Johnny sat in his apartment. He had slept for awhile but was now sitting awake and sitting in his kitchen. He didn't really have plans for his days off. Sometimes he thought he'd just rather be at the station. He sighed quietly. He might as well enjoy his days off, after all he only had three, than he would be working yet another 72 hour shift. This was the worst time of the year, which meant little rest, because fires don't have days off.
He wondered what Roy was up to. He contemplated giving him a call, but decided against it. Roy was probably still sound asleep. Although Johnny refused to admit it to himself he was still exhausted. He continued to sit at the table, his brown hair looking like he walked through a room of statically charged balloons. His eyelids began to droop and before long he was slumped over the kitchen table, fast asleep.
Roy stirred, slowly regaining consciousness. The pain in his chest and head were almost unbearable. What had happened? He remembered, he had hit a tree. Roy sat quietly for a moment, trying to gather his senses. He gazed at the tree for a few moments. How could he have missed seeing it? He was paying for it now, that was for certain. Roy winced as he his hand toward the key in the ignition. Having looked at his chest and finding nothing more than bruising he decided that if the now more compact jeep would start, to drive himself home. It took a couple of tries but the engine finally turned over. The rattling and clanking the vehicle made were awful. The jeep did not sound happy to be awoken from it's tree induced slumber, and lurched forward out of spite. Slowly Roy started driving the battered jeep home. After parking in the driveway, and noticing that the S.U.V was now gone, Roy stumbled his way into the house. He carefully changed out of his bloody shirt and cleaned up the gash on his forehead before making his way to the living room and gingerly lowering his battered body onto the sofa.
Johnny rubbed his eyes attempting to rid the sleep from them. When had he fallen asleep at the table? He stretched as he stood. He was wide awake now. He picked up the phone and dialed Roy's number. After about 5 minutes of ringing and no answer Johnny became concerned. He knew Roy was at home, he hoped everything was alright and decided to go check on his partner just in case. He grabbed his jacket and keys as he ran out the door.
Roy had been in too much agony to fall asleep once he had returned home. He was still mentally chastising himself for not seeing the tree, when someone knocked on his door. A look of confusion came to rest on his face. Who could it be? He wasn't expecting company. He hoped it wasn't a salesman, last thing he needed was to deal with one of them right now. He rose carefully from the sofa. It took him the better part of ten minutes to reach the door. He was surprised when he opened it to see Johnny on the other side of it.
"Hey Junior, What brings you by? He didn't try to feign happiness, he was too distraught for the thought to even cross his mind. He did know though that he couldn't let Johnny see the agony he was physically in right now. He wasn't one to normally hide an injury from anyone especially Johnny, but he was sure he was fine and that it was just some bruises and last thing he needed right now was to deal with Bracket, Morton , Early or Dix. He just wanted to be left alone, although he was secretly glad that Johnny had shown up.
"When you didn't answer your phone I figure I should come check and make sure everything was ok." Johnny paused for a moment relaxing how run-down and depressed Roy appeared, also noticing Jo-Ann and the kids were nowhere in sight hut didn't put two and two together right than.
"From the looks of it I was right, You look awful Roy."
Roy sighed softly.
"I wish everything was ok Partner. I don't know what I'm going to do without Jo and the kids Johnny." The hurt and pain in voice was most evident just than.
Johnny was shocked at what Roy had just said. Had something happened to Jo and the kids? He had noticed the S.U.V was gonna nd had assumed Jo and the kids had gone on some type of errands. Had something horrible happened to them Johnny worried.
"What happened Roy? Are Jo and the kids ok?" He asked concerned.
Roy looked up at Johnny. He thought Jo and the kids were hurt, he knew by the concerned and somewhat panicked look that was written all over Johnny's face.
"Yes, they are fine... Jo left me Junior... She said my job was too hard on her and the kids. " He paused, "I suppose she was probably right, it wasn't fair to them and I should have seen it. It's too late now though. They are gone."
Roy and Johnny talked for a couple of hours. They talked about various things, life being a major part of that. Johnny had always been very understanding when Roy needed someone to talk to, despite him being a kid at heart he could also be very mature when the time called for it and that was something Roy was very thankful for.
"Well," Johnny started, standing up.
"I guess I should go and let you get some rest. You sure look like you could use it. You gonna be ok Roy? Something tells me your not telling me everything." Johnny said raising an eyebrow at Roy.
"Yes I'm fine Junior. It's nothing." Roy lied. He hated lying to Johnny, but he was sure he was going to be just fine and didn't want to deal with anymore people right now. He really just wanted to be alone.
Johnny wasn't sure he should believe Roy when he said he was only exhausted. Yeah he looked exhausted, but Johnny sensed there was something much more serious going on here that Roy would not divulge.
Just than Roy ran his fingers through his dark brown hair and Johnny noticed the deep gash on his forehead. His eyes widened a bit when he saw this.
"That gash there doesn't look like nothing Roy." Johnny stated a bit annoyed that Roy was holding something back from him.
"What they hell happened Partner? That gash didn't just appear out of nowhere so don't you dare try to tell me it's nothing." He was determined to get at least part of the story out of Roy whether he wanted to tell him or not.
Roy sighed. Well, he thought, he couldnt keep the crash from Johnny any longer, that was evident.
"It's ok Junior. I'm fine just had a minor run in with a tree." Roy state sheepishly, still embarrassed about the earlier accident that had all but totaled him and his car.
He hoped Johnny wouldn't drag this out and believe that he really was ok.
Johnny eyed Roy, not sure whether to believe him or not. He finally relented figuring that if something were seriously wrong Roy would have told him. He sighed.
"Alright Partner, Your off the hook, for now." Johnny stated.
"But I will call later to check on you." He said as he walked out the door and made his way to the driveway.
Roy closed the door before making his way slowly back to the living room ad lowered himself onto the couch.
His was grateful for Johnny's company, but it was good to be alone again. He took a deep breath, which caused his chest to scream in pain. He was a bit puzzled but just chalked it up to being tense and upset.