Johnny and the rest of his shift friends went back to Roys for an impromptu barbeque. Everyone's spirits were on a high knowing Johnny was taken seriously and that the matter had been dealt with properly.
"The departments changing, for the better." announced Cap.
"It still has a long way to go." countered Mike.
"Yeah I heard Tim got transferred to 18s of all stations." stated Johnny with disbelief.
"Seems he knew Cipps was bugging you but didn't report him to Badger and..." Chet wasn't sure how to say the next part without embarrassing Johnny. Roy gave him a slight shake of the head. Johnny noticed the exchange and pulled his lips together and frowned.
"What aren't you telling me...look I can handle it...tell me...come on guys I'm gonna find out sooner or later." implored Johnny.
Chet went on, "It seems Tim and Cipps were a couple at one time and Tim knew that Cipps was a bit obsessive." Chet shrugged as he confessed up the information.
Johnny looked at his hands and processed the information. Everyone waited, giving Johnny time to come to terms with the implications. Johnny hadn't really thought about the sexual preferences of Bobby before now. He thought about his working environment and how homosexuals were frowned at, but he had never really cared what other firemen preferred. This went beyond being gay, Bobby was sick. He had forced himself on another person; those were Dr Raymond's words and he agreed with them.
Johnny looked up and saw the concerned looks of his friends. "It's ok guys...I feel sorry for Tim...it wasn't his fault...Bobby is a sick man. He needs help." He said sadly.
Roy couldn't believe how forgiving his partner was and he realised he needed to change his own attitude towards Bobby. Here, was his brave partner willing to see that Bobby Cipps was simply unable to help himself and needed professional help, whereas all he wanted to do was beat the living daylights out of this man. He felt humbled and realised how incredibly lucky he was to call Johnny his friend.
Cap, Chet and Mike were thinking pretty much the same thing. "I guess everyone needs to change, not just the brass." stated Mike.
Everyone nodded in unison. They asked Johnny about his previous stations that he had worked at and pranks that were played on him as a boot. Everyone imparted with what pranks had been played on them during their probation. Caps was the best; he found his boots tied to the top of the flag pole after he fought his first fire, and when he turned around the whole crew were standing behind him saluting him. He said he really felt he was part of the crew after that.
The friends broke up the gathering and headed off to home. Chet drove Johnny home. They didn't see the car that was parked down Roy's street sitting, waiting and then following them to Johnny's apartment. They didn't see the malevolent eyes that were seeking glimpses of their obsession. Chet waited and watched Johnny walk up the stairs to his apartment and drove out once he was satisfied that his young friend was safely inside his apartment.
Cipps obsessed over urges to have John Gage in front of him naked and submissive. His hands shook as he held the steering wheel of his car and searched the apartment block for traces of his obsession. 'Tomorrow you are mine.' He chanted as he slowly drove away.
The next day Johnny received word that he was cleared to start next shift. He drove to Rampart hospital and found Dr Early in his office catching up on paper work.
"Hello Johnny, take a seat." he gestured towards a couch in his office. Dr Early sat next to the paramedic. "Now to what do I owe this pleasure?"
Johnny smiled, "I just wanted to thank you Doc for everything. Without your help, and understanding, I probably would have lost my career and life as I know it. Thanks." He held out his hand and shook Dr Early's hand.
"I hear you start back tomorrow" Dr Early said smiling. Johnny nodded. "Well, all I can say is take it slowly and remember what Andy taught you and you'll be fine. I was very proud of the way you handled yourself yesterday and you should be proud of yourself too."
"I am Doc; I feel like someone has reached into my stomach and untied a huge knot that had been sitting there for a long time. Kind of like being set free." Johnny said with self-confidence.
"That's good Johnny." Dr Early looked down at his fingers. "You know one of the most satisfying things as a doctor is to see a patient return to their life healthy and happy. It's even more satisfying when it's a friend." They both stood and shook hands again.
"I'll see you next shift Doc." Johnny said as he made his way to the door.
"No doubt you will." replied Dr Early chuckling.
They both exited the office to a scene that will haunt both Dr Early and Johnny for the rest of their lives.
Tim watched Johnny enter Dr Early's office. He had wanted to see Johnny and apologise, however he wondered if he would accept it. Movement near the wall opposite the office caught Tim's eye. Bobby was leaning against the wall watching the office door. Tim squeezed his eyes shut; Bobby was still obsessed with station 51s paramedic. He needed to convince him that it was wrong and that he needed to move on with his life. This obsession was becoming dangerous for both Bobby and Johnny Gage.
Tim slowly approached Bobby to try to reason with him; to tell him that he had to move on and forget about John Gage. Bobby slowly turned his head and watched Tim approach.
"Bobby you've got to stop and you have to leave. The hospital won't tolerate you being here and bothering Johnny." Tim pleaded with the stoic man. He stood and waited for Bobby to give some sort of indication that he had heard his plea.
Bobby slowly and deliberately straightened up. With lightening reflexes, he grabbed Tim taking him by complete surprise. Bobby snaked his arm around Tim's neck and pointed a knife at his jugular.
"Now we're just going to relax and wait for Johnny to come out, and he's going to come with me." Bobby whispered in Tim's ear. The iciness in his voice made Tim shiver with fear.
Everyone within sight of the unfolding scene was frozen, not daring to move in case the knife moved. No one thought to call security.
Johnny and Dr Early gasped at the sight of Tim being held with a knife pointing to his neck. He struggled when the door opened and Bobby pierced the skin of Tim's neck. A trickle of blood ran down his neck staining his collar.
"Bobby, don't do this." pleaded Johnny. His eyes locked with Tim's. Fear radiated from them. Johnny tried to reflect friendship and strength to Tim.
"If you come with me I'll let him go." responded Bobby to Johnny's pleading.
"Bobby, that's not going to happen, you need help. Please let Tim go and we can get you some help. Come on let him go." Johnny begged.
Bobby looked at Johnny with knowing eyes. "All I've ever wanted is someone like you. You're perfect, you know…. I've never wanted someone so badly as I want you...but I realise now I'll never have you," and with swift action, he sliced the knife across Tim's neck. He dropped the stricken paramedic and ran to the stairs.
Both the paramedic and the doctor ran to Tim. Johnny immediately applied pressure to Tim's jugular while Dr Early hit the security alarm and yelled out orders. A nurse appeared with a tray and Dr Early immediately started clamping Tim's throat. The injured paramedic was lifted onto a gurney and rushed up to surgery.
Johnny watched them disappear and looked down at his hands and the floor. They were covered in blood; Tim's blood. Dixie came running round the corner along with another paramedic, Tim's partner. Her eye's went wide with shock.
Dixie took one look at Johnny and grabbed his arm and led him into a treatment room. She started cleaning his hands and checked for any cuts.
"This is Tim's blood Dix..." Johnny looked at her through distraught eyes. "He cut his throat without even thinking about it...just cut his throat." Dixie could see Johnny was going into shock as his body started to shake.
"Whose throat?...not Tim's!" Cried the paramedic.
Johnny nodded. His eye's reflected the tragedy of the situation.
"Oh God!" the paramedic rushed from the room.
Dixie placed a blanket around Johnny's shoulders and led him to the doctor's lounge. She poured him a cup of coffee. The warmth from the coffee thawed his frozen feelings. "It happened so fast Dix…..One minute I was pleading with Bobby to let Tim go….and the next he just…..Oh God." Dix rubbed his shoulders, trying to console the distraught man.
"You can't blame yourself Johnny. No one knew he was capable of such malice." Dix continued to rub Johnny's shoulders. He nodded. Dix was right. He sighed and shook his head.
"He needs help…..maybe he'll get it now….but at what price Dix?" Johnny looked sadly at the nurse. He smiled slightly, "Thanks." She smiled back, knowingly.
Dr Raymond burst through the door.
"Johnny you need to come with me. Bobby Cipps is up on the roof threatening to jump. We need to talk him down. If you stand with me….maybe….just maybe….he'll listen."
"Ok. If you think me being there will help." Johnny stood, he was steadier on his feet and felt better after the coffee. "Thanks Dix" he smiled at his friend.
"Be careful Johnny. You owe this man nothing." she declared.
"I know Dix but as you just pointed out, he needs help." Johnny told her sadly.
Johnny and Dr Raymond walked briskly to the elevator. "Johnny just follow my lead. I need to calm him and talk him down."
"I know Doc...I'm a paramedic remember." Johnny smiled, but then became serious as the doors opened. Dr Raymond thought about how far this man had come over the past month. He respected and admired Johnny's inner strength. They stepped out onto the roof; security was standing in an arc watching Bobby closely. Both men approached the agitated man cautiously.
"Bobby, Johnny's here and he wants to help you." Dr Raymond informed the agitated man.
Bobby turned his head, his eyes were dead. "Johnny, I'm doing this for you Johnny."
"Bobby DON'T!" Everyone stood frozen, as the shock engulfed them.
Johnny didn't hear Dr Raymond speak to him as he led him down stairs to a treatment room in ER. He was unaware of the light sedative given to him by Dr Raymond. While he slept Roy was called. He burst through the ER doors and was lead to the treatment room that his young paramedic partner inhabited. Roy took a seat next to his sleeping partner while Dr Raymond explained what had happened.
Johnny could hear the murmur of voices and slowly opened his eyes. His head felt like it had been stuffed with cotton wool. He tried to blink away the fuzziness.
Dr Early came rushing through the door in his scrubs. "I just heard, is Johnny alright?"
Johnny blinked a few times and looked up at concerned faces. "Hey Junior." said Roy smiling. "Had a tough afternoon, hey?" Johnny slowly rose, using his elbows as leverage. Roy hit the control button and raised the head of the bed.
"Yeah. How's Tim?" he asked Dr Early as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
"He's going to make it but we weren't able to save his voice box." Dr Early said sorrowfully.
"Johnny I think if you want we should probably meet for a session in a couple of days." Dr Raymond patted the young man's shoulder.
"Sure Doc, I'm working tomorrow so day after tomorrow?" Johnny asked not smiling but not so stunned as he was up on the roof.
"Take things slowly tomorrow Johnny. Don't push yourself." Advised Dr Raymond. He turned to Roy, "You'll need to drive him home, he shouldn't be driving so soon after a sedative."
"Ok." Roy nodded to the Doc and then turned to Johnny. "I'll get Chet and Marco to pick up your car and drop it at your apartment." Dr Raymond waved goodbye and left the treatment room.
Johnny slowly rose; he felt a bit unsteady and tried to stretch the fuzziness from his body. Even after the drugged nap, he felt incredibly tired.
"I am sorry about Tim Doc." Johnny said shaking his head; a young man's career had been sliced away by a sick obsessed man.
Johnny returned to work and got back into the swing of things without too much trouble. His session with Dr Raymond went well and Johnny dealt with the guilt he was feeling and accepted that there wasn't anything he could have done to change what had happened to both Tim and Bobby.
It was a month later that Johnny received a call from Dr Early. "Johnny I'm at the clinic and I was wondering if you were still serious about helping out?" asked Dr Early.
"You bet Doc." He said enthusiastically.
"I have someone who would like to meet you and just talk."
"I'm on my way Doc. Is it alright if Roy comes with me, my cars out of service and Roy's my chauffer? "Roy hit him in the arm.
"That's fine Johnny we could use some extra hands down here." Dr Early chuckled.
"See you soon Doc." Johnny turned to Roy and said, "They could use your help too partner." Roy just shook his head at his partner and pushed him towards the door.
Johnny sat and talked and listened to the young girl who was being abused in her workplace by a manager. He reassured her that she needed to come forward and maybe tell another female, who was respected by the managers, about her problem. She just needed someone to listen and understand what she was going through. He comforted her and told her to trust her friends for help.
Roy watched his partner with pride. Dr Early came up and stood beside Roy. "You know I feel blessed to be able to call Johnny my friend. He's one of the bravest men I've ever known."
"Yeah he is that Doc and the most forgiving." Roy smiled remembering the lesson Johnny had taught him.