Title: Brother's Keeper – Pt. 29
By: FanofRandy
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. Emergency! is owned by Universal and Mark VII Productions. I make no profit from my imagination—only a personal joy and peace.
Summary: Gage is dealing with some personal issues. He also helps a young boy recover from a traumatic event. Will he accept help from those around him? (set after season 5) May benefit from reading my story "Without Reservation" as there are some inferences…however, this is a stand-alone.
E!E E!E!E!E!E!E!EE!E!E E!E!E E!E!EE!E!EE!E!E E!E!E
Johnny walked into the house feeling as if he had been away for an eternity. Roy followed closely behind carrying Johnny's bag. As Roy entered the house, he turned toward the laundry room and dropped the bag on the floor. He noticed that Johnny flinched as he did so. "I'm sorry, Johnny. Didn't mean to startle you."
Johnny looked at his friend and smiled as he shook his head from side to side, "You didn't, Pally. Just a little tired is all. You guys must be exhausted, too. Why don't you all go home and get some rest. I can take care of myself, really."
"Then how are you going to get to court, Junior?" Roy countered.
Johnny turned again to Roy with a big smile. "You're gonna take me?" He said like an excited kid.
"Thought I might. I will call Jo and tell her what's up. I will bed down on the couch while you catch a nap, too. We will leave around 13:00. Sound okay?" Roy did not expect an answer.
Johnny nodded as he made his way to his room. He glanced around the house and noticed that his friends and neighbor had kept the place very clean and tidy. Johnny opened the windows in the living room and then went on to his bedroom. As he opened his bedroom window, which was toward the front of the house, he saw Marco, Chet and Cap as they finished up the chores in the barn. He was so very thankful for these men who had become like brothers to him. He silently thanked the Lord for his "family" as he sat on the edge of the bed.
He glanced in the mirror over his dresser and noticed the black eyes were still very pronounced. He had been told they would fade in a few days. He thought back over the couple weeks and realized that he had been through a lifetime of worry, emotion, and pain in that time. He hoped now that his physical pain was easing, that he could help Bobby get over his emotional pains. Johnny lay back on the pillow and was soon asleep.
E!E E!E!E!E!E!E!EE!E!E E!E!E E!E!EE!E!EE!E!E E!E!E
"Is there anything else we need to do before we leave?" Cap asked Roy. Roy shook his head and told his friends that he would stay with Johnny and take him to the court hearing later, after he and Johnny got some rest.
"Tell us how everything goes, huh, Roy?" Mike said as he patted his friend on the shoulder. Roy said he would and assured the men that he would watch out for Johnny through the rest of the day.
As the men all got into their respective vehicles, Roy entered the house and shut the door behind him. He walked to Johnny's room and saw that his partner was already asleep. Roy followed his lead and went to the couch and lay down. It was not long before he, too, was sleeping.
Roy wasn't sure what woke him up at first. It took him just a moment to realize where he was. Once he remembered that he was at Johnny's he sat up and wiped his hands over his face. He heard the shower in Johnny's room and glance at the clock. It was a little past noon and they were to leave for court soon.
He went into the kitchen and opened the fridge. He was at a loss as to what to cook for lunch. Not that there weren't options. JoAnne, Emily Stanley, and Mrs. Lopez had cooked enough meals to get Johnny through his recuperation time, and then some! Roy pulled out containers of meatloaf, green beans, and mashed potatoes and followed the instructions written on the packages. He recognized the containers from his home and his wife's writing on the notes.
"Johnny," JoAnne had written, "I know you love my meatloaf, so I made this just for you. Warm it up in the oven and enjoy! We love you!" Roy smiled as he read the note. Johnny had become close to his family quickly and he would forever be a part of it. Roy was making their plates just as Johnny entered the kitchen.
"Hey, Junior. Just in time. Lunch is ready." Roy announced.
Johnny smiled and moved to the table. "Thanks, Roy. I wasn't sure I had anything in the fridge."
"OH, you've got plenty. Jo, Emily and Mrs. Lopez have you stocked for a while." Roy said as he brought the two plates to the table. He moved across the kitchen once again to pour two large glasses of milk and he returned.
The men sat and shared a companionable silence as they ate their lunch. Johnny was the first to speak after several long minutes. "Roy, thanks for hanging out to drive me to the Grand Jury hearing. I really need to be there, you know?"
Roy wasn't really sure he did know, but nodded as his friend continued. "Roy, I have to bring this full circle. That kid and I are linked…people may think that I saved his life, but he really saved mine."
"Are you ready to do this?" Roy asked as he cleared the table. Johnny taking the last swig of his milk nodded and got up from the table.
"'m ready. Let's do this."
E!E E!E!E!E!E!E!EE!E!E E!E!E E!E!EE!E!EE!E!E E!E!E
Johnny and Roy entered the courthouse and walked toward the elevators. The 3rd District Court was where the Grand Jury would meet to consider charges for Bob and Karen Caldwell. Johnny pushed the button and they waited. The doors opened and both men stepped on and Johnny pushed the button for the 4th floor.
As the elevator doors opened at the 4th floor, Roy stepped out first and glanced down the hall to his right. That was the direction of the courtroom and waiting area. Johnny stepped out behind him and looked down the hall as well. Both of them saw Bobby flanked by an older man and women, "Must be his grandparents." Roy whispered toward Johnny.
As Johnny nodded his agreement, Bobby glanced up and saw both men walking toward him. He stared at Johnny intently and with final recognition, he jumped from his seat and ran toward the man. "Johnny, you came." He yelled as he made a beeline for the fireman.
Johnny stopped walking and allowed the boy to run into his arms. He accepted the rough embrace that nearly knocked him over. Bobby hugged Johnny and Johnny hugged back. They melted into one another as they both realized this was exactly what each of them needed. Johnny pulled Bobby away from him finally and looked at the boy.
"Hey, Sport. How ya doin'?" Johnny asked smiling at the boy.
"I guess I'm doin' alright. But, you don't look so good." Bobby said as he noticed Johnny's black eyes. "Who'd you get in a fight with?" he asked with concern.
"No one." Johnny laughed. "Just a little reminder of my surgery is all. They don't even hurt. As a matter of fact, Bobby, my head doesn't hurt at all since I woke up from the operation. And, it's all because of you that I am okay today. You saved my life, Sport."
The little boy smiled proudly. He took Johnny's hand and led him down the hall and introduced the man to his grandparents. Johnny was getting to know Kyle and Helen Wells, just as Allison Reed walked up to the group. "Hey, John, it's good to see you." She said as he touched his shoulder.
Johnny turned and brown eyes met green. Johnny reached out and shook her hand and gave her a slight embrace. Allison thought she had died and gone to heaven.
Roy noticed Allison's flushed face as Johnny released her and thought, "Oh, boy. Here's Johnny's next conquest." And smiled as he shook Allison's hand.
The group gathered around Bobby and Allison shared the reason they were all there, "Bobby, they are ready for your testimony. Are you ready?"
Bobby looked at his grandparents, then to Allison, and finally to Johnny. Johnny held Bobby's gaze and nodded gently. Bobby squeezed the piece of tin he still held onto from the moment Johnny gave it to him. "I'm ready." He said, as Allison guided him into the courtroom.
The End
A/N: don't worry, I would not leave you hanging. There is a prologue!
