked you how you ended up in the water unconscious. I wanted to check your response to the notes here in your chart." Dr. Early tapped his pen on the nurse's notes in Cody's medical record.
"Well we were working on the perimeter. I wanted to move in closer and my hose partner didn't want to get that close. 'That's not exactly correct, but the good doctor won't know that Gage was following Cap's orders.' Cody shifted nervously again. "The next thing I knew I was waking up in the back of an ambulance and Gage was on the bench beside me wrapped in a blanket. Tony, one of the rescue guys was taking my pulse or something." He looked at his wrist. "I don't remember anything else."
"Okay, that's pretty much how the notes read. So you were in some water near the fire?" Dr. Early added some notes to the record.
"Yeah…I guess they said I nearly drowned. I mean I wasn't breathing. I guess…he…um Gage pulled me out."
"That's what I heard. Pretty brave thing to do wasn't it?" Joe Early smiled at Cody. "You're lucky to have a friend like him, someone who would risk their life without thinking about it to save you. That's what I call a really good friend."
"We're not that close." Cody whispered.
"Well if I were you I think I would get to know him better. Someone like that is a good person to become best friends with."
Cody looked at the doctor with his mouth open. 'I can't believe this guy. He thinks I should be friends with Gage? The guy practically shows me up at everything I do, and this guy thinks I should be his best friend?'
Before Cody had a chance to respond Dr. Early pressed on, "So did you notice anything about the water?"
"The water?" Cody parroted Dr. Early's question.
"Yes, like was it dirty, cloudy?"
"I…" Cody unconsciously rubbed his chest. It felt tight and achy. "I don't remember. I mean I wasn't expecting to go for a swim you know."
"I guess not." Dr. Early chuckled. "Is your chest bothering you?"
Cody looked at his hand; then dropped it in his lap.
"Let me get a listen." Dr. Early rose from the stool and placed the chart on the treatment table beside Cody. He pulled his stethoscope from his lab coat pocket. "Could you unbutton your shirt for me?" Cody did. Dr. Early rubbed the round disc in his hands to warm it before placing it against Cody's chest. "Take a deep breath for me." He listened and moved the disc to another spot. "Again."
As Dr. Early listened to Cody's chest, Dr. Brackett poked his head into the room. "Joe when you're done here, can I see you in my office?"
"Sure Kel, but do you have a minute? I'd like you to give me your opinion on our young fireman here. He is our drowning victim from the other day. The other fireman, John Gage, has been admitted with pneumonia in both lungs. I asked Cody to come in and let me check him again. I think there may have been something in that water."
"Sure Joe, but what do you think was in the water?" Kel walked purposefully over beside Cody and without even acknowledging him put the cold disc to his stethoscope in almost the same spot Dr. Early had listened. "Take a deep breath."
Cody couldn't help the flinch he made trying to get away from the cold metal disc. 'Man, that's cold! This guy is just a barrel of joy. I wonder what has him so pent-up.'
Joe could see the emotion cross Cody's face and suppressed a knowing smile. "I don't know Kel. If I understand the notes here it was in an industrial area. Maybe the factories there have been dumping waste into the water. I know I have one very sick fireman upstairs and if I am hearing what I think I'm hearing he may have a roommate."
Cody's eyes widened and he glared at the white haired doctor. "I'm not sick!"
Dr. Early placed his hand on Cody's shoulder. "I'm sorry son, but I think you are a lot sicker than you think."
"I think you're right Joe. You had better get him started on some strong antibiotics and get him settled into a bed for at least one night. See me in my office when you're done." Dr. Brackett disappeared through the door and it swished closed behind him.
"Seriously Dr. Early, I don't feel that bad. I just have a little cough. I can't stay here. My brother doesn't even know I came here. I have to work the day after tomorrow. I just got assigned to the station. I can't miss a shift now." Cody started coughing. "I gotta go." He slid off the table and fumbled with the buttons on his shirt.
Dr. Early put his hand on Cody's shoulder again. "Calm down son. I'll go speak with your Captain. Your lungs are very congested. We need to get you started on a round of strong antibiotics and some respiratory treatments. I'll have the nurse call your brother."
"He's not home." Cody slumped against the table. The coughing left him breathless and tired. No one would believe that he was really sick. They would all think he was looking for sympathy and trying to take the attention away from Gage.
"We'll find him. Is there anyone else we need to call for you?"
"No, I don't want my mom to worry. I guess Cap is still out in the lobby. I'll go tell him." Cody tried again to leave the treatment room.
"I'll tell him. You hop back up on the table and relax. I'll have the nurse come in and help you get changed and an IV started." Joe patted the table. Cody did as he was asked. Truthfully he did feel bad and tired, suddenly exhausted and a little short of breath.
At McGill's, Jim found a seat next to Bill McDonald. "Hey Bill."
Bill raised his glass. "Jim."
Jim heard Tony Freeman across the bar. He followed the sound of Tony's voice and spotted him talking to one of the rescue guys that he recognized from 41's. "Oh come on Desoto you know I'm the best rescue man in the department. Who wouldn't want to be my sidekick?"
The tall sandy haired man Tony was talking to smiled, leaned against the bar and crossed his arms across his chest. "Now Tony, I never said you couldn't get a new partner. I mean the department will surely assign someone to your station." He chuckled. "I simply asked you why you would want a boot in your squad."
"Because like I told you Roy, he has something I can't really put my finger on, a knack. I mean he can read a fire better than some guys that have been in the department for most of their adult lives." Tony scratched his head as he went on explaining. He couldn't believe he was telling anyone about his idea of asking Johnny to be his partner. But Roy Desoto had a reputation of being a really good listener. He was also one of the most respected rescue men in the department. "He doesn't seem to be afraid of anything. He dove in the water after a fellow lineman on his first day on the job. Then he crawled in a wrecked vehicle to assess a victim. She…uh she didn't make it."
"That's tough to see even for us old guys." Roy agreed. "But that doesn't mean you should have a boot in the squad Tony. He still has a lot to learn about fighting fires."
"He beat Scotty on the hydrant drill times." Tony stated with pride for his Station's newest crew member.
Roy's eyebrow raised and his blue eyes lit up. "He did? Man no one's been able to do that in at least two years."
"Yep, he sure did." Tony smiled broadly.
"Maybe I need to meet this kid. He must really be something if he beat Scotty's hydrant drill time. Maybe I need to leave 41's and ride the squad over at 10's with him and let you have my spot." Roy teased.
"No way man, I'm not transferring to 41's and besides I don't even know if he'll get a permanent assignment to 10's. I haven't even talked to Cap about considering him for Joe's spot. Kid hasn't even finished his probationary period. Hell he's only been certified for about a week. Maybe I am crazy." Tony laughed with Roy.
"When is Joe leaving the department?" Roy asked.
"I'm not sure. I don't even know if he knows for sure. He wants to sell his house first, probably a couple of months." Tony scratched his head in thought again.
"Well Tony if I were you I would think long and hard about requesting a boot as my partner even if this kid is as good as you say he is. Listen I gotta go. My wife will be expecting me back." Roy turned around and left a twenty on the bar. "Put his drink on my tab."
"You don't have to do that Roy."
"No, you're right, but I want to. Let me know how it goes with finding a new partner. If I hear of anyone looking to join rescue I'll let you know." Roy held out his hand to shake Tony's.
Tony reached out and grasped Roy's hand. "Thanks Roy, for the beer and the advice." Tony slapped Roy on the back. "I'll see you around."
"Yeah, see ya around." Roy turned and headed toward the door. "Hey Tony, if you need any parenting tips give me a call. If you get this kid as a partner I think you're gonna need 'em." Roy laughed heartily before turning to leave again.
Tony smiled and nodded his head. "I won't, Desoto. You just wait and see. I know what I'm doing."
Jim sidestepped and passed a very tall thin man as he came into the dimly lit bar. The bright light that filtered into the door with him flashed across the face of the man he passed on the way in. 'Man that guy could pass as Honest Abe Lincoln.' He looked away quickly not wanting to stare. He stopped just inside and looked around for his friends. After his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting he saw the group from Station 10 gathered around a table in the back. He took a deep breath, squared his shoulders and began walking in their direction.
Scotty saw Jim as soon as he stepped past Hank. "Hey Jim! We're over here." He waved Jim over to their table.
Jim noticed the others around the table watching him as he approached. 'I guess they've all made up their minds about Cody. I'll just keep quiet and listen to what they have to say. Then at least I can get a clear picture of what's on each of their minds.'
"Hey Gotchalk, why don't you get Jim a beer?" Scotty requested as he slung his arm around Jim's shoulders.
"That's okay Scotty, I'm not that thirsty." Jim said quietly.
"Not that thirsty? This is a bar Jim old boy. Now grab a seat and relax a little." Scotty could feel the tension in his friend's shoulders. It was true they asked him here to talk about his brother, but he was a part of their team and together they would all get through whatever came of it.
At the hospital Cody followed Dr. Early into a treatment room.
"Have a seat up on the table for me." The white haired doctor motioned toward the exam table. He grabbed a rolling stool and pulled it over close to Cody. "I just want to ask you a couple of questions about the other day."
"Okay." Cody answered quietly.
He hated hospitals. Most of his experiences with hospitals came from spending time with his brother and his mother in the waiting room on the many occasions that his father or grandfather had been injured fighting fires. His father had been a lineman with the fire department. During that time he had been caught in many ceiling collapses and suffered a few minor burns and smoke inhalation. But the last time he'd come to the hospital with his mother and his brother had been the worst. His father and two other men had been trapped in a warehouse fire. They had been cut off from the exit by a back draft and subsequent explosion. His father had been severely burned on his face and chest, so badly burned that he didn't make it. Cody decided that day that he would become a fireman just like his father. Jim had always said he would be a fireman and had already signed up for the academy. Cody decided the day his father died that as soon as he was old enough he would join the academy too, and he would be one of the best lineman LA had ever had.
"Ahem." Dr. Early cleared his throat.
"Oh, sorry Dr. Early, did you say something?" Cody shifted nervously.
"I asked you how you ended up in the water unconscious. I wanted to check your response to the notes here in your chart." Dr. Early tapped his pen on the nurse's notes in Cody's medical record.
"Well we were working on the perimeter. I wanted to move in closer and my hose partner didn't want to get that close. 'That's not exactly correct, but the good doctor won't know that Gage was following Cap's orders.' Cody shifted nervously again. "The next thing I knew I was waking up in the back of an ambulance and Gage was on the bench beside me wrapped in a blanket. Tony, one of the rescue guys was taking my pulse or something." He looked at his wrist. "I don't remember anything else."
"Okay, that's pretty much how the notes read. So you were in some water near the fire?" Dr. Early added some notes to the record.
"Yeah…I guess they said I nearly drowned. I mean I wasn't breathing. I guess…he…um Gage pulled me out."
"That's what I heard. Pretty brave thing to do wasn't it?" Joe Early smiled at Cody. "You're lucky to have a friend like him, someone who would risk their life without thinking about it to save you. That's what I call a really good friend."
"We're not that close." Cody whispered.
"Well if I were you I think I would get to know him better. Someone like that is a good person to become best friends with."
Cody looked at the doctor with his mouth open. 'I can't believe this guy. He thinks I should be friends with Gage? The guy practically shows me up at everything I do, and this guy thinks I should be his best friend?'
Before Cody had a chance to respond Dr. Early pressed on, "So did you notice anything about the water?"
"The water?" Cody parroted Dr. Early's question.
"Yes, like was it dirty, cloudy?"
"I…" Cody unconsciously rubbed his chest. It felt tight and achy. "I don't remember. I mean I wasn't expecting to go for a swim you know."
"I guess not." Dr. Early chuckled. "Is your chest bothering you?"
Cody looked at his hand; then dropped it in his lap.
"Let me get a listen." Dr. Early rose from the stool and placed the chart on the treatment table beside Cody. He pulled his stethoscope from his lab coat pocket. "Could you unbutton your shirt for me?" Cody did. Dr. Early rubbed the round disc in his hands to warm it before placing it against Cody's chest. "Take a deep breath for me." He listened and moved the disc to another spot. "Again."
As Dr. Early listened to Cody's chest, Dr. Brackett poked his head into the room. "Joe when you're done here, can I see you in my office?"
"Sure Kel, but do you have a minute? I'd like you to give me your opinion on our young fireman here. He is our drowning victim from the other day. The other fireman, John Gage, has been admitted with pneumonia in both lungs. I asked Cody to come in and let me check him again. I think there may have been something in that water."
"Sure Joe, but what do you think was in the water?" Kel walked purposefully over beside Cody and without even acknowledging him put the cold disc to his stethoscope in almost the same spot Dr. Early had listened. "Take a deep breath."
Cody couldn't help the flinch he made trying to get away from the cold metal disc. 'Man, that's cold! This guy is just a barrel of joy. I wonder what has him so pent-up.'
Joe could see the emotion cross Cody's face and suppressed a knowing smile. "I don't know Kel. If I understand the notes here it was in an industrial area. Maybe the factories there have been dumping waste into the water. I know I have one very sick fireman upstairs and if I am hearing what I think I'm hearing he may have a roommate."
Cody's eyes widened and he glared at the white haired doctor. "I'm not sick!"
Dr. Early placed his hand on Cody's shoulder. "I'm sorry son, but I think you are a lot sicker than you think."
"I think you're right Joe. You had better get him started on some strong antibiotics and get him settled into a bed for at least one night. See me in my office when you're done." Dr. Brackett disappeared through the door and it swished closed behind him.
"Seriously Dr. Early, I don't feel that bad. I just have a little cough. I can't stay here. My brother doesn't even know I came here. I have to work the day after tomorrow. I just got assigned to the station. I can't miss a shift now." Cody started coughing. "I gotta go." He slid off the table and fumbled with the buttons on his shirt.
Dr. Early put his hand on Cody's shoulder again. "Calm down son. I'll go speak with your Captain. Your lungs are very congested. We need to get you started on a round of strong antibiotics and some respiratory treatments. I'll have the nurse call your brother."
"He's not home." Cody slumped against the table. The coughing left him breathless and tired. No one would believe that he was really sick. They would all think he was looking for sympathy and trying to take the attention away from Gage.
"We'll find him. Is there anyone else we need to call for you?"
"No, I don't want my mom to worry. I guess Cap is still out in the lobby. I'll go tell him." Cody tried again to leave the treatment room.
"I'll tell him. You hop back up on the table and relax. I'll have the nurse come in and help you get changed and an IV started." Joe patted the table. Cody did as he was asked. Truthfully he did feel bad and tired, suddenly exhausted and a little short of breath.
At McGill's, Jim found a seat next to Bill McDonald. "Hey Bill."
Bill raised his glass. "Jim."
Jim heard Tony Freeman across the bar. He followed the sound of Tony's voice and spotted him talking to one of the rescue guys that he recognized from 41's. "Oh come on Desoto you know I'm the best rescue man in the department. Who wouldn't want to be my sidekick?"
The tall sandy haired man Tony was talking to smiled, leaned against the bar and crossed his arms across his chest. "Now Tony, I never said you couldn't get a new partner. I mean the department will surely assign someone to your station." He chuckled. "I simply asked you why you would want a boot in your squad."
"Because like I told you Roy, he has something I can't really put my finger on, a knack. I mean he can read a fire better than some guys that have been in the department for most of their adult lives." Tony scratched his head as he went on explaining. He couldn't believe he was telling anyone about his idea of asking Johnny to be his partner. But Roy Desoto had a reputation of being a really good listener. He was also one of the most respected rescue men in the department. "He doesn't seem to be afraid of anything. He dove in the water after a fellow lineman on his first day on the job. Then he crawled in a wrecked vehicle to assess a victim. She…uh she didn't make it."
"That's tough to see even for us old guys." Roy agreed. "But that doesn't mean you should have a boot in the squad Tony. He still has a lot to learn about fighting fires."
"He beat Scotty on the hydrant drill times." Tony stated with pride for his Station's newest crew member.
Roy's eyebrow raised and his blue eyes lit up. "He did? Man no one's been able to do that in at least two years."
"Yep, he sure did." Tony smiled broadly.
"Maybe I need to meet this kid. He must really be something if he beat Scotty's hydrant drill time. Maybe I need to leave 41's and ride the squad over at 10's with him and let you have my spot." Roy teased.
"No way man, I'm not transferring to 41's and besides I don't even know if he'll get a permanent assignment to 10's. I haven't even talked to Cap about considering him for Joe's spot. Kid hasn't even finished his probationary period. Hell he's only been certified for about a week. Maybe I am crazy." Tony laughed with Roy.
"When is Joe leaving the department?" Roy asked.
"I'm not sure. I don't even know if he knows for sure. He wants to sell his house first, probably a couple of months." Tony scratched his head in thought again.
"Well Tony if I were you I would think long and hard about requesting a boot as my partner even if this kid is as good as you say he is. Listen I gotta go. My wife will be expecting me back." Roy turned around and left a twenty on the bar. "Put his drink on my tab."
"You don't have to do that Roy."
"No, you're right, but I want to. Let me know how it goes with finding a new partner. If I hear of anyone looking to join rescue I'll let you know." Roy held out his hand to shake Tony's.
Tony reached out and grasped Roy's hand. "Thanks Roy, for the beer and the advice." Tony slapped Roy on the back. "I'll see you around."
"Yeah, see ya around." Roy turned and headed toward the door. "Hey Tony, if you need any parenting tips give me a call. If you get this kid as a partner I think you're gonna need 'em." Roy laughed heartily before turning to leave again.
Tony smiled and nodded his head. "I won't, Desoto. You just wait and see. I know what I'm doing."
Chapter Eighteen
The haze that had settled in around him as he drifted in slumber suddenly dissipated as he felt the blankets pull away from the snug warm place he had held them in, next to his chin.
"I'm sorry Mr. Gage, but Dr. Early has requested another blood test. I need your arm." He pulled the covers back trying to put them where they were before she pulled them away. She spoke softly to him. "Come on now, it will only take a sec. I promise." His eyes slowly blinked open revealing the most gorgeous deep brown eyes. She smiled at him and pulled the blanket down again. "Now I just need your arm."
Johnny could not suppress the cough that tickled his throat and made his achy chest hurt again. Sleep was the only thing that seemed to hold the coughing at bay, and the pretty nurse had stolen that from him. 'Go away…I wanna sleep.' His mind screamed. He weakly pulled at the covers again. Pretty or not he didn't care. He wanted to be left alone to sleep.
The nurse made some clicking noises, "Tsk, tsk." She pulled the blanket down once again. "Now behave yourself and this will go quicker." She pulled his arm free of the tangle of blankets he had made around himself. 'What are you doing? It's cold.' He shivered at the cold air that the shifting covers allowed to waft across his overheated skin. "You're a little warm. Maybe we need to check your temperature too." She turned to the tray she had placed on the bedside table and produced a thermometer. Making quick work of removing the oxygen and sliding the thermometer beneath his tongue she turned back to the task of taking a blood sample. "My name is Darcy. I'll be your nurse for the rest of the day. Then I think Belinda will be here for the night shift. If there is anything you need all you have to do is press that little button there to call us."
Johnny's eyes drifted to the button she referred to. He felt very woozy and sick to his stomach. The prick in his arm didn't help. He didn't have the energy to talk and had the thermometer beneath his tongue so he just nodded. Then he turned his glassy eyes back toward Darcy. He hated needles and right now she was stabbing his arm with what he thought was largest one he'd ever seen. It seemed that way anyway by the way it felt sliding into his arm. He frowned.
"You really are feeling bad aren't you?" Darcy continued her one sided conversation. She finished taking his blood and taped some gauze over the needle site. She pulled the thermometer from his mouth, furrowing her brow at the reading. "I'll call Dr. Early and give him a report. I think he may want to adjust your medications. We'll have you feeling better in no time." She smiled again as she put the oxygen back in place. Johnny blinked a few times, each time leaving his eyes closed a little longer. He just couldn't fight the exhaustion that had taken over his body. Darcy tucked the covers back the way he had them before she broke into his cocoon. He was once again asleep before she finished. "My, you are a cute thing aren't you?" She fussed with his blankets a little more than necessary. "When you're feeling better, maybe we can get to know each other." She turned to retrieve her try full of supplies and his blood samples. "Rest easy Mr. Gage. I'll be back after I speak with Dr. Early." He was oblivious to her words and never knew she had gone.
Johnny fell into a fitful sleep, tossing and turning. He couldn't seem to find the snug place he'd been in when the nurse disturbed him. Instead he woke up repeatedly; then slipped back into the troubled sleep before ending up staring at the window in the corner wishing he was back at his apartment where no one would disturb him.
Down in the ER Cody had undergone the same blood test. He now had an antibiotic IV in his arm and lay on the hard treatment room table awaiting admission. Someone knocked lightly on the door and pushed it open, "Hey Cody, mind if I come in?" Captain Jones peeked around the partially open door.
"Sure Cap."
"I wanted to let you know that I called Jim's place, but I didn't get an answer. Should I call you mother?"
Cody abruptly sat up, "No! Don't call my mom. She'd freak out." His sentence came out in a strangled cough.
Captain Jones quickly moved over and pushed Cody back down. "Hold on Cody. I won't call her if you don't want me to, but you need to calm down. Now lay back down. I'll find Jim."
He cleared his throat and continued in a gravelly voice, "He went down to McGill's to meet Scotty and the guys," ending in another cough.
"That's right, I remember Scotty saying they were heading over there when they were here earlier."
"They were here?" Cody remembered Dr. Early saying that Gage had been admitted with pneumonia, but how did he suddenly become so popular that the guys had come down to see him at the hospital? 'This situation just kept getting better and better.'
Knowing he didn't have to explain, but wanting to help Cody settle down Captain Jones decided that talking to him about how his men had come down in support of one of their shift mates might help. "Scotty was at my place when I got the call about Gage being here. I have to file the reports so it's protocol to notify me as his Captain. We drove over together. He called the guys to tell them he would be late meeting them at McGill's. The next thing I know most of our shift was here in the waiting room." Captain Jones explained. "They really are a great group of guys. I'll just stop by and see if they're still there on my way home. Let me know if you need anything Cody, and take care of yourself. I'm heading out now. You have my number?"
"Yes sir." Cody looked away. A troubled expression crossed his face. "Um…Cap?" Captain Jones turned back and waited for Cody to continue. "I'm sorry this happened. I mean now you have two men out for…um who knows how long. I…I'm sorry, Sir."
"Don't worry about it kid. I'm sure you didn't plan on getting tossed into that water. But Cody…" He paused. He needed to be careful how he said what he needed to say to his new boot. "Son, don't ever disregard an order from your Captain. I don't think I have to remind you what can happen if you do. I give you those orders not only to protect you, but your crew mates too. I have years of experience, specialized training and knowledge that helps me know what needs to be done and who is best to do each task. You could have died out there that day, and if it hadn't been for John's quick action you might have."
"Yes sir." Cody couldn't believe it. In just short of an hour two people had put Gage up on a pedestal. 'What is it with that guy that everyone thinks he's the best thing to ever hit the fire department?' He closed his eyes as his Captain left the room. Thoughts of the fire scene panned through his mind like a movie reel.
They had been called out in the night to the boat repair shop.
The fire was well involved when they pulled up. Dark smoke mixed with the flames that shot high above the roof. Ash floated around them as they pulled the hose near the boat dock. A constant hum of noises filled the air. Everything, from the rocking boats to the water that lapped against the dock intermingled with the noise from the rushing water as it spewed from the charged hoses, seemed to create a kind of eerie tune that was accentuated by the taunting of the crackling fire as it ravaged the structure.
Captain Jones had instructed he and Gage to protect the perimeter, protect the boats in the dock and the buildings nearby. Cody had quickly become wrapped up in the thrill of the fight. He knew he was moving in closer than Cap had told him to, but he had wanted so badly to impress him. It was Gage who backed off, refusing to back him up on the hose. Gage had dropped his hand from his back and stepped away leaving him holding the charged hose. He had faltered a bit trying to regain control, but before he had time to completely get a handle on it an explosion rocked the building sending them both catapulting through the air. He had flown off the dock and into the water.
He remembered the sudden strong gust of air and debris that hit him sending him flying. He knew the second the hose slipped from his hands that he was in trouble. He'd been blown out into the water. He could feel the sudden cold as it enveloped him, knocking his air mask off and filling his turnouts.
As he thought about the night he had nearly drowned he could almost feel the weight of the SCBA and his water logged gear pulling him deeper. It was a surreal feeling: semi conscious, stunned and unable to fight the strong tow of the weighted gear, he had just let go and allowed himself to be pulled beneath the surface of the dark water.
Thinking about it now he could almost taste the foul water that had filled his mouth and lungs. His eyes were open but his brain and body were numb from the blast. As he sunk further and further into the abyss he could see the dimming lights that reflected on the surface like a kaleidoscope of colors. It was pretty watching the colors moving with the waves. Then something disrupted the gentle mixing of colors. Something dark plunged into his vision. He continued sinking, suffocating as his lungs filled with water. He still possessed awareness enough to know that suddenly his body felt lighter. He could feel himself being pulled upward. Then he remembered waking up in the ambulance.
'That dark shadow that plunged into the water that day must have been Gage.'
The haze that had settled in around him as he drifted in slumber suddenly dissipated as he felt the blankets pull away from the snug warm place he had held them in, next to his chin.
"I'm sorry Mr. Gage, but Dr. Early has requested another blood test. I need your arm." He pulled the covers back trying to put them where they were before she pulled them away. She spoke softly to him. "Come on now, it will only take a sec. I promise." His eyes slowly blinked open revealing the most gorgeous deep brown eyes. She smiled at him and pulled the blanket down again. "Now I just need your arm."
Johnny could not suppress the cough that tickled his throat and made his achy chest hurt again. Sleep was the only thing that seemed to hold the coughing at bay, and the pretty nurse had stolen that from him. 'Go away…I wanna sleep.' His mind screamed. He weakly pulled at the covers again. Pretty or not he didn't care. He wanted to be left alone to sleep.
The nurse made some clicking noises, "Tsk, tsk." She pulled the blanket down once again. "Now behave yourself and this will go quicker." She pulled his arm free of the tangle of blankets he had made around himself. 'What are you doing? It's cold.' He shivered at the cold air that the shifting covers allowed to waft across his overheated skin. "You're a little warm. Maybe we need to check your temperature too." She turned to the tray she had placed on the bedside table and produced a thermometer. Making quick work of removing the oxygen and sliding the thermometer beneath his tongue she turned back to the task of taking a blood sample. "My name is Darcy. I'll be your nurse for the rest of the day. Then I think Belinda will be here for the night shift. If there is anything you need all you have to do is press that little button there to call us."
Johnny's eyes drifted to the button she referred to. He felt very woozy and sick to his stomach. The prick in his arm didn't help. He didn't have the energy to talk and had the thermometer beneath his tongue so he just nodded. Then he turned his glassy eyes back toward Darcy. He hated needles and right now she was stabbing his arm with what he thought was largest one he'd ever seen. It seemed that way anyway by the way it felt sliding into his arm. He frowned.
"You really are feeling bad aren't you?" Darcy continued her one sided conversation. She finished taking his blood and taped some gauze over the needle site. She pulled the thermometer from his mouth, furrowing her brow at the reading. "I'll call Dr. Early and give him a report. I think he may want to adjust your medications. We'll have you feeling better in no time." She smiled again as she put the oxygen back in place. Johnny blinked a few times, each time leaving his eyes closed a little longer. He just couldn't fight the exhaustion that had taken over his body. Darcy tucked the covers back the way he had them before she broke into his cocoon. He was once again asleep before she finished. "My, you are a cute thing aren't you?" She fussed with his blankets a little more than necessary. "When you're feeling better, maybe we can get to know each other." She turned to retrieve her try full of supplies and his blood samples. "Rest easy Mr. Gage. I'll be back after I speak with Dr. Early." He was oblivious to her words and never knew she had gone.
Johnny fell into a fitful sleep, tossing and turning. He couldn't seem to find the snug place he'd been in when the nurse disturbed him. Instead he woke up repeatedly; then slipped back into the troubled sleep before ending up staring at the window in the corner wishing he was back at his apartment where no one would disturb him.
Down in the ER Cody had undergone the same blood test. He now had an antibiotic IV in his arm and lay on the hard treatment room table awaiting admission. Someone knocked lightly on the door and pushed it open, "Hey Cody, mind if I come in?" Captain Jones peeked around the partially open door.
"Sure Cap."
"I wanted to let you know that I called Jim's place, but I didn't get an answer. Should I call you mother?"
Cody abruptly sat up, "No! Don't call my mom. She'd freak out." His sentence came out in a strangled cough.
Captain Jones quickly moved over and pushed Cody back down. "Hold on Cody. I won't call her if you don't want me to, but you need to calm down. Now lay back down. I'll find Jim."
He cleared his throat and continued in a gravelly voice, "He went down to McGill's to meet Scotty and the guys," ending in another cough.
"That's right, I remember Scotty saying they were heading over there when they were here earlier."
"They were here?" Cody remembered Dr. Early saying that Gage had been admitted with pneumonia, but how did he suddenly become so popular that the guys had come down to see him at the hospital? 'This situation just kept getting better and better.'
Knowing he didn't have to explain, but wanting to help Cody settle down Captain Jones decided that talking to him about how his men had come down in support of one of their shift mates might help. "Scotty was at my place when I got the call about Gage being here. I have to file the reports so it's protocol to notify me as his Captain. We drove over together. He called the guys to tell them he would be late meeting them at McGill's. The next thing I know most of our shift was here in the waiting room." Captain Jones explained. "They really are a great group of guys. I'll just stop by and see if they're still there on my way home. Let me know if you need anything Cody, and take care of yourself. I'm heading out now. You have my number?"
"Yes sir." Cody looked away. A troubled expression crossed his face. "Um…Cap?" Captain Jones turned back and waited for Cody to continue. "I'm sorry this happened. I mean now you have two men out for…um who knows how long. I…I'm sorry, Sir."
"Don't worry about it kid. I'm sure you didn't plan on getting tossed into that water. But Cody…" He paused. He needed to be careful how he said what he needed to say to his new boot. "Son, don't ever disregard an order from your Captain. I don't think I have to remind you what can happen if you do. I give you those orders not only to protect you, but your crew mates too. I have years of experience, specialized training and knowledge that helps me know what needs to be done and who is best to do each task. You could have died out there that day, and if it hadn't been for John's quick action you might have."
"Yes sir." Cody couldn't believe it. In just short of an hour two people had put Gage up on a pedestal. 'What is it with that guy that everyone thinks he's the best thing to ever hit the fire department?' He closed his eyes as his Captain left the room. Thoughts of the fire scene panned through his mind like a movie reel.
They had been called out in the night to the boat repair shop.
The fire was well involved when they pulled up. Dark smoke mixed with the flames that shot high above the roof. Ash floated around them as they pulled the hose near the boat dock. A constant hum of noises filled the air. Everything, from the rocking boats to the water that lapped against the dock intermingled with the noise from the rushing water as it spewed from the charged hoses, seemed to create a kind of eerie tune that was accentuated by the taunting of the crackling fire as it ravaged the structure.
Captain Jones had instructed he and Gage to protect the perimeter, protect the boats in the dock and the buildings nearby. Cody had quickly become wrapped up in the thrill of the fight. He knew he was moving in closer than Cap had told him to, but he had wanted so badly to impress him. It was Gage who backed off, refusing to back him up on the hose. Gage had dropped his hand from his back and stepped away leaving him holding the charged hose. He had faltered a bit trying to regain control, but before he had time to completely get a handle on it an explosion rocked the building sending them both catapulting through the air. He had flown off the dock and into the water.
He remembered the sudden strong gust of air and debris that hit him sending him flying. He knew the second the hose slipped from his hands that he was in trouble. He'd been blown out into the water. He could feel the sudden cold as it enveloped him, knocking his air mask off and filling his turnouts.
As he thought about the night he had nearly drowned he could almost feel the weight of the SCBA and his water logged gear pulling him deeper. It was a surreal feeling: semi conscious, stunned and unable to fight the strong tow of the weighted gear, he had just let go and allowed himself to be pulled beneath the surface of the dark water.
Thinking about it now he could almost taste the foul water that had filled his mouth and lungs. His eyes were open but his brain and body were numb from the blast. As he sunk further and further into the abyss he could see the dimming lights that reflected on the surface like a kaleidoscope of colors. It was pretty watching the colors moving with the waves. Then something disrupted the gentle mixing of colors. Something dark plunged into his vision. He continued sinking, suffocating as his lungs filled with water. He still possessed awareness enough to know that suddenly his body felt lighter. He could feel himself being pulled upward. Then he remembered waking up in the ambulance.
'That dark shadow that plunged into the water that day must have been Gage.'