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

Chapter 7

Roy was stunned when he saw Johnny and Jim fighting over the one woman who they were both in love with. He honestly didn't know if he should try and break up the fight or just let them get it out of their system. He figured he'd let them fight it out. Johnny hit Jim with a left hook and split his lip. Jim then retaliated by hitting Johnny with a hard right and giving him what was sure to be a very nice shiner. The fight continued for several minutes each giving the other blows that would leave bruises, black eyes, and split lips. Roy finally stepped in when Jim hit Johnny one last time and almost knocked him out.

"OK you two that's enough!" Roy said as he stood between the two men. He helped Johnny up from the floor and grabbed the first aid kit just as a doctor walked into the lounge.

"What happened here?" he asked as he looked from Johnny to Jim and then to Roy.

"They had a slight disagreement," Roy said. "Can you take a look at him?" he asked as he nodded towards Jim.

"I'm fine," he said as he took one of the dish towels, wet it, and gently placed it against his split lip.

"How about you let me be the judge of that. Hear, take a seat," he ordered Jim.

"How's Johnny?" Jim asked as Roy was applying a couple of butterfly bandages to the cut on his forehead.

"I think he'll be OK. I'll take him downstairs to be checked out."

"Good idea. I think we all four will go downstairs so I can fix you up," the doctor said as he looked at Jim. "Let me guess what you two were fighting about. Or should I say who you were fighting about. Was it Shawna?"

"Why would you say that?" Johnny asked as Roy was applying the last bandage to his forehead.

"Because I've seen both of you visiting Shawna's room. So you both like her?"

"Yes, we do?" Jim said as the four of them walked toward the elevator which was away from Shawna's room. "Roy, I know you haven't seen Shawna so why don't you go see her while the doctor takes care of us."

"He's right Roy. She will wonder why you haven't been to see her," Johnny said as they waited for the elevator.

"And if she asks about you two?"

"You'd better tell her the truth because if she knows you lied to her she'll be mad," Johnny said feeling bad because he knew what Shawna's reaction would be.

"Great," Roy said as he blew out a breath and ran his fingers through his strawberry blonde hair.

"She trusts you Roy. You will be able to help keep her calm," Johnny said.

"I hope so. If I know Shawna, and I've been around her for a year or so, she won't like the fact you two were fighting over her. I think she'll call you both hard headed jerks," he said with a smile.

"I can hear Shawna saying those exact words," Jim said with a chuckle.

"Me too," Johnny said with a grin. Meanwhile, it was a little after noon when a nurse came into Shawna's room to get some vitals.

"Hello, Miss Williams. How are you feeling today?"

"I'm fine but will be doing better when I get out of here."

"Funny, a lot of our patients say the same thing except for the two morons who were fighting in the nurse's lounge."

"What two morons?"

"Two dark haired men. I think I've seen both of them visiting you."

"Oh no!" Shawna knew exactly who the two men were the nurse was talking about.

"Is everything OK Miss. Williams?" the nurse asked as she noted Shawna's blood pressure climbing.

"Not really."

"I'm going to get the doctor and let him know your blood pressure is rising."

"No it's not rising. I'm just angry at the moment. Look, I'll be fine just give me a few minutes." The nurse looked at Shawna, gave a slight shrug, turned and walked out of the room. Shawna lay her head back against the pillow, closed her eyes and let out a long sigh.

"Are you OK?" Roy asked softly not wanting to startle her.

"Hello Roy," she said but never opened her eyes.

"Are you OK?" he asked again as he walked over to her bed. "Do I need to go get a doctor?"

"No, I'm fine," she said and opened her eyes blinking hard to get rid of the tears forming there.

"How are Jim and Johnny?"

"They're fine. Why do you ask?"

"I heard about the fight in the nurse's lounge."

"Oh," he said not really knowing what to say.

"Roy, I know you don't want to get involved so I'm not even going to ask what the hell happened in the nurse's lounge," she said as she pushed the food tray away from the bed.

"Shawna please just relax."

"Roy, I am relaxed. Look, will you do me a favor?"

"Sure."

"Will you go and check on those two knuckle heads? I'm getting a headache and I really don't feel like having company right now."

"OK. I'll be back in a few minutes." Shawna shook her head as Roy turned to leave. She waited a few minutes, got out of bed, got dressed and left the hospital before anyone even knew she was gone.

"Shawna, the guys are getting a few stitches," Roy said as he walked back into the room. "Shawna?" He turned, knocked on the bathroom door, and when no one answered, he opened the door and found nothing. "Damn it."

"Is there a problem, sir?" the nurse asked when she walked into the room.

"Yes. Ms. Williams is gone."

"Gone?"

"Yes, gone. Look, you notify her doctor and I'll go down and see if anyone has seen her."

"OK," she said as they both left the room and ran into Jim and Johnny.

"Hey Roy. How did Shawna take the news about the fight?" Johnny asked as they walked up.

"She took it really fine."

"Really?" Jim asked.

"Yeah. See for yourself," he said and held the door open for them to walk into the room. They both noticed it was empty.

"Where is she?" Jim asked.

"That's a very good question. My guess would be on her way home."

"Back to Los Angeles?" Johnny questioned.

"It's a good possibility. I doubt she'd stay here in Malibu." Roy said as they all turned to go look for her.

"Look, I'll call a friend at the station and have him put an All Points Bulletin out for her," Jim said as the other two walked out. He picked up the phone and dialed the police station to talk to his friend, Sgt. Dennis Becker. Meanwhile, Johnny and Roy went downstairs to see if anyone had seen Shawna. Everyone they asked had said 'No.' Jim had managed to talk Dennis into putting out the APB on Shawna. He went downstairs and met the guys.

"Did your friend put the APB out for Shawna?" Roy asked.

"Yes, he has got officers out looking for her."

"Jim, we'll go on back to Los Angeles and see if she went home. Maybe there are some places here in Malibu you might think she would go." All three of them left the hospital to go search for Shawna.

"We have to find her Roy," Johnny said as they started to head to Los Angeles. "If she has cracked ribs, anything can happen and she can get a punctured lung."

"I know Junior, I know." Roy didn't want to think about what could happen to Shawna. They had no idea it would be almost twelve hours before anyone found Shawna.