A/N: Ok, here we are at the end of this journey and the revelation of the Gage Surprise. Thank you for your support and for following along. For those who have left me reviews and PM's of support please know how much I truly appreciate you!
The Gage Surprise – Epilogue
"Johnny would you sit down! You aren't the father, Chet is."
"I know, Roy. I know. But I can't help it. I just hope everything is goin' ok." Johnny said as he continued to pace in the waiting room of the maternity ward.
"I just got word that the baby is here and mom and baby are doing fine. And Dad's out cold." Dixie giggled.
"Wha, hahaha….really?" Johnny laughed.
"Yep….passed out the minute he saw…uh…the baby." Dixie knew that she wasn't supposed to reveal the gender of the baby. That was for the parents to do. "Give them a little while to finish up and you can see them."
"There now…feeling better?" Roy slapped his partner on the back.
"Yea…yea I am."
"Let's go get some lunch and then maybe we can see them." Roy suggested.
"Yea…I am hungry….and maybe by then Chet will be coming around." The two joked as they headed down the hallway.
Later that afternoon, Alyssa heard a soft knock on her door followed by Johnny sticking his head in. "Hey, Alyssa."
"Oh Johnny…come in please." She whispered, holding a sleeping bundle in her arms.
Johnny gulped back the tears as he first caught a glimpse of the tiny face peeking from beneath the blanket. Roy stood back grinning at the sight as well.
"Hey fellas." Chet mumbled trying to get up from his reclining position on the adjacent bed.
Johnny snickered at the sight of his friend looking so pale with tufts of curly hair sticking out all over his head. "Heard you got a little woozy in there."
"Woozy hell…..I went out like a light." He grinned. "She looks just like her momma doesn't she?"
"She? It's a girl?" Johnny asked.
"Uh, yea..Junior. That's what 'she' means." Roy chided. "Congratulations to you both." He said to both the parents. "She is beautiful."
"Guys, I want you to meet Miss Katherine Alice Kelly." Alyssa beamed.
"We're gonna call her Katie." Chet chimed in. "Oh, and yea she looks just like 'Lyssa but …uh…take off her cap, Honey."
Alyssa pulled off the tiny white cap and both paramedics laughed. "Yep, Chet. You did have a little something to do with this, didn't you?" Johnny mused.
Adorning the tiny pink face was a head full of dark curls.
E!
Two weeks later, Chet walked into the locker room and saw that his locker had been decorated with a large pink bow. "Aww, guys. This is great. Thanks."
"Congratulations, Chet." Mike offered.
"That's right, amigo. Congratulations." Marco said as well.
"Roll call in five." Cap announced with his head in the doorway.
With all five men lined up, Hank began his announcements. Johnny had a huge smile plastered on his face. He knew what was coming but he was sworn to secrecy.
"Men, I have a very special announcement here that speaks to the heroism of Gage." Johnny grinned and continued looking forward even though he knew that at least four sets of eyes were staring at him at the moment.
"Two months ago, on Christmas Eve, Gage saved the lives of two people; one of them being mine. I, and my family, will be forever grateful for his heroic actions and selfless act on that day. And I hold in my hands an invitation for him to become a member of CARDA*. It's a newly formed organization and it stands for California Rescue Dog Association." Cap watched as puzzlement changed to understanding on everyone's faces; everyone except Chet.
"Chet, congratulations. Not only do you have a beautiful family but you have a heroic dog as well. This invitation is for Alyssa and Gage. Please share it with them will ya, Pal?"
"What? Oooohhhh…" Chet said reaching for the paper Cap was offering him. He read over the document and proclaimed in a mumble. "Holy shit!"
"Ah, Chet….the recommendation came from Dr. Lawrence. He treated Gage that night and was amazed at the story I told him of how he got injured. I hope you don't mind that I completed the paper work for you and Alyssa but I kinda wanted it to be a surprise."
"Aww, thanks Johnny. She's gonna love this. Plus, she can stay at home with the baby and keep training Gage for rescues like she's been doing. It's the best of both worlds for her."
Alyssa was amazed by the 'Gage Surprise' as she and Chet began to call it. She went on to join CARDA and she and Gage were credited with thirty-three rescues/finds in his career as a CARDA rescue dog; thirty-five in all counting the two men he rescued that Christmas Eve. He was trained as an area search dog with avalanche and cadaver specialties. His picture is now prominently displayed on the wall at Station 51 as the first member of CARDA from that station. He was laid to rest some fifteen years later beside his longtime companion, Patches, in the shadow of the trees along the bank of the creek at the property line; near the spot where Alyssa claimed her first rescue as well.
The end
E!
*The California Rescue Dog Association, Inc. is the largest and one of the oldest K-9 Search and Rescue dog associations in the country. Founded in 1976, all teams are volunteers and are responsible for paying their own expenses. For more information or to donate to the organization, please contact them at their website.
.org