Because not even Gage will be a bachelor forever
Jane & Johnny
"Not sure how to begin, Jo Anne." John's voice sounded grave, gruff and oddly elated.
"Roy, it's Johnny and he sounds serious. I've never heard him sound like that."
"What's wrong, John?" Roy met his wife's eyes over their kitchen table as he took the phone.
"Nothing's wrong, I've got some good news but I just want you to hear it from me. I'm gettin' married. I'm not losing her again, love her so very much, we all know how much she's always loved me, can't keep my hands off her and she's the same for me and she deserves better than winding up an unwed mother." He sounded dazed. "So, I asked her. And she said yes."
"Who?"
"Who do you think? Nobody has ever loved me like she did and still does." Gage sounded impatient now. "She ambushed me last night."
"She's home?"
"Yeah. Called for a ride from the bus station, took her home with me, just like always, had a long overdue talk and eventually... Well, things just...snowballed. But I know her like I do the drug box, so it's not like there's not years of history between us. It's just...time. I think she was waiting for me to be ready."
"Can't say I'm surprised: She's been in something close to a locked step with you for years and nobody reads you better."
"I don't really understand why I was, shouldn't have been. She waited, y'know? Said she'd not wanted anyone else. Always needed the right hands, she has...and those were mine.
She and I agreed to have it at 51...already talked to Hank. He cleared it with HQ, they said we could park the squad and the Beast on the driveway and have it in the bay. She wanted Chef Charlie to help with the cookery, she said and Capt asked him, he agreed...it's a wedding supper, after all. Can't just leave it to the normal hose jockeys. And she wanted to know if Jo Anne wanted to come with her and Dixie to find her wedding gown..."
"Wait a sec and I'll ask her."
John didn't need the answer from Roy, the man's wife's high pitched glee-filled squeal did that all by itself.
"She agreed."
"So I heard." Roy could hear the smile in his partner's voice. "There's one other thing, she wants to know if you'll give her away, figures you've always been the nearest to a real dad she's ever had. Wants you to help her close one chapter and start the next...and so do I. She thinks you can walk her down, hand her over and then step over to me with for the best man stuff. She said you're a good multi-tasker, you can do both jobs."
"Oh yes I can, you bet I'll walk Jane down the bay, she's belonged with you from the start, Johnny. And you're my best friend...so yes, to both. Let's make it official." Roy sported a huge grin and his Jo Ann now wore an enchanted smile.
Finis