The Gage Secret-14
"Johnny…..Johnny what's wrong?" Roy pulled the truck over to the edge of the road and slammed it in park.
Johnny sat staring at the purple and floral journal of Katherine Gage; particularly at the final few entries. Roy watched sweat beads pop out on his forehead as he read and reread the final entries. He wasn't sure what to do but he had to calm himself down before he could begin to calm down his partner; Johnny's colorful outburst had triggered the release of a huge amount of adrenaline in Roy's system.
Johnny balled up his fist and pressed it firmly against his upper lip; looking like he was stifling a yawn. He swallowed several times trying to find his voice and then gulped in a breath of air before he started explaining himself to his curious partner.
"R, uh.." Johnny cleared his throat and then tried again once he had successfully forced his tears back into their hiding place.
"Roy, I…..I know."
"Know what, Junior?"
"I know what she was coming down here to tell me….and I understand why she wanted to tell me face to face instead of over the phone."
Roy continued watching his partner with grave concern. He'd lost all color in his normally youthful complexion and he was continuing to tremble and shiver. His breath began to hitch and Roy began to fear he'd hyperventilate. He placed a consoling hand on his partner's shoulder hoping to ground him.
"Johnny, I know it's none of my business but…..I'm here…..if you want to talk." He squeezed Johnny's shoulder.
Roy felt relief wash over him when Johnny's chin rose and his chocolate brown eyes met his own blue ones.
"I, uh….I'm gonna need help with this one, Roy." Johnny said slowly shaking his head in affirmation to Roy's offer to let him talk.
"Ok, look why don't we go on over to your place and unload this stuff and then we'll talk, alright?"
Johnny hesitated briefly. "Roy, I know this may sound strange but can we go over to your place to talk? I'd, ah, well, I'd like Joanne's opinion on this if she doesn't mind discussing it."
Roy quickly went through various scenarios that might require Joanne's opinion and none made sense to him. "Of course, Johnny. You know Joanne loves you and will do anything for you."
Johnny gave a gentle nod as he continued to stare into nothingness; his mind was already looking ahead at the conversation he'd be sharing with his best friend and surrogate sister.
Roy cranked the truck back up and eased it back onto the highway; the remainder of the journey made in total silence as Johnny hugged Katherine's journals tightly to his abdomen. Aunt Kitty, why didn't you tell me? I would've understood. I would've helped you. I would've been there for you the way you were there for me.
After the two of them emptied the U-haul of the final items from Katherine's apartment, Johnny took care of his animals and then went inside for a shower. While Johnny was doing that, Roy called Joanne to fill her in on what had transpired.
"Honey, of course, bring Johnny over and let's get to the bottom of this. I've seen him since this whole thing started and he's hurting. If talking to the two of us will help then that's what I want to do too."
"Jo, you think your sister can take the kids for the night? I don't have the foggiest idea what this entails but whatever it is, it's made Johnny an emotional train wreck." Roy glanced down the hallway toward his partner's bedroom; glad that his door remained shut so that he hadn't heard Roy's description of his current state.
"Sure. I'll give her a call and then drive them over. Why don't I pick us up some pizza and beer while I'm out?" She knew both men needed to eat; and depending on how this went, they may all need something to drink as the night progressed.
"Jo, I love you more and more every day." Roy said wishing his wife was right beside him now so he could wrap his strong arms around her.
"I love you too, honey. Make sure Johnny packs a bag. Sounds like he doesn't need to be alone tonight."
"I will, Jo. Thank you, Baby." Roy whispered into the phone; his voice nearly cracking with emotion.
"I'll see you two real soon." Roy heard Joanne say.
"Bye, Sweetheart."
"Bye, Honey."
E!
When Charlotte came on duty she was surprised to learn that her young patient in room 227 was no longer at Rampart. She read the discharge notes in her chart and gave an exasperated huff.
"What were you thinking, Alyssa?" She spoke to herself as she read that Alyssa Keener had been discharged against medical advice. Alyssa had given her no reason to think she was contemplating something like that. She noted that Dr. Early had been her doctor and she knew that if anyone had an inside scoop on why Alyssa would leave AMA then it was her friend Dixie McCall.
Charlotte picked up the phone and dialed the nurse's station in the emergency room.
"Rampart Emergency, Nurse McCall speaking."
"Dix, hi it's Charlotte. Um, what happened to my patient in 227? I see where she left AMA." Charlotte's curiosity was evident in her tone.
"Oh, her. I don't know, Charlotte. Joe mentioned to me that he'd been called up there because she was insisting that she be released. He said she was kinda teary but wouldn't say why she wanted to leave." Dixie hesitated momentarily before continuing. "We were kinda hoping she'd said something to you."
"No, I'm afraid not. She was a perfect patient actually. Compliant. Didn't complain about anything. She was really pleasant to be around." Charlotte's voice was a little choppy as she searched her memory for anything that might have caused her to leave before she was healthy enough to be released.
"Yea, well. She has a way of getting to your heart but…." Dixie wondered if she needed to reveal her thoughts. She decided she'd already started and might as well finish. "Well, there's just something there that I don't trust, Charlotte."
"Oh? I didn't get that from her. Um, you think she went back to the guy who, uh, sent her here in the first place?" Charlotte feared that the young lady had chosen to return to an abusive situation.
"No, Charlotte. No I can guarantee you that she didn't." Dixie wanted to elaborate but knew she couldn't without betraying her friend.
"Really? How can you be so sure?" Charlotte's curiosity was getting the best of her now.
"Well, I happen to know who did that to her and although I can't say who it was, I can say that there is no way he's gonna have another shot at her." Dixie hoped that was enough to quiet Charlotte's concern.
"Well, that's good news. Did Social Services pay her a visit?" Charlotte asked in a hopeful voice.
"Yes, Joe got her to agree to talk with one of the social workers while he was preparing her discharge papers. I think she was sent to a women's shelter or a homeless shelter on the north side of town. I know Joe prescribed only a few pain pills for her since those shelters are notorious for women stealing from each other." Dixie said in a low smoky voice.
"Yea, but it's better than being a punching bag for some SOB." Charlotte said.
Dixie smiled when she heard Charlotte's description of Alyssa's assailant. Charlotte just couldn't bring herself to swear. "So true, Charlotte."
Charlotte was winding down the conversation when she thought about her last conversation with Alyssa. "Say, Dixie, did you happen to notice if she was wearing a necklace when she was brought in? She seemed really concerned about that last night. I told her everything she came in with was in her bag but she just seemed really worried about her necklace."
Dixie drew her eyebrows together as she tried to remember removing any jewelry from Alyssa. "No, she wasn't wearing any jewelry when she came in."
"Oh, that's sad. Guess it might've fallen off in the ambulance…..or…during her attack." Charlotte mentioned.
Dixie winced at the mention of an 'attack' knowing that the perpetrator was one of her favorite paramedics. "Yea, maybe so."
"Well, I've got medication to dispense. I'll talk to you later, Dixie."
"Take care, bye." Dixie hung up the phone; now she was more convinced than ever that Alyssa was a fraud. She's gonna try to blame us for losing her necklace.
E!
Johnny walked behind Roy as they entered the DeSoto residence; his duffle bag hanging over his shoulder with Katherine's journals tucked safely inside.
"Jo's gone to take the kids to her sister and then she's gonna pick us up some pizza and beer on her way back." Roy explained.
"Roy, I…I just can't thank you two enough."
"Hey, Junior, you're family and families take care of each other. We're here for you, man. We've got from now until this time tomorrow to talk through this." Roy said but saw a distinctive wince on John's sad features. He had no idea what he'd said but he'd obviously touched a nerve.
"Hey, make yourself at home while I go get a shower and change. Jo should be back by the time I get out." Roy called over his shoulder as he headed to the bedroom he shared with his wonderful wife.
"A'right. Thanks." Johnny called back. He took his duffle to the spare bedroom that he so often occupied. While he waited for Jo and Roy to join him in the living room he began looking around at all their pictures in their home. A professional family portrait adorned the mantle above the fire place. Various pictures of important events dotted other areas; a wedding picture, the birth of each child, vacations pictures many of which included Johnny. Suddenly feeling Katherine's loss even more strongly he hung his head as he sat down on the sofa; journals carefully placed on the coffee table.
He jerked his head up and fought back the fog of his reverie when he heard a car door slam. He knew it was Joanne and he walked out to help her with the groceries. He made it to the car before she overloaded herself and when their eyes locked they were both a little teary. He leaned over and placed a kiss on Jo's cheek as he reached for the heavy bag of beer and soda.
"Thanks, Johnny. I've got the pizza." She said reaching back into the passenger's side of the car.
"I can't thank you enough, Jo." He said speaking around the huge lump in his throat. You and Roy are much too good to me.
He held the door open for her and then stepped into the kitchen himself just as she placed the pizza on the counter. "Come here, Johnny." She met him in the middle of the kitchen and wrapped her arms around him. She heard him sniffle a little and then relax as she rubbed his back.
Roy walked in pulling a t-shirt over his head; completely comfortable with the display of emotions taking place between his wife and his partner. He knew how the two of them felt about each other and he was glad for it.
"Thought I smelled pizza." Roy said with a grin as he gave his wife a kiss. "Let's eat and then we'll have as long to discuss this as you need, Johnny."
"Thanks, Roy. It's gonna take a while to explain it all."
E!
A/N: Ok, I know everyone wants to yell at me right now but I had to set it up right? I promise that there will be many answers in the next chapter. I will post as soon as I can. Thank you to everyone who is still hanging in here with me and a special thank you to all those who have left reviews. Your words keep me going. THANK YOU!