Emotional Rescue (Chapter two)

Backing the squad into the station, Johnny wondered briefly who would be finishing the rest of Roy's shift with him, before returning his thoughts to Chris.

Meeting him in the vehicle bay was Chet.

"So how's the kid, Gage?"

"The kid? The kid has a name…Chris," Johnny said in an irritated tone.

"Sorry…yes of course…Chris. How is he?" Chet asked sincerely.

"I don't know," Johnny replied with a sigh. "Not too good, I don't think. Captain Stanley in his office?"

"Yeah…doing some paperwork."

Looking down at the ground and sighing, Johnny then made his way to the captain's office.

Knocking on the frame of the open door, he waited for his captain to acknowledge him before speaking.

"John…you're back. How are Roy and Joanne holding up?"

"You know Roy…but I know he's pretty upset. For Chris to ditch school like that, it's bad. Who'd you get to cover the rest of Roy's shift?"

Smiling, Hank also let out a small laugh.

"Please tell me that it's not Brice…please."

"No, it's not Brice…it's your buddy Rocky Ramirez. He should be here in about twenty minutes. In the meantime, why don't you go ahead and check your supplies. I want you back in service as soon as Rocky gets here."

"Okay. Thanks for being so sympathetic, Cap...I mean about Chris."

"I have kids of my own…I know what it's like, John. And it is never easy."

"You have two girls. There's a bit of a difference, Cap. I know when I was growing up my younger sister Jessie didn't have it as bad in school as I did."

"You might be right, but regardless…things today are different…kids are a lot meaner."

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

While Johnny was checking the squad's supplies and waiting for his friend Rocky to arrive, Roy was arriving at his son's middle school for a meeting with the school's principal.

Entering the main office at the front of the building, he was met by Mr. Jennings, a tall distinguished looking man, who looked to be in his mid to late fifties.

"Good morning, Mr. DeSoto. Come on in to my office."

Following behind the other man, Roy had so many questions that he wanted this man to answer.

Once inside the office, a room that made Roy feel like he was at Headquarters in the Chief's office, with all the plaques and framed document hanging on the walls, Mr. Jennings motioned for Roy to sit down on the big leather chair in front of his large oak desk.

"Please…have a seat."

Slowly and wearily, Roy sat down.

"Mr. Jennings, I have to say that right now, I am at a loss. My son, a good student and well-adjusted kid up until the last several weeks, cut school today. He ended up at my partner's apartment. The best that my partner and I can come up with, and based on Chris's reaction to all of this is…he's having a hard time in school right now…in all likelihood at the hands of other students."

Looking at Roy with a look that could only be described as "mock concern", the principal answered.

"Are you saying that your son is getting bullied? Because I assure you that there have been no fights or anything like that…not anywhere in the school. We take things like fighting very serious here."

"I'm sure you do. But I'm thinking that it's more than just the physical aspect of it…it's verbal."

"Verbal?" The principal repeated in an almost condescending tone.

"Mr. Jennings, you know that I am a paramedic, correct?"

"Yes, I am very well aware of your standing, Mr. DeSoto. But what does that have to do with your son, and your claims of some kind of verbal warfare?"

"I have been doing this job for quite a number of years now, and I've seen the results of abuse…all kinds of abuse…physical AND verbal. Just because someone doesn't have any visible scars, does NOT mean that it is any less serious or hurts any less than if they had physical scars."

"Well, I don't know what to tell you. You know that old saying…boys will be boys."

Roy was quickly becoming annoyed that he was being "blown off."

"That doesn't go over with me very well. If you had seen my son this morning, you'd have known that it was more than just boys being boys. I want to know what you plan on doing about this?"

Roy kept picturing how emotionally distraught his son appeared to be when he and Johnny had first seen him at Johnny's apartment, and how much he had emotionally deteriorated between the trip home and when they actually arrived there.

"I suppose we can talk to Chris's teachers, but I'm sure they'll tell you the same thing that I am."

"I took the rest of my shift off to deal with this…I would very much like to take care of this NOW," Roy said, asserting himself no longer as a paramedic, but as a very concerned parent.

"Very well then. I will need to get a copy of your son's class schedule, and then follow up with each teacher. It won't be done quickly…after all, they are in class now."

"I don't care…I'll wait", came the response, the paramedic crossing his arms against his chest.

"Very well then, Mr. DeSoto. You can wait here…I'll see about taking care of things on my end."

"Thank you," Roy replied shortly.

Leaving his office, Mr. Jennings approached his secretary and asked her to do a few things for him, then proceeded out of the main office.

While Roy was sitting anxiously in the principal's office, a young woman came over to him.

"Mr. DeSoto?" asked a soft voice.

Looking up, Roy was surprised to see this young woman standing there.

"Yes?" Roy asked uncertainly.

"My name is Lila Parker. I'm a teacher's aide here at the school. I gather you're here about your son, Chris?"

"Yes…do you know something about what's going on with him?" he asked hopefully, desperate to get some answers.

"I might…at least I think I may have an idea about it."

Before anything else could be said, Mr. Jennings returned, putting an end to their conversation.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Back at the station, Johnny's friend Rocky had finally arrived.

"Johnny Gage…" Rocky greeted warmly.

Looking up, Johnny smiled when he saw his friend approaching him.

"Rocky Ramirez…"

"In the flesh. So why I am here again?" Rocky asked curiously.

"Roy had to deal with a family issue."

"I hope everything is alright."

"That makes two of us. Hey, you better check in with Captain Stanley…he's going to want us back in service ASAP."

"Sure…be right back," replied the replacement paramedic with a nod.

As Johnny stood waiting for his friend to return, he wondered how things were going over at Roy's.

"Okay…I'm back," said Rocky, as he returned to the vehicle bay.

Johnny nodded his head and headed over to the radio.

"LA, Squad 51 available in quarters."

"Ten-four, 51."

After hanging up the radio mike, Johnny again faced his friend.

"So…family issues, huh? The kids?"

"Yeah…his son Chris. He skipped school today…ended up at my apartment."

"Your apartment? How did he end up there?" Rocky asked with surprise.

"He must have taken Roy's spare key…and I guess he walked."

"How is he doing?"

Though Rocky didn't have any kids, it always upset him terribly to see children in a bad way, whether it be from an accident or something perhaps a little less severe.

"Well, not too well. I think he's being bullied at school. Why? I don't know. Hopefully Roy and Joanne will get to the bottom of all of this."

"Yeah. Just another reason not to settle down and have kids, right?" Rocky commented with a small smile.

"Maybe, "replied Johnny, still worried about his young friend.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Back home, Joanne knocked softly on Chris's bedroom door.

"Chris? Can I come in?" She asked hopefully.

Hearing the quiet sobs of her son, Joanne's heart was broken. Chris had never run into any kind of trouble at school. He had always been very well-liked by the other kids and teachers, a good student, and was well-adjusted emotionally. This whole episode had thrown both her and Roy for a loop.

After waiting a few more moments, she decided to open the door and go in. However, when she tried to turn the knob to open it, she found it to be locked, much to her horror.

"Chris…please open the door. I just want to make sure you're okay."

As she said those words, Joanne thought to herself how ridiculous they sounded…of course her son was NOT okay.

"Go away…please…" came a soft but pleading voice from behind the door.

"Chris…just please promise me that you're…you're not going to…" Joanne was having trouble finishing the sentence.

"I just want to be alone…go away."

Joanne turned around and walked away from the door, hoping that when Roy came back home, he'd have some answers as to what had been going on with Chris at school for the past few weeks. In the mean time she headed to the kitchen for a cup of coffee, hoping that it would calm her nerves.

After pouring herself a cup, she sat down and sighed softly. It was ironic to her. Here she was a fireman's wife. Normally worried about her husband as he went off to work each shift, here she now was, fearing for her son's life instead.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

At Chris's school, Roy and Mr. Jennings were now meeting with Mrs. Paxson, Chris's home room teacher.

"Mr. DeSoto, I understand what you are saying, but I assure you that nothing like what you've described has been going on in my home room…in my home room, or in ANY of my other classes. I don't take that sort of thing lightly."

"Let me ask you a question, Mrs. Paxson…have you seen a change in Chris's behavior of late?"

"I have. Nothing major, just more quiet than usual. Back in September, he was much more animated…goofing around with the other boys…even flirting with the girls."

"And you didn't think to say anything to me and my wife about it?" Roy asked, getting annoyed.

"Mr. DeSoto, my responsibility is to teach the children and make sure that they are safe…and I do that every day. My job is NOT to analyze why your son or any other child is out of sorts. He never came to me and said anything, so I assumed that all was well. I assure you that if I had seen a problem or altercation, I would have surely brought it to Mr. Jennings' attention, and he in turn would have brought it to you and your wife's attention. That is all I have to say…I'm sorry."

Roy sat there with his arms crossed, disbelieving at this teacher's seemingly laissez-faire attitude.

"Am I done here? I have children to teach now," the teacher asked with a touch of annoyance.

"Yes, thank you, Mrs. Paxson," Mr. Jennings replied.

Without giving Roy another glance, the woman left the room.

Not budging from his demand of getting to the bottom of this issue, Roy looked at the principal expectantly.

"Next teacher?"

"I'm afraid it's not that easy, Mr. DeSoto. There are some classes taking exams today. I cannot disrupt them."

"And you know what…I don't really care. My son's life may be at stake here. This kind of situation left without a suitable resolution can result in tragic consequences. I will not be a party to watching my son's demise. While I was waiting for you in your office, a young woman named Lila Parker started to tell me that she might have an idea of what has been going on with my son. I would very much like to talk to her."

"She's not a teacher…she's a teacher's aide."

"I don't care what she is. She could be a janitor, or a cafeteria worker. If she knows something that could help my son, I want to know."

Sighing softly, Mr. Jennings nodded his head.

"Very well then. I will try to track her down."

"Thank you," Roy replied a bit sarcastically.

Getting up, the principal went to make a phone call, then returned to the office.

"She's currently out on the playground supervising some children outside."

"Fine…we can go out to talk to her then."

"I don't think that would be a good idea. She needs her full attention on the students…for safety reasons."

"And I'm a paramedic…four eyes will be better than two. Please take me to her…NOW."

Roy's patience was getting seriously tested. The last time he had really felt this way was several years earlier, when he and Johnny were training Ed Marlowe. Everyone knew how that episode had turned out.

"Very well then. Come with me, Mr. DeSoto."

Getting up, Roy followed the principal out of the room.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Back at the station, Johnny and Rocky had just finished their supply and equipment check.

Standing up and observing his good friend putting away the bio-phone, Rocky noted the concern on Johnny's face.

"You're really worried about Chris, aren't you?"

Sighing loudly, Johnny nodded his head.

"Yeah, I am. If you only saw this kid, Rocky…you'd have been really worried about him, too."

Johnny closed the compartment door, and stood looking down for a few moments before continuing.

"Chris is just such a super kid. He's smart and funny…and a do-gooder like his father. I just can't imagine what could possibly be going on with him."

"I gather you must know what he's going through…personal experience?"

"Yeah. When I grew up on the reservation in Montana I went to a school in town. I got my behind beaten up on several occasions…and my ego bruised and battered, as well. You?"

"Well…being one of the only Hispanics at my school, Johnny…I sorta fell into the same situation as you. They used to steal my lunch, and whip my butt a few times a week. My Uncle Rodrigo decided that I needed to learn how to fight, and taught me. After a few lessons, I became more confident…I started to stand up for myself. It also helped that I had started to grow a bit more…got taller and put on a few more pounds. After a while they left me alone. Poor Chris. Kids today are mean. I see it with my own nieces and nephews. Gonna call over and see what's going on over there?"

"No. I'm sure that they have everything well in hand…Roy's a great dad. I told them that I'd call them later."

"Johnny, you're going to go crazy until you know what's going on…I know you."

"Rocky…it's just none of my business right now. This is an issue for Roy and Joanne to deal with."

Thankfully to Johnny, the alarm sounded, calling the station out on a structure fire call.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Arriving out on the playground, the two men approached the teacher's aide whom Roy had hoped would be able to shed some light on the situation.

"Miss Parker?" called out the principal.

Turning around, a light of recognition came on her face when she saw Roy standing there with the principal.

"Mr. Jennings. What can I do for you?" She asked with concern, full well knowing what this encounter would be about.

"This is Mr. DeSoto. His son Chris is having some issues in school. He feels that you know something about what's going on. Do you?"

"I have some ideas about it. There are two boys that seem to be ring leaders in giving Chris a hard time…Peter Sunderlund and David Phillips."

Hearing the two names was like a bolt of lightning to Roy…Sunderland and Phillips. Could it really be possible, or was it just a very horrible coincidence?

"Peter Sunderlund? Does he have a relative who is a doctor?"

Mr. Jennings nodded his head. "Yes, that's his grandfather. Why do you ask?"

"Well…I think I may be starting to understand what's going on now. And this other boy, David…did he have a relative who died a few years ago?"

Again the principal nodded his head. "Yes, that was his uncle. What in God's name does any of this have to do with anything? If I may ask?"

"Well, it's a little personal…and since you haven't been entirely forthcoming with me about things, Mr. Jennings, I don't really feel the need to disclose that information to you, at the moment."

Hearing Roy's response, Mr. Jennings was quite irritated.

"Miss Parker, I would like to talk to you further about this, if you don't mind. Do you think I could meet you somewhere after school today to finish our conversation? I do know that you are busy right now."

Looking up at her boss, the young woman smiled. "Sure, I would like to. It always bothers me to see kids picked on like that."

Seeing the black pen in Roy's uniform pocket, she pulled it out and then took a piece of scrap paper out of her own pocket. Writing something down, she handed it to Roy.

Looking down at the paper that he had just been handed, Roy smiled and nodded his head. Written on the paper was "Patsy's Diner…2:30 PM."

"That would be fine. Thank you for your time, Miss Parker."

"Anything I can do to help. I'll see you later, Mr. DeSoto."

Satisfied that he would finally get some answers, and that he at least now had an idea of what was going on, Roy sighed a soft sigh of relief.

"Thank you for your time, Mr. Jennings, I will definitely be in touch…you can count on that. You don't have to walk me out…I know the way."

Turning around, Roy made his way back to his car.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

As Johnny put the last of their equipment away, he thought to himself how grateful he was for the distraction of this structure fire. It had not been a serious fire, and there had been no casualties, but he was glad to be able to have something else on his mind besides what poor Chris DeSoto was currently going through.

"Cap, we're heading back now…meet you guys back at the station."

"Sure thing, John," came the captain's reply.

Getting into the squad, Rocky reached for the radio mike.

"LA, Squad 51 available…returning to quarters."

"Ten-four, 51."

Replacing the mike, Rocky settled back into his seat, and sat looking out his window.

Johnny turned the key, and pulled away from their spot on the street.

"Rocky…do you think I SHOULD call Roy and Joanne about what's going on with Chris?"

Rocky smiled to himself, and turned his head.

"You know you want to, Johnny. Roy's kids mean a lot to you…and I know you won't have any peace of mind until you know what's going on."

Hearing it put that way, Johnny knew that Rocky's last comment was 100% true.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Returning home, Roy was met at the front door by his extremely anxious wife.

"Roy…any news?" she asked hopefully.

"Well…kinda, but I won't have any definitive answers until 2:30."

"Two thirty? What's at two thirty?"

Sighing loudly, Roy put up his hand. "Let me have a cup of coffee, and I'll tell you. How's Chris doing?"

"Not good. He locked himself in his room, and won't come out. He was crying before, and he told me to leave him alone."

Hearing the news about how his son was doing was heart wrenching to Roy, who had suddenly become painfully aware that it was likely he himself who had caused Chris's problems at school.

Sitting himself down wearily at the kitchen table, Roy gratefully accepted the cup of coffee that his wife had handed him.

"So what's happening at 2:30?" Joanne asked curiously.

"I have a meeting with one of the teacher's aides. She apparently knows what's been going on. She wasn't really in a position to tell me too much at the school, so she agreed to meet me after school was over."

"Well, I'm glad that we're finally going to have some answers."

"Yeah, but it wasn't easy getting to that point. You would not believe the hoops that I had to jump through, Jo…it was horrible. And the teachers' attitudes…would make your toes curl."

"That's awful. What exactly was said?"

After Roy gave her a rundown of what had happened, Joanne was near tears.

"Don't they care that our son…" she couldn't finish her sentence.

Sighing loudly, Roy got up and embraced his wife.

"It'll be okay. Chris will be fine."

"How can you say that, Roy? You saw him, yourself."

"Yeah, I did…but what happened really has nothing to do with him…it has more to do with ME."

"You? What do you mean, YOU?"

"Do the names Sunderlund and Phillips sound familiar to you?"

After thinking it over for a few moments, Joanne nodded her head.

"Yeah, they do, but I'm not sure why."

"A few years ago the station was on a call…man trapped. Phillips was the man trapped…a car engine that he was working on, had fallen on top of him. We got him out and into the ambulance. On the way to Rampart he started choking. I tried to call the hospital on the bio-phone, but I couldn't get through…the antenna on the ambulance had apparently fallen off. Long story short…we pulled over to start an airway, and despite our efforts, the guy died at the hospital. I got chewed out by his doctor…Dr. Sunderlund."

"That's when you almost quit the program."

"Yeah. Anyway, the teacher's aide mentioned that these two kids have been giving Chris a hard time. One is Phillips nephew, and the other one is Sunderlund's grandson."

"Really?" she replied incredulously.

"Yep…how's that for irony? I think they're probably teasing Chris about me, and not really so much about Chris himself."

"That's awful, Roy. So what's going to be done about it?"

"Well…I'll know more in a few hours, and then I can think about strategies afterwards." Roy sighed.

The ringing of the phone was a welcome interruption to Roy.

"I'll get it, Jo."

Walking over to the phone, Roy picked it up.

"DeSoto residence."

"Hey Roy…it's Johnny. I was just wondering how Chris was doing? And if you knew what was going on with him?"

"Well…he's not doing so good right now…locked himself in his room. But I did go to the school, and I have a meeting with someone about what's been going on, in a couple hours."

"Sorry to hear that he's not too good, but I'm glad that you'll at least be getting some answers soon. Anything I can do to help?" offered Johnny.

"Not right now, but I believe you will be able to eventually. And thanks for your help this morning…you were great with him."

"I'm glad I was able to be there…for the both of you. You know how I feel about your two kids, Roy. Anything I can do to help Chris through all of this…I'm there."

"Thanks. Joanne and I appreciate that. I'll try to call you later…I should have the complete story by then."

"Good."

"How are things going at the station?" Roy asked, glad to have something else to talk about, even if it was only for a few moments.

"Fine. Rocky and I just got back from a structure fire. I'll tell the guys that you said hello. I'll talk to you later. Go and be with your son."

"Okay…thanks, partner."

After Johnny got off the phone, Rocky tried to read his friend's face, but wasn't quite sure what was going on.

"Johnny? Everything okay?"

"Not really sure. Chris isn't talking…locked himself in his room. But Roy does have a meeting with someone in a few hours…hopefully he'll have some answers then."

"Good. Why don't you relax a bit…I'm going to wipe down the squad."

Nodding his head, Johnny appreciated that Rocky knew enough to give him some space at the moment.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

In his room, Chris was still lying in bed, thinking about the awful past few months.

He had never had any trouble in school, but this year, he found himself the target of some very unwanted bullying, all because of his father being a paramedic who was trained to SAVE people's lives.

Chris knew that his father was one of the best paramedics in the Department, and he also knew that his father was a good and decent man…that he would never deliberately hurt another person…so the things that were being said about him, was terribly upsetting to Chris.

Peter Sunderlund and David Phillips were best friends, who shared a connection. Peter's grandfather was an old family friend of his, and their family doctor, as well. They also both shared the trait of being quite insensitive when it came to the feelings of others. Once they heard Chris's last name, they had quickly made the connection, and rode him mercilessly, calling his father a killer and murderer, and threatening that both families were going to sue Roy for malpractice. This had been going on for about two months, and Chris had taken it, but that morning, he no longer could face them at school.

Remembering that Johnny had always told both him and his sister that in times of trouble, they could always go to his apartment as a safe haven…and that was exactly what he had done. When his parents weren't looking, he had taken the spare key to Johnny's apartment that his parents had kept in a drawer, and used it to let himself into the apartment.

Right now, all Chris wanted to do was to curl up die.

Wanting to make sure that Chris was still with them, Roy knocked on his bedroom door.

"Chris…it's Dad….open the door, PLEASE."

Chris was able to hear the pleading in his father's voice, but just could not bring himself to face either of his parents right now.

"Go away…I want to be alone," pleaded Chris.

"I understand that, Chris…but your mother and I are very worried about you…please let us in."

"I can't…just go…please."

Roy decided not to force the issue. If he really needed to get the door opened…he could do that no problem, he certainly had the tools and know how to do it.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Pulling into the parking lot at Patsy's Diner, Lila Parker got out. She could not wait to talk to Roy. She had been a witness to what was going on for far too long. Every time that she tried to bring it to someone's attention, she was brushed off. The last few times she tried, she was threatened with termination…and she needed her job, so she said nothing. But today, she when she saw Roy at the school, and saw how upset he was with what was going on with his son, she simply had no choice but to speak up.

Making her way up the steps and to the diner, she walked inside. Looking around quickly, she did not see Roy, so she decided to sit and wait by the door.

After a few minutes, she saw Roy coming up the steps.

"Mr. DeSoto…"

Smiling, Roy shook her hand.

"Hi, Miss Parker. Thank you so much for agreeing to see me."

"Please, it's Lila…and I'm only too glad to be able to do this…though it will probably cost me my job."

Having a sense of what she was talking about, Roy shook his head.

"Don't worry about that, Lila…I have you covered. If anyone tries anything…I will help you," replied Roy with a knowing smile.

"That's very kind of you, Mr. DeSoto."

"And you can call me, Roy."

"Very well then Roy, let's sit down. I'll tell you everything I know…hopefully it will answer your questions as to what is going on. And just know…I feel terrible about it. I tried to stop it, but…"

"But you were prevented by Mr. Jennings…and threatened, as well."

"Yeah, something like that."

Sitting down, they both ordered coffee.

"Let me start by telling you a little background on this situation."

Lila looked at Roy curiously.

"Well, you know by now that I am a paramedic. A few years ago…"

Roy went on to tell Lila the whole story of what had transpired during that fateful rescue of Charles Phillips.

"That's awful, Roy. But now that I know all of this…things make more sense to me."

Roy had an idea that what this young woman was about to share with him was not something that he was going to like.