OIP13

"Sir. Sir," the stewardess gently shook her passenger.

'Huh what?" Johnny opened his eyes to an empty plane.

"We've landed in Los Angeles sir," she smiled sweetly.

"Landed? Man we landed?" Gage looked around the now quiet plane. "My first and last time in first class and I fall asleep." He wiped the sleep out of his eyes and noticed someone else was waiting.

"Your escort sir," she helped him into a wheelchair, gave him his crutches and his carry on.

"Bye bye," she waved as he was wheeled to baggage claim.

Putting his good hand up, the injured paramedic leaned his tired head on it and lamented falling asleep in first class, not to mention not getting the pretty woman's phone number. He gave the attendant his baggage claim ticket and tried to stay awake. The droning reminder in the background made it easier to zone out only to realize he didn't have a way home. He hadn't called Roy or even made arrangements for a shuttle since he had been so sick in the hospital.

"Shall we sir," the large man said toting his suitcase as he pushed him out into the smoggy LA air.

"Man wait a minute. You see I don't have a way home and…"

Once outside Johnny saw his Rover with Roy standing in front of it along with Vince.

"Hey Johnny," DeSoto's face fell and he rushed over. "Oh my God Johnny what the hell happened to you?"

"Man is that anyway to welcome your friend home?" Johnny whined and glared at Roy.

"I'm sorry Johnny. Cap called me about picking you up and taking you home. He didn't tell me you had been hurt and…"

The color drained from John's face.

"Cap called you? Who called Cap?" The scent from the lei was making him dizzy.

"Um, Johnny the Chief called Cap," Roy gave a toothy grin. "Here I'll take that." DeSoto took Johnny's bags and put them in the back.

Opening the door, Roy helped his friend into the passenger seat and then closed the door.

"I'll follow you to Gage's place," Vince climbed into the cruiser and followed closely behind them.

Roy got on the freeway and looked at his injured friend.

"So tell me Johnny how was your vacation?" DeSoto glanced at John.

"Man I don't want to talk about it okay? I don't ever want to talk about it," Johnny pouted and shook his aching head. Still embarrassed at how he landed in the hospital in the first place.

DeSoto kept on looking at their police escort and his paramedic partner.

"Well Johnny maybe you know why Vince is escorting you home and why the Cap wants me to stay with you a few days. Can you tell me that much?" Roy frowned and held the steering wheel tighter.

"Fine I'll tell you when I get home. I just want to sleep in my own bed with out doctors and nurses prodding me. Some vacation. If I wanted to stay in the damn hospital I shoulda just worked OT." John pounded on the dash.

Roy and Johnny remained silent the rest of the way to Gage's apartment. Johnny closed his eyes and was asleep immediately. Looking in the rear view Roy wondered why they had a police escort in the first place. His paramedic partner knew something and he was bound to tell him eventually. Roy shook his head only Johnny could pull something like this off.

Pulling into a Gage's parking spot he gently tried waking Gage up. Getting nothing he shook him again. Sitting up and ready do to battle Johnny grinned sheepishly.

"Um, sorry Roy. Look man I'll tell you later really. It's just," Johnny frowned heartbroken. His voice broke. "I'll tell you later."

Roy grabbed the bags in the back seat and helped his passenger out. It took a few minutes to climb the stairs and open the stuffy apartment door. DeSoto plopped the bags down and helped Johnny into bed.

"Um, I need my carry on, k?" Gage placed his crutches by his bed and watched his friend bring the small blue bag to him.

Placing it on his knees the tired paramedic opened up the bag and took out a small brown paper sack. Pulling out the bottles he placed them on his night table, each one he put down Roy read the labels. Then placed the bag next to his bed.

"Penicillin, Tylenol with codeine," he whispered each meds name and looked at his partner. From what he could tell he had a head injury, injured his shoulder and ankle. The loose fitting clothes obviously hid other injuries.

"Want to tell me what these are all for Johnny?" Roy knelt down on the floor looking at eye level.

"Man I need a glass of water. Could you please get it for me?" Johnny gave a weak smile.

"Sure Johnny sure," Roy made a quick trip to the bathroom returning with a large glass of water.

When he went back to the bedroom, he could see Gage with a handful of pills. Seeing Roy come he popped them in his mouth and then gratefully took the glass of water. The pills went down; Gage set the glass down and scooted into bed, pulling the covers over him.

"Thanks for picking me up Roy. Didn't know what I was going to do. Thanks man," John was asleep.

Roy stood there watching his friend sleep and wondering what the hell had happened to him, along with a police escort and a million other questions that would have to wait until morning.

"Night Junior," Roy turned out the light and headed towards the couch and hopefully a good night's sleep.