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.

"The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved – loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves." Victor Hugo.

Sorry this chapter took a while, chaos of the holidays. Thanks for all the reviews and patience as I get through this story that seems to have taken on a life of its own :)

Chapter 22

Roy froze at Mikes words. Jo was here? What the hell was she doing here? His first thought was that she had come to take the kids back. There was no way that he was going to let that happen. Without a word he walked past Mike, with him and Hank fast on his heels. Hank's first thought was that he might have to keep Roy from killing her right here in the waiting room. Although after what her aftermath of leaving had done to his station in the last six months he might think himself of joining Roy in the melee.

Roy pushed the double doors to the waiting room open with more force than intended. Then again maybe not when he looked up to see the startled look on her face. Hank thought, she looked, well…afraid of him. That must have been some major last conversation they had before Roy left.

If he wasn't mad when he heard she was there he was furious when he saw the kids sitting in chairs behind her. Lowering his anger a few notches in front of the kids he approached her. "Joanne. What are you doing here?" His voice was cold and matter of fact.

She hesitated. His anger and the upset looks from Hank and Mike behind him caught her off guard. She knew Roy would be upset but the reaction of her presence by the other men really shook her.

"Roy, please don't be mad at me. I didn't come to cause trouble," she started.

"Why are the kids here?" He asked staring at her intently.

"I picked them up to take them to school. I've also turned the phone on at the house and called the storage place to bring the stuff back." She took a deep breath before losing her nerve here. "I will get the kids back and forth to school and take care of them at the house so you can stay here." She held out her hand with a bag for him. "Here are some clean clothes and your shaving bag."

She knew for him to still be dirty and sooty, in his turn out clothes that things with Johnny must be really bad and he hadn't left his side. "I thought you might want to get cleaned up."

He found himself a little speechless at her actions. Had she actually come down to be helpful? No demands on where he could go? What he did? He reached out and took the bag.

"Thanks." It wasn't going to be that easy. He had lost trust in her, her actions hurting him to the core. And not just him but everyone else that was important to him. Turning to the kids he walked over and put a big smile on his face for them.

"Well kiddo's ready for that first day back to school?"

Jenny leapt out of the chair and jumped into this arms, "Oh daddy I can't wait to see Ms. Smith again."

"I know honey, you're home now. It's going to be okay." He looked down to Chris, "You ready son?"

"Sure am dad," he said with a big grin.

"Okay you two. Be good today for your mom. I'll see you soon okay?"

Jenny patted his cheek ever so gently, "Daddy is Unkle Johnny sick?"

He sat down and pulled her down to his lap, "No sweetie he got hurt at a fire yesterday. But he's doing better today."

"Can I give him a kiss?" She asked.

"Soon, Jenny, soon. He will be so happy to see you. He's missed you very much."

"I've missed him too daddy. I love Unkle Johnny," she whispered to him.

He hugged her tightly, "I know honey, me too." He slid her off his lap and stood up. "Now, off to school you two or you'll be late." He walked over to the bag now sitting in the floor, picked it up and walked past them all back to Johnny's room.

Joanne watched him walk away without saying another word to her. "Hank? How's Johnny?" She asked him softly.

Hank pushed back what he really wanted to say since children were around, "Critical."

"Hank?" She said with hesitation knowing they were upset. Mike's face was stoic, his arms crossed.

"Don't Joanne. Take the kids to school. We'll let you know if he needs anything," Hank said.

She nodded, silently gathered the kids up, and left. They watched her disappear behind the elevator doors. Mike turned to his Captain, "Now, what was that all about?"

Hank shook his head, "I don't know Mike but her stirring up trouble is the last thing Roy needs right now." He looked at Mike, "If she comes back she goes through only you or me for now."

Mike agreed. They would stand between her and Roy until he was more emotionally able to handle her being back down here. Especially when they didn't know why she might really be back.

Knowing that the kids were taken care of now he had to admit he could relax some, no longer having to worry about what needed to be done. He knew that at some point he would have to talk to her and figure out what she wanted from him, from the kids. The last few days had passed slowly as he sat by his friend's side. He was now off the ventilator and breathing on his own, only requiring some oxygen support through a nasal cannula. But he still had not woken up. Roy tucked himself in for some sleep on this chilly winter night. Looking up Johnny was quiet. "Night Junior. See ya in the morning."

His head was pounding. Honestly he didn't feel like his head was attached to his body anymore. It felt huge. He wanted to reach up and feel it but his hands didn't seem to be attached to his body. Even though his eyelids seemed to be weighted down but he wanted them open. His dreams were haunting him and he wanted them to stop. All he heard was Roy's voice over and over, calling him. Pushing them up he momentarily thought he must have gone blind as he was greeted with darkness but then they focused some with the help of the little bathroom light. Oh, his stomach was protesting now. Closing his eyes again he waited for it to settle. This time when he opened them he kept them focused on the ceiling for a moment. Bathroom light, hospital room. Why was he in a hospital room? What happened? He then saw someone sitting in the chair beside him. He was a shadow in his vision but his features were instantly recognizable. Roy? The darkness was creeping in again.

Roy sat up straight, something bringing him from his dream. He stood up and went to Johnny's side. He was still sleeping, his vitals stable so Roy climbed back into his chair and fell fast asleep again.

Once again he pushed past the darkness. He had heard the voice again. His eyes looked around the dark room and saw someone sleeping in the chair. It looked like Roy. Of course Roy would be here, his partner was always by his side.

"Roy." It was no more than a whisper but Roy heard it in his own dreams. He woke up again and looked over to Johnny. This time his eyes were open.

"Johnny? Can you hear me?" Roy asked trying to contain his excitement.

"Mmm hmm," Johnny mumbled.

"You're gonna be okay Junior. Try and get some rest okay?"

Johnny mumbled again and went back to sleep. Roy went out to the nurse's station. He knew none of the docs would be around at 3am but he knew someone should know Johnny had woken up.

"Kris?" He asked the nursing sitting at the desk.

"Hey Roy, what's wrong?" She was concerned he was up but realized that he didn't look upset.

"Johnny just woke up for a minute. I wanted to make sure you knew."

"That's great Roy," she was excited too. "I think Dr. Early is on duty in the ER tonight. I'll let him know."

"Thanks Kris," he said with a big smile on his face then went back to his room. He wanted to tell someone but Chet was sleeping downstairs in his own room. Mike and Hank were back at work tonight.

Roy was too happy to sleep now and was just watching him when Joe came. "Hey Roy, what happened?"

He stood up and went to the bed, "I heard him call my name and his eyes were open. I asked him a question but he just mumbled and went back to sleep."

Joe wasn't quit as ecstatic as Roy was and he noticed the lack of enthusiasm from the doctor. Joe did a brief neuro exam on Johnny but didn't elicit a response from him.

"It was a good thing right? I mean he said my name."

"Probably is Roy. We'll try again in the morning and see what we get," he patted him on the shoulder. "I'm not trying to discourage you but I would like to see him a little easier to come around for us."

Roy refused to be discouraged, "Okay."

It seemed to take forever for morning to come and somewhere along the way Roy managed to fall asleep. He woke up to see Hank and Marco in the room, talking quietly to each other.

"Sorry pally, we didn't mean to wake you. Rough night?"

Roy smiled, "He woke up."

Hank and Marco looked at each other, "What?"

His smile broadened, "It was only for a moment but he woke up."

Hank glanced over to Johnny, "Johnny?"

"Well, ya Cap…Johnny," Roy said with a smirk thinking he was asking 'who'.

"No look, Johnny." Hank pointed over to the young man who was looking at them.

Everyone rushed to his side while Roy pushed the nurse call button. "Johnny," he called him too.

"Yelling," he whispered.

Roy laughed, "Sorry." He lowered his voice for the obvious headache he was having.

"What happened?" The confused man asked.

"Fire. Do you remember falling?" Roy asked him.

"Fall? The smoke. You couldn't breathe."

The men all looked at each other. Johnny was remembering Roy's accident like it had just happened.

"No John, Roy's alright. You fell in a fire." Hank told him.

Johnny tried to sit up, "Roy! Have to get him out."

Now Hank and Roy both were trying to hold him still, "Johnny, I'm right here. Look at me!"

But Johnny struggled until the nurse came in and gave him some sedation. Within a few minutes he found the peace of quiet sleep again.