"I've never seen a grasshopper with purple spots." Wayna pointed to Johnny's picture. "And I've never seen a tree with multi coloured leaves that include blue and purple."
"It's fall and who says grasshoppers can't have purple spots?"
"What's this, grasshopper with purple spots?" Dr Brackett lent over the paramedics shoulder and inspected Johnny's picture. He picked up a pink pencil and started to colour. "You missed a spot."
Dixie walked in and looked on at the three males colouring. She went to the other side of the bed and viewed Wayna's picture." I think this needs a women's touch." She picked up a yellow pencil and started colouring. Wayna smiled at the nurse.
"It's good to see that everyone is busy in this hospital?" Dr Morton entered the room five minutes after Dixie. Since Dr Brackett had told him about Johnny's appointment he had wanted to congratulate the paramedic.
"We're on a break!" Both Dixie and Dr Bracket said in unison. Mike held up his hands, surrendering.
"I wanted to congratulate you Johnny. I know we haven't always seen eye to eye over the years but I just want you to know I'm pleased you're taking the job." They shook hands.
"Thanks Mike. Congratulations on your appointment."
Mike cleared his throat. "Thanks but it's still not official yet."
"You do know that everyone already knows. That it's all over the hospital and fire department?" Dr Brackett looked up.
"Really?"
"Yeah, Kurt told me. He heard some nurses talking about it in the lounge."
"Nothing gets past the hospital grapevine." Dixie announced shaking her head.
"Guess we better make the announcements pretty soon." Dr Brackett put down his pencil. "As much as I'd rather be doing this, I better get back." He ruffled Wayna's hair and lent over to whisper in the boy's ear. "I like your picture better."
"Hey! I heard that." Johnny said indignantly. He feigned that he was hurt.
Dixie stood up and looked at Johnny's picture. "I don't know….that grasshopper is hard to beat."
"Thanks Dix."
"Bye Wayna."
"Bye Miss McCall…Bye Dr Brackett." Both waved as they left the room.
"Wayna, have you met Dr Morton?" Wayna shook his head. He held out his hand.
"Hello Dr Morton." They shook hands.
"Dr Morton will be in charge of the emergency part of the new children's hospital that they are going to build next door."
"How are you feeling? How's the pain?"
Johnny let his cousin answer the doctor. "My side hurts but not as much as yesterday and I don't feel sick anymore."
"Doc he's been coughing."
"That would be the after effects of the anaesthesia. Just make sure he takes deep breaths every so often and coughs up the congestion. I'll make a note in his charts."
"Thanks Doc."
"Bye."
"Bye Dr Morton." Wayna looked at Johnny and frowned. "What was Dr Morton congratulating you for?"
Johnny smiled, nothing got past his cousin. "I accepted a new job here at the hospital, Paramedic Co-ordinator. I'll be leaving the field and the fire department…..but it will mean I won't be working 24 hour shifts so I'll be home every night." Wayna smiled; having his cousin home every day excited him.
"Will you still be a paramedic?"
"Yes. I'll work in the emergency department on a regular basis to test out new procedures and to improve current procedures. I'll be working mainly with Dr Brackett."
"I was thinking." Wayna looked up at his cousin with his big brown eyes. "I'd like to be a doctor when I grow up." Johnny thought being in hospital and made well by Dr Brackett, rendered the idea of being a doctor appeal to his cousin.
"That would be a fine profession but it takes many years to become a doctor….There's plenty of time to decide but I think being a doctor is a good thought." His cousin nodded in reply. "Lunch should be here soon. I'm going to grab a coffee from the machine. I brought my lunch." Johnny left the room. He thought Wayna was certainly bright enough to be a doctor. Kids probably made snap decisions like this all the time, although from a very early age he could remember wanting to be a tiller man and that then changed to a fireman when he moved to LA.
Throughout the afternoon and into the evening Wayna was visited by many on duty and off duty firemen and paramedics. By the end of the day he had lots of books to read. Craig had given him a book that explained the human body. Bret gave him a book on looking after your pet.
During Craig's visit Johnny went to the Fire Department HQ to officially hand in his resignation. He arranged for family leave for when Wayna was home from the hospital. The paramedic would only work two more shifts and then be on family leave for the remainder of his employment with the fire department. This was a new chapter in his life and he was looking forward to raising his young cousin and advancing the paramedic program into a new era.
The boy in the next bed watched in ore as firemen and paramedics visited wearing their uniforms as well as those off duty who obviously were in civilian clothes. Some of the visitors talked to him and shared with him some goodies they brought for Wayna to eat.
Wayna had never received so many presents. He made sure he thanked everyone. Johnny decided to take a lot of the present's home. When his cousin got everything together to take home Wayna sighed. "I wish I could go home with you. I miss Feather."
"I'd bring him in to see you but dogs aren't allowed in hospitals. You'll just have to settle with seeing me in the meantime. While I'm working tomorrow I'll come up in between runs. Two more shifts and I'll be able to spend more time with you."
"It's not that Johnny. You do so much for me. I just like being home with you and Feather." Johnny looked into his cousins big brown eyes. He considered breaking the rules and staying after visiting hours. It was as if Dixie could read his mind, she entered the room and held out her wrist tapping her watch. "I know I know….visiting hours are over." Johnny started to collect everything he had packed up.
Dixie straightened Wayna's bed. "You young man need to get some sleep. You've had quite a day."
"He has had a lot of visitors."
"Yes well….the nurses said they haven't seen so many firemen come to this ward before."
"Ooops." Johnny brought his hand up to his mouth. Wayna giggled.
"Come on Johnny….I'll be back in a minute Wayna and you too Martin. I heard about the food being snuck up here." The boy in the other bed giggled also.
"See you tomorrow Wayna." Johnny yelled as he exited, or more like, was pushed out of the room. Once out of earshot Johnny spoke to Dix. "He's still coughing Dix."
"That's normal Johnny but if you're worried I'll get Kel to have a listen to his chest."
"Thanks Dix. Bye."
Dixie watched Johnny walk down the hall to the elevator. 'Oh you've got it bad Johnny.'
The next morning Johnny felt a knot in his stomach as he got closer to the station. Even though A shift's crew had grown apart, he still felt sad about leaving. Apart from Cap, they had been together for nearly six years. Roy had been his partner for all that time and despite their differences socially, they were a good team and he loved working alongside Roy. He would miss working with him.
They lined up for roll call. Johnny had not had a chance to speak to Roy, he had been side tracked by Dwyer. He wanted to know how Wayna was and what to get him. "I have a few announcements…one important announcement." Cap looked at his paramedic solemnly. Johnny grimaced and hung his head. "Gentlemen we have come to the end of an age….one of us is leaving." Each crew member looked around except for Johnny who continued to look at the floor.
"Who's leaving?" Chet asked without waiting for the Cap to make the announcement.
"I am Chet." Johnny said quietly, so quietly Chet almost missed hearing it.
Cap took over. "Johnny is leaving the fire department. He has one more shift after this one with us and then he'll be on family leave for two weeks. I'm sorry to see you go pal. It's been a pleasure and true honour working with you. You'll be missed." Cap offered Johnny his hand.
"Thanks Cap, I've really enjoyed working with you…..with all you guys."
Roy stood still watching his partner. 'Leaving…what?'
Johnny turned and looked at his partner. "I'm sorry Roy I was going to tell you before start…"
"You're actually leaving? Are you crazy? Why?"
"A few things actually. For one…"
"Ah no….this can't be because of your cousin. I can't believe you're giving up your career…"
"No Roy…..not just because of Wayna although that's part of it…When Dr Brackett offered me the Paramedic Co-ordinator job last shift, the more I thought about it…the more I wanted it. When you turned it down I accepted immediately and he wants me to start straight away. All the announcements will be made tomorrow…. .You're all looking at moving on…it's just worked out that I'm moving first."
"Why the family leave?" Chet asked.
"Wayna was operated on yesterday, appendicitis. I want to be home when he gets out of hospital at the end of the week."
"I'm sorry to hear that pal." Cap said with concern. Johnny was looking at Roy who was just staring at him in disbelief. Cap cleared his throat; Roy's staring was making everyone nervous. "Like I said you'll be missed but the paramedic program will definitely benefit having you in charge."
"There are some more announcements. The engineers exams have been scheduled for next month, so, Chet…Roy you need to register with HQ. Mike the Captains exam will take place a week later." Mike nodded. Cap glanced at Roy who was still staring at his partner. He nodded his head towards the kitchen, at Chet, Mike and Marco.
Johnny watched them leave and faced his long-time partner. Roy sighed. "So this is it. I always thought it would be me moving on….leaving you behind."
"You'll be leaving soon enough. You'll probably come in first when you take that exam and it's what you want."
Roy looked up at his partner. "Brackett told you."
"Yes he told me…I was surprised, yet….not. We haven't exactly been getting along this past year."
"Is that why you're leaving?" Johnny frowned at Roy's short sightedness.
"Of course not! I want this job. I wanted it as soon as Brackett told me about it. Listen Roy, I admit I was looking for a solution to working 24hr shifts but to be honest I would have taken this job despite that."
"I always thought you'd stay in the field til they changed the rules in the department."
"To move up from paramedic straight to Captain?"
"Yes." Roy sighed and rubbed the side of his eye. "As you said we're all moving on." Roy turned and walked towards the kitchen. Johnny stared at his partner's back in disbelief. His one-time best friend walked away without asking how Wayna was or congratulating him on his new job.