Mr. Invincible by Maura One hundred and fifteen days. That's how long it had been since Johnny had his last injury. It seemed like a strange thing to take notice of. Chet was the first to add up the days. It was fifty when he first started. Now Johnny had reached an all time high. Chet in all of his sensitivity had created a pool among the shifts and neighboring stations. Everyone had chosen the number of the day the streak would come to an end. No one thought it could last much longer. Something had to happen. Of course no one was hoping for something dramatic, just some stitches or a bruise. Johnny didn't appreciate the increasing interest in his well being or lack there of. It was starting to make him a little uncomfortable. Every shift it would inevitably come up in conversation. Even when he worked overtime at other stations his streak of good luck would be on everyone's minds. Everyone had a stake in it. He didn't appreciate their thirst for his bad fortune. Johnny was standing in front of Chet's locker where the pool was posted. "You know Roy, this whole thing has me a little spooked. "  "Did you ever stop to think that it could be a very good thing? Maybe your bad luck is over? Maybe you're becoming invincible?" said Roy in a joking manner as he left the locker room and headed for the kitchen. Johnny stopped to think. Maybe Roy was onto something? Maybe from now on he wouldn't always be the one getting hurt? Maybe it was more than luck? Maybe he had reached a higher level of skill and maturity? Johnny started to feel much better about the whole thing. He went in the kitchen feeling like a new man. "Well, there he is now. Gee Gage, you didn't cut yourself shaving or anything did you? Remember you have to hold out 36 more days."  Chet announced with a mischievous smile on his face. "Why is that Chet?" asked Roy. "Because I picked day 151. It's kinda in honor of the station." "Well Chet I hate to disappoint you. But you may never have a winner in that pool of yours," Johnny smiled as he poured a cup of coffee. "What are you talking about Gage?" asked Chet not pleased with the thought of several weeks work being for nothing. "Well Chet, I'm just saying that I think my accident prone days are over," Johnny said with a knowing glance toward Roy. Roy began to cringe. Johnny hadn't taken him seriously, had he? Unfortunately Roy knew the answer to that question all too well. He should have known better than to give Johnny a jumping point for an over active imagination. There was no telling how far this ride would take him. Once Johnny got started there was nothing to do but sit back and hold on and hope for something to break the fall. "Sure Gage and just what caused this miracle? Did you find a way of putting a force field around yourself?" Chet asked with a sarcastic sneer on his face. Station 51 structure fire 519 Locust, cross street Green. Time out 08:45.  "Station 51 10-4 KMG 365," Captain Stanley responded. Roy pulled the squad to the fire hydrant outside the burning building. Smoke was visible from the second floor windows. Johnny attached a line to the hydrant as the engine pulled closer to the scene. Roy pulled the squad in behind the engine while Johnny joined them on foot. . The fire was located in an abandoned warehouse that had once been used to supply a paint company. "Kelly, you and Gage take an inch and a half to the second floor in the rear. Lopez you and DeSoto ventilate the second floor." Captain Stanley directed his men. Chet led into the building. Johnny backed him up. When they reached the second floor they were faced with a large fire in what appeared to be a storeroom. There were several unmarked drums in one corner stacked precariously in a pile. Chet opened the nozzle and the water streamed out full force. Johnny stood close and kept a hand on Chet for extra support. Roy and Marco had just made it up the stairs when the explosion occurred. The force threw Chet off his feet. He lost control of the hose and it sailed wildly through the air, striking Johnny in the right cheek. Johnny was able to grab the nozzle and hold it under control. Roy and Marco hurried over to help Chet to his feet. Chet was dazed. Roy and Marco assisted him down the stairs, while Johnny tried to hold the fire back long enough for them to escape, then he exited the building himself. They would need more manpower to get it under control now. Outside, Roy tended to Chet. He was shaken but seemed fine. They would transport him to Rampart to be sure. Johnny went to the squad to get the gear. He placed it down next to Roy and got on the line to Rampart. Once Chet was taken care of, Roy turned his attention to Johnny. "Let me take a look at that cheek Johnny." "What are you talking about?" he asked. "I saw that hose hit you in the face, you must have a heck of a bruise there." "No, I'm fine," said Johnny. Roy took a look for himself. The hose had not left a mark on Johnny's face. He was sure it had hit him full force. He pressed Johnny's cheekbone and there was no reaction. Johnny was fine. "Hey Johnny, are you okay?" asked Marco who had come over to check on Chet and Johnny. "Yea, I'm fine Marco. Chet's going to be okay too. We're just taking him to Rampart as a precaution," said Johnny. Marco looked stunned. He had seen the whole thing. He was sure Johnny had to have been hurt. He looked at Roy puzzled. "I checked him out Marco, he's fine," said Roy understanding Marco's confusion. Dr. Early examined Chet in the Emergency room. Johnny and Roy stood outside the treatment room waiting. Roy bit his bottom lip as he tried to understand the events of the day. Johnny occupied the time watching the nurses as they walked through the halls. Chet was released to go back to duty, other than some bruises and a cut on his forehead he was fine. He rode back to the station with Johnny and Roy. "You know Gage; I don't see how you could have come out of this without a scratch. I saw you get hit," said Chet shaking his head in disbelief. At first Johnny was a little surprised at everyone's insistence that he should have been hurt. Then he remembered Roy's words from earlier in the day, "Maybe you're invincible?" When he thought about it, it was strange that he hadn't ended up at Rampart himself. He started to feel a sense of indestructibility. Mr. Invincible was beginning to become a reality in Johnny's mind. The rest of the shift was uneventful. While Chet was happy he hadn't lost in the pool, it was really bothering him that his favorite pigeon may have broken the spell that had been cast over him for so many years. Gage's mishaps were a staple at the station, just like his lousy dating record. Chet worried that maybe that spell would be broken too. Then what would there be to amuse him from day to day? ***** The A shift crew had the next two days off. When they returned to duty Chet was waiting in the locker room for Johnny's arrival. He had to be sure Johnny's luck hadn't run out during his days off. After all he was responsible for paying the winner, whoever it might be. Johnny came into the locker room whistling. "Good morning Chet! Isn't it a great day?" Johnny said with an unusually large amount of enthusiasm. "What are you so happy about Gage? Or should I say, who are you so happy about?" "It's not a girl Chet. I am just enjoying my new accident free way of life. You ought to try it," he said pointing to the bandage on Chet's head from the fall last shift. "I don't know what happened the other day, but it had to be a fluke Gage." "Yea, well I decided since my luck seems to be getting better here, when we go to Rampart today I'm going to ask that new nurse in pediatrics out," Johnny said with a smile as he headed for the kitchen. Chet left the locker room scratching his head. ***** The squad was called to the park where a man had fallen and fractured his ankle.  They brought the victim in to Rampart. When Johnny was sure they weren't needed anymore he asked Roy to give him a few minutes while he went up to pediatrics. "Don't tell me…Pam," Dixie said as she watched Johnny get on the elevator. "Yea, he's going to try again," said Roy in disbelief. "Didn't she turn him down last week and the week before that?" Dixie asked "Some people just can't take a hint," Roy smiled and headed for the lounge to get some coffee. He was sure when Johnny came back he would be in a bad mood. He wanted to enjoy a few minutes of peace and quiet while he could. Just as Roy was finishing his coffee, Johnny came through the door to the lounge. He was grinning from ear to ear. "Don't tell me she said yes?" Roy said, honestly surprised. "Yes Roy, Mr. Invincible is on a roll," Johnny laughed as they both headed back out to the squad. The whole way back to the station Johnny sat with a smile on his face. Roy tried as hard as he could to find a logical explanation for Johnny's new found success. But he came up with nothing. Johnny didn't waste any time letting Chet know that he had finally been successful in getting a date with Pam from pediatrics. Chet looked stricken. Could it be that he was losing his best pigeon after all this time? Then he told himself no, sooner or later the odds would catch up with Gage. He would just have to be patient for a while longer. Station 51 structure fire 1642 Washington Street cross street 147th, time out 18:20. "Station 51 10-4, KMG 365," Captain Stanley responded. When Station 51 arrived on the scene there was no smoke showing from the structure. A security guard came running over to Captain Stanley. "I was making my rounds. I thought I could smell something burning, but I couldn't find any smoke. I thought I'd better call it in anyway. They store some kind of solvents in the rear part of the building." "You did the right thing," Captain Stanley said. "Is there anyone else in the building?" "No, they're all gone for the day. They each have to sign out at my desk before they leave. Everyone is accounted for." "Good," said Captain Stanley, then he turned his attention to his crew. He instructed Chet and Marco to get lines ready and sent Johnny and Roy to the rear of the building to be sure it was secure. Roy found a door and felt it for any signs of heat. When it was clear he and Johnny entered the building. They each smelled the burning that the security guard had mentioned. It smelled like electrical wires. Hot wires could start a fire in the walls, which could spread quickly. The room they were standing in had large vats of cleaning solvents. Roy reported the situation to Captain Stanley over the handie talkie. Captain Stanley gave them two minutes to try to determine the source, and then he wanted them out of the building. Roy and Johnny split up and went about feeling walls for signs of heat. Roy came on a hot spot. Just as he was about to call to Johnny, the fire began to burn through the wall. Roy turned to leave quickly, but his foot became tangled in debris on the floor. He twisted his ankle as he went down. Johnny had been coming back toward Roy since his search had been unsuccessful and saw Roy on the floor. The fire was making its way closer to one of the large vats. Johnny ran to Roy and worked on untangling his foot. "I think I sprained my ankle," Roy said. "We better get out of here. That tank is gonna go." Johnny freed Roy's foot and helped him to his feet. He put an arm around him and led him to the door as quickly as possible. Just as they were clearing the door a large explosion came from inside the building. It threw the two a good distance. The crew from Engine 51 heard the explosion and came running to check on them. Johnny stood up and waved them over to help with Roy who was unconscious. He had a large laceration on his forehead. Mike went to get the equipment from the squad as Chet and Marco attacked the fire. Captain Stanley called for additional companies and an ambulance. Johnny rode into Rampart with Roy. He had regained consciousness in the ambulance. "Johnny, are you okay?" he asked as he started to remember the blast. "Yea Roy, I'm fine. Now just relax, we're pulling into Rampart now."  Dr. Brackett examined Roy. Johnny stayed in the treatment room to observe the proceedings. "We'll have to wait for the X-ray results, but I am fairly certain Roy only has a concussion. He also needs stitches for his head." he explained to Johnny . "Are you sure you're okay Johnny? You said you were both coming out of the building together?" asked Dr. Brackett. "Yea, doc we were, he twisted his ankle and I was helping him out when the explosion came. But I'm fine, not a scratch on me," Johnny was a little surprised himself. He and Roy had really been thrown hard. This Mr. Invincible stuff was getting a little strange. Roy did have a concussion. He had to spend the night in the hospital. Dwyer came in to cover the rest of Roy's shift.  When Johnny returned to the station that evening, Chet kept staring at him. He appeared to be in awe of Johnny. "Chet will you cut it out? You're making me nervous," Johnny said as he tried to eat the dinner Mike had kept warm for him. "You know John, this is getting really weird. You both were coming out at the same time. You were both thrown to the same place. But Roy is spending the night in the hospital and your not" Chet looked at Johnny as if he were trying to see what kind of aura was surrounding him. "Chet it was a coincidence, nothing more. Now knock it off," Captain Stanley said. This whole thing was getting out of hand. He was sorry he had let it go on as long as it had. ***** After a couple days, Roy was cleared for duty and things were a little more like normal at the station. Johnny had not broken his streak, but he had not been involved in any unusual situations where he should have been hurt, but wasn't. His date with Pam had gone well. He had even taken her out a couple more times. Chet was beginning to show signs of strain. Maybe Johnny was Mr. Invincible? It had been going on for too long for anything else to make sense. Johnny was beaming with his new found image. Roy half expected him to have, "Mr. Invincible" put on the back of his turnout coat. Johnny was so confident it was almost annoying. Roy almost wished for "Moody Johnny" to come back. At least that was different from day to day. There was variety. A happy Johnny every single day was irritating. "Good morning gentleman!" Johnny said as he practically danced into the kitchen. Roy held back a groan and continued to read his newspaper. "Boy I sure hope tomorrow is as nice as this. Did I tell you I'm taking Pam to Disneyland tomorrow?" "Only 50 times," said Chet as he went to the coffee pot. "So this makes 51" "Oh I'm sorry Chet. I forgot my happiness is such a sore subject for you," Johnny said with an almost evil laugh. "Gage, just keep your happiness to yourself, we mere mortals are just trying to get through a shift as easily as possible." "Yea," said Marco. "Yea," said Mike. "Wow, tough crowd," said Johnny as he sat down at the table. Station 51 assist Battalion 14, fire at Bristol Chemical Plant time out 9:15. "Station 51 10-4, KMG 365. There were already several other companies on the seen when Station 51 arrived. The Battalion Chief told Captain Stanley to send part of his crew up to the pipelines on the roof of the structure to locate a reported acid leak. Captain Stanley sent Johnny, Roy and Chet. Marco remained behind to assist Station 8 with their foam unit. The roof was a maze of pipes. The three decided to split up to establish the origin of the leak more quickly. Roy took the north end of the building. He followed the pipes to their turnoff valves. He didn't find any leaks along his route. Chet took the center of the roof. He too didn't find a leak. Johnny had gone to the south end. As he was following a large pipe he noticed some corrosion on the ground up ahead. He followed the pipe to its shut off valve. There was a steady flow coming from an open end of pipeline. Johnny reached for the valve and turned as hard as he could until the flow had stopped. When he looked down he noticed his glove smoldering. He stumbled back and partially stumbled into a puddle of smoldering acid. Engine 116 had been sent to the roof with a line. Johnny called to the men on the hose and they immediately washed off his hand. Johnny removed his turn out coat too. The men sprayed Johnny down to be sure any acid was washed away. Chet and Roy heard the activity and came back to the south side of the roof. They helped Johnny back down to the ground. Chet went for the gear from the squad while Roy examined Johnny for burns. All Chet could think about was getting help to Johnny as soon as possible. He was breathless when he returned with the gear. He looked at Roy who had a stunned expression on his face. "Is it bad Roy?" he asked, feeling guilty that for all this time he had been wanting Johnny's good luck streak to end. But he had never expected acid burns. This could be very serious. This wasn't what he had wanted at all. Johnny turned when he heard Chet's voice. He had a smile on his face. "He's fine Chet. There aren't any burns at all. He's fine." Roy repeated almost trying to convince himself as well as Chet. Chet dropped to the ground in shock. He was torn between relief and confusion. But he decided this pool had gone on long enough. It was wrong for him to have started it to begin with. He couldn't take pleasure in anyone's pain, even Gage's, maybe especially Gage's. When they got back to the station he would tell everyone it was off. He would return their money and be through with it. The Battalion Chief released Station 51 from the scene when the overhaul was complete. They returned to the station. Mike began to prepare an early lunch. Everyone was starving after the busy morning, everyone except Chet who was too troubled by his conscience to eat. Chet kept his word. He spent the rest of the shift putting money in envelopes to be returned to everyone in the pool. He even went as far as to apologize to Johnny for starting it in the first place. Johnny almost felt sorry for the Phantom. It was somewhat painful to see him so repentant. But deep down, Mr. Invincible felt like he had met his greatest match and conquered. The Phantom had finally given in to him. This was a momentous day at Station 51. Johnny left the station the next day on cloud nine! He had defeated the Phantom, kept Mr. Invincible alive, and he was going to spend the day with Pam, all was right with the world! ***** The following shift, Johnny was already at his locker when Roy came in. Roy decided to get it over with. He was sure Johnny was dying to get into it anyway. "So, how was your date?" he asked. "Oh, it was fine," Johnny, said as he fumbled through his locker. Roy hadn't expected to have to pry the details from him. "Well aren't you going to tell me about it? How was Disneyland?" "It was fine," Johnny said not taking his head from his locker. If Johnny had been anything the last several weeks, it wasn't quiet. "Johnny is everything okay?" Roy asked. Johnny froze then took a deep breath. He slowly backed away from his locker door. Then with great hesitation, he turned toward Roy. Roy's eyes opened wide. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. "Johnny what happened to you?" Johnny looked from side to side to be sure no one was around. "Shhhh!" "Johnny," Roy whispered. "What's going on?" "Roy, I don't want Chet to hear about this. I'll never live it down." "Well he's bound to notice. You can't hide a thing like that!" "But I don't want him to find out the real story. If I tell you, you have to promise me you won't tell anyone, especially Chet." Roy gave his word. Johnny had his full attention. "Yesterday when I took Pam to Disneyland, I ended up with this black eye." "What happened? Did she hit you?" Roy joked. "No, she didn't hit me," Johnny said annoyed at Roy's humor. "We were walking around the park. It was a really nice day. We were both having a good time. Mickey Mouse was signing autographs for a bunch of little kids. Just as we were walking by, he turned. I didn't see his foot and I tripped and fell. He tried to grab me to break my fall, but I guess with those costumes their vision isn't as good as it could be. He accidentally hit my eye." Johnny waited for sympathy from his partner. Surely Roy would understand his humiliation and offer some words of comfort. Roy stood as still as a statue staring at Johnny for as long as he could. Then he was unable to hold back any longer. He burst into laughter. Not just chuckles or giggles, but howls. Tears were rolling from his eyes. He couldn't stop. Finally, when he had gained enough composure to speak, "You mean Mr. Invincible who was hit with a hose, made it through an explosion, and fell into an acid spill, never with so much as a scratch; ended up with a black eye from Mickey Mouse?" Roy dissolved into laughter again. Johnny just stood there looking annoyed for a moment. Some friend he turned out to be. The only person he thought would empathize with the irony of the situation was having the best laugh he had had in years. Johnny turned back to his locker in disgust. Then a smile slowly drifted across his face. He wasn't smiling at his own expense. He had an even better reason to smile. Maybe Mr. Invincible was gone, but yesterday had been day 151!   feedback for Maura     return to main page