Johnny hung up the phone and went over to the table where A shift was having their morning coffee and awaiting the arrival of B shift. They were discussing the various plans they had for their day off.

“Who was that on the phone?” Chet asked him, reaching for another donut.

“They want me to work overtime. With this flu going around they’re kind of short-handed.”

“Ya gonna do it?” Marco asked.

“Sure, why not?” A smug smile slowly crept over Johnny’s face. “You’ll never guess where I’m gonna be working.”

“Where?” Roy was afraid to ask.

“Over at 18's ,” he smiled broadly.

“18's?!!” they all repeated.

“That’s right,” he beamed.

“That’s an all-female station,” Marco gasped.

“I know, Marco, I know. It must be my lucky day. All those gorgeous, lady firemen -- it’ll be good chance to get to know them,” he said dreamily. “I can picture it all now. Yours truly just hanging out with them, eating with them -- and the meals. You know, it’s been a while since I’ve had a woman cook for me,” he teased. “Little does the County know that they wouldn’t even have to pay me for this shift -- much less pay me overtime.”

“How’d he get so lucky?” the cap mused.

B-shift was starting to arrive and Johnny spotted Dwyer. “Hey, Dwyer,” he called, “Would you mind coming on now so I can get an early start -- it’s okay, isn’t it, Cap?”

“If it’s okay with Dwyer,” the cap gave in.

“Sure, I guess so. Where are you going anyway?” Dwyer wondered. He was ready. He could come on duty early.

“Working an overtime shift at 18's and I don’t want to be late.”

“18's?!!” Dwyer was impressed.

“How do you like that?” Chet had the blues.

“Thanks a lot, Dwyer,” Johnny’s eyes were sparkling with delight, as he headed for the locker room to gather up his gear. No point in changing. He was still on duty. He turned back remembering to thank the cap for letting him go early. “You too, Cap,” he sang out as he left the room.

“That’s what I like to see -- a man happy in his work,” the cap said sarcastically.

“You suppose the County knows what they’re doing?” Roy wondered staring after his partner.

“Poor unsuspecting 18's” Marco muttered sympathetically.

“Poor unsuspecting world,” Chet added with disgust.

“There’ll be no living with him after this,” Stoker agreed.

Johnny pulled into the parking lot behind Station 18. It was one of the older stations in the county. It was two stories so he wondered if it had a pole. He’d had a pole at his first station and a fire station without a pole just didn’t seem right, not that he’d admit that to the other guys at 51's. He looked at the variety of vehicles parked behind the station and tried to picture the girls that would drive them. The first one he spotted was a black Ford Galaxy. It was parked closest to the door under a sign that said CAPTAIN. The next one his eyes fell on was a silver Corvette. This car had to belong to a real fox. The rest of the vehicles were more of a puzzle to him. There was a purple VW micro bus that looked like it should belong to some hippie. A white Chevy Nova, a British racing green MG sedan and gold 57 Cadillac with leopard skin seats rounded out the ensemble. This was going to be a very interesting shift, he decided. He hurried inside to find the captain’s office and report for duty.

There was a different feel to this station. While 51's was ultra modern and sleek, 18's was more classic. There was a lot of wood and highly polished brass. To his delight he spotted the pole. The Engine and the Squad were also older models than he was used to. He almost felt like he’d stepped back in time. He found the door marked CAPTAIN and knocked on it.

“Come in.” It sounded more like an order than an invitation.

He squared his shoulders, grabbed the doorknob and walked in.

The captain was a sturdily build woman with short grey hair. She wore half glasses and was going over a logbook, giving it very close scrutiny. “Yes?” she said without looking up.

For some reason, he suddenly felt very nervous. “I’m John Gage from 51's. I’m supposed to fill in here today.”

“You’re three minutes late,” she declared. She still did not look up.

He was taken aback. “Ah -- I just got off my own shift,” he defended himself.

“I don’t believe in excuses,” she stated.

“But--”

“Look,” she said as she finally looked up at him with steely eyes. She seemed to be appraising him while she spoke. “Nearly everyone at this station has worked four consecutive shifts. No complaints. No excuses. Three minutes of delay could caused extensive property damage or even loss of life in an emergency.”

He did not like being put down like this. “Look, I got here as quick as I could. The last shift paramedic shouldn’t have left until he was relieved.”

“She didn’t,” the cap said coldly. “Now don’t let’s get off on the wrong foot. Against my better judgement I won’t enter your tardiness on the Captain’s Daily Report, but rest assured I’m going to have my eye on you.” She sat back in her chair and continued her appraisal of him. “I’m not at all sure you can cut it at this station.”

Johnny’s mouth dropped open in shock.

“Kelly!” the cap hollered.

“Yeah, Cap?” Cassie bopped into the room munching an apple.

The cap glared at her.

“Breakfast,” she grinned sheepishly, trying to remember exactly which rule she was breaking this time. Sometimes the Fire Department was worse than school.

“This is Gage. You’ll be working with him this shift. Show him where to stow his gear. You got ten minutes, then tell Parker she’s relieved.”

“Right on, Cap. Come on.” She took Johnny’s arm and steered him out of the office. He seemed to be in a state of shock. Word that they’d be working with a male paramedic this shift had gone through the station like wildfire. It had sounded to her like it would be fun. Trust the cap to put the fear of Tacy into the poor guy the minute he walks in the door. “Don’t worry,” she told him pleasantly. “Her bark’s worse than her bite.”

“I thought that was her bite.” He shook his head to clear it as he followed her to the locker room. He had to admit he had wondered if there would be panty hose hanging up on lines in here. He had even expected there to be frilly touches around the station but it actually just looked like any other fire station.

“I’m Cassie, by the way,” she said by way of conversation.

“Gage er Johnny,” he fumbled still trying to recover his dignity.

“You work A-shift at 51's?”

“Yeah.”

“Then you know my brother.”

Johnny forced himself back to reality. Of course, Kelly. He’d met Chet’s sister or almost met her at a fire a month or so ago and then later she’d been the paramedic responding to the accident he and Dr Brackett had been in. Details were a little fuzzy to him still about that. He’d had the flu then. It had been the start of the flu epidemic that held the county in its grip and was hitting the department hard. “Sure I know Chet. Nice guy,” he lied.

“We talking about the same guy? The Chet Kelly I’m related to works very hard at being a rat,” she laughed. “Here, you can use this locker,” she said opening it. “Oh, wait a minute, Crenshaw,” she hollered. “When you change lockers clean out the last one, huh? Come get your cosmos and junk.” She pulled magazines and nail polish remover out of the locker.

The tallest girl Johnny had ever seen came to claim the stuff. She was a strawberry blond but it was neither her height nor her hair color that got Johnny’s attention. He’d never seen a uniform shirt filled out quite like that before.

One of the magazines dropped to the floor opening up to the centerfold and Bert Reynolds in his birthday suit.

“Hey! Don’t bend the covers, twirp!” the girl snapped at Cassie.

“Like you notice the covers,” Cassie matched her tone.

By this time other girls had gathered at the lockers. Johnny was beginning to feel a little uncomfortable.

“He’s a man why don’t you ask him, Lila?” suggested the Oriental girl who apparently had the locker next to Johnny’s.

“Good idea, Tink. Listen, Sugah, would y’all settle a little argument that’s been going on around here?”

“Sure, if I can,” Johnny stammered.

“I say any man would do something. They say no.”

“Do what?”

“Pose for a nude centerfold in Cosmo. Would y’all do it?”

“They never asked me,” he managed to say as he tried not to blush.

The other girls left laughing.

“Don’t mind them,” Cassie said. “They were only trying to embarrass you. The cap will put a stop to it as soon as she finds out.”

“No -- it’s okay. No harm done.” Johnny stuffed his things into the newly cleaned out locker.

“Yes there is. It’s a demeaning way to be treated. I mean you’re here to do a job same as us and not to be treated like a sex object. If guys had tried that on me I’d have probably hurt them.”

“Five minutes, Cassie,” another girl hollered into the locker room.

“We’re on our way. I’ll show you around after roll call. We’d better boogie.” She headed for the door. Johnny followed although he was wondering exactly what he had gotten himself in for today.

He followed her into the day room. This was a much different set-up than he was used to. It was a large room. The kitchen took up only a small area. Another small area held a couch, a few old arm chairs and a TV. The main focus of the room seemed to be and area that reminded him of a gym. Some of the stations had weight rooms but he’d never seen equipment like this in a fire station before.

His body was signaling him that something was very wrong with this picture. First off, there was no smell of coffee in kitchen area. His body would shut down soon without coffee. There was a large table that divided the kitchen from the gym. Girls were starting to sit down at it. He saw no donuts or pastry of any kind. There were bowls with fruit in them on the table.

“Would you like some tea or OJ?” Cassie asked.

Tea -- I’d rather cut my throat than drink tea! Johnny thought. He hated tea. It was too much like medicine. “Juice would be great,” he pretended to be enthusiastic as he followed her to the kitchen area. The stove and refrigerator looked as out of date as the squad and engine. Cassie showed him where the glasses were, she grabbed one for herself also then pulled a pitcher out of the refrigerator and poured them each a glass of juice.

He fought to show no reaction and smiled his thanks even though he wanted to scream. The juice looked more like lava than juice it was so thick with pulp. He hated pulpy juice. This was not a good sign. He followed Cassie to the table.

“Guys,” she addressed the others, “This is Johnny Gage. Johnny this is Alicia Takamora” she pointed to the Oriental girl he’d seen in the locker room.

“Call me Tinker,” she smiled. “Everyone does.”

“Tinker can fix anything,” Cassie explained. “This is Barb Yates,” Cassie indicated the girl that sat across from him. “We’d call her Rowdy like the guy on Rawhide only she isn’t. She’s one of those boring, married types. We’re trying to get her to lighten up.”

“Ignore her, Johnny. She’s certifiable. We’ve met before, I think. My husband is Bill Yates. He worked with you at 10's.”

“Oh yeah, of course I know Bill. I’ve seen you at picnics and things. You play softball.” At last, a person who lives in on the same planet as I do, Johnny was relieved to think.

“You remember that?!” Barb laughed.

“I remember you never let me get past third base,” Johnny recalled.

“Ohhh, maybe she’s rowdier than we thought. Does Bill know?” Cassie teased.

“We are discussing a softball game. You guys had better not let the cap hear this kind of talk,” Barb warned.

“Teacher’s pet,” Cassie teased but continued the introductions. “The Southern Belle here is Lila Crenshaw.”

“You looking for trouble, Kelly?” The tall girl stood up. Johnny found the move intimidating.

“I’m a Kelly. Trouble is my middle name.”

“Knock it off, ” Barb commanded.

“Don’t mind them. They just like to fight,” Tinker told Johnny. She obviously did not share their opinion of fighting.

And they complain about me and Chet fighting. We don’t come to blows, Johnny thought.

“Oh and this is Suzy Parker. Suzie Q, the cap said you can go now,” Cassie introduced the slender blond at the end of the table. She looked like a typical California girl. Tall, tan, classy.

“Nice to meet you, Johnny,” she smiled.

Silver Corvette, Johnny thought. “Ah -- it’s nice to meet you too,” Johnny stammered as he wished he was meeting her any place but here and now.

“The rest of you behave yourselves around him,” she warned her friends.

“Don’t worry, Parker. They will.” Captain Tacy had just come into the room.

Johnny could swear he felt the temperature drop.

“All right, Ladies and gentleman,” the cap began gruffly as she sat at the head of the table and put down the loose leaf notebook she carried. “First off, I assume you all met Gage and let him know who you were.”

“Any questions, Gage?”

“Uh -- no ma’am,” he struggled not to stammer.

“Good. Now let’s get down to the County’s business,” she began as she went over some dispatches. When she was finished she looked up. “Now before we warm up there’s something I’m going to say and I’m only going to say it once. Gage is here to do a job. I won’t tolerate any foolishness from anyone about this. For the next twenty four hours he’s no different than the rest of us. He puts his turnout pants on one leg at a time like everybody else.”

“Cap!!!” Cassie spoke up. “I hop into mine both feet at the same time. If I tired to put them on one leg at a time I’d probably fall on my ass.”

There was silence around the table and Johnny was sure the girl was about to be killed.

“You probably would, Kelly,” the cap said gruffly. She stood up. “Okay everyone hit the mats and fall in.”

Everyone started getting up from the table. Johnny looked at Cassie for some explanation. He realized that he must be desperate to seek guidance from Cassie. Chet had always told him she was crazy. He was beginning to think Chet may have known what he was talking about this once.

“Cap believes in starting the day with calisthenics. Throw back from her Navy days I guess.”

“Calisthenics.” A sick look came over Johnny’s face. He hadn’t done that since high school or at least the Fire Academy.

“We usually do them before our shift, of course but most of us have been on for days and days. Usually we can cover the station ourselves without calling anyone from the OT pool but we just ran out of people. There’s only six paramedics here. Most of C-shift including the paramedics have been laid low by the flu. Suzy has a tournament today, KJ has to go out of town something to do with her old job in the Coast Guard and Pidge has to take her brother to Physical Therapy today so we had to call on outside help.”

“Less jawing and more action, Kelly,” the cap growled. “Okay, Gage, let’s see what kind of shape you’re in.”

A slight outbreak a giggles was squelched by an evil look from the captain. After a 35 minute work-out the captain looked at her watch and said, “Okay that ought to warm us up enough for duty. Let’s eat.” She turned and headed for the kitchen. The other girls followed her.

Johnny was not as quick to hop up after sit-ups as the others. Cassie extended him a hand. “You do this every morning?” he tried not to pant.

“And again at night. Usually it’s not as easy as this. Don’t want to break a sweat in uniform.”

All that Johnny had registered was ‘again at night’. “Again?” he moaned quietly and followed her to the kitchen. He thought it odd that he didn’t smell anything cooking. He was really disappointed to find that only granola, yogurt and various other “health food” items were on the menu. He was glad to hear the alarm sound. He found himself fanaticizing about the vending machines in the lounge at Rampart.


Squad 18, man caught in washing machine. 1821 Los Altos. One-Eight-two-one Los Altos. Cross street Santana. Time out 9:22"

“Squad 18, 10-4. KMG 968

“I usually drive,” Cassie told him as they ran for the squad.

“Okay,” Johnny agreed. She would probably know the neighborhood better than he did anyway. He hopped into the passenger side and Cassie handed him the address the cap had given her. They pulled away.

“1821 Los Altos. That sounds familiar,” he commented.

“Maybe you’ve had a run there before,” Cassie suggested.

“Maybe,” he agreed. Their territories did butt up against each other calls could have overlapped.

She screeched onto the street and slowed in front of the address.

“I know what it is!” Johnny remembered once he saw house. “Marco lives here.”

A frantic woman was flagging them down. Johnny got out and went for the equipment. She came up to him. She was very excited and was speaking in Spanish. He did not understand her and felt a bit helpless.

Cassie did speak Spanish. “La señora, donde es el hombre?” she asked as she joined them. The woman was glad she understood and began telling her what happened as she led them into the house. She took them to the kitchen. Three more women and two small children were also in there. There was a wringer washing machine in the middle of the floor. A very unhappy looking Marco Lopez was bent over it with his arm caught in between the two wringers.

“Whoa, Marco,” Johnny couldn’t help but laugh at his friend’s predicament. Some how it made him feel better to know that Marco was also having a lousy day. “What are you doing there?”

“Oh no! Why did it have to be you that got this call?” Marco grouched.

Johnny recognized Marco’s mother and one of his sisters.

“Get him out please, Johnny,” Marco’s sister Inez begged.

“Oh we will. Don’t worry. Now how’d you get yourself into this mess, Marco?” Johnny still thought it was funny to see Marco caught in the machine.

“Something was caught. I was trying to fix it,” he sputtered. “When they get me out I’m going down and buying a real washing machine for you. This thing is dangerous! What if it had been one of the kids who got stuck like this - huh?” He repeated his threat in Spanish for his mother’s benefit.

“The kids know better than to stick their arms in the wringers!” his sister argued.

“I don’t care. This piece of junk is going to the dump! It’s older than I am!” He did not translate that part.

“Marco, it may not be the machine. It may be that the repairman didn’t know what he was doing,” Johnny smirked. “Maybe you should have called a professional repairman.”

“I just called a professional rescue man but I don’t see me being rescued here,” Marco snapped. He was more than slightly annoyed. “Get me out of here!”

“Okay. Okay we will. Calm down Let me just assess the situation completely here.”

“Johnny,” Marco snarled.

While Johnny was busy tormenting Marco. Cassie picked up a rolling pin from the counter and slid it between the wringers next to Marco’s arm. She slid her hand in beside his arm, “ Still wedged in there pretty tight. We need some lubrication. How about some dish soap?”

The older of the children was now intrigued by the whole operation. He ran and got the soap from the counter by the sink.

“Gracias,” Cassie told him then liberally dowsed Marco’s arm. “Okay, try and ease your arm out. Don’t force it. That’s the way.”

Marco slid his arm out and was free. He flexed his wrist. “Oh, hey, thanks a lot!”

“Can you move your fingers?” she asked

“Yes, I’m okay.”

“Are you sure?” Johnny asked more sympathetically.

“Yes,” Marco assured them though he continued to rub the circulation back into his arm. “Send these kids outside,” he told his sister. “You know that was easy enough, why didn’t you think of it?”

“Why didn’t you think of it? You’re the fireman,” she answered back matching his tone as she helped Cassie ease the rolling pin out of the wringers.

Cassie just smiled to herself. Brother vs sister battles where hardly new to her.

Marco seemed to sense it was an argument he couldn’t win so he busied himself helping the paramedics gather up their equipment. While his mother and sister profusely thanked Cassie, he helped Johnny take it out to the squad. “Look, Johnny,” he said quietly, “Chet doesn’t really have to know about this, does he?”

“Well, I just don’t know for sure, Marco. But I suppose this falls under paramedic/patient confidentiality.”

Marco smiled with relief then asked slyly, “So how’s it going at 18's?”

“Great, Marco, just great,” Johnny lied. “You -- ah -- sure your arm is alright?”

“It’s fine -- see.” He moved it in every possible direction to prove there was no impairment.

Cassie came out of the house. They had all the equipment back in the bays so she hopped into the driver’s seat. Johnny got in on the other side and waved at Marco.

“Thanks again. Don’t work too hard,” Marco called as they drove off.

Cassie made them available and told dispatch they were returning to quarters.

Johnny gasped in surprise.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh ah nothing. Nothing it all. It’s just that I thought maybe we could swing by Rampart and replenish our supplies.”

“We didn’t use any of our supplies,” Cassie reminded him but then it occurred to her that Johnny might be trying to avoid returning to the station. The Iron Maiden, as they called Captain Tacy behind her back, appeared to have claimed another victim. “Well maybe we could use a few things we did have three runs last night.” She fingered the button on the mic. “LA correction please show Squad 18 10-8 to Rampart General for supplies.”

“10-4, Squad 18"

Johnny hoped he didn’t look as relieved as he felt. If he didn’t get a cup of coffee soon he’d die a horrible death.

“So, Johnny, Chet tells me that you were one of the first paramedics in the county.”

“Yeah, that’s right. Roy, my partner, was in the first class that was trained and I was in the second but we all got licenced at the same time. There was a lot of resistance to the idea of firemen doing medical work, let me tell you. It wasn’t till Dr Brackett went up to Sacramento and spoke in our behalf that we got the green light to practice. But now that the program’s been around for five years we’re completely accepted. You guys are lucky you don’t have to go through all the prejudice ---” her laughter interrupted his spiel. “What’s so funny?”

“I think that we know a little something about prejudice on the job, Johnny. Not many people think that women can do this job. We have to prove them wrong on every call. Not just the general public either -- most of the department feel the same way. Men who are insecure about their own sexuality feel threatened by us. Can you imagine such bullshit?”

“Um no of course not. I mean I don’t see why woman can’t be paramedics -- I mean they’ve been nurses for years, right?”

“What about being firefighter? What do you think about that?”

Her blue eyes seemed to bore right through him. He wished she’d look someplace else -- like at the road maybe, since she was driving. He didn’t know how much Chet might have told her about his misgivings on that score. He decided that honesty was the best policy but he also realized that he might lose his only apparent ally at the station if he was.

“Well, I did actually have my doubts in the beginning. But I figured that the only fair thing to do was to keep an open mind about it. Now, of course, I have seen for myself that you girls -- ah women -- do the job just fine. If I didn’t think that, would I be working a shift here?” he hoped that his caffeine deprived brain was telling her what she wanted to hear. He knew enough about women to know that was always the best policy. Boy, did he need a cup of coffee!

She seemed to be digesting that. “How come you became a firefighter?” she asked.

“Well, after I graduated from high school I didn’t want to go back to the reservation. I wanted to stay in LA. About the only things I had any experience in were rodeos and fighting forest fires. There weren’t a whole lot of rodeos here so I applied to the fire academy.”

“Rodeos? Cool! Which events?” Her interest in firefighting was replaced instantly.

“I’ve done some barrel racing and bareback but calf roping is really my event.” He was surprised by his own enthusiasm, considering how badly he needed coffee.

“Do you still compete?”

“Well, I really haven’t had much time lately, but I think I could still make a pretty good showing of it.” It wasn’t just empty boasting. He had a drawer full of silver buckles to attest to his skills.

“You should keep it up. Competing is always good. Keeps you in shape, ya know?”

"Oh I know,” he agreed completely. Not having a horse was something of a stumbling block in terms of competing in rodeos, but he’d agree to anything just to get to Rampart and get some coffee.

She didn’t ask any more questions and he felt a lot better when they pulled into the parking lot at Rampart General. He glanced at his watch. Almost 21 hours to go on this shift and due to shift rotation this month A-shift was on duty again tomorrow. Captain Tacy had told him that 18's A-shift had been working almost all week. He began to long for a day off but not as much as he was longing for a cup of Dixie’s coffee. He couldn’t wait to get into that hospital.

Just then the tones sounded over the truck radio. “Station 18. Woman trapped Shady Acres Rest Home 2194 Bancock Cross street Rosemont Blvd. 2-1-9-4 Bancock. Time out 10:47"

Johnny scrambled for something to write the address on, all the while bravely trying to deal with the fact that he was so close to some coffee and was now being called away.

“You don’t need to write that address down. I know the place. They are regulars,” Cassie told him as she headed out of the parking lot. She hit the lights and sirens as soon as she hit the street and Johnny reluctantly acknowledged the call. The fact that he had acknowledged it the first time as Squad 51 attested to his dire need for a caffeine infusion.

They pulled up in front of a large Victorian style house. The engine was already there and Captain Tacy made it a point of looking at her watch as they got out of the squad. This made Johnny a little nervous but didn’t seem to phase his partner at all. They got out of the squad and joined the captain and a frantic-looking woman in a nurse’s uniform.

“I’m sorry,” the woman sighed, “we tried to solve this ourselves but I’m afraid it’s beyond us.”

“What’s the problem, Mrs Applegate?” the cap asked patiently.

“It’s Mrs Flannigan. She’s locked herself in the service closet again and she refuses to come out. We tried to just wait until she got hungry but I’m afraid the other clients are in an uproar. I’m afraid that this is something of a - uh - hostage situation,” Mrs Applegate admitted helplessly.

“Hostage?!” The cap was startled. “Who does she have as a hostage?”

“Not who. What. I’m afraid she got up early while the night nurse was on her final rounds and she -uh - appropriated everyone’s dentures. We keep them in individually marked containers and clean them overnight them return them to each client in the morning with their breakfast. My only hope is that Mrs Flannigan’s arthritis will prevent her from opening the containers and mixing them up. Oh, I’m sure that sounds cruel but she’s done this type of thing before and.. Oh I’m sorry to be babbling like this. Can you help us please? I keep requesting that they re-hang that door with the hinges on the outside but you know how these things can be....”

“Just let us take care of it, Mrs Applegate. Kelly, you know the drill by now and USE your safety line. Gage, you’re probably not going to fit through that window so you man the lines with Crenshaw.”

“Ah yes ma’am,” Johnny fumbled for the right terminology. He walked toward the engine and Crenshaw tossed him a coil of rope with all her considerable might. Johnny immediately felt that he was being tested by this girl and he resented it. He grabbed the rope in midair and walked over to Cassie. She already had her belt on and was looking at the large tree that stood next to the building.

“That small window in the attic is in the closet I need to get into,” she told him.

He nodded and expertly uncoiled the rope and tossed one end of it high into the tree so that it fell over a thick branch that was a few feet above the window. As it fell down the other side he caught it and tied it securely around the trunk of the tree.

“Wow! You got that in one throw.” Cassie was impressed.

“I like a man whose good with his hands,” Crenshaw breathed into Johnny’s ear as seductively as she dared with Captain Tacy only a few paces away. She grabbed the other end of the rope from him and winked at him.

Johnny helped Cassie hook on to the rope and prayed he wasn’t blushing. He didn’t know if Crenshaw was really coming on to him or just teasing him but either way he didn’t like it. “Ya ready?” he asked his partner. He knew he and Crenshaw were to be anchors on the line so there was no real way to avoid the girl. He decided the best thing to do was to try and ignore it.

“Okay, Monkeygirl, get on up the tree,” Crenshaw commanded stepping uncomfortably close to Johnny.

“We’ll get better leverage if you stand back there,” Johnny said through gritted teeth. He wasn’t about to put up with any nonsense during a rescue.

“Whatever you say, Sugah,” Crenshaw smiled at him, undaunted by his snarling at her.

He continued to ignore her as he watched Cassie shinny up the tree. She’d obviously climbed it before as she seemed to find every hand and foothold with ease. When she got to a branch that was opposite the small window she sat on it and wrapped her legs around it. She had to pull her line free as it had snagged on a lower branch. When she yanked the rope the branch she was on shook and everyone on the ground gasped.

“Be careful, Kelly!” Captain Tacy blared through her bullhorn. Cassie casually waved at her. “HOLD ON WITH BOTH HANDS!!!”

Johnny attempted to give the rope a little slack but Crenshaw held tightly till he had to tell her to loosen up on it. Once more she smiled at him. “Whatever you say, Johnnybaby.”

He looked back up into the tree and cursed to himself. He told himself his only concern was his partner and this rescue.

Cassie was scooting across the large branch to the building. She got to the window and reached into her pocket for a broken pair of bandage scissors that was an excellent tool for prying open old, warped windows such as this one. In a couple of tries she was in.

She climbed down from the window. “Mrs Flannigan, what the hell have you done this time?” she asked.

The old lady giggled. “I knew you’d come. You girls and that big fire truck...” she chuckled.

Cassie shook her head as she took off her safety belt and leaned part way out the window to toss it down. “Heads up! I need the tools,” she called.

Barb was ready with a hammer and a large screwdriver wrapped in a towel. She attached them to the rope and gave it a tug and Cassie pulled them up then tossed the rope out the window.

Johnny pulled the rope out of the tree and recoiled it. He returned it to the engine. He wasn’t sure who he wanted to avoid more Captain Tacy or Crenshaw. Barb took it from him and put it away. Barb was a nice normal type girl. He decided to stick with her. “I take it you have had runs here before.”

“At least once a week,” Barb laughed. “It’s always something odd with these calls. Oh well, it keeps life interesting.”

“Okay,” Captain Tacy barked, “let’s get in there and give Kelly a hand with that door. She can take those hinges off in her sleep by this time.”

They trudged up the three main flights of stairs but the flight to the attic was narrow and they could only fit one abreast. There was also not much room outside the closet door. Crenshaw continued on up the last flight of stairs. Johnny felt obliged to go with her.

“You ready, Kelly?” Crenshaw called.

“What the hell kept you? Mrs Flannigan and I have been playing gin rummy for an hour.”

“Hardy Har Har,” Crenshaw slipped her work gloves on over her long red nails and took hold of the door.

Johnny tried to help.

“I got it, Sweetcheeks,” Crenshaw grunted pulling the thick oak door into the landing.

Cassie stood back. She still had her tools in her hands.

Johnny stepped into the closet. “Everybody okay?”

“Cathleen, you didn’t tell me you had a young man with you!” Mrs Flannigan scolded. “And me with my hair uncombed and without my teeth in!”

“Mrs. F, thanks to you, everyone is without their teeth in,” Cassie laughed. She pointed to the dozens of dentures that were neatly lined up on the shelves of the closets.

“A room full of smiles,” Mrs. Flannigan said proudly.

Johnny and Cassie didn’t dare look at each other for fear their professional demeanor would vanish.

“Let’s get out of here,” Cassie suggested to the woman. It always worked out better if Mrs Flannigan thought going back to her room was her own idea.

“Excellent idea! Would you escort me, young man?” Mrs Flannigan put her arm out and Johnny took it, although he rolled his eyes behind her back.

They both helped the woman to the stairs. Cassie glanced at Crenshaw who still held the door and said in a high falsetto voice, “And the door prize goes to Little Lila Crenshaw of Podunk Corners, Georgia.”

“You’re dead meat, Kelly!”

Johnny was afraid the two of them would come to blows right there and knock the old lady down the stairs so he hurried her as much as he could. While he certainly liked Cassie more than he did Crenshaw, he could see where she could be almost as annoying as Chet if you were on her bad side. He glanced at his watch. 20 hours to go.

When they got to the third floor landing they were confronted by an angry looking elderly man in his pajamas. “Bout damn time you people got here. What ‘dya do take a coffee break?” he snarled.

“Why is there one missing?” Cassie asked him.

“This ain’t funny. We coulda all starved! That crazy broad had everyone’s teeth and breakfast was hours ago!”

“Joe, breakfast was oatmeal -- what did you need your teeth for?” Cassie came back at him with an amused grin.

“Dames! They’re all nuts -- everyone of them!” the man grumbled.

“Come on, Mr Mahoney,” a nurse’s aid coaxed. “Let’s go into the TV room and see if we can find a ball game for you to watch.” She attempted to lead the ill-tempered man away.

While Johnny’s attention was fixed on Mr Mahoney, he didn’t notice the old lady who came up behind him. He became very aware of her when she goosed him. He jumped and yelped in surprise.

“Fanny!” Cassie scolded. “Leave the nice fireman alone.”

“I’ll say he’s nice. Wanna come to my room for a tumble, honey?”

Johnny’s jaw dropped in complete shock.

“He’s on duty, Fanny,” Cassie told her steering Johnny toward the stairs.

“What a shame,” Fanny smiled. Fanny was one of the few residents who had her own teeth.

“Fanny is a retired Lady of the Evening,” Cassie whispered to Johnny as they went down the stairs. “Although sometimes she forgets she’s retired.”

Johnny suspected Mr Mahoney was right and all dames were nuts.

They left the staff to sort out the dentures and went outside. Captain Tacy was just making the station available again. Johnny was delighted when Cassie told her that they had been on their way to Rampart for supplies.

“Don’t make a day of it. There’s lots of work to do at the station,” Tacy grumbled as she climbed into the huge rig.

“Thanks,” Johnny breathed as he and Cassie got into the squad.

“For what? I don’t necessarily want to return to the station either.”

“It’s not that I don’t want to go back to the station, it’s just that...”

“You’re dying for a cup of coffee,” Cassie finished for him as she turned on the engine.

“Well it doesn’t do to be low on supplies,” Johnny argued.

“Right," she laughed and reached for the mic to tell LA that they were once more on their way to Rampart for supplies.

This time they actually made it inside. Johnny was beginning to relax as they approached the nurses’ station. Dixie glanced up from the chart she was working on and did a double take. “You’re working at Station 18?!!!”

“Why not?” Johnny suddenly felt angry.

“How’s he doing?” Dixie asked Cassie.

“Fine, except I think he needs an IV of coffee STAT.”

“That’s right, these girls aren’t big coffee drinkers, are they? Well, I think I can fix you up. Carol, will you see to the supplies?”

“Sure thing, Dixie.”

Dixie steered Johnny toward the lounge, planted him in a chair and poured him a cup of strong, black coffee. He was so grateful that he almost forgave her earlier insult.

“So, how’s it going?” she smiled, her curiosity a bit too obvious.

“Fine. Why wouldn’t it be fine? I am a qualified paramedic.”

“No one is questioning that -- it’s just that, well. We’ve all heard stories about the Iron Maiden and how she doesn’t put up with any nonsense -- like say, flirting?” Dixie dug for a little dirt.

“I’m not..I’m not the one who is flirting, believe me. I’m just trying to do my job. All I want to do is live through this shift. That’s all I ask.”

“So the calls are pretty rough, then?”

“No. In fact the calls seem to be a little on the silly side. I mean, we all know there are days like that but we just had two wacky calls in a row and ----”

He was interrupted by the handy talkie. “Squad 18 what is your status?”

“Squad 18 available,” Johnny said absently.

“Squad 18 repeat.”

“Squad 18 available.”

“This is Squad 1-8?”

“Yes LA, this is Squad 1-8,” Johnny said angrily.

“10-4 Squad 18.”

“I think he was expecting a female voice, Johnny,” Dixie smiled.

“Yeah? Well that’s too bad,” he yelled at the handy talkie.

“Repeat last message.”

“Er disregard last message, LA. Ah squad 18 out.” He glared at Dixie, daring her to laugh. He noticed the clock on the wall. 19 hours to go. At least he now had some coffee to help him get through it.

He nursed the coffee as long as he dared but somehow the idea of Captain Tacy thinking that they had dawdled made him more nervous by the second. Finally he and Dixie returned to the nurses’ station. Dr Early now stood on one side of the desk and Cassie on the other.

“Is that the best you can do, then?” she asked plaintively.

“Two for a dollar. That’s the best price you’re going to find on syringes anywhere in town.”

“You’re takin’ advantage of a poor workin’ girl, ya are!” Cassie declared in a thick Irish brogue.

“I gotta make a living just like everyone else.”

Johnny couldn’t follow any of this. Paying for supplies?!!!

“You’re a hard man, Dr Joe. But I can’t see as there’s any choice. Just send the bill to C. Kelly in care of Station 51, same as always.”

Johnny shook his head to try and clear it. Maybe he needed more coffee. He glanced at Dixie who was smiling and shaking her head. “They do this all the time, Johnny. Personally, I think they’re both nuts.”

“Good,” Johnny was relieved. “For a minute there I was afraid it was me.”

“Hey we’re just joking around,” Cassie confirmed it. “Who’d ever believe Chet would pay for anything?”

“You got that right,” Johnny smiled. “I’ve sure never known him to open his wallet for anything.”

“We’ll come on, we’d better get back. The cap has big plans for today. She probably expects us to re-shingle the roof of the station and rotate the tires on the Engine all before lunch. Tootles, Medical folks,” she said as she picked up the drug box and headed for the door.

“Johnny,” Dixie laughed at the sour expression he wore, “I’m sure she’s kidding.”

“I’m not,” he muttered sadly.

“Come on, Johnny -- let’s make a break for it,” Cassie called from the door.

“This has to be a nightmare. I’ll wake up soon,” he told himself as he sprinted toward the door.

“And I suppose you were worried about him trying to take advantage of those poor innocent girls at Station 18,” Joe laughed after he’d left.

“Well, he does have a reputation, Joe.”

“So does Captain Tacy, and my money is on her,” Joe vowed.

All the way back to the station Johnny tried to get up the courage to ask her if she’d been joking about the cap’s plans. There were three reasons why he decided against it. The first was that she may not have been joking. The second was that she was Chet Kelly’s sister so she most likely was joking and if he fell for it she’d probably continue it. But the third was the most important. She had said the word lunch and he was suddenly starving. Why hadn’t he raided the vending machines as he had planned earlier? It was unlikely lunch at Station 18 would be any more appealing than breakfast had been. Even if Captain Tacy or his crazy partner didn’t kill him, he’d probably starve to death.

He was deep in thought when they pulled into the station. He was totally unprepared for the very large black and white furball that jumped up on the hood of the squad. “What the.....!”

“Shamu!” Cassie scolded. “This big fat cat is Shamu and he loves to sleep on the hood of the squad when it’s warm.”

“Gee. Most stations have dogs as mascots,” Johnny commented.

“There is no practical reason to have a dog but since the cat arrived at the station the rodent problem has all but disappeared,” Captain Tacy stated firmly. She was right behind him.

He jumped. Why did this woman intimidate him so? He felt like a school boy with a late assignment.

“Decks need swabbin’. You two draw the duty,” she said simply as she hung her clipboard on a hook on the wall and went back into her office without another word.

Johnny followed Cassie to the supply cabinet. Mopping was not as bad as what he had conjured up on the way back to the station.

Once they had the mops and buckets organized he was startled out of his skin when Cassie turned on the eight track player that sat on the shelf. Music blared filling the whole bay with rock and roll music. As Johnny feared, Captain Tacy exploded out of her office. He suddenly saw his life flash before his eyes. She walked up to the small stereo and turned it down. “How do you expect to hear the alarm over that racket?” she barked.

“That’s not racket, Cap, that’s Elton John,” Cassie told her sweetly. “Besides, we work better with a little rhythm.” She danced around with the mop.

“Little more mopping and a less dancing,” Captain Tacy muttered as she walked back into her office. “Whatever happened to real music?”

“You can breathe now,” Cassie teased Johnny.

“You - you did that on purpose?” he accused.

“What?”

“Annoyed the captain -- are you nuts?”

“Nope. I’m just a Kelly. We just have to stir things up. It’s in our genes. I’m surprised you hadn’t noticed that with Chet.”

“Well, yeah I have but.. .but even he doesn’t set out to annoy the cap on purpose,” Johnny insisted.

“Who does he set out to annoy?”

“Me mostly,” Johnny admitted.

“Oh yeah? Well if you want to annoy him back just call him Porky.”

“Porky?!”

“He was a pudgy kid who stuttered.”

“Really?” Johnny was delighted to have something on Chet for a change. He filed that away for future reference, providing he survived this shift.

Just as they finished mopping, Crenshaw came into the bay. “Floor still wet?” she accused, “You work awful slow, Kelly.”

“Well, you keep on talking, Windbag, and the hot air will dry it in no time,” she shot back.

“Knock it off, you two!” Barb Yates intervened. “Lunch is ready.”

Johnny was happy to escape to the kitchen. He was less thrilled to find that lunch was mostly salad and fruit.

“Not exactly what you’re used to, huh?” Barb said sympathetically.

“Well, um we’ve had lunches sort of like this once when some birdbrain lent Chet a book on some kind of healthy diet.”

“Birdbrain is that what he called me?!” Cassie asked as she got a pitcher of ice tea out of the refrigerator.

“You gave him that book?”

“I was surprised he was all that interested. Didn’t last though.”

“Thank God,” Johnny muttered under his breath. He was pleasantly surprised to discover that the homemade bread was fairly good but he was still almost relieved when the alarm sounded.

“Station 18 Structure Fire 2179 Fillmore. 2-1-7-9 Fillmore. Cross street Wells. Time out 13:25"

2179 Fillmore was a two story house in a residential neighborhood. There was thick, black smoke coming from the back of the house. A woman approached the captain.

“I live across the street. I’m the one that called it in,” she panted nervously.

“Is anyone inside?” the cap asked.

“I think so. A woman and two kids. No one has come out. I thought I smelled smoke so I came outside. It took a few minutes then I saw it. Just a little bit at first but I went in and called anyway. It’s much worse now and it’s only been a few minutes.”

“Okay, Gage, Kelly, you go in and search for victims. Yates, Crenshaw get a two and a half on that fire,” Captain Tacy barked. While the paramedics suited up the others got the hose, the hydrant and the engine hooked up then moved around back to dowse the blaze.

Once they were wearing their SCBAs, Johnny and Cassie moved up to the front door. It was locked and Johnny kicked it in. Thick smoke already filled the downstairs.

“Fire Department!” Johnny called out.

They listened for an answer but it was difficult to hear anything above the sound of the fire and their own breathing. There was a faint sound that sounded like a baby crying coming from upstairs. Johnny pointed to the stairway. Cassie nodded and followed him up.

Visibility was a little better up here. They found themselves in a hallway. A colorful clown painted on one door caught their attention. The door was closed but there was definitely someone crying inside. Johnny threw his shoulder into the door and it opened.

There was a baby standing in a crib crying hysterically. Another little boy had curled up into a small ball under a play table. A woman frantically tried to open the window. She was gasping for breath and in the state of near panic.

“I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe!” she screamed.

“Ma’am, you have to calm down. You’re going to be fine. We’ll get you out,” Cassie told her firmly.

“The kitchen! It happened so fast! I - I tried to put it out but then I figured I had to get the kids out but it was too smokey. We’re all gonna die!”

“No, you aren’t! Calm down.”

“I can’t get the window open. I think they sealed it shut when they put in the air conditioning system. We’ll never get out!”

“We’ll get out the door. Come on!” Cassie tried to pull the hysterical woman away from the window.

By this time Johnny had fished the little boy out from under the table and held him in one arm. “I’ll take the kids. Come on!” he called.

“We can’t go out there. There’s too much smoke! We’ll choke to death!!”

“Johnny can run out with the kids. We’ll share my air,” Cassie promised removing her mask and placing it over the woman’s face so she would understand that they could breathe even in the smoke-filled house. “Go ahead, Johnny. We’re right behind you.”

They both figured that the woman would just naturally follow her children and they didn’t have time to argue. But after Johnny left the woman was still putting up a fight. “Come on, this is perfectly safe. We have to go,” Cassie urged.

“NO! What if we get separated?”

“We won’t get separated.”

“No. I’m not going back out there. There’s too much smoke. If we get separated I’ll choke to death.”

There was no time to try and reason with her. Cassie slipped the air tank off her back. “You wanna wear it? It’s heavy,” she warned but the woman slipped the tank on, held the mask to her face, pushed Cassie over and ran out of the room.

Even without the tank the turnout gear was cumbersome and it took a minute for Cassie to get back on her feet. The woman had left the door to the room opened and the room quickly filled with black smoke. It was completely dark and Cassie crawled on her hands and knees groping her way toward the hallway.

She held her breath as long as she could but soon she was choking on the smoke even as low to the ground as she was. Her eyes were watering from the smoke and she could feel the intense heat even through her gear. Once she was in the hallway she was completely disoriented. She had to crawl on her stomach to get beneath the smoke. She couldn’t tell which direction the stairway was. The carpet was superheated and starting to smoulder. She kept moving to avoid being burned. The stairway was acting like a chimney forcing the smoke up to the second floor. Cassie fought her instinct to crawl away from the thickest smoke. She desperately tried to make her way to the stairway. There was help down the stairs. She could make it that far. She was getting lightheaded and her lungs felt like they would burst. She had to take a breath of the superheated air. It made her choke. She forced herself to keep crawling. Keep moving. Get to help..........

Johnny had the two little boys sitting on the running board of the squad and was checking them over. To his amazement they seemed to be just fine. They were frightened and crying but seemed uninjured. The older of the boys was calling for his mother.

“It’s okay. Your mommy is right behind us. She’ll be right here,” he promised.

“I want my mommy,” the boy insisted.

Suddenly a side door opened and the woman came crashing out onto the lawn. “There see, there’s your mommy,” Johnny told him.

“That’s not my mommy. That’s creepy Alice. The babysitter.”

Captain Tacy came up behind him. “Gage, where’s Kelly?”

“She was right behind me,” Johnny told her. They both noticed that the woman wore the SCBA. “Oh shit,” Johnny got the picture. “I’m going back in,” he called over his shoulder, readjusting his mask as he ran. He was pretty sure that she had yelled something at him but he didn’t stop to listen.

Inside the house conditions had deteriorated. Smoke and steam from the water filled the entire house. He groped his way to the stairs. He had to crawl too for fear he’d miss her. He had only his sense of touch to search with. He couldn’t see or hear anything. It was also a good deal hotter than it had been a few minutes ago. Johnny knew that a hot fire contained in a small space could produce a flashover. He put that thought out of his mind and concentrated only on finding his partner. He was on his knees and he spread his arms out in front of him as he went. Even at that he almost missed her. He grabbed her wrist and hoisted her unconscious form up to his shoulders. Sweat ran down his face and into his eyes. The heat threatened to knock him down but he fought his way down the stairs.

Yates and Crenshaw were waiting at the bottom of the stairs and used their hose to cover his retreat to the front door. It seemed to take forever and he collided with the corner of a cast iron fish tank stand with such force that gouged his hip even through all his gear. He didn’t let it slow him down.

Once outside he ran toward the squad. Captain Tacy had the O² ready. He lowered her to the ground and went to work on her. Her face was covered with soot but the oxygen brought her around right away. Though her gloves were burned, her hands were not. Her lungs were clear and her vitals were strong. By some miracle she seemed to be just fine. Once this was clear Captain Tacy returned to supervise the overhaul as the fire was now out.

“I don’t think I’m gonna make it, Johnny,” Cassie gasped in a voice made husky by over exposure to smoke.

“You’re gonna be fine,” he grinned. “I’m not the kind of partner who’d let a fire get you.”

“I’m not talking about the fire. I’m talking about the Iron Maiden. She’s gonna have my ass on a silver platter for this bonehead move.”

“We all make mistakes. That’s how we learn. All’s well that ends well, I say.”

“Unfortunately, you’re not the captain,” Cassie muttered, getting up and starting to pack up their equipment.

“No, but I’ve been in this position a time or two in my day.”

“Any advise?”

“Agree with everything the captain says and try to look as pathetic as possible,” Johnny tried not to grin.

“That was already my plan,” she grinned back. “Oh well, as Grandma Kelly says that which does not kill you can only make you stronger. Not completely sure how this will turn out though. I just broke the top three Tacy rules for firefighting. Don’t become a victim. Don’t endanger other firefighters by making them have to look for you. Don’t ever give up your equipment. I see a LOT of latrine duty in my future.”

Once they got back to the station Tacy called Cassie into her office and everyone else made themselves very busy. Johnny felt very uncomfortable. He decided to try and work on the logbook. Cassie had written up their first two rescues but he redid them. He felt she was already in enough trouble without Captain Tacy reading that they had performed a Lopezectomy on a washing machine and released the Tooth Fairy from a locked closet. His eyes kept straying to his watch. This chewing out was lasting an awfully long time. He remembered the first time he’d had to be rescued in a fire. He was a probie and he had let go of his hose and become disoriented. It seemed that he had wandered around in that fire for hours but his buddy had missed him and he had been found within a few minutes. His captain had raked him over the coals about it and he never did it again. It wasn’t the chewing out though, it was the fear of being lost in the fire that had stayed with him from that day onward. Fire is an excellent teacher.

At last Captain Tacy came into the kitchen where he was working on the log at the table. He tried to appear busy. He tried to avoid eye contact with her. Part of him felt a tad bit disloyal to his partner. He had actually tried to stick with her but Tacy had shooed him away.

“Logs shipshape?” Tacy asked.

“Ah, yes Ma’am. All caught up.” He had to force himself to be respectful. Out of loyalty to his partner he felt angry at her.

“Good. Come on into my office. I want to talk to you.”

For some reason he almost hoped she’d chew him out too. He was the senior partner. He was responsible for the safety of everyone involved. He had convinced himself of that while he’d worked on the log. If Cassie was going down, he should go down too. He intended to tell the captain that.

Once inside the office he sat down as she instructed.

“Captain Tacy, I want you to know that I feel I am just as responsible for this incident as Kelly is.”

“How do you figure that?”

“I was the senior partner. We both assumed that the woman was the mother and would follow the kids out. Maybe I should have had her take the kids and I should have dealt with the woman...”

“Would you have given her your air tank?”

“Well, no I wouldn’t have. Not now but Cassie’s only been on the job a month or so. All rookies make mistakes ----”

Gage,” Captain Tacy said “when you were a rookie you were assigned to a station that was manned by experienced firefighters. They all knew they had to look out for you. They knew you’d make the same stupid mistakes all rookies make.”

“That’s true, Cap. I made stupid mistakes. All rookies do. I mean when you graduate from the academy you think you know all about firefighting but once you’re on the job you find out you don’t know squat. It’s the job that teaches you the ropes.”

“The job and the veteran smoke eaters that you work with, right?”

“That’s right, Cap. That’s the way it’s always been.”

“And that’s the way it should be. But in this case, it’s not the way it is. This whole business of setting up a female fire station. It’s really a sham, you know.”

“Excuse me?”

“The law says they cannot discriminate against women but that doesn’t mean that the good old boys that run the Department want to have women firefighters. Even though the law is on our side do you know how many people where against it?”

“Well, yeah I know there was some objection but I think that you’re proving that anyone who thought that women couldn’t do this work are wrong.”

“First they thought that woman could never make it through the academy and then when they did we had to face another group that was strongly opposed to women firefighters --even more so than the firefighters themselves.”

“Who was that?”

“Firefighter’s wives. They did not want their husbands sharing living and sleeping quarters with women.”

“Well. I can sort of see that. I guess.”

“So the only way that we would get the chance to prove that we could do the job was to accept a segregated station. It placated the wives. And it played beautifully into the hands of others that wanted to see us fail. You see, Gage, when these rookies got out of the academy they would not go to a station where experienced firefighters would be there to look out for them as you did. Everyone of them is a rookie. Other than Crenshaw and myself, none of them have any real experience. None of them has the luxury of making the mistakes other rookies in the department have been allowed to make. One stupid mistake could get someone killed. To say nothing of working right into the plans of those who want to say ‘hey we tried to let woman into the department but they couldn’t cut it.’ These girls have that pressure on top of the usual stress of the job. But we accept all that. We know exactly what we’re up against here. You may think I’m too hard on them but you may not really be able to understand the situation since you are not in the group that some in the department are prejudiced against.”

“I think I understand a little bit about prejudice, Captain, and a little bit about segregation too. I was born on a reservation. I know exactly how it feels to be the on the outside looking in. I also know what it’s like to have those in authority seem to give you just enough rope to hang yourself. I also know that given half a chance you can beat the system.”

“That’s all we’re asking for, Gage, is a chance. We want to prove that we are here to do the job and that we are capable of doing it. Once we prove that we just want to be accepted as firefighters the same as any of the men. And we want to prove that we want to BE firefighters not firefighters’ wives. Once we win the men over we’ll have to start in with the wives. It’ll be a hell of a fight but we’re tough enough to do it.”

“Yes ma’am, I believe that you are. All of you, I mean. I’d like you to know, for what it’s worth, I’m in your corner.”

“I appreciate that, Gage. Well, what do you say we go see what they whipped up for dinner?”

“Great idea, Cap,” Johnny lied and wondered with dread what sort of health food delight awaited him now. He’d kill for a hamburger and a cup of coffee.

Again he had to rely on filling up on bread as he pushed green leafy things around his plate. The main course looked a little like spaghetti but the sauce was not red and it was full of oddball things like carrots and broccoli. He longed for Mike Stoker’s spaghetti. Mike’s looked like spaghetti and it tasted wonderful. He wondered how people could get enough energy from this stuff to fight fires. He hoped they got another run into Rampart. He planned to eat his way from one vending machine to the next.