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............Part
Six......,
"Well, Cap?" Chet Kelly waited nervously as his captain spoke into the phone, nodding occasionally.
"That was Dr. Early. It looks like Gage is going to be fine." Hank Stanley folded his hands across his abdomen. "I don't know how he manages to get himself into these things."
"It's because he's a disaster magnet, Cap." Chet nodded knowingly, "Gage has got a great big target painted on the top of his helmet that says 'hit me here'."
Hank chuckled softly, "It certainly does seem that way at times, pal."
Before leaving the captain's office, Chet threw a quick glance up at the clock, calculating how much time was left in their shift. He intended to leave as soon the first of B-shift showed up so he could get over to the hospital and check on Gage. 'Not that I really care,' Chet blustered internally, 'it's just that it would be a shame to have to break in a new pigeon.'
The tones interrupted Chet's journey into self-delusion.
"Station 51. Squad 10 in place of Squad 51. Explosion and structure fire, with injuries. 2374 Morning Glory Land. 2-3-7-4 Morning Glory. Time out: 11:16."
****
"Dix? DIXIE?" Dr. Kelly Brackett shook the Dixie McCall's shoulder gently.
"Huh? What?" Dixie looked up at him startled, "Did you say something Kel?"
"I said several somethings, but you seemed to be a million miles away." He crossed his arms and considered her closely, "Is something wrong, Dix?"
Dixie blushed slightly as she looked up at him, her hand slipping to her abdomen as she wondered whether or not to tell him. Before she could decide, however, the base station sprang to life.
"Rampart base, this squad 10, do you read?"
Kel and Dixie were instantly all business. "Squad 10, this is Rampart base, we read you loud and clear."
"Rampart, we have three victims of a home gas explosion. The first victim is female, approximately 30, she's suffered blunt force trauma to the skull. Fractures of the left ulna and right femur as well as several rib fractures. There are first and second degree burns covering approximately 25% of the victim's body. Vitals are pulse 50, respirations 12, labored and shallow, BP 70/40."
Kelly Bracket felt his stomach tighten as he flashed a look at Dixie. The victim's vital signs didn't sound good and that combined with the injuries could very well prove fatal. "Squad 10, start an IV with ringers lactate wide open, cover the burns with a sterile sheet and irrigate with normal saline. Start the victim on 10 liters of oxygen and exercise full spinal precautions. Transport as soon as possible."
"10-4, Rampart." The paramedics repeated Brackett's instructions before moving on to the second victim, "The second victim is male, approximately 10 years of age. He has a right tib-fib fracture and a possible concussion. The victim is unconscious at this time, but is responsive to painful stimuli. Vitals are pulse 90, respirations 24, BP 110/90."
"10, start an IV, D5W TKO and transport." Kel glanced at Dixie as she wrote down the vitals, "Any information on the third victim?"
"The third victim is female, approximately 7 years of age. Vitals are pulse 10, BP 120/90, respirations 20. The victim is conscious and oriented."
"10-4, squad 10, start an IV, D5W TKO and transport as soon as possible."
"10-4 Rampart. IV, D5W TKO and transport."
"Dixie, call x-ray and get a portable unit down here, STAT. And page Joe Early."
"Right, Kel." She turned to Carol as she reached for the phone, "Get treatment rooms 2, 4 and 5 ready."
****
Roy sat in a chair next to Johnny's bed watching as his partner slept. He wasn't sure whether to be relieved or to strangle his partner for scaring him yet again. 'How many times do I have to sit here, Johnny?' he wondered briefly.
Once, while trapped in the bottom of an elevator shaft, Chet Kelly had once called his partner a disaster magnet. Johnny had fretted about that for days afterward, demanding to know if Roy felt the same way. Roy had quickly assured Johnny that he didn't. At times like this, however, he couldn't help but wonder if Chet hadn't been right on the money. Anywhere that Johnny went catastrophe was sure to drop in and it usually landed square on Johnny's head.
"Oh man."
A soft moan from the bed caught Roy's attention and he leaned in to get a better look at his partner. "Johnny, can you hear me?"
"Wh-where am I?" Johnny lifted his eyelids slowly, looking around the room in a daze, "What happened?"
"I let you drive, partner." Roy smiled with relief. "Guess I won't be doing that again."
"Partner?" Johnny's brow furled in confusion, "Who are you?"
"What?" Roy's eyes widened fearfully as he eyed Johnny closely, "What do you mean, who am I? Johnny, you know who I am."
"No, I don't." Johnny began to look around the room frantically, "I don't have any idea who you are."
"Okay, I want you to calm down." Roy reached for the nurse's call button. "I'm going to call the nurse and have her get a doctor in here to look at you. Can you just stay calm for me?"
Johnny closed his eyes and nodded, leaning back against the pillows, "Oh god, I don't even know who I am."
****
Alica Brice.
Mrs. Craig Brice.
Craig and Alica Brice.
Alica blushed as she looked down at the piece of paper in front of her, realizing that she'd been doodling like a lovesick schoolgirl for the last twenty minutes. She knew it was silly, but Craig had always had that effect on her and having lost him once before to her own silly pride, Alica had no intention of letting it happen again.
The soft beep of the call button caught Alica's attention and glanced over at the board to see which room it was. 319. 'Gage.' She thought with a roll of her eyes. Alica had already heard from many a harried nurse what a pain Gage could be while cooped up in the hospital.
But still, it was her job to check on him. Folding the sheet of paper containing the doodles, she dropped it in her pocket and started down the hall to check on her patient.
****
Dixie stood near the ambulance bay doors, her hand lightly caressing her abdomen as she thought of the tiny life growing inside her. 'How will Henry react to this?' she wondered. They'd never discussed kids. Well, case in point, Dixie remembered with a blush, they usually didn't discuss much of anything.
But now there was a baby on the way whether they were ready for it or not. She prayed that Henry would be as happy about it as she was. After all he was a kind, generous man who obviously loved his older children.
'He'll be happy, I'm sure he will be,' Dixie thought, 'Unless . . . No.' She shook her head as her mind drifted back to that night 3 months early when drunk on champagne and moonlight she had found herself in the arms of the last man she'd ever expected.
"No." Dixie stated firmly. It had only been one night, one glorious, passion filled night, but one night nonetheless. She and Henry had been together countless time both before and since. But still . . . that night played upon Dixie's mind and closing her eyes she could feel herself magically transported back.
The full moon shone bright as day on the empty beach as a cool breeze caressed the back of Dixie's neck. She could feel his warm breath on her neck as his arms tightened around her waist. Soft music floated down the beach from some unknown source, making the night take on a magic all it's own as they swayed in each other's arms. Even the gentle lapping of the waves as they frolicked along the shore seemed to be in time to the pounding of their hearts.
Then his lips found hers and Dixie found herself filled with a longing so deep she knew that she would burst if she couldn't have him right there, right now. Slowly they sank into the sand, their clothing shed in such haste that neither could remember how they'd found themselves in that state of undress. Conscious only of each other, of the need to feel, caress, become one they . . .
The ambulance bay doors burst open and the paramedics from squad 10 rushed in, pushing their patients in front of them.
"Okay, get her to treatment room 2." Dixie ordered, directing the paramedics who where working feverishly to keep the woman alive. "Take the boy to treatment room 4 and the girl to 5."
****
"What can I do for you?" Alica asked efficiently as she stepped into the room.
"Get Dr. Early." Roy stood over the bed, trying to calm his increasingly panic-stricken partner. "STAT!"
"What's wrong?" Any traces of annoyance that Alica might have felt instantly vanished as she took in the scene. Gage might be a bit of a nuisance at times, but she could see that both men were visibly upset.
"Johnny can't remember anything."
Alica stifled a gasp and rushed out of the room in search of Dr. Early.
****
Carol slipped quietly into the locker room, checking around nervously to make sure she was alone. Assured that the room was empty, Carol made her way quickly to her locker. Opening the door, she felt herself flush with desire as HIS face looked back at her from every surface.
The mere sight of him was enough to cause her pulse to quicken. She remembered the last time she had seen him at the hospital, making his way down the hall toward her. His muscles rippling beneath the fabric of his uniform like a caged jungle beast. How she longed to go to him, longed run her fingers through his thick dark hair, to watch his eyes twinkle with laughter.
She ran her finger sinuously along his lips, wishing that she were touching the real thing and not this lifeless photograph. But soon, very soon, Chet Kelly would be hers.
****
Dixie stepped out of treatment room 2 as the technicians readied to begin their x-rays, Kelly Brackett close on her heels.
"Dix, I'm going to check on the boy in 4. Can you get me an update on the girl?"
"Sure thing, Kel." Dixie nodded, hurrying down the hall.
Pushing the door open, she watched as Dr. Mike Morton leaned over the table to examine the small girl.
"Okay, honey," he smiled down at her, "I think you're going to be just fine. But we're going to keep you here over night just to sure."
"What about my mommy and Chris?"
Dixie felt her heart leap into her throat as she recognized the tiny voice. "Jennifer?"
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