Author's Note - Sorry about the cliff hanger at the end of the last chapter. :) Hope this resolves it to your satisfaction. Thanks for all the wonderful reviews. They are a great encouragement to this novice writer.

Watch Out for the Quiet Ones

Chapter 7

"Greg, what do you think you're doing?" Maggie slowly approached her husband imploring him to release Johnny. "Let him go, please, Greg. Don't hurt him."

"Please, Greg. Don't hurt him," Greg mimicked. "So, you do still have feelin's for this piece of half-breed trash." He pressed the knife more firmly against Johnny's neck.

Maggie was sobbing uncontrollably. The crew remained as still as statues fearing that any movement would bring serious injury or worse to their friend.

"I'll release him… just not yet. He's gonna be my ticket out of here. Gage and me are gonna walk out of here together and we're gonna get in my truck and take a little drive. When we're away from the city, I'll release him. You all are gonna stay in the house till you hear my truck drive away. If I see anyone at the door or the windows before that, I use this on Gage." He waved his knife slowly in a circle in front of Johnny's face.

"You," he snapped, pointing to Cap with the knife. "Toss that radio over here on the floor. Nice and easy."

Cap looked at Roy, Chet and Marco, then at Johnny. He did not want to give up his HT but he could see no way of getting around Greg's demand. Carefully he tossed the HT toward Johnny's feet. Greg brought the heel of his work boot down hard on the radio smashing it into several pieces.

"You're not helping yourself by adding kidnapping to abuse charges," Hank offered. "Let John go now and we can try to work a deal with the police."

"Yeah, like that'll happen. Besides I have some unfinished business with Gage here – isn't that right injun?" He smiled a deadly smile as he again brought the knife to Johnny's throat.

Greg and Johnny began backing toward the front door. When they reached it Greg turned sideways slightly so Johnny could grab the handle with his right hand.

"Remember, stay in here till we're gone – or else."

Mike had made his way behind the squad and had started up the driveway along side of the Garrison's two vehicles, a pickup and a small sedan. He ducked down quickly behind the sedan when he saw the front door open.

Johnny and Greg stepped out on the porch closing the door behind them. Greg still held Johnny's left arm twisted behind his back. The knife was now at Johnny's back. They started walking across the porch to the steps leading down to the front yard.

"Nice and easy now, Gage. We're gonna walk to the truck and get in."

Johnny knew that if he got in the truck with Greg he would never get out of it alive. Steeling himself for what he knew he had to do, they reached the top of the steps and started down.

"No!" Johnny leaned forward causing Greg to lose his balance and they both tumbled down the steps. Johnny's arm was wrenched hard and he suddenly felt a searing pain on his right side. They landed in a heap. As quickly as he could Johnny got up and backed away from Greg. His left arm hung useless at his side and a blood stain was slowly forming on his shirt just above his belt.

Greg jumped up and stood unsteadily, glaring at Johnny. He started to stagger toward him brandishing the knife in front of his body.

"You stupid …"

"Garrison!"

Greg turned quickly to see who called him only to be hit on the right arm with a heavy turn-out coat. Mike had quickly moved around the front of the sedan taking off his coat. When he yelled and Greg had turned around, he flung it as hard as he could at the hand holding the knife. Mike stepped in quickly and threw a right hand punch that contacted Greg's jaw with a loud crack. Greg's eyes glazed over and he dropped like a tree felled by a logger.

Mike stood staring down at the unconscious Greg cradling his right hand with his left. He was breathing hard and was looking a little pale. Johnny had backed up to the truck and was leaning heavily against the front fender trying to keep upright.

Mike kicked the knife away from Greg. He turned to look at Johnny and gave him a small smile and nod. Johnny gave a small nod in return.

"CAP!" Mike bellowed.

Inside, emotions were running high. Maggie was kneeling beside Roy holding Angie's hand sobbing; trying to comprehend all that had just happened. Chet and Marco were angry and ready to go after Johnny at that moment. Cap, though outwardly calm, was seething inside. He was not going to stand by and let some "wacko" kidnap one of his men. He settled Chet and Marco with a look then he placed his hand gently on Maggie's shoulder to get her attention.

"Mrs. Garrison, where's your phone? May I use it?"

Maggie didn't seem to hear him. Roy took her hand away from Angie; her eyes focused on Roy's face.

"Maggie, Cap needs to use your phone. We've got to help Johnny."

She nodded and quickly got up and let Cap into a small office off the entryway.

"Thanks, Mrs. Garrison. Go back to your daughter. Everything's going to be OK."

Hank turned and just as he was beginning to dial Dispatch, he heard Mike's yell of "CAP!"

Dropping the phone he rushed to the front door. He held out his hand motioning for everyone to stay put.

"Stay here. I'll see what's going on," he commanded.

Chet, Marco and Roy were not happy about that command but they obeyed. When Hank stepped out on the porch he paused to take in the scene before him – Garrison out cold, flat on his back; Mike standing over him cradling his right hand, obviously in pain; and Johnny holding his left arm close to his side, a blood stain spreading on his shirt, his face pale, collapsed against the fender of the truck.

"Good Lord!" Cap couldn't put his thoughts into any coherent words. "Mike, wha -… how…?"

"Cap, police, another squad and ambulance should be here within in 5 minutes," Mike reported slightly out of breath. The original ambulance was just pulling up to the scene.

Hank lifted his hand in a signal of understanding and turned back to the front door. Opening it he gave his directives with more calm than he felt.

"How's Angie doing, Roy?"

"She's stable, but needs to get to Rampart soon."

"Good, get you gear and get out here; another squad's on its way. Chet, Marco, carry the backboard onto the porch. Mrs. Garrison, your husband is unconscious. I need you to stay on the porch with your daughter. Is that understood?"

Mrs. Garrison nodded and followed Roy, Chet and Marco out of the house.

Cap was in full incident commander mode. "Roy, check out Garrison. Chet, take care of Mike. Marco, come with me – we'll check out John."

Each went to perform their assigned tasks. Roy began to assess Garrison, checking vitals and noticing the large bruise and swelling on his left jaw. He also kept an eye on Chet as he helped Mike and took several concerned glances toward his partner.

Chet led Mike to the steps and sat him down. "Mike, what happened?" Chet asked as he carefully checked out Mike's hand.

"Ah-h-h-h! Careful Chet," Mike growled. Then he added quietly, "I couldn't let him get John in the truck."

"How many times did you hit him?"

"Once."

Chet's eyes grew large with astonishment. "Remind me not to get you mad at me," Chet mumbled under his breath.

"Mrs. Garrison, could you get me a small plastic bag of ice for Mike's hand, please?"

"Of course." Maggie hurried into the house, glad to be doing something to take her mind off her feelings of guilt.

"John, let's sit you down, pal,… before you fall down." Cap and Marco eased Johnny into a sitting position then slowly and carefully lowered him all the way down to lie on his back. Johnny hissed a couple of times in pain. Marco grabbed Mike's coat and placed it under Johnny's shoulders and head.

With sirens wailing and lights blazing 2 police cars and the other squad arrived. Bellingham and Gil Robinson grabbed their gear and checked with Roy. Hank stood and met the police officers.

"Rampart, this is Squad 51," Roy was ready to give Rampart an update.

"Go ahead Squad 51," Dr. Brackett replied.

"Rampart, we have 3 additional victims – 2 Code-I's. Original victim is still unconscious but vitals are stable. First additional victim is the recipient of a knockout punch to the left jaw. First Code-I has possible broken hand. Second Code-I has possible dislocated shoulder and a knife wound on his right side. Second squad had just arrived. Please stand by." Roy delivered the information very professionally but those at the receiving end of his call could hear the tension in his voice.

"Standing by, 51." Kel finished scribbling down notes on all that Roy had relayed to him. He looked up into Dixie's face and wondered if the shock on her face was a reflection of his own. 'What had those hose jockeys gotten themselves into this time?' he wondered.

Roy assigned Garrison's assessment to Gil Robinson and after giving Bellingham a quick update, told him to go with Angie to the hospital in the first ambulance. He did a quick check of Mike's hand and the job Chet was doing of immobilizing it then went over to check on his partner. Hank was giving his account of all that had happened to Vince. Two other officers were standing guard over Garrison in case he came to.

Johnny was lying very still with his eyes closed. Marco had grabbed some gauze pads and was applying pressure to his bleeding side.

"Johnny, can you hear me?" Roy questioned.

"Roy?" Johnny answered, never opening his eyes, afraid that even that slight movement would send pain shooting down his arm or along his side. Speaking very carefully and softly he asked, "are Maggie and Angie OK?"

"They're fine, Johnny. They're on the way to Rampart now. How about you? Where do you hurt?

Johnny thought for a moment before answering. "Think my left shoulder's dislocated,… right side feels like it's on fire,… 'n I feel like I fell down some steps – which I did." He paused again and opened his eyes just a little to look at Roy. He gave him a small grin which turned into a grimace when he moved his body slightly. "Th-think Mike may have broken his hand."

"Mike's being taken care of. Let's check you over and get you ready to transport. Did you hit your head?

"Nah. I think… I think that's the only part of my body that doesn't hurt…. Does that mean I can get some of the good stuff," he asked hopefully?

Roy smiled at his partner. "Let's get your vitals and see what Brackett says. Marco, how's that wound look?" Roy started checking Johnny's pulse and respirations.

"It looks about 4" long, not too deep. Pressure has slowed the bleeding."

"Good. Thanks, Marco." Roy took a quick look at the wound on Johnny's side. "Secure that bandage on the wound, will ya?"

Roy finished taking Johnny's vitals. He then contacted Rampart and followed instructions to start an IV and to give Johnny some MS for the pain. Although he was careful, Johnny had his eyes screwed shut in pain and beads of perspiration dotted his forehead by the time Roy finished immobilizing his shoulder. In the mean time Gil relayed information concerning Garrison and Mike and got both of them ready for transport.

It looked like a three-ring circus in front of the Garrison's house; 2 police cars, 2 ambulances,2 squads, a fire engine, plus all the accompanying officers, attendants and firefighters. Bellingham called for yet another ambulance before taking Angie and her mother to Rampart in the first one on scene. As Maggie was heading toward the ambulance she handed Chet the bag of ice and looking from Mike's injured hand up into his eyes, uttered a softly spoken, "I'm so sorry." She then hurried to be with her daughter, only giving her unconscious husband a quick glance.

Roy sat back on his heels surveying the scene before him. It was bad but it could have been a lot worse. "Why," he wondered, "why all this because of someone's inability to control their own emotions?"

The attendants from the second ambulance wheeled the gurney over to Roy and then helped load Johnny and secure him for the trip to Rampart. Johnny was semiconscious, and if not for the MS would have screamed in agony with the movement. As it was he moaned several times before giving in completely to the pain meds. Roy hopped in the ambulance along with Mike and Marco. Cap came over and looked at each of them – he gave them each an encouraging smile, then added, "See you at Rampart", closed the doors and gave them two firm raps. Turning slowly, shaking his head he joined Vince who was standing next to Garrison who was showing signs of coming to.

"Better cuff him," Vince ordered one of the other officers. The third ambulance arrived and Garrison was loaded for his trip to Rampart accompanied by Gil and two officers. They were taking no chances.

"Vince, can one of your officers drive a squad to Rampart? I seem to be short of drivers."

"No problem, Hank. We need to get statements from everyone involved anyway." He looked around as Chet and a couple of officers were cleaning up the scene, shaking his head. "What a mess!"

"I agree. None of this should have happened." They both were silent; deep in their own thoughts.

Hank sighed and walked to the engine to call Dispatch. After talking for several moments he signed off and called to Chet.

"Chet, you drive the squad over to Rampart. I'll follow with the engine. We're stood down for a couple of hours. We can stay at the hospital till HQ calls and says they have replacements for Mike and John."

"Right, Cap." Chet handed Hank Mike's turnout coat. "You want to put this in the engine for Mike?

"Thanks, Chet. Go on. I'll meet you there."