The Dating Game
by Min


"Man, I don't know how we got roped into doing this, " grumbled John Gage. He glared at his shift mate, Chet Kelly, AKA the Phantom. "YOU did something Kelly, and now Marco and I have to pay the price!"

"Gage, I'm telling you I didn't do anything, not one thing. And neither did the Phantom. Remember what Cap said? I haven't pulled any pranks since he got the pie in the face and threatened to send me up to 99s. No way, man."

Both men looked up at the arrival of their friend and shift mate, Marco Lopez. The handsome face of Station 51's best cook was wearing a smile.

"Hi, guys, this is going to be great! I can't wait to meet Jim Lange! Mama thinks he's muy caliente! She wants me to get his autograph for her." He walked over to the coffee maker, and poured himself a cup.

Sitting down next to his friends, he sipped the coffee and smiled. Johnny leaned forward. "Marco, do you know how we got stuck doing this? Chet says he doesn't know, and he says he didn't do anything."

"Cap was told to order us to do it, because the Chief wanted three nice looking firemen to do the show, and Chief McConikee told him we were available. And you guys know how Cap gets when McConikee comes around, " explained Marco.

"Well, I hope the girl is cute, because if she isn't..." grumbled Chet.

"Kelly, you don't care as long as the chick is 98 and breathin', and she's human," answered Johnny.

Just then the door opened and the most gorgeous blonde woman the guys had ever seen walked into the room. She made her way over them and smiled. The three of them stood up at attention. Chief Houts was right behind her. "Gentlemen, I'm Suzanne Pemberton, the Associate Producer for the Dating Game, and I just want to tell you all how happy I am that you were available to come on the show."

Johnny flashed her his famous lop-sided grin, and was about to speak, when the Chief interrupted him. "I also want to add my appreciation for your sacrifice of free time to come on the show. We're trying to show the public that we're more than just the guys who save your house when it's on fire. We want to show the human side as well. And the fact that you are all fine looking young men is very helpful. Oh, and Gage?"

"Yes sir?"

"After the show, get a haircut."

Johnny reached up and touched his hair. "Yes, sir."

Chief Houts nodded, and wished them luck, then left the room. Suzanne gave them some instructions, and then told them to act naturally and have a good time. As she got up to leave, Marco ran and held the door for her. She smiled at him and murmured, "Thank you."

Chet stared after her and said wistfully, "I wonder if she's available. I could spend the rest of my life looking at that face."

Johnny sighed and replied, "Yeah Chester B., me too. She's way out of our league though."

An usher escorted them to their chairs and as the show started, each of them got to say hi and give a small bit of information about themselves. Then Jim Lange, the host of the show, introduced the girl they were all going to try and win a date with.

"Ladies and gentlemen, you've met our handsome bachelors, now it's time to meet our lovely bachelorette. She's a lovely young lady from Topango Canyon CA., and she raises orchids, and is a very talented writer. She also is in sales. Please help me welcome Isabelle Blum.

The audience applauded, and the guys clapped as well. Then the time came for them to say hello.

"Bachelor number one, say hello to Isabelle." Chet was in position number one, and he perked up and said, "Hello, Isabelle."

Jim called on Marco next. "Bachelor number two, say hello. Marco smiled, and said "Hola , Isabelle, como esta?"

Johnny scowled at Marco as Jim instructed him to say hello. "Um…hi Isabelle, how are you?"

Isabelle's eyes lit up at the sound of Johnny's voice. It sounded like such a kind voice, and she found herself wondering what the owner of said sexy voice looked like.
Jim Lange then instructed Isabelle to ask some questions. She smiled and asked, "Bachelor number one, I love birds, and find that they are very comforting to have around. Do you like birds?"

Chet answered, "Well, I don't know too much about birds, but I am very willing to learn if you're willing to teach me." The audience ooohed and clapped. Chet smiled and waved at them.

"Bachelor number two, I am a great cook, and love to spend time in the kitchen, are you a good cook, and what would you prepare for dinner for me?"

Marco smiled and answered, "I love to cook and would most likely prepare something Mexican. It would be prepared and served with much love." The ladies in the audience screamed and Marco grinned at them and blew a kiss. They shrieked and had to be cautioned. After they finally calmed down, Isabelle asked her final question and it was directed at Johnny.

"Bachelor number three, what is your best quality and why do you think it would help me choose you as my date?"

Johnny got a deer-caught-in-the-headlights look, then answered her. "Well…you see…I think my best quality is my ability to listen and I think that you need to learn to listen if you want to know more about the person you are interested in. Part of my job entails listening, and if you don't listen, you miss vital information, and that could cost a life. "
Isabelle sat up straighter in her chair. She could hear the caring in his voice, and wondered, "Is he the one?"

"Number three, you sound like a very caring individual. If I got sick, how would you take care of me?"

Johnny grinned, the female section of the audience ahhhed, and Chet and Marco gave him dirty looks. Johnny answered, "Well the first thing I would do is check and make sure you didn't have a fever, and then I would do everything I could to make you feel better. I'm not a very good cook, but I have a friend who makes the best chicken soup, and I would call her and ask her to teach me how to make it for you." The audience giggled.

Isabelle blushed and then asked Marco the same question. He answered with a very romantic air. "I would make you very comfortable with lots of blankets and pillows, and then I would hand squeeze orange juice and feed it to you one drop at a time making sure it was sweet enough for you. Then I would make some homemade chicken soup, and then you would be sure to feel better."

Chet looked at his friends with disgust. 'Who are these guys?' he thought. He almost missed Isabelle's question, "Number one, if I were sick, how would you take care of me?"

"Well, the first thing I'd do is take you to the doctor's and make sure you didn't have anything really serious wrong with you, then I'd take you home and give you one of my grandma's remedies. That would fix you right up." The audience laughed.

Jim Lange, the host, stepped forward and told everyone it was time for a commercial and after that, Isabelle would make her decision. The director said, "We're clear", and only then did everyone have a chance to relax.

Suzanne walked over to the guys and told them they were doing well and that they had great "presence". She put her hand on Marco's arm, and said, "You sound like a great cook. I hope to sample some of your cuisine some day." Marco nodded and smiled in agreement before she walked away.

One of the production assistants, a young woman with bright red hair, walked over to Kelly, and said with an Irish brogue, "Hey, there's someone who really wants to meet you later over by the production office. Okay?"

Chet grinned brightly at her. "Yeah, just tell me when."

Johnny was lost in thought. "I don't know why this is so important to me, but I really want to be the one Isabelle picks. She sounds like such a nice girl. Someone you could really spend some quality time with. I wonder if she might be the one?"

Isabelle was thinking along those same lines. Number one sounded really funny, number two sounded like a really nice guy, but she was intrigued by number three's voice, and caring. "I wish I knew what to do. The commercial will be ending soon." She took a deep breath and decided.

The commercial break ended, the music was playing, and the moment of truth was at hand.

Jim Lange came back to his podium, then walked over to Isabelle. "Our lovely bachelorette, Isabelle Blum, have you made your decision?"

"Yes I have Jim, I choose number three." Johnny's eye got wide, and then his grin got wider. Marco and Chet shook his hand, and then got ready to go out to meet Isabelle.

"Isabelle, here are the guys you didn't pick. Bachelor number one is a Los Angeles
County Firefighter. He collects barbed wire, and loves old horror movies. Here's Chester B. Kelly!" Chet walked out, and gave Isabelle a hug and a kiss.

Jim continued, "Bachelor number two is also a Los Angeles County Firefighter. He loves to cook and he's very athletic. Here's Marco Lopez!" Marco walked out, waved to the audience, and gave Isabelle a hug and a kiss.

Jim smiled at Isabelle. "Isabelle, here's your date. He's a Los Angeles County Firefighter/Paramedic, he likes to hike, and go camping. Here's John Gage!"

Johnny walked out and the moment he saw Isabelle, a huge smile plastered itself on his face. Making his way over to her, he gave her a hug and a kiss. He put his arm around her as they listened to the prize date they had won.

The announcer read off the list of prizes. A dinner at LaPavilion, tickets to several movies in the LA area, a trip for two to San Francisco, and five hundred dollars spending money. Isabelle and Johnny held hands, and as Jim congratulated them, everyone came out and they all blew a kiss to the audience.

The director called, "And we're clear!" Jim shook hands with everyone, and left the stage. Suzanne walked up to Marco and whispered in his ear. Marco grinned, and they left together.

The production assistant came up to Chet and whispered in his ear. He grinned and followed her to another part of the stage. As he got there, he was greeted with a hug from a six-foot tall lady Marine. "Hey cutie, wanna' have some fun? Let's go!" She dragged Chet out the door with a look of sheer terror on his face.

Johnny and Isabelle sat down in the waiting room and had a cup of coffee, and talked. And talked, and talked. As the evening drew to a close, they found themselves alone in the studio. "Would you like to go out and have some dinner?" asked Johnny.

"I would love to," answered Isabelle. Johnny took her hand and they walked through the doors together.

The End


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