The Fire
Talks
Chapter Four
by GCS and Hotshow
The engine crew's arrival in the dayroom woke Johnny from his nap. He sat up rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Hey guys tough run?"
"Nope just a little fire Gage. You know the one's you and Roy used to fight before you got that sweet job of helping little old ladies get their cats out of trees." Chet baited Johnny for an argument.
"Shut up Chet." Johnny was still groggy from his short nap and didn't want to argue with Chet.
"Hey Roy I went over to that bookstore yesterday to get a cookbook by that French lady on TV my mom wanted. I think her name is Julia Child. Anyway I saw the display for "The Fire Talks". Pretty impressive for a local guy. I bet that book will be on the best seller list by the end of the week. Firemen all over the country will be reading that book." Chet then smiled a sinister looking smile. "I also picked up this little book." He held up an Indian to English translation book. "It doesn't have Lakota specifically, but I bet it will help me decipher this." He grabbed Johnny's notepad from the table.
"Chet! give me that!" Johnny yelled.
Chet spun on his heel and ran out of the dayroom into the apparatus bay. "No way man. I'm gonna read this."
Johnny had a little trouble getting off the couch, because Henry was still in his lap. That gave Chet a head start. Chet ran around the front of the engine and through the door to the dorm. Johnny decided to try to cut him off through the locker room. Just as Johnny reached out for the door Chet burst through it sending Johnny spinning out of control. Johnny fell hard against the rear bumper of the engine striking his left shoulder. He slammed down on the concrete floor and immediately curled into a ball of pain. He had the wind knocked out as well. Gasping for breath and cradling his shoulder he continued to lay in the floor. Hearing the noise the others came running into the apparatus bay. "What happened?" Captain Stanley asked as he knelt down next to Johnny.
"I was just coming out of the locker room, and the door hit him. I didn't know he was there Cap. I swear!" Chet was really just having fun. He never intended for Johnny to get hurt.
Roy knelt down on Johnny's other side, "Where are you hurt Johnny?"
"I'm okay Roy just got the air knocked out and hit my shoulder on the engine. I don't think it's dislocated or anything, just bruised. Help me up."
"I think you should stay put and let me check you out." Roy held his hand on Johnny's chest trying to keep him down.
"I'm okay Roy." Johnny was getting agitated at being held down.
"John you just lay there and let Roy check you out. That's an order." Captain Stanley was not happy with this situation. "Marco get the gear. Chet give me that notepad, and I don't want to see that book of yours anywhere around this station. Once we know how John is I want to see you in my office."
"Yes sir." Chet handed the pad to Cap and lowered his eyes to the floor.
"Johnny let's get your shirt off so I can look at your shoulder." Roy and Mike helped Johnny sit up. Johnny reached to unbutton his shirt. "No let me unbutton it. You just relax"
"I'm okay Roy."
"I'll be the judge of that Junior. Your pulse and respirations are a little high."
"Well I was running."
"Yeah I know." Roy moved Johnny's arm to see if the shoulder was still in place. "It's already starting to bruise and swell, but I don't think it's out of joint. I can't be sure without an x-ray. Cap I don't think we need to call an ambulance, but I do think he needs to let a doctor check it to be sure."
"Aw Roy it's just a bad bruise."
"Gage you will go to Rampart and get checked out. That is an order. Do you understand?" Captain Stanley was clearly mad.
"Yes sir. I'm sorry Cap." Johnny felt bad about his part in causing trouble at the station. He also felt bad that his little injury might cause him to have to take the rest of the shift off. He hoped not. He didn't want to make things any worse than they already were. Roy could see how remorseful Johnny was and reached out to give him help up.
"Here Johnny let's get your shirt back on." Roy helped Johnny with the shirt while Mike and Marco put the equipment back in the squad.
"John here is your notepad. Do me a favor and put it up somewhere safely away from Chet." Captain Stanley looked over at Chet. "My office." He turned and strode purposefully across the bay. Chet followed sullenly like a child in trouble.
"Man who needs to read a novel when you work here at 51's." Marco chuckled as he and Mike went back to the dayroom.
Roy and Johnny pulled out of the station in the squad. No sirens or lights were needed. Roy picked up the radio mike to call in their still alarm. "Squad 51 to LA."
"LA 51 go ahead."
"Squad 51 still alarm to Rampart with Code I."
"10-4 51."
"Roy I…" Johnny started to say something, but Roy cut him off.
"Don't worry about it Johnny I know you don't want Chet to know what you have on your notepad. It was just an accident. I don't think it's serious, but we need to be sure."
"Okay Roy." Johnny looked out the passenger side window. His shoulder did hurt. Maybe getting it x-rayed wasn't such a bad idea after all.
Back at the station Captain Stanley and Chet were meeting in his office.
"Chet take a seat." Chet did not respond but quickly sat in the chair. "Now Chet I know you did not intend for John to get hurt, but this constant attack on him has to stop. I know the Phantom breaks up the seriousness of what we do, but when people start to get hurt we need to re-evaluate our actions. John has been writing on his notepad in Lakota, because it is personal to him. He obviously does not want anyone to know what he has written. You need to respect that."
"Yes Sir. I'm really sorry Cap."
"I know that Chet. You need to tell John when he gets back. I'm going to ask you to back off about his personal business. The pranks are one thing, but don't bother him about personal stuff. He is very private about his personal life. You know that."
"Yes Sir."
"Now I'm not going give you any additional punishment except that you will need to do John's duties along with your own assigned tasks for today. Got it?"
"Got it Cap."
At the hospital Johnny had been sent to an exam room and was waiting for x-ray to take pictures of his shoulder. Roy was getting coffee at the nurse's station with Dixie.
"You know Dix Chet just will not let well enough alone. Johnny has to try to keep things from him, because he will ride him about things for days. Johnny is actually doing something very nice for my daughter. That's what was on that pad. Nothing really big, just not something Johnny would want Chet to know. He did say there were some other notes, but it's personal. It's Johnny's business. I wish Chet would just let him be sometimes. Johnny gets hurt enough in the field. He doesn't need any help."
"You're right Roy. Hey speaking of pranksters have you gotten to the chapter in "The Fire Talks" where the character tells of his dealing with a guy like that at his station? I guess there is a joker at every station just like Chet."
"Nope just a little fire Gage. You know the one's you and Roy used to fight before you got that sweet job of helping little old ladies get their cats out of trees." Chet baited Johnny for an argument.
"Shut up Chet." Johnny was still groggy from his short nap and didn't want to argue with Chet.
"Hey Roy I went over to that bookstore yesterday to get a cookbook by that French lady on TV my mom wanted. I think her name is Julia Child. Anyway I saw the display for "The Fire Talks". Pretty impressive for a local guy. I bet that book will be on the best seller list by the end of the week. Firemen all over the country will be reading that book." Chet then smiled a sinister looking smile. "I also picked up this little book." He held up an Indian to English translation book. "It doesn't have Lakota specifically, but I bet it will help me decipher this." He grabbed Johnny's notepad from the table.
"Chet! give me that!" Johnny yelled.
Chet spun on his heel and ran out of the dayroom into the apparatus bay. "No way man. I'm gonna read this."
Johnny had a little trouble getting off the couch, because Henry was still in his lap. That gave Chet a head start. Chet ran around the front of the engine and through the door to the dorm. Johnny decided to try to cut him off through the locker room. Just as Johnny reached out for the door Chet burst through it sending Johnny spinning out of control. Johnny fell hard against the rear bumper of the engine striking his left shoulder. He slammed down on the concrete floor and immediately curled into a ball of pain. He had the wind knocked out as well. Gasping for breath and cradling his shoulder he continued to lay in the floor. Hearing the noise the others came running into the apparatus bay. "What happened?" Captain Stanley asked as he knelt down next to Johnny.
"I was just coming out of the locker room, and the door hit him. I didn't know he was there Cap. I swear!" Chet was really just having fun. He never intended for Johnny to get hurt.
Roy knelt down on Johnny's other side, "Where are you hurt Johnny?"
"I'm okay Roy just got the air knocked out and hit my shoulder on the engine. I don't think it's dislocated or anything, just bruised. Help me up."
"I think you should stay put and let me check you out." Roy held his hand on Johnny's chest trying to keep him down.
"I'm okay Roy." Johnny was getting agitated at being held down.
"John you just lay there and let Roy check you out. That's an order." Captain Stanley was not happy with this situation. "Marco get the gear. Chet give me that notepad, and I don't want to see that book of yours anywhere around this station. Once we know how John is I want to see you in my office."
"Yes sir." Chet handed the pad to Cap and lowered his eyes to the floor.
"Johnny let's get your shirt off so I can look at your shoulder." Roy and Mike helped Johnny sit up. Johnny reached to unbutton his shirt. "No let me unbutton it. You just relax"
"I'm okay Roy."
"I'll be the judge of that Junior. Your pulse and respirations are a little high."
"Well I was running."
"Yeah I know." Roy moved Johnny's arm to see if the shoulder was still in place. "It's already starting to bruise and swell, but I don't think it's out of joint. I can't be sure without an x-ray. Cap I don't think we need to call an ambulance, but I do think he needs to let a doctor check it to be sure."
"Aw Roy it's just a bad bruise."
"Gage you will go to Rampart and get checked out. That is an order. Do you understand?" Captain Stanley was clearly mad.
"Yes sir. I'm sorry Cap." Johnny felt bad about his part in causing trouble at the station. He also felt bad that his little injury might cause him to have to take the rest of the shift off. He hoped not. He didn't want to make things any worse than they already were. Roy could see how remorseful Johnny was and reached out to give him help up.
"Here Johnny let's get your shirt back on." Roy helped Johnny with the shirt while Mike and Marco put the equipment back in the squad.
"John here is your notepad. Do me a favor and put it up somewhere safely away from Chet." Captain Stanley looked over at Chet. "My office." He turned and strode purposefully across the bay. Chet followed sullenly like a child in trouble.
"Man who needs to read a novel when you work here at 51's." Marco chuckled as he and Mike went back to the dayroom.
Roy and Johnny pulled out of the station in the squad. No sirens or lights were needed. Roy picked up the radio mike to call in their still alarm. "Squad 51 to LA."
"LA 51 go ahead."
"Squad 51 still alarm to Rampart with Code I."
"10-4 51."
"Roy I…" Johnny started to say something, but Roy cut him off.
"Don't worry about it Johnny I know you don't want Chet to know what you have on your notepad. It was just an accident. I don't think it's serious, but we need to be sure."
"Okay Roy." Johnny looked out the passenger side window. His shoulder did hurt. Maybe getting it x-rayed wasn't such a bad idea after all.
Back at the station Captain Stanley and Chet were meeting in his office.
"Chet take a seat." Chet did not respond but quickly sat in the chair. "Now Chet I know you did not intend for John to get hurt, but this constant attack on him has to stop. I know the Phantom breaks up the seriousness of what we do, but when people start to get hurt we need to re-evaluate our actions. John has been writing on his notepad in Lakota, because it is personal to him. He obviously does not want anyone to know what he has written. You need to respect that."
"Yes Sir. I'm really sorry Cap."
"I know that Chet. You need to tell John when he gets back. I'm going to ask you to back off about his personal business. The pranks are one thing, but don't bother him about personal stuff. He is very private about his personal life. You know that."
"Yes Sir."
"Now I'm not going give you any additional punishment except that you will need to do John's duties along with your own assigned tasks for today. Got it?"
"Got it Cap."
At the hospital Johnny had been sent to an exam room and was waiting for x-ray to take pictures of his shoulder. Roy was getting coffee at the nurse's station with Dixie.
"You know Dix Chet just will not let well enough alone. Johnny has to try to keep things from him, because he will ride him about things for days. Johnny is actually doing something very nice for my daughter. That's what was on that pad. Nothing really big, just not something Johnny would want Chet to know. He did say there were some other notes, but it's personal. It's Johnny's business. I wish Chet would just let him be sometimes. Johnny gets hurt enough in the field. He doesn't need any help."
"You're right Roy. Hey speaking of pranksters have you gotten to the chapter in "The Fire Talks" where the character tells of his dealing with a guy like that at his station? I guess there is a joker at every station just like Chet."
Chapter Five
Johnny waited in the exam room for the results of his shoulder x-ray. His shoulder was really hurting, but he could rotate it so he didn't think it was anything more than a deep bruise. Roy came in with two cups of coffee. "Here you go Johnny. I thought you could use this."
"Thanks Roy."
"Johnny don't let Chet get to you. He's just horsing around. Sometimes he just doesn't know when to quit."
"Yeah I know, but sometimes I just wish he would back off. I really have some things going on that he doesn't need to know." Johnny absently rubbed his shoulder as he spoke.
"That really bothering you?"
"It's just sore. I'm sure it's not dislocated. I can move it around no problem." As soon as Johnny finished telling Roy that he was sure his shoulder was just bruised Dr. Early came in and confirmed his diagnosis.
"Okay Johnny I think you can try taking regular Tylenol for this one. I can prescribe something for pain if that doesn't work. Just check with me when you bring in your next patient if you need something stronger. I would rather not go that route if we don't have to, because I would need to take you off shift."
"Okay Doc. Thanks"
"See you guys later," Dr. Early waved as he exited the treatment room.
The two paramedics stopped by the nurse's desk to tell Dixie goodbye.
"Well I guess you're going to live this time," Dixie teased Johnny.
"I guess so," Johnny answered quietly. He was still thinking about what Captain Stanley was going to say to him when he got back to the station. Now that he was cleared for duty
"Johnny try not to let Chet get to you," Dixie could tell that Johnny was still upset.
"Okay Thanks Dixie. We'll see you later." Johnny managed a little smile.
Back at the station the engine crew having finished their duties, even Chet with having to complete Johnny's job for the day, were all sitting around reading the novel. "Hey Marco there's a guy in this book that sounds like the phantom."
"You're kidding. What chapter is that in?" Marco asked.
"It's in chapter twelve. It says right here that a water bomb trap was set up in the locker, and that he got hit in the face with water just as he was trying to get ready for roll call making him late. That sure sounds like what happens to Gage every time the phantom strikes."
"Chet I've heard that Smitherson does the same kind of pranks over at 127's. He gets the boots every time he sets one up," Mike looked up from his reading long enough to tell Chet he was not the only phantom in the department.
"Okay so we have a boot named J. Bean over at 68 and a prankster over at 127. That still doesn't tell us who the author really is. The arsonist uses the same accelerant to set all of his fires and so far no one has any clues as to who it is. There is another fire in chapter fourteen that sounds familiar to another one we were called to. Have you read that far yet Mike?" Marco asked.
"Yep I'm on chapter twenty. Actually I think most of the details in the book are familiar, but you know they could be any fire worked by any station. They just all seem similar. All of the characters remind me of our crew, but then they could be any fireman. There are guys just like us all over the department. It is a really good book. I'm enjoying reading it. I'm not too concerned with who the author is as long as he writes more books. I like his style," Mike smiled and went back to reading.
"What do you mean you don't care who the author is?" Chet could not believe his ears.
"I don't care."
"How can you not care who wrote this. I mean Mike he's a fireman with the department." Chet could not believe his ears.
"I told you Chet I don't care. If the author does not want me to know who he is then it just doesn't matter. I like the book. That's what matters. It's about something I enjoy. That matters. Who he is doesn't."
"You're too much Mike." Chet gave up trying to reason with the engineer.
About that time the squad backed into the station. Roy climbed out and went to the kitchen. Johnny sat there for a few minutes trying to decide if he should stop by Captain Stanley's office or wait for the captain to find him. Deciding to face his captain first he slowly got out and walked over to the office and knocked on the door frame. "Cap."
"How's your shoulder?"
"It's just a deep bruise like I thought."
"So you're cleared for duty?"
"Yes Sir." Johnny looked at his feet and shuffled like he does when he's nervous.
"Okay well good. Chet finished your duties for you. Why don't you take it easy until you get a call?" Cap knew Johnny was not to blame for the earlier incident.
"Huh? You mean I'm not in trouble?" Johnny couldn't believe it.
"I know it wasn't your fault John. I've already spoken to Chet about it. I've instructed him to leave your personal things alone. The phantom will be taking a break."
"Um thanks Cap. Thanks a lot." Johnny spun on his heel and headed to the kitchen to join the rest of the guys.
In the kitchen Chet started in about the author of the book with Roy. "Can you believe that Stoker here doesn't care who wrote that book?"
"Well actually Chet I can understand it. I don't think it is all that important either. The book is good because it's good not because of who wrote it."
"I agree with Roy and Mike. Who cares who wrote it," Johnny said as he entered the room.
"Nobody asked you Gage." Chet moved over to the couch with Henry. "How's your shoulder anyway?"
"It hurts, but it's just bruised like I said in the first place; next time watch where you're going."
"Watch where I'm going, you're the one who ran over to the door without checking through the window to see if anyone was coming out." Chet shot back at Johnny.
"Guys I think you need to let that drop before Cap hears you arguing again," Marco suggested.
"Before Cap hears what?" Hank said as he entered the kitchen coffee cup in hand.
"Nothing Cap," Johnny and Chet said at the same time.
"Well gentlemen I just heard on the radio that "The Fire Talks" just reached number one on the best seller list.
"What?" Johnny asked. "You're kidding."
"No I just heard it. They said it is the fastest selling novel on the market, and for a first time author it is one of the fastest selling novels of all time. Whoever the author is must really be celebrating right now." Captain Stanley retreated to his office with a full cup of coffee.
The telephone rang and Johnny went to answer it. "Station 51, Fireman Gage speaking." Then there was silence for a few minutes. Johnny turned his back on the others and listened to the person on the other end of the line. "Yes I heard. Yes. Uh huh. Okay, thanks."
"Thanks Roy."
"Johnny don't let Chet get to you. He's just horsing around. Sometimes he just doesn't know when to quit."
"Yeah I know, but sometimes I just wish he would back off. I really have some things going on that he doesn't need to know." Johnny absently rubbed his shoulder as he spoke.
"That really bothering you?"
"It's just sore. I'm sure it's not dislocated. I can move it around no problem." As soon as Johnny finished telling Roy that he was sure his shoulder was just bruised Dr. Early came in and confirmed his diagnosis.
"Okay Johnny I think you can try taking regular Tylenol for this one. I can prescribe something for pain if that doesn't work. Just check with me when you bring in your next patient if you need something stronger. I would rather not go that route if we don't have to, because I would need to take you off shift."
"Okay Doc. Thanks"
"See you guys later," Dr. Early waved as he exited the treatment room.
The two paramedics stopped by the nurse's desk to tell Dixie goodbye.
"Well I guess you're going to live this time," Dixie teased Johnny.
"I guess so," Johnny answered quietly. He was still thinking about what Captain Stanley was going to say to him when he got back to the station. Now that he was cleared for duty
"Johnny try not to let Chet get to you," Dixie could tell that Johnny was still upset.
"Okay Thanks Dixie. We'll see you later." Johnny managed a little smile.
Back at the station the engine crew having finished their duties, even Chet with having to complete Johnny's job for the day, were all sitting around reading the novel. "Hey Marco there's a guy in this book that sounds like the phantom."
"You're kidding. What chapter is that in?" Marco asked.
"It's in chapter twelve. It says right here that a water bomb trap was set up in the locker, and that he got hit in the face with water just as he was trying to get ready for roll call making him late. That sure sounds like what happens to Gage every time the phantom strikes."
"Chet I've heard that Smitherson does the same kind of pranks over at 127's. He gets the boots every time he sets one up," Mike looked up from his reading long enough to tell Chet he was not the only phantom in the department.
"Okay so we have a boot named J. Bean over at 68 and a prankster over at 127. That still doesn't tell us who the author really is. The arsonist uses the same accelerant to set all of his fires and so far no one has any clues as to who it is. There is another fire in chapter fourteen that sounds familiar to another one we were called to. Have you read that far yet Mike?" Marco asked.
"Yep I'm on chapter twenty. Actually I think most of the details in the book are familiar, but you know they could be any fire worked by any station. They just all seem similar. All of the characters remind me of our crew, but then they could be any fireman. There are guys just like us all over the department. It is a really good book. I'm enjoying reading it. I'm not too concerned with who the author is as long as he writes more books. I like his style," Mike smiled and went back to reading.
"What do you mean you don't care who the author is?" Chet could not believe his ears.
"I don't care."
"How can you not care who wrote this. I mean Mike he's a fireman with the department." Chet could not believe his ears.
"I told you Chet I don't care. If the author does not want me to know who he is then it just doesn't matter. I like the book. That's what matters. It's about something I enjoy. That matters. Who he is doesn't."
"You're too much Mike." Chet gave up trying to reason with the engineer.
About that time the squad backed into the station. Roy climbed out and went to the kitchen. Johnny sat there for a few minutes trying to decide if he should stop by Captain Stanley's office or wait for the captain to find him. Deciding to face his captain first he slowly got out and walked over to the office and knocked on the door frame. "Cap."
"How's your shoulder?"
"It's just a deep bruise like I thought."
"So you're cleared for duty?"
"Yes Sir." Johnny looked at his feet and shuffled like he does when he's nervous.
"Okay well good. Chet finished your duties for you. Why don't you take it easy until you get a call?" Cap knew Johnny was not to blame for the earlier incident.
"Huh? You mean I'm not in trouble?" Johnny couldn't believe it.
"I know it wasn't your fault John. I've already spoken to Chet about it. I've instructed him to leave your personal things alone. The phantom will be taking a break."
"Um thanks Cap. Thanks a lot." Johnny spun on his heel and headed to the kitchen to join the rest of the guys.
In the kitchen Chet started in about the author of the book with Roy. "Can you believe that Stoker here doesn't care who wrote that book?"
"Well actually Chet I can understand it. I don't think it is all that important either. The book is good because it's good not because of who wrote it."
"I agree with Roy and Mike. Who cares who wrote it," Johnny said as he entered the room.
"Nobody asked you Gage." Chet moved over to the couch with Henry. "How's your shoulder anyway?"
"It hurts, but it's just bruised like I said in the first place; next time watch where you're going."
"Watch where I'm going, you're the one who ran over to the door without checking through the window to see if anyone was coming out." Chet shot back at Johnny.
"Guys I think you need to let that drop before Cap hears you arguing again," Marco suggested.
"Before Cap hears what?" Hank said as he entered the kitchen coffee cup in hand.
"Nothing Cap," Johnny and Chet said at the same time.
"Well gentlemen I just heard on the radio that "The Fire Talks" just reached number one on the best seller list.
"What?" Johnny asked. "You're kidding."
"No I just heard it. They said it is the fastest selling novel on the market, and for a first time author it is one of the fastest selling novels of all time. Whoever the author is must really be celebrating right now." Captain Stanley retreated to his office with a full cup of coffee.
The telephone rang and Johnny went to answer it. "Station 51, Fireman Gage speaking." Then there was silence for a few minutes. Johnny turned his back on the others and listened to the person on the other end of the line. "Yes I heard. Yes. Uh huh. Okay, thanks."
Chapter Six
Johnny hung up the phone and stood looking at it in thought for a few minutes. He ran his fingers through his hair like he does when he is excited, worried, concerned, or upset about something.
"Johnny is everything all right?" Roy asked him. Roy could always read Johnny's moods. He could see that something was up.
"Huh? Oh yeah everything's fine."
"Come on Junior we can see that something's up." Roy let his friend know that he didn't believe him.
"Oh well it's really no big deal." Johnny moved away from the phone and went back to his place at the table. Sitting down he reached for the sports page of the newspaper and started looking at it.
"Come on Johnny what's up?" Roy asked again.
"That was my landlady. She was calling to remind me that the water would be off at my apartments tomorrow for repairs to the pipes. She didn't know for how long."
"So that's got you upset? Geesh Gage you worry about stupid stuff," Chet commented.
"Well Chester I had planned to do my laundry tomorrow at the complex laundry mat. Now I can't."
"Laundry can wait for another day Gage," Chet continued to tease the younger man.
"Chet, remember our little talk this morning," Captain Stanley said from the doorway.
"Um yes sir." Chet slumped lower in his seat on the couch and began stroking Henry's ears. The dog loved it when his best buddy Chet stroked his ears. He snuggled against Chet's leg.
"Hey you can bring your things over to the house and use our machines. I know Joanne won't mind," Roy suggested. "And you can shower there."
"Aw that's okay Roy. I can shower here before I leave, and there's another laundry mat a few blocks away. Besides like Chet said it can wait. I just haven't done any in two weeks. I'm running out of blue jeans. But thanks anyway."
"Well if you change your mind I'm sure Jo would fix some lunch too."
"Thanks Roy. It's really okay."
Johnny went back to his reading. Chet continued to pet Henry. The others went back to reading their novels. Captain Stanley went to the coffee pot to get his refill. Things were quiet at the station for a little while, but not for too long.
The tones sounded sending the paramedics on a call of a woman down at the grocery store. The guys ran to the squad as Captain Stanley responded to dispatch on the radio. He handed them the call slip and they were off.
Arriving at the scene they found a group of people standing around an elderly woman on the ground beside her car. "What happened?" Johnny asked.
"She was mugged. Some guy jumped out of a white van and threatened her with a knife. He took her purse. She grabbed his arm and screamed. That's when he knocked her to the ground." The store manager told the paramedics. "He jumped in the van and sped away. These teenage girls came over to try to help her. One of them came in and asked me to call for help. That's when I call the fire department."
"Ma'am are you hurt?" Roy asked the woman.
"No I…not really…just upset." She replied meekly. "He took my bag. I have everything in there. What am I going to do?" She looked up at Roy for an answer.
"It's all right now. We're going to check you out. Make sure you aren't seriously hurt," Roy assured her.
Johnny had the bio-phone open and was screwing on the antennae. Roy grabbed the drug box and pulled out the blood pressure cuff. He wrapped it around the woman's arm as he spoke calmly to her. "Do you have any medical problems? Take any medications?"
"No. Well I do take an aspirin every morning."
"No blood pressure medicine, no heart medicine, no diabetic medicine?" Roy continued to review her medical history.
"No I'm healthy as a horse young man. Healthy living, exercise, and a good diet," She smiled at the young man. "He was just bigger and stronger than me, and he had a knife."
"Yes ma'am," Roy chuckled.
"Roy Rampart wants the vitals," Johnny looked at his partner for the information. Roy gave him the vitals and explained that he had found no injury. She was simply shook up and maybe bruised.
"Ma'am the hospital recommends you see your personal physician if you have any problems. Your pulse has returned to normal and your other vitals are fine. Can I help you up?" Johnny took the woman by the hand and placed his other hand at her back to assist her in rising.
Vince Howard had arrived and gotten statements from the witnesses. He was now ready to talk to the victim. "John, Roy can I speak with the lady now?"
"Sure Vince she's okay. If you don't need us any more we're going to head back to the station," Roy spoke to the policeman as he packed up the gear. Johnny and Roy put everything back in the squad.
"I know where to find you if I need anything," Vince smiled at the two paramedics.
"Later," Johnny said as he waved to the group and climbed into the squad.
Roy joined Johnny in the squad. Before pulling away from the curb he turned and asked Johnny a question. "Why do people target innocent little old women like that?"
"Roy that sounds like something I would ask," Johnny said smiling at his senior partner laughing. "I don't know the answer, but you've been working with me too long partner. You're getting just like me."
"No way Junior." Roy smiled and put the squad in gear and they drove away laughing.
A few miles down the road they get toned out along with the engine crew to a rescue called in by a child needing assistance.
"I wonder what this is about." Johnny said out loud not really talking to Roy, just asking out loud. "I hate rescues involving children. I don't like to see them hurt or sick."
Roy often wondered why rescues involving hurt children always shook Johnny up so. Someday he would have to ask him what his childhood was like. Had he been hurt somehow as a child? It was normal for one of the men with children to be touched by rescues involving kids, but Johnny was still a bachelor. The engine arrived at the scene first and the squad pulled up from the opposite direction. There was a little girl standing in the middle of the front yard. Johnny was out of the squad and running over to the girl before it even stopped rolling.
"What's the matter?" He said as he knelt down next to the crying girl.
"My Buffy," she sobbed.
"Your Buffy? Who is Buffy and where is she?" Johnny had a way with children. He could get them talking when no one else could.
"She's my friend." The girl continued to cry.
The engine crew walked over along with Roy who carried the drug box and bio-phone. "What's the matter with the kid?" Chet asked.
Johnny turned and looked at Chet with a wrinkled brow showing his distaste for Chet's gruff question. "She's trying to tell me Chet. Now sweetie, where is your friend?"
"She's up there." The girl pointed high into the tree. Johnny squinted up and the rest of the crew followed his line of sight. Way up at the top of the tree sat a very fat tabby cat.
"Is that Buffy? That cat up there." Johnny asked her.
"Yes. She won't come down. Mommy said not to let her outside, but I wanted her to get some fresh air. Mommy says fresh air is good for you. I thought it would be good for Buffy too." She began sobbing again.
"See Gage I told ya. Cat's in a tree. You guys don't get real fire duty anymore. Just cat's in a tree." Chet walked away headed back to the engine to get the ladder laughing and shaking his head, "Cat's. Man I tell ya this day just keeps getting better and better."
Johnny climbed as high on the ladder as he could then switched to climbing the tall oak tree. He finally got high enough to reach the scared tabby cat. "Hello Buffy what do you say we get down from here?" The cat hissed at Johnny scratched his arm and hand and quickly climbed down from the tree and ran into the arms of the waiting child. Johnny yelped when the cat scratched him and dejectedly climbed back down.
"What are you whining about now Gage?" Chet asked.
"She scratched me!"
"Let me look at it," Roy reached for Johnny's arm. "It's pretty long and bleeding. We had better clean that up and put a bandage on it."
"Aw Roy it's just a scratch."
"Marco will you ask the mother if Buffy has had her shots? We need to know if Johnny will need to have rabies shots." Roy continued to clean the scratch.
"Sure Roy," Marco walked over to the mother.
"Rabies shots for a cat?" Johnny asked. He knew the answer, but he absolutely hated shots of any kind. He hoped the cat had been vaccinated.
Marco rejoined the group, "She's had her shots, and the mother said she is sorry the little girl called us to rescue their cat. She taught the girl to call the fire department if there was an emergency. In the little girl's eyes this was one." The group of men chuckled as they returned to their vehicles to head back to the station. It was almost time for dinner.
"Hey Roy," Mike Stoker called out. "I'm making fried chicken for dinner, but I need some salad to go with it. Do you and Johnny mind running by the store?"
"Sure thing Mike."
"Stay available," Captain Stanley called out to Roy who nodded his head in agreement. He waved to the engine crew and got into the squad.
"Man I can't believe we got called out again for a cat in a tree. Chet will have a field day with this when we get back to the station." Johnny stared out the passenger side window contemplating the ragging he would get from Chet when they got back to the station.
On the engine Chet kept up his discussion about cats and the paramedics. "Lately all we get is boring runs. I wish we had interesting stuff going on like the arson fires in that book."
"Johnny is everything all right?" Roy asked him. Roy could always read Johnny's moods. He could see that something was up.
"Huh? Oh yeah everything's fine."
"Come on Junior we can see that something's up." Roy let his friend know that he didn't believe him.
"Oh well it's really no big deal." Johnny moved away from the phone and went back to his place at the table. Sitting down he reached for the sports page of the newspaper and started looking at it.
"Come on Johnny what's up?" Roy asked again.
"That was my landlady. She was calling to remind me that the water would be off at my apartments tomorrow for repairs to the pipes. She didn't know for how long."
"So that's got you upset? Geesh Gage you worry about stupid stuff," Chet commented.
"Well Chester I had planned to do my laundry tomorrow at the complex laundry mat. Now I can't."
"Laundry can wait for another day Gage," Chet continued to tease the younger man.
"Chet, remember our little talk this morning," Captain Stanley said from the doorway.
"Um yes sir." Chet slumped lower in his seat on the couch and began stroking Henry's ears. The dog loved it when his best buddy Chet stroked his ears. He snuggled against Chet's leg.
"Hey you can bring your things over to the house and use our machines. I know Joanne won't mind," Roy suggested. "And you can shower there."
"Aw that's okay Roy. I can shower here before I leave, and there's another laundry mat a few blocks away. Besides like Chet said it can wait. I just haven't done any in two weeks. I'm running out of blue jeans. But thanks anyway."
"Well if you change your mind I'm sure Jo would fix some lunch too."
"Thanks Roy. It's really okay."
Johnny went back to his reading. Chet continued to pet Henry. The others went back to reading their novels. Captain Stanley went to the coffee pot to get his refill. Things were quiet at the station for a little while, but not for too long.
The tones sounded sending the paramedics on a call of a woman down at the grocery store. The guys ran to the squad as Captain Stanley responded to dispatch on the radio. He handed them the call slip and they were off.
Arriving at the scene they found a group of people standing around an elderly woman on the ground beside her car. "What happened?" Johnny asked.
"She was mugged. Some guy jumped out of a white van and threatened her with a knife. He took her purse. She grabbed his arm and screamed. That's when he knocked her to the ground." The store manager told the paramedics. "He jumped in the van and sped away. These teenage girls came over to try to help her. One of them came in and asked me to call for help. That's when I call the fire department."
"Ma'am are you hurt?" Roy asked the woman.
"No I…not really…just upset." She replied meekly. "He took my bag. I have everything in there. What am I going to do?" She looked up at Roy for an answer.
"It's all right now. We're going to check you out. Make sure you aren't seriously hurt," Roy assured her.
Johnny had the bio-phone open and was screwing on the antennae. Roy grabbed the drug box and pulled out the blood pressure cuff. He wrapped it around the woman's arm as he spoke calmly to her. "Do you have any medical problems? Take any medications?"
"No. Well I do take an aspirin every morning."
"No blood pressure medicine, no heart medicine, no diabetic medicine?" Roy continued to review her medical history.
"No I'm healthy as a horse young man. Healthy living, exercise, and a good diet," She smiled at the young man. "He was just bigger and stronger than me, and he had a knife."
"Yes ma'am," Roy chuckled.
"Roy Rampart wants the vitals," Johnny looked at his partner for the information. Roy gave him the vitals and explained that he had found no injury. She was simply shook up and maybe bruised.
"Ma'am the hospital recommends you see your personal physician if you have any problems. Your pulse has returned to normal and your other vitals are fine. Can I help you up?" Johnny took the woman by the hand and placed his other hand at her back to assist her in rising.
Vince Howard had arrived and gotten statements from the witnesses. He was now ready to talk to the victim. "John, Roy can I speak with the lady now?"
"Sure Vince she's okay. If you don't need us any more we're going to head back to the station," Roy spoke to the policeman as he packed up the gear. Johnny and Roy put everything back in the squad.
"I know where to find you if I need anything," Vince smiled at the two paramedics.
"Later," Johnny said as he waved to the group and climbed into the squad.
Roy joined Johnny in the squad. Before pulling away from the curb he turned and asked Johnny a question. "Why do people target innocent little old women like that?"
"Roy that sounds like something I would ask," Johnny said smiling at his senior partner laughing. "I don't know the answer, but you've been working with me too long partner. You're getting just like me."
"No way Junior." Roy smiled and put the squad in gear and they drove away laughing.
A few miles down the road they get toned out along with the engine crew to a rescue called in by a child needing assistance.
"I wonder what this is about." Johnny said out loud not really talking to Roy, just asking out loud. "I hate rescues involving children. I don't like to see them hurt or sick."
Roy often wondered why rescues involving hurt children always shook Johnny up so. Someday he would have to ask him what his childhood was like. Had he been hurt somehow as a child? It was normal for one of the men with children to be touched by rescues involving kids, but Johnny was still a bachelor. The engine arrived at the scene first and the squad pulled up from the opposite direction. There was a little girl standing in the middle of the front yard. Johnny was out of the squad and running over to the girl before it even stopped rolling.
"What's the matter?" He said as he knelt down next to the crying girl.
"My Buffy," she sobbed.
"Your Buffy? Who is Buffy and where is she?" Johnny had a way with children. He could get them talking when no one else could.
"She's my friend." The girl continued to cry.
The engine crew walked over along with Roy who carried the drug box and bio-phone. "What's the matter with the kid?" Chet asked.
Johnny turned and looked at Chet with a wrinkled brow showing his distaste for Chet's gruff question. "She's trying to tell me Chet. Now sweetie, where is your friend?"
"She's up there." The girl pointed high into the tree. Johnny squinted up and the rest of the crew followed his line of sight. Way up at the top of the tree sat a very fat tabby cat.
"Is that Buffy? That cat up there." Johnny asked her.
"Yes. She won't come down. Mommy said not to let her outside, but I wanted her to get some fresh air. Mommy says fresh air is good for you. I thought it would be good for Buffy too." She began sobbing again.
"See Gage I told ya. Cat's in a tree. You guys don't get real fire duty anymore. Just cat's in a tree." Chet walked away headed back to the engine to get the ladder laughing and shaking his head, "Cat's. Man I tell ya this day just keeps getting better and better."
Johnny climbed as high on the ladder as he could then switched to climbing the tall oak tree. He finally got high enough to reach the scared tabby cat. "Hello Buffy what do you say we get down from here?" The cat hissed at Johnny scratched his arm and hand and quickly climbed down from the tree and ran into the arms of the waiting child. Johnny yelped when the cat scratched him and dejectedly climbed back down.
"What are you whining about now Gage?" Chet asked.
"She scratched me!"
"Let me look at it," Roy reached for Johnny's arm. "It's pretty long and bleeding. We had better clean that up and put a bandage on it."
"Aw Roy it's just a scratch."
"Marco will you ask the mother if Buffy has had her shots? We need to know if Johnny will need to have rabies shots." Roy continued to clean the scratch.
"Sure Roy," Marco walked over to the mother.
"Rabies shots for a cat?" Johnny asked. He knew the answer, but he absolutely hated shots of any kind. He hoped the cat had been vaccinated.
Marco rejoined the group, "She's had her shots, and the mother said she is sorry the little girl called us to rescue their cat. She taught the girl to call the fire department if there was an emergency. In the little girl's eyes this was one." The group of men chuckled as they returned to their vehicles to head back to the station. It was almost time for dinner.
"Hey Roy," Mike Stoker called out. "I'm making fried chicken for dinner, but I need some salad to go with it. Do you and Johnny mind running by the store?"
"Sure thing Mike."
"Stay available," Captain Stanley called out to Roy who nodded his head in agreement. He waved to the engine crew and got into the squad.
"Man I can't believe we got called out again for a cat in a tree. Chet will have a field day with this when we get back to the station." Johnny stared out the passenger side window contemplating the ragging he would get from Chet when they got back to the station.
On the engine Chet kept up his discussion about cats and the paramedics. "Lately all we get is boring runs. I wish we had interesting stuff going on like the arson fires in that book."
