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Part 2
Lee smiled at the basket of flowers setting her on her desk. She had found them there when she came into work. She had read the card so many times she knew it by heart.
Baby Girl…never knew this tradition existed until I watched you with the princesses. Love you for so very many reasons!
The basket was a colorful mix of tulips and faerie roses, both flowers that were special to them. The last few months had been stressful for a variety of reason. This was Johnny’s way of telling her they had survived some rough times and now it was time to concentrate on the good things to come. He had finally agreed to start seriously looking at plans for a house. She giggled knowing she had totally over whelmed him with her dream house.
“That is not a house, that is a village,’’ he said shaking his head in disbelief. “What about you not wanting to show off your money”
“I was ashamed of it…because of why I had it. Now, it doesn’t matter, because you love me.”
She was jolted back to the present by the phone ringing.
“Data and Statistical Analysis, this is Lee.”
“Yes, this is Chief McConnikee’s office. The Chief was wondering if he could see you sometime before the meeting today. He was thinking around 10:30 if that works for you.”
“That would be fine. Or any time that is good for him. I’ll be here all morning.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Johnny walked into the locker room, cheerfully whistling. He was feeling really proud of himself. He had managed to keep a surprise from Lee. Telling her he needed to leave a little early to go to the gas station, he had managed to leave flowers on her desk. Mike and Marco were in the locker room.
“Good morning, good morning…How are you this bright and beautiful May Day?” He asked as he opened his locker, a poster of Smokey the Bear and a copy of his favorite picture from their wedding decorating the inside of the door. It was a relief never to worry about water bombs any more. While he still got pranked in other ways,that was one thing he never had to worry about.
“You look pleased with yourself. “ Mike observed.
“Just enjoying this beautiful May day…Did you know that white tulips mean forever love in the language of flowers?” He said turning to Roy who was finishing dressing.
“Aah geez, Gage, didn’t know you cared…When did you get all soft and mushy?”
“I’d say about 2 years ago, wouldn’t you, Roy?” Mike teased their friend.
“Yeah that sounds about right.” Roy answered smiling. “Think I learned about the tulips one day a few months ago.” Johnny gave him an “I don’t believe you said that” look.
“Roll call in 5 minutes.” Cap called. They went on out to the bay. Chores we assigned, announcements read. “Concerning the Skill challenge, all registration forms are due in next Monday, including any possible substitutions. Any questions or concerns should be sent to Chief Houser or McConnikee. The squad will be stood down at 10:45 to go to a meeting at Rampart …If anyone has anything they want the guys to ask at the meeting let them know.”
“Are you bringing back the leftovers for dinner?” Chet asked. “Did she order some of that good roast beef this time?”
“Kelly, I have no idea what she has ordered. Or if there will be any leftovers.” Cap rolled his eyes at the two and muttered 'twits' as he went to the office. Before he reached the office SCU the tones and the phone in the day room sounded at the same time. Everyone stopped and listened to the dispatcher. “Engine 51, trash fire at ….As the others headed for the engine Johnny answered the ringing phone. “Station 51. Fireman/paramedic Gage.”
“Fireman/paramedic Gage you are a wonderful husband. Thank you so much for the flowers…I love them almost as much as I love you. Can’t wait to show them off when you come in for the meeting. You have a good day and a safe one.”
“Love you too. Glad you liked them.” After he hung up, he went back out to the bay. “That was Lee…She liked the flowers.”
“That flower basket Jen gave Jo this morning really brightened her day. Jenny was telling her what all the different flowers meant. I can’t believe Jenny managed to keep it a secret all week.”
“I was with her and the girls when they went shopping for the baskets and the flowers. I had never heard of May Day baskets before. Lee bought each of the girls a book about the flowers and what they mean but she hasn’t given it to them yet. She got the boys each a book about sport heroes. She doesn’t want them to think she plays favorites.”
Roy laughed at that. “How many sport events have we taken the boys too because she gets tickets for us? Tickets in seats we would never dream of being get able to and the autographed baseball gloves? Yeah it sure looks like she’s playing favorites.”
“Yeah she’s pretty remarkable….she takes doing stuff for others for granted. We go next week and see the revised plans for the house. She’s spending money like its water.” He frowned. “Once people see this house they’ll know I’m not the one paying for it…She said she doesn’t care if people know we have money…because she isn’t ashamed of it any more.. .Because I love her.”
“Does it bother you people are gonna find out about her money? I mean most of the guys here know she has a trust fund since that’s how you explained the wedding.”
“A trust fund is one thing, 2.5 million dollars is something else.”
“That reminds me, the kids have been told never to mention anything to anyone ever again about your finances or repeat anything their grandmother says. If they have questions or want to talk about something they hear its ok to come to us or you…”
“Yeah, I need to add her to the list. Guess I just didn’t want her to get hurt again.” Roy answered.
“Think feeling like there was something the kids couldn’t come to her with would hurt her more.” Before more could be said, the engine returned to the station. Mike smiled as her saw the freshly swept and mopped bay.
“Thanks guys.”
“Don’t expect you did the latrine while we were gone,” Chet muttered.
“No, we didn’t.” Roy answered. “Wouldn’t want to deprive you of your solitude and time of meditation.”
“Besides, you do it so well, you have it down to an art form,” Johnny added with a grin.
~~~~~~~~
Lee looked over the agenda for today and looked thru the folders she was getting ready to put out. There were no complaints from Craig Brice this time about “her” committee. He had been nitpicking for several months. The complaints did seem to slack off after he had very publicly criticized her for something that Chief Houser had said. He commented to a reporter that her interoperation of an incident was based on her own inaccurate findings and understanding of the basic underlying fire fighting procedure.
The reporter, who liked Brice, had used the tirade in her story without checking the facts. Bob Houser had been livid, not only at they arrogance of Craig Brice and unprofessionalism of the reporter but at the malice shown Lee. Lee had just shrugged it off but it was known that many of the firefighters and paramedics had also been angered by the unfair treatment she received. She looked up when the door opened and Chief McConnikee came in. Putting the papers for WBSF in her desk, she smiled at the Chief. “Good morning Chief.”
“Lee, thank you for making time for me this morning. I know you must be terribly busy getting ready to move.”
“We won’t be moving for at least nine months…that is if everything goes well.
“I would think that the state would want you up there before that. I know the Chief at John’s new station said it would be a month or less before…”
“Hold on there. Johnny doesn’t have a new station unless you’re here to tell me you kicked him out of 51...?”
“John has requested all his files be sent to Sacramento and his name be withdrawn from the skill challenge, that his and DeSoto’s registrations were to be removed from the paramedic competition list. That is why I wanted to come in early to talk with you. To see if you could postpone your move until after the games. I was a little surprised and saddened by John’s leaving our department but happy for your promotion. Although I was a little angry that John hadn’t come in and talked with us or at least with Hank before turning in the paper work.”
“Chief, the rumor mill running wild is one thing but if someone is requesting Johnny’s files that is a totally different matter. There is confidential information in those files that need to be protected. Not just Johnny’s, all your people have the right to know their files are safe.”
“I agree completely. So you aren’t moving to Sacramento to be head of some new department that is going to put all the files on a computer?”
“That is probably going to happen in the future, but by the time it does Capt. Gage will be retired. And so will I.”
“If not Chief…” She giggled. “After Himself would be retiring with much honor and glory...” She added something in Gaelic much to McConnikee’s surprise and delight.
“Now where would you be learning that and with such fine Connemara accent?”
“My darlin’ Gunny…a fine lad and upstanding Marine…who one of these days I’m going to take the Boyo to meet. Tis a sadness that fine gentleman went home to his beloved Galway County. When I was little he was my favorite playmate on our island.”
“You have a very interesting circle of friends.” The Chief smiled at the young woman’s look as she remembered her old ‘play mate’.
“Which I am glad to include you in. But, seriously, can you find out who sent the request? Let your Sacramento counterpart know it’s just a nasty rumor he is leaving Station 51. We are in the planning stages of building a house on some land I inherited so we are here to stay.”
“There has been several inquires for information on John’s work history lately. The clerk almost sent the information for this one then noticed there wasn’t a release of information form attached to the request.”
“We have contacted several adoption agencies…they want to know what you eat for breakfast and what time you have it,” she joked. He could see the sadness behind the joke. “People should be starting in soon, so if you’ll excuse me, I’ll set the meat and salads out. Mick sent over roast beef , pulled pork , crab and salmon spreads. There’s pecan pie today and frozen pineapple pie…Both which just happen to be the Boyo’s favorites. Please don’t tell him I called him that to you. I’m afraid he gets a little embarrassed with my attitude towards his bosses.”
“I think your attitude toward anything to do with John is just what he needs. I have nothing but admiration for the both of you.”
People started coming in and getting their food. Soon all were there except Dixie, Johnny and Roy. The unwritten rule was the seat on Lee’s left was left open for Johnny and Roy sat next to him. Stan Winters who was new to the committee frowned.
“Why can’t those people be on time? They think their time is more important than ours?”
“Since Dixie McCall isn’t here either I would make an educated guess there is something major happening right now and that the squad is on a call. That has priority over any meeting.”
They covered the agenda including updates on the items from the last meeting. Dixie had arrived just as they getting started on the serious discussion part of the luncheon.
“Johnny left this in case they did not get back here in time. I have not read this. He and Roy and the guys a the station wrote this and sealed it there. Chief, would you open it and read it.” Lee said as she handed the envelope over to the Chief.
“Gladly.” He read the page quickly then smiled as he laid it down. “It seems the paramedics and the crews of all the shifts are worried about a trend they see. The reporters and by standers are harassing the law enforcement personnel at the scenes of too many calls. While the officers are dealing with the unruly crowd other members of the press are sneaking over closer to the area where the victims are being treated. This is not only an invasion of the victims right to privacy but also on several occasions has interfered with moving the victim to the ambulance or gotten in the way of treatment. This is in no way to be seen as a criticism of the officers on the scene as they are tending to one problem while another is happening.”
“I have heard several of the paramedics who have been up here to eat complain not just Station 51. In fact, a sheriff’s deputy was shoved hard enough yesterday he fell and hit the back of his head. They put in 10 stitches to close the gash. He hit at an angle so it was a jagged.” Lee commented but was leaving the discussion to the others. This was Johnny and Roy’s concern and they should have been the ones leading the discussion. She took down notes and the tape recorder was going as always.
“Unless there is something else I think we are done…As always thank you for your time.”
“Thank you for yours and for the good food as always. I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to talk with John or Roy. By the way tell that young man of yours sent you a very lovely May Day basket…Very unusual choice of flowers.”
“A very special choice of flowers. Chief, please don’t forget to check on who is trying to get Johnny’s records and who is spreading the rumor we are leaving.”
“I will look into it.” He left and she finished putting away the food.
“What happen?”
“There was an explosion. Part of the building came down and he was trapped in an old school bus along with a 14 year old.”
“I almost didn’t call…I thought he would be here and I almost didn’t call to tell him I love the flowers…I wanted to tell him when he was here not on the phone. Tell him I love him…” She felt a cold shiver go up her spine. “What if I had waited?” She took a deep breath
“But you didn’t. Malcolm was just going in to take X-rays.”
*******************
“Bet I can hit that box from here.” Tyler said giggling, the 14 year old was drunk and laughing as he waved the flare gun around.
“You couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn…Let me try.” 16 year old Danny thought since he was the oldest he was the leader. “My dad ’s taken me to the shooting range a few times.”
“Yeah so you can drive him home when he is too drunk to find his way…” Matt, also 14 years old laughed as his friends bickered back and forth. Taking another long drink from the rum bottle he had poured a can of coke into, “I can hit that sign over there, ” Tyler bragged. With not a so careful aim he looked at the Do Not Enter sign hanging on the door. They had tried to open that door once but it had been locked so they had quickly lost interest in it.
“Come on, we’ve got to get out of here…” Danny said as he watched the flames move closer. He grabbed Matt and began pulling him towards the door. “Tye, come on…” The smoke was heavy and it was getting harder to breathe. The metal trash barrel sitting next to the old bus suddenly burst into flames as a flying ember landed on the papers that had soaked up some of the rum left in a broken bottle. Danny tried to pull it away from the bus but couldn’t as his hands blistered from the intense head of the metal drum.
A worker in the salvage yard was looking for a part for a really old Ford, one from 1949. He remembered seeing one out by the old warehouse. He drove out there trying to remember exactly where he saw it. He smelled the smoke before he spotted it. Just as he was about to call the office on his walkie talkie he saw the boys running from the building coughing and stumbling. He drove the converted golf cart over to the boys.
“Our friend, he’s still in there. We couldn’t get him to come out.” Matt said, between coughs, tears running down his face. Danny was trying to catch his breath as he dealt with the pain of burned hands. “You gotta help us mister…”
“Boss, this is Walker…we’ve got a fire out in the old warehouse…there are three kids back here…Two outside one still in the building.”
“Stay with them, we’ve called it in.”
The squad was on its way back to the station when the call came in so they were there before the engine. They followed the man in a golf cart back thru the maze of old cars, appliances and general salvage materials.
“Tyler is still in there…he got in the old school bus and wouldn’t come out…. We tried …but he’s scared and….”
“And what? It’s important we know if there is something else wrong. It could affect his condition.” Roy said as he was taking the drug box and trauma box from the squad. He looked up to see Johnny getting his turn out coat on and his tank. Johnny looked at him with a raised eye brow.
“What?” Johnny said as he began fastening the coat. “There’s a kid in there we need to get out.” They could hear a popping noise from inside the building. “What were you going to tell us about your friend?”
“He’s drunk, really drunk…Rum and coke…On a dare he was guzzling it…Last time he drunk so much he passed out and we couldn’t wake him up…He got really sick and dizzy that time when he finally did wake up… He was puking up his toenails…”
“Roy, if this kid is drunk enough to pass out he could be having trouble breathing just from that, let alone smoke…What if he vomits while he’s passed out?” Johnny finished buttoning his coat and put on his tank. “I’ll do a grab and run.”
“You need to wait …The engine should be here any minute.” As he was talking Roy was pouring sterile water over Danny’s hands and draped a cloth over them. “You need some cover…”
“That kid might not have a minute. What is the big deal? I go in, grab him and we’re all in the clear so the guys can take care of the fire. How old is this kid?”
“Ty just turned 14...” Matt said. “His mom and dad just broke up and it is messing with his head.”
Without another word Johnny trotted over to the doorway. He pulled his mask on and tightened the chin strap on his helmet. Roy watched him with a bad feeling about the whole situation. They should have waited for the engine to provide back up and support but he understood the need to get to the young boy.
“Ok, Junior, you said it, grab and run.” Roy said as he sat up the biophone to contact Rampart.
“Rampart this is Squad 51, how do you read?” Roy said as he anxiously watched the building. The popping sound was louder and more frequent.
“Loud and clear, 51.” Dr. Joe Early said.
“Rampart we have a 16 year old with second degree burns on his hands and lower arms. His vitals are…” He gave the information as he heard the engine approaching.
“51, do you have permission to treat the minor?” Joe asked as he re read the vitals.
“Negative, Rampart.”
“Can a parent be reached by phone? I am assuming you have dressed the burns?”
“Affirmative on the wet sterile dressing. I’ll check on contact information for his parents.” He put the phone on his shoulder. “Danny where can we reach your parents?”
“Mom is a nurse there at Rampart…Margret Morgan…she works up in orthopedics .”
“Nice lady, she’s helped put a couple of casts on my partner.” He picked up the phone. “Doc, his mom is a nurse there…Margret Morgan in orthopedics.”
“I’ll call up there. “
The engine pulled in, soon Cap was giving orders. Once Marco and Chet began dousing the flames Cap came over to Roy and the two boys.
“What ya got pal? Where is your partner?” Cap had an idea where John was and wasn’t too happy about it.
“Second degree burns…He went in after their friend. Said he was gonna do a grab and run.” Cap could hear the worry in Roy’s voice along with a tinge of anger. “He should have been out by now.”
**********
The two explosions knocked Marco and Chet backwards but they were able to maintain their balance. Roy looked up as his heart hit his stomach. “Johnny”
Cap grabbed his HT and called dispatch requesting another engine as a patrol car pulled up next to 51. Vince Howard got out and made his way over to Roy and the boys. Both boys were sitting on the yellow blanket, their heads hung down neither saying a word.
“Vince, keep an eye on these two…Johnny’s in there with another boy.” Roy said as he got up. Grabbing his coat and helmet he made his way over to Cap. Mike had left the engine and was helping Chet and Marco as they began moving debris . A truck with workers from the yard pulled up as they were working.
“We thought you might need a hand with this.” They began moving brick, wood and steel.
“Any idea what exploded in there?”
“No there was just a bunch of junk stored in there…Don’t think the boss even knew. There was a rumor going around that there was some illegal cleaning stuff from a dry cleaning plant stored out here but don’t think it was ever proven. The old bosses’ cousin ran a chain of dry cleaners for awhile…”
“Great, just great.” Cap muttered as the second engine responded. They all worked carefully but as quickly as they could. Roy knew that Johnny had went in with a full air tank. . He also knew his partner too well, Johnny would be sharing his air with the 14 year old if he was able.
Inside the bus the stunned paramedic took inventory of his aches and pain as his head cleared a little. Nothing seemed broken just a little achy. His chest was tight but after a few quick breaths from the O2 eased it.
His ankle and knee hurt but it felt more like a pull or strain than a break or serious tear. The angle he was on the floor was awkward he as he carefully tried to get up. The movement made him dizzy but he didn’t pass out again. He twisted around so he could do a check on the boy and put the mask back on him after a few gulps of the air. Once he had Tyler settled he moved so that he wasn’t twisting his leg at an odd angle and waited. Leaning back he worked on controlling his breathing and staying calm.
His mind wandered to the meeting they were suppose to have been at. He was glad now Lee had asked him to write out his concern about the reporters not staying where they were told. Maybe if they all worked at it they could come up with a solution. He was finding it hard to stay awake.
He had slipped out of his coat since it was so hot in there…fingers fumbling,he undid his uniform shirt and took it off. He was getting too hot and he needed a drink of water badly. He pinched the skin on the back of his hand and watched as it slowly lost the wrinkle. He could hear the boy moaning but just didn’t have the energy to get back to him.
Lee…he hoped she didn’t know why he was late for the meeting. They had another meeting soon with the architect and the interior designer. Hector and Eddie were working on the patio design. The garage /workshop she wanted for him was bigger than most of the houses on the reservation. Colin and the doctors had sent pictures not too long ago on the progress being made.
The new clinic was almost done and the new safety equipment had been delivered. Something good had come out of their visit there. Some of the old ghosts had been laid to rest as new friendships had been established.
Uncle George or Chief Running Scared and others didn’t haunt his dreams as often.. He felt the anger stir even now as he remembered Lee’s black eye. There was a faint small scar from one of the cuts but her hair usually covered it. Most people would not have even seen it but he would lay next to her watching her sleep studying every inch of her face.
Maybe it was better if they didn’t have a child. How would Lee handle one on her own? “Don’t kid yourself John.” He wasn’t sure if he had said it out loud or just thought it. She wouldn’t be on her own. Her family…our family would be there for her and their son. It was strange in his dreams and imagination it was always a boy…but he would be just as happy if they had a girl.
He had lost track of time since he had no idea how long he had been unconscious. He thought he heard voices but wasn’t sure if they were real or his imagination. He closed his eyes as the smoke was making them water. He felt someone watching him and opened his eyes. He thought he saw two men standing there. But then when he blinked they were gone. They were gone but not the feeling he was being watched. He was sweating profusely he knew that wasn’t good but still better than if he wasn’t sweating at all . He was nauseous but he wasn’t sure if that was from the heat or from the knot on his head. Was the achy cramping feeling from the way he had fallen or a symptom of something worse? Sometimes having some medical knowledge wasn’t all that comforting. One thing to be thankful for was that most of the smoke was going out of the broken windows. He closed his eyes trying to control his breathing, He was panting too fast…A voice he didn’t recognize called his name. He opened his eyes but didn’t see any one.
“John, remember what the respiratory therapist told you. Breath in as deep as you can slowly…Now exhale out your mouth even slower…keep it even keep it in control.” The words were familiar but he had no idea who the voice belonged to. Usually when he heard voices in his head he could put a face or name to it. Maybe this time the head injury was worst…Maybe this time…Maybe this time it would just be easier to go to sleep.
“That’s enough of that kind of thought. You’re letting the pain do your thinking. You need to focus on breathing slow and staying calm.” John heard the words as if the speaker was standing right next to him. “You gonna give up and let those people who don’t know you win? The ones who want you to fail? All those people who said you’d never amount to anything? The ones that never saw past your mixed heritage? Or you gonna fight and prove to them you are a fighter…That you are worthy of the respect you have earned ? That you are worthy of the love Lee gives you with every breath she takes? Doesn’t she tell you she knows her mother and I are proud of you and we love you like a son. Our baby girl already lost too much in her life…there will be other lost and heart ache but don’t you add to it by giving up. That’s an order…Keep fighting. Don’t hurt her,” the voice and the feeling of being watched left him. Later when he remembered this he would wonder why it was her dad and not his that came into his mind. He had seen the official pictures of her dad in his uniform, taken not long before the car crash but the one he saw in his mind now was the one of him and Lee playing in the surf with flowers in her hair. He would be going to home to her. He concentrated on his breathing.
Cap and the men outside had been working for about ten minutes to reach the battered school bus. The problem was trying to move the debris without causing more to fall. It had fell at an odd angle.
“It has to be like an oven in there.” Cap was standing off with the captain from the other engine. “Knowing that twit he probably doesn’t have his air mask on.”
The other captain was new to Station 36 so he wasn’t familiar with Johnny’s reputation. “If he is that irresponsible why is he still a paramedic?”
“It’s not irresponsibility it being too focused on keeping the victim alive. Especially when it’s a kid. I’d bet he has had that on the kid 90% of the time they’ve been in there.”
“Cap, we can see the back of the bus.” Chet yelled. Jay Cameron and Doug Stone were set up to treat Tyler. Roy had everything set up for Johnny’s care Roy knew if nothing else Johnny was going to be over heated and congested…He and the other paramedics had been helping with the digging out until they had gotten to the place removal would be soon. He had an idea.
“Is there some place we can get some ice?” He asked the yard foreman.
“The gas station around the corner.”
“Vince, can you get us about 20 pounds of ice? We’re gonna need to get their temperatures down. Especially Tyler’s if we are dealing with alcohol poisoning.” Vince left to get the ice.
“Roy, do you want us go in there first?” Jay said as it became clear they were almost to the door.
Marco pried the bent door open. The heat escaped from the bus like a door being opened on an oven. Roy went in followed by Jay. Johnny was unconscious on the floor, Tyler was on a seat and as Roy expected wearing the air mask. Quickly checking for a pulse he found it. He could feel the heat coming off Johnny’s body. The tee shirt he was wearing was soaking wet Jay carried the boy out to the waiting treatment area. Roy looked up as Marco climbed into the bus.
Once they had him on the ground, Roy began vitals as Marco set up the IV they knew Dr. Early was going to order. Roy took Johnny’s temperature and frowned. “What’s the boy’ temperature? Also, Johnny?”
“104.8 Dry skin, no wetness left on his shirt for the 14 year old.”
“103.8 …his shirt is still damp.” Doug was on the phone to Rampart giving the vitals as the others reported them
After listening and giving orders for the IV’s Dr. Early said to start cooling measures and transport as soon as possible. Due to the seriousness of Tyler’s condition it was decided that Roy and Jay would ride in with Johnny and Tyler, Chet would take squad 51 into Rampart and Vince would transport the other two boys.
Tyler went into treatment room 3 with Kelly Brackett and Johnny went into treatment room 2 with Joe Early. Mike Morton was helping Kel and one of the other residents was checking out the other two boys as a precaution as well as treating Danny’s burnt hands.
“Roy, get a temperature and a new set of vitals. Any idea what he hit his head on?” The cut was small but had a good sized bruise.
“Think it must have been one of the seat backs. It was like an oven in there. The smoke in the building wasn’t as bad as it could have been since all the windows were broken out., the smoke had an escape route. They are still trying to finds out what was in barrels that exploded. His temperature is down to 103.”
Just as they finished getting the vitals Malcolm came in with the portable X ray machine. “Doc, while they’re getting the x-rays I’m going up to talk to Lee.”
**************
Roy pushed her to the elevator and waited for her to say something, giving her time to get her emotions under control. The calm almost cold persona she presented at times was a mask. The more of the ice maiden she looked the more she was struggling to maintain her composer.
“Who is with him?” She asked as the elevator opened.
“Dr. Early. Dr. Brackett is with the 14 year old Johnny had went into to get out.
“I’m glad it’s not Dr. Morton. I know it wasn’t really wasn’t his fault Johnny got sick but part of me still thinks if he had been nicer that morning Johnny might have gotten his ear checked. He knew he had water in his ear that morning.”
“Morton’s a good doctor and a good guy. Johnny didn’t think it was serious, no one did.”
“I know….a friend laughs at me and says when we get a baby I am going to be so over protective the kid will smother or so laid back that that he will be a dare devil just like his father. That poor baby isn’t gonna have a chance.”
“That baby is gonna be so loved with such good parents he’ll have every chance in the world.”
“Thanks now if the powers that be only agree. We got another rejection letter last week.”
Roy didn’t see any reason to tell her he knew that Johnny had held her until she cried herself to sleep after the last rejection.
When they reached the ER Chet was there. He nodded at Lee but didn’t say anything, they had a truce at the moment.
“Roy, Dr. Early said you could go back into the treatment room when you came back down.”
“Thanks Betty.” Roy looked over at the treatment room then at Lee. “Go…I’ll be fine… it helps knowing you are there with him. Tell him I love him, that I’ll be here waiting.”
Roy started over to the treatment room. Chet stepped over to him. “Don’t worry Roy. I’ll keep an eye on her from over here. Maybe go get her a soda or some tea.”
“Thanks.” He patted Chet on the shoulder. “You’re a good friend and she knows it.”
Dr. Early and Dixie were applying cool towels to Johnny’s body when Roy went back in.
“He still hasn’t opened his eyes?” Roy was brushing the damp hair back from his forehead. “Lee is outside, Junior. I told her I’d let you know she was waiting for you and that she loves you.”
The heart monitor blipped . “Keep talking about Lee.” Joe said as he replaced towels on Johnny’s legs and chest.
“Junior, she has your flowers on the desk next to your wedding picture…She didn’t say much about the meeting so I guess it went ok.”
“Tiger, she told everyone what a wonderful surprise it was to find the that beautiful basket of flowers. Said they were very special flowers to you both. She had pies for dessert today, said they were your favorite.”
“Bet she had an extra one delivered for us to take back to the station.” Roy teased. “I could use a nice cold piece of that pineapple pie right now. Jo said she and Lee were going shopping to check out ideas for curtains and some odd and ends Lee wants me and you to go shopping for stuff for your workshop and garage. That’s gonna be some house…”
The dark eye lashes moved as Johnny tried to fight his way back through the foggy mist .
“D..dr..em.. hou.” The raspy voice was barely audible. The eyes opened briefly, then closed. “No hurt Lee.” The monitor beeped wildly as he began coughing and gagging.
“Shush no one is gonna hurt Lee, she’s safe waiting for you. Bet Doc’ll let you see her soon as you can breathe better and keep your eyes open.. You need to relax…slow even breaths.”
“Sure I will. Just relax, let the IV and the towels do their job.”
“Boy? OK?” Johnny was fighting to keep his eyes open but the light was hurting them. “Couldn’t…help… fell.”
“You kept the oxygen on him that was helping him.” Joe was concerned about how his heart rate was jumping. “Let’s start another bag of Ringers wide open. Dix I need a temperature. Roy go check on Lee and the boy that should help John relax.” Roy noticed that he called him John not Johnny.
Lee noticed Chet left the waiting room but didn’t think much about it, her mind so focused on what was happening in the treatment room. She jumped, startled when a hand touched her shoulder.
“I thought maybe you could use a soda…and uh, while I was in your office I called Maria. Thought maybe it would be easier for you to wait, ya know with family here.”
“Thank you.” She took a sip of the icy soda. “I …um…I …”
Cap and the crew came into the waiting room. She looked up at the tired, dirty men. “How is he?”
“We’re still waiting for news. Roy’s with him and Joe and Dixie. Chet has been really good, helping me wait.”
“I just got her a soda and made a phone call, that’s all.” He shrugged it off as no big deal.”
Lee took a good look at their friends. “You need to go up and eat…there is all the food I was going to send to the station. There is soda and water cold in the fridge. I can call you when we know something. The food is packed up ready to go back to the station if you want to do that but get some juice or water or even soda but get some liquids now before you’re too dehydrated. You all look like you’re ready to drop.”
“That sounds good…We’ve been stood down for an hour.” Cap said. He was hot, hungry and worried about his junior paramedic. “We’ll take it to go…We need showers.”
“You know the code . Go eat and get cleaned up. Johnny and I will be fine. It would just make him feel bad if you guys didn’t eat because of him.”
Cap sent Chet, Mike and Marco up to the office. “Ok, now, how are you doing? Do you need Em to come down here?”
“I’m doing ok…Chet called Maria so I ‘m expecting her to pop in…It’s not easy waiting but I know Joe and Dixie and Roy are doing everything they can for him. This isn’t how I planned on seeing him today.”
“He was so proud of himself this morning for getting here before you with the flowers. You’ve made a world of difference in his life on so many levels.” Cap was sitting on the edge of the chair. “Don’t ever doubt that. I know you don’t say a lot about it but Em and I both think you and John will make great parents. We got the forms from the adoption agency. The questions were pretty in depth and tough.”
“Cap.” he acknowledged his captain and then squatted down in front of Lee. “The X-ray’s were clear. He is having a hard time waking up but Doc thinks that is part of the heat exhaustion. His heart rate was jumping all over the place but that has stabilized as his temperature come down and the fluids hydrated him. He was worried about the 14 year old and you.”
“The boy? How is he?” Lee needed to know so she knew what she was dealing with when Johnny asked her.
“He had some seizures on the way in but it looks like he is gonna be ok. He wouldn’t have made it if Johnny hadn’t shared the O2 with him.”
“Shared or put it on him and left it?” Lee had her head cocked sideways with a small smile. “The Boyo’s idea of sharing is 90-10 with him the low man.”
“Think this might have been 70-30 at first. Doc said you could come in and see him. Not sure how coherent he is.”
Johnny struggled to open his eyes when he heard them talking. “Baby girl.” The raspy voice was a little stronger.
“Shush, just rest. I’m only gonna stay here a minute but I wanted to see you. Joe do you know what room? I’ll be there when you are.”
“326. They should be down soon to take him up. A few breathing treatments then some rest and he’ll be fine. Unless something turns up, you can take him home in the morning.”
“The boy? Tyler?” Johnny’s eyes were closing again as the tightness in his chest worsened. The heart monitor began beeping loudly as the heart beats became erratic again. Roy pulled her back out of the way. “Couldn’t … help...too dizzy.
“He’s gonna be fine…You did help. …He’s doing good, honest.” Roy talked to Johnny in a soft comforting tone but with authority so Johnny understood it was ok. “You did your job.”
Joe had quietly went over and added something to the IV. Lee watched as Johnny’s breathing settled as Roy gently brushed his hair back from the sleeping man’s forehead. As much as they loved each other and shared so much, this was a part of John’s life she would never be a part of fully. This part of his heart., the bond between him and Roy was forged in a special place of fire and sweat and tears. Some might never understand this bond, she wasn’t sure that she and Jo really did. But they knew it was as much of a a part of them as their heartbeats. They just knew that neither man was totally complete without the love and support of their brother.
“Thank you, all of you, for taking such good care of him.” She took a deep breath, “ I’m going out and wait somewhere I won’t be in the way.”
***************
Johnny had been moved into his room and was sleeping peacefully. The meds were working and his heart rate had been stable since he had gotten settled. Joe had reassured her the problem with the erratic heartbeat was from the heat exhaustion . Lee was working on a piece of embroidery. She was focusing in on a small delicate flower and didn’t hear the door open.
“When did you start doing that?” Maria said looking at the half finished scarf.
“About two weeks ago. Melody and her husband are moving and I wanted to do something for her. She’s really good at helping me with getting in and out of my chair when Nel isn’t here. Guess I didn’t realize until she said something the other day, I don’t keep my chair hidden like I use to so I can get in and out easier since its in reach.”
“You are more open in many areas of your life now. You no longer try to hide the fact you are a very pretty women. You are more relaxed in the way you meet new people…You even dress differently. I noticed that while most of your new tops are modest they are no longer the high necks. You are more comfortable with who you are.”
“When he first woke up he was worried about the boy he had went into help. That because he got hurt he didn’t do what was needed. He is always more concerned with others.”
“You’re both like that. Have you had anything to eat today?”
“A little.” She had to admit to herself she was getting hungry. “Will you stay with him while I run upstairs? I shouldn’t be long. If he wakes up try to get him to take some water or ice chips.”
“Take your time , sweetheart. I have nothing to do. I brought my book and my needle work. If he wakes up I will take good care of him for you.”
Lee had only been gone a few minutes when Johnny did wake up. He looked around trying to keep from moving his head. Maria went over to him. “I sent her to get something to eat. I promised her if you woke up you’d drink some water. She filled the cup half way. “Slowly, you don’t want to throw up. “
“Roy?” He took the glass and began sipping slowly.
“I would assume he is working. You’re squinting, do you want me to lower the lights?” She felt his forehead as she bushed his bangs back from his forehead. “You’re still running a low grade temp.”
“If you lower the light it’ll be hard for Lee or you to see to do your sewing. I’m ok.”
“I have been told never to trust you and the phrase I am ok when you are lying in a hospital bed.” She gave him some more water..
“Lee or Roy?” Johnny said with just a slight smile.
“Both and Dr. Early and Brackett and Dixie and Hank and Em and…”
“Ok, I get the picture.” He laughed softly but started coughing. “She really doing ok?” He asked after several more sips of water.
“Yes.” The respiratory therapist came in. “While you are busy I am going up to the office. If we aren’t back by the time she leaves call, ok?”
“Ok” The therapist also nodded that she had heard.
Lee was just about finished with her lunch when Maria came in. Lee looked up alarm showing on her face.
“He’s fine, getting a breathing treatment. I wanted to give him some privacy.”
“I wonder if he is hungry? I don’t remember Joe saying he was on any special diet…” She wheeled over to her desk. She dialed down to the ER. “Dr. Early please. It’s Lee Gage.” Lee heard the page
“Yes, Lee. Is there a problem?” Joe asked, puzzled by her call.
“No I was just wondering, can Johnny have whatever he wants to eat?”
“Sure. You bringing his dinner in?”
“Was thinking about it…I know he didn’t have any lunch so he should be hungry.”
“Anything he wants is fine, I'll let the kitchen know he won’t be needing a tray.”
“Thanks Joe. Um, how late are you going to be here?”
“Me and Dixie are here till 8.”
“Ok…Plan on dinner in about an hour? Depending how busy Mick is.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Joe, I know that. I want to do it. And I’ll have something added for the floor nurses.”
“That’s good.”
Lee hung up and dialed O’Sheas’. After several rings Shelia answered. Lee told her what she needed. Shelia went into the kitchen.
“We have 4 special to go orders plus we need to send someone over to the bakery for about 6 dozen cupcakes to replace the ones I am sending with the to go order. I want the to go orders ASAP.”
“We’re swamped. If they want fast food let them call a Chinese place.” The assistant cook said not realizing it was Shelia not one of the regular servers. “Call them back and tell them we can’t do it. If anyone out there was smart enough to get a call back number.”
Mick and Sean came back in from the store room just in time to hear the last of the conversation.
“I think you’d be wise to tell my wife you are sorry you spoke to her in that tone of voice.” Sean was angry.
“And you’ll not be talking to anyone in this establishment in that manner.” Mick added. “Even if the one on the desk did forget we don’t do carry outs after 5.”
“I didn’t forget. Johnny is in Rampart…Lee needs a meal for him. She thought baked chicken for him. Dr. Early and Dixie are very fond of the salmon and Maria likes the Sheppard’s pie. And she want cupcakes…Three dozen assorted for the nurse’s station on the third floor and three dozen for the nurses’ desk in ER. Oh, and a large slice of apple pie for the Boyo.”
“And what for the lass?” Mick asked frowning. “She didn’t even ask for any cheese straws?’’
“No, not a thing for herself. Use your own judgment.”
Roy and Jason King, Johnny’s replacement had been on several runs but none had required a trip to Rampart. Roy had talked to Lee earlier so he knew Johnny was resting comfortably and would be going home in the morning. It had been hard not to see him but he knew he wasn’t alone.
After everyone had eaten Johnny had fell back to sleep. Maria and Lee watched some TV and talked softly. A little before 8, Joe came back up.
“The nurses said he has done well., his lungs are sounding much better. Unless something unexpected happens he can go home in the morning. When is his next shift?”
Four days…They have three days off.”
“He should be fine to return to duty then. Kel or Mike will be up to check him in the morning and do the discharge.”
“Doc, make her go home.” Johnny said as he opened his eyes. He had been listening since Joe had first came into the room. “She needs out of that chair and to rest. You said so yourself I am fine. Don’t see why I have to stay the night.”
“I want you to have another breathing treatment tonight and one in the morning. We don’t want a replay of October.”
“That’s for sure,” he conceded. Joe wished them all good night and left.
“Baby Girl, listen to me. I’m just gonna sleep after the breathing treatment. I’ll sleep better knowing you are home and resting.”
“It’s not fair.”
“All’s fair in love and war.” Johnny said.
“And this is love.” They said in one breath then broke into laughter. All the time Maria was sitting back watching her foster daughter so much in love. Even more so than on her wedding day if that was possible.
“Ok, you win. Maria and I will go home and we’ll be back in the morning.”
“Call Hector to come get you. You’re too tired to be driving.” Johnny sat up straighter trying to keep from coughing.
“I ’ll drive. And bring her back in the morning.” Maria said. She had the feeling she had been forgotten. But that was ok since it meant she and Hector had done their job well. It would make her and Hector’s decision easier too share with Lee and Johnny. It would also make it easier for Johnny to accept the new house, hopefully.
The door opened and Roy came into the room. Cap had said he could stay to visit as long as they stayed available from Rampart.
“Hey, Pally.” Johnny smiled as his partner came over to the bed. “I was wondering about you.”
“Well, while you have been lying here goofing off we’ve been working. The guys said to tell you lunch and dinner were great. Chet said that he could be happy never eating anything except that roast beef the rest of his life. But that was before he got the dessert.”
“I’m glad he liked it. If you would help me stand up, I’ll kiss my darling Boyo good night, I’ll let you two talk.”
“Don’t let me run you off. I can’t stay long. Jason is getting supplies.”
“You aren’t he is.” A final kiss and a promise that Johnny would call her soon as he got up in the morning she and Maria left.
“So did you hear any more about the kids we brought in?”
“They’re keeping Tyler a few days. The alcohol poisoning made his react more to the heat…The seizures stopped once they got his temperature down and they pumped his stomach. I think he and his folks are going to get some counseling. Danny is staying overnight so they can get some antibiotics into his system and keep an eye out for any infection . Matt went home. The all three will have to go to juvenile court.”
“Glad they are ok…so did you find out how the fire started?”
“Tyler was using a flare gun for target practice. There was some mystery barrels in a store room. The arson guys and haz-mat are trying to figure out what they were. So what about you?”
“Getting another breathing treatment tonight and one in the morning then going home. Should be back to work next shift. So for the next three days I am just gonna be hanging around the house. Hector is gonna set the pool up tomorrow. I was gonna help him.”
“If you’re a good boy , Lee’ll let you go sit out in the sun and watch him and his crew work. Tomorrow you are gonna be resting and doing breathing exercises and Lee is going to be cooking up a storm because she will be so happy you are home and safe.”
A nurse came in and gave Johnny and Roy the evil eye. “Look guys, it’s passed visiting hours and I know you have special arrangements with some of the doctors…but I really need you to go. Dr. Vanace is going to be up here in a few minutes.”
“Who is Dr. Vanace?”
“The new lung specialist . He was looking over the files pulled for breathing treatments up here and thought yours was interesting.”
“Big if not interesting. See you sometime tomorrow Junior.”
“No, stay I want you here if this doctor has something to say. You and Lee have equal rights as my next of kin.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah I’m feeling fine but if there is anything important being said I want someone else here to hear it.”
“Makes sense.” Back when Johnny and Lee had gotten engaged it had made sense to them to keep Roy as next of kin along with adding her, especially if an emergency came up. Ten minutes later Dr. Vanace came into the room. He was surprised to see the two men talking and the one in the bed trying not to choke as he was laughing.
“I think I see now why the nurse told me I was not going to find you the typical patient.” They weren’t sure if the doctor was angry or just surprised.
“Sorry…he was…”Johnny stopped. He was coughing too hard to talk. Roy handed him a glass.
“Sip slow then try to slow your breathing. I shouldn’t have told him about the latest antics of the station joker.”
“Actually the laughing is probably good for him. Makes him use the chest muscles to breath deeper. People tend to breath too shallow when it hurts.” He watched as Johnny regained a natural rhythm to his breathing and was glad to see the proper breathing technique being used. “As the nurse probably told you, I’m Dr. Vanace. I just started here as a pulmonary specialist. Wish I had known you when I was looking for a subject for my final case study as a resident.”
“That bad?” Roy asked concerned.
“No that interesting. So how did you end up here today? Mr. DeSoto, why don’t you tell me while our friend here continues his deep breathing. And I take it you have no problem with us talking about your medical condition in front of Mr. DeSoto, Mr. Gage?”
“It’s John or Johnny. Just saves me the trouble of telling him later.”
“Ok. Can you tell me what was in the air you were breathing today? And why you didn’t have an air mask on. Had it been damaged?”
“Besides the dust and dirt from the collapsed wall several barrels of unidentified gunk had exploded. The owners claimed they didn’t know what was in that room but the previous owners had ties with a dry cleaning shop. Junior here was sharing the mask with a 14 year old victim. After getting thrown against a seat back he wasn’t able to make the exchanges as needed. That old school bus they were in worked sort of like an oven.”
“This not wearing your mask does it happen often?”
“More often than me and our captain would like but its usually a case like today where he is giving it to someone else.”
“If you would agree I would like to do some periodic testing on you and have you do some breathing exercises on a regular basis. You have a history of lung problems but the amount of scaring I found was relative low. I am working on developing a new program that would increase the quality of breathing using less inhalators and medicines but more of the body’s own healing powers. I think we can train our bodies to work better. I have spent time with the Shoaling monks and have seen the exercises they do to improve and control their breathing.”
“Cisco has taught me some of the breathing tricks he calls them. When we were running 10 to 15 miles.” He began coughing harder and Roy handed him the nasal canula he had slipped off.
“You do that on a local track? I’ve been looking for a good place to run.”
“Most of the time it’s up and down a mountain.” Roy said as Johnny nodded his head. “Once the weather gets a little warmer he’ll be swimming laps on his off days.”
“About how many?”
“Think they start out doing 10 a set but by the end of summer they’ll be doing about 200 a week.”
‘You and your running partner?” The more the doctor talked with Johnny the more interesting it got.
“With his wife. It’s one of the activities they do together. “ The HT toned in.
“Squad 51 illness…”
“Squad 51 KMG365...” Roy started to the door. “See ya tomorrow Junior. Get some rest and keep the O2 on.”
“That’s good advice. Look, I’m going to want to talk to you some more and maybe we can work on a program to increase your lung capacity. But it sounds like you’re doing all the right things already. It maybe all we can do is keep the damage that has been done to a minimum.
“Hey, Baby girl…didn’t think you would be here this early.”
“I was up and ready so I stopped off at O Sheas’. I called ahead and one of the servers ran it out to me. So how are you feeling?’
“Good. I had a breathing treatment about 6:30. They let me take a shower and I have just been reading the paper. How are you doing?”
“Fine. Maria and I stopped and got something to eat on the way home. Then I took a shower and went in and watched television until I fell asleep. Maria called up this morning to see if I needed anything. I talked to Jo last night and she sent her love. They’ll be over later this afternoon. I missed you last night but that’s nothing new. So what about you?”
“After you left Roy came by and then the new lung doctor came in said my file was interesting. He said it looked like I was doing all the right things to keep my lungs working. The therapist said everything sounded good and to call if there was any problems.”
She went back into the front room. He could see she was angry at something or someone. “Problem?” Johnny asked.
“So?”
“So I said I would stay with registration until 9:45. The first event for Station 51 is at 10:00. If someone pushes me I can be there to watch on time.”
“I can push you.”
“No you can’t. You have to be in the competition area by 9:30. Even if you aren’t in the first challenge the total team has to be assembled a half hour before the start of any challenge.”
The teams would be pre- reregistered and sign in was 7:30 to 9:00. Lee had agreed to be there by 7:15. She would be at the academy on Friday helping with the set up and would attend the reception for the officials on Friday night. Johnny had been included in her invitation but they had decided it would be better if he just dropped her off at the reception. Tom and Will would also be at the reception so Johnny didn’t have to worry about her being there alone. Kel was suppose to be there and said he and Dixie would bring her home. She was being very careful to do nothing that would make it look like 51 had an advantage in any way. “
“What did they say to that?”
“Chief McConnikee laughed and said I should have been a drill sergeant and not to worry about it. He thinks there should be a series of these from May to July then in September have a larger one that all the winners come to and compete against each other. That there are too many for just one event.
“Maybe you were right in the first place and you shouldn’t have taken this project on. It’s been a lot of added work for you. You’ve been stressed out about it for over a month now.”
“A few more weeks and it will be over.”
“You did a good job of not freaking out when I was in the ER…getting use to it?” He was teasing but she knew what he was really telling her.
“Never but I have confidence in the doctors and the guys. Chet was really good waiting with me when Roy was in with you. He called Maria and got me a soda. I really do try to like him but…sometimes…he makes me feel really uncomfortable.”
“How?”
“I can’t explain it…He just makes me want to run and hide and I hate that feeling.” Lee said. She frowned then wheeled out to the kitchen. She came back in with a large glass of ice water. “They said you need to make sure you drink extra water today. I am going to go finish cleaning the bathroom and change the bed…You rest and drink this water.”
“Don’t you want me to help with the bed?”
“No, I want you to rest. I can do it…just takes me longer when I do it by myself. If we ever do get approved for adoption I have to be able to show the social worker I can do things myself.”
“Yes, but she also needs to know we are a team and work together. Don’t give up on us, ok?”
“On us? No, that is never gonna happen. Don’t worry about me…I am fine. You have that look in your eyes you get when I do something you think is dangerous.”
“Didn’t know I was giving you a look. The only look I want to give you is one that tells you how much I love you and how proud of you I am. Come on, lets go make the bed and then I’ll run the sweeper while you clean the bathroom. Doc told you I was fine so there isn’t any reason I can’t help you today.”
The rest of the day was laid back . When the guys from 51 started calling to see how Johnny was, Lee invited them to dinner. She made 2 big pans of corn bread to go with the green beans and cucumber salad. She called Keelson’s to order a pre cooked, sliced ham to be delivered. She added the potatoes that Johnny peeled for her to the green beans. By 5 everything was ready. The pot of beans and potatoes were simmering and the table set. She had made 2 pies, one lemon and one pineapple. After dinner while the women cleaned the kitchen the guys talked in the front room. The conversation turned to the skill games with Hank giving a look towards the kitchen.
“Will it bother her if we talk about this here?” He asked knowing she had been uneasy about the games.
“Not as long as she isn’t in here…From the laughing coming from the kitchen they aren’t paying any attention to us.” The kids were downstairs with Maria and her grand kids in the newly renamed playroom. It was now the game room
“Why don’t we go down and check out the patio. You said Hector and Eddie had been working on it.” Roy suggested.
By 9:00 everyone had left. After checking everything was put away and locked up they went into the bedroom to watch TV and read.
“You did a great job with dinner. Thanks for making the guys feel at home.”
“No problem, silly. This is our home…I want our friends to feel welcome here.”
“Seems like it’s usually my friends.”
“They are our friends now. Other than Kathy and Jim and the Alvarez’s I didn’t have many real friends. I knew a lot of people but friends…not really. Merce but she is always off somewhere modeling. I was happy in my own way…now It’s just so much better…Now I’m married to my best friend. I think it’s important to be friends as well as husband and wife. I know that what you and Roy share is a bond deeper than friendship …and I am so thankful that you have that…Now, stop fighting it and go to sleep my love.”
**********************************
“No. He had some business meetings so I decided to ride up.” Arline sat down on the couch. She ignored Lee completely at first then gave out a huge sigh. “ I should have known she was here. It seems as if any time I want to talk to you she is here.”
“Jo, I‘ll go into the den and make those phone calls.” Lee wheeled herself out of the room praying no one saw the tears in her eyes. Lee wasn’t sure if they were tears of sadness, anger or embarrassment. She decided most likely of all three.
“I want you and the children to come down to visit over Memorial Day week end. Unless you would consider the children leaving school early on Friday, we will pick you up right after school. I have a wonderful weekend planned. Pack something appropriate for church. There will be a picnic after services on Sunday.”
“What about Roy? Isn’t he included in this week end?” Jo was trying to keep her temper.
“Oh I just assumed he could find something to do with that partner of his. Maybe he and that wife of his can feed Roy, some payback for all the free meals they get from you. Gracious, it is warm today, I really could use a cold drink. I don’t just go helping myself to what is in your fridge like some people.” Another dig at Johnny who had gotten tea out of the fridge without asking for him and Roy a few weeks ago.
“I’ll get you a drink in a moment. I’m sorry but Roy and I have plans for that week end.”
“I’m sure the children will miss you but will still have a wonderful time with me and their grandfather.”
“Actually, they will be spending that weekend at the lake with their Aunt Lee and Uncle Johnny. They have rented a cabin and a pontoon boat for that week end.” She didn’t add that the Kildare’s would also be there.
“I absolutely forbid it!” Arlene’s expression was almost comical. “Besides, you can’t really think my grandchildren would rather spend time with those two rather than their grandparents. That you would even think of putting them at risk …”
“I trust John Gage with Roy’s life every time they go to work… Of course I trust them with Jen and Chris. Mother we have had this discussion before.”
“I don’t understand why you think you have to put up with those two disrupting your life…You tore up your flower bed to build that ramp, that just encourages them to hang around more. They use your children to play house. It’s a blessing they don’t have a poor child to be dragged around and treated like a plaything.”
“Mother, please lower your voice. I am not going to argue with you over something so absurd. Lee and Johnny are family and are welcome here any time.” Jo was livid and she knew there was no way Lee wasn’t hearing every word.
“More welcome than your own family? Can’t you see they are turning your children and you against us? That husband of yours would love that. He wants to keep you away from your real family…He has…”
“He has never said a word against you or dad to me or our children. Even when you have been rude and hateful to him he has never said anything unkind to you. He has walked away time and time again.”
“Because he knew we were right. You should have married one of the boys from college or one of the young professional men. I will never understand why you settled for just a fireman. Lee…? I can understand her settling for that ….” Arlene stopped short. “…partner of your husband. What other chance did she have? They deserve each other.”
“I asked you nicely to lower your voice, now I am telling you to shut up.”
“How dare you talk to me like that? Is that the influence those people have on you?” Arlene was red in the face with rage. “ I taught you respect for others! I taught you that breeding and position mattered.”
“That’s funny I haven’t seen a lot of that from you. You will not be welcome in this house if you do not start treating this family with the respect they deserve. That includes me as we’ll as my husband and children. You will not fill their heads with your outdated social standings. You will treat anyone in this house with respect, Lee, Johnny, Hank or Emily or the newspaper carrier…if they are in this house they are to be treated with respect. You will never again tell me in front of OUR children that someone is not welcome in this house or make remarks that are disrespectful to my husband. I have allowed it too long for the sake of family peace. It has taken me too long to realize it wasn’t family peace but walking on egg shells and being glad they only cracked not shattered.” Jo looked at her mom her anger spent. But she did not regret one word that was said. “You will not manipulate my children with your guilt trips and tricks.” ‘Like you have me for years,’ she thought to herself.
“You should be ashamed of yourself speaking to me in such a manner.”
“Are you asking me to leave your house?” Arlene was confused and hurt now. The anger had been swallowed by hurt and fear. Fear that her daughter would cut her out of her life and the lives of her grandchildren. Eileen had never been that interested in having children and neither had her husband. “I was hoping to see the children.”
“No, I am not asking you to leave I am asking you to remember you are a guest in this house. You are welcome to wait for the kids to come home. But, please remember what I said. Because I will call you out in front of them. They both felt really bad that they hurt Johnny and Lee because of something they heard you say. The idea of losing their aunt and uncle was scary and sad for them. They love you and dad but that does not give you the right to dictate who else they love.
“I suppose she played on their sympathies and made me out to be the wicked witch.”
“No, mother, you did that yourself. Lee told them you had every right to feel as you did. That you were correct that there was no blood ties. As I said, you are welcome to stay to see the children. I am going to go see if Lee wants to continue our project.”
When Jo went into the den, Lee was writing and the radio was on. “I rewrote the proposal for the play ground equipment to raise the amount to cover the cost of having a professional come in and evaluate and design the playground and still have additional money for equipment.”
“If you want we can get back to work. I just said some things to my mother I should have said a long time ago.” Jo said with a calmness that surprised her. “She has been told she will respect this as my home and she will not dictate who can and cannot be here. I told her you and Johnny were taking the kids Memorial Day weekend as we planned. She can’t just come in here and start making demands”
“Jo, please, I don’t want to cause any problems between you and your parents. If you want the kids to go with her and your dad…”
“No, they are excited about being with you. You and Kathy have a wonderful week end planned and I am almost jealous we won’t be there.”
“ I was with you when you got that new nightgown at Styles Remembered. You will be having a fantastic time.” Jo giggled thinking of the lacy black gown. “ The room has a double width Jacuzzi tub in it. And you are going to love the view from the balcony.” This week end away was a anniversary present to them from her and Johnny. It was at the hotel Lee and Johnny had stayed at on one of their week end getaways.
Lee called a cab and left. Jo wasn’t happy that she felt like she had to leave but respected her and appreciated the fact that she didn’t want to make the kids uncomfortable. It had taken time for Lee to be comfortable around them after the last run in with Jo’s mother.
The kids were surprised to see their grandmother. She gave Chris a hug but remembered he was too old for kisses. Jen settled down next to her grandmother excited to tell them about her day. There was only a few more school days. The Friday before the long week end was the school fitness day. They would have races and games and a picnic lunch. And she could wear the new shorts and shirt Aunt Lee had gotten her. Stacy had gotten one just like it in purple, her favorite color. Jen’s was pink.
“Well, I hope once school is out you can find time in your busy summer schedule to come visit your grandfather and me. I had a wonderful week end planned for us but I guess you already have plans for Memorial day week end.” She let out a long sad sigh.
“Uncle Johnny and Aunt Lee have rented a cabin and we are gonna get to go out on a pontoon boat. The cabin has a big fireplace you can cook in and a fire ring for cooking outside. Uncle Johnny said we can rent bikes and there is even a trail that Aunt Lee can go on. The water will be too cold to swim in but it still will be fun on the boat.”
“Your grandfather is going to be so disappointed you won’t be coming down. He had such good things planned. There is going to be a special holiday picnic at church on Sunday after services. On Saturday there is all kinds of special things at the zoo with a spectacular fireworks display. He was so excited to be taking you…” sigh. “Chris there are going to be sports clinics with a variety of professional athletes. There is going to be a Victorian doll house display and a doll fashion show and tea. I thought we could do that while Chris and grandpa did the guy stuff.” Chris looked unhappy. It was like she was forcing him to chose between being with his uncle or his grandpa. Jim and Jimmy were going to be at the cabin and they had planned on a hike and maybe getting to sleep outside in a tent if the night weather was warm enough. He didn’t want to hurt his grandfather’s feeling but it didn’t seem fair to change his mind after all the plans had been made.
Jenny listened to her grandmother talk about the zoo. It sounded fun to go to a Victorian tea and doll fashion show. Mom and Aunt Kathy had said maybe it wasn’t a good idea to take Jenny Lee and Stacy Lee with them to the lake. She bet grandma would let her take Stacy Lee to the doll fashion show. But if she went with Aunt Lee and Uncle Johnny she’d get to be with Stacy and she knew that would be lots of fun. Uncle Johnny had promised a long bike ride and a hike to see the wild flowers with Aunt Lee…
Jo had gone out to the kitchen to get the kids a snack and fix some tea for her and her mom. She could hear Jenny telling her grandma all about the school day and the planned fitness day and picnic. And they could wear shorts to school that day! Jo smiled listening to her daughter being so excited. Then she heard her mother as she started into the living room with the tray of snacks. She said a silent Thank You to Lee for being wise enough to leave. This was not going to be pretty.
“Maybe you should ask your mother if you could come with me and grandpa that week end. You can go to a cabin and a boat ride any weekend or even during the week once school is out. With the strange hours your dad works he could take you up to the lake for a few days. If he had a job with regular hours…but I’m sure he could find time for just you four to do something as a family.”
“Kids, take your snacks and go upstairs. I’m sure you have homework to do.’
“Joanne, that can wait…I get to spend so little time with the children. I am sure they can get their homework done later.”
“I think it’s better they go upstairs.” Jen and Chris wasn’t sure what had happened but they knew that tone and look on their mother’s face. That tone and face meant do as I say and no arguments.
“I don’t understand why they had to go do their homework right this minute.” Her mother said. The whinny tone grated on Jo’s nerves.
“You would choose being friends with those people over your mother and father?”
“No, you are choosing to let your need to be in control and for refusing to accept the fact that I love my husband in spite of the fact you disapprove, remove you from our lives.”
“Very well, call me when you come to your senses.” She got up and walked to the door. She stopped waiting for Jo to beg her to forgive her.
“The telephone works both ways. Tell dad I said hello and have a safe trip home.”
After the door slammed shut, Jo stood there thinking, trying to decide what she felt. It was a mixture of sadness and relief. This conversation should have happen a long time ago but she had kept hoping her mom would change. Maybe after she cooled down and found out Jo wasn’t going to call they could start a new better relationship. One where everyone was treated like an adult and with respect.
When Roy came in the next morning the kids had already left for school. They had a run at 7 and did not get back to the station until 8:30. Jo had finished cleaning upstairs and was putting in the second load of laundry when he came in.
“Yes. Chris has two end of the year tests today and was looking forward to those being done. Said that the last school days were a waste of time.”
“I have to agree with him. It’s hard to tell who is more excited about this weekend at the lake. Them or Johnny.”
“My mother wants the kids for that weekend.” Jo said as she sat down.
“Did you tell her no?” He knew how much Lee was looking forward to this weekend. And for the first time in awhile she really wanted to be with the kids.
“I told her no when she first mentioned it…and I told her no after she brought it up to the kids and was trying to get them to say they didn’t want to go with Johnny and Lee. I also told her I wouldn’t listen to her snide little comments about them or you any longer. That she would show respect when she was in this house or she wouldn’t be welcome. She walked out slamming the door.” Roy saw the sadness in her eyes but also saw the relief.
“Sorry I wasn’t here …I could have been the bad guy, she already dislikes me.”
“I should of stood up to her a long time ago. When she calls I will be polite and when she comes over again I will stand my ground. She has gotten away with behaving like that far too long. I guess I hoped she would change. When she saw what a good husband and father you were and understood how important your job was, she would stop being such a snob.”
“As long as you’re happy with me she doesn’t matter other than it makes you unhappy.” She had stood up and went over to the stove to fix his eggs.
“I love her and dad but I won’t allow that behavior in this house any more. I mean, what does that teach the kids? Its ok to make plans with someone then cancel if something better comes along?”
“So did the kids say anything to you about what they thought about it?”
“Chris said he was sorry if his wanting to go with Uncle Johnny and Aunt Lee made his grandmother unhappy but he was really looking forward to all the stuff they had planned and with getting to do some extra things with Jimmy.”
“What did Jen say?” he asked between bites.
“She was sorry that her grandma and grandpa were sad but she really wanted to go to the lake. She knew Stacy would be sad if she didn’t keep her promise and so would Aunt Lee. And she never wanted to make Aunt Lee cry again or have Uncle Johnny mad at her for making Aunt Lee cry again.” Jo took a sip of her coffee before continuing. “Our daughter is a very perspective young lady. She asked me if you and Uncle Johnny would always be best friends and brothers even if Aunt Lee didn’t want to come over any more. Or would he leave like he did that day…She was afraid he was never coming back. Said he was so mad he didn’t even want the apple pie we made .”
“She has a point…he does love your apple pie.”
“I told her he wasn’t mad that day but what was said had made him very sad.”
“Good answer. Even as upset as he was that day he was worried about the kids being in trouble. You think your mom will stay mad at you for long?”
“I honestly don’t know. But, I do know I am glad I finally told her what I thought. Sorry I didn’t do it before, I know it hasn’t been easy for you.”
“After awhile it was just noise. Irritating but not harmful.” They talked some more as Roy ate. He went up to take a nap and Jo finished her housework then went back to work on the grant applications. By the time they were going to have to get a new car she should have most of the money saved so they wouldn’t have a car payment or if they did it wouldn’t be a very large one.
Jim and Jimmy Kildare were putting the last of the back packs, duffle bags and food in the back of their station wagon. Jo was going to meet Johnny at the station so he could take Jenny and Chris and their stuff on home with him.
“Dad, why doesn’t mom drive the station wagon and Aunt Lee and Stacy and Jen can ride together and me and you and Chris can go with Uncle Johnny.”
“Maybe Johnny rather spend the two hours or so it’ll take to get to the lake with Lee instead of us. Or maybe your mom doesn’t want to drive.”
“Then can Chris ride with us and Stacy with Jenny?”
“Now that we can probably do.” They were taking two cars in case there was an emergency and Jim had to leave early to get back to the hospital.
Jo watched as the kids loaded up their back packs. Roy had taken the soda and snacks to work with him yesterday so they were already safely packed away in the Rover. They had agreed that the girls could take the dolls and a limited amount of clothing for them. But the dolls were not to be taken on the boat or any hikes. The boys had been allowed to take some sports equipment as well as fishing poles.
“Johnny, you have all the papers in case of an emergency, right?” Roy asked as they were changing.
“Yes, Lee has the originals in the office and has two notarized copies. One in the Rover’s glove compartment and one at the house.” Johnny said. “Lee also has a copy of their medical history and the names of their doctor and contact information for your mom and Jo’s parents. We have the number of the hotel …You have the phone number..” He stopped what he was doing and looked at Roy, puzzled. “Are you worried about the kids’ safety? We will also have two very qualified doctors with us.” Surprised at the questions.
Before Roy could answer Chet did. “Gage, we’re proud of you. Finally thinking ahead and planning for your next disaster. Lee hired two doctors to nursemaid you?”
“I am not worried about my kids being with you, you know that. I was just going over all the stuff I was suppose to give Lee. I didn’t want her worrying about anything.” Turning to Chet to give Johnny a minute more to cool down. “We trust Lee and Johnny, they watch over those two just the same as we do. If not closer some times. Come on, Junior, Jo and the kids should be here by now.”
When Chet came out of the locker room he saw Jo and the kids. He knew she was as over protective of Lee and Johnny as Roy was so he was careful to keep the conversation light and friendly. By 8:10 Johnny was on his way to the apartment and Roy was following Jo back to their house. If what he had overheard earlier was true he didn’t want to get on the bad side of either couple. Not that he really wanted to be on their bad side for any reason. It just seemed for some reason Lee took everything he said or did way to seriously.
The cabin had been built by a friend of Ben Oliver. It was fully handicapped accessible since the builder’s wife had been hurt in a car accident. The path to the dock was paved and the dock was at the perfect level with the pontoon boat’s deck. The inside of the cabin was also designed for a wheelchair user. The upstairs had been for the couples teenagers and was basically a loft apartment. There were two bedrooms upstairs and a pull out sofa. A small kitchen and bath made the loft self sufficient. There were pathways into the trees and a nice fire ring and picnic area out away from the cabin. The owner’s wife had died and he was thinking of moving to Maryland where his son now lived. For now, at least, he was just interested in renting the cabin out. Ben had suggested he call Lee. She and Johnny had driven up and Lee had fallen in love with the cabin and grounds. They had rented it for the entire summer, including the boat.
“This isn’t a cabin, it’s a beautiful home.” Kathy said as they got out of the car. “When you said cabin I wasn’t expecting this.”
“This was the owner’s summer home and they called it a cabin. If he decides to sell we’ll buy it. I think Ben has been talking to him about it.” Lee and Kathy were fixing lunch while Johnny, Jim and the kids were outside exploring. “It’s perfect for us. Whenever anyone wants to come visit they can have the upstairs. They just have to do their own cleaning up there. Johnny said the view up there was fantastic. He wanted to carry me up there before but I said no.”
“Well, I think this place is perfect for you. Even the cabinets and counters are at a good height for you.”
“Yep…you want to tell them everything is ready. They can fix their plates in here then eat outside or in.”
When they finished lunch Kathy, Jim and the kids went upstairs and put away their things. Johnny and Lee went into their bedroom and put the few things they had brought up away. Since there was a washer and dryer there Lee had brought up mostly things they could leave there. The sheets and towels, cleaning items, etc. She had even brought some extra pots and pans and muffin and loaf pans. Johnny had insisted she get out of her chair and lay down for awhile. He was putting clothes in the closet and dresser drawers. “This room is big enough we could put a portable crib in here…or even a regular one…but I really liked your idea of building a secure platform and setting the port crib in it. We could have it at the perfect height for me to lift a baby in and out when you weren’t home. It would be a little low for you. I don’t want to have to depend on other people to take care of our baby.”
“I like hearing you say that, our baby. I was worried you had given up on the idea.” Johnny was relieved to hear her being so positive.
“No, I think when the time is right and the right baby is out there and needs us…Johnny, you didn’t give up on us, did you?”
“Never Baby girl. That would kind of like giving up on breathing. Can’t live without either one of those things.” He went over to the bed and laid down beside her. “Sometimes I worry that you’ll get so caught up in what I want that you forget what you want and need. Just never forget you are a very important person in your own right. You are more than an extension of me or your job or your uncles or parents.” He kissed her on her forehead, then her mouth, a deep probing kiss. As she returned the kiss there was a knock on the door.
“Uncle Johnny, dad wants to know if you’re ready to go get the bikes?” Lee looked at him and giggled as he got up and started over to the bathroom.
“Be there in a minute.” He gave her a frustrated glance then laughed. “That is the one disadvantage of having kids.”
While Johnny, Jimmy and the boys went to the bike rental place Lee, Kathy and the girls set out on the deck. The girls were content to play with the dolls, Lee and Kathy had books. “We need to get a wooden lounger for up here.” She was sitting in a regular wooden chair. Johnny had brought the foot stool from inside out so she could put her legs up. You know you all can come up any time, even if we aren’t up here. If we buy this I think we would have a small pool put in. It will be pretty up here in the fall. I could see having a Thanksgiving Day up here. Or even a Christmas…I didn’t know it took so long to get a house built once you get the design settled and the permits.
“Aunt Lee, when you and Uncle Johnny get a baby I’ll help you…So will Jenny. I can tell her how lucky she is to have someone pick her out special.”
“What if its a boy?” Lee looked at the serious little girls.
“We’d still help but we think you should get a girl first. Then she can be a big sister . What do you want?”
“A happy healthy baby that we can all love and help grow. I think Uncle Johnny wants a boy.”
“I’m glad you aren’t mad at me and Chris any more. I love you a lot and so does Chris, it’s just boys don’t say it. What grandma said was wrong and it was wrong what we did…”
“Sometimes it’s hard to be a little kid and sometimes it’s hard to be a big kid or an adult. We all say and do things we are sorry for. I was never mad at you sweetheart. I got my feelings hurt but that wasn’t your fault. I let something someone said make me feel bad about myself. I should have remembered how much I love you and Chris and I would have known you would never have done anything or said anything mean to hurt me. I guess the best way it explain is that I get scared some time.”
“Like Uncle Johnny use to get scared and go hide in the gray place? He doesn’t do that anymore because he has us to be his safe place and doesn’t need the gray place anymore.”
“Yeah, it’s a lot like that. I get scared and run away from people.”
“Well, you don’t have to be scared because we can be your safe place. Me and Stacy and all of us. Grandma was wrong, we aren’t a pretend family we’re a real family. “
“Yes we are and I am so lucky to have such a wonderful and smart family.” Kathy could hear the tears in Lee’s voice and see them in her eyes but she knew they were tears of gladness. Kathy was so proud of the two little girls. They had given Lee exactly what she needed right then a sense of belonging.
“Do you think the guys will catch enough fish tonight for dinner or should we plan on a cook out?” Kathy asked wanting to change the subject.
“A cook out tonight…can we have it at the fire ring or just here on the deck?”
“That’s an Uncle Johnny question.”
The Rover pulled in with a trailer on its back. In the trailer was 5 adult bikes and 2 smaller ones. Everyone except Lee was out helping to unload.
“Why 5 big bikes?” Kathy asked as they were being unloaded. “You only needed 4.”
“You, dad, me, Chris and Uncle Johnny.” Jimmy said giving his mother a ‘ I don’t believe you didn’t know that’ look.
“Um, no, that isn’t going to happen. You and your dad and Johnny can go riding. I don’t think it would be very nice if we all went riding at once.” Kathy said frowning.
“Lee’s the one who ordered the bikes and if you have a problem ask her.” Johnny said. He wasn’t about to get into an argument with her about the fact they sometimes treated her as if she needed a baby sitter. “She is in charge this week end.”
“Isn’t she always? Although you do get to decide if we use the grill on the deck or the fire ring to cook tonight.”
Laughing, Johnny thought about it for a minute. “Let’s use the grill tonight for the burgers and steaks, tomorrow night we’ll do our fresh caught fish at the fire ring.”
“Or the hot dogs depending on how good of fishermen you are.” Kathy teased.
“Don’t be surprised, Lee catches a lot…think because she is so patient.”
“Yeah and she even baits her own hook without closing her eyes now..” Chris added. They went back up onto the deck. Lee looked up from her book. “You all ready to go for a bike ride?”
“I don’t think I want to go on a 5 mile bike ride.”
“Well, why don’t you and the girls ride as far as you want then turn back? I think Stacy is really looking forward to you going riding with her.”
You’ll be ok by“ yourself? I mean its not like you were at home.”
“I will be fine. If it makes you happier I will transfer into my chair before you all leave. I have my book, my needle work…There is a lot of our favorite music up here, we brought copies of a lot of stuff last time. We even get 2 channels on the TV…not the greatest reception but good enough. If you noticed Johnny brought the regular chair not the travel chair because he figured I’d be in it more than normal.”
After they left. Lee read awhile then went inside. She mixed up a pan The guys had been doing drills every free minute. Hank was feeling more pressure than he should because of his paranoia of McConnikee and the guys were feeling the pressure to represent Station 51and make Hank proud of them. The Chiefs had invited 15 stations from L.A. county and 5 other departments as this was a test year for what they and the state hoped was to become an annual event that included more departments from all over the state. She finished the exercises then went back out to the kitchen. She fixed a fruit salad to go with the brownies she had made.
Kathy and the girls were riding behind the guys. So far they had done fairly good at keeping up with them. They had ridden about 2 miles and it was fairly level on a well worn path.
“Mom, my legs hurt.” Stacy said as they went up a small incline. Can we go back?” They had stopped to rest a minute. Jimmy and the boys had kept going, Johnny had circled back .
“I think we are going to go back. I am sure the boys will be happy to go faster and farther.”
“It’s not about going faster or farther. Its about having fun…Look, Jim has a handi talker so you take this one. Just in case. Tell Lee we should be back in about 45 minutes. I don’t want to be out here in the dark.”
“Ok, we’ll plan on eating in about an hour then…you have fun and take care.”
“You girls take good care of your mom and Aunt Lee for me, ok?” Johnny asked with a wink. “Don’t let those two plot against us guys, ok?”
“We won’t.” Very serious.
Kathy and the girls went back to the cabin and found Lee out on the deck reading and listening to a tape Johnny had made for her. Johnny had loved the new cassette deck she had given him for Valentine’s Day. It made making copies of tapes really easy as well as making tapes from records or the radio easy. When Kathy saw all the prep work for dinner was done she decided to get a shower and clean up before dinner. The girls had their dolls and were playing on the deck while Lee watched and occasionally joined in the conversation.
“Can we go down to the dock?” Stacy asked.
“Why?” Lee said looking at the two. “What are you two up to?”
“We just want to look at the boat. We won’t go near the end honest.” Jenny said. “We want to take our drawing pads down and make some pictures for our scrap books. Please.” Stacy had developed an interest in drawing and was pretty good at it. Lee had bought both girls a sketch book and some water color pencils.
“Ok, but leave the dolls in the house.”
The path to the dock was an easy one and Lee had no trouble. The two girls chatted away. As they got on the dock Lee reminded then to stay away from the edges. There were several boats out on the lake, small ones. Lee could hear children laughing and looked to see the source. It was a small aluminum boat with a man and 2 children. She frowned when she saw none of the occupants had life jackets on. She could hear the motor on the boat and it didn’t sound very powerful. Then she heard the other boat. It was larger and going too fast. The wake it was creating was making the smaller boat rock and bounce. Lee watched as the larger speed boat came closer to the small boat intentionally making it rock and jump. She could hear the boys in the speed boat shouting and laughing.
“Write these numbers down, for me…K H Y 9876...” Lee said as she saw the back end of the speed boat. The name Tom’s Toy was painted on the back. She had decided to call the Rangers and report the boaters when they went back up to the cabin. They could hear the older man in the small boat yelling and the boys laughing and shouting. “Girls, let’s go back and start the grill.” Lee didn’t think they needed to hear the language coming from the speed boat. Just as Lee started to turn her chair around they heard the screams. The wake and the movement of the frightened children had capsized the small boat.
“Run…call the Ranger station and say we need help…The number is by the phone,” Lee ordered. The two little girls went running. Looking around Lee knew she couldn’t reach the life jackets on their boat in time. Wheeling to the edge of the deck she locked her chair and quickly moved the foot rest. Standing up and pushing herself forward she dove into the water
Lee hit the cold water and the muscles in her back and legs tightened but she kept swimming towards the boat. The speed boat had ignored the screams and kept on racing away from the capsized boat. She was able to swim faster under water coming up for air as little as possible. She came up and looked around. The man had a tight grip on a child and was looking around calling for the other.
Lee went down under the water and kicked harder, her arms pulling through the water with strong strokes. Coming closer to the boat she saw a splash of bright neon pink floating on the water. Somehow she found an extra burst of energy and swam over to the pink. Grabbing the child she quickly turned her over and raised her head out of the water. Treading water, she saw the man and boy coming towards her. The boy was holding onto a life jacket and kicking as he was being towed. Lee managed to get turned around and headed towards the dock.
“MOM! AUNT KATHY! HELP” Kathy heard the frantic screams of the girls as she started out on the deck. She saw both girls running towards her then scanning the dock she saw the empty wheelchair. She ran to meet the girls.
“Ranger Station.” They answered on the third ring.
“There is a boat capsized you can see it from the deck at the Brewer cabin…Not sure how many were in it…”
“Two kids and a man” Stacy said as she and Jen came into the room.
“My daughter just said 2 kids and a man…Please hurry.”
“Help is on the way. We are about 10 minutes from there.”
Hanging up Kathy went upstairs to get Jim’ medical bag. He had brought it just in case he needed to go back to the hospital directly from the cabin. She knew that Johnny had his emergency kit with him also. Looking around she found the handi talkie and was keying it as she went down the stairs. She went into the closet in the hallway and grabbed some blankets she had seen there earlier. “Girls go get the blankets from your bed and some towels and bring them to me.”
“Hey we are almost there.” Johnny said before she could say anything. “We can see the cabin now.”
“Hurry…Lee’s in the water…she’s trying to save a child…” Kathy said as she was running down to the dock.
Johnny and Jim left the boys behind as they peddled faster down to the dock. When he saw the empty wheelchair on the edge of the dock he felt sick. This time of year that water was probably less than 50 degrees. God only knew what that was doing to her back and legs not to mention to a child…He looked out and saw her slowly moving towards shore and then saw the man struggling even more than she was. He knew she could tread water for what seemed forever so as he jumped off the bike and hit the water. He headed for the man and child he was towing. Lee heard the splash as Johnny entered the water and was glad to see he was headed towards the man and boy. The boy was kicking and she had been afraid he would lose his grip on the life jacket. As long as she could keep a good grip on the little girl while making head way to the shore she was ok.
Jim and Kathy had spread out blankets and had others ready to use to warm the swimmers. Jim had his and had bag gotten Johnny’s first aid kit out from the Rover. They had sent the girls into the house and had asked the boys to keep an eye on them.
“Do you think one of us should go in to help them?” Kathy asked as she paced.
“Neither one of us are that good of swimmers…we can probably do more good here when they get out.” They were relieved to see a Ranger car pull into the driveway. The Rangers hurried down to the dock as a boat moved into sight moving cautiously towards the swimmers.
“You called about a capsized boat?” They noticed the blankets and the first aid kit and medical bag. “Looks like you have medical training.”
“I’m Dr. Jim Kildare, my wife is also a doctor. Our friends rented this place for the summer.” Jim was watching as the boat neared the man and boy that Johnny was with. Soon as they got to the man, Johnny headed over to Lee. It didn’t take him long reach her.
“Get the girl… too cold for her…” Johnny looked back to where they were still working on getting the man into the boat. They were closer to the shore than the boat. “Go.” She was tired ,she was hurting and was scared for the little girl. Johnny looked at her. “I love you. Go.”
“No…that won’t work…Get those two to the dock.” The Rangers looked uncertain but did as they were told.
Johnny carried the little girl over to the blankets and began CPR on her. Soon she was coughing , bringing up the lake water she had swallowed. Jim took the vitals as Johnny looked around to check on Lee. He frowned as he saw the boat move away from her. The Rangers were up at the house with Kathy and the girls.
“Jim, You need anything else?” Johnny questioned looking out towards Lee and the approaching boat. “I’m going back out there…They left her in that water.”
“Go.” Jim said as he wrapped the girl in several blankets
Johnny took off at a run.
Inside the house the girls told the Rangers about the fast boat and how it had made the waves jump and how they had been yelling.
“Aunt Lee said we should come back here. She doesn’t like people who use bad words…then she yelled for us to call the Rangers and get help…Then she jumped into the water. “
“Can you tell us anything about the boat like what color it was?”
“It was white and had a green stripe and a name and numbers…” Stacy went over to the table to get her sketch book. “See. I drew a picture . Aunt Lee told me to write the numbers. KHY9876 Tom’s Toy was printed on the side of the boat in the picture she had drawn. “Then Uncle Johnny and Daddy came and you came…Mom made us stay in the house.”
“Well, I would say you and your Aunt Lee did a really good thing. You helped save three people.” “Just like Daddy and Uncle Johnny do at work…right Aunt Kathy?” Jen said proudly.
“Yes. You girls stay up here while the Ranger and I go back down. Tell the boys where we went.” the boys were watching from the upstairs balcony.
“Mom, is Uncle Johnny gonna be mad at us? He told us to take care of Aunt Lee.” Stacy said looking very concerned. One of the Rangers had went on down to the dock.
“No, honey. He was only teasing you. He knows there was nothing you or I could have done to keep her from helping those people. I don’t even he could have.”
As they were walking back down to the blankets. “Why wouldn’t he wanted her to help those people? That dark haired guy? He didn’t hesitate to dive in. Isn’t she a good swimmer?” “As strong as he is if not stronger.”
Kathy and Jim got vitals on the two and Kathy kept an eye on the little girl who was wrapped in several blankets. When she was done helping Jim, she turned to the grandfather.
“May I take your granddaughter up to the house? I think she is about the same size as our daughter…I can get her into some dry warm clothes. Send your grandson up when Jim is done with him. Then we will see what we can find for you…” After she had found something dry and warm for them to wear the Rangers and the family left. They had cancelled the ambulance and the grandfather had said they would see their family doctor the next morning Lee was having muscle spasms as she was treading water. It was getting harder to keep her eyes open now that the adrenalin rush had faded. She could see them taking care of the little girl and the boat was almost to the dock. Johnny would come help her. He was always there when she needed him. Her eyes snapped open as she felt him grab her and began towing her into the dock. He handed her over to Jim and then made his way out of the water. He dropped down beside her and began rubbing her legs with a towel and talking softly to her as Jim began getting her vitals. They put the thermometer under her arm since her teeth were chattering so bad. “Baby girl, what am I going to do with you?”
I’ll give you a kiss on your forehead and tell you I love you.” Johnny said as bent down and kissed her. “That was a line in a story her dad use to read her when she was little. It was a story about a little girl who didn’t listen to her dad . He would scold her for not listening then tell her that. She told me that once when she thought I was scolding her. It was one of their favorite stories.” He picked her up and started carrying her up to the house.
“She saved that little girl’s life so don’t scold her too much.” Jim said.
Kathy was watching out the window and saw the men coming with Lee.
Lee was on the bed, Jim was checking her vital signs. Johnny went into the bathroom to set up the bath chair and start the water running. He came out, stripped down to his wet boxers. He gathered her up and took her into the bathroom. Jim went out to the kitchen leaving the door open in case Johnny called for help. The warm water cascaded over them as he washed her hair then gently washed her and massaged some of the knotted muscles he increased the heat level slightly until the knots began to relax. He turned off the water and wrapped her in the large bath sheet he had laid on the back of the toilet. He carried her out, laid her on the bed, covering her with a quilt and a blanket. He quickly dried himself off and put on dry clothes. After getting her into her night gown he went to the door and called for Jim to come back in. Jim brought two of the pain pills Johnny had told him were in the back of the cabinet over the fridge and a glass of water.
“Take these. While you get some rest I’m gonna check out Johnny’s ears so you can stop worrying about him.”
“Then make him eat and let me sleep for a little bit…so nice and warm...just want to sleep.”
Johnny ate but didn’t really taste or enjoy the food. He was so intent on listening to every sound that came from the bedroom. The kids stayed outside until it was too dark and cool then went up stairs to play a board game with Kathy while Jim watched TV. He had checked out Johnny’s ears and they looked fine. Johnny promised at the first sign of discomfort he would have them rechecked.
The next morning Lee was a little stiff and moved slowly and gingerly. After breakfast they took the picnic lunch Kathy had fixed and the fishing poles and went down to the boat. It was a good morning for fishing and all caught several nice fish. Lee looked a little sad she didn’t get to fish but her arms and shoulders were so stiff she didn’t think she could hold a pole.
“We cook fish at the fire ring for lunch. You guys gonna help clean these while the ladies gather up the rest of the stuff we’ll need?”
Johnny had came up to the cabin and pushed Lee and one load of the picnic supplies back to the fire ring. Kathy and the girls were just about to follow when the Rangers pulled up to the cabin. “Sorry to bother you folks , but we need to get statements from Mr. and Mrs. Gage.”
“No problem if you don’t mind a short walk…Everyone else is out at the fire ring. Johnny is cooking the fish we caught this morning. And I am sure they have the coffee brewing by now.”
“I trust there wasn’t any serious consequences to last night’s adventure for anyone?” The older of the two Rangers said as they walked the path. “We haven’t found the boat yet but we are looking and so are the local law enforcement agencies.” “The Williams seemed like a nice family. It’s a shame they were treated like that.”
“They were lucky you and your family were here. I hope this doesn’t discourage you from coming back.”
“I know it hasn’t Johnny and Lee have rented this place for the summer and we have an open ended invitation.” Kathy said. “I think my kids are planning to spend a lot of time up here.”
“You’re related to the couple who rented this place?” The Ranger asked. “Do you think they will testify in court? If we can find the other boat…they could have moved it to another lake by now.”
“Lee’s parents and mine were best friends and I she has always thought of me as her big sister.”
“I noticed last night the girls called them Aunt Lee and Uncle Johnny. That was quick thinking on her part having your daughter write down the boat’s numbers
“You are in for an interesting interview.” They could hear the laughter and squeals coming from the picnic area. They saw Johnny racing across the open space with the four kids chasing him. Lee and Jim were sitting there watching and laughing “I doubt if he had 4 hours of sleep last night. Knowing him every time she moved he was awake.. When I came down at 7 this morning he had coffee made and breakfast started. She was finally sleeping peacefully so he had came out to the kitchen.
Kathy introduced Lee to Ranger Rick Martin. “Excuse me for not shaking hands but my arms and shoulders hurt to move. Have you found those idiots yet?”
“No…Uhm, if you feel up to it we’d like to get your statement. Then we’ll get your husband’s .” The Ranger was clearly uncomfortable. “There were three men, probably late teens, early twenties. Two dark haired, one red head with very fair skin. He was being macho and didn’t have a shirt on so he is probably burnt . He was the loudest, with a New York accent. They were showing off making their boat jump and creating a wake that was pretty forceful. It even made our boat bob. When the language became offensive and racist I told the girls we needed to go back up to the house. Then when I heard the screams I sent them running for help, then went in after the little girl. Johnny came about the same time your boat did.”
“Any questions?” The Ranger asked as he was closing his notebook. When neither of them had a question the Ranger decided to ask the one that had been nagging at them since he had seen Lee in the wheelchair.
“Did you know what would happen when you jumped into the lake yesterday?”
“”Yes.” Lee answered simply. There was a slight smile as she looked over to Johnny.
“Then why did you?” “Because I knew what would have happened if I didn’t.”
Continued in Part 3 Posted to Site 09/21/13
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