Roy backed the squad into the station. It was going on three o'clock and this was the sixteenth run the squad had been on. The engine hadn't been out all day. Wearily Roy and Johnny got out of the squad.
"I left your lunches in the oven," Chet told them.
"Thanks, Chet," Johnny sighed, closing the door on his side. He'd had to lean on it for a minute before working up the energy to walk in to the kitchen. Suddenly he saw something that sapped him of any energy he might have recovered. "Oh no! Roy!" he called weakly, leaning on the front fender of the squad for support.
"What's the matter? Are you sick?" Marco asked with concern. He stepped up to Johnny and took his arm. Johnny almost looked like he was going to pass out.
"I may be," Johnny admitted.
"What's wrong?" Roy approached them from the other side.
"You were right about the tire. It's soft." Johnny pointed to the right front tire. It wasn't quite flat but it was well on its way.
Roy looked sick too. "Guess we'll have to change it," he groaned.
"Look," Marco said, suddenly a bit uncomfortable. "You guys are hungry. I'll change the tire for you."
Roy and Johnny brightened.
"Really?!" Roy couldn't believe it.
"Sure. I'm getting tired of polishing the engine anyway."
"Thanks, Marco." Johnny was beside himself with joy.
"One born every minute, Marco," Chet chided.
"Go in and eat before I change my mind." Marco tried to sound gruff as he got the jack from the squad. He hoped that would dissuade Chet from calling him a sucker.
"We own you one, Marco," Johnny assured him as he and Roy headed for the kitchen.
"I'm starved," Roy declared as he got their lunches out of the oven.
"Me too," Johnny concurred as he took a pitcher of milk out of the fridge. "That sure was nice of Marco."
"Yeah. I don't think I have the strength to change a tire at the moment," Roy admitted.
"That's for sure. That was the sixteenth run we've had today. Sixteenth!"
Just then the alarm sounded.
"Oh no," Johnny paled as he listened to the dispatcher.
"Engine 51, Engine 6, Station 12. Structure Fire -- 822 Delmont. Cross street Regal. Time out 3:05."
Roy and Johnny just smiled as they heard the engine pull away. They actually got a chance to finish their lunch.
"Now I feel more alive," Roy commented.
"Yeah," Johnny agreed, with a luxurious stretch. "Guess we'd better do these dishes."
They had just finished the dishes and were about to tackle their logbook when the alarm sounded.
"Squad 51, Woman down -- 415 Tracer. Cross street Bozeman. Time out 3:48."
"Squad 51, KMG 365," Roy acknowledged the call and replaced the mic in the stand. He then ran to the squad, yanked the driver's side door open and got in. Johnny ran around the back of the squad and jumped in from his side. He never noticed that 5 of the 6 tire nuts and the tire iron were on the ground next to the squad. The squad was still on the jack about an inch off the floor. Their siren drowned out the sound of it clattering to the floor as the squad drove off of it. It did not register on either of them what that slight bump was that they felt as the vehicle pulled forward. They were both intent on the call and didn't give anything else a thought.
The squad sped off down the street but the second corner they took spelled disaster for them. The squad was too heavy and the speed was too fast for the one bolt to hold the tire on. The wheel fell off and Roy lost control. He slammed on the brakes but the squad started to spin. He couldn't see where he was going because the windshield had spiderwebbed. He prayed the lights and sirens would keep traffic out of their way and that he didn't hit anything. After what seemed like an eternity, the squad came to a stop. Roy's ribs hurt where they had slammed into the steering wheel. He shook his head to clear it and took a deep breath.
"You okay?" he asked rubbing his ribcage. When Johnny didn't answer he looked over. Johnny was slumped forward. Roy could see it was Johnny's head that had spiderwebbed the windshield. He felt both sick and scared but he forced himself to be calm.
"Johnny?" Gently he leaned him back and checked him over. He was unconscious and bleeding profusely but he had a pulse. Roy reached for the mic "LA, this is squad 51." His voice shook slightly as he strained to see out the side window. "We have been involved in a traffic accident at the corner of Los Altos and Del Rey. Please respond an ambulance to our location . We have a code I," his voice cracked but he struggled to maintain his professionalism. Johnny needed him.
"10 - 4, 51," the slightly mechanical sound of the dispatcher's voice responded.
Roy hung up the mic and got out of the squad. He ran around to the side other of the squad and pulled the door open. Once the wheel fell off metal had scraped against the pavement for several yards. The smell of overheated metal filled the air and Roy began to fear that the squad might catch fire. He knew he had to get Johnny out of harm's way.
The squad had come to rest at the side of the road. Carefully he lifted Johnny out of the squad and laid him in the grass. He went back and grabbed the equipment and raced back to his partner. He began applying pressure to the deep gash that ran along Johnny's hairline. A crowd was beginning to gather but Roy was oblivious to it.
Officer Vince Howard made his way through the on-lookers. He put his hand on Roy's shoulder. "Need some help, Roy?" he asked with concern.
Roy was startled by his sudden presence but recovered quickly. "Oh, Vince -- wanna hand me the biophone?"
"Sure thing. What happened?"
"I - I don't really know," Roy admitted honestly.
Vince could tell that Roy was a little stunned but Johnny appeared to be seriously injured. He decided to put his accident investigation on hold and just do what he could to help Roy.
***
Engine 51 was driving back to the station when they came upon the scene. Several cars were pulled over. Others were parked right in the street. Traffic was effectively blocked; something as big as the rig was probably not going to get through.
"What's going on?" the cap wondered.
"Looks like an accident," Mike told him. "Should I backtrack and go around it?"
"No, pull up. Maybe we can help," the cap advised.
Chet was leaning forward peering through the windshield. "Cap! Look!" he suddenly exclaimed, "It's the squad!"
Mike eased the heavy engine over to the side of the road and ground to a halt. They got out and made their way to the place where the crowd was clustered.
***
"Rampart, this is squad 51. How do you read?"
"Read you fine, 51. Go ahead," Dr Brackett responded.
"Rampart, we have a male victim, approx---that is-- 25 years old. He's been involved in a traffic accident. He's comatose. He has a deep laceration at the hairline which was bleeding profusely. The bleeding is now under control. Pupils are unequal and not responsive. I can find no obvious signs of fractures. Skin is clammy to the touch and slightly grey. Hold for vitals."
***
"What d'ya have, Kel?" Joe Early asked, coming into the base station.
"Ah, Joe, glad you're here. We may need a neurosurgeon. 51's got a TA with head trauma."
"I'll see who's on duty in case we need to put a surgical team together." Joe volunteered.
***
Captain Stanley and the rest of 51 broke through the crowd. It sickened them to see Johnny.
"What happened, Roy?" Stanley asked, squatting next to him to offer any assistance he could. When Roy didn't respond he questioned farther, "Are you alright, Pal?"
Roy looked a bit pale and shaky but he looked up to answer the captain.
Before he could speak Marco suddenly swore in Spanish. He looked like he was going to faint.
"What's the matter?" Chet grabbed him.
Marco continued to speak excitedly in Spanish.
"English, Marco, English," Chet coached. "Calm down! What are you trying to say?"
"The wheel," Marco said miserably, "The wheel fell off!! This is all my fault!"
"Take it easy," Chet said sympathetically, putting his arm around Marco's shoulder. He had looked around for another vehicle or something that could have caused the wreck. He was just coming to the conclusion that it may have been a hit and run or at the very least the other vehicle had left the scene. He was in the process of working up a righteous anger at the guy who was responsible. He didn't dare say much to Marco until he had a chance to switch gears. Marco was on the verge of going to pieces and he really didn't want to add to his problems. This whole thing was a hell of a mess.
***
The ambulance pulled up. Roy had done everything that Rampart had told him to do but it didn't seem like enough. He felt helpless. He concentrated on getting Johnny to Rampart and tried not to think about anything else. "Careful now," he needlessly advised the ambulance attendants as they loaded Johnny into the ambulance.
"What the heck happened here?" Captain Stanley asked Vince.
"Lopez is right. Looks like the wheel fell off somehow and Roy lost control. It's a wonder this wasn't even worse. Freak accident, I guess," Vince explained, shaking his head sadly.
Roy started to get into the ambulance but suddenly his ribs hurt too much. He felt dizzy and tired. Everything started to spin.
"Roy!" Mike grabbed him as he passed out. Mike eased him to the ground.
Captain Stanley, Vince and one of the ambulance attendants rushed to them.
Roy woke up immediately when they administered oxygen. He pulled the mask off. "We gotta go!" he gasped.
"Hey, are you sure you're okay?" the captain asked with concern.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Really, Cap. We gotta get him in -- he's in bad shape." Roy was alert enough to know better than to argue with the captain without a very good reason.
"What about you?" Stanley thought that Roy looked better but he was far from convinced that he was fine.
"I'm okay," Roy insisted as he got up. He could not help rubbing his sore ribs.
"You get a doctor to look at you too," the captain ordered him.
"I will. I will," Roy was impatient. Johnny's golden hour was running out.
"We're going to follow you in," the cap told him. He knew that Johnny was Roy's only concern but he was concerned about both of them.
Roy nodded and pulled the ambulance door shut. The cap banged on it twice to let the driver know he could pull away. He then pulled his handie talkie from his pocket. "L A, this is engine 51."
"Go ahead, 51."
"L A, request a tow truck to Squad 51's location. The squad was involved in a traffic accident and both paramedics were injured. Repeat-- we have a code I times two at this incident. We are going to follow them into Rampart General and will update you on their condition at that time. Engine 51 out." He didn't even wait for the dispatcher to respond. He was eager to secure the squad as much as possible and get to Rampart. His thoughts were interrupted by Chet.
"Cap," Chet said quietly, "Marco's in pretty rough shape."
"Marco?" the cap asked and followed Chet to the place where Marco sat on the curb. He looked pale and upset -- even more upset than he should have been by what happened. He squatted down next to him. "Marco, what's the matter, Pal?"
"My fault," Marco mumbled. He almost seemed to be in a state of shock.
The cap looked up at Chet and Mike for some explanation. "What's he talking about?"
Mike shrugged and commented, "At least he's speaking English now."
"The squad had a flat," Chet explained. "He offered to change it for them so they could eat. I guess he hadn't finished when we got the run and Roy and Johnny didn't notice. He was doing them a favor, Cap."
"Look, Marco," the Cap said shaking him a bit sternly to get through to him, "It was an accident, that's all. Just an accident."
"But..."
"No buts. Now let's go into Rampart and see how they are," the cap said more gently.
"Johnny's hurt bad," Marco said looking up at the captain. There with tears glistening in his eyes, "He hit the windshield."
They were only a few feet from the squad. There was a lot of blood and some broken glass where Johnny had been sitting. The Cap and Mike pulled Marco to his feet and they walked toward the Engine. The tow truck had just arrived and Vince had everything well under control. They all wanted to get to Rampart as fast as they could.
***
"Room three," Dixie called as they rushed in.
Dr. Brackett and Dr. Early were waiting for them in there. "Johnny?" Kelly was surprised when he saw who the victim was. He looked at Roy. "What happened?"
"He hit the windshield," Roy reported stonily.
Roy's condition was not lost on Dixie. He looked a bit shocky himself. The doctors could take care of Johnny. She turned her attention to Roy. "Come on, Roy," she said in a firm, authoritative voice, "Let's wait out here." She expertly steered out of the treatment room.
"Better have someone look at him," the ambulance attendant confided in Dixie, "He passed out at the scene too."
"Okay. Thanks, George." She looked around and spotted Mike Morton getting off the elevator and heading their way. "Oh, Mike, can you come here a minute?"
"Sure, Dix. What's up? Are you all right, Roy?" Mike asked the question even though the answer was so obvious that Dixie shot him a dirty look. He decided to let it go. He helped steady Roy from the other side as they walked him into treatment room 2. Once inside the room Dixie became all business. "He's a little incoherent," she reported.
"What happened?" Mike asked as he helped Roy on to the table and he began his examination.
She didn't know many of the details but she knew that Roy was bringing in the victim of a traffic accident and when the victim turned out to be Johnny she knew that he too had been involved. "51 was in a traffic accident," she told Morton under her breath. "The ambulance driver advises that he also passed out at the scene."
"Roy, does anything hurt you?" Mike asked.
Once Roy had gotten Johnny to help he relaxed a little and his own symptoms took over for a few minutes but when Mike spoke to him he suddenly became more alert. "Never mind me -- Johnny --"
"Dr Brackett and Dr Early are taking care of Johnny. Don't worry about him. We want to know about you." Dixie used her best ‘head nurse' voice and it brooked no argument.
"Well, my ribs hurt a little," he admitted.
Mike checked his ribs and gave him a complete exam. He had called for x-ray and he and Dixie stepped out of the room so the radiologist could do his work.
"How is Johnny?" he asked her.
"Looked pretty bad when they brought him in," Dixie said sadly. "Head injury. Roy was driving. I guess guilt may be bothering him along with any physical problems."
***
Johnny opened his eyes. Everything looked fuzzy and his head hurt quite a bit. He heard someone calling his name but the voice sounded very distant. Finally everything stopped spinning and came into focus. He saw Dr Brackett. "Doc?" he croaked.
"Yes, Johnny," Brackett smiled with relief. "How do you feel?"
"What happened? Where am I?"
Johnny was understandably a little confused but Brackett watched him closely for the signs of abnormal confusion that would indicate a serious concussion.
"You're here at Rampart. The squad was in an accident," Joe told him.
"Accident?" Johnny repeated. He didn't remember any accident but then suddenly a cold terror gripped him as he did not see his partner anywhere in the room. "Roy! Where's Roy?"
"Roy is fine," Joe told him firmly. "He's waiting outside worrying about you. We'll let him see you when we are finished. Now, how do you feel?" Joe continued to examine him shining a pen light into his eyes once again to check his pupils' reaction.
"My head hurts a little," Johnny sighed putting up with the exam and following Joe's finger without being asked to. He knew the whole routine. He'd done it a million times himself. Anything to get this over with and see for himself that Roy was all right.
"I imagine your head hurts a lot," Kelly argued lightly, "I just put 32 stitches in it."
They had checked him over completely for injury while he was unconscious and could find none. Now that he was conscious and alert they had only a few more questions for him.
"Can you move your fingers and toes?" Joe asked.
"I guess so." Johnny bit his tongue and complied.
Just then Dixie came into the room. "How's he doing?" she asked Kelly nervously.
"Ask him yourself," Brackett smiled.
"He's awake?!" She was overjoyed and walked up to the table. "Well, how do you feel, Johnny?" She could not disguise her pleasure with her grumpy old nurse routine.
"Little light-headed," was all he would admit to.
"Little wonder. You bled all over my hospital," she teased lightly.
"Sorry," he murmured, unable to think of anything else to say.
She felt a little guilty for teasing him. He was obviously still a little confused. "Well, we'll let it go this once but don't let it happen again." She squeezed his forearm lovingly.
"What exactly did happen?" He was still unable to remember anything about the accident.
"Your head hit the windshield of the squad. That's all we know," Brackett told him.
"Maybe Roy can tell you more," Dixie suggested.
"Can I go see him?" Johnny brightened.
"No," Dr. Brackett was firm, "But he can come see you. Dix --" Brackett looked at her.
"I'll get him," she volunteered and left the room.
Johnny was relieved to hear he'd soon get to see Roy with his own eyes and not depend on hearsay from the medical staff. He reached up and touched his bandaged head. Before he could stop it a groan escaped him.
"We'll give you something for the pain as soon as you're settled upstairs," Brackett promised.
"I gotta stay?" Johnny sounded disappointed but not surprised.
"At least 24 hours," Joe said firmly.
Johnny made a face.
"Apparently no damage to the facial muscles," Joe laughed, "I guess there's no need for a neurosurgeon on this case. How's a guy supposed to make a living around here?"
Before Johnny could respond the door opened and Dixie poked her head inside. "Up for some visitors?" she asked breezily.
"Bring ‘um in," Kelly laughed, "I think he just quit speaking to us."
Dixie brought in Roy and the Engine company then the Rampart personnel slipped out of the room.
Roy was a little stiff and sore but nothing was broken. "How ya doin''?" he hardly dared ask.
"Oh fine," Johnny gripped good-naturedly. He could see how worried they all were. "Just what I need -- another hole in my head."
"It was my fault, Johnny," Marco's voice caught. He was still pretty rocky. In spite of what everyone told him, he still blamed himself for the accident.
"Your fault?!" Johnny said in disbelief. Even though he could not remember the accident he was sure that Marco had not been driving.
"I hadn't finished changing the tire. That's why the wheel fell off." Marco looked like he would burst into tears at any minute.
"That wasn't your fault," Johnny assured him. "We should have checked. Me and Roy are the dummies."
"Well it was on your side," Roy defended himself jokingly.
"You guys aren't mad at me?" Marco was confused.
"You did us a favor. It's not your fault about the way it worked out," Roy said frankly.
"I just hope you've learned you lesson," Chet said to Marco. "It's like I always tell you. No good deed goes unpunished. Next time you have the urge to do one, remember how bad you felt about all this."
"Well, " Marco seemed to be thinking out loud, "If the choices are feeling like that if the good deed backfires or being a hard ass like Chet, I guess I'll still take my changes with good deeds."
"HARD ASS?!!" Chet exploded. "I like that!! I spend the last hour practically holding his hand to get him through this and that's the thanks I get!!!"
"Well, you know what they say, Chet," Johnny smiled, "No good deed goes unpunished."
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