Rock The Boat: IA Coaching

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

"Problem I've found with street vendors is that, no matter how yummy the food is, when it's cold and coagulated three hours and six calls later....and then you've wasted money."

It was almost like some sort of evil karma, as soon as you paid for your food you got a call...or, if you managed to actually get it, you got a call -- and it was never just one call, and in the mean time the rig smelled so good, the promise of a missed meal!

"As for my porch, the 'bones' are good, but the planking and railings need to be replaced...not that I was serious, I'm sure you have better things to do on your time off." Not that she would mind the help, but she didn't want to guilt him in to it or feel obligated, and he seemed like the protective sort of guy who would act out of a sense of gentlemanly-ness.

"Still, if you do come and help, I think there would be pizza and beet in it for you!"

Steven Hudson,

[Steven Hudson]

“Yeah I know that issue, but there’s nothing better than cutting through all the cold coagulated food with a fork and being looked at like you’re mad when you think, yeah I’ll have to eat that.” She said grinning. Food and calls, it was the worst way for things to happen. Hungry and stuck out at a scene or worse in a hospital and when hospital food started to smell good to you. It was time to check out as fast as possible.

He usually preferred to eat his food as fast as possible but then life and work usually managed to get in the way of that. “Hey, if I can work on something else that isn’t my house it might feel like I’ve actually accomplished something.” Steven said as he thought about the tree that had taken over the garden. He had been meaning to cut down some branches, tidy the garden a little and even put a fresh coat of paint on the outside of it but when he could sleep into hours that ran into double figures. Things had a way of sliding past him.

“Besides I think after today I owe you one or a few so replacing planking and railings is the least I can do.” He added before he heard about the pizza and beer in it. “Well if you had mentioned pizza and beer like five minutes ago I would have pledged the rest of my time off to your porch.” He joked though it was nice to help someone out and of course in his head he was trying to do the right thing. "Not that you have to do that at all, believe it or not I can make my own food or I can make you something too?" He offered.

Kelle Lindsay, EMTP,

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

"Ah, I knew that was coming!" Kelle laughed. "Trying to poison me, are you? There are easier ways to get rid of me, you know...and not leave the evidence!"

Slumping in the seat, she crossed her arms over her chest. "So, cooking...how is your breakfast?" Not that she was specifically inviting herself over, or him over to her place, but she wouldn't mind, if he was up for it. "You have any sort of specialties, and boxed mac 'n' cheese isn't really a food!"

Of course, that would be contingent on them getting off on time. "And there's a hammock on the front porch, too...close your eyes...relax...Not now! You're driving!"

Steven Hudson,

[Steven Hudson]

“Me poison you, never." He said smirking lightly. "Oh really, what are some of these ways?” Steven asked her grinning, “You seem to know a scary amount about this not leaving any evidence stuff but if it’s the food that gets you in this job then I swear I will save your life.” The food was grim at times but then it was what they loved to do even if the food was, well awful at times. “Would you really think I’d try to get rid of you with food? I mean you’ve heard the rumours, some could be true.” He added chuckling knowing full well most if not all were made up fantasies of the fire house kind.

“My breakfast is good, I make a mean fry up and bacon and eggs.” He said though usually his breakfast was more along the lines of a flying piece of toast or attempting cereal on the go which likely ended up everywhere. “Boxed mac ‘n’ cheese is a food, it has all the major food groups in there and is just as good for dinner, lunch and breakfast.” He said nodding seriously. “Specialities, I can make a mean curry if you like those and spiced lamb but after that... it could be life threatening.” He said knowing his cooking to be a little hit or miss. It either worked or it was a health hazard.

Steven smiled as he pretended to close his eyes for a moment though he was just squinting. “A hammock? You have a hammock? I need to get one of those they are soooo cool so I sold on it. I will keep my eyes open but you were the one who said relax and close my eyes... just following orders Ma’am.” He teased grinning at her for a moment.

Kelle Lindsay, EMTP ,

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

“Would you really think I’d try to get rid of you with food? I mean you’ve heard the rumours, some could be true.”

"Cast iron stomach!" Grinning, Kelle patted her gut, then shrugged. "You know 'our kind' can eat just about anything and survive without blinking an eye, otherwise we'd never survive this job, so, yeah, death-by-food...out..."

“My breakfast is good, I make a mean fry up and bacon and eggs.”

"Sounds good...and healthy!" Laughing, Kelle glanced at him. "I might cut a deal with you...I'll buy if you cook it!"

“Boxed mac ‘n’ cheese is a food, it has all the major food groups in there and is just as good for dinner, lunch and breakfast.” He said nodding seriously. “Specialities, I can make a mean curry if you like those and spiced lamb but after that... it could be life threatening.”

"Isn't life that?" she asked with a shrug. "May as well die happy, that's what I say...I mean, look at our job, we see how quickly things could happen, and I don't want my last thought to be, 'Damn! I should'a had that ice cream!'"

“A hammock? You have a hammock? I need to get one of those they are soooo cool so I sold on it. I will keep my eyes open but you were the one who said relax and close my eyes... just following orders Ma’am.” He teased grinning at her for a moment.

"Not while you're driving!" She reached over and poked him in the ribs. "I told you, I want to die by food, not by crunching metal and broken glass...too messy!" Crossing her eyes, she made a face at him. "Don't want to mess up the pretty mug!"

Then she leaned back and nodded. "Yeah, kinda nice having a hammock, just swaying in the breeze...it sort of forces you to relax for a while. You know they have those ones you can hang inside the house, right?"

Steven Hudson

[Steven Hudson]

Steven laughed and nodded, yeah it was often scary what food they could consume and it would have no effect if any. “Fair point, death by food a no no so I must find other ways...” He said with a teasing grin, not that he wanted to get rid of the only partner that seemed to stick with him. Though she was right about the food, there was no way food could kill them as he figured they had to be immune to most sorts of food related illnesses by now.

“Hey, you don’t get to look this good by eating lettuce every day and what sort of a diet is bran for breakfast unless you want to drop by every toilet in the city.” He said grinning as he nodded. “Sure if you’d like, you buy I cook sounds fair to me and just so you know I’ve not managed to have an ambulance called out to treat anyone for my cooking to date. I can list three people who have eaten my cooking for a while and lived to tell the tale.” He added just in case she was worried about that.

“You know you’re right about that, I swear if that ever is my last thought you can guarantee that I’m coming back to get that ice cream and then I can go a happy guy.” He said grinning, “But i’m not sure what I’d go for first, ice cream, coffee, chocolate, Cronuts? I could be hanging around a while.” He said not too sure what he would like his last meal to be of though given the way he ate it was likely to be cold coagulated food of some kind.

Steven squirmed when she poked him in the ribs. “Hey no fair.” He whined before sticking his tongue out at her. “So you think I’d crash with my eyes closed now? Wow you have a lot of faith in my partner but no I promise not to let you die by crunching metal and broken glass. Can’t have that pretty mug messed up at all.” He said grinning as he motioned to her face, “You might want to clean up that chocolate and bacon though... you know, just in case.” He teased grinning at her.

“A hammock for inside too?” He questioned liking the sound of that, sure tying it to a tree outside had its merits but inside he was so going to swap out his bed for a hammock. “You’ve officially made my night, first chance I get I’m off hammock shopping.” He stated sure that he would though how it would turn out was anyone’s guess.

Kelle Lindsay, EMTP,

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

"Chocolate and what?" Frowning, Kelle rolled down her side window so she could peer into the mirror, her hair getting ruffled by the breeze as she studied her face. "There's nothing..."

Frowning, she flopped back in the seat, glaring at him. "Touche! Brat!" Rolling her eyes, she laughed. "And yes, indoor hammocks...lord, you don't have a lick of hippie in you, do you?"

Well, it was a matter of taste, and she was into the Bo-Ho revival, had a waterbed and bead curtains, so a hammock hanging from the beams in her living room wasn't a far stretch.

"There's ones on frames and ones you hang from chains from the rafters. Either way, it's a hammock and it's crazy comfortable...Cost Plus Imports has them...you'll love it!"

Steven Hudson,

[Steven Hudson]

Steven chuckled as he watched her roll down her side window. Best and oldest trick in the book he thought trying to keep his eyes on the road as he laughed. “Now now, play fair. I was only pointing it out; the wind must have blown it off before you saw it.” He suggested knowing it was entire rubbish he was saying but it still felt like it had to be said.

“A lick of hippie, I do tie dye and everything. Tie around my head, I’d paint the peace sign everywhere but work frowns on it when it’s written in iodine. Who knew huh.” He teased laughing though that stuff stained whatever it touched. A good thing but a nightmare to clean up though he could do hippie for the sake of a hammock.

Steven in truth was a more whatever style that he fancied on the day and make it fit into the room type. House decoration to him was if he needed a new lamp, he found one he liked and it just went into the room that required it. Regardless of style, he was more a if it works it stays sort or a gathering clutter that would never match sort.

“I’m seriously going to have to try this, I mean me a book, a beer and a hammock it’s a match made in heaven. If I can get into it but that’s a life issue once I get it. Cost Plus Imports, here I come. Now to choose to swing from the ceiling or a frame... think chains and rafters might be a good idea?” He asked grinning all for the effort of comfortable. Getting into a hammock after work was exactly what he needed.

Kelle Lindsay, EMTP,

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

Kelle looked at him with a raised eyebrow, then burst into laughter. Of course, he hadn't meant it as it came out, but the way it had come out was hilarious!

"Chains from the rafters, huh? Remind me not to go to your place alone at night!" She laughed again. "Don't tell me that you dress up as a clown, too! OMG, I can see the headline now! 'Paramedic Harbors Kinky Palace in Home'! Man, the boys at the station will love that!"

She laughed, sticking her tongue out at him, then put in a legitimate opinion. "Hanging is better aesthetically, but frame means you can move it around, or take it apart and put it away if you want to...although I guess you can just take the other off the hook...but then, one on a hook swings better, especially if you like to go in circles. Decisions, decisions!"

Steven Hudson

[Steven Hudson]

Steven could feel his face flushing red as he tried to make any sort of comeback to chains from the rafters but there was nothing there as he laughed along with her. “At night it’s the best time to be there, the dungeon is all lit up then.” He teased as he realised how his comment sounded, yes no chains from rafters or he would be fifty shades of something strange.

“Now we’re talking, everyone has to have a paramedic kinky palace in their home; no home is complete without one. I’m sure even you have one right? Kelle we’ve got so much to teach you on this job.” Steven said smirking, “Rule one, never talk about the kinky palace, just like fight club.” He could see how the boys at the station would love it and he would never hear the end of that at all if it was true.

Steven reached over as he attempted to poke Kelle lightly in her side before he stuck his own tongue back out at her. “I do love circles and swinging better is all you can ask for in life so chains it is. Besides there’s nothing better as a talking point than a random hook in the middle of a room.” Steven explained laughing, “A frame work might just be too much to move around, hook versus frame... I’m thinking hook because if in doubt I can always hang things from it like clothes or lights or anything really.” He said thinking about it for a moment.

Kelle Lindsay, EMTP,

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

“Now we’re talking, everyone has to have a paramedic kinky palace in their home; no home is complete without one. I’m sure even you have one right? Kelle we’ve got so much to teach you on this job.” Steven said smirking, “Rule one, never talk about the kinky palace, just like fight club.”

"Oh, well, you got me there...no chains, though, but a dungeon...yeah...and torture...how about an empty beer keg!" She laughed, enjoying the banter and wondering if it was his wry sense of humor that former partners hadn't understood.

“I do love circles and swinging better is all you can ask for in life so chains it is. Besides there’s nothing better as a talking point than a random hook in the middle of a room.” Steven explained laughing, “A frame work might just be too much to move around, hook versus frame... I’m thinking hook because if in doubt I can always hang things from it like clothes or lights or anything really.”

"Oh, yeah, you can use it to dry out your panty hose!" She laughed again, then thought for a second. "Or, hey, like a scarecrow at Halloween, when you turn your place into a haunted house? That's a really cool idea!"

She could just picture it, invite a few friends over, have an 'accidental' power outage, then hang friend Scarecrow! Oh, I know! Make him look like you and then disappear so, well, you turned into him!" She looked over at him. "You do that and I'll help you." Sounded like fun!

Steven Hudson,

[Steven Hudson]

“You got the dungeon?” Steven asked raising his brow at her as he chuckled. “I’d never thought you were the dungeon type but an empty beer keg, no torture like that. Who knew Kelle, I mean you’re good at this, sure there’s no secret closet at you place that you’ve not told anyone about?” He teased though it was nice to be able to laugh and joke rather than end the shift with a bye for now and never see the same partner twice.

“How did you know I was secretly Batman too?” Steven asked as she mentioned panty hose. “Then I guess that makes you Robin so we’re good with the panty hose.” He added chuckling as he nodded about Halloween. Now if ever there was a great time of year to be out and about in the ambulance it was then because there was no telling what you would find. The crazy just went crazy and the most random things happened.

“Now we’re talking, Hudson’s haunted house with hooks and chains and swinging scarecrows, that’s a fantastic idea.” Steven said wondering if he could do that this year. “Okay, sold we’ll turn my place into haunted central but I swear if I end up in your dungeon with an empty keg... all bets are off.” He teased laughing as he nodded. “It’ll be the best looking scarecrow in town and you need one too so you can be the most beautiful looking scarecrow too, being partners and all we can’t leave you out so two hooks to hang our scare selves from.” Steven added knowing exactly what he was doing with his time off now.

Kelle Lindsay, EMTP,

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

"Really?" Glancing at him, Kelle raised an eyebrow. "You'd do a haunted house?" Somehow, she hadn't thought him the type...not that he didn't seem to be open to fun, but he seemed a bit reserved to openly show it.

"We should...ask if we can use the station? There'd be plenty or room on the bay floor, and we can raise funds for the Chi Burn Center, or the Widow and Children's Fund...and I bet the other guys would get into it, too!"

Time was a bit short, but if a lot of them pitched in, they could get it done, and maybe raise a few bucks for a good cause, too.

Then her brilliant idea got even brillianter!

"Hey, we can challenge PD...give them an area to set up and see who can be the scariest?" Keeping in mind there would be kids involved. "We can have a separate area for little kids, with goody bags..."

See what happened when you didn't sleep for over 24 hours!

Steven Hudson,

[Steven Hudson]

Steven nodded, “Oh yeah I would, what’s better than that?” Steven asked her grinning as it would be something new he had never done before. Usually Steven was the sort to go nowhere near a haunted house as he saw enough real blood at work to go for the fake stuff. When he was off though it was different if he was trying to make something of it though he had never much thought about it before.

“Now we’re talking what’s scarier than paramedic and fire-fighters doing fright night. We have the bandages for the mummies sorted straight off.” He joked though it was a great idea, “We need to get this done it would be a great venue and great causes too. They would or we’d find a way to get them involved even if they said no... bribery can go a long way.” Steven said with a smirk knowing that practically everyone in the house had knowledge of a thing that maybe another might not want publicised which made for a good ‘you’ll do this or else’ talk.

Not that he thought anyone would need to be talked into raising money though when her idea got even better with challenging PD Steven laughed. “Oh we’ll win that... and we have to for pride of our own badges and house. No room for failure because PD, they have the easy job.” Steven said laughing, oh this was so much better and really kids would so choose fire-fighters and medics over a cop. They were far cooler he thought though he was hardly biased on the subject matter.

“Now that sounds like a fantastic idea, we need to tell the chief this and get thing going. Spook fest is on at fifty one.” Steven said with a grin, “So what would you dress up as?” He asked Kelle wondering what she would do for it.

Kelle Lindsay, EMTP,

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

"Fifty-One Haunts..." Kelle countered as a possible name, getting enthusiastic at the idea. Of course, that meant that they'd have to come up with 51 characters...or, better, fifty, with the Disney-Haunted-Mansion caution that there was 'Room for one more!' And even if CFD didn't want to sanction it, she had an out-building (not enough to be called a shack) on her property they could use.

"Dress up as..?" That was something she hadn't put any thought into, after all, while she loved the idea of dressing up and role-play (in a re-inactment sort of way), she was too old for that sort of thing, and since this had just come up...

"I think, well, I'd be a bag of medical waste if we were doing something else, but since it's a haunted house, I think maybe a ghost-bride, or ghost-mother, you know, pale make-up, dark around the eyes, long white gauzy dress and dead-flower wreath..."

She looked at him, or rather, through him. "Where is my grooooomm? Have you seen my baby?"

Then she shook her head and laughed. "What about you? Sexy Dracula or something?"

Steven Hudson,