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.

"Blessed is the leader who seeks the best for those he serves." Tao Tzu.

Chapter 9

Mike, Marco, Chet and Hank sat around the kitchen table at Hank's house trying to decide how to start the conversation. They had all gone home for a while but rest had seemed to elude all of them. Hank's wife Emily brought them some sandwiches, chips, and drinks, then closed the door to give the men some privacy.

"I just can't believe she just up and walked out on him like that," Chet was up and pacing the room now. He didn't know Joanne real well, meeting her at occasional gatherings at the DeSoto's home. She was always a gracious hostess with a big welcoming smile.

"Everyone reacts to tragedy different. We all know that she took the deaths at the Pasadena fire hard. Apparently harder than even Roy realized," Hank said.

But Chet was mad, "It's still not right Cap. What she did not only hurt Roy but it hurt Johnny too. You saw what she did to him."

Marco stood up, "Oh Amigo, I don't agree with what she did but Cap is right. She's upset." Marco shook his head. "Why now? Cap. Roy needs her right now."

"Who's going to tell him Cap?" Mike said quietly.

Hank just shrugged his tired shoulders, "I think we have to see if Roy makes it first, then we will figure that out." He stood up now, "I'll go find her and talk to her. For right now I'm worried about Johnny."

"I don't think I've ever seen that look in Johnny's eyes before. What she did really hurt him," Mike said.

Hank looked at his men and could see that they all felt betrayed by what had happened. It was as if it had surely happened to them personally. But then he knew how tight this crew was. If they were taking it this hard he couldn't imagine what Johnny was going through right now.

"I think we're agreed that Johnny will need a lot of support through this," Hank said. "I know he's not going to leave the hospital so we need to get some clothes to him today."

"I'll do that Cap," Chet spoke up. "I'll run by his apartment and take him some things."

"Thanks buddy. Emily and I will make sure he has food," Hank added.

"I'll get his Rover to him Cap, in case he needs it."

"Thanks Mike," Hank said. "Let's make sure Johnny has what he needs for right now."

"What if Roy doesn't make it through this Cap?" Mike said sadly.

"I don't want to think about that Mike. We have to have faith that Roy can come back from this." But Hank was already thinking about it, that Roy might not survive this. His own anger was being held at bay but if Roy doesn't survive after she walked out on him there might not be any more holding back from him. "Let's focus on Roy and Johnny right now. I'll be back at the hospital in a couple of hours if anyone wants to join me."

Everyone nodded anxiously that yes they would definitely be there. So they parted ways with each having a personal mission to accomplish before regrouping again.

Dixie came in to check on her boys and found both were resting quietly. She took Roy's hand in hers feeling immeasurable sadness for him. What she wouldn't do to see those beautiful baby blues of his smiling at her again.

"Is he okay?"

She looked over and smiled at the other one that meant so much to her, "He's okay Johnny, I was just checking on him."

Johnny mumbled something then was back to sleep quickly. Dixie smiled softly at him, tucked Roy's blanket in around him then headed back out to the nurses's station. She hadn't told anyone about what had happened. Honestly she didn't how she felt about it herself. She didn't know Joanne real well and really didn't know anything about their relationship. But there was a part of her that felt what she did was unforgivable. Leaving your husband was one thing but to leave him when he's in a life and death situation? How could anyone be so cold and uncaring? Looking up to see Kelly approaching the desk she decided she needed to talk to someone.

"Kel?"

"Ya, Dix."

"Can you spare a few minutes? I need to talk to you about something."

The look on her face told him that something was distressing her and he needed to take the time for her, "Sure, let's go to my office."

Hank pulled into the driveway of the modest little house. Taking a deep breath he climbed out of his truck and walked down the little walkway to the front porch. When he opened up the screen door to knock he saw the envelope with his name on it. Taking it down he hesitated at opening it knowing it wasn't going to tell him anything that he or Roy would want to hear.

Dear Hank,

I assumed you would be the one to come looking for me first. I am sorry for the way I handled things this morning but what I said was truly how I felt. I just cannot be there for Roy anymore. I know that you and the others will be there to help him get through this. When he asks for me please tell him that I love him and I will never keep Jenny and Chris from him. He is a wonderful father. I know that you and the others probably hate me for what I have done. All I can say is that I am sorry. I have gone to stay with family for now. Take care of him.

Joanne

Hank sat down in the chair on the front porch and looked out into the well groomed yard. Jenny's little pink bike was lying in the grass along with Chris's football and skate board. Hank closed the letter and put it in his pocket with a deep sigh. Climbing back into his truck he looked at Roy's house and felt profound sadness for what Roy would come to home. If he came home at all.

The men gathered in the waiting room once again. They sipped on coffee and waited for Dixie to come back and tell them they were able to go see Roy.

"You okay Chet?" Marco asked the pacing man.

Chet grumbled under his breath something about Joanne that Marco decided he would electively ignore, "Can you please relax man?"

"Relax? You have to be kidding. Everything is falling apart and you want me to relax?"

Hank moved up to him, "Stop pacing and sit down. Wearing a hole in the floor won't change anything. We'll get to see Roy in just a minute."

Chet knew that tone of voice, "Yes Cap."

Before he could sit Dixie came up to them, "Okay you fellows can come in now two at a time." As Hank and Mike came by her she stopped them, "Hank?"

"Yes?"

"I haven't been able to get Johnny to leave the room to eat or anything," she said.

He smiled, "I'll take care of it. How's Roy this afternoon?"

"He's been stable. Earlier he had some problems with his blood pressure but the medication we put him seems to be helping. Go on in," she said.

Hank and Mike went in to find Johnny sitting beside Roy's bed, curled up in the chair. He looked up and unfolded himself when he heard them come in, "Cap, Mike." His voice was tired, devoid of much emotion.

Mike handed him a bag, "Chet grabbed you some clean clothes from your place and made sure Maxie was fed."

"Thanks Mike. I admit, I forgot about the little critter," Johnny said thinking about the little black kitten that Jenny had given him last month. Jenny. He wondered where she was now then he looked at Roy. Every time he thought about it his heart broke again. Would Roy lose those two precious children?

"Johnny," Hank said noticing that he had zoned out again on them.

Brought back to the present Johnny stood up and took the bag, "I'll change in a little while."

"No, you'll change now. Dix said you could use the doctor's locker room to shower and clean up. After that go get something to eat." He could see Johnny was going to protest. "It's not a request, you're filthy and the nurse's are beginning to complain, go shower and don't come back until you've eaten."

Johnny looked at Roy.

"He's not going anywhere John, we'll stay right here with him until you get back," Mike said with a concerned smile.

He conceded, taking the bag of clothes he left for the shower.

Johnny stared at the image before him in the mirror and didn't like him. Rubbing his face he decided to not shave, it didn't matter anyway. "You did it this time Gage, you blew it."

He was startled by the voice behind him, "This wasn't your fault John." He saw Hank come in behind him.

"If I had gotten him out sooner."

"You got him out, that's what's important John."

"Joanne…"

"That was her decision and that's not the kind of decision that just suddenly happens. Something has been going on between them for a while I suspect and this was just the last straw."

"But now, how could she walk out on him now? Not even knowing if he would live through the night?"

"We may never know the answer to that. But it was her choice, you didn't make her do to it anymore than I did," Hank said trying desperately to reach through this young man's grief.

"I should get back," Johnny said as he gathered up his stuff.

Hank knew better, "Not till you've had something to eat. Chet is going to take you down to the cafeteria."

Johnny just sighed knowing he wouldn't get past the Cap on this thing. The quicker he got it over with the sooner he could get back upstairs.

Brackett and Early came into the room to do an afternoon check on their patient to find Mike and Hank sitting with him.

"Hank, Mike," Joe said, getting them as they scooted out of the way for him.

"Doc," Hank answered. "Anything new doc?"

"Well he's made it through the first few hours without major complications, that's a good sign. His x-ray this morning shows the collapsed lung is healing well. I think that lung being down will be to his benefit through this."

Hank looked confused, how could a collapsed lung be a good thing?

"By the way his x-ray looks I bet his lung was down before he started eating all that smoke. Once get got it aspirated and back up it didn't have the shock of the toxic smoke in it."

"So that will help him get better faster?" Mike asked.

"It just might. Time will tell," Brackett said knowing they were looking for every ounce of hope there was.

Hank followed the doctors out of the room to allow Mike and Marco some time with Roy before Johnny and Chet came back. Once outside the room Brackett pulled him aside wanting to talk to him about what happened with Joanne.

"Hank, Dixie told me about what happened yesterday."

Hank hung his head down, "We were all shocked by it."

"So it's true, she just left?" Brackett couldn't believe it, surely they were misreading her and she was just upset.

"I even went by the house before coming her to talk to her but she had already left."

Dixie came up to them, hearing the conversation. "Maybe I can go and talk to her when I get off."

Hank shook his head, "No, I mean she's gone. She packed up the kids and left town. She left me a note. I don't think she has any intention on coming back."

"She hasn't even called to see if he made it through the night or not," Dixie said, seeing the shock register in the men's faces.

Dixie looked up then to see Johnny watching them, gaped mouthed.

"Johnny," Hank said.

Johnny pushed past them and went back into Roy's room.

"Damn." Hank said it but they all felt the same sentiment.