Chapter Four

Johnny spent the first of his three days off sleeping, or trying too. Unlike Roy, he had no one to wake him. Therefore, he woke up to the unpleasant sound of his phone ringing. Before picking it up, he glanced at the clock. It read 1515. Picking the phone up he said, "John Gage." Johnny inwardly groaned when he heard the LA County radio on the other end.

"We need a replacement at 8's." a voice informed him.

"Is everyone okay?" Johnny asked, initial feelings replaced with worry.

"Captain Stone's lineman got overheated in a fire and Rampart won't clear him for duty."

"Give me an hour, I'll be right over." Johnny hung up the phone. His plans for the day rapidly going down the drain. He decided not to worry about his 'twin', and deal with it tomorrow. He shoved all thoughts and emotions regarding that into a neat little box and locked it up, something he was good at. Changing gears, he rapidly dumped out his duffel bag from his last shift. His uniform unceremoniously fell to the ground in a heap. He threw some folded clean pants in the bag, socks, a few boxers, and his only pair of dry uniform shoes. He looked in his closet, "Damn" he cursed. There were only two uniform shirts hanging. "I'll have to go to the dry cleaners tomorrow." He grabbed the clean shirts and ran to his living room. The duffel he threw on the chair and the shirts he draped on the back. Returning to the pile of clothes, he pulled out the soaking pants and shoes and put them in the bathtub to dry. "Hopefully they'll dry quicker here." he muttered to himself. He hastily made a cup of coffee and ate some dry cereal. "Guess I won't get to the grocery store either." he grumbled. He chugged his remaining coffee, and put the empty bowl and cup into the sink. Grabbing his keys, duffel bag, and shirts, he walked out the door.

Captain Stone was waiting for Johnny in the station parking lot, they were out of service anyway. When the familiar white range rover pulled in, Stone smiled. "Hey Johnny" he greeted his friend when Johnny got out of his car.

"Morning." Johnny replied grabbing his duffel bag, shirts, helmet, and bunker gear out of the trunk. Squinting, Stone looked up at the sun which was getting ready to set.

"Morning?" he inquired, adding, "Let me take something." he reached his hands out and grabbed Johnny's bunker gear and helmet, looking at the 51 and the medic emblem.

"Morning for me, just got up. And be careful," Johnny grinned, "People will think you're getting soft." he said teasingly. Turning serious he asked, "Your guy okay Stoney?" concern lacing his voice.

"Yeah," Stone sighed, "I told him to break while he could, but the man's too stubborn for his own good. Guess I should have made it an order."

Johnny freed a hand to slap his friend on the back, "It happens, people forget their limits. I bet he won't forget again for a while. A trip to Rampart will do that for ya." They both chuckled as they walked into the station. As Johnny set up his gear on the wagon, the klaxons sounded. "Here we go." he said, shaking his fellow lineman's hand in greeting as the engine sped down the street.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Roy dialed his friends' number. John didn't pick up. He hung up the phone, deciding how worried he should be. He opted to not worry too much when Joann called dinner, he did promise himself to call again after dinner. His idea of grilling was squashed when they came home and the house smelled of lasagna. Roy wasn't upset though, Joann's lasagna was known throughout the neighborhood and fire department. It's recipe well sought after. He sat down looking at his family. Chris was holding a magazine above his plate. "Put that down." Joann said to him, "We're about to eat."

"But mom, it's an interview with the one and only Yogi Berra!" Chris argued.

Roy hid a smile, "Yogi Berra will be there after dinner." he said, hoping that would end it. It did, Chris huffed and put it down. There were soon sounds of content munching around the table. "What position is your coach putting you in tomorrow?" Roy asked his son.

"Shortstop, as usual. I like it, you have a lot of roles. Plus," he added proudly, "Coach said I'm the best grounder!" Joann and Roy shared a look, smiling at their son's excitement.

"Can't wait to see it champ." Roy replied with just the right amount of excitement. "Johnny said he might try and stop by."

"That would be awesome!" Chris said with a mouthful of lasagna, manners forgotten at the notion of baseball, his dad, and his Uncle.

"Close your mouth" Joann said sternly.

Chris closed his mouth and looked down, "Sorry." he muttered. He dared a glance up, no one was mad. He smiled again thinking about tomorrow.

Jenny however, was not about to be left out, "Mommy, can we see Uncle Johnny tomorrow? We have to draw together."

"Jenny, we're going on a field trip tomorrow, with your friends remember?" Joann said, hoping it would help. It didn't.

"But, Uncle Johnny won't be there." she dejectedly replied, appearing to literally deflate.

"Well, maybe we can invite Uncle Johnny for dinner. But," Joann said before she got her kid's hopes up, "We have to ask him." She said the last part a bit sternly. "Uncle Johnny is busy, he might say no."

After the kids were tucked into bed and the dishes washed, Roy and Joann sat on the couch, each with a glass of wine. Roy tried calling his friend again, but to no avail. "I hope I didn't speak out of turn with Johnny. I asked him yesterday and he said he was free and would stop by."

Joann put her hand on his shoulder in comfort. "I'm sure he will, you know how he is with our kids. He wouldn't disappoint them for the world."