Prologue

Scene One

"Man, the things people find to do to each other," Johnny commented incredulously.

"I just wish they'd do it at a reasonable hour," Roy walked around to the driver's side of the squad while Johnny stowed the gear. Roy loved being a paramedic, he'd worked for it, fought for it, but this was the kind of run that gave him pause. They'd been called out shortly after one o'clock in the morning for a couple of drunks who couldn't agree on which required greater skill, pool or darts. They did agree to test both … on each other. Their hangovers would cause them more pain than their injuries, and they were now safely tucked into the back of Vince's car. The bartender and the waitress hadn't fared quite so well. Although a dart had punctured his thigh and a swinging pool cue had severely bruised her shoulder they'd refused the ambulance. "Squad 51 available."

The check-in acknowledged, Roy started the engine and pulled into traffic. They'd gone two blocks when the call came. People trapped, unknown injuries.

"That can't be right," Johnny stared at the radio as if expecting it to reply. He grabbed the microphone and requested a confirmation of the address as Roy swung the squad around and hit the lights and siren.

They pulled back up to the bar and again grabbed their gear. "What happened," Johnny asked Vince as he came over.

"Once all the noise from those two started dying down we could hear the other two." Was Vince smiling?

"What 'other two,'" Roy asked as he and Johnny reentered the bar.

"You'll see." He was trying not to laugh. "I don't think you need me for this one," said Vince. "I've got to run those two in," he nodded toward the back of his car. As he turned, Roy and Johnny heard him laughing heartily.

The bartender was helping the waitress on with her sweater. "Welcome back," he called jovially. "We're heading over to the hospital now. Manager's in back waiting for you." He grabbed his own jacket and hustled her out the door. Both were laughing.

Roy and Johnny exchanged glances as they made their way to the back of the bar. "Hello?" Johnny called.

"Over here," came the reply. The manager was a short, balding man with a round face that now wore a big grin. "In there," he pointed to the small store room as he hurried back to tend his bar.

Together the paramedics peered in, both wondering what could possibly be so funny about someone trapped or hurt.

A flimsy shelving unit had fallen over. Sticking out from beneath it were a pair – no, two pairs of bare feet. It was a young couple, arms and legs twisted in each other and the bent shelves. Johnny came around to make sure they could safely move the unit. He stopped short and turned his head. Roy looked over, puzzled, but Johnny was too busy scouring the room to notice. He finally spotted what he was looking for and lightly tossed something at the victims. Roy's look of confusion deepened but there was a job to do, satisfying his curiosity would have to wait.

The shelving unit was light but had caught on a piece of pipe near the ceiling. The couple had fallen in such a way that neither could get any leverage to move. Fortunately the shelves had been nearly empty, save a few half-empty boxes of paper goods. Roy and Johnny made short work of clearing the minimal debris and releasing the couple. It was then that Roy saw what the others had seen and what Johnny had thrown. Their feet weren't all that was bare. Johnny had tossed them their clothes, which they were pulling on even as they scrambled toward the door.

"We really should check you out," Roy told them. They each mumbled something about being fine and raced for the exit. Roy and Johnny managed to maintain their composure until they were back in the squad.

"The things people find to do to each other," said Johnny. They burst out laughing.