Everything Changes

*This story begins where "When Times Are Tough" left off, but it is not necessary to read the other one first.

Chapter One

The slight breeze that came in through the screened window gently tickled her nose, waking her from a very restful night's sleep. Instinctively, she rubbed her face to make the tickle go away and then slowly opened her eyes. She looked at the clock… 6:55 in the morning. The alarm would go off in five minutes. Sharon Walter closed her eyes again to make the most of those five minutes. She lay there dreaming about a certain handsome paramedic who was coming to take her to breakfast this morning.

Johnny Gage been relentless since he first laid eyes on Sharon, asking her every time he saw her if she would go out on a date with him. For weeks she resisted his charms, but one day he came in to Rampart Hospital Emergency Room with that crooked smile of his, fresh from a structure fire, on the way home at the end of his shift. He looked a mess with soot across his nose and cheek but he flashed his big brown eyes at her with his signature, crooked smile and asked her for at least the hundredth time if she would please just consider going out with him one time. Here he was, looking a total mess and smelling of smoke, yet he was still persistent enough to ask her yet again to go out with him. Realizing he would never stop asking, she finally gave in.

Not being one to rush into things, Sharon had only allowed Johnny to take her out twice more since that first date. She allowed him to take her to breakfast on their second date. For their third date she agreed to see a movie, but she brought her bosses (and good friends) Dixie McCall and Kel Brackett along as chaperones! She wanted to get to know each other slowly and have time to develop a friendship before rushing into anything more serious. She'd heard from the other nurses that it wasn't how Johnny usually operated, but she hadn't chased him, he'd pursued her. If he wanted more than casual friendship he'd have to play by her rules. So far, he was.

Sharon was just 21 and Johnny was 27, but the two found that they had a lot in common. Both enjoyed the outdoors, both loved horses, they liked a lot of the same music, and of course, both had chosen professions involving helping others. The more time Sharon spent with Johnny the more time she wanted to spend with him.

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP The alarm was going off, causing her vision of her handsome paramedic to fade away as she opened her eyes. "I had better get myself moving." she said out loud to herself. She sat up and dropped her legs over the side of the bed, her feet touching the cool, hardwood floor of her bedroom. She arched her back in a slow stretch, tilting her head back and then sat straight a moment before standing up. Quickly but neatly she made her bed then headed off to the kitchen to start the coffee.

While the coffee was percolating, Sharon headed back to her room to decide just what she should wear for the morning. After much indecision she finally picked out a cream colored short- sleeved sweater and a pair of blue jeans. Nothing too fancy, but definitely comfortable. She set her outfit on the bed, along with her unmentionables and then chose a pair of shoes to wear and set them on the floor near the foot of the bed.

After she had her first cup of coffee she headed off to shower and "put on her face." By the time she had dressed and started her second cup of coffee, it was 8:15. She thought she had done pretty well for herself, ready with 15 minutes to spare. Just then her doorbell rang. Sharon almost ran to the door, being careful to look through the peephole before she opened the door to one of the handsomest most eligible bachelors she had ever seen.

"Good morning, Johnny!" Sharon was cheerful. She was looking forward to spending the day with him.

"Good morning. You look great!" Johnny answered with enthusiasm.

"Thank you," said Sharon, blushing. "You look good too." Johnny was wearing black jeans with a long-sleeved white dress shirt with the top few buttons opened, showing a hint of his tanned, firm chest. Sharon liked what she saw and blushed even more when she thought he noticed her eyeing him a bit too long.

"These are for you," Johnny said, holding out a small bouquet of wildflowers. "I… thought you might… like them." He stammered with a grin. Was she really checking him out?

"Oh, aren't you sweet? They are beautiful." Sharon smiled back and thanked him. She took them from him and invited him inside while she looked for something to put them in.

Progress! She hasn't invited me in before. Johnny stepped into the living room and closed the door behind him. "Great apartment. The natural light coming in is fantastic," he complimented.

"The more natural daylight the better," she said. "Would you like a cup of coffee or do you just want to go?" she asked. The flowers were now in a tall glass of water on her kitchen counter.

"That's up to you," he answered. "What do you want to do?"

"Are you very hungry?" she asked.

"Starved," admitted the fireman.

"Me too, let's go!" Sharon laughed and reached for her purse. After she locked the door Johnny held out his arm for her to take hold of and he walked her to his car.

Always the gentleman, Johnny opened the door for her to get in and closed it when she was properly situated. Then he quickly walked around to the driver's side and got in.

"Where are we going this time?" asked Sharon.

"Any preferences?" Johnny asked, looking into her beautiful green eyes.

"Not really," she answered. "I was just curious."

Johnny nodded his head once. Then a very thoughtful look came over his face. "Sharon, how would you like a picnic brunch instead of going to a restaurant?"

"Sure!" she answered enthusiastically. "I'm game for anything."

Johnny raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh yeah?"

Sharon blushed in response. "Johnny, you are incorrigible!"

"So I have been told!" he answered with a slightly naughty grin.

"Johnny," Sharon quickly changed gears. "Why don't we invite Roy and his wife to join us? I bet they'd like a picnic."

"They have kids." Johnny answered.

"I like kids," she argued back. "Besides, kids get hungry too!"

"You're right, they do," he said. "I can't argue with that!" Johnny grinned and shook his head. This chick is tough to break! Johnny drove into a grocery store parking lot and found a pay phone. He got out and slipped a dime into the slot before dialing his partner's phone number. I sure hope Joanne answers.

"DeSoto residence, Joanne speaking." Joanne had picked up on the first ring.

"Joanne? It's me, Johnny."

"Oh, hi Johnny. Why are you cal… Is Roy alright?" Joanne was worried. It was past the time Roy usually got home from his shift and now Johnny was calling her. "He hasn't been…"

"Relax!" Johnny interrupted the somewhat panicked wife of his best friend. "Roy is fine. At least he was when we left the station a while ago. He's not home yet?" It was Johnny's turn to be concerned.

"No, he usually home by 8:30, 9:00 at the latest unless he calls to say he'll be late. I haven't heard… Oh… Wait… He's just pulling up now. He had me positively worried!"

"I'm sure he has a good excuse, Joanne. He probably stopped to get some breakfast or something." Johnny was almost as relieved as Joanne.

"Yean, I guess so," she answered. "Why were you calling, Johnny?"

"Oh, yeah. Ah, a friend and I thought we would drive up to the mountains and have a picnic brunch and we thought that maybe… well… maybe you and Roy and the kids would like to come along."

"Oh Johnny, how thoughtful of you! I am sure the kids would love to spend their day with their Uncle Johnny and I know I would enjoy getting away from this house for a while. This friend of yours wouldn't happen to be a certain red headed nurse from Rampart Emergency would she?"

Johnny's crooked smile took over his face as he answered sheepishly, "Well, yes. Yes Sharon is the friend that is going with me."

"Good, I have been wanting to meet her!" Joanne stated. "What can we bring and where shall we meet? We can all fit in the station wagon if you want, but you'd probably prefer we go in two cars I would think."

"Bring what ever sounds good. I'm going to stop and pick up juice, fruit, cheese and croissants. I guess we could all fit in the station wagon, but the Rover does better on the mountain roads. I think it would be better if I drove the Rover and you and Roy brought the truck. How 'bout if we meet at your place and then the kids can ride in the Rover?"

"Great! I'll start getting everyone ready! Thanks for the invitation."

"Any time! See you soon."

John was happy that he had gotten Joanne and not Roy on the phone. Roy would have declined citing his infamous honey-do list, but Jo didn't get out enough.

Johnny returned to the Rover to see large green inquisitive eyes looking out from a beautiful face, waiting for an answer from him. "We'll have to go pick them up," he said. The kids will ride with us." The smile on Sharon's face made it worth it.

Please leave me a review. Tell me what you think, what you like, what you would like to read or whatever else you are willing to share. Thanks! -Hotflash