The Right Choices

Chapter 9

By GCS

Emergency is not mine and neither are the characters. I don't make any money from them, but I do borrow them for entertainment.

Dixie opened the door to the linen closet and peeked inside.

Across on the far side of the spacious closet, against the far wall, beneath a white hospital blanket she could see Johnny, sound asleep with his arm slung over his eyes. She quietly walked over and knelt down beside him. He looked a little pale. She reached over and gently took his wrist, counting. 'It's a little fast.'

Johnny raised his arm slightly and squinted up at her.

"What are you doing in here Johnny?"

He hoarsely whispered. "Too noisy in there." Then he closed his eyes again.

"In where sweetheart?" Dixie was beginning to get a little concerned. He didn't seem to know how much time had gone by.

"Waiting room. It's too noisy, made my head hurt." He turned away from her toward the wall. "Le' me alone Dix, I'm tired."

"No Johnny. You need to wake up for me. Do you know where you are?" She laid her hand on his chest and counted again. The only response she got was a grumble. "Johnny?"

"I'm waitin' Dix." He was clearly confused.

"What for?" She felt his forehead. 'You're a bit warm my friend.'

"Cap's hurt. He didn't wake up. Where's Roy?" He rose up slightly and looked behind her. His forehead wrinkled as his eyes traveled around the room. "I need to talk to Roy." He lay back down. "He'll know."

"I'll be right back Johnny. Okay? I'll go look for him."

"Dixie?"

"Yes sweetie?"

"I'm really thirsty. My head hurts." He whispered. "Tell Roy for me. Tell him to bring me some more juice."

"Okay sweetie. I'll be right back." Leaving the closet Dixie moved quickly to the nurse's desk. She picked up the phone and called Dr. Brackett's office.

"Hello, this is Dr. Brackett."

"Kel, I need you at the nurse's desk on the fourth floor, outside Hank Stanley's room."

"What's wrong Dixie? Did something happen with Hank?" Kel's eyebrows raised in concern.

"No Kel, I just found Johnny sleeping in the linen closet."

"Again?" he chuckled.

"Kel this is serious. He's disoriented. He's complaining of a headache. He has a rapid pulse and a possible fever. He's complaining of thirst. I think he is suffering from exhaustion and dehydration. Yesterday was his first shift back, and it was non-stop."

"Where's Roy?"

"I don't know." She glanced around the hallway.

"He wouldn't just leave Johnny. Wait a minute, I saw Johnny slip out of the waiting room at around 2 o'clock this morning after they saw Hank. Roy probably thought he got a ride. Call him. I'll be right up." He slammed down the phone and headed straight for the elevator.

Dixie immediately dialed Roy's number.

"Hello, Desoto residence," Jennifer answered the phone.

"May I speak to your daddy please?" Dixie drummed her long fingernails impatiently on the counter.

"May I say who is calling?" Jennifer had obviously been taught to ask who it is before disturbing Roy.

"Yes Jennifer, this is Ms. McCall. Could you please tell your dad I need to speak with him?"

"Hi Miss Dixie."

"Hello sweetie, can I talk to Roy?" Dixie's patience was running out fast. She needed Roy.

"Yes ma'am. I'll go and get him for you." Jennifer clanked the phone receiver on the kitchen cabinet and ran off to find her dad. "Daddy!"

"Jennifer! Don't yell. Your dad is trying to sleep." Joanne stepped out of the sewing room. "What is it you need?"

"Ms. McCall is on the phone. She said she needs daddy."

"Oh!" Joanne's hand went to her mouth. "Go and tell daddy to come to the phone. I'll talk to Ms. McCall until he gets there." She ran down the hallway. Jennifer went upstairs to find Roy.

"Hello Dixie, this is Joanne. Jennifer went to wake Roy. Has something happened to Hank?" Joanne rushed through the question.

"Hello," Roy spoke into the bedroom phone.

"Roy, this is Dixie."

"What's wrong, is it Cap?" He rubbed his eyes trying to get the sleep out of them.

"No Roy. Hank is stable. It's Johnny."

"Johnny?" He bolted up in the bed. "What's wrong with Johnny? Where is he? What happened? Is he hurt?" The questions fired off faster than Dixie could respond.

"He's here. I found him sleeping in the linen closet again. Roy he's disoriented, groggy. I think it's dehydration. Why on earth didn't you take him home?"

"What do you mean? Didn't he ride with Mike? I thought he went with B-shift back to the station for the Rover."

"Well Roy Desoto he didn't. He's here and lucky we found him when we did. I think you had better get down here. Kel said you need to get down here. You're his next of kin." She was obviously upset with Roy.

"Is he that bad Dix?" Apprehension could be heard in his voice.

"I don't know. He's really out of it. Here's Kel, I have to go. Hurry Roy." She hung up the receiver before he had time to respond.

Roy got up and grabbed his jeans.

Joanne hung up the extension in the kitchen. They met at the bottom of the stairs. "He'll be okay Roy. It's not your fault."

"I knew he was tired. I knew he needed more fluids Jo. I knew." He lowered his gaze to his shoes. "He's my best friend and I left him. I just left him to fend for himself."

"Roy Desoto! John Gage is a grown man."

"I know that Joanne, but he's been so sick. Yesterday was his first day back. It was very hectic. He was so tired he took a nap in the middle of the afternoon. Have you ever known Johnny to take a nap while on shift? That's not something he would normally do. I should have made sure he got home or brought him here." Roy grabbed his keys from the bowl he kept on the table by the door. "I have to go. I'll call you."

"He'll be okay Roy." Joanne kissed her husband.

At the hospital Dr. Brackett and Dixie went into the room where Johnny was.

"Johnny?" Kel bent down on one knee. "Wake up Johnny." He shook him lightly.

Johnny turned and squinted up at Dr. Brackett. "What are you doing here Doc?"

"Where Johnny?"

"What? Here in my bedroom." He yawned and closed his eyes again.

"Dixie get me a gurney."

Dixie turned and disappeared out the door.