Title: I Will Remember You – Prologue
By: FanofRandy
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. Emergency! is owned by Universal and Mark VII Productions
Summary: After a daring bus rescue, Johnny tries to help Roy through a personal loss. Can their friendship survive this tragedy?
Jenny remained in the hospital for two more weeks and then was discharged to a rehabilitation unit. Johnny found one that incorporated animal therapy—riding horses—in the process of healing. It was three months before she returned home. Jenny remembered some of the accident, but remembered the moments before much more clearly. She and Josie had been playing with each other's hair and traded their hair ribbons as they rode the bus back to the school. Josie asked Jenny to trade their name bracelets, too. Jenny had just put Josie's bracelet on her own wrist when she heard a loud horn and felt the bus turn violently…
That was all she remembered. And, as far as Roy was concerned, that was all she needed to remember. Roy wanted to protect his daughter from the angst and pain of that day as much as he could. Once home, Jenny began to get into her regular routine again. She completed her homework assignments so she did not get behind in school. She also got nearly all her movement back in her arms and legs. Once the wires came out and after a few more surgeries, her face was nearly perfect...only a 2 inch scar on her forehead under her bangs remained. She called it her "badge of honor". She had grown up a lot over her recovery time and she was about to be a teenager and Roy knew that meant he would not be able to call her his "little girl" for much longer.
Johnny and the guys came over for a pool party to celebrate Jenny's 12th birthday. Jenny still walked with a slight limp on her right leg, but unless you looked for it, it was hardly noticeable. When she got tired, later in the day, it was more prominent. JoAnne was in the kitchen when Johnny arrived. "Hey, Jo. Sorry I am late. Did I miss much?" JoAnne turned to see Johnny coming in the house. She paused for a moment and stared at him. Very uncomfortable with the attention he diverted, "What, do I have a booger hanging?" "Johnny, you can be so gross, sometimes. Come here." He walked over to her and she pulled him into a very tight, very long embrace. "What was that for?" he asked. "For giving me my daughter back, John Gage. For giving me my daughter." Johnny smiled shyly and nodded. He stepped out on to the deck and was welcomed by resounding cheers, but he was looking for only one person. He walked over to where Jenny was sitting and sat down next to her. She saw him and hugged him with all her strength, "Wow, you get that from your mom, huh?" Johnny laughed "What are you talking about Uncle Johnny?" Jenny asked. "Nothin'. Don't worry about it. Hey, I got you a birthday present." "What is it? Where is it?" Jenny screamed gleefully. "Well, you gotta come out front…I couldn't bring it back here." Johnny hinted...
They all walked to the front yard to see what Johnny's gift was. There was nothing there. Jenny turned to her Uncle Johnny and asked, "Where is it Uncle Johnny? What's my present?" Roy and JoAnne knew what Johnny's surprise was as they awaited its arrival. Soon, they heard a vehicle coming down the street and the honking of a horn. Captain Stanley's brand new Ford F-150 truck came rolling up with a horse trailer attached to the back. Jenny could hardly contain herself…Johnny walked to the trailer and cajoled the horse to stick his head out…"Jenny, this is your gift." "Oh, Uncle Johnny, my very own horse? Is this for real?" she asked looking to her parents. "Yes, this is for real. He is yours. He will stay at the ranch with me, but whenever you want to come out and ride him, you can. He is all yours Jenny Bean." Jenny ran toward her Uncle, no one noticed the limp. She jumped into his arms and hugged him as hard as she could. "I'm gonna name him Junior…cuz' that is what Daddy calls you. Is that okay Uncle Johnny?"
"That is fine with me, Jenny Bean. That is just fine with me." He put her down and she ran to pet Junior, the horse. Captain Stanley had gotten out of the truck and came around to shake Johnny's hand. "Good going, Pal." Johnny walked over to Roy and JoAnne. "This is really okay with you guys, right?" "Johnny, we told you that we approved of the gift a month ago. She did so well in rehab and missed her horse so much when she had to come home. This will be just the trick to get her to continue her exercises and she loves spending time with you at the ranch." JoAnne said.
Johnny looked at Roy with a knowing glance. Roy recognized it. The men did not need words…they knew each other better than brothers. Roy had been on the edge of a great darkness and Johnny had come to bring the light back to him. Johnny still had nightmares…but, the ones about Roy being lost in the dark were gone. Johnny read Roy's lips as he mouthed across the crowd, "Thank you, Junior." Johnny nodded and mouthed back, "Your welcome, Pally."