Unspoken Fears
These good fellows don't belong to me but I promise when I'm done to pick um up, dust um off and with a kiss on the cheek return them safely home."
Note: This is NOT part of the Roy/Kanda storyline.
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This story is the joint creation of myself with the plot inspiration of Lia Walker.
Please CLICK the green button at the end and tell me what you think of it!
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"A true friend is one who thinks you are a good egg even if you are cracked."
Chapter 1
"I just can't believe she said it is all," Paramedic Johnny Gage said incredulously as they pulled out of the ER parking lot.
His partner Paramedic Roy DeSoto rolled his eyes and gritted his teeth as he drove the Squad back to the station. He'd be sure to tell Dixie thank you so much for getting his easily riled up partner all ….well…riled up. "I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it Johnny. Just let it drop."
"Let it drop? You have to be kidding me?" Johnny looked at his partner like he had lost his ever loving mind. "I don't know Roy, you know maybe I should put you in the mental ward."
Of course it couldn't be that easy. It wasn't Dixie that had to ride in the same truck with him. Yep, she would pay for this.
Johnny turned back to the window, "Lock me away. Never heard such craziness. Nothing wrong with me. I'm not the crazy one, of all things to call me."
Really, really pay for this, Roy thought. He took a deep breath, "Look she was just making a joke is all. Of course Dix doesn't really think you are psychotic." But after this, maybe. Maybe both of them before this shift would ever end if he didn't somehow get his ranting partner under control.
Johnny's shoulders slumped down, "Did you see the way she looked at me? Like it was my fault or something."
"Or something," Roy echoed. "Look I know Dix and she'd never blame you for a patient giving an entire false history, false symptoms then someone who had enough imagination to actually give us those symptoms."
His big brown eyes looked up to his friend for more reassurance. "I saw the way she looked at me. Dixie has those eyes that tell all."
She's not the only one, Roy silently chuckled. "You've known Dix long enough to know that she thinks you're the department's best paramedic." Yes, appeal to his sense of pride in what he does. Distract him.
He cocked his head and thought about it for a minute then shot Roy a crooked smile, "Do you think that she thinks that?"
Roy smiled. Johnny was so easily hurt by someone's words especially if they came from someone who was very important to him and Dixie definitely fit the bill. She was having an extremely bad day working short staffed and putting in her own overtime to help cover. It just didn't take much for her to bite Johnny's head off over a manipulative patient.
"Yes Junior," he tried to reassure him. "I definitely think. She's just having a bad day and we happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Don't let her get to you. I'm sure she will feel terrible about what happened next time we see her."
He took a deep breath and leaned against the window. Reaching up unconsciously he rubbed his shoulder then instantly regretted it as he say Roy's gaze shift his way.
Oh yea, Roy took note. That last patient had tried to protest the IV and managed to knock Johnny right into a book shelf. "What did Morton say about that shoulder?"
"I'm okay," Johnny dodged the question. "Do you think Mike has his chicken done for dinner?"
The senior medic pursed his lips together. "I didn't ask how you felt. I asked what Morton said and don't try to change the subject."
Johnny remained quiet knowing that Roy would be upset with him for not getting it checked out but the place was a zoo tonight. It was silly to pull a doctor just to look at his stupid shoulder that was just bruised by a stupid patient.
"Johnny?"
Dang it, he thought. He looked like a kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar. "Honestly Roy it wasn't my fault. He was in the room but got called out for that trauma that 110 brought in. If it gives me any trouble I'll go back by."
Johnny was well known around the station as the minimizer. Leave it to him to get hurt and downplay the whole thing. Roy knew the place was hopping, every room was full and yes getting seen themselves would have been a wait. Knowing the young man sitting next to him so very well he would have to keep a close eye on him through the end of the shift. "Just please tell me if it starts giving you any trouble."
"I will, I will." Yes!, thought Johnny. Sometimes being the partner to your best friend and someone who could read you like a book was not a good thing. Keeping secrets from Roy was nothing short of challenging.
Sure you will, thought Roy. That'll be the day.
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Mike Stoker was cooking his famous fried chicken and the station smelled wonderful when they backed into the bay and got out. Johnny rubbed his hands together, "Mmm, mmm. Yes. We are eating well tonight."
Since they had been gone all shift on one call after the other Roy knew dinner would have to wait on them, "Uh, Junior. I'm hungry too but do you remember we have to finish those hoses."
"Aww, come on Roy. Chicken then hoses?"
Roy almost grinned as he pictured him stomping his feet in a temper tantrum complete with waving arms and flying dark curly hair, just like one of his own kids, "Let's see how close Mike is to being ready. But I'm not hanging hose at ten o'clock tonight." Roy followed the now bouncing medic into the dayroom.
Everyone was lounging around, Chet Kelly and their Captain, Hank Stanley on the couch with Henry the station's Bassett hound while Mike nursed his chicken to perfection. Marco Lopez was setting the dishes on the table and putting down silverware. Johnny went straight to Mike and tried to work his way to the frying pan for a big sniff and maybe a few loose crumbs.
"Do you mind Gage?" Mike grumped at him as he used his elbow to try and shove Johnny back from the hot grease.
"Is it ready?" Johnny asked with just a tad bit of eagerness. Please say yes, please say yes. He did NOT want to hang hose. He was very sure that his growling stomach was much more of a priority in this particular situation.
"It'll be ready in about twenty minutes," Mike said as he shooed Johnny away with his tongs.
Dang, dang, dang.
"Johnny." Roy's tone was that of a stern teacher catching a child passing a note in school.
He didn't want to turn around. Dang that Mike, couldn't he cook just a little faster?
"I know you can hear me Junior," Roy said as he watched Marco smile knowing the game between the two close friends.
"But Roy. Maybe if I help we can eat sooner." Yea, he thought. I can help. I'm good at helping.
"I don't need any help," Mike so very helpfully added then hid the smile back towards the stovetop. He could help the game too, at least Roy's side of it.
Dropping his shoulders and hanging his head down, "Fine."
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Roy stood at the bottom and Johnny climbed the tower as they began their work. His eyes were fixated on watching that shoulder knowing that Johnny wouldn't easily admit to being hurt. Their long history of being paramedic partners on the job and best friends off the job had Roy ever keen as to how Johnny's various injuries affected him.
"Hey, pay attention down there. I want chicken!" He called from up above as he watched the hose almost smack Roy right on top of the head.
"Then focus on the hoses and not dinner and we'll get done faster," Roy shot back annoyed with himself almost as much as his absent minded partner up above.
They were finished quickly and Hank was yelling out of the kitchen that dinner was ready as Johnny headed down the ladder again. He was greeted by Roy with his hands on his hips.
"What?"
"You know exactly what," Roy said.
Johnny fought the urge to rub his aching shoulder knowing that mother Roy was ever watching. "Look, my shoulder is sore and annoying but I'm fine. You can quit mothering me now." Then turned and walked to the kitchen. For a few seconds he didn't hear Roy following him knowing perfectly well that he was still standing there with his hands still on his hips, ready to protest. But Johnny smiled to himself as the footsteps began to follow him. Of course deep down he loved that Roy kept close tabs on him, cared enough to make sure he was safe and unharmed.
He had too many years growing up where no one gave a crap about him so when he decided to enter the paramedic program the change in his life was nothing short of astounding. First he wound up working with Roy who quickly became not only his partner at work but his best friend. Then his shiftmates on the A-shift were a family in and of themselves. Finally, Roy's family had also taken him in as one of their own almost like they knew how much he needed a family to call his own. Now they were as close as brothers. For Johnny, Roy was his brother in fact, if not in blood then unquestionably in heart and soul.
Johnny entered the dayroom to find everyone already sitting and digging in. One thing about Mike's chicken there were never any leftovers, so lingering at getting to the table might leave you as a hungry fireman for the rest of the night. He looked back to the grumpy looking older medic reluctantly following him, "Come on or these vultures won't leave us anything."
"I'm coming," Roy said. What was he going to do that that kid?
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"So what are you doing with this long weekend off Junior?" Roy asked as he buckled up his pants then closed his locker door.
Johnny pushed his jean pant legs down after putting on his boots. He stood up with a big grin on his face, "Oh, well I have some special plans."
"Wow Gage, it takes special plans to get dumped on another date?" Chet added as he closed up his locker.
"You wish Chet. I have a hot date with Susanne this weekend and yes, it's going to be special." He shot Chet a wink which just fueled the fire.
"Not Susanne that new nurse in the ER?"
Johnny wiggled his eyebrows, "Of course."
"You have to be kidding me! Why in the world would she go out with you? She's hot!"
"My dear Chet," he walked over and patted him on the shoulder. "Someday when you're all grown up you can maybe …and I mean maybe…date some hot women like me."
Before Chet could stutter over his words Johnny was out the door in a flash. Roy just looked at the flustered man and shrugged then hurried out to catch up with Johnny before he was gone. But he didn't have to run to fast since Johnny was leaning against his Rover waiting on him.
"Uh, Roy?"
"What?" He was afraid to ask seeing the mischievous look on his face.
"Is Joanne gonna be home this weekend?"
That caught Roy by surprise. Usually Johnny was asking him to do something during their long weekends off. "I guess so, why?"
"I just wanna ask her something. Thanks buddy." He slide down off the hood and climbed in behind the steering wheel leaving Roy in mid unasked question. He was afraid to ask Roy since it was kinda personal but then maybe he should feel weird about over his head to his wife. But Joanne was big sister in all terms and he really wanted her advice on something. As he pulled out waving to Roy he hoped that his plan wouldn't backfire on him before the weekend was out. But Roy really shouldn't mind him borrowing his wife for a couple of hours? Would he?
What possible harm could come out of it?
