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| Page Nine |
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Right then, Gage twisted his head out from under the demand valve being used on him by an Engine 8 man, and spat out his oral airway, groaning. Roy immediately bent down close to his face. "Johnny.. you're both safe on the ground. You gotta tell me. How much atropine did you use on yourself? Your rhythm's racing and we want to know why." "Megan fir--" Johnny croaked, getting testy with the firefighter hovering above him when he tried to replace the oyxgen over his face. He swatted it away. "Megan first.." "She's stable and breathing. No airway problems. Talk to me about it now, Johnny.." Roy said no nonsense. "Ok, ok, ok.. Point Five. Once. Had to. *cough* I had a..*gasp* sh*tload of edema..." "I heard the rales. You got em on both sides." Gage moaned. "Oh nooo" he gushed in disgust. ".. that means aspirant pneumonia in my future for sure.. That means two weeks more time set for me in the hospital, Roy." he said in a high, complaining whine. "I know.. just let the man ventilate you some more. Morgan. Switch to an ambu and help him on the in's. 15 liters." he ordered. Then he smiled mischieviously as he moved over to recheck Megan's progress under her vents with a stethoscope. "Brice thinks your using that med saved your life, Johnny. Way to go, junior. " Johnny shifted his weight on the uncomfortable mesh of the stokes and tried to grin. The smile suddenly wiped from Roy's face. "Johnny, keep still, you're in un-specific V-tach. Brackett's on his way here now to personally check you out himself. It may be a chemical reaction from the smoke with your blood and your atropine shot because you've no splenic backup volume to counteract it." Gage eyeballed the defib paddles in between his feet and shuddered. ::V-tachs can be tricky. And I've never coded. That's in Roy's history. Not mine.:: Johnny forced his brain to think quieter, calmer thoughts. "Is a blood transfusion in the works for me, too?" he whispered. Roy's lips reclaimed his mirth. "No, probably just a course of sodium nitrate to burn the CN out of your system." "Wish Boot were here. He'd make me feel a whole lot better about all this." "He IS here. In the squad parked nearby." Roy gave a nod to the nervous worried rookie from Truck 226 still hanging around. He tossed him the squad keys. "Here, 226. Why don't you go let him out for my partner here." "Right.." said the curly kid eagerly. He took off so fast to do the task that his mask detached from the air bottle and thunked into the dust. Boot scrambled over, retrieved the mask for the rookie, passed it off, and then promptly returned to Johnny's stokes, laying his weary head on his bare stomach with a wavering sigh of relief. |
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"Ok, Roy, quit biting your lip. I'm shutting up right now." Johnny sighed. "Pump away, Morgan. " he said when he saw that the Station Eight firefighter had finished setting up the new oyxgen equipment for him. "I'm all yours.." and he submitted to his assisted lung expansion treatment under the bag valve mask with loosely closed eyes. DeSoto saw Gage relax into a post atropine stupor. "That's right, sleep and you'll wake up on a nice comfortable bed later tonight. I promise." A snore peeled out from under the ventilation mask. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Turning heads alerted Roy to Brackett's vectoring approach. He whistled loudly so that Craig would hear him. Brice slunk back like a combat soldier under fire to rise up at Megan's side in an immediate act of never having left as Kel wheeled his gear and chair next to them. "Status?" he barked at Roy and Brice. Both rattled off sets of vitals and treatment times and the new finding of atropine use prior to rescuing, in Johnny. "Hmm, I'll have to have a talk with him about that later.." Kel said, resetting the paddles on Johnny's blood flaked chest to see how his heart was doing. "Working for now. But we're not moving him until most of these PVC's go away." Roy volunteered information. "He's got receding rales on both sides, doc." he emphasized pointedly. "Those rales used to be loud ones. You know with that level of edema, untreated, he would've been a dead man half an hour ago.." he said brandishing the second unused atropine packet that he had pulled out of Johnny's jeans pocket. "Maybe I won't be talking to him later about that." Brackett suddenly amended, pulling back Johnny's eye lids to see the extent of his smoke inhalation sleepies under a penlight. Roy nodded with satisfaction. Brackett and Roy both turned their attentions to the little girl. Kel nodded to the fireman ventilating her on the demand valve and set his wheeling O2 apparatus next to him. "Switch to an ambu, like Gage's. It'll be easier on her alveoli if they've been burned by the smoke. Here's a peds BVM and mask. Is she still pulling easily?" he asked the man at her head. "Yeah, doc. She hasn't been sick. I'm not smelling anything. Her voluntary rate's about 30 and only a touch shallow. I've been bumping her up to 36, while keeping everything I do light." "Good. That'll drive out the cyanide a little faster and clear that fluid from her bronchial passages. Most of that is probably from the I.V. Johnny wasn't able to turn back down again before he passed out on that wall up there." Roy nodded and absently lifted a sweat loosened EKG pad on Megan's side long enough to dry her skin with her cut away patient gown before replacing it back down more firmly. "I checked for infiltration on that I.V. site, doc. There's none." "Well, seems even half dead, our Johnny's a star paramedic. His rappelling didn't even jostle Megan's I.V. out of that vein?" he asked again while he tried to awaken Megan with a sternal rub. Roy laughed. "Not at all." Brackett afforded the sleeping Johnny a grudging look of respect that he would never have given Gage while he was awake, just for Roy and Brice's benefit. "Roy, get that head wrap off Megan. I wanna see how responsive her pupillary reaction is on that oxygen." |
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Megan's face slowly scrunched up into pain after Dr. Brackett gave her the epinephrine Roy handed him that he had prepared on his earlier orders. He tried another rub on her breast bone and got an arm jerk. He deftly pulled out Megan's airway and the Engine Eight man got a working suction tube ready in case Brackett needed it .The fireman set his BVM in between his knees for a moment when the girl started talking softly. "...Mr. Gage?"... Megan coughed. "Easy, hon. He's ok. And so are you..." Brackett soothed. Boot noticed the change in the child and immediately padded over to lick her face in encouragement. Megan's sooty face broke out into a terrific smile. "Who's this?" she wondered. "That's Boot. " Brice offered. "Mr. Gage's firehouse's mascot. He's the one who made sure we got there to rescue you two off the fourth floor." "Good boy..." she said, reaching up shakily to pet his coat. "Good boy.." she coughed again, liquidly and that made Kel order the girl's assisted O2 to be continued. Right then, the station 51 gang jogged up to sneak in a visit on their coworker like Brice had done with his partner, the Animal. Megan's face burst into a wide smile at the sight of Chet Kelly. "Oh, you're Johnny's friend! Hi! *gasp* Don't worry. He's ok.. I took care of him real good. I gave him the shot and he got better fast." "You did what, hon?" Kel Brackett blinked. Megan's face fell away in sudden worry. "That was ok, wasn't it? He was making funny noises and his lips were turning purple. I just had to do what Mr. Gage asked me to do." Dr. Brackett, Brice and Roy's faces all beamed. But Chet was the one who spoke. "So,.. we've a real hero in our midst." and he crouched down beside the little girl. He uptook one of her damp hands after shoving his helmet a little higher onto his head to loosen its chin strap enough to take it off in tribute to the child. "Anyone who saves my friend is definitely a friend of mine. Nice to meet you little lady.." "I've jokes to tell you, mister. Mr. Gage said to memorize them for you." "Jokes? I collect jokes. All kinds. But I think we oughta do that later until after you're all better. Ok?" Kelly suggested. "These folks here look kind of busy right now." "Sure, mister." and Megan closed her eyes. "We can color later, too, with green pens cause they're Johnny's favorite." she added before drifting off again under the oyxgen mask. "Geesh," Marco remarked. "Gage is sure good with all the chicks. Even the little ones." he chuckled. "She's absolutely tickled with Johnny. A real friend for life.." The gang chuckled. Cap gestured and said. "Ok, break time's over. Move it out. We've got a water curtain team to exchange with. Roy, you and Brice can stay put. The prelim search's over scene wide and our smoke control is working well enough just as we are for right now." "Find anyone from the airplane alive?" Hank's face softened in sadness. "Fraid not. But there's good news. Only seven on the ground were killed. And then just these few dozen in here who got hurt." |
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"Thanks for the update, Cap..." Hank started to herd his men away but Roy stopped him.."Uh,, how's Battalion 14 handling the Station Ten thing?" "He's not, emotionally. But the chiefs decided right away that his hands were too full at the time to realize that unit's missing status as a possible casualty. Nothing official will be reprimanding him, except for perhaps, his own conscience. Besides, no harm's done. No one except Bellingham was anywhere near that truck when the jet crashed. And HIS lumps, Stoker tells me, are from a looting mugger." And he turned to leave. Marco took charge of their mascot as they left. "Come, Boot. Good boy. Thanks for finding Johnny and that little girl for us. Come, on.. quit dragging your feet. They're all right. Are ya hungry? Thought so. Let's go get some chow and a long drink." Lopez didn't even have to tug on Boot's collar to get him to follow him. Before Station 51's gang was out of sight, Dr. Brackett had Johnny's heart rhythm stabilized from the assortment of drugs in his bag. Megan and Gage were moved inside by Station Eight's crew while Roy, Brice and Dr. Brackett remained outside to treat those still awaiting care in the cafeteria. Slowly, the rising column of acrid smoke and flames from the impact crater in the parking lot lessened enough to stop threatening them all and those watching from inside the broken windows of Rampart. The sun was almost set when Station 51 was cleared of the disaster area for some well deserved rest and recuperation. They, as one of the original responders, weren't assigned to body recovery detail at any time that night, much to Chet Kelly's relief. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Soon, it was four days later, and the stationhouse was pretty much back into its regular routine of responses. Operations at the crash site and in that neighborhood continued without their having to become involved in them any further. Then,..a commotion came from the vehicle bay.. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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From : patti keiper <pattik1@hotmail.com> Sent : Friday, March 26, 2004 8:49 AM Subject : [EmergencyTheaterLive] Above and Beyond.. ....that got all the gang's attention. It was Johnny's voice, accented by a lighter, happy treble one. Chet bounced to his feet, abandoning his burger and he said, "Come on, you guys! I've waited days to meet Megan Miller officially, so let's get the lead out.." Kelly scurried out of the kitchen so fast that his shoes screeched on the floor, leaving behind long, trailing black skid marks. Marco hissed through his teeth. "Aww, Chet! Look at what you're doing to my floor! Cap,.. make him clean it up.." "I will, I will, pal." he gestured with two hands diplomatically. "Just, let's go greet our little guest and find out why Gage's not still flat on his back at Rampart." Lopez moped verbally but plodded after his calm, contented captain dutifully. Brice matched Hank in cool as he, too ambled into the garage. |
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Megan was with Johnny Gage over by the side door, and with her was a white shaggy mop of a dog whom Boot immediately started barking suspiciously at from the kitchen doorway. The white dog howled once that made Boot twist his head in puzzlement until the newcomer sank his chest onto the concrete in an invitation to play. Boot was won over and in a flash, the two canines were scrabbling happily, playing tag under the vehicles, in a chase, all the while leaving chicken scratch black marks all over Marco's nice and shiny, washed concrete. "Cappp!" Lopez groaned in long suffering. Hank's charming smile for the little girl fell into one of irritation. "Lopez, just what am I supposed to do here? Lasso them with a rappelling line?" "It's a start.." Marco said, flailing his arms, trying to round up the happy dogs as best he could. "Come on, guys. Help me out here. They'll shred my wax job!" He was ignored. Craig Brice squatted down in front of Megan and offered her a handshake. "Hello, Miss Miller. Are you well?" he said over Marco's howls and the dogs loud gleeful barking. "Oh, yes sir. Daddy came and got me out of the hospital yesterday and Mr. Gage was released on his own.. recom,.. recop.." she broke off, looking to Johnny for some grammar aid. "That's reconnaissance, half pint." "No kidding.." Cap said, his eyes asking volumes. |
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Roy crossed his elbows, smiling just the same, but not understanding Gage's glib comment either. All he knew what that Johnny was still suffering pneumonia and hiding it badly. Johnny saw their questioning looks and elaborated. "Oh, it's gonna be the latest thing Dixie says. Home healing. You see, Dr. Morton asked for some volunteers for patients to go home a little early to recover. You only gotta do a phone check once a day to a doctor so he can see,..er. hear how you're doing. Heh. Anyways, Dix says that I'll just get better faster because I'm in more familiar surroundings.." Craig's eyebrows rose. "In that bachelor heap of yours?" "Brice..." Johnny hissed warningly with a smile to hide his insulted reaction. "It's a new program starting up in the hospital.." "You're a liar, Mr. Gage." Megan said evenly from where she was sitting on the engine bumper and telling Chet all her jokes. "We were kicked out. For being noisy." The gang laughed. "Thanks, Megs. " he said sarcastically, like only one friend could say to another. "But I was kinda trying to..." "..not tell the truth. I know. But that's soooo wrong." she said sweetly. "Yes,.. uh, ..yeah. I guess it is.." he stammered. Chet suddenly let out a peel of mirth. Slowly, he circled Gage like a sargeant conducting an inspection, eyeing up the changes he was seeing in Johnny's manner. "Man, she's really got you, Gage, you know that? Are you jumping through hoops to try to become a decent human being for the first time in your life?" "No.. I was just... just.." Johnny blushed. "Keeping your friend happy, I know. I saw it. All of us did." he said as he cracked a toothy smile. "Right guys?" Murmurs of agreement bubbled around the bay like a brook over pebbles. Chet's eyes fell lower, eyeing up something new in Johnny's plaid shirt's pocket. "And what's this, might I ask?" And quickly, he snatched up a green pen that was only one of several sticking out of it. Roy said, "Hey, that's the pen that Boot found at Rampart. I can tell by the tooth marks." Cap and Marco and Stoker and Kelly were clueless, so Brice filled them in. "Johnny threw that down from where he and Megan were trapped the day of the crash so Boot would go get help." Megan piped up from a three way tug of war she was in with the two dogs, and a rope scrap. "Yeah,.. I'm slowly teaching Muffin here how to do the same thing. " "Muffin?" Chet eyes goggled at the large white sheepdog bullpenning around the garage. Megan didn't hear him, but continued her conversation. "Those pens are Mr. Gage's lucky rabbit's feet now. He promised me that he would keep them with him for always so he wouldn't ever forget me." Johnny's face blushed even redder. Kelly dove in like a shark. "Aww, how sweet of you, Gage. Didn't know you had it in you." "Yeah, charming." Cap grinned warmly. Brice nodded a tiny bit, still all professional. Roy and Marco just rubbed their lips thoughtfully, saying nothing. Gage cleared his throat under the uncomfortable scrutiny. "Listen, Cap.. I got your phone call.. you know, about..." and he jerked his head over his back a couple of times in a particular direction. "What's the matter, Gage? Sudden palsy?" Chet quipped. "Hey, Roy. I think you'd better check him out. He might be having a relapse of lung poisoning." The gang rippled in giggles. |
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"Very funny, Chet. Now, Cap.." Gage insisted more urgently, adding fingers to his jerking head. "Remember?" Slowly, Hank realized that Johnny meant Megan. It dawned. "Oh, oh oh..." he said, "That's right. My phone call. " and he cleared his throat knowingly. "I'll be right back." he said, smiling amicably, and he hurried off to his office for a moment. "Great, Cap.. just...uh, great.." Gage mumbled. "What's that all about, Gage?" Marco asked. "Shhh.. or she'll catch on.." Megan heard Johnny and just winked at the other guys when Gage wasn't looking. "You know, Johnny. I think she's already caught on. Megan's sure is one bright cookie." Chet guessed. "I learned that the other day." Roy just went into another direction to fetch a certain box from the mop closet that they touched only seldom and he set it down at their feet. "Hey, that's.." Marco interjected. "Shhh." Gage silenced him with a hand over his mouth. Captain Stanley returned, wearing his captain's hat and gestured for everyone else to don their dress hats in kind and to form a line standing at attention. In his hands was a blue velvet hinged box with gold embossing. "Would you join us for a moment, Miss Miller?" he asked the child after they all retrieved their proper sized hats from the box on the ground. Megan looked up from her game. "Oh,.. certainly.." she said, tossing the ropy shred away from her so the dogs chased after it, instead of her. "What's going on?" |
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"Do you see this, young lady?" Hank said grandly and opened the box. "This is a gold cluster, the fireman's medal of valor. It's the highest honor that we can bestow on anyone showing courage above and beyond the call of duty. And the Los Angeles County Fire Department would like you to have it." Megan's breath sucked in and her eyes teared up. "For me?" "For you." Hank said softly. "You saved the life of my paramedic the other day, remember doing that?" "Just because I gave Mr. Gage that yucky shot?" "Yeah, it was a yucky shot." Gage said. "Hurt like hel-- uh heck.. But I'm grateful.. Truly I am. And..this." he pointed to the medal and box in Megan's hand. "Is the only way I can show it good enough to you that's still allowable by the fire department." "Oh, Mr. Gage..." Megan sobbed. "I don't know what to say.." she said, fighting back tears. "I've never won anything so valuable in my life before." "That wasn't won, little miss." said Brice, "That was earned... Congratulations.." and he bent low to shake the little girl's hand. One by one, all the gang took and shook her palm, too, sweeping off their hats in respect as she made her way down the line. "Oh,.. just wait until I show Daddy!" and she rushed off to the back lot yard where the little girl's father was waiting for her in an idling Grand Torino. Muffin took off after his mistress in a cloud of white fur. "Megan, wait!" Gage called out after her. "Don't you want to stay for some cookies and milk?" he asked shouting. The girl was oblivious. |
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"Megan?!" Immediately, Johnny bent over into a spasm of left over chest coughing that didn't ease until the gang helped him into the kitchen with Stoker and Marco helping arm sling support him into Cap's black leather recliner. Marco hastily handed him a glass of water. "Here, Gage. This might help." "Oh, thanks, Marco.." and Gage drank it down in one gulp. Brice asked Roy. "DeSoto. Should I go grab a BP cuff or a stethoscope so we can listen to his chest? That sounds like deterioration." "I can get oxygen.." Stoker volunteered. "Yeah, you go do that.." Cap insisted. "And grab the biophone, too." Roy shook his head and dismissed the question with a short flurry of fingers. "Guys, guys.. He's fine.." "He is?" Marco asked in amazement. "He still sounds like death warmed over to me. And them." Chet wasn't buying Johnny's sick act in the least being firmly in Roy's camp, too. "Come, on. Johnny. Quit faking it. I don't think Megan's coming back so you can give up this broken wing act. I think, for her, it's a case of baubles over buddies, pally." "Who's faking it? I'm a sick man here. Come on, Chet. As-pir-ant pneu-mon-ia. I know you can say it out loud and I know you know what it is. It sucks, big time." and he pitched over in another paroxym of huge wet coughing that made even Roy begin to doubt his first assessment, as Johnny's face began to redden up. Brice's frown began deepening, too. |
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...Until Johnny suddenly got better and straightened up with a mischievious grin. "Got at least some of you that time. Thanks for the chair, Cap. It's real comfortable.." he said, folding relaxed arms up and lacing fingers behind his wavy haired head. "Now I really feel like I'm back home again." He barely ducked in time to avoid the sheer rain of kitchen towels and newspapers that came flying into his face. FIN ------------------------------------------------------- |
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