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.
"It's even closer than a family reunion. We've had an experience that draws us even closer than brothers." Wilburn Snyder.
Thanks for all the reviews. I'm glad you enjoyed my surprise! Keep up the reviews, it always help the next chapter come just a little faster ;)
Chapter 20
Hank hung up the phone with his jaw half slacked in shock at what she had just told him. He turned to the fretful face of Mike then noticed that Marco was hobbling towards them with his crutches and wrapped up foot.
"Cap, any word yet?" Marco asked, unaware of the phone call that had just happened.
Hank didn't really hear him, "He left her."
Mike's eyes got wide, "What?"
Marco was lost, "Who?"
He turned towards them, "Joanne just said that Roy left her last night. She thought he was with us."
Marco wanted to jump for joy but decided now wasn't the time or place, "Things must have gotten a lot worse for him to make that decision."
"Why would she think he was with us Cap?" Mike knew they hadn't heard anything about Roy being back in town.
"I don't know Mike, by then she was crying too much to talk anymore." Hank sat down. Roy had left but where was he? He couldn't believe he wouldn't have tried to contact him. "Maybe he's at home." He stood up and went back to the phone on the wall. But when he dialed the number it was still disconnected. "Damn," where is he? Hank thought.
Kel put the final sutures into Johnny. "I don't like it Joe. His pressure is still too low despite the volume and blood replacement." They moved away from the table and began pulling off their blood soaked gowns. "What about his head?"
"We sutured up the laceration. Right now there's no evidence of bleeding in the brain but he did suffer a skull fracture."
Kel shook his head, "I repeat, I don't like it."
"We've done all we can Kel. Now it's up to Johnny," Joe said.
"That's what bothers me. He was already depressed. I'm not really sure he has enough will power to fight this alone."
Joe smiled, "Oh, he won't be alone."
Kel looked up, "Oh, I know the fellows from 51 will be there with him. I'm just not sure that will be enough. If you know what I mean." Joe and Dixie knew exactly what he meant. Once out of the OR room door they washed up at the sink then Dixie took him by the arm. "I think you're in need of a little surprise Dr. Brackett."
"What?" He said as Joe and Dixie started to drag him out of the OR suite.
He looked up to see a fireman in a turn out coat, leaning against the wall, his back to them. A coat marked 'Clark', someone he didn't know. He was hunched over some and didn't hear them approach.
Dixie got a big ole smile on her face as Brackett watched, "Someone here want a report now?"
They all watched the sturdy build, blue eyed, slightly thinning on top man turn around. His eyes wet with tears.
"Dix?" He said softly.
Brackett pulled his arm away from Dixie, his eyes wide with surprise. He thought he was seeing a ghost. "Roy?"
Roy smiled back at them, "Heya doc." He said but the sadness remained in his voice.
Kel moved towards him and embraced his friend with a strong hug then pushed him back, "Who the hell is Clark?"
He just wiggled his head, "Long story doc. How's Johnny."
Kel's expression got serious again, "He was hurt pretty bad Roy. Broken ribs, his lung collapsed."
Roy didn't want to be pushy but that's not what he wanted to hear, "I know doc. I'm the one that pulled him out and brought him in."
"Oh," he said but still obviously confused over all this. "He lacerated his liver and lost a great deal of blood. Joe took out his spleen but his body is still in a state of shock over what happened. We're still trying to stabilize him. Roy, he also has a skull fracture and is in a coma. They are moving him to ICU now."
"Is he gonna make it?" He asked, fighting back the despair.
Dixie moved over to take his arm since he looked like he was about to fall over.
His eyes softened, "I don't know Roy. It doesn't look good right now."
"Chet," his voice was even softer now.
"He's stable, already in ICU now. Roy?"
They watched his color become more and more pale, his breathing more rapid, and his eyes glaze over. When he didn't answer Joe reached out to grab his arm but they all wound up reaching for him as he collapsed in the floor.
"Dix, get me a gurney," Kel called out.
"Kel, he's the one that gave Johnny the blood. I bet he hasn't even sat down, much less eaten since then. And if I know Roy he stood in line to give seconds."
Joe relaxed some hearing that. His pulse was steady and his breathing had eased. "I think he passed out Kel."
Dixie came back with two orderlies and a stretcher. They gently lifted him up and placed him on it.
Brackett placed his hand on his chest, "Dix, let's get an IV started in him, D5LR at 100cc/hr and get him a room."
Dixie shook her head, "You know he will want to stay with Johnny." She knew that this was not the time to separate these two friends.
Brackett conceded, "Okay fine but come and get me if he doesn't respond to the fluids and keep a close eye on his vitals."
"Sure thing Kel," she said with a wink and a smile.
The nurses were busy settling Johnny into his room, hanging new IV fluids, adjusting the ventilator, hooking up his chest tube and getting frequent vital signs when Dixie wheeled Roy in. The look on the charge nurses face was one of utter gall.
"What do you think you are doing? This is a private room," she demanded wanting to know who the unconscious man in uniform was.
Dixie raised her eyebrows, "I'm Dixie McCall and this is Johnny's friend Roy. He saved him today from a burning building and has now passed out from giving his own blood for Johnny. He will be right here until he is ready to leave." She leaned down to Roy, "Roy?" She pushed the blonde wisps of hair from his face.
He started to mumble then coming to with an emergent start he tried to sit up, "Johnny!"
"Shh…Roy. Johnny's right here. Lay down for me." She talked in a soothing voice and he relaxed, looking over to his brother for reassurance.
"This man will not stay here. He is not an ICU patient and Mr. Gage cannot have some stranger hanging around in his room!"
Dixie felt the subtle tensing of muscles under her hand as she gently pushed Roy back down. She didn't raise her voice but spoke in a demanding low tone that would frighten any new nurse back to her mother's arms. "Now, you listen to me Nurse Johnson. This man is not a stranger; he is the only family that John Gage has. His being here has already been approved and ordered by Dr. Brackett. Now, I suggest you get me IV supplies right away for Mr. DeSoto and then continue to see about your own patients."
The nurse no longer dared to question and with a huff moved off to the supply room. Dixie looked back down at Roy to see him smiling at her, "What?" She asked innocently with a shrug of her shoulders.
"What would we do without you Dix?" He said.
"Why I don't know what you're talking about Mr. DeSoto," she said then giggled. His smile was the best thing she had seen in a long time. She brushed his hair back again, "I missed you Roy, welcome back."
He blushed, "Thanks Dix. It's really good to be back."
Nurse Johnson didn't even come back but instead sent the needed supplies by another nurse who then assisted Dixie with starting the IV.
"Aww come on Dix. I just gave blood. I don't need an IV," he whined.
"Just sit back and relax. No sense in fighting it, you know I'll win," she grinned.
He just sighed because he knew she was right. He had given the maximum amount and add to that no sleep the night before, exhausting rescue this morning and now emotionally overwhelmed about Johnny he needed a little pick me up. "Can I at least sit up in the chair?"
She eyed him closely, "Okay but if you fall out in the floor Joe and Kel will have my head."
"You mean the mighty McCall is afraid of someone?"
"Not afraid, just smartly aware."
She helped him sit up, regain his balance and when she was sure he was steady enough she helped him transfer to the chair beside Johnny's bed.
Patting him on the shoulder, "Hank and Mike are here. I'm going to go update them okay? You'll be okay?"
He nodded, "Yea, thanks. Dix?"
She turned around, "Yea?"
"Don't tell um yet I'm here," he winked at her this time. Smiling she left the room.
Roy stood up, a bit unsteady but he held onto the side of the bed and sat beside Johnny. His color was pale, paler than Roy had ever seen him. The large white bandage wrapped around his head with only a little bit of dark curly hair sticking out of the top. The front of it stained with the blood from the laceration on his forehead that had come through the dressing. His eyes were turning black and blue from the impact of his skull on the floor. His chest was still except for the rhythmic breaths of the respirator with no breaths of his own seen. There was a large dressing on his side which protected his chest tube. Roy followed the tubing down to see the blood draining actively from his chest. He sighed, more blood loss. His abdomen was one big bruise with a dressing in the middle covering the surgical site. Lastly was his leg, now elevated, in a cast. He was battered and bruised almost beyond recognition but Roy still refused to give up on him.
He took his hand, "Johnny, it's me. Roy. I'm here Junior. Please try and hear me. You pulled me out of the pit of darkness and I'm here for you. Please don't give up."
Hank and Mike paced the waiting room. Marco sat and bounced his good foot until Mike was ready to step on it. It was taking too long. "Why is it taking this long?" Mike asked.
Just then they looked up to see Dixie rounding the corner towards them. They all moved up to meet her.
"Okay fellows, everyone is out of surgery. Chet did well, his internal bleeding was minimal. His broken bones are casted and he's in the ICU recovering. Johnny's being settled in now but he's not doing as well." She looked into their apprehensive eyes, "I'm sorry guys but he lost a lot of blood and we're having a hard time stabilizing his blood pressure. Do you want to see them?"
They all nodded eagerly and then followed her down the hall towards the ICU. She took them to the first room which was Chet. He was trying to wake up from the anesthesia but still heavily sedated. They gathered around his bed.
"Oh man, he's gonna kill um," Mike said.
Hank saw the same thing and smiled, "Well, it will give him something to do when he gets out of here and can't work yet."
Marco just shook his head at the naked upper lip of their friend. They could see the stitches from repairing a laceration.
"Chet?" Hank called him.
Chet groaned a little and tried to open his eyes, "Roy?" he whispered.
Hank looked at the others, "No pally it's me Hank. Don't try and talk. Just wanted to let you know that you're gonna be fine, okay. We're here with you," Hank tried to reassure him.
They all looked at the nurse with their confusion.
"He has a concussion," she said.
They all shrugged, well okay.
Dixie stuck her head in the door, "You want to see Johnny now?"
They moved out into the hallway as Chet was already back fast asleep. Hank shook his head.
"What's wrong Hank?" Dixie asked him.
"I don't know how Johnny is going to make it through this alone." They all knew he meant without Roy.
Dixie smiled, "Oh, he won't be alone. Follow me."
They knew Johnny was in bad shape and prepared themselves to see his broken body. What they didn't expect was too see Clark's turn out coat hanging on the chair with him sitting right next to Johnny, on the bed.
Who the hell is this Clark? Hank thought suddenly feeling very protective of Johnny.
Dixie cleared her throat as they came into the door.
Roy turned around to the faces of friends he has missed more even than he realized until he saw them again. He let out a big smile as the jaws of three men hit the floor. They couldn't believe their own eyes. It was Roy. Roy was Clark? Who was Clark? Now they were surprised and confused.
"Well I'll be! Roy?" Hank spoke first as they rushed forward to him. Roy stood up, holding onto the bed as they bombarded him with back slaps, hugs and shoulder shakes. When his knees buckled under him and he almost hit the floor they all grabbed for him making Marco almost lose his balance in which Mike caught him.
"Whoa whoa, what's wrong Roy?" Hank was instantly concerned. If he was at the fire, was he hurt too?
"I'm okay," he said sitting down again. "I gave Johnny blood and it kinda wiped me out," he said. More than a little embarrassed to make such a deal out of giving blood.
It was then that Hank saw his IV going. "Roy, I don't understand, what happened? How did you wind up here?"
There were so many questions and they all wanted to know the story so he began a brief synopsis of what had happened with Joanne and leaving back for LA. Mike interrupted him, "I know that was hard leaving your kids behind."
Roy smiled, "I didn't. They're with me. Their just staying at the neighbors for my shift."
He continued. "Well I had already filled out the paperwork to come back before I left but I didn't get back into town until nearly morning. I don't know Cap. I just had a bad feeling. So I called the Chief at home and asked if he could get me on shift with Johnny for today. That's when he told me about Johnny leaving the paramedic program." His voice broke slightly but he pressed on. "He said I couldn't get into 51 today but Clark was out sick and I could take his place at 110 for this shift." He patted the coat. "Thus I became Clark for the day."
"Well I'll be damn," Hank muttered.
"I was going to call the station today to tell everyone I was back but we got the call for the fire right off the bat. Next thing I know I wind up with Johnny and Chet on the same floor." He paused. "Cap, I was there when they fell."
Hank knew instantly the pain that he was going through for his friends, for Johnny especially. "Were you the medic on scene with them?"
Roy nodded.
Hank slapped Mike on the shoulder, "We missed him by that much." He showed him two fingers almost pinched together.
Now they turned their eyes to Johnny, "Roy, how is he doing?" Hank asked the question but knew just looking at him that things were grave for the young man.
He lowered his head, "Not very good. He lost so much blood. They said his kidneys are trying to shut down because they can't keep his blood pressure up. He's still not doing any breathing on his own." Roy stood up and leaned closer to him and squeezed his shoulder.
"Junior, everyone is here for you. I'm here. We're waiting for you to fight your way back."
The others, moved by the compassion and depth of their friendship and feeling of family then positioned themselves around his bed. Hank sighed, the family was back together now he just had to get them through the next few days.