The Let Down

Chapter Twenty One

By GCS

As soon as Johnny fell against his chest, Roy could feel him pushing to sit back up. He hadn't really passed out, but it was close. Before either had time to think about it, things started happening quickly. Johnny was pulled away and rushed over to Squad 16, and Roy was hustled over beside Squad 51. Brice had Johnny and Bellingham was pouring saline over Roy's arm. Roy noticed Chet was on the radio to the hospital. He could hear Johnny protesting everything that Brice was trying to do to him. "I'm alright. Stop. It's just the leg. I just had the air knocked out of me. I didn't pass out. I don't need this oxygen." Roy smiled and relaxed against the side of the squad. They would both be okay.

Bob snickered as he inflated the BP cuff around Roy's uninjured arm. "Gage is really giving him hell."

Roy glanced back over at Brice and Johnny. He noticed Captain Stanley moving that direction as well. "Gage, let the man do his job."

"But I'm okay, Cap." Johnny lay back down on the yellow blanket. Cap gave one of his 'that's an order' looks and crossed his arms. Johnny knew better than to say anything else. Defeated, he raised his arm for Brice to take his BP.

Roy's thoughts wandered to what Mike was doing. The engineer usually stayed by the engine monitoring the gauges, but with Chet on the biophone and Cap keeping an eye on Johnny, Marco would probably be assisting on hoses with someone from one of the other stations. What would the engineer do if no one was on his engine's hoses? He leaned forward to try to see what Mike was doing. Bellingham moved into his line of vision and raised an eyebrow in question. Roy slumped back against the squad. He hadn't been able to see where Mike was, but he wasn't beside the engine's control panel, which for some reason bothered Roy. He thought he understood the job he was about to be responsible for. Now he wasn't so sure. He didn't really feel sure of anything.

Bellingham wondered what was going on with his patient; he inflated the BP cuff again to be sure his vitals hadn't changed. Roy looked down at his arm and then back up at Bellingham who smiled, "Just making sure I got the correct reading."

Roy looked back toward Johnny; watching as Brice splinted his knee. Johnny was none too happy to have the leg manipulated. He wasn't complaining with Cap standing sentry, but Roy knew. He could tell by the way Johnny stared up at the sky with his mouth set in a line and his eyes squinted. Johnny rarely complained about real pain, but little discomforts could send him on a true rant. His leg must really hurt right now. Roy's eyes moved to his own arm wrapped in white, saline soaked dressings. They'd been lucky. He thought about that for a minute. Had it been luck? Or had they just known what to do? Years of working rescue, running into burning buildings, barely avoiding ceiling collapses, feeling the air change in a room knowing it was about to flash, and running like hell when the fiery beast was winning had taught them to be good at their jobs. What Roy wasn't sure of is how to be good as an engineer.

Would he like standing outside, watching as his crew fought the dragon? Would he be good as second in command if anything happened to the Captain? Not to mention, what if he got a real dick for a new boss? Would he be able to adjust? Sure, he'd spent time in the military where all the superiors acted like total jerks some of the time and he'd adjusted to that, but he never wanted to go through that again. Hank Stanley had shown him that a real leader could be firm without being a total dick. Would he like his new crew mates? Or would he regret leaving his friends at 51's?

These were not new thoughts. They had been plaguing him for weeks now, ever since he took the engineer's exam. He had wanted to pass it, hadn't he? Yes, but he hadn't really expected to do so well. But why would he not do well? He had always done well in those types of things. He'd finished high in his training at the academy and done really well with rescue training. He'd finished at the top of the class of paramedics and aced the second round under Dr. Brackett even if he wasn't ranked that time. Why did he try to convince himself that he would just take the test and not get the promotion? What did he really want? He just didn't know anymore.

He felt a new presence beside him and looked up into the concerned face of Captain Stanley. "How ya doin', Roy?"

"I'm okay, Cap. Just waitin' for my ride to Rampart."

"Good, good." Hank rubbed his hands together. "They just loaded Johnny up. I think you're next." Hank glanced over his shoulder at the ambulance. I'll have Chet swing by in the squad in case either of you needs a lift back to the station. I don't think Gage will be back this shift though." He rubbed his temple. "I guess you won't either." He pointed at Roy's arm.

"No… I guess not. Thanks, Cap. Guess I'll see you back at the station." Roy said as he was helped to his feet by Bellingham.

"Probably need to call in a sub," Bellingham said as he steered Roy toward the waiting ambulance. "Two, I guess."

"Yeah, thanks Bob." Captain Stanley stepped to the side and gripped Roy on the shoulder as he passed. "Let us know how Johnny is?" he said; more of a statement than a question.

"You bet." Roy said. "I better…" he pointed to the ambulance. Hank released his grip, patted Roy's shoulder, and turned toward the engine. He still had a job to do. Roy could hear him speaking into the HT as he walked away.

As he climbed into the ambulance, Roy looked over his partner. Johnny rolled his eyes while Brice took another BP. "How's the leg?"

"It was a lot better before Brice jerked it around." Johnny griped.

"Stop talking, please. I'm trying to get some vitals for Rampart." Brice pushed his glasses up on his nose as he looked up at Roy. "You can sit in the jump seat. I told the attendant to ride up front." Roy nodded in agreement and stepped around him.

"We know what to do, Brice. We've ridden in ambulances before." Johnny quipped. Brice kept pumping up the BP cuff for the third attempt at a reading. "Watch it, would ya? That's a little tight."

"Take it easy, Johnny." Roy placed his hand on Johnny's shoulder. "Give 'im a break." Johnny looked up at his best friend and winked. Roy smiled. He knew Johnny was just messing around with Brice to pass the time and take his mind off the hurt leg. "What did Rampart give for pain?"

"Nothing, we couldn't rule out a head injury." Brice adjusted the D5W TKO.

"He didn't hit his head."

"He said the ceiling collapsed on top of him and the guard." Brice stated matter of fact. "And, he passed out."

"I did not." Johnny rose up on his elbows, effectively messing up Brice's attempt at getting a BP again.

"Your Captain said he thought you had passed out for a brief time."

"He said, I could have, but he didn't think I had. There's a big difference. I am a paramedic. I would know a syncopal episode if I had one, Brice." Johnny fell back to the gurney with a huff.

"He didn't pass out, either on the stairs or when we fell off the ladder. He did not hit his head. Give me the headset." Roy reached out expectantly.

"You are a patient." Brice repositioned the BP cuff to try once more.

"I am the senior paramedic in this ambulance." Roy said with authority.

Brice put his hands in his lap and sighed deeply. "You won't be for long." He took his glasses off and wiped them on his shirt. "As a matter of fact, if the rumors are true, this may be your last shift as a paramedic. Now, if you would both please shut up. I have a job to do." He put his glasses back on and began pumping air into the cuff for the fourth time.

Brice's words hit both Johnny and Roy in the gut. The man had a point. "Don't worry about it, Roy. It doesn't hurt that bad anyway." Johnny tried to make things better even though he felt like the air had been knocked from his lungs once again.

Roy leaned back and looked into space. This could be the last time he rode in the back of an ambulance as a paramedic, and he wasn't even really being a paramedic. Actually, he was a victim… a patient with no authority at all. He would no longer be senior man. He would be at the bottom of the totem pole like when he was a boot fresh out of the academy. That thought didn't really sit well with him, but before he had time to consider it further, the ambulance turned and began backing up. They were at Rampart.

Once the attendants lowered the gurney carrying Johnny, Roy made his way out of the ambulance and came face to face with Dixie McCall. She stood waiting with a wheel chair. "Your chariot," she waved her hand over the seat with a flourish. Roy sighed, turned, and eased down into the chair. "How are you doing, Roy?"

"I'm okay. Arm's a little sore." Dixie thought there had to be more wrong than Roy was telling. He looked like he'd lost his best friend. "How's the guard?"

"He's getting a breathing treatment. His blood pressure was a little elevated. Kel will probably keep him over night, but other than that he's doing well." Dixie turned around and back into the treatment room.

"Who brought him in?" Roy asked.

"110's. They said he was pretty shook up after that flashover. Apparently, he watched you dive out the window."

Roy looked up at Dixie, "Johnny caught me."

"That's what I heard." She smiled and patted his shoulder and motioned to the exam table. Roy stood up and walked over sitting on the side of the table, but not laying down. "Kel will be here in a minute." She told him as she began taking vitals and making notes in his chart. "Why don't you lie back and relax." He huffed a bit, but did as she suggested. He hadn't realized how tired he was. "A little elevated," Dixie said as she removed the cuff from his arm.

"Brice will do that to you," Roy teased.

"Yes, he will." Dixie turned toward the door, but stopped and looked back at Roy. "I'll be back. Do you need anything?"

"Nah, I'm good." Roy closed his eyes.

Johnny had been taken to another treatment room. Dr. Brackett had given Brice a hard time about not updating the vitals while in route. Johnny had enjoyed that. "I don't know why he didn't, Doc. He kept pumping that thing up like he was trying to cut off my circulation."

"I bet he did." Brackett's eyebrows did a dance and reached up into his hairline. "I'm sure his patient was completely cooperative." He turned away to hide the smile that he couldn't keep from spreading.

"Absolutely." Johnny smiled. His smile turned to a grimace as Dr. Brackett palpated the swollen knee.

"I don't think it's broken, but we'll know more after the x-rays. I'll have someone take you up to radiology in a few minutes."

"How's Roy's arm?" Johnny inquired.

"Now, how would I know? I've been in here with you."

"Oh… yeah, I guess you're right." Johnny sunk further down on the table.

"How would it be if I checked on him now, and I'll let you know when you get back from X-ray."

Johnny perked up again, "That'd be great!"

Doctor Brackett left the room and a few minutes later an orderly came through the door whistling. "I've been instructed to take you up to radiology."

As Johnny was wheeled toward the elevator, he saw Dr. Brackett slip into another exam room. He tried to turn to see if it was Roy's, but the orderly must have been running a race. He was wheeled by so fast he couldn't see who was in the room.

After having his x-rays and Dixie helping him clean up, Johnny felt much better. She'd even helped him wash the smoke from his hair. He knew from experience that Brackett would want to keep him for observation at least for a few hours, but most likely all night. The man tended to be extra careful when he heard the words ceiling collapse, declaring that he didn't want to have any surprises later even if Johnny had told him repeatedly that he was okay.

Now that he was settled in an observation room, Johnny began to think about his partner. Roy had stopped by before leaving and told him that he had decided to forego the promotion to engineer. Those were the words that Johnny had hoped to hear a few weeks ago, now he couldn't help but worry that Roy would regret his decision later. Everyone knew that Roy was one of the best paramedics in the business. Johnny thought Roy was the very best, but he also knew that part of what made both he and Roy good at their jobs was the way they worked together. They could communicate without words, which helped when the victim was in serious condition. Words could really upset someone if they spoke of little hope. Both men knew that was what made them the best team in LA County, but sometimes, when they were not as in tune with each other, it was hard to admit. Theirs was a friendship so strong that even if they never saw each other again, they would remain the best of friends. Through all the male posturing that had gone on since Roy's passing the engineering test and tough guy attitudes that had led to days of unrest for both men, a depth of caring endured.

Johnny sighed. Roy was still his partner and best friend. He put his arm over his eyes and let sleep claim him.

The end.