Chapter 9
Later, that day at the park, John and Chet watched as two little girls play. They were on the swings, chattering away like magpies. After a long hike in the nearby woods, they had a picnic lunch at Jenni's favorite park. Johnny and Chet were talking about work as the girls were playing.
"Chet, I appreciate what you did for Kiley yesterday. You helped keep my niece calm," John said as the girls moved to the teeter-totter.
"No problem, John, me and Kiley, man, have an understanding," Chet replied.
"Well, keep up your 'understanding' and you'll became a favorite person in her world. I think that you are the only other adult that she is comfortable with," Johnny told him. "She seems to be uncomfortable with Roy and Joanne, but you, she seems to like."
"Well, I'll help you all I can, buddy," Chet told him as the girls come running up to the men.
"Uncle Johnny, Uncle Chet, can we have some ice cream?" Jenni asked, with Kiley bouncing beside her.
"Uhmm, I don't know, what do you think, Uncle Chet? Should we let them have some," Johnny asked with a wink.
"I don't see any harm, let's get the girls some ice cream, I want some myself.
E!E! E!E! E!E! E!E! E!E! E!E! E!E! E!E! E!E! E!E! E!E! E!E! E!E! E!E!
On Monday morning, Johnny took Kiley to the school to register her. Once he registered her, he found out that she needed to have a physical. So he stopped at the nearest pay phone and called Rampart General Hospital. He spoke to Dixie McCall to secure a time for Doctor Kelly Brackett to do her physical before lunch time.
This gave Johnny time to go shopping with his niece. She didn't have a lot of clothing with her, so they spent the day shopping. He needed clothing and school supplies for her. She enjoyed shopping for clothes and shoes. John was surprised at the amount of stuff needed and the cost of all the items and thought of his parents. On the reservation, this stuff cost more than it did in LA.
"Kiley, it's time to get your physical for school."
Johnny headed his Land Rover towards Rampart. He and Kiley were finally getting to know each other well. As he and Kiley were headed into the hospital, Johnny saw Squad 51 parked at the entrance. He was happy that he would be able to see his partner.
"Hey, Gage, hurt yourself?" Brice asked as Johnny walked up to the nurse's desk with Kiley.
"No, Brice, just have an appointment for my niece, Kiley, with Dr. Brackett." Johnny replied with a hand on Kiley's shoulder.
"So, this is the niece I have heard so much about," Dixie stated.
"Yeah, Kiley, this is Miss Dixie McCall and Mr. Brice."
"Hi," she said shyly as the other two greeted her.
"Dix, is Dr. Brackett running on time or do we have to wait? We're here for a school physical," Johnny explained.
"Right. Come on, to Treatment 1 to get set up," Dixie stated as Roy came out of Treatment 2.
"Hey, partner, hurt yourself?" Roy kidded.
"Very original, pal. Brice just asked the same question," John returned while following Dixie into the treatment room.
"You gonna be in next shift?" Roy asked, giving Brice a meaningful glance.
"If everything goes okay," John answered.