Free Web Hosting Provider - Web Hosting - E-commerce - High Speed Internet - Free Web Page
Search the Web

Johnny tapped his foot nervously on the floor as he looked at his watch for the twentieth time. He got up from the table and paced around the community room. Roy calmly watched his partners actions and found them slightly amusing. Chet glanced up from the paper he had been reading and stared at Johnny as the young paramedic again checked his watch then stared out the door into the engine bay.

“I know I’m gonna regret asking this….” began Chet. “But what’s wrong with you Johnny? You got ants in your pants or something?”

“If I did then I’d know who put them there.” Johnny retorted as he gave Chet a comical look. He glanced back out the door and checked his watch. “Hey Roy what time does your watch say?”

“The same thing yours does. We have fifteen minutes left. Will you calm down.”

“A lot can happen in fifteen minutes.” Johnny mused worriedly. “It would just be my luck that we get a call right before the next shift arrives.”

“Don’t worry, it’s been a quiet day. I promise we won’t get a call.” Roy reassured his friend.

“What’s up John, you got an important date or something?” asked Captain Stanley as he entered the community room.

“You could say that. I’m spending the next three days in Bear Mountain…camping.” Johnny stated with a mischievous grin.

“Big deal!” Chet said matter of factly.

“Oh it IS a big deal Chester B.” countered Johnny as he paced over to Chet. The grin was still plastered on his face. “I’m spending three days ALONE in the WOODS with LINDA.” He rested his left foot on Chet’s chair and leaned his elbow on his knee as he looked at him. “No nosy coworkers to bother us, no bright lights and distractions. Just us and nature.”

“You mean she FINALLY agreed to go out with you again?!” Captain Stanley asked incredulously. “I thought after your grand television debut she would never acknowledge your existence again.”

“I know I wish I could say I didn’t know him after that fiasco.” quipped Chet.

“That’s why they’re going to the mountains.” stated Roy. “That way Linda doesn’t have to be seen in public with him.”

Captain Stanley and Chet laughed at Roy’s comment as Johnny shot him a murderous look.

“You know with friends like you I don’t’ need enemies.” the junior partner replied sarcastically.

“Johnny I don’t understand what that girl sees in you.” Captain Stanley stated in exasperation.

“What’s wrong with ME?!!!” Johnny asked in shock.

“Well…your cheap…” stated Captain Stanley.

“You have no personality….” added Chet.

“You’re not romantic…” chimed in Roy.

“You’re a twit…” continued Captain Stanley.

Johnny’s annoyance was growing as his coworkers kept going with the list of his faults.

“You have no sense of humor…” offered Chet.

“You’re a slob….” Roy added.

“You have the worst table manners I’ve ever seen….” Captain Stanley chimed in.

“Did we mention that you’re cheap?” baited Chet.

“ALRIGHT!!!!!!!! I get the point!” Johnny shouted in frustration. “Did any of you guys think that maybe Linda doesn’t see those things? Besides you’re all wrong. I’m really a nice guy.”

“Says who?” countered Chet. Johnny shot him a murderous look. “THERE!!!!! SEE?!!!” exclaimed Chet as he pointed to Johnny. “There’s that temper.”

“Even a Saint would have a temper if they had to work with you Chet.” concluded Johnny in exasperation. “And I’m NOT cheap! It just so happens that Linda and I both like camping and being alone in the woods can be very romantic for your information.”

“I said it before and I’ll say it again, you and Linda are weird.” Roy interjected.

“She’s a nice girl!!” Johnny stated defensively.

“I didn’t say she wasn’t. I just said she was weird. You’re made for each other.” Johnny looked at Roy and rolled his eyes helplessly.

“We’re not weird. We’re adventurous.” Johnny stated as clarification. “There’s a difference.”

“So do you really think you’re gonna score with her?” Chet asked.

“I’ve got three days to work on it.” Johnny replied with a wolfish grin.

“Yeah…well don’t forget you’ve got to take that re-certification exam when you get back so don’t spend all your time playing house.”

A shocked look replaced Johnny’s happy expression as his shoulders sagged and he suddenly became depressed.

“Oh man!! I forgot all about that.” he groaned.

“There goes the romantic moments in the woods.” Chet stated sarcastically. “I can see it now. Johnny has his head buried in a book while Linda sits and watches. Wow! Talk about an exciting date.”

“Never fear Chester B. I’ll be able to work on both projects. Hopefully at the same time.” Johnny replied with a sly grin.

The “B” shift crew began to filter into the community room. Johnny waved to his coworkers as he sprang for the door. “See you all in three days!” he called out as he headed out of the room.

Captain Stanley, Roy, and Chet just shook their heads in disbelief as the new arrivals looked at them questionably.

“Gage got a hot date or something?” Brice asked in confusion.

“Yeah, with trees and books.” stated Chet dryly.

The three “A” shift workers headed for the door leaving behind a thoroughly confused second shift crew.

Linda stormed through the woods and headed for the campsite. She was soaking wet from head to toe. Her face was set in an angry grimace and her eyes stared straight ahead with a cold hard stare. She violently pushed aside the tree branches that suddenly whipped out at her. Johnny followed behind her. He too was drenched. In his left hand he was carrying a tackle box, while in his right hand he held two fishing rods. Johnny tried desperately to keep pace with the young woman in front of him.

“Linda!” he called out. “Honey wait up!” he pleaded helplessly. A branch snagged his shirt ripping the sleeve. “Damned!” he muttered to himself as he clumsily tried to extricate himself from the nuisance. “Linda….can you come here…Linda I’m stuck!” He watched as she disappeared through a group of trees and bushes. “AAAAUUUGGGHH!!!” he groaned as he violently pulled himself away from the branch ripping the sleeve even more. He quickly trotted after her. “Hey…wait up!”

Linda arrived at the campsite where there was one tent, a fire pit and the Land Rover. She ducked inside the tent and returned with a blanket wrapped around herself. She sat down on a log by the fire pit and curled up inside the blanket. Johnny came panting up behind her.

“Linda I’m sorry.” he apologized. “I’m really…really sorry.” He dropped the fishing poles and tackle box as he squatted down next to her. He reached out to touch her cheek, but Linda pulled away from him. “Baby it was an accident. I swear! I didn’t mean to tip the boat over.”

Linda turned to look at him with a cold angry gaze. Johnny hesitantly reached out again to touch her, but she pulled away from him a second time. He gave up and dropped his hand into his lap. “Sweetheart are you going to be ticked at me for the entire trip?’ he asked weakly. Linda continued to glare at him. “Sweetheart will you PLEASE say something?”

“Don’t you SWEETHEART me John Roderick Gage!!!!!” stated Linda angrily.

Johnny knew that when Linda used his full name that way he really messed up and it was going to take a long time for her to get over being mad at him. The girl had a sense of humor about a lot of things, but water was not one of them. She could not swim and it took a lot of convincing for Johnny to get her into the boat to go fishing. He had no idea what possessed him to do it, but for some reason he felt like kidding around. He stood up and started to rock the boat from side to side. He really had not intended for the boat to over turn, but the more Linda pleaded for him to stop the harder he rocked. Then it happened. One rock too many and SPLASH! There they were in the water with the fish. Linda was too surprised to even try dog paddling. She began to sink like a rock. Johnny had gotten to her before she went under for the third time. She was shook up some and had swallowed some water, but was basically okay. Except now she was ticked.

“You know…I could laugh off running out of gas and pushing your stupid car ten miles to a gas station!!! I found it mildly amusing when the raccoons invaded our cooler and ate all our food and I could even laugh off when the skunk sprayed my knapsack, BUT I draw the line at being drowned!!!!” she said sarcastically.

The truth was that the trip had not started out right. In his hurry to get packed and to pick up Linda Johnny forgot to fill his tank. Then he forgot to put the cooler back into the truck before they went to bed the night before. A family of starving raccoons ransacked the cooler and left very little behind. This of course resulted in the two of them driving back to the nearest town to buy more supplies from a small, under stocked country store. And the skunk, well that was an accident too. The poor confused animal must have thought the knapsack was another skunk and decided to mark it’s territory the only way it knew how. Johnny did have to admit that she did take the hardships in stride, but then he had to be a jerk and go too far with a dumb joke. He really could not blame her for being angry. As he looked at the hard look in her eyes Johnny was beginning to feel that he had blown any chance he had with Linda.

“Sweet….” he began, but stopped himself when he seen the cold glare she gave him. “Honey, I’m sorry. I was being a jerk. I forgot you can’t swim. Believe me I didn’t mean to tip the boat over. It REALLY was an accident. I swear I’ll NEVER do it again.” He noticed her shivering under the blanket and her lips turning blue. “We’ ve got to get you out of those wet clothes.”

“And into what?! I don’t have any clothes remember?” Linda stated matter of factly as she pulled the blanket tighter around herself.

Johnny thought for a moment and then headed into the tent. He returned a few moments later with a sweatshirt, a pair jeans and a pair of socks.

“Here. Put these on’ he said as he handed her the clothes. Linda just glanced at the pile of clothing in his outstretched hand and then looked up at him blankly.

“That’s nice, but what do I do for underwear? Wear your briefs?” she asked incredulously.

“Oh I forgot about that. Wait a minute.” Johnny laid the clothing down next to her and disappeared into the tent again. He returned carrying a long sleeved undershirt and a pair of long pants.

“This’ll have to do. Unless you really do want to wear my briefs.” he quipped as he smiled weakly.

Linda did not return any comment. Nor did she give any sign that she even found his remark remotely funny. She simply grabbed the long underwear from his hand and scooped up the rest of the clothes. Then she headed for the tent making sure to zip the flap shut behind her.

“I’ll turn the heater on in the Rover and you can sit in there for awhile to warm up while I cook dinner.” he called after her.

“Whatever.” Linda answered flatly.

There was no doubt about it, the calm, relaxing, romantic venture he had planned was turning into a nightmare. “How am I ever going to make this up to her?” Johnny thought to himself as he started the engine and flipped on the heater inside the Land Rover.

Dinner had been a simple affair of hot dogs and beans. Linda made sure that she sat nowhere near Johnny. She had perched herself in a spot right next to the camp fire directly opposite from him. Even though he was starving Johnny did not feel like eating. He absently played with his food as he watched Linda when she headed over to the pan that he had filled with water by the tent. His tried to stifle a grin that was forming and a laugh that was welling up inside of him. With his clothes on Linda looked like a reject from an orphanage. His jeans seemed to fit her alright, but his shirt was somewhat too large and hung down past her waist and she had to roll the sleeves up some so that she could use her hands freely. Her gait as she walked was even more hysterical than the clothes. Linda had to borrow a pair of his hiking boots which were three sizes too large for her feet. When she walked the boots would invariably flop off her feet. Linda compensated by dragging her feet as she walked.

Linda looked over at Johnny as she dropped her plate and silverware into the pan.

“What are you smirking about?” she asked tersely.

“Nothing.” he replied as he nervously wiped his hand across his mouth. As she waddled her way back over to her spot Johnny started giggling uncontrollably. Linda shot him an annoyed look.

“What’s so funny?” she demanded to know as she stood with her hands on her hips staring at him angrily. She looked more like an annoyed child playing grown up than a ticked off woman.

“Nothing…” It was no use Johnny could not contain his amusement any longer and he burst out laughing hysterically. “It’s…it’s nothing really…except…well…you…you walk like a duck in those shoes!” he choked out between laughs.

Linda studied him for a moment not really knowing if she should be insulted or not.

“I guess if I’m going to swim like a duck I might as well walk like one.” she quipped as she took a good look at the shoes on her feet. “Wet or not tomorrow I’m wearing my own shoes.”

Johnny noticed that a slight smile was starting to form on her face and that she too was starting to laugh. A feeling of hope rose up inside of him that she may have finally gotten over the whole boat incident. He scraped the remains of his food into a paper bag and dropped his plate and silverware into the pan.

He began washing the dishes. “So I guess a midnight stroll in the woods would be out of the question then…hunh Daffy?” he asked as he glanced over his shoulder at her and flashed his classic crooked grin.

Linda could not resist the smile that spread across her face. “You’re dithpicable!” she responded in her best Daffy Duck imitation.

Johnny laughed and shook his head as he finished the dishes. “Okay…maybe we should just go to bed.”

“That sounds like a good plan.” Linda stated as she stretched and yawned. “Who gets the tent tonight” she asked.

“We both do.” Johnny answered matter of factly. He had been so exhausted from the trip up that on the previous night he fell asleep outside by the campfire. Tonight he was bound and determined to sleep inside the confines of the cozy tent with Linda by his side. Although it was beginning to look like she had other plans.

“Oh no WE don’t!!!” she stated emphatically.

“Linda what’s the big deal. It’s not like we haven’t slept in the same room before!”

“The last time you and I were in a room together we were ten and quarantined with the chicken pox! I THINK this is a LITTLE different.“

“What do you think I’m going to do to you in there?” Johnny asked innocently.

Linda raised her eyebrows and gave him a cock eyed look. Johnny knew that she saw right through him and he suddenly became very interested in the rip in his sleeve.

“So are you gonna sleep out here again tonight or am I?” she asked.

“I’M not sleeping outside!” Johnny stated emphatically.

“Well I’M not sleeping in there with you!” Linda replied hotly.

“Okay….fine! Suit yourself!” Johnny ducked inside the tent and tossed out a pillow and a sleeping bag. “Just remember to keep the fire going. That way the coyotes and bears will stay away.” he stated mischievously. “Pleasant dreams.”

Johnny ducked back inside the tent and dropped the flap shut. Linda started to spread out her sleeping bag.

“Bears and coyotes. Yeah….right…sure.” she mumbled to herself as she climbed into the warm blanket. “I go in there and I’ll be fighting a wolf all night.”

She folded her arms behind her head and stared up at the stars above her. Sleeping in the tent with Johnny was a tempting option, but she was confused about his feelings for her and she did not want to get herself into a situation that could turn out to be awkward. At times he acted like the same old goofy Johnny Gage that she had always known, but then there were times when he became too intense and grown up expecting more than she was willing to give at the moment. From first grade all the way through high school Linda had hoped that someday Johnny would notice her as more than just a friend. When he did not she settled for the friendship figuring it was better than nothing at all. Now that he was actively chasing after her Linda did not know how to respond.

The sound of a twig snapping and a coyote howling interrupted her thoughts. Linda looked around the campsite. Except for the glow of the fading fire there was no light and she could not see very much. The coyote howled again and something made a noise in the forest. Some animal could be heard growling in the distance. Linda jumped up grabbing her sleeping bag and pillow into her arms. She looked around in sheer terror as she ran toward the tent.

“JOHNNY!!!!!!” she yelled. “I’VE CHANGED MY MIND!!!!” She ducked inside the tent. Johnny watched in amusement as Linda spread her sleeping bag next to his.

“I told you to watch out for the coyotes.” he stated smugly.

“Oh shut up.” Linda slid into her sleeping bag and wiggled around some. She tossed the jeans out and rolled over onto her left side to face him. “You just make sure you stay on your side of the tent.” she warned.

“I promise.” Johnny stated with mock sincerity as he raised his hands in surrender. Linda gave him a murderous look. “Okay. Okay. I promise. I won’t do anything.” He said with genuine sincerity this time.

Being satisfied that he really meant what he said Linda turned over on her right side and closed her eyes. Johnny watched her for a few moments. He really wanted to kiss her goodnight, but figured that if he tried it at this particular moment he would end up losing a few teeth. He turned over onto his left side with his back to Linda and stared at the tent wall.

“Good night sweetheart.” he whispered quietly as he closed his eyes.

The sound of a rhythmic thump, thump, thump echoed in Linda’s left ear. In her dreams David Cassidy was singing “I Can Hear Your Heart Beat.” She was in the audience watching a Partridge Family performance. The song ended, but Linda could not applaud. Her left hand was stuck somewhere and she could not move it. And the thump, thump, thump effect of the song continued to play. The dream started to fade away as Linda slowly opened her eyes. Much too her surprise Linda found out that her head was resting on Johnny’s bare chest. . Linda’s left arm was pinned against his side and her right arm was stretched out across his waist. Johnny’s right arm was draped across her shoulders and his hand was resting on her hip bone. His left arm was slung over his face covering his eyes.

“Oh Man! This is not good.” she thought to herself.

Slowly she tried to extricate herself from her latest predicament without waking Johnny. She stopped moving when she heard a very distinctive rattling noise coming from the foot of her sleeping bag. Linda rolled her eyes toward the ceiling and bit her lip as the color drained from her face.

“I didn’t hear that.” she told herself. Ever so gently she moved her right foot. The rattle sounded again. Linda froze in terror.

“J…J…J…Johnny! J…J…Johnny please wake up.” she whispered softly.

Linda loved animals, but she drew the line at snakes. She despised the creatures and anytime she saw one she would become paralyzed with fear. The common garden snake was bad enough, but now a poisonous rattler had taken up residence in her sleeping bag and from what she could tell it had wrapped itself around her ankle. The thought of this made her skin crawl. Her worst nightmare was coming true at this very moment and she felt as if she were going to have a heart attack

“Johnny!!” she whispered hoarsely.

Her mind raced as she tried to figure out a way to get the sleeping Johnny’s attention. Screaming entered her mind, but the idea was quickly rejected as she realized the sudden noise might startle the snake. Waiting for Johnny to just wake up on his own was out of the question. The snake had to go and it had to go now. She finally decided that physical pain was the best way to get his attention. Very slowly and deliberately she moved her right hand up toward his left arm. The action seemed to take forever but finally her finger tips felt the edge of his left elbow. She inched her hand inwards and grabbed a hold of what she hoped was his upper arm.

“Johnny!” she whispered urgently.

Johnny was laying on a scaffolding thirty feet off the ground. Something had fallen on his chest and he was having a difficult time breathing. With his right arm he held on to a faceless victim as something tore at his left arm. He could feel the searing pain radiating through his muscles, but he could not see what was causing the pain. He heard some one in the distance calling his name, at least he thought they were calling him. The person was too far away to make out clearly what they were saying and his ears felt clogged. The pain in his arm was increasing and whatever was laying on his chest moved slightly. Johnny dropped his arm from his eyes and his hand landed on top of Linda’s head. She could feel his fingers caressing her hair as if he were petting a cat.. She tightened her grip on his arm. Johnny opened his eyes slightly and scanned the area in confusion. It took him a few moments to realize that he was safely laying on the ground in his own tent. He glanced down at Linda and a sly smile crossed his face.

“Good morning.” he said as he leaned down to kiss the top of her head. He stopped short when he felt the pain shooting through his left arm again.

“Don’t…move.” Linda whispered ominously.

The fog cleared from his mind and he finally realized that Linda had a death grip on his upper arm. When he glanced down at her he could see that she was extremely pale.

“Linda honey what’s wrong?” he asked with concern.

Linda swallowed hard and took a deep breath. She spoke very slowly and deliberately. “There’s…a…snake…in…my…bed.”

A confused expression clouded Johnny’s face as he tried to process what she just told him.

“What? Honey I don’t think I heard you right. Did you say there’s a snake in your bed?”

Linda swallowed hard again and simply nodded her head slightly.

“Yes.” she gasped.

“What kind of snake?”

“A…rattler.”

“Okay…listen to me…don’t move. I’ll slide out from under you alright?”

“Uh huh.”

“Just take it easy. It’ll be okay.”

Johnny slowly slid himself out of his sleeping bag. As he moved out from under Linda he grabbed his pillow and placed it under her head. Once he was free he could see that Linda was absolutely terrified.

“What’s a snake doing in your bed anyway?”

“I don’t know. Why don’t you ask him when you see him?” she quipped weakly.

Johnny laughed slightly and flashed her a reassuring smile. “I’ll be sure to give him your regards.”

“Haaa. Haaa.” Linda laughed weakly. “You’re a real riot. Just get that damned thing off of me.” she moaned.

Johnny carefully moved over to the opposite side of Linda and began to unzip her sleeping bag. Linda watched as Johnny slowly pulled back the top of the bedding. She noticed that he was dressed in nothing more than his briefs. Under normal circumstances having a mostly naked, good looking man kneeling next to her would have caused her over active imagination to have thoughts that would make even a sailor blush. At the moment however all her mind could think about was not passing out or throwing up.

Once he had moved the covers out of the way Johnny got a clear view of what was happening. He could see the snake’s tail sticking out from under the cuff of Linda’s long johns. As he scanned the area he saw what appeared to be the head half way up her calf. Johnny sat back on his heels and let out a long breath as he tried to figure out what to do next.

“Oh man.” he whispered softly to himself as he scratched his head.

“Well?” Linda asked hopefully.

“Uh…I can see it.” he stammered.

“Well get it off of me!” she ordered through clenched teeth.

“THAT might be a little tough.”

“Why?!” she squeaked.

“Um…his tail is visible…but his head is underneath your pants.”

“Do you mean to tell me I have to lay here for the rest of my life with a snake wrapped around my leg?!” she asked verging on hysteria.

“Calm down will ya. It’s gonna be okay. I promise. Just let me figure out what to do here.” he stated reassuringly as he put his hand on her shoulder.

“Johnny I feel sick.”

“Okay…just take it easy sweetheart. Your gonna be fine. It’s just your nerves. Just don’t move and the snake won’t bother you. He’s just cold and wanted a warm place to sleep. Kinda like you last night.” A wolfish grin spread across Johnny’s face as the vision of Linda sleeping in his arms flashed through his mind.

“Yeah…well…there’s one big difference between me and that slimy thing…”

“What’s that?”

“When I bite people I don’t kill em.”

“You sure about that?” Johnny teased.

“Oh you’re real funny.” she answered sarcastically. “Any ideas yet on how to get rid of that thing?”

“Just one. Stay here. I’ll be right back.” He motioned for her to stay right where she was at as he stood up and headed for the opening.

“Stay here? Just where do you think I’m going?” she asked incredulously.

Johnny laughed slightly as he realized how stupid he sounded. “You know what I meant.” he teased. I’m just going to get something out of my car. I’ll be right back. Just stay calm.” he reassured her before he disappeared outside.

Linda lifted her head off the pillow and tried to look down at her feet. She was unable to clearly see anything and dropped her head back down onto the pillow just as Johnny returned carrying a pair of bandage scissors.

“Where’d you get those?” Linda asked.

“I have my dirty uniform in the back of the car.”

“We really must talk about your laundry habits.” she sighed.

“Hey, being a slob comes in handy sometimes.” he joked.

“So what’s your plan?”

“Well…” Johnny knelt down next to Linda and studied her leg and the snake again. “If I cut a hole where his head is maybe I can reach in and grab him.”

“What if you scare him?”

“Then you take a quick trip to the nearest hospital.” he stated dryly.

“I am not amused here Groucho.” she stated sarcastically.

Johnny drew in a deep breath as he said a silent prayer. He gently pinched a piece of the material and carefully began to cut. Linda remained frozen in place. She closed her eyes and fought the wave of nausea that flooded over her. Once the hole was cut Johnny could clearly see the snake’s head. The snake’s tongue darted in and out of it’s mouth as it hissed and rattled it’s tail. Linda gasped when she heard the noise and passed out.

“Okay fellow. Time for you to find a new place to sleep. I’ve got dibs on this leg if you don’t mind.”

He slowly reached down and carefully grabbed the snake behind the head with his thumb and forefinger. Once he had a firm grasp on the reptile he lifted the front end up off of Linda’s calf. With his free hand Johnny then unwound the rest of the snake’s body and pulled him free. The snake was not happy and rattled it’s tail angrily as it’s tongue continued to lash out helplessly.

“Alright fella let’s go.”

Johnny stood up and headed for the opening. When he returned he saw Linda still laying motionless on the floor. He grew concerned when he noticed that her breathing was shallow and her color was nowhere near normal. He double checked her leg to make sure that she had not been bitten. Then he knelt down next to her and placed his hands on her shoulders.

“Linda it’s okay. I got rid of the snake. He’s gone. You can open your eyes now.” he told her in a calm, reassuring tone. “Come on honey open your eyes.” He shook her gently. “Linda?”

Linda opened her eyes and sat up quickly almost knocking Johnny off balance in the process. She started shivering and a disgusted look clouded her face as she methodically rubbed her leg. Her breathing had suddenly increased and she was hyperventilating.

Johnny wrapped his arms around her and held her close to him. “Here put your hands over your mouth and nose.” he instructed. Linda cupped both he hands over her face. “Okay…just take slow deep breathes. You’re fine. “ he stated calmly as he gently stroked the back of her head with his hand. “It’ s okay.”

Slowly he could feel that her breathing was beginning to slow back down to normal speed. “You alright?” Johnny asked with concern.

“I will be once I get the vision of that slimy thing out of my mind.” Linda gasped. Thanks.”

“No problem. Besides I couldn’t let the snake have all the fun.” Johnny teased as he flashed Linda a wolfish grin.

Linda lowered her hands from her mouth as she looked at him and rolled her eyes in annoyance. “I’m having a stroke and you’re making jokes.” She put her hands back over her face and took a couple more deep breathes to calm herself.

“I’m sorry.” Johnny laughed as he continued to gently stroke the back of her head.

“That does it. Tonight I sleep in the back of the truck. I don’t mind being close to nature, but this is ridiculous.” Linda stated matter of factly.

“Snakes can climb you know. I understand they can even flatten themselves out and fit under small spaces” Johnny informed her.

“Oh shut up!” Linda whined as she shivered again. Johnny laughed slightly and held her tighter.

“So what happens if you don’t pass this test you have to take?” Linda asked as she flipped through one of Johnny’s books.

After Linda finally calmed down from the snake incident the two ate breakfast and decided to take a hike up the mountain. They packed some sandwiches, sodas, a canteen of water along with Johnny’s books, and a camera and a blanket into a knapsack. Johnny was able to get some pictures of a mother bear with her cubs along with some landscape photos. He even managed to sneak a few photos of Linda when she was not looking. For some reason that he never could figure out she was camera shy. By the time noon time came they were both starving. Linda had found a nice spot in a clearing by a stream and set up the blanket and the food. She arranged some wild flowers that she had picked in the center of the blanket using a rusty can that she found on the trail as a vase. After he finished his third sandwich Johnny sat back against the trunk of a large tree and opened his notebook. He really did need to spend some time studying for the re-certification test.

“If I don’t pass then I can’t be a paramedic anymore. I’d have to go back to the engine crew and that would mean a transfer to another station.” he answered as he scanned his notes.

“Johnny why’s it so important for you to be a paramedic?” Linda asked seriously.

Johnny looked up from his notes with a confused look on his face. No one had ever really asked him that question before and he had no idea how to answer. He thought about it for a while before he responded to her.

“I can’t really explain it. I get a certain satisfaction out of helping people when they really need it.” he stated honestly. “When I worked strictly on the engine all I did was put out fires. I couldn’t do anything to help the people who were affected by the fire and that really bothered me. Then I trained to be a rescue man and I loved it. I felt like I was actually doing something worthwhile.” he concluded.

“I think I can understand that. But why not go on and be a doctor. Judging from this book you need to know just as much as the doctors do and you’d make more money.”

“Too boring. I couldn’t spend all day cooped up in a hospital. Besides doctors generally specialize and I like the variety that my job provides. Although I do have to agree that an increase in pay wouldn’t be such a bad thing.”

Linda had a thoughtful look on her face as she mentally processed what he had just said.

“Yeah, you’re right, I just can’t see you in a white lab jacket treating some rich woman’s ingrown toe nail and being happy.” she teased. “You’d be wearing a straight jacket and living in a padded cell within a week.

Johnny laughed. “Oh you give me a week hunh? I say I’d be in that padded cell within two days.” Linda started to crack up with him as she visualized Johnny being hauled off to the funny farm.

“I guess we better make sure you pass that test then. What can I do to help?”

“Act like you’re a victim and let me go through the motions of what I need to do in various circumstances.”

“I did that once for my roommate in college. She was in the nursing program and I would play the patient while she took my BP and stuff.”

“How’d she do?”

“She failed.”

Johnny shot Linda a comical look that caused her to burst out laughing.

“Not because of me! She went to one Sorority party too many and on the day of her final exam she slept in.”

Johnny looked relieved. “Good. I’d hate to think you were a jinx or something.” he laughed.

“Gee thanks!” Linda shot back at him.

“Lets see what kind of patient you are. You were mountain climbing and you fell off the mountain. You broke both your legs, sprained your arm, broke your neck and split your head open.”

“I’m not a patient…I’m DEAD!” Linda quipped.

“You’re not dead, but you will be if I can’t exam you. Come on…fall off the mountain.”

Linda shrugged her shoulders and stood up. “Okay. Here it goes.” She rocked back on her heels and flailed her arms dramatically. “AAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!” she yelled as she then dropped to the ground. For good measure she rolled around a few times as if she really were rolling down the side of a mountain. Johnny watched her antics with an amused expression. Finally Linda stopped moving and laid in a contorted position on the ground covered from head to foot with dirt and leaves.

Johnny stood above her with his arms folded and just stared down at her blankly. “Are you done now Lucy Ricardo?” he asked matter of factly.

“Not yet.” She twitched for a few moments as Johnny tried to control his laughter. She finally stopped moving and laid perfectly still. “Okay. I’m done now.”

“After THAT performance I should let you die.” he joked.

“Ha. Ha.” she retorted sarcastically. “I never said I wanted to be an actress.”

“Oh I don’t know. I think you’d be great in “B” movies.”

“Are you going to save me or do I tell the vultures to quite circling and come to dinner?”

“Oh I guess I’ll save you.” he sighed heavily in mock disgust as he rolled his eyes.

Johnny knelt down next to her and began to take her pulse.

“Oh thank goodness you’ve arrived!” Linda stated in an over dramatized pseudo southern voice.

“Your unconscious you goof.” Johnny stated as he shot her an annoyed look.

“Ooops. Sorry.”

Linda shut her mouth and watched him taking her pulse.

“What are you doing?”

“Taking your pulse.”

“Well why don’t you say what your doing. That way you’ll remember it better.” she suggested.

“Okay…but only if you keep quiet. I’ll tell you when you can become conscious again.”

“Alright.”

“First I take your pulse. Then I take your blood pressure” He pantomimed putting a BP cuff on her arm and taking the reading. Then I would check your pupils. Close your eyes will ya?”

Linda shut her eyes and Johnny opened one eye then the other and pantomimed flashing a light in her eyes. When he was done she opened her eyes again and watched him.

“Okay now I check to see if any bones are broken.” He looked at Linda. “You can wake up now.”

“Alright.” Linda rolled her head from side to side and groaned dramatically.

“What’s your name?”

“Why are you asking?”

“Linda don’t give me a hard time here.”

“I’m not giving you a hard time. Why do you ask those questions? What’s the goal?”

“To check the mental status of the patient.”

“That’s what I was looking for. Okay continue.”

“What’s your name?”

“Uh…Linda Halloran.”

“Okay Linda can you tell me where it hurts?”

“Um…I don’t know…I can’t feel anything. I can’t move. What’s wrong?” she asked over dramatically.

“I don’t know yet. Let me check you out some more. Okay…now I would need to physically examine your extremities.” He ran his hands expertly over her right leg first then over her left leg. Linda giggled slightly. “What’s so funny?”

“That tickles.”

“Your not suppose to notice.”

“Sorry.”

“Okay…both legs seem to be broken.” He then ran his hands over her right arm and then down her left arm. He checked the range of motion in both her wrists. “Left wrist shows no signs of a break, but shows signs of a possible sprain.”

Linda felt Johnny’s hand resting gently on her stomach as he looked at his watch.

“Now what are you doing?”

“Checking your breathing.”

When he finished taking her respirations he moved down to her feet and pulled off her right shoe. Linda sat up and watched him.

“Now what are you doing?”

“Will you lay down! You’re paralyzed remember?!”

“I’m Paralyzed?!!! Oh no!!!! I can’t be paralyzed!!! I’m an Olympic swimmer!!!!”

Johnny started to crack up at her dramatization.

“Cute. Real cute. Now lay down before I really do knock you out.” he directed as he waved his fist at her menacingly.

Linda flopped back down on the ground and sighed heavily. Johnny rolled his eyes in annoyance as he pulled off Linda’s sock.

“Because of what the patient told me I need to check the reflexes to see how much nerve damage has been done.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a quarter. Johnny then ran the edge of the quarter from her heel to her toes. Linda’s foot jerked up and caught him in a vulnerable spot. Johnny gasped loudly and fell forward.

Linda realized what had happened and quickly sat up. She held her hands over her mouth as she looked at Johnny helplessly.

“Oooohhh I am so, so sorry. she apologized. Are you alright?”

Johnny waved his hand at her as he looked at her with pain evident on his face.

“Just give me a moment. I’ll be fine.” he groaned.

Linda scooted next to him and hesitantly put her hands on his shoulders.

“What was this…pay back for yesterday?” Johnny asked dryly.

“I swear it was an accident. When you ran that thing over my foot it tickled and I guess…I guess I reacted.” she stated matter of factly as she gave him an impish look.

“Well I must say…I DID learn something that wasn’t in the book.” he gasped.

“What’s that?”

“Where NOT to be when doing an exam.” he answered matter of factly.

“Glad I could be of some help.” Linda laughed. Johnny just shot her an annoyed look.

“I’m glad you’re amused.”

“I’m sorry.” she apologized as she tried to stifle her laughter.

Johnny glanced over at her and shook his head in disbelief.

“You know what I think?” he asked

“What?”

“I think I need to go back to studying.”

“Am I still paralyzed?”

“No the mountain climber died. We couldn’t save her. No now you’re a drowning victim.”

“Oh really?” Linda asked with interest. “Wait! Let me guess…. my lunatic boyfriend took me fishing and dumped the boat over. Then he left me to drown in the lake.”

“Not even close. You fell off a pier and sank like a rock to the bottom of the lake. Luckily for you a dashingly handsome paramedic happened to be in the area fishing and he jumped in to rescue you.” he said as he put his arm around her shoulder and leaned her back toward the ground.

“Dashingly handsome?” Linda laughed as she studied Johnny with a critical eye. “Oh so ROY just happened to be in the area.” she teased.

Johnny gave her a comical look. “You know sometimes you’re really funny.”

“Thank you.” she answered smugly.

“This isn’t one of those times.” he stated dryly as he tapped her on the edge of the nose with his finger.

Linda just shrugged her shoulders as Johnny leaned over her. “I thought it was cute.”

“Do you want saved or not?”

“Hmmmmmm…..” Linda got a thoughtful look on her face as she contemplated her answer. “That depends on what my problems are….am I unconscious again?”

“Yes.”

“So what do you do with an unconscious drowning victim?”

“Well you’re not breathing although you do have a heart beat.”

“A heart beat is good.”

“Turning blue is not.”

“That’s a bad sign?”

“Very bad.”

“Okay. I don’t want to be blue. So how do you make me unblue?”

“Mouth to mouth recussitation.”

“Ah!”

“Will you close your eyes and act unconscious!” he whined.

“Oh alright. If you insist.” Linda closed her eyes and played dead. Johnny leaned in closer and was just about to kiss her when a violent and forceful sneezed erupted from Linda catching him by surprise. He wiped his hand across his face as he looked at Linda with a grossed out expression.

“Oh that’s lovely.” he stated matter of factly.

Linda covered her mouth with the sleeve of her sweatshirt. “I’m sorry. I…I…I…AAAAACCCCHHHOOOOOOO!!!!!!!” she sneezed again. “I think I’m getting a cold.”

“I don’t believe this.” Johnny moaned softly.

“Well it’s not my fault! You’re the one who dumped me in the lake! she complained. AAAACCCHHHOOO!!!!”

Johnny put his hand on her forehead and studied her for a moment. “You do feel a little warm. I guess we better head back and get you some aspirin and some tea.”

Johnny turned his face away and raised his arm defensively as Linda sneezed again.

“Sorry.” she apologized.

“Another valuable lesson learned that wasn’t in the book.”

“What’s that?”

“Never give mouth to mouth recussitation to a girl with a cold.” he stated as he flashed his classic crooked grin.

“Ha. Ha.. Vedy funny.” Linda retorted as she fought back another sneeze.

“Come on Sneezey.” he stated as he helped her to her feet.

“Alright Dopey.”

“I think in this case Doc would be more appropriate.” he quipped.

“Well Bashful is definitely out of the running. We’ve already dealt with Sleepy this morning…forget Happy…Grumpy’s a contender though.” she teased.

“I wouldn’t be Grumpy if you hadn’t turned into Sneezy.” Johnny commented as he gathered up their items and began to shove them into the knapsack.

“Yeah…well I wouldn’t be Sneezy if you hadn’t been Dopey and dropped me into the water yesterday.” Linda retorted as she handed him his books and sneezed again.

Johnny glanced over at Linda. She looked so pale and sick that he thought better of responding to her comment. The truth was that he felt worse now about tipping the boat over the day before than he had when it happened. He really did cause her to become sick and he felt horrible about it. He prayed silently that she did not come down with the flu or worse because of his antics. There was one thing Johnny was sure of, Linda was never going to let him live this down.

“Come on. Let’s head back.” he stated calmly as he slung the knapsack over his right shoulder while draping his left arm over her shoulders.

Jeremy Wilcox hated being the oldest of six kids. All the chores and responsibilities fell on his shoulders. He was eleven years old and at times he felt like he was eighty. All he ever heard was “Your older, you should know better.” or “It’s your job because you’re the oldest..” Even on a family camping trip he was given chores to do while his brother’s and sister’s got to go and play.

As he hauled the bucket of hot ashes to the lake he ran over the events of the morning. He had to set the table for breakfast while everyone else got to goof off. Then he had to do the dishes after both breakfast and lunch. Now he had to clean out the camp fire ring after all the other kids roasted their marshmallows. Jeremy didn’t even get a chance to enjoy even that because he had to sweep out the camper. All he wanted to do was to go exploring in the woods and maybe check out the abandoned silver mining town that was nearby. Instead he was suppose to go back to camp and baby-sit the other kids. He offered to take the others with him, but his parents did not think that would be such a good idea since the baby was only a year old and required a lot of care.

As he approached the clearing to the lake a thought hit Jeremy like a thunder bolt. All he had to do was not to go back to camp for awhile. He would probably get a spanking, but it would be worth it just for a few moments of freedom. He glanced down at the bucket. The coals seemed to be out so there was really no need to walk the remaining thirty feet to the lake. All he had to do was to just dump them right here and head for the ghost town. He would have the bucket with him just in case he should happen to find any interesting treasures. And that is exactly what Jeremy did. He found a spot behind a large tree and dumped the coals. Then he covered them with some dried leaves, twigs and dirt. He happily ran off into the woods whistling as he went.

Linda rolled over onto her back. Her head felt as it were stuffed with cotton and her throat burned like fire when she swallowed. She opened her eyes and squinted against the rays of sunlight that streamed in through the windows of the Land Rover. Slowly she sat up and tried to gain her bearings. The physical exertion caused a deep, rasping cough to explode from inside her. After the cough subsided she took a deep breath and willed herself to open the rear door of the vehicle. She pulled her sleeping bag around her shoulders and stumbled out into the bright morning light.

Johnny sat on the log by the camp fire ring. He was busy studying his notebook and the sound of Linda’s coughing startled him. He turned around quickly to see her walking over toward him.

“Hey Sneezy how you feeling today?” he asked cheerily.

Linda flopped down next to him and pulled the blanket over her head as she leaned against him wearily.

“Eh!” she moaned.

“That good hunh?” Johnny laughed as he put his arm around her.

“I’d feel bedder if I could breed. Dohnny don’t you have any sinus meds?”

Johnny laughed slightly as he hugged Linda closer to him. “Now you even SOUND like a cartoon character.”

“Tanks a lot.” Linda choked out as she coughed again.

“Look why don’t you go lay down in the tent while I fix you some tea. Atleast the steam will clear up your nose.” Linda shot him a comical look when he mentioned the tent. “Don’t worry I checked it and there’s no snakes.” he laughed.

“Okay. Bud I need to use the woods firsd.” She pried her self off the log and shuffled toward the woods as Johnny started the fire to boil the water.

The flame was small at first but quickly grew as wind supplied more oxygen. Soon the tiny spark turned into a raging fire which was spreading fast eating everything in it’s path. Wild life ran in terror trying to escape the wall of death and destruction that was headed their way. Jeremy was not aware of the danger that existed by the lake. He was busily searching for buried treasure in an abandoned shack at the ghost town. The young boy moved from the shack to the mine entrance. He did not notice the thick black smoke that blocked out the sunlight nor did he notice the bright light in the distance. His mind was not focused on his family or on the chores he was suppose to have done. Jeremy did not know that his laziness would cost everyone everything. All he was concerned about was finding a stray piece of silver or and old antique. He climbed through the boards that barricaded the opening of the mine shaft and continued his search.

Johnny looked at the pile of covers lumped in the middle of the tent. He could not tell if Linda was under them or not. Suddenly the lump moved and he surmised that she must have been buried somewhere in the heap. He squatted down next to the pile and gently shook what he hoped was her shoulder.

“Hey…” he said. The blankets emitted an incomprehensible grumble. “Will you come out of there before you suffocate.”

Linda poked her head out from the opposite side of the blankets. She looked back at Johnny who still had a hold of her ankle. “What?” she asked.

Johnny did a double take as he tried to figure out which end was the correct end of the blankets. He handed Linda a mug filled with steaming liquid.

“Here. Drink this.”

“Tanks.” Linda held the mug under her nose for a few moments and breathed in the steam before she finally took a sip. “You know I could get use to this.” she said.

“Use to what?”

“Being waited on hand and foot like this.”

“Don’t get too use to it. As soon as you’re feeling better I expect you to wait on me instead.” he teased.

“Oh my! I feel a relapse coming on. Maybe I will NEVER recover from this horrible disease that is taking over my body.” she stated in an over dramatic tone as she rested her wrist against her forehead and pretended to faint. Johnny laughed as he caught her in his arms.

“Alright….you don’t have to bring me my pipe and slippers every night or anything, but I do expect breakfast every once in awhile.” he joked.

Linda opened her eyes and looked up at him. “I’ll make you a deal. When you get sick I’ll bring you breakfast, lunch AND dinner in bed. Until then you’re on your own.”

“Deal!” Johnny stated as he leaned closer to her and gave her a long passionate kiss. Linda was taken by surprise and pulled back slightly.

“Hey! Aren’t you afraid of catching my cold?” she asked him.

“Oh…do you have a cold?” he asked innocently as a sly smirk curled his lips. Linda caught on to what he was up too and started to laugh.

“You are so bad.” she laughed as she playfully punched him on the shoulder.

“I’m just stacking the odds in my favor.” he commented wryly as he kissed her again.

Linda wrapped her arms around his neck as he gently leaned her back toward the ground.

“HEY!!! Is anybody in there?!!” a voice called from outside the tent.

Johnny and Linda stopped kissing and looked at each other in confusion.

“Who’s that?” she asked breathlessly.

“With my luck it’s the red necks from Deliverance.” he groaned sarcastically as he rolled off of her and stood up. Linda laughed as he held out his hand and helped her up from the ground.

“That would be the perfect end to the perfect camping trip.” she quipped.

When they emerged from the tent the couple was shocked to see two fire trucks parked a few feet away. A helicopter flew over head and a trail of other campers was making a hasty exit down the only road available.

“What the…?” Johnny started in surprise.

“Oh great! It’s the fire department.” Linda commented as she scanned the area. “Where’s Chet and what kind of joke is he playing now?”

“I don’t think it’s a joke sweetheart.” Johnny stated matter of factly as he squeezed her hand. Captain George Wells from Station 12 approached them. He was wearing full turn out gear and held a handy talkie in his right hand.

“You folks have to evacuate out of here. We have a major brush fire going and it’s headed this way.” he informed the two confused campers.

Johnny scanned the skies and the surrounding landscape. He noticed the black smoke off in the distance. He tapped Linda on the shoulder and pointed to the hill behind them. A woman came running up to the Captain.

“MY SON!!!” yelled the woman.

“Ma’am you have to leave the area.” the Captain ordered.

“I have to find my son Jeremy!!!” she persisted.

“”Are you sure he’s still up there?” Johnny asked with concern.

“YES!! He never returned from his morning chores!! He was suppose to come right back and help watch his brothers and sisters, but he never came home!!!!” the woman cried frantically.

“Do you have any idea where he might be?” Captain Wells calmly asked the hysterical woman.

“I…I don’t know…maybe the old ghost town…he was whining about wanting to go there last night….I don’t know for sure.” she answered helplessly.

“Captain my name’s John Gage and I’m an LA County Firemen and Paramedic with Station 51.” Johnny stated as he showed the Captain his ID in his wallet. “If you need help I can go look for the boy.”

The Captain studied Johnny’s badge and photo identification thoughtfully.

“Station 51 hunh?” he asked thoughtfully.

“Yes sir.”

“We just called your group in for support. Okay, I’ll take you up on your offer. All our men are tied up on the South end of the mountain. A paramedic on this end would be real handy. Go over to the truck and tell my engineer what you’ll need.”

Johnny nodded in response and headed for the engine. The frantic mother looked at Linda helplessly.

“What about my son?!” she asked with concern.

“Don’t worry Mrs…” Linda looked at the woman questionably.

“Mrs. Stanford. Laurie Stanford.”

“Well don’t worry Mrs. Stanford. My boyfriend and I will find your son for you. Can you tell me his name and how old he is?”

“He’s eleven years old and his name is Jeremy.”

“Okay.” Linda gently patted the woman on the shoulders. “We’ll find him. But right now you need to go with everyone else to a safer area.”

Johnny was tossing equipment into the back of the Land Rover when Linda approached him.

“I made arrangements for you to go to the base station with one of the other campers.” Johnny informed her. Linda looked at him with a surprised expression on her face.

“I’m going with you.” she stated flatly.

“No you’re not.” Johnny said firmly as he tossed a first aide kit into the vehicle.

“Yes I am.” Linda countered defensively. “You’re not going up there alone.”

Johnny stopped working and glared at her. “Linda don’t argue with me. You’ re going to the base station and that’s that.” he angrily informed her. “Do you hear me?”

“My ears must still be clogged because I can’t hear a word you’re saying.” she stated matter of factly.

“Linda…!” Johnny started angrily.

“John…!” Linda interrupted as she met his angry gaze with one of her own.

The truth was that Johnny had no idea what he would encounter when he got up into the mountains and he really could use a second pair of hands. He was a trained professional, but Linda was just an amateur. The risk for a civilian was too great and he would have felt better knowing that she was in a safe place. Judging by the expression on her face however, he knew that nothing was going to stop her from going along with him. Johnny slammed the back door to the Land Rover shut. He spun around and scowled angrily at her as he pointed his index finger in her face.

“Alright…you can go along…!” A smile of relief curled at Linda’s lips, but was quickly wiped away as Johnny jabbed his finger at her. “Under one condition…”

“What’s that?”

“I’m the boss from here on out. You do WHAT I say, WHEN I say and the WAY I say. No arguments. Is that clear?!” he asked hotly.

“Yes. Crystal clear.” Linda answered quietly.

“Get in!” he ordered tersely as he pointed toward the passenger side of the vehicle.

Linda obediently got into the vehicle slamming the door shut behind her while Johnny went to inform the Captain of his change in plans.

Jeremy climbed out of the mine shaft and was surprised to find that day had turned into night as thick, black acrid smoke filled the air. Flames gobbled up the buildings in the towns and were quickly working their way toward the mine. The boy became frightened and disoriented. He scanned the area for a way out, but could not easily see one. The smoke filled his lungs and he began to choke. Remembering a lecture from the firemen the previous year in school he dropped to the ground. The air down there was not quite as bad and he began to crawl slowly back toward the mine entrance. More than ever Jeremy wanted to go home. He missed his family and was beginning to believe that he would never see them again.

The noise of the helicopter engines droned above the Land Rover as it bounced along the dirt road. Johnny was able to monitor the fire’s movements with the activity he heard over the handy talkie that Captain Wells had loaned him. Linda kept a wary eye on the scenery around her. This was the first time she had ever been in the middle of fire and she was beginning to regret her decision to go along on this trip. The helicopters were doing their best to drop as much water on the rampaging flames, but it seemed so hopeless. A plane passed over and dropped a red powder on a group of trees to her left.

“What’s that?” she asked as she pointed out the window.

Johnny glanced over to where she was indicating. “It’s a special chemical that helps extinguish the flames.”

Linda watched in amazement as a wall of fiery flames died down to a dull roar.

“Wow!” she stated in amazement. “That’s pretty impressive.”

“Never mind watching the fire. Keep your eyes open for that ghost town. We should be near it by now.” he said flatly.

Linda turned her attention toward the road ahead and squinted to see through the smoke. A large flaming tree toppled right into the path of the vehicle. Johnny slammed on the brakes as Linda let out an involuntary scream. Johnny grabbed the handy talkie as he scanned the area. More trees were beginning to fall around them.

“Engine 12 this is HT 12! We need a water drop at our location!” he shouted into the radio.

“10-4 HT 12. They’re on their way.” Captain Wells responded. “How much longer until you reach your location?”

Johnny leaned foreword and squinted against the smoke and flames as he scanned the area.

“We’re almost there. I think it’s on the other side of this hot spot.” he replied back.

“10-4” answered the Captain.

Johnny glanced over at Linda. She was pale and panting heavily. “You alright?”

“Yeah.” she panted. “I was just caught off guard by that tree.” She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. “Is this what hell looks like?”

“Pretty much.” Johnny answered matter of factly. The loud motor of a helicopter could be heard directly overhead. “Duck!” Johnny ordered as he put his hand on the back of her neck and pushed her foreword as he too ducked foreword.

A large amount of water splashed down on the Land Rover and the road. Johnny slowly raised his head and peered out the windshield. Linda sat up and looked and scanned the area in shock. Johnny flipped on the wipers and put the vehicle in gear.

“Hey! I think I see it!” Linda exclaimed as she sat foreword excitedly and pointed out the windshield.

“I hope that kid’s here.” Johnny stated worriedly.

“What if he isn’t here?” Linda asked as she looked at him questionably.

Johnny shot her a serious a no nonsense look. “Just pray that he’s here.” he answered flatly. He stopped the vehicle in the middle of the now smoldering town. Linda scanned the area in shock. None of the old buildings were spared from the fire. All that remained were smoldering heaps of charcoaled wood and mud from the continuous water drops.

“Engine 12 this is HT 12. We’re at the ghost town and we’re going to begin our search.” Johnny informed the Captain.

“10-4 HT 12. Make it quick.”

“10-4.” Johnny dropped the radio between the front seats. He looked over at Linda. “You heard the man. We go in there and do a fast search and get out. I’ll take the left side and you take the right side.”

“Okay.” Linda reached for the door handle and yanked it open. Just as she was about to slide out of her seat she felt Johnny grab her left arm. She turned to look at him. He had a concerned look on his face.

“Linda…if you should find him first…it might not be…” he stammered. “Just yell for me if you see anything that LOOKS like a human form. DON”T go near it. Understand?”

“Yes. I understand.” Linda could read between the lines and she knew Johnny was worried about her seeing something that she might not be able to handle. In all honesty she was not too thrilled with the possibility herself.

“Okay.” Johnny gently squeezed her arm before letting go and getting out of the vehicle himself.

They split up and began to search the area. “JEREMY?!!” Linda shouted.

“JEREMY?!!!!!” shouted Johnny.

Linda carefully mounted what was left of the front porch of one of the structures. She carefully poked her head in through the remains of a doorway. “JEREMY?!!” she called out.

Johnny quickly checked the remains of a few old buildings. “JEREMY?!”

Not seeing anything he gave up and headed over to Linda. She was just finishing her search.

“Nothing.” he stated with annoyance. “If he was here I don’t think he made it.” Johnny finished sadly.

“We can’t just give up.” Linda countered defensively.

“Linda sometimes you have too. I’m sorry…I don’t like the thought anymore than you do, but I don’t think that boy survived the fire.” he stated honestly.

“Please…let’s just look again. Maybe we missed something.” she pleaded.

Johnny looked into her eyes. He knew how she felt about children. Linda was not going to give up if she thought that there was a chance the child could be there. He was not all that certain himself if they should give up so quickly.

“Alright. We’ll make one more search.” Linda smiled and hugged him joyously.

“Thank you!” Johnny gently grabbed her by the arms and pushed her away slightly so he could look her in the eye. Linda looked at him in confusion.

“Listen to me. If we don’t find anything then we have to leave. No argument. Okay?”

“Okay.” she agreed somberly. The pair split up and began to retrace their steps. Linda noticed how eerily quiet the area was. The helicopters had moved off into the distance and now the air was filled with silence. No birds singing, no wind whistling through the trees, no rustling of leaves or the sound of woodland creatures playing in the forest. Just a dead silence that was beginning to make Linda very nervous.

Johnny rechecked his side of the street again. “JEREMY?!!!” he called out.

He was beginning to believe that his first impression was correct. There was no way that if the child was here he could still be alive. It was also possible that he was not there at all which was an even more serious problem. Either way he cut it Johnny felt like he was searching for a needle in a haystack. Linda was becoming just as discouraged as her search netted nothing. She dejectedly paced around the area trying to mentally rationalize where an eleven year old boy would go if he were in trouble. Her foot caught on the edge of a charred board and she fell backwards into the mud.

“Oh great.” she groaned softly to herself as she struggled to stand up. She angrily kicked at the board and froze in fear. “JOHNNY!!!!” she screamed.

Johnny turned around sharply when he heard Linda’s scream. He took off in a dead run in her direction and slid to a stop next to her. He noticed that she was ghostly white and shaking.

“What’s wrong?” he asked with concern. “Is it another snake?”

Linda shook her head emphatically. “No…not a snake. I think I found Jeremy.” She stammered as she pointed to the pile of wood at her feet. Sticking out from under the burned rubble was a small tennis shoe clad foot. Johnny glanced down at where Linda pointed then he glanced back to her.

“Okay…I’ll get him out. In the meantime why don’t you go open the truck and make a space in the back for me to put him. Also get on the radio and tell Captain Wells that we found him.” he directed her calmly.

“Yeah…alright.” Linda agreed absently as she backed away from the area. Johnny waited a few moments before he started to remove the rubble. He wanted to make sure Linda was clearly out of viewing range. If the child was severely burned he did not want her to witness it. After a few minutes of digging Johnny was able to free the young victim. He let out a breath he did not know he had been holding when he saw that the child was still breathing. His face was bruised and swollen and there was evidence of burns on his right side along with various cuts and bruises, but he was still alive. He scooped the small body up into his arms and quickly jogged over to the Land Rover. Linda was waiting by the tailgate holding the radio in her hands.

“Is he…?” she asked tentatively not really knowing if she wanted to know the answer.

“He’s alive.” Johnny answered flatly as he climbed into the back of the vehicle.

Linda exhaled with relief as she looked at the sky and mouthed the words “Thank you.”

Johnny poked his head back out the door and grabbed the radio from Linda. “I need you to drive.” he stated matter of factly.

“But Johnny I can’t drive a stick! You know that!” she protested.

“Linda you volunteered to come along and you agreed to do what I told you. I can’t take care of this boy AND drive at the same time. So that means you have to drive.” he stated hotly.

“I know, but…” she started.

“Put your foot on the clutch and pull the shifter down two notches. After that you’ll know when to shift. Just remember to use the clutch when you shift. Now DRIVE!!!” he ordered as he pulled the door shut. Linda stood paralyzed in one spot. She had never had the inclination to learn a stick shift and was terrified at the thought of learning how to drive one now. As she thought about the entire situation she did not see any other option. The life of a small boy depended upon her getting over her irrational fear. She headed for the driver’s side and climbed inside.

“Engine 12 this is HT 12. I have the victim. He is shocky…suffering from third degree burns on seventy percent of his right side…his pulse is about 20…BP is 60 by palpation…respiration’s are shallow…and he has numerous cuts and abrasions around the face and neck. We are headed back to base now.” Johnny stated into the radio.

“10-4 HT 12. Squad 51 has arrived at the base is there anything you need them to do?” Captain Wells asked.

“Yes. Tell them to contact the hospital and to set up a relay with them and me.” Johnny replied.

“10-4 HT 12. Be careful on your way back. The fire has moved further down and is in your direct line of travel.” warned Captain Wells.

“Is there an alternate route we can take?” Johnny asked worriedly.

“Negative.” was the lone response. Johnny rolled his eyes and sighed heavily as he pushed the button on the radio.

“10-4 Engine 12. HT 12 out.” he said wearily. He glanced up at Linda who was watching him from the driver’s seat. “Okay. Let’s go.” he stated flatly.

Linda turned around and hesitantly put her right foot on the clutch while she held down the brake with her left foot. She pulled the shifter down two clicks and switched her right foot to the gas pedal. The Land Rover violently jerked fore ward throwing Johnny against the back of the seat.

“You’re suppose to EASE your foot off the clutch!” he yelled.

“You neglected that part of the lesson.” she shot back.

“Yeah…well…I’d like to get this kid AND us there in one piece if you don’t mind.” he stated in annoyance.

“You want to drive?” she asked with sarcasm dripping from her voice.

“Linda…!” Johnny shot back angrily.

“Well leave me alone then!” she ordered as she turned the wheel and pointed the vehicle in the right direction. She floored the gas pedal and the vehicle sped off down the road.

The ride back down the mountainside seemed to take forever. Johnny was not certain if he or his patient would survive Linda’s stop and jerk style driving. He was beginning to feel sea sick and seriously considered calling a paramedic for himself. He glanced out the window and saw that they were headed straight back into the throws of the fire. At the moment it was confined to either side of the road, but it was closing in fast. The distressed sound of Jeremy gasping for air drew his attention back to his young victim.

“LINDA STOP!!!” he ordered as he sprung into action and tilted the child’s head back. Linda slammed on the brakes and the Land Rover made a complete circle as it skidded to a sudden stop. Linda shoved the shifter to the Park position and spun around in her seat.

“What’s wrong?” she asked worriedly as she watched Johnny.

“He can’t breathe. I have to establish an airway.”

Johnny grabbed the needed equipment from the first aide kit. He repositioned himself so that he was above the child’s head and tried to insert the breathing tube. Linda tried to watch over his shoulder as he worked.

“Damned!” he muttered under his breath. He grabbed the radio from the floor. “Engine 12 this is HT 12. Is Squad 51 still there?”

“HT 12 this Engine 12. Affirmative on Squad 51.” Responded Captain Wells.

“I need to talk to em.” Johnny replied.

“What’s wrong?” Linda asked with concern.

“The…” Johnny began, but was interrupted when the radio crackled to life.

“Squad 51.” came Roy’s voice through the speaker.

“Roy it’s Johnny. I have an eleven year old victim in respiratory arrest. I tried to establish and airway, but it’s blocked…probably from airway burns. I need Rampart STAT!”

“Okay…I have the link set up…hang on…” Johnny waited impatiently for Roy to respond back. Linda nervously chewed on her lower lip as she watched from her perch in the front seat.

“Alright Johnny I have Dr. Brackett on the biophone. He says that you’re gonna have to do a tracheotomy.” Roy answered.

A shocked look crossed Johnny’s face as he stared at the radio. “Repeat that please!!!” he stated incredulously.

“You heard me. You have to cut the kid open. There’s no choice. I’ll relay the information from Rampart.”

“Roy we don’t have the right equipment or sterile conditions! Isn’t there another way?!” Johnny asked with desperation rising in his tone.

“Negative. Welcome to battlefield medicine partner. You ready?” Roy asked matter of factly.

“Yeah…I guess.” Johnny responded hesitantly. He looked up at Linda and handed her the handy talkie. “Linda you’ll have to relay everything Roy says to me okay. Don’t improvise…just tell me EXACTLY what he says.”

“Alright.” she answered as she took the radio from him.

“One more thing…I may need your help back here. Do you think you can handle that?” he asked bluntly.

“Yes. Yes I think I can.” she stated with a confidence she did not really feel.

Johnny pulled his pocket knife from it’s sheath on his belt. He grabbed a bottle of alcohol from the first aide kit and poured some over the blade. He shook the excess liquid off the knife then glanced at Linda.

“Okay. Tell him I’m ready.”

“Roy…it’s Linda…Johnny’s ready.” she said into the radio.

“Alright…Brackett says to make a vertical incision along the windpipe. You’ re gonna start cutting from the second to fourth tracheal ring.” Roy stated.

“He said you have to make an incision along the windpipe. Start cutting from the second to fourth tracheal ring.” Linda informed him.

Johnny took a deep breath and with a less than thrilled look used his knife to cut a hole in the child’s throat..

“Linda find me some rags! I need something to clear off the blood.” he ordered. Linda frantically dug around the front of the vehicle. She finally dug an old rag out from under the driver’s seat.

“Here.” she stated as she held the rag out to him. Johnny shook his head.

“No. I need you to do it. I haven’t gone all the way through yet.”

Linda climbed over the seat and positioned herself on the opposite side of Johnny. Carefully she wiped the blood away with the rag.

“Okay…good.” Johnny stated as he motioned with his hand for her to stop. Linda sat back on her heels and watched Johnny. She could not put her finger on it, but something seemed different about him. As he skillfully worked on the boy she began to realize just how much of a man he had become over the years.

“Alright…I’m in. Now what?” he asked as he looked at Linda.

“Um…” she got back on the radio. “Roy he made the incision…what do we do now?”

“Insert a breathing tube.” Roy responded.

Linda glanced over at Johnny. “He said to insert a breathing tube.”

“I don’t HAVE a breathing tube!” Johnny stated incredulously.

“Roy we don’t have a breathing tube!” Linda said into the radio as her voice cracked with tension.

“Brackett says to use ANYTHING you can find that will establish an airway.” Roy answered.

“Dr. Brackett says to use anything we can find.” Linda informed Johnny.

“Like what?”

“How should I know?!”

“Start digging!” Johnny ordered.

Linda and Johnny hurriedly searched through everything in the back of the vehicle. Something caught Linda’s eye as she threw a pile of things toward the rear door.

“Hey! Would this work?!” she asked excitedly as she reached over and grabbed something from Johnny’s uniform shirt.

“What?” Johnny asked in an annoyed tone as he turned to face her. Linda held up his ball point pen.

“I don’t know. See what Roy says.”

Linda grabbed the radio. “Roy will a pen work?”

“Hold on…” Roy requested. As she waited for his reply she began to unscrew the pen and dumped the contents along with the top half of the writing instrument onto the floor.

“Yeah!…Brackett say’s to go ahead and use it. Put the bigger end in first.”

Linda handed the remainder of the pen to Johnny. “The doctor said to use it…put the big end in first.”

Johnny carefully and gently inserted the remainder of the pen into the incision. He leaned closer to the boy and listened intently. A relieved smile crossed his face as he raised his head and looked at Linda.

“He’s breathing.” he stated with relief. Johnny began to take a new set of vital signs.

Linda sighed heavily. “Roy…it worked. He’s breathing.”

“Great!” Roy answered with an obvious tone of relief in his voice. “Tell Johnny to tape the tube in place and get that kid here as soon as possible.”

“10-4 Squad 51.” Linda responded. She grabbed a roll of medical tape from the first aide kit and handed it to Johnny. “Here. Roy said to tape the tube in place.”

“Alright. You get us out of here while I do that.” he directed.

Linda maneuvered herself around and started to crawl back into the front seat. She stopped short and spun around and glanced out the rear side windows and the rear window of the vehicle. All the color drained from her face and she had a frightened look in her eyes.

“Uh…Houston we’ve got a problem.” she stated flatly.

“Linda this is no time for jokes. We’ve got to get this boy to the base station.” Johnny scolded.

“Who’s joking. Look.” She pointed out the window. Johnny shot her an annoyed look. When he saw what she was pointing at his annoyance disappeared and was replaced with concern.

“Oh man!” he gasped. He spun his head around and looked out the window behind him. “Oh Man!”

The Land Rover was literally in the middle of a burning ring of fire. There was no escape for the vehicle and it’s passengers as the flames made their way closer.

“What now?!” Linda asked as she tried to control the panic she felt rising up inside her.

Johnny grabbed the radio. “Engine 12 this is HT 12! We’re surrounded by flames at our location and need a water drop!”

“HT 12 this is Engine 12. We have one chopper refilling now.” responded Captain Wells.

“What’s the ETA?” Johnny asked.

“Three minutes.”

“We don’t have three minutes!” stated Johnny as he watched the advancing flames out side the window.

“That’s the best I can do.” the Captain answered helplessly.

Linda climbed back into the driver’s seat. Johnny glanced up at her in confusion.

“What are you doing?!” he asked incredulously.

“Getting us the hell out of here.” Linda responded matter of factly as she threw the gear shift into what she hoped was Reverse. The vehicle lurched backwards and Johnny fell against the tail gate.

“ARE YOU CRAZY?!!!!!” he shouted angrily.

“This may be the sanest thing I have ever done in my life!” she shot back as she shifted gears again. There was a terrible grinding noise as she tried to find Drive. Johnny was about to make a comment, but the vehicle lurched foreword throwing him hard against the seat.

“Will you stop that!” he ordered with an annoyed tone as he picked himself off the floor for the second time. Linda gunned the engine a few times.

“You better brace yourself. We’re in for a wild ride.” Linda suggested.

Johnny’s eyes grew wide with terror as he finally figured out what Linda was about to do. He dove on top of his young patient and used his body as a shield to protect him as Linda floored the gas pedal and sped toward the flames ahead.

“Linda I swear if we live through this I’m gonna kill you!” he warned her angrily.

The Land Rover approached the flames at a lightening speed. Just before the front end dived through the inferno Linda let out a rebel yell and slid as far down in the seat as she could get. The vehicle dove through the flames and managed to fly over a huge dip in the road. It landed a few moments later with a bone jarring thump on the opposite side of the danger. Linda jammed on the brakes and slowly slid back up in her seat. Johnny hesitated for a moment after he felt the vehicle stop. Realizing he was still alive he rolled off of Jeremy and slowly scanned the area outside the window.

“Everybody okay back there?” Linda asked breathlessly as she turned around to check on her passengers.

“Hunh?” Johnny asked totally stunned.

“How’s Jeremy?” Linda asked with concern.

Johnny quickly checked the child’s vital signs and his breathing.

“He’s okay.”

“What about you?”

“Yeah…I’m fine…I think.” he stated absently.

“Good. Let’s go home.” Linda turned around and drove the vehicle back down the mountain side.

The Land Rover skidded to a stop at the base station kicking up a cloud of dust in it’s wake. Roy and Craig Brice rushed over and helped Johnny unload the young patient from the rear.

“Nice to see you back.” Roy commented as he and Johnny laid the child on the stokes stretcher.

“Nice to be back.” Johnny answered. “You’ll need to start an IV and apply sterile water to those burns.”

“We’ve got it from here Gage.” Brice informed the off duty paramedic as the three men carried the stokes to a waiting helicopter. Brice climbed in first followed by Roy. Johnny watched as the helicopter took off into the air.

“Hey John.” Johnny turned around and saw Captain Stanley approaching him.

“Yeah Capt.?”

“I heard about your in field surgery. How’s the kid?” the Captain asked with concern.

“He should be okay. I’m available if you guys still need a hand up here.”

“What…you haven’t had enough excitement for one day?” quipped Captain Stanley.

“I just figured since I was in the area I could lend a hand.”

“Thanks, but the fire is pretty well under control now and we’ve just been released. Why don’t you go home and enjoy the rest of your day off. Oh…and by the way the re-certification exam has been pushed back a day because of this crisis.”

Johnny smiled with relief. “Well atleast something good came from all this.”

“Say…how did you and Linda get yourselves out of that fire anyway?” the Captain inquired curiously.

“Give Em Hell Halloran the Demolition Queen decided to go Air Borne on me.” Johnny joked.

“I heard that!” stated Linda as she approached the two men. She handed Johnny a Styrofoam cup filled with coffee. “Here…drink this.”

Johnny glanced at the cup and then looked at Linda with a comical expression. “Oh good…just what I need, caffeine to calm my already jangled nerves.” He teased with a sarcastic tone.

“Would you like to wear it instead?” Linda inquired as she smiled mischievously and held the cup above his head.

“No! No…I’ll drink it.” Johnny quickly answered as he grabbed the cup from her hands.

That’s what I thought.” Linda answered matter of factly.

Captain Stanley shook his head hopelessly as he watched the two friends bickering. “You know what…I don’t even want to know the rest of this story.” he sighed wearily. “You’re out and that’s all that matters. Go home!” he ordered as he walked away muttering to himself.

“Is he alright?” Linda inquired as she jerked her thumb toward the retreating officer.

“Yeah. He always talks to himself like that. You get use to it after awhile.” Johnny answered as he took a drink of his coffee. “Hey you did real good up there today. I was really proud of how you handled things.”

“Thanks. I think I understand why you enjoy your job so much now. It did feel really good to save that little boy.”

The two friends studied each other for a moment. Linda reached out and wiped some soot off of Johnny’s cheek at the same time he reached over and pushed her hair out of her eyes. It was almost as if they were on the same wave length. Reading each other’s thoughts they both leaned into each other and their lips met in a consensual kiss. Linda began to feel something stir inside herself that she had not felt in a long time. The feeling scared her, but for the moment she was willing to let herself go with the flow. Johnny’s hands caressed her back as her hands dropped to his waist. A strong shower of cold water doused the couple causing them to jump apart. They spun around to see Chet, Mike and Marco standing a few feet away holding an inch and a half hose which was aimed directly at them.

“CHET!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Johnny yelled as he shot the smaller fireman a murderous look.

“First you and now your friends! Why does the entire LA County Fire Department want to drown me?!” Linda complained as she glared at Johnny.

The three firemen stood laughing as they continued to spray the angry couple.

“CHET WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!!!!!” Johnny demanded to know as he struggled against the hail of water.

“We saw you two getting all hot and heavy over here so we thought we’d hose you down. I mean…you know we just had a big fire and we don’t want any more hot spots popping up.” quipped Chet.

“TURN THAT HOSE OFF NOW!!!!!” ordered Johnny.

Mike shut off the hose. Johnny and Linda looked at each other.

“I’m gonna kill him!” Johnny declared as his hands balled into fists.

“Not if I get to him first!” countered Linda. The two looked over at Chet with murderous expressions.

“It was a joke guys!” Chet exclaimed as the angry young paramedic and his equally angry girlfriend stalked over toward him. Chet look at his coworkers helplessly. “Mike…Marco…tell em…it was a joke.”

“Hey man, your on your own.” stated Mike as he backed away from Chet.

“No comprende English.” Marco added as he too backed away from the mustached fireman.

As Johnny and Linda closed in on him Chet began to fear for his life. Not receiving any support from his friends he decided that the best course of action was to run for his life. Johnny and Linda chased after him as Mike and Marco slapped each other five.

THE END