Title: Balance

By: FanofRandy

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. Emergency! is owned by Universal and Mark VII Productions. I make no profit from my imagination—only a personal joy and peace.

Summary: Challenge accepted! Response to Ginger S challenge. Johnny finds himself stuck in an elevator.

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Roy exited Treatment Room One and walked slowly to the Nurse's Station. Dixie offered a slight smile as he approached. "Rough one?" She asked.

"Not particularly." Roy answered. And, with a deep sigh he added, "Just a rough shift, I guess." He walked to the coffee machine and then turned a looked around; as if missing something. "You seen Johnny?" He asked as he sipped his coffee.

"Oh, yeah. He left this for you." She shoved the Handi-talkie toward the senior Paramedic. "He went up to Ortho with the little girl. He said he'd be back in a few." She smiled a knowing smile.

"Women of all ages are attracted to my Partner, Dix. What is it about him that turns all women to jelly?" He kidded. "Uh…present company excluded that is." He added with a slight laugh.

"It's just that 'Gage charm', I guess, Roy. There's no explaining it." Dixie offered with a giggle of her own.

"No explaining what?" Brackett asked as he walked up to the two after exiting the same Treatment Room Roy had left moments ago. "Looks like he's gonna be okay, Roy." He updated the Paramedic, and then asked again. "What were you all talking about?"

"Gage's way with 'women'." Roy shared. "He's upstairs with the guy's 10 year old daughter, Doc. I was just askin' Dixie here what these women see in my Partner that makes him so irresistible." They all three looked to one another and exchanged glances. All three shrugged their shoulders at the same time and Brackett offered…

"The eighth wonder of the world maybe." And they all shared a laugh at John's expense. Roy leaned back against the counter to await his Partner's return.

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"She'll be fine, Johnny." Dr. Morton offered as Johnny exited the casting room. The young girl had been sedated to prepare her for setting her broken leg.

"I know, Doc. She was just so scared 'n all…I just thought it was the least I could do to come up here with her and make sure she felt safe." Johnny explained.

Morton picked up on something and ventured…"You doin' okay, Gage? You sound…tired."

Johnny was surprised at the concern, but tried not to show it. He appreciated the man's observation and answered…"It's been a 'teeter-totter day'." He remarked. By the look on Morton's face, he knew further explanation was needed. "Most of our shifts have a balance to them, you know, Doc. We have good calls and bad calls…but, it mostly balances out. This shift just had more than its share of few rough calls…lost more than a few, you know?" He shoved his hands in his pockets after he pressed the button for the elevator. He shared the quiet moment with the doctor before he said…"Well, at least this one turned out okay."

Morton felt he should say something, but the young resident was not the best at 'bedside manner', and both men were acutely aware of this. He sighed deeply and offered, "The girl'll be fine, Gage. Don't worry." And, he turned to walk away.

Johnny nodded his head as he stared at the floor and continued to wait on the elevator.

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Dr. Early walked up to the Nurse's station where Roy still waited Johnny's return. He poured a cup of coffee and turned to the tired Paramedic. "How you doin', Roy?"

"Well, Doc…it's been a hell-of-a-shift and it is just about over. So…I guess I'm doin' alright." Roy answered as he continued slowly sipping his coffee.

The older doctor leaned on the counter across from the younger man and regarded him for a moment. "You know, Roy…it's the first lesson we learn as doctors and teach you in Paramedic training…'never get personally involved', right?" The younger man nodded. "I think we all learn just as quickly-that is easier said than done."

"You're right about that one, Doc. And, I think it is somehow harder for Johnny than the rest of us. This shift chewed him up and spit him out. This last hour can't pass fast enough for either of us." Roy shared.

Early knew that the Paramedics of Squad 51 had more than their share of runs in the last 24 hours. And, quite unfortunately, they had lost more lives than they had saved that shift. Through no fault of their own, they had fought to save the lives of eight people that day…and, only three of them had lived. Those were odds that the men found hard to accept.

"Roy…" Early barely whispered, "...you guys did the best you could. And, that is all anyone can ask. For all of us…there are good days and bad days. We just have to trust that the good will outweigh the bad."

Roy nodded his understanding. He knew what Early had said was true, but it would take time to process all that had happened on this shift…for him and his Partner. "I know, Doc. But, that is little comfort when you fight so hard…but, the victim still dies." Roy choked back the emotion that threatened to surface. He put down the coffee and cleared his throat. "Well…I guess I will go find that missing Partner of mine and get back to the station so we can put this shift to bed."

Dr. Early put a hand on Roy's shoulder to offer some added encouragement. "Tell Johnny I said…'Hello', huh?"

"Sure, Doc. See you later." Roy said as he grabbed the HT and walked toward the elevators.

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The elevator doors opened on the 6th Floor of Rampart Hospital. Strangely, it was empty as Johnny stepped inside and hit the button that would take him back to the ER. He stepped instinctively to the back of the elevator despite the expanse of room, and leaned on the rail as the doors closed. His nose bristled a little at a slight odor that permeated the small box, but he thought nothing of it. Hospitals were 'home' to a lot of strange and unusual smells.

He was lost in thought as he felt the small room slowly descend and then seize to a sudden stop. He felt a small jolt as the elevator was suddenly still…the lights were out above the door and on the panel. All he knew was that he was somewhere between the sixth and first floors. "Dammit" he cursed loudly as the lights flickered and then went out completely. Illuminated by only a dim emergency light from above, he pushed the red Emergency Button. When he did not hear the alarm sound he pressed it again, several more times. When his efforts were not rewarded, he picked up the Emergency Phone to get some help. It was dead.

"Son-of-a…" He breathed out as he looked around for some sign that help was on its way. He reached for his belt and remembered he left the HT at the Nurse's station with Dixie. "What now, Gage?" He asked himself and began planning his escape.

TBC