Disclaimer: I don't own Emergency!

Warning: contains child abuse

Chapter four

It wasn't much of a party since Savannah was on a painkiller for her injured arm. He did try to appease her however and was rewarded with a tiny smile that although it didn't reach her eyes was better than the frown she had had since he brought her home. He considered calling time off from work but decided he needed to work to get his mind off of the current situation.

So Johnny found himself early for once in the dayroom in full uniform with Savannah sitting in the chair next to him sadly looking up from time to time. The bruise on the right side of her face was a dark purplish color and the cast that went from her elbows and then down to her hands had all type of penmanship on it wishing her a speedy recovery.

Chet happened to come in and took in the sight of Savannah's bruise and stood there shocked. He didn't know much kids with bruises like that on a two year old but he knew that no kid would ever have a bruise like that on one entire side of their face. When she realized that he was there she looked up with sad eyes and Chet shuddered knowing that the pain in the depths of her brown eyes were a lot deeper than anyone would imagine.

"Oh hullo Chet," Johnny greeted distracedly while he absentmindly did the crossword puzzle from the newspaper.

"Hey cutie, I think Cap's gonna blow a casket," Chet added knowing the warning that Hank gave out was serious. He didn't want a child in the station because he simply didn't want to turn it into a daycare.

Johnny sighed.

"If you could just understand Chet. She was either going to a facility or I was to take her to work with me. They have to do a full investigation and I guess being with co-workers made them think that nothing would go wrong," Johnny explained.

Chet nodded and again noticed how sad she was. She wasn't even her happy normal self and Chet knew whatever it was the girl wasn't going to just tell them.

Marco and Mike were next coming in and they were just as shocked as Chet to see the condition that the girl was in. It pained them to see the injuries she had had and now knew why the party had been canceled. Roy entered and by the fact that he wasn't showing any suprise meant that he probably already knew the situation.

Roy confirmed their thoughts.

"She's staying with Jo and me until the investigation is finished. They don't want a child going back to a home where she's going to be beat sensless," he explained.

"Roll call in ten minutes you twits-" Hank stopped with suprise as he saw the girl also.

He knew alot of things that his girls hadn't experienced when they were young and this was by far definately not one of them. She had on a pretty pink shirt along with a short blue skirt and a matching pair of white sandels. Her hair was in the usual fountain style but this time there was a yellow bow in her hair. Her eyes showed deep dispair and she wasn't her normal cheerful self.

"Sorry cap but-"Johnny tried to explain but Hank held his hand up shaking his head.

"No need to explain, I just hope that she cheers up fast," he added for the first time showing concern.

"She has a little fever too so she is a little lethargic so that would contribute to it Cap," Johnny explained.

Hank nodded.

"Hey Savannah what would you like? How about a muffin?" He asked her.

Savannah looked deep in thought then smiled a little and she did seem to be a little up in spirits.

"Pancake," she asked.

Hank looked at the other men and was suprised to see Mike already preparing to make them. He mentally smiled knowing how much it was going to make little Savannah's day.

The problem though was that since both her hands were in a cast, she couldn't use the utensils to eat her breakfast, but Johnny set down the puzzle he was working on lately and pulled up to her.

"Daddy no me do it," she said with a laugh that finally reached her eyes.

Johnny shook his head with a smile.

"Let me spoil my baby girl," he told her.

She happily complied and the others watched with amusement knowing that the bond that they had was that strong father daughter relationship that they've started and was unbreakable. Mike knew what her purpose was. She was the light in Johnny's life and she was the one that was finally going to make Johnny mature a bit.

"Put on your gloves Savannah," Johnny told her for the fourth time.

He was going to make an inspection with Roy and he wanted his daughter warm so she didn't catch pnemonia since she already had a bout of the flu.

"No daddie, I have mittens on," she told him holding up her casts to try to prove a point.

Chet was laughing.

"She has a point Johnny," he said.

"Quiet Chet. Savannah please," he continued to beg.

"NO! My mittens are on, me mittens are on," she started to repeat.

"Okay," Johnny fianlly relented.

He and Roy then made the way to the auto shop near tenth street. Roy started the inspections while the owner was busy ogling Savannah seemingly feeling sorry for the little girl.

"She yours," he asked Roy.

"Mine," Johnny answered. He was busily checking the pipes to make sure there were no leaks.

The guy nodded.

"She okay," he asked.

Johnny eyed him and he wisely shut up. Roy and Johnny continued to inspect it while Savannah sat on a chair rummaging through her little backpack. Roy smiled when they were done explaining that there was nothing wrong and he passed the inspection while watching his partner out of the corner of his eyes. Johnny was holding her and her head was laying on his shoulder and there was a little white teddy bear in the crook of her arm. He was just beginning to realize how much the little girl was beginning to mean to his younger partner and it looked like the guy was maturing alot since he took the responsibility of her. He wished he could get a picture because it would have been good.

Sighing they went to the squad and he watched amused as his partner first put his daughter safely in the squad and then got in himself.

"What," his partner asked when he noticed the look the senior paramedic was giving him.

"It's just that you are much more responsible and you're a good father. I just can't help but think that she's the one positive thing in your life that has been good besides the paramedic program," Roy explained.

Johnny shook his head as Roy started the engine and started back towards headquarters. He knew thought that he loved her and would do anything for her but the question was, what would he do without her now?