|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
|
 |
As The Siren Turns... Part
One of Infinity!
Brice quickened his pace, ducking around his ambling partner, in order to get to the supply cabinet first. They needed to restock their drugbox, and he still hadn't succeeded in training Bellingham to keep the medications in their proper order.
As he handed the neatly printed, alphabetized list to Dixie, a nurse made a u-turn in her trajectory down the hall, and came around the duty desk.
"Well! Hello, Craig!"
Brice looked around sharply at this overly-familiar use of his first name. A rare, broad smile spread across his face. "Alica! Hello! I wasn't aware you were working here."
A bit startled by Brice's reaction, Dixie asked redundantly, "You two know each other?"
"We were friends in high school," responded Alica.
"We both participated in the track and field program," Brice elaborated.
"Ahh, I see," Dixie replied, intrigued. She returned to gathering the requested supplies, trying hard not to look as though she were straining to eavesdrop on the pair.
"Craig," Alica continued, "I saw you in the paper, yesterday. Congratulations on your win.... I didn't know you still competed."
"I find it helps me stay fit, in an enjoyable fashion, for the demands of the profession," he responded somewhat drily. His version of "Aw, shucks, thank you ma'am."
Alica was unfazed. She reached out and ran a fingertip over his gleaming badge. "And what a profession! Firefighter, and a paramedic to boot. I'm very impressed, Craig."
Dixie couldn't resist sneaking a peek out of the corner of her eyes, to see how Brice would field that open pass.
He never got the chance.
John Gage bounded up to the desk. His chick-radar had been set off as soon as he'd stepped out of the treatment room and caught a glimpse of an unfamiliar feminine form. He turned on his best smile and extended his hand, "Well, hi there! I don't think we've met. I'm Johnny, Johnny Gage."
"Hi Johnny, I'm Alica Lane," she smiled politely back at him as she gave his hand a rather prefunctory shake.
Dixie gave up all pretense of working, and just observed, forgotten by the others. The plot thickens..
Brice cleared his throat, "Alica, I'm currently training for the fund-raising marathon for the new Children's wing. Are you planning to participate as well?"
Alica turned her attention back to Brice. "Oh, that's terrific, Craig! Yes, I'm going to run, too. I wouldn't miss it for the world!"
Johnny cut Brice off before the reticient paramedic could open his mouth to reply. "You know, Alica, I was captain of the track team at my high school. I think I'll go out for this marathon, myself. Being it's for such a good cause and all."
"You were, huh?" Alica retorted, sounding rather unimpressed. "Well, the more people that participate, the more money will be raised. I run over at the county high's track. If you want to work out, I'll be there at about nine."
"Why so late?" John asked, puzzled.
"It's a lot cooler then," she supplied.
"JOHNNY! We've got a run!" Roy called, from down the hall.
"I'll see you tonight!" Johnny grinned to Alica, over his shoulder as he hustled down the hall.
Alica turned a much brighter smile towards Brice. "What about you, Craig? I'd love to see you tonight, catch up on old times."
"I'll meet you at the starter's blocks at eight fortyfive," he stated, as solemnly as if he were announcing a space launch.
"I can't wait!" she declared, and brushed a light kiss across his cheek. "See you later, Craig!"
Alica breezed off down the hall. Brice stared after her, with a small smile creeping across his face once more.
Dixie's eyebrow rose. Two smiles in one day from Craig Brice? It must be love... or the end of the world. She cleared her throat softly.
Brice almost started, startled back to the present. "Oh, Miss McCall, forgive me. I, uh..."
Dixie took mercy on him, shortcircuiting his discomfort by handing him the cardboard box of supplies, the order list reposing on top. "Everything is here, Brice, in alphabetical order," she interrupted.
"Thank you, Miss McCall. Good afternoon," he replied a bit weakly, and went in search of his partner. Follow the scent of doughnuts...
At 8:57 p.m, John paused at the gate leading into the track field and basked in remembered glory. Man, does this ever bring back memories! Wearing a fond grin, he began to stretch as he scanned the bleachers, the stacks of hurdles, Brice and Alica loping around the far turn.
Wait a minute!
His grin turned into a glowering scowl. John shucked his sweatpants and took off down the cinder surface at a dead run. Intent on catching up to the girl of this week's dreams, he pounded up the track. His aborted warm-up was the farthest thing from his mind.
Captain Hank Stanley stalked into the dayroom. His crew, seeing the expression on his face, the agitation in him carriage, had given him a wide berth that morning. Hank was usually one of the most easy-going Captains in the county, but when something was eating at him... he displayed the sweet, loving disposition of a grizzly with a toothache.
There was a small pool forming, it was 3 to 2 whether the current surliness was due to the upcoming station inspection by Chief McConikee, or the physical recertifications looming in the nearer future.
Unaware of the jeopardy he was putting himself in, the Phantom's preferred pigeon walked into the dayroom, heading over to the coffee pot. John Gage looked like he hadn't slept in at least a day. Stanley stopped his restless pacing and watched Gage intently while the paramedic in question, poured himself a cup of coffee and walked over to the table, sitting down with the cup in front of him. He propped his head on his hands, and forgot all about his coffee as he drifted off to sleep.
Roy DeSoto, the other A shift paramedic, walked in and noticed his partner asleep. "What's the matter with him Cap?"
Stanley looked over at DeSoto, and snapped, "I don't have a clue, he walked in poured himself a cup of coffee, and that's where he wound up."
"Don't talk too loud will ya," muttered Johnny as he held onto his aching head. "I went out with that new nurse Alica Lane last night and she kept me up all night long."
Chet, who'd wandered into the kitchen, could not resist this fresh bit of news to torment Gage with. "Hey Gage, what's wrong, can't keep up with Alica?"
"Oh, I kept up all right, all night long!"
Cap snarled something that sounded vaguely unprintable, and left for the joys of a desk full of paperwork.
"Oh yeah?" asked Marco walking into the day room followed by Mike Stoker. "I hear Alica's hot!"
"How'd you get a date with Alica, Gage? She wouldn't even look at you twice. From what I've heard she's got a thing for Brice," heckled Chet. That ought to get his shorts in a knot!
Johnny rose stiffly, but with great dignity, and pointed to his own chest as he declared, "Chet, she may have a thing for Brice, but Alica and I have something in common."
"Oh yeah? What's that? Considering how many times you've wound up in Rampart lately, maybe that's what you two have in common."
"Ha ha ha, very funny Chet!" Johnny sneered as he gingerly walked out of the day room heading for the latrine.
Roy followed him out, "What's wrong with you? The last time I saw you this stiff was when you were practicing for the Fireman's Olympics."
"Roy, if we get a run, then I'll tell you. Right now, I've got a date to soak my feet," he continued, heading for the locker room.
Before anything more could be said the tones sounded, sending both the engine and squad racing to the scene of a traffic accident.
Click the patch to go back to the Main
Page.
