I wanted to thank everyone for taking the time to read this and being patient as I write my first fanfiction. I also want to thank all of you for the reviews and help. It is very much appreciated and helps drive me to keep writing!


Roy had arrived at Rampart shortly before 7:30 am and now, almost an hour later, was finally almost through reviewing the extensive paperwork with Jerry Fields, the lawyer Dr. Brackets had hired.

"So, basically, every month, Doctor Early and at least one other doctor, possible two, depending on what the judge decides," Roy summarized. "Has to go through a competency exam every month for the next six months. After that, the exam will take place every other month?"

"Up until the first year. Likely, the judge will request a follow up after eighteen months and then again at the two-year mark. After that, unless something changes and is noted by Johnny's doctor, there shouldn't be any more need for follow-ups," Jerry explained patiently.

Before Roy could ask exactly what the guardianship papers gave him and Joanne power over and what type of monitoring, if any, there was, a knock was heard at the door. Assuming it was Joanne who had had to drop the kids off at school and pick up some basic items for the kids summer activities, Roy called out for the person to come in as he stood up. To both his and the lawyer's surprise, both Doctor Brackett and Doctor Early enter.

"What's going on? Is everything okay?" Roy asked, panicked.

"Yes and no," Dr. Early told him. "It seems the sedation is wearing off faster than we expected it to and the nurses are reporting that Johnny is starting to become upset. They are unable to calm him down. I'm hoping you can take a break and see what you can do to reassure John that things are fine and explain what is going on."

"I have no problem with that," Jerry quickly stated. "I took today off just in case something like this might happen. Besides, than when Joanne gets here, I can catch her up on what we've already gone through."

Released, Roy thanked him, "I guess we're all set then. Is there anything you need me to watch for when I'm with Johnny or...?"

"I'd really like you just to have him try to rest up a bit more so he is better able to handle the tests I need to run later this afternoon," Joe Early admitted. "But, if you can try to watch out and see how he is processing speech, talking, remembering what was said a short time ago, or anything else you might observe, that would be helpful."

"Alright," Roy nodded his head in the affirmative as the four of them headed to the elevator. "Where should I meet Jerry when Johnny's asleep? I'd really like to be some place close by so I can get back to him quickly if needed."

As they stepped off the elevator, Dr. Brackett told him, "That is why I snuck away from the ER for a bit. Conference Room B is open today, so I'll show him where it is and Dixie already promised to show Joanne to the room when she arrives."

"Thanks," Roy said gratefully as he turned to the ICU portion of the floor.

As he and Doctor Early came closer to the doors, they could hear muffled wounds of chaos inside. When the doors opened, the two of them realized the chaos was coming from the ICU cubicle Johnny was situated in and they rushed over to see what was happening. Once there, they witnessed a nurse trying to gently hold down Johnny's right arm with the IV as another one held the left arm and yet another nurse attempted to put a restraint on the right arm. The more the nurses attempted to hold Johnny down, the more wild he seemed to become.

Instantly, Roy saw what no one else seemed to see. Johnny wasn't fight against everyone for no good reason. No, he was simply terrified. Only a few times had Roy ever seen that look on Johnny's face and it wasn't one he was likely to forget.

Considering he woke up alone, in a strange place, with so many tubes and wires coming from his body, I can't say I wouldn't be scared out of my mind either. On top of that, he has to deal with the fact that he has no idea where he is or why he is hurting. Probably doesn't get why there is so much noise or why nurses keep doing vital checks on him. I wonder if they even explained that process to him! Roy sympathized.

"Let him go," Roy commanded softly as he moved closer to Johnny.

Grasping his left hand, Roy look at the nurse, "All you are doing is making things worse by scaring him. Just leave him be right now."

"Let him try," Doctor Early told the nurses. "Just be ready to step back in."

Throwing a grateful look at the doctor, as soon as the nurses moved away, Roy stepped in even closer and began trying to soothe Johnny.

"Hey, look at me Johnny. Just try and focus just on me. Take a deep breathe in and let it out slowly," Roy demonstrated when he had John's attention. "That's it, keep going. I know you are scared. I know you don't know what is going on. I'll tell you just as soon as you calm down a bit more, okay?"

Seeing that Roy was finally getting things under control, Doctor Early motioned to the nurses to leave and on the way out, asked them to just let Roy handle things for now.

"I think everything was just overwhelming Johnny too much and with so many strangers around, that wasn't helping either," Early explained as they left. "Roy, just buzz if you need anything."

Nodding, Roy continued to focus on helping Johnny regulate his breathing as the doctor and nurses left. A few minutes late, John finally was able to calm down enough that Roy was no longer worried he'd pass out from hyperventilating.

"Good job!" Roy praised before asking cautiously, "Do you remember who I am? If not, it's okay."

A puzzled look came over Johnny's face.

Seen him before. Where? Not sure. Fire or doctor or… Wait, what did he want again? John began panicking again when he realized how mixed up his thoughts were and that he couldn't remember what was asked just a minute or so ago.

"It's alright, don't worry," Roy quickly assured him. "You've been through a lot. It's fine that you don't remember me."

Oh! John's face suddenly lit up when he realized what the man had wanted to know before. I remember.

"What is it?" Roy curiously asked.

"Member you," John said slowly and quietly.

"You do?" Roy asked, excited.

"Clinic. You take me here, wife," John disjointedly said.

Rushing with his words, the excitement Roy felt spilled over, "That's great! It's a good sign that you can remember all of that. Hopefully as you get better, you'll…"

Stopping at the frightened and confused look John was giving him, Roy trailed off, "I'm sorry."

"Too much," Johnny tried explaining.

"I was talking too fast? And I was talking about too many subjects?" Roy asked slowly.

Nodding, Johnny yawned and gasped.

"Shhh, it's okay," Roy soothed. "You have a lot of wounds on different parts of your body."

Confused about why he had them, but unable to figure out how to ask, John just looked towards Roy.

Not able to know words, tell me, clear up why, Johnny pleaded in his head, frustrated to feel as though his mind was trying to think while being encased in mud.

"Do you want to know what happened? Why you are hurting now?" asked Roy, reading the desperation on Johnny's face.

Nodding, John groaned as it set off a round of nauseous and increased the thumping inside his head.

"Don't worry, you can't get sick," Roy assured him. "The doctors have a tube going in your nose that makes sure that it doesn't happen. I know it's not fun and itches, but it's better than getting sick."

Sighing, John leaned back on the bed and waited for Roy to begin explaining. Starting with the shortened version of being caught in a fire that caused him to be thrown a bit, Roy then moved on to let John know the various injuries that were caused by that. Once he went through that, Roy pointed out each tube and what it was for, hoping that at some level Johnny was understanding it. Considering how he looked however, Roy figured that most of the information was going over his head.

"The most important thing to remember," Roy emphasized. "Is that the doctors have you hooked up to all these tubes to make sure you are doing okay. The nurses will be checking up on you a lot, so they and the doctors know you are getting better. If you don't understand something, or you are scared or worried, you can always ask someone.

"My wife, Joanne or Jo for short, as well as I will be here as much as we can as well to help you out in whatever way you can. If you ever want us to be here and we are not, just tell someone and they can call us. Does this make sense?"

Johnny's eyes darted around the room as he thought about the massive amount of information he was given. Roy knew it would be a lot for anyone to handle, let alone a child or someone with a brain injury. For someone who essentially was a child with a brain injury, Roy wasn't sure how much Johnny could process, but he had to try.

"Confuse," John finally said.

"I know," Roy stated. "Just try to remember you are here to get better and that everyone here wants to help you get better. Can you try to remember that?"

Get better with help, John thought. Why would they?

"Why?"

"Why what?" Roy asked, surprised at the sudden question.

"Why help?" John sounded out the words.

"A lot of people here know you and care about you. They want to help wherever they can. Those who don't know you want to help because it is their job and they have the job they do because they care about people," Roy explained.

"But…" John hesitated, unsure how to say what was in his brain. "I am half-breed. No good, not equal…"

Interrupting him, Roy said a bit harshly, "That doesn't matter to anyone here. I hope that you can trust me enough to know that I speak that truth."

Not sure why, but do trust. Kind, care, holding hand yet. Explain things good, Johnny debated with himself whether or not to trust this man.

"Ok, I trust, but what's your name," Johnny asked, coming to a conclusion.

"It's Roy," he said smiling, while feeling horrible for not reintroducing himself. "And remember, ask me anything anytime you need to."

"'K," John said through a yawn.

"Now, why don't you get some sleep? I'll stay until you fall asleep and try to be here when you wake up," Roy promised as he pulled the covers up to John's chin.

Nodding, John allowed his eyes to close fully and within minutes, was fast asleep.

As Roy left his room, he couldn't help but think how young Johnny looked and the need to protect Johnny rose up within him.