Ahwright! As our favorite dark haired medic would say… This is the conclusion of this story. Thanks so much for the reading and the reviews. That house gave me some weird dreams …. Or maybe it was because of the anesthesia….
Anyway, this is it! So enjoy!
Chapter 8
When Roy next opened his eyes, the room was bright with sunlight streaming in the window. A quick glance over to his partner revealed Johnny was just as he'd last seen him: asleep in the next bed. A closer inspection showed there were some changes; the blood IV was gone—only the antibiotic and D5W IV remained. Johnny's face didn't look so pale now, either.
Roy glanced up and noticed that sometime since he'd talked to Stacy, his IV had been removed also. Carefully, Roy sat up. Muscles protested but moved fairly well. He cautiously slid his feet over the side of the bed and stood, stopping to let his head clear before slowly making his way to the bathroom. His morning necessaries finished, he crawled back into bed, still feeling the effects of the rough shift.
He must have dozed off, because the sound of someone moving his bedside table woke him. An aide smiled cheerfully at him as she placed the tray she held onto the table in front of him. "Enjoy your breakfast!" she chirped then left. A quick glance over at Johnny showed he still slept, oblivious of the tray on his own bedside table.
With a sigh, Roy braced himself to face the inevitable and removed the steamcovers. To his surprise the food actually looked edible! There was a steaming cup of coffee, a small bowl of cut-up fruit, a glass of orange juice, two slices of crisp bacon, toast and scrambled eggs. He picked up his fork and began eating. Except for being fairly bland, the food went down well.
He had finished the meal and was gratefully sipping his coffee when the aide returned for the tray. She took his with a cheery, "My! I guess someone was hungry!" Then she looked at Johnny's untouched meal and shook her head, clicking her tongue. "No good, Mr. Gage. You didn't touch anything. The doctors won't like that; they want all patients to eat their meals."
When Johnny made no signs of hearing her, she frowned and reached out, intent on shaking the man awake. "Don't!" Roy's harsh voice stopped her and she turned wide eyes toward him.
Roy had raised his hands as well, his body half out of the bed before he realized his harshness had frightened her. He tried to placate her with a smile. "He's uhhh, he's been given medication for nausea," he excused his partner. "It makes him sleepy and he's probably not very hungry."
She frowned at him. "The doctors want all patients to eat their meals," she stubbornly repeated. "I have to report this."
Roy nodded his head, "That's fine. Report it. I'm sure the doc knows about him. Just .. ." his gaze went to his friend's relaxed face, "Just don't wake him yet. He needs his sleep."
She paused as if she thought that over then shrugged. After all, that wasn't her problem. She'd tell the nurse and let her handle it. "OK. But he won't get anything else till I bring in lunch," she warned.
Roy smiled, agreeing with her yet knowing that if Brackett or Early ordered food be brought up for Johnny it would be done. Chances were that when his partner woke and was hungry, whatever nurse was in charge would order food for him just as quickly. The aide gave a final nod, took both trays and left.
Roy watched Johnny a little while longer then turned his attention to the TV in the corner. Keeping the volume low, he watched the morning news and the talk program on after that. He had just switched the set off when his door opened. He sent a smile at Dr. Early, who returned it with one of his own.
"Well! Good morning, Roy!" He glanced at the chart in his hand and nodded, "I see you ate a good breakfast… or at least what passes for one here…," he joked. Roy chuckled. He waited patiently while Joe took his vitals and marked in his chart. Joe closed it with a click and looked at his patient. "Everything looks good. How do you feel?"
Roy winced slightly as he shifted in bed, "Like I spent last night fighting a four alarmer."
Joe laughed, "I figured as much. That's why I had you on those muscle relaxers. I wanted you to rest."
Roy nodded, "They worked. I slept pretty good."
Joe nodded again, "I think I'll go ahead and write up a discharge order for you. But you know how things go around here, they probably won't let you go until after lunch." He scribbled in the chart as he added, "You know the routine, rest all you can, watch what you do so you don't strain those muscles any more, call me or come in if it gets worse…" he paused as he tilted his head and closed his eyes as he flicked his hand as if bored and said in a strange accent, " ... etcetera, etcetera, etcetera." Then he looked at Roy, his eyes twinkling merrily, "I've always wanted to say that."
Roy grunted, "Yeah. Kinda like, 'take two aspirin and call me in the morning'."
Joe looked disappointed, "Awww, I should've said that one." Both men smiled, enjoying the bit of light-hearted humor. "I figure your lovely wife will be coming to get you?"
Roy nodded, he'd already had a quiet conversation with his wife, "Jo said she'd be in after she got the kids to school. I expect her any time." He watched as Joe walked over to the other bed and began examining his other patient. "How is he?"
Joe finished, patted Johnny's lax hand and walked back over to Roy. "He's doing just fine, Roy. All his stats are back in the normal range, the wounds all still look clean and vitals are normal for him. Dr. Estrada will probably cast that ankle later today, as the swelling has gone down significantly."
"He's still asleep," Roy's voice came out more plaintive than he intended and Joe gave him an understanding smile.
"Kel dosed him pretty heavily with pain relievers and an anti-emetic. You know how he reacted to the sedation and with the pain of those cuts on top of the soreness he'll be feeling from all that shivering…," he shrugged, "we wanted him to rest and not fret."
Roy nodded. He'd forgotten how sore one could feel after hours of shivering. It was literally exhausting. Joe patted his arm. "We cut back on the meds earlier this morning. He's just sleeping now; he'll wake when his body lets him."
Roy sighed and gave a nod, knowing the doctor was right. "OK. And thanks Doc. For everything."
Joe shook his offered hand as he smiled, "My pleasure, Roy, just don't make this a habit. I prefer to see the two of you in the ER upright and in your blues, not flat on a table."
Roy laughed, "I prefer that too and I'm sure Johnny would agree." He cast another worried glance at his friend.
Joe shook his head in silent amusement, "He's going to be just fine, Roy. He'll be sore for a bit, but before long he'll be irritating us pleading to get back to work." He headed toward the door with a parting, "Get some rest now, Roy, while you can. Johnny will be awake and talking your ear off soon enough."
Roy watched the door close and settled back in his pillows. He must have dozed off because his thoughts got a little fuzzy. Then, suddenly he was wide awake. His eyes flew open as he looked around; trying to discover what had awakened him. Nothing seemed glaringly different; the light had slightly changed angle through the window, the door was still closed, and Johnny was in the same position. He listened carefully… then heard it. A faint catch in Johnny's breathing before it smoothed back out.
Roy threw the covers aside and stepped slowly toward his partner. Now bending over Johnny, Roy could see his eyes moving under his lids and faint twitches in his face. Then he voiced another slightly louder moan. Roy laid his hand on his partner's shoulder. "Johnny? Johnny, it's Roy. You're alright now, partner. C'mon; wake up."
Johnny shifted his head slightly and his hand twitched. "Roy?" The higher voice shocked him for a moment as Roy stared at his friend in confusion then movement by the door got his attention. His wife stood just inside the door, her searching gaze taking in both of them. "Roy?" she repeated anxiously, and he grinned sheepishly at his momentary misunderstanding.
"Hi sweetheart; I'm doing good. Doc said I can go home probably after lunch." He assured her and those green eyes he so loved latched onto his partner.
"And Johnny?"
Roy smiled as he looked down when Johnny voiced another faint moan. "Doc said he'll be OK, too. He's just now finally trying to wake up." JoAnne joined Roy at Johnny's bedside opposite her husband. She picked up his nearest hand and felt Johnny's slender fingers wrap gently around hers.
"Johnny, wake up. Open those big brown eyes for me, sweetie," she crooned to the man who had become a part of her family. Johnny's eyelids fluttered, showing flashes of brown. He moved his head again and one leg flexed. This time he gave a gasp as he stiffened in pain.
Roy placed a steadying hand on Johnny's shoulder, "Try not to move too much, Junior, you're pretty banged up," he advised. He reached over and picked up a few ice chips from the top of his freshly filled pitcher. He held them against Johnny's dry lips, saying, "Here. I bet your mouth feels like cotton."
Johnny's tongue touched the ice and his lips parted enough for Roy to slip them in. They both watched as Johnny swallowed. "Hey, partner," Roy leaned forward more, "You in there?"
"M….maybe…" came a soft voice. "More?"
Roy retrieved more ice and fed it to his partner. "Don't want to give you too much just yet. You need to wake up a little more so we can see if your stomach can handle it."
Johnny gave a faint nod as he swallowed the cool water melting in his mouth. "Now Johnny, open those eyes and let's see you." Jo coaxed and this time Johnny's eyelids fluttered then slowly opened. From their glassy look, it was apparent to both DeSotos that Johnny was still processing slowly. Jo beamed brightly at him and squeezed his hand as he focused on her.
"Jo…" he croaked then his eyes traveled over to the other presence he felt on his opposite side. He looked into Roy's smiling face and a faint smile turned up his own lips as Roy told him, "Good to see you finally back with us, Junior."
Johnny gave another faint nod then his smile turned into a frown as his gaze traveled down his partner then around the room. "Roy? You… get hurt? You …in Rampart?"
Roy squeezed his shoulder, "We both got a little banged up so we're both in here." His face became thoughtful as he asked, "Johnny? Don't you remember?"
Johnny stared straight up as his eyes blinked while he searched his fuzzy mind. "Yyyeah? Kinda…"
Roy glanced at his wife then looked back at his friend. "What do you remember?"
"House… trapped kids. House was all…. messed up. Doors that were windows… stairs into walls…" Johnny's eyes went wide as he attempted to sit up. "You called for help! I heard you! You needed me!"
Roy placed a hand back onto Johnny's chest as the younger man struggled to rise. Jo added her own soothing sounds as she held his hand. "Easy there, partner. Easy. We're both fine now. We're long outta that place." Roy told him.
Johnny blinked and looked at him, "I'm sorry, Roy. I'm sorry I was such a klutz and couldn't help you." Roy could hear the misery in his friend's voice.
"It wasn't your fault, Johnny. Whoever built that house had some serious issues, I'd say. You didn't see that the floor was gone when you entered that room, did you?" Roy knew he spoke the truth and saw so in Johnny's brown eyes.
Johnny shook his head, "No. It was too dark. I…I didn't know until I was falling."
Roy patted his friend's chest, "I thought so. And don't worry; I didn't fall, really, the floor just sorta… went down."
Johnny looked clearly puzzled at that as did Jo. "Come again, 51?" Johnny mumbled. Jo stifled a snigger.
Roy nodded then said, "Better get comfortable, this is quite a tale."
Johnny sighed and moved again. "In that case, can you get me some water? And help me sit up more?"
Roy cranked the bed until Johnny was in more of a seated position while Jo let him sip from a freshly poured cup. "Johnny…" Roy began but Johnny made a cutting motion with his hand.
"I know. I DO remember trying to puke my guts out. I DON"T want to start that again." And as evidence of that, he sipped the water slowly and cautiously. Satisfied, Roy pulled over a chair for his wife to sit on, then sat on the opposite side of Johnny's bed.
"Well, you remember falling, right?"
Johnny nodded. "And I remember treating myself and calling for what felt like hours…"
Roy winced and ducked his head, "It was hours, Johnny. You were trapped down that shaft for over 7 hours before we got you out."
Both Johnny's and Jo's eyes went wide. "Seven hours?" Johnny breathed. He turned a hurt look toward his friend, "Couldn't you find me?"
JoAnne saw the look of guilt on her husband's face and jumped right in, "And how long before they got YOU out, mister?"
Roy ducked his head, "About six hours."
Johnny put his hand to his face and wiped it, a look of regret on his features. "Six hours. God, Roy, I am soooo …."
"Don't even start that, young man." Jo snapped. "Either of you!" One set of blue eyes and one set of brown eyes blinked at her in wide surprise. "Now. It's over and done. You both are here now, so that's that." She glared them into submission and got a sheepish, "Yes, Ma'am," from both then settled herself back. "Now, tell me about this horror house…?"
Roy sighed, sipped his own glass then began the tale. Once he was done, Jo was clutching one of Johnny's hands with one hand and Roy's with the other, tears in her eyes. "My God, it's a wonder someone wasn't killed."
"Someone almost was," Roy lamented as he gazed at his friend.
Johnny blinked the stunned look caused from the story out of his eyes and gave his friend a smile. "I'm fine. You got me out, Pally." He shifted uncomfortably and looked his body over, pausing to lift and examine each arm. Then he turned to Roy with a sigh, "Ahwright, so what's the damage? I'm sure it's quite a list."
Roy nodded, "Yeah, it is. Over all Dixie said a hundred stitches in your arms and leg, they had to cauterize your leg to get the bleeding stopped, you cracked the medial malleolus in your ankle and tore the MCL in your knee. You were in hypovolemic shock and suffering from hypothermia and dehydration when we brought you in. Doc knocked you out to clean you up and stitch you closed." Roy hesitated, "They gave you three units, Johnny…." he finished in a subdued tone.
"And a partridge in a pear tree…" Johnny whispered as he stared up into the ceiling. "Wow."
Jo couldn't help the snort of laughter that burst from her at his understatement. That bit of emotion broke the tension and a lop-sided grin covered Johnny's face.
Roy chuckled as he shook his head, "You…you crazy nut."
Johnny's grin broadened, "But a friendly one…," he reminded his partner. Then his face became serious, "And you're ahwright? No hidden injures you're glossing over…"
Roy shook his head, "Just the strains and a little soreness. Nothing, really. Like I said, I didn't fall, just sorta went down then couldn't get back up."
Johnny nodded. He settled back into his pillows with a sigh. Pain flared up from his injured legs and he caught his breath before carefully letting it out as he mentally pushed the pain away. He smiled at his friends as he asked, "So, what time is it anyway?"
Roy tilted his head at him with a frown. Johnny tried to blink at him innocently but neither was buying it. "I'd say it's about time for more pain meds from the look of it," Roy told him as he nodded to Jo's raised eyebrow.
Johnny frowned. "Hey! I just woke up! I don't wanna… awwwww, Jo? Why d'ya hafta go do that for?" he protested with a pout as Jo smugly replaced the call button she'd pushed.
"You need to keep the pain down to let your body heal, you know that," she told him as she smoothed the covers over his chest.
"She's right, Mr. Gage. You should know that," came a very cultured older voice and three heads turned as the white haired nurse came forward.
Roy smiled as he recognized her as one of the nurses who used to ride with them before the bill allowing them to operate alone passed.
"Hey! Ronda!" Johnny grinned, "I thought you retired."
"Semi-retired," she corrected as she took the supine paramedic's pulse. "That means I only work a few hours a week; usually filling in for vacations and as a call-in." She shook her head as she placed her hand on Johnny's flat stomach to get his respirations. "I didn't expect to see you two boys here on my floor today."
"Well, we certainly didn't plan it either," Johnny grumbled around the thermometer she had just shoved under his tongue.
"Quiet, you. I'm playing nurse here," she warned and both men snickered at the expression she'd used on them in the field. She pulled the glass thermometer from Johnny's mouth and turned it slightly in the light to get the right refraction to read the mercury. "Up a little there, Johnny. 101 on the nose." She shook the thermometer down and replaced into its container on his bedside.
Johnny sighed heavily as she marked all her findings in his chart. She patted his stomach. "Don't worry, it could just be reaction to the trauma. Doctor's got you on some pretty potent antibiotics already to get a jump on anything trying to start."
She frowned as a vibration came from under her hand and a loud growling sounded. Jo and Roy exchanged glances and chuckles as Johnny flung one arm over his face in embarrassment. "My! Something tells me the anti-emetics worked and someone missed breakfast!" Ronda exclaimed. She grinned at Roy, remembering from their time together how often the younger paramedic would get hungry and need to eat.
"I can't help it!" Johnny whined. "I haven't had anything to eat in over 24 hours!"
Ronda acted shocked as she injected something into his IV port. "That's horrible! No wonder your BP is low! I bet your blood sugar is too!" Johnny frowned at her faked tone and Roy chuckled while Jo put a hand over her mouth to hide her smile although her eyes twinkled.
Johnny glared at each of them and slouched into his pillows, "Fella gets hurt savin' folk and is helpless and everyone takes advantage of him…" he grumbled as Ronda tried to turn from them so Johnny wouldn't see the smile trying to burst free. Unfortunately for the playful mood, he moved his leg wrong and instantly stiffened as an involuntary cry burst out of him.
Immediately all joking left each face as three sets of hands reached for various parts of his body to comfort him. Ronda carefully re-straightened Johnny's leg as Roy coached him on taking deep breaths. Once his breathing and pulse rate settled, Johnny took a drink of the water Jo offered and looked up at them sheepishly, "Sorry. Guess I moved wrong."
Ronda patted his hand as she replaced it back on the bed, "You'll be fine, Champ. You're just not quite ready to run the 440 again yet." She smiled at him. "Doc scaled back on the pain meds and this afternoon, he wants you to be on orals. But the shot I just gave you should help."
Johnny nodded and gave her a genuine smile.
Ronda straightened the blanket over his leg as she said, "I'll order a tray for you with some soup. You manage to eat that and we'll put you on the list for regular meals." Johnny nodded to her and with another smile at each, she left.
Several hours later found Johnny once more asleep, and Jo and Roy softly talking. Johnny had eaten the soup and ice cream Ronda had sent up for him with no trouble. He had then been given more pain meds before being taken to the casting room. Now, he lay back in his bed, sound asleep, his freshly plaster-encased ankle propped up on a pillow.
The door opened and the same aide from the morning came into the room bearing two trays. She placed one on Johnny's table and put the other in front of Roy. "Here's your lunch! Enjoy!" she told him then went back over to Johnny. She stood by his bed with her hands on her hips and a frown on her face. "Asleep still, Mr. Gage? Well, this won't do. How can you get better if all you do is sleep!"
Roy was watching her and started forward, afraid of what she was going to do but before he cleared his chair, she grabbed Johnny's blanket-covered left leg and roughly shook him. Johnny's eyes flew open and he shot up as a scream of agony ripped from his throat. His hands clutched his throbbing leg as he hunched his body over it in pain.
The aide had jumped back at his reaction, her hand over her mouth as she stared wide-eyed at the now softly moaning man. "What's going on here!" a gravelly voice bellowed from the doorway. Dr. Brackett strode into the room, closely followed by a worried looking Ronda.
Roy was talking soothingly to his partner as he carefully pushed the blanket away to reveal the braced knee and the bloodstained bandage over Johnny's lower leg. The aide's eyes got wider as she realized what she had done, "I…I didn't know…. I was only following my instructions. "All patients need proper nutrition in order to heal so meals must be delivered quickly while hot and patients encouraged to eat,"" she quoted.
Ronda spared her a stern glance, "I told you once before, Ashley, this is not the maternity ward. Our patients here are recovering from a variety of maladies including surgeries and broken bones." She closed her eyes briefly then opened them and pointed toward the door. "Go. Finish the trays. We'll speak later."
Ashley, with tears in her eyes looked around the room, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry," she cried and rushed out.
"Johnny. Johnny, settle down. Johnny, please, let go. That's right. Now, settle back, partner. There." Roy was finally getting through to the distressed man and Johnny let him push him back into his pillows. "There, now open your eyes. Johnny, look at me." He waited until pain-filled brown eyes, awash with pain induced tears looked at him. "Now take a deep breath, that's right. And another, there…" Roy could see his partner was slowly relaxing, his breathing becoming less hitched and the pulse in the wrist he held was slowing.
Brackett was examining Johnny's leg, gently prodding and poking as Johnny gasped and went rigid again. "I think I want a closer look at his leg, Johnny," he told him, even as he slipped a pair of gloves on his hands and began pulling loose the bandage. Ronda was ahead of him and had left to return with a tray set up for wound treatment, her own hands gloved. Roy stayed by Johnny's head, his hand on his partner's heaving chest. Jo had moved opposite him and one hand was running soothingly through Johnny's thick hair while the other gripped one of Johnny's hands tightly.
For his part, Johnny kept his gaze locked firmly on his partner's blue eyes, his white knuckled hand returning the firm grip Roy held on him. He concentrated on taking slow deep breaths, pushing away the greyness in his vision and the buzzing in his ears.
Roy nodded to him, giving a smile of encouragement as he saw color return to his friend's white face and his eyes become less glassy. "You're doing good, partner. Stay with me here, Junior."
"He still there, Roy?" Brackett muttered as he swabbed the ragged wound.
Roy smiled as Johnny blinked at him and gave a nod. "Yeah Doc. He's still here. A little foggy but better now. Right Junior?"
Johnny swallowed hard and licked his lips. "Ye…yeah. I'm … I'm good." He blinked. "God! That hurt! What happened?"
"A stupid aide happened," Brackett growled and Ronda frowned at him.
"An untrained aide happened," she corrected. She looked at Johnny, her eyes apologetic. "Ashley usually works up on the maternity ward. Her main job is to make sure all the new mothers are eating a good diet. She's not used to people injured, just tired and sore from childbirth."
"What'd she do?" Johnny wondered aloud. To him, it felt like she had tried to tear his leg off. He glanced down just to assure himself it was still attached to his body.
"She grabbed your leg and shook it to wake you up." Jo told him, her hand smoothing his hair back.
"She succeeded; I'm awake," Johnny mumbled.
Brackett finished his examine and took the supplies as Ronda handed them to him. "Well, she tore loose a couple stitches. I fixed them. You still have a little more bleeding than I'd like to see but not bad enough that I think we need to take you back to the OR."
Johnny nodded, "That's good."
Brackett gave him a quick smile, "I'm going to order more ice on this leg, Johnny. There still is a lot of swelling. And I don't want you to move much if you can help it. I won't totally immobilize it yet but you can't afford any more trauma to it. You must keep it still and let it heal."
Johnny nodded, acknowledging the warning. Brackett laid a hand on his paramedic's shoulder as he asked in a softer voice, "Other than that, how are you doing?"
"Not bad. I ate and kept it down..." he told the doctor.
Brackett looked to Roy who was nodding. "He did. And he's been talking with us when he's not been asleep."
Brackett smiled as he patted Johnny's arm, "Good. You keep that up. I'll see you later." And he was gone.
Ronda finished wrapping his leg and placed it gently on a pillow. "I'll be back with those ice packs, Johnny. You just relax like the doctor said." That said, she left but quickly returned with several cold packs. She placed them around the wounded leg, smiled as she patted him, and encouraged, "Try to eat. You do need it to heal." With that advice, she smiled at all of them then left again.
Johnny looked over at his tray and sniffed. "Well, I was hungry. I bet it's cold now." He rolled his eyes at Roy. "And you know that hospital food is horrible cold."
"It's not the best warm, from what I hear, amigo!" A cheerful voice came from the open door. Three heads whipped around to stare in pleased surprise at the grinning faces in the doorway. "Hey! C'mon in guys!" Johnny greeted his shiftmates.
Marco came in with Mike right behind him, both carrying heavy bags. Chet sauntered slowly in behind them, grinning wickedly, his hands behind his back. Captain Stanley followed, shutting the door once they were all in. Mike and Marco placed the bags on the bedside table while Cap removed the cold trays, placing them outside the door and closing it again.
Johnny was eagerly helping Marco unload the bag so Cap motioned Roy over with a quick wave. Roy walked over to his captain with one glance back at his partner.
"Roy? What happened a little bit ago?"
Roy blinked at him, "When, Cap?"
Cap looked at him levelly, "We just came off the elevator and were nearly at your door when we heard John . . ."
Understanding grew on Roy's face as he gave a nod, "Ah. Yes. That." He quickly explained what had happened and what Brackett had said. Cap listened carefully and nodded, "So. He's OK? I mean, she didn't hurt him worse?"
Roy shook his head, "No. He'll be fine. Doc just cautioned him to not move that leg at all. I suspect they'll probably knock him out tonight and immobilize it so he doesn't move in his sleep. But I think he'll heal fine." He shook his head, "You know how fast he can heal." Cap nodded with a sigh. Unfortunately, he did know. His youngest had proved it too many previous times in his estimation.
"Roy!" Johnny called excitedly, "Come look what they brought! Mama Lopez fixed a feast."
"She said nothing was too good for her Juanito and Roy. She said you needed good food to heal, not hospital … uhhh… fare." Marco grinned as he censored what his mother had really said about the food served patients.
Johnny inhaled the fragrance from the plate of tamales and refried beans before him. "Ummmmm, tell her I love her!" he gushed as he stuffed a large bite into his mouth and chewed happily with his eyes closed.
Marco watched him, his eyes slightly moist. "She knows you do, little brother," he whispered.
Johnny heard and opened his eyes. A puzzled look covered his features as he looked from one face to another, seeing similar expressions on each but clearly not understanding them. He turned to his captain, seeing the same look in his brown eyes. "Cap?" he questioned.
Cap smiled warmly at him, "How are you, John?" He softly asked.
Johnny's eyes flicked once more around him then returned to his leaders' face. "I'm … good….?" He didn't sound certain and Cap felt a chuckle rumble up in his own chest at the bewildered look on his youngest paramedic. Johnny looked at Roy for explanation but found only a gentle indulgent smile on his partner's lips. "Something…wrong?"
"No Johnny," Mike laid a hand on his shiftmate's shoulder as he smiled, "Nothing's wrong. You eat up before it gets cold." He motioned to the fork held loosely in the paramedic's hand.
Johnny blinked at them, then sighed as he laid the fork down and pushed the plate slightly away. "OK. Someone want to tell me what's going on around here?"
"Johnny," Johnny's eyes went immediately to his partner's. Roy hesitated then inhaled deeply. "Johnny, the guys were outside when . .. "
Johnny blinked and motioned for Roy to continue, "They were outside when…..what?" Roy just shrugged.
Johnny blinked again then comprehension colored his face. His head fell forward as his eyes dropped to his lap. "Oh." Johnny spoke so softly they barely caught it.
"We … we were concerned, John. We …" Cap started but Johnny raised his hand to cut him off.
Johnny now took a deep breath. "Listen guys. I just want you to know that…. that I'm gonna be fine. OK? And … and I wanna thank you all for what you did at the house." His voice was as serious as the expression in his brown eyes as he looked from one to the other.
"You… you remember?" That came from Mike.
Johnny faced him and gave a small smile. "I remember enough." He tapped a quick rhythm out on his table and Mike grinned as he recognized it as the same one Johnny'd used while trapped. "You guys got me out of there and in here. The docs put me back together and I'll be back to work as soon as they get that cast off so the real healing can begin." He pointed to his new plaster anklet, knowing that while the fractured bone and cut would heal fairly quickly, it would be the subsequent PT he'd have to undergo that would be the lengthiest of his time off. He caught each set of eyes and saw the relief growing in them. "I'm fine. And… thank you."
Tense bodies all relaxed. Marco shoved Johnny's plate back in front of him. "I'll believe that if you finish this food," he teased, "because the John Gage I know would never let my momma's cooking be wasted!"
Johnny gave them all a big grin as he dug into his meal. Mike dished up a plate and handed it to Jo who thanked him before savoring her dinner. Marco handed another one to Roy who eagerly filled his mouth until the plate was empty. Johnny looked at his friends, his own mouth full of food and motioned to his plate then quirked an eyebrow. "We ate. Mama Lopez insisted on it while she was packing up this," Mike told him with a smile.
Johnny finally sat back into his pillows and placed a fist to his mouth to control a burp. He patted his stomach and sighed contentedly. "Ahhhhhh, now that was a meal! I'm stuffed; I couldn't eat another bite!"
"I'll say! You ate three platefuls, Gage! Geesh!" Chet rolled his eyes, "What a pig!"
"Kelly…" Cap growled.
Johnny scowled at his nemesis. "I was hungry!" he protested, "I hadn't had anything to eat since yesterday when I grabbed that banana before the call!" The others blinked as they realized the truth in that statement.
Chet, however, grinned wickedly as he ignored that and continued to needle his pigeon, "OH? So it has nothing to do with the fact you were …"
"Kelly! You were warned!" Cap barked out causing everyone to jump. "I see a future of latrine duty AND a complete washing down of both the engine and the squad! AND just to make sure you remember, let's add a complete washing of the bay when we're back."
Belatedly Chet realized his breech in his promise and his face paled slightly. He shuffled his feet as he muttered, "Yes sir."
Johnny had watched the action with a slight smile on his face, but his eyes blinked sleepily. Mike saw it and gave a nod to Cap. Cap cleared his throat as Marco gathered up the empty containers and returned them to the bag. "Well, you two probably need your rest so we'll go here soon."
"Actually, Roy should be released any time now," Jo told them.
Roy smiled and nodded. "Yeah, Doc said they'd probably let me go sometime after lunch."
Johnny smiled at him, "That's great, Pally." Then he frowned as he looked at his own body.
"And you will probably be out of here before the end of the week," Jo comforted him. "I'll have plenty of time to air out your room and hang the sheets out in the sunshine before Roy brings you home."
Johnny's eyes popped open wide, "Oh, no. Jo. I can't do that to you. I'll go to my own place."
Jo placed her hands on her hips and scowled down at him. "And how are you gonna manage that? You can't walk, what with both legs out of commission and there is no way there is room in your apartment to maneuver a wheelchair, let alone just getting up those stairs." She shook a finger in his face. "You are coming to our house until the doctors say you can walk on your own and that is final."
Johnny looked around at the faces all suddenly interested in other things, then turned to his partner who shrugged, "I'm not gonna argue with her, Junior. I'm not stupid."
Johnny looked back at the green eyes glaring at him and slunk back into his covers with a whimper. "OK." He meekly acquiesced.
Cap patted his shoulder and stage whispered, "Good man; good decision." And that broke the tension as they all laughed.
A knock came at the door and a nurse stepped in, "Mr. DeSoto? I need to do a final vitals check on you and then you are free to leave." She quickly completed the task and handed Jo a stack of papers. "I'll get your wheelchair."
"Well, John, we're gonna head out too." Cap said as he watched Johnny stifle another yawn. "But first…" He glared at Chet.
Chet got the hint and pulled up a large package he'd been keeping behind him. "Here ya go, Gage. Something ta keep you entertained." He carefully placed it on Johnny's stomach, mindful of his legs.
Johnny straightened higher in his bed, a huge grin on his face. "Aww, gee, Chet, ya didn't hafta." Then the grin left and he poked at the package suspiciously as he muttered, "Is it safe?" thinking of all the times Chet had pranked him.
"Actually, it's from all of us," Mike added. Johnny looked from one to the other. When his gaze reached Roy, his partner shrugged.
"Not me, Junior. I was stuck in here with you."
"It's from the engine crew," Marco elaborated.
Johnny blushed slightly as a warm feeling filled him. "Thanks guys." His voice was soft and filled with emotion.
"Well, open it!" Roy said.
Johnny laughed as he eagerly tore off the paper covered with small Halloween houses. "Cute, real cute," he growled sarcastically as he pointed to the depictions. Once the paper was pulled free, in his lap lay a large book. He looked puzzled then carefully turned it over, a little afraid over what he would see. His eyes lit up and a huge smile broke out over his face, "Cool! Thanks!"
He turned it so that Jo and Roy could read the cover. "Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged… Isn't that the book used by the spelling bee people?" Jo asked.
Johnny nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah!" Suddenly his head ducked and his still pale cheeks tinted pink. "Gee, thanks guys," he said softly. "This…this means a lot."
Jo looked around at the pleased faces of the engine crew then at the tear filled eyes of her young friend and finally at her husband. She saw he was watching his partner with tears in his own blue eyes. She frowned in confusion and he looked up, his blue eyes now twinkling as he mouthed, "Tell you later."
Chet tapped the book, carefully not putting too much pressure on it and hurt his friend, "Yeah, there you go, Gage. All sorts of words for you to learn and never have to use."
Johnny raised his head and his brows knitted in puzzlement over his friend's words. Mike snickered and Marco shook his head and sighed.
Chet frowned as he realized what he'd said hadn't been what he meant to say. "Wait. That's didn't come out right," he stuttered, and Johnny giggled. That sent the rest into peals of laughter.
Cap clapped Johnny's shoulder as he stood from where he'd been seated on Roy's bed. "Get some rest, Johnny. We'll see you later." And he headed toward the door.
Marco squeezed Johnny's upper arm, "Momma will be by with more food for you. You know how she feels about the food here," he winked as he walked toward the door carrying the much lighter food bag.
"Get better soon, Johnny." Mike tapped the book, "And check out the 'w's". He grabbed Chet and pulled him along, saying, "Tell Johnny good bye, Chet."
Chet struggled briefly as he protested, "But I don't want to leave yet."
"Kelly!" Cap growled and Chet smiled largely at Johnny, "Good bye Johnny. See ya Roy," and darted out the door. Cap, shaking his head, looked one last time at his paramedics, glad to see them both smiling back at him, then he shut the door.
Marco, Chet and Mike waited until Cap joined them then walked toward the elevator. "Man, Johnny looks a lot better than he did last night." Chet breathed out.
"Gracias Dios!" Marco mumbled as he crossed himself.
Mike nodded. The four entered the elevator in silence. Suddenly, as they watched the passing floors light one after another, Chet piped up with, "You know. Gage is damn lucky we found him when we did."
Cap gave a solemn nod. "Yes, he is. Dixie told me that if he'd been down there much longer he probably would have bled to death."
Mike gave a grimace, "That's the truth. As it was, it was a toss-up on which was worse, the shock from bleeding or the hypothermia. Both were killing him."
The others nodded just as solemnly, reflecting on how close their friend had once more come to dying. Chet's mouth fell open as he listened, his eyes wide with shock. "Wow. I hadn't thought of that."
At that confession, the others looked at Chet curiously. "I'm probably gonna regret this,…. but if that's not what you meant about Johnny nearly dying, amigo, then what did you mean?" Marco queried.
Chet closed his mouth and swallowed hard. He made a slight movement with his hand and followed it with a one shoulder shrug. "Oh. Well. I just meant that he had been all the way to the 'w's' And he was finding that hard…."
"Go on," Mike urged.
Chet took a deep breath and pushed out, "I mean c'mon guys, Look what's next. X's! I mean really, X's? What are you gonna find starting with X? X-ray?"
Marco rolled his eyes and mumbled something in Spanish. Mike smirked. "As usual, Kelly. You are wrong. There are lots of good words starting with X."
Chet jutted his chin out at the tall engineer. "Oh yeah? Name one. Better yet, name two. I bet you can't name two words that start with x and you can't use x-ray! Or.. Or Xylophone! You can't use either of them." His eyes snapped out a challenge. Mike just stared at him calmly while Marco continued to mutter.
Chet grinned triumphantly, "HAH! I knew it! Mister College CAN'T!"
Mike's grin got bigger, "Sure I can. Xanthocarpous," Mike answered in a smug tone, "And xerophytic."
Chet's mouth dropped open as his eyes went wide. Cap chuckled, "Somehow I don't think Gage's word game would include banana trees or a cactus."
Chet's wide-eyed look switched from the smug engineer to his captain. "You… you mean those are real words?"
Cap and Mike shrugged then nodded. Chet pointed toward Cap. "And... and you know them too?"
Cap shrugged again, "Yeah, I do." At his lineman's still unbelieving look Cap blinked innocently, "What? My wife loves to play complicated word puzzles on family night." He grinned, "I've read and memorized the tougher letters from the dictionary that came with our Encyclopedia Britannica. You'd be amazed at the words in there." He gave a snicker. "Gets me big scores every time." He waggled his eyebrows over the double meaning as Mike dissolved into laughter while both Marco and Chet just looked shocked.
Chet just shook his head, still stunned as Captain and Engineer laughed heartily.
Back in the room, Roy was in the bathroom changing into the clothes his wife had brought while Jo sat on the edge of Johnny's bed talking quietly to the sleepy paramedic. Dressed, he returned to the main room and placed the scrubs he'd been wearing on his bed then turned back to his wife. "I guess I'm ready."
Jo nodded and positioned the chair for her husband to sit in but Roy paused, returning instead to his partner's bedside.
Roy had been aware of Johnny watching him and now he stood over his friend. Soulful brown eyes looked up at him and Roy could read every thought that passed in Johnny's eyes: happiness for his friend, longing that he, too, could leave, regret over his own condition and sadness over his impending loneliness.
Roy placed a hand on Johnny's bicep and squeezed. "I'll be back, Junior. I'll come back this evening and we can watch the game together."
Johnny's eyes flicked to Jo but then dropped to his lap as he fiddled with the edge of the book. "You don't have to, Roy." His voice was quiet. "Stay home with your family. I'm OK, really."
Roy shook his head as he gave Johnny's arm a hard squeeze. That got Johnny's attention and he looked back up at his partner. Roy opened his mouth but before he could speak, Jo did. "Nonsense, Johnny. I made pie yesterday afternoon and once we have supper, Roy will be bringing you yours here."
Johnny perked up a little, "Pie? What kind of pie?"
Jo smiled, it always made her chuckle over how much Johnny loved pie—any kind of pie—then she snorted as she mentally corrected, no, Johnny loved any baked goods—period. Still, pie seemed to be his favorite. "I made two—one blueberry and one grape." At that Johnny's eyes widened and brightened. He smacked his lips, "Grape! I haven't had grape in…in…well, forever!"
Jo smiled as she brushed his hair off his forehead, "I'll be sure you get a piece of each. I know how you love blueberry pie as well."
He blushed slightly at her attention and his eyes sparkled. "Thanks Jo."
She smiled as she patted his cheek, "You're very welcome, Sweetie. Now sleep and get better. Your room will be waiting."
Jo backed off, taking the wheelchair with her, to let the two friends make their good byes.
Johnny looked up at Roy and smiled, "Thanks Pally, for everything."
Roy smiled back at him, "You're welcome. Now, do as my lovely bride said and get some sleep so you can get out of here and back to work where you belong."
Johnny chuckled and Roy grinned broader. Johnny nodded, "OK Roy. I will. See ya later."
Roy squeezed his arm again then patted it firmly, "See ya later, Junior." That said, he walked over to his wife and sat down in the chair with flourish. "Forward, my good woman and don't spare the horses."
Johnny giggled as the two left, then sighed heavily as he looked around the previously filled room. It now seemed so…empty and a bit depressing. Then he felt the weight of the book in his lap and a smile again stretched his face. He felt the warmth flood his body at his shiftmates caring for him.
He opened the book and chuckled as he read the note written inside and read aloud, "For Johnny, may you never need this many words again… But just in case, memorize away."
And it was signed by the whole engine crew. He leafed through several pages, marveling at all the different words as well as their meaning. Then he noticed there seemed to be a creasing between the pages near the back. It appeared as if the book had been held open at that spot for a length of time. Curious, he opened the book there and found himself deep into the "w's". As he turned page after page, he noticed some seemed to be highlighted with bright yellow. Since he was at the end of the section, he began searching out each marked word working toward the front.
Johnny looked at the highlighted words and frowned at the niggle of familiarity. "Worthy…Woodsy…Witty….Wiry…." he read slowly, his brows twisted in puzzlement. It was when he read, "Weetingly", he suddenly realized they were the same ones his shiftmates had comforted him with on the porch of that horrid house. A small smile begin stretching his lips until it covered the lower half of his face as a warm glow having nothing to do with the pain shot he'd recently received flowed through his body.
"Warmly…." He drowsily read as his eyelids drifted closed, then slowly opened once more. "Wanted…" he breathed softly as sleep pulled him comfortably under, the smile still on his lips, his hand on that page of the large book. And that was the way Jo found him as she came back into the room.
"Sorry Johnny, Roy thinks he might have left…"she stopped, her hand to her mouth as she took in the sight before her. Then a smile graced her own lips as she silently came forward. In the elevator, on the way out of the hospital, Roy had told her the meaning of the present given Johnny.
Understanding the meaning behind the gift now, she felt her eyes tear at the thoughtfulness of her husband's crewmates to her young friend. She gently took the heavy book from Johnny's lap, noting the page as she did then closing it, placed it on the bedside table. She pulled the covers up more firmly around the sleeping figure and shifted his bed so he was more reclined. She stood looking at his sleeping face for a few moments, then brushed the hair from his forehead and leaned over to give him a sisterly kiss. She murmured softly in his ear. "Yes. Wanted. Now. Sleep and heal, Johnny." Then she picked up the papers Roy was missing and quietly left.
AN- Well, that's it. You know, I think from now on I'm only going to write about wonderful, sweet, caring nurses concerned with their patient's welfare…. Then maybe next time I get stuck in the hospital, that's what I'll get. The surgery in January and the surgery I just had in June both found me saddled with too many like poor Johnny here. Oh well…..
There, it's written. Now… Back to the ending of Enduring the Aftermath and the release of Child Of My Heart!
Oh, BTW—word meanings! And yes, I like to read dictionaries to find different words….
Xerophytic-adapted to a xeric (or dry) environment; "cacti are xerophytic plants"; "xerophytic adaptations
Xan`tho·car'pous- adjective [ Xantho- + Greek karpo`s fruit.] (Botany) Having yellow fruit.
