Thanks to all who reviewed! I appreciate Soldier Heart for being my ever faithful beta reader. Please review and let me know how you are liking the story so far.
Back to the present...
"What happened then?" Matt asked grateful that the alarm bell hadn't gone off. He realized his Captain needed to get this out in the open even though it had been ten years before.
"Roy came in with little Jenny. Jenny pulled away from her daddy and ran to my side. She handed me the picture she had drawn and managed to give me a big kiss. I was in tears at the affection this little 5 year old was showing me. Roy apologized, thinking Jenny had hurt me. I just looked at him, telling him to wait. Jenny told me how she was sad her Uncle Johnny was sick. She wanted me to get better so I could play with her. Then she fell asleep next to me. Roy and I talked for about half an hour before Roy decided he'd better head home. Roy scooped up his sleeping child in his arms, promising to come back to see me and left the room. I realized that his kids loved me just like an uncle. I was deeply touched by this, considering I never married and had kids," Johnny said, another tear escaping his eye.
"Wow. I'm glad Jenny didn't react badly to seeing you injured," Matt said taking a sip of his coffee.
"I know. After that, Roy never questioned bringing his children to see me or him when we were injured. He knew then his kids could handle seeing us injured," Johnny said.
"What happened to that picture she drew for you?" Matt asked.
"I have it at home; along with everything else those kids gave me. I kept everything they gave me over the years," Johnny replied smiling.
"That is so nice. Those kids really look up to you."
"Yeah they do. And they were so young when their father was taken from them," Johnny said tears flowing freely.
"How old were they?" Matt asked, realizing moisture was gathering in his eyes.
"Chris was 12 and Jenny was 10. He and Joanne had been married for 16 years and we had been working together for 11 years. It was the worst day of my life," Johnny said as began to relieve the nightmare that happened a decade before.
