Emotional Rescue (Chapter one)
In the locker room, the two paramedics were getting changed for the start of
their shift. After observing his partner for a few moments, Johnny got the
distinct impression that something was bothering him. Roy looked worn out, and his eyes, usually a clear blue were grayish in color, and had no life to them.
"Roy…something wrong?" a concerned Johnny asked his best friend.
"Wrong? Why do you ask?"
"Well…you've been muttering to yourself for the last few minutes, and you
mis-buttoned your shirt, but beyond that you really look tired.
Looking down at the front of his shirt, Roy noticed the uneven buttons.
"Oh…I didn't realize that I had done that."
"Wanna talk about it?" Johnny asked sincerely.
Deciding that he did in fact need someone else to talk to about his problem, Roy
shrugged his shoulders, as he unbuttoned his shirt to fix the buttons.
"Yeah, why not. It's Chris."
"Chris? What's wrong? He's okay, isn't he?"
Johnny had known Chris for almost nine years, and in all those years the younger DeSoto had never had any trouble, or been anything but a good kid. It was worrisome for Johnny to hear that his partner had some real concerns about his son.
"That's just it…I don't know. Joanne and I got another note from his teacher…his
grades are slipping."
"Chris's grades are slipping? I thought he was an A student?"
Johnny was extremely surprised to hear about Chris's grades. As far back as he could remember, Chris DeSoto had always been a good student, and took his studies very seriously.
"He used to be," Roy replied somberly.
"He's what, in sixth grade now, Roy?"
"Yeah. He's twelve going on thirteen."
Thinking about it, Johnny tried to remain positive about things.
"That's a tough age. Maybe he's got other interests now…and they're taking his
attention away from his schoolwork."
Roy shook his head sadly, his blue eyes lifeless.
"See, that's just it, Johnny…he hasn't been interested in very much lately. He
refuses to go to his Scout meetings…he hardly plays outside…and he hardly even
watches TV anymore."
Hearing what Roy had to say about his son, had Johnny very concerned. For as
long as he had known the boy, Chris had always been a good kid. He was always
very sociable and pleasant, did well in school, and had many interests.
In the middle of their conversation, Captain Stanley came into the locker room.
"John…telephone."
"Who is it, Cap?" Johnny asked curiously.
"I just answer the phone…I'm not your personal secretary, pal. Make it quick…we
have roll call in two minutes."
Johnny nodded his head in understanding and left to take the call in the dorm.
"Hello, John Gage here," Johnny answered, sitting down at the desk.
"Johnny, it's Mrs. Watkins."
Mrs. Watkins was Johnny's landlady. Hearing her voice on the other end of the
line made him think that there was a problem of some kind at the apartment
complex.
"What can I do for you?" He asked almost nonchalantly.
"Well…there's a young man in your apartment. He said that you had given him
permission to be there…he even used a key to get inside. I just thought you
should know. I really didn't know what else to do, and I'm sorry for calling you
at work…"
Having an idea of where this was going, Johnny asked a pivotal question.
"No, no bother. I'm glad you called…you did the right thing. How old is this
young man, Mrs. Watkins?"
"About twelve or so. He's a very sweet looking boy…sandy blonde hair and blue
eyes."
"Okay. I have an idea of who it is. Would you mind just keeping an eye on him
for me, please? My partner and I will be there real soon."
"Sure, it's no problem. I just got a little concerned because I know that he
should probably be in school…and he's not."
"Yes, that's exactly where he should be. Thank you for calling me, Mrs. Watkins.
I assure you that you did the right thing. We'll see you soon."
Hanging up the phone, Johnny exhaled loudly. He was not looking forward to
telling Roy about this latest development.
Going out to the vehicle bay, he was met by five other pairs of eyes.
"Ready to join us, John?" his captain asked him a bit impatiently.
"Uh…Cap…I…I need to speak to Roy for a minute…it's urgent."
Hank nodded. Based on the junior paramedic's tone, and emphasis on the word "urgent", he knew that what Johnny had to talk to his partner about, was serious. "Okay…but try to make it back here quickly…we have a lot to do this morning."
Johnny took Roy by the elbow and led him into the squad room.
"What's that about, Johnny? Another nurse turned you down…and you felt the need
to share that with me?"
"I wish. Roy…listen to me, this is important. That was my landlady Mrs. Watkins
on the phone. It appears that Chris used one of your spare keys to get into my
apartment and let himself in. She saw him and asked him what he was doing.
Apparently he had told her that I had given him permission to be there."
"Chris? He's…he's supposed to be in school now. Why would he be at your
apartment?" Roy was absolutely dumbfounded.
"Yeah…that's what she thought, too. Anyway, I told her that we'd be right
over…so let's go."
Going back out to the others, Roy told their captain that they had to head out
for a little while.
"What's going on?" Hank asked, half concerned and half annoyed.
"That was my landlady, Cap…it seems that Chris is in my apartment…and that he
ditched school."
Understanding the need for them to go, he nodded his head.
"Okay…go. I'll stand you down. Stay in touch."
Captain Stanley went to the radio and picked up the mic.
"LA, Squad 51 is unavailable…still alarm at 1203 Lexington Court…"
"Ten-four, Squad 51," came the reply from dispatch.
The two paramedics wasted no time in getting into their squad and preparing to
make their way to Johnny's apartment…Johnny driving, and rightfully so, as Roy had too much on his mind.
On the way to the apartment, neither man said a word…they were both thinking
about what could have possibly prompted Chris's current behavior, and why he had
ditched school.
"Johnny…," started Roy in an anxious tone.
"Roy, it'll be okay. Chris is a good kid…there has to be some kind of
explanation for this."
Johnny desperately wanted to stay positive about the situation. He wasn't a parent, but he cared a great deal about Chris, and worried about him right along with both Roy and Joanne.
"I sure hope you're right. I'll have to call Joanne about this, too. She thinks
that he's in school."
Finally arriving at the apartment complex, the two paramedics got out of their
vehicle and made their way to Johnny's apartment.
Using his own key, Johnny opened the door.
To both men's surprise, Chris was indeed inside the apartment, but was merely
lying curled up on the small loveseat, a light quilt on top of him. The television wasn't on, nor
the stereo.
"Chris?" Johnny called out softly, so as not to startle him.
"Uncle Johnny?" A small voice responded back.
"Yeah, it's me...your dad's here, too."
Hearing that his father was there as well, scared Chris. He had assumed that his
father would be very angry with him.
"Uncle Johnny…I'm sorry for coming into your apartment without your permission,
but…"
"It's okay, Chris," soothed Johnny. "I'm just glad that you're alright. I always told you and your
sister that in an emergency, that my apartment was a safe
place to come. Your dad and I are just surprised that you're here when you
should be in school."
Roy approached his son quietly and sat down on the loveseat next to him.
"Chris…just tell me what's going on. Your mom and I are really concerned about
you."
"I can't," Chris answered back in a near sob.
"What do you mean you can't?" Roy asked in a slightly irritated tone.
The senior paramedic was so worried about his son, that he was desperate to get to the bottom of what was going on in his life that was making him so upset.
Standing and observing Chris, Johnny had a sense of what might be going on.
"Are the kids at school giving you a hard time about something?"
Looking over at his partner, Roy was surprised that Johnny would even ask that.
However, when he saw his son's reaction to what Johnny had just asked him, he
realized that Johnny wasn't off the mark.
Chris continued to stay very still, and suddenly became quite pale.
"Chris…is that what's going on? Are the kids at school bothering you?" Roy
asked.
There was still no verbal response from Chris.
Holding his hand up to prevent Roy from saying anything, Johnny started to
talk…softly.
"I grew up on a reservation in Montana, Chris…but I went to an all-white school.
Being half Indian…I got picked on a lot. I know it hurts…believe me, I know…but
you have to be stronger than that."
Still Chris continued to say nothing.
"Chris, Johnny and I want to help you, but we can't if you don't tell us exactly
what's going on…please."
"I can't," Chris continued to plead.
"Is it because you wear glasses now?" Roy asked.
Johnny knew by Chris's reaction to all of this, that whatever was going on had
nothing at all to do with Chris's wearing glasses…it was something far more
serious than that.
"I wish it was…but it's not," the boy answered softly. "Don't make me tell
you…please…"
Roy looked over at Johnny then gave his son a warm embrace.
"Don't make me go back to school…I can't."
"Shh…it's okay, Chris…relax." Roy continued to embrace his son with the same warmth that he would use to comfort and console a distraught victim.
Johnny nodded at Roy and left to use the phone in his bedroom, so as not to
upset Chris any further.
Dialing the number of the station, he drummed his fingers nervously on his nightstand while he waited for someone to pick up.
"Station 51, Captain Stanley here."
"Cap, it's Johnny."
Hearing the short and succinct response coming from the other end of the line, Hank grew quite concerned about what he' might hear from his paramedic."How's Chris?"
"Uh…well, he's okay physically…but emotionally…"
Having two kids of his own, Hank's mind ran through the gamut of possibilities of what
may have happened to the young man.
"What happened?"
"Not really sure yet. He skipped school and came to my apartment. We think that
some kids at school are giving him problems…"
"You mean like bullying him?" Hank replied with disgust, knowing that kids could be very mean to one another.
"Yeah…but he's not talking. I'm not really sure what Roy's plans are, but it
might be a good idea to have someone on stand-by in case he needs to deal with
all of this. I'm going to call Joanne next. I'll keep you posted, Cap…we'll be
back as soon as we can."
"Sure…sure, no problem. Take care of Chris…it sounds like he needs his father
right now."
"Yeah. I'll be in touch."
When Hank hung up the phone, the other men at the station looked at him with
questioning glances.
"What's going on, Cap? Was that Roy and Johnny?" Chet asked.
"Yeah…it was. Johnny said that Chris was at his apartment...and very upset. He
thinks it has something to do with kids giving him a hard time at school."
"Really? Chris is such a good kid."
"Yeah…he is, Chet. Kids can be cruel…I've seen it at my kids' school. They'll be
in touch. Let's get back to work."
When Johnny got off the phone with his captain, he immediately called Joanne.
"He what?" Joanne gasped in horror when she found out where Chris was and what
he had done. "Is he okay?"
"He's upset, but doesn't appear hurt or anything. Roy's with him now. I just
wanted to let you know he was here…especially if the school had called or
something."
"Okay. What do you want me to do?" asked Joanne, trying to keep her composure. Being a firefighter's wife she was used to getting "news", but receiving news about her children was a completely different thing.
"You might as well just stay home…we'll take care of Chris and bring him
home…he's not in any shape to go back to school."
"Okay…if you think that's best."
"I think for now, yes. Too many people around wouldn't be a good idea. I do have
a sense of what might be happening, but he's not sharing any information."
Worried, she asked Johnny about his thoughts about the situation.
"What is it that you think is happening? Please don't tell me drugs or something
like that."
"No…no drugs, Jo. I'm quite positive that kids at school are really bothering him
about something…just not sure what it is. We'll be in touch…hopefully seeing you
soon."
"Johnny…please take care of him."
"We will," answered Johnny, trying to be as reassuring as possible.
After getting off the phone with Joanne, Johnny quietly made his way back out to
the living room area.
Seeing Roy still in an embrace with his son, Johnny knew that no headway had
been made.
A very small quiet voice started to talk, saying the same thing he had just
said. "Just promise me that I don't have to go back to school…please."
Hearing that pleading in his voice broke both paramedics' hearts. And for
Johnny, it brought back some rather painful memories that he thought he had long
since buried.
"Chris…you don't have to go back…today…but you will have to go back eventually."
Hearing his father tell him, at least for that day that he didn't have to go back
to school…made Chris infinitely relieved.
"Let's just go home, Chris…Uncle Johnny and I will bring you home in the squad.
You ready to go?"
Chris looked hesitantly at Johnny, who smiled and nodded his head.
"Okay," he answered softly, the strain still obvious in his young voice.
As Roy led his son out of the apartment, Johnny followed behind, locking it up.
"Is everything okay?" asked Mrs. Watkins, who met them in the hallway.
Looking up at the older grey-haired woman, Johnny smiled at her.
"Yes. Thank you for calling me. I'll see you when I get off shift tomorrow."
Mrs. Watkins smiled in relief.
"Okay…I'll make you some of my famous pancakes."
"It's a date. Take care."
Continuing to make their way outside, Roy had his arm around Chris's shoulders, as Johnny was a few steps behind.
When they got to the squad, Roy looked over at his partner.
"Take us home, Johnny."
Johnny got behind the wheel, as Chris climbed in next to him. His heart went out to the kid. He knew firsthand how horrible a feeling it was to get picked on and bullied by other kids.
Once Roy was safely inside the vehicle, Johnny started up the squad, and pulled out of the lot.
The trip to Roy's house was done in silence. Johnny focused on driving, while Roy thought about how he'd handle this situation. Chris for his part, sat quietly, looking down at his feet, a few stranded tears meandering down his cheek.
Pulling up to the front of Roy's house, Johnny wasn't sure if he should go in or just wait outside…after all, it was an issue that really had nothing to do with him, outside of the fact that he cared about the young man, and that it was his apartment that Chris had ran away to.
"Roy…I'll…uh…just…" Seeing the nervous look on Chris's face, Johnny knew that he had to go inside with them. "Never mind."
As Roy walked with Chris up the front walk, his arm still around his shoulders, Johnny's mind started to ponder all the possible reasons why Chris may have become a victim of bullying…he really wasn't quite sure what reasons there could have possibly been.
Entering the house, the three of them were met by a distraught Joanne, who went to hug her son, who quickly pulled back.
"Chris…" Joanne called out, as he ran down the hall to his room.
"Roy…what's going on?" Joanne asked worriedly.
"You know about as much as I do, Joanne."
"Well, we have to talk to him…we can't just ignore all of this, and pretend it's not happening."
"I realize that," Roy replied in frustration.
Johnny deliberately tried to stay out of all of this, until Joanne got him involved.
"Johnny…you said on the phone that you thought that some kids were giving him a hard time or something. What could it possibly be about?"
"I really have no idea…but whatever it is…it really has him upset."
"Yeah, enough to make him ditch school," Roy replied somberly.
"You guys need to talk to him…it's not going to go away on its own."
"And how do we do that, Johnny? For one, he won't talk to us…and secondly, I kinda have to work."
"We'll call the station Roy, and let Captain Stanley know that you need to be with your family…he won't mind calling in a replacement."
"Johnny…" started Roy.
"This is your son we're talking about here. Take it from me…you don't want to let this fester."
"What are you talking about?"
"Roy, it's like I said to Chris back at my apartment…I too was bullied. I was picked on, beaten, and a few other things for being half white and half Indian. You have to get to the bottom of this. I'll make the call."
"No…I should do it."
Going to the kitchen, Roy got on the phone and dialed the station's number.
Answering the phone was Mike Stoker.
"Station 51, Engineer Stoker, here."
"Hey Mike…it's Roy. Can you put Captain Stanley on, please?"
"Uh, sure. He's in the office. Hang on and I'll transfer you." Mike caught the strained tone of his friend's voice, but knew that it wasn't really his place to butt into the situation.
Having put the call through to the office, Hank picked it up.
"Captain Stanley here."
"Hi Cap," greeted the paramedic, trying to keep his normally even-keeled tone of voice.
"Roy. I'm glad you called. How's Chris?"
"Not so good…I mean he's fine physically…but emotionally not so good. I was wondering if you'd be able to spare me for the rest of the shift."
"Of course. I'll make a few phone calls. Take care, Roy…I hope everything works out okay."
"Yeah…you and me both. I'll be in touch."
Getting off the phone, Roy returned to where his wife and partner were standing in the living room.
"Roy?" Joanne asked.
"It's fine. Captain Stanley said that he'd make some calls. Thanks for your help, Johnny…I really appreciated it, and you being there. Chris really looks up to you."
"Anytime. Just let me know if there's anything else I can do," offered Johnny sincerely.
"We will…thanks."
"Well…I guess I should get going. I'll give you a call later."
"Okay."
Watching as Johnny walked away, making his way out to the squad, Roy and Joanne were then met with the question of how to proceed.
"Now what, Jo? Chris is obviously not talking…"
"Why don't you call the school? Make an appointment to see Mr. Jennings, the principal. Maybe he'll be able to shed some light on all of this."
"That's a good place to start. I'll call, and tell you what the outcome is."
While his parents were on the phone, and trying to make sense of what was currently going on with their son, Chris was in his room, the door closed, the blinds drawn, and lying on his bed. While he didn't want to have a full blown crying episode, he couldn't help it as more tears found their way down his face.
In the squad returning to the station, Johnny's mind went back to his own childhood. While he had a fine upbringing, it was in school that he had had his problems. Those years growing up in elementary school were quite difficult to say the least.