Chapter Seven
By the time the next shift rolled around Johnny's cough seemed better, but his voice was hoarse and his chest ached from coughing. To top it all off after stalling as long as he dared, when it came time to leave his apartment it was pouring down rain. He grabbed the only jacket he had from the hook by the door, slung it over his shoulders and slipped his arms in quickly. That was the best he could do. If he didn't leave now he would surely be late. To him it seemed that instead of slowing down like he'd hoped, it now came down in torrents.
Scotty stood at the back overhead doors sipping coffee and watching it rain.
Captain Jones came up behind him with his own steaming cup. "Looks like it isn't gonna stop anytime soon."
"Nope." He sipped the brew.
"What's got you thinking this morning, Dale?" Cap could tell from years of working together and by the crease on his Engineer's forehead that he had something on his mind.
"Just wondering how a guy that rides a motorbike gets around in this." He motioned toward the sheet of rain cascading off the back of the building. About that time, they heard a small engine pulling into the drive out front.
"Well I guess we're about to find out." Cap chuckled.
Johnny pulled around the building and slid his bike into the space beside the dumpster where he'd parked it before. He grabbed the bundle from the back wrapped in a green trash bag. He ran to the building before removing his helmet. His hair was the only dry thing about him. He slowed his pace as his feet hit dry ground. "Morning," he said softly as he slipped by.
"Morning John," Cap returned the greeting.
Scotty looked Johnny over. "You're soaked."
Johnny glanced over at his new friend. "Ya think?" He grinned and moved toward the locker room.
Scotty and Cap both noticed the roughness in his voice. Cap turned to Scotty. "Think he's okay?"
"Hope so. Sure sounds rough." Scotty turned to the kitchen. "Want some more coffee Cap?"
Johnny hurried into the locker room leaving a wet path in his wake. He accidentally brushed against Jeff as he moved through the crowded locker room. "Thanks a lot Gage. I just got dry."
"Sorry." He sat his bundle and helmet on the bench and pulled out of the wet jean jacket.
"Oh look, if it isn't Johnny Gage, fireman extraordinaire." Cody called from across the room. "Whatcha got there, bringing your trash to work?"
Johnny simply continued getting ready for shift ignoring Cody's comments. He was too wet and uncomfortable to care right now. He reached for his locker handle and pulled the door open. As he opened the door, something fell out and hit him on the head. He reflexively closed his eyes and raised his arms. He didn't immediately know what had hit him. Cody burst into laughter. When he opened his eyes, he saw the long stick pulled into a fake bow with string holding it taut with fake eagle feathers tied to the end.
"Man did you see that?" Cody slapped his brother on the shoulders. Jim and the others got up and left the room without comment. "What?" Cody followed his brother out.
Johnny picked up the makeshift bow and put it in the trash then he stopped, rubbed his fingers along the soft feathers, and looked at it thoughtfully. Cody was the only one laughing.
After hanging his turnout coat on the engine and putting his helmet in his seat, Johnny joined the others in the kitchen for roll call. Scotty handed him a cup of hot coffee. "You look like you need that."
"Thanks." He looked that the steaming mug, brought it up and smelled it. He looked at Scotty and raised an eyebrow.
"Relax, I made it." He smiled. "You ready to do this again?"
"Yep." Johnny took an experimental sip of coffee. He still didn't like the taste but it was warm and that felt good. Scotty was amused as he watched Johnny wrinkle his nose at the taste. He thought he saw a slight tremble in the younger man, but he guessed that could be a reaction to the coffee. At least he hoped that was what it was from and not from the cold rain he'd just ridden to work in.
"Okay gentlemen now that everyone's here let's get this day started. The rappelling drills scheduled for this morning have been postponed." The men around the room sat up a little straighter. Captain Jones knew they were glad they wouldn't have to do the drills in the rain. He was glad too. "I know how much some of you wanted to show me how your skills have improved since our last drill, but as your Captain I have decided to keep us available, besides with weather like this I figure we'll get plenty of practice on other skills today."
Johnny leaned over and whispered to Scotty, "What does he mean plenty of practice? What makes today so different?"
Scotty chuckled. "You really are green aren't ya boot."
Johnny's mouth hung open, he pulled his head back, and his eyebrows furrowed. "Huh, what do you mean?"
"Haven't you ever noticed that when it rains it's like people forget how to drive?"
"Well yeah, but what's that got to do with us?" Johnny still didn't understand.
"Well, when you were at the academy learning how to use the jaws and K-12 didn't they tell you why you would need those skills?" Scotty whispered.
"Oh." Johnny smiled at himself. "Oh yeah."
Scotty just smiled.
Captain Jones had just finished the assignments for the shift when the tones called the entire station to a structure fire. Everyone ran for their respective vehicles as the bay doors creaked up slowly revealing the rain soaked streets in front of the station. Rain pelted the vehicles as they raced through the streets dodging the still heavy morning traffic. The air horn blasted loudly as they neared each intersection warning the seemingly unaware drivers of their approach.
Johnny watched out the front window between the swishing wipers at the cars that threw sprays of water at the sidewalks as they passed along the thoroughfare. The normal courtesy given to rescue vehicles seemed nonexistent in today's storm. Johnny wondered if they couldn't hear the sirens or if they were in too big of a hurry to get somewhere out of the rain to pull over and stop for the parade of bright red trucks.
As they approached their destination, they could see the flames that shot high into the overcast sky, flickering, and reaching higher and higher with the wind that fanned the tendrils of the beast. The fire flitted and danced along the roof mocking the rain that poured down on it.
"Gage, hook us up." Captain Jones called back to Johnny.
Moving quickly he stepped down from the engine as it slowed enough for him to disembark and grab the feeder hose. He quickly wrapped it around the base of the hydrant, planted a foot on the nozzle end, and waited until the engine stopped several yards away. Wasting no time, he stripped the cover off and attached the hose. Looking briefly over his left shoulder for a cue from Scotty to let the water flow, he nodded at the signal and released the water. Once he was sure the hydrant was functioning properly, he jogged over beside the engine to await his next instruction.
"Gear up." Captain Jones pointed to him. He nodded and pulled on his SCBA preparing to work the line. "Bill, you and Gage start in the front and cover Tony and Joe. There's a missing worker."
"Yes sir," Bill called back to his superior as he pulled hose from the back of the rig. "Come on Johnny, let's go."
Johnny grabbed the hose and followed Bill to the entrance. He placed his hand on Bill's shoulder and took a firm grip on the hose. Bill motioned to Scotty to charge the line. Johnny could feel the pressure build as the water reached them and filled the hose. Bill aimed the nozzle and opened her up on the flames reaching around the doorway they would be going through.
Inside the building, Johnny could feel the heat rising in his turnout coat. The sweat pooled near his lower back and slid downward. It was hot, and that did nothing for his already sore throat. They pushed forward into the lobby area where there once stood a reception desk, which was now a burnt out shell. Tony and Joe pushed past them and started down the hallway to the warehouse area of the building. Bill and Johnny followed closely behind the two rescue men. The roar of the fire mixed with the constant hissing noises made by their SCBA created a surreal feeling of claustrophobia. Johnny kept his eyes moving around them making sure they didn't miss any errant flames or falling debris all the while pulling the hose along behind them. Anyone watching would have thought he'd fought fires for years.
Bill glanced back at Johnny and tilted his head toward the stack of boxes to their right. Smoke poured from the back of the stack. Johnny nodded his understanding and the two men directed the spray over to the large cardboard boxes filled with they didn't know what. Tony and Joe continued searching the area. Other linemen joined Bill and Johnny in the spacious warehouse and fought the flames from several different directions.
Johnny felt his hose stop and he looked back to see if it was stuck on something. He saw the flames shooting up the wall behind them and dancing along the ceiling above. Then he heard Bill yell to him to retreat. Tony and Joe passed them with the missing worker. Captain Jones had ordered everyone out. The fire would win this battle, but they had found the missing man. That definitely counted as a win for them. Moving quickly all the linemen backed out of the structure just in time to watch the roof fall in where they had just been.
"Surround and drown." Captain Jones ordered through the HT.
As soon as Station 10 finished the clean up at the warehouse, the tones called them out to an MVA on the freeway. Johnny was beginning to understand what Scotty meant about rainy days being busy. When they pulled up the entrance ramp, the back up of traffic went on for miles. Scotty skillfully maneuvered the engine down the shoulder. The engine bucked and rocked along on the uneven roadside. "Watch out!" Captain Jones yelled to Scotty when a motorist shot out in front of him trying to get around the stopped traffic.
"I see him Cap." Scotty didn't seem bothered at all by the intrusion in his continued trek past the line of angry motorists. "Can you get the plate? We'll inform the patrolmen at the scene of his blatant disregard for the law."
"I got it." Cap retorted.
Johnny turned back around and leaned back in his seat. Watching the crazy drivers in this weather made him nervous. He pulled his turnout coat tighter to keep out the chill from the cool damp air. He stayed that way until he heard Scotty whistle at the site before them.
Several cars had impacted at a high rate of speed. One had hydroplaned and flipped before the others had piled onto it. That small car was now upside down, and partially buried by the other vehicles. The only access seemed to be the bent frame of what used to be the driver's side window. When they arrived on the scene, Captain Jones directed his men with practiced ease. "Jim, pull an inch and a half and start working on that gas spill. Gary we need the jaws on that pick-up. Jeff you can start hosing the other side over there. Bill, you and John pull those battery cables. Tony, you and Joe let us know what you need to get these people out. LA we need 2 additional ambulances."
"Cap we have a problem." Tony called as he ran over to explain. "The only access to that car on the bottom is through what's left of that window. I can hear movement in there, but the hole is too small for either Joe or me."
Captain Jones walked over closer to the planned point of entry. He looked around at his men. Making a quick decision he called to the one man he thought to be small enough to fit through the opening. "Gage!"
By the time the next shift rolled around Johnny's cough seemed better, but his voice was hoarse and his chest ached from coughing. To top it all off after stalling as long as he dared, when it came time to leave his apartment it was pouring down rain. He grabbed the only jacket he had from the hook by the door, slung it over his shoulders and slipped his arms in quickly. That was the best he could do. If he didn't leave now he would surely be late. To him it seemed that instead of slowing down like he'd hoped, it now came down in torrents.
Scotty stood at the back overhead doors sipping coffee and watching it rain.
Captain Jones came up behind him with his own steaming cup. "Looks like it isn't gonna stop anytime soon."
"Nope." He sipped the brew.
"What's got you thinking this morning, Dale?" Cap could tell from years of working together and by the crease on his Engineer's forehead that he had something on his mind.
"Just wondering how a guy that rides a motorbike gets around in this." He motioned toward the sheet of rain cascading off the back of the building. About that time, they heard a small engine pulling into the drive out front.
"Well I guess we're about to find out." Cap chuckled.
Johnny pulled around the building and slid his bike into the space beside the dumpster where he'd parked it before. He grabbed the bundle from the back wrapped in a green trash bag. He ran to the building before removing his helmet. His hair was the only dry thing about him. He slowed his pace as his feet hit dry ground. "Morning," he said softly as he slipped by.
"Morning John," Cap returned the greeting.
Scotty looked Johnny over. "You're soaked."
Johnny glanced over at his new friend. "Ya think?" He grinned and moved toward the locker room.
Scotty and Cap both noticed the roughness in his voice. Cap turned to Scotty. "Think he's okay?"
"Hope so. Sure sounds rough." Scotty turned to the kitchen. "Want some more coffee Cap?"
Johnny hurried into the locker room leaving a wet path in his wake. He accidentally brushed against Jeff as he moved through the crowded locker room. "Thanks a lot Gage. I just got dry."
"Sorry." He sat his bundle and helmet on the bench and pulled out of the wet jean jacket.
"Oh look, if it isn't Johnny Gage, fireman extraordinaire." Cody called from across the room. "Whatcha got there, bringing your trash to work?"
Johnny simply continued getting ready for shift ignoring Cody's comments. He was too wet and uncomfortable to care right now. He reached for his locker handle and pulled the door open. As he opened the door, something fell out and hit him on the head. He reflexively closed his eyes and raised his arms. He didn't immediately know what had hit him. Cody burst into laughter. When he opened his eyes, he saw the long stick pulled into a fake bow with string holding it taut with fake eagle feathers tied to the end.
"Man did you see that?" Cody slapped his brother on the shoulders. Jim and the others got up and left the room without comment. "What?" Cody followed his brother out.
Johnny picked up the makeshift bow and put it in the trash then he stopped, rubbed his fingers along the soft feathers, and looked at it thoughtfully. Cody was the only one laughing.
After hanging his turnout coat on the engine and putting his helmet in his seat, Johnny joined the others in the kitchen for roll call. Scotty handed him a cup of hot coffee. "You look like you need that."
"Thanks." He looked that the steaming mug, brought it up and smelled it. He looked at Scotty and raised an eyebrow.
"Relax, I made it." He smiled. "You ready to do this again?"
"Yep." Johnny took an experimental sip of coffee. He still didn't like the taste but it was warm and that felt good. Scotty was amused as he watched Johnny wrinkle his nose at the taste. He thought he saw a slight tremble in the younger man, but he guessed that could be a reaction to the coffee. At least he hoped that was what it was from and not from the cold rain he'd just ridden to work in.
"Okay gentlemen now that everyone's here let's get this day started. The rappelling drills scheduled for this morning have been postponed." The men around the room sat up a little straighter. Captain Jones knew they were glad they wouldn't have to do the drills in the rain. He was glad too. "I know how much some of you wanted to show me how your skills have improved since our last drill, but as your Captain I have decided to keep us available, besides with weather like this I figure we'll get plenty of practice on other skills today."
Johnny leaned over and whispered to Scotty, "What does he mean plenty of practice? What makes today so different?"
Scotty chuckled. "You really are green aren't ya boot."
Johnny's mouth hung open, he pulled his head back, and his eyebrows furrowed. "Huh, what do you mean?"
"Haven't you ever noticed that when it rains it's like people forget how to drive?"
"Well yeah, but what's that got to do with us?" Johnny still didn't understand.
"Well, when you were at the academy learning how to use the jaws and K-12 didn't they tell you why you would need those skills?" Scotty whispered.
"Oh." Johnny smiled at himself. "Oh yeah."
Scotty just smiled.
Captain Jones had just finished the assignments for the shift when the tones called the entire station to a structure fire. Everyone ran for their respective vehicles as the bay doors creaked up slowly revealing the rain soaked streets in front of the station. Rain pelted the vehicles as they raced through the streets dodging the still heavy morning traffic. The air horn blasted loudly as they neared each intersection warning the seemingly unaware drivers of their approach.
Johnny watched out the front window between the swishing wipers at the cars that threw sprays of water at the sidewalks as they passed along the thoroughfare. The normal courtesy given to rescue vehicles seemed nonexistent in today's storm. Johnny wondered if they couldn't hear the sirens or if they were in too big of a hurry to get somewhere out of the rain to pull over and stop for the parade of bright red trucks.
As they approached their destination, they could see the flames that shot high into the overcast sky, flickering, and reaching higher and higher with the wind that fanned the tendrils of the beast. The fire flitted and danced along the roof mocking the rain that poured down on it.
"Gage, hook us up." Captain Jones called back to Johnny.
Moving quickly he stepped down from the engine as it slowed enough for him to disembark and grab the feeder hose. He quickly wrapped it around the base of the hydrant, planted a foot on the nozzle end, and waited until the engine stopped several yards away. Wasting no time, he stripped the cover off and attached the hose. Looking briefly over his left shoulder for a cue from Scotty to let the water flow, he nodded at the signal and released the water. Once he was sure the hydrant was functioning properly, he jogged over beside the engine to await his next instruction.
"Gear up." Captain Jones pointed to him. He nodded and pulled on his SCBA preparing to work the line. "Bill, you and Gage start in the front and cover Tony and Joe. There's a missing worker."
"Yes sir," Bill called back to his superior as he pulled hose from the back of the rig. "Come on Johnny, let's go."
Johnny grabbed the hose and followed Bill to the entrance. He placed his hand on Bill's shoulder and took a firm grip on the hose. Bill motioned to Scotty to charge the line. Johnny could feel the pressure build as the water reached them and filled the hose. Bill aimed the nozzle and opened her up on the flames reaching around the doorway they would be going through.
Inside the building, Johnny could feel the heat rising in his turnout coat. The sweat pooled near his lower back and slid downward. It was hot, and that did nothing for his already sore throat. They pushed forward into the lobby area where there once stood a reception desk, which was now a burnt out shell. Tony and Joe pushed past them and started down the hallway to the warehouse area of the building. Bill and Johnny followed closely behind the two rescue men. The roar of the fire mixed with the constant hissing noises made by their SCBA created a surreal feeling of claustrophobia. Johnny kept his eyes moving around them making sure they didn't miss any errant flames or falling debris all the while pulling the hose along behind them. Anyone watching would have thought he'd fought fires for years.
Bill glanced back at Johnny and tilted his head toward the stack of boxes to their right. Smoke poured from the back of the stack. Johnny nodded his understanding and the two men directed the spray over to the large cardboard boxes filled with they didn't know what. Tony and Joe continued searching the area. Other linemen joined Bill and Johnny in the spacious warehouse and fought the flames from several different directions.
Johnny felt his hose stop and he looked back to see if it was stuck on something. He saw the flames shooting up the wall behind them and dancing along the ceiling above. Then he heard Bill yell to him to retreat. Tony and Joe passed them with the missing worker. Captain Jones had ordered everyone out. The fire would win this battle, but they had found the missing man. That definitely counted as a win for them. Moving quickly all the linemen backed out of the structure just in time to watch the roof fall in where they had just been.
"Surround and drown." Captain Jones ordered through the HT.
As soon as Station 10 finished the clean up at the warehouse, the tones called them out to an MVA on the freeway. Johnny was beginning to understand what Scotty meant about rainy days being busy. When they pulled up the entrance ramp, the back up of traffic went on for miles. Scotty skillfully maneuvered the engine down the shoulder. The engine bucked and rocked along on the uneven roadside. "Watch out!" Captain Jones yelled to Scotty when a motorist shot out in front of him trying to get around the stopped traffic.
"I see him Cap." Scotty didn't seem bothered at all by the intrusion in his continued trek past the line of angry motorists. "Can you get the plate? We'll inform the patrolmen at the scene of his blatant disregard for the law."
"I got it." Cap retorted.
Johnny turned back around and leaned back in his seat. Watching the crazy drivers in this weather made him nervous. He pulled his turnout coat tighter to keep out the chill from the cool damp air. He stayed that way until he heard Scotty whistle at the site before them.
Several cars had impacted at a high rate of speed. One had hydroplaned and flipped before the others had piled onto it. That small car was now upside down, and partially buried by the other vehicles. The only access seemed to be the bent frame of what used to be the driver's side window. When they arrived on the scene, Captain Jones directed his men with practiced ease. "Jim, pull an inch and a half and start working on that gas spill. Gary we need the jaws on that pick-up. Jeff you can start hosing the other side over there. Bill, you and John pull those battery cables. Tony, you and Joe let us know what you need to get these people out. LA we need 2 additional ambulances."
"Cap we have a problem." Tony called as he ran over to explain. "The only access to that car on the bottom is through what's left of that window. I can hear movement in there, but the hole is too small for either Joe or me."
Captain Jones walked over closer to the planned point of entry. He looked around at his men. Making a quick decision he called to the one man he thought to be small enough to fit through the opening. "Gage!"
Chapter Eight
Johnny jogged over and Captain Jones pointed to the broken out window. "I need someone to crawl in there and check on the occupants of that vehicle. You're the smallest man I have. Do you think you can manage it?"
"What do I need to do once I get in there?" Johnny asked with wide eyes.
"Well first we need to see if whoever is in there is alive. You do know how to check for a pulse, basic first aid, right?"
"Yes sir, um we learned that at the academy." He nervously bounced from one foot to the other.
"Okay then let's go." Cap waved to the window.
Johnny followed his Captain over to the portal. The rain still pelted them mercilessly. He dropped to his knees in the water that puddled around the wrecked vehicles. The cold water seeped in against his shins as cold fear gripped his heart. 'Please be alive.' He brushed away the shards of glass that still clung to the window frame with his gloved hand, then dropped to his belly and began inching his way inside the small dark space.
Suddenly he stopped and twisted his body, reaching his hand out, "I need a flashlight." He felt someone place the light in his hand, and he wrapped his fingers around it, twisted again, and scrambled deeper into the metal cave. He felt something soft before he flicked on the light.
It was quiet, too quiet. He could hear his own breathing and the pitter-patter of the continuing rain, and the creaking of tearing metal as his cremates worked to free the other drivers. He could see in his mind's eye the sparks flying from the blade of the K-12 as it tore into the car above. However, inside the dark space, the sound he listened for didn't seem to be there. The click of the flashlight switch seemed to echo in the quiet. The light shook causing the beam to vibrate along with his trembling hand. The quivering beam landed across the face, her face and her hauntingly empty eyes stared at him.
Johnny dropped his head to his arm and squeezed his eyes shut. He took a few deep breaths to calm himself and quell the uneasy feeling in his gut. Slowly he raised his face, reached over and closed the staring eyes. He brought his hand to his face and bit the end of the glove to pull it from his hand, reached out and felt her neck for the pulse he knew he wouldn't find.
Inching his way backwards, he felt the glass poke through the wet fabric of his uniform pants and slice into his knee. He didn't slow his retreat. He needed to get out of there.
Captain Jones watched Johnny scramble backwards from the window. He stopped and sat up still on his knees. "Gage?" He watched the young man close his eyes and nod slowly. Then he dropped the flashlight, shot up to his feet and stumbled over to the shoulder of the road where he again dropped to his knees and grabbed his middle. "Scotty!" Captain Jones called to the engineer and pointed in Johnny's direction. Scotty waved his understanding and grabbed some water from the engine. Captain Jones raised the HT to his mouth, sighed, depressed the button, "HT 10 to LA, we have at least one Code F. We need the Coroner dispatched to this location."
"Here you go kid." Scotty handed Johnny some water. Johnny turned and sat in the wet grass. Didn't matter that it was wet, he was soaked through and through again. "You're bleeding." Scotty pointed to his knee. "Better get that checked out, might have some glass in it." Johnny nodded and rinsed his mouth. He couldn't say anything past the giant lump in his throat. Every time he closed his eyes, all he could see were her eyes staring back at him. He shuddered. "Come on." Scotty reached under his arm and helped him up. "I think you need a break from the rain." He led Johnny over to the engine and guided him on-board.
Jim felt the tug on his turnout coat before he heard his brother's remark. "Will you look at that? Gage must have screwed up again." Cody pointed to Johnny being helped up onto the engine.
"Cody, you don't know what you're talking about. Didn't you just hear Cap call in the Code F? Gage probably just saw his first corpse. Can't you give the guy a break? What did he ever do to you anyway? Besides pull your butt out of the water."
"Oh great! Now my own brother has sided with that red skin." Cody stared at his brother in disbelief.
"He's a good fireman Cody. You need to concentrate on being one yourself and leave Gage alone." Jim chastised his brother. "Now get over there and see what Cap needs you to do next."
Cody turned abruptly and stalked away from Jim.
Jeff walked over to where Johnny had left his helmet, bent down and picked it up, glancing at the darkened window and wondering what horror Johnny had faced inside. He'd watched Johnny get sick when he came out. In all the weeks of training, he'd never seen Johnny lose his cool, not even when Cody pulled another of his stunts. Johnny had always kept it together, held his temper. He walked slowly over to the engine to give Johnny his protective helmet. "Here Johnny." He looked up at Johnny with his head resting against the cool glass of the window. His gaze directed at the pile up, at the broken out window. His hands rested in his lap. His pant leg was torn and the fabric reddened by the blood that seeped from the cut beneath. Scotty handed Jeff a yellow blanket. "HHere kid can you wrap that over his shoulders?"
"Is he all right?" Jeff asked as he ripped the plastic from the blanket.
"He will be. Just needs a minute. First time is always rough." Scotty smiled up at Johnny. "Must have been rough in there huh Boot?"
Johnny's eyes slowly closed as Jeff climbed up and slid the blanket over his shoulders. Johnny whispered in a soft raspy voice, "Not the first time."
Scotty stopped in his tracks and turned back to look at Johnny. "What's that Boot?" He wanted to be sure he'd heard correctly. All he got was an almost imperceptible nod. He met Jeff's gaze and they knew this was not the first time Johnny had faced death.
"Okay Johnny, I have to get back out there." Jeff patted his shoulder. "See ya back at the station." He felt the shivering as he squeezed Johnny's shoulder and then Johnny coughed.
Scotty walked over beside Captain Jones. "How's he doing?" Cap glanced at the engine.
"I think he's sicker than he's admitting, at least he is now." Scotty scratched his temple. He's got a cut on his knee, and he's still coughing."
"Okay, we'll get him checked out. Thanks Scotty."
"Sure Cap, no problem."
"Let's get this stuff packed up and get out of this rain before we all get sick." Cap smiled at his friend. Before Tony left in the squad to follow the ambulance with the last victim to Rampart, Cap called him over. "Tony I need you check on Gage. He seems to have cut his knee while crawling out after finding the Code F."
Tony looked over at the engine and saw Johnny leaning against the window. "Yes sir."
Johnny stared out the window for what seemed like an eternity. His eyes blinking slower and slower until they slid shut. His mind finally let go of the woman's hollow stare, and he drifted to sleep. Hearing someone calling his name startled him awake.
"Johnny, Cap wants me to look at your knee." Tony shook him a little to wake him up.
"Okay." He yawned. He felt tired and stiff. He pulled the blanket off his shoulders, wadded it up and dropped it to the floor beside his seat.
Tony pulled back the torn fabric and whistled. "Well you really did a number on it, but I think we can patch it up without having to get stitches. I'll just put some antibiotic cream on it and bandage it up for you."
Johnny looked back out the window and noticed that the cars had all been moved. The last tow truck was pulling away.
"There you go." Tony stood and patted him on the shoulder. "Well I have to get over to Rampart to pick up Joe. You okay now?"
Johnny nodded and tried unsuccessfully to hold back another yawn.
"Well Tony, will he live?" Scotty poked his head in and looked up at Johnny.
"Shut up and drive this thing Scotty! I'm hungry." Bill called as he climbed aboard. "Hey Gage, you don't have to put up with him."
Johnny gave a small smile and leaned back against his seat. "I'm okay. Let's go."
"Um excuse me, but I think that's my line." Captain Jones also climbed aboard. "So Engineer Scott, do what the man said. Let's go." He waved out the front windshield.
Tony stepped down from the engine and waved as he walked over to the squad and returned the first aid kit to the compartment.
Scotty took one last look at Johnny, "Yes sir, Captain Sir." He gave a mock salute that brought a genuine smile to Johnny's face.
The crew from Station 10 didn't get very far down the road before they were called out again to a structure fire a short distance from their present location. It was a freestanding garage with an upstairs apartment. Captain Jones quickly directed his crews to work at getting it under control. His squad was still unavailable, but someone needed to check the apartment to be sure no one was up there. "Bill, you and Gage do a quick sweep of the apartment. Make it fast. There could be a car or gas cans in the garage."
Bill and Johnny put on their SCBA and ran for the stairs that led up the outside of the two-story structure. Flames shot out of the window beside the stairs and licked at their turnouts as they ran by. Smoke billowed out of the cracks around the overhead door.
The ladder truck raised the lengths of white ladder up above the roof and men pulled hoses up directing the stream of water across the roof offering what protection they could to the nearby house, while crews from the other engines took on the ground attack from all sides.
Once they reached the top of the stairs Bill pulled out his pry tool, felt the door for heat, checked the doorknob to see if it was locked and since it was, wedged the tool in between the door and the door facing prying open the lock. He stepped back and watched as Johnny finished opening the door with a shoulder shove. Inside the smoke was so thick that they had to feel their way around the small apartment. Suddenly they heard the HT come to life and Captain Jones ordering them out. The tenant had been located. The two men ran for the door and bounded down the steps just in time. They could hear the tires on the car inside the garage bursting. Everyone knew the gas tank would be next if they didn't get it out right away.
They never did make it back to the station in time for lunch. After getting the garage fire out, they immediately went on another run. It was 2:30 before they got a break. Since everyone had been out on calls all morning, they decided that hot dogs would be the quickest meal they could make. Chips and sodas were spread out on the table along with buns and condiments. Some men ate while others showered. Then the second group ate while the others got cleaned up. Luckily, they were able to finish their meal before being toned out to another accident on the 405. The rain didn't let up all day.
By nightfall, everyone at the station was more than ready to climb wearily into their bunks. Hamburgers had been the meal for dinner, and as soon as everyone finished eating and the dishes cleaned, Captain Jones ordered lights out. As predicted that morning, it had been a very long and busy rainy day. The tones kept them running through the night. A trash fire and an electrical short that sparked a fire at a factory during the night shift kept them up most of the night. The next morning the tones woke them from a deep slumber. The closer it came to shift change the more on edge everyone became. They were really hoping they wouldn't get a call right before they turned the station over to the next shift. Nine times out of ten when that happened, they could count on putting in at least one hour of overtime, but today luck was on their side.
It was still misting rain when their shift ended. Johnny pulled on his jean jacket and turned the collar up to try and keep some of the dampness out. He hoped to get home before there was another downpour.
He stopped in his tracks as he walked out the back door to the station and saw the flat tire on his bike. His mouth fell open. Walking deliberately across the lot, he scanned the tire as he approached. A nail, buried deep in the top of the tire caught his eye. He ran a finger over the thin offending rod that protruded from the airless tire. He ran his hand through his hair, turned and walked away, not looking at anyone, not acknowledging the calls Scotty made for him to wait. He rounded the building and quickened his pace. He knew in his gut that he had not picked up a nail on the way to work the day before. This was deliberate, and he bet he could guess who had done it.
The bus stop was just a couple of blocks down the street and around the corner.
He walked past the houses that lined the streets like sands in an anthill side by side, so close a guy could see the headlines on his neighbor's newspaper as he read while sitting at his kitchen table drinking coffee and checking the scores from last nights games.
He reached the bus stop just in time. The bus pulled to the curb splashing water over his already wet tennis shoes. He quickly boarded, stopping at the top step he dug into his pockets trying to find enough money to deposit into the slot to get him close to his apartment. He would still have to walk a few blocks, but it would get him there and at least he was out of the rain for now.
A group of housekeepers sat in a huddle near the back of the bus laughing and sharing stories about the people they work for. A seedy looking man with dirty clothes and nappy unwashed hair sat beside the emergency exit nervously tapping his foot as though he expected something bad to happen. His eyes darted from person to person trying not to miss anything; his hands fidgeted constantly. A young woman and her two small kids huddled together in the seat directly behind the driver. He sighed and slid down in the hard plastic seat across from them and stared out the dirty window. He wrinkled his nose at the smell of diesel fuel mixed with the dank odor of the extremely large bus driver. Maybe he would just get off at the next stop and walk home. At least then, he could breathe.
His attention drifted to the noises coming from the front of the bus. The burly man behind the large steering wheel maneuvered the bus back into the street and weaved his way through the morning traffic toward the next stop. He grunted and hissed with every movement of the wheel. No wonder he smelled so bad, driving that bus was probably quite a workout for the obese man.
One of the kids across the isle fell off the slick seat and landed hard on his rump in the aisle. Johnny reached down and helped him back up onto the seat. The mother smiled her thanks, and he turned back to the passing scenery. His stomach felt queasy and his head ached. He planned to get a hot shower, climb straight into his bed and stay there for the next two days until he had to be back on duty. He didn't have any way to get around anyway. The tire would have to wait until payday to be repaired. He'd spent the last of his savings on the meager groceries he bought the day he graduated from the academy, and on the full tank of gas for the bike. Well it wouldn't be the first time he'd had to walk.
Johnny jogged over and Captain Jones pointed to the broken out window. "I need someone to crawl in there and check on the occupants of that vehicle. You're the smallest man I have. Do you think you can manage it?"
"What do I need to do once I get in there?" Johnny asked with wide eyes.
"Well first we need to see if whoever is in there is alive. You do know how to check for a pulse, basic first aid, right?"
"Yes sir, um we learned that at the academy." He nervously bounced from one foot to the other.
"Okay then let's go." Cap waved to the window.
Johnny followed his Captain over to the portal. The rain still pelted them mercilessly. He dropped to his knees in the water that puddled around the wrecked vehicles. The cold water seeped in against his shins as cold fear gripped his heart. 'Please be alive.' He brushed away the shards of glass that still clung to the window frame with his gloved hand, then dropped to his belly and began inching his way inside the small dark space.
Suddenly he stopped and twisted his body, reaching his hand out, "I need a flashlight." He felt someone place the light in his hand, and he wrapped his fingers around it, twisted again, and scrambled deeper into the metal cave. He felt something soft before he flicked on the light.
It was quiet, too quiet. He could hear his own breathing and the pitter-patter of the continuing rain, and the creaking of tearing metal as his cremates worked to free the other drivers. He could see in his mind's eye the sparks flying from the blade of the K-12 as it tore into the car above. However, inside the dark space, the sound he listened for didn't seem to be there. The click of the flashlight switch seemed to echo in the quiet. The light shook causing the beam to vibrate along with his trembling hand. The quivering beam landed across the face, her face and her hauntingly empty eyes stared at him.
Johnny dropped his head to his arm and squeezed his eyes shut. He took a few deep breaths to calm himself and quell the uneasy feeling in his gut. Slowly he raised his face, reached over and closed the staring eyes. He brought his hand to his face and bit the end of the glove to pull it from his hand, reached out and felt her neck for the pulse he knew he wouldn't find.
Inching his way backwards, he felt the glass poke through the wet fabric of his uniform pants and slice into his knee. He didn't slow his retreat. He needed to get out of there.
Captain Jones watched Johnny scramble backwards from the window. He stopped and sat up still on his knees. "Gage?" He watched the young man close his eyes and nod slowly. Then he dropped the flashlight, shot up to his feet and stumbled over to the shoulder of the road where he again dropped to his knees and grabbed his middle. "Scotty!" Captain Jones called to the engineer and pointed in Johnny's direction. Scotty waved his understanding and grabbed some water from the engine. Captain Jones raised the HT to his mouth, sighed, depressed the button, "HT 10 to LA, we have at least one Code F. We need the Coroner dispatched to this location."
"Here you go kid." Scotty handed Johnny some water. Johnny turned and sat in the wet grass. Didn't matter that it was wet, he was soaked through and through again. "You're bleeding." Scotty pointed to his knee. "Better get that checked out, might have some glass in it." Johnny nodded and rinsed his mouth. He couldn't say anything past the giant lump in his throat. Every time he closed his eyes, all he could see were her eyes staring back at him. He shuddered. "Come on." Scotty reached under his arm and helped him up. "I think you need a break from the rain." He led Johnny over to the engine and guided him on-board.
Jim felt the tug on his turnout coat before he heard his brother's remark. "Will you look at that? Gage must have screwed up again." Cody pointed to Johnny being helped up onto the engine.
"Cody, you don't know what you're talking about. Didn't you just hear Cap call in the Code F? Gage probably just saw his first corpse. Can't you give the guy a break? What did he ever do to you anyway? Besides pull your butt out of the water."
"Oh great! Now my own brother has sided with that red skin." Cody stared at his brother in disbelief.
"He's a good fireman Cody. You need to concentrate on being one yourself and leave Gage alone." Jim chastised his brother. "Now get over there and see what Cap needs you to do next."
Cody turned abruptly and stalked away from Jim.
Jeff walked over to where Johnny had left his helmet, bent down and picked it up, glancing at the darkened window and wondering what horror Johnny had faced inside. He'd watched Johnny get sick when he came out. In all the weeks of training, he'd never seen Johnny lose his cool, not even when Cody pulled another of his stunts. Johnny had always kept it together, held his temper. He walked slowly over to the engine to give Johnny his protective helmet. "Here Johnny." He looked up at Johnny with his head resting against the cool glass of the window. His gaze directed at the pile up, at the broken out window. His hands rested in his lap. His pant leg was torn and the fabric reddened by the blood that seeped from the cut beneath. Scotty handed Jeff a yellow blanket. "HHere kid can you wrap that over his shoulders?"
"Is he all right?" Jeff asked as he ripped the plastic from the blanket.
"He will be. Just needs a minute. First time is always rough." Scotty smiled up at Johnny. "Must have been rough in there huh Boot?"
Johnny's eyes slowly closed as Jeff climbed up and slid the blanket over his shoulders. Johnny whispered in a soft raspy voice, "Not the first time."
Scotty stopped in his tracks and turned back to look at Johnny. "What's that Boot?" He wanted to be sure he'd heard correctly. All he got was an almost imperceptible nod. He met Jeff's gaze and they knew this was not the first time Johnny had faced death.
"Okay Johnny, I have to get back out there." Jeff patted his shoulder. "See ya back at the station." He felt the shivering as he squeezed Johnny's shoulder and then Johnny coughed.
Scotty walked over beside Captain Jones. "How's he doing?" Cap glanced at the engine.
"I think he's sicker than he's admitting, at least he is now." Scotty scratched his temple. He's got a cut on his knee, and he's still coughing."
"Okay, we'll get him checked out. Thanks Scotty."
"Sure Cap, no problem."
"Let's get this stuff packed up and get out of this rain before we all get sick." Cap smiled at his friend. Before Tony left in the squad to follow the ambulance with the last victim to Rampart, Cap called him over. "Tony I need you check on Gage. He seems to have cut his knee while crawling out after finding the Code F."
Tony looked over at the engine and saw Johnny leaning against the window. "Yes sir."
Johnny stared out the window for what seemed like an eternity. His eyes blinking slower and slower until they slid shut. His mind finally let go of the woman's hollow stare, and he drifted to sleep. Hearing someone calling his name startled him awake.
"Johnny, Cap wants me to look at your knee." Tony shook him a little to wake him up.
"Okay." He yawned. He felt tired and stiff. He pulled the blanket off his shoulders, wadded it up and dropped it to the floor beside his seat.
Tony pulled back the torn fabric and whistled. "Well you really did a number on it, but I think we can patch it up without having to get stitches. I'll just put some antibiotic cream on it and bandage it up for you."
Johnny looked back out the window and noticed that the cars had all been moved. The last tow truck was pulling away.
"There you go." Tony stood and patted him on the shoulder. "Well I have to get over to Rampart to pick up Joe. You okay now?"
Johnny nodded and tried unsuccessfully to hold back another yawn.
"Well Tony, will he live?" Scotty poked his head in and looked up at Johnny.
"Shut up and drive this thing Scotty! I'm hungry." Bill called as he climbed aboard. "Hey Gage, you don't have to put up with him."
Johnny gave a small smile and leaned back against his seat. "I'm okay. Let's go."
"Um excuse me, but I think that's my line." Captain Jones also climbed aboard. "So Engineer Scott, do what the man said. Let's go." He waved out the front windshield.
Tony stepped down from the engine and waved as he walked over to the squad and returned the first aid kit to the compartment.
Scotty took one last look at Johnny, "Yes sir, Captain Sir." He gave a mock salute that brought a genuine smile to Johnny's face.
The crew from Station 10 didn't get very far down the road before they were called out again to a structure fire a short distance from their present location. It was a freestanding garage with an upstairs apartment. Captain Jones quickly directed his crews to work at getting it under control. His squad was still unavailable, but someone needed to check the apartment to be sure no one was up there. "Bill, you and Gage do a quick sweep of the apartment. Make it fast. There could be a car or gas cans in the garage."
Bill and Johnny put on their SCBA and ran for the stairs that led up the outside of the two-story structure. Flames shot out of the window beside the stairs and licked at their turnouts as they ran by. Smoke billowed out of the cracks around the overhead door.
The ladder truck raised the lengths of white ladder up above the roof and men pulled hoses up directing the stream of water across the roof offering what protection they could to the nearby house, while crews from the other engines took on the ground attack from all sides.
Once they reached the top of the stairs Bill pulled out his pry tool, felt the door for heat, checked the doorknob to see if it was locked and since it was, wedged the tool in between the door and the door facing prying open the lock. He stepped back and watched as Johnny finished opening the door with a shoulder shove. Inside the smoke was so thick that they had to feel their way around the small apartment. Suddenly they heard the HT come to life and Captain Jones ordering them out. The tenant had been located. The two men ran for the door and bounded down the steps just in time. They could hear the tires on the car inside the garage bursting. Everyone knew the gas tank would be next if they didn't get it out right away.
They never did make it back to the station in time for lunch. After getting the garage fire out, they immediately went on another run. It was 2:30 before they got a break. Since everyone had been out on calls all morning, they decided that hot dogs would be the quickest meal they could make. Chips and sodas were spread out on the table along with buns and condiments. Some men ate while others showered. Then the second group ate while the others got cleaned up. Luckily, they were able to finish their meal before being toned out to another accident on the 405. The rain didn't let up all day.
By nightfall, everyone at the station was more than ready to climb wearily into their bunks. Hamburgers had been the meal for dinner, and as soon as everyone finished eating and the dishes cleaned, Captain Jones ordered lights out. As predicted that morning, it had been a very long and busy rainy day. The tones kept them running through the night. A trash fire and an electrical short that sparked a fire at a factory during the night shift kept them up most of the night. The next morning the tones woke them from a deep slumber. The closer it came to shift change the more on edge everyone became. They were really hoping they wouldn't get a call right before they turned the station over to the next shift. Nine times out of ten when that happened, they could count on putting in at least one hour of overtime, but today luck was on their side.
It was still misting rain when their shift ended. Johnny pulled on his jean jacket and turned the collar up to try and keep some of the dampness out. He hoped to get home before there was another downpour.
He stopped in his tracks as he walked out the back door to the station and saw the flat tire on his bike. His mouth fell open. Walking deliberately across the lot, he scanned the tire as he approached. A nail, buried deep in the top of the tire caught his eye. He ran a finger over the thin offending rod that protruded from the airless tire. He ran his hand through his hair, turned and walked away, not looking at anyone, not acknowledging the calls Scotty made for him to wait. He rounded the building and quickened his pace. He knew in his gut that he had not picked up a nail on the way to work the day before. This was deliberate, and he bet he could guess who had done it.
The bus stop was just a couple of blocks down the street and around the corner.
He walked past the houses that lined the streets like sands in an anthill side by side, so close a guy could see the headlines on his neighbor's newspaper as he read while sitting at his kitchen table drinking coffee and checking the scores from last nights games.
He reached the bus stop just in time. The bus pulled to the curb splashing water over his already wet tennis shoes. He quickly boarded, stopping at the top step he dug into his pockets trying to find enough money to deposit into the slot to get him close to his apartment. He would still have to walk a few blocks, but it would get him there and at least he was out of the rain for now.
A group of housekeepers sat in a huddle near the back of the bus laughing and sharing stories about the people they work for. A seedy looking man with dirty clothes and nappy unwashed hair sat beside the emergency exit nervously tapping his foot as though he expected something bad to happen. His eyes darted from person to person trying not to miss anything; his hands fidgeted constantly. A young woman and her two small kids huddled together in the seat directly behind the driver. He sighed and slid down in the hard plastic seat across from them and stared out the dirty window. He wrinkled his nose at the smell of diesel fuel mixed with the dank odor of the extremely large bus driver. Maybe he would just get off at the next stop and walk home. At least then, he could breathe.
His attention drifted to the noises coming from the front of the bus. The burly man behind the large steering wheel maneuvered the bus back into the street and weaved his way through the morning traffic toward the next stop. He grunted and hissed with every movement of the wheel. No wonder he smelled so bad, driving that bus was probably quite a workout for the obese man.
One of the kids across the isle fell off the slick seat and landed hard on his rump in the aisle. Johnny reached down and helped him back up onto the seat. The mother smiled her thanks, and he turned back to the passing scenery. His stomach felt queasy and his head ached. He planned to get a hot shower, climb straight into his bed and stay there for the next two days until he had to be back on duty. He didn't have any way to get around anyway. The tire would have to wait until payday to be repaired. He'd spent the last of his savings on the meager groceries he bought the day he graduated from the academy, and on the full tank of gas for the bike. Well it wouldn't be the first time he'd had to walk.
Chapter Nine
Scotty walked over to Johnny's bike and looked at the nail sticking out of the tire. 'Pranks are one thing, but this was downright cruel.' He turned and walked quickly back inside and through the bay to the front of the building. 'I'll offer him a ride to get the tire fixed.' He went all the way to the curb and looked down the street in both directions. The misty rain continued to fall against his face. He squinted through the haze it created and saw Johnny just as the bus pulled up to the stop sloshing water over Johnny's feet. 'It just isn't your day is it Boot?' He watched as Johnny climbed on the bus and it pulled away from the curb. He yelled to Johnny as it passed the station, but he couldn't hear him over the rumble of the worn out diesel engine of the dilapidated bus.
He turned and reentered the station going directly to the Captain's office. "Cap, have you got a minute?"
Captain Jones could tell by his Engineer's tense body language that something was bothering him. "Sure Scotty. What's up?"
"I have something I would like to show you." He turned and Captain Jones followed him through the bay, out into the back lot and up beside Johnny's bike. Scotty pointed to the nail. "I don't remember that being there when he came in the other day. Do you?"
Captain Jones whistled softly. "No, I don't believe I remember that either. Where is Gage?"
Scotty pointed toward the street. "Just got on the bus."
"Why didn't he do anything about the tire?"
"I'm not sure Cap, but my guess is that he was just too angry right now." Scotty scratched his head. "Unless…"
"Unless?" Cap looked at his friend. "Unless what?"
"I don't know Cap. I just remember how broke I was when I finished the academy. Do you think he might not have the money?"
"Well Scotty, there is only one way to find out and that's to ask him." Captain Jones turned to go back inside. "Any idea of who might have done this?"
"I have an idea, but let me do some checking first." Scotty followed his Captain back inside. "Uh Cap could you give me Gage's address?"
"Now Scotty, you know that is privileged information unless he shares it."
"I know Cap, but if I don't know where he lives how will I get his bike back to him after I get the tire fixed?" He smiled broadly.
"Hm…." Captain Jones reached for his wallet and pulled out some cash. "I guess you have a point. This should cover about half of that repair. He handed the money to his friend. "Thanks Scotty. I'll get that address. See if you can get some of the guys to help you load the bike in your truck."
"Yes sir." Scotty turned and disappeared into the locker room looking for volunteers.
Captain Jones came back out of the office and handed Scotty a slip of paper with the address on it. "Geesh Cap this is over off of S. Figueroa St. almost in West Compton. Do you think the bus goes that far?"
"Well I doubt it, but he's a big boy Scotty." Captain Jones chuckled at the protectiveness his Engineer had for his new Boot. "Give me a call later and let me know how it goes."
"Okay Cap." Scotty trotted over to his truck, checked the straps holding the bike upright in the bed, and climbed inside smiling broadly.
Johnny had to struggle to stay awake on the hot rocky bus ride. Every little bit the bus would hit a pothole, the bus driver would grunt, say a few swear words, struggle with the big steering wheel to keep the bus in his lane, and jar Johnny awake again.
The woman with the children had been replaced with an elderly woman. She had struggled up the steps of the bus with her rickety two wheel shopping cart. Johnny couldn't help staring at her as she boarded the bus. Each step she took up brought more of her blue hair into view. Johnny had gotten up and lifted the cart the final few steps for her. She smiled an almost toothless grin at him. The remaining few teeth she had were yellowed, and she thanked him with a voice made raspy from years of smoking.
The maids still chattered in the back of the bus and the creepy man beside the emergency exit still watched everyone making Johnny even more uncomfortable. He settled back in his seat for the long ride. He knew that his ride was coming to an end when they passed W120th Street. The bus would turn off in another direction. He could get another bus if he had enough money, but he didn't so he would have to walk from there.
The bus slowed to a stop. Johnny stood and exited the bus. He stopped on the sidewalk, pulled his collar up against the still misting rain, stretched his neck, ducked his head and started walking. He didn't realize the creepy man had exited the bus as well and followed behind him. Johnny's legs were longer. He made much better time than the man, but he was able to follow a little behind. When Johnny had to stop to cross at the next intersection he would catch up to him.
When Johnny stopped and waited for the light to change he felt someone sidle up beside him. He glanced over and saw the creepy guy from the bus. Then he saw the flash of a knife blade partially hidden behind the oversized coat he wore. Johnny sidestepped and held up his hands. "Whoa there buddy. I don't have anything you want."
"I want your money." The man hissed through gritted teeth.
"Well ya see that's the funny thing. I don't have any money. If I did I would have gotten on another bus out of this rain." He stepped back again and pulled his wallet out showing the bum that it was empty.
"Okay then smart guy. Give me that watch then." He pointed with the blade.
"This watch? Okay, sure you can have this watch. I got it at the corner drugstore for five bucks. I don't think it will get you much. Are you hungry? I do know a guy that has a little diner up the street that will let me do some odd jobs for him like trash detail and dish washing for a meal. I could get you something to eat." Johnny kept talking trying to keep the guy calm. The light changed and he immediately stepped off the curb. "Come on."
The disheveled man followed the tall lanky man down the wet sidewalk.
Johnny kept talking as he walked. "Man I gotta tell ya, I've had one heck of a bad few days." He coughed a few times. "I started my new job. I'm a fireman. I've had buildings explode tossing me around, slammed in the back with a water blast, had to pull another guy out of the water, crawled into a wrecked…" He couldn't bring himself to finish that part of his story. He looked over at the man walking with him and wondered. 'What is your story? Why are you such a mess and living on the streets? And what happened to you to make you so nervous?' He shuddered at the chilled mist blowing against his face. "I even got a nail in my tire. That's why I'm walking here with you now. Oh that diner is just another couple of blocks."
The man stopped in his tracks, nodded his head and started walking again.
"What's your story?" Johnny asked him.
"No story." The man rasped out.
"Everybody has a story." Johnny pressed on.
"I said I ain't got no story." He yelled and leered at Johnny.
"Okay, okay." Johnny held his hands up in surrender and they walked in silence for the last two blocks. When they got to the diner Johnny opened the door to let the guy in. "Hey Jimbo!" He called into the nearly empty diner.
A burly man peeked out from a small slit of a window behind the serving counter. "Hey Johnny! Be out in a sec."
Johnny walked over to the stools that lined the front of the counter and sat down. "Come on over. Take a load off." He motioned to the stool next to his. "Jimbo won't mind. I'll tell him you'll help me with the trash." The man moved cautiously over and sat never taking his eyes off of Johnny.
"I see you brought a friend." Jimbo said as he came out of the kitchen.
Johnny smiled broadly and shrugged. "Well he actually brought me." He shot his eyes over toward the man's hands tucked inside the coat. "I think he could use something warm to eat. Any chance a couple of guys could get some grub in trade for some work?"
"Well I do have a little project for you Johnny-boy. The ice maker is on the fritz again. Do you think you could look at it? I don't know what you did the last time, but whatever it was worked."
"Sure how 'bout I do that now while you take care of my friend here." He slid off the stool and motioned with his hand toward the strange man.
Jimbo was a retired policeman, he could see that Johnny wanted nothing more than to get away from the guy…far away, and he knew exactly how to "take care" of the man if he tried to cause any trouble. "What'll ya have?"
"Whatever he's having." He shifted on the stool and shot his eyes around the room checking out the few customers in the booths that lined the windows.
"Listen buddy, I don't do this for just anyone, but Johnny's a nice kid. He's been down on his luck and needs a helping hand from time to time. I'm gonna feed you, but you better leave that boy alone. You get my drift?" Jimbo leaned over the counter and got directly in the man's face.
"I get ya."
"Okay then, Johnny usually has a triple burger, large fries and a large vanilla shake. That sound okay to you?"
"Sure, whatever."
"Then you can haul the trash and mop the kitchen, deal?" Jimbo held out his hand to shake on it.
"Yeah, deal." The shifty man turned away from Jimbo without returning the handshake.
Jimbo retreated to the kitchen to get some information from Johnny. "Hey kid, is that guy causing you trouble?"
"Nah, he wanted to take my money, but I don't have any." Johnny chuckled. "He looked hungry."
"Well you finish up that machine. I'll make yours to go and you can slip out the back. I'll take care of him. He can haul trash and mop if he doesn't take off first." Jimbo patted Johnny on the back. "But you my friend need to stop picking up strays. I still can't get that cat you brought with you the last time to leave. She's made herself a home in my office." He laughed as he walked over to the grill and threw a few burger patties on. "I tell ya boy you can talk your way through anything."
"Aw Jimbo, I just thought he needed to eat. That's all. Just to eat. I'll do some extra work for ya to make up for it. Okay?" Johnny continued tinkering on the motor to the icemaker. After a few minutes the motor hummed to life, and Johnny stepped back grinning. He had a grease smudge across his cheek and his hands were nearly black. He closed the side panel on the machine and returned the tools to the tool box. "I'm gonna wash up."
"Use the employee bathroom. I don't want you out there with that guy. I've just about got this ready for you anyway. Where's your bike?"
"Got a flat at the station. I'll have to fix it when I get paid." Johnny answered from the washroom.
"You need a lift?"
"Nah it's just a few more blocks anyway. I'll just walk." He came back wiping his hands on some paper towels.
"You missed that smudge on your cheek." Jimbo smiled as he pointed to the grease smear.
Johnny turned back to the washroom and looked in the mirror. "You know Jimbo, if you had a better light in here I might could see myself."
"Yeah well maybe you can fix that next time you're broke and hungry. You're too skinny anyway. Here." He handed Johnny his bag of food. "Now get out of here before that creep notices you're gone."
"Thanks Jimbo." He took the proffered bag and ducked out into the back alley. He took off at a jog to get a good way down the road before the other guy could follow him. Just in case.
By the time he got to his apartment he was out of breath and coughing harshly. He fumbled in his pocket for his keys and made his way inside plopping down on his threadbare sofa without even locking the door back when he came inside. He opened the bag of food and smiled when he saw that he not only had one burger but two, and two orders of fries. 'Well thank you Jimbo! At least now I can eat tomorrow too.' He pulled out one of each and his shake, refolded the bag and took it into the small kitchenette. He opened the apartment sized refrigerator and sat the bag on the empty top shelf, closed it back and returned to the sofa to eat pulling off his jacket and toeing off his wet shoes as he walked across the room.
He reached for the novel that he had been reading, Rich Man, Poor Man by Irwin Shaw about children who tried to break away from the kind of life their parents lived, the social and political aspects of capitalism and the pain of relationships. He flipped it open to the page he had dog eared and started reading as he enjoyed his lunch. He loved to read and since he didn't have a television set that is what he often did to pass the time when he couldn't go up to the mountains.
Scotty pulled up to the dingy old apartment building, parked his truck in the only empty spot he could find and went in search of Johnny's apartment. He climbed the two flights of stairs and knocked on the door. 'Man I sure hope he's home. I don't hear a TV or stereo.' He knocked again. Then he heard the deep raspy coughing from inside. He tried the door knob and it turned. It was unlocked.
He pushed open the door and stepped into the dimly lit room. There was only a sofa, coffee table and old recliner in the room. It had no pictures. He found Johnny on the sofa curled up beneath an afghan, coughing in his sleep. He pushed the door to and went into the kitchen to see if he could find a thermometer and a glass of water or juice and some aspirin. He scooped up the trash from Johnny's lunch as he passed the coffee table and noticed the book. In the kitchen he tossed the trash in the can and went for the refrigerator. Pulling it open he was a little shocked at how empty it was. 'No wonder you're such a skinny drink of water.' He grabbed a carton of pulp free orange juice and poured a glass. Then he fumbled through the cabinets until he found some Bayer aspirin, but no thermometer. He took the juice and aspirin over to the sofa and carefully shook Johnny to wake him.
Johnny woke with a start. Having almost been mugged earlier today he naturally assumed the creepy street urchin had followed him home. He bolted upright and crouched back against the far end of the sofa. "Whoa Johnny," Scotty spoke softly to the frightened man. "I didn't mean to scare ya."
Johnny squinted at the man standing over him. He coughed harshly and tried to speak. He cleared his throat and croaked out a response. "Scotty what are you doing here? How did you get in?"
"I drove here and you left the door open." He stood with his hands on his hips. "What's got you so worked up anyway?"
Johnny rubbed his palms over his eyes trying to clear away the cobwebs of sleep. "I uh…I ran in to a little trouble on the way home. That's all."
"Trouble like a nail in your tire?" Scotty picked up the juice and bottle of Bayer and passed them to Johnny. "I couldn't find a thermometer, but my guess is you have a fever."
"Oh that." Johnny looked at Scotty and took the glass and bottle.
"Yeah that. I have your bike downstairs. Tire's fixed."
Johnny looked up at him with his mouth open. "What? How?"
"Don't worry about it. We need you at work. You can't very well get there with a flat tire and your bike at the station, now can you?" He smiled.
"I'll pay ya back." Johnny ducked his head.
"You'll do no such of a thing. What you will do is take some of that aspirin, get a hot shower and try to get some rest. I expect you to be better when you come back on shift." He turned to leave. "Oh and don't forget to thank Captain Jones. He paid half."
Johnny looked up and once again his mouth was open in shock. "You're kiddin' me right?"
"Nope, so you gonna just sit there or are you gonna come help me get it off my truck?"
"Oh yeah…yeah sure" Johnny got up and followed Scotty out the door and down the stairs to unload his motorcycle. Once they had the bike unloaded and Johnny had it locked up, they returned to his apartment. "Listen Scotty I really appreciate what you guys did and bringing me the bike, but…uh, I have to ask why…why would Cap do that? Why did you?"
"Listen kid when I first started with the department I had a guy that helped me out. I was just as hard up as it looks like you are. He took me under his wing and taught me how to be a good fireman and then engineer. He loaned me money when I needed it, and then wouldn't let me pay him back. You are a part of a brotherhood my friend, a brotherhood that will have your back whenever you need them too."
"Yeah well I guess it's a brotherhood for most guys. So far I feel kind of like the odd man out."
"That'll pass. Besides when Cap finds out who put that nail in your tire heads will roll."
Johnny looked wide eyed at Scotty. "No, I don't want that. It…I probably picked it up on the way to work." He looked down at his hands and picked at his cuticle.
"No you did not. Stationhouse pranks are one thing, but that was not cool. Whoever did that needs to be reprimanded and maybe even washed out of the program."
Johnny stood up. "No, not washed out because of me. If they can't do the job then okay, but I don't want anyone washed out for picking on me."
"Johnny, that man who helped me out when I was a Boot was Captain Jones. He was engineer at the time. He's my boss, but he's my best friend too. He will not stand by and let someone do damage to someone else's personal things. You shouldn't have to put up with that, and I will not stand by and let it happen. Okay?"
"Can I ask you something?" Johnny waited until he saw Scotty's approval. "How did you find me?"
"Uh…I can't reveal my sources." Scotty nodded at Johnny. "Just know that I had to have the address to return your bike. He did what he had to do."
Johnny's eyebrows raised in understanding. "Oh. Well I guess you'll have to tell him thanks for that too."
Scotty chuckled. "I'll tell him. Do you need anything else Johnny? You look a little pale."
"I'm good. Just a cold. I get them all the time. I just need to get some sleep." He yawned.
"Well don't let me stop you, but you really should get a hot shower first and try the bed. It's probably a lot more comfortable." Scotty opened the door.
"Hey Scotty, I mean it man, thanks a lot. I don't think I want to take the bus again. I almost got mugged today." Scotty looked up at his new friend with alarm on his face. "I said almost. I talked my way out of it somehow, but I don't want to run into that guy anytime soon."
"Johnny firefighting is a very physically demanding job." Scotty reached in his pocket and pulled out a slip of paper. "Here's my number. Call me tomorrow if you need to get checked out at Rampart. You don't need to get pneumonia."
"Thanks."
"No problem kid. I'm just looking out for my new trainee." He waved as he left.
Johnny got up and pushed the door closed and locked the deadbolt. One unexpected visitor was enough for one day. He trudged down the short hall to the one bedroom and bath. Stripped out of his clothes and got into a hot shower. After his shower he climbed in the bed and fell fast asleep.
When he awoke the next morning he felt stiff and achy. His cough was worse, and he could barely speak. He didn't want to call Scotty, so he decided to take himself to the hospital and see if the nice lady that he met before was working. He knew she would take care of him.
