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Kel finished reading the report Dix had taken on him and looked up before thumbing the intercom. "Give me his strip 51. Is he coherent enough for you to get a oral temperature on him?" "That's affirmative on both, Rampart. Transmitting EKG." Johnny said, dialing the EKG monitor to send mode. Dr. Brackett eyed the rhythm he received. "51, I'm reading a normal sinus rhythm over here with only slight variations. Is the O2, helping his dyspnea at all?" "That's affirmative. He was slightly cyanotic when we found him on the table top but he's now pinking up albeit a bit clammy and chilled." Roy finished getting a temperature on Arthur. "Hmm.. 97.1" Johnny reported this in. "All right Johnny, start an IV Lactated Ringers, TKO only and transport as soon as possible. Keep him upright and comfortable and continue to maintain O2. That drop in temperature might be the early stages of septicemia or other etiology. I want a new vitals set in five minutes.." "10-4 Rampart. IV LR TKO and O2. New vitals in transit. The ambulance has arrived." Gage said. A few minutes later Arthur was warmly wrapped in wool tan blankets and his IV was in place in Marco's hand. As he was wheeling with the stationhouse crew he said. "You boys are so kind... when I get out ..you come back and I'll bake some nice, hot gingerbread cookies for you.. ok? You boys are so nice.." Gage grinned all the way into the Mayfair. It was he who rode in with Arthur the stage kids' cookie man. -------------------------------------------- |
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The engine was already backed into the garage and abandoned by the time Roy and Johnny had replenished supplies and had made their farewells to the ill Mr. Fajou. The station house was quiet after Johnny and Roy turned off their backing reds, removed their helmets and left the squad. "Hmm. I wonder where the guys are? Are they sleeping?" Roy walked across the bay and peeked into the bunk house, flicking on the light for a sec. "Nope. The bed's are still made up.. All of them.." Johnny flicked a wrist up and checked the time. "Wow, no one's sleeping? It's almost three a.m..." Roy shrugged as they made their way by the large county map and into the kitchen. "Maybe they're watching the rebroadcast of the game...." "At three a.m..? Roy.. no channel airs games at three am in the morning.. Geesh.." he said as his calm demeanored partner preceeded him through the door he held open for Roy. No one was at the table nor at the frig. Johnny and Roy both turned on a dime. Looking towards the black leather couch and the TV chairs. The TV, was dark. And all the gang were on their hands and knees surrounding Henry's old dog house. It was still dusty and weather beaten from sitting in the yard. Chet was hastily scrubbing it clean with a bucket of water and Bon Ami. He looked up. "Heya guys.. About time you showed up. You almost missed the big moment. The little fella's about to go into his new home for the first time.." Johnny's jaw flopped open.. "You mean, uh, you mean Cap said Yes..?" he chortled, trying to keep his voice down. |
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"Yeah, man. Guess the abandoned pup kinda got Cap's thoughts rolling about us losing Henry. It's been two years you know, since Henry's real owners showed up to claim him." he nodded. "Maybe, uh, maybe Cap's a little dogsick." "Maybe we ALL are.." Marco piped up eagerly, still on his hands and knees. The gang was carefully playing with the shy, but active beagle puppy keeping him in a ring before their laps, more than one trying to get the tiny guy to notice the doghouse doorway by tapping it. Roy and Gage joined them all on the floor, abandoning themselves to the moment. "Come on boy. Come on.. Don't you see it? There's a nice big bone in there.." Gage babytalked to the pup. "Eeeoowww" Kelly exclaimed. "Do you think we should really let him have Henry's old bone, Gage. Kinda dirty after two years in an old doghouse out in the yard." "Would you just hush.. I'm trying to bond here." Gage said. The moment Johnny looked up, the pup's attention wandered and he scampered over to the nearest lap he liked. Cap's. The pup stumbled gracelessly into Hank's stomach and then turned circles before settling down with a contented sigh after licking Cap's face once on the chin. "Well whatdiya know.."Roy grinned. "He knows who to thank doesn't he?" "Smart dog.." Hank said, keeping still as the new puppy closed his eyes. "uh oh,, looks like he's going ta sleep on me. Dang.. My leg's are going to too if I stay this way.." The gang hastily grabbed Cap by the shoulders and legs and Chet said. "Don't move Cap. You'll wake him. We'll move you to the recliner." "Kelly! Would y--" "ShhhhHHHH!" The rest of the gang said. The beagle whimpered but then started snoring again just as fast. Hank finally tossed his head. "All right. Lift me." he said, feeling ridiculous. Soon, he was settled in the black chair with the pup safely nestled like a sleeping Sphinx in his lap. The gang immediately made for the bunks, abandoning Cap and his puppy in the chair. "Hey, you're not just going to leave me here?" |
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"Aww cap.. Do you really want us to make him cranky? I mean, these early puppy to family bonding days are crucial. You're just gonna haveta spend the night in the arm chair." Kelly reasoned. Cap scowled but stayed quiet. "All right. Just this once. Somebody get me a blanket." he said, adjusting the tiny pup's snoring face until his snores softened into easier sleeping breaths. Marco wasn't past teasing. "You know.. he just might have to sleep every night in your lap, Cap, after this.." "No he won't. Because if he needs to he can spend the night on somebody else's lap instead, like tomorrow night in yours Lopez?" "Aww cap.. I can't sleep a wink sitting in a chair." "Didn't say it was an order. But.. Lookiethatcuteface. Can you deny him the benefit of a warm body's comfort?" "That's what a hot water bottle in the dog house is supposed to be for.." Marco said. "No dog is ever going to get into Henry's old doghouse." Mike Stoker said. "Chet's logged more hours in there than Henry ever did." The gang laughed. Johnny came back from grabbing a blanket out of a spare closet for Hank . "Here ya go, Cap." and he tossed it up into the air. "Gage, would you be careful?!" he said, barely saving it from burying the tiny dog. "You could've jarred the little guy.." "Sorry..Cap." Kelly was thoughtful. "Say, listen Cap. Now that we're keeping him, we can't just keep calling him Little Guy.. I mean uh, his previous owner says his name is uh,.." and he broke off in embarrassement. "Chester.." Gage said and the gang giggled. Cap said, "No, he's more like a "lapper" " he said patting where the puppy was lying deeply in slumber. "All right. Ok. We can call him Chester." Chet said defensively. "I just don't want to hear anybody and I mean anybody, ever.. call him Chester B.." Gage sniggered, "Why Chet? Does the B stand for something that really gets your blood pumping?" "No.. It's just--" Chet said, hastily avoiding Gage's advance on him in yet another attempt to ring it out of Chet what the answer was to that greatest of all Chet mysteries. Johnny grabbed Chet by the moustache and backed him into the wall. "Ahhh..owww.." Chet said, freezing as Johnny held him hostage with a twist of just one hand. "Hey come on, let go of m--" Johnny wrist lifted higher. "Once more Chet, what does the B stand for?" "NOthing." "What? I can't hear you." "Nothing at all. It's just a nickname....AhhhHH." "I don't beLIEVE you.." Gage singsonged. "It's trueeeEEE! Hey let go.." Cap's voice finally cracked out. "Gage..!" Johnny instantly let go, smoothing out Chet's collar where it had rumpled. "Next time.. You're gonna tell me.." and he walked back over to Cap and knelt by the tiny oblivious pup. "So, what shall we give to stand for little Chester here's second letter of the alphabet's initial eh? And it's just gotta be a "B"..." he smiled lipped fully cocked. And he met everyone's eyes. "Any suggestions?" |
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******************************** From : "satchie51" <satchie51@hotmail.com> Subject : [EmergencyTheaterLive] Dinner Reservations Date : Fri, 22 Nov 2002 15:50:32 -0000 Outside Mannie's Restaurant.. Kel reluctantly relinquished his car to the restaurant's valet. He walked toward the entrance with the enthusiasm of a man facing his executioner, not his own father. Summoning his resolve, he approached the maitre d'. "Yes sir. How may I help you?" Taking a deep breath, he replied, "I'm joining Dr. Brent Brackett for dinner." The maitre d' nodded. "Ah, yes. He's been expecting you. Please come this way." Numbly, Kel walked to the familiar table. A distinguished looking gentleman was already seated. He glanced disapproving at his watch. "You're late. I thought perhaps you changed your mind." "I'm sorry. Things got a bit hectic in the ER at the last minute. I didn't think I was going to be able to get away," Kel apologized. |
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The elder Brackett appeared dubious. "I see." "Dad…" "It would have been typical of you not to show up. You've been avoiding me like the plague for ages." Kel guiltily stared at his fingernails. In truth, he had initiated this dinner engagement at Dixie's urging. Over the past two days, however, he must have considered at least a dozen excuses to cancel this evening's plans. Emotional intimacy had never been his forte, especially with his father. He deliberately accepted the responsibility of two additional patients after his shift ended in order to stall for time. That's why he was running twenty minutes behind schedule. Breaking the awkward silence, Kel motioned to the waiter to bring him a drink. Brent raised his eyebrow. "Am I that unpleasant to be around that you need a drink?" |
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