Chapter 21

It was going into the third day since the accident and there was no marked improvement, the only positive was that she didn't seem to be getting any worse either. She was still on the ventilator, it was breathing for her. The antibiotics were not working in treating the infection. She had not regained consciousness since the surgery.

The other members of her family had arrived. When they all met, it became very apparent that they there was no division amongst themselves due to the many differences between each family. Joe's family was Mennonite and of course her father's family was Lakota Sioux. They were also Christian but embraced many of the old ways and traditions of the tribe as well.

Joe had already informed the family about her condition and details as to what had actually happened. He did his best to answer all of the many questions everyone had. Dixie tried to give everyone's mind a brief break by asking her own questions about what A.J. was like when she was younger.

"Was she ever girly?" Asked Dixie with her famous smile.

"Yes, actually she was such a little princess. Until her father, gave her that little fire helmet!" Her mom feigned a look of disgust towards her husband. She couldn't have been more proud of her little Angel-A.

"So I am guessing that in many of her interests, she was probably the only girl?"

"She broke tradition in high school. Girls could only take home economics, not shop class. Well she changed all of that. She begged and pleaded her case, till they gave in." Her father remembered it very well, as if it were yesterday. "From about 10 years old, she would help me on construction jobs, after school and in the summer time. She could keep up with the men working for me. In fact, they like to joke that she is more graceful up on the roof then on the ground!"

He always had counted his blessings in this life. Where they lived in Pennsylvania was very rural, all of it farm land and small towns. Their family had encountered some prejudice there but not as much as most people would think. The Mennonites and Amish were a large part of the population and they were more accepting than he had imagined. Of course in school, there were those few kids who tried to tear her down. She had learned from a young age that there would be ones like that no matter where she was. They had tried to instill in her that she was beautiful and special, blessed to have experience two different ways of living.

Her parents were the first ones of the family to see her. Johnny was at his usual post, when they walked in. As they introduced themselves, he could see how much she resembled both of them. Her father was taller than he was. His black hair cascading down his back, pulled back into a pony tail. Gage felt a twinge of jealousy; his hair had been much the same way until he joined the department. His skin was several shades darker than Johnny's, to most people he would come across as very imposing. However he could see the softness in his dark brown eyes as he caressed his little girl's still hand.

Her mother was gorgeous, her eyes a Kelly Green, her hair a lovely blend of vivid red and copper. She was also not very tall, something else that A.J. had inherited from her mother. Her skin was porcelain, creamy white. Her eyes right now had more in common with Gage, they also were raw and surrounded by dark circles.

"My daughter has spoken to me a great deal about you." Her eyes lit up temporarily. "We are grateful that out here, she has Joe to watch out for her. However, having you in her life has brought a sense of joy and belonging. That is something that hasn't always come easy for her." She started to cry again.

"Mrs. Whitewolf...." He didn't quite know what to say.

"Call me Ruth, Mrs. Whitewolf is my mother-in-law!" That brought forth a quiet chuckle.

"It is probably more that she has given those things to me. I don't have a large family. She has made it easier for me to embrace both of my heritages. I love her a great deal." He was surprised at how easy it was for him to open up to her....like mother like daughter.

"Mr. Gage, if I may ask you what reservation did you grow up on?" Her father was still holding her hand as he turned to speak to Johnny.

"Fort Peck in Montana....and please call me Johnny, Mr. Whitewolf."

"Only if you promise to call me Bill." He instantly saw what his daughter loved about this man. He also saw a lot of himself in him too. He looked forward to getting to know him, once his daughter was well again.

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The other men had to report back to duty at the end of the forth day since Wolfie and Brice were air lifted out of the canyon. Roy wanted to stay with Johnny; he hadn't even been home much in the last four days. However Johnny insisted that he should go back and work the shift and then spend some time with Jo and the kids.

"Johnny, Jo understands, she told me to stay here with you, give you whatever you need." His wife considered Johnny to be like a little brother and an uncle to the children.

"Roy, you have done so much already. I don't know what I would have done these last few days with out you. Her family is here now, I'll be fine."

"I don't know...."

Captain Stanley had just walked up to them; he was here to visit with her, when he overheard the conversation. "Look Roy, how about a compromise. You work the shift and whenever you want to, if there isn't any calls, you can be 10-8 here at Rampart. Then it will make you feel better and you can keep us updated at the station. Does that sound like a deal?" Hank was loved by his men for this very reason. He was a fair minded, compassionate Captain who would do anything for the men he commanded.

"Alright Cap., thanks!" Roy was still feeling uneasy about the situation. What if the worst happened and he wasn't here for his partner?

Ginger one of the RN's was with the only one with A.J. when Gage and DeSoto was speaking with their Captain. She was doing routine tests to see if there was any improvement or deterioration in her condition.

Then suddenly the alarms on the monitor began to wail. She looked up startled by what she saw, when she read the screen, it was V Tach for a moment, then flatline. She pushed the button to get help in the room fast, Code Blue. Then she lowered the bed and began to do CPR.

Dr. Brackett, Dixie and two other nurses were sprinting, pushing the crash cart of medications, along with the defibrillator. All three men in the hallway turned to see where the commotion was all about. An internal alarm told Johnny what was happening before he even saw them.

He was in the room seconds after the last nurse had come in. There his worst nightmare was unfolding. The staff was doing CPR and Brackett was holding the paddles waiting for the charge to build up in the machine. After the first shock, there was still nothing. The flurry of medications was put in her IV line and directly into her chest and still the alarms were screeching.

Roy had managed to squeeze in the door, next to his best friend. Johnny was plastered against the wall, saying nothing. His body was ridged and his eyes fixed, unable to look away. He kept his hand on his arm, gripping it in vain, Johnny had no sensation that he was even there.

Several more shocks were sent pulsing through her heart and more medication administered. Nothing was working and finally all activity stopped. Dixie and Kel found Johnny's gaze, tears in their own eyes.

"Time of death; 21:45."

OK, everyone take a deep breath. I PROMISE that you WILL WANT to read the next chapter, I swear!