In the Driver's Seat

By Grey

"Really?! You're kidding, right?!" Johnny, leg bouncing up and down involuntarily in anticipation, looked across the table at Roy, not quite sure he understood what his partner just said to him.

"Nope. I'm not kidding. Go for it, Junior!" Roy replied, grinning as Johnny flew through the door into the apparatus bay.

"Roy, have you REALLY thought about this?" Cap looked up from his paper. "You remember what happened last time, don't you? You two were lucky to come out of that with only a few scratches."

Roy grinned, remembering, all too well, the last time he let Johnny drive the squad. "Yeah, we were lucky at that; although Johnny did get a few stitches out of the deal. Yeah, Cap, I think it's time I give him another chance."

"Well, it's your decision, pal." Cap shook his head and returned to his paper.

"Uh..Roy?" Chet smirked from the couch where he and Henry had been enjoying an afternoon nap.

"Yeah, Chet?" Roy turned back to look at the lounging firefighter.

"You think we ought to have a squad on stand-by?" Chet grinned devilishly.

Roy just shook his head and continued into the apparatus bay, heading for the squad where Johnny was waiting, revving the engine excitedly. Walking around to the passenger side, he peered in the window at his partner. Johnny was nervously bouncing up and down in the seat, caressing the steering wheel.

"Now, Johnny, take it easy this time, please. Let's not have a repeat performance. Just drive nice and slow to Rampart so we can pick up our supplies and then drive back the same way. Okay?" Roy warned as he opened the door and prepared to get in.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah!!!" Johnny, giddy with excitement, threw the squad in gear and stepped on the gas, oblivious to the fact that Roy had only one foot in the door.

Instead of going forward, as expected, the squad lurched backwards at an alarming speed, the open door catching Roy in the chest, knocking him backwards onto the floor, the front tire running over his left arm and leg, barely missing his head. The squad crashed through the rear bay door, continued out into the parking area, coming to a stop after crashing into Johnny's Land Rover.

Hearing the crash, Cap and the others rushed into the apparatus room, gaping at the hole in the door, not even seeing Roy writhing in pain on the floor.

Johnny staggered out of the squad, looked back at his vehicle, cringing at the destruction caused by the collision. Looking toward the station, he paled as he saw the huge hole in the bay door. Damn, I'm in deep @#*& now!! he thought to himself. He looked around, expecting to see Roy in the passenger seat. Not seeing him, Johnny forlornly started toward the station, trying to mentally prepare himself for the Cap's forthcoming tirade.

As he neared the station, Johnny caught a glimpse of Cap's beet red face peering at him through the destroyed door, stopped, contemplating running away. Swallowing hard, he entered the small door to the left of the bay, hoping to duck past Cap.

As Cap, seeing Johnny's attempt at escape, turned to catch the paramedic when he emerged into the bay, he finally caught site of Roy, now unconscious, on the floor. "Roy!!!" The others, startled at their captain's exclamation, turned and also saw Roy on the floor.

Rushing to their fallen co-worker, they began to assess his injuries.

"I told him not to let that twit drive!!" Cap roared as he grabbed the fallen paramedic's wrist, relieved when he felt a slow, weak pulse. "Kelly, call in a still alarm and request an ambulance!!" As Chet rushed to do this, Cap yelled, "GAGE!!! Get your a** in here on the double!!"

Johnny, cringing at the tone of Cap's voice, cautiously stepped into the bay. Seeing Roy on the floor, he paled and began to shake. Slumping to the floor against the wall, he cried, "OH MY GOD!!! I'VE KILLED ROY!!!"

THE END!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!