Part 3 - Noctournal Activity

    The automatic sliding door leading to the emergency room to Western Medical Center slid open to let the crew of Engine Six pass. The bewildered and somewhat weary crew stroll into the early afternoon sun, and are cooled off by the fall breeze. The crew has endured two hours of scrutiny by both Homicide and Internal Affairs detectives over their last run. The gravity of their morning exploits show written on their face like graffiti along a freeway retainer wall. "Note to self, let’s not do that again!” blurts out Chad who is still a little red in the face from pepper spray contamination. "You fuckin said it! I’m almost scared to put us available! We've been out of service forever and a day", says Captain Presley. The men stroll over to the red and white apparatus, which shines from all vantage points. It always brings a sense of pride in the men, and this moment is no different. "Isn't she beautiful? I'd love to drop roofies in her fuel tank and have my way with her!” says Tom with a smile. "Dude, lay off the Scooby snacks! Bro, that ain't even right!" chuckles Chad. Hector and Captain Presley look at each other and burst into laughter, sending Captain Presley into tears. "I'm good for a laugh at least. I’m starving! Let’s get a quick bite at In-N-Out!" says Tom, adding "Is that ok with the resident vegetarian, I mean vagitarian!" Chad just shakes his head again, "Fuck you dude! Yea it’s fine." Hector decides to interject, "I’m fine with it too!" Chad and Hector high-five each other. "Fuckin' great. The great meat debate split down the middle!" says Tom, opening his door and climbing in the driver's seat. All the other members climb in, take their seats, pop on their headphones and ready themselves for return to service. Tom starts the engine, which grumbles to life. "Ok, here goes nothing!’ says Captain Presley, as he hits the button on the computer to notify the dispatcher they are available. He covers his head real quick, like ducking things falling on him from above, which makes the crew laugh. "Well, that’s quite alright with me, let’s get some food. Hey Gonzo, great job on your first run! That was a really hairy one, you did good kid!’ says Captain Presley. Tom guides the engine out of the parking lot and back into traffic. "Yea Gonzo, killer job!" adds Tom while steering into a smooth right turn. "Thanks guys! Not my idea of a first run, but hey, what can ya do?" says Hector. Even though his face still burns a bit, he has a real sense of accomplishment. Even though they were not successful in bringing back the man's life, he built a bit of confidence in himself. Tom rounds the corner to pull into the In-N-Out parking lot and the beep of doom is heard over the radio. Captain Presley can sense it and screams, "No, no, no, NO!" The dispatcher cuts him off:

"North Beach Engine Six showing available on radio ... Vehicle Fire ... Northbound I-5 at the Beach Boulevard onramp ... District 1226 x-ray ... North Beach Engine Six, Two Foxtrot ...



"I dig that!" says Hector. Chad and Hector start the process of putting on their turnout gear while Tom whips the apparatus around in a u-turn, flipping the warning lights on. Captain Presley stomps his foot on the floor switch to wind up the mechanical siren. Tom accelerates then engine, giving everyone a huge adrenaline rush. Captain Presley hits a button on the console and says, "Metrocomm, North Beach Engine Six en route". The speakers in the headsets come to life again, "North Beach Engine Six, Copy en route ... CHP (California Highway Patrol) is on scene, advises vehicle is in the number one lane." Tom slaps his hand on the steering wheel in disgust. "It’s never the fucking shoulder! Fuck me with asparagus! This is going to suck!” he screams. Chad and Hector are finished putting on their turnout gear, and are tightening the straps to the SCBA bottles that are stored in the seats. The mechanical siren, the vibration of the engine, the hiss of the air brakes, and the engine noise are a hypnotic potion that puts the men in the right mind to perform their tasks. The traffic from the early morning has thinned out, leaving them a straight shot to the scene. The sound of the echoing, growling mechanical siren under the freeway overpass gives Hector goose bumps. As the onramp approaches, they can see a small column on smoke rising into the air. The smell of hot metal and molten plastic can be smelt by the crew inside the cab. Tom slows down the vehicle to make a left hand turn onto the onramp. "Oh fiddle sticks and fish fur!" screams Captain Presley, as the crew of Engine Six is now facing an onramp full of stopped traffic, obviously caused by the incident they are responding to. "Going to be one of those shifts," is all Tom can say.



The droning, cycling engine and the creaking of metal under stress are ringing in Michele’s ears. She has the spreaders (Jaws of Life) resting on her thigh, with the spreader tips jammed into the doorway of a small, compact car. She holds the valve open, cranking the jaws open. “Almost there,” she says biting her lip in anticipation. The car door gives way to a loud pop; she takes the spreaders away and sets then on the ground. “Nice! Good job! Ok, let’s clean up and get out of here!” says Captain Lawson. Truck Six found themselves in the Public works yard, cutting up unclaimed cars from the impound yard. Jeremiah turns off the pump for the Hurst Tools, Michele and Tony roll up the hydraulic hoses and put the tools away. “Ok, that’s that. Just remember, make a good starting point in the door before you start to pry the door. Trust me, when that tool kicks, it hurts! We’ll do some roof cutting when we train with Squad Five next week since they got some new toys as well. Any questions?” states Captain Lawson, removing his helmet and turnout gear. The rest of the crew follows his lead, everyone shakes their head. “Y’all mind if we hit the store to get dinner rollin’? Dinna’s gonna be on point!” says Jeremiah, closing the compartment door. “Naw, let’s do it up! I need to pick up some covers anyway, I got a date tomorrow. If she plays it up right, she’ll get a piece of the Adonis.” says Tony with a smirk, putting on his sunglasses. Jeremiah just shakes his head, “Boy, you buck wild! You need to settle yourself down son!” Michele and Captain Lawson just shake their heads. “Such the typical man you are dear Tony! Don’t look too hard, I don’t think they carry extra small at Alpha Beta! Your probably like Pluto, hard to see with the naked eye!” says Michele with a sigh, drinking some water. “Ha! More like Jupiter and the sun!” says Tony climbing into the cab of the truck. “Right! Just watch it or my meat rocket will come crashing into Uranus!” says Michele with a chuckle. “Children please! Let’s keep it R rated, not unrated! Geeze with you too, like brother and sister. Or married!” says Captain Lawson with a chuckle as well. Satisfied everyone is seated and ready to go, Jeremiah starts the engine, which purrs to life with a smooth start. “I so sorry dad! Please do put me on restriction, Power Rangers are almost on!” says Michele through the headset. She helps guide the back end of the tiller truck smoothly out of the yard and into the street. “God I hope it doesn’t get worse when Hector gets here, whenever the hell we get to meet him!” replies Captain Lawson, staring out of the window. “We gotta prank the jerk off! I’ve got an idea,” says Tony with a slight smirk.



“C’mon, let me the fuck over!” screams Tom. Engine Six has both sirens going, trying to cut over five lanes of freeway traffic. Captain Presley lays on the air horn, with limited results. They inch closer and closer to the number one lane. “This is like trying to jerk off a dildo, we’re getting nowhere!” Tom screams again. The sounds inside the cab are quite loud, even with the headsets on. Hector and Chad can now see the vehicle, which just looks like its smoldering at this point. Tom finally gets a clear shot, and tears down the number one lane. He passes the CHP units and parks behind the vehicle at an angle. Everyone piles out and walks toward the burnt front half of a vehicle. A CHP officer walks up to Captain Presley and says, “Fires out now. The owner of the car smacked the wall. He’s been tipping a few if you get my point!” Captain Presley takes a look to the back of the vehicle, and sees a man slumped over a bit. “Tom, go take a look at him. Gonzo and Chad, let’s take a peek at the motor real quick. Thanks officer!” says the Captain. Chad grabs a hose line and drags it over. Chad and Captain Presley stare into the guts of a burnt out motor. The men see they are too late; the compartment is completely charred, all plastic melted and puddled. “Oh, better late than never, Chad give this a good once over.” Gonzo has taken a good look inside the vehicle and says, “All good here cap. Don’t see any spread to the passenger compartment.” Tom walks over to Captain Presley and says “Ok, dudes fine. He’s drunk as hell. I’m gonna go kick the pump on. Hey Gonzo, come kick it with me at the pump.” Gonzo nods and follows Tom over to the pump panel. Tom opens the valve for the water tanks, throttles up the pump and opens the valve for the hose line. “So Gonzo, how do you like it here so far? It’s a bit much at first, but you get used to it.” Tom says to Hector. “So far so good. I didn’t expect to hit the ground running like that, but it’s a welcomed change. I thought One's was busy, that shit is clown shoes compared to this. I think I dig it so far!” retorts Hector, sharing a chuckle with Tom. “You’re gonna fit in fine here. It’s the best of the best here. You’ll probably be like us, never want to leave the festering crack shack we call home! Where did you go take your PM classes at? I bet at Rancho Cordova right? Is that crusty ass RN still there, oh fuck what is her name? Oh! Charlene Mckennah, A real battle ax. The funny part is, her daughter, Christine is the nicest, sweetest most beautiful RN you’ll ever meet!” he says. Tom and Hector start laughing hysterically again. “Oh shit. You know it, I kept fixating on that turkey neck she had, that was a major buzz kill! Yep, I was there. Good school, I did some street time with LAFR, out of Rescue 13. I learned a lot there, fun times!” Captain Presley waves at Tom, and he shuts down the valve to the hose line. “Nice! You’ll get along great with Captain Lawson on Truck Six. He’s a lateral transfer from LAFR. Shit, it’ll get him off. Go give them a hand, and oh, welcome aboard sir!’ says Tom as he smacks him on the back. “No problem, thanks dude!” replies Hector. The gesture really makes him feel welcome, he’s never had a reception quite like this. “I just really might like it here!” he thought to himself. Hector finds Chad in the middle of re-packing the hose line from a compartment in the bumper. Hector jumps in and gives him a hand, and they strike up a conversation about cooking vegetarian fare. Captain Presley walks over to Tom and says, “So what did you find out about him?” Tom gives him a smirk and says, “He’s one of us. Trust me on this.”



The crew of Truck Six can hear the apparatus bay door opening, and take their places. Tom backs in the gleaming red and white apparatus into its slot next to Truck Six. Chad has jumped out and is helping him guide it in, he comes to a stop, engages the parking brake, which lets out a pronounced squeal and turns off the motor. “Ok Gonzo, let’s get you that locker now. It’s only been what, like almost six hours since you’ve gotten here!” says Captain Presley. “Ok Cap’ going to grab my stuff” says Hector as he runs to the rear of the station and grabs his locker items out of his car. He grabs out a box, and follows the captain into the locker room, and is lead to a locker with a raw, Italian sausage taped to the door. “Oh no, I spy a meat rocket”, he says and opens the door. Inside his locker, he sees bologna hanging from string. “Holy shit! This could only be one person!” Hector screams. “Me mother fucker!” says Michele as she grabs him in a huge bear hug. They fall over on the floor. “Fockin’ jerk off!” says Tony as he kicks Hector in the leg. “Michele! Pizz! Oh my god! You’re on the truck! Dude!” Hector screams. All three exchange hugs, and Hector greets Jeremiah and Captain Lawson with a handshake. “Wow! I’m just excited! This is gonna be a great shift!” he says. “Yes sir it is son! Come on, I know you’re hungry! Dinner is on the table ya’ll!” says Jeremiah with a warm chuckle.



Hector has never seen a dinner spread quite like the one before him. Fajitas grilled on a barbeque, with meat on the side. Hector is thrilled, and smelling the tasty treats, he forgot how hungry he was. He hit the ground running since reached the station at ten in the morning without lunch, so now it has caught up with him. Hector is excited to break bread with a new crew; meal time is what brings the station together. “Ya’ll, I know at some stations this is falling out of favor, but as long as ya’ll is in this house, we break bread no matta what the taste. We bring it together. This is family, we in it together!” says Jeremiah. “Amen brother!” says Tom from the other side of the table. Everyone starts to eat. “So Gonzo, Tom tells me you rode with Rescue 13 for your street time?” says Captain Lawson. “Yep. Had a lot of good hand experience, but the BC there was a real iron ass!” said Hector. “You’re talking about Chief Hallick. Yea, a bit old school, but a real softie and a man’s man if you know what I’m saying!” replies Captain Lawson. “Oh screw that! What have you been up to? Haven’t heard from you in a while, did you forgot how to use a phone scum fuck?” said Michele looking toward Hector. The click over the stations intercom comes through, and a series of beeps can be heard. “Saved by the bell!” Hector states. The dispatcher’s voice is now heard:



‘North Beach Engine Six, Person down … 1016 Orchid Run, Ten One six orchid run … District 1115 Zulu cross of Daisy Patch Lane …North Beach Engine Six, Charlie response … two foxtrot”



Tom drops his Fajita in disgust, a bit of sour cream squirts out of both sides. He lets out a heavy sigh and mutters”Dogpatch.” Captain Presley shakes his head, while Chad leaves the room. Michele points and laughs at Hector, “Ha ha! You’re goin’ to Dogpatch!” Hector looks and her and Tony in bewilderment and asks, “Dogpatch?”



Tom brings the massive apparatus out of a left hand turn and into a trailer park. Hector takes a look at a sign and that states ever so proudly, “Daisy Patch Mobile Estates”. A wonderland of mobile homes, in various states or repair lay before him. The narrow streets are crowded with playing children and adults, some obviously intoxicated. They round a bend and see a pair of legs sticking out from a bush. “Ah, dogpatch! I get it!” states Hector. “You’re a sharp kid! Lovely patch of homestead, right?” says Tom. Chad starts to laugh and points toward the front windshield and says “Dude, he strikes again!” Hector can now see a pair of legs sticking out from a bush, a bike lying askew next to it. A bunch of broken glass is strewn about and twinkling in the fading sunlight. “I should have fuckin’ known,” says Captain Presley with a sigh. Tom brings the machine to a slow, squeaky stop. The men debark from their vehicle and walk to the bush that has grow human legs. They are approached by an older man with a thick beard, wearing tight jeans and no shirt. His stomach spills over his jeans like an exploded can of ready to bake biscuits. In a somewhat drunken slur he blurts out, “That sum bitch there came a flyin’ around that corner and hit my bush. Get this damn lettuce picker off my property!” Hector can already feel his blood boiling. He’s endured quite a lot of racial abuse growing up. This really strikes him to the core. He expected hearing this if he was a police officer, but this really has him taken aback. He gives the guy a good stern look. Captain Presley has the same look written all over his face, and states to the man, “That’s enough of that. We’ll take care of him, thank you for calling.” The man just stands there and stares at them making their way to the bush. The men circle the bush. The legs and feet stick straight out as if the large bush has swallowed a human. “Jesus!” yells Tom. A slight groan utters from the bush, coming within. “Jesus! Get up brother! Are you alright?” asks Captain Presley. “Capitan Elvis! You save me!” responds a voice from the bush. The same voice has now launched into a broken English version of Elvis Presley’s Hound Dog. Tom and Chad grab the pair of legs and pull. They reveal a small man with some facial lacerations, and a very strong odor of alcohol. The sit him on the ground and Jesus rocks a bit. “Wow buddy! How much have you drunk this time? You smell like a brewery!” says Captain Presley. Jesus stares off for a second, and falls over to his side. “Sheet Capitan, I had just un poco. Dos cervesas!” he slurs, and starts to laugh. “C’mon Jesus, let me walk you back to su casa bro!” Chad says, helping him up and walking him across the street. Tom turns to Hector and states, “That was Jesus, a.k.a The Human Brewery. Nice guy works at an upholstery shop down the street. That fucker really likes to tie one on. Get used to it, we’re here once or twice a week picking him up out of the bushes or patching him up when his old lady beats his ass.” Hector just shakes his head, “He sounds like a soup sandwich, a regular mess!” Before Hector can laugh, the older drunk man approaches them, obviously angry. “Hey! What the fuck are you guys gonna do about my bushes! That stupid migrant fuck destroyed them! I pay my taxes!” he screams at them. Tom immediately calls the dispatcher on his portable radio requesting police assistance. He’s been in brawls in this neck of the woods before, better safe than sorry.”If I get into another donnybrook in this neighborhood again, I’m transferring!” he thought to himself as he finished his request. Hector is really angry now, and decides to take a folded arm approach to him. “Sir, that’s a police matter. We’re just here to make sure he wasn’t hurt. If you would like, we could have an officer respond out here” says Captain Presley, getting in between the man and Hector. Tom stands a little to the side, just in case he has to interject. At 6’6” and a robust 300 pounds with little fat, he nominated himself for this noble position. “That’s bullshit! You don’t give a fuck, in fact I think Jaime there behind you is covering for him!” screams the man, pointing at Hector, who is now starting to turn a shade of red. The man now decides to charge full force at Hector, knocking down Captain Presley in the process. Hector steps to the side, he runs by and smacks right into a parked car next to the curb. “You mother fucker! You hit me! Ahhhhhh!” he screams, while blood runs all over his face. He starts to swing wildly, hitting imaginary objects before him. Hector can hear Tom laughing as he helps Captain Presley off the ground. “I think he’s a bit pickled, what a jerk!” says the captain. A North Beach Police vehicle comes to a quick stop, and a muscle bound, tall Mexican officer moves fast up to the captain. “I’m beginning to hate you senior! Duster?” asks the officer who is putting on latex gloves. “Hey there Troy! Nope, just on the wowwie sauce. Oh, he doesn’t like Mexicans either. Tell junior I said hello!” he responds back. The officer shakes his head. “Dios Mio!” he says, moving toward the drunken, swinging behemoth. . Two more officers arrive and help him make short work of subduing the obviously disturbed man. “Fuck this noise! Let’s get the hell out of here!” Tom says. “Dudes! What happened?” ask Chad as he is running from across the street. “Let’s just say Gonzo met the welcoming committee” says Tom, dusting off Captain Presley. Hector takes in the whole scene, and all he can say with a sigh is, “Dogpatch”.



Engine Six pulls into the driveway of the station, swinging around to back in. The apparatus bay door is open. Michele is sitting on the bumper of Truck Six, enjoying the weather only a southern California fall can bring. “A warm, gentle breezy evening best enjoyed outside” she thought, swinging her feet and drinking a diet soda. She watches as the sleek and massive two toned apparatus stop, letting out Chad to help guide the engine back. “What’s crack-a-lacking’ son!” he says to her, and she responds my flipping Chad off. “Love you too!” Chad screams over Tom setting the parking brake and shutting the engine down. “FOOD!” screams Tom, and the crew runs to the kitchen leaving Hector in the dust. He walks over to Michele and tells her”Shove over, I’m sitting down!” Michele scoots over a hair and not even faces him asks “Why the hell didn’t you call me fuck stick. You could have sent me a text jerk ass!” Hector lets out a heavy sigh and says “I’m sorry! I got busy with medic school, and my girl is really driving me crazy. Even been in love with a bitch you can’t stand?” Michele busts out laughing, spitting her soda out toward the driveway. “Holy shit isn’t that the truth. Mark’s been driving me bananas for awhile. He’s playing head games, really abusing my psych. It’s getting out of control.” She stares and the ground for a second and says, “I’m considering a divorce. I dunno yet though, keep it on the down low for now, it’s just a thought. Enough of that whiney shit, now you have no excuse, we can hang out a lot more!” Hector snags the diet soda out of her hand and takes a huge gulp. “You’re right on that. I’m glad to be here, it’s been interesting. Let’s see, I’ve seen a dude die, got interrogated by the cops, went to a car fire, and damn near got into a race riot with a drunken fat fuck. All in all, a good day so far”. He passes the soda back to her. “You haven’t seen anything yet, you still got a way aways from the witching hour. Nocturnal activity is the name of the game here Gonzo, you’ll see. Oh yea, we’re overdue for a working structure fire too, it’s been almost a month.” Hector is about to retort, but is interrupted by the beeps over the loudspeakers, which echo in the apparatus bay like a grand hall. The speakers click alive:



“North Beach Engine Six, TC (traffic collision) with injuries … Beach Boulevard and Arthur Lane, District 1129 Zulu … North Beach Engine Six two foxtrot …”



Hector groans and gets up. Michele punches him dead in the leg. “Ouch! What the fuck did you do that for?” he screamed. “Nobody drinks from my can lame ass, have fun with that backboard!” Michele states, watching Hector limp into the cab of Engine Six. The cab shakes with the slamming doors and the ignition of the massive diesel engine. The warning lights come on, creating a sweeping and flashing array of reds, whites and yellows. The lights slice through the darkness of the fall night, departing the station and responding post haste to another emergency. Michele watches them slice up the traffic of Beach Boulevard, in a rapid moving ballet. Michele just smiles, she hasn’t smiled this much in months.