Goodbye and Hello

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.

"Grief has its limits whereas apprehension has none." Author unknown.

Chapter 4

Before getting too close they both put on their safety belts with a rope for security. Walking up slowly to the man on the ledge they gently placed their equipment next to their feet. The man kept his eyes intently on them, watching every move they made. Johnny was about to tell Roy his plan when he realized Roy was already on the move.

Roy took a step forward, "We're from the LA Country Fire Department. My name is Roy, this is my partner Johnny."

"I don't care who you are don't come any closer to me," the man yelled with a shaky voice.

Roy took a single step again, "What's your name?"

"Thomas."

Another step, "Thomas, why don't you step down off that ledge and tell us what's going on?"

"No." Then with a quieter tone, "This is just something I have to do now." His eyes told Roy that he was serious about doing this leap.

Another step, "Why?"

Johnny watched what Roy was doing and his own sense of panic was increasing. The closer he got to the jumper the more he felt the need to grab him back. He didn't want Roy in the front but now there was no turning back.

"Look, I know what you're trying to do but it won't work this time. I've already thought about all the possibilities and still have the same answer." He took a baby step backwards.

Another step, "Well Thomas we just don't want you to get hurt is all. Is there anyone we can call to talk to you?"

Baby step backwards, "No, no one cares."

Another step, "Thomas, I care."

Baby step backwards.

"Roy." Johnny knew it was about to happen.

Roy didn't want to turn around, he knew Johnny was worried. He was so close now he could almost leap and get him, just another couple of steps.

Another step, "Thomas, tell me what you did today?"

Thomas wasn't looking at Roy anymore, he turned towards the street now. Roy didn't even look back he just took two giant leaps and grabbed Thomas by the waist. The man was so caught off guard that he didn't even struggle at first. But within an instant he was pulling them both over the edge.

Johnny's hands gripped the rope with all his strength as he felt it lurch through them, his feet were now sliding on the gravel as the weight of the two men pulled him closer to the edge.

"ROY!" he screamed but could only heard the man over the edge yelling for Roy to let go of him.

Then he suddenly felt the weight of the rope get lighter and looked back to see Marco and Chet both pulling it with him. Hank went straight to the edge where the poor ole security guard was trying to grab a hold of Roy from above but Hank realized that he was too far away. There was no time to get a ladder truck there their only hope was to pull them up from the top.

"PULL!" he yelled back to his men as he watched the rope pull across the concrete edge. Please God let this rope hold out, Hank prayed as the edges started to fray. Hand over hand they began to pull the two men up.

Roy's first contact with Thomas was by wrapping his arms around his waist as tight as he could. He felt the momentary shock of his contact by the surprised man but knew that wouldn't last. And it didn't. Thomas lurched forward pulling them over the edge. They swung out a little then Roy's side impacted with the building. He didn't argue with the fighting man knowing it was fruitless at this point but only focused on keeping his grip and hoping that Johnny didn't lose his.

It seemed like an eternity but he felt the rope finally pulling them upwards. At that point even Thomas stopped fighting it and simply grew quiet for the ride back up.

Hank reached over the edge and grabbed the man by the back of his shirt collar to get a first hand hold on him then with Mike's help they pulled him up and over the ledge depositing him onto the gravel floor and into the arms of the police.

He then reached down and pulled Roy up and over the edge where he simply sat on the ledge and caught his breath.

Hank stared at him, "That has to be the dumbest thing I have ever seen you do."

Roy knew Cap was upset, "Cap, we didn't have any time. It was then or never."

Hank lowered his voice, "We almost lost you there Roy."

Roy smiled, "Hey, that's what family's for right? To come to my rescue?"

Hank just shook his head but had to give it to Roy, "let's go home."

He stood up and took off the safety belt.

"You just had to go running off the side of a building didn't you? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" Johnny said as he marched over to him. "Great, and look what you did!"

Roy looked down to what Johnny was pointing at. The blood spot on his shirt. Lifting it up he found half the stitches torn out, great.

"Early is gonna have your hide," Johnny said shaking his head. "Well, let's go to Rampart again."

"Okay if you keep this up we're going to have to give you Johnny's frequent flying discount card," Dixie said with a giggle.

"It's not funny Dix. Jo is already having a fit over every little thing that happens to me and now this?" He winced as Joe put in the last stitch.

"But she will see you're a hero, you saved that man's life," she said.

"Oh no she won't," he looked at Johnny. "Joanne's not going to know a thing about this little fiasco."

Dixie shuffled her feet, "There's one problem with that theory Roy."

"What?"

"It's all over the news, the whole rescue. You jumping off the side of the building and everything. Apparently some amateur video taker caught it and sent it right to the television stations. You're famous."

"We repeat, apparently the firefighter was injured in the rescue as he was rushed off scene to Rampart Emergency."

"Great!" Roy barked as he turned off the television. "Rushed off, good Lord. I have to call Joanne right away."

"Don't worry about calling."

They all turned to see Joanne standing in the door of the doctor's lounge.

"Jo, I'm okay," he said as he went to hug her but this time she resisted.

"I have to hear about it on the news?" She was obviously upset.

"I didn't even realize until just now that it was even on the news. I was going to call you. I'm sorry you had to find out about it this way."

Tears started to run down her face, "My heart stopped Roy when I realized it was you hanging from the side of that building. I didn't know what to do."

He took her in his arms, "Shh babe, its okay."

She pulled back from him. "Dixie said you only pulled out some stitches?"

"Yea, but I'm fixed up again."

"When the hell did you get the stitches?"

Roy froze when he realized that he hadn't stopped to call her about his last trip here, "Jo, I got a cut from a wrecked car then we were called right out again to the jumper." He was stammering over his words at this point.

Johnny stepped up to try and help seeing how upset Joanne was, "Jo he was going to call but we had to leave right away again."

She just shook her head, "I'm not trying to be a crazy wife Roy but I just got scared." She looked back at Johnny, "I know that you are privy to all his injuries but I need to know too."

Johnny took a step back, hurt by Joanne's back lash. She meant a lot to him, they were his family and he didn't like her upset with him. The small dark pit growing in his stomach that she blamed him.

"Squad 51, are you available?"

Roy picked up the HT, "51 available from Rampart."

"Child trapped…………………….time out 1737."

Joanne reached up and kissed him, "Be careful. I'll see you in the morning." She turned and left without addressing Johnny further.

They pulled back into the station after freeing a 4 year olds hand from the drain of a bathtub. Roy climbed out and felt sore all over, "I'm gonna head for a hot shower."

Johnny had been quiet, "okay."

Roy met him at the back of the squad and knew something was wrong, "You okay?"

Johnny smiled, "Yea, just tired. It's been a long day."

Roy nodded, "You can say that again. Go grab me some dinner, I'll be right out."

With a random jiggle of his head Johnny headed to the dayroom.

"Roy?"

He turned to find Hank standing in the door of the locker room, "Yea Cap?"

Hank sauntered in to find Roy showered and dressed, standing in front of the mirror shaving.

"Just wanted to make sure you were okay?" Roy could hear the concern in his voice.

"Sure Cap. It's been an unusual day but at least it's halfway over," he said with a smile.

"Been an unusual week, for you especially. I'm not used to having this much paperwork to fill out about you having repeated trips to the ER." Hank leaned against the back wall of the room.

Roy took the towel and wiped off his face, then the blade of his straight razor. "I can't explain it Cap. Guess it was just my time to be due. Maybe if I get it over with all at once then I will be good for another couple of years." He tucked the shaving items back into his shaving bag and walked over to his locker.

"I hear that Joanne saw it on the news? Is she okay?"

Roy's eyes got big, "I don't think I've ever seen her that upset over an injury."

Hank chewed on his lower lip a little, "I can call Emily if you want me too."

Roy appreciated the thought, "yea, that might help if she had someone to talk to about it tonight. At least until I can get home."

Hank stood back up straight and smiled, "Good, I'll call her now."

The two men went into the bay together, Hank headed to his office for the phone call and Roy went in search of dinner.

"Dinner smells good Marco, what is it?" Roy asked.

Everyone was gathered around the table already eating and Mike passed the casserole dish down to Roy.

"It's an enchilada recipe that is from my grandmother," he said while he woofed down another mouthful.

Roy scooped some on his plate; he was starving, now remembering they had missed lunch.

"So Roy, you trying to beat Johnny's record for the most trips to the ER in one week?" Chet said seriously.

Roy smirked at him, "Funny Chet. I just thought I'd save all my suffering up for one time and get it over with."

Chet thought about that, "So, no spreading it out to all the time like Johnny boy here huh?"

"Nope, just wait till my grand finale."

The table got quiet. They weren't used to seeing Roy get hurt hardly ever and after this week that statement just made them cringe inside. Roy looked around the table, then over to Johnny and suddenly realized what he meant as a joke had really shaken the young paramedic.

Roy put his fork down, "Guys, I was just kidding. Joanne is having panic attacks over the little stuff. I don't even want to think about anything worse."

Everyone relaxed and went back to eating and before long they were sitting in front of an old scary movie on TV. Roy saw Johnny leave out of the corner of his eye. Getting up quietly he followed him into the bay, finding him sitting on the back of the Squad.

"Okay Junior, I know something is bugging ya," Roy said as he sat down next to him.

"I think I might be in that proverbial hot water," he said solemnly.

Roy had to think for a minute before realizing what his friend was talking about, "With Joanne?"

Johnny nodded.

"Johnny, Jo is just upset right now at everything. She's not mad at you. If anything I think she might be jealous."

Johnny wrinkled his eyebrows and frowned, "What?"

"Well, think about it. She sits at home and worries all shift when I'm gone. And when I do get hurt she can't be there to fix it or help me feel better. You know how she is if you get a cold or the flu."

"Yea," he smiled. "She treats you like a king with pillow fluffs and hot chicken noodle soup."

Roy laughed, "yea and when I'm here she can't do anything. Instead I rely on you guys to get me through the rough spots. I rely on you a lot Johnny."

Johnny smiled, "Hey, that's what partners are for."

"That's what friends are for. She see's you guys taking care of me and I think she feel's left out sometimes."

"But at Rampart, she seemed so mad at me."

"Johnny she was mad at everything. She had just seen me swinging by a rope from the side of a building. Of course she was upset. Just happen to be me and you there to take the brunt of it is all."

He slapped Johnny on the shoulder, "Come on Junior, let' go finish the movie."

Johnny felt some better but that dark spot still lingered.