Johnny found getting himself well a tough road. Every chance it seemed he had been eating broth, juice, applesauce and water, along with still having his IV's in. But the good news was there didn't appear to be any brain damage. However, more than once his friends at the hospital chastised him for being so foolish with his health.

Andy Palmer made his way to see Johnny. His wedding was next Saturday and the doctors were doubtful Gage would be even out by then. Andy had all ready asked another friend to be an usher now he had to break the news to his partner.

"Hey Andy," Johnny gave a small wave at his partner.

"Hey Johnny, you sure look a lot better than the last time I saw you," the blond smiled and held tightly to the metal rail.

"Okay Andy, what's bothering you? I could see it the minute you walked through that door," Gage smiled and tried to comfort his friend.

"You know I'm getting married next Saturday and…"

"Damn it. I'm sorry Andy. Guess I'll be stuck here for awhile. Hope you got someone to replace me?" Gage could see the worry lines on Andy's face disappearing. "What you'd think I'd be mad or something?"

Andy shrugged.

"Hey I know it's my own damn fault. How many times did you tell me to have it checked out?" Johnny shook his head at his stupidity and pride.

Andy opened his mouth only to be stopped by Johnny's upraised hand.

"Okay I want to see all the pictures okay?" Johnny's smile released his friend's guilt.

"All right, he's had an enough visitors," Brackett came in and ushered his Andy away.

"So want to tell me what that was all about?" Kel looked at the grinning Gage.

"Why don't ya know doc? I'm never the bride only the bridesmaid," Johnny tried unsuccessfully to put his hands behind his head. "Ouch."

"That will teach you. I'm going to put a few more solid foods on your menu Johnny. Help to build up your strength, maybe finally take out those IV's and get to a regular room." Brackett made a notation on Gage's chart, and then flipped the cover back down.

"Oh you mean hamburgers don't ya doc?" Johnny smirked.

"NO and if you tried you'd be a very sick man and don't even try having someone sneak it in. Because my friend you are going to be here a very long time," Kel knocked on the bed's frame.

"But what about my plants doc?" Johnny grinned.

"Plants what plants?" Kel recognized being had. "Never mind Johnny you're going to be staying for a while. Now get some sleep."

"Yes doc. I'm tired of sleeping but I will," the paramedic closed his eyes and was once again fast asleep.

****

The routine of training relieved Roy of having to think about Johnny or the fact he hadn't seen or talked to him for six months. He had been evasive with Joanne, his wife, on why they had seen little for DeSoto's former paramedic partner.

But time was running out and eventually he would have to see Gage. He knew Johnny deserved that much as their argument was as much his fault as Johnny's. That fateful day still remained burned in his memory.

Johnny came into the day room where Marco, Chet, Mike, Hank and Roy sat. The tension was so thick you would have needed a chain saw to cut it. Gage had carefully hid his anger for the beginning of the day but now it was out in the open. Taking a seat on the opposite end of the table, the rest of the shift made a hasty retreat.

"Johnny," Roy said to his partner and continued to read the paper.

"Roy," Johnny finger's drummed on the table. Dinner was cooking, but tonight he didn't have an appetite. Sighing the dark haired paramedic let the silence settle over the room. In the background he could hear the men in the bay working on the engine, but they were out of harm's way.

"Hey, Johnny," Roy suddenly seemed very attentive to his partner. "There's been something I've been meaning to tell you."

"Yeah, like what?" Johnny tried to keep his voice low and knew exactly what Roy was going to tell him. Hell, the whole station knew, probably the whole freakin department but his partner was the last to know.

"Um, I've been offered a promotion of sorts. I....well you know I've been a big supporter of the paramedic program…" Roy found his throat dry and his words hollow.

"Yeah, so. You recruited me," Gage stated for effect seeing his partner grimace, as if in pain.

"Yeah, will about that. They revamped the program and the thing Johnny…will I thought it over and….I'm…."

"Ya got something to say Roy. Just say it. I can take it," Johnny tried to smile, making his mouth hurt.

"Well," Roy stood up, "I'm going to be one of the paramedic administrators and training instructor. Seeing I was with the program from the start, they offered it to me and…." Roy waited for the explosion.

Johnny felt numb, oh how he wanted to be angry but couldn't.

"Congratulations partner," Johnny stood up, walked over to his now former partner and patted Roy on the back. "I'm sure Joanne's really happy since you'll be keeping banker's hours."

Roy stood stunned and hurt at the banker's hours remarks. He had nothing to be ashamed of; he had worked hard as a paramedic.

"Well let me tell you I'll be helping a lot more people with training more paramedics. We sorely need them you know," Roy found himself defending himself.

"Hey pally you're preaching to the choir. I'd better get the guys in before dinner burns, huh?" Johnny made a hasty escape.

However, dinner seemed normal but Johnny had quickly disappeared after dinner claiming he needed shoes to be shined.

A knock on his door, Roy looked up at DeSilva.

"Yeah doc," Roy stood up.

"Don't you ever go home?" DeSilva laughed.

"Yeah I was on my way home," DeSoto turned off the light off his desk.

"Well I'm sure you were glad to hear about John Gage weren't you?" DeSilva and he walked down the hall, out of the building.

"Yeah of course I was," DeSoto tried to sound sincere.

"I heard you and Gage were a pretty good team. One of the best according to my colleagues," DeSilva's words seem to bring back old hurts.

"Well I only recruited the best doc. See you tomorrow," Roy was glad to get out of the conversation from the doctor. However he had no desire to see the conscious Gage and what he would say.