Twelve (long) Weeks Later...

"Welcome back partner!" Roy was more than thrilled to see Johnny walking into the station locker room. "It's been too long."

Johnny was glad to be back to work. His injuries had healed with no ill effects and he had finally been cleared for duty. "I'm happy to be back and, trust me, it seemed to take even longer from my point of view."

"No..." Roy rubbed the back of his neck with pent up aggravation. "It was MUCH longer for me, than it was for you."

Johnny paused and looked at his partner as he opened his locker. "You got stuck with Brice, didn't you?"

"Only for the first six weeks."

"Really? Who else did you work with?"

"Bellingham."

Johnny couldn't help but laugh. "You had to work with the world's 'Perfect Paramedic' and 'the animal'?" He tried his best to hide his amusement but it was almost impossible as he opened his locker door. "What was worse? Perfection or a walking mess?"

"There's no way to compare one to the other..."

"That bad, huh?" Johnny began switching from his clothes into his uniform.

"Worse." Roy saw the scar that had been left behind on Johnny's abdomen and subtly looked away before Johnny even noticed.

"How so?"

Roy leaned back on he bench until his head was resting against his closed locker. "First Brice had to remind me how to drive properly, then how to stock the supplies and of course how to space each word in my report..."

"Yeah?" Johnny's grin was wide and greatly entertained as he slipped on his shirt.

"Then after Bellingham stepped in I had to constantly check and organize everything after he finished checking and organizing everything!"

Johnny had finished changing into his uniform and sat on the bench next to Roy. "Sorry partner. It's not like I had a say in who was my replacement-"

Roy quickly interrupted. "Replacement'S', emphasis on the 'S'. Plural. As in, more than one!"

"Replacement'S'..." Johnny corrected himself while stifling a laugh.

"Yeah, I know. It's just that I can't figure out why you're the one who always seems to get the raw end of the deal during a call, and then I get to endure the joy of 'paramedic roulette' while you're recovering."

Johnny sympathetically put his hand on Roy's shoulder. "If it's any consolation, it's not fun being forced to sit on the sidelines and watch your best friend continue to work."

"I know that too. I've spent some time on the sidelines myself."

"And I'm back now. No more Brice, and no more Bellingham."

Roy laughed and stood up from the bench. "Yeah, they're each others problem again." He sighed heavily. "I'm glad you're back, but are you sure you're ready?"

"Of course I am Roy, I wouldn't be here if Rampart didn't think I-"

"No, that's not what I meant." He felt a twinge of shame for questioning his partner's competence.

"What are you talking about, Roy?"

"I know you've healed on a physical level, but... Uh... Are you 'ready' to come back?"

Johnny sighed. "You mean am I going to be able to handle walking into tall buildings without freaking out, right?"

"Not... I didn't mean for it sound like that, but..."

"I know! I know." Johnny rubbed at his eyes with his hands and dismissed Roy's unintentional offense. "You're just looking out for me. But again, I wouldn't be here unless Rampart said I was ready. I had to undergo 'psych' exams before I was cleared. I passed with flying colors! I'm okay, I promise."

Roy smiled. "So you're not, I don't know, having nightmares or panic attacks or anything like that?"

"Nope. Well... The first night I was back home I had a nightmare, but it wasn't about a bomb or buildings."

Now Roy's curiosity had been piqued. "What was it about then? Fire? Being trapped?"

"No, worse. Brice had been promoted to Chief!"

Roy just laughed. "Be serious."

"I am serious! The very idea of Brice outranking the whole department is the most terrifying idea in the history of paramedicine!"

Despite his best effort Roy couldn't hide his amusement. He took in a breath and regained his composure. "Johnny."

"Yeah?"

"I need a straight answer."

"Roy I am 100% fine. No lingering pain, no nightmares, no flashbacks, no anxiety or panic attacks and no fear of loud noises. I'm okay and I'm not going anywhere."

"Good." Roy offered his hand to Johnny. "Damn, it's good to have you back!"

Johnny smiled brightly, until an interesting question popped into his head. "Hey Roy..." He stood up to join his partner as they exited the locker room. "If those two, you know, Brice and Bellingham, are so... Different, yet equally as frustrating, how do they manage to work together?"

Roy didn't have an answer. He never thought of how those two functioned as partners. "I... I don't know."

"Me neither."

After pondering the question for a moment longer, the reunited duo exited the locker room and stood in line for roll call in the bay. Captain Stanley was leaving his office with a clipboard in his hand. He spied his two paramedics and greeted them warmly.

"Mornin' Roy. Johnny, glad to see you back."

Johnny appreciated the welcoming. "Thanks, Cap!"

Captain Stanley proceeded to inform them of a memo he received that morning. "Roy, don't forget that you two have the joy of training a new paramedic starting today."

"That's right. He starts today." Roy remembered with a slight smirk on his face.

"Yup, and he'll be here soon." Captain Stanley answered offhandedly as he walked into the kitchen.

Johnny addressed his partner. "A new trainee. Anyone I know?" He inquired.

"Yes, actually."

"Oh, really? Who?"

"Dave."

"Dave? I don't know anyone named Dave." Johnny was a little puzzled by Roy's answer and reaction.

From the opened doorway of the bay a familiar voice called out. "Sure you do."

Both Johnny and Roy turned to face the newly arrived trainee. It was then that Johnny remembered Dave. "You! You were the intern in that building!"

"Yeah, that was me."

"It's too bad we didn't have a chance to be properly introduced before the explosion." Johnny extended his hand to Dave who graciously accepted the friendly gesture. "What are you doing here?"

"After the bombing I reexamined my life and decided to make a career change."

"You're going to be a paramedic?" Johnny seemed absolutely incredulous at this notion.

"Hopefully! Somehow it seems safer than interning!" Dave joked.

"Looking forward to training you, Dave!"

As if on cue, the Klaxons sounded off. 'Squad 51: man down, 447 West Ridge; 447 West Ridge: Time-Out: 07:57.'

"That's our song. Let's go!" Johnny patted Dave on the shoulder as the three medics headed for the squad for their first run of the day.

-The End

Author's Note: As much as I wanted to reply to each individual review, I couldn't. Saying a generic 'Thanks' to everyone who commented seemed hollow and annoying. But in all honesty, thank you all for reading and reviewing! When I know someone, anyone, is enjoying my story it inspires me to keep writing! I appreciate it wholly and I hope you enjoyed this story! I hope you enjoy my other stories too! :)