Johnny placed his hands behind his head and thought about Roy's decision. He frowned at what Roy had said, still feeling uncomfortable about his partner having to save him. He was glad Roy wasn't taking the promotion but wished he hadn't got hurt before that decision was made. He wanted to be sure his partner wasn't staying because of him. He didn't need that, he could look after himself. He considered Roy his best friend but he didn't need a keeper and that's how his partner made him feel sometimes. He was sure Roy didn't mean to make him feel that way but Johnny found it hard to accept help graciously. His partner would jokingly say he needed him to look out for him and Johnny would laugh along with him but deep down he felt fiercely independent.
Roy examined him when they finally recovered from falling off the ladder. In the fall Johnny had also hurt his back but he didn't let on. He would tell the doctor when he finally saw him. He was sure it was just muscular. Johnny felt self conscious when he got hurt not liking anyone to fuss over him. When it was something minor that was another story; he loved to get Dixie to fuss and take care of him, but even she had his number these days. She just scoffs at his minor cuts, leaving him to take care of it himself.
Somehow getting hurt made him feel vulnerable and he didn't like feeling that way. His masculinity was a big part of him and he didn't like it questioned and getting hurt did that in his eyes. Dr Morton hadn't helped by knocking his build when he recently pulled a muscle in his shoulder. Roy had joked about it but Johnny didn't like to think he was 'soft' as Dr Morton had described him. Since that injury he had been working hard on his fitness. He sighed thinking how this was going to set him back fitness wise.
Dr Brackett had told him a new doctor had joined the team so Johnny would get to meet him first hand. The treatment room door opened, Dr Brackett and another doctor walked in. "Johnny I'd like you to meet Dr Kourie. He's taking over for Mike while he spends some time in Paediatrics. Dr Kourie...John Gage" Dr Brackett introduced the men.
"Hello Doc, nice to meet you" said Johnny as he extended his hand. He smiled at the doctor but it soon disappeared when the doctor didn't react to his greeting.
Dr Kourie hesitated and corrected Johnny "I prefer Dr Kourie" he said, and waited to make sure Johnny understood before taking his hand to shake.
"Oh right, sure Doc...I mean Dr Kourie" said Johnny as he felt himself flush. The doctor made him feel like a school kid being chastised for being disrespectful. Dr Brackett sensed Johnny's embarrassment and tried to clear the air between the men. He didn't want them feeling uncomfortable with each other especially since they would have to work closely with each other.
"Johnny's one half of our best paramedic team" said Dr Brackett with pride hoping to break down the superior barrier, that Dr Brackett had observed about Dr Kourie.
"Oh really!" Dr Kourie said surprised "Doesn't look like one of the best at the moment" he replied. Johnny flushed again, even though he agreed with the doctor, being annoyed with himself for getting injured in the first place. He was already feeling guilty over Roy's decision; he didn't need this guy putting him down so an instant dislike was felt by Johnny.
"You'll learn that our paramedics put their lives on the line for their patient quite a lot...and...Sometimes...they come off second best...but that has nothing to do with their capabilities. These are dedicated men who constantly put the patient first...even if it means getting hurt themselves" reiterated Dr Brackett not wanting Dr Kourie to get the wrong idea about his paramedics. "If you like I can arrange for a ride along and you can see firsthand what they do" Dr Brackett suggested.
"It's something to think about" Dr Kourie replied without showing any sign of emotion. Johnny didn't know how to take this man so he decided to just see how things went and try not to obsess over it. He didn't get on with Dr Brackett at first but soon became good friends once they stopped butting heads, so hopefully it would be the same with this doctor.
The door to the treatment room opened a nurse stuck her head in, "Dr Brackett, Dr Early needs you in three" she told him.
"I'll be right there" Dr Brackett replied. "I'll leave you to it Owen. Johnny don't give Dr Kourie any trouble" Dr Brackett said jokingly. Johnny bristled, wishing Dr Brackett hadn't said that, he didn't think this doctor had much of a sense of humor.
Dr Kourie was looking over Johnny's chart and placed the x-rays taken earlier in the panel. He looked them over and switched off the light.
"Do you hurt anywhere besides your leg?" Dr Kourie asked not looking at Johnny as he made notes in the chart.
"Yeah when I fell off the ladder I hurt my back...I landed on my SCBA gear..." Johnny stopped talking when he saw the look Dr Kourie was giving him. "What?" he asked.
"You know the most common work injury is the back" he stated.
Johnny shook his head "What's that have to do with me?" asked Johnny not quite understanding what Dr Kourie was getting at.
"So...how many days off work do you need?" he asked.
"Huh?" said Johnny; he'd never been asked that before.
"How many days do you need off work?" he repeated.
"I don't know what you mean Doc...I mean Dr Kourie. I want you to look at my back" said Johnny a little bewildered with the doctors line of questioning.
Dr Kourie sighed "Ok I'll go along with this charade" he said sounding condescending.
Johnny looked puzzled and sat forward to expose his back. Dr Kourie gave his back a quick glance noting the bruising starting to appear but still not impressed. He checked Johnny's back without much concern.
"There's some bruising, use some heat packs on it and it should be fine in a couple days." He continued to write in the chart, slammed it shut and went to leave.
"Ahh...Dr Kourie...Can I go home?" asked Johnny tentatively.
"Yes like I said heat packs next couple of days" he said tersely, giving Johnny the impression that he was wasting his time.
"What about my leg?" asked Johnny. His leg was quite sore and walking on it was not an option as far as Johnny was concerned.
"Just stay off it for the next couple of days" Dr Kourie replied making Johnny feel like he should already know that.
"Ok...what do I take for the pain?" asked Johnny wondering why he had to spell everything out for this doctor.
Dr Kourie turned around once again looking annoyed "What do you usually take?"
Johnny shrugged "Sometimes aspirin but Doc usually gives me something stronger when I get hurt" Johnny said somewhat puzzled with the Doctor's annoyance.
"And just who is Doc?" asked Dr Kourie not liking the casual way Johnny referred to the doctors.
Johnny cleared his throat realising he should have said the doctors full name "Dr Brackett or Dr Early" said Johnny. This guy was way too intense for his liking.
Seeing the paramedic put in his place Dr Kourie answered quickly "Aspirin is fine" and left the treatment room.
Johnny slowly got up, his back and his leg was really sore. He hadn't been given anything for the pain and would have loved to have been given something to help cope with the movement. He wondered if Roy was still at the hospital, if not he'd have to catch a cab back to the station. Thinking about it Roy probably thought Johnny was staying the night.
He slowly rose and started to get dressed; a nurse came in and was startled to see the fireman in the room and getting dressed. "Oh I'm sorry I was told to clean up this room for another patient."
Johnny smiled at the nurse "I won't be long I'm just getting dressed and ready to leave" Johnny said as he struggled to bend and put on his boots.
The nurse could see he was struggling "Here, let me help you" she said. She helped him put them on and helped him put his t-shirt on. "Your back looks really sore" she said looking at the bruising that was gradually spreading across Johnny's back.
"Yeah it is" replied Johnny. The nurse was a little surprised the fireman had been left to get dressed without help. She felt a little sorry for him as he was clearly in a lot of pain. "You wouldn't happen to have any aspirin would you?" asked Johnny.
"I'm sorry I can't give out any medication without the doctor's authority" she said sympathetically. "Haven't you been given anything?" she asked.
"No and I still have to get back to the station" Johnny said dismally. His whole body complained as he moved and he wondered if he would be able to walk outside to get a cab. "Could you call me a cab?" he asked hoping the nurse would take pity on him. He didn't feel like walking to the front of the hospital to use the courtesy cab phone.
"I need to get this room ready first and then I'll call one for you. What's the destination and what's your name?" she asked.
"It's Johnny Gage and it's to Station51 Carson" answered Johnny.
He slowly limped out and headed towards the ER doors. The pain in his leg and back made him feel sick. It had been a long time since he felt this alone and realised how much he had come to rely on his partner for help in times like this. When he thought about Roy he was glad he was still his partner. He knew his partner would be annoyed with him for not letting him know he was not staying in the hospital and chuckled to himself as he visualized Roy's annoyance. His blues eyes could give off one lethal stare.
When he reached the exit doors the empty bays revealed that the squad had indeed left. Obviously Roy was under the impression that Johnny was staying the night. Even though he didn't like staying in the hospital, he was surprised he had been allowed to go. 'I can look after myself' he told himself and took a deep breath as he leaned against the wall and waited for his cab.