I don't own "The Rockford Files" or "Emergency"; I'm just borrowing the characters. I'm not making any money from this story. I do own the story and the character of Lt. Shawna Williams. Any characters not mentioned on either show are pulled from thin air and belong solely to me. I would love feedback and crave it, so I know whether to keep working on this story.

Thanks, Karen

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Chapter 6

Johnny and Roy stepped off the elevator and saw Jim leave Shawna's room. They waited for a minute and watched his reaction when he came out. Jim leaned against the wall, ran his fingers through his hair, shook his head, and then turned the opposite way from Johnny and Roy.

"He didn't look too happy," Johnny said as they started toward Shawna's room.

"No, he didn't. I hope everything is OK between them."

"Gee thanks Roy. I want to try and get her back and you want things between them to be fine."

"Well, Johnny, if I remember correctly, she broke up with you when you told her you wanted her to quit the department."

"I know why she broke up with me."

"So you think things have changed? Johnny she got hurt doing her job and I don't think she is going to quit any time soon."

"She might with the right encouragement."

"Johnny," Roy stopped him short of the door, "you wanted Shawna to quit the department to keep from getting hurt. But she got hurt last night, so do you honestly think your feelings have changed at all?"

"Roy, maybe I can convince her to leave the department. Give us a chance at a life together."

"But what about your job? Your career is just as dangerous as hers and she hasn't asked you to leave the department. Do you really think it's fair to ask her to quit her job when you won't quit yours?" Johnny looked at Roy for a moment. Roy noticed the anger suddenly flash across Johnny's face.

"Roy, I have to try to get her back. I want her back. I need her back."

"What about what she wants and needs? Johnny, I'm your friend but I don't want to see her get hurt again because you can't handle the fact she is a cop."

"Just let me handle it Roy. Just let me handle it," Johnny said.

"Johnny, all I'm asking is not to hurt her again. If she is happy with Jim then maybe you should just say goodbye and let her go."

"Look Roy, why don't you just go get a cup of coffee and let me handle Shawna." Roy rolled his eyes.

"OK, Johnny. But remember you hurt her once, I just don't want you to hurt her again." He turned and walked toward the nurse's lounge where he found Jim nursing a cup of coffee. Meanwhile, Johnny was trying to get up the nerve to see Shawna. He'd been thinking about what Roy had said to him.

"Hello Jim. Mind if I join you?" Roy asked as he got a cup of coffee.

"Have a seat," Jim said as he motioned to the chair across from him.

"How's Shawna?"

"She's awake. She asked for me to wait before telling the doctor she's awake. I'm worried about her and your friend."

"What about her and Johnny?"

"She said they had a past together. Is it just that, a past?"

"I think as far as Shawna is concerned, it's just that, a past. Now, Johnny on the other hand, would like to get her back."

"So I figured from the look on his face last night. How long did they date?"

"They dated for about a year. They met when a fire broke out at the orphanage where Shawna was spending the day. She noticed there was a deaf child missing and ran toward the building to get him. Johnny and I stopped her but she still ran inside anyways."

"Sounds like Shawna."

"Well, we followed her inside and she found the little boy. I grabbed him and we started back out. They were behind me and part of the roof collapsed trapping Johnny. I didn't notice but she did. Shawna managed to get him out and she had to be checked at the hospital for smoke inhalation. She got a clean bill of health once we got her to Rampart."

"What's Rampart?"

"The hospital we work with in Los Angeles." Johnny had been standing outside of Shawna's room for about ten minutes when he finally decided to go in and see her. He gently knocked on the door and then stuck his head inside.

"Hi Shawna. Can I come in?" Johnny asked and smiled his lopsided smile Shawna always loved.

"Come in Johnny," she said as she wiped the last of the tears from her eyes.

"Are you ok?" he asked when he noticed her red, swollen eyes.

"Honestly, no. I'm in love with Jim and then you come back into my life unexpectedly."

"Oh," he whispered.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm glad you were at the right place at the right time, but couldn't you have just gone on your way when you found out I was going to be fine?"

"Shawna, I know I hurt you once before when I said I wanted you to quit your job, but I just didn't want to see you get hurt."

"Johnny, it's not your decision what I do for a living. If you'd wanted to talk to me about my job instead of telling me to quit, I might have listened."

"But you wouldn't have quit, would you?"

"No. I love being a police officer and I have been a cop since I was 18. I've been a cop for 18 years Johnny. I can't just quit."

"I understand."

"Do you really? Imagine if the tables were turned. You got hurt and I told you to quit the department. I don't like you taking the chances you take, always running into a burning building first, always being the last one out. How would you feel?" He looked out the window and thought about what she'd just asked him.

"I wouldn't like it."

"I didn't like it. The only person who gives me orders is my boss and no one else."

"How does Jim feel about your job?"

"He's like you, he worries but he knows I'm happy and he hasn't really said anything."

"Are you two serious?"

"I think so but after all of this, I really don't know. He thinks I want you back."

"Do you?"

"Honestly, Johnny, I loved what we had but I love what I have with Jim. I'm just confused and I don't want to get hurt again. Plus, I don't want to hurt either of you."

"OK. Listen, I'll let you get some sleep. Can I come back later and see you?"

"I'd like that."

"Good. I'll see you later." He leaned down, kissed her on the forehead, and then left to go find Roy. He walked into the nurse's lounge and saw Roy talking with Jim.

"Hi Johnny." Roy spoke when he saw his friend walk into the room.

"Hello. Jim can I talk to you for a minute?"

"I'll give you two some time alone," Roy said as he started to stand and leave.

"Roy, you don't have to leave."

"Johnny's right. You don't have to leave," Jim said as he got up for a refill. "What can I do for you Johnny?" Jim asked as he returned to the table and gave Johnny a 'why the hell are you even here' look.

"Jim, I'd like to talk to you about Shawna."

"What about Shawna?" Jim asked defensively.

"I'd like another chance with Shawna."

"You what?" Jim asked with anger in his voice. He knew he needed to keep his temper under control so he got up and walked over to the window. "You hurt her once before. What makes you think I would let you do it again? You shouldn't even be here."

"And you should?" Johnny asked raising his voice; luckily it was just the three of them in the room.

"Gentlemen I think you both need to calm down," Roy suggested to the two men.

"I'll calm down when Johnny leaves. Shawna doesn't need to be upset right now. So I'm going to ask both of you to leave."

"Johnny, I think he has a point. We should go." Roy suggested as he stood and tried to get his partner to follow him.

"I'm not leaving." Johnny said as he refused to leave.

"Yes, I think you are going to leave," Jim said as he grabbed Johnny by the arm. Roy didn't see who started the fight but he was suddenly watching his best friend and a total stranger fighting over a woman they both loved.