Chapter 20

As the Squad backed into the station, Johnny was relieved to see the Engine out, "Now Roy, you got to promise me you'll keep this to yourself."

Roy gave his partner a slight grin, "So what am I keepin' to myself?"

Johnny replied, "The truth! Chet can't know the TRUTH!"

"Well, Johnny just as soon as I know the truth I'll be sure Not to tell Chet." Roy said.

Johnny looked around to make sure they were alone as they walked into the kitchen, "Alright but, ..."

Over the intercom, they heard, "Engine 51 arriving back at the station." The bay doors opened.

"Ah, ... Man, .. I can't tell ya now." Johnny said.

Chet came in the kitchen telling Marco in mid-sentence, "... to get a practice in. It's not my fault that we couldn't get together before the league starts." He looked up seeing Johnny, "Johnny, I tried to call you everywhere yesterday. 110 is gunning for us and we need to get a pratice in. You weren't home, or at Roy's. Where were you?"

Johnny looked at Chet like he'd lost his mind. He had never answered to Chet about his where abouts and didn't think he should start now. Johnny opened his mouth to reply when the tones sounded.

"Squad 51, Diabetic emergency. 349 Ravenna Ave., repeating 3-4-9 Ravenna Ave. Time out 10:06." Sam dispatched.

Johnny and Roy headed out to the Squad. Not being familiar with the street, Johnny checked the map for the address which was just a few blocks off their direct route to Rampart.

Roy got the address from Captain Stanley who he met at the base station radio. Hank advised, "Squad 51, KMG-365."

Traffic was light between rush hours as the Squad made it's way through the familiar route, until Johnny advised, "It should be the third left after this light."

Making the third left onto Ravenna Ave, both paramedics began watching house numbers. They were about half way down the street when a lady ran out waving her arms to flag them down. Roy stopped the Squad and let LA know they were on scene. Johnny exited the vehicle, opened compartments and began getting out the equipment he anticipated that he would need for the call. He grabbed the bio phone, drug box, trauma kit as Roy grabbed the Oxygen and reached for the drug box.

While doing an initial assessment of the semi conscious patient patient, Johnny took his vitals which included a blood sugar check. Finding that his blood sugar level read 30, Johnny reached across the patient and took the bio phone from Roy. Johnny told Dixie that he patients blood sugar level was 30. Roy was already reaching for a tub of oral glucose. As expected, Dixie relayed, "Per Dr. Early administer 15 grams oral glucose gel sublingraul, that is 15 grams oral glucose gel sublingraul."

Johnny repeated, "Per Dr. Early, 15 grams oral glucose gel sublingraul."

Dixie advised, "That is correct, and transport immediately."

"Copy, transport immediately." Johnny repeated.

Johnny jumped in the ambulance with his patient who was now starting to come around a bit. Roy would pack up and follow.

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At Rampart, Johnny came out of the treatment room hoping to see Roy. He didn't. He stopped at the water fountain, got a drink. Still no Roy. Taking a deep breath he made his way to the base station. His luck held as there was no one else there except for Dixie, who was normally his favorite nurse. However, today, he would have rather not had to run into her so much.

Dixie looked up from her paperwork, "Hey Johnny. Something I can help you with?"

"Yeah, I need a few supplies." Johnny said as he handed her the list.

Dixie opened the supply cabinet and began laying the squads needed supplies out. "So tell me, where have you been keeping my niece?"

Johnny grimaced and bit his lip before answering, "Ah, Dix, ..."

Roy showed up just in time to say, "How is he?"

Johnny would have to thank Roy later, "He started coming around. His sugar levels were coming up. He should be alright. Thanks for the supplies Dix. You ready to go Roy?"

Roy looked at Johnny, then Dixie, shrugged his shoulders and replied, "Yeah, sure I guess."

"Great. See ya around Dix." Johnny said as he practically drug Roy down the hall.

In the squad, Johnny reached for the mic to radio that they were available when Roy took it from him, "Wait. Now tell me what has you so on edge? What happened this weekend?"

Again Johnny was saved as LA radioed, "Squad 51 what is your status?"

Roy swore, then replied, "Available from Rampart."

"Stand by for traffic." LA advised.

Roy swore under his breath. Johnny let out a sigh of relief as the squad was once again set in motion to a call. This would be the pace of the day. No more would they clear that they would be dispatched on another call. After eighth runs in as many hours Johnny marked the squad available, yet again.

Dee Dee's voice replied, "10-4, Squad 51, have you available, enroute back to station from Rampart at 1620."

Roy seen Johnny for the first time today actually give a quick grin when he heard that it was Dee Dee that responded to them. Roy's hand was on the key of Squad but didn't start it. "So, tell me what you haven't been able to all day."

Johnny heard the Engine being called out to assist Station 110. "They will be gone awhile on that. I'll tell you when we get back to the station and I make a phone call."

Roy looked at Johnny like he had two heads as he drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, "What?"

Johnny motioned for Roy to hurry up and get en route back to the station, "Come on, come on, if you want me to be able to tell you before we get called out of Chet gets back."

Roy frowned and put the squad in gear.

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Back at Station 51, Johnny marked up 'Back at Station' with LA and headed to the phone in the kitchen.

Dee Dee answered an administration line, "LA Dispatch, this is Dee Dee."

Roy saw relief wash over Johnny's face as Johnny said, "Dee Dee." he paused, before speaking quickly, "I know you are at work, but I need to ask you something important. You know how close me and Roy are. It seems everyone was looking for me, ... us this weekend. He ended up trying to answer where we were when he had no idea. ... I wanted to call you before, ... to ask, ..." Johnny ran his hand through his hair. "Do you mind if I, ..."

Dee Dee felt herself blush and was glad no one else could hear their conversation, "Johnny, I, ummm, ... don't mind if you let them know 'where' we were, but, ..."

Johnny smiled at the phone, "I understand." He said before she could continue. "I don't ever tell 'everything' I know. I just wanted you to be Ok with this before I said anything."

"I'm fine with it. I'd just like to keep it all out of Rampart until I can talk to Aunt Dixie." Dee Dee said as the emergency line rang. "I got to go."

Johnny smiled until he heard the click of the line going dead. He knew he had done that to more than his share of girls in his past and expected them to understand it was his job, but he had to admit that when it was done to him he really didn't like it." Johnny stared at the dead phone for the better part of a minute before he hung up the receiver.

Roy had went to the refrigerator for a cold drink and was currently leaning against the counter trying to study the being that looked like his partner of many years, though he was sure that the human looking form was not his partner, Johnny.

Johnny sighed, "Alright Roy, since you were left trying to answer questions from everyone that you didn't have answers for, ... we, Dee Dee and I, went away for the weekend..."

Roy wasn't sure that he heard Johnny correctly. Roy had been in love with his wife since they were in first grade and it was their wedding night after he'd been gone for a couple years to Nam before he and Joanne had 'went away anywhere' together on their honeymoon. Yes this was the era of 'free love' and Johnny had more girlfriends since Roy knew him than Roy had all through high school, yet John Gage may talk the 'talk' especially around Chet, but Roy knew he was a decent man. Roy opened his mouth but nothing came out. He figured it was just as well.

Johnny quickly added, "Up to Big Bear Lake." Johnny seen Roy's mouth moving without saying anything, "Now Roy, listen to me. It's not what you think, ..."

Roy nodded at Johnny's statement. "Ok, then what is it? Have you asked, ... decided, ... thought about, ..." Roy paced to the other end of the kitchen before turning around, "Johnny? Are you serious? or even thinking about, ..."

Johnny glared at Roy, "Roy! What do you take me for? Of course I, ..."

The tones sounded, Dee Dee's voice was heard, "Squad 51, Squad 51, respond in place of Squad 110, to the 405, Four - Zero - Five exit 35, MVA with injuries, Engine 8 will be responding to you in place of Engine 110. Time out 1537."

Roy replied, "Squad 51 responding, KMG-365."

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