Starlight Starbright

These good fellows don't belong to me but I promise when I'm done to pick um up, dust um off and with a kiss on the cheek return them safely home.

"Never part without loving words to think of during your absence. It may be that you will not meet again in this life." Jean Paul Richter.

Chapter 18

Roy told the others what happened on the dark trail as they headed down the main road again. The sun had now set and they all felt the bitter chill seeking its way into their bones. The road to the Ranger Station was paved at least but not in good condition. The hard winters of the Sierra's had taken its toll over the years. Roy was so anxious as they pulled up to the dark and abandoned building that he almost jumped out of the truck before Hank could put it into park.

The house showed no signs of life, no one running out thankful for being rescued. That worried them all. Roy reached the front door first, finding it locked. With no hesitation he rammed his shoulder into it, breaking the simple door lock that held it closed. The room was pitch black in front of him. Marcos pushed a flashlight into his hands.

As the small light scanned across the room it rested on a pile of blankets in front of the fireplace. Running over to them he found them.

"Cap, I need the emergency bags," Roy called out.

Mike, Marco and Chet moved over to Roy while Marcos walked back to his Bronco and reached for the radio.

As Roy pulled the blankets off them he found them both unconscious and unresponsive. First he checked her pulse choking back the shock at who it was.

"She's got a pulse, it's weak and thready." He watched as Chet was unwrapping Johnny from the mummy sleeping bag, "Chet?"

Chet had to focus on what he was feeling for then changed to locate a carotid pulse, "It's really weak Roy, slow."

Hank came in with the emergency supplies and dropped down next to Roy. Unzipping the first bag he found bandages, tape, scissors, splints and hot/cold packs. In the second bag he found basic IV supplies, stethoscope and blood pressure cuff, but no medications. It was actually more than Roy expected to find.

"Chet get vitals on Johnny, Marco get an IV set up for them both. Cap if you can help me with her." He then turned to Mike. "Mike we need to get them warmed up, pop all those hot packs and put them in their armpits and groins."

Roy started with Amy's shoulder, there had been a lot of blood loss but Johnny's field version of a pressure dressing had kept her from bleeding to death. After reinforcing the dressing he started her IV as Mike got the warm packs on her. Then Hank and Mike swaddled her in several blankets to prepare her for transport.

Now Roy was able to do what he wanted to do most, care for Johnny. They both were too cold, the effects of hypothermia taking its hard toll on them. Johnny's BP was barely obtainable by palpation, his pulse slowed by the state of his body shutting down. Mike placed the warm packs on him as they both grimaced at the multiple sites of bruising and contusions. Roy palpated his chest noting several broken ribs; his breath sounds were very diminished and very wet with congestion. His swollen battered face almost unrecognizable.

As he started his IV he found himself talking to his best friend. He did it unconsciously, not even realizing that he was doing it. But everyone else did and watched the senior paramedic work with minimal supplies to try and save his best friend with love and concern.

Marcos came back in and moved over by the men. He shook his head as Roy worked on the two victims. He had seen patients in better shape not make it off the mountain before; he didn't hold out much hope for these two. "The evac chopper is going to meet us at the main road, there's nowhere for them to land here," he updated them.

Roy looked up, "We're almost ready to move them out." They repackaged Johnny up in the sleeping bag and with Amy in the blankets it was the best Roy could hope for under the conditions. They moved Amy first. Chet slid into the Lt's truck back seat and put Amy back there with him. "Keep her head up a little. It will help her breathing." Roy told him. He noted that at least Marcos had thought to turn the heat up full blast.

Next they moved Johnny into Hanks truck with Roy sliding in beside him. With everyone now loaded up, they headed back to the main road and to a clearing that had been predetermined. While they waited Hank heard Roy talking to Johnny, his voice soft with caring and compassion, encouraging him to not give up.

There wasn't room for the chopper to land but with the stokes lowered down Marcos watched the team of men work with incredible precision as they loaded up each patient, lastly sending up Roy to transport with them to the nearest hospital.

Watching the helicopter fly off they wanted to relax and breathe a deep sigh of relief but they knew nothing was certain yet. The first task was accomplished to find Johnny, now they had to make sure he made it.

Marcos parted ways with the men telling them he would check on Johnny and Amy in the morning when he was off duty. He would also notify Amy's husband that she had been found. He shook hands with each one, thanking them for helping him to pull all the pieces together and that he hoped their friend made it.

"Johnny looked pretty ruff," Chet said quietly as they drove down the road.

"Well, we've seen Johnny make it through worse," Marco told him, patting him on the shoulder. Despite their phantom and pigeon relationship at work there was a friendship there that neither one could deny. They would try, but everyone knew the truth.

Roy didn't like this hospital, he didn't know the people, he couldn't find his way around and worst of all they were keeping him from Johnny. He had to search the building for a payphone to call Dixie at Rampart. He knew that she would have Johnny's file and he asked her to fax his 'next of kin' statement to them. After filling her in quickly he begged off the phone to go get access to Johnny.

Once the paperwork had been received the doctor called Roy into his office.

"I'm sorry for the delay Mr. DeSoto," the older doctor said as he extended his hand to him.

Roy took the hand, just grateful to have everything straightened out now, "Roy please."

The doctor sat down, "We've just moved your friend to the ICU." He leaned back in his chair, "His condition is critical. We're supporting him with a ventilator and have him on strong antibiotics."

Roy's grief was heavy, "Is he gonna make it doc?"

The gentle doctor shook his head, "I don't know. The pneumonia is severe, the hypothermia shut down his kidneys. Let's see if we can get him through the night."

"I'd like to sit with him if possible."

The doctor glanced at his watch, "visitation is already over but I'll see what I can do."

As Roy headed to the ICU waiting room he thought about what had led them all here, "Doc?"

"Yes?"

"Amy, the lady that came in with him. How is she doing?"

"She's in surgery right now but I understand her vital signs were stable."

"Thank you doctor."

When Roy stepped off the elevator he was never so glad as to see his A-shift family waiting on him. Hank stepped up to him, "Roy, how's Johnny?"

"No one will tell us a damn thing around here," Chet whined.

"Well I haven't seen him either. It took an act of congress to just get his condition after providing the paperwork that I am listed as his next of kin." Roy sat down and ran his fingers through his hair.

"What do you mean you haven't seen him yet?" Hank was outraged. It was a guarantee that one thing Johnny did need was Roy there to support him.

Roy could see Hank was getting all fired up, "It's okay Cap. I finally got to talk to the doctor. He's in critical condition, the pneumonia is real bad." He stood up and walked away from them. "He doesn't know if he will make it through the night."

"No," Mike said softly. Johnny had nine lives; he had to pull through this.

Roy turned to them, "I just hope they let me see him before its too late."