**Note: This story was originally posted on Emergency Station many moons ago, then Code Red and now Emergency! Celebration…it’s a well traveled story <g>

Thanks for the new home!

So Much More to Life

By Cheryl

"Man, is it ever gonna stop raining?" John Gage asked in exasperation as he stared out the window. Outside, torrents of rain fell for the fourth day in a row, as sunny Los Angeles waded through one of the wettest falls on record.

His partner, Roy DeSoto, looked up from the sofa where he was patiently reading a book. "At least we're in here where it's dry," he said as he absently scratched Henry's ears. Last shift, they had spent the majority of the day outside battling a shipyard fire and everyone was soaked to the bone by the time they had returned to the station. Now, two days later, Roy could swear his feet were still wet.

Lucky for the firefighters, the day had been quiet and none of them had to venture out in the inhospitable weather. Now, with a stomach full of Mike Stoker's famous spaghetti, Roy sincerely hoped that the good citizens of LA would behave themselves and they could stay in all night.

Johnny sighed. "Yeah, but I got a hot date tomorrow night. I wanted to take her to the beach and stargaze."

Roy momentarily debated whether or not he really wanted to hear about Johnny's latest interest. His curiosity won. "Who is she?"

Johnny threw his partner a goofy smile. "You remember that cute nurse I bumped into at Rampart last week?"

Roy thought back for a moment. "Oh yeah, didn't you step on her foot? She didn’t seem too happy at the time.”

"Well how was I supposed to know that she'd be right there when we turned the corner?" Johnny asked, his voice rising in pitch.

If you hadn’t been ranting about the victim's vomit on your shoes, you would have seen her. "Right," he grinned.

"Well,” Johnny continued, unaware of his partner’s amused look, "when I helped her to a chair, I just turned on the ol' Gage charm and she was putty in my hands." Johnny put one foot up on the kitchen chair and leaned his elbow on his upraised knee, smiling smugly.

Roy rolled his eyes.

"You mean she agreed to go out with you if you'd stop pestering her." Chet Kelly wandered into the dayroom. He paused in the doorway and leaned against the doorframe, staring mischievously at his firehouse rival.

"Shut up, Chet." Johnny threw a disgusted look at the fireman.

"Oh, good one, Gage. I can always count on you for a snappy comeback."

Johnny pulled his foot down off the chair and placed his hands on his hips. "You're just jealous because I have a date with a hot chick and you don't."

"I'd rather have no date at all than have a pity date, no matter how hot she is, pal." Chet shook his head.

Johnny clenched his teeth. "It's NOT...."

He was interrupted as the tones sounded. "Squad 51, man down. Fire access road 8-B, two miles from the junction. Fire access road 8-B, two miles from the junction. Time out 18:17."

Johnny threw one last withering look at Chet as he and Roy dashed to the squad.

"Have fun in the rain, guys!" Chet called out as he turned towards the apparatus bay.

"Shut up, Chet!" Gage and DeSoto yelled in unison as they jumped in the squad.

Captain Hank Stanley glanced up from the dispatch alcove. Good grief, what now? He decided he didn't need to know what was up. Sometimes it was better that way.

"Squad 51, KMG 365," Hank responded. He tore the address paper from the pad. "This one's way out there, you two," Stanley said as he handed Roy the slip of paper, “be careful."

Roy smiled at the captain. "We will, Cap." Hank nodded and stepped away as the squad pulled out into the downpour.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *51 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Man, why do people have to live on such crappy roads?" Johnny asked in exasperation as he clutched the dash.

Roy kept his eyes focused ahead as he cautiously navigated the steep roadway. As the squad slowly turned a sharp corner, they could both feel the wheels slip ever so slightly.

Johnny looked out his window at the steep ravine. He swallowed hard. "Uh, Roy, not too much further this way, okay?"

Roy's knuckles whitened as he stared out the windshield. The rain was still coming down in torrents and combined with the evening twilight, he could hardly make out the road.

"Squad 51, cancel." The dispatcher said in a monotonous voice.

Gage slapped the dash, causing Roy to jump slightly. "Oh, for crying out loud!" Johnny complained loudly. He took a deep breath and grabbed the mike. "Squad 51, 10-4," he replied. "Man, I don't believe this!" Johnny ranted as he slammed the mike down. "We're out here risking our necks for nothing!"

Roy nodded absently. "We need to find a place to turn around. Keep your eyes open okay?"

"Yeah, yeah," the young paramedic glanced out the window and chuckled. "At least there’s a guardrail here…Roy look!" Johnny suddenly sat straight up in his seat.

The tone of Johnny's voice convinced his partner to pull his eyes from the treacherous roadway and take a look. Roy's eyes widened as he pulled the squad to a stop. Pieces of the guardrail were everywhere, and through the sheets of rain, he could just make out tire ruts in the dirt road rapidly disappearing in the downpour. Johnny, you have the eyes of a hawk. In the rain and rapidly increasing darkness, they could have driven right by and never seen anything, had the shattered guardrail not been there.

The two paramedics jumped out and approached the ravine. Below, a small sports car was flipped over on its side. The dented condition of the car and the shattered windshield indicated that it had rolled over several times as it had traveled down the steep side, then came to rest at the bottom of the ravine. As they stepped further onto the shoulder of the road, the edge under Johnny’s feet suddenly crumbled away.

"Whoa!" Johnny exclaimed, reflexively jumping back.

Roy turned and jogged back to the squad. He reached inside and grabbed the mike. "LA, Squad 51. We have a still alarm, car off the road, approximately one-half mile from the junction on fire access road 8-B. Respond engine 51 to our location."

"10-4, Squad 51. Time out 18:37." The dispatcher responded, but Roy was already half way back to Johnny.

Johnny looked over the side at the unstable ground. "Roy, we can't wait for help. Who knows how long it will take the engine to maneuver that road. This hillside looks like it will go any second. If it does, it could bury that car.”

As if in answer, part of the hill once again crumbled, causing a mini-slide.

Roy peered through the long shadows looking for victims. "Johnny, can you see anybody?"

Johnny squinted, trying to see better through the gloom. "I can't see a thing in this rain."

Roy nodded in agreement. "I'll get a flashlight." Roy turned and trotted back to the squad. He grabbed the flashlight from the front compartment and flicked it on. Light streamed through the rain as he ran back to his partner's side.

Roy shined the light across the car and the area surrounding it. "I don't see anything," he said as he panned back to the left.

Johnny shook his head. "Me either. But there could be someone inside the car.”

Johnny looked around, as he grabbed the light from Roy. "I'm going to walk down the road a little and see if I can see anything."

Johnny walked about 20 feet and carefully approached the edge of the road, panning the light across the ravine. The heavy rain reflected the light back, making it almost impossible to see anything. He stepped closer to the edge trying to get a better view. Don’t see…"Ahh!" he exclaimed, struggling back up on the road as the shoulder crumbled away under his feet.

Roy’s head jerked around just in time to see his partner’s mad scramble. Shaking his head, he walked over to Johnny, grabbing his partner’s arm to steady him. “Do you have a death wish or something?”

Johnny glared briefly at Roy. "The rain’s so heavy; it's preventing me from seeing anything. One of us is going to have to go down there and check."

Roy looked down at the car. He really wanted to wait for backup on this one, but he knew the wet dirt was eroding away too fast. They had to act now. "Yeah," he agreed.

Without a word, Johnny ran back to the squad to retrieve his gear.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *51 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Johnny carefully backed down the side of the ravine, his feet slipping in the mud. He slid to a stop at the bottom, unbuckling his safety belt. “I’m off the line, Roy!” he yelled before turning and carefully walking to the car. As he rounded the front of the vehicle, Johnny heard a siren and the diesel engine pull up. Better late than never, he thought as he peered through the shattered windshield.

Captain Stanley approached the squad as Roy tied off Johnny's line to the vehicle. "What have you got Roy?" Hank asked, eyeing the edge of the road.

"Johnny spotted the broken guard rail shortly after our call was cancelled. We stopped to investigate and spotted that car. The hillside is really unstable and looks like it will break loose anytime. We didn't know how long it would take you to get here, and we were afraid the hillside would go before help arrived.”

Hank nodded in agreement. "How many victims do you have?" The two men carefully walked up to the edge of the road.

"I don't know, Cap. We couldn't really see anything because of the rain, so Johnny went down to check it out.” Both men shined flashlights down the hillside, as a small mudslide slammed into the car causing it to rock violently.

"BE CAREFUL, GAGE!" Stanley shouted.

Johnny peered through the multiple cracks in the windshield, scanning the front of the car. There was no one there. He walked around to the back window and scanned the back seat of the car.

"WHAT'S GOING ON, JOHN?" The Captain's booming voice drifted over the ravine.

Johnny shook his head in disgust. "There's no one in there, Cap!"

Topside, Hank Stanley shook his head in disbelief. They were all standing out here in the rain, soaking wet for nothing. Cap leaned over the edge, cupping his hand over his mouth. "Get back up here, Gage!"

Johnny turned away from the car, pulling his helmet off his head as he scratched his damp scalp in irritation. He put his helmet back on, chinstrap hanging loosely under his chin. Taking a step forward, his foot slipped in the mud, landing him square on his backside. He threw his hands up in the air in exasperation. Can this call possibly get any worse? He wondered, sighing at the mud seeping through his pants and soaking his rear. He scrambled in the viscous mud, standing up cautiously. "Gosh darn false alarms," Johnny mumbled in disgust, his feet slipping on the hillside as he walked towards his life belt. “Somebody otta d…” Johnny’s voice trailed off as the mud under his feet turned to liquid. A low rumbling caused him to look upwards. He wished he hadn’t. Four days of continuous rainfall had taken its toll on the hillside, and the dirt had reached its saturation point. A barrage of mud and debris showered down on the young paramedic as he tried to make his way to his belt.

Roy watched his partner, his own concern mounting. He glanced around at the disintegrating hillside. Something caught his eye, causing Roy to do a double take. His eyes widened in alarm. “JOHNNY! WATCH OUT!”

Johnny’s head jerked up at the alarmed voice of his partner. A wave of mud and debris was barreling down at him. “Damn!” His feet slipped across the muddy hillside as he desperately tried to scramble out of the slide’s path. Johnny’s foot caught some traction and he quickly pushed off in a last ditch effort to get clear, but it was too late. The dark-haired paramedic once again looked up the hillside at the rapidly approaching mudslide. Oh, man. A wave of debris overtook him tossing him over like a rag-doll.

Up on the road, Roy and Hank jumped back as half the road crumbled away, sliding down the ravine.

Roy watched in horror as the mudslide slammed into his partner and swept him along. He could see Johnny somersaulting down the hill and into the trees on the far side of the ravine. Without a word, Roy dashed back to the squad.

Stanley jerked his HT out of his pocket. "LA, Engine 51. We have a code I at our incident. Respond a helicopter.”

"Engine 51." Dispatch responded as Hank put away his radio.

Hank turned his head to see Roy strapping on his life belt.

“Engine 51, LA,” a muffled voice drifted out from Cap’s pocket. Hank lifted the HT to his face, pulling up the antenna.

“Engine 51,” he responded.

“Engine 51. Be advised all air transportation has been grounded due to poor visibility. An ambulance has been dispatched.”

“Engine 51.” Hank sighed in concern as he momentarily glanced around at the remote location.

Roy trotted back to the edge of the road and pulled his gloves on as Cap took hold of his rope. “All the helicopters are grounded because of the weather. Be careful Roy, I don't need another man hurt."

Roy smiled slightly, concern evident on his face. "He's the accident prone one, remember?" He lowered himself over the edge, hastily stepping backwards through the ankle deep mud and debris, anxious to find his partner. His left foot stuck momentarily in the mud, and in his haste, Roy twisted his ankle. He grimaced at the twinge of pain. Slow down. You’re no good to Johnny if you hurt yourself. Roy chastised himself, slowing down to a more cautious speed.

Roy stopped next to the overturned car. He looked around in desperation. “JOHNNY?” Roy’s fingers fumbled as he unbuckled his safety belt. “JOHNNY, WHERE ARE YOU?” Roy waded off through the muck in the direction he had last seen his partner, oblivious to Chet and Marco who spread out, searching in the other directions.

Roy walked through the trees searching for any sign of his partner. He ducked his head under a low branch, and something shinny caught his eye. Roy turned and trotted through the trees, dropping to his knees in front of the object and digging it out of the mud. Roy’s hands shook as he stared at the blue “51” on Johnny’s helmet. He looked up, scanning the horizon. “JOHNNY!” Roy called out, his voice echoing in the trees. Where are you? Roy stood up and turned towards the direction Chet and Marco had taken. “Chet! Marco! This way!” he shouted.

“Engine 51 to Squad 51, Roy what’s going on down there?” Cap’s voice blared from the HT.

Roy grabbed his HT, Chet and Marco coming into view as they wove through the trees. “Cap, I found Johnny’s helmet, but no sign of him, yet.”

“10-4, Roy. I’ve called for an additional engine company for more man-power.”

“10-4, Cap,” Roy responded, stowing the HT in his pocket. He handed Johnny’s helmet to Chet. “I found this. He’s got to be around here, somewhere.” The three firemen fanned out, searching for their friend.

Roy looked around as he continued to weave through the trees. He could be anywhere. Frustration crept into Roy’s thoughts as he ducked under a thick branch. The sight of his partner tumbling down the hill helplessly swept up in the mudslide, kept playing over and over again in the paramedic’s mind. I have to find him!

Something rustled in the trees to his left, causing Roy’s head to snap around. His eyes widened in shock as he saw Johnny stagger around a tree and come to a stop, swaying slightly. “Johnny!” he exclaimed as he dashed towards his partner.

Johnny raised his hands to his chest, coughing violently. He gasped for air as he looked at Roy through dazed eyes. “R…Roy?” Johnny’s eyes rolled back and he collapsed. Roy barely caught him.

Roy gently lowered his unconscious partner to the ground. He looked up, scanning the trees. “Chet! Marco! Over here, quick!” The blond paramedic bent over his friend reaching for a carotid pulse. His brow knitted in concern at the cold damp feeling of Johnny’s skin, and the slight bluish tinge to his lips. Johnny’s breath rattled in his chest as his rapid heartbeat tattooed against Roy’s fingers. Roy fumbled around in his pocket, pulling out his HT, as Chet and Marco came running in from different directions. “Squad 51 to Engine 51. Cap, I found him. I’m sending Chet and Marco up for the equipment. I’m going to need the drug box, biophone, stokes, backboard and O₂.”

“10-4, Squad 51. How is he, Roy?” a concerned Captain Stanley asked.

Roy glanced down at Johnny. “I don’t know yet, Cap. He’s unconscious, but I haven’t examined him yet.”

“10-4 Squad 51.”

Roy threw down the HT and turned his attention back to his partner. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Roy heard Hank cancel the additional engine company.

Chet came barreling up to Roy, Marco a step behind. They both looked at Johnny in concern.

“Chet, Marco,” Roy gained both their attentions. “I need you guys to get the equipment.”

The two firemen nodded and ran off through the trees.

Roy bent down and began to assess his partner. Johnny’s muddy face was drawn and his body shook slightly from uncontrollable shivering. Roy gently palpated Johnny’s head, wincing as his hand encountered a golf ball sized bump on the back. Roy pulled out his penlight and examined Johnny’s ears, searching for fluid. He sighed in relief and continued his examination. Roy then flashed his light in Johnny’s eyes. You sure did a number on yourself, Johnny. Roy watched as Johnny’s pupils slowly responded to his light. He pulled open Johnny’s shirt, wincing at the bruises starting to form over his ribcage. Roy gently palpated each one, then ran his hands over the rest of Johnny’s body, searching for signs of other trauma. Roy gently lifted Johnny’s hand and cursed inwardly at the bluish tinge of Johnny’s fingernail beds. He’s aspirated this muck. Bet he’s hypothermic too. Roy thought as he noted the increased labor of Johnny’s breathing. His partner was wheezing now, his breath rattling deep within his chest.

Just then, Marco and Chet came into view, carrying the stokes between them. They set it down next to Roy, who reached for the drug box. “Marco, get him on 6 liters O₂. Chet, open a line to Rampart,” Roy barked as he pulled out the BP cuff and stethoscope.

Chet snapped the biophone antenna into place and grabbed the receiver. “Rampart, this is Squad 51. Please stand by,” concern deepened Chet’s voice.

The familiar voice of Nurse Dixie McCall responded almost immediately. "Standing by 51."

Roy pulled the stethoscope from his ears and grabbed the biophone receiver. "Rampart we have a male, 25 years old. Victim was caught up in a mudslide and swept approximately 200 yards. Victim is in respiratory distress and suffering from mild cyanosis. He is shivering uncontrollably, and there is a bluish tinge to his nail beds. Suspect aspiration has occurred. Also, suspect hypothermia. Victim has a large bump on the back of the head, but no sign of skull fracture, and pupils are sluggish, but reactive. Victim has several bruises across the chest and abdomen, but no palpable abdominal distention. Vitals are BP 90/60, pulse 130 and thready, respirations are 22 shallow and labored. We have him on 6 liters of O₂.”

"Stand by 51," Dixie said.

Roy clenched the receiver and stared at the biophone, trying to will someone to answer. He glanced at his partner. Johnny’s nostrils were flaring and his breathing was becoming more and more labored with each breath. Time was of the essence and he felt as if he was wasting it, even if he was waiting for a doctor. After what seemed like an eternity to Roy, the voice of Doctor Joe Early startled him.

“51 start an IV Lactated Ringers. Also set up cardiac monitor and send me a strip.”

“10-4, Rampart,” Roy replied. He swiftly patched Johnny in and grabbed the biophone. “Rampart, this will be lead 2,” he said switching the phone over. Roy waited in silence as he watched the blip on the monitor’s screen. Looks pretty normal to me, maybe a little fast. Still, he didn’t like the look of his partner’s dusky face.

“51, I read sinus tachycardia,” Dr. Early said.

Roy picked up the biophone receiver. “I concur, Rampart. Sinus tachycardia.”

“51, monitor vitals closely. Immobilize the neck and back, keep him on O₂ and transport immediately.”

“10-4, Rampart,” Roy replied. “Be advised our ETA is approximately 20-25 minutes.”

“10-4, 51,” Dr. Early said, his voice tinged with concern. “We’ll be ready.”

“10-4, Rampart,” Roy said. He quickly started the IV, and immobilized Johnny’s neck. Together, the three men secured Johnny to the backboard and placed him in the stokes.

Chet and Marco gently lifted the stokes, as Roy pulled out his HT. “Squad 51 to Engine 51. Cap, we’re on our way up now. Any sign of the ambulance yet?”

“Engine 51 to Squad 51. Negative Roy, but it should be here anytime.”

“10-4, Cap,” Roy responded. He placed the HT back into his pocket and picked up the drug box and biophone. “Okay, let’s go. Watch your footing alright?”

Chet and Marco nodded as the three men carefully walked back to the side of the ravine. As they approached the hillside, the two firemen gently set the stokes down next to Roy, who looked up the embankment, HT in hand.

“Cap, we’re ready to come up now.”

“10-4, Roy. Send up Chet. Then the three of us will help you and Marco bring up Gage.”

“10-4, Cap.” Roy replied as he knelt down by his partner, checking his vitals.

Chet strapped on his belt, as Roy stood up and faced him, worry all over his face. “Hurry, he’s getting worse.”

Chet cupped his hand around his mouth as he faced up the hill. “Okay Cap! I’m ready!” Chet glanced at Roy. “Gage’s got nine lives, Roy; he’ll be okay.” He scrambled up the hill leaving Roy and Marco with Johnny.

Roy once again knelt down beside the stokes. He stared worriedly at his partner. “Hang in there, Johnny,” he whispered. Roy looked up to see Chet step up on the road. The end of another rope sailed over the edge down to him. Grabbing it, Roy and Marco quickly secured the stokes and strapped on their life belts.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *51 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Pull! Pull!" Hank Stanley urged as he and his men slowly towed their companions up the side of the ravine. Finally, Roy and Marco’s heads appeared, stokes between them, as they hauled Johnny up the hillside.

Roy glanced down the road and saw the ambulance roll up, splashing through the mud puddles, as the downpour began to subside. He struggled up onto the road, one hand on the stokes, as Mike and Chet grabbed on, helping them drag the stokes to safety. They quickly loaded it into the ambulance, Roy jumping in and opening the biophone.

“Rampart, this is Squad 51. Ambulance has arrived and we are in transit now. ETA is approximately 25 minutes.”

"Chet," Cap said as he closed the ambulance doors. "Take the squad in and wait for Roy."

Chet nodded, trotting to the waiting squad as the ambulance pulled away, sirens wailing.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *51 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Where am I?” Johnny yelled, shivering violently. Everything around him was pitch black. There was no light anywhere.

Inside the ambulance, Roy watched Johnny’s shallow breathing closely, as he glanced repeatedly at the data scope.

“51, this is Rampart. Give me a new set of vitals,” Dr. Early ordered.

Roy reached for the BP cuff and quickly got a fresh set of vitals. He picked up the biophone receiver. “Rampart, vitals are unchanged, however, the patient’s breathing is becoming increasingly labored.”

"Roy? Is that you? Where are you? What patient? Why am I so cold?” Disorientated, Johnny looked around, trying in vain to find his partner, whose voice echoed all around him.

“10-4, 51. What’s your ETA?”

Roy looked at the ambulance attendant expectantly.

The man shrugged. “Still a good 10-15 minutes.”

Roy clenched his teeth in frustration. We’ve only been on the road for 10 minutes? “Rampart ETA is 10-15 minutes.”

“10-4, 51.”

"Stay with me, Johnny. Do you hear me? Stay with me, partner,” Roy insisted, staring hard at his unconscious partner.

"Roy? Roy! I’m right here! I can hear you! I’m not going anywhere! ROY!” Johnny’s shouts echoed as he looked all around him. “Why can't you hear me?" he agonized.

Suddenly, the loud, labored sound of Johnny’s breathing stopped, replaced by a sickening silence.

“Rampart, respiratory arrest!” Roy shouted, dropping the biophone receiver and reaching for the esophageal airway.

“51, insert esophageal airway!” Joe Early ordered.

Suddenly, Johnny's coldness vanished and he felt warm all over. Through the darkness Johnny saw a small pinpoint of light appear in front of him. Gradually the light became larger and brighter as it encompassed everything in blinding whiteness. Johnny could still hear Roy's voice, but is was as if Roy was yelling through a long and echoing tunnel. Johnny felt a sense of peaceful rightness that he had never felt before in his life. Suddenly, all he wanted to do was to follow the light. Johnny took a step towards it.

Roy inserted the airway and grabbed for the O₂. He glanced at the data scope, his eyes widening in horror.

"Rampart! V-fib!" Roy yelled as he grabbed for the defibrillator.

"Counter shock, 51, 400 watt seconds!" Dr. Early ordered.

Roy lubed and charged the paddles. "Clear!" he yelled to the ambulance attendant as he shocked his partner. Roy glanced at the monitor. Damn! He hit the charge button again. "Clear!" he shouted as the machine charged up to 400. Once again, Roy shocked Johnny, but to no avail. Roy grabbed the biophone. "Rampart, I've administered counter shock times two, no conversion."

“51 give one amp epinephrine IV, then shock again.”

The light mesmerized Johnny. He could hear Roy laboring over his victim, but the more distant Roy’s voice became, the less Johnny cared about it. As he stared at the light, a thin fog gathered around him. Through the rolling mist a lone figure in flowing white appeared before him. The being flashed Johnny a radiant smile. A tidal wave of calmness overtook Johnny as he reached out to her.

"Clear!" Roy shouted as he shocked Johnny again. Roy looked intently at the heart monitor. "Rampart," Roy choked out, "flatline."

"51, administer 10 cc's 1 to 10,000 epinephrine IC."

"10-4 Rampart," Roy said, desperation clouding his voice. He quickly pulled out the medication. Taking a deep breath, Roy plunged the needle into Johnny’s chest.

The figure in white pulled back, avoiding contact with Johnny. "No John," her voice echoed all around him, "It is not your time yet."

"What?" Johnny asked in bewilderment, "I don't understand."

She gazed deeply into Johnny's eyes. For a second, Johnny was lost in her endless eyes as she stared at him. She suddenly began to back away, nodding and smiling at Johnny. "Go back, John,” she said as she moved further and further away, “Go back.”

The light around Johnny began to dim, as he reached out with both hands. "Wait!" he yelled, “I don’t understand!” But it was too late; the woman disappeared.

"Rampart," Roy spoke into the biophone, with a sigh of relief, "Victim is in sinus rhythm, and has spontaneous respiration. I'm sending you a strip. This will be lead 2."

"NO!" Johnny shouted, as the light continued to fade. At the last moment before blackness overtook Johnny, the woman’s voice echoed around him.

"Go back, John. There is still so much more for you to do."

"We concur, 51; good job. What's your ETA?"

Roy looked out the window at the scenery speeding by. "Rampart, ETA is about 3 minutes."

"10-4, 51. We’re ready and waiting."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *51 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The automatic doors to Rampart Emergency swung open as Roy and the ambulance attendants wheeled Johnny in.

"In here." Dix held open the door to treatment