Just a little Fruity

These good fellows don't belong to me but I promise when I'd done to pick um up, dust um off and with a kiss on the cheek return them safely home.

"Murder may pass unpunished for a time. But tardy justice will o'ertake the crime." John Dryden.

Thank you so much! for the support of the last chapter. Now, back to the business at hand. This one is a longer chapter but there's a lot to be done to find our friends before they find Johnny again.

Chapter 17

Mike backed the engine into the bay as they returned from the ER. The trip had been silent as they all tried to sort through in their minds what had happened this morning. It was hard enough that Johnny was sick and almost died but being poisoned? And then by the person who claimed to love him? That in itself was unfathomable. Then there was the healing ceremony they had all participated in for Johnny. Everyone knew and loved Kanda by now having gotten to know her since she returned to Johnny's life. They spent time with her at the station, the ranch for cookouts and she even followed Johnny on some camping trips. She had been immediately adopted into the A-shift family. But this was their first exposure to a Native American ceremony and a brief glimpse into the culture of Johnny's past. It had affected them all, each in their own way. With all the turmoil, anger, and sadness they left Rampart with a little peace in their souls.

Once parked Hank headed to his office to update the Chief and call in a replacement for Gage. Marco and Chet moved to the dayroom to find some lunch while Mike headed straight to the phone. Marco worked on making some coffee because he knew Roy would need some after this crazy morning.

Mike dialed the phone. "Hey Dave. It's Mike Stoker. Yea. Well remember how you owe me that favor?"

He pulled out the picture he took from Johnny's apartment, one of him and Karen together. "I need you to find someone for me. Yea, I got a picture for you and an address. Dave? It's an emergency so call me right away when you find anything out."

He hung up the phone and turned to find two sets of eyes staring at him. "What?"

Marco narrowed his eyes, "What are you up to?"

"Just trying to help find Karen is all," he said and headed to the stove to pour some coffee that Marco had heated up for them.

Marco looked at Chet who just shrugged. They sat down at the table with him, something was up and they knew the silent Mike wouldn't share easily.

They kept staring at him until he was annoyed enough to respond, "Look, it's just an old friend that owes me a favor and he's a pro at tracking down people." He shrugged, "I thought he could help."

Marco and Chet couldn't argue with that. Just the thought of what Karen had done to their friend sickened them. Someone had better find her and fast.

Roy stood with Kanda in the ICU waiting room after helping to get Johnny settled in. He was resting quietly and although he was still intubated from the ER he was starting to respond to some commands. Joe Early was very pleased with his progress.

"I've got to get back to the station but he seems to have stabilized now," Roy told Kanda. "I'll be back first thing in the morning or will pop in if I get a run by here. You know how to reach me if anything happens right?"

"Yea, I know how to hunt you down by now," she chuckled. "Thanks."

He watched her head to Johnny's room and pushed the elevator button. When it opened there were two police officers on it who stepped off. It was Mike and Bobby from the day before at Johnny's apartment.

"Roy, how's Johnny doing?" Satter asked.

"It was touch and go for a while but he's stabilized now. They just moved him to ICU. You picked her up right?"

He shook his head. It killed him that she was right there yesterday, in his reach and now… "She's gone Roy. Apartment is cleaned out except for furniture."

He wanted to scream. "You mean she's still out there?"

Ferrell nodded, "She left nothing for us to go on. Until Johnny can answer some questions she's out of our reach. We just don't have enough information right now."

"We ran some prints and there's nothing on her, so no previous record. We did find another set of prints in the apartment and came up with a name of Michael Walker. Does it ring a bell?"

Roy tried to think, "No. Johnny only mentioned one time that she had three or four brothers but that's all I know."

"Well this guy has a record as long as your arm. We're tyring to find him now." Satter said.

"What about until then? Johnny's a sitting target," he said as he decided that now he wasn't going anywhere. Johnny was unable to defend himself and now Kanda was in the room with him. He couldn't let anything happen to her.

"We have another officer on the way. He will stay posted here with Johnny for now."

That made Roy feel better since the person that worked so hard to kill him was still on the loose. But why? They didn't even know her. What connection did she have with Johnny to make her want to commit murder?

"Thanks guys," Roy said.

"Let us know when he wakes up. Anything he can tell us will help out."

Roy nodded and entered the elevator to head back to the station.

That afternoon Michael sat and ate his lunch. "Will you stop pacing and sit down and eat," he barked at her.

"How the hell can you eat? We have to get out of here." Karen continued her pacing.

"You don't even know if anything's even wrong," he said through a mouthful of food.

"Fine, I'll just find out." She picked up the phone on the kitchen counter and dialed the station.

Hank wandered into the kitchen just as the phone rang.

"Station 51. Captain Hank Stanley."

"Yea, is uh, Johnny there?"

Hank froze and shot a glance to the table as he snapped his fingers to catch their attention.

"Sure is, can I ask who's calling?" Then putting his hand over the mouth piece, "It's her, get the police on the office phone." Mike stayed by Hank while the other two ran to his office.

"Just a friend," Karen said.

"Well hold on and I'll get him for you," Hank lied.

"Thanks," she replied sweetly.

Chet came around the corner at a run, "They said keep her on the line as long as possible Cap."

Hank kept his hand over the phone so she couldn't hear them. He was worried she would finally hang up if he kept her on hold for too long. "Still there?" He finally said.

Karen hesitated, "Is Johnny there?"

"Sorry Miss, he's out back right now. If you can hold he'll be right here."

Something wasn't right and she quickly hung up.

"Damn," Hank said. "She hung up." He slammed down the phone and headed to his office. The others waited anxiously in the dayroom. When Hank came back he was pounced upon with questions.

"Hold it, just hold it," he waved his hand at the onslaught of questions. "They're trying to trace the number before she hung up. But now they're sure she suspects something is up. They've put an officer at Rampart to guard Johnny until she's found. Now, did Johnny ever say anything about her that could help us find her?"

They all shook their heads. No, nothing. Just the general, 'hey Johnny has a girlfriend' chat and Chet's routine teasing but they really didn't know anything about her. None of them had even met her yet. He had seemed very happy but Johnny didn't share a lot about who he was dating typically. It was always vague and general things.

Roy stepped out of the Squad and walked into the day room to find everyone sitting at the table.

"Roy," Hank said. "Dwyer's coming in. Should be here shortly." He watched the medic pour some coffee and debated on telling him about the phone call.

"The police came by, said Karen had already skipped out of the apartment," Roy said as he sat down with them. He realized everyone was looking at each other then at him. "Okay, what gives?"

Hank knew he had to tell him, "We got a call a few minutes ago. It was Karen looking for Johnny."

Roy almost dropped his mug, "What?"

"The police are trying to trace the number now. They're supposed to let us know if they find anything out. We pretended like he was here until she finally hung up."

Roy couldn't believe she had the gall to call around and find him. "The officers at the hospital said they think she has a brother named Michael. They're gonna try and track him down."

Everyone nodded. Any lead was better than no lead and Mike made note of this one also.

While her big oaf of a brother continued to eat Karen followed a hunch and called the emergency room of Rampart next checking for a patient by the name of John Gage. Yes the receptionist confirmed. He was in critical condition in the ICU. She smiled. So, they were trying to play a game with her. But then she frowned, that meant that everyone now knew.

"Michael it's time to go. They're on to us."

"Not so fast little sister. They might know about you but they don't know about me and I don't plan on leaving this crappy town until I'm done with what we came to do." He put his leftovers in the trash and threw the plate into the sink. "While you've been playing little homemaker and girl friend I've been busy. Did I tell you about my job?"

Karen smiled as Michael told her where he was working. This might still work after all.

Kanda had not left Johnny's bedside all night. His vitals were stable and they had removed the breathing tube a few hours before. Now they just waited for him to wake up.

"Kanda?" His voice very thick and hoarse.

She stood up and smiled, "Hey there little brother."

He reached up and rubbed his head, "What happened?"

"It's a long story TeeTonka but you're gonna be alright now. How do you feel?" She asked as she rubbed his arm.

"Feel like I fell through a building," he glanced around.

She nodded, "Sorry you've already been there done that you know."

He smiled, "Where's Karen?"

She swallowed hard. She had hoped that his memory loss included her. "She's not here right now. What was the last thing that you remember?"

He closed his eyes and thought. "I remember you at my place," he paused. Then he remembered more. "Oh God Kanda, I'm so sorry." He was trying to sit up in the bed.

"Shh, Johnny. It's alright. What else do you remember?" She sat down on the bed next to him. He was so weak there was no way he could sit up right now anyway.

"I went to work and there was a guy on the crane that's all I remember."

"Well you blacked out during the rescue. Roy brought you in to the ER. You've been really sick. We almost lost you."

"Lost me? From passing out?" Big sisters were known for their expertise in exaggerating.

"You had a seizure and fell off the crane. Roy said your heart was beating so fast he had to shock you twice then you stopped breathing. But when he got you to the ER your heart stopped." Just recalling the events was heart wrenching to her.

He looked lost, "I don't understand."

She didn't know how to tell him and gave a big sigh when Roy walked through the door at that moment.

"Hey partner you look better this morning," Roy said. It had been a long rest of the shift and he was glad to be off work and back checking on his friend.

Johnny rubbed his chest, "So you did this to me?" He said with raised eyebrows.

"Well, leave it to you to cause all the excitement for the day." He pulled up a chair and sat down by his bed.

"Johnny and I were just talking about what he remembered last. His memories seem to be very choppy at best." She knew Roy would know what to do.

Roy leaned on the edge of his seat, "Johnny, we're looking for Karen. Do you know where she might be?"

"If she's not at home then usually she's at work," he said tiredly.

Roy stood up, "Where does she work Johnny?"

Johnny drifted to sleep but Roy wanted to know more, "Come on Junior, where does she work." He nudged him again.

"Uh Mark Chemical something, now go away." He rolled to his side and was back to sleep.

Kanda and Roy looked at each other. Another piece to the puzzle. They left the room together to tell the officer sitting outside who then radioed the information in to the station.

Now they knew who she was, that she had a brother with a criminal record and where she worked. Roy suspected she was still in town. Just waiting until she could get access to him again. He was grateful that Johnny didn't press for more details about his illness just yet. He wasn't sure how he was going to handle it and that meant for the teller and the hearer of the news. His swiss cheese memories might work to their advantage this time without Karen at his side to manipulate them to her advantage.

The next day Johnny had continued to improve and was moved to a regular room. The officer remained outside his door with Kanda and Roy taking turns checking on him between her work and him having Jenny and Chris. Sleeping still comprised most of his time but questions were beginning to fill his mind now. Everyone was asking questions about Karen but not telling him anything. They were all kind, considerate, caring and very vague. He didn't press the issue right now he was still very weak and even though Early said that was to be expected he hated being asleep all the time. He decided that when Kanda or Roy came back he was going to find out exactly what was going on.

Around dinner time Roy came by to check on him while the kids were at a playdate. "Hey partner, just wanted to check on ya real quick. Feeling any better?"

"Yea, just tired still but sounds like thats normal for what I've been through."

Roy nodded, "Yea."

"Roy?"

Roy nodded his head in anticipation of the question.

"What exactly have I been through. I'm tired of the vague questions about Karen and want to know why she hasn't been here to see me. Do you know why?"

Roy leaned on his bed, "Johnny you've been sick for over three weeks now whether you remember it or not. When I brought you to the ER they did a tox screen on you." He paused.

"Someone drugged me?"

Roy shook his head slightly, "No Junior, you were being poisoned. They found a large amount of cyanide in your system. It send you into cardiovascular collapse."

Johnny paled slightly, "Poison?"

"I'm sorry Johnny. I know this is really hard to hear but it was Karen."

A flash of anger shot through him, "There's no way."

"Johnny, she disappeared from her apartment after we brought you in. She cleaned out the place. You know that morning of the accident you drank coffee on the way to work. It tested positive for cyanide." Roy waited for it all to sink in. His heart went out to his friend as the pain of her betrayal shot through him like an arrow on fire.

Yes, he remembered the coffee and how she tried to take it away from him. He rolled over, away from Roy and tuned out the world.

"Johnny. We're going to find her."

It was too much and Roy knew it could tear his friend apart. But he knew that Johnny needed time to process and would be ready to talk again later. He expected the anger and actually expected more in the future but he would do everything in his power to help get him through the pain. He sat in the chair by his bed and just wanted to be there for the man that was like a brother to him. After a short time the sounds of soft snoring filled the room and Roy knew he was finally asleep. He stepped out to the nurse's station and told Sue, his nurse for the shift, what happened and to keep a close eye on him. He would be back in the morning.

Michael left the stupid day job he worked at occasionally and hated to head to his night shift job. The job that mattered in more ways than one. The time was almost near as he tucked his pistol into his coat pocket. He was almost giddy with excitement. They had called and found out that Gage had been moved into a regular room today which meant easier access to him. He wanted to hit soon before he could get his strength back and before the cops found them.

Karen was tying up loose ends then would be by to pick him as soon as he called. It was all set up. They had to abandon his apartment and find a safe hideout since the police had found his apartment. How they figured that one out so quick he didn't know but thankfully him and Karen weren't home at the time.

Mike Stoker drove his truck down the streets of Carson as he followed the man that his friend found for him. Michael had been easy to find as he was clumsy and all over the place. After picking up Chet they found him at a fast food restaurant where he was working. Mike was sure he would go straight home and thus lead them to Karen.

"Mike this is crazy man, we have to call the police," Chet said as they followed discreetly behind the old truck.

"For what Chet? They have nothing to arrest him for, they're looking for Karen. Right now he's just a guy getting off work. If we call the police they will rush him and scare him off then we'll never know. But I tell ya, if we follow him he'll lead us to Karen and as soon as he does we will leave and call the police."

Mike had no intention of letting this guy and his sister get away after what they did to Johnny.

Since Roy's divorce he had been busy on his off days with the kids and while Johnny loved Jenny and Chris he knew that Roy needed daddy time with them alone sometimes. Mike and Johnny had been doing more things together on days off in the last few months. Both being bachelors they would watch games together, occasionally survey the bars and met up almost every weekend at the track to run. He didn't normally have a lot to say but when someone messed with his friends the quiet Mike didn't just sit around.

"Okay fine," Chet whined.

"Quite whining it's not like you're missing a hot date or something tonight," Mike said as he turned another corner. He frowned as this route was looking more and more familiar.

"Funny," Chet said, then paused for a moment as he was seeing the same thing Mike was. "I hope he's not going where I think he's going."

"This isn't good," Mike said as he followed the beat up pickup truck into the parking lot of Rampart General Hospital.