The visibility was almost nil. The marine layer was as thick as pea soup. Stoker squinted through the windshield as he forced as much speed as possible out of the heavy rig.
"It's the next right, Mike," Captain Stanley advised. He had been glaring out the window searching for familiar landmarks. The view was so obscured by fog that everything took on an alien, almost surreal appearance.
Stoker slowed and made the turn but suddenly a cold hand grabbed his gut and wouldn't let go. Everything started happening in slow motion. He tried to slam his foot onto the brake but it did no good at all. Where the road should have been, was nothing but air.
Roy and Johnny watched in horror as the rig careened off the road and disappeared into the fog-bound ravine.
Roy slammed on the brakes and skidded to a stop. Before he had stopped the squad, Johnny had leapt out the door and ran around the back. He stopped at the edge of the drop and peered down. The fog was even thicker and he could not make out anything let alone a huge red rig.
"I can't see them Roy!", he shouted desperately.
"I'll get on the horn and call for some help", Roy replied shakily. He grabbed the mike and informed the dispatcher of the situation and requested another engine and squad to the scene.
Johnny came over to the squad and opened up the compartments that held the safety belts and the ropes. He buckled one on and tied off the end of one of the ropes to the rear of the squad.
As he threw the free end over the edge Roy grabbed his arm. "We can't go down there on our own Johnny. We have to wait for more help."
"And how long is that gonna take? They could all be dead before another engine arrives! Let me go!", Johnny snarled. He was in a complete panic now. Roy took his hand away and shook his head.
"Alright, if you insist on going down, at least wait for me, okay?"
Roy grabbed another belt and fixed another line to the squad. He grabbed a torch at the last minute. He didn't know if it was going to help but it was better than nothing. Johnny attached the walkie talkie to his belt and edged over the precipice slowly. He made his way down the slope a foot at a time. His visibility was almost down to nothing.
He could hear Roy making his way gingerly down beside him, keeping pace with him. After what seemed like an eternity for them both, they arrrived at the bottom. Untangling themselves, they stood still for a minute, ears straining for any sounds. It was deathly quiet and it made them both extremely nervous.
Roy cupped his hands around his mouth and let out a shout. They waited with bated breath for a reply - a shout, a moan, anything. Nothing. Roy shouted again and listened intently.
"Help me! Over here!"
"That sounds like Chet. I think it came from that direction", Johnny said, pointing to his right.
"Chet! Hang on buddy! We're on our way! Just don't move!", Roy yelled as they moved off in the general direction of Chet's shout.
The ground was rocky and they steadied each other as they went. Suddenly Roy slipped and almost fell. He looked down and winced. The earth beneath his feet had been gouged and ripped by the out of control engine, creating a shallow ditch.
"Well at least we know which direction they took", he muttered to Johnny.
They followed the path until the underside of the engine reared up at them through the fog like a sleeping dinosaur. A slight stiff breeze sprung up clearing the fog enough for them to make out which end was which. The two paramedics slipped and struggled to the cabin of the engine. In the distance they could hear sirens wailing. Help was on it's way at last. They both jumped as they heard a voice over the walkie talkie.
"Squad 51, this is Engine 110. Can you give me a report?"
Johnny unclipped the walkie talkie from his belt and spoke into it.
"Engine 110 this is Squad 51. Cap, we have made it down to the engine. Could you get your guys to set up our equipment? We also need a couple of stokes and backboards down here. Will give you an update in a few minutes."
"10-4 Squad 51."
Roy had reached the back of the cab. He hauled himself up and looked around. Chet was nowhere to be seen. He could just make out Marco on the far side, slumped against the side of the engine, but still in his seat. He glanced into the front of the compartment and saw Mike lying against the door, his head bent forward awkwardly. The Captain had been thrown to the side and was lying against Mike's legs.
"Johnny! Try and get in the front! Check out Mike and the Cap!"
As Johnny scrambled up the side and opened the door carefully, Roy slid over to where Marco lay. He checked for a pulse and was relieved to find it strong and steady. He checked to make sure Marco was breathing okay. Apart from being out of it Roy couldn't see any other injuries for now. Leaving Marco where he was, Roy slid to the ground and began searching for Chet.
Johnny had gotten into the cab and checked out the Captain. He was relatively usncathed and breathing on his own, so Johnny reached over him and grasped Mike's wrist. Mike's pulse was slow but strong. What concerned Johnny most was the angle of Mike's head. He had to get him into a position so he could get air easily.
"Gage! Is that you up there?"
"Yes, Cap! Look, we have to get Captain Stanley out first before we can get to Stoker. We are gonna have to break the windshield though."
"Okay, you got it."
Captain Martin barked orders to the three firemen who stood around him. He got one guy to help Roy in his search for Kelly and assisted the other two as they used a prybar to loosen the windshield. They ripped it and pulled it out in one piece.
Johnny checked the Cap again, running his fingers around the base of his skull and down his spine checking for any abnormalities. Everything seemed to be in place but Johnny asked for a C-collar before moving him. After adjusting the collar, he helped maneuver Captain Stanley out onto a backboard.
Roy came across Chet lying at the base of a huge tree. Chet was moaning and clutching at his right arm. He almost shouted with joy when he saw Roy coming towards him.
"I thought you would never get here, Roy! How are the others? What the hell happened? Is everything okay?" he babbled, trying to ignore the pain in his arm.
"Just settle down, Kelly. Johnny's looking after the others. Let's get you checked out and topside okay?"
Roy examined Chet's right arm carefully. He found a break midway down the humerus. He looked around to see another fireman approaching with a small backpack. Grabbing a splint from it, he fixed Chet's arm and checked out his vitals and his eyes. Everything seemed to be normal apart from his arm. Roy shook his head in wonderment.
"Can ya give me something for the pain Roy? It's murder", Chet pleaded.
"Sorry Chet, can't do that till we get you up. Hang in there."
He glanced at the other fireman beside him.
"Apart from your arm, do you feel okay? Do you think you might be able to walk a little?", Roy asked him.
Chet nodded. "Just help me up."
Roy and the other fireman got Chet to his feet and walked him to the base of the incline. Roy left Chet in the care of the others and went back to Johnny. "How's it going, Johnny?" Roy asked as he poked his head through the opening of the windshield.
"Captain Stanley's on his way up now, looks like he's suffering a concussion otherwise nothing was broken. They got Marco out and he's got a couple of busted ribs on his right side but other than that he'll be okay. Did you find Chet?"
"Yep, broken arm but he'll be fine. How's Stoker doing?"
Johnny had examined Mike closely. Mike had opened a good sized cut on his head from hitting the door jamb. There was blood streaming down his face. Johnny was concerned about the condition of his pupils. They were responsive but slightly dilated. He was worried about a skull fracture. He had managed to get Mike into a more comfortable position and move his head back a little after adjusting a collar around his neck. Running his hands down over Stoker's chest and legs, he found that his left knee was twisted slightly. No break could be found but it looked like he may have dislocated his kneecap.
"Okay, I'm ready to move him out. Grab his legs Roy but be careful. I think he's damaged his left knee."
Roy slipped his arms under the engineer's legs and eased him out gently. Johnny moved around and supported his neck with one hand while moving him out with an arm supporting his shoulders. Captain Martin came over and helped them move him out into a stokes.
They wasted no time in getting Mike to the top. Grabbing a bp cuff and stethoscope, Roy took Mike's vitals, relaying them to 110's paramedic who was manning the biophone. Orders were given to administer an IV and to splint Mike's knee. After loading him into the ambulance with Chet, Johnny climbed in telling Roy that he would meet him at Rampart.
Roy watched the ambulance make its way up the road and sighed. All of a sudden he felt exhausted, physically and emotionally. He walked over to the squad and sat down on the bumper.
Captain Martin came over and sat beside him, giving him a pat on the shoulder. "Well it looks like they are going to be alright DeSoto. Thomas rode in with Stanley and Lopez. They got knocked up some but nothing too serious."
"Thanks, Cap. I can't believe they all got out so easy. Well apart from Mike maybe", Roy replied.
"Now don't go thinking negatively, DeSoto. I'm sure Stoker is going to be okay too. You have to have faith okay?"
"Faith", Roy muttered shaking his head as he got to his feet. He gathered up the squad's gear and stowed it. Climbing into the driver's seat he could feel tears stinging at his eyes. It had been too damned close for his friends. Roy could feel his stomach clench and go icy cold. What If's were running through his mind.
What if they hadn't made it? What if he and Johnny hadn't got to them on time? What if both the engine and the squad went over? What if?? He groaned and gave in to his emotions at last. It was a while before he could pull himself together enough to drive to the hospital.
Johnny met Roy at the door. He informed him that everyone was okay and that Mike did have a fracture but it wasn't as bad as they first thought. He was conscious and his vitals were stable. Roy broke into a huge grin and clapped his partner on the back.
"They got Chet, Marco and the Cap in the same room together. If Cap thought he was suffering before he's in for a shock. He's stuck with the two of them. Last I heard they were at it again, arguing over that cute little nurse from Pathology," Johnny finished with a smirk.
"Poor Cap, it's gonna drive him nuts. But you know what? I don't care how much they argue. I'm just so happy that they are still here with us. I couldn't imagine what life would be like without those guys around," Roy said.
"You got that right, partner. Let's go see if they've managed to get themselves kicked out for disrupting the place yet."
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