Johnny slid into the driver seat of his Land Rover. He drove away but didn't head towards home. He really didn't want to be alone right now, but somehow being with friends right now didn't appeal to him.

When he finally pulled the key from the ignition he was parked in front of a bar only a few blocks from his apartment. At least here he could get lost in the chaos, he thought to himself.

As Johnny sat sipping at a beer, he could hear a younger man a few tables away bragging to his pals. No doubt he was part of a local crip gang.

Johnny shook his head in disgust.

He didn't pay much attention to the man's bragging until he heard the words I, Killed and Cop in the same sentence. Now this caught his attention.

Johnny decided to listen in on the conversation the best he could from where he was seated at the bar.

"Ok, It went like this. I was just out cruisin', minding my own business ya know. This damn pig gets behind me and flips on the flashers. Bastard pulls me over. I was probably speeding, but that's not important. I was sitting there thinking, how dare this pig think he can pull me over. I pulled out my colt from under the seat, and before he could so much as say Do, his brains were splattered all over I-10."

Johnny's heart skipped a beat. Kolton had been performing a routine traffic stop on I-10 when he had been murdered. The man's laugh was more than enough to send a chill down his spine.

'One less pig to deal with eh boys. Looks like Officer Matthews won't be writing anymore tickets, eh boys?"

Before Johnny knew what he was doing, he had flown from his seat at the bar and his fists were flying at the self-confessed cop killer.
Unfortunately for Johnny the man's two friends were quick to jump to his defense. Before he realized what was happening he was being pulled away from the three gang members by a very displeased looking Vince.

"John Gage. You are the last person I would expect to be involved in a bar fight."

Johnny kept his gaze on the floor as he angrily whispered.

"That no good bastard killed Kolton Vince. I heard him admit to it."

"If that's the case than he will be detained and held accountable for his actions. Unfortunately Johnny, so will you. I'm sorry, it's my job and you know this was not the right way to handle this."

Johnny stayed quiet for the ride to Rampart. He had really messed things up this time, he knew that. But how had anybody expected him to stay calm when some guy a couple tables away had just confessed to killing his best friend?


Johnny sat in the treatment room at Rampart, his gaze never leaving the floor.

When nurse Dixie McCall entered Treatment Room 2 she was surprised to see a certain John Gage on the exam table, he certainly looked worse for wear.

Dr. Brackett was right behind her and also did a double take when he saw half of the counties best paramedic team seated on the exam table. John Gage, he was always finding himself in some sort of trouble, whether it be on duty or off.

He turned to Vince with a questioning look

"What happened here Vince?"

"Seems John here got into a bit of a bar fight."

Johnny resisted the urge to shout out that it hadn't been just some bar fight. This had been personal for him.

A displeased look came across Dixie's face.

"Johnny Gage, I would have expected better from you."

Johnny couldn't take it anymore. He leapt from the table, which cause a wince from him tht he was quick to try and hide.

"It wasn't just a bar fight!!" Johnny screamed, but he immediately regretted that scream as it nearly doubled him over in agony.

"He confessed to killing my best friend."

Dixie shook her head, she remembered that night all too well. Kolton Matthews had been dead on arrival to Rampart General Hospital.
She felt sorry now for scolding the younger man. He had to be falling apart inside. She wasn't sure what more to say, so she said nothing.
Dixie was jerked out of her thoughts at Kel Brackett's voice.

"That is not Dixie's fault Gage." His voice was harsh but not all anger as he helped Johnny back onto the exam table, the pain on his face more noticeable this time.
Johnny hoped that Dr. Brackett hadn't noticed it but luck had failed him. Dr. Brackett hadn't missed either
occurrence.

When all was said and done Johnny ended up with bruised ribs, a black eye and numerous cuts and bruises.