Chapter Thirty Four
Drew ran to the next door neighbor's home and banged on the door. "Hello! Call the fire department!" He called through the screen door. A frightened middle aged woman peeked out from the kitchen. "Ma'am, I'm an off duty Los Angeles Police officer." He flashed his badge through the screen. "Your neighbor's home is on fire. Please could you call the fire department? Then you need to come outside of your house in case the fire spreads. Okay?" The woman nodded her understanding and went to make the call.
Drew sprinted across the lawn of the burning house and to the house on the other side to make sure those people got out of their home as well. Then he turned back to the burning house. Smoke had begun pouring out of the front door and flames licked at the curtains on the big window on the front of the house. He didn't know what he was supposed to do next. He had secured the scene. He looked from window to window trying to see Johnny. 'Where are you Johnny?' Sirens blared at the end of the street as the fire engine and squad turned the corner and sped toward him.
Once inside Johnny immediately recognized the crackle of fire in the direction of what he suspected had to be the kitchen. "Hello!" His muffled yell got no response. He lowered himself closer to the floor and moved toward the stairs. He needed to get upstairs to where he'd seen someone through the window.
The thick and dark smoke painted eerie shadows on the walls as it circled the overhead light.
Unbidden tears leaked from his burning eyes and slid down his cheeks.
A shrill squeak filtered through the room when Johnny stumbled over a mislaid toy. He quickly withdrew his foot afraid he'd stepped on a child only to find a naked baby doll smiling and staring glassy eyed up at him. He stepped over the doll, to the base of the stairs and looked upward to check for fire in his path. Not seeing any he stepped up onto the first step.
It always fascinated him how dark a burning building could be once it filled with smoke. The yellow orange glow from the hungry flames added little light…or at least little useable light when it came to finding your way around inside a darkened room. Once he found the stairs he would keep his hand on the wall to anchor himself to the correct path upward.
He jumped when he heard the crash of glass bursting from the heat in the kitchen. He could feel the heat building as the flames grew stronger. He wiped his forehead with the back of his arm never realizing how his SCBA mask kept the sweat from his eyes as well as the smoke from his lungs. How he wished he had his gear. He pressed the damp shirt more firmly against his mouth and nose.
"Hello! Is anyone up here?" He called to the empty hallway. He pulled the shirt away from his face and called again. "Hello! Is anyone up here?" The only response he got was his own harsh coughing. He quickly replaced the shirt and continued down the hall to what he thought was the room where he saw someone; as he drew near he could hear the cries of a baby.
The faint odor of burning paint seeped through the damp shirt reaching his nose causing his adrenalin to soar.
He raced down the smoke filled hall to the door he supposed to be the one that held the prize.
Quickly running his hand across the door out of practiced training even though he didn't think the flames had reached that part of the house and feeling the cool wood beneath his palm, Johnny reached for the door knob and pushed the door open. Glancing back over his shoulder as he crossed the threshold he could see the fire had followed him up the stairs.
Movement on the other side of the room caught his attention and he saw a petite woman trying desperately to calm her screaming baby. Johnny slammed the door shut and grabbed a blanket from the changing table shoving it beneath the bottom of the door to keep some of the smoke out of the room. He pulled the shirt away from his face to speak to the woman. As soon as he did the normally pleasant smell of baby powder mixed with the acrid smoke making him cough. "My name is Johnny; I'm a fireman. We have to get out of here. Your house is on fire."
The woman moved behind the crib and looked at him with wide untrusting eyes. "What do you want?"
"I'm here to help you." Johnny took a step around the full sized bed and she backed away.
"No! Stay away. You're not a fireman. You aren't dressed like a fireman."
Johnny glanced down at his once white t-shirt and now soot covered jeans. "No ma'am. I'm not dressed like a fireman, because I am not working today." He looked up into her eyes. "I promise you. I am here to get you and your baby to safety." He held out his hand.
She saw deep into the kind eyes and took his hand. "Please help my baby."
"Okay. Now I need you to move over in that corner and face the wall. I'm going to get this window open." As soon as he saw she was safely away from the window he grabbed the wooden rocking chair and heaved it at the window breaking it out. Then he pried the last wooden obstruction away from the frame. Next he turned and grabbed the sheets off of the bed. He tied one to the other jerking on the two sides to make sure the knot would hold; then he fashioned a sling on one end similar to the ones he'd seen the women wearing on the reservation when he was younger to carry their babies in while they worked the land. He tied the other end to the bed post and again yanked on it several times to test its strength. When he turned around the woman was watching him. "I'm going to lower your baby to my friend below; then we are going to get you out."
The woman moved over to him and helped him secure her baby in the wrap. Then her attention moved toward the door. The roar of the fire had grown very loud outside the room, and smoke seeped in on the sides.
Drew heard the glass break before he saw it raining down on the grass below. His momentary indecision about what to do next disappeared into the impulse to run across the lawn and position himself under the window. When he looked up he could see Johnny hanging out the window with something tied in a bundle. "I'm gonna lower her to you." He coughed out.
Drew winced at the hoarseness of his voice, and waiting to catch the bundle; as it came closer to him he raised his arms. "I've got her." As soon as he had his hands on the bundle he could hear the hoarse cries of a tiny baby. He pulled her from the blanket. "She's free." He cradled her to his chest like he would his own daughter and watched the sheet as it was hoisted back up and through the window. When he turned around and moved away from the house he was met by two firemen. "I think she needs some oxygen." He handed her to one of the firemen who immediately turned around and hurried over to the squad.
"Who else is in there?" The other man with a white stripe on his helmet which from experience Drew knew to be the Captain asked.
"John Gage, an off duty fireman and one adult, but I'm not sure if it's a male or female or how old."
Drew's explanation was interrupted by Johnny who had seen the fire apparatus arrive and now leaned out the window calling for assistance. "Hey! Up here! I need some help up here!"
Two linemen grabbed the ladder from the side of the engine and secured it against the window sill. Johnny waited until one of the linemen was in position to help the woman down and then he assisted her as she climbed out onto the ladder. She looked up at him as she began her descent. "Thank you."
He simply smiled back at her. No words could explain how he felt at that moment. He had simply done what felt natural. After she had cleared the bottom of the ladder he climbed out and easily climbed down.
"Well if it isn't Johnny Gage." Charlie Dwyer slapped him on the back and ruffled the hair on the back of his head.
"Stop it Charlie." Johnny protested.
"And I wouldn't be a good rescue man if I didn't recognize a voice laced with smoke. Get over here and sit down." Charlie started pushing him toward the squad.
"Huh?" Johnny's eyes got wide. "What are you doing?" He shifted his shoulder and tried to escape Charlie's hand.
"You my friend are going to come over here and take some oxygen. Then if you aren't better in a few minutes we're taking a ride to Rampart to visit Dixie."
"No way man, I used a wet shirt. I'm okay. My throat's just a little sore."
Charlie continued to prod him. "Gage, you just entered a burning structure with no gear. You're covered in soot and ash and you ARE going to sit down, drink some water, let me wash out your eyes and breathe some fresh, clean, pure air."
Drew smiled and leaned against the squad crossing his arms. "Better do what he says Johnny or that steak dinner will have to wait."
Johnny gave in to his friends, sat on the rear bumper of the squad and allowed Charlie to slip the oxygen mask over his face. He felt the adrenalin rush that had kept him going earlier slip away leaving him feeling extremely tired. "How's the baby?" He asked softly.
"The baby and the mother are fine. They are right over there getting some oxygen. I don't even think they'll need to go in." Charlie finished rinsing Johnny's eyes and handed Johnny a canteen of water. "Here you need to drink some of this."
Johnny took the canteen, pulled the mask from his face and smiled. "How's a guy supposed to get enough clean, pure air when he has to stop to take a drink?" He tipped the canteen to his lips and took a long swig of the cool liquid.
"Just drink, Gage." Charlie swatted his shoulder. "And then breathe." He took the canteen away after Johnny had a few drinks. Johnny put the mask back over his nose and mouth and took several deep cleansing breaths.
Squealing tires pierced the air. A car raced down the street and came to an abrupt stop in front of the burnt house. The driver's side door flew open and a man jumped out and began running toward the house. "Where's my wife and daughter?" He screamed as he ran. Two firemen blocked his path and held him back. He sunk to his knees and stared in horror at what had once been his home. "Oh God!"
"Hey buddy, relax. Your wife and daughter are right over there. They're all right." A tall thin fireman spoke softly to the distraught man and then helped him to his feet and walked him over to his family. On the way back to his post at the engine he stopped to see how Johnny was. "How's our hero?" He asked Charlie.
"I think he'll live." Charlie smiled up at the blue eyed man who didn't say anything else, but smiled, nodded and walked away.
Johnny pulled off the mask and asked, "Who's that guy?"
"That's our new engineer, Mike Stoker." Charlie started packing away the oxygen. "You were finished with this weren't ya?"
"Yeah, I'm good." Johnny stood and rolled his shoulders. Then he noticed how dirty he was. "Uh…I guess that steak will have to wait for another time."
"Why?" Drew looked at him with worry on his face. He thought maybe Johnny was hurt after all.
"I'm filthy." Johnny held his arms out showing his friend how dirty he was.
"So…" Drew wrapped his arm over Johnny's shoulders. "My house may be small, but we do have a shower ya know." They started walking over to Drew's car.
"Thanks Charlie!" Johnny called back. "See ya next week on bowling night."
"No problem Gage, Later!"
"Hey Drew?" Johnny stopped in his tracks. "Is your wife gonna mind if I shower at your place?"
"Nope, come on." Drew rounded the car to the driver's side and looked at Johnny over the top of the car.
"What am I gonna put on after I shower? Look at my clothes." Johnny was still unsure of the plan.
"You can borrow some of my sweats. They'll be a little big on you, but you'll be decent. Now come on. Pam's probably freaking out wondering where we are." He climbed into the car and cranked the engine. Johnny climbed in and shut the door. In a few short minutes they were pulling up in front of a small brick house; an attractive woman emerged onto the front porch. Drew got out, crossed the yard wrapping his arms around her, lifted her off the porch and spun her around causing her long hair to fan out in the wind before setting her back down on her feet and kissing her.
"Drew!" Pam slapped him playfully on the shoulder and brushed her hair away from her face tucking it behind her ear. "Not in front of company!" Her voice faded on the last words when she saw the filthy man climb out of the car.
"You should've seen him babe. He just ran into that burning house like it was nothin'." Drew started explaining before introducing his wife and his new friend. "I didn't even know what to do at first. He was just gone…I mean he disappeared into the smoke like some TV show. Then I was running to the neighbor's house to call for help. He got a woman and her baby out. It was amazing!"
Pam walked up to Johnny and stretched out her hand. "You must be John." He rubbed his hand on his sooty jeans and looked at how dirty it still was. She smiled and dropped her hand. "You must feel awful with all that soot on you." She wrinkled her nose. "Come on in. I'll get you some of Drew's sweats and some towels. You can use the guest bath. Drew can get the grill started while you clean up and we'll have dinner in no time." She turned and walked back to the house.
Johnny looked at Drew who stood in the yard smiling like a Cheshire cat. "Isn't she wonderful? I told you she wouldn't mind. Now come on in." He also turned to the house.
Not knowing what else to do Johnny just followed them inside. It felt good to be accepted even covered in soot.
By the time Johnny got out of the shower Drew had the steaks on the grill. Dinner was on the table in no time; that's when Johnny got to meet their daughter. Pam came into the kitchen carrying a beautiful miniature of herself. "John this is Rebecca. We call her Becky. Becky this is daddy's friend John."
"My friends call me Johnny." He smiled at the pretty little girl. "Hey princess." The little girl smiled back at him. "My goodness you are a pretty thing. You look just like your momma."
"Watch out Pam, I think he's flirting with our little girl." Drew teased from the doorway as he brought the steaks in.
Johnny's face suddenly showed alarm. "No…no I wouldn't…" His hand splayed on his chest.
"Hey Johnny, take it easy. I was just kidding."
Johnny calmed down, but said nothing more to the little girl, though he did smile over at her several times during the meal. Drew regaled them with the story of Johnny's heroics; he blushed accordingly.
After dinner Drew, Johnny and Becky were shooed from the kitchen so Pam could clean up. Drew kicked back in his recliner and Johnny sat on the sofa. Becky came over to him and lifted her arms to him. As though it was the most natural thing in the world Johnny bent down and scooped her up setting her in his lap. She snuggled back against him and stuck her thumb in her mouth.
"Will you look at that!" Drew smiled at Johnny. "I think she likes you."
Johnny smiled genuinely. "Yeah." He leaned back against the couch and relaxed.
Drew set the TV on a ballgame. In a few minutes both men and Becky were all asleep. Johnny had slid down sideways onto the arm of the sofa and Becky had curled up beside him. Pam came into the room and grinned at the men. She pulled some blankets out of the hall closet and covered first Drew and then Johnny. Before turning out the light she lifted her daughter from Johnny's grasp. As she pulled her away he reflexively tightened his grip and whispered. "It's okay. I've got ya." But he let her go and put his arm over his eyes and let out a sigh.
Pam let them sleep for a little while and then brought desert and coffee to the table. She woke Drew first. "Honey, if you don't wake up now you won't sleep tonight."
Drew stirred and sat up rubbing his eyes. "Sorry, I fell asleep."
"You weren't the only one." She pointed to Johnny. "Why don't you wake him up while I get the sugar and cream for the coffee."
"You better get him some apple pie or something. He's allergic to chocolate."
She stopped and put her hands on her hips. "Why didn't you tell me?" She asked in a huff.
"Didn't know myself until this afternoon." Drew reached over and shook Johnny's shoulder. "Hey Johnny. It's time for desert." Johnny stirred and mumbled something incoherent.
Pam picked up the extra plate of chocolate cake and disappeared back into the kitchen. When she returned with the apple pie Johnny was sitting up rubbing his eyes. "Here you go Johnny. Drew tells me you love apple pie."
Johnny looked at the generous piece of pie covered in vanilla ice cream. He sat forward and took the plate shoveling a large bite into his mouth. "Wow that's really great!" He said with his mouth still half full. "I haven't had pie like this since my mom…" He didn't finish the sentence. Instead he took another huge bite.
Pam giggled at the way he devoured the pie. "There's more if you want it."
"No thank you, but it sure was delicious." He picked up his coffee cup and took a drink. "I guess I had better call a cab. Mind if I use your phone?"
"You don't have to do that. I'll drive you back to your place." Drew lowered the foot rest on his recliner and grabbed his coffee taking a drink. "Just let me finish this coffee."
"That's okay. I can just call a cab. You've already done a lot." Johnny got up and took his dishes to the kitchen. "Thank you for inviting me to your home. Dinner was fantastic."
"How about you come back this weekend?" Pam suggested. "I'm making fried chicken."
Johnny's eyes lit up and a crooked grin spread across his face. He liked Drew's wife. He felt comfortable in their home, and had enjoyed getting to know Pam and Becky. "I'd like that."
"I'd like that too Johnny. Drew and I don't have that many friends and our family is out of town." Pam pulled him into a hug. There was something about John Gage. She just knew they would all be good friends for years to come. "Becky will like it too. I've never seen her take to anyone like she did to you."
Drew ran to the next door neighbor's home and banged on the door. "Hello! Call the fire department!" He called through the screen door. A frightened middle aged woman peeked out from the kitchen. "Ma'am, I'm an off duty Los Angeles Police officer." He flashed his badge through the screen. "Your neighbor's home is on fire. Please could you call the fire department? Then you need to come outside of your house in case the fire spreads. Okay?" The woman nodded her understanding and went to make the call.
Drew sprinted across the lawn of the burning house and to the house on the other side to make sure those people got out of their home as well. Then he turned back to the burning house. Smoke had begun pouring out of the front door and flames licked at the curtains on the big window on the front of the house. He didn't know what he was supposed to do next. He had secured the scene. He looked from window to window trying to see Johnny. 'Where are you Johnny?' Sirens blared at the end of the street as the fire engine and squad turned the corner and sped toward him.
Once inside Johnny immediately recognized the crackle of fire in the direction of what he suspected had to be the kitchen. "Hello!" His muffled yell got no response. He lowered himself closer to the floor and moved toward the stairs. He needed to get upstairs to where he'd seen someone through the window.
The thick and dark smoke painted eerie shadows on the walls as it circled the overhead light.
Unbidden tears leaked from his burning eyes and slid down his cheeks.
A shrill squeak filtered through the room when Johnny stumbled over a mislaid toy. He quickly withdrew his foot afraid he'd stepped on a child only to find a naked baby doll smiling and staring glassy eyed up at him. He stepped over the doll, to the base of the stairs and looked upward to check for fire in his path. Not seeing any he stepped up onto the first step.
It always fascinated him how dark a burning building could be once it filled with smoke. The yellow orange glow from the hungry flames added little light…or at least little useable light when it came to finding your way around inside a darkened room. Once he found the stairs he would keep his hand on the wall to anchor himself to the correct path upward.
He jumped when he heard the crash of glass bursting from the heat in the kitchen. He could feel the heat building as the flames grew stronger. He wiped his forehead with the back of his arm never realizing how his SCBA mask kept the sweat from his eyes as well as the smoke from his lungs. How he wished he had his gear. He pressed the damp shirt more firmly against his mouth and nose.
"Hello! Is anyone up here?" He called to the empty hallway. He pulled the shirt away from his face and called again. "Hello! Is anyone up here?" The only response he got was his own harsh coughing. He quickly replaced the shirt and continued down the hall to what he thought was the room where he saw someone; as he drew near he could hear the cries of a baby.
The faint odor of burning paint seeped through the damp shirt reaching his nose causing his adrenalin to soar.
He raced down the smoke filled hall to the door he supposed to be the one that held the prize.
Quickly running his hand across the door out of practiced training even though he didn't think the flames had reached that part of the house and feeling the cool wood beneath his palm, Johnny reached for the door knob and pushed the door open. Glancing back over his shoulder as he crossed the threshold he could see the fire had followed him up the stairs.
Movement on the other side of the room caught his attention and he saw a petite woman trying desperately to calm her screaming baby. Johnny slammed the door shut and grabbed a blanket from the changing table shoving it beneath the bottom of the door to keep some of the smoke out of the room. He pulled the shirt away from his face to speak to the woman. As soon as he did the normally pleasant smell of baby powder mixed with the acrid smoke making him cough. "My name is Johnny; I'm a fireman. We have to get out of here. Your house is on fire."
The woman moved behind the crib and looked at him with wide untrusting eyes. "What do you want?"
"I'm here to help you." Johnny took a step around the full sized bed and she backed away.
"No! Stay away. You're not a fireman. You aren't dressed like a fireman."
Johnny glanced down at his once white t-shirt and now soot covered jeans. "No ma'am. I'm not dressed like a fireman, because I am not working today." He looked up into her eyes. "I promise you. I am here to get you and your baby to safety." He held out his hand.
She saw deep into the kind eyes and took his hand. "Please help my baby."
"Okay. Now I need you to move over in that corner and face the wall. I'm going to get this window open." As soon as he saw she was safely away from the window he grabbed the wooden rocking chair and heaved it at the window breaking it out. Then he pried the last wooden obstruction away from the frame. Next he turned and grabbed the sheets off of the bed. He tied one to the other jerking on the two sides to make sure the knot would hold; then he fashioned a sling on one end similar to the ones he'd seen the women wearing on the reservation when he was younger to carry their babies in while they worked the land. He tied the other end to the bed post and again yanked on it several times to test its strength. When he turned around the woman was watching him. "I'm going to lower your baby to my friend below; then we are going to get you out."
The woman moved over to him and helped him secure her baby in the wrap. Then her attention moved toward the door. The roar of the fire had grown very loud outside the room, and smoke seeped in on the sides.
Drew heard the glass break before he saw it raining down on the grass below. His momentary indecision about what to do next disappeared into the impulse to run across the lawn and position himself under the window. When he looked up he could see Johnny hanging out the window with something tied in a bundle. "I'm gonna lower her to you." He coughed out.
Drew winced at the hoarseness of his voice, and waiting to catch the bundle; as it came closer to him he raised his arms. "I've got her." As soon as he had his hands on the bundle he could hear the hoarse cries of a tiny baby. He pulled her from the blanket. "She's free." He cradled her to his chest like he would his own daughter and watched the sheet as it was hoisted back up and through the window. When he turned around and moved away from the house he was met by two firemen. "I think she needs some oxygen." He handed her to one of the firemen who immediately turned around and hurried over to the squad.
"Who else is in there?" The other man with a white stripe on his helmet which from experience Drew knew to be the Captain asked.
"John Gage, an off duty fireman and one adult, but I'm not sure if it's a male or female or how old."
Drew's explanation was interrupted by Johnny who had seen the fire apparatus arrive and now leaned out the window calling for assistance. "Hey! Up here! I need some help up here!"
Two linemen grabbed the ladder from the side of the engine and secured it against the window sill. Johnny waited until one of the linemen was in position to help the woman down and then he assisted her as she climbed out onto the ladder. She looked up at him as she began her descent. "Thank you."
He simply smiled back at her. No words could explain how he felt at that moment. He had simply done what felt natural. After she had cleared the bottom of the ladder he climbed out and easily climbed down.
"Well if it isn't Johnny Gage." Charlie Dwyer slapped him on the back and ruffled the hair on the back of his head.
"Stop it Charlie." Johnny protested.
"And I wouldn't be a good rescue man if I didn't recognize a voice laced with smoke. Get over here and sit down." Charlie started pushing him toward the squad.
"Huh?" Johnny's eyes got wide. "What are you doing?" He shifted his shoulder and tried to escape Charlie's hand.
"You my friend are going to come over here and take some oxygen. Then if you aren't better in a few minutes we're taking a ride to Rampart to visit Dixie."
"No way man, I used a wet shirt. I'm okay. My throat's just a little sore."
Charlie continued to prod him. "Gage, you just entered a burning structure with no gear. You're covered in soot and ash and you ARE going to sit down, drink some water, let me wash out your eyes and breathe some fresh, clean, pure air."
Drew smiled and leaned against the squad crossing his arms. "Better do what he says Johnny or that steak dinner will have to wait."
Johnny gave in to his friends, sat on the rear bumper of the squad and allowed Charlie to slip the oxygen mask over his face. He felt the adrenalin rush that had kept him going earlier slip away leaving him feeling extremely tired. "How's the baby?" He asked softly.
"The baby and the mother are fine. They are right over there getting some oxygen. I don't even think they'll need to go in." Charlie finished rinsing Johnny's eyes and handed Johnny a canteen of water. "Here you need to drink some of this."
Johnny took the canteen, pulled the mask from his face and smiled. "How's a guy supposed to get enough clean, pure air when he has to stop to take a drink?" He tipped the canteen to his lips and took a long swig of the cool liquid.
"Just drink, Gage." Charlie swatted his shoulder. "And then breathe." He took the canteen away after Johnny had a few drinks. Johnny put the mask back over his nose and mouth and took several deep cleansing breaths.
Squealing tires pierced the air. A car raced down the street and came to an abrupt stop in front of the burnt house. The driver's side door flew open and a man jumped out and began running toward the house. "Where's my wife and daughter?" He screamed as he ran. Two firemen blocked his path and held him back. He sunk to his knees and stared in horror at what had once been his home. "Oh God!"
"Hey buddy, relax. Your wife and daughter are right over there. They're all right." A tall thin fireman spoke softly to the distraught man and then helped him to his feet and walked him over to his family. On the way back to his post at the engine he stopped to see how Johnny was. "How's our hero?" He asked Charlie.
"I think he'll live." Charlie smiled up at the blue eyed man who didn't say anything else, but smiled, nodded and walked away.
Johnny pulled off the mask and asked, "Who's that guy?"
"That's our new engineer, Mike Stoker." Charlie started packing away the oxygen. "You were finished with this weren't ya?"
"Yeah, I'm good." Johnny stood and rolled his shoulders. Then he noticed how dirty he was. "Uh…I guess that steak will have to wait for another time."
"Why?" Drew looked at him with worry on his face. He thought maybe Johnny was hurt after all.
"I'm filthy." Johnny held his arms out showing his friend how dirty he was.
"So…" Drew wrapped his arm over Johnny's shoulders. "My house may be small, but we do have a shower ya know." They started walking over to Drew's car.
"Thanks Charlie!" Johnny called back. "See ya next week on bowling night."
"No problem Gage, Later!"
"Hey Drew?" Johnny stopped in his tracks. "Is your wife gonna mind if I shower at your place?"
"Nope, come on." Drew rounded the car to the driver's side and looked at Johnny over the top of the car.
"What am I gonna put on after I shower? Look at my clothes." Johnny was still unsure of the plan.
"You can borrow some of my sweats. They'll be a little big on you, but you'll be decent. Now come on. Pam's probably freaking out wondering where we are." He climbed into the car and cranked the engine. Johnny climbed in and shut the door. In a few short minutes they were pulling up in front of a small brick house; an attractive woman emerged onto the front porch. Drew got out, crossed the yard wrapping his arms around her, lifted her off the porch and spun her around causing her long hair to fan out in the wind before setting her back down on her feet and kissing her.
"Drew!" Pam slapped him playfully on the shoulder and brushed her hair away from her face tucking it behind her ear. "Not in front of company!" Her voice faded on the last words when she saw the filthy man climb out of the car.
"You should've seen him babe. He just ran into that burning house like it was nothin'." Drew started explaining before introducing his wife and his new friend. "I didn't even know what to do at first. He was just gone…I mean he disappeared into the smoke like some TV show. Then I was running to the neighbor's house to call for help. He got a woman and her baby out. It was amazing!"
Pam walked up to Johnny and stretched out her hand. "You must be John." He rubbed his hand on his sooty jeans and looked at how dirty it still was. She smiled and dropped her hand. "You must feel awful with all that soot on you." She wrinkled her nose. "Come on in. I'll get you some of Drew's sweats and some towels. You can use the guest bath. Drew can get the grill started while you clean up and we'll have dinner in no time." She turned and walked back to the house.
Johnny looked at Drew who stood in the yard smiling like a Cheshire cat. "Isn't she wonderful? I told you she wouldn't mind. Now come on in." He also turned to the house.
Not knowing what else to do Johnny just followed them inside. It felt good to be accepted even covered in soot.
By the time Johnny got out of the shower Drew had the steaks on the grill. Dinner was on the table in no time; that's when Johnny got to meet their daughter. Pam came into the kitchen carrying a beautiful miniature of herself. "John this is Rebecca. We call her Becky. Becky this is daddy's friend John."
"My friends call me Johnny." He smiled at the pretty little girl. "Hey princess." The little girl smiled back at him. "My goodness you are a pretty thing. You look just like your momma."
"Watch out Pam, I think he's flirting with our little girl." Drew teased from the doorway as he brought the steaks in.
Johnny's face suddenly showed alarm. "No…no I wouldn't…" His hand splayed on his chest.
"Hey Johnny, take it easy. I was just kidding."
Johnny calmed down, but said nothing more to the little girl, though he did smile over at her several times during the meal. Drew regaled them with the story of Johnny's heroics; he blushed accordingly.
After dinner Drew, Johnny and Becky were shooed from the kitchen so Pam could clean up. Drew kicked back in his recliner and Johnny sat on the sofa. Becky came over to him and lifted her arms to him. As though it was the most natural thing in the world Johnny bent down and scooped her up setting her in his lap. She snuggled back against him and stuck her thumb in her mouth.
"Will you look at that!" Drew smiled at Johnny. "I think she likes you."
Johnny smiled genuinely. "Yeah." He leaned back against the couch and relaxed.
Drew set the TV on a ballgame. In a few minutes both men and Becky were all asleep. Johnny had slid down sideways onto the arm of the sofa and Becky had curled up beside him. Pam came into the room and grinned at the men. She pulled some blankets out of the hall closet and covered first Drew and then Johnny. Before turning out the light she lifted her daughter from Johnny's grasp. As she pulled her away he reflexively tightened his grip and whispered. "It's okay. I've got ya." But he let her go and put his arm over his eyes and let out a sigh.
Pam let them sleep for a little while and then brought desert and coffee to the table. She woke Drew first. "Honey, if you don't wake up now you won't sleep tonight."
Drew stirred and sat up rubbing his eyes. "Sorry, I fell asleep."
"You weren't the only one." She pointed to Johnny. "Why don't you wake him up while I get the sugar and cream for the coffee."
"You better get him some apple pie or something. He's allergic to chocolate."
She stopped and put her hands on her hips. "Why didn't you tell me?" She asked in a huff.
"Didn't know myself until this afternoon." Drew reached over and shook Johnny's shoulder. "Hey Johnny. It's time for desert." Johnny stirred and mumbled something incoherent.
Pam picked up the extra plate of chocolate cake and disappeared back into the kitchen. When she returned with the apple pie Johnny was sitting up rubbing his eyes. "Here you go Johnny. Drew tells me you love apple pie."
Johnny looked at the generous piece of pie covered in vanilla ice cream. He sat forward and took the plate shoveling a large bite into his mouth. "Wow that's really great!" He said with his mouth still half full. "I haven't had pie like this since my mom…" He didn't finish the sentence. Instead he took another huge bite.
Pam giggled at the way he devoured the pie. "There's more if you want it."
"No thank you, but it sure was delicious." He picked up his coffee cup and took a drink. "I guess I had better call a cab. Mind if I use your phone?"
"You don't have to do that. I'll drive you back to your place." Drew lowered the foot rest on his recliner and grabbed his coffee taking a drink. "Just let me finish this coffee."
"That's okay. I can just call a cab. You've already done a lot." Johnny got up and took his dishes to the kitchen. "Thank you for inviting me to your home. Dinner was fantastic."
"How about you come back this weekend?" Pam suggested. "I'm making fried chicken."
Johnny's eyes lit up and a crooked grin spread across his face. He liked Drew's wife. He felt comfortable in their home, and had enjoyed getting to know Pam and Becky. "I'd like that."
"I'd like that too Johnny. Drew and I don't have that many friends and our family is out of town." Pam pulled him into a hug. There was something about John Gage. She just knew they would all be good friends for years to come. "Becky will like it too. I've never seen her take to anyone like she did to you."
Chapter Thirty Five
The holiday snuck up on everyone at Station 10. There was a scramble to get all of the different shift changes worked out so everyone with children or out of town visitors could have some time on Christmas day with their loved ones…even if it meant a short visit at the station. Johnny didn't have either of those worries. His aunt didn't celebrate, and she was traveling anyway. She had gone back east for the winter to be with family. Not that Johnny saw her often anyway. Somehow they had drifted apart since he moved out. The last time he saw her was before he signed up at the academy. He talked to her on the phone a few times, but she always seemed to be busy.
Johnny's regular shift was on duty Christmas Eve and scheduled to change shift at 8 am. Several of the oncoming crew had agreed to come in a few hours early to relieve their counterparts to allow them to get home to have "Santa" with their kids. The others prayed they wouldn't get toned out at the last minute.
The crews had decorated the Station's dayroom with a tree and all week long Christmas cookies and treats had shown up from appreciative people around the county or were sent in by family members of the firemen. The men from the A-Shift had pitched in and gotten Captain Jones a gift as had the members of the other crews for their respective Captains.
Just before he left Scotty stopped to talk to Johnny. "Hey Boot, I wanted to wish you Merry Christmas."
"Thanks." Johnny answered softly. He suddenly wished he hadn't signed up for the overtime shift. He was tired. Christmas Eve had been busy with runs. Why people left their tree lights plugged up when they left home was a mystery. And then there were the traffic calls for lonely people who drank their way into merriment.
Scotty noticed the tired look on Johnny's face. "Listen I've worked a few doubles in my time. The secret is to lay low. Grab a little shut eye whenever you can. It's Christmas day so Captain Curtis won't give too many chores anyway, just the basics…dorms, hose, latrines. There probably won't be any kitchen detail. There's plenty of stuff in the fridge from well wishers anyway besides the fact that families will be stopping by all day to bring more food to the guys on shift. Just take it easy when ya can. You'll manage." He gripped Johnny's shoulder and mussed his hair. "I'll see you in a few days."
Roll Call Christmas morning was a little like a grand opening of a new Station. There were men from each of the three shifts at Station 10 as well as many from around the county volunteering to work the holiday. Johnny was assigned to Engine One as he would have been on his regular shift; for that he was thankful. Since this was his first overtime shift he felt a bit uncomfortable among these men he didn't know. He noticed the Engineer assigned to Engine One was not from their station. He looked familiar though Johnny couldn't remember where he'd seen him.
After roll call most of the men moved to their assigned places to store their turnout gear. Johnny went to his regular seat on Engine One.
"Hey you're that guy from the house fire a couple of weeks ago."
Johnny looked across the engine from his jump seat at the source of the words. "You were there?"
"Yeah…Mike Stoker." He stepped up into the engine and extended his hand between the seats. "That was a brave thing you did going into that building without any gear."
Johnny shook his hand. "Maybe not so smart though." The two men smiled in agreement.
"Maybe… but that woman and child must have been glad to see you." Mike turned and stepped back down and closed the door. Johnny finished stowing his gear and stepped down from the engine. When he looked up Mike was standing beside him. "Are you training for rescue?"
"What?" Johnny's mouth fell open. "Um… no… why? Why would you think that?"
Mike shrugged. "Just looked like you knew what you were doing. The way you tied the sheets to make a rescue sling for the baby… Impressive."
Johnny didn't know what to say in response to that. He could feel the heat on his neck and knew he was blushing with embarrassment. He lowered his gaze to the floor and closed his eyes for a second. When he opened them again Mike Stoker was gone. He quickly turned around and back again looking for the tall thin man, but he seemed to have disappeared in thin air leaving behind a very confused lineman.
It seemed that everyone thought he should consider training for Rescue. The Dwyer brothers talked about it every time they went bowling; even Drew and Pam in the short time he had known them had been talking non-stop about his rescue of that baby and its mother. Drew had recalled some of the runs he'd been on when Johnny was on shift. Neither of the two had realized how closely their careers had paralleled. Drew had been training as a rookie when Johnny had crawled into that crushed car to check on the victim. He'd been there at the college dorms and again when he and Johnny had been first on the scene at that house fire.
After getting to know him and becoming his friend Drew could see the desire to help people in Johnny's nature, and encouraged him at every turn to think about training for Rescue. Johnny had yet to tell anyone about his conversation with Scotty and Captain Jones. He hadn't even told Scotty that he had told Cap he would think about it.
Thinking about it was all he seemed to do lately.
But he'd trained to be a lineman, and he was good at it. Why would he want to start over again?
The tones echoed through the station calling them to yet another Christmas tree fire. Only Engine One and the Rescue Squad were toned out leaving the rest of the crew to tend to the daily chores.
Johnny turned in his seat to look at Mike Stoker as he maneuvered the Engine through traffic. Since graduating the academy he had not been on an engine with any Engineer other than Scotty. Mike seemed relaxed behind the big wheel and steered it with an air of confidence. It was as if he was one with the rig, and together they moved in graceful harmony. Mike had a smile in his eyes that Johnny hadn't noticed before. He clearly loved his job.
Johnny turned to face the hose bed. Seeing first hand Mike Stoker's love for driving the engine gave him a lot to think about. He'd seen the same look in Scotty's eyes, and he always smiled as he drove.
Johnny liked being a lineman, but did he love it?
They pulled up in front of a stately home with Christmas lights lining the eaves and a plastic Santa and candlesticks lighting the front walk with a yellow glow which seemed kind of hokey in such a nice neighborhood. People lined the sidewalk watching as smoke seeped out of the open front window. The fire appeared to be out, but the engine crew would make sure of that before leaving. A small boy stood next to a petite woman in the front yard crying into his mother's side. She kept telling him his new toys were all safely tucked away in his bedroom and that daddy had put out the fire.
The daddy in question stepped out of the front door and waved to the firemen. "It's out." Then he hunched over and coughed a few times.
"Get that man some oxygen." Captain Curtis called to Tim Duntley and Charlie Wilson the Rescue team who had already come over to lead the man to the squad. "Gage, get a line in here. Let's make sure this thing is out." He called as he moved into the smoke filled room, unceremoniously grabbed the charred remains of a once beautifully decorated Christmas tree and dragged it into the front yard; tossing it in the grass beside the smiling plastic Santa.
Johnny passed him as he pulled the hose into the living room and sprayed a light mist in the area where the tree once stood and over the still smoking curtains. He reached up and pulled them down from the rod and piled them into the floor in a blackened heap. The fire was out as the homeowner had said and in place of the brightly lit tree remained a stark reminder of just how important safety precautions during the holiday season were.
Kirk, the other lineman had come in and scooped up the remains of the curtains taking them out in the lawn with the tree. Johnny repositioned the box fan the homeowner had already turned on to blow smoke out the open window.
As he walked out of the smoky haze into the bright sunlight, Johnny couldn't help but remember the many calls they had been on in the last few shifts: men hanging from their rooftops with strands of twinkling lights wrapped around their feet and legs, one man who tried to staple his lights along the roof line only to hit the already plugged in cord sending him sprawling into the yard after a jolt of electricity ran through the stapler to his hand, and no telling how many trees had gone up in smoke in LA County alone. He had to wonder if all this hoopla to celebrate a holiday was worth the heartache. He tiredly drug the hose back to the engine, curled it up and returned to his seat to wait for the ride back to the station. He could hear the Captain telling the homeowners about tree safety even though it wouldn't help them this year…maybe next year.
While he sat staring out the side window of the engine it occurred to him that many of the runs they'd been on involved some sort of rescue work. The squad was there on all the calls. Half of the time Tony and Joe had to work the hoses. If there wasn't a victim they worked the fires just like he did. He shifted in his seat. His thoughts raced from call to call trying to calculate how many times they had manned a hose. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if he decided to train for Rescue. Johnny simply didn't know what to do. He pulled off his helmet, leaned back in his seat and rested his head against the window.
When they got back to the station they could hear laughter and cheering coming from the dayroom. Once inside the room they saw the reason for the joviality. Little Becky Burke stood in the middle of the kitchen table performing her part in the Christmas play at daycare. She had just finished singing Jingle Bells and being so little could barely say the words much less carry the tune, but the men loved it.
"Hey Gage, you have a visitor." One of the men called from across the room. "She's a little young for you, and I gotta warn you her dad's a cop!" Everyone laughed.
"Yeah, yeah…I know him." Johnny walked over to the table and held out his arms to Becky who practically leapt into them. "Come here sweet pea before these guys corrupt you." He pulled her into a hug and tickled her making her giggle.
"Mewee Chrissmess." Becky said just before planting a kiss on Johnny's cheek with a loud smacking noise. Then she flung her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. Johnny turned bright red as cat calls echoed through the room.
"Hey Johnny!" Drew came over and put his arm around Johnny's shoulders. "We stopped by to wish you happy holidays. Pam, Becky and I are going to be out of town for a couple of days visiting with her family. Pam insisted that we bring you and these other hooligans some cookies."
Pam walked over and kissed Johnny on the other cheek bringing about another round of whistles and cat calls. Johnny's face turned another darker shade of red. "Don't pay any mind to them." Pam smiled at her friend. She handed him a small brightly decorated tin of cookies. "These are just for you to take home." Johnny took the proffered tin. "And don't forget if you aren't working we are having dinner New Years day at five. Merry Christmas, Johnny."
"Thanks." He answered softly. "Thanks for the cookies." He held up the tin with one hand and hugged Becky again with the other. "You guys drive careful. I'll…uh…I'll let ya know about New Years."
"Okay, come on Becky." Drew pulled his daughter from her stronghold around Johnny's neck which sent her into tears. Johnny bent down and kissed her on the cheek. Drew shot a menacing policeman's glare around the room daring anyone to make fun of Johnny's care for his daughter. No one made a sound. A couple of the guys smiled with approval. "We are still on for that bowling rematch next week, right?"
"I'll be there." Johnny patted his stomach. "I could use another steak." He grinned broadly and bent to kiss Pam's cheek. "Merry Christmas." She hugged him and the family of three made their exit.
Johnny slipped into the locker room to stow his cookie tin in his locker. He opened it, slipped the tin on the shelf and pushed it to the back. Turning around he perched in the front of the locker and propped his feet on the bench. He sat like that for he didn't know how long thinking things over.
"Man, you must really have something on your mind."
Johnny looked up to see one of the rescue men leaning against another locker. "Nah, just thinking."
"Yeah, you look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders." He pushed off the locker and stretched out his hand. "Tim Duntley."
Johnny shook his hand. "John Gage. My friends call me Johnny."
"Nice to meet you, Johnny." Tim returned to his spot leaning against the lockers. "So my fiancé thinks I'm a good listener."
Johnny shifted in the locker. He wasn't comfortable talking about himself with strangers. "It's just that my Captain thinks I would be good at rescue."
"So?" Tim held out his hand in a so do it stance and raised his eyebrows. "What's stopping you?"
Johnny looked up at Tim with a bewildered look on his face. "I… I never thought about it before. I mean I planned on being a fireman."
"Rescue guys are firemen."
"No that's not what I mean." Johnny stood and started pacing. He ran his hand through his hair, stopped and faced Tim again. "Why did you train for rescue?"
Tim shrugged. "I wanted to help people. Get them back to their families."
"Weren't you doing that as a lineman?"
"Well yes, but then I started helping the rescue guys and one thing led to another. I found out that I liked it. I'm good at it. I'm not afraid to run into the fire. I know I'm not invincible, but I've outrun many a dragon to get people out. I guess I'm just a natural. My Cap says so anyway." He chuckled. "Why did you become a lineman?"
"I can read a fire. It's hard to explain. It's like I can feel it. I know that sounds crazy." Johnny huffed a laugh. "It does sound crazy doesn't it?"
"No… I've heard of people who are able to do that. But I gotta tell you Johnny, a skill like that would make for a great rescue man. Look at it this way… you get to use those instincts to make sure fathers get to see their kids again and mothers to hold their babies. That's what's special about being a rescue man… I get to see the family's eyes light up when they see me coming out with their loved one; there's no other gratitude needed. Just that look in their eyes. That's all I need."
Before Johnny had time to consider Tim's words the tones called the whole station to a warehouse fire.
Ironically enough when the equipment pulled into position in front of the burning building a large sign donned the front of the building, "Little B's Toys"; a toy warehouse burning out of control on Christmas day.
A security guard ran over to Captain Curtis waving his arms and pointing to the smoking structure. His partner apparently remained somewhere in the deteriorating structure. Tim and Charlie immediately geared up and ran for the entrance. Johnny and Kirk followed closely behind with a hose. Johnny glanced over his shoulder and gave Engineer Mike Stoker the signal to charge the line.
The ladder truck extended over the hottest part of the structure and began pouring water over the roof.
Johnny and Kirk moved through the offices and into an area lined with metal shelves stacked high with boxed toys of all kinds and stuffed animals of all sizes. The crackling roar of the fire made communication difficult which made maintaining eye contact with each of the members of their crew that much more important. Johnny motioned to Kirk that they were moving forward to the last area he'd seen Tim and Charlie. The smoke from burning plastics and fake animal fur grew thicker. They needed to find the missing guard; they needed to find him fast.
The holiday snuck up on everyone at Station 10. There was a scramble to get all of the different shift changes worked out so everyone with children or out of town visitors could have some time on Christmas day with their loved ones…even if it meant a short visit at the station. Johnny didn't have either of those worries. His aunt didn't celebrate, and she was traveling anyway. She had gone back east for the winter to be with family. Not that Johnny saw her often anyway. Somehow they had drifted apart since he moved out. The last time he saw her was before he signed up at the academy. He talked to her on the phone a few times, but she always seemed to be busy.
Johnny's regular shift was on duty Christmas Eve and scheduled to change shift at 8 am. Several of the oncoming crew had agreed to come in a few hours early to relieve their counterparts to allow them to get home to have "Santa" with their kids. The others prayed they wouldn't get toned out at the last minute.
The crews had decorated the Station's dayroom with a tree and all week long Christmas cookies and treats had shown up from appreciative people around the county or were sent in by family members of the firemen. The men from the A-Shift had pitched in and gotten Captain Jones a gift as had the members of the other crews for their respective Captains.
Just before he left Scotty stopped to talk to Johnny. "Hey Boot, I wanted to wish you Merry Christmas."
"Thanks." Johnny answered softly. He suddenly wished he hadn't signed up for the overtime shift. He was tired. Christmas Eve had been busy with runs. Why people left their tree lights plugged up when they left home was a mystery. And then there were the traffic calls for lonely people who drank their way into merriment.
Scotty noticed the tired look on Johnny's face. "Listen I've worked a few doubles in my time. The secret is to lay low. Grab a little shut eye whenever you can. It's Christmas day so Captain Curtis won't give too many chores anyway, just the basics…dorms, hose, latrines. There probably won't be any kitchen detail. There's plenty of stuff in the fridge from well wishers anyway besides the fact that families will be stopping by all day to bring more food to the guys on shift. Just take it easy when ya can. You'll manage." He gripped Johnny's shoulder and mussed his hair. "I'll see you in a few days."
Roll Call Christmas morning was a little like a grand opening of a new Station. There were men from each of the three shifts at Station 10 as well as many from around the county volunteering to work the holiday. Johnny was assigned to Engine One as he would have been on his regular shift; for that he was thankful. Since this was his first overtime shift he felt a bit uncomfortable among these men he didn't know. He noticed the Engineer assigned to Engine One was not from their station. He looked familiar though Johnny couldn't remember where he'd seen him.
After roll call most of the men moved to their assigned places to store their turnout gear. Johnny went to his regular seat on Engine One.
"Hey you're that guy from the house fire a couple of weeks ago."
Johnny looked across the engine from his jump seat at the source of the words. "You were there?"
"Yeah…Mike Stoker." He stepped up into the engine and extended his hand between the seats. "That was a brave thing you did going into that building without any gear."
Johnny shook his hand. "Maybe not so smart though." The two men smiled in agreement.
"Maybe… but that woman and child must have been glad to see you." Mike turned and stepped back down and closed the door. Johnny finished stowing his gear and stepped down from the engine. When he looked up Mike was standing beside him. "Are you training for rescue?"
"What?" Johnny's mouth fell open. "Um… no… why? Why would you think that?"
Mike shrugged. "Just looked like you knew what you were doing. The way you tied the sheets to make a rescue sling for the baby… Impressive."
Johnny didn't know what to say in response to that. He could feel the heat on his neck and knew he was blushing with embarrassment. He lowered his gaze to the floor and closed his eyes for a second. When he opened them again Mike Stoker was gone. He quickly turned around and back again looking for the tall thin man, but he seemed to have disappeared in thin air leaving behind a very confused lineman.
It seemed that everyone thought he should consider training for Rescue. The Dwyer brothers talked about it every time they went bowling; even Drew and Pam in the short time he had known them had been talking non-stop about his rescue of that baby and its mother. Drew had recalled some of the runs he'd been on when Johnny was on shift. Neither of the two had realized how closely their careers had paralleled. Drew had been training as a rookie when Johnny had crawled into that crushed car to check on the victim. He'd been there at the college dorms and again when he and Johnny had been first on the scene at that house fire.
After getting to know him and becoming his friend Drew could see the desire to help people in Johnny's nature, and encouraged him at every turn to think about training for Rescue. Johnny had yet to tell anyone about his conversation with Scotty and Captain Jones. He hadn't even told Scotty that he had told Cap he would think about it.
Thinking about it was all he seemed to do lately.
But he'd trained to be a lineman, and he was good at it. Why would he want to start over again?
The tones echoed through the station calling them to yet another Christmas tree fire. Only Engine One and the Rescue Squad were toned out leaving the rest of the crew to tend to the daily chores.
Johnny turned in his seat to look at Mike Stoker as he maneuvered the Engine through traffic. Since graduating the academy he had not been on an engine with any Engineer other than Scotty. Mike seemed relaxed behind the big wheel and steered it with an air of confidence. It was as if he was one with the rig, and together they moved in graceful harmony. Mike had a smile in his eyes that Johnny hadn't noticed before. He clearly loved his job.
Johnny turned to face the hose bed. Seeing first hand Mike Stoker's love for driving the engine gave him a lot to think about. He'd seen the same look in Scotty's eyes, and he always smiled as he drove.
Johnny liked being a lineman, but did he love it?
They pulled up in front of a stately home with Christmas lights lining the eaves and a plastic Santa and candlesticks lighting the front walk with a yellow glow which seemed kind of hokey in such a nice neighborhood. People lined the sidewalk watching as smoke seeped out of the open front window. The fire appeared to be out, but the engine crew would make sure of that before leaving. A small boy stood next to a petite woman in the front yard crying into his mother's side. She kept telling him his new toys were all safely tucked away in his bedroom and that daddy had put out the fire.
The daddy in question stepped out of the front door and waved to the firemen. "It's out." Then he hunched over and coughed a few times.
"Get that man some oxygen." Captain Curtis called to Tim Duntley and Charlie Wilson the Rescue team who had already come over to lead the man to the squad. "Gage, get a line in here. Let's make sure this thing is out." He called as he moved into the smoke filled room, unceremoniously grabbed the charred remains of a once beautifully decorated Christmas tree and dragged it into the front yard; tossing it in the grass beside the smiling plastic Santa.
Johnny passed him as he pulled the hose into the living room and sprayed a light mist in the area where the tree once stood and over the still smoking curtains. He reached up and pulled them down from the rod and piled them into the floor in a blackened heap. The fire was out as the homeowner had said and in place of the brightly lit tree remained a stark reminder of just how important safety precautions during the holiday season were.
Kirk, the other lineman had come in and scooped up the remains of the curtains taking them out in the lawn with the tree. Johnny repositioned the box fan the homeowner had already turned on to blow smoke out the open window.
As he walked out of the smoky haze into the bright sunlight, Johnny couldn't help but remember the many calls they had been on in the last few shifts: men hanging from their rooftops with strands of twinkling lights wrapped around their feet and legs, one man who tried to staple his lights along the roof line only to hit the already plugged in cord sending him sprawling into the yard after a jolt of electricity ran through the stapler to his hand, and no telling how many trees had gone up in smoke in LA County alone. He had to wonder if all this hoopla to celebrate a holiday was worth the heartache. He tiredly drug the hose back to the engine, curled it up and returned to his seat to wait for the ride back to the station. He could hear the Captain telling the homeowners about tree safety even though it wouldn't help them this year…maybe next year.
While he sat staring out the side window of the engine it occurred to him that many of the runs they'd been on involved some sort of rescue work. The squad was there on all the calls. Half of the time Tony and Joe had to work the hoses. If there wasn't a victim they worked the fires just like he did. He shifted in his seat. His thoughts raced from call to call trying to calculate how many times they had manned a hose. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if he decided to train for Rescue. Johnny simply didn't know what to do. He pulled off his helmet, leaned back in his seat and rested his head against the window.
When they got back to the station they could hear laughter and cheering coming from the dayroom. Once inside the room they saw the reason for the joviality. Little Becky Burke stood in the middle of the kitchen table performing her part in the Christmas play at daycare. She had just finished singing Jingle Bells and being so little could barely say the words much less carry the tune, but the men loved it.
"Hey Gage, you have a visitor." One of the men called from across the room. "She's a little young for you, and I gotta warn you her dad's a cop!" Everyone laughed.
"Yeah, yeah…I know him." Johnny walked over to the table and held out his arms to Becky who practically leapt into them. "Come here sweet pea before these guys corrupt you." He pulled her into a hug and tickled her making her giggle.
"Mewee Chrissmess." Becky said just before planting a kiss on Johnny's cheek with a loud smacking noise. Then she flung her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. Johnny turned bright red as cat calls echoed through the room.
"Hey Johnny!" Drew came over and put his arm around Johnny's shoulders. "We stopped by to wish you happy holidays. Pam, Becky and I are going to be out of town for a couple of days visiting with her family. Pam insisted that we bring you and these other hooligans some cookies."
Pam walked over and kissed Johnny on the other cheek bringing about another round of whistles and cat calls. Johnny's face turned another darker shade of red. "Don't pay any mind to them." Pam smiled at her friend. She handed him a small brightly decorated tin of cookies. "These are just for you to take home." Johnny took the proffered tin. "And don't forget if you aren't working we are having dinner New Years day at five. Merry Christmas, Johnny."
"Thanks." He answered softly. "Thanks for the cookies." He held up the tin with one hand and hugged Becky again with the other. "You guys drive careful. I'll…uh…I'll let ya know about New Years."
"Okay, come on Becky." Drew pulled his daughter from her stronghold around Johnny's neck which sent her into tears. Johnny bent down and kissed her on the cheek. Drew shot a menacing policeman's glare around the room daring anyone to make fun of Johnny's care for his daughter. No one made a sound. A couple of the guys smiled with approval. "We are still on for that bowling rematch next week, right?"
"I'll be there." Johnny patted his stomach. "I could use another steak." He grinned broadly and bent to kiss Pam's cheek. "Merry Christmas." She hugged him and the family of three made their exit.
Johnny slipped into the locker room to stow his cookie tin in his locker. He opened it, slipped the tin on the shelf and pushed it to the back. Turning around he perched in the front of the locker and propped his feet on the bench. He sat like that for he didn't know how long thinking things over.
"Man, you must really have something on your mind."
Johnny looked up to see one of the rescue men leaning against another locker. "Nah, just thinking."
"Yeah, you look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders." He pushed off the locker and stretched out his hand. "Tim Duntley."
Johnny shook his hand. "John Gage. My friends call me Johnny."
"Nice to meet you, Johnny." Tim returned to his spot leaning against the lockers. "So my fiancé thinks I'm a good listener."
Johnny shifted in the locker. He wasn't comfortable talking about himself with strangers. "It's just that my Captain thinks I would be good at rescue."
"So?" Tim held out his hand in a so do it stance and raised his eyebrows. "What's stopping you?"
Johnny looked up at Tim with a bewildered look on his face. "I… I never thought about it before. I mean I planned on being a fireman."
"Rescue guys are firemen."
"No that's not what I mean." Johnny stood and started pacing. He ran his hand through his hair, stopped and faced Tim again. "Why did you train for rescue?"
Tim shrugged. "I wanted to help people. Get them back to their families."
"Weren't you doing that as a lineman?"
"Well yes, but then I started helping the rescue guys and one thing led to another. I found out that I liked it. I'm good at it. I'm not afraid to run into the fire. I know I'm not invincible, but I've outrun many a dragon to get people out. I guess I'm just a natural. My Cap says so anyway." He chuckled. "Why did you become a lineman?"
"I can read a fire. It's hard to explain. It's like I can feel it. I know that sounds crazy." Johnny huffed a laugh. "It does sound crazy doesn't it?"
"No… I've heard of people who are able to do that. But I gotta tell you Johnny, a skill like that would make for a great rescue man. Look at it this way… you get to use those instincts to make sure fathers get to see their kids again and mothers to hold their babies. That's what's special about being a rescue man… I get to see the family's eyes light up when they see me coming out with their loved one; there's no other gratitude needed. Just that look in their eyes. That's all I need."
Before Johnny had time to consider Tim's words the tones called the whole station to a warehouse fire.
Ironically enough when the equipment pulled into position in front of the burning building a large sign donned the front of the building, "Little B's Toys"; a toy warehouse burning out of control on Christmas day.
A security guard ran over to Captain Curtis waving his arms and pointing to the smoking structure. His partner apparently remained somewhere in the deteriorating structure. Tim and Charlie immediately geared up and ran for the entrance. Johnny and Kirk followed closely behind with a hose. Johnny glanced over his shoulder and gave Engineer Mike Stoker the signal to charge the line.
The ladder truck extended over the hottest part of the structure and began pouring water over the roof.
Johnny and Kirk moved through the offices and into an area lined with metal shelves stacked high with boxed toys of all kinds and stuffed animals of all sizes. The crackling roar of the fire made communication difficult which made maintaining eye contact with each of the members of their crew that much more important. Johnny motioned to Kirk that they were moving forward to the last area he'd seen Tim and Charlie. The smoke from burning plastics and fake animal fur grew thicker. They needed to find the missing guard; they needed to find him fast.
Chapter Thirty Six
Moving methodically while sweeping the stream from the hose from side to side and in circular motions to get the best coverage, Johnny and Kirk inched their way into the dark smoky haze. The interior of the warehouse was much like a maze with rows of shelving opening up to cross paths lined with even more shelves. The fire snaked from one boxed toy to the next as though it was following them, inching along, skipping from one charred box to lap at the brightly colored wrappings of the next; leaving a trail of black. Moving through the rows with a fully charged fire hose while hunkered low to get below the blanket of smoke was no easy task, and fatigue could catch up with a fireman quickly. Johnny tugged on the hose; they moved further into the labyrinth.
Johnny saw Tim and Charlie turn down another row; he and Kirk dutifully followed. He watched as Tim tapped Charlie on the shoulder and pointed. The two quickened their pace.
Seeing the rescue men move with even more expediency the two linemen followed suit. As he moved down the row sweeping from side to side Johnny noticed the toys lining the shelves were dolls much like the one lying in the floor at the house fire the other day, their smiling faces and glassy eyes drooping in the extreme heat. The pristine clothes and untouched curls that children usually took off and mussed up fell victim to the blistering hand of destruction instead of the loving touch of the little girls that would cry for them at bed time. The cellophane windows of the boxes shriveled and fused with the changing faces of the dolls meant to make little girls happy. Johnny felt hurt at the loss that fire caused. He found a new resolve to fight the beast with all he had.
Turning away from the ruin Johnny saw Tim pull the missing guard over his shoulder in a fireman's carry with Charlie following closely behind keeping a steadying hand on his shoulder. He sensed an urgent need to move from their current position.
As Tim and Charlie came up beside the linemen the shelving began to succumb to the intense heat with a screeching wail. Boxes tumbled off the upper shelves and rained down on the retreating men.
Following the hose they tried desperately to re-trace their path. Embers and ash mixed with heated air and encircled the exhausted men as they forged on toward safety. The world seemed to collapse around them.
They didn't move fast enough.
The labyrinth disintegrated around them knocking the five men to the water soaked concrete warehouse floor.
When the onslaught of debris finally quieted Johnny vaguely knew he had to move. The weight of the rubble pressed heavily on his back, but the shifting fabric beneath him made him aware that he had landed at least partially on top of one of his crew mates. Whether intentional or beyond his control, hurting another individual was not in Johnny's nature. He pushed up against the pile. His arms, already fatigued from hauling a fully charged hose, shook from the effort, but he pressed on. Pain radiated from his right wrist, 'probably sprained', he thought, but that didn't slow his efforts. Something inside him willed him on. He knew he had to get up first. He had to do whatever he could to help get everyone out. If he had to carry each one to safety then that is what he would do… but he hoped help was already on its way to them, because in truth he felt a bit off kilter.
Somehow in the melee Johnny had lost his protective helmet. 'Why does that always happen to me?' he wondered as he shook the dust from his hair which caused his hazy surroundings to swim uncomfortably. He blinked away the fog and somehow managed to rise up on his knees. "Hey Kirk…you alright?"
The shadowy figure before him moved and groaned, "Man you're heavier than you look."
With his SCBA's constant hiss and Kirk's facemask blocking his words, Johnny struggled a bit to understand the lineman's muffled response.
Kirk pushed up to a sitting position and saw that Johnny had lost his helmet. He scanned the area nearby finding it a few feet away. He bent to retrieve it and felt a definite pain in his ribcage. "Ah.."
"What's wrong?" Johnny asked him with alarm.
"Nothin'…probably busted a rib. Here." He handed Johnny his helmet.
Tim scrambled to his feet and turned to his partner who did not appear to be moving. He shifted his gaze to the security guard and back. He turned to the guard and pulled him back over his shoulder. Tim swayed slightly from the weight. "Gage!"
Johnny heard his name from what seemed like miles away, but in fact was only a few feet. He looked up to find the source.
"Get Charlie!" Tim turned and continued his trek along the length of hose to the exit.
Johnny briefly wondered how Tim could leave his partner unconscious on the floor of a burning building but didn't have time to dwell on that thought. He felt a new sense of adrenalin. A member of his crew was down and needed his help. Shaking off his own discomforts he pulled himself to a standing position and limped over to the fallen comrade while Kirk checked the surrounding area for fire. The collapsed shelving had snuffed out most of the flames, but experience told the men that the smoldering embers could ignite again given the opportunity to find a source to fuel its hunger.
Johnny didn't know exactly what to do other than get Charlie over his shoulder and out. He hoped that he wouldn't hurt him anymore than he already was. He reached down to pull Charlie up and over his shoulder when he felt pain in his wrist. He pulled anyway, but was relieved when Kirk came over and helped him lift the unconscious man. Johnny turned to follow the hose with Kirk's steadying hand on his back.
As they drew nearer the place where they first entered the building stress from exposure to intense heat combined with the aches and pains from being buried by debris began to take its toll on Johnny. He struggled with each step. Kirk continued to offer his support by moving his hands beneath Johnny's arms keeping him on his feet and edging him forward.
Everything around them seemed to be a blur. Johnny willed his feet to continue the slow progress out of the warehouse. The alarm on his air tank sounded adding one final blow to the already tense situation.
Kirk stumbled and went down leaving Johnny to maintain his hold on Charlie alone. "Go!" Kirk yelled. "I'll be right behind you."
Johnny had no choice but to continue alone, every step more difficult. Charlie outweighed him by at least twenty pounds, and right now, he was dead weight. Johnny's sight narrowed to a small perspective focused in on the door ahead. His ears began to ring. He knew he was close to passing out, but he took another step…and another.
Suddenly he felt lighter.
Hands took hold of his arms and pulled him out of the building just as his air completely ran out. Johnny stopped and pulled at his air mask.
"Hang on Gage. Let me give you a hand." Cap told him. Johnny's heavy arms fell back to his side. He knew when the mask left his face as air washed over him. He turned back to see Kirk being helped from the building by two firemen from a different station.
He blinked and looked around. He was lying on a yellow blanket with the oxygen mask over his nose and mouth and had no clue how he'd gotten there. He reached up and pulled at the mask. Someone pulled his hand away and pushed it back down on his chest.
"Leave it."
Johnny squinted up and saw the engineer Mike Stoker looking back at him. "Where's Charlie?"
Mike pointed over to another blanket. Johnny followed Mike's finger and saw Charlie lying on another blanket not far away. He moved to sit up and had to brush Mike's hand away from stopping him. "I'm alright. Let me up."
"Sounded like you were hacking up a lung." Mike said coolly.
Johnny grinned. "Well I'm alright now."
Mike raised an eyebrow. "Whatever you say." He stood and walked back to the engine.
Johnny looked around to find Kirk. He found him sitting on the running board to the squad. He climbed to his feet and walked over beside him. "You okay?"
Kirk looked up at Johnny and smiled. "Yeah, you?"
Johnny smiled. "A little banged up, but ready to go again."
"I don't think either of you are 'going again'." Tim teased. "Cap wants to know which one of you thinks you can drive the squad over to Rampart."
"I can." They both said at the same time.
Tim cracked a smile. "Okay let's see. Gage, you have what looks like a sprained wrist and took in a lot of smoke, carried a guy almost twice your size from a burning building which left you so exhausted you passed out. And Kirk…you had to practically be carried out, and probably have some cracked ribs. Gage it is."
Johnny practically jumped with excitement. "Ha! Let's go." He grabbed the keys from Tim and slipped his hand under Kirk's arm to help him up.
"Don't get so excited Gage. Cap says you both need to be cleared by a doctor to return to duty."
"I'm alright." Johnny said with his hand splayed on his chest. "I feel better since my nap and this…it's just a sprain. An Ace Bandage and a little ice is all I need."
"And maybe a breathing treatment." Tim pointed at Johnny's chest. "Cap's orders."
Some of the initial excitement about driving the squad slipped away, but Johnny still helped Kirk around to the passenger side; then moved around to the driver's side and slipped behind the wheel.
Before starting the engine Johnny took a few minutes to just get the feel for the vehicle. He slid his hand across the dashboard and across the radio, checking to be sure the mike was hanging on the hook as it should. He moved his hand to the steering wheel and felt around the curve and down to the ignition. He turned the key and listened to the engine.
"Are you going to make love to it or drive us to Rampart?" Kirk's words broke the spell.
Johnny put the squad in gear and pulled away from the curb. Tim had gone in the ambulance with the security guard and Charlie. Johnny followed behind the ambulance.
"I think you are supposed to turn the globes on." Kirk teased him.
Johnny immediately flipped on the red flashing lights, but not the siren. The ambulance didn't have their siren on. At least not yet, so he left the siren off. Driving the squad made him both excited and nervous; something about it felt very right.
Moving methodically while sweeping the stream from the hose from side to side and in circular motions to get the best coverage, Johnny and Kirk inched their way into the dark smoky haze. The interior of the warehouse was much like a maze with rows of shelving opening up to cross paths lined with even more shelves. The fire snaked from one boxed toy to the next as though it was following them, inching along, skipping from one charred box to lap at the brightly colored wrappings of the next; leaving a trail of black. Moving through the rows with a fully charged fire hose while hunkered low to get below the blanket of smoke was no easy task, and fatigue could catch up with a fireman quickly. Johnny tugged on the hose; they moved further into the labyrinth.
Johnny saw Tim and Charlie turn down another row; he and Kirk dutifully followed. He watched as Tim tapped Charlie on the shoulder and pointed. The two quickened their pace.
Seeing the rescue men move with even more expediency the two linemen followed suit. As he moved down the row sweeping from side to side Johnny noticed the toys lining the shelves were dolls much like the one lying in the floor at the house fire the other day, their smiling faces and glassy eyes drooping in the extreme heat. The pristine clothes and untouched curls that children usually took off and mussed up fell victim to the blistering hand of destruction instead of the loving touch of the little girls that would cry for them at bed time. The cellophane windows of the boxes shriveled and fused with the changing faces of the dolls meant to make little girls happy. Johnny felt hurt at the loss that fire caused. He found a new resolve to fight the beast with all he had.
Turning away from the ruin Johnny saw Tim pull the missing guard over his shoulder in a fireman's carry with Charlie following closely behind keeping a steadying hand on his shoulder. He sensed an urgent need to move from their current position.
As Tim and Charlie came up beside the linemen the shelving began to succumb to the intense heat with a screeching wail. Boxes tumbled off the upper shelves and rained down on the retreating men.
Following the hose they tried desperately to re-trace their path. Embers and ash mixed with heated air and encircled the exhausted men as they forged on toward safety. The world seemed to collapse around them.
They didn't move fast enough.
The labyrinth disintegrated around them knocking the five men to the water soaked concrete warehouse floor.
When the onslaught of debris finally quieted Johnny vaguely knew he had to move. The weight of the rubble pressed heavily on his back, but the shifting fabric beneath him made him aware that he had landed at least partially on top of one of his crew mates. Whether intentional or beyond his control, hurting another individual was not in Johnny's nature. He pushed up against the pile. His arms, already fatigued from hauling a fully charged hose, shook from the effort, but he pressed on. Pain radiated from his right wrist, 'probably sprained', he thought, but that didn't slow his efforts. Something inside him willed him on. He knew he had to get up first. He had to do whatever he could to help get everyone out. If he had to carry each one to safety then that is what he would do… but he hoped help was already on its way to them, because in truth he felt a bit off kilter.
Somehow in the melee Johnny had lost his protective helmet. 'Why does that always happen to me?' he wondered as he shook the dust from his hair which caused his hazy surroundings to swim uncomfortably. He blinked away the fog and somehow managed to rise up on his knees. "Hey Kirk…you alright?"
The shadowy figure before him moved and groaned, "Man you're heavier than you look."
With his SCBA's constant hiss and Kirk's facemask blocking his words, Johnny struggled a bit to understand the lineman's muffled response.
Kirk pushed up to a sitting position and saw that Johnny had lost his helmet. He scanned the area nearby finding it a few feet away. He bent to retrieve it and felt a definite pain in his ribcage. "Ah.."
"What's wrong?" Johnny asked him with alarm.
"Nothin'…probably busted a rib. Here." He handed Johnny his helmet.
Tim scrambled to his feet and turned to his partner who did not appear to be moving. He shifted his gaze to the security guard and back. He turned to the guard and pulled him back over his shoulder. Tim swayed slightly from the weight. "Gage!"
Johnny heard his name from what seemed like miles away, but in fact was only a few feet. He looked up to find the source.
"Get Charlie!" Tim turned and continued his trek along the length of hose to the exit.
Johnny briefly wondered how Tim could leave his partner unconscious on the floor of a burning building but didn't have time to dwell on that thought. He felt a new sense of adrenalin. A member of his crew was down and needed his help. Shaking off his own discomforts he pulled himself to a standing position and limped over to the fallen comrade while Kirk checked the surrounding area for fire. The collapsed shelving had snuffed out most of the flames, but experience told the men that the smoldering embers could ignite again given the opportunity to find a source to fuel its hunger.
Johnny didn't know exactly what to do other than get Charlie over his shoulder and out. He hoped that he wouldn't hurt him anymore than he already was. He reached down to pull Charlie up and over his shoulder when he felt pain in his wrist. He pulled anyway, but was relieved when Kirk came over and helped him lift the unconscious man. Johnny turned to follow the hose with Kirk's steadying hand on his back.
As they drew nearer the place where they first entered the building stress from exposure to intense heat combined with the aches and pains from being buried by debris began to take its toll on Johnny. He struggled with each step. Kirk continued to offer his support by moving his hands beneath Johnny's arms keeping him on his feet and edging him forward.
Everything around them seemed to be a blur. Johnny willed his feet to continue the slow progress out of the warehouse. The alarm on his air tank sounded adding one final blow to the already tense situation.
Kirk stumbled and went down leaving Johnny to maintain his hold on Charlie alone. "Go!" Kirk yelled. "I'll be right behind you."
Johnny had no choice but to continue alone, every step more difficult. Charlie outweighed him by at least twenty pounds, and right now, he was dead weight. Johnny's sight narrowed to a small perspective focused in on the door ahead. His ears began to ring. He knew he was close to passing out, but he took another step…and another.
Suddenly he felt lighter.
Hands took hold of his arms and pulled him out of the building just as his air completely ran out. Johnny stopped and pulled at his air mask.
"Hang on Gage. Let me give you a hand." Cap told him. Johnny's heavy arms fell back to his side. He knew when the mask left his face as air washed over him. He turned back to see Kirk being helped from the building by two firemen from a different station.
He blinked and looked around. He was lying on a yellow blanket with the oxygen mask over his nose and mouth and had no clue how he'd gotten there. He reached up and pulled at the mask. Someone pulled his hand away and pushed it back down on his chest.
"Leave it."
Johnny squinted up and saw the engineer Mike Stoker looking back at him. "Where's Charlie?"
Mike pointed over to another blanket. Johnny followed Mike's finger and saw Charlie lying on another blanket not far away. He moved to sit up and had to brush Mike's hand away from stopping him. "I'm alright. Let me up."
"Sounded like you were hacking up a lung." Mike said coolly.
Johnny grinned. "Well I'm alright now."
Mike raised an eyebrow. "Whatever you say." He stood and walked back to the engine.
Johnny looked around to find Kirk. He found him sitting on the running board to the squad. He climbed to his feet and walked over beside him. "You okay?"
Kirk looked up at Johnny and smiled. "Yeah, you?"
Johnny smiled. "A little banged up, but ready to go again."
"I don't think either of you are 'going again'." Tim teased. "Cap wants to know which one of you thinks you can drive the squad over to Rampart."
"I can." They both said at the same time.
Tim cracked a smile. "Okay let's see. Gage, you have what looks like a sprained wrist and took in a lot of smoke, carried a guy almost twice your size from a burning building which left you so exhausted you passed out. And Kirk…you had to practically be carried out, and probably have some cracked ribs. Gage it is."
Johnny practically jumped with excitement. "Ha! Let's go." He grabbed the keys from Tim and slipped his hand under Kirk's arm to help him up.
"Don't get so excited Gage. Cap says you both need to be cleared by a doctor to return to duty."
"I'm alright." Johnny said with his hand splayed on his chest. "I feel better since my nap and this…it's just a sprain. An Ace Bandage and a little ice is all I need."
"And maybe a breathing treatment." Tim pointed at Johnny's chest. "Cap's orders."
Some of the initial excitement about driving the squad slipped away, but Johnny still helped Kirk around to the passenger side; then moved around to the driver's side and slipped behind the wheel.
Before starting the engine Johnny took a few minutes to just get the feel for the vehicle. He slid his hand across the dashboard and across the radio, checking to be sure the mike was hanging on the hook as it should. He moved his hand to the steering wheel and felt around the curve and down to the ignition. He turned the key and listened to the engine.
"Are you going to make love to it or drive us to Rampart?" Kirk's words broke the spell.
Johnny put the squad in gear and pulled away from the curb. Tim had gone in the ambulance with the security guard and Charlie. Johnny followed behind the ambulance.
"I think you are supposed to turn the globes on." Kirk teased him.
Johnny immediately flipped on the red flashing lights, but not the siren. The ambulance didn't have their siren on. At least not yet, so he left the siren off. Driving the squad made him both excited and nervous; something about it felt very right.