Chapter 8

When the Station Pet Delegation let themselves into Station 51 they found the engineer and linemen of B shift mulling around in the bay area just outside the door to the day room.

"We're here to perform an evaluation on your station mascot," the leading man commented before he noticed all of the men had their attention drawn through the door to the day room. Following their eyes the delegation saw a man in civilian clothes sitting on the sofa with his arms around a basset hound. The man looked distraught, nearly catatonic, with tears streaming down his face. Henry licked the man's face and then lay his head on the man's chest while the paramedic team worked together to check the man's vitals.

"Well, Dick, your pressure is getting closer to where it needs to be," one of the paramedics said softly as he reached up and gave the man's shoulder a squeeze.

Soon Captain Hookraider came from the office with a man they knew as the department's crisis psychiatrist at his side. "I'll be with you men in just a moment," Hookraider said as he lead the doctor into the dayroom then turned around to address his engineer. "Dave, when Captain Tollins gets here will you send him in."

Captain Hookraider was answered with the nod of a head and Captain Tollins arrived just five minutes later wearing his street clothes. He didn't have to be told where to go, he already knew.

The men who made up the delegation watched as Captain Tollins sat next to the man on the sofa and started to rub his back with one hand and the dog's head with the other. After a few moments of quiet talk, that couldn't be heard outside the room, the distraught man was given a shot that was assumed to be a sedative and then Captain Tollins lifted the dog out of the Dick's arms. He and the psychiatrist then helped Dick to his feet and out the side door to a car.

Captain Hookraider, whose reputation as being a rough, hardnosed Captain was well known, stood looking at the now closed door for a moment before giving Henry the dog a good rub before he was able to turn to the rest of his guests.

"Thank you for waiting. What can I do for you men?"

Before the men announced who they were the spokesman for the group inquired about what had just happened.

"Oh, that was Dick Wilson from C shift. I guess his wife went into premature labor yesterday and they weren't able to stop it. She was only five months along; The baby died before she was an hour old. I guess he held it all together for his wife and then when the doctor sedated her, he came here to cry on Henry's shoulder. His Captain is taking care of him now."

While Captain Hookraider was explaining the situation, the men of the delegation watched as each man on the station moved forward to affectionately pet the dog who was now lounging on the sofa like he owned it.

The delegation was then led into the room and introduced to the dog. Henry just looked at them with his sad pleading eyes.

The department psychiatrist returned to the day room. "I think he'll be fine now," he stated as he picked up his doctor's bag. "He just needed to allow himself to grieve. His captain is going to see to it that he gets some sleep. Once he's done that I'm sure he'll be able to deal with the ordeal at hand and should be able to return to work as soon as he has taken care of his daughter's funeral."

The doctor then noticed all of the attention being given to the dog on the couch. "Is this the famous 51's Henry? I've had more than one of my patients tell me all they need from me is the recommendation that they work a couple of shifts at station 51 so that they can tell Henry here all their troubles."

"Are you telling me this dog is cutting into your business?" one of the delegation members questioned with a smirk.

"There's more than enough work for someone like me in this department. All the horrors these men see and have to deal with, it's no wonder. But this dog seems to help with all the minor stuff. I sure wish we could get one like him in every station but since cloning hasn't been perfected yet I'm sure glad the guys here are willing to share him a little."

Henry then looked up at all of the men gathered around him, his eyes so sad there wasn't a person there who could issue an eviction notice to the dog. After all, he didn't take up much room and all of the captains had written a statement saying he was low maintenance and that they never had to worry about him getting under the tires of the engine.

Each man of the delegation gave the dog a good petting before they left declaring he was set for life in a place where he was clearly loved. As they left they were talking and wondering if they should requisition an additional sofa for station 51. One for the men to sit on and one for Henry to use as a therapy couch.

-0-

When A shift heard the news that Henry had passed inspection and was going to be allowed to stay at the station they were all more than a little surprised. At least they were until B shift started to enlighten them with the details of what happened the day the delegation came by to make their decision.

Roy and Johnny were thrilled to be finished with their shots and everyone seemed to spend a little time on Henry's couch that day telling him how glad they were that he was going to stay and a few other things that they were comforted would go no farther.

Since all of the boys had finished their shots, too, they started filing through for the tour of the fire station they had been promised.

Roy and John took those on personally whenever they could and the tours included a lot of talk about pets and preventing rabies and each one of the boys, along with a few of the parents, managed to get a private session with Henry. The dog loved getting his stuffing nearly squeezed out a few times and the boys knew he was as sad as they were over the loss of their friend.

When the last of the families left the station Hank Stanley watched on in wonder before turning back to his desk and the mountain of paperwork as he spoke to no one in particular.

"Maybe we should take headquarters up on that additional sofa."