Chapter One

John Gage threw his sodden T-shirt into his locker and hastily grabbed a dry one.
A three hour rescue at a water theme park left both paramedics dripping wet in the chlorine filled, crystal clear pool water.

By the time John had managed to free the child from the underside of the plastic slide, the young paramedic had already swallowed around five mouthfuls of the pool water, and the roof of his mouth had already started to hurt with a vengeance.

John sighed and grabbed the offered dry towel from his partner who had followed him into the locker room to change into some dry clothes.
"I can't wait until this shift is over." John said as he hastily dried his hair.
"Oh, come on Johnny, it wasn't that bad." Roy replied as he got dressed.
Johnny shot Roy his 'oh yeah right!' look as he placed the towel on the sink counter top and put on his shirt.

"Johnny, you're too paranoid. This is just like any other shift." Roy said.
"Remember last time? The woman who parachuted into the tree? Or the mere fact that I had to hotwire the squad when you broke the key off in the ignition?" Johnny replied.

Today was another 'weird day' as Johnny put it.
After the first four runs, Roy was beginning to wonder if Johnny was on to something.

The first weird run of the day turned out to be an old lady who got her hand caught in her toaster while she was cleaning it.
Another turned out to be a fat chimney sweep who got stuck in the chimney, and once removed almost fell on Johnny as he tumbled down onto the hearth.
The third one turned out to be a 26 year old female who, while cleaning, managed to get her head stuck in her couch!
The fourth one was the pool rescue. A ten year old boy who had swum under the plastic slide had managed to get his thin shirt caught on a screw.

"Believe it or not Johnny. This shift ends in a few more hours." Roy replied, glancing at his watch.

Johnny turned to Roy as he buttoned up his dry uniform.
"We still on for tomorrow?" Johnny asked.
Roy nodded his head at his partner.
"Yep. Week long camping trip up in the mountains sounds like fun. Thanks for inviting me." Roy said.
"Believe it or not, I hate camping by myself. It's to lonely up there." Johnny replied.
"Then why are you camping up there all the time?" Roy asked, genuinely interested.
"To think," replied Johnny with a slight smile on his face.

Roy just shook his head at that. Sometimes his partner could be so weird!
Just then the tones went off, sending them running for the Squad.

"Squad 51. Child trapped in toybox. 1243 NW 31 St. One two four three NW 31 St. Cross street Harmony. Time out 3:23"

Captain Stanley finished scribbling down the address on the response slip before grabbing the mic and acknowledging the request.
Turning he handed the paper to Roy, who in turn passed it along to Johnny.

As they roared out of the bay, Johnny did a double take at the address.
"Roy, you recognize the address?" Johnny asked.
Roy shook his head but never took his eyes off the road.
"No, should I?" Roy asked.
Johnny snorted at his best friend's remark before speaking.
"Remember the ten year old kid who locked himself in his mother's washer one week ago?"
"That the one where we had to take the washer apart?" Roy asked.
Johnny nodded his head.
"That's the one." He replied.
"First a washer, and now a toybox. Wonder what he'll think of next." Roy said as they turned on to Harmony.
"Hopefully nothing." Johnny replied.
Roy shot Johnny a look and said, "How much are you willing to bet?"
Johnny opened his mouth to reply, but was saved from that as Roy pulled up to the house.

Outside was a grey haired woman wringing her hands together as she watched them step out of the squad and grab the equipment.

"It's Joey! He's really stuck this time." She said as she led them out back.
At first Roy and Johnny were confused when she stopped at the base of a tree.
"He's up there." She said, pointing.

Roy and Johnny looked up to see a toybox wedged tightly in the tree.
For a moment they just stared, their eyes unbelieving.
"Aren't you going to do anything?" The woman asked worriedly.
Roy turned to the distraught woman and tried to reassure her.
"While I'm calling for the engine, Johnny will go up and check on your son."
Johnny shot his partner the 'oh thanks for volunteering me' look before following Roy back to the squad for the ropes and other gear.