John was awoken by the sounds of the beverages cart. Both men opted for coffee. John pulled a package from his backpack. He unwrap the foil; their noses were hit with the smells of freshly baked bread, with a hint of cinnamon. The two friends sat back and enjoyed their treat.
"I take it you went for one of your early morning walks." Roy stated between mouthfuls. Johnny nodded as he chewed. Roy contemplated asking for the reason for the walk, but, not wanting to spoil their moment of pleasure, he decided not to. John pushed the memory of waking up that morning to the back of his mind. There was plenty of time later to talk to Roy about his apprehensions.
The plane ride passed quickly and before they knew it they were landing. The steward from the first class section told John and Roy that they could leave the plane. They walked through the plane, everyone having been told to stay in their seats by the captain, and quickly exited. Johnny took a deep breath.
"Good to have that out of the way Junior?" Roy asked his friend as they made their way up the walkway.
"Yeah, but I knew I'd be alright. I had my best friend right beside me." Roy smiled, he so missed this man. He placed his arm around the younger man's shoulders and guided him up the walkway.
Chet had been waiting at the airport since he dropped off Roy earlier that morning. He was too keyed up to go home; staying at the airport kept it all real. His friend was coming home. He watched the two partners walk through the arrival gate, Roy's protective arm around Johnny's shoulders reminded Chet that his friend had finally made it to LA but that it had not been easy.
First thing he noticed about his friend was his thinness and short military style haircut. His friend looked much younger and vulnerable. Chet hid his concerns and smiled as his friends approached him. "Johnny, it's so good to see you man." Chet pulled his friend into an unaccustomed hug. John accepted it; aware from Chet's letters how much he genuinely misses his friend.
"It's good to see you Chet." The simple, low-key declaration was easily received. Chet knew how Johnny felt, through their letters and had learned to accept this quieter man.
"Where to first?" Chet asked as he climbed into the driver's seat of his AMC Javelin. He had the top down hoping that it would help his friend feel comfortable.
"I guess I should head for Rampart. Dr Brackett is expecting me." Johnny said as he settled into his seat. "Nice car Chet."
"Like I said I got a good deal on it. Chicks dig it." Chet wiggled his eyebrows. Johnny just smiled and then looked out the front window, not reacting. They made their way over to Rampart.
Johnny watched the familiar landmarks pass by. Memories of being in the squad with Roy flashed in his mind, the loss of that life hitting him hard. He felt his eyes burn behind his sunglasses. Even though he had come to accept his life in Denver, seeing the familiar scenery reminded him just how much he had lost because of the actions of five cruel, uncaring men. He tried to keep his emotions in check but was fast becoming overwhelmed.
Chet looked in his rear vision mirror catching Roy's eye. Roy lent forward and put his hand on his best friends shoulder, anchoring him. Johnny closed his eyes and allowed his friend's strength and calmness to bring his emotions under control. He was not alone and he was safe with these men.
Chet parked the car near the emergency entrance. Roy squeezed Johnny's shoulder. "You ok?"
"Just….just give me a minute." The siren from an ambulance approaching the hospital could be heard in the distance. "I'm ready, let's go."
Chet and Roy flanked their friend. Johnny took in the familiar smell and view of the ER. Staff and citizens were busily focused on their destinations, not noticing the trio entering the area. They walked towards the familiar nurses' desk. Dixie was going through a schedule chewing on her pen as she studied it.
She looked up as if sensing their approach. Her eyes met Johnny's and immediately misted. They hugged; Chet and Roy looked away not wanting to intrude on the reunion. Dixie cried her happiness of seeing this special man into his shoulder. Johnny felt his own eyes burning realising how much he missed this beautiful lady.
They parted. "I hope those are tears of joy Dix." Johnny said quietly.
"Of course they are. I'm so glad you're here." She kissed his cheek. "Thank you for doing this for me."
"What can I say Dix. It was worthwhile coming all this way just for the kiss." Dixie smiled, this new quiet unassuming man saddened her heart, but he was here, and that's all that mattered.
"Kel's in his office." She grabbed his arm and led him towards it. She turned her head, remembering Roy and Chet. "Why don't you boys grab some coffee in the doctor's lounge? There's a box on the counter labelled don't touch. Help yourself to the contents."
"Thanks Dix. I was wondering when you were going to notice us." Roy smirked. Dixie just winked.
Dixie knocked and the familiar deep gruff voice answered, "Come in."
Kel's eyes lit up when Dixie pulled the young man into his office. "Johnny, you made it." He quickly made his way out from behind his desk. They shook hands.
"Doc, good to see you. It's about time you made this lovely lady an honest woman." Dixie snorted.
"I've been trying for years. I think I wore her down."
"I am here." Declared Dixie.
"Oh…so you are." Kel replied dryly.
"I'll leave you boys to it." Dixie left the room after winking at Johnny. He briefly smiled his crooked smile, so brief she almost missed it. Her eyes started to cloud over as she left. 'How could anyone hurt this gentle man?' she thought.
"Take a seat Johnny." John sat down and watched Dr Brackett pull out his file. "I read through the doctor's notes and the results of his tests. He did a thorough job. I'll need to take some blood to redo certain tests."
"The doctor said that sometimes it takes longer for certain things to show up." Johnny told his friend.
"Yes, I'll also need to examine you to make sure your prostrate is ok and I understand one of your testicles was damaged." Dr Brackett was also concerned as to how thin the young man was.
"Ok. Can Roy be present during the examination?" He would feel better knowing his friend was by his side during the check-up.
"Of course Johnny….Whatever you want….You're in control here."
Johnny nodded. "Oh and thanks Doc for looking after things with the flight. I really appreciate the trouble you went to." Dr Brackett smiled at the quiet, reserved young man. There was no hint of the Johnny Gage he once knew and it pained him.
"I have to keep that fiancé of mine happy and if you're happy she's happy." Johnny quietly chuckled at the somewhat complicated relationship of his two friends. "Let's get this done."
Dr Brackett led Johnny to examination 4. He asked Dixie to get Roy to join them. He gave the young man a gown. Johnny looked around the room, he felt nervous. Roy entered the room and read Johnny's body language.
"Let's pull this curtain across and leave the door partly open." Roy took charge and set his friend up in an accustomed environment. Dr Brackett stood back and observed Roy's actions, as he gathered his instruments.
Johnny settled down on the examination table. He held onto Roy's arm as Dr Brackett got the prostrate and testicle examination over and done with first. He let his friend settle for a few minutes before taking blood. After it was all over he left the two friends alone and told them he would meet them in his office.
"I'm glad that's over. I hope everything comes back negative."
" I'm sure they will, you've been in good health, you haven't even had a cold." Roy reassured his friend. His thinness did worry him but he hoped it was a result of his friend's nervousness.
They made their way to Dr Brackett's office. "JOHNNY GAGE!" both men turned around. A paramedic from station 110, Tom Wheeler, walked towards them. "Where have you been hiding these days? One minute you were here next minute you were gone. The paramedics get too much for you?"
"No it was the smog Tom. This city became a little too polluted for me. Say hello to the guys for me." Johnny turned around and continued heading towards Dr Brackett's office. Roy walked alongside him. Tom furrowed his eyebrows.
"What's the matter Tom?" Dixie asked seeing the paramedic's reaction.
"He acted like I was nobody to him."
"Well….Johnny's a different person. This life here at the hospital is in his past. He has a new life." Dixie patted him on the shoulder and left the dumb founded paramedic standing in the hallway. He was not used to being ignored; he was usually the centre of attention. He eyed how thin the former paramedic was, and drew the conclusion that he was sick. By the time he got back to the station he had deduced that Johnny Gage was dying.
"Do you want me to come in with you?" Roy asked his friend before entering Dr Brackett's office.
"Yes Roy….Saves me having to repeat what Doc tells me." Roy smiled and put his arm, protectively around his friend's shoulders.
"Everything looked and felt fine. The results of your bloods will be back tomorrow…..Now with all that out of the way…..I guess you'd like to know where you're staying."
"I'm sure it will be fine if Roy has checked it out. He knows what I like." Johnny was feeling a little anxious. The unexpected meeting with Tom Wheeler had unnerved him slightly and the Doc's office was way too quiet for his liking.
Noticing his friend's hands shake slightly Roy decided to move things along. "We should get going. It's been a long day…I'm sure Johnny would like to freshen up and relax."
Dr Brackett understood and smiled. "Sure fellas….I'll let you get on your way. We'll see you tomorrow for your fitting." Johnny nodded and headed for the door; he opened it and let the hospital noise surround him. He turned back towards Dr Brackett and held out his hand.
"Thanks for everything Doc. I really do appreciate it." Johnny shook his hand.
"No thank you Johnny for making a very special lady happy. We've all missed you Johnny." Johnny nodded and walked with Roy to the doctors' lounge to collect Chet. Seeing the two men together reminded Dr Brackett of what the Paramedic Program had lost the day Johnny Gage left Los Angeles.
The apartment Johnny was staying in was right on the beach. The sounds of the continuous breaking waves filled the apartment. Once his young friend was settled in, Roy got Chet to drop him home. Chet was returning having opted to stay with Johnny during his stay.
Johnny used the time alone to do some breathing exercises. He sat on the balcony overlooking the ocean. He was back in LA. There was a time he honestly thought he'd never return, but, with the help of Jack and the reconnection with Roy, it was all made possible. He still felt nervous and knowing that the men who had changed his life were in the same town didn't help. The trial was due to start in two weeks.
Johnny let the ocean waves wash away the thoughts of 'them' and replaced those thoughts with the upcoming wedding and the reunion with the guys from station 51. By the time Chet returned, Johnny had unpacked and had started to put supper together.
The two men sat out on the balcony and enjoyed their meal of Joanne's lasagne with salad. "This is the life." Chet sat back rubbing his stomach feeling satisfied. Johnny quietly smiled. "What are you thinking about?"
"Oh I was just thinking about my home. I like the way you can walk into the wardrobe here. I was just thinking how I could build that into my room." Johnny watched the sun slowly decent.
"Tell me about your house." Chet wanted to make sure that their time spent together was positive. Talking about the past and what might have been was pointless, so he decided he was going to use this time to learn as much as possible about his friend's new life. They talked for a long time.
The next morning was spent getting the final preparations done for the wedding. Johnny was fitted for a white suit, with the old fashion styled longer coat. Roy, who was going to be the master of ceremonies, was fitted into a black suit.
Chet looked at his watch. "Nearly lunchtime…..Time to make our way over to the station."
"You ready for this Junior?" Roy knew his friend was nervous about seeing his old crew mates. He seemed to be continually battling with the old memories. "Remember, one step at a time."
Johnny nodded. "I know they'll be glad to see me but I'm still nervous about seeing them."
"I know you are….but remember what Jack said….take it slowly and relax. These are your friends….last thing in the world they would want to do is hurt you." Roy reassured Johnny hoping to calm him.
Johnny looked at his two friends. "Just in case I forget later, I want you both to know how grateful I am to have you guys as friends. You've put yourselves out for me…..thank you." Roy smiled and slapped Johnny on the back. Chet blinked away tears. This man had become a closer friend than anyone would know and here he was thanking him for being his friend. He was so thankful that Johnny had allowed him to be part of his new life.
They drove towards station 51 in relative silence. Chet or Roy would point out a new building here and there. When they arrived Johnny's mind was assaulted with flashes of his past life. They sat in the car allowing him to bring himself under control.
They entered the station; Johnny smiled when he saw the squad and engine. They made their way towards the kitchen. Johnny stopped and straightened his clothes. He was wearing black slacks with a crisp white button up short sleeve shirt. Roy and Chet let Johnny lead the way and control the pace.
When Johnny entered the kitchen six men looked up from the table. Cap was the first to react. "John…good to see you pal." He stood and shook his hand and then pulled him into a hug, slapping him on the back. Marco shook his hand.
The ever quiet Mike shook Johnny's hand and also pulled him into a hug. "It's good to see you Johnny. The station's not the same without you."
"Thanks Mike." Everyone noticed that Mike was more animated than Johnny.
Cap rubbed his hands together and introduced the lineman who was filling in for Chet. Johnny didn't need to be introduced to the paramedics. He already knew Gus and C Shift's Dwyer who was filling in for Roy. John just waved to them saying Hi.
"Looking good Gage." Dwyer commented, but was thinking the opposite. He thought the rumours may be right. The former paramedic looked sick, he couldn't get much thinner. Maybe it was true and he was dying.
The table was cleared and lunch was served. They sat around the table and talked about the upcoming wedding. Dwyer filled Johnny in on how Dr Brackett proposed to Dixie. The young man smiled and listened to the chatter. Just like friends before him, Cap was saddened that the young vibrant man had been reduced to this quiet reserved man sitting in front of him.
When the meal was finished Cap cleared his throat to make an announcement. "I know leaving the way you did was unavoidable John, and that's ok. We wanted to give you something to let you know that you'll always have friends here in LA who care about you. So with that said we'd like to give you this." Cap gave Johnny a present and Mike placed a cake on the table.
Johnny opened the package. Inside was a framed photo of all the guys standing around Cap's BBQ, smiling. They were wearing street clothes so there was nothing to remind him of his past life other than they were his friends. John looked up with watery eyes. "Thank you. I have just the place for this at home and each time I look at it I'll remember I have a family here in LA."
Roy put his arm on his best friend's shoulder. "This is great Roy."
"I'm glad you like it. No excuses not call now." Roy slapped him on the back. He accepted a piece of cake from Mike. They talked for a while but soon the klaxons were bellowing and the men were off to a call. The three remaining men cleaned up and made their way back to the apartment.
Roy stayed for supper, enjoyed the sunset with his best friend and talked. He allowed Johnny to express how he was feeling about being in LA and the upcoming trial, offering advice and reassurances. This helped his young friend relax. Roy left for home satisfied that his best friend was coping. The wedding was two days away.
