Chapter 10 Full Circle

Nova and Rachel returned before noon. The couple had been up and awake for about and hour. After a quick lunch, Rachel retreated to her room above the garage for the rest of the day. Johnny put Nova down for her nap. JJ was in misery. Her arms and shoulders were very sore from hanging hose. She took a couple of aspirin. Sitting out front on the porch swing, Johnny rubbed her shoulders and arms while she talked in more detail about what had happened at station 46. As she finished, JJ added, "I was just floored he could even make that leap, John. I was more angry than scared actually, you know?"

"Oh, I understand angry Janes, I understand angry for sure," Johnny had replied heatedly. "I thought Roy was going to have a stroke when he told me about it. I haven't heard him that angry in a long, long time. Him being so angry kind of kept my temper in check. He was beating himself up about 'letting' it happen. Of course I set him straight. I know Roy would never 'let' anything like that 'happen. It was all Shane's doing. Sometimes people just do really stupid things." Johnny's jaw tightened and the muscles worked to control his own emotions. "I'd still like to deck the jerk."

The conversation turned to all that needed to be done that day. Johnny changed the oil on the station wagon while JJ washed up his uniforms, did some minor mending work on various pieces of clothing and emptied the dishwasher. They had decided to to and see Brian at the hospital after Nova awoke. After gathering up the diaper bag, they took the Rover to Rampart. Dixie arranged for Brian to come down to the cafeteria for a visit. Johnny was introduced to Brian and the three of them played cards while Nova ate a snack in a high chair. Brian soundly beat them both at Go Fish and it brought a genuine smile to the sad boy's face. After ordering a milkshake for Johnny, Brian and JJ, they took a stroll around the hospital campus pushing Brian in his wheelchair. Nova shared milkshakes with everybody. Brian had asked if Nova could ride on his lap and she was happily perched on him enjoying the ride. "I guess the funeral for my mom is Wednesday," Brian had told them quietly. "The social worker, Mrs. Burns, says she'll take me."

"We'd like to come, Brian," Johnny replied squatting down by the young boy. "Would that be okay with you?" He was already seeing how this boy could worm his way into your heart. The little guy was trying so hard to be grown up about it all.

A small smile bowed the boy's lips, "I'd like that a lot, but I don't want to be any trouble."

JJ added, "It is no trouble for us to come sweetie. We both want to be there for you." The boy nodded slightly and tears squeezed out of his eyes. Johnny reached over and affectionately smoothed the boy's hair. The brown-haired boy was a mirror to Johnny and brought back the feelings he had experienced after his own parent's deaths. The Gages turned his chair back towards the hospital. Johnny changed the conversation to baseball since he had figured out the boy liked it. After Brian was settled back into his room for a rest, they turned to go home.

In the hallway, they met Brian's social worker. Johnny asked several questions about Brian's future and then looked at JJ before saying, "How does a family go about becoming a foster family?" JJ put her arm around her husband as they listened to her reply. How she loved this kind-hearted man. Later that day, social worker Sheila Burns dropped off the paperwork to become an emergency foster family at the Gage home and explained the longer process of becoming a foster family. Before Sheila left, she had the filled out emergency paperwork in hand. While Nova played on the floor, the couple began the process of completing the rest of the forms. "You know Angel, Brian's situation is so much like mine as a kid. Well, I at least had an aunt. Seems kinda poetic that we are helping him, you know?" Johnny said as he finished up the last of the forms. JJ just nodded since she had thought the exact same thing.

Johnny and JJ attended the funeral of Mrs. Harrison a few days later. A few of the medical staff came as did the paramedics, Carl and William. Some of the police officers from the scene also attended. Afterwards, Sheila pulled Johnny and JJ aside to let them know they were confirmed as emergency foster parents for the time being. The longer process of permanent foster parents was in the works. Ms. Burns broke the news of his placement to Brian who despite his grief smiled relieved that he would be with someone familiar. He had only had to spend one night in the children's home. Brian had brought what he'd taken to the children's home with him to the funeral in a paper bag. The Gages followed Ms. Burns to the Harrison home and retrieved Brian's clothes, some toys and bike with the promise to come back and move his bed and dresser along with the rest of his toys soon. JJ had pulled Sheila aside to inquire about other belongings like photographs and scrap books and other keepsakes. She was reassured that Sheila would make arrangements for Brian to be able to keep those treasures.

They had already cleared the typewriter and desk from the guest room in hopes Brian would be allowed to come home with them. Arriving home, Brian met Rachel and then Johnny took him back to his room. The two 'men' unpacked his clothing and then spent time setting up his Hot Wheels track and racing cars. Rachel and Nova helped JJ make cookies. Well, mostly Nova stirred her small bowl of flour until all of it was wafted into the air. When racing got boring, Johnny showed Brian how Dudley liked to fetch. Brian laughed heartily at the cat's unusual behavior and then asked if he could help care for the pet. Johnny introduced Brian to the joys of litter boxes and explained feeding, watering, exercising, and brushing Dudley. Then he asked Brian if he still wanted to care for Dudley.

"Yep, I always wanted a pet. We rented and a lot of rental places don't allow pets. Plus Mom said they are expensive," explained Brian. His face clouded with sadness and he looked away from Johnny.

"Brian, you can talk as much as you want about your mom or dad. I lost my parents at a young age. I kinda get what you're feeling buddy. And it's okay to be sad and cry sometimes. Okay?"

The young boy nodded. Then he asked, "What should I call you?"

Johnny paused. He and JJ had discussed this already. "Well, I suppose if you are okay with it, you can call us Uncle Johnny and Aunt JJ. Will that work? You have any other ideas?"

The boy looked down at his feet and swiped at his eyes. "Uncle Johnny and Aunt JJ works for me I guess." He looked so small and alone to Johnny. Johnny pulled the boy into a hug and Brian leaned into it. He ruffled Brian's hair.

"Brian, I don't know about you, but I smell cookies. I think I'd like a few with some milk. You wanna come?" He felt the boy nod. "Maybe we should wash up a bit. Unpacking can be grubby work." After washing hands and faces, they set off for the kitchen.

Brian settled into a routine and during the day he seemed to be doing pretty well considering all he had been through. Dudley soon took to sleeping on Brian's bed at night, much to the boy's delight. At night, it was common to awake to Brian crying out from a bad dream or to hear him crying softy in his room. Johnny and JJ took turns comforting the young boy. His grief would need to run its course. His arm was healing well and rarely ached.

His bed, bookcase, dresser and the rest of his books and toys were moved into his bedroom at the Gage's home. They took stock of his clothes and purchased anything he had outgrown. Two small boxes of keepsakes were packed and carefully labeled. Those were stored safely in the attic. A place in Brian's room was made for the family photo albums and a few framed pictures were placed on his wall. Johnny used his photography skills to make copies and enlarge pictures to add to their family picture wall.

JJ had inquired about enrollment in the local school and then checked to see what she and Brian could work on to help him be caught up in the classroom. Brian completed the first part of a chapter in math so he would be ready to dive in when he started. They also caught him up in English class and spelling. He was a bright boy and had no difficulties with the school work.

Brian had met the DeSotos during a cookout at the ranch during his first days with the Gages and had taken his first horseback ride. He had caught fish in the pond and been added to the official rolls of the members of the 'secret fort' Chris and Jennifer had made at the ranch. He was pleased to have cousins for the first time. Five days after the funeral, Brian attended his first day of second grade at his new school. He had his Mork and Mindy lunchbox he'd chosen packed and Sheila had retrieved his school supplies from his other school. JJ and Johnny had taken Brian to meet his new teacher after school and Brian had moved his supplies into his desk. His teacher Mr. Jackson had given him a tour of the school while the Gage's met with the school counselor to explain the situation. A few older boys had been on the playground as they had left and the family had waved at the boys playing tag. They waved back and then clustered in a group near the slide talking animatedly.