Author's Note: This chapter is, thankfully, a bit lighter than the last two, and I hope you will all enjoy it. Thank you all for reading and reviewing. And thanks as always to my beta readers! Your encouragement and friendship means the world to me!
With this chapter, I have a new person to thank! Rachel is a retired physical therapist who provided me with lots of good information about what Roy's and Johnny's PT would involve, and I really appreciate her help! Johnny hasn't started his PT yet, but when he does, his therapist's name will be Rachel.
I should note that as of 11 August, I have posted revisions to the first nine chapters of this story. I made no substantive changes that would require a reread, but hopefully have made some improvements in word choice and structure. I also found an embarrassing number of typos and misspellings that I have now corrected. Usually, I catch those when I read out loud to my husband or son, but clearly some still slip through.
Marbo, I understand what you mean when you say it was tough reading the last chapter — believe me, it was tough writing it, too. Born in '69, I was young enough when the US left Vietnam that I had not really been aware of that war. When I was a bit older and in junior high and high school, we never covered it properly history classes. Maybe it was still just too recent, I'm not sure. So, even though I visited the Memorial Wall in D.C., where I read the names of the dead and the missing and ran my fingers over them and wondered about them and paid my respects, I knew very little about the conflict until I was older and reading about it on my own. I still don't know as much as I should, but I am learning.
•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•
Johnny cut a strange figure, to say the least, as he strolled nonchalantly through the halls of Rampart wearing a long overcoat with large pockets. He kept his left hand in one of those pockets. On the right, the coat covered up his sling and his injured right arm. Nita walked beside him, a bemused smile on her face. She glanced at her husband and resituated the coat before it could slide off his shoulder. "If Dixie catches you…" she murmured under her breath.
"She won't… just act natural."
"I'm not comfortable with this, Nashoba!" she hissed. "The rules are in place for a reason! And besides… it's 80 degrees outside and you're wearing an overcoat!" She giggled nervously. "You look ridiculous."
"Some rules are made to be broken," he said, and he bent to kiss her on the head, then pressed the elevator call button. "C'mon, Nita… you know this will be good for Roy. Remember old Bertha Bob? This was just what the doc ordered for her, and you know how much good it did her too." He gave Nita his best puppy-dog eyes. "And I did give in to you about the wheelchair the other day." He hadn't told her about the excursion he'd taken with Roy, though he figured she'd find out eventually.
Nita's gaze shifted side to side as if to make sure that no one was paying attention. "Fine then," she said with a resigned sigh, which melted into a soft smile. "Let's hurry. And if Dixie catches you… I had nothing to do with it!"
"I will take full responsibility." He punctuated his promise with another kiss as they stepped into the elevator. Once the doors had closed, Johnny pulled his hand out of the pocket. Nestled in that hand was a sleepy little black and tan puppy. He held her up near his face, and her tongue flicked out to give him a puppy kiss. "Good girl," he murmured, and he kissed her nose. "We're almost there." As the elevator slowed to a stop, he stowed the puppy back in his pocket.
He and Nita stepped out of the elevator and then turned in through the first door to find Roy and Anton. Roy's face lit up at their arrival. His physical therapist, Nick Donovan, was just packing up to leave. "Remember, Captain DeSoto… you need to do the exercises we worked on three times a day to avoid contractures. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Got it, thanks, Nick." After Donovan left the room, Roy shook his head wearily. "I think I'm going to hate that man before this is all over. Damn, but that workout hurt… and I hardly did anything." He pushed the button to elevate the head of his bed so that he was sitting up, and gestured toward the chairs. "Hi, Nita… Hi, Johnny. C'mon in. Jo's spendin' the morning with the kids. She'll bring 'em by a little later."
Anton got up. "I think I'll take a little walk."
"It's ok, Anton," Johnny said, and he graced Roy's friend with a lopsided grin. "Stick around." He wasn't sure whether Anton had heard about his little attitude problem the other day, but he hoped not… he had gotten over it pretty quickly after the talk with Taffy.
Anton stood up anyway. "I'll be right back… just going to get some coffee. Want anything?"
"I'll have a cup," Roy said. "But —"
Anton chuckled. "I know, I know… get it from the nurses' lounge, not the vending machine. Lisa told me this morning she stocked up on the creamer you like."
"Roy's a big favorite around here," Johnny quipped. "None of the nurses ever did that for me. I'll have a cup too, though… thanks."
As soon as Anton stepped out, Roy looked Johnny up and down. "All right, what've you got stashed in there?"
Johnny did his best to look innocent. "Who me?"
"Look, Johnny…" Roy rolled his eyes. "I know it's not rainin' or cold outside. There's only one reason you'd be wearin' that overcoat, and that's to hide something. I'm surprised none of the nurses stopped you on the way in. Dixie really must be slippin'... So spill it… what've ya got? I've been hopin' ya might bring me a Double Double*… but I don't smell it."
"Sorry," Johnny said with a shrug. "Maybe tomorrow. But try this on for size." He pulled the puppy out of his pocket and set it on Roy's bed.
Johnny could see Roy's emotions warring in his eyes. He'd resisted getting a new dog after Gus died some months back, and Johnny hoped he wouldn't put up a fight about this pup. "She's yours if you want her. Needs a good home. Her mama was a stray hanging around a neighbor's ranch. She had a litter of pups a couple months ago, but rejected them. Vet's been bottle feedin' em. Anyway, this little girl got a clean bill of health and is ready for a new home. She's the sweetest one of the lot. Whatcha say, Roy?"
Roy stared down at the puppy. She had curled up on his lap and promptly fallen asleep, but when he brushed his hand over her head and back, she opened her eyes and stretched, then rolled over to bare her tummy. Roy chuckled and gave her a belly rub. "Um… thanks, Johnny. Yeah… I'll…" His eyes misted over and Johnny saw a tear just about to drop before he wiped it away. "Sorry… my emotions have been pretty wild. I tear up over just about anything. But yeah… I'll take her."
Johnny waggled an eyebrow. "Good… because Jo already said yes and the kids are pretty excited."
"Figures." Roy held the puppy up to look her over carefully. "So… does she have a name yet?"
"You get naming rights… though the kids all had suggestions. DJ wants Peanut... Megan says she should be called Princess Leia… and Chris likes… " Johnny frowned and snapped his fingers. "Nita, what was it Chris wanted?"
"Gertie." Nita stepped to Roy's bedside and patted on the puppy.
"Oh yeah… Gertie… after the little girl in E.T." Johnny sat down and leaned back in his chair. "So… whatcha thinkin'?"
"Well, can't use Peanut, Princess Leia, or Gertie," Roy said after a moment of consideration. "Don't want to choose one of the kids over the other. Besides… I think she looks like a Calpurnia."
"Calpurnia?" Johnny scoffed good-naturedly. "What kinda name is that for a little mutt?"
Nita brightened. "Julius Caesar's wife, right?"
"Got it in one, Nita. Johnny, remember Gus?"
"How could I forget?" Johnny grumbled. "How many times did that crazy mutt eat my shoes?"
"Shouldn't've left 'em on the floor!" Roy shot back. "Anyway, his full name was Augustus — not that he knew it — after the Roman emperor. That's how my dad always named our dogs when I was a kid… after Roman emperors or their wives. Calpurnia was the wife of Julius Caesar. And this little girl is hereby christened Calpurnia DeSoto." He gently squeezed one of the puppy's forepaws and raised an eyebrow. "And looks to me like she'll grow into that name before too long… still, I'll call her Callie for short."
A noise at the door prompted Johnny to throw a sheet over Calpurnia, but it was only Anton returning with coffee. Roy pulled the sheet free and proudly presented the pup. "Anton, meet Calpurnia DeSoto… Callie for short."
"Well, hello there, Callie-for-short… I'm pleased to meet you." Anton set down the coffee cups, then patted the pup and laughed when she licked his hand. "Guess I'd better warn you, Doc Brackett is headed this way."
Roy quickly passed Callie to Johnny, who hid her in the pocket just in time for the doctor to turn in at the door. "Hi, Doc," they all chorused.
Brackett just stood there, staring at Johnny for a moment. "Interesting fashion statement, Johnny," he finally said. "What look are you going for? Detective or secret agent?"
"Cool weather is coming, Doc… just trying to be ready." Johnny winked at Roy and then nodded to Nita. "We were just on our way out… Roy, we'll be back later. We have a little delivery to make to JoAnne, and then I'm taking my wife out to lunch."
Brackett shook his head slowly. "You're up to something… but everyone's where they should be this time, so I don't even want to know what it is. Now, get out of here before Dixie comes sniffing around."
"Yessir," Johnny agreed and then, with a grin and a wave, he beat a hasty retreat, Nita at his side.
•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•
Taffy appraised his appearance in the hotel mirror. His skin tingled from a liberal application of Old Spice aftershave and his silver hair was neatly combed. He straightened his jacket, then wet his hand to smooth down an errant strand of hair. "You're looking quite dapper if I do say so myself, Taffy my boy," he murmured. By the time he arrived at the hospital, Dixie would have received his flowers, along with an invitation to join him for dinner at Miceli's after her shift ended this evening. He hoped she would agree.
They had enjoyed a simple lunch together on Saturday afternoon, and found that when time came for Taffy to pay the bill and deliver his date back to the hospital, they were not quite ready to part. Even so, he had pulled his rental car into the parking spot at Rampart precisely on time. Ever the Old-World gentleman, he had moved quickly around the car to open the door for Dixie, then offered his hand with a slight bow. "Allow me."
He'd sent a mixed bouquet on Sunday with a simple note of appreciation: My Dearest Dixie, I hope you enjoyed our lunch as much as I did. You are a charming companion. Thank you. Affectionately Yours, Valentine 'Taffy' Matthews. When he'd seen her at the hospital, she'd smiled and thanked him and said that her only complaint was that they didn't have enough time before she'd had to return to work.
For today, he had chosen a larger bouquet, this time with roses. He had never been taken with a woman the way he was with Dixie. She was a strong woman… some might call her outspoken, but Taffy appreciated her straightforward, honest nature. She was fiercely protective, and Taffy got the feeling she would stare down a tiger or an oncoming tank before she let it through to harm someone she loved. And underneath that tough shell beat a deeply compassionate heart. The tears she'd shed over Roy… Taffy did not consider them a sign of weakness by any means. No, they were simply evidence of a great capacity for love.
He smiled at his reflection and then gathered up his wallet and keys and headed out the door.
•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•
"Delivery for Nurse McCall."
Oh good… must be that shipment of rubber gloves… we're running low. Dixie reached into a drawer of the registration desk for the inventory checklist, then looked up to see, not the medical supplies rep she had expected, but the delivery boy from Freddie Bloom's, the florist down the street from the hospital, and he was carrying an absolutely gorgeous flower arrangement. Robby was actually the proprietor's grandson and worked at the shop when he wasn't in school. He was a good kid. Dixie didn't think Frederika Blumenstein's grandkids would dare be anything but good — their feisty grandmother would nip any nonsense in the bud but fast!
Freddie Bloom, as she was known by all her friends, was a much loved and celebrated fixture in the Carson community. Almost 70, she had opened her florist shop only five years ago after the death of her husband. From what Dixie had heard, she'd had trouble finding a bank willing to take the risk of giving her a start-up loan at her age, but she'd finally convinced one. With that loan and her husband's life-insurance payout, she'd gone into business, and with hard work and careful management, she had paid the loan back within three years.
One thing Freddie Bloom was known for was her soft spot for first responders. Her husband had worked his entire career in the Los Angeles County Fire Department, starting out as a lineman and retiring in 1970 as a battalion chief. Freddie had spent years mothering Marty's boys, and his death didn't change a thing. She even kept an emergency scanner in the back room of her shop so she could keep track of them. When one of them ended up at Rampart, everyone knew an arrangement from Freddie Bloom's would arrive within a day, and she offered a significant discount to the families of any first responders.
But this delivery was not for a firefighter, or any patient for that matter… it was for Dixie. And that was unusual. At least, it had been before Taffy arrived. She smiled at the young man and accepted the flowers with a soft, "Thank you." She set them on the desk, then reached for her pocketbook to offer him a tip.
"Thank you, ma'am, but no need," the young man said. "Sender already took care of it."
Dixie pushed the bill toward him anyway. "Take it… I know your grandmother is always sending flowers over here at her own expense, so you can consider it my contribution to her cause."
He grinned sheepishly and accepted the money. "Thank you, ma'am," he said with a nod and a smile. "Have a nice day!"
The arrangement of daffodils and roses and baby's breath was truly stunning. Dixie admired it for a moment before plucking the card from its holder. Of course, she was sure she knew who sent the flowers. When she glanced at the note inside the card, her suspicions were confirmed. She smiled softly and tucked the card back into its envelope, already looking forward to a dinner date with Taffy.
"Dana's husband apologizing for forgetting their anniversary?" Kel's voice interrupted Dixie's reverie.
"Who… Dana?" Kel was talking about the young woman who usually took care of the front desk. She had been livid the other day over the forgotten anniversary, and everyone on staff knew it. "Oh no… these are for me. Dana got called in to her son's school, so I'm filling in here till she gets back."
Kel's cheek twitched, a sure sign that he was troubled. "For you, huh? From whom?"
Dixie wasn't sure if he sounded worried or incredulous, but she found either reaction perturbing. How long had she waited for Kel to rekindle that old flame they'd once enjoyed? Every once in a while, she thought there might still be a spark between them, but then he'd say or do something to douse it as thoroughly as 51's men at a dumpster fire. Well, she wouldn't give too much time to trying to work out his meaning just now. Instead, she just smiled impishly, her eyebrows quirking upwards and her head tilting to the side. "Well now, I'd say that's a secret between the sender and me, Kel."
When his brow wrinkled up in consternation at this response, he looked for all the world like a lost little boy. Regret filled Dixie at the sight — she never meant to hurt him.
"Oh," he said, suddenly crestfallen. He drummed his knuckles on the desk for a moment, seeming to search for something more to say, then he grabbed a patient file, turned away, and walked on down the hall without another word.
Dixie sat back and returned the inventory checklist to the drawer. The ER was having a rare quiet day, and the few patients in the waiting area had signed in already. Calm before the storm, no doubt. I sure hope Dana gets back soon. She didn't mind an occasional stint at the front desk, but she was a nurse, not a paper-pusher. Still, a little rest was nice every now and then.
She glanced at the beautiful flowers and smiled. The roses reminded her of a sunset over the Pacific, a soft yellowy-orange with a red tinge at the tips of the petals, the perfect complement to the cheerful bright yellow of the daffodils. She leaned in close and inhaled deeply, letting the spicy-sweet fragrance fill her senses and wash away the regret she'd felt at the disappointment on Kel's face.
"Looks like someone has an admirer."
Dixie looked up to see Joe Early standing across the desk from her with a cup of coffee. He took a sip, then leaned in to sniff at the flowers. "An admirer with good taste in flowers, at that."
She smiled. "Maybe."
Joe eyed her with concern. "And maybe this is why Kel is storming around the ER like a thundercloud about to burst?"
She just rolled her eyes and shrugged. "I wouldn't know, Joe. It's not like he's stepped forward to declare himself."
Joe stared down into his cup of coffee for a moment, then looked back up at her. "Maybe he never thought he needed to, Dix. You know, sometimes a man gets too comfortable with the status quo until something — or someone — comes in and shakes things up a bit." He raised the cup to his lips and took another sip.
"And maybe a woman gets weary of the status quo, Joe — especially when it's entirely unspoken! I don't want to live the rest of my life on memories and vague hopes." Her voice faded and her eyes brightened as Taffy came through the door and approached the desk.
"Dixie, my dear… You received the flowers, I see," he said with a smile.
"Yes, thank you, Taffy. They are lovely… they've really brightened my day. And yes… I would be happy to join you for dinner. I get off shift at 6:00." Dixie reached up to squeeze the hand he had held out over the desk. Her eyes met his and she quickly found herself getting lost in their depths.
"Ahem…"
Dixie startled and blushed when Joe cleared his throat, and she pulled her hand from Taffy's grasp. "Sorry. Taffy… this is Dr. Joe Early. Joe, this is Taffy Matthews. He's a friend of Roy's come to visit… all the way from Paris, in fact."
"I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Dr. Early." Taffy said.
"Likewise, I'm sure." Joe shook Taffy's outstretched hand. Though Dixie could hear the barest hint of misgiving in Joe's voice, his tone was friendly enough.
A page called Joe to Exam 3 just as he took a third sip of coffee. He set his cup down on the desk. "Never fails… always three sips. Well, I'll leave you kids alone for now." And with a shake of his head, he hurried back to his work.
•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•
Roy leaned back against his pillows, exhausted and sore from his first session of physical therapy. He knew that his therapist, Nick, had begun working with him while he was still in the coma, gently manipulating his limbs, massaging them and keeping the muscles from tightening up. Today's session had not involved much more, though with Anton's assistance, Nick also had Roy work on balance sitting up in the bed. The effort had worn him out.
He hadn't felt the exhaustion this bad after his jaunt to the roof with Johnny a few days ago. Well… not right away, at least. After his talk with Anton, which was exhausting in itself, when he'd finally given in and accepted the morphine, he'd slept through the night and halfway into the next day.
But today, the adrenaline rush of an escape hadn't been there to keep him going, and he felt wiped out. Not so much sleepy — though he knew the dose of morphine he had coming would knock him out but good. Problem was, friends had been coming in a steady stream to visit him all morning… most recently, Johnny and Nita (and Calpurnia); but before therapy, Chet and Marco had come up. Chief Stanley and his wife Emily weren't far behind. He'd also seen Billy Folsom and Matthew Carter… and of course Andrew Carter and Newkirk and Anton had been there too. And it wasn't even lunchtime yet.
According to Jo, the families of the children they said he'd saved — a little girl named Sarah and a brother and sister named Luke and Hannah — had come by as well, bringing with them a couple of gift baskets that now sat on a counter across the room. Thankfully, Lisa had headed them off at the pass, explaining that he wasn't up to seeing any new faces at the moment. Maybe someday he'd agree to meet with them, but well… just now, everything was still too raw.
Try as he might, he remembered none of the incident that had landed him here. So many rescues over the years, seared into his memory, and this… his last rescue… was simply gone. He had a basic idea what had happened of course — his friends had filled him in, and he'd seen a couple of the newspaper articles they'd saved for him. But it was like it had happened to someone else… well… except for the very up-close-and-personal fact that he was now stuck in a bed at Rampart. Perhaps it was better that way. He had no real desire to remember the hours spent alone in that basement, buried under the rubble. Even so, he couldn't help wondering about it.
When he'd brought it up with Jo, she had leaned over and kissed him, then said softly, "Think of it this way, Roy… maybe not remembering is a gift." He knew she was right, and Doc Brackett said most likely, he never would remember. So why did it keep bugging him?
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts and made him cringe. He really didn't want any more visitors. But when Dixie stepped in with a fast food bag, his mouth started to water and he began to reconsider. He'd been cleared to resume a regular diet, but Rampart's offerings couldn't hold a candle to what he suspected that paper bag contained.
"Hi, Roy. I thought maybe you'd join me for lunch today." She set the bag on his table. "Johnny saw me on the way out — strangest thing, dressed up in that overcoat — and mentioned you had a craving, and he said you like the Double Double with extra spread… and that you don't like the fries. Which is just as well because this burger alone probably has more grease than you should have in a week."
"Thanks, Dix. Pull up a chair. Not sure what I did to deserve this feast, but I'm sure not complainin'!"
"You mean you prefer this to Rampart fare?" She winked. "Because if you'd rather, I can just fetch you a tray…" She sat down and passed him a strawberry milkshake. "Maybe your friend Taffy would like that burger."
Roy raised an eyebrow… something in her eyes when she said Taffy's name made him wonder. Maybe he wouldn't have noticed it if he hadn't seen that same something in Taffy's eyes just the other day, or if the guys hadn't told him how Taffy'd been a bit dreamy lately… actin' like a kid with his first crush. But he would wait to ask her about it… just now wasn't the right time. Instead he decided to go along with the joke. "Oh, no you don't!" He pulled his burger close. "You don't give my In 'n' Out away to anyone!" He took a bite and closed his eyes, savoring it.
Dixie set her burger down and wiped her mouth with a napkin, then reached to squeeze Roy's hand. "It's good to see you smile like that," she remarked quietly.
"Like what?" He took another bite and then sipped at the thick milkshake.
"A real smile… it reached your eyes. Drove out those shadows we've all been seeing for the last few days."
"Guess I am feelin' better at the moment… had a headache before you came in, but it's gone now." He finished his burger in a few more bites, then leaned back in bed. "So Dix…" He scrutinized her for a moment, trying to decide if the time was right. What the hell… might as well ask. Tell me what's up with you an' Taffy. The guys say he keeps talkin' about you… an' your eyes lit up when you mentioned him a minute ago."
Dixie shrugged. "Oh… I don't know, Roy." But she also blushed and looked down at her fingernails, which Roy figured for a sign he was close to the mark. Finally, she looked up, and Roy thought her eyes had never looked quite so soft before. "Taffy Matthews is a very sweet, very kind gentleman whose company I greatly enjoy. I can't tell you anything beyond that just yet." She smiled at him. "And Roy… I can tell you're barely keeping those eyes open. How about we hang out the do-not-disturb sign for a while so you can take a nap? Lisa tells me it's been like Grand Central Station in here today."
"Pretty much." Roy stretched and yawned. "Sounds good to me, Dix. Thanks for lunch. Sure beats hospital food."
"Any time, Roy. Now… back to business. What's your pain level?" He answered honestly, gauging it at about a seven. Dixie fussed over him for a minute, checking and recording his vitals, and administering a dose of morphine. When she smoothed the hair out of his eyes, he felt a bit like a little kid getting tucked in by his mom.
For a fleeting second before his eyes drifted closed, he thought he saw tears forming in her eyes, but the morphine worked quickly and he was too groggy to ask her what was the matter.
He felt her squeeze his hand, but by the time she stepped away from his bed, he was sound asleep.
•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•
Mike Stoker stood outside Roy's door, hesitant to enter. He'd almost come to see Roy several times over the last few days since he'd heard Roy was awake. But each time he was just about ready to go, he'd found something else that urgently required his attention. The broken chain on Jacob's bike… the dead battery in Ian's hearing aid… evidence of a mouse in the kitchen…
Finally, late in afternoon, when he woke up from a long nap necessitated by a busy shift overnight, Beth had informed him in no uncertain terms that he was going to the hospital before he did anything else. "Everything else can wait, love. You need to see Roy." She had pushed a tin of pecan raisin cookies into his hands and shoved him out the door with a kiss and a gentle smile. "Give him our love."
And then he'd had to wait. A sign on the door directed him to visit the nurses' station before entering, and the nurse had explained that Roy was napping, but would likely be awake and ready for a visit before long. And so Mike had passed the better part of an hour in the waiting room, alternating between sitting in a hard plastic chair and pacing the floor, the tin of cookies clenched tight in his hand. And he'd almost bolted a few times.
In fact, he had finally made up his mind to leave — had just punched the elevator call button — when the nurse stepped out of Roy's room. Apparently she remembered him and why he was there, because she stopped him just before he stepped into the elevator. "Don't go, Mr. Stoker! He's awake now, and he'd like you to come in."
Mike took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, then stuck his head in the door. "Hey, Roy… up for a visitor?"
"Mike… I was hopin' you'd come by." Roy beckoned him in. "Sorry you had to wait… Lisa told me you'd been here a while."
Mike stepped through the door and took a seat. He opened the cookie tin and set it on the swivel table. "With love from Beth."
Roy snagged a cookie and took a bite, then gestured for Mike to help himself. "Delicious… thank her for me, will ya?"
"Yeah… sure thing," Mike said. He took a cookie for himself, more because eating gave him a reason not to say anything than because he was hungry. He had never been a talkative man, and he liked to consider his words carefully before speaking them. Make every word count, his dad had always told him when he was a kid.
Before he could say anything, though, Roy jumped in. "Stop it, Mike."
"Stop what?" He took another bite of his cookie.
"I see the look in your eyes… you're blaming yourself. Well, it wasn't your fault, so stop already."
"It was my shift." He had already been over it with Beth and her logic had been unassailable, but Mike's conscience didn't pay much heed to logic.
"So you blame Johnny for the time you broke your arm when you covered for him, back when he got the flu?"
"Of course not, Roy… that's —" His voice faded and he sat back. "Point taken."
"It happens, Mike. Part of the job… a possibility we live with every day we walk into work. It stinks… but it's not your fault." Roy pushed the tin of cookies towards him. "Here… have another one."
"Thanks, Roy." His shoulders felt lighter than they had since the accident. "Wanna watch the game?"
"Rams playin'?" Roy reached for the remote.
"Nope… Raiders… against the Dolphins. Sorry."
Roy clicked on the television anyway. "Well, maybe we'll get to watch the Dolphins kick the Raiders' butts." He found the station, just in time for kickoff.
Mike laughed. "We can hope!" He snagged that second cookie and settled in to watch the game in companionable silence with his friend.
•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•◊•
Note
*For the uninitiated, a Double Double is the signature double meat, double cheese burger offered by the California burger chain, In 'n' Out. Dang… now I'm hungry.