Thank you for your lovely comments. John is still in a world of hurt. Thanks again for reading.
John woke up to stare at two very different eyes, Roy his partner and Brackett. He knew he was in the hospital, again.
He tried to sit up only to be pushed down by DeSoto.
"Stay," his partner said gently, his blue eyes fill of worry and concern.
"I'm not a dog Roy," Gage sat up again. Roy glared at him and he sunk back into the bed.
"Johnny what's the last thing you remember?" Brackett crossed his arms seeing what was wrong with his patient, since it didn't appear physical.
"Remember? I was on shift Doc. We came in with a patient and then I went home after shift," John looked annoyed. "C'mon what is this all about, huh? I don't want to be here."
"Well Johnny nothing showed on your skull x-rays and I'm going to have the psychiatrist come talk to you and…."
"I'm not crazy," John pointed a finger at Roy, "although my partner thinks differently." Gage crossed his arms.
"Johnny I don't," Roy frowned, "okay I called you nutty but you're still my partner and I choose only the best."
"C'mon Roy, Johnny you'll have an overnight stay," Brackett left with his partner.
Gage stared up at the ceiling, wondering what he would do, now. The shrink would find out everything and poof, his paramedic career would be over. Hell it could be over now.
The shrink came and left. The nurse brought in dinner which he ate and then he closed his eyes. Sleep would not come, turning on his side, he felt the silent tears stream down his face unable to stop them.
*****
Given a clean bill of health, Johnny returned back to work. The shrink said he was stressed and needed to stay home a few days. After one day he was climbing the wall, some stress relive. He tried hiking but it did nothing to ease his anxiousness, work would help.
Changing in the locker room for his first shift back his partner was surprised to see him.
"Johnny!" Roy gave him a concerned look.
"I got a clean bill of health Roy. So don't say a word," Gage tied his laces and went out to the bay and leaned against the squad.
Roll call done, John left with Marco to hang hoses and left Roy cleaning the dorm. The quietness of his partner bothered him. Something was going on with the partner of his and he was going to find out.
Before DeSoto was done cleaning the dorm, the squad was toned out for an unknown rescue. The engine followed behind and John stared out of the window of the squad. Concentrating on the upcoming rescue, DeSoto didn't disturb his contemplative partner but knew once they hit the scene Johnny would be in paramedic mode.
It was stable fracture and the patient was stabilized.
"Hey Johnny, I'll take them in," DeSoto took the biophone and trauma box.
"Sure Roy," John watched as Roy rode away in the ambulance and cleaned up.
"John, you okay pal?" Stanley walked over to his paramedic.
"Sure Cap just got things on my mind," Johnny smiled and headed towards the squad. Driving to Rampart he was tired of all the mother hens, everyone watched him like a hawk. He was a grown man and had taken care of himself for a long time. Pulling the squad into Rampart, he pulled out a supply list and headed towards the nurses station, to find Roy and Dixie talking, and then stop when he approached.
"Hey Dixie," John was all smiles, "got a supply list," he handed it over to her as she helped fill the list.
Dix filled up the box with supplies and they left Rampart. Roy continued to look at his partner on the way back to the barn. Once at the station, the engine was gone, but they found lunch in the oven. John had disappeared into the office trying to find a form.
"Johnny," Roy called out, "They left us lunch," DeSoto poked his head out into the bay and didn't find his partner. "JOHNNY!"
Gage quickly stuffed the paperwork in his locker and went to have lunch. He ate quickly and then walked to the dorm to make some phone calls.
On the next call, Johnny rode the ambulance in, and for once he didn't freak. Maybe those few days did something, he thought until he wheeled the patient into the treatment room. As he put the IV on the holder, the room swam in front of him and Brackett's voice sounded like it was underwater.
"Hey Doc, you need me?" John could feel the color drain from his face. Once released he quickly backed out of the room, directly onto his partner.
"Johnny, you okay?" Roy looked at his stricken partner.
"Got to go to the head," John walked quickly to the bathroom, found the nearest stall and threw up into the toilet.
On the ride back, John cursed himself and would have to face the enviable. They arrived just in time for dinner, but he really didn't have an appetite, but could feel four sets of eyes on him. Sometimes it didn't pay to have friends he thought.
In the morning he quickly changed as C-shift reported, leaving the rest of guys in the locker room. Chet snickered wondering where the fire was, laughing at his own joke and seeing Roy pensive as he dressed. As he started to walk out of the locker room he spotted a piece of paper and looked at it.
"Um, Roy, this fell out of Johnny's locker," Chet handed him the transfer sheet.
"Oh, no," DeSoto changed quickly and headed towards the back lot only to see his partner was gone. Climbing into his car he headed over to Johnny's place.
Chet heard DeSoto's car and placed the paper back in Gage's locker.
Roy thought he made good time to Johnny's place only to see his partner's Rover not there. Now he was worried, but he had to get home before his wife got worried.
Johnny had made arrangements to work some OT at 98, the brush fire station, he decided before he put in a transfer notice he would check out the station. It was always fire season in California so he knew to expect something as he pulled into the lot and took his uniform out of the back of his car.
The locker room smelled of wood smoke and knew this was a busy place. Walking into the dayroom he introduced himself to the five other guys and looked in at the two engines in the bay. The newer engines gleamed but again the smell of burnt, wood filled the air along with the makings of chili.
"Play chess Gage?" A stocky Bill Brown asked.
"Yeah sure all the time," John slid into a chair as a chess set came out of the book cabinet. "Got to pass the time somehow before all hell breaks loose, you know."
"Yeah I know," Johnny smiled.
"Listen to the city boy," Mark Hansen laughed. "He'll see. Yes, he'll see."
*****
Roy again dialed Johnny's number and let the phone ring and ring and ring.
"Is he home Roy?" Joanne wrapped her arms around her worried husband.
"No, I called everyday and there's no answer. He could be hurt somewhere honey. What do I do?" Roy sighed.
"Just wait until you report to work Roy. Johnny is a grown man," she reasoned.
"Yeah I know. I know." Roy hung up the headset.
****
Gage was tired when he pulled into 51's lot. He had battled two minor brush fires in his three days and he was bone tired. But one good thing, he had no nightmares and slept like a rock. Yes, things were looking up.
He found Roy all ready dressed and waiting for him as he went into the locker room.
"Okay where have you been Junior?" Roy sat his arms crossed and his brow furrowed.
John said nothing as he continued getting dressed.
"I asked you a question," Roy stood up, his arms still crossed and his nose flared.
Finished dressing Johnny looked at his partner. "I heard Roy and I don't have to tell you anything." Closing his locker door he headed out to the bay and waited for roll call.
