What Becomes of the Broken Hearted (Chapter 2)
When Roy returned to the station, he was met by Mike Stoker, who was still wearing a very anxious expression on his face.
"How's Johnny?" the engineer asked with worry.
Thinking about the recent development that he had inadvertently discovered, Roy smiled knowingly.
"Don't worry about Johnny, Mike…he's doing just fine. He'll be good as new, real quick. I'm starving…anything to eat?"
"In the oven…Marco made his special tacos."
"Great. I'm going to catch a quick shower, first."
When Roy made his way into the locker room, he was greeted by Wes Farrell, the paramedic who would be finishing the rest of Johnny's shift.
"Hi Roy."
"Hey there, Wes."
"How's Johnny doing?" the paramedic asked interestedly.
"He's okay…a bit sore, and he has one hell of a headache…but he'll be fine."
"That's good news. I'll see you out in the squad room…we can catch up then."
"Sure thing," Roy replied with a nod.
After a quick shower, Roy got dressed and joined his temporary partner out in the squad room.
"That was quick, Roy."
"Yeah…well you know how it is, Wes. No time to dilly dally…you just might get caught with your pants down," said the senior medic with a grin.
Walking over to the oven and using a pair of potholders, Roy pulled out the tray of uneaten tacos. Carrying them to the table, he sat down where there was a place setting and poured himself a glass of iced tea.
"Any new ideas on who Gage's new mystery girl might be, Roy?"
The senior paramedic observed Chet for a minute and shook his head.
"No, and we're not going to find out. If he won't tell me…he's not going to tell anyone else. We're just going to have to wait until he tells us."
Wes looked questioningly at Roy.
"What mystery girl, Roy?"
Not giving a chance for Roy to explain, Chet went on to explain the recent topic of discussion to Wes, himself.
"Well, it's like this, Wes…Johnny came to work this morning sickeningly happy. He admitted that it was a girl that he had recently met, but wouldn't elaborate any further on anything beyond that. But then he started talking about marriage and kids..."
"He did not, Chet. You walked in the middle of our conversation."
Wes sat at the table looking fascinatingly at the two firefighters. "So Johnny wants to get married to this woman?"
Putting down the taco that he was just about to take a bite out of, Roy shot Chet a look that told him to be quiet.
"Johnny met someone over the weekend that, yes…made him very happy. In conversations that I have had with him today, until right before he got caught in that explosion…he pretty much alluded that she *could* be the one…but let's not jump to conclusions. We all know that Johnny sometimes has a short attention span when it comes to things."
"Or people," Chet added.
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Through the night Johnny slept comfortably, aided of course by several short visits from Anna.
The next morning, Johnny was sitting up in bed, talking to Roy who came by after an early morning run.
"How are you feeling, Johnny?" Roy asked, hoping that his partner wasn't feeling too badly.
"I'm alright…except for a mean headache. You didn't…" questioned Johnny nervously.
"No, I didn't tell anyone about you and a certain someone."
"I really am sorry for the way you found out, Roy. My intention was to tell you, but we wanted to wait awhile."
"I understand perfectly. You're maturing, Johnny…and that's a good thing."
Johnny smiled and sighed softly. "I guess I am. Who replaced me for the rest of the shift?"
"Wes Farrell. I should get going, Johnny…Wes is waiting for me downstairs. I'll swing by later. Stay out of trouble, partner."
"I'll try…but it's awfully difficult," Johnny replied with a tired smile.
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After spending a few days in Rampart, Johnny was finally discharged.
So as not to raise any suspicions, it was Roy who took Johnny home, but it was Anna who greeted him at his apartment.
"Good morning, Roy," Anna greeted warmly, and with a smile that he knew was largely meant for Johnny.
"Hi there, Anna. Well…he's all yours."
"Aren't you going to stay? I made some lunch."
"No, that's okay…you two need your privacy…I remember how things were at one time. Besides, I need to head back home to Joanne. She has a list of things for me to do. I'll be in touch, Johnny."
Roy gave his partner a wink, and left.
Once Roy was gone, Anna gave Johnny a big hug, and an equally big kiss.
"Whoa. What's that for?" asked Johnny in a very surprised tone.
"Because I am so glad you're okay. That day when I saw you lying in the treatment room and you were so still…"
"I can only imagine how it must've been for you, Anna…but going into this, you knew what the situation was."
"I know…but it doesn't make it any easier to deal with things."
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Over the next few weeks, Johnny and Anna settled into a comfortable arrangement in their relationship. Gradually folks at Rampart, and other paramedics learned of their relationship, and were very supportive of it.
When they were both on duty, it was business as usual, although they were able to steal a moment here and there for a quick kiss.
Returning to the station after a run, Johnny was greeted by Chet.
"I gotta hand it to ya, Gage…Anna…how in the world did you get a babe like her to go out with you…let alone agree to continue seeing you?"
Johnny sighed loudly. "First of all, Chet…yes, she is a babe…but first and foremost, Anna is a woman…a very classy…beautiful…smart…fun woman. And she and I were friends long before we started to go out. So be quiet."
"It seems to me that you're jealous, Chet," replied Marco casually.
"Shut up, Marco. I can have any woman I want."
Marco looked at his friend and shook his head. "I don't believe it."
"Hey…remember those models who had the photo shoot here at the station? They dug me."
Johnny rolled his eyes. "They felt sorry for you, Chet."
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In the course of the next year, Johnny and Anna had taken their relationship to the next level. They had become very serious and Johnny was getting ready to propose to her.
On a Sunday evening, shortly before Valentine's Day, Anna had come over to Johnny's apartment for dinner. She had no idea what Johnny was planning to do, but she had some thoughts of her own.
After a very leisurely dinner, the two of them were sitting on the couch. Johnny was getting ready to pop the question, but Anna dropped a bombshell of her own.
"Johnny…I have something to tell you."
"Sure, what is it? You're…you're not pregnant or anything, are you?" He asked nervously.
"No," came Anna's soft reply.
Noting the extremely serious look on Anna's face, Johnny wasn't quite sure what to expect her to say, but it sure wasn't what was about to come out.
"You know I love you, Johnny, right? You're the best thing that's ever happened to me…but I can't be with you anymore."
Johnny was stunned. "You…you can't be with me anymore? What happened, Anna? I…I thought…I thought this was the real thing. What exactly are you saying?"
"I can't do this anymore. It's too hard. Every time I hear that there's a Code I…or see you on a stretcher coming through the ER doors…all I can think about is how I could lose you. In the last year alone, you had three close calls. That building collapse a few months ago…five firefighters were killed…you almost became number six…you were that close. I love you too much to lose you, but I love you too much to stay with you. I'm sorry, Johnny. I also start my new job at Harbor General in a few days…I'm leaving Rampart. I think it would be for the best."
Johnny was too shocked about everything to say anything. He sat on the couch, trying to comprehend everything that Anna had just told him.
Kissing Johnny one last time, she got up, got her purse and left his apartment.
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That night was a sleepless night for Johnny. He could only lie in bed, staring at the blue velvet box that he had on his night stand…a symbol of what could have been.
The next morning, Johnny arrived at the station very early, 6:30 AM to be exact. After changing into his uniform, he set about brewing fresh coffee.
When the morning tones sounded, signaling one more hour of the shift, he was greeted by his friends on C-shift.
"Johnny, you made fresh coffee."
Smiling tiredly, he nodded his head. "Yeah, I did Clay."
"Thanks, John. By the way, why are you here so early?"
Johnny sighed softly, and looked tiredly up at the captain.
"Guess I was done sleeping. I figured that I'd get an early start. Enjoy the coffee, fellas."
Getting up, Johnny made his way over to the couch and sat down with his cup of coffee resting on his knee.
When Charlie Dwyer and his partner, Matt Thompson, entered the room and glanced over at a very melancholy John Gage on the couch, they walked over to Clay.
"What's going on with Johnny? Why does he look like he just lost his best friend? Nothing happened between him and Roy, did it?"
"I have no idea, Charlie. He's been here since 6:30 or so…made the coffee…and then he sat down. He didn't say much about anything."
Arriving early so he could meet with his C-shift counterpart, Hank entered the squad room, noticing Johnny sitting forlornly on the couch.
"John…what time did you get here, pal?" Hank asked curiously, concerned that something was seriously wrong.
"I don't know…sometime after six, I think," came the toneless reply.
"You okay? You look a little worn out."
"I'm okay, Cap."
"Alright…but if…"
"I'm fine…really," Johnny said with a nod.
Gradually the rest of the A-shift crew arrived. When Roy made his way out to the squad room, he noticed Johnny sitting on the couch, extreme tiredness on his partner's usually expressive face.
"Johnny?" Roy called out softly.
"Hey, Roy. You just get here?"
"Yeah. How about you?"
"I guess I've been here awhile."
Before anything else could be said, Captain Stanley called everyone out to the vehicle bay for roll call.
Sensing something wrong, the crew's usual banter was missing. Hank read through the usual announcements, and handed out the chores, and the men went their separate ways.
As Johnny started to check their supplies, Roy was observing him for a few moments.
"Johnny…if you want to talk…"
Johnny looked at his partner and licked his lips a few times, before softly speaking.
"She broke it off, Roy…said she couldn't handle all the worrying."
"Johnny…I am so sorry. When did this happen?"
"Last night. She was the one, Roy. I was going to propose to her. It gets better…she also decided to take a job at another hospital…Harbor General. She says seeing me all the time would be too hard." Johnny paused a few moments, and then after letting out a small chuckle, continued. "It's ironic, isn't it? People tell me that I'M the one with the reputation…that I can't commit. I'm done…finished. It's going to be a long time before I give my heart to another woman…I wouldn't even try to hold my breath about it."
When the first alarm of the morning went off, it was only for the engine, leaving the two paramedics time and privacy to talk about Johnny's heartache.
"How did it go down, Johnny?" Roy asked, half out of concern, and half out of morbid curiosity.
"She came over to my place for dinner. We had a great evening…but she never said a word, Roy. We were sitting on the couch after dinner, and I was going to propose to her, but then she started talking first. She flat out told me that we couldn't see each other anymore. It was hard to hear for sure, but you know what bothers me the most? The fact that she had the whole year to think about things, and she let it go so long. If she had doubts about us…why the hell didn't she speak up sooner? Boy…do I feel like the world's biggest fool."
"You shouldn't feel like that, Johnny. You did nothing wrong." Roy stood looking at his partner, his blue eyes full of concern over his best friend's misery.
"No, I didn't…but people are going to make some big assumptions about me, and say that it was my fault for Anna leaving Rampart."
"So set them straight. Listen, I won't say anything to anyone about your break-up."
"I don't care, Roy. Everyone's going to find out about it really quick, anyway."
After finishing their supply check, and vehicle inspection, the two paramedics set about doing their morning chores…Johnny, the latrines, and Roy, the dorms.
An hour later, with still no calls for the paramedics, the engine returned.
"You guys are still here?" Chet asked with surprise.
"Yeah…no calls, yet."
"Where's Johnny, Roy?"
"In the locker room, I guess, Cap."
"Is he alright? I thought he looked rather spent this morning."
"Well, Cap…actually the answer to that is no. Anna broke it off with him last night. He's devastated…he was going to propose to her."
Marco shook his head sadly. "Poor guy."
Returning to the squad room, Johnny noted everyone's facial expression.
"Judging by the look on all of your faces…I gather that Roy told you all about my news. So now you know. I'd appreciate it if you guys all just let it go…I'm kind of talked out right now."
Hank nodded his head. "I'm really sorry, Johnny. Just know that we're all here for ya, pal…if you ever do want to talk."
"Thanks, I appreciate it. Right now…the best thing for me would be to get a call right now."
As if on cue, the alarm sounded.
"Station 51, traffic accident…corner of Jefferson and Lincoln…timeout 0945."
Arriving on scene, the paramedics quickly surveyed the accident. Two vehicles, a brown sedan, and a blue Volkswagen Beetle had collided.
"I'll take the brown sedan, Roy."
"Okay."
Making his way to the vehicle, Johnny put on his game face and went right to work.
Looking in the car, he was met by a pair of frightened blue eyes.
Putting on a reassuring smile, he carefully opened the front passenger door.
"Hi there. I'm John Gage. I'm a paramedic, and I am going to help you get out of here. What's your name?"
"Claudia," came the scared and soft response.
"Okay, Claudia. Can you tell me where you hurt?"
"My head and shoulder…left one."
While Johnny continued to examine his victim, Roy was at the other vehicle, a blue Volkswagen Beetle, examining the second victim.
After both victims were extricated and their injuries were called in to Rampart, the paramedics set about following their prescribed treatment orders.
"Roy…you go in with them."
Understanding why Johnny didn't want to go in the ambulance, Roy nodded his head in understanding.
After the two women were safely secured in the ambulance, Roy jumped inside.
"I'll meet you at Rampart, Johnny."
As Johnny was stowing away the rest of the equipment, Hank and the rest of the crew stood watching him for a few moments. They could only imagine how much his heart was hurting. When everyone had found out that Johnny was dating Rampart's head ER nurse, they were a little surprised, but quickly realized how great of match the two of them really were. Watching their interaction at get togethers and on a daily basis, they knew how much in love the two of them really were. To know that Anna had broken their friend's heart, Johnny's friends truly felt bad for him.
At Rampart, Roy went in with the two victims, while Johnny, probably against protocol, waited for his partner in the squad.
After helping out in one of the treatment rooms, Roy was at the nurses' desk, getting some supplies.
"You probably hate me for what I did to Johnny."
Roy looked up at Anna. "No, not me…I don't make judgments. I will say you hurt him real bad. I don't condemn you for what you did, Anna…lord knows, my wife deals with the same concerns constantly. I just gotta tell you…your timing really stinks. You broke his heart. Why did you let it go for as long as you did, if you knew how this was going to play out?"
"Because I loved him…I really did," she said softly.
"He was going to propose to you…did you know that?"
Anna's face told Roy that she had had a sense of what was about to come, but broke his best friend's heart any way.
"Here are the supplies I need."
After getting the requested supplies, and putting them in a small box, she handed them to Roy.
"Thanks."
As Roy was about to turn to start walking away, Anna interjected one more thing.
"He's going to be alright, isn't he?"
Roy sighed softly. "You know Johnny…he might bend, but he won't break. He'll be fine eventually…he'll just need some time. See you later."
When Roy got to the squad, he put away the supplies, and got in behind the wheel.
Looking over at his partner, he noted Johnny's glum expression.
"I'm not even gonna ask," Johnny commented softly.
"Good. It's probably better that you don't."
Johnny sighed loudly. "You know what I need? To get away for a while…a vacation."
"Yeah? That sounds like a good idea, Johnny."
"Where to go? Usually I'd go camping or something…but I think I really need to get away-away. You got any ideas, Roy?"
"I think that's your call. You have plenty of time to think about it."
Returning to the station, they were met by the great smells of Marco's cooking.
"Mmmm…Marco's tacos. Come on Roy…let's go eat."
Roy was amazed. Even though he knew how badly Johnny was feeling emotionally, at the moment, his partner was hungry…a pretty good sign.
The two paramedics sat down at the table with the rest of their friends, who had just sat down themselves.
"Cap, do you mind if I put in for some vacation time?"
"No problem. For when?"
"Next week…maybe two weeks."
Exhaling loudly, Hank nodded his head. "Yeah, I think I can swing it. We can take care of the paperwork after lunch."
"Thanks, Cap…I really appreciate it, Johnny replied with a nod.
"So where are you going to go?"
"I don't know, Mike. I just decided this less than an hour ago." Smiling, Johnny then added, "Don't worry about me, fellas…I'm not fragile, you know."
"If anyone knows that, it's us Johnny."
"Thanks, Marco. Anyone got any ideas?"
Getting up, Chet walked over to the telephone and returned to the table carrying a pen and pad.
"Let's write all the ideas down…it'll be easier for you to keep track of."
Offering his two cents right away was Marco. "Mexico…hands down. You'll love it there. A little cottage on the beach…blue skies…clear waters…"
Offering his ideas, Mike chimed in next. "Some island paradise. Jamaica or Bermuda…they'd offer pretty much the same things as Mexico…but you'd be a little further away."
"I don't know how much money you'd wanna spend, John, but what about Europe? Italy and France are beautiful…and think of the great pictures you could take."
"That's a thought, Cap."
"I bet you'd enjoy the Grand Canyon, Johnny. I took Joanne and the kids there a few years ago…it was so beautiful."
Johnny waited for Chet's idea. "Chet?"
"How about a cruise? A different port every few days. That could be pretty interesting."
"Hawaii?"
"Canada?"
Johnny smiled and nodded his head. "Thanks…you guys all gave me some wonderful ideas. I thank you for the in-put."
After lunch, Johnny was in Hank's office filling out the paperwork for his requested time off.
"Two weeks, huh?" Hank said with a soft sigh.
"I really appreciate it, Cap. I just want some time to clear my head. When I come back, I'll be a new man…I promise."
"Just like that? Are you sure it's over, between you and Anna?"
"She made it very clear. I'm not really upset with her for breaking up with me…I'm just mad as hell that she led me on for so long. Roy probably left out the best part…Anna's leaving Rampart to work at another hospital. She says that she couldn't handle seeing me all the time."
"Well, I'm sorry things didn't work out for you, John…I know how happy you were."
"Thanks…it means a lot to have your support, Cap."
"So…you decide where you're going?"
Grinning mysteriously, Johnny shook his head. "I'll let you guys know when I come back."
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