Chapter 7

When Johnny arrived home the detritus of house hunting was all over the kitchen table. He glanced at the various flyers, looking at prices and such, then started the coffee pot.

Having showered at the station he decided on a quick breakfast and began assembling the ingredients for an omelette. He noted Kel Brackett wasn't quite awake as he stumbled into the kitchen. A cup of coffee was poured out and placed in sleepy hands.

Sitting at the table the doctor watched his room mate cook and plate breakfast. A portion was slipped in front of him with toast on a separate plate. Interested, he poked into the eggy, cheesy, goodness, cataloguing mushrooms and sliced hot dogs. A Gage special.

They ate in companionable silence. Kel finally woke up fully and turned a happy grin to Johnny.

"You spoil me," he commented as he speared more hot dogs and eggs.

"It all evens out," Gage smiled in return. "I like the nice dinners out."

"When are you heading over to Roy's?" Kel asked.

"In about an hour," he determined. "Just enough time for Roy to get kicked out into the backyard but not enough time for him to destroy the shrubberies."

"And your running partner?" Brackett inserted smoothly.

"Jake's being dropped off in about two hours. We'll take a half-hour run and be done in time to light the bar-b-cue," Johnny said.

"I think I'll go over with you," the doctor decided. "I made the beans last night. Joanne said she had a crock pot I could use to heat them up."

"Sounds good," Gage smile as he worked on his breakfast. He some eggs on his toast and crunched happily. Kel smirked, remembering the breakfast with the Desoto children.

"You forgot the applesauce," he pointed out. Johnny smiled.

"Consider it an Egg Mcmuffin without the sausage," he countered. "No styrofoam, either!" That gained a chuckle.

Nearly and hour and a half later the two men arrived at the Desoto's. Gage put his hanger of clean clothes on the door knob. He rang the bell then opened the door and was quickly attacked by two dynamos.

"UNCLE JOHNNY!" the children chorused. He swung them in a tight circle then moved aside so that Kel could carry his dish into the house.

"Hi Johnny! Hi Kel!" Joanne greeted them, remembering Brackett's admonition to use his first name. "Something smells good!" Gage gave her a quick peck on the cheek. Reaching around the squiggling mass of bodies she plucked the clothing off the front door.

"Good morning, Joanne," Brackett smiled warmly. He followed her into the kitchen.

"Here's the crock pot," she told him. Using one of her wooden spoons he scooped the beans into it. Then the element was turned on high to get them warmed up.

"Thanks," Kel said. "Do you need any help?"

"Nope," she replied. "Everything's lined up and ready to go in here. Maybe you should help Roy out in the yard." She showed him out the back sliding door onto the wooden deck. From this vantage point both of them watched as Johnny man-handled Roy off his ladder and swung him down to the ground. The two children scrambled on top of their father, tickling him.

"Yeesh, that always scares me a little, even though I know Johnny's more than strong enough to pick Roy up," Joanne shuddered slightly.

"I just hope he never gets it into his head to do that to me!" Kel declared.

"Don't climb a ladder around him," she counseled. She headed back into the house leaving the doctor to decide how to enter the back yard the rest of the way.

Fortunately there was no more tossing Roy around, and by extension, no tossing Kel. The three men picked up all the clippings and put away the gardening tools. Then they started setting out chairs and a few folding tables.

Followed by a series of mad dashes after the children to get the table cloths fastened down. Johnny was very good at letting Chris and Jenny snatch one end and run off playing 'Superman'. Kel had never played with children before staying with John, and it was safe to say this was the first time he enjoyed chasing, lifting up, and tossing a child to another adult.

Getting the cloths on finally, the sliding door opened and out came Jake dressed for a run. He grinned as he greeted the adults, then the two kids. With a jerk of his head he pulled John out of the yard and soon they were off running.

"Well, I've done enough," Roy said as he collapsed on a lounge chair.

"I never knew just how tiring setting up tables could be!" Kel agreed as he took a chair next to him.

"Doing most anything with Johnny and the kids is tiring!" Roy snickered. "He has a way about him to make just about anything routine fun." Brackett recalled the party favors when his insurance check came.

"Yeah, he does, doesn't he?" Kel said and then told the paramedic what had happened. Roy just grinned and shook his head.

"You two looked tuckered out!" Joanne commented as she carried a pitcher of iced tea to them complete with plastic cups. She poured out three cups and joined her husband on his lounge. As the children continued playing they talked.

Kel Brackett was enjoying himself! Without alcohol or at an adult party with his friends. No need to keep the dignified calm of a top-notch doctor. He reflected that he was changing. He still enjoyed going out with Joe and Dixie, but he also found the family activities just as much fun. Better in that it didn't include the stress of his relationship, or lack there of, with Dixie.

Nearly an hour later the runners returned. Jake showered first and Johnny sat on the edge of the deck. He was drenched in sweat, sipping at a tall glass of water.

"Where did you go?" Roy asked. "You were gone well over a half-hour."

"Eh, Jake thought he could lose me," Johnny said. "He rabbited."

"Like I could escape you!" the teenage boy came out clean and wearing better clothing for the gathering.

"You leave me some hot water?" came the reply, complete with smirk.

"Yeah, plenty," Jake said. Taking his glass with him Johnny bounded into the house.

"Man, I'l never beat him!" Jake muttered to himself.

"You've gotten faster since you've started training with him," Roy pointed out. "You'll do it! Johnny's just gonna make sure you beat him in a fair race. He'll never 'let' you win."

"He better not!" Jake growled. "I want to beat him fair and square."

"You will," Joanne put in. "When did your dad say he'd be here?"

"Now," a voice came out from the sliding door. Hank walked out with Ruthie and Emily. "John let us in."

"I put our food in the kitchen," Emily said. More tea was poured as they joined the loungers. Jenny and Chris wandered over and sidled up to the two teenagers. Conversation revolved around the children for the moment, boy scouts, kindergarden, track and the latest boy bands were discussed.

The door slid open again letting in the Stokers. Becky immediately ran for Jenny while the adults shook hands with their friends.

"Marco and Chet are here, they're going to bring the coolers back through the side yard," Beth reported.

"Well, we best get inside and get the food together," Emily said. The women, excluding Ruthie, went into the kitchen.

"So where's John?" Chet asked as he huffed around the corner of the house followed by Marco on the other end of a heavy cooler.

"I still say it'd be easier to carry these in first then add the ice and soda!" the swarthy fireman whined.

"Yeah, yeah," Chet sassed back. "And then everything would be warm. Warm beer... Yuck!" They hoisted the cooler on the edge of the deck near the bar-b-cue.

"One down, two to go!" Marco said with a groan.

"We'll help," Roy nodded towards Hank leaving Mike to sit with Brackett. The kids continued chattering with the teens.

"I see you didn't offer," Kel teased Mike. The engineer gave him one of his slow smiles.

"I know how Chet packs," he replied. "And I don't want to require one of your special hernia packages at Rampart." This caused Kel to snort.

"I will remember that!" the doctor promised. "Did Becky get a nice visit from the Easter Bunny?" The prompt launched a normally quiet man into verbosity. When the young girl heard her daddy telling the strange man about her basket she shyly came over and showed off her new stuffed bunny.

Accepting the lop-eared creature for inspection Kel praised the beauty of the fur and large pink bow. Handing it back his heart melted a little when she leaned against her father and gave him the same smile Mike had. Their blue eyes sparkling. His moment of revelry was broken when a hand touched his shoulder and Gage sat on the grass beside his chair.

"See you've met Becky," he said as he grinned at the little girl. "Hi, Becky," he turned his attention on her. "Oooh, the Easter Bunny left you a nice present!" Kel watched as the shyness dropped from her face and she bounced to the younger paramedic's arms for a hug and a cuddle. She let him see her bunny and accepted his admiration.

"Johnny has a way with beautiful women," Brackett remarked to Mike.

"Yeah, he certainly does!" Mike replied, his face still wreathed in a warm smile.

"Maybe you can play with Jenny," Gage was saying. "I think she got a nice bunny, too!" Taking the bunny the little girl skipped off to play with her friends.

"I'm up for a beer," Johnny said, "after that run! Anyone else?" Mike and Kel both nodded in agreement. Leveraging himself up he moved over to the cooler, pulled it open and selected three bottles. Lids dispatched he returned to his friends.

As he resumed his lounging the next two coolers arrived.

"Geeze, Kelly, what did you put in this," Stanley complained. "Rocks?"

"I think they're lead lined," Desoto chimed in huffing behind his captain.

"I told you they were heavy!" Lopez whined as the last chest was tossed up on the deck.

"You are the three biggest weaklings I've ever met!" Chet snapped. "Can't lift a little ice chest..." Opening the first chest he pulled out beers and passed them around. With grumbles these were accepted as peace offerings and opened.

Kel listened to the banter among the men and grinned. They were so funny together! He could tell they cared a great deal about one another even though they didn't do the touchy-feely things women engaged in.

As he sipped at his bottle he was hit by a bolt of lightening. He was now a part of this family. Glancing to his right he looked down at his room mate. A man, who up to six weeks ago, he thought was immature and irresponsible, hot-headed and reckless. Who had become integral to his getting through the loss of his home. Who had brought him into this family.

He wiped at his nose trying to stop any tears from forming. Damn emotions!

"Hey, Doc," Mike caught the unguarded look of being overwhelmed. "We should get the eggs hidden for the Easter egg hunt!"

"What?" Kel shook his head trying to focus.

"Hide the Easter eggs, Doc," Johnny nudged his leg. "My job is to entertain the kids while you adults have some fun." Unfolding his long legs he stretched, reminiscent of a large cat. Popped to his feet and headed off towards the group of children and teens.

"Come on, Doc, allow me to initiate you into the Easter Egg Society," Mike held out a hand and pulled him up.

Once more Brackett found himself engaged in an activity he'd never been involved in before. As a child there'd been a basket at the end of his bed until he was seven. Then he was told about the bunny, as well as the tooth fairy and Santa Claus. Oh, they still celebrated the holidays, and there were still chocolate bunnies and Santa gifts, but the magic and mystery had been removed so that he could 'grow up'. He had a few cousins, none younger than him, but his family never did the Easter festivities that these people were engaged in.

He was handed a basket of eggs, all colorfully dyed. These were placed in obvious places for Becky and Jenny. Mike hid some of the eggs in less obvious places along with Marco. Chet was relegated to hiding plastic eggs in very difficult to get to places, just for the teens.

Roy had lit the coals; the smell wafted through the air promising good food to come. Kel could hear the delighted laughter of the children coming from the house. Emily and Beth were putting chips and appetizers on one of the tables.

He'd been to this house several times before for parties and bar-b-cues. Been to the Stanley's as well. But he'd always been Dr. Brackett before. Accompanied by Dixie and usually Joe. Never stepped over the professional line between fire department and Rampart ER.

Now he was 'Kel' to them. Well, Johnny still called him 'Doc' as well as Roy, but that was actually said in a warm, friendly tone not with the professional edge he'd heard when others called him that. Again, he felt the emotions swirling inside his chest and he decided he'd better distract himself. Setting down the last egg he headed for the house.

Here he found the women in the dining room watching the children decorate their baskets with ribbons. Johnny was decorated as well, a few strategically placed ribbons around his arm as well as an Easter bunny sticker on his face. He was wrapping a bright spring green ribbon around Becky's waist and carefully tying it.

Sidling up next to Joanne he folded his arms as a smile threatened at the corners of his mouth.

"You are getting pictures of this?" he whispered.

"Of course! That way it takes all the blackmail possibilities away from Chet 'cause we'll share them with all the other women," Joanne said.

"And then those women will try to prove their men are just as wonderful with their children," Emily said as she stood beside him.

"You should have seen the Christmas pictures," Beth snickered. "Chet didn't stand a chance at blackmail after Uncle Johnny helped assemble a bike in the middle of the night with Roy."

"You took pictures of Mike in his jammies putting together a tricycle," Joanne chortled.

"I never knew you were so... competitive," Kel said.

"Well, we need to have fun, too!" Emily stated firmly.

"Of course," Kel agreed quickly, wondering if he'd had any compromising pictures taken.

"Hey, kids?" Chet's voice floated in. "I think I just saw a funny-looking rabbit run through the yard!"

"YEAH!" Becky and Jenny screamed. Chris looked excited, but he refrained from acting out. Jake and Ruth just picked up their baskets.

"Bet I find more," Jake challenged his sister.

"Bet you don't!" she replied. "There are 15 of 'em." The kids rushed out followed more sedately by the other adults. Brackett wandered over to the grill, where Johnny was manning the coals, to watch the kids.

"Love what you've done with your ribbons," he teased the paramedic.

"I saved this one just for you," Johnny said, tying a particularly bright blue one on his friend's upper arm. "This allows you to eat chocolate eggs and bunnies."

"In that case, I'll keep it," Kel said. He sat down on the decking by his friend and watched as the kids, and teenagers, ran around the yard finding eggs.

"I hope you like egg salad sandwiches," Gage commented as Becky picked up another brightly dyed offering.

"Yep, always have," Kel agreed. Together they watched all the children, and various parents, collect eggs. It was fun, especially the competition between Ruthie and Jake. The teenagers were up trees and under the decking scouting out their personal eggs.

"Emily and Cap put money in some of the plastic eggs," he explained. "Last year Jenny found one and was upset that it had a five dollar bill." They shared a laugh as Jake stuck out his tongue at his sister.

"Eight! I go-ot more!" he sing-songed.

"Maybe you got more eggs, but I bet I got more money!" Ruthie shot back. They sat cross-legged on the grass near their parents as they popped open the plastic eggs. Kel could see some money as well as white slips of paper fall out of them.

"Beware Rabbits Bearing Eggs!" Jake read. He rolled his eyes. "Geeze, Dad! That one's really bad." Hank grinned.

"Who said it was me?" he teased back. "There was this long-eared fellow who visited last night." Another dramatic teenaged set of eyes rolled.

"Don't eat Brown Eggs," read Ruth. "Da-ad! That's just gross!" Emily pretended to look indignant.

"Dad? Don't you think I might have come up with some?" she grouched. Both teens shook their heads.

"Guess I need to work on that," she smiled as she snuggled up against her husband looking for a quick kiss.

"MO-OM!" both teens chorused. "EWW!" This caused the adults to act even more mushy gaining a few cat-calls from their friends.

Money was counted, a few more silly strips of paper read, and the finally tally Jake had one more egg and Ruthie had three more dollars. Each had bragging rights.

"I'm going to get the meat," Johnny told Kel and was off to the kitchen. Soon a variety of hamburgers, chicken and steaks adorned the large grill. Roy came back from an exciting egg hunt to cook. He accepted a tall glass of iced tea from Joanne who gave glasses to Kel and Johnny as well.

For the next hour pleasant conversation, punctuated by the laughter and shouts of happy children, ensued. As the meat was done it was placed in an aluminum tray to keep warm. Finally, everything was cooked and the call rang out for supper.

One table nearest the door was loaded with side dishes. Johnny, with Jenny glued to his side, went through the line putting food on two plates. Kel noted the teenagers were right behind him as well as Chris.

"Johnny's gonna sit at the kid's table again!" Chet exclaimed. "Exactly where he belongs!"

"Don't be mean to Uncle Johnny!" Chris was quick to defend.

"Ooh, and he has a protector!" Chet added.

"More than one, Chet," Jake shot back with a mock-glare. The fireman pretended to be afraid, but the effect was spoiled when he laughed.

"He's just jealous," Johnny said to his 'entourage'. "I have the best seat in the yard!" Kel decided he'd join his house mate. As he filled his own plate he noted the kids did sit at one table, Jenny on Johnny's lap. Even Becky toddled over and allowed Ruthie to hold her as she ate the finger foods her Mommy had assembled.

As the afternoon deepened most of the food disappeared as well as the drinks from the coolers. Dessert was offered, from cookies and brownies to a brightly iced Easter cake.

Chet and Marco left first, having their own family dinners to attend. They were shortly followed by the Stokers, Becky in Daddy's arms asleep. Jake and Johnny started to clean up, a second round of "Superman" was played. Ruthie managed to tie one of the cloths around her shoulders and did a pretty good rendition of 'Super Woman' as she sailed around the yard chased by the rest of the kids.

Kel helped Roy drain the coolers. All the leftover drinks were put into one cooler with the last of the ice. Snagging another beer the two men sat on the edge of the decking to watch the kids, and Johnny, clean up the yard. Hank ambled over and joined them.

"Those two are never willing to clean up anything!" Hank shook his head in wonder. "But when they're with John, they can't help enough."

"It looks like a game," Kel observed. "How can he make cleaning up trash fun?"

"I don't know," Roy said. "But I'm not gonna knock it! I don't have to do it, that's all that matters to me!" The three men chuckled as they watched the last of the plates and cups get slam-dunked into the waiting trash can. Tables and chairs were disassembled and put back into the garage. Then the intrepid clean-up crew snagged drinks out of the cooler and flopped down on the grass next to the three men.

"Done and done!" Johnny said as he took a quenching swallow of beer. Jennifer sidled over and climbed up on his reclining body looking for a nap. Ruthie managed to get her head pillowed on part of Johnny's stomach and Jake pretended to plump up her stomach before utilizing her as a pillow. This left Chris to curl up in the hollow created by the teenagers and the paramedic.

"Well, I suppose you people are comfy?" Johnny said dryly, finding himself completely trapped by the resting bodies. A chorus of content voices answered in the affirmative. Rolling his eyes he moved the half-full bottle of beer to a safer place, put one arm around Jenny, the other thrown over his eyes, and gave into the group nap.

A peaceful lassitude descended. Emily and Joanne came out having finished divvying up the leftovers and joined them. Kel was amused when a soft snore rose up from Hank. The lanky captain had managed to fall asleep against Roy, using his leg as a pillow.

"Hope he doesn't drool," Emily softly snickered. Johnny lifted his hand slightly to see which adult had succumb to sleep. He gave a crooked grin when he saw Hank down for the count. A camera came out and a few pictures taken.

"You'll win for sure," Joanne told Emily.

"I don't know, that little clump of critters is pretty cute as well," she aimed her camera at the kids on the grass.

"I want copies," Kel said. "I need to rebuild my photo album!"

"That reminds me," Joanne said as she swiped a pull of beer from her husband's bottle. "I have something for you." She went into the house and returned with a book, and some foil-wrapped chocolate eggs in a small basket.

"Jenny and Chris figured you might not get a basket this morning and they wanted you to have some of theirs," she explained. "These are some pictures we found from past get togethers you went to." she handed the album to him.

"You... you put together an album for me?" he was stunned.

"Emily and I knew you'd lost everything, Kel," she said gently. "We did this for Johnny several years ago. A starting place for your memories." Brackett was speechless. He flipped through pages of pictures of himself and all his friends. There were shots he knew Johnny had taken when he was chronicling several paramedic runs for the department.

"If you want we can help write to your friends and family and start collecting your family pictures," Emily added. Kel felt the tears prickling at the corners of his eyes.

"These are family pictures," he said thickly as a few tears started down his cheek. Roy placed a comforting hand in the middle of his back as he continued to look at the album.

Yes, Kel was among family.