Chapter 24 The Best Captain part three

Roy and Joanne had seen her come out. Seeing her tears worry darkened their faces. Roy stepped forward anxiously, "JJ? How is he?"

"He's still delirious and thought I was at the fire scene. He got upset enough it was better for me to leave," JJ squeezed out. Even knowing Johnny might be addled from the heat had not softened the shock when he had become so confused. Joanne pulled her into a hug and Roy placed a hand on her shoulder. She cried silently overcome. JJ sniffed and took a deep breath. "Enough, enough," she said to herself wiping her face. She turned to the crew and spoke to them as much as to Roy and Joanne. "His temperature is down another degree," she reported with a small smile, "He kept trying to order Dixie and I away from the fire and had enough energy to try to get up. Dixie had to push him back down and he tussled with her. I'll place my bet on Dixie winning that match." They chuckled at her black humor.

The group decided to clear the hallway and went to the cafeteria for coffee. They sat together and talked of other things trying to distract each other from the obvious. A few of them visited Eric and returned to allow others to see him. An hour passed. It felt like much longer. She must have checked her watch a thousand times.

Finally, JJ decided to go back down and check on Johnny hoping he was in a better state and she might be able to stay with him. She saw Dixie heading towards the cafeteria as she exited. She told JJ his temperature was down enough he was no longer confused. As JJ got to the emergency room hallway, Kel breezed through the exam room door into the hallway. When he saw JJ, he cracked a small smile.

"JJ, that man of yours is the luckiest guy I know. How he manages it, is anyone's guess. His temperature is down to 100.5 degrees and he is cracking jokes. I can't detect any lung damage. He doesn't seem to have any serious burns, just first degree and a few places with second degree burns, looks like he has killer sunburn. Kidneys are functioning. The worst so far is that his hair is singed a little. I know how he loves his longer hair," Kel joked, "Oh and the bottoms of his boots are deformed from heat. He also has some smoke inhalation, but it should subside in a few days. He has some bruises on his arms from the shelter straps that are beauts." Kel placed a hand on JJ's shoulder, and pulled her into a hug. He said by her ear, "Go on in and get your husband settled down."

She pulled back and grinned. "Thank God! John has the busiest guardian angel in the world, Dr. Brackett. I'll do my best, but he's a handful." He laughed at her last comment. JJ took a calming breath and went to exam room 2. Only the two of them were in the room. The lone nurse discreetly left as JJ entered. When she walked in, Johnny was on his back with his arm over his eyes. She could tell he was spent. Large ugly welts on his biceps were blackish purple/blue. He was covered in soot and a fine dusting of ash. Small bits of dirt littered the floor under his head and his face had smears of dirt. His skin was very red and she saw some areas with blisters. His uniform was missing, taken off in the field to start the cooling process. The doctors had covered him in sheets and misted him heavily with water to cool him quickly. She could see where the fire had singed his hair on his head and his arms were now hairless. The smell of burned hair faintly hung in the air. He had a catheter, but from the looks of the collection bag, his kidneys were doing fine. "John? Johnny?" she whispered as she reached out to touch him with her fingertips.

His arm moved away from his eyes and he squinted at her. "Hey, Janes. Not my best look, huh?" John joked his eyes heavy with fatigue. His face was blotchy from the effects of the heat. "Sounds like I was out of it earlier," he added as an apology.

JJ leaned over with her eyes red rimmed from crying earlier and pressed her face into his gritty neck. "I think you look terrific." John reached up and pulled her closer. JJ felt him convulse as he cried into her hair. "No worries heat stroke does funny things. Plus you told me I could get new furniture earlier," JJ kidded and John gave a snort. Tears of relief leaked from her eyes.

When he calmed, she brushed his hair back off of his face and used her shirt to wipe his face dry. "I am so sorry Janes."

"Part of the job John," she said dismissively. "I heard how you protected Eric. You're a good captain, love, the best." Johnny blanched, knowing she didn't like him taking such risks. "No, I am not upset, well okay yeah I am, but you did your job, in spite of the danger and fear. I am proud of you, babe, so proud." She smoothed his hair. Johnny could still see her distress despite her bravado. A wave of emotion washed over him and he again was filled with gratitude that JJ was his wife.

"Dammit Janes, I just stopped crying," Johnny complained weakly tears spilling over again. She found a basin, filled it with water and found a clean sheet. JJ gingerly dabbed off much of the grime from his neck, face and arms avoiding the blistered areas while he collected himself. Focusing on the task helped her compose herself as well.

"I'd cry too if I was so gritty," she kidded. John just snorted.

Dixie padded into the room to check vitals. "Kel said after this last IV is empty, you can go home if your temperature is below 100 degrees. From the field to now, we have put in five bags, Johnny. Obviously, your kidneys are working well. Your wife is an RN, so she can monitor your condition at home. Just one of the perks of knowing the head nurse and head of emergency medicine is we allow you to go home to private nursing." Dixie knew Johnny hated the hospital and would rest better at home. Kel had suggested he be allowed to go home since JJ would be there. Dixie smiled and then turned to JJ, "JJ a strict measure of liquid input and output must be monitored as well as his temperature and breathing. I'll get Dr. Brackett's instructions for you and the containers for measurement. Johnny will need to come back in tomorrow early to be rechecked." JJ nodded her understanding. Dixie addressed Johnny, "John Gage if you give her a lick of trouble you'll answer to me!" She gave him a stern look and Johnny tried to look contrite, but a smile slipped through anyway. "I mean it Johnny." Dixie left to get the instructions. He held his hands up in a gesture of surrender.

"Well, Janes my exit may be interesting," Johnny remarked, "they cut off all my clothes on site. Guess I'll finally get the attention of all those nurses who snubbed me over the years." He grinned tiredly.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but I brought a change of clothes for you just in case. Joanne and Roy have them. Maybe next time, Don Juan," she teased. JJ opened the door a little bit and motioned to them to bring the clothes. Dixie returned 45 minutes later with the instructions, containers, and disconnected the now empty IV. JJ handed her a set of vitals she had taken about 20 minutes earlier and Dixie smiled at her professional attention to detail. JJ easily convinced Dix to let her remove the catheter, so Dixie left. JJ noted no site irritation or bleeding upon removal of the catheter on his chart. She gingerly helped Johnny get dressed. She signaled to the DeSoto's that they could come in.

"Hey Johnny," Joanne hugged him tightly, "Never a dull moment."

Roy smiled, "Good to see you Junior," he kidded.

"Good to be seen old man," he shot back. He sat on the edge of the exam table. "I hate to admit it, but I'll need a wheelchair." That confession spoke volumes.

Roy quickly stepped out to procure one. "The kids are anxious to see their Uncle Johnny and Aunt JJ," Joanne said. "I put them off for now, but they won't wait for long," she chuckled, "Just talked to them on the phone."

"Whatcha think John, should they come over tomorrow after dinner for ice cream? That way the visit can be as long or as short as you need it to be," suggested JJ.

"Great, Roy is off tomorrow again, so that will work. Uh, about 7:00ish then?" Joanne replied.

"Sounds great," Johnny said, "but remind them no monster foot rides for a bit." He smiled tiredly. Roy came back in with a wheelchair.

"Deal," Joanne said. JJ hugged her tightly trying to somehow let her know how much her coming over meant. They both pulled away and their eyes met. A look passed between them that said it all. "I'll get the car and drive you both home. Roy gets to go back and help mop up. With the setting of the sun, the winds have died down and the fire is now under control." She turned to Roy and he walked her out.

That night, John lay asleep his arm over his eyes, but JJ was wide awake. She spent much of the night watching him grimacing in his sleep at times, or sighing contentedly. The rasping from the smoke had lessened. The sight of his chest's gentle rise and fall was comforting. When she finally slept, it was with her ear to his chest, the thump, thump of his heart lulling her to sleep.