It was a high rent neighborhood. Most of the buildings were apartments and townhouses way out of the price range of the average person. The kind of neighborhood where you weren't allowed to park your pickup truck on the street......it might lower the property value. Needless to say, it was on unusual setting for so many police cars.
Captain Williams leaned against the side of the engine. She tossed the handi talki back and forth between her hands. She hated waiting. Station's 18 and 36 had been called in to support the police in a sniper standoff. The engines were there in case tear gas started a fire. And even though the surrounding buildings had been cleared as soon as the police had arrived on scene, there were at least three victims.
The rest of her crew were milling around the engine and the squad. They could hear the situation reports over the radio of the near by police cars. It had been over an hour since they had arrived on scene, and everyone was getting antsy. Her paramedics were getting really concerned for the victims. Depending on the seriousness of their wounds, this delay could be life threatening.
Captain Williams was talking with her engineer when she was approached by an officer.
"I'm Sargent Daniels," he said.
"Captain Williams," she replied, shaking his extended hand.
"Here's the situation, Captain," he said grimly, "The sniper seems to have slipped out of our containment."
Williams did not like what she was hearing. "So he could be anywhere," she said matter of factly.
"Unfortunately," Daniels said. "But, we're still looking. Since it's been a while since he's made himself known, we'd like to get the paramedics in to care for the wounded." Williams nodded and waved Suzy and KJ over. "There are six victims total," he continued. "Two are dead, three are hurt pretty bad and the other one has a leg wound. I'd like your permission to move the paramedics in to assist them."
Williams looked at KJ and Suzy, then back to Daniels. "What assurances do I have, that since you don't know where this idiot is, that they wont become his next victims?" She asked.
Sargent Daniels looked her in the eyes. "None," he said. But, I can promise you that we will do everything humanly possible to protect them."
The Captain was silent for a minute, then she turned to Jacobs and Parker. "How do you feel about going in?" she asked.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little scared," said Suzy. "But those people need medical attention."
"What about you, Jacobs?"
"The same, Captain," she said.
Williams turned back to Sgt. Daniels. "Okay, Sargent, they can go in," she said a little reluctantly.
The Sargent walked the paramedics over to his car and handed them a couple of bullet proof vests. The women put them on under their turnout coats. The vests did not fit properly, they were obviously designed for a man's build not a woman's. As they returned to the squad, Capt. Williams walked over to them.
"You two watch yourselves in there," she said.
"We will, Cap," Suzy replied. Then they got into the squad and slowly followed the police car. To say Captain Williams was just a little concerned was an understatement.
As they approached the scene, they saw heavily armed officers everywhere. The paramedics from Squad 36 were entering the building to their left. The patrol car stopped and Sgt. Daniels got out and waved for them to do the same. Suzy and KJ jumped out, grabbed their gear and followed the officer.
Inside 36 was already working on the two most seriously injured. Suzy and KJ began working on the other two. One was a man about 40, with a bullet wound to the right side. The other was a younger man, about 25 with a leg wound and some cuts and bruises. After KJ got the younger man's vitals, Suzy handed her the vitals on her patient and KJ reached for the biophone.
* * * * * * * * * *
Both the paramedics from 36 rode in the first ambulance with their patients. Since one of their patients only had a minor injury, only Suzy rode in the second amublance. KJ would follow in the squad. As Karen was loading the equipment, Officer Vince Howard walked up to her.
"How they doing?" he asked.
"They'll be okay," she said. "Any luck finding the sniper?"
"Not yet," he said grimly.
KJ looked up at the buildings surrounding them. "I hope you find him," she said closing the equipment doors. She was about to walk around to the driver's side when a shot rang out. She saw Vince fall and lay still, she started to moved toward him, until more shots were fired. She threw herself to the ground and lay motionless. She didn't know where the shots were coming from or if the last ones were from the sniper or the cops.
Captain Williams heard the renewed gunfire and her heart jumped to her throat. She knew that one of her paramedics was still in the area. She pressed the transmit button on the HT.
"Squad 18, Engine 18. Do you copy?"
No response. She repeated the call. Again, Nothing.
"Damn!" she said as she ran to a nearby police car. Over their radio she heard several transmissions, but one in particulare made her stop dead in her tracks. "We have an officer and firefighter down."
"10-4" was the command posts reply.
Captain Williams couldn't believe what she had just heard. She had to find out which one of her people was still on scene. "HT18, this is Engine 18, over."
"Engine 18, this is HT18," came Parker's voice.
"What's your locations?" she asked.
"Just arriving Rampart," Parker said.
"10-4," Williams lowered the HT. She didn't tell Suzy what had happened, she had her hands full already. She waited a couple of minutes to ensure that Suzy was inside the hospital. "LA, this is Engine 18, over."
"Engine 18, LA"
LA, Engine 18. Send another squad and two ambulances to this location. We have an officer and a firefighter down."
"10-4, 18."
* * * * * * * * * *
KJ had lain motionless beside the squad for several minutes. When it quieted down, she slowly looked around. She could see the officer laying on his side 8 to 10 feet from her. He was bleeding pretty badly and apeared to be unconscious.
"Vince." she said quietly. "Vince, can you hear me?"
Vince slowly opened his eyes and looked at her. He was obviously hurting. "You.....okay?" he asked.
KJ nodded. "Yeah, just a few scrapes from where I hit the ground. Where you hurt?"
"My....right....side," he said.
KJ nodded again. "Don't you worry, we'll get out of this," she said, as much to herself as to Vince. "Did you see where it came from?"
"The building....behind the....squad," he answered.
KJ carefully looked behind her and saw that the squad was between her and the sniper. She was safe as long as she stayed where she was, but she also knew that the officer needed immediate medical care. She look around and found her HT.
"Engine 18, this is Squad 18, over"
Captain Williams almost dropped her handi talki. "Squad 18, Engine 18. Jacobs are you alright?" Cap asked, relieved to hear her voice.
"Yes, Cap, for the moment. But, I have an officer down about ten feet from me," KJ said. Captain Williams had a feeling she knew where this conversation was going. "See if we can coordinate some cover fire so I can get him to safety behind the squad," KJ finished.
"Standby," Cap answered.
She looked at one of the nearby police officers, he was talking on his radio and indicated for her to wait. A couple of minutes later she saw a man in a suit walking toward them. "I'm Lieutenant Olsen," he said. "I'm sorry about your man in there."
"Captain Williams," she said. "My paramedic wants to get your officer to the relative safety of the squad. She's asking for some protective fire to do it."
Lt. Olsen's eyes showed his surprise. "Your man is a woman?"
Captain Williams waved her hand at the rest of her people. "My whole crew is female," she said. "But, don't let that bother you. They're very good at their jobs."
Olsen realized he had touched a nerve and he cleared his throat. "How much open ground is between your man.....errr.... your paramedic and the officer?" he asked.
"She said he is about ten feet from her," Williams said.
"I don't like the idea of putting a civilian in danger to save a life, even a police officer's life," he said.
"Lieutenant, let me tell you something about Jacobs," Captain Williams said. "She did a couple of tours in the Coast Guard so she's had some law enforcement training. And I know her, whether you give her cover or not, she's going to try to get that officer to safety. So it's better to give her some help than to let her go it alone."
"You could always order her not to move," he said.
"Yes I could," she said. "But tell me honestly, Lieutenant, if the rolls were reversed, do you think your officer would follow that same order?"
Olsen looked at Williams. He knew she was right, but he still didn't like it.
* * * * * * * * * *
As Captain Williams was relaying instructions to Jacobs, Squad 51 arrived. She looked up and saw John Gage and Bill Pierce get out and head toward her. She met them half way.
"Cap," John said.
"Gage? What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I'm paying Dwyer back for some of the overtime I owe him," he said with a slight grin.
"What's the situation?" Bill asked.
"We have an officer down and in the open. We also have a paramedic pinned down behind the squad," she said.
"Who is it?" John asked.
Captain Williams looked at John, she knew how close they were. "It's Jacobs." she said.
John paled a little. "Is she ok?" he asked.
"For now," Williams replied, "but the police are setting up to give her some cover fire so she can get the officer to cover behind the squad."
John understood. He wasn't thrilled with the idea of KJ going into the line of fire, but he knew her well enough to know they couldn't stop her.
Lt. Olsen called to Capt. Williams. "We're ready when you are," he said.
Williams acknowledged the Lieutenant's statement. "Squad 18, this is Engine 18, over"
"Engine 18, this is Squad 18," KJ said.
"The police are ready. In a couple of minutes all hell's going to break loose out there. That's your cue," Williams said.
"10-4"
* * * * * * * * * *
KJ nodded to Vince. He had heard the radio converstations and knew what was about to happen. He had tried, without sucess, to talk her out of it.
"This is going to hurt, Vince," she said. "I won't have time to be gentle."
He nodded his understanding.
Karen set herself and waited. A few seconds later it sounded like she was in the middle of a war zone. She quickly ran to the downed officer, trying to stay low. She grabbed him under the shoulders and drug him back to the squad. Vince cried out in pain, but there wasn't anything she could do about it. Once they were out of the line of fire the shooting all but stopped. Someone must have told the others that they were clear.
KJ quickly assessed Vince's injuries. He had an entrance wound on his upper right side, she didn't see an exit. He had lost a lot of blood. She reached up and opened the equipment compartment doors. The movement drew fire from the sniper, she instinctively ducked. She carefully reached up and grabbed the trauma box and spare oxygen.
She started Vince on O2 and dressed his wounds. She then picked up the handi talki.
"Engine 18, this is Squad 18. I need a relay to Rampart," she called.
"Squad 18, this is Squad 51 go ahead, we'll relay for you."
She smiled when she heard Johnny's voice.
"Roger. Standby for vitals." She put down the HT, grabbed the BP cuff and started getting vitals. After she passed them to John, she set up for the IV that she knew as coming.
"Squad 18, Squad 51. Rampart says start IV with ringers and monitor BP closely."
"10-4 on IV with ringers. John, there's no sign of head injury and the patient is in considerable pain, request MS over."
"Standby"
"Squad 18, Squad 51....Rampart says okay on 5mg MS IV," John said.
"10-4, 51"
She turned back to her patient. "Hey, Vince. How you doing?" she asked.
"Been better," he said.
"Well, we're going to get an IV started and then give you something for the pain. Okay?"
"Best offer....I've had ....all day," he said.
KJ patted his shoulder and then started the IV. After a couple of minutes the pain killer had taken effect and Vince was more comfortable.
"Any better?" she asked with a smile.
"Much better," he said. He reached out and held her hand. "And Karen....Thanks for getting me out of there."
"Anytime, Vince," she said, squeezing his hand. "Now, let me get a new set of vitals on you."
* * * * * * * * * *
John relayed the latest set of vitals to the hospital. They were stable, the BP was up a little with the IV.
Capt. Williams could see that he was worried. So was the rest of her crew. Rita Knox, the engineer, had polished the chorme on the engine so much that the Captain wondered if there was any chrome left to polish. The other two, Kim McIntyre and Maria Apadaca, were pacing back and forth, trying to find something, anything, to do.
John was doing his best not to play mother hen, he knew KJ hated that. But, whenever there was more sniper fire or if he hadn't heard from her in several minutes, he would have an almost overwhelming urge to call and see if she was okay.
KJ was doing some worrying of her own. Every time the sniper renewed his target practice, she wanted to hit the deck, and Vince would flinch. She'd reach out and place a comforting hand on his shoulder, trying to reassure herself as much as the officer.
She took his vitals again and reached for the HT.
John gave a sigh of relief when he heard her voice. As he listented his face became concerned, the officers vitals were starting to drop. He could also hear the concern in KJ's voice. He relayed the update to Rampart.
"Squad 51, this is Rampart, any idea when you can transport?" Dr. Brackett asked.
"Negative, Rampart," he replied. "They're still pinned down by sniper fire."
"10-4, 51. Keep us advised."
* * * * * * * * * *
KJ reached for a new IV bag. "The police must be getting close to the sniper," she thought. The gunfire was becoming more frequent. As she went to hang the new IV bag off the squad, another burst rang out, she flinched and dropped the bag. Without thinking she reached to pick it up. This simple act unknowingly took her out of the cover of the squad. Another shot rang out and KJ felt a burning in her side as the impact threw her to the ground. Another shot hit the ground not far from where she had landed. She quickly rolled back toward the squad, crying out as the movement caused pain to shoot through her chest.
When she stopped, she lay still for several seconds trying to catch her breath. She heard a movement near her and opened her eyes. Vince was trying to move toward her. The effort was not easy for him.
"Karen?" he asked. "Are..you..alright?"
"Don't move, Vince," she said through her teeth. "You'll start bleeding again."
She slowly sat up and moved toward her patient, wincing as she did so. Vince could see the pain on her face. He also saw the red stain growing on the left side of her uniform. She had been hit where the bulletproof vest didn't fit right. She sat down next to him and checked his dressing. The she reached for a pressure bandage for herself.
* * * * * * * * * *
"Command Post this is Unit 15, the paramedic has been hit. I repeat, the paramedic has been hit."
All the firefighters froze where they were. "NO!" Captain Williams said.
John grabbed the HT. "Squad 18, this is Squad 51," he said. No answer. "Squad 18, this is Squad 51. Karen answer me!" He was starting to get scared. He looked over at Captain Williams. "Cap, see if they can tell us what's going on," he said, pointing to the cops. She had been thinking the same thing and was already heading in that direction.
"Squad 18, Squad 51. Come on, KJ, talk to me."
Capt. Williams came back to where John was standing. "They said she's still conscious and that she's back under cover. She appears to be trying to dress her own wounds and still take care of her patient."
John nodded and everyone looked down the street as another shot rang out.
* * * * * * * * * *
KJ finished dressing her wound. It didn't appear to be "too" bad, but it was bleeding pretty good and it hurt like hell. She heard John calling her but she was a bit busy at the moment. After treating herself, she again checked on Vince. Just as she feared, when he tried to move toward her, he had aggrivated his own wound and was now bleeding worse than before.
* * * * * * * * * *
"Rampart, this is Squad 51," Johns voice came across the base station.
"Squad 51 this is Rampart. Go ahead," Brackett answered.
"Rampart, we have another victim. Female, aprox 35 years of age. We don't know the extent of her injuries yet, we can't get to her," John said evenly.
"10-4, 51. Can the paramedic on scene give you any information?"
"Rampart, Squad 51....Doc, the second victim is the paramedic," John replied. "We haven't been able to establish radio contact with her since it happened."
"10-4, 51. We're standing by," Brackett said grimly.
A sound behind him made him turn around. He saw Dixie moving toward Suzy. KJ's partner had heard the last report and looked like she was going to pass out. Dixie put her arm around Suzy's shoulders and steered her toward a chair.
"This can't be happening," Suzy said, more to herself than anyone else.
"Now, Suzy," Dixie said. "We don't know how bad it is. It might not be that serious."
Suzy looked at Dixie and then to Brackett. "Then why hasn't she answered the radio?" she asked.
"I don't know," Dixie said. "There may be another reason. Maybe the radio's broken."
"Yeah," Suzy replied. "Maybe."
"Why don't you wait in Kel's office," Dixie said gently. "We'll let you know if anything happens."
"No!" Suzy said forcefully, then quieter. "No, I want to wait right here."
Dixie looked at Kel, he nodded. "Okay," she said. "Just remember, we're here for you."
* * * * * * * * * *
KJ had finished getting vitals on both Vince and herself. "Squad 51, this is Squad 18".
Everyone jumped. John squeezed the mic button so hard, he almost broke the handi talki. "Squad 18, this is Squad 51. How bad?" he asked.
"I don't think it's too bad," she said. "It just hurts like hell. Standby for vitals." She paused. "Patient number one, BP 80/60, respiration 20, shallow and labored, pulse 110. He tried to move to assist me and is now bleeding badly," she reported. "Patient number 2, has a bullet wound to the upper left side, BP 100/90, pulse 90, respiration 18 and painful. Shit!"
"KJ, you alright?!" John asked, worried by her outburst.
"Yes," she said, the pain in her voice was obvious. "I just moved wrong."
"Take it easy. We'll get to you as fast as we can," he reassured her.
Bill had passed the vitals to Rampart, and handed Johnny a piece of paper with thier response.
"Squad 18, Squad 51. Rampart advises start a second IV on patient 1 and start an IV with ringers on patient 2," John relayed.
"Squad 51, Squad 18, 10-4 on second IV patient 1," KJ answered. "Negative on IV for patient 2. I'm starting to run low on IV's and the officer has a greater need at the moment. Over."
"10-4. How are you doing on oxygen?" John asked.
KJ checked the gauge. "He's almost out," she replied.
"10-4," was all John could say.
"Johnny?" KJ called. "Any idea when you can get us out of here? Vince really needs to get to a hospital."
"Vince!" John thought, a shocked look on his face. "Oh god, not Vince Howard." Until that point he had no idea who the officer was. Now it wasn't just one friend to worry about, it was two.
"Not yet, they're working on it," he replied, trying not to sound as worried as he was. "You just hang in there."
"10-4"
Dr. Brackett was not happy about Jacobs refusing an IV. He understood the reason, but he still didn't like it.
* * * * * * * * * *
Lieutenant Olsen walked over to Captain Williams. "Captain," he said, "We're getting ready to make our move. Let your paramedic know to keep her head down."
Captain Williams nodded. "Squad 18, this is Engine 18. KJ all hell's about to break loose again. You keep your head down this time. Understand?"
"Don't worry, Cap," her voice said. "I'm a quick learner."
Captain Williams nodded at the Lieutenant, then she turned to Gage and Pierce. "I want you two in the squad and ready to move." The two paramedics were already gathering their gear and heading for their vehicle.
* * * * * * * * * *
KJ started to tell Vince what was about to happen, but he was unconscious. She wasn't doing so well herself, apparently her wound was more serious than she had originally thought. Every breath she took hurt like the devil and she was starting to feel light headed. "Dear God, please hurry," she said quietly.
She didn't have long to wait. Within seconds it sounded like she was back in the war zone. She instinctively covered her patient to protect him. It seemed like forever before there was silence. KJ slowly rolled off the unconscious officer. The pain from her own movements were almost more than she could stand.
"That wasn't the smartest move you've ever made, kid," she said to herself. She was concentrating so hard on just breathing that she didn't hear Squad 51 pull up.
The next thing she knew, Johnny was next to her. "No," she said, trying to sit up, "help Vince."
"Take it easy," he said, grabbing her shoulders. "Don't worry, Bill's got him. Now let me take a look at you."
KJ looked over at her patient. Bill Pierce had changed the oxygen tank and was in the process of changing out the IV's. An ambulance was nearby and they were getting ready to transport. She closed her eye's and allowed John to lay her back on the pavement.
John quickly started her on oxygen and then checked her wound. She sucked in her breath when he touched the area, and he saw her pale from the pain.
"I know, kiddo, I'm sorry," he said gently. "But, I had to take a look."
KJ could only nod as John continued his exam.
After Vince had been transported, Captain Williams came up. "How's she doing?" she asked.
Gage looked up. "She's got broken ribs and a possible punctured lung," he said as he turned to set up the IV Brackett had ordered earlier.
Capt Williams knelt down next to KJ. She couldn't believe how tired she looked. She placed a hand on Karen's shoulder. "You hang in there," she said.
KJ looked up at her captain and nodded, it hurt too much to talk. She winced as John started the IV. Capt. Williams gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "You're in good hands," she said. "You just don't go giving him a bad time, you hear?"
KJ gave a weak smiled and closed her eyes.
* * * * * * * * * *
As is always the case when someone in Emergency Services is injured, the hospital was soon host to many of the injured's friends and family. The firefighters and police officers quickly overflowed the waiting room and the hopsital had to open up two adjoining rooms for them to use. The police and fire departments work very closely with each other and they understand the pain they feel when one of their own is injured. But this afternoon there was one of each.
Hospital security had their hands full dealing with the press. The sniper was big news. Even though he had killed himself before the police could arrest him, he had left several vicitims. The fact that two of them were a police officer and a firefighter made good news. But the fact that the firefighter was a woman, made it GREAT news. Reporters from several TV stations and newspapers had laid siege to the hospital.
* * * * * * * * * *
As Dr.'s Brackett and Early walked into the waiting room, conversation stopped and all eyes were on them. The doctors smiled. "They're going to be alright," Brackett said. And a cheer erupted from the gathered personnel. After the noise level had dropped a bit, he continued.
"Officer Howard lost a lot of blood and had some damage to his internal organs, but we were able to repair that damage. Firefighter Jacobs suffered borken ribs and a punctured lung. She's currently on a respirator, but if she continues her rapid improvement, she should be off it in a few hours."
"They're both in ICU, and they'll be with us for a few days. But the bottom line is......They'll both make complete recoveries," Early finished.
A second cheer erupted. Tears of joy were mixed with hugs, pats on the backs, and prayers of thanks.
* * * * * * * * * *
The next day, Karen was off the respirator, but still on oxygen. John went to the hospital as soon as his shift was over. He entered her room quietly so as not to wake her. Suzy looked up and smiled as he entered.
"How's she doing?" he asked, quietly.
"She's doing good. Doc says she'll be moved to a regular room in a couple of days," Suzy said.
"Great!" John said with relief.
"John," Suzy said. "I want to thank you for everything you did for KJ yesterday. Since I couldn't be there, I'm glad you were."
John gave a crooked smile. "I didn't do much," he said, "I just picked up were she left off."
"Even so," Suzy said. "Thanks."
"Don't go getting...all gushy on me," a voice whispered. They both turned to see KJ looking at them through half open eyes. "If you keep it up.....his ego will be unbearable," she said with a small smile.
"I dont have an ego," Johnny said with mock indignation, "Just because I'm the best paramedic in LA County...." he finished with a big grin.
Suzy and KJ just looked at each other, rolled their eyes and smiled.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
