Chapter 18

"Come on Dixie, it has been almost two weeks! I am going stir crazy in here" Leah begged Dixie to let her get out and go outside for some fresh air, or to the cafeteria, or run down the hall or anything out of the four walls that she had been staring at.

"Dr. Brackett issued complete bed rest, and that I what you are going to do until he tells you differently. Besides I think you have visitors coming and what would they think if they had to hunt you down all over the hospital."

"Oh yeah? Who's coming?"

"As if you didn't know! Who has been here every day since he brought you in?"

"I know…he is pretty special isn't he."

"You'd better believe it and from what I gather he thinks you are pretty special too...you rest and I'll be back to check in on you later and please…behave and stay in bed."

"Alright Dixie, I'll stay in bed for you…just for you and no one else."

"What about me?" Roy said coming into her room at the end of the conversation. He smiled at the way it made her blush. "Why Leah Chambers, your cheeks are red…is your fever coming back?"

"Roy DeSoto! You can be so exasperating!"

"Look, I am going to leave you two alone to finish this conversation."

"See ya Dix…so how is my best girl doing?"

"Roy I haven't had the chance to thank you for the last two weeks. I wouldn't have made it without you."

"Oh I think that you are tougher than you think…Look at everything you survived."
"You're talking about Jeff…"

"Yes I am, you survived Leah, not once or twice, but three times when he attacked you."

Leah looked down at the sheets on her bed and began to fidget with one of the corners. "I'm glad everyone that could be saved was, but I can't help but feel sorry for Jeff, how he died; frightened and alone…I guess you think I'm crazy."

Roy took his had and raised her chin so she was looking directly into his eyes. "No, not crazy, I think you are a very warm, caring and forgiving person. You just have to remember that people have to live or die with the consequences of their choices. He was too proud to get help and that is not your fault."

"I know….hey…what's that noise?"

"That my dear is contraband!"

"What?"

"Contraband that I sneaked into the hospital."

"Roy what is it?" Roy unzipped his jacket about halfway down and Leah could see a little black nose sticking out smelling his way to discover his new surroundings. Then out popped a head and two of the biggest brown eyes she had ever seen.

"A puppy! You sneaked a puppy into the hospital to see me?"

"Not just to see you…to give you…it is your's if you want him."

"OH Roy he is adorable" Leah said as the little puppy with the big bow tied around his neck began licking her all over her face. "What is his name?"

"Chance."

"Chance? Why such a name as 'Chance'?"

"Check the bow." Leah united the bow from around the puppy's neck and tied to it was the most beautiful diamond ring that she has ever seen. "Oh Roy…does this mean…?"

"It means that is you decide to keep the puppy then you are going to have to take a chance on me too." He removed the ring from the ribbon and took Leah's hand in his and placed the ring on her finger getting down on one knee. "Leah Chambers, will you take a chance on us? Will you marry me?"

She could not hold back the tears and let them freely run down her cheeks and simply shook her head and said "Yes".

Roy kissed her and Chance kissed or rather licked her at the same time barking with the excitement at their laughter.

"Hey what's all the commotion?" Johnny asked as he and April walked through the door. "And how did you get a puppy past Dixie?"

"Oh April look!" She held out her hand for April to see and she squealed with happiness as she gave her best friend a hug.

"Well, I'll be Pally, so you did it…you asked her to marry you! Congratulations!"

"Thanks, Junior, so there is just one question left…who is going to be my best man?"

"And my maid of honor" Leah included.

"I don't know" Roy said teasingly, "I guess I could ask Chet!"

"Oh no you don't! With as much as I have been through with you, you are NOT going to do that to me!"

"I'm just kidding partner…of course I want you as my best man."

"And April you just have to be my maid of honor."

April smiled and said "I have a better idea…why don't we have a double wedding. We started this thing together we might as well finish it together!"

"That is a great idea!" Leah was so happy. "Roy is that ok with you?"

"And how about you Johnny" April said as she reached out a hand to him.

"It is ok with me…how about you?" Roy said looking toward his partner.

"I think that we have lots of planning to do if we all are going to get married two weeks from now!"

It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and the guys looked handsome in their wedding attire. Leah and April had decided on an outdoor wedding at the Gazebo by the lake at Laurel Canyon Park where they all went on their first date.

Roy was wearing a white button up shirt and blue pants and Johnny was wearing tan pants with a light blue button up shirt. All of their closest friends were there; Dr. Kelly Brackett, Dr. Joe Early, all of the men from Station 51 and a few of the other off duty firemen from other stations. Leah and April's friends were there from the lab department as well as April's mother and father.

The girls looked beautiful in their white outdoor wedding gowns. Leah's was full length with an empire waist and flowing skirt. She has her hair in soft curls with a circle of baby's breath. April's dress was to her ankles, pearl white taffeta with lace over short sleeves, waist and border on skirt.

They walked down the isle as Dixie sang a'capella "When I Fall in Love"

"When I Fall In Love"

When I fall in love
It will be forever
Or I'll never fall in love

In a restless world
Like this is
Love is ended before it's begun
And too many
Moonlight kisses
Seem to cool in the warmth of the sun

When I give my heart
I give it completely
Or I'll never give my heart

And the moment I can feel that you feel that way too
Is when I fall in love with you.

"Are you ready for this?" Roy asked Johnny as they watched the girls come toward them from the back of the isle.

"Are you?" Johnny questioned.

"You better believe it!" Roy smiled at him.

"Me too, Partner."

Roy watched as his beautiful bride took his hand as they were about to promise to love honor and cherish each other until death they do part.

'This is a good day' he thought to him self…'a very good day.'

____________________________________
The klaxon sounded, interrupting lunch as Sam Lanier's voice come over the loud speaker.

Sam Lanier: Station 51, woman down, 20700 Avalon Blvd, 20700 Avalon Blvd, Ambulance is responding, time out 11:52.

"Station 51 KMG-365" Captain Stanley responded as the men raced to the engine and the squad.
They pulled out into the street heading to the address of their next victim.

'That's strange' Roy thought, 'I have a knot in my stomach, that hasn't happened in a long time.'

"Roy? You alright?"

"Yeah...just a little anxious I guess."

"It should be up about a quarter of a mile at the next exit."

They turned the squad to the exit in search of the address they had been given.

"There, at that shopping center, should be the next parking lot on the right." Johnny instructed.

"I see it."

They pulled in and Roy and Johnny began to get their gear while Captain Stanley and the other men went ahead to begin to access the situation.

Captain Stanly and Officer's Pete Malloy and Jim Reed were there. Captain Stanley motioned for Johnny to head on to the victim but stopped Roy.

"Roy I need for you to sit this one out for just a bit. Johnny can get things started."

"What? Why would you...oh my God! No! Not again. Cap tell me that it is not Leah."

He tried to rush over to where she was but Cap, Pete and Jim stopped him.

"Hey hold up there pal." You know protocol; you can't work on immediate family members if other personnel are available." Captain Stanley said.

"But I won't let this happen again!" Roy argued still trying to struggle to get to her."

Pete took him by the shoulders and held him against the side of the squad. "Roy, get a hold of yourself! Leah is alright!"

"She is?"

"Yes, her water broke...she is in labor." Pete smiled as he told him.

Roy felt weak in his knees with the wave of relief that washed over him. "Cap I have to go to her."

"You are going to pal, just as soon as Johnny checks her out and decides if we are going to be here for a while or transport." Captain Stanley assured him.

The wait seemed forever, but soon Johnny was calling for the ambulance attendants to help Leah on the gurney and transport her to Rampart. Roy went and knelt at her side.

"Oh Roy!"

He knelt down beside her and kissed her on the lips softly. "Leah what are you doing out here?"

"I just stopped to pick up the bassinet that we ordered for the baby...I wanted to have it at home and surprise you."

"Well, you surprised me alright."

"Look guys" Johnny interrupted, "I am happy that you are surprised but if we don't get your wife to the hospital soon, your baby is going to be born right here in the middle of J C Penney's!"

They both laughed but it was interrupted when Leah cried out in pain with a contraction. "Roy, I think Johnny's right."

"Cap?"

"Go ahead Roy, both of you in the ambulance. I think Chet can drive the squad over for you."

"Thanks Cap" Roy called over his shoulder as he climbed in the back behind Johnny.

Johnny set up the biophone and began to relay the information to the base station. "Rampart this is squad 51, how do you read me?"

Dixie thumbed the radio, "This is Rampart 51, we read you loud and clear."

"Rampart we have a female approximately 29 years old..."

"27!" Leah yelled at him in between contractions. Roy smiled. "Johnny you know not to have a woman older than her age."

Johnny rolled his eyes and continued "Correction Rampart 27 years old. Her BP is normal and she is in labor and is full term."

"How far apart are the contractions 51?"

"About every 4 minutes."

"Ok 51, do you foresee any complications at this time...none Rampart except a paramedic in the ambulance with me right now that is completely useless as far as being able to help."

Dixie laughed, "Understood 51, continue monitoring contractions, start IV, normal saline and bring her in." She picked up the phone and had the operator page Dr. Brackett to the base station.

"What have we got Dix?"

"Pregnant woman coming in, full term and contractions are about 4 minutes apart...and according to Johnny a useless Paramedic that, if my guess is right, is a nervous wreck right about now."

"Leah?"

"You guessed it!"

"Alright, lets set up 2."

"Already done."

They were in the treatment room getting gowned and gloved when Roy and Johnny came in the room in a rush with Leah in full blown labor with contractions on top of each other.

"Royal Christopher DeSoto, I AM BREATHING! And if you tell me that one more time I am going to come off of this table and.....oh! Here comes another one."

Everyone in the room except Roy and Leah were smiling. Roy looked totally lost in this situation.

"Roy get a gown and gloves on, you too Johnny. You Daddy, go stand by her head so you can help her push. Johnny you help me and Dixie."

Everyone did as they were told.

"OK Leah it is time to start pushing." Dr. Brackett smiled to let her know that everything was going to be alright.

"OK with the next contraction I want you to take a deep breath and hold it...that's good now PUSH!"

Leah pushed with all her might. "Baby I know that you are getting tired but you need to push one more time."

"I AM PUSHING! If I am not doing it to suit you why don't you just have this baby yourself?"

Dixie drew Leah's attention away from Roy, "One more Leah and the baby should be out...ok big breath, hold it and push! Push! Push!"

"That is Leah, stop pushing now" Dr. Brackett took over, "Let me just get the shoulder...there! He's out...Roy it's a boy!"

"A Boy...Leah did you hear him...we have a boy."

He brushed her bangs away and kissed her on the forehead as he watched Johnny cut the cord and Dixie take the baby to clean and wrap for his Daddy to hold him. When she put him in his arms, he was the most perfect and beautiful baby that Roy had ever seen. "Dixie, the guys are waiting outside, can I go show him to them?"

"Of course you can Papa...but just for a minute"

Roy kissed Leah again and said "I'll be right back." He went to the hallway where all the crew from Station 51 stood to congratulate him. "It's a boy!" Roy said as he showed the wiggling bundle in his arms.

"Hey congratulations Roy!" Captain Stanley patted him on the back.

"What's his name?" Chet questioned as Johnny and Dr. Brackett came from Leah's room.

"How is Leah?" Mike asked Dr. Brackett.

"It was a hard labor, but she did just fine."

"So, DeSoto...are you going to tell us his name or is it a secret?" Chet questioned again.

Roy looked at Johnny, "His name is "Gage Roderick DeSoto."

Chet rolled his eyes. "You have got to be kidding me! Roy don't do it to the poor kid."

Johnny beamed at Roy, "Chet you're just jealous that I'm the godfather!"

They shared a laugh at Chet's expense until Dixie opened the door and with a concerned and determined look said "Dr. Brackett we need you in here stat."

The blood drained from Roy's face as Johnny patted his shoulder. "Wait here, I'll see what is going on."

"Roy looked down into Gage's face and prayed silently, 'Dear God, please let her be alright. He needs her, we both need her.'

There was a tense silence until they heard a familiar sound...a baby crying. A look of shock came over Roy's face when Johnny came through the door with a bundle in his hands. "Roy, it's a girl."

"What? We have twins?"

"That's what the usually call them when they come in twos."

"Shut up Chet." Marco pocked him in the ribs as Cap grabbed a chair to catch Roy before he fell down.

"Johnny! Johnny!" April called out to him as she came down the hall.

"April what are you doing here?"

"Dixie called me...is Leah ok? And the baby?"

"Babies, Roy and Leah have twins! And Leah is doing just fine."

"Twins? I have twins?" Roy repeated in disbelief."

Johnny kissed April on the cheek, sweet heart, I would like for you to meet Gage Roderick DeSoto and...and...Roy what is her name?"

"Huh? Oh it is Gracie April DeSoto."

"Gage and Gracie! How beautiful... Johnny I just can't wait! Just think! In about four more weeks it is going to be our turn." She said to him as she patted her stomach.

"Yeah Gage, maybe you will get lucky and have twins too!"

"Oh shut up Chet!"

Roy, after finding strength to stand, took both of his blessed bundles and went back into the room with Leah who was lying in the bed exhausted.

"Hello Mama."

"Hello Daddy. Are they OK?"

"They are perfect! Just like their mother."

"Oh Roy! How did we ever get so lucky to have both a boy and a girl...Gage and Gracie."

"I have been a blessed man in my life Leah, first with Joanne and Chris and Jennifer, and now with you and Gage and Gracie. No one man deserves to be as blessed."

"Yes you do Royal Christopher DeSoto. I can't help but think that your family is looking down on us and are smiling. What do you think?"

"I think you are right."

"I hope I can do Joanne's memory proud being your wife and also as a mother...I have big shoes to fill."

"No, you don't have to fill anyone's shoes but your own, and you will do it perfectly. I Love you Leah Chambers DeSoto."

"And I love you....Roy, what are you thinking?"

He looked into her hazel eyes, then down at the faces of his two precious newborns and took a deep breath and sighed. "Just that this has been a good day...a very good day."

The End