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.

"Once more unto the breach dear friends, once more." Henry V.

Chapter 20

Roy continued the compressions on Mike while Kel put the endotrachael tube in his airway. Handing the bag to a nurse she began giving him the ventilations he needed. Another nurse quickly placed an IV and pushed the medications as they were ordered by Brackett and Morton.

"Sarah, get me an OR right now and six units of blood," Kel barked then looked to Roy, "Let's see what we got."

Roy stopped the compressions and they watched the monitor at his side, he was in V-fib. "Shock him," Kel ordered. Morton turned on the paddles and applied the gel.

"Charging…1…2…3…4. CLEAR!" Mike's body arched with the shock to his heart.

Roy moved back as they waited. Sinus rhythm. He then shifted his position to hold the pressure dressing harder on his friend. It was already saturated with blood again.

"Let's move him now," Kel ordered. The orderlies picked him up and placed him on the gurney. Roy started to follow him down the hall until Kel stopped him, "Roy, you need to go to check on Johnny."

A flash of panic went across his face.

"No, he didn't get hurt but they are both in a state of shock and seeing that you're not hurt is more important than you standing outside an OR right now. I'll come right down and give you report as soon as I know something."

"Does he have a chance?" Chet asked quietly.

"I don't know Chet, he's lost a lot of blood but we'll do everything we can."

They watched the doctor disappear down the hall along with their friend, who they silently prayed they would see again. Without speaking they turned and headed in the other direction to check on Johnny and Kanda. Roy was anxious to make sure that he was okay. Sure Brackett said Johnny was fine but all he could picture was Johnny covered in blood. That image made him walk faster until Chet was jogging to keep up with him.

He pushed the door open and found the room empty. The body of the officer was covered with a sheet but no one else was there. Running out to the desk he was immediately stopped by the charge nurse, "Roy, he's alright. He wasn't injured, slow down."

"Where are they?" He asked.

"They moved them to another floor for security reasons. I'll take you."

They followed her to the stairwell, then down two floors. When they emerged she took them onto a unit that wasn't currently opened. Two police officers guarded the door. She showed them her badge and explained who the two men were. Moving past the doors she pointed to a room.

Opening the door he was immediately confronted by Kanda, "Roy, thank God you're alright."

He nodded to her as he looked around the room, "Johnny? Is he alright?"

"He's taking a shower. He was covered in blood." She looked up to see Chet but a new fear shot through her as she saw blood all over Roy. Her breath quickened, "Please tell me that's not yours."

For the first time he looked down at his shirt and jeans that were wet with Mike's blood. "No, I'm okay. It's not mine." Suddenly a shower sounded very good to him too.

Chet patted Roy on the shoulder, "I'm gonna go call Cap and Marco and let um know what happened."

"Thanks Chet, tell them we'll wait here until Brackett comes back," Roy told him.

With a nod of his head Chet headed back out to the payphone he saw in the hallway.

Johnny emerged from the bathroom barefoot in street clothes, "Whose blood is it?" He had a feeling he already knew but it all happened so fast when Mike rushed in. The man's finger was already pulling back on the gun when Mike went straight for him.

"Johnny, Mike got shot. They've taken him to surgery now."

Johnny had been through so many emotions in the last weeks and this was the final straw. He couldn't take it anymore. Taking his arm he slammed it across the nightstand in the room sending everything on it crashing to the floor. The vase of flowers shattered all over and everyone jumped back to avoid the flying glass.

"Johnny," Roy said as he walked towards him. He could see the turmoil and anger brewing.

Johnny stopped and pointed his finger, "Stay away from me Roy. I've managed to hurt almost everyone around me over a girlfriend. First you and Kanda, now Mike. I'm locked away like a criminal so I must have done something wrong!" He was yelling at them now.

Roy took another step forward to attempt to calm his partner down but felt Kanda hold him back, "He's earned this Roy, let him get it out."

Johnny paced back and forth, just shy of the glass on the floor. "How could I have been so blind? Everyone else could see it but I couldn't. I was too stupid to see what she was doing to me and to you. He tried to tell me but I was ready to send him to jail over it." At this point it was apparent that he wasn't talking to anyone in particular. "God, she said she loved me. She loved doing everything with me. And a great cook. Oh yea that was the damn secret ingredient! From the beginning. Nothing about it was real." He turned to them suddenly, "Was it?"

Kanda didn't move but began speaking to him in Lakota. Roy didn't understand what she said but her changing to their native language obviously caught Johnny's attention as he listened to her soft voice. She spoke it slowly, carefully as Johnny wasn't as familiar with the language as she was. In the last year she had been teaching him but her skill at it still far exceeded his.

"Her poison made you blind TeeTonka. She needed you separated from anyone that cared about you, anyone that could protect you. It was her that hurt those around you, not you."

He slowed down as she spoke, her voice soothing and reassuring. She continued, seeing she had his attention. "The only reason she didn't win was because she was wrong. You were surrounded by people who love and care for you. It was their love that helped to heal you." She took a step towards him, "Did you feel it?"

"Huh," he answered in Lakota to her. Yes.

She took another step, "Your eyes are open and clear now to see that it was she that deceived and hurt, not you."

Understanding came across his eyes as he let the guilt fall away. "Huh." Yes.

Another step and she was face to face with him and placed her hand over his heart, "Wakan Takan kici un Misun." (May the Great Spirit bless you my little brother). She reached out to hug him; to pull his pain from him and offer her strength.

Roy saw a smile emerge on his friends face. "You can't get rid of us that easy Junior," Roy added.

Johnny pulled back from her, suddenly keenly aware of Roy in the room and the mess that he made. "Sorry," he said as he tried to dry his face off without being too obvious.

"Hey if you can't yell at your friends and family then who can you yell at?" Kanda said with a smile.

Johnny smiled back as Chet came back in the room, almost like his old self before he waved them off and went back into the bathroom. Roy took Kanda by the hand and swung her around to face him, "That was amazing. You're amazing. Have I ever told you that?"

Chet cleared his throat, once again feeling like his presence had been forgotten. Roy and Kanda laughed at his discomfort. "Let's get this cleaned up before some else gets hurt," Roy said.

Kanda bent down and started picking up the fallen items on the floor, including the glass. Roy and Chet helped and for a while there was silence.

Johnny stuck his head out the door, "Is it safe to come out yet?"

Roy rolled his eyes at Johnny's implication, "Of course. We're just cleaning up the mess that you made."

"Sorry about that," he said sheepishly.

"It's okay, no problem. But next time I have dorm duty you can clean up your own mess."

Johnny laughed knowing that Roy would do exactly that.

Hank was stretched out in the little wooden, pretty much uncomfortable, chair. His long legs crossed and his hands interlocked behind his head as he surveyed the room before him. Chet was sleeping in the hospital bed while Marco had taken up residence in a chair with his head on the end of the bed. He was in competition with Chet's snoring.

Johnny and Roy were sitting on the floor, legs stretched out as they leaned against the wall. Both men were still awake talking quietly to each other. Hank wasn't trying to eavesdrop but in the silence of the darkened room he could make out the friendly banter between the two friends. He suspected it had been a while since they had time to just sit and talk.

Kanda was the one he watched, as she laid in the floor, sleeping with her head on Roy's legs. He hadn't spent a lot of time with her although he did see her come by the station almost weekly bringing the crew goodies to snack on or an occasional meal so they didn't have to cook. She was almost finished with medical school, he did know that much, but she had shown a side of herself that had surprised them all this week. The healing ceremony was something that he didn't think he would ever forget. She was now so much a part of the A-shift family that Hank couldn't believe that it was only a little over a year ago that she entered back into Johnny's life.

He smiled and took a long deep breath. This was, as quoted by Henry V, his own little band of brothers and yes, once more unto the breach dear friends, once more. It was his own firehouse family that had overcome great obstacles over the years despite all odds and he was proud of them, as usual. He was, of course, very worried about Mike but something inside told him that they would all be back to running the engine and squad together soon, all of them.

"I think I've told them all I know. Funny when I think back I actually knew very little about her," Johnny said quietly.

"That's how she wanted it," Roy told him.

Johnny looked down at Kanda, "Think I'm gonna spend my two weeks off out at her place."

"Figured you would."

"Bring the kids out and keep me company," Johnny suggested.

Roy smiled, "We'll come visit but I think you'll have plenty to keep you entertained out there."

Johnny nodded, "Yea, it's a great place isn't it."

"Jenny wants to make you a treat and bring it out," Roy added.

He laughed, "Please no cookies!" He then quickly looked around to see if he had woken anyone up. Chet's resounding snoring reassured him.

"You vowing off cookies? Now I've seen everything Junior."

"Hey, it's a well deserved paranoia thank you very much."

This time Roy had to laugh along with him, "Okay, I'll give you that one."

"Darn right you'll give me that one. Cookies. Hope I don't see a cookie for a long time partner." He thought for a minute, "How are we going to find her?"

Roy knew that Johnny had every reason to be worried, "I don't know Junior but somehow we will."

Brackett came down to the secured wing and stood outside the door of the men waiting on news. He pushed the door opened and was surprised to find the whole A-shift family in the room waiting. He shook his head and smiled at his own stupidity, of course they would all be here.

Roy patted Kanda on the shoulder to wake her up. Johnny stood up with Hank and woke up Marco and Chet.

"Doc?" Roy asked with apprehension. It had been a long surgery for the engineer.

"Well, it was rough on him but we got the bleeding stopped. The bullet had hit a major artery and that's what caused so much blood loss. He's stabilized and they're moving him to the ICU now." He shook his head, "If it had happened anywhere outside this building he would have died." He smiled at the men, "Nothing like having a full hospital team at your side right when you collapse."

"So he'll be alright doc?" Hank asked.

"Yea, he has some recovery to go but he should be fine. You can see him in about an hour, for just a few minutes."

Hank stepped forward and extended his hand. "Thanks doc, you seem to be coming to our rescue a lot recently."

"That's your quota for the month, so behave now."

A feeling of relief went through the room and they were grateful that they were together. The unspoken bond between the crew was stronger than most would ever imagine. They spent the next hour talking and enjoying the family fellowship. For this moment in time Johnny was healed and safe, Mike made it through surgery and Michael was in custody.

They chose to put Karen aside until another moment. No one would forget she was still out there but for right now, this moment belonged to them.

An hour later they all moved up to the ICU together with a complimentary police escort. Johnny almost laughed. Like anyone would get past this crew to him right now.

"Okay men, 1 minute visit then out. Mikes gotta rest and we all need to get home and sleep." Hank looked at his watch. "That's a whole 5 hours of sleep before our shift starts."

Nodding their weary and tired understanding of their Captains orders they went in as groups of two to check on their friend.

Marco and Roy went first. Mike was still intubated but opened his eyes when he heard their voices. Roy could see the worry in his eyes. "You're gonna be alright pally, just relax." Mike shook his head slightly, his breathing quickened and he reached up to touch Roy. Now Roy understood, "Johnny is fine Mike and they have Michael in custody."

Mike seemed to relax with that as he closed his eyes.

"Rest easy pally, you did good," Marco told him with a big grin.

Chet and Johnny came in next. Mike again woke up for them and it was obvious he was glad to see Johnny.

"I can't believe what you did for me Mike." Johnny shook his head, "When you're better remind me to kick your butt."

Mike tried to smile around the tube.

Chet patted his arm, "Don't worry Mike, I'll keep Big Red shined up for ya."

Mike shot a look to Johnny.

Johnny laughed, "Don't worry Mike. I'll make sure he doesn't hurt her."

"Hey! That's not funny." Chet complained.

Last to come in was Hank. He had worked with the engineer for several years now and there was something about a Captain and his engineer. A bond that was different from his friendship with all the other men. He had a lot of respect for the man and his devotion to his job. And now he was just endlessly grateful that he would get to come back to his job after he healed up.

Mike looked up and wondered for a moment how much trouble he would be in over all this mess today. But his Captain gave him a reassuring smile and squeeze on the shoulder and it seemed to be the last gesture he needed to finally close his eyes and rest for the night.