The Size of a Hero
Roy pushed his untouched dinner plate toward the center of the table and then pushed his chair away from the table before getting up and making his way to the bay. Standing at the back bay doors looking out a window in such deep thought that he didn't hear the foot steps coming up behind him.
"She's alright Roy," His partner repeated, for at least the hundredth time that afternoon. "She's just fine."
"I couldn't get to her Johnny, I didn't fit." Roy continued, looking out the window to hide the tears he could feel threatening to over flow.
"You're an adult Roy, adults just don't fit in to the kind of places kids can get themselves into." Johnny persisted in trying to snap his partner out of the funk he was in. "I hope you're not getting the idea that starving yourself is going to change that, because, if you do, I'm gonna haul your butt to Rampart's psyche ward right now."
Johnny heard the door open behind him and turned to see Captain Stanley standing in the doorway watching and listening to what was going on. He knew the captain was trying to decide if Roy needed to be sent home or if he should call in the crisis counselor. Johnny was determined to save his partner from either one.
"Roy, you did everything you possibly could have done. We got her out."
"No, you got her out. My skinny partner got her out."
"Not until the rest of the guys jacked that shed up so I could crawl under it. Man Roy listen to yourself, no one could get in there except Jenny."
"You don't understand, you're not a parent," Roy turned on his partner in frustrated anger, "She's my baby, my little girl, she's only five years old and I couldn't save her." "It's my fault, it's all my fault. She never would have been there in the first place if it wasn't for what I - for what I taught her."