AC10

Senior Paramedic Roy DeSoto stood transfixed on his still, diaphoretic friend and partner in the treatment room.

"BP is 150/80," Morton stated.

"Pulse is 100," Dixie stated, "respirations 20."

"I don't understand this," Kel Brackett looked at his patient. "Roy, could you tell me exactly what happened."

Roy stood staring at the ashen faced man.

"Roy!"

"Huh Doc," the paramedic looked into the doctor's eyes.

"I want you to tell me exactly what happened."

Roy held tightly onto the HT as it cut into this hand.

"Um, we were going to a call, you know and then Johnny asks me to pull over the squad. He's never done that, ever. So I pull over the squad," DeSoto ran his hand over his face; "he doesn't even wait for me to stop and jumps out of the cab. He runs over to the embankment and starts puking his guts out. Doc, he wouldn't even let me near him," Roy bit his lower lip.

"And?" Brackett crossed his arms.

"Well the engine pulls up and the Cap wants to know what's going on," DeSoto shrugged, "I didn't even know what was going on but I knew we had to get Johnny here. I mentioned ambulance and I swear to God he backed away from me so Cap suggested the engine. Johnny was dazed, shocky, and diaphoretic and I couldn't help him." Roy looked at the floor, "I wrapped him in a blanket and put him in the engine." Roy looked up at the ER doctor, "but when we got here he was terrified of the ER, we've been here a million times and then he just passed out." Roy's eyes misted.

"Nothing else. Is Johnny on any medication?" Brackett looked at his unconscious patient.

"Medication? I dunno Doc, not like he'd tell me," DeSoto pointed to his junior partner.

"Do you know the last doctor he saw?" Brackett was trying to get information from the distraught paramedic.

"A cardiologist, from the department, you know after Johnny had his attack," Roy bit his lip again. "Johnny's going to be all right isn't he Doc?" Roy walked closer to the bed. "Isn't he?"

"Roy, if I have anything to do about it I will. Dixie," Kel pointed to Roy.

"Let's go get some coffee Roy," Dixie took Roy's elbow and guided him out of the treatment room. Roy continued to look back at his partner.

*****

Johnny opened his eyes to find every part of his body hurt and again, he was in a hospital room. Bits and pieces of what happened filtered through his exhausted brain and the realization of what he had done in front of his friends. Swallowing hard, he tried to keep his emotions in check. He began thinking of what new career he could chose because he finally had to face he could never be a fireman again.

Seeing a thin stream of light he saw his favorite nurse enter the room.

"Johnny you should be asleep," Dixie chided. "How do you feel?" She touched his elbow.

"Like a Mac truck ran over me and believe me I know how that feels," Johnny answered sarcastically.

Dixie winced at the paramedic's morbid humor and went to the other side of his bed, where his IV was.

"You know Dix, I think I'll become a park ranger, you know they get to carry guns," John clasped his hands together, placed them on his stomach and stared at the ceiling.

"And why would you change career? You're still my favorite paramedic," Dixie pulled a syringe out of her pocket.

"Well Dixie," the dark haired paramedic continued to stare at the ceiling, "It's hard being a fireman, you know, when you can't go into a fire station, an ambulance, a squad or even an ER. But," John said happily, "I can still ride on the engine."

The nurse stuck the syringe into the cannula and pushed the liquid into the IV.

Johnny watched as she did. "You're cheating you know Dix."

"You need your sleep Johnny. Besides you shouldn't be making life changing decisions when you're exhausted. You need your sleep," she said gently.

"Sleep is for amateurs Dixie. Besides sleep is overrated," Johnny yawned and fought the drug effects.

Dixie watched as Johnny finally succumbed to the drugs, however it wasn't a restful sleep and she hoped Kel Brackett would be able to help her tortured friend.

Going to the ER Dixie found Brackett in his office and sat down, exhausted.

"You're right Kel, he wasn't asleep. He said sleep was for amateurs," Dixie tried to laugh but just couldn't.

Kel stared at Johnny's chart.

"You know Dixie I've been watching Johnny like a hawk and I still didn't catch it. I think he's lost like ten pounds," Kel sighed.

"Yeah, well I don't like this John Gage one bit either, or his humor," Dixie crossed her arms.

"Really," Kel looked up, "I've always found it be dry."

"Yeah, well," Dixie stood up. "I don't like morbid."

"Morbid? Like what?" Brackett was now curious.

"Well I asked Johnny how he felt and he replied like being hit by a Mac truck and he all ready knew what that felt like. I thought…." Dix sighed. "Anyway back to work."

"Mac truck, huh?" Kel leaned back on his chair. "So that's the problem."

****

Gage squinted as the bright sunshine flooded his room. A pretty student nurse brought in his breakfast. It was disgusting but if he was getting out he had to eat.

"Uh nurse," Johnny smiled and turned on what little charm he had.

"Yes Mr. Gage," the girl said politely.

"Could you do me a favor?" John smiled again.

"Sure," she returned his smile.

"Um, I don't want any visitors, I mean other than doctors and any chance I can get rid of this phone?" He pointed to a port of entry he didn't want.

"I'm afraid I can't get rid of the phone, but I can leave orders you don't want phone calls. Would that be all right?" she asked naively.

"That would be perfect Nurse?" John sighed inwardly not wanting to face his shift mates feeling embarrassed at breaking down in front of his friends and shift mates.

"Nancy Marsh."

"Thanks Nurse Nancy Marsh," Gage sighed, "and any chance I can get seconds?"

"Oh sure. I'll be right back," Marsh disappeared as Johnny choked down his food.

Morbid humor.