Title: Run Silent, Run Deep – Pt. 1

By: FanofRandy

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. Emergency! is owned by Universal and Mark VII Productions. I make no profit from my imagination—only a personal joy and peace.

Summary: Not terribly fond of water rescues, John Gage finds himself in yet another "fine mess." A new friend may be his only chance for survival. (set late in Season 6, but before Gage and DeSoto become Captains)

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John Gage drove up to Station 51 and parked his white Land Rover in his usual spot. He paused a moment to finish tying his shoe before jumping out and bounding into the Station. He wondered why he'd even bothered when, now sitting in front of his locker; he began to untie the shoe he just laced. He wasn't late, but he would be if he didn't get a move on.

"Roll call in 15!" Captain Hank Stanley shouted toward the locker room door. It made Johnny move a bit faster. He fished something out of his jeans pocket and put it in his uniform shirt and closed his locker. He heard the door open and turned to see who entered, anxious to share his weekend.

"Not now, Chet!" Johnny murmured as he tucked in his uniform shirt. He sneered at his crewmate as he moved to the sinks to check his appearance in the mirror. Chet leaned back on one of the sinks as he watched Johnny. Chet noticed Johnny's disappointment.

"So, Gage…you were expecting someone else? What did you do on your days off?" Chet inquired with a slight octave change in his voice. Johnny looked around the room, annoyed. He really wanted to talk to Roy and share about his weekend.

"As usual, Chet, that's none of your business." Johnny muttered as he adjusted his badge and brushed his shaggy bangs from his eyes. Chet snickered and it caused Johnny to bristle.

"What are you up to, Chet?" Johnny asked, now giving his full attention to the man who relished tormenting him. Chet shook his head from side to side and turned to leave the room.

"Only the Phantom knows…" Chet crooned as he walked into the Bay for roll call. Johnny sighed deeply, knowing this was going to be a long shift if Chet was up to his shenanigans. He made a mental note to avoid opening any doors without first checking for booby-traps and then he joined the others.

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After Roll Call the men began their chores and Roy and Johnny checked the equipment on the Squad and inventoried the drug box. "We need to make a run to Rampart, Roy?" Johnny asked. The senior paramedic shook his head as he answered.

"Not right away." Roy answered as he looked at his Partner, who seemed antsy. John Gage was a ball of energy and his inability to stay still for long was inherent, but there was an added flow of nervousness this day. "You anxious to get outta here for some reason, Junior?"

Johnny sighed. "I think Chet's plannin' something, Roy. He even hinted at it this morning before Roll Call. I've got a bad feeling about today…I don't wanna get wet, that's for sure. 'Sides, I wanna tell you what I did this weekend." Johnny offered a crooked smile and added a slight laugh. Roy smiled widely. The rivalry between Chet and Johnny was not lost on the entire A-shift crew and they suffered as much as Johnny did sometimes.

"Okay, Johnny…" Roy began, but was interrupted by the klaxons sounding. "Guess you got your wish!" Roy called out as he closed the lid of the drug box and stowed it before running around to the driver's side of the Squad. Johnny nodded his head and smiled.

"Guess, so!" He commented as he watched Cap pass the call slip in to Roy. He grabbed it with much enthusiasm, knowing that, for the moment, he would remain dry.

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Coast Guard Lieutenant J.g. John Daniels was getting dressed for his shift about the same time Johnny was. The twenty-seven year old had been with the Coast Guard for four years and had attained Master Diver status in record time. He was also a licensed scuba diver and spent as much time in the water as he could. At work, he was the first on scene with most water rescues and on his days off, he taught courses in scuba diving and open water swimming. His father used to say that he was part fish.

John, or J.D. as he was called, closed his locker and reported for duty. As he joined his partner, Ensign Andy Clark, they began discussing the weather forecasts, tide patterns, and other hazards that would plague the waters and shores today. This was their bread and butter…they loved what they did and were good at it. When called into action, they would never give up until they found the lost soul, or were ordered to withdraw. J.D. and Andy had 100% recovery rate…they didn't always find their victims alive, but they always found them. J.D. thought that at least having a body to bury was some consolation to family or friends who had just lost a loved one. At least that was what kept him going.

As they began their daily routine, J.D. talked about his past weekend and the two-day scuba diving class he had taught at the marina. He had five students in his class and one became a fast-friend. He shared much in common with the young Firefighter/Paramedic, not to mention their given name of John. John Gage and J.D. ended up going on a double-date with two girls that took the class, too. The only thing that distinguished the two was that one loved the water and the other merely tolerated it for the sake of his career. J.D. vowed to help John Gage learn to love the water as much as he did.

As J.D. finished telling his crewmates the story of the double-date, he walked outside to take out the garbage. As he closed the lid on the dumpster, he felt a cool breeze blow and wondered if it was a portent of the cold front they were supposed to get later that day. Rough seas were predicted and J.D. hoped that only experienced boaters would venture out this day. He hoped.

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Johnny never ceased to amaze those around him; especially his Partner. Johnny had told Roy that he was going to take a scuba diving class on their days off, but Roy was skeptical at best. It was not breaking news that John Gage and water did not mix well. The DeSoto backyard pool and the occasional lake or pond was enough for Johnny. The ocean and recues in the bay were not on Johnny's list of "greatest rescues." He had been known to get seasick on stranded boats and couldn't stop talking about how he hated the time they used the Jaws of Life to free a man trapped in his submerged vehicle. Johnny felt like his lungs would explode holding his breath as long as he did. Johnny couldn't wait to tell Roy about the class he took. But, wait he did.

They finally had a few minutes of down time. With back-to-back calls all morning and into the early afternoon, they had missed lunch and barely got time to stock up on supplies at Rampart between runs. Now at Rampart, they decided they would grab a late lunch on the way back to the station. It was early afternoon and Johnny had been chomping at the bit to share his weekend with Roy.

"J.D. gave me this." Johnny pulled something from his pocket. "It's called a 'glow stick'. The military and coast guard are using them for night maneuvers and underwater dives. It's pretty cool…you just break it here…and, then it gives off this luminous glow for about an hour. Pretty cool, huh?" Johnny grinned. Roy took the item and turned it over in his hands and handed it back to his Partner.

"Well, Junior, looks like you have some new toys to play with." Roy summed as Johnny finished telling the story of the first dive he completed. Roy patted him on the back and smiled. "I'm proud of you, Junior." Roy said without sounding condescending. He was glad Johnny enjoyed himself. As they walked toward the Nurse's station, they were met by Dixie McCall.

"What's got you two in such a good mood?" She inquired. She noticed their beaming smiles as she walked past them to take her station at the desk.

"Johnny here took scuba lessons this weekend." Roy chirped. "And, he enjoyed it!"

Dixie smiled her approval and added, "I'd bet my next paycheck that there was a pretty girl involved somehow." Both Roy and Dixie looked at Johnny for a response. They received only silence, but Johnny's grin widened and face flushed as he shoved the light stick into his breast pocket. "What was her name, Johnny?" Dixie teased. Roy crossed his arms and leaned against the counter and asked the same question.

"Yeah, Junior, what was her name?" Roy quipped as they waited for an answer.

TBC

A/N: I am no expert in Coast Guard, please forgive any errors. And, light stick/glow sticks were invented in the 60's, with the first patent being issued in 1965. In 1973, other inventors began perfecting the devices as more patents were issued. Initially, they were primarily used by the US Navy.