The Fire
Talks
Part One
by GCS and Hotshow
DISCLAIMER: "Emergency!" and its characters © Mark VII Productions, Inc. and Universal Studios. All rights reserved. No infringement of any copyrights or trademarks is intended or should be inferred. This is a work of fiction, and any similarity to actual persons or events is purely coincidental. This story is only written for entertainment. No financial gain is being realized from it. The story, itself, is the property of the author.
Chapter One
The clicking of the gradually moving hands of the wall clock marked the time as the quiet fire house stood waiting for the next emergency call. Six men slept soundly in the dorm room. The peace was broken as the klaxons sounded bringing the men quickly to their feet. Slipping into their boots and turnout pants the six firemen scrambled for their positions on the engine or in the rescue squad, the captain pausing at the radio only long enough to write the call slips and acknowledge their response with dispatch. The two vehicles barreled out of the station with lights flashing and sirens blaring. They drove into the night snaking through the dark empty streets with practice and skill. They could see the yellow glow of a fire lighting the sky ahead. They could tell by the way the sky was glowing that this was going to be a big one. It was already a three alarm factory fire that was fully involved by the time the two vehicles from their station arrived on the scene. Firemen moved towards the burning inferno with hoses ready. A ladder truck company had already raised their ladder and firemen were on the way up it with hoses at the ready. A deluge truck had started spraying the roof and building front. What these brave firemen didn't know was that the fire like several before it had been intentionally set. The arsonist had doused the inside of the factory with an accelerant that would cause it to burn fast and true. This factory would not survive the rapidly moving flames.
The A-shift of Station 51 had completed their morning duty assignments and was now gathered in the dayroom. Roy and Johnny sat at the table sipping coffee. Roy read the newspaper sports page. Johnny was writing something on a legal pad. Mike sat across the table reading a novel. Marco walked over and flipped on the television to catch the news. Captain Stanley as he usually did was working in his office on reports. Chet was the last to enter the room having just finished cleaning the latrines. "What ya reading Mike?"
"A book Chet."
"Ha Ha…what book Mike?"
"Oh well it's a new novel I saw at the store. Looked interesting. It's about firemen," Mike held up the cover to show Chet the picture of the rescue squad and fire engine racing into the night on the front cover.
"What's it called?"
"The Fire Talks"
"Well what's it about?"
"I told you Chet it's about firemen."
"Okay okay you don't have to get testy." Chet pushed Henry over so he could sit down on the couch with the cup of coffee he had poured himself. "Move over dog. I want to sit down." Henry looked up at the stocky fireman and slowly moved out of the way only to turn back and plop his big head onto Chet's lap after he sat down. "Hey watch it Henry you're gonna make me spill my coffee."
"Hey guys the first fire in this book reminds me of one we fought a couple of years ago at a factory. I wonder who the author is." Mike proceeded to read the first paragraph to the group. "The clicking of gradually moving hands of the wall clock marked the time as the quiet fire house stood waiting for the next emergency call…"
Roy put the paper down and listened intently to Mike as he read aloud. Marco had joined them at the table. "Hey I remember the fire you're talking about. That place went up like a box of matches. We didn't have a chance at saving that building. The arson investigators decided it had been intentionally set," Marco shook his head as he remembered.
"You're right Marco I remember it started out as a three alarm call. I think a couple of firemen were injured before the chief called everyone out to surround and drown," Roy remembered as well.
"Who wrote that book Mike?" Chet asked from the couch.
"Fella named Chris J. Bean. I don't know any county fireman named Bean." Mike looked on the back of the book and on the last pages in the book to see if there might be a picture of the author.
"Hey I read a short story by that guy in the Firemen's Quarterly newspaper. He's really good. Where did you buy that book Mike? I think I'll pick up a copy," Roy had gotten up from his seat and moved over beside Mike taking another look at the book.
"I got it at the bookstore yesterday. They had a table set up in the new releases section."
"I think I'd like to read that too," Marco agreed with Roy. "How about you Chet?"
"Sure I think it sounds interesting."
Johnny still sat sipping his coffee and occasionally jotting something down on his notepad.
"What ya writing over there Gage?" Chet loved to torment his pigeon.
"Nothin' Chet."
"What's a matter Gage making a new list of nurses that dumped ya? Has there been so many you have to keep a list so you won't forget and ask them again?" Chet chuckled at himself.
"Shut up Chet!" Johnny cut his eyes towards the curly haired fireman, got up from his seat, rinsed his coffee cup and left the room. He went to the locker room and stored his notepad in his locker. He didn't want anyone to see the things he had written. Carefully putting it into his duffel bag Johnny zipped it up and sat inside the front of his locker propping his feet on the bench. Roy came into the locker room to check on his partner.
"You okay Johnny? You seem kind of quiet this morning."
"Yeah Roy, Chet just gets on my nerves sometimes."
"Well Junior I know what you mean. What do you think about that book Mike's reading? Sounds interesting don't you think?" Roy moved to sit on the bench thinking maybe he could change the subject and keep Johnny from going into a tirade about Chet. Sometimes Johnny could get hung up on something and talk about it for hours. Roy didn't want to spend the day listening to one of Johnny's rants.
"Sounds okay I guess."
"I think I'll pick up a copy. Do you want me to get you one?" Roy asked.
"Nah."
Roy could tell that his partner was in one of his moods and decided to leave him alone. "Well I'm gonna…" His statement was interrupted by the klaxons calling the squad to a woman in labor call. The two paramedics raced to the squad knowing that a woman in labor could mean anything from the first contractions to a quick delivery as soon as they arrived.
The two paramedics returned to the station after transporting the woman in labor to Rampart. It was her first child. She was probably just scared. They both knew she was not really in labor yet, but to be safe they had transported her to be checked out. The engine was out, so they had the station to themselves.
"Hey Johnny do you want some coffee?"
"Yeah Roy I'll be there in a minute. I want to get something out of my locker. Pour me a cup would ya?"
Johnny came back into the dayroom with his notepad and took the seat next to Roy where his coffee awaited. Roy glanced over at the legal pad and wrinkled his forehead. "What are you writing Junior?"
"Like I told Chet this morning it's nothing. It's just a list."
"Must be kind of private looks like your writing it in Lakota; you only do that when you don't want Chet to find out what it says."
"Yeah." Johnny chuckled. "I guess you're right. He always looks through my locker when he's planning one of his pranks. I bet it drives him crazy that he can't read my stuff. I'll have to remember to keep writing stuff in Lakota just to keep him guessing. Maybe I'll plant some slips of paper on a regular basis just to keep him on his toes." The two friends really laughed at that idea.
Roy noticed that Mike had left his novel over on the table beside the couch. He got up and went to look at it again. Plopping down on the couch beside Henry Roy flipped through the first few pages to the dedication.
This my first novel is dedicated to the men and women of the Los Angeles County Fire Department who on any given day devote their lives to fighting fire and saving lives. These fine men and women risk their own safety to secure that of the public. It is also dedicated to a group of five men who have become my brothers. One in particular who shall remain nameless, but who has helped me understand what family is. This is for you.
"Hey Johnny, this book really is written by an LA County fireman. It says so right here in the dedication."
Before Johnny had a chance to make a comment about the dedication they could hear the engine backing into the station. The four man crew came into the dayroom discussing their last run. "What's up guys? Did you have a rough one?"
"No it was just a little fire. Some kid torched his dog's house." Chet answered for the group.
"What?" Roy and Johnny said in unison.
"How'd he do that?" Johnny wanted to know.
"He decided that he needed a place of his own. He was kind of a small guy so he fit into the dog house. It was for a St. Bernard, so it was big. He wanted to keep warm and cook some hotdogs he had stolen from his mom's kitchen, so he built a little fire in the middle. Fortunately he was on the side by the doorway. The fire got hot and caught the dried wood on the roof. The mother called us, and the rest is history." Chet finished the story.
"Yeah it was amazing that the boy was able to get out without an injury. His mother was so upset." Marco smiled and continued, "The dog didn't look too happy either."
"You know I can see how the Chris J. Bean character could come up with enough stuff to write about. I mean we really get some strange runs. I'm looking forward to reading that novel. Did you guys see the dedication in the front of the book? I wonder which station the guy works out of. He's definitely from LA he dedicated the book to us. Firemen in LA I mean," Roy held up Mike's book.
Mike cleared his throat and held out his hand, "Ahem." Roy handed over the book smiling at his friend.
"What book?" Captain Stanley hadn't been in the dayroom earlier to hear about it.
"Fire Talks" by Chris J. Bean," Mike showed him the book. "Here read the dedication Cap. It's fiction, but the first response in the book sounds a lot like a factory fire we fought about three years ago. It was arson. The book is about an arsonist starting fires, the reasons behind why he does it and how they solve the case. I've only read a few pages, but it is really good."
Captain Stanley took the book from Mike and quickly read the dedication, "Well how 'bout that. I'll have to pick up a copy too."
"Hey Cap there's a book store a few blocks from here. Johnny and I could run over there and stay available. We could pick everyone up a copy," Roy suggested.
"Uh Roy? I uh don't…." Johnny started to say something but was interrupted by Captain Stanley.
"That's a great idea Roy. I don't think there is anything good on TV tonight anyway. I'd like a good book to read. However, you have to stay available." Stanley patted Roy on the back as he made his way over to the coffee pot for a refill.
"Come on Johnny let's go before we get…." He was interrupted by the klaxons. The six men ran to the waiting vehicles.
Their book club would have to wait.
The A-shift of Station 51 had completed their morning duty assignments and was now gathered in the dayroom. Roy and Johnny sat at the table sipping coffee. Roy read the newspaper sports page. Johnny was writing something on a legal pad. Mike sat across the table reading a novel. Marco walked over and flipped on the television to catch the news. Captain Stanley as he usually did was working in his office on reports. Chet was the last to enter the room having just finished cleaning the latrines. "What ya reading Mike?"
"A book Chet."
"Ha Ha…what book Mike?"
"Oh well it's a new novel I saw at the store. Looked interesting. It's about firemen," Mike held up the cover to show Chet the picture of the rescue squad and fire engine racing into the night on the front cover.
"What's it called?"
"The Fire Talks"
"Well what's it about?"
"I told you Chet it's about firemen."
"Okay okay you don't have to get testy." Chet pushed Henry over so he could sit down on the couch with the cup of coffee he had poured himself. "Move over dog. I want to sit down." Henry looked up at the stocky fireman and slowly moved out of the way only to turn back and plop his big head onto Chet's lap after he sat down. "Hey watch it Henry you're gonna make me spill my coffee."
"Hey guys the first fire in this book reminds me of one we fought a couple of years ago at a factory. I wonder who the author is." Mike proceeded to read the first paragraph to the group. "The clicking of gradually moving hands of the wall clock marked the time as the quiet fire house stood waiting for the next emergency call…"
Roy put the paper down and listened intently to Mike as he read aloud. Marco had joined them at the table. "Hey I remember the fire you're talking about. That place went up like a box of matches. We didn't have a chance at saving that building. The arson investigators decided it had been intentionally set," Marco shook his head as he remembered.
"You're right Marco I remember it started out as a three alarm call. I think a couple of firemen were injured before the chief called everyone out to surround and drown," Roy remembered as well.
"Who wrote that book Mike?" Chet asked from the couch.
"Fella named Chris J. Bean. I don't know any county fireman named Bean." Mike looked on the back of the book and on the last pages in the book to see if there might be a picture of the author.
"Hey I read a short story by that guy in the Firemen's Quarterly newspaper. He's really good. Where did you buy that book Mike? I think I'll pick up a copy," Roy had gotten up from his seat and moved over beside Mike taking another look at the book.
"I got it at the bookstore yesterday. They had a table set up in the new releases section."
"I think I'd like to read that too," Marco agreed with Roy. "How about you Chet?"
"Sure I think it sounds interesting."
Johnny still sat sipping his coffee and occasionally jotting something down on his notepad.
"What ya writing over there Gage?" Chet loved to torment his pigeon.
"Nothin' Chet."
"What's a matter Gage making a new list of nurses that dumped ya? Has there been so many you have to keep a list so you won't forget and ask them again?" Chet chuckled at himself.
"Shut up Chet!" Johnny cut his eyes towards the curly haired fireman, got up from his seat, rinsed his coffee cup and left the room. He went to the locker room and stored his notepad in his locker. He didn't want anyone to see the things he had written. Carefully putting it into his duffel bag Johnny zipped it up and sat inside the front of his locker propping his feet on the bench. Roy came into the locker room to check on his partner.
"You okay Johnny? You seem kind of quiet this morning."
"Yeah Roy, Chet just gets on my nerves sometimes."
"Well Junior I know what you mean. What do you think about that book Mike's reading? Sounds interesting don't you think?" Roy moved to sit on the bench thinking maybe he could change the subject and keep Johnny from going into a tirade about Chet. Sometimes Johnny could get hung up on something and talk about it for hours. Roy didn't want to spend the day listening to one of Johnny's rants.
"Sounds okay I guess."
"I think I'll pick up a copy. Do you want me to get you one?" Roy asked.
"Nah."
Roy could tell that his partner was in one of his moods and decided to leave him alone. "Well I'm gonna…" His statement was interrupted by the klaxons calling the squad to a woman in labor call. The two paramedics raced to the squad knowing that a woman in labor could mean anything from the first contractions to a quick delivery as soon as they arrived.
The two paramedics returned to the station after transporting the woman in labor to Rampart. It was her first child. She was probably just scared. They both knew she was not really in labor yet, but to be safe they had transported her to be checked out. The engine was out, so they had the station to themselves.
"Hey Johnny do you want some coffee?"
"Yeah Roy I'll be there in a minute. I want to get something out of my locker. Pour me a cup would ya?"
Johnny came back into the dayroom with his notepad and took the seat next to Roy where his coffee awaited. Roy glanced over at the legal pad and wrinkled his forehead. "What are you writing Junior?"
"Like I told Chet this morning it's nothing. It's just a list."
"Must be kind of private looks like your writing it in Lakota; you only do that when you don't want Chet to find out what it says."
"Yeah." Johnny chuckled. "I guess you're right. He always looks through my locker when he's planning one of his pranks. I bet it drives him crazy that he can't read my stuff. I'll have to remember to keep writing stuff in Lakota just to keep him guessing. Maybe I'll plant some slips of paper on a regular basis just to keep him on his toes." The two friends really laughed at that idea.
Roy noticed that Mike had left his novel over on the table beside the couch. He got up and went to look at it again. Plopping down on the couch beside Henry Roy flipped through the first few pages to the dedication.
This my first novel is dedicated to the men and women of the Los Angeles County Fire Department who on any given day devote their lives to fighting fire and saving lives. These fine men and women risk their own safety to secure that of the public. It is also dedicated to a group of five men who have become my brothers. One in particular who shall remain nameless, but who has helped me understand what family is. This is for you.
"Hey Johnny, this book really is written by an LA County fireman. It says so right here in the dedication."
Before Johnny had a chance to make a comment about the dedication they could hear the engine backing into the station. The four man crew came into the dayroom discussing their last run. "What's up guys? Did you have a rough one?"
"No it was just a little fire. Some kid torched his dog's house." Chet answered for the group.
"What?" Roy and Johnny said in unison.
"How'd he do that?" Johnny wanted to know.
"He decided that he needed a place of his own. He was kind of a small guy so he fit into the dog house. It was for a St. Bernard, so it was big. He wanted to keep warm and cook some hotdogs he had stolen from his mom's kitchen, so he built a little fire in the middle. Fortunately he was on the side by the doorway. The fire got hot and caught the dried wood on the roof. The mother called us, and the rest is history." Chet finished the story.
"Yeah it was amazing that the boy was able to get out without an injury. His mother was so upset." Marco smiled and continued, "The dog didn't look too happy either."
"You know I can see how the Chris J. Bean character could come up with enough stuff to write about. I mean we really get some strange runs. I'm looking forward to reading that novel. Did you guys see the dedication in the front of the book? I wonder which station the guy works out of. He's definitely from LA he dedicated the book to us. Firemen in LA I mean," Roy held up Mike's book.
Mike cleared his throat and held out his hand, "Ahem." Roy handed over the book smiling at his friend.
"What book?" Captain Stanley hadn't been in the dayroom earlier to hear about it.
"Fire Talks" by Chris J. Bean," Mike showed him the book. "Here read the dedication Cap. It's fiction, but the first response in the book sounds a lot like a factory fire we fought about three years ago. It was arson. The book is about an arsonist starting fires, the reasons behind why he does it and how they solve the case. I've only read a few pages, but it is really good."
Captain Stanley took the book from Mike and quickly read the dedication, "Well how 'bout that. I'll have to pick up a copy too."
"Hey Cap there's a book store a few blocks from here. Johnny and I could run over there and stay available. We could pick everyone up a copy," Roy suggested.
"Uh Roy? I uh don't…." Johnny started to say something but was interrupted by Captain Stanley.
"That's a great idea Roy. I don't think there is anything good on TV tonight anyway. I'd like a good book to read. However, you have to stay available." Stanley patted Roy on the back as he made his way over to the coffee pot for a refill.
"Come on Johnny let's go before we get…." He was interrupted by the klaxons. The six men ran to the waiting vehicles.
Their book club would have to wait.
Chapter Two
The crew of Station 51 along with Station 127's was called out on a trapped man call. When they arrived on the scene they discovered that the trapped man was a homeowner who had been working on his roof when his leg fell through. The firemen made short work of extracting the man from the hole in his roof. He declined treatment, so the crews were returning to their stations. "Johnny I'm going to swing by that bookstore on the way back to the station."
"Okay Roy I guess it's okay. Cap said we could as long as we stay available." Johnny stared out the passenger window. He didn't want anything to do with reading that book right now. He had too much on his mind anyway to bother reading something he had already experienced when he fought the fires described within.
"Let's see we need how many copies? One for Chet, Marco, Cap and me, that's four. Do you want one Johnny?"
"Ah no Roy I um I don't have the money this week for a book. Maybe I'll just borrow yours when you're done."
"Okay Junior." Roy wondered why Johnny was short on money this week. He made a quick run into the store for the books. When he got inside he was surprised to see a very nice display set up to showcase the book. He grabbed five copies. He would make Johnny's a gift. Smiling to himself he hurried over to the checkout.
The clerk looked at him kind of funny. "Are you in some kind of a book club?"
"No the guys and I down at Station 51 all wanted to read this book. Apparently it was written by a LA County fireman."
"Oh, I see." The clerk made quick work of bagging the five books and taking Roy's payment. "Thank you and have a nice night."
Roy and Johnny arrived back at the station just in time for dinner to be set on the table. Roy handed each of the guys their copy of the book and told them how much they each owed except for Johnny. He handed Johnny a copy of the book and said nothing.
"Uh Roy?"
"Don't worry about it Junior. I didn't want you to be left out."
"Oh Okay, Thanks." Johnny turned the book over and over in his hands and then placed it on the table beside his bowl of Marco's chili.
The group of firemen actually got to eat a whole meal without getting called out, but their luck did not last long. Just as they finished cleaning up after their meal they were called out on a house fire. When they left the dayroom there were six copies of "The Fire Talks" laying around the room. While the A-shift was out of the station Charlie Dwyer from B-shift stopped by to get something out of his locker. Stopping in the dayroom to check to see if there was any coffee he saw the books. Stopping by the table on his way to the coffee pot he picked one up wondering to himself why there were so many copies lying around. He first looked at the picture on the front cover. That was one of the department squads and engine on the front cover. Curiosity got the best of him and he sat down and proceeded to read the prologue and started the first chapter. He was several pages into it when he heard the vehicles backing into the bay. "Hey guys," he greeted them as they came into the room. "What's up with all of these books?"
"Well Mike here came in with a copy today and read us part of it. We all remembered the fire referenced at the beginning, and then we read the dedication and decided we all wanted to read it. Roy and Johnny stopped by the bookstore and got us all a copy," Chet was speaker for the group.
"I read the dedication. Who is this guy?" Charlie asked.
"What are you doing here Charlie?" Captain Stanley interrupted the paramedic from B-shift.
"Oh sorry Cap, I needed to get my checkbook out of my locker. I forgot it last shift. Guess I had better get going. See you guys in the morning at shift change. Have a safe night." He waved to them as he disappeared out the door.
The guys settled down for a quiet evening of reading hoping they would not get called out. Johnny left the room for a few minutes and returned carrying his notepad and pen. He sat down at the table and made a few notes on his pad. "Still working on that list of dating failures Gage?" Chet tormented Johnny.
"Go play on the freeway Chet," Johnny said without ever looking up.
They had a quiet night only getting called out to minor things like a trash fire and a child with an upset stomach.
By the next morning the B-shift started arriving and after several calls from Charlie the night before they too had copies of the book. As a matter of fact most of members of the entire LA County Fire department now had copies of the book. It was fast becoming a best seller.
Two days later the A-shift came back to the station for their next shift. By now they each had read a good bit of the book. Roy and Mike sat at the table drinking coffee and talking about several of the fires described inside and how they were similar to incidents they had worked. Chet and Marco sat on the couch and were discussing who the author might be. Johnny came in and went straight to the coffee pot. He again had his notepad in hand. Captain Stanley was the last to join the group. "Well guys I called and talked to headquarters. It seems we have a Jarred Bean working out of Station 68. My money is on him as the author Chris J. Bean."
"Really Cap? That's interesting. I wonder if Chris is his first name." Marco turned his book over and looked at the author's name.
"Hey I know that guy." Johnny spoke up. "I subbed over there a few weeks ago. He's a boot on the engine crew. I don't think he's been with the department long. He's a really nice guy. He'll make a good fireman someday, but he's got a lot to learn."
"A boot? If he's a boot then he couldn't have written this book. Some of the fires in here happened several years ago," Chet couldn't believe that a boot could have written the book.
"He could have done research Chet. The fires are all public knowledge. All he would have had to do is make a trip to the library and look up the newspaper articles." Johnny explained.
"Well I have to agree with Chet. I don't think some of these details would have been reported in the newspaper," Mike looked over at Chet and nodded his agreement.
"Well maybe not, but the guy's name is J. Bean," Johnny grew impatient with the conversation.
"Gentlemen I think since we are all here we'll do roll call right here. I don't have any departmental announcements. Roy you're cooking and kitchen today. Johnny you have the apparatus bay and dorm. Mike and Marco you guys are hanging the hoses. Chet you've got the latrine buddy."
"Aw Cap what did I do now?" Chet was clearly unhappy with his assignment. Cap simply shook his head, turned and left the room.
"Roy, can I talk to you for a minute before we do the equipment check and inventory?" Johnny asked his best friend.
"Sure Johnny what's up?"
"Uh in private please." Johnny looked over at Chet knowing if he talked to Roy in front of Chet he would live to regret it.
"Oh okay Johnny why don't we go outside a minute."
Johnny and Roy went outside, Johnny with his list and Roy with a cup of coffee. "Roy I uh need to talk to you about something." He laid his notepad on the station picnic table. "It's kind of important."
"Whatever it is you can talk to me Johnny. I won't discuss it with anyone. Tell me what's going on. Does it have anything to do with your notes there?"
"Yes Roy it does. I've been working on something, and I need your opinion."
"Opinion about what?"
"Well I have this list of ideas." Johnny paused not sure how to go on. He didn't usually keep things from his best friend. He hadn't meant to keep this from him either, but he had not bothered Roy with the details. "I um I've been working on this for a while."
"Johnny?"
"It's a list of possible things for um…" Johnny was kind of embarrassed now that he had decided to talk to Roy about his problem.
Just as Johnny was about to tell Roy about the secret he had been keeping the klaxons went off, and they were called out on their first run of the day. The secret would not be revealed right now. Roy wondered as he pulled the squad out of the station just exactly what could be on the list Johnny was so protective of.
"Okay Roy I guess it's okay. Cap said we could as long as we stay available." Johnny stared out the passenger window. He didn't want anything to do with reading that book right now. He had too much on his mind anyway to bother reading something he had already experienced when he fought the fires described within.
"Let's see we need how many copies? One for Chet, Marco, Cap and me, that's four. Do you want one Johnny?"
"Ah no Roy I um I don't have the money this week for a book. Maybe I'll just borrow yours when you're done."
"Okay Junior." Roy wondered why Johnny was short on money this week. He made a quick run into the store for the books. When he got inside he was surprised to see a very nice display set up to showcase the book. He grabbed five copies. He would make Johnny's a gift. Smiling to himself he hurried over to the checkout.
The clerk looked at him kind of funny. "Are you in some kind of a book club?"
"No the guys and I down at Station 51 all wanted to read this book. Apparently it was written by a LA County fireman."
"Oh, I see." The clerk made quick work of bagging the five books and taking Roy's payment. "Thank you and have a nice night."
Roy and Johnny arrived back at the station just in time for dinner to be set on the table. Roy handed each of the guys their copy of the book and told them how much they each owed except for Johnny. He handed Johnny a copy of the book and said nothing.
"Uh Roy?"
"Don't worry about it Junior. I didn't want you to be left out."
"Oh Okay, Thanks." Johnny turned the book over and over in his hands and then placed it on the table beside his bowl of Marco's chili.
The group of firemen actually got to eat a whole meal without getting called out, but their luck did not last long. Just as they finished cleaning up after their meal they were called out on a house fire. When they left the dayroom there were six copies of "The Fire Talks" laying around the room. While the A-shift was out of the station Charlie Dwyer from B-shift stopped by to get something out of his locker. Stopping in the dayroom to check to see if there was any coffee he saw the books. Stopping by the table on his way to the coffee pot he picked one up wondering to himself why there were so many copies lying around. He first looked at the picture on the front cover. That was one of the department squads and engine on the front cover. Curiosity got the best of him and he sat down and proceeded to read the prologue and started the first chapter. He was several pages into it when he heard the vehicles backing into the bay. "Hey guys," he greeted them as they came into the room. "What's up with all of these books?"
"Well Mike here came in with a copy today and read us part of it. We all remembered the fire referenced at the beginning, and then we read the dedication and decided we all wanted to read it. Roy and Johnny stopped by the bookstore and got us all a copy," Chet was speaker for the group.
"I read the dedication. Who is this guy?" Charlie asked.
"What are you doing here Charlie?" Captain Stanley interrupted the paramedic from B-shift.
"Oh sorry Cap, I needed to get my checkbook out of my locker. I forgot it last shift. Guess I had better get going. See you guys in the morning at shift change. Have a safe night." He waved to them as he disappeared out the door.
The guys settled down for a quiet evening of reading hoping they would not get called out. Johnny left the room for a few minutes and returned carrying his notepad and pen. He sat down at the table and made a few notes on his pad. "Still working on that list of dating failures Gage?" Chet tormented Johnny.
"Go play on the freeway Chet," Johnny said without ever looking up.
They had a quiet night only getting called out to minor things like a trash fire and a child with an upset stomach.
By the next morning the B-shift started arriving and after several calls from Charlie the night before they too had copies of the book. As a matter of fact most of members of the entire LA County Fire department now had copies of the book. It was fast becoming a best seller.
Two days later the A-shift came back to the station for their next shift. By now they each had read a good bit of the book. Roy and Mike sat at the table drinking coffee and talking about several of the fires described inside and how they were similar to incidents they had worked. Chet and Marco sat on the couch and were discussing who the author might be. Johnny came in and went straight to the coffee pot. He again had his notepad in hand. Captain Stanley was the last to join the group. "Well guys I called and talked to headquarters. It seems we have a Jarred Bean working out of Station 68. My money is on him as the author Chris J. Bean."
"Really Cap? That's interesting. I wonder if Chris is his first name." Marco turned his book over and looked at the author's name.
"Hey I know that guy." Johnny spoke up. "I subbed over there a few weeks ago. He's a boot on the engine crew. I don't think he's been with the department long. He's a really nice guy. He'll make a good fireman someday, but he's got a lot to learn."
"A boot? If he's a boot then he couldn't have written this book. Some of the fires in here happened several years ago," Chet couldn't believe that a boot could have written the book.
"He could have done research Chet. The fires are all public knowledge. All he would have had to do is make a trip to the library and look up the newspaper articles." Johnny explained.
"Well I have to agree with Chet. I don't think some of these details would have been reported in the newspaper," Mike looked over at Chet and nodded his agreement.
"Well maybe not, but the guy's name is J. Bean," Johnny grew impatient with the conversation.
"Gentlemen I think since we are all here we'll do roll call right here. I don't have any departmental announcements. Roy you're cooking and kitchen today. Johnny you have the apparatus bay and dorm. Mike and Marco you guys are hanging the hoses. Chet you've got the latrine buddy."
"Aw Cap what did I do now?" Chet was clearly unhappy with his assignment. Cap simply shook his head, turned and left the room.
"Roy, can I talk to you for a minute before we do the equipment check and inventory?" Johnny asked his best friend.
"Sure Johnny what's up?"
"Uh in private please." Johnny looked over at Chet knowing if he talked to Roy in front of Chet he would live to regret it.
"Oh okay Johnny why don't we go outside a minute."
Johnny and Roy went outside, Johnny with his list and Roy with a cup of coffee. "Roy I uh need to talk to you about something." He laid his notepad on the station picnic table. "It's kind of important."
"Whatever it is you can talk to me Johnny. I won't discuss it with anyone. Tell me what's going on. Does it have anything to do with your notes there?"
"Yes Roy it does. I've been working on something, and I need your opinion."
"Opinion about what?"
"Well I have this list of ideas." Johnny paused not sure how to go on. He didn't usually keep things from his best friend. He hadn't meant to keep this from him either, but he had not bothered Roy with the details. "I um I've been working on this for a while."
"Johnny?"
"It's a list of possible things for um…" Johnny was kind of embarrassed now that he had decided to talk to Roy about his problem.
Just as Johnny was about to tell Roy about the secret he had been keeping the klaxons went off, and they were called out on their first run of the day. The secret would not be revealed right now. Roy wondered as he pulled the squad out of the station just exactly what could be on the list Johnny was so protective of.
Chapter Three
Johnny and Roy had back to back runs until well after lunch.
They stopped by Rampart to re-stock their supplies. When they walked up to the nurse's desk Dixie was sitting on her stool looking at the same novel everyone else had been reading.
"What cha got there Dix?" Roy asked her.
"Oh I was just looking at this novel one of the paramedics from 36's left here by accident. Have you seen it? It's about the LA County Fire Department. I mean it's fiction, but it's written by a firemen that works for LA County."
"Yeah Dixie we're all reading it too."
"Do you know who Chris J. Bean is?"
"Well there is a Jarred Bean in the department, but he's a boot. We have our doubts that he wrote it, since he wouldn't have been around during some of the fires referenced in the book," Roy explained.
"What about you Johnny are you reading it too?" Dixie had noticed Johnny looking uneasy. He always had a way that he rocked from side to side with his head down when he was nervous or upset.
"Huh?" Johnny's head shot up in confusion. "You say somethin' Dixie?"
Roy and Dixie laughed at Johnny's reaction. "We were just having a conversation. Where were you just now?"
"Just thinkin'. I'm sorry Dixie I didn't mean to be rude." Johnny dropped his gaze back to the floor.
"It's okay Johnny. It wasn't important. Are you all right? You seem upset or something. Are you feeling okay?" Alarms were going off in Dixie's head as she noticed Johnny had dropped his head again.
"I'm all right. Just tired I guess."
Just about that time Dr. Brackett walked up. "Hey guys how're things with the fire department today."
"Busy," Johnny almost whispered.
"It's been busy here too. Hey is that the new book everyone is talking about?"
"Yep it sure is," Dixie told him as she handed him the book.
"I heard about this on the local news. This book has sold more copies in the first week than any other new release in years." Dr. Brackett looked at the back cover. "Anybody know who the author is?" Dixie and Roy chuckled. Dr. Brackett looked at them in confusion. "What?"
"Well Doc that's what we were just talking about. Nobody really knows." Roy looked over at Johnny and noticed he was still shuffling back and forth with his head down.
Roy and Dixie exchanged worried glances. "Well Junior I guess we had better get back to the station. Hopefully they will have lunch waiting on us. I don't know about you. Well I guess I do know about you, but this time I'm starved too." The friends shared a laugh about Roy's statement. Roy and Johnny bid their goodbyes and headed back to the squad.
When they got back to the station the engine was out on a run. The two paramedics wandered into the day room looking for something to eat. Opening the oven door they were pleased to find two plates with Marco's tamales and beans. "MMM look at this Roy. Marco cooked tamales." Johnny put the two plates on the table as Roy prepared them some ice tea.
"Johnny right before we got called out this morning you were about to tell me something. We are alone right now. Why don't you tell me now?"
"Uh okay. Let me get my notepad." He stood up and stopped for a minute scratching his head.
"What's the matter Johnny?"
"I don't know where I left it." He went over to the couch and looked underneath Henry.
Roy got up from the table and helped Johnny look around the day room. "You know Johnny we were out back at the picnic table. I bet it's out there." The two men went out the back door and found the missing notepad. Returning to the day room and their lunch they sat at the table Johnny staring at the notepad looking kind of nervous.
"Roy this is real important to me. I um I don't want Chet to find out about it. He'll never let me live it down." Johnny shook his head and continued to look at the words on the page. "You know next month is Jenny's birthday."
"Yeah Johnny I know that."
"Well I wanted to do something really special for her."
"Special? Like what?"
"Special like for a little girl. I've been working on some ideas for her gift. I have these notes here. They're plans for a doll house. I was uh…I was thinking about making her a doll house. I just….I didn't want to do anything that you or Jo might not want me to do. I mean if you….were…um going to do something like that for her. I didn't want to…you know…take that away from you."
"Johnny is that what you've been so worried about all day?"
"Well yeah Roy it is. You're my best friend. I don't want you to be upset with me."
"I think making her a doll house would be a fantastic gift from you. My daughter adores you Uncle Johnny. She'll probably keep that doll house for the rest of her life because you made it."
Johnny smiled a huge grin. "Really?"
"Really Johnny."
"Great! I'll get started on it right away." Johnny picked up his fork and started shoveling his lunch into his mouth. Clearly he felt a lot better.
"Johnny is that what you have there on your notepad?"
"Yep."
"You've been driving Chet crazy writing plans for a doll house in Lakota on your notepad?"
"Yep." Johnny stopped eating with his fork suspended in air holding his next bite. He and Roy looked at each other and burst into laughter. "It has been making him crazy hasn't it?"
"It sure has Johnny. That's just great. You really had him going."
"Roy. Don't tell him. I mean I would like nothing more than to torment him about it, but if he finds out what was really on the pad he'll never stop talking about it. Me making a doll house for a little girl and all. He'll have doll jokes for years."
"Mum's the word Junior."
"I do have some other stuff here too. But I don't want him knowing about that either." They finished their lunch and cleaned up the dishes. The engine crew was still not back, so they decided to relax for a while. Roy turned on the TV to try to catch some news. Johnny sat on the couch with Henry and picked up a copy of "The Fire Talks." He opened the book and started reading. He smiled as he looked at the words on the page thinking to himself 'Best selling book in a long time.' He kept reading. After a while the book rested on his chest with his thumb marking the page he had it open to. His head lolled to one side. Johnny had fallen asleep. A short while later the engine could be heard backing into the station. The engine crew came into the dayroom to find Roy still watching the news and Johnny asleep with his book.
They stopped by Rampart to re-stock their supplies. When they walked up to the nurse's desk Dixie was sitting on her stool looking at the same novel everyone else had been reading.
"What cha got there Dix?" Roy asked her.
"Oh I was just looking at this novel one of the paramedics from 36's left here by accident. Have you seen it? It's about the LA County Fire Department. I mean it's fiction, but it's written by a firemen that works for LA County."
"Yeah Dixie we're all reading it too."
"Do you know who Chris J. Bean is?"
"Well there is a Jarred Bean in the department, but he's a boot. We have our doubts that he wrote it, since he wouldn't have been around during some of the fires referenced in the book," Roy explained.
"What about you Johnny are you reading it too?" Dixie had noticed Johnny looking uneasy. He always had a way that he rocked from side to side with his head down when he was nervous or upset.
"Huh?" Johnny's head shot up in confusion. "You say somethin' Dixie?"
Roy and Dixie laughed at Johnny's reaction. "We were just having a conversation. Where were you just now?"
"Just thinkin'. I'm sorry Dixie I didn't mean to be rude." Johnny dropped his gaze back to the floor.
"It's okay Johnny. It wasn't important. Are you all right? You seem upset or something. Are you feeling okay?" Alarms were going off in Dixie's head as she noticed Johnny had dropped his head again.
"I'm all right. Just tired I guess."
Just about that time Dr. Brackett walked up. "Hey guys how're things with the fire department today."
"Busy," Johnny almost whispered.
"It's been busy here too. Hey is that the new book everyone is talking about?"
"Yep it sure is," Dixie told him as she handed him the book.
"I heard about this on the local news. This book has sold more copies in the first week than any other new release in years." Dr. Brackett looked at the back cover. "Anybody know who the author is?" Dixie and Roy chuckled. Dr. Brackett looked at them in confusion. "What?"
"Well Doc that's what we were just talking about. Nobody really knows." Roy looked over at Johnny and noticed he was still shuffling back and forth with his head down.
Roy and Dixie exchanged worried glances. "Well Junior I guess we had better get back to the station. Hopefully they will have lunch waiting on us. I don't know about you. Well I guess I do know about you, but this time I'm starved too." The friends shared a laugh about Roy's statement. Roy and Johnny bid their goodbyes and headed back to the squad.
When they got back to the station the engine was out on a run. The two paramedics wandered into the day room looking for something to eat. Opening the oven door they were pleased to find two plates with Marco's tamales and beans. "MMM look at this Roy. Marco cooked tamales." Johnny put the two plates on the table as Roy prepared them some ice tea.
"Johnny right before we got called out this morning you were about to tell me something. We are alone right now. Why don't you tell me now?"
"Uh okay. Let me get my notepad." He stood up and stopped for a minute scratching his head.
"What's the matter Johnny?"
"I don't know where I left it." He went over to the couch and looked underneath Henry.
Roy got up from the table and helped Johnny look around the day room. "You know Johnny we were out back at the picnic table. I bet it's out there." The two men went out the back door and found the missing notepad. Returning to the day room and their lunch they sat at the table Johnny staring at the notepad looking kind of nervous.
"Roy this is real important to me. I um I don't want Chet to find out about it. He'll never let me live it down." Johnny shook his head and continued to look at the words on the page. "You know next month is Jenny's birthday."
"Yeah Johnny I know that."
"Well I wanted to do something really special for her."
"Special? Like what?"
"Special like for a little girl. I've been working on some ideas for her gift. I have these notes here. They're plans for a doll house. I was uh…I was thinking about making her a doll house. I just….I didn't want to do anything that you or Jo might not want me to do. I mean if you….were…um going to do something like that for her. I didn't want to…you know…take that away from you."
"Johnny is that what you've been so worried about all day?"
"Well yeah Roy it is. You're my best friend. I don't want you to be upset with me."
"I think making her a doll house would be a fantastic gift from you. My daughter adores you Uncle Johnny. She'll probably keep that doll house for the rest of her life because you made it."
Johnny smiled a huge grin. "Really?"
"Really Johnny."
"Great! I'll get started on it right away." Johnny picked up his fork and started shoveling his lunch into his mouth. Clearly he felt a lot better.
"Johnny is that what you have there on your notepad?"
"Yep."
"You've been driving Chet crazy writing plans for a doll house in Lakota on your notepad?"
"Yep." Johnny stopped eating with his fork suspended in air holding his next bite. He and Roy looked at each other and burst into laughter. "It has been making him crazy hasn't it?"
"It sure has Johnny. That's just great. You really had him going."
"Roy. Don't tell him. I mean I would like nothing more than to torment him about it, but if he finds out what was really on the pad he'll never stop talking about it. Me making a doll house for a little girl and all. He'll have doll jokes for years."
"Mum's the word Junior."
"I do have some other stuff here too. But I don't want him knowing about that either." They finished their lunch and cleaned up the dishes. The engine crew was still not back, so they decided to relax for a while. Roy turned on the TV to try to catch some news. Johnny sat on the couch with Henry and picked up a copy of "The Fire Talks." He opened the book and started reading. He smiled as he looked at the words on the page thinking to himself 'Best selling book in a long time.' He kept reading. After a while the book rested on his chest with his thumb marking the page he had it open to. His head lolled to one side. Johnny had fallen asleep. A short while later the engine could be heard backing into the station. The engine crew came into the dayroom to find Roy still watching the news and Johnny asleep with his book.
